Motorcycles must be leaned in order to turn. Motorcycles from a number of manufacturers now have electric windshields, which raise and lower the windshield with the push of a button to the optimum height for conditions. Motorcycles are also exempt from toll bridge charges at some crossings, such as the Severn Bridge and Dartford Crossing. Motorcycles have a far higher rate of crippling and fatal accidents per unit distance than automobiles.
Rider
Riders rights groups fear a wave of ordinances aimed at muffling Harley-Davidsons, hushing Hondas and stifling Suzukis will create a confusing patchwork of laws that motorcyclists won't be able to navigate. A plastic or fiber glass shell, known as a "fairing", is placed over the frame on some models to shield the rider from the wind, aid in aerodynamics and protect engine components in an accident and also from theft. The "dustbin" fairing can improve aerodynamic performance without unacceptably compromising the rider's ability to control the machine, although with a weight penalty. In the absence of a fairing or windshield, a phenomenon known as the windsock effect occurs at speeds above 100 km/h, where the rider becomes a major source of drag and is pushed back from the handlebars, tiring the rider. Modern fairings on touring and sport-touring motorcycles dramatically improve a rider's comfort and attention on long rides by reducing the effect of the wind and rain on the body. They also help keep a rider warm in cold weather, reducing hypothermia. In neither case could rider and passenger converse easily - this may be why early sidecars were often called 'sociable' attachments.
Safety
Along with increased personal safety, riders with these advanced qualifications often benefit from reduced insurance costs. Eligibility for a full motorcycle license or endorsement for completing a Motorcycle Safety course varies from province to province. The Government's road safety strategy document, Tomorrow's Roads: Safer For Everyone, has set a target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads by 40 per cent by 2010.
Motorcycles are a great way to travel in Wisconsin, whether for daily commutes, taking care of personal business, or just traveling a scenic byway or rustic road. In many parts of the world, motorcycles are among the least expensive and most widespread forms of motorized transport. Styles of motorcycles vary depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions. By 1920, this honor went to Harley-Davidson, with their motorcycles being sold by dealers in 67 countries, until 1928 when DKW took over as the largest manufacturer. After the Second World War, the BSA Group became the largest producer of motorcycles in the world, producing up to 75,000 bikes a year in the 1950s. From the 1960s through the 1990s, small two-stroke motorcycles were popular worldwide, partly as a result of East German Walter Kaaden's engine work in the 1950s.
About the Author
Peter Stevenson is a successful Webmaster and publisher of
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