Customizing your Harley Davidson

So you simply got a glossy new bike and wish to make it your own, but are not sure where to begin. Or maybe you just made available some money to customize your present motorbike, but are not sure what you need to do. You can need to look at some of the aftermarket accessories being offered for bikes today and decide what's most vital to you. But before you even think about customizing the bike, ensure you have the proper bike safety gear.

You want to have a good helmet, jacket and riding shoes/boots at a minimum. Customizing these is up to you, if you've got the money and would like to go hell for leather. Some of the great custom parts and accessories you will wish to test out for your bike are fenders, edges and seats. Each of these is really conspicuous and will have heads turning as you cruise by on your cycle. The seat is one of the most helpful customizations you can make. Many Harley seats that come stock on bikes are not exceedingly comfortable cushty to sit in for over some miles, so comfort is an absolute must. You will also want to find a seat that fits not only your personal style but the style of your cycle. It is highly recommended that you see a seat mounted on a bike to see how it is before Another great accessory is a motorcycle windshield and that will make the ride much more enjoyable for most riders.

Also, remember to look at costs. This goes for any bike parts or accessories that you're looking for as well.If you're looking for a fast sleak look you'll find a bike fender just for that, or if you would like an attention-grabbing graphic design, you will find that too. Another great customization is bike edges. Try a bit online and find what you like. The right set of edges can set your cycle except for all the others on the road.Overall, customizing your motorbike is just about expressing yourself and your style through your bike. If you shop around in mags and online, you will find what you're looking for and have your bicycle looking just how you want with custom motorbike seats, motorbike fenders and motorbike edges. Above all, have fun and enjoy riding your motorcycle if you can.
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About the Author
Jack might be an escaped lunatic with an infatuation for anything Harley Davidson. Check out the Harley Davidson forums for more Harley Davidson fans.

Sherifo Impreza

Sherifo Impreza, originally uploaded by La Chose.

First Fiats/Alfas in the US

Fiat said it will start building the 500 and the Panda in Mexico for the US market. (Panda becoming a Jeep) in 2011.
The Alfa Romeo MiTo will be built in the US alongside a small Dodge Hornet based on the same platform.

They also mentioned that the next Sebring (as well as the next Liberty and Caliber) will be based on Fiat's C platform.
The current stunning looking Lancia Delta is based on the same platform.

I think 2011 is a long time. The current 2nd generation Panda came out in 2003. Maybe they mean to say the one will get in 2011 will be a 3rd generation, other wise Jeep will be getting an 8 year old design.


What do you think?
Good news?

2.4 Liter for the new Buick Lacrosse

GM announced today that the base engine for the 2010 Lacrosse will be their new 2.4 Liter with 182hp.
They are hoping to get 30MPG HWY with this engine.
Unfortunately, the smaller engine will only be available in the base model.
Although they might change their mind later like they did with the Malibu.

3.0 Liter and 3.6 Liter V6s are still available or standard of the other versions.
Audi is on a similar path and won't even offer a V6 on the A4 anymore, at least in the US.
It looks like even near luxury car buyers are warming up to the idea that a good 4 cylinder engine is just fine.

We do live in a country where the speed limit is mostly 65 and a gallon of gas is pretty much over $3 now....

Hemi Car Performance

The new Hemi cars, such as the Dodge charger, magnum, challenger, and Chrysler 300's can come with plenty of power for most of us. There are the few that can't get enough and there are also those that went for the cheaper smaller engine. This obviously doesn't make you less of a man or a woman it just means you weren't worried about the extra power when you bought it.... For most people, that changes over time though. You get used to what you have an want to feel a difference in the seat of your pants feel again, like when you first bought the car. Whether you went with the larger or the smaller engine you aren't stuck with what you drove off of the lot with. There are several things that can be done to give that hemi car that brand new feel again. The most common upgrades are a tuner, chip or programmer, an air intake, and an exhaust system. These parts are going to give a transition from the "I'm used to this car" feel, to the "this car feels new again" feel.
First we'll talk about what you can do from inside the hemi car to modify it. The tuners and programmers are installed through the computer port that is just below the steering wheel. They add about 20 horse power and usually about 1 to 2 miles per gallon to the fuel economy, just because of the improved engine efficiency. The hand held devices also give the ability to read and clear the check engine lights, saving a trip to the dealership and some time. They also make way for future upgrades with the ability to get custom programs from the handhelds manufacturers.

The second place to modify is under the hood by replacing the factory air box with a more efficient air intake system. The aftermarket systems have much larger filters and are able to suck a lot more air into the engine to create power, and make it run more efficiently. And the third place is under the car. Upgrading the exhaust will do a few things. The most noticeable will be the different sound. You'll end up with a more aggressive tone. The other thing is does is free up the exhaust flow. This will help the engine to run cooler. It also help the engine not have to work to push exhaust gasses away, because they are more free to flow through the pipes. This will also improve engine efficiency.

Why's doesn't the manufacturer do all of these upgrades automatically. Think about that question for a second. Think of the behind the seat dvd players that the aftermarket came up with that would strap on with velcro straps. Now you can see built in dvd players from the factory. Now think of the wheels and suspensions that the aftermarket came up with, and now take a look at some of your local dealerships, and you'll see that they are catching on to these things. The aftermarket is what makes the auto industry evolve. The car manufacturers then take what looks like it will be most profitable and then incorporate those things into their cars. The aftermarket industry will always take what they make and make it better.

Installing Air Intakes and Chips on the hemi cars can easily be done all by your self with simple tools. The tuners upload in under 10 minutes and the intake usually take about 25 minutes which isn't bad for getting years of extra power and efficiency. The hemi car exhausts can be installed at home as well but will require a little more skill than the Intake and Chip.

How Volkswagen and Porsche Share Common Ties

While many of us know that the Volkswagen Beetle Car originated in Germany and was produced as the "people's car", few know how its origins are tied in with Porsche. So what is the story, you ask?
It all started when Adolf Hitler had a vision of his countrymen being able to own a cheap car and that they would use these cars to travel on great networks of roads called autobahns. At the same time, a man named Ferdinand Porsche had just set up an automotive design company, which became known as the Porsche Büro. The company patented a sophisticated independent front suspension system, which consisted of transversely mounted torsion bars connected to two trailing arms on each side. At the time, this was lighter than most other common types of suspension. In 1931, a German motorcycle company, Zündapp, asked Porsche if he could design a suitable car for them, this was followed by the design of a streamlined two-door sedan, which had lines similar to the Beetle. It was designated the Type 12.

Hitler saw Porsche's work and invited him to submit a design for this peoples car with requirements that it had to be cheap, economical, fast (all of 60 miles per hour) and to accommodate two adults and three children comfortably. So, in January 1934 Porsche gave Hitler a proposal for his car and by June that year work had begun.

While the idea of a people's car wasn't exactly a new one as before 1930 there were many attempts to design such a car, it wasn't until Porsche that the concept was met. Creating such a car was much more than design and engineering, it also required finding a way to create the car in a way that an average worker only had to spend his yearly wage to buy it.

The production of the car went well until World War II when manufacturing had to have a military twist. Believe it or not Volkswagen came up with a military version of the Beetle and they were called the Kübelwagen and Schwimmwagen. Porsche also at this time produced several designs for heavy tanks but lost out to Henschel & Son in both contracts that ultimately led to the Tiger I and the Tiger II. However, not all this work was wasted, as the chassis Porsche designed for the Tiger I was used as the base for the Elefant tank destroyer. Porsche also developed the Maus super-heavy tank in the closing stages of the war, producing two prototypes.

By 1945 the Volkswagen factory fell to the British and Porsche lost his position as Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen. British Major Ivan Hirst was put in charge of the factory and Porsche was arrested for war crimes, but not tried. During his 20-month imprisonment, Ferdinand Porsche's son, Ferry Porsche, decided to build his own car because he could not find an existing one that he wanted to buy. He also had to steer the company through some of its most difficult days until his father's release in August 1947.

As time went by, both Volkswagen and Porsche car companies collaborated to make the VW-Porsche 914 and 914-6, whereby the 914-6 had a Porsche engine, and the 914 had a Volkswagen engine. In late 2005, Porsche took an 18.65% stake in the Volkswagen Group, further cementing their relationship, and preventing a takeover of Volkswagen, which was rumored at the time. Speculated suitors included DaimlerChrysler AG, BMW, and Renault.

On March 26, 2007, Porsche took its holding of Volkswagen shares to 30.9%, triggering a takeover bid under German law. On September 16, 2008, Porsche increased its shares by another 4.89%, in effect taking control of the company, with more than 35% of the voting rights. It again triggered a takeover bid, but this time over Audi.

While the history of a man named Porsche and a car called the Volkswagen have worked hand-in-hand, today each have their own unique meaning as well as their own unique looks.

All new 2010 Ford Taurus on the road

New pictures of the new Ford sedan.
It looks pretty impressive. But still a bit busy.
It also looks pretty big.
A large sedan with only V6 engines might not be exactly what most people want right now.
But if the price is right, and gas mileage decent....