Modern Day Advice for The Fonz and His Harley

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Jason Cosser

There was nothing the Fonz loved more than getting on his beloved bike and traveling the roads of Wisconsin like a true rock star. However, even the Fonz needed to be safe. Although he may have seemed invincible from your tiny old-school television set in the 80s, even he could have crazy things happen to him on the road. Not only would he have wanted to be safe but he also would have wanted to keep his prized possession, his Harley Davidson, in mint condition. Below are a few things I think Fonzie should know before hopping on his bike.

  • One thing to remember when you’re cruising around on your motorcycle is that you can be practically invisible to others on the road. According to the National Technical Information Service, 3 out of 4 motorcycle accidents involved a collision with another vehicle which was usually not another motorcycle. The report goes on to state that many of the accidents were caused due to motorist’s inability to see the motorcyclist.

Tip for Fonzie: Although your signature black leather jacket is super stylish, maybe switch it out from time to time for a red leather jacket. Wearing black or gray often causes motorcyclists to be even harder to see on the road. Fonz did however have the right idea when picking out a leather jacket. Leather is a great barrier between riders and the pavement and can ultimately reduce the chances of getting injured while riding.

  • Just like any other type of machine, motorcycles can and will have mechanical issues. What if Fonzie’s motorcycle broke down and his magic Fonzie touch couldn’t get it started back up?

Tip for Fonzie: Invest in roadside assistance  to save yourself precious time with the ladies. With roadside assistance you could get gas, a tow, or even a jump start in no time and be back on your way to Arnold’s in no time.

  • Because bikes are obviously smaller than cars, motorcycles usually tend to look farther away than they actually are due to their size, making it difficult for non-motorcycle drivers to judge cyclists true speed. This can be extremely dangerous!

Tip for Fonzie: Slow down before going into an intersection. Be sure to check the traffic around you and note their speed.  Try not to speed, use your signals and know your bike’s limits.

With motorcyclists more likely to die or sustain injury in a collision than drivers or passengers of other automobiles, it is also important that The Fonz have adequate insurance.  There are two types of coverage that are required by law—Property Damage Liability and Bodily Injury Liability. Both of these types of coverage are automatically part of any motorcycle policy you buy. Here is how they work:

  • Property Damage Liability Coverage helps protect you from paying for the repair or replacement of another motorist’s vehicle or property, including vehicles, homes, or other structures.
  • Bodily Injury Liability Coverage helps protect you from paying medical costs, loss of income, and funeral expenses of other people involved in an accident.

Two important notes to remember:

-In some states, bodily injury to a passenger is covered separately under
Passenger Liability coverage.

-In other states, you can pay an additional premium so that Bodily Injury Liability Coverage applies to passengers.

With these tips and resources, hopefully you and Fonzie can ride safely!

This guest blog is from All State Motor Club, specializing in providing peace of mind on the road. All State Motor Club offers superior roadside benefits including towing, trip planning, an arrest bond certificate, a theft reward, Accidental Death Insurance and payment for legal services. Leave your worries at home knowing we’ll be there whenever you need us!

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Advantages of Using CO2 for Tire Inflation

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Jason Cosser

Over the past ten years the popularity of CO2 cartridges has risen substantially-especially in the bicycling community. We have seen more and more bikers ditch their traditional pumps for the ease and convenience of CO2 inflation. The advantages of these simple little cylinders are numerous and ever increasing as we find new and better uses for them!

The most common reason for carrying a gas cartridge is to quickly air up a flat tire when biking. CO2 is great in an emergency because it is quick to use. You can fill up your tire much faster with a carbon dioxide inflator than with a regular old tire pump.

This method of tire inflation also requires less effort to use and you will need to exert less energy when repairing your flat. Less effort means your tire can be fixed and you can be back on your bike as quickly as possible. Less energy exertion means you can save up your energy stores for the last leg of the race or the return trip back home. You don’t want to waste any more time than necessary fix your flat.

Another big plus to using CO2 cartridges is that they are small, lightweight and easy to carry or store. You can keep a fairly large amount on your person without them taking up much room at all. This leaves more room for other equally important things like first aid necessities.

The last important advantage is the fact that purchasing gas cartridge inflators will not cost you an arm and a leg. They are quite inexpensive, cost-effective and when buying them in bulk you could possibly save even more.

These tiny cylinders may be small, but they pack a big punch and they can take you as far as you need to go!

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Rental Car Insurance Advice: Do You Need the Coverage?

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Jason Cosser

Car Lot Disintegrate

Renting a car can be a stressful experience. When a customer is at the checkout counter, they are often inundated with offers for additional protection, often not really understanding what they are paying for. Do you need a damage waiver? Do you need injury protection? Do you need supplemental liability coverage?  It is important for rental car customers to understand there insurance policy and what is applicable when renting a car.

Most car insurance companies will cover an insured while in a rental car depending on the type of policy. However, drivers should verify this with their insurer so they don’t end up being financially responsible for any loss and understand what is covered for their rental.

For example, if the rental car is worth a lot more than the car the driver owns or their policy has low limits, they could end up paying for additional damage.  With a driver’s own vehicle, they can choose whether to repair minor scrapes, but rental car companies can charge drivers for even the smallest damage.

Comprehensive and Collision Rental Coverage

Comprehensive and collision coverage through a customer’s auto insurance provider will both likely transfer to the rental car, but the customer will be responsible for paying the deductible if anything happens to the rental car. If a customer has a high collision and comprehensive deductible, it may be wise to purchase the rental car company damage protection.

There are potentially other avenues for coverage. Some credit cards include rental car insurance for free when a rental is paid for with the card. However, these policies have a lot of restrictions and exclusions, so make sure you understand what they won’t cover before you use it. Have a written copy of the policy sent to you so you can make an informed choice.

Rental Car Company Coverage

Of course, there is always the option to purchase coverage offered by the rental car company. This coverage may plug gaps in your personal insurance policy by offering additional liability protection or coverage for items stolen from the vehicle. Most rental companies offer great coverage, but at a much higher price than from a credit card or auto insurance company. Additional coverage is typically a high profit margin for rental car companies. As a consumer, it is important to make sure you are not double paying for coverage.

My Car Accident“Collision damage waiver” and “loss damage waiver” mean the rental car company is waiving their right to charge for damage to the rental car. With it, drivers don’t have to worry about whether their credit card or auto insurance company covers the car. If a driver does not have comprehensive or collision coverage on their personal vehicle, or they don’t want to deal with filing a claim, rental car company insurance will provide the coverage.

Coverage For Every Need

Personal effects coverage, or PEC, covers items stolen from the rental vehicle.  A driver’s personal auto insurance company is unlikely to cover this, although a travel insurance provider may. PEC is worth considering if a driver is on vacation and more likely to leave more expensive items, like a GPS or camera, in the car.

There also may be supplemental liability coverage available from the rental car company. If a driver is a long way from home and only has a small amount of liability coverage on their personal insurance policy, this may be a good idea.  However, the limits are often very high and the coverage is expensive.

The rental car insurance option a driver selects will depend on their personal situation and financial means, as well as what time of year and where they are traveling. Whatever their situation, it is important for drivers to speak to their auto insurance company before they leave so they understand what they’ll cover and what they won’t. If a driver does elect to purchase optional rental car coverage, only choose coverage that fills gaps in their auto insurance policy.

Jason Nelson contributed this article for DiscountCarInsuranceQuotes.net where drivers can read auto insurance company reviews, find tips for discounts, and obtain free quotes from top insurers.

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Think Outside the Box for Cheaper Insurance

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Jason Cosser

Valk in a BoxAny vehicle insurance quote will leave you staring blankly at the screen for a moment or two, wondering where exactly the money is going to come from. Time to get the imagination fired up? Bike insurance is no exception, whether you use the bike purely for recreational purposes or rely on it to get to work, the cost of insurance remains a significant factor for many people.  Bikes and scooters may seem like a realistic alternative for some struggling to afford to run the car every day, but the insurance costs can be just as difficult to meet.  By being a bit creative and thorough you can start reducing the overhead that biking and insurance brings.

Hop On for a Cheaper Ride

There are a number of ways to cut the cost of your premiums, some apply to both car and bike insurance and others will be helpful for those just looking to insure their bike.

Lower Bike Insurance Tips

  • The amount of excess applied to your policy will make a significant difference to the quote.  For those with low value bikes used for commuting purposes, it can make sense to select a higher voluntary excess amount.  Even for those with more expensive models it’s worth considering. 
  • Don’t collect points.  In many areas of life collecting points means prizes, but on your licence it means penalties.  The more you collect the higher your premium so safe driving is the best way to access these particular rewards.
  • Modified cars and bikes attract modified insurance premiums.  The best advice is to avoid modifications, especially to cars.  Bike owners may be more likely to be both owners and enthusiasts, so for advice on modified bike insurance see the next section. 
  • Lock up garages.  Keeping any vehicle off road and securely locked away chips a little off the insurance cost.  In the case of bike insurance this may be easier to achieve even if you don’t have a garage.  Adding security devices may also make a small difference and can be very worthwhile.
  • Use comparison sites – this alone should put you in the right direction. Putting the details into various online sites and then tweaking the options should show where the increases hide in your cover. Then you can try to exclude the ‘added extras’ which you may not actually need.

Bike Specific Tips

  • Bike insurance policies may offer more flexible terms – with just basic cover for the bike and the option to add different elements to the policy.  You may find that you can pick and choose on the policy to suit your needs and make some savings.
  • Modified bike insurance may be best purchased from specialist providers.  A general rule when it comes to modifications is that you’ll see a higher premium.  However, specialist insurers tend to be aware that bike owners are usually enthusiasts and therefore fall into the careful owner category and they will often take this into account.
  • Seasonal savings.  Nobody dislikes a Sunday driver better than an insurance salesman.  For those who are out and about at weekends or during the summer on the bike, policies can be found to reflect this.  Uninsured periods or limited insurance in the winter can help to reduce the annual cost.

Call In The Specialist

Individual bikers often have very specific and individual requirements for bike insurance and this is where it pays to work with a specialist.  Comparison sites are worth a look as costs can vary significantly from different providers, but try to check several of these to get the best overall picture.  For those of us who are gearing up for summer, finding an affordable quote is not beyond the realms of possibility, although it may just take a little time and research.

Whether it is for seasonal use or everyday use, finding the best deal on bike insurance can be a time consuming process.  Whatever your needs a number of simple tips may help to reduce the cost and for bike insurance try checking out specialist providers who understand the needs of bikers and can offer some of the best deals.

Posted in Cars and Motorcycles | Leave a comment

Is A Classic Car A Good Investment?

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Jason Cosser

During a struggling economy, investors often seek to stabilize their portfolios by turning to valuable commodities such as precious metals and fine wine. Classic cars have also become increasingly more popular for their investment potential, and they have been shown to perform better than the stock market for the past four years.

While the market for classic cars has been showing less volatility than more traditional investments, getting into this field is not for the uninformed. Like any investment, classic cars carry risks that can blindside those who have not done their research, and even due diligence does not guarantee that the car will appreciate enough in value to offset its costs. Experienced collectors such as Jay Leno, therefore, recommend that only those who are passionate about these cars should invest in them.

If you share this passion for classic cars and would like to own one of them, or already have one that you would like to improve, then you may want to consider how the following factors affect the value of your investment:

1.    Funding

Some classic cars can sell for an astonishing amount of money. In 2010, for example, a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic sold for over $30 million, setting a new record for the largest sale ever made for a car. Considering that the same vehicle sold for only $59,000 in 1971, you can see how classic car collectors are capable of receiving an enormous return on their investment.

The collectors who trade in vehicles of this caliber, however, belong to an extremely wealthy minority, which puts many of these cars out of range for the average investor. Even so, many classic cars are still reasonably priced and are likely to appreciate in value, such as muscle cars from the 60s and 70s. Still, these require a larger investment than say, a bar of gold bullion, which is why you have to carefully research which classic cars best fit your budget.

2.    Popularity

Unlike investment-grade precious metals, which can be used as currency, the value of a classic car varies according to external factors. Like a bad film that goes out of print, a hard-to-find classic car is not necessarily going to end up a collector’s item, especially if it sold poorly due to shoddy design. Even cars that have been consistently popular appreciate according to trends in the market, which means that the hot sellers of today may not be the same six months from now.

3.    Originality

Extensive knowledge of your vehicle comes in handy when making a purchase since there are a number of shady or incompetent sellers out there offering a “bargain” that turns out to be a poorly-restored piece of junk that becomes extremely difficult to resell. Classic cars in general have less liquidity than other types of investments, which is why buying a car sight unseen from sources such as Ebay is usually a bad idea.

Collectors also pay a premium for cars that contain all of their original parts, and those that have been significantly altered from numerous repair jobs lose a great deal of their value. An appraiser who specializes in classic cars can assist you in finding one of worth, especially since a poor restoration is not always easy to identify without a great deal of expertise.

4.    Restoration

One of the most cost effective ways to own a classic car is to find one that needs work and then restore it yourself. How much you spend on this project largely depends on the make and model of your vehicle as well as your skill level. Some classic cars, such as the Ford Model A, are designed specifically for the lay mechanic and require as little as a basic set of tools and an original car owners manual. Others, however, can be extremely complicated and may involve the added expense of a professional if you lack the experience.

Finding parts that work with your classic car can also make restoring one a hassle, since some of these can take years to find and cost a fortune, if you are able to locate them at all. While wealthy celebrities such as Jay Leno can afford to hire a machinist to make these parts, the average investor will want to stick with more popular cars with a healthy parts trade.

5.    Maintenance

The decades-old vehicles you see at classic car shows are not going to be the ones parked outside in the rain. Collectors invest a great deal of money in keeping their cars protected by temperature-controlled garages and maintained by experienced mechanics. Cars that don’t receive regular TLC rapidly depreciate in value, which is why you will need to budget both time and money to ensure that they remain in top shape.

As you can see, owning a classic car does not always lead to riches, but anyone who works on one of these beauties will tell you that they make a most rewarding hobby, especially for do-it-yourself mechanics who want to test their skills by restoring one to its original condition. Finding a decent repair manual, however, can be problem, which is why CDmanuals.net offers affordable, factory-issued online auto repair manuals for any American car released before 1990 to meet the needs of mechanics regardless of skill level.

Brandi Tolleson is a prolific writer on technical topics like investment, finances and technology.

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