By now you have already determined what type of motorcycle you are looking for. You have decided whether it will be a sport bike, cruiser, or a touring bike. But is this the right one? Is it mechanically sound? Sure it may look pretty. It might sparkle and shine and be the sharpest bike you have seen in years. But is it ready for the road? Will it be your next money pit, or will it be exactly what you need to enjoy your Spring, Summer and Fall on two wheels. To ensure that you will not only be safe, but not buying another persons problems, we need to look at a few things before we sign the papers and take this beauty home.

Tires- One of the first things for us to examine are the tires. The obvious part of the tire inspection is the tread wear and depth. Ideally, you would like for the tires to have at least 2mm of tread available. Anything less will require that you have some new skins put on before you do much riding. Other than the tread, you need to make sure that the tires aren’t showing any signs of cracking. Cracks may have developed from age or a poor storage environment. If any excessive cracking is spotted, I would recommend replacing the tires prior to riding. You only have two tires, it is very important that they are up to standards.

Oil Leaks- It is not uncommon for a motorcycle to develop an oil leak. While nobody likes to have any oil leaks, minor seeping of oil may not be a deal breaker. Depending on the area, it may only require something as simple as an “O” ring. What you want to be cautious of are any leaks around the middle or top of the engine. This may be the sign of a head gasket or valve cover gasket leak. These would definitely be items of concern.

Brakes- When inspecting the motorcycle, it is very important to inspect the level of brake pads that remain. It is a good practice to replace your brake pads once they drop below 1/8 inch. If you are looking at a motorcycle with less than 1/8 inch of brake pad, this isn’t necessarily a reason not to purchase the motorcycle. Brake pads are inexpensive to replace. However, it is important to know that this will need to be done as soon as possible.

Fork Tubes- Another item that I would recommend inspecting would be the fork tubes. Look at the fork tubes to see if there is any oil leaking or dirt accumulating on the surface. If the oil from the inside of the tube is leaking, it may be masked by dirt that has stuck to the film from the oil leakage on the outside of the tubes. Other than inspecting the front fork tubes for leakage, it is also a good idea to check the compression of the tubes. A spongy front suspension will result in less stability and will not handle or corner as well.

While all of the items discussed can be corrected, it is a good idea to address and be aware of potential maintenance concern. While one, maybe two of the items might not be a deal breaker for you, they are certainly things that need to be addressed. And, one must consider the expense if several things show cause for concern. Always remember, chrome won’t get you home, so it is imperative that you make sure that you are not only looking good, but that your motorcycle is mechanically sound.

While major U.S. automakers are focusing on hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, Volvo took a different route, unveiling a sports car powered entirely with lithium-ion batteries. Volvo’s 3CC concept car, won “Best Design” and five Gold Standards at the recent Michelin Challenge Bibendum environmental competition in Shanghai, China.

“Not only does the 3CC combine classic Volvo styling cues with exotic gull-wing doors and a tapered, 2+1 seating configuration, but it does so with a highly advanced lithium-ion battery electric drive train. That’s a step apart from the crowd, which these days is largely focused on hybrid and fuel cell concepts,” says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal.

“Just as the earlier ECC forwarded new thought in hybrid propulsion with its high-speed turbine-generator design,” adds Cogan, “today’s lithium-ion 3CC innovates with its thousands of smallish laptop computer-style batteries, which power this zero emission vehicle to impressive levels of efficiency and performance.”

Advanced research into sustainable mobility and Volvo engineers have placed particular focus on the conditions regulating safety in small cars and their ability to handle incoming forces in a frontal collision.

The unique aerodynamic styling of Volvo’s 3CC concept car allows room for a third seat in back. The unique ducktail design creates room for a third seat in the back, while the batteries are sandwiched into the floor panels.

The 3CC concept car features an 80-kilowatt motor that delivers up to 107 horsepower, it has a potential driving range of 300 km (approx 180 miles) the 3CC has a top speed of over 135 km per hour.

The carbon-fiber body is mounted on a steel space frame and composite floor panels, giving the lightweight vehicle the ability to leap to 60 miles per hour in less than 10 seconds. Volvo says the 3CC can travel 180 miles on one charge under ideal driving conditions

The Volvo 3 CC’s safety features include Volvo Safety Ride Down Concept, a unique solution with a seat system that moves forward, a bit like a sled, at the same time as the front is deformed. This movement is slowed with the help of adaptive shock absorbers that tailor the damping effect to suit the collision force and the occupants’ number and weight. The interior can be moved between 0 and 200 mm forward, which has the same overall effect as extending the crumple zone by a corresponding length. It has seats that slide forward at the moment of deformation, the intention being to compensate for the small car’s traditional lack of space in the crumple zone.

Virtual tests showed that the most important part of a ride-down system is the energy absorber and that it needs to be adaptive in order to be a viable concept, by responding to differences in occupant load and crash severity”.

An environmentally efficient car that also has to be comfortable, enjoyable to drive, attractive to look at and safe to ride is an entirely new approach. The result is the Volvo 3CC, a sporty and appealing, extremely aerodynamic and compact car equipped with an energy-efficient electric motor.

A small percentage of car owners actually enjoy cleaning, shampooing, polishing, and waxing their cars. They take pride in the hours they commit to maintaining their cars in like-new condition. Many of them have taken this hobby and started a part-time and even full-time business detailing automobiles professionally. If you are considering making the jump from amateur to professional, there are some basic equipment upgrades you must make, some techniques you must master, and some very important marketing strategies you must be familiar with.

First, upgrade your equipment to professional grade. The wet/dry vacuum you have is probably adequate for basic vacuuming and shampooing. But if you wash with just a water hose, you will have to invest in an electric or gas powered pressure washer with a max output of about 2000 psi. Only a pressure washer will satisfactory clean engines, door jambs, wheels and wheel wells. Standard water pressure is not adequate to get into the tight spots in these locations. Next, if you polish and wax by hand, this will not produce the results expected of a professional. Buy a Cyclo dual head polisher for compounding, polishing and waxing–very safe to use and easy to learn.

Next, you should add some crucial skills to your arsenal that you don’t have as a hobbyist. Odor is a frequent complaint of customers: dog scent, tobacco scent, and food aroma. You need to know how to get rid of the source of the odor first, then apply a chemical to permanently eliminate the aroma from the interior of the vehicle and its heating and cooling system. Also typical is dog hair. Practice removing pet hair with latex gloves or a dog rock hair remover. It’s a time staking job that you can perfect ith repetition.

Stain removal is yet yet another typical service requested of pros. Foods stains, ink stains, regular dirt, and in many cases food coloring stains discolor leather, carpet, floormats, and fabric surfaces. You will need to do your research (the Internet is a excellent resource) on how remove every single type of stain completely. The ability to completely detail a car, however, isn’t as critical as the single most essential element inside success or failure of a detailing organization: marketing. If you don’t have a steady supply of customers, you will not make money, regardless of how good a detailer you are.

Small businesses with small budgets are getting fantastic results on Craigslist. Submit a professionally designed ad as often as possible to Craigslist’s automotive services section and you will get plenty of customers to get your business started. Yahoo and Google are heavily searched resources for automobile detailing items and providers. Make a simple site and optimize it for essential research terms in your City (ie, “Automobile Detailing in Phoenix).

Ask your consumers for Internet reviews. Hand out flyers in upscale neighborhoods. Distribute flyers to your customer’s neighbors. Let them know that you just serviced their neighbors’ car (“have a look”) and leave a brief message about openings you have that week. You should introduce your self to every automotive business business in your service area. The automotive community relies on referrals among mechanics, body shops, brake retailers, transmissions retailers, tint retailers, car washes, and so on. You must be a recognizable face. Detail a shop owner’s car at a discount to display your knowledge.

To conclude, you must initially equip yourself for professional service. Then master the unique problems that you will be asked to fix. As soon as you’re confident in your skills, you can publish an advertisement on Craigslist and create a web site that ranks great in research engines. Introduce yourself to automotive businesses in your area. If you offer a quality service and gain a reputation for excellent customer service, you will be a profitable and busy automotive detailer within 6 months.