Category: Other

1. Tips for flatbed truck drivers

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 27th Dec 2022

   Those who are just about to buy a flatbed truck will inevitably need help during its operation. Usually, they are associated with ignorance of the car or its imperfection. Therefore, a few tips for those who need more experience will not be excessive.

   Tips for usage in extreme conditions

   Extreme conditions are often considered too high or too low air temperatures, especially in those regions where such weather is the norm. In such a case, the flatbed truck needs to be refurbished and special attention paid to maintenance.  

   Preparing for the summer

   Drivers of flatbed trucks fail to prepare their vehicles for winter, but many people forget about summer. In order to minimize the occurrence of hazardous situations, a number of things should be done.

   1. Conduct a technical inspection of the cooling system. There must be enough refrigerant in the air conditioner, because one of the biggest dangers in summer is overheating of the engine. In addition, you need to flush the radiator. At this time of the year, there is a lot of dust, pollen, and plant fluff in the air. They get into the radiator and can also lead to overheating.

   2. You need to check the thermostat. If it is faulty, the engine may break down. That will entail costly repairs and significantly reduce the sale price of a flatbed truck.

   3. Check engine coolant and oil. Every driver should have a can of antifreeze and distilled water with them. Ordinary pouring is impossible because this can cause the breakage of expensive parts.

   Preparing for winter

   Winter is a more challenging period for a mini truck with the weight up to 1 ton. In addition to the standard tips for replacing tires and carrying out maintenance, I would like to highlight a few more points:

   * You need to choose the right oil for the engine. It should have a viscosity of 5 units less than what is used in autumn and spring;

   * it would be best if you took care of the fuel heating system since it can freeze in winter;

   * Pneumatic systems need to be adjusted. Sometimes the engine will not start due to fluid that freezes in the valves. Water gets there from the surrounding air, so truck owners install dehumidifiers.

   Driving tips for novice drivers

   Do not turn off the engine at high speeds. So you deprive scorching parts of cooling. The engine may overheat. In addition, the relay regulator will immediately turn off. Its function is to stabilize the voltage that is in the onboard network. After turning off the engine, the generator will continue to supply voltage to the network for some time, affecting the reliability of electrical equipment.

   Start in first gear if you have a trailer on soft ground and slippery ground.

   And one more thing, remember, a truck is a dangerous participant in the movement for others. It would help if you were predictable to others, kept your distance, and did not make hazardous maneuvers.

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

   article supplied

2. 3 Types of Insurance for Bikers

   Posted on 10:00am Friday 23rd Dec 2022

   Finding yourself opting for a bike over a more traditional vehicle like a car might be a sensible choice as far as you’re concerned, but if you’re in the minority among the people that you know, you might not be fully aware of the types of insurance that better suit you compared to your car-driving friends. Still, this shouldn’t be something that slows you down, and making yourself aware of the different types of insurance that are available can have you enjoying your biking hobby with even more confidence and comfort than before.

   The way in which you specifically enjoy your hobby is bound to make a difference here as well.

   For the Racers     

   For example, your interest in motorbikes might not just stem from a love of riding them or maintaining them in a casual sense, but from a more competitive angle. Of course, this is a whole subsection of motorsports, and as a result, you will find yourself with a lot of other fans to interact with. Naturally, though, a certain danger can come from racing which is not so actively present when riding motorbikes at lower speeds on normal roads, and so having tailored insurance for track racing can make a lot of sense for riders that enjoy track days.

   This might be something that you’re interested in viewing before you get involved yourself, though, and if that’s the case, visiting MotoGP might help you to get acquainted.

   A More Casual Approach

   That being said, you might just like to use your motorbike in the same way anyone with a vehicle would. In this sense, you might find that the types of insurance that you need are somewhat similar to what you would require with other vehicles. Third-party insurance can help you to cover yourself against damage, but learning more about what’s specific to motorbikes might require further research. This is obviously something that you can do yourself with the help of the internet, but if you did like the idea of finding dedicated communities with whom you can share your passion, there are plenty out there that can help to expand your knowledge of this particular hobby.

   Protection Against Theft

   It might have also come to your attention that a bike could be easier to steal than something like a car, which might make you a bit more cautious and protective of it. While there are several things that you can do to keep your bike safe, what might make you most comfortable is the knowledge that you’ve covered yourself with the right theft insurance. It’s important that you are cautious, and aware of different methods that can reduce the risk of this happening in the first place, but it’s also important to understand that you’re not going to be able to be constantly on your guard when it comes to something like this – especially if you’re planning on your motorbike being your primary vehicle.

    

    

   Article supplied

3. Cost of living crisis driving UK motorcycling boom

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 22nd Dec 2022

   Motorcyclists may be in the minority on UK roads at present, but in the wake of reports that around 1 in 4 families are selling their cars to deal with the cost of living crisis, new research shows motorcycle and moped ownership is trending upwards. More than 67,000 motorcycle tests were taken between April 2021 and March 2022, according to Department for Transport figures released in October, the highest number in any year since records began. Now, Lexham Insurance predicts that this upward trend is here to stay.

   Analysing MCIA data and government figures, their team notes that:

   • Total two-wheeled vehicle registrations were up 32% on 2021 in the peak buying season between January and April this year, with the year to date showing petrol-powered tourers and classics up 25.1% and 11.6% respectively, and a 9% growth for the electric motorbike market (01/01/22-30/11/22)

   • Lexham Insurance has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people looking for motorcycle, moped and scooter insurance this year, with Google search data showing a 26% uplift in motorbike insurance searches between 2021 & 2022 

   • In the last year, more than 50,000 new bikers passed their tests to take to the road – a record high, amounting to 34% more new bikers on the road in the course of a year than pre-Covid figures, and a 203% growth on the 2020/21 pandemic period  

   Following an initial surge in two-wheeled vehicle ownership coming as a result of the pandemic, many had assumed that figures would dip as the UK returned to almost-normal after repeated lockdowns – but a substantial post-lockdown uplift in new registrations now looks like it’s here to stay.

   With fuel prices at the pumps rising 20% so far this year and the cost of living as a whole up more than 11%, many road users are looking for more economical ways to get around, with Startline Motor Finance’s October Tracker reporting that 23% of UK families are selling their cars, while 59% are looking for a vehicle that’s cheaper to run.

   “Many small capacity motorbikes get around 50% more miles to the gallon than most cars.” says Andy Goodson, Sales & Marketing Director at Lexham Insurance, “Given that running costs are all typically lower for scooters, mopeds and small motorcycles, it’s not surprising that we’re seeing a sustained growth in registrations now that people all over the country are looking for ways to reduce their outgoings.”

   Industry data aggregated across all insurers by Compare The Market shows that the typical insurance premium for a motorbike or moped is approximately 51% lower than that of the average car.

   Lexham Insurance has seen a substantial growth in site visits from people seeking motorcycle, scooter and moped insurance so far this year when compared to the same period in 2021, and from those looking to insure electric motorbikes and mopeds. UK search volume data pinpoints a 26% year on year growth in searches for motorbike insurance alone, with the trend looking set to continue.

   Of course, it isn’t just the steep incline in living costs and fuel costs that experts say is driving the boom. The UK has seen record-breaking temperatures in recent years, including the warmest New Year’s Day on record in 2022. As the local climate gradually shifts to see warmer temperatures for larger periods of the year, figures support the possibility that road users who have previously been deterred from motorcycling by the cold and rain are reconsidering that option.

   To find out more about the data, visit the full story at the Lexham Insurance blog.
   
   

    

   Articel supplied

4. CELEBRATE 120 YEARS OF TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES WITH NEW COLLECTION

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 19th Dec 2022

   Hundreds of photographs spanning British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph’s incredible history are featured in a new collection specially selected by James Robinson, editor of The Classic MotorCycle magazine.

   Triumph: Pictorial History of the Great British Marque delves deep into the extensive Mortons photographic archive to cover everything from the late Victorian age to the Great War, the Vintage period (1918-1930), the 1930s, the Second World War, the 1950s boom years, the cool 60s, the difficult 70s, the death and rebirth of Triumph in the 80s and beyond – right up to the present day.

   Robinson’s passion for Triumph is what fuels this hardback book. His personal enthusiasm for Triumph machines over the last 20 years is well documented: from the charming Model H to the amazing pre-war Tiger 100, Tridents, Thunderbirds through the ages, and pretty much every incarnation of Bonneville.

   The company celebrated a landmark 120-year anniversary this year – having produced its first motorcycle in April 1902.

   Triumph: Pictorial History of the Great British Marque is available to order for £25 via www.mortonsbooks.co.uk.

5. LAVOIE: McLaren applied’s new micro mobility company redefining urban mobility through motorsport and luxury automotive engineering

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 1st Dec 2022

   LAVOIE, a subsidiary of McLaren Applied, introduces the Series 1 electric scooter - created using supercar and cutting-edge global racing engineering excellence.