Custom Motorcycle Wheels Purchase
By admin On June 19th, 2009Custom Motorcycle Wheels Purchase
Ready to change your motorcycle? Then you must be thinking about your purchase of a new set of custom motorcycle wheels! This article is not the end-all of buying guides, but I hope to help you with a smooth, and satisfying buying experience . .The very first thing you need to decide is how much you are willing to spend A good set of wheels can cost at least $2000, so you will need to budget your purchase wisely Most custom motorcycle wheels are made from billet aluminum, in a CNC machine, and not mass quantity castings such as car wheels Also, as you have noticed, custom motorcycle wheels have to look good on both sides, which is not the case for your car . .The next decision is what type of wheel you want For example, do you want a spoke wheel? Do you want a chrome wheel? An option to consider is a polished wheel, or a black anodized wheel A polished wheel will “weather” better in a climate such as Florida, where there is a lot of salt-air A chrome wheel is easy to clean, but is more susceptible to the elements which cause corrosion A polished wheel is well suited for these climates, but takes a lot of maintenance to keep their shine A black anodized wheel or powder coated wheel is more of a “look” choice, and are not as durable as a chrome or polished wheel (Though a black magic marker can often hide dings in these wheels ) . .Once your decision has been made on the type of wheel, the next step is finding a design which looks good on your specific bike, and more importantly, that you love Yes, I said love, because when you are spending this kind of money, you will probably not want to like your wheels, you will need to love them This is why you should never “settle” for a wheel design . .There are many different media outlets to view wheel designs offered in the market Most enthusiasts will subscribe to a type of motorcycle industry magazine, such as American Bagger These magazines will have numerous wheel ads, with some of the company’s offerings I would suggest going to the most common place to search for something, Google Type in Custom Motorcycle Wheels, and click search This will bring up the most popular company’s websites in the industry . .Spend some time going through each company’s website, looking at the different options you have Most websites will have a motorcycle wheel selector This allows you to view their wheels on your bike, a handy tool to help you decide what looks good on your bike Don’t forget to look for specials, or eBay deals and steals, many companies have an eBay store for their clearance items This is often a great place to find brand new wheels, with a large discount . .I think you have the resources to find the wheel design that fits your needs The next decision is the size of the wheels you want to put on your motorcycle For example, 2002-2008 baggers, or FLH Harley, have stock sizes of 16″ x 3 5″ on both the front and rear From my experience, about 75% of customers will choose to upgrade to a 21″ x 3 5″ on the front, and 18″ x 4 25″ on the rear These are the largest sizes you can upgrade to on this bike, without major modifications You could also choose to only go to a 18″ x 3 5″ on the front Keep in mind, the stock rotor size is almost 12 inches, so, on a 16″ wheel, you will only see 2 inches of wheel, whereas the 21″ wheel, you see 4 5 inches of wheel This is significant when spending such a large amount of money on motorcycle wheels; you’ll want to see them!! . .Some motorcycles will only have the stock sizes available When you are speaking to a sales consultant, ask them what size options they have available for your bike They will most often have a reference guide to size wheels for your specific motorcycle One last thing to remember, when you change the size of your wheel, you will NOT be able to use your stock tires I would suggest timing the replacement of your tires with the new set of custom motorcycle wheels, or you can sell those stock tires on eBay! . .Once you have the design picked, pricing is the next step Whether you are getting an email quote, phone quote, or looking at eBay pricing, there are some things to remember, and ask! When looking at a set, be sure the wheels come with hubs, and are ready to bolt on, without any additional parts or modifications It may seem small, but ensure there are bearings in the hubs, and even valve stems Some companies will try to save a few dollars, and don’t include these items If you decide to purchase tires, is the package price with tires mounted and balanced? Does the package price include shipping? Where is the company you are doing business with? If you are located in the same state, you will need to pay sales tax Most often, you will not have to pay sales tax, unless you are un-lucky enough to decide on a company in your state Some companies will often give a larger discount to in-state customers, which can help offset the additional cost of sales tax Be sure to ask these questions, you will save time and money! . .While getting pricing on your wheels, you should also consider including matching rotors and a pulley in your purchase Most custom motorcycle wheels will have a matching cut rotor, and pulley Also consider your bike type and this extra expense On a bagger, you do not see the rear rotor and pulley, so most customers opt not to purchase those items, and can save as much as $6-800 dollars However, on a Dyna, you do see the rear rotor and pulley, so you may decide to change all the rotors, and pulley For matching cut rotors, you should expect to pay from $239 upwards to over $350 per rotor For a matching cut pulley, you can expect to pay from $429 upwards to over $500 for a pulley Again, if you ask for package pricing, you will often receive discounts on all parts in the package . .When getting rotors or a pulley, be sure to inquire as to what hardware you will receive, such as bolts, and some brand of thread-locker Most companies will not attach the rotors to the wheels before shipping, as they can easily be damaged in shipping Don’t worry, attaching the rotors yourself is a simple process, or you can let your local dealer do the install . .As in any purchase, be sure to inquire about the products warranty, return policy, and any restock fees associated with a return In custom motorcycle wheels, a good warranty is a 2 year chrome warranty, and a lifetime structural warranty Also, be sure to ask if the warranty is transferrable, some warranties are void if the bike or wheels are sold to another individual .
Source: www.rsstnx.com
Motorcycle Road Trip
Every road trip planner dreams of conquering the roads of Alaska Here is an idea for an adventurous motorcycle road trip over the 49th state . .This road trip will surely entice every motorcyclist all over the United States, wherever they are coming from The first town you will encounter from the Alaska Highway is Tok where you can camp or lodge in a comfortable hotel for a good night’s rest before continuing your excursion the following day . . .Carry on with your motorcycle road trip through Alaska by making your way to Valdez Take the Richardson Highway, Alaska’s first highway The scenic highway is absolutely made for the road trip enthusiast as it is full of twists and turns, a mountain pass, elevation gains, waterfalls and glaciers as you travel along Wrangell-St Elias and the Chugach Mountains Valdez houses a number of glaciers that you can check out by cruising, flight seeing, walking or just riding by You can also take a break from riding by fishing for different species of salmon and halibut or you amaze yourself by watching marine and land wildlife such as sea otters, harbor seals, mountain goats, and black and brown bears . .Every motorcyclist taking an Alaskan road trip would most definitely want to visit the Harley Davidson shop in Anchorage The ride from Valdez to Anchorage is over 551 miles The experience is well-worth it as you take on the journey under Alaska’s midnight sun Take the tour around the Harley Davidson shop and get ready to be impressed by the innovative structures and engines of these world-famous bikes You do not need to worry about accommodations as there is a campsite just beside the Harley Davidson building where you can set up your tent free of charge . .Continue your Alaska road trip on your motorcycle by driving 240 miles north of Anchorage to Denali National Park Marvel over the majestic Mount McKinley and other spectacular mountains The park is extremely huge and you are free to all the activities it offers Give your bike a break and relax by doing some fly-fishing If you are looking for something active, you can join a mountain bike tour around the park, or go rafting or kayaking Or, if you want to try something new, go on a helicopter flight seeing and heli-hiking and enjoy jaw-dropping views of Anchorage and other parts of Alaska Head north through Fairbanks from Denali National Parks, and then straight to the isolated tundra of the Arctic Circle, where you are to experience almost twenty four hours of daylight There are lots of campgrounds in the area for those who choose to stay for the night . .The thousands of miles you conquer, the challenging twists and turns, the picturesque sceneries you pass by, and the extraordinary experiences you get to tell your friends and family back home will make this journey to Alaska all worth it It is definitely one of the most memorable journeys in every road trip planner’s list .
Source: www.rsstnx.com
