The Car Guide

Archive for June, 2011

Wear Motorcycle Helmets? That Is A Good Question!

Motorcyclists are always evaluating the use of motorcycle helmets. Is this simply a matter of preference or are there significant issues to be considered?

A friend of mine Bill has chosen to ride with a helmet or at times without a helmet. He says it depends upon riding conditions for him.

One day he was on a two lane road traveling about 50mph when a tractor trailer truck pulled out from the right side of the street to go the same direction. His thought was to maintain his speed and simply pass the truck. Which most likely could be done. Unfortunately the truck driver did not have enough room for the turn and stopped dead still crossing both lanes.

Bill was now approaching the truck too fast and too close to stop safely. He tried breaking hard but immediately knew he was facing the side of the trailer headon. With quick thinking he laid his Harley on the side and slid under the trailer and on down the road a couple hundred feet.

Relaying his story to me he was flat on his back feet first with his arms spread out and his head bopping on the highway. When all was finished he gave credit to God for helping him and praised his destroyed helmet for saving his life. Plus the leather jacket and gloves that had taken the tears in place of him.

My friend only suffered from some sore muscles and hurt pride. But it brings up the subject of helmet safety.

In the KSLTV News of South Jordan the Police Chief Dan Pearson is likewise teaching people that motorcycle helmets save lives after losing three friends to motorcycle accidents in two years. All three suffered from head injuries and none were wearing motorcycle helmets.

Then the police chief himself was involved in an accident on highway 89 North of Afton Wyoming.

A truck towing a horse trailer had passed him and pulled in front of him hitting the front of his motorcycle with the spare tire mounted on the back. Dan was thrown off his bike landing headfirst. He says This injury would have been a fatal blow if I had not had the helmet on. Dan suffered from bruises and a few broken bones.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that motorcyclists survive a crash and receive less serious injuries when wearing a helmet. They report that at least 600 people are saved each year.

One question that is asked motorcycle helmets might protect your brain but can it increase your chances of a broken neck?

Dr. Michael Yorgason a surgeon at Montana Orthopedics and Sport Medicine states that the findings from medical literature shows: autopsy studies done after fatal motorcycle accidents have shown that neck injuries and fractures are equally likely whether you are wearing a helmet or not.

Yet most medical reports support the use of motorcycle helmets. They believe that the helmet generally decreases the risk of head and brain injury significantly and surmise that wearing them does not increase your risk of neck injury.

An Italian study concluded that a helmet decreased injury by 66.

A Thailand study found that after making motorcycle helmets mandatory head injuries decreased by 41 in 2 years.

Now in Kentucky a study revealed that brain injury increased by 4.3 times when not wearing a helmet.

In an article written by Jonathan P. Goldstein PhD. titled The Effects of Motorcycle Helmet Use on the Probability of Fatality and the Severity of Head and Neck Injuries. He concludes that there are a number of variables in a study that puts the study in question.

Major differences are held concerning helmet use or nonhelmet use. Normal results compare death and injury rates are two and three times greater for nonhelmet riders and increases in occurrence rates in repeal years that vary from 19 to 63.

On one side: the helmet verses the nonhelmet study fails to consider these two classes of riders. Stating that helmet riders are more cautious by nature.

One they drive slower thus have slower speeds in crash situations.
Two they are less likely to have an accident.
Three helmet wearers are less likely to drink and drive alcohol or use of drugs. These behavior changes dramatically reduce a riders risk.

Ontheotherhand factors to consider are:
1average age of the biker
2average miles driven each year per biker
3average experience of the biker 4the size of the motorcycle driven.

So between the size of the bike potential speed age risk taking and alcohol ingestion; simply cannot realistically prove the effectiveness of helmet use.

The Goldstein study did approach these variables in question. They reported a study that evaluates the effectiveness of motorcycle helmets in accident situations. The conclusions are:
1Motorcycle helmets have no statistically significant effect on the probability of fatality.
2Helmets reduce the severity of head injuries.
3Past a critical impact speed of 13 mph helmets increased the severity of neck injuries.

The report then concluded that helmet users face a tradeoff between reductions in the severity of head injuries and increases in the severity of neck injuries.

Under these circumstances a mandatory helmet use law cannot be reasoned to be an effective method to stop an individuals death or injury when involved in an accident.

Perhaps other choices need to be considered in providing safety in motorcycle use. Here are three suggestions.

One educate the general driving public car and truck drivers in road use with motorcycles.
Two educate inexperienced motorcyclists on accident avoidance evasive action and the proper use of these powerful machines.
Three create a strict enforcement of drunk driving laws. Some studies show that alcohol consumption is the major factor in deaths and injury.

HarleyDavidson offers basic and advanced training to 200 dealerships in 30 states. Honda has four training centers. BMW is considering advanced training but says they tend to attract seasoned riders.

It is believed that training cuts panic. You need to know how to negotiate a curve and resist the urge to brake etc.

Here are some other factors that need to be considered. Tires should be inflated to the proper level.

A riders visibility to be seen. Tests have shown that the plain white motorcycle helmets are the easiest to be seen. Clothing makes a difference between day/night.

US DOT findings discovered that following the Helmet Law Repeal in Texas and Arkansas from Aug/Sept of 1997 to May 1998 helmet use dropped to 52 in Arkansas and to 66 in Texas.

In Arkansas motorcycle fatalities rose 21 following the repeal and head injuries increased 18.5. Texas fatalities rose 31.

One court case in California disputed what standards were set for qualifying a helmet as safe. For a list of the US Government Compliance Testing of Motorcycle Helmets you can check to see if your helmet passed or failed. Check with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA.

When I am on my motorcycle I know what I am doing. I do not know what the other driver is doing. So with the many facets of helmet use and considering the pro/cons I choose to wear a helmet. You will have to decide for yourself!

About the writer:  Lonny Wolford endorses motorcycle saftey and great quality bikes at my website http://www.toplinemotorcycles.com

VP RACING FUELS

MGM RACING PERFORMANCE FINDS MORE POWER WITH SWITCH TO VPS M81!
AllAboutBikes.com Staff Writer

After winterlong testing of various products from VP Racing Fuels and other fuel companies MGM Racing Performance announced a switch to VPs M81 racing fuel. The move paid immediate dividends as Jrg Teuchert of Team YAMAHA Motor Germany won both the recent IDM Superbike races in Lusitz Germany. “We are really happy to have VP Racing Fuels as a new technical partner for our team for the 2009 season in the IDM said Michael Galinski MGMs president. We saw really satisfying results with M81 on the dyno in power torque and temperature and now have seen it proven on the track as well. The IDM championship especially the IDM Superbike class has shown impressive growth the last few seasons. More and more manufacturers teams and international toplevel riders are fighting for the championship.

The rules in IDM Superbike are similar to Superstock rules with changes restricted to brakes wheels fairing subframe and electronics Galinski continued. Because the engine has to remain completely stock all the top teams are fighting for any horsepower they can get. This makes race fuel a critical component of a teams program.

With M81 we consistently gained about 2 3 Hp in a wide range of rpms compared to our previous fuel which also ran at higher temperatures Galinski added. While engine temperature is difficult to measure on the dyno M81 has definitely shown no temperature related problems on the track. Throttle response is fine and a postrace review of the engine revealed M81 burns very cleanly with no signs of contamination. Jrg Teuchert won the World Supersport Championship in 2000 the German Superbike Championship IDM Superbike in 2006 and he was ViceSuperbike Champion in 2007. A professional rider he puts out full effort and expects the team to do everything possible in achieving its goal of winning the 2009 championship. At MGM and Team YAMAHA Motor Germany we share his commitment and view VP Racing Fuels as an important part of generating optimum performance for the best possible results.” Over its 34year history VP Racing has earned a reputation for producing high quality racing fuels with superior power and consistency as illustrated by its sweep of all AMA Pro Racing Championships in Superbike Supercross Motocross and Supermoto for five consecutive years through 2008 and for fueling the Motocross Des Nations Champion in the UK and USA. VP is also the official spec fuel and/or contingency sponsor of AMA Supercross AMA Motocross NHRA and numerous other sanctioning bodies. More information is available atwww.vpracingfuels.com

For more Motorcycle Industry news for please visit www.allaboutbikes.com

About the writer:  www.allaboutbikes.com

Useful Tips For Auto Transport

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Analyze Auto Shippers
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Price Consideration
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Payments
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License and Insurance
License and insurance is the other factor to be considered in auto shipping. When the customer goes for vehicle shipping the company should be properly insured and licensed. This is because when the company is insured it will pay the claims at the time of shipment for the damages created. Licensed auto transport provides competent guaranteed performance to the customer.

Delivery
The vehicles listed for shipment should come up with proper delivery. Timely delivery plays the dominant role in auto transport.

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