How To Protect A Motorcycle From Thieves

Each year thousands of motorcycles get stolen due to the negligence of owners, as most of them do not use bike locks or security devices to protect their two wheelers. As a result thieves get the chance to take away unprotected bikes, which are then either broken down in parts or sometimes sent out of the country before authorities could take any action. This careless attitude of motorcycle owners not only deprived them of their bike, but also increases the cost of their insurance premium. However, still there are many motorcycle owners, who not only take great care of their bikes, but also take all the necessary measures to protect them. 

Such an effort by the bike owner not only reduces their cost of insurance premium by 10 percent, but also lowers the risk of becoming an easy target of thieves. For the reason that unsecured motorcycles can be easily lifted, bundled or wheeled away. So more security means your motorcycle becomes less attractive for thieves. Those, who do not know how to make their bikes safe, can take help from the tips we have listed below. 

Motorcycle Locks 

Motorcycle lock is the most easy and cheapest way to make your bikes secure, as cable and large chain locks for two wheelers are not only tough and sturdy, but are visible as well. However, it is necessary that these locks should be threaded through the wheel or frame of the bike after securing to a firm object like lamppost or a parking anchor. This will make it almost impossible for the thieves to steal your bike. As far as disc locks for bikes are concerned, one should not rely on them too much because they will only slow down a professional thief and ultimately he will take your motorcycle away. Therefore, motorcycle owners should always prefer to buy large chains and cable locks that easily are available at the online store of RiderWear. 

Motorcycle Immobilisers and Alarms

Approved immobilisers and alarm systems together make a great combination and can discourage even the most determined thieves. On top of it, if a person uses approved alarms and immobilisers it will also help him or her to reduce their insurance premiums. However, motorcycle owners should make sure that instead of using a poorly fitted alarm they should spend little extra and get the alarm fitted from expert technicians of manufacturer or get a manufacturer fitted alarm. 

Remove Motorcycle Spark Plug

However, if someone cannot even afford to buy large cable and chain locks to protect their bikes from thieves then, the best and cheapest way to secure a two wheeler is by removing its spark plug. Any motorcycle owner can easily do this by him or herself, as they will not even have to spend a dime or call a technician for this purpose. Nevertheless, this tip should only be used when there is no other option to protect your bike because as compared to alarms and locks this method is not too secure. Aside from removing the spark plug and using alarm systems, bikers should also make sure that they always park their motorcycle within in their sight and use their garage in case of an overnight parking.

How To Be Safe On a Motorcycle At Night?

Motorcyclists do take a lot of care whenever they hit the road, as they fully understand that their safety is the most important thing. However, they are not completely aware of what important steps they need to take in order to be safe on the road at night. As a result, they can get into serious trouble and might end up hurting either themselves or someone else.

A few things are a must for motorcyclists regardless of the fact that it is day or night. For example, every rider needs to wear a helmet, which protects the head from injuries in case of an accident. Other than that, it is important to keep your documents such as the ownership papers and license alongside, so that you don’t get into any sort of a problem out there.

These things are associated with commonsense, so most people take care of them and believe that they are absolutely safe when it is dark. However, that is not the case, as you have to take some extra steps in order to make motorcycle riding safer at night.

One of those things is getting the right visor for your helmet. If you have a black tinted visor, you will be able to protect yourself from the sunrays during daytime, but things will be different at night when the visibility will be poor. So, it is not ideal to get a black tinted visor, as you will have to flip it backwards when you are unable to see anything. In case you really feel that it looks cool on you, then you should buy one extra helmet with a transparent visor for clear night vision.

Another important thing while riding a bike at night is to make yourself visible to others. Sometimes, you can avoid the accident when you can easily see others, but things can get out of control when others don’t see you coming. Therefore, you have to wear bright colored clothes at night, so that you can be easily seen by others on the road.

Whenever you talk about going out at night, the first thing that comes to mind is proper lighting. You might have the right visor or proper clothes, but if the lighting of your motorbike is faulty, you will be unable to stay safe on the road. In fact, there will be more than 50 percent of a chance that someone will run you over. So check your headlight, brake lights and the indicator lights in order to ensure your safety.

 

Apart from making sure that the lights are functioning in the right manner, you have to ensure that there are enough to be seen from a distance. Ideally, it would be good for you to fix three headlights on your motorcycle and keep their direction slightly downwards on the road, so that you can see everything clearly and avoid hitting any bumps.

Although the above mentioned things are more than enough to ensure your safety on the road, yet you can always go for a few additional things such as the reflective stickers or decals. Put them everywhere on your motorcycle and your helmet, so that light reflects off them and makes you visible even in the darkest of places.

 Remember that your safety is precious than any other thing in this world. So, buy all of the protective gear and accessories from RiderWear before you hit the road. In case you feel any danger, you should opt not to go outside and wait for the day. In case there is an emergency, you can always go for the public transport.

An Eye on Norton Motorcycles Golden Past

When one talks about classic British motorcycles, it is hard to ignore Norton Motorcycles, as the company has produced some of the fastest, attractive and best handling two wheelers in early 1900s. The company made a name for itself by consistently improving the comfort and speed of its bikes. As a result, many of its bikes were able to make it to the list of most desired machines of that era. However, it was Norton Manx, a 500cc bike of the British manufacturer that proved a real game changer for the company, as the racing machine never allowed any other bike to win the GPs and Isle of Man TT for more than a decade. Norton Commando is another feather in the hat of Norton Motors, as it was the first Superbike that any manufacturer has introduced, but it was launched quite lot later. 

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The success story of Norton Motorcycles includes several other bikes as well, which you may have heard about or seen in various documentaries. However, not many know that Norton Motorcycles was originally not a motorcycle making company. In fact, when Norton was founded in Birmingham, England back in 1898 it was only used to manufacture parts and fittings for motorcycles, but in 1901 James Lansdowne Norton decided to build bikes under the name. Finally in 1902 Norton started producing motorcycles, which incorporates Swiss and French engines. It took the classic bikes of Norton just five more years before they started winning TT races, which also includes the first ever race of Isle of Man TT that was one of the most prestigious races in the world. 

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Though, today Norton is ranked among the leading motorcycle makers in the world and the UK, where riders buy helmets and gears from RiderWear to match with the latest models of the company, but unfortunately its financial condition in 1913 was not as good as it is now. The company faced serious financial crunch after which Norton decided to bring Bob Shelley on board, who brought his brother in law, Dan O’Donovan with him. Donovan’s addition to Norton Motorcycles proved quite significant for the company, as the brother in law of Shelley developed the first production racing motorcycle, the BS 490. The new racing bike of Norton not only proved a life saver for the company, but it gave the manufacturer a new direction as well. Thanks to the victories of BS 490 in races, which Norton made a base of its marketing strategy by introducing the famous slogan “Win on Sunday & sell on Monday?” 

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Apparently the marketing strategy worked for the manufacturer, but in 1925 the company received a slight jolt when James Norton passed away. Luckily it did not affect the company much because both racing and business were at their peak than. In fact, just two years after the death of James Norton his company produced Super Sport Roadster, Norton CS1 that proved a big hit. The successful run for the Norton Motorcycles did not just end there as it continued throughout the next decade (1930s).

Till the start of the Second World War, Norton was able to produce 19 different models of its motorcycles, of which most were the versions of its 490cc bike. The British manufacturer also built some motorcycles during the Second World War, when the War Department commissioned company to produce Norton 16H, a primitive side valve model.