Sure, you can ride a bike in just about any shoes, but anyone who rides regularly can benefit from shoes designed specifically for motorcycling.

What type of footwear you purchase stems from what type of riding you do. For regular street use, I would recommend street riding shoes (duh). Make sure your brand has a high ankle design because it aids protection while a low-cut Achilles area allows for maximum foot flex.
Proper street riding shoes should come standard with toe protectors and toe sliders, injection moulded heel and ankle support, and abrasion resistance everywhere.

I know some of you may be tempted just to buy regular heavy duty boots for your street riding, but I can say that they will not offer the same protection in the case of an accident. While leather and rubber is durable, it just won’t stand up to the abuse that crashing doles out as well as a shoe that is designed to do just that.

Think about it this way, you would not wear running shoes while playing tennis, would you? Of course not. the court will tear right through the toes and heel areas.

If you are a track day addict or a professional racer, then I would suggest the full race boot. I really don’t have much to suggest here with out being biased to my favorite brands, but make sure they meet the highest standards. You only have two feet!

Stay tuned for more updates.

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What’s going on guys? The good folks over at t CarsHelpingVeterans dot Org ordered up a review of their site, so here I am to share it with you.

Everyone knows, the economy sucks right now. It’s doesn’t matter where in the world you are (well, maybe unless you are in China). I know that in this economy, everyone is scrambling for money and donating anything is the last thing on everyone’s mind. “Me first,” right?

Now, I am sure like me, you probably have at least one or more clunkers tucked away in your garage, yard, or storage space. You call it your project car (you’re significant other calls it junk scrape metal). You swear you will get to it soon and restore it to it’s former glory, but one thing happens after another and it just keeps getting pushed further and further back on your listed of priorities.

And now that riding weather is here, it is even lower on your list of priorities. Well, here’s a thought: donate a car to one of the charitable organizations out there. It’s tax deductible and you can use that money to get an exhaust system, or a track day. You know, something nice for your motorcycle. What do you need another cage for anyways?

You know that homeless person you always pass by and want to help? But you are a bit reluctant because you don’t know if he really is a veteran or just dressed like one? Or you really don’t know what he or she will be using your money for? Well if you process car donations through a reputable website, they will not only pick up your car, truck, or van, but get you a hefty tax deduction as well. Secondly, they will disperse your money to real veterans in need, in a way that will be guaranteed to benefit Purple Heart war veterans.

So, get rid of that junker. Make room for more bikes. Be sure to use the good folks over at CarsHelpingVeterans dot Org to donate used cars.

The process is easy, towing is free, and your car donation is 100% tax deductible. Just fill out their simple online car donation form, schedule an appointment, and viola! Done!

All right guys, stay tuned for more updates. Ride safely out there. And be charitable.

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Well, it looks like the economy is picking up! More and more companies are ordering up reviews of their site. Today I want to talk about moving your motorcycle when you can’t or don’t want to ride it. If you are a fan of our Facebook page, you will know that Paul almost killed himself pushing our Street Triple from the garage to the nearest shop.

So, whether you are using motorcycle movers, household movers, or moving your bike yourself, here is some tips regarding the process.

If you’re using a moving company like Los Angeles Movers, be sure to siphon out or run the bike out of fuel. It will be a lot lighter, trust me. If your move will be a long distance move, disconnect the battery as well, and anything that could potentially be damaged, such as antennas, racks, saddlebags, carriers and any other accessories.

Companies like LA Movers will then ship using one of 3 methods: Strapping inside the truck (the least efficient use of space), strapping to a special motorcycle moving pallet, or completely enclosing in a wooden crate (this is the safest, but most expensive method). The longer the distance of the move, usually the more protection is required.

If you are a moving the motorcycle yourself, there are a few different options. You can use a small rental straight truck with a ramp or lift gate (preferred). Motorcycle straps can be purchased at some automotive stores, or motorcycle dealerships to secure the bike. They generally can be purchased in sets of four to secure the bike in all four corners. These should be attached to sturdy areas like the forks and reattached to the truck walls so the bike cannot move in any direction.

Things like bike value, distance of move, timing and budget all can play a role in deciding which direction to go. Check with a fellow biker or calling a motorcycle dealership can give valuable insight so you make the right decision.

If you are looking for a LA Moving Company be sure to call the best at 1-800-431-3920, a toll free number of course, and they will hook you up with a free quote.

Stay tuned guys.

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What’s up guys? I was cleaning out the garage the other day and I noticed all this dust and other particles in my air ducts. So I decided to do a bit of research on how to prevent or clean it up.

According to the EPA’s website, duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. This is because much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It is important to keep in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes]…[Moreover, there is no evidence that a light amount of household dust or other particulate mater in air ducts poses any risk to your health.

That being said, for those of us that do a lot of work in our garages, i.e. us, I think it is much safer for us to clean our air ducts than not. Just think of all the potentially toxic irritants that are in a motorcycle. I’d rather not be breathing that stuff if I don’t have to.

Sure, the EPA gives you an ambiguous answer but places such asAir Duct Cleaners in San Antonio claim When Your Air Ducts Are Clean, You’ll Breathe Healthy, Clean Air. And don’t we all want to do that?

Air duct cleaning services can run as low as $75 bucks, so quit getting dripped on with brake fluid and breathing in paint flakes and exhaust fumes. Get it done. We will.

Stay tuned for more updates folks. Ride safely.

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What’s going on guys? With the summer weather in full swing in much of the country, you guys should be riding everywhere by now.

School is out and many of us are playing hooky from work once a week at least, so here is what I like to do during the summer. Well, first off, I’m a sports and music buff, so I like going to concerts and games. So, obviously I ride to these events, and you should too.

Why? Well, you get to ride there, that’s cool. You arrive in style. Trust me, everyone notices the couple rolling up on two wheels. There is always parking for you, which is a real money and time saver. And, duh, you get to ride there.

Now depending on your area of interest, riding to some events may up your rep more than others. Bon Jovi, James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, and U2 concert? Yeah, probably. Justin Bieber, Muse, Lady Gaga? Hmmm, not so much.

So, whether you need MBA playoff, Papa Roach, or Lady Gaga tickets, don’t forget to check out your local paper or some online sites for places that offer cheap tickets for sale. You can save event more money by purchasing through them.

Alright guys, the most important thing when riding is, be safe. Happy almost summer and riding.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Hey, what’s going on guys? Today I wanted to let you know the importance of having full coverage bike insurance, especially nowadays.

I know times are tough, and the first thing cut from our arsenal as riders, is pretty much down to either track time and/or insurance. I mean, let’s face it, I sure as hell am not going to skimp on my bike payments and lose my ride! Are you?

Well, I’ve got news for some of you. Motorbike insurance isn’t a choice. You must have a policy taken out on your bike in order to drive legally. On top of that, if you do get into an accident, or if some idiot hits you, you may end up losing your bike one way or the other anyways, if you don’t have insurance.

Jobs are scarce and money is tight. Don’t add the trouble of the cost of fixing your motorcycle, or paying for someone else’s bill, to the list. Get covered.

What should you get? Well, liability coverage is mandatory. Collision insurance, comprehensive coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage are optional coverages that you may wish to add to your policy.

Liability Insurance covers any damage or injury you may cause to property or other people in the event you are deemed to be at-fault in an accident or collision. However, it doesn’t cover you or your motorcycle. Some policies may include coverage for a guest passenger as well, but this is not guaranteed.

You can also add collision insurance to your policy to cover your motorcycle if liability insurance isn’t enough to help you sleep soundly at night. Collision insurance pays for damage to your motorcycle, less your deductible. Even if the damage is your fault, this coverage will still apply.

Comprehensive Coverage protects your bike from non-accident related perils; including fire, theft and acts of vandalism.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage provides protection should you become involved in an accident caused by another driver, and the other driver is either without insurance or has inadequate insurance coverage. This provisional coverage will help pay for medical treatment, lost wages and other damages to you and your passengers. If your policy includes uninsured motorist property damage coverage, your bike would be protected as well.

Take your pick guys, but don’t skimp.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Hi guys, hope your summer riding is in full swing at the moment. The good folks over at Vast Vision ordered up a review on their site today. They are a seo company, so this is more for those of you with websites, which I guess is everyone nowadays.

With a quick glance at their website, you see that they claim their powerful search marketing program will place your site at the top of search results with Google, Yahoo!, and Bing.

They also offer three different ways to analyze your website on the front page. You can get a FREE SEO SITE ANALYSIS, a FREE COMPETITOR ANALYSIS, and a FREE RANKING REPORT.

They also offer web design and development services, ecommerce solutions and internet marketing on top of their seo services.

So, if you are in the market, or know someone that is, be sure to point them toward Vast Vision. Support those that support us!

Stay tuned for more updates and ride safe!

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Hi guys. Today the good folks over at the automotive division of Become.com ordered up a review of their site.

Chances are, most of us riders have a car for hauling and cold weather (except some of you hardcore people out there), so I’d thought I give their site a thorough once-over.

Upon first inspection, the site seems to be an Amazon slash eBay type page. You scroll to your section, whether it be automobile or boats and planes, and it lists parts and accessories you might like to buy and links to the pages that sell them. So, I am guessing the make money off commission.

As it turns out, in addition to stuff for your car, they actually have a section dedicated to motorcycle, mopeds, and ATVs as well. They offer some pretty new and cool stuff. On the first page, there were new Shoei helmets, Alpinestars Bionic Neck Supports, and even 150cc Scooters.

So, it’s actually not a bad place to dig through if you are in the market for a certain item for your car or motorcycle. Who knows? You might end up saving a bundle, or end up buying something you didn’t even want in the first place. Ah well, the hazards of online shopping.

All right guys, that’s it for this time. Dig through Become.com. I am sure you will find something you need, and want.

Stay tuned.

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First off, they are a 100% advertiser supported insurance search engine. You can get free insurance quotes for Health, Home, Term or Whole Life, Business, Auto, Boat, fixed annuities and more… it’s your choice!

You can also choose to find an individual agent or complete a brief form and get quoted by multiple agents who meet your exact coverage needs. A one stop shop, you might say.

1-800-475-6840 is their toll free number where clients that are looking for Los Angeles Insurance can get a free insurance quote from a licensed insurance agent. The number is good for anyone from anywhere looking for insurance Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey, or San Francisco.

The webpage also features popular insurance resources such as articles, tips, and information about all types of insurance coverage including auto, health, life, home, business, pet, and more.

So, if you are looking to save some money or looking to start a new policy, their customer service agents are standing by to help you purchase Los Angeles Car Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, and/ or Home Insurance. Their website will guide you to many compatible insurance offers.

Stay tuned for more updates!

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If you are on your motorcycle during an earthquake, the most difficult thing to remember is: Don’t panic. Slow down. Make sure there’s still road ahead of you. Remember that on two wheels, you actually have many advantages over the cagers. You can travel over rough terrain, and squeeze in between large objects to get to safety. In fact, San Francisco is using motorcycles as parts of its earthquake and disaster response plan.

What if you do panic? Hey, no shame. An earthquake is a scary thing. What if you panic, spaz out, and experience a tank-slapper? Same advice: Don’t panic, or rather, Stop panicking.

A tank-slapper is just a violent oscillation of the front steering. All steering systems on motorcycles have a natural frequency where, given a sudden disturbance, will oscillate quickly from left to right, each oscillation bigger than the previous.

During an earthquake, going over broken pavement where the front wheel is barely touching the ground, or frantically swinging your steering to and fro, is when you will likely experience a tank-slapper. The solution sounds just as easy, however, ride it out. Don’t grab your brakes, or stop abruptly. It will only make things worse.

During an earthquake, you may also run into a situation where you might be tempted to ditch your bike to avoid hitting something or getting hit. Whether it be a car coming at you or you coming up to a building, I would say you should almost never attempt to ditch your motorcycle.

Sounds crazy but, tire rubber has immense traction; plastic, steel, and chrome have next to no traction at all. If you’re on your bike and in control, you stand a much better chance of stopping in time or swerving out of the way than if you just let the bike slide.

Let’s say you decided to ditch your bike, get knocked over, or just dropped your motorcycle, now what? Don’t panic. First, HIT THE KILL SWITCH. Next, turn off the gas, if necessary.

Make sure the bike is in gear if you can get to it. Standing with your back toward the seat, stoop down and with your right hand and grab the left grip (this is assuming the bike is on the left side, reverse if the bike is on its right side). Place your left hand under seat. When you grab the grip, pull it until it is as close to the tank as possible. With your left hand find something sturdy to grab hold of under the seat. The closer your left hand is to your body the better.

Place your back mid way on the edge of the seat. This is CRUCIAL.
Lift with your legs, not with your back. The placement of your back too high or too low on the seat will not give you the correct leverage angle. You will have to pull up with your arms a bit but mostly you will be pushing the bike up with your legs.

Hopefully this will help some of you who are caught riding during an earthquake. I’ll leave you with three more things to watch out for in case you are in San Francisco. Avoid Toyota Corollas, SUVs, mini-vans, and drivers talking on cell phones.

Toyotas drivers in the Bay think they have the safest cars in the world and seem to be either dimwitted or extremely aggressive on the road.
People in SUVs drive as if they are celebrities with the constant right of way, and diplomatic immunity. People in mini-vans drive as if they were in little sports cars (not anymore, Moms). Drivers talking on a cell phone drive as though they are talking to the President and nothing else matters. In any case, none of them can see you, or would care if they did. Avoid them all!

Can’t deal with all this? Move to Chicago, auto repair and motorcycle repair are less expensive. Need that water pump replaced? you won’t get gouged in Chicago!

Alright guys, now I’m rambling. Stay tuned for more updates, and ride safely out there!

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We offer auto insurance rates and quotes.

Well, get ready for more, because apparently Honda of the UK has effectively banned owners of VFR800 and other previous VFRs from riding the 2010 Honda VFR1200. I know what you are thinking, WHAT?!?

MCN, England’s largest bike publication, had scheduled a loan of a VFR1200, nicknamed Shamu in order to get real riders’ opinions of the new bike. But, when Honda got wind of MCN’s plans to put VFR owners on the bike and then publish their opinions, they balked, ordering the paper not to allow anyone but editorial staff on the heavyweight V4. MCN’s response? They won’t test it. Cheers! Right?

European journalists have been complaining about everything from the VFR1200′s 591lbs weight to the expected price of repair following a low-speed spill to much more serious criticisms like the 160-mile tank range and the uncomfortable seat. Following that coverage, Honda’s refusal to allow consumers on to the bike before it reaches showrooms is damning. Many other publications claim that that demonstrates a shocking lack of faith in their own product’s ability to weather criticism.

Hmmm… I have a different take. With the downward facing global economy, our great friends at MCN tried to do something different and push the envelope with this particular testing. Sure, regular schmoes get to test ride new bikes for the first time. Of course, they would have the public on their side!

Honda’s concern and refusal are standard operating procedure. Think of the liability! These are not trained professional riders/writers. It’s going to be a fiasco. Honda did right but that doesn’t mean they won’t pay for it. Much like other media, the motorcycle community is going to tear Honda a new one over this.

The motorcycle media is going to have a feeding frenzy over this. Sorry Honda. All I can do is not join in. All things aside, things are not shaping up well for the new VFR…

Stay tuned for more updates, folks.

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Just a quick recap of 2009, to prove my point later. 2009 saw the birth and death of the disastrous Cash for Clunkers fiasco. Yes, dealers were able to move a few new models in the beginning, only to have the irresponsible default again on the new loan. Motorcycle sales were so bad for the big four that Suzuki is not even importing any 2010 models this year. Why? The 2009 models are still sitting on showroom floors!

So, this brings me to my concern. What happens to auto insurance companies when no one is buying any new vehicles? Sure, people still have to insure their old cars, but with the economy the way it is, they probably stick with liability coverage only. With less new auto loan companies requiring full coverage, the insurance companies are making less money.

Enter cheap insurance offered by online companies. By moving business online, companies cut out many costs associated with traditional offices. No office rent means less supply costs. No office equals less employees to pay. Employees working from home will use their own computers. Etc. etc.

But with so many of these cheap insurance boutiques opening up, the quality of service tends to take a downward spiral. No more one-on-one face time with your insurance adjuster, because time is money, and they have many other clients. And with profits being razor thin, companies tend to watch out only for themselves, which in turn hurts the customer.

My point, and advice? Stick with the larger, more established insurance companies, if you can afford it. When and if you should be in an accident, it will pay off. However, if like the rest of the millions of other Americans, you are strapped for cash, and are a relatively safe driver, then by all means, try one of the cheap insurance companies online.

If nothing else, they usually have great websites that are chock full of free information. Most of these cheap insurance websites have different pages on how to apply for discounts, what to do if you need to file a claim, etc, etc.

I’ll try to get back to my point now. While 2009 may have been a bad year for us in the automobile industry, as well as for everyone else, it has been a long time coming.

The economic trend in America for the past few decades has been poverty to boom, reset, poverty to boom. With a war inserted in the pattern. So, with no major war in site, and all these government band-aids implemented, we are just making that inevitable rest all the more worse.

I know it’s strange for me to give economic advice here, but start saving folks. You don’t need the 2010 BMW S1000rr, or the 2010 Aprilia RSV4. Take care of your current ride, or rebuild a classic. I think that is the direction IPM will be taking this year. Hope you guys enjoy the ride!

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Since the formation of IPM, Triumph motorcycles have always been staples in our garage. From the Speed Triple, to the Daytona 675, to the Street Triple. We have always supported them and have watched as they grew by leaps and bounds in the past three years.

So, it is with great pride that we announce that Triumph has promised to grow its range “significantly” in the next three years, as it celebrates becoming the best-performing bike firm in the world. We kind of believe that we had a little something to do with that!

The Hinckley firm’s profits have grown 16% during the worst year for biking ever, and claim they will plunge that profit straight into new model development.

Triumph’s Product Manager Simon Warburton states: “We’ve been very active in the last five years releasing new models. Apart from Ducati, everyone else has been fairly static. Three years ago we had 13 models, now we have 16, and despite the recession we have not cut our development program at all – I suspect other manufacturers have cut theirs. Our range will grow significantly over the next three years.”

So, what’s next? Triumph won’t confirm anything, but we here at IPM are hoping for a 1050 Daytona (but not likely, as the trend in automobiles have been to go smaller and more fuel efficient, so it’s likely that motorcycles will follow), or a smaller Tiger/Sprint, but the most likely at this point, is a lighter evolution of the top-selling 675.

Happy holidays everyone, and thanks for coming along for the ride. And, as always, stay tuned!

Be sure to check out Triumph Boards and all the other motorcycle brand forums we sponsor!

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While browsing the internet the other day, I came across a video by our counterparts across the pond, MCN. Those crazy blokes pit a Ferrari 430 Scuderia against a Ducati Desmosedici.

Car fans will argue a supercar can out-brake and out-corner a bike, but a bike’s power-to-weight ratio is much better, so in a straight race the car will never even get close enough to the bike. Check it out!

So, which is better? As you saw in the video, they pit one of the arguably best road bikes in the world against one of the best road cars, in perfect conditions at the Almeria circuit in Spain. Who cares? Enjoy it!

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Although I was not at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for this year’s Red Bull U.S. GP this past week, I did manage to catch the AMA/DMG American Superbike race on my TiVo. And I have got to say, I have a very different perspective than Dave, and am amazed at what a joke that DMG has made the sport into.

It all started with a botched start by Tommy Hayden, when he jumped prematurely and then took off, after which the AMA held all the riders on the grid instead of turning the lights green as they should have.

Then, chaos ensued. Furious riders threw their hands in the air as their tires cooled to surely unsafe temperatures. After agonizing minutes, they were sent back around for another warm-up lap.

The second start was then marred by Ben Bostrom getting into Turn 2 far too deep, appearing to lock up the rear end as he low-sided and took out several riders in the process – Neil Hodgson and Larry Pegram included. But, it got worse.

In an attempt to “control the field”, as riders completed the first lap, the AMA hastily threw up a double-yellow flag. They then sent the pace car out, positioning it on top of the hill in the Turn 1 area, sitting at a dead stop. What the fuck, right?

Now remember, this is a point on the track in which the riders would first have seen the car gunning it at full speed on 200+ horsepower superbikes, bunched together. Not exactly a lot of time or space to get slowed down.

As the riders proceeded through Turn 2, the pace car made its way onto the track via the outside line, trying to merge in mid-pack as it veered onto the racing line, with two wheels still in the dirt and a pack of motorcycles flying past it at more than double the speed. Who the fuck was driving that thing?

The riders then slowed to a crawl, all looking at each other in confusion. Why was there a car in the middle of a fucking full fledged motorcycle race? Then, the AMA red-flagged the race, and called for a full restart. OMG, right?

By this time, the AMA/DMG and American Superbike race looked like such a cluster-fuck that when the third, and finally successful restart happened, no one seemed to even be paying attention. It’s a shame, too, as Mat Mladin made a heroic run from a poor start to take an awesome victory.

I’ve got one thing to say: Hey DMG, this ain’t NASCAR!

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Hey, what’s going on guys. If you are like me, a child of the 80s and 90s, all these big cinematic remakes are getting me all nostalgic and junk. Just kidding, I actually just feel obligated to watch these movies since they were all obviously made for people of my generation.

For those of you who haven’t seen the new Transformers movie, or have put it off due to lukewarm reviews, please reconsider. There are at least five motorcycles featured in the film, with at least four being Autobots.

Not to give anything away but Megan Fox is seen riding around an Aprilia RS125, which isn’t street legal here in California. Too bad. Sexy bike.

In addition, the is a red Ducati 848 Transformer, a MV Agusta, and even a Suzuki B-King. Even though I didn’t notice it in the movie, there is a pink Buell Firebolt as seen here.

So, get off your but and go riding! Better yet, ride to the movies and watch Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen.

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I personally don’t know what to think about this video. The R1 is finishing dead last in shootouts throughout the US and Europe, tests with four professional racers going head to head, casual rider tests, etc. But MCN now claims that it can smoke a RSV4? The thing that puts the dot under my question mark, is that right below their article, there is a link to purchase an all new R1. Fishy eh?

But, let’s face it. There can never be a definitive conclusion of which bike is best that works for all types of sportsbike riders. No matter what any magazine or tester says, at the end of the day, it must come down to personal preference.

The majority of us will never be able to fully use either of these bikes to its potential anyways!

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What’s going on guys? This has turned out to be an interesting and exciting year for us here. Lots of new faces and opinions. It’s been a while since I contributed anything to this section, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to share with you guys a pretty interesting biker site that ordered up a review from us.

The good folks over at Open Road Biker dot Com wanted to share with us a new section they have, the Panhead Diaries.

Before we get into that, let’s get a little back story about the site. In the About Us section, it states that This site is dedicated to the biker, road warrior, free spirit, or whatever you may call yourself. It is about the open road and living life to the fullest. Here it doesn’t matter what kind of motorcycle that you ride, where you are from, or what you do for a living. Just come on in and know you are accepted because you love to ride.

Now, I’m impressed. It is a rare thing to see such camaraderie among all motorcyclists. It’s a sad fact that even a small group such as ourselves is divided by the type of two wheels we ride on.

Anyways, back to the Panhead Diaries. This seems to be a series of shorts that the author is penning about a motorcyclist wanderer traveling across the country. There is currently only two chapters available, but from what I have read, it looks to be pretty interesting. It’s a very easy read. The writing is narrative in the first person.

So, if you are looking for some motorcycle related literature, please check them out. Till next time guys, ride safely!

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The Japanese manufacturer announced its withdrawal from MotoGP racing on January 9th due to the global financial crisis. Series promoter Dorna Sports was seeking to keep the team and the Kawasaki ZX-RR in the MotoGP paddock. Apparently, Kawasaki was under contract to enter its prototype motorcycle in the series until 2011, and Dorna chief Carmelo Ezpeleta at one point asked the manufacturer to race 2009 or face legal action.

So, after lengthy discussions between Kawasaki, Dorna and other third parties, Kawasaki agreed to supply a motorcycle for Melandri for the new Hayate Racing Team. Melandri was quick to return to action as the first rider on the track March 1 for the official MotoGP night test for the opening round race at the Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar.

Melandri led all riders in the tests with 35 laps in a rain-shortened session and recorded the second-fastest time.

“I need so much more time. I did only a few laps and the times were pretty slow because of the dirty track,” Melandri told MotoGP.com following the test. “The bike is also completely different to the ’08 that I used in November; I need a few more hours to understand it but the first impression was quite good.”

Named for the Japanese word for ‘hurricane’, the Hayate Racing Team will be managed by Andrea Dosoli, a former electronic fuel injection technician for the Kawasaki Racing Team. Jasja Bos has been named team coordinator.

Kawasaki’s announcement made no mention of rider John Hopkins who, like Melandri, was under contract with the factory team. Former Kawasaki Racing Team chief Michael Bartholemy also does not appear to be involved with the new team.

Looks like a last minute hack job if you ask me, but then again, Kawasaki has been notorious for surprising everyone. Stay tuned, this should be interesting!

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Happy February everyone! It’s difficult to grasp just how time flies nowadays. Heck, I am still dating my checks 2008!

I was doing some surfing on the internet and came across a site that i thought you guys would be interested in. It is called PicClick eBay, the eBay Visual Shopping Experience. It has been featured on Killer Startups, Auction Bytes, and StartUpSD to name a few as an innovative site.

PicClick basically lists all the auctions currently on eBay and pulls the picture from each auction for you to browse. Hence the the phrase, “Visual Shopping Experience.” Of course, I featured it here so we can easily browse motorcycle parts and accessories, but you can browse any category eBay has, such as used auto parts for sale, sporting goods, or even real estate. The site really cuts down on browsing time.

For those of you who are interested, PicClick also has an affiliate program that allows you to keep
100% of all earnings! (They only make money if that user refers a friend). Infinite cookie, earnings are shared forever!

That’s it for me today folks! Back to our regularly scheduled program tomorrow!

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Who does not like working on his or her own motorcycle? The satisfaction of a job well done is worth all the amount of frustration and more often than not too much cash spent. However, I am sure we have all run into to times when we wished we just had the right tool for the job. It would have made things all the easier.

Enter Carbide Connection. They offer one of the largest selection of American made tools in stock for immediate delivery to your garage or tool shed. Not only do they offer great customer service and prices, they offer same day shipping on their whole inventory!

So, if you have use for solid carbide drills, solid carbide spade drills, or solid carbide screw machine drills, then you should click on over to their site! Be sure to check out their Specials section as well for great deals.

Just in case you were wondering, carbide are compounds composed of carbon and a less electronegative element. Cutting tools made from carbide stay sharper longer, giving you a superior product.

So, before you start on that next big project, make sure you have all the right tools before starting. If you don’t, be sure to check out Carbide Connection!

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Hey, what’s going on guys? So, our gas prices have dropped in the last few weeks, making us all start driving and riding again but then again, it starts creeping back up again! It is over two bucks per gallon again. Sheesh!

So, I was browsing around the internet again looking for things that provide the best fuel savings and I came across this little ingenious new invention. It is called the 1Spark Version 3.9. It works as a vehicle power booster and fuel saver for four stroke engines with battery operation at around 12 volts.

The 1Spark claims to increase your engine’s power by 3% to 28%, and save 5% to 21% more fuel. It also reduces hydrocarbon by 40% to 60% and carbon monoxide output by 3% to 10%. In addition, with the 1Spark installed, your headlights become brighter, your air conditioner becomes cooler, and your engine runs better with smoother acceleration.

The 1Spark is able to achieve these results because it was designed to work as a battery doctor. It detects the condition of your battery and tells you whether it is strong or weak. A weak battery can spoil your electronic equipment or even stall your vehicle. The electronics inside the device actually prolongs the lifespan of your battery. This will reduce your maintenance costs too.

So, at $118.00 shipped to your door, it will take maybe two months to earn it back and pay for itself. Not too shabby. Maybe the good folks at MotorSpark will send us one to test out soon on our bikes. Till then, ride safe!

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Alright guys, the first review ordered for 2009! The guys at American Car Quotes couldn’t wait to share their site with all you Inline Performance Magazine readers! So without further adieu, let’s get to it!

The nice thing I noticed about this site is the simplicity. All you have to do is fill out your information once, and let the site match you to appropriate auto insurance companies. Currently, when I shop for insurance online, I have to go to each individual insurance company’s site and fill out my information on each one! Not with American Car Quotes. You fill out your information once, and let the insurance companies come to you. Talk about efficiency!

The site not only lists the best insurance companies for you, it also provides a wealth of information about different types of insurance. For example, there is one page called Fault that discusses how fault is assigned in different states. It explains the difference between traditional tort liability and the no-fault policy.

There is another page, http://www.americancarquotes.com/page7.php, that I also found to be helpful to many of our readers. It explains why auto insurance is typically higher for students, and how to save some money on your premium.

There are more money saving tips and other informative pages, but you’ll have to check out the American Car Quotes site to see them for yourselves. Till next time guys!

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Happy Holidays everyone! If you are like me, you always wait till the last minute to complete your Christmas shopping. Well, if you are still waiting to purchase gifts for that Land Rover owner of yours, you are in luck today!

The good folks over at Roverland Parts dot Com ordered a review of their site from us, and once again, we are here to deliver!

At first glace, their website is very simple and compact in design. However, for an online store, they have an immense amount of inventory uploaded. They have everything from air conditioning units to windshield wiper parts for your Land Rover.

They have a full line of Range Rover Parts you can browse from. Their inventory is always expanding, as they take in low mileage salvaged Land Rovers all year round.

Roverland Parts & Land Rover Parts is located in Tampa, Florida, but they ship almost anywhere. Their engines and transmissions are hand packed in custom crates, and they use only new packing materials.

So head on over to Roverland Parts to get all your last minute shopping needs met!

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So, support those who support us! Check them out and buy some great gear at the Motorcycle Superstore!

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So first, some back story. GooDy got his ticket in early August. It was a little past midnight and we were heading to another venue. GooDy was on his Zx6r and I was driving behind him on Geary Boulevard. For those of you in the area, Geary Boulevard’s posted speed limit is a ridiculous 25 miles per hour. No one, and I mean no one, travels at that speed. It would just be ridiculous. Everyone knows to travel with the flow of traffic. And the flow of traffic is always over 25 miles per hour. Well, I guess it isn’t important for our case. I was just ranting.

So anyways, GooDy pulls up next to me and I tell him not to go that fast because I didn’t know the address of where we were going next. In addition, it was raining lightly so I told him to slow down. I follow him for not more than four blocks before some cop car pulls out of nowhere and pulls him over.

From where I was observing from, I found it strange that the cop did not have him take off his helmet. Instead he just asked for GooDy’s license and registration and lectured him a bit before letting him go.

Now, let’s fast forward again to traffic court. GooDy was close to being last to be called up. Unfortunately for many of the defendants that day, a smug attorney had pissed the fuck out of the judge and she was not in a good mood. Now, I mention this subjectively but hey, you have to take all things into consideration.

So finally, GooDy was called up and the cop presented his case first. He claimed that GooDy was traveling in excess of 60 miles per hour on a 25 mile per hour area. First, wrong. He wrote 57 miles per hour on the ticket. The cop then presented the judge with radar calibration records, radar training certificates, etc. etc. Sorry dude, GooDy requested calibration records by mail and never received any. Therefore, the judge deemed the documents inadmissible. Third, I went up to testify as to the speed of GooDy’s motorcycle. Good enough right?

Nope! GooDy was still found guilty because the cop was able to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that GooDy was going in excess of the speed limit. How? I don’t know. The judge even admitted to knowing that Geary Boulevard was traveled at a rate higher than 25 miles per hour by everyone but still gave him no leniency. She did however lower the punishment to one point instead of two.

This is by no means legal advice. Just letting you know how GooDy wasted four hours of my time, or how I cost GooDy a point. Guess it depends on who you ask. Haha! Alright guys, I’m out.

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The cool fellows at Xoticus ordered a review of their new site today. As you guys know, they have been a big sponsor since we went totally digital last year. So let’s show some love in return!

What is interesting about this site is that they have been around since the early 90′s. That is about the same time that the Import Tuner Scene really exploded. It spawned the likes of Francine Dee, Kaila Yu, and Aiko Tanaka.

While it does suck that they are a paid site now (hey, everyone’s gotta eat right?), they stepped it up a notch from their old site. The new page retains the old import theme, but the pictures are brand new! You still get access to all the old pictures with your subscription of a mere $19.95, so you can see what all the models looked like before they got all plastic’ed out.

In addition, there are two updates a month, which means you guys get new content twice for paying only for one month! Not too shabby. They are also helping new girls each month launch their careers, so you will see a lot of fresh new faces (and more…).

We are happy that they share their models with us, so if you want to see more of our models, like our very own Kathy, head over to Xoticus!

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Here at IPM, we are an environmentally aware bunch. Like I said before, we ride motorcycles don’t we? So it was no great surprise that the good folks at Priusaccessory dot Com ordered a review of their site. Please check them out. It’s a great site with some exclusive hard to find Prius parts and accessories.

The site is pretty clean looking. The only complaint I have is that the website didn’t really fit well into the size of my screen. Other than that, you can get stuff like Rear Bumper Protectors, Mud and Splash Guards, Side Window Deflectors, and Navigation Sun Visors for pretty good prices.

I personally don’t own a Prius, but I found some tasty bits that I wouldn’t mind purchasing if I did have one. Check out the Receiver Hitches and Bike Racks, Chassis Stiffener, and Ev Mode Electric Only Chip.

They also stock a lot of Prius repair books.

And ofr those of you old timers still skeptical of purchasing stuff online, rest assured that Priusaccessory dot Com is secured by Volution SSL and BBB OnLIne.

So, if you are a green Prius driving yuppie (just kidding there folks), definitely head on over to Priusaccessory dot Com and peruse some of their stuff!

Till next month folks, ride (and drive) safe!

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I believe they were the first ones to advertise in the Maxim, Stuff, and Blender magazine franchise a couple of years ago. I think they are still the only ones, although I believe that Honda has done one or two.

Take a look at the flyer. It’s not cheap to make and send out stuff like this!

Is it because I live in California, because Kawasaki Corporation has their headquarters in Santa Ana? Are any of you receiving stuff from Kawasaki as well in the other states? All i can say is bravo, Kawi, bravo!

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The folks at TheCarConnection.com Magazine ordered yet another review of their website from us, and we are here to deliver again! I guess they were impressed by the shear number of readers we bring to their website! As you may remember, this site serves as a classifieds for used automobiles.

The folks over at TheCarConnection have spruced up their website since our last review. And not to worry, it’s for the better! Some new features that you immediately can see are the Spy Shots of new upcoming and concept cars, and the vehicle review and Featured Rides section.

Now, instead of offering vehicles in only two states, the search function lets you input your zip code along with your vehicle search. Doing a search yields another questionnaire that let’s you further narrow down your vehicle and location. Before, you could only search used vehicles that private sellers post up. Now, you can get access to a pool of new cars and new car prices.

And last but not least, they have a Breaking Car Reviews and News RSS Feed on the bottom right hand corner, much like the one we offer. Too bad they don’t sell motorcycles. Maybe their next expansion can include a TheMotorcycleConnection? In any case, for now we will have to make due with the new TheCarConnection, which ain’t too shabby!

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