You wake up, put on your gear and head out for that eagerly anticipated early Sunday ride. As you approach the spot where your bike should be parked you notice something in the air: a weird smell and some sort of negative energy, too. Then the realization sets in and your stomach drops through your shoes. Getting your bike stolen sucks.

Bike theft is on the rise in the US and there is nothing worse than having your prized possession taken. Because of the relatively small size and weight of sportbikes, it is very difficult to ensure 100 percent safety against theft. Basically, it only takes two guys and a truck and your ride is history. But there are ways to discourage such scum…

Bike protection comes in a wide variety of methods, but most systems try to discourage thieves from even attempting to jack your wheels in the first place. Hardened chains can be used to bolt down a bike to a sturdy object like a lightpole, while the more mobile disc locks keep the wheel from turning. Both offer some visual deterrent right off the bat, which is the first step in prevention.

Alarms alert people in the immediate vicinity, and while car alarms usually go unchecked, bike alarms tend to get some attention.

Some protection is better than none, so make sure to choose the right level of security for your situation. No effort on your part means you’re simply making the criminals’ work easier.

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The government, with the help of local automotive parts makers, will try to convince Taiwanese motorcycle manufacturers to make the Philippines their production hub in their foray in the Southeast Asian market.

Dita Angara-Mathay, director of commercial affairs of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) in Taipei, said Taiwanese firms are now training their sights on the 500-million Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) market, where there is a rapidly growing preference for two-wheeled vehicles.

In the Philippines alone, Angara-Mathay said there are about 1,000 motorcycles being registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) daily.

With its focus on Asean, Angara-Mathay said the fully integrated motorcycle-manufacturing industry of Taiwan would naturally look for a location in the region which would host their plants that would serve the market.

“The Taiwanese want their manufacturing to be near their market. So we are positioning the Philippines as their Asean hub,” Angara-Mathay said.

Meco, they said, will start bringing local parts makers to Taiwan in April to help in convincing the Taiwanese that the Philippines is a viable manufacturing destination for them.

The domestic parts industry, they said, will talk to potential Taiwanese partners who would surely find the Philippine proposition advantageous because they would be able to access the Asean market at the preferential tariff rates under the Asean Free Trade Agreement.

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A cheap chain might provide a visual deterrent, but any reasonably competent thief will be able to cut through it with a pair of bolt-cutters. It’s worth investing a little extra money in a high quality chain made from thick, hardened steel, which will be able withstand bolt cutters and hacksaws – the only way through the best chains is to use a noisy angle grinder, and even this can take a long time.

While some chains feature integral locks to attach the ends together, generally speaking the best security is provided by a separate padlock. A good quality padlock will itself be manufactured from hardened steel and will have a sophisticated lock that can’t easily be forced open, and the shackle should be shielded so that when the lock is attached to the chain, no part of the shackle can be easily attacked.

Good quality motorcycle security will also be fitted with a soft fabric sleeve so that it cannot scratch or damage your bike’s paintwork. You should also consider transportation – it is unsafe to ride with a chain slung over your shoulder, so think about whether it will easily fit under the seat, or if it comes supplied with some sort of carry case that can be secured to the bike.

Finally, remember that a motorcycle security chain is only one component of your bike’s security system. If you’re serious about protecting your bike, you need to make it as tough as possible for a thief to remove it, so don’t forget to look at the different kinds of motorcycle security products on the market that will help to make your bike such a hard target that nobody will waste their time trying to steal it.

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Motorcycle makers showcased cheaper and more fuel-efficient models at the nation’s premier motorcycle show, as the industry tries to navigate a tough road of crippled consumer confidence and tighter access to credit that are weighing on sales.

The companies sought to drown out the gloomy news with the revved engines of 600 bikes from more than 250 exhibitors at the International Motorcycle Show, which ran through Sunday at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

“We’re definitely seeing where manufacturers are taking advantage of the smaller motorcycles in their lineup, the motorcycles that don’t get the kind of attention when things are sort of economically strong,” said show spokesman Robert Pandya. “We’re seeing motorcycles coming in that were originally designed for other markets that, because of people’s consciousness for fuel economy and ease of getting around, are all of a sudden finding a home in the U.S.”

Motorcycle sales tend to take a beating when the economy slows, and sales industrywide fell 2.2 percent in the third quarter of 2008, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. In 2007, sales ended a 14-year growth streak by falling 6 percent.

In October, the top-selling U.S. motorcycle company, Harley-Davidson Inc., cut its 2008 sales forecast to between 303,500 and 306,000 motorcycles, down from 330,619 in 2007. The Milwaukee company is scheduled to report fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 23, and analysts widely expect it to report that profit for the full-year declined from 2007.

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A Hawk helmet is the best protective gear you can wear while riding a motorcycle. A helmet will not only protect your head from a potential injury, but also cut down on wind noise, windblast on your face and eyes, and deflect bugs and other debris that flies through the air. It will also protect you from changing weather conditions and reduce rider fatigue.

Last but not least, wearing a Hawk helmet is a reflection of your attitude toward riding and shows that you are a responsible rider who takes motorcycle riding seriously.

The expected turn around time from one Hawk helmet to another is three years (or a crash). If you have a crash, be sure to throw the Hawk helmet out and replace it. If you have the same helmet for three years be sure to get a new Hawk then as well.

There are a number of different Hawk available. Hybrid helmets allow you to slide the chin part of the Hawk helmet upwards. It’s useful for people who wear glasses or bifocals. Open faced Hawk helmets (also known as three quarter helmets) protect the ears and side of the face, but offers no chin protection.

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Owning a bike can be a lifetime aspiration and when it finally comes true there are many things which have to be dealt with before it hits the road. One of which is finding cheap motorcycle insurance.
The first step to finding cheap motorcycle insurance is to be knowledgeable about the insurance industry. It is easy to become confused and drawn into an agreement that in retrospect is not very beneficial to you. While looking for cheap motorcycle insurance in the USA make sure it includes both bike and rider.

Insurance company rates each client based on their motorcycle. Customers are rarely in control. The flashiest bike will attract a heavy insurance policy and premiums. It will be difficult to find cheap motorcycle insurance if riding the latest and most expensive bike. Because of this many bike enthusiasts have older and earlier models of bikes in order to avoid having to pay big bucks for bike insurance. Following suit may be your best chance of finding cheap motorcycle insurance in the USA.

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Any responsible motorcycle rider knows that wearing a helmet is one of the important things that must come alongside safe driving. Although you are gearing for protection, it is quite important to note that price alone is not indicative of your safety on the road. If branded helmets can be somewhat expensive for you, there are discount motorcycle helmets you can choose from which are still at par when it comes to providing safety while driving.

You can find all kinds of discount motorcycle helmets online!

It is quite obvious that a rider is exposed to crash situations once he gets on his motorcycle. Most death cases are usually due to head injuries, and this occurs when a rider is without a helmet on. Wearing a helmet could have prevented severe damage on the head as it can greatly absorb the force caused by an impact. But then again, against tragic stories of motorcycle accidents, a lot of people still refuse to understand the simple rule of wearing a helmet during any ride. This is one simple rule for safety, but it has indeed attracted different governments to pass laws which would require all riders to use helmets.

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As a new VRSC model and the evil twin brother of the Night Rod, the VRSCDX Night Rod Special provides wicked style and performance. With an all-black finished 1130cc Revolution powertrain pounding out 120 horsepower and 80 ft. lbs. of torque, the VRSCDX Night Rod Special reflects the elite end of the power cruiser segment.

Blacked-out components show a rebellious attitude that rides on a wide 240mm rear tire. Keeping the Night Rod Special on the dark side are black features like the frame, forks, triple clamps, swing arm and Black Machined Slotted Disc Cast Aluminum wheels with orange pin-striping. Taking the Night Rod Special further into the heart of darkness are a color-matched speed screen visor, brushed Straight-shot Dual exhaust with black end caps and exhaust shields, and a black-on-black racing stripe paint scheme. A five-gallon fuel tank lies under a newly restyled, low seat, combined with forward controls and drag style handlebar for a comfortable ride. Available in Black Denim color with Vivid Black racing stripe or Vivid Black with Black Denim racing stripe.

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Aside from its increased loading capacity, a sidecar is the perfect alternative vehicle for hanging around with friends. Just like cars, sidecars can be also customized with body kits. In fact, trikes are used on motorsports. There are no exceptions with sidecars because whether it’s big or small motorcycles, old or used sidecars are applicable to them. Unlike other automobiles such as cars, trucks, and utes, tricycles have limited load capacity. Also, trikes are understandably not as fast as motorcycles because of the sidecar attachment. Tricycles are sometimes hard to maneuver on steep curves. Lastly, this kind of vehicle uses only 2 brakes.