January 24th, 2008 by The Rider

Motorbikes are becoming a more and more popular method of commuting in cities throughout the UK as roads become grid-locked with cars, trucks, buses and roadworks! Yet motorbikes still manage to weave their way through traffic and reach their destination on time – highlighting another benefit that biking has in comparison to driving a car. Not only can a motorbike traverse spaces that would be impossible in a car, motorbikes are also cheaper to maintain, have better fuel economy and it is much easier to find parking spaces in busy areas. In 2006 there were over 1.1million motorbikes registered in the UK, a figure which has gradually grown as popularity for biking rises.

In the UK, it is a legal requirement to be insured when driving on public roads. So, whether you’re a commuter who uses a motorbike to squeeze past gridlocked cars to get to your work on time, or a recreational rider exploring the UK’s country roads at the weekends, you’ll need adequate insurance cover to keep yourself and others protected while on the road.

However, it’s not only when driving a motorbike that you need motorbike insurance. Due to the design and size of motorbikes, they can be stolen and removed by thieves far more easily than a car, and as a result most general insurance companies deem insuring motorbikes as a high risk. However some companies specialise in motorbike insurance and appreciate that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, providing the owner implements some basic security measures a motorbike can be as low risk to own as a car.

For example, motorbikes should be parked in well lit areas and the frame should be secured to a fixed object with a sturdy security chain. To further deter would-be thieves, fit an approved immobiliser to prevent the engine being started without the key, and install a Thatcham approved alarm. You could also have a tracking device fitted to help the Police track your motorbike in the event it should it be taken.

Owners should also buy an ultraviolet pen to mark their motorbike with personal details and keep a copy of the serial number of their motorbike, so that if their motorbike is stolen it can be traced back to the theives by the authorities. By taking precautions such as these, you can reduce your motorbike insurance premium.

The most common type of insurance chosen by owners is a comprehensive policy. This level of cover ensures that in the event of an accident the policy holder will be fully insured for the market value of their motorbike, as well as the repair cost of any damage caused to a third party by the policy holder. Some policies even cover policy holders for personal claims against them, which in today’s litigious climate is certainly a comforting safeguard. This ensures that if you are unfortunate enough to have an accident, you won’t have to cope with a huge financial burden too.

About the Author:

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Motorbike Insurance: are you Securely Covered?

Progressive Motorcycle insurance 1

January 24th, 2008 by The Rider

1. The accommodation is dreadful:

How many times has it happened? You arrive at your dream hotel to find the plumbing doesn’t work, the on-the-beach location the website promised is a half hour walk, the dreamy view you had been expecting is actually the towns rubbish dump…

Tips: How to avoid it: Research your hotel. Awful hotels will get mentioned in forum – search for the name of the hotel in Google . Look at pictures carefully – and if there is no picture of the view/room/grounds ask yourself why not?

2. Illness and accidents: One friend was called to help a girl in remote Lombok after a motorbike accident. He strolled down thinking it was a minor accident – only to find she had lost half her face.

Tip: Illnesses and accidents can’t be 100% avoided – but when you are on holiday think twice before taking risks you wouldn’t dream of taking at home. If you have to ride a motorbike, wear a decent helmet (that girl hadn’t.) And always take out insurance – treatment abroad can cost you thousands.

3. Family rows: 75% of families with children have rows when on holidays.

Tip: Be realistic when planning your holiday – the thought of 12 hours sightseeing might fill you with joy, but the chance are your children are not old enough to appreciate. Try to book a holiday where there are activities for everyone to enjoy – and where you can all have some space. Then set meeting times so that you do get to enjoy some quality time together – meal times are a good bet.

4. Airport nightmare.

When booking a holiday abroad our thoughts are of palm trees, cloudless skies and perfect beaches. One problem though – to get there we have to pass through an airport first: which means stress, increasingly tough immigration, crying children and – at peak times – long queues.

Tip: If you can, try to avoid peak times. This is not always possible, so consider flying through smaller airports – regional airports can be far less stressful than larger airports. If it really stresses you out, join the growing crowd who are holidaying in their own country – which means no expenditure on renting cars or paying for flights, no waiting at airports and no worries about lost passports.

About the Author:

Jean Rasbridge is the owner and manager of Brygwyn Holiday Home, which provides quality self catering accommodation for the Gower. One her website she also provides detailed information about Gower, including a Gower Guide to Golfing and the Gower Pub Guide.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Holiday Horrors – and How to Avoid Them

2nd Philippine International Motor Show 2008 – FORD (by tsikot)

January 23rd, 2008 by The Rider