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Biketoberfest is one of the best international motorcycle festivals in America today. This annual event may be smaller than some of the other bike rallies, but it still draws a good sized attendance. Most participants consider the less crowded atmosphere and pleasant location to be the festival’s best perks. Biketoberfest 2009 will be held during October from the 15th to the 18th. This event takes place each year in sunny Daytona Beach, Florida. This popular vacation spot offers festival participants a chance to enjoy the beaches and other local attractions while checking out the thousands of bikes on display. The average number of bikes each year totals close to 150,000 with even more people in attendance. This is the perfect destination to see vintage, new, and custom models while showing off your own ride. Main Street will be the main hub for events and information. There will also be events taking place each night all over the greater Daytona area.

The festival is a great opportunity to meet and socialize with other motorcycle enthusiasts. It offers an endless amount of events and shows to attend. Hundreds of organized parties are already planned for 2009 in the Daytona area. Some of the best bikes to be seen simply belong to the attendees. In addition to that, there are a number of official rallies, shows, and displays sponsored by the event organizers and various major bike manufacturers. It’s a great chance to see some of the upcoming models before their official release. Sponsors will have booths set up to showcase all of the latest motorcycle gear. There are also demonstrations and events that will take place right on the world famous Daytona International Speedway. Parking in the Speedway area will be free during all of the events for 2009. Daytona is always a great spot for tourists to dine and shop. You can expect even more food choices and souvenir stands to be available during Biketoberfest. There will be over 2500 official event vendors this year. With that many vendors there are options for every taste imaginable. There will also be a number of live shows and music concerts. All music styles in a variety of venues will be represented. You can expect live outdoor performances and smaller intimate club settings. Guides to all of the shows and local nightlife will be passed out during the event. You can also find out more information by searching online. There will also be a number of special tattoo stands set up in addition to the regular shops that are open in the area year round.

If you’re looking for a less crowded and smaller motorcycle rally, Biketoberfest 2009 is a good choice. This is one of the last major bike rallies of the year. It’s set in a great location for a weekend getaway before the winter weather forces you to put that bike in the garage for several months. Daytona boasts numerous hotels and accommodations for visitors staying for the event. For the best lodging available it’s always best to book your rooms early. A lot of the area hotels will be offering free parking and storage for bikes and trailers.

The Second World War that was fought on a global scale between the Allies and the Axis powers lasted six full years. The United States entered the war in 1941 after the surprise attack of the Japanese fleet on Pearl Harbor. During the war years, the American Armed forces made extensive use of the Motorcycle for a variety of duties that included patrolling, communications, dispatch rider duties, and reconnaissance duties. The mainstay of the US Army motorcycles was the Harley Davidson.

The Harley Davidson made its appearance nearly one hundred years back. A wooden shack at Milwaukee, Wis was its place of birth. When the bike rolled out little did the men who were present, expect this bike to be the cornerstone of the American Military in the years to come. But, that’s exactly what happened. But of course there were other machines like the Indian who also played a part in the enduring role of military transportation. The Harley scored because of its excellent timing and start up capability, as well its ruggedness.

In fact seeing the versatility of the machine the Army had started using motorcycles from 1913 itself. The famous pursuit of Poncho Villa in 1916 by General John Pershing was on motorcycles with Harley Davidson getting pride of place. At the start of hostilities during world war II Harley Davidson was already catering to the needs of the Army with a military- capable motorcycle called the WLA which was derived from its model 45″ WL Line.

America’s entry into the Second World War and the need to combat General Rommel in the deserts of North Africa necessitated the need for a machine which could negotiate the dunes and sandy tracts. Harley Davidson answered the call of the American Army and went about manufacturing a motorcycle that could operate in the African deserts. In addition other companies also complied with this request and Indian built the 841. Indian produced nearly 1,000 models of 841 motorcycles for the United States Army. The German motorcycle BMW R 71 was the inspiration behind the 841. Harley Davidson also copied the German design for their motorcycle XA. Harley Davidson XA was 100% copy of the German BMW R 71 with a few minor changes. But the Indian was not a copy of the German BMW. It had some significant differences in design. Indians 841 tubular frame, plunger rear suspension, and shaft drive were identical to that of the BMW. However the similarity ended there and the 841 with a 90-degree longitudinal-crankshaft V-twin engine and girder fork gave it a different look.

However the trials and tests took time and in the meantime Rommel had been decisively defeated in North Africa. At this time, the motorcycle was slowly replaced by the Jeep.

The United States Army however did not use the motorcycle for a specific military role. This was done by the German Army with telling effect. The German Army also adapted the motorcycle with a side car and mounted a machine gun on it. They used these machines for tactical assault. Though the US Army did not use the motorcycle for this role the other roles of the motorcycle made the machine indispensable for the Army.

A significant use of the motorcycle during the war was by the military police. Patrolling and policing was an important duty. The Harley Davidson was the mainstay of the mobile force of the US Army. Nearly 90,000 military motorcycles were built by Harley Davidson during the War. In addition 30000 bikes were sent to Russia under lend lease during World War II. These figures show the resilience of the motorbike and its extensive use by the army. Harley Davidson had an average price of $ 380 at that time. The motorcycle had a top speed of 65 MPH and weighed 540 lbs. Harley-Davidson received two Army-Navy awards for excellence in production, in 1943 and again 1945.

In addition during the war The Army used the motorcycles for secret missions of reconnaissance and carrying dispatches to the front lines. The Army also has used motorcycles to move small amounts of medical supplies to the front lines to the soldiers fighting in Europe, when heavier vehicles were not available to do the job. A major role during the war was with the United States Military Police. The use of the motorcycle was much greater by the US Army in the western theater of the war ,while its use against the Japanese in the eastern theatre was limited.This was because the operations were on islands and vast ocean tracts. Thus the war brought out the versatility of the motorcycle and its extensive use by the US Army

You are racing down the highway from Oregon to Washington and end up taking a wrong turn. What do you do? If you BMW Garmin Zumo motorcycle navigator GPS on you then you don’t have to do much because the GPS will take care of almost except driving the bike. One of the good things about the BMW Garmin Zumo is that it can be mounted on a bike as well as on your BMW special edition super car!

It all started one fine day when BMW introduced a helping device for drivers that could show the road map. Of course this didn’t mean that people could drive in their sleep – it simply meant that even if you tried hard, you wouldn’t get lost. BMW first came out with their original Motorrad Navigator GPS that caused a downfall in sales of paper maps to BMW riders. Since then several generations of the Navigator has been launched including the Navigator II, Navigator II Plus and Navigator III GPS systems.

The Navigator GPS system revolutionized a market that catered to the long distance riders. Using the Navigator especially the BMW Garmin Zumo motorcycle navigator GPS system, riders were able to drive on longer routes without having to stop for directions. This was no mean achievement! One of the highlight of the Navigator GPS systems was that it had a water-resistant casing and could be easily mounted on a unique mounting cradle, which enhanced the overall portability as well as its operation.

The benchmark for motorcycle and long distance route finders was actually laid by the advanced BMW Garmin Zumo motorcycle navigator GPS system. Rugged and compact, this is a GPS system that is considered to be one of the best ever manufactured by BMW Garmin and it was loaded with high end navigational functions and features, ready to use maps and a big enough display screen.

Some of the key features of the new BMW Garmin Zumo motorcycle navigator GPS include:

A slick full black body design that looked good and felt good too
The glove-friendly touch screen made it easier for bikers to use it
Left hand controls have been designed for motorcyclists
A special programming lock can limit re-programming during driving
BMW Dealer database
BMW specific software
TMC – Traffic Receiver included with 3-month subscription
Mounting base plate compatible with BMW mounting brackets
Custom BMW caps included in three sets of designs
Water resistant and shockproof
Replaceable lithium ion rechargeable battery for use off the bike up to 5 hours (included)
Vibration-tested and built with fuel-resistant plastics to withstand the elements
Bluetooth wireless technology for phone communication
Compass feature equivalent to Navigator III
MP-3 Player for storing music
High brightness, sunlight-readable, and UV-resistant display screen

The new BMW Garmin Zumo motorcycle navigator GPS system has been specially engineered by Garmin for BMW and it has certain proprietary features, which are unavailable on the standard Garmin Zumo systems and this includes the 3-year warranty.

A motorcycle is a two wheeled machine which is propelled forward by a motor. This motor is generally an internal combustion engine which imparts the forward momentum to the machine. The principle of gyro motion dictates the essence of motorcycle movement forward where the Centripetal and centrifugal forces balance each other while the bike is in motion. Both these forces complement each other and give stability to the bike in motion. A forward momentum (Mass x Velocity) is an essential component for stability of the motorcycle when in motion. This forward motion balances the centripetal and centrifugal forces. This forward movement is achieved through the power supplied by the internal combustion motor or engine. The motorcycle engine may run on gasoline or diesel. But now electric power for traction is another option that is available.

In almost all motorcycles the engine is located just below the petrol tank. This position has the effect of lowering the center of gravity of the bike and gives the machine greater stability. The motorcycle is propelled forward by the engine which supplies its traction power through a steel chain that is connected to the rear wheel. All motorcycles are rear wheel driven. Power is transmitted from the rear wheel by means of this metal chain.

The motorcycle motor’s construction is quite simple. It consists of a single or set of pistons that move in a chamber or a sleeve .The motion is generated by an electric spark. The electric spark ignites a gas and air mixture that releases gases that move the pistons up and down in a cycle. The pistons when they move generate power to a mechanism that moves a connecting chain to the rear wheel. All motorcycles are rear driven.

The power that is generated by the motorcycle engine is through the movement of the piston. When the pistons move they impart the power to the crank which in this case is the chain. The cycle of motion of the piston in the cylinder may follow a two stroke or four strokes. Two stroke engines have a simpler construction and thus are easier to maintain. They also generate more operating power vis a vis four stroke engines. But four stroke engines are more eco-friendly and give a smoother ride on the road. Another advantage of 4 stroke engines is that they can have multiple cylinders. This in turn translates to greater operating power. In two stroke engines very second stroke is the power stroke while in the 4 stroke engines the power stroke is the 4th stroke. A stroke refers to a single movement of the piston.

All motorcycle motors have a rated capacity. This capacity is related to the volume of the chamber in which the piston operates. The capacity of these motors may vary from 25 cc to 1500 cc. The capacity of the pistons and chamber is directly proportional to the output of power. This is also referred to as Brake horse power.

The bike motor is started by means of an electric spark. This in turn ignites the gas air mixture in the chamber and sets the pistons into motion. This spark is generated by a dynamo. Earlier bikes were all kick start. The bike was started by pumping a lever down wards with the leg. But latest motorcycles have incorporated the self start option. In such bikes the pistons are fired by a starter motor.

The older motorcycles had their current supplied by a magneto. Now however the latest bikes are replaced by Capacitor Discharge Ignition. CDI systems provide higher ignition current for starting making the bike easier to start. Kawasaki was the first to adapt this for motorcycles.

Another variant of the bike motor is the diesel engine. Unlike in cars the diesel engine is not adapted for large scale motorcycle use. This is because the diesel engine has a lower efficiency and is also heavier than a corresponding petrol engine. Diesel engines are prone to greater vibration and are generally unsuitable for two wheelers. However a limited variety of diesel powered bikes are in the market.

Bikes with large displacement usually have multi-cylinders. Such motorcycles may have 2, 4 or even 6 cylinders. There are many types of multi-cylinder options available in the market. Cylinders of the bike motors may be positioned in vertical or twin cylinder configuration. They may also be positioned in line. Another development is the Wankel engine made by Felix Wankel (1902 – 1988). Wankel engines generate greater power for the motorcycle. Bike motors can go up to six cylinders. Six cylinders are fitted on the heaviest bikes and include bikes like the Honda CBX and the Kawasaki KZ1300.

Liquid-cooled motorcycles engines are a further development. Such motorcycles engines have a radiator like in a car. The radiator follows the principle of heat dissipation and keeps the engine cool by circulating water or a liquid coolant. Liquid cooled engines can however be fitted only on the larger bikes and are unsuitable for lower displacement bikes. Liquid cooled bikes for a specific displacement generate greater power than air cooled bike engines. They also last longer than an air cooled engine. Air-cooled bikes are however much cheaper to buy and maintain with simpler construction.

However, 4 stroke engines have captured the commercial market. Four stroke engine bikes give a smoother ride on the road and also generate greater power over broader spectrum of speed. But despite this two stroke engines are in great demand in the developing countries, as cost is a big factor there. In the United States and Western Europe the two stroke bike is now an oddity and motorcycle manufacturers mostly market four stroke bike variants.

Another variant of the motorcycle engine is the electric engine. These engines are still in the development stage and are presently only used to power small scooters and mopeds. These electric motors mostly operate on lead acid batteries. However a negative point against these batteries is that they take more than 4 hours to recharge. They also have limitations of speed and performance and unsuitable for heavier bikes. However some concept bikes using a lithium battery have been tested but they are far from commercial production stage due to the prohibitive cost involved.

The Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R motorcycle is a top-of-the-line crotch rocket. As one of the most popular crotch rockets or sport bikes in the motorcycle category it is probably most well known for its speed. It came into this world in 1999 and with ongoing testing it was the fastest production motorcycle in the world.

It enjoyed an excellent reputation among sport bikes however in 2000 the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers decided that they would have to change some of the specs. They were worried about the regulation that was bound to happen among various governments and they didn’t want to have any problems.

So in 2001 and the following years through 2008, they added what is called a timing retard to the fifth gear and a rev limiter. This changed the maximum speed to 186 mph from the 198mph that was enjoyed on the earlier model.

It has six gears however most will keep it in third pretty much for tooling around town and up to 60 mph on the local tracks.

The Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R has a cool 3-way switch on the right handle bar. Choices are – one for full power and response and the other two switches reduce action and output.

And of course – it’s a crotch rocket so you’re going to be sitting close to the ground. It sits a little lower than some other models and the bars are not as narrow. But most crotch rocket lovers like this.

The translation of Hayabusa from the Japanese language is peregrine falcon. Thee peregrine falcon can travel faster than 200 mph. This Suzuki motorcycle certainly meets that definition.

In 2008 the crotch rockets or sport bike competition soared when the BMW K120S and the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R were brought to the marketplace.

Suzuki is no longer called the GSX1300R in some countries because Suzuki dropped it and they call it simply the Hayabusa.

The Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R can go a quarter mile in 9.62 seconds at 149 mph. It can go from 0-60 mph in 6 seconds and from 0-180 in 15.9 seconds.

The 2009 models come in white and silver, black and gray, black and gold and silver and gray. In 2008 the Hayabusa sold for $12,000 or so. Although now, individual deals can be made with local dealers. And if you’re lucky enough to find a used Hayabusa that’s not all beat up, that’s good too and can save you a lot of money.

So if you’re thinking about buying a Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R sportbike you’ll get a high performance motorcycle – sport bike or crotch rocket that you’ll be proud to own, do endless motorcycle stunts and wheelies and love to ride! But don’t buy this crotch rocket – motorcycle as your first bike. Repairs can be expensive and one spill can end up causing a lot of damage. Get a used older bike and practice on that unless you’re an experienced rider now.

There are many types of motorcycles, with each class having distinct differences. Here are the basics of the different types of motorcycle classes.

Cruisers and Choppers

A cruiser is a type of motorcycle where the rider has a straighter position while sitting and the feet are always in a forward position on the bike, meaning they are resting up or in front of the rider. Where for example on a bicycle, for instance, your feet are below where you are sitting.

Cruisers are said to be more
comfortable for riding long distances. Cruisers tend to be the most widely customized motorcycles and as such are sometimes referred to as “custom motorcycles”. These custom cruisers, also called “choppers”, which comes from a reference to the frame being chopped by having the front fork extended. The chopper was the type of motorcycle that Henry Fonda and Dennis Hopper rode in the 1960’s movie Easy Rider. A cruiser or chopper is also the most popular class of motorcycle for the serious biker and you’ll find a majority of bikers riding them at motorcycle conventions, expos, rallies and other events, as they give off the classic “cool” biker look. The leading maker of this type of bike is Harley Davidson.

Touring Bikes

Touring bikes are another major type of motorcycle. Touring bikes differ from cruisers and choppers in that they are geared towards riders who wish to travel frequently or have commutes. Typically, a touring bike has a large wind screen above the handlebar area. A touring bike will also typically have a larger fuel
tank to allow for less frequent stops during travel. The seats and seating position are also optimized for long rides, with more overall comfort and better positioning. Some types of touring bikes may also have luggage and storage options including hard case saddlebags and storage on the rear end of the bike.

Other types of touring bikes offer amenities that you’d find on cars, including heated seats, stereo systems, GPS and even air conditioning. Safety devices such as air bags have also been included in some touring bike models. Other types of touring bikes are optimized for off road travel, and include higher ground
clearance and extra shielding for protection from off road hazards. A good example of this type of bike is the police bikes that were used on the TV show “Chips”. Honda, BMW and Yamaha are some of the leading makers of touring bikes.

Sport Bikes

Sport bikes are much less geared towards comfort than to optimizing the overall performance of the bike. The speed and acceleration are foremost a priority for sport bike enthusiasts. To accommodate this, sport bikes typically offer features like wider tires, lightweight frames and technologically advanced braking, which all sit on a high performance engine. Sport bikes are also much more aerodynamically designed to lessen wind drag and maximize speed, so you’ll see very sleek, smooth and often colorful designs. There are also different types of sport bikes, with small sport bikes offering engines from 100 cc to 150 cc, all the way up to what’s known as hyper sport bikes, with engines ranging from 1000 cc all the way up to an astounding 1400 cc. Japanese makers lead the pack when it comes to sport bikes, with makers like Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha being at the forefront.

So you’ve decided to buy a new motorcycle! What an exciting time this can be especially when you go into a dealership with a little bit of knowledge! It is important to know what you want, and to make sure your motorcycle fits your needs. Do your homework and understand completely what you’re looking for before you talk to a salesperson. There is a great web site called CycleBuy.com where you can find out the dealer invoice price and obtain a report on each bike. Remember the dealer is in business to think money and he will try and make at least 10% profit on your sale. Some of the more common fees are set-up fees, documentation fees, destination charges and taxes. It is difficult sometimes to find out what a dealership’s profit margin is, but it is somewhere between 5 and 15%.

Also know that the salesman will always try to sell you extra items including an extended warranty and all the accessories, because obviously the dealer makes money on this, too. It is a personal choice on which accessory or additional item you would like. If you are doing a trade-in, remember to do your homework as well. Check out this web site, http://www.kbb.com (Kelly Blue Book), as this will tell you what the price of the vehicle is when either selling it outright or trading it in. Try keeping the rule in mind that the dealer always wants to make at least 10% profit on each deal, so doing your homework means you may be able to talk them down substantially.

Most dealers are favorable to cash deals, but if you are financing try to put down a good portion of that in cash. You may want to use a personal line of credit or get a pre-approved loan from a lending institution before approaching a dealer. Some dealers may have low percentage loans they can offer you on certain models, and this may definitely influence your decision. If you sell your bike privately rather than trading it in, you are probably going to get more for it. Remember, the dealer wants to work with you so play hardball with him. Give them some of your other business such as riding gear and accessories as this can be used as a bargaining tool. After you will finalize the deal, you can almost always get them to sweeten it a bit more by throwing in the helmet or a jacket, since the salesperson has spent a lot of time and doesn’t want to lose the sale.