Archive for May, 2011
Finding cheap motorbikes to insure
May 23rd
Photo by Geraint Warlow (Click for image credit)
With hundreds of different models out there every biker should be able to find their perfect machine. But it’s not just about speed, manoeuvrability and ride: what about costs? Specifically, what about insurance costs? It’s perfectly possible to buy a bike and then have to fork out twice as much (or more) per year on insuring it.
Here the boffins at Bikesure, the freethinking motorbike insurance broker, offer a list of some decent bikes that won’t cost an arm and a leg to insure.
Japanese giant Honda is the biggest bike manufacturer in the world. The CB600 Hornet is a relatively cheap bike to insure and, according to motorcyclenews.com, it’s fun, easy to ride and offers great handling. The Hornet’s Nest is the home of the Hornet owners’ club and has loads of advice and information.
Other Honda bikes that are relatively cheap to insure include the 250 Superdream and the CB450.
Suzuki fans on an insurance budget should check out the GSF600 Bandit. Released in ’95, the first major changes were made in 2000 and include a bigger petrol tank and new steering geometry. Don’t let the relatively low insurance costs deceive you: according to Visor Down this is ‘a superb bike’ that spawned a host of imitators.
Kawasaki claims their ER-5, a 500cc naked commuter bike, offers ‘amazing fuel economy’. That’s a budget win-win when you add in its cheap insurance costs. If you have any questions then Bikers Oracle runs an owners club with an active
forum that may be able to help.
Bikers after a cheap-to-insure cruiser will find that the Yamaha XV535 and XV650 both fit the bill. There’s a selection of tourer spares and accessories for them at Motorbikes&Parts, a site that also offers a loyalty scheme which gives up to 20% discount.
Hog fans can find a cheap to insure machine in the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster. In production for over 50 years, it’s a great looking bike with bags of pedigree. The Sportster.org site has a wealth of information for owners, including tens of
thousands of pictures, and a great tech section filled with essential maintenance tips. Once you’ve bought the bike, Jersey Harley-Davidson offers spares at VAT-free prices for online purchasers.
When it comes to insuring your motorcycle, the way to get the best price is to look around. It’s often worth ringing, too, as a good broker can be better at cutting costs than a computer programme. Whether you search around online or on the phone, be sure to ask Bikesure for a quote.
Greatest Road iPhone App
May 10th
Our previous list of our top 10 motorcycle apps for iPhone has proved a popular topic, and one of the new apps brought to our attention via the comments was Greatest Road
Greatest Road app for iPhone or iPod touch (http://greatestroad.com/) helps bikers worldwide find, rate, share and comment on sweet roads. Open the app, move and zoom the map to an area you’re interested in, and the app shows road stretches nearby. All roads and comments are added by other bikers. You can email directions to other bikers with iPhones, or send a gpx file to yourself or others to install the route on your dedicated GPS device.
Daniel, the creator has got in touch to let us know of some exciting new developments with the latest version, Greatest Road 2.0, which integrates with Apple’s Notifications so that at various points in the app you can keep track of what’s happening with the routes you like.
Customers get an alert whenever a comment or rating is added to a favorite route, one they’ve commented on previously, or one they’ve added.
He says “Now that we have the app wired up with Notifications we’ll be experimenting with other ways to strengthen the “speaking with your buddies” feel.”
You can get the app through iTunes via http://bit.ly/GRgetit and the app is available in English, German, Italian and French.
But that’s not even the best bit, because, for a limited period, the app is being offered completely free of charge. This is the kind of app that the biking scene could really do with, and it needs a thriving user community to do well, so if you like the idea of exchanging great ride-outs with other bikers, and you have an iPhone, you need to download the app now!
I just wish there were an Android version…
Here are some more details from their press kit
Greatest Road helps motorcycle riders find and stay updated on the best roads based on recommendations from other bikers. Pick an area on the map and see all the good stretches right in front of you. Other bikers provide comments and star ratings of the road based on criteria such as Fun, Scenic, Curves, etc.
Add your own route in minutes or add comments or star ratings to what’s already there. Post your favorites on Facebook. Email the ride to friends with iPhones, iPads, iPod touches or even just standalone GPSes. Export *any* route to TYRE or other computer software that uses GPX!
Want to find a new place to ride this weekend? Going on a road trip? Visiting other parts of the country or world? This app works anywhere you can see a map and get directions in the built-in Maps app worldwide.
When you’ve picked a stretch to ride, a single tap switches you over to the built-in Maps application to help you navigate along the way. Support for other navigation apps will be added over time. Greatest Road is not a competitor to the great, in-motion, navigation apps available on the App Store. It is complementary, helping you to choose the right place to go before hitting the road.