Try Cycle Trader

Whether you want to sell your bike fast, buy a bike for your spouse, or research the latest Harleys, Cycle Trader is the place to be. This site has something for everyone, from the beginning biker to the bike collector. At any one time, over 150,000 new and used motorcycles are for sale by dealers and individuals, and you can search by manufacturers, types, and locations. If your preference is a custom bike, you’ll find links to bike builders.

In addition to information on buying and selling motorcycles, including free ads, Cycle Trader offers a variety of links and tips in all aspects of motorcycle ownership, including insurance, parts and accessories, and loan calculators. Keep up on the latest bike articles and reviews of specific bikes, and learn about do-it-yourself repair and motorcycle safety. A page with motorcycle lawyer resources includes a checklist to use and steps to follow if you’re in a motorcycle accident.

Cycle Trader also includes a blog with helpful articles with topics such as tips on buying a used motorcycle, best beginner bikes, and how to survive with no car and only a motorcycle. For those who enjoy motorcycle events, the site has a listing of events by month, and if you’re sponsoring an event, you’re welcome to submit it.

The extensive link directory lists parts and accessories, bike clubs, racing information, restoration help, and apparel for sale. One unique feature is the motorcycle price checker, which shows you a range of prices for manufacturers and years within a specified distance from a zip code. Cycle Trader offers a monthly e-newsletter, with previous issues available on the site. You can also follow Cycle Trader on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

With Cycle Trader, you’re not limited to buying and selling motorcycles—if you’re in the market for a new ATV, snowmobile, PWC, or trailer, Cycle Trader can help you find what you’re looking for with links to partner sites such as ATV TraderOnline and Snowmobile TraderOnline.

What is your favorite site feature?

Image to the left taken from The Harley-Davidson museum exhibit’s website page.

As a Ladson motorcycle accident attorney, I love visiting motorcycle museums. One of the best museums is the Harley-Davidson Museum with a current exhibit that is not to be missed. Collection X: Weird Wild Wonders of the Harley-Davidson Museum® runs through August 21, 2011, and is certain to be the most fascinating, intriguing, and exciting exhibition you’ve ever seen.

Unusual machines, amazing art, and incredible inventions abound in this exhibit housed in The Garage on the Harley-Davidson Museum campus. Part of the largest Harley-Davidson collection in the world, this exhibit comes straight from the Harley archives and includes:

• A variety of novelty and unique vehicles from Harley-Davidson as well as other manufacturers.
• Clothing and gear ranging from practical to stylish.
• Photographs from the Harley-Davidson archives.
• Previously hidden historical objects and a large variety of memorabilia and artifacts from other collections.
• All types of art by motorcycle and Harley enthusiasts.
• Collectible and unusual motorcycle-themed merchandise that will make you say either, “Why didn’t I think of that?” or “What on earth were they thinking when they came up with that?”
• Special activities for kids, including a secret code that needs to be broken.

Open since 2008, the Harley-Davidson Museum is located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is open 7 days a week year-round. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. The museum includes exhibits that highlight the people and machines that made Harley-Davidson what it is today, including over 450 bikes and thousands of artifacts. The Shop, the museum’s gift shop, is across the street and features plenty of Harley-Davidson themed items.

The Harley-Davidson Museum also offers educational programs for all ages, including motorcycle maintenance classes, earning a Boy Scout engineering merit badge, and touring the Pilgrim Road Powertrain Operations Facility. In addition, the museum offers children’s birthday parties and tours behind the scenes.

For more about the museum’s exhibits or programs, click here.

We see riders in Hanahan, Folly Beach, and Ladson who ride some beautiful Harleys, and we’re looking forward to seeing this exhibit.

Have you been to the Harley-Davidson Museum, and what was your favorite artifact or exhibit?

Image to the left taken from qctimes.com.

Motorcycles have come a long way since the steam-powered bicycle, or steam velocipede, was patented in the US in 1866. It looked just like a bicycle with an engine, and motorcycles had this basic design for years. By 1868, the velocipede had two cylinders and its own coal-fired boiler. Later, three-wheeled “Moto-Cycles” and steam-powered tricycles made an appearance, and handlebar controls came into use.

The United States was not the only country racing to create motorcycles. In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach invented a single-cylinder, gasoline-powered two-wheeled vehicle called the Daimler or the Reitwagen, which is commonly recognized as the first true motorcycle. Daimler’s bike had a wooden chassis and wheels with iron rims and wooden spokes. Several years later, Alex Millet’s motorcycle had pneumatic tires and a five-cylinder engine.

Before 1900, scores of motorcycle designs emerged from Europe and the United States, and most utilized the internal combustion engine. Few were available to the public for purchase at this time. As you might expect, these motorcycles had low compression and not much power, but they were exciting.

One of the earliest motorcycles from bicycle maker Royal Enfield had a 239 cc front-mounted engine that drove power through a belt to the rear wheel. While some early motorcycles were two-stroke, the four-stroke engine known as the Otto Cycle became popular. In 1898, Triumph, also an English bicycle manufacturer, began building motorcycles and the Metz Company of Massachusetts began building the Orient-Aster. A few years later, Harley-Davidson and Indian entered the U.S. market. Indian’s first model was diamond framed with an American-made engine and was painted its trademark red color.

As interest in motorcycle sports grew during this time, so did innovation, and the design of the bike started evolving away from its motorized-bicycle look. By the time World War I started, motorcycle companies were producing thousands of bikes a year, and many were put to good use during the war. After the war ended, BMW came on the scene with motorcycles that were equipped with a shaft drive and a horizontally opposed boxer engine housed with the transmission.

Image to the right taken from motorcycleclassics.com.

Even though the Depression impacted motorcycle companies, Ariel introduced a 1000 cc bike, and Matchless made great technological strides with their V-4 593cc Silver Hawk. In 1934, the OHV Meteor engine was introduced, which was capable of 90 mph. Two years later, the V-twin 998 cc engine achieved speeds of over 100 mph. A new land speed record of 136 mph was set on a modified 1000 cc OHV Harley.

In the 1940s, Honda was founded, and Harley-Davidson replaced their knucklehead engine with the panhead engine and introduced the Hydra-Glide and its new front end. Vincent’s Black Shadow and Black Lightning reached speeds of over 125 mph. During the 1950s, Harley’s FL received a new frame and swinging arm plus a new name—Duo-Glide. Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha entered the market, and the British manufacturers declined.

The 250 cc motorcycle came of age in the ‘60s with Ducati’s Mach 1, the fastest in its class. Suzuki contributed a two-stroke twin T series engine, and after 1966, their engines were auto oil injection. Harley’s Duo-Glide received an electric start and changed its name to Electra-Glide. Norton’s bikes used a new rubber mounting system to reduce vibration, and Kawasaki introduced a three-cylinder, two-stroke machine. Yamaha’s latest bike had an SOHC parallel twin cylinder engine.

During the 1970s, manufacturers upgraded their engines, and Suzuki introduced several three-cylinder models, while Kawasaki added a four-cylinder SOHC engine. Other innovations included desmodramic valves, autolube systems, full fairing, and left-side gear change. In the ‘80s, Harley-Davidson introduced the Softail model, some bikes receive wind protection, and a major technological leap was antilock brakes on the BMW K1 bikes.

The end of the 20^th Century and the beginning of the 21^st Century saw a rotary engine bike, the Harley Evolution engine, and the first production diesel-powered motorcycle. Motorcycles continue to evolve technologically and aesthetically. As Goose Creek vehicle accident attorneys, we’re fascinated by changes in motorcycle technology.

If you had to choose the most significant advance in bikes, what would it be, and why?

Image to the left of a 2011 KTM 450 EXC, taken from KTM.com.

KTM / Husaberg

KTM has recalled over 1,200 KTM and Husaberg motorcycles manufactured from November 2009 through November 2010. Some handlebar clamps were not heat treated correctly, and they can develop cracks that allow the handlebars to move unexpectedly, causing loss of control or a collision.

The following KTM and Husaberg models are affected:

• 2011 Husaberg FS 570
• 2011 Husaberg FE 570S
• 2011 KTM 450 and 530 EXC
• 2010-2011 KTM / 690 ENDURO R

The recall began in June 2011, and owners can contact KTM Customer Service at 1-888-985-6090. Any authorized KTM dealer can replace the defective clamps free of charge.

For more information, contact KTM directly, or click here.

Honda

Honda has recalled over 3,000 model year 2010 and 2011 motorcycles for defective bank angle sensors that could give incorrect readings and cause engine stalling. Affected models include VT750 Shadow and Phantom motorcycles built from June 2009 to March 2011.

Honda will replace defective bank angle sensors, and owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Service at 1-866-784-1870. Reference Honda Safety Recall #R80.

For more information, click here.

Victory

Because of incorrect machining on handlebar risers and clamps, Victory has recalled over 800 Cross Country motorcycles produced from January through April 2011. Polaris, owner of Victory, says the handlebars may slip, causing loss of control.

The recall began in June 2011, and Victory dealers will test and replace the handlebar assemblies of affected motorcycles free of charge. For more information, owners may contact Victory Customer Service at 1-888-704-5290 or click here.

Owners of affected motorcycles, or those with questions about any past or present manufacturer recall, can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit the NHTSA’s website at safercar.gov.

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Motorcycle associations give bikers a chance to connect with other enthusiasts and share information, discuss their travels, or simply show off photos of their bikes. We looked for the top three organizations and found that all of them offer incredible benefits to their members.

American Motorcyclist Association: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/

The AMA is the world’s largest motorcycle organization, and its mission is to promote and protect the motorcycling lifestyle, from weekend riding to crossing the world by bike. The Association was founded in 1924 and currently has over 225,000 members, most of them long-time riders with over 1 billion miles ridden collectively. The AMA employs a full-time staff to defend bikers’ rights and is influential in guiding legislation that affects bikers.

The lengthy list of members’ benefits and discounts includes . . .

• Email newsletters, magazines, and an exclusive members’ area on its website.
• Sponsorship of racing and riding events.
• Over 1,200 AMA-chartered clubs.
• Medical and insurance coverage while participating in AMA events.
• Organized motorcycle tours.
• AMA Roadside Assistance program.
• Discounts on products and services such as garage floor coverings, rain chaps, insurance, motorcycle lifts and transport, and lodging.

Motorcycle Riders Club of America: http://www.motorcycleridersclubofamerica.com/

Part of the North American Membership group of clubs, the MRCA focuses on helping its members build, customize, and ride. With more than 80,000 members, the Club caters to motorcycle enthusiasts and offers them a way to communicate, network, and learn from each other.

Membership offers plenty of benefits:

• Click and Win sweepstakes.
• The ability to test, review, and keep new products, such as boots and toolkits.
• An active online forum for members to share their expertise and accomplishments.
• Exclusive Club newsletter, Compression Ratio.
• Yearly subscription to Rider Magazine.
• Facebook page to comment and share information.
• Gasoline rebates.

The Antique Motorcycle Club of America: http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/

Founded in 1954, the AMCA has over 11,000 members and 54 affiliate chapters worldwide dedicated to the “preservation, restoration, and operation of old-time motorcycles.” Antique or vintage motorcycles are at least 35 years old, and membership is open to anyone with an interest in vintage motorcycles, including those who don’t own one.

AMCA benefits include . . .

• Local chapter-sponsored meetings, shows, and road runs.
• National swap meets and road runs, seminars, shows, and races.
• AMCA Virtual Motorcycle Library with historic documents.
• Online discussion forum.
• The Antique Motorcycle quarterly magazine with expert information and advertising.
• Discounts at U.S. motorcycle museums.

Which organization is your favorite and why?

Learn more about the Can-Am Roadster in the video below:

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We did a sweep of current motorcycle news across the country and found a few states that are in the works of changing their motorcycle helmet laws. Below are three mini news stories related to motorcycle helmet laws across the country:

Connecticut: According to a recent article on NewHavenIndependent.org, “The analysis of state Department of Transportation crash data between 2001-2007 found that there were 9,214 motorcycle crashes, including 358 fatalities. The number of fatalities was more than twice as high – 235, or 65.6 percent – among those riders who were not wearing helmets as among those who were – 123, or 34.4 percent.”

Connecticut implemented a mandatory helmet law in 1989 for motorcycle riders 17 years of age and younger. Since 1989, legislation was to change these laws arose five separate times, however, the law has remained the same.

Michigan: According to an article on Northern Michigan’s 9&10 News, 2011 just might be the year when motorcycle helmet laws are dropped. “Some still feel optimistic this could be the year the law gets repealed due to the republican control in the state house, senate, and the new republican governor.”

Oregon: Currently, all motorcycle riders must wear a helmet—no matter their age. According to the Insurance Journal, Oregon legislators are attempting to pass partial motorcycle helmet laws, which would require motorcyclists under the age of 21 to wear a helmet. Click here to view the 76^th Oregon Legislative Assembly House Bill 3141.

To view all state motorcycle laws, click here.

To read the article on Valentino’s ride, click here.

See the video below, which features Valentino Rossi on his first ride of the Ducati:

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