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February 24, 2018 by Arlene

Motorcycle Road Trip Tips

Going on a motorcycle road trip sounds like an amazing and exciting adventure, but without proper preparation and organisation, it can turn into a true disaster. It’s not only about enjoying the scenery and having a blast with your companions, it’s also about coming home safe and sound.

If you’re sprucing up your bike and packing your bags to get going, here are some insider tips and tricks on how to have the best road trip ever.

Be aware of mileage

The first step towards a successful road trip is to be realistic regarding how much distance you can cover in one day. In beautiful, scenic areas you’ll be able to do about 150 miles, but on back roads, you simply can’t expect to achieve freeway mileage.

Moreover, in theory, six or seven hours may not sound so terrible, but for beginners, it will feel like a never-ending story! So if you’re not used to riding longer than a couple of hours, don’t rush into it. Consider taking a few practice rides just to get accustomed to being on the bike longer. You can’t compare yourself to experienced riders, but the more prepared you are, the better you will feel when you actually set off.

Check your bike regularly

It goes without saying that your motorcycle needs to be in the best condition possible to avoid potential road disasters. Surely, there are no absolute guarantees that there will be zero problems, but you can make sure you cover all you can before you go.

Once on the road, make it a habit to check your bike regularly. It’s the simple things like checking the air pressure, oil, fasteners and similar. It won’t take much of your time, but it can save you a lot of trouble later down the road.

Pack on quality clothes

There’s an old joke among bikers that, at some point of the trip, you’ll end up cold, hot and wet. Weather is unreliable and even on a perfect day, 150 miles down the road, you may enter a true rainstorm. While it’s amazing to ride between the extremes, you need to be physically and mentally ready to be uncomfortable on the open road.

What you need to pack is well-ventilated, waterproof equipment such as high-quality Alpinestars boots, jackets and pants, to get you through all kinds of weather. Good quality clothes and footwear will keep you protected, no matter your size or age.

Plan resting

It’s an absolute necessity to find time to take in enough fluids, eat properly, rest and stretch your legs. Hours on end on the bike will not only wear you down physically, but it will also diminish your concentration and that is the last thing you need while riding at 80 miles per hour. It’s imperative you stay wide awake, alert and focused on the road and traffic. Reckless and irresponsible riding endangers everyone, so road safety is one of your top priorities.

Accessorize

There are several accessories you can pack for the ride that will make it much easier and more comfortable. First of all, most beginner riders aren’t aware of just how noisy it is on the highway, so wearing earplugs is something that will make it more bearable and prevent potential hearing loss in the long run.

If you’re going to be doing long distances regularly, having some technology on your side would probably make those rides even better. For instance, a helmet equipped with Bluetooth can be linked to your phone so you can listen to music and take phone calls, as well as communicate with other riders and follow GPS directions.

Meals are important

There’s no point in going on a road trip and enjoying the scenery without equally enjoying a bite of great food along the way. A cup of coffee and a hot meal will make any rider feel at home, relaxed and rested. However, roads are nasty and dirty and by the time you hit your destinations at the end of the day, all that dirt will end up on you as well. So, if you’re planning to stop and grab a nice dinner, think twice before you enter a place looking wild and filthy.

You can either pick a place that is less polished and fancy, and popular with local bike riders, or make time to have a shower before you eat. The latter comes in highly recommendable, as that first shower you take after a 10-hour ride will be a truly heavenly experience.

By following tips outlined here, every motorcycle road trip you take will be an unforgettable adventure!

January 23, 2018 by Arlene

Five Tips for Buying a Used Mercedes Benz

If you’ve been thinking about buying a Mercedes Benz, getting a used one is an option you should consider. This is a great way to get one of the best cars in the world at a much cheaper price.

However, if you’re looking for a used Mercedes Benz for sale, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Today, we’re going to take a look at what those things are.

Here are five tips for buying a used Mercedes Benz.

Decide Which Model You Want: Mercedes Benz has a number of models to choose from, some of which date back to the 1920’s. To this day, the company puts out a few new lines every year. When making your decision, age is one thing you need to think about. There are obvious advantages to getting a newer vehicle, but some people enjoy the vintage look. You should also consider your needs. Will you be driving by yourself, or do you have a family to take care of?

Decide How Much You’ll Spend: Of course, your budget is going to be an important factor when making your decision. After you’ve decided on a model, you need to think about how much you can afford. Next, you need to compare prices. The best thing to do is find the average price for the model you’re looking for. From there, you will have a better idea of what to look for and how much you should spend on it.

Get a Car History Report: This is very important, especially if you’ll be buying online. A car history report will tell you everything you need to know about the car, including accident reports, salvage reports, sales history, and other useful information. You can usually get one of these from the DMV although they’re also available from online resources. This will help you determine if there’s anything you need to know about a car before you buy.

Explore Financing Options: Obviously, you’re likely to find better deals if you can pay with cash, but this isn’t always realistic. That said, it’s possible to get a loan as long as you have the proper information. Make sure you have a copy of your credit report handy, along with the car’s make, model, and car history report. You also want to go to a few different lenders, so you know you’re getting the best deal.

Ask a Lot of Questions: Finally, the best way to learn about a used car is to simply ask. You want to get as much information as you can from the person who’s selling. One thing in particular that you need to know is why they’re selling the car in the first place. Other questions you should ask are how often it was driven, how often the oil was changed, and where they bought it. The more you know about a car, the easier it will be to make a decision.

As long as you keep these tips in mind, you should have no problem finding the right Mercedes Benz for yourself.

for. Just remember to do your research, and good luck finding the car that’s right for you.

July 26, 2017 by Arlene

How to Stop Your Car From Costing You So Much Money

Cars can prove to be quite a costly accessory in our lives and whilst for many it is an absolute necessity, there is no reason to blow most of your wage each month on running your vehicle. The cost of a car alone is substantial enough without needing to fork out huge amounts each month on the running and the caring of your car. If you are looking to reduce your monthly spends then the car would be a good place to start and here are just some of the ways that you can cut down on how much your car costs you each month.

Car Insurance

When your car insurance is up for renewal, make sure that you pore through your options with a fine toothcomb. Far too many people simply accept the first offer that comes along or they decide to allow their existing policy to continue, both of which could see you paying more than you should do for the rest of the year. Head to a site like Chill. ie and find out if you can get an even better offer on your car insurance for next year.

Gadgets

Many of us get sucked in to buying any number of gadgets and pieces of tech for our cars and the spending could soon add up. Try to remember that the car is for purpose and whilst there is nothing wrong with improving the way things are inside the car, we should all remember that there is a lot of junk on the market that we simply don’t need.

Cleaning

Cleaning your car on your own is something which the majority of us have the capability to do and for the sake of a couple of hours of your time every fortnight, you could save a lot of money each month. You may think that spending four or five pounds on a wash and valet may not be much, but over the course of a year it will really add up. Fill up that bucket and start saving money.

Driving Style

Driving style has a huge impact on how much your car will cost, in many different ways and a smart and calculated driving approach can really help you to save some money. Firstly there is the fact that you are less likely to be involved in a potentially costly accident; secondly you will do far less damage to your car’s parts through your method of driving, and finally you will use significantly less petrol as you go.

Car Sharing

Car sharing is a great way to not only save some money but also to improve road conditions and help to protect the environment. There are many apps out there which can help you to get in touch with other people who are taking the same route as you and you can alternate driving with sharing each day.

These are just a few of the ways in which you can save money on your car each month, if you have any others that work for you, let us know in the comments section below.