Upgrading your vehicle but want to keep your registration number? Have you bought another private number plate but want to keep your old one too? If you are in a situation like this and are confused about what to do, why not put your registration on “retention”. Retaining number plates is a facility which enables registration numbers to be taken off vehicles and kept on a V778 document, commonly known as a retention certificate. A V778 is a green certificate that is issued by the DVLA when a registration number is transferred off a vehicle. Your registration can be held on retention indefinitely and renewed on an annual basis for £25.

Only the registered keeper of the vehicle can apply to retain the registration number. If you want to retain a number plate, your vehicle must be taxed and have a valid MOT, if applicable. Applications to retain number plates may be considered if the tax disc has expired no more than 12 months ago, providing vehicles have a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) and there is no gap between the tax disc expiring and the SORN commencing.

Retaining number plates is easy. You will need form V778/1 which is available from the DVLA or in any Post Office, and provides information about the retention process. Your completed form should be sent to the DVLA, either by post or in person to your local DVLA office with the following:

• The V5/V5C (commonly know as the log book) for the vehicle the registration number is currently assigned to.

• An MOT test certificate if applicable.

• The fee for retaining a number plate. This is currently £105 which includes an £80 assignment fee and a £25 retention fee. This is payable to the DVLA.

When the details have been confirmed, a new age related registration number will be issued to your vehicle free of charge, and a replacement licence disc will be sent displaying the new registration. Where possible the vehicle will be issued with the registration number that it gave up as the result of the initial transfer. A V948 certificate will also be issued to you which enables you to have acrylic number plates produced to display the new registration.

If your vehicle was registered before 1963 it will be issued with a replacement registration number that is has no age identifier. If this is the case the new registration number will be non transferable. Dateless number plates (ones which have no age identifier) can be sold for vast amounts of money, so the inability to transfer a replacement registration number means that people cannot continually sell their replacement marks for profit. The vehicle can still however have another private registration assigned if the owner so wishes.

If you are in possession of a V778 and wish to assign it to your vehicle, the process is the same as if it was on a V750 certificate of entitlement. Applications can be made in person or by post to your local DVLA office and must include the following:

• Your V778 Retention document

• V5 Registration Document (commonly known as the log bog) for the vehicle you wish to assign the registration to. Please note that the grantee or nominee name must match the name that appears in the V5 log book.

• A valid MOT certificate (if applicable)

• £80 assignment fee if this has not already been paid

Once your application has been processed you will be issued with a new tax disc displaying your personal registration, and an updated V5 will be sent out by the DVLA. You will need to have new acrylic number plates produced displaying your new registration number and you must remember to inform your insurance company of the change in details.

Retaining a number plate is a simple process and typically takes two weeks to complete. The retention facility is a crucial aspect to the number plate industry and is welcomed by everyone. If it wasn’t for the retention facility, dealers and collectors of number plates would have to have a vehicle for every number plate they own!

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When you are making decisions about your car or motorcycle, one of the first things to choose is the correct tire for your driving conditions. While this decision is important year round, it is of extreme importance during the winter months when weather turns cold and snow and ice can be very common. Having the wrong tire in these situations can be a question of life and death. But thankfully choosing the right tire is not difficult, if you follow certain steps.

The first step in choosing the correct winter tire is to see what sort of tire, that is, what size and types of tires, your car’s manufacturer has recommended for your car. You can find this information in the owner’s manual that came with your car. Then head to your local tire dealer and purchase snow or mud tires appropriate to your car and have them installed. Tires like these, ones without metal studs manufactured into them, help your vehicle handle slick winter roads and can be used on public highways.

If you live in an area with an extreme climate, where tires with metal studs are allowed during the height of the winter months, you will likely have to purchase two sets of tires. The first set, as outlined above, that has no metal studs, and a second set, which does have metal studs, for the iciest parts of the year. Later in the winter season, you will likely have to change your tires back to the rubber tires, since in most areas metal stud tires are only allowed during the coldest months. Check your local regulations in any case, since metal stud tires are banned in 10 states.

Remember to ensure that all of the tires you have installed at the same time are all of the same measurements. That is to say, that each one is of the same size, tread, and type. Having tires of different type, size, or tread can result in a loss of traction on slippery winter roads.

Never equip your car with tires that are too big for it. Tires that are too large than those recommended in the manufacturer’s guidebook may damage your car’s fenders or suspension, or just make it handle miserably.

The difference between snow tires and regular tires is in the tread. Snow tires are made with wide spaces between their treads, giving them something like cleats to grab into snow with and maintain traction, whereas all season tires are made with narrower treads. Narrower treads can proved a quieter ride, but they cannot ride well on the snow.

If you don’t want to install snow tires, or you do not live in an area that merits them all the time, you might want to consider tire chains. Chains can greatly enhance the traction of tires. As always, ensure that the chain is properly fitted to your car’s tires, since improperly fitted chains will not work properly, damaging your car or malfunctioning.

Motorcycle gangs start their history after the World War II, when they were a symbol of youthful opposition. Other members were war veterans, thousands of which came back home trying to take up their lives. Many of those people missed the excitement of the war. One of the ways to get a searching excitement was riding high-powered motorcycles.

Also thanks to several high-profile Hollywood movies and also some other widely-publicized events, gangs got their substantial notoriety. Such movies as for example “The Wild Ones” in the year of 1954 and “Easy Rider” in 1969 both helped to glamorize the biker lifestyle and gang activity at all.

For example one of gangs, named “Hell’s Angels” gained their broader exposure during a Californian Rolling Stones concert at the Altamont Speedway in 1969. During the show, some members of the “Angels” turned on the audience and killed a fan. Such events helped gangs to capture the imagination of many, who flowed in to their ranks.
In every outlaw motorcycle gang exists a constitution that sets acceptable standards that help to conduct and administrate the club. Membership requirements are the main paragraph in this constitution. Constitution also conducts behaviour during meetings or runs and set penalties for misconduct.

Constitutions differs from club to club, but they usually include next laws: all members have to be male and be at least 18 years old, all new members mast be sponsored by at least one of current members, every newcomer must complete a probation period, every member pay monthly dues and also pay initiation fees to the national headquarters. If one member want to transfer from one chapter to another he should get the permission of both gang’s presidents. Each member has to keep colours and every attribute that goes with gang symbolism. It is very important that members may only ride two kinds of motorcycle: Harley Davidson or Indian. At last years some of the bigger and more powerful gangs use modern equipment to test potential new members, such as voice stress analysers, for example.

There are many motorcycle gangs that have chapters in various states, cities around the USA and even abroad. In most cases organizational structure of the motorcycle gang, title of member in the structure and responsibilities are as next:
First going National President, who is the founder of the club. Usually he is located close to the national headquarters. He is always surrounded by bodyguards and organizational enforcers.
Next come Territorial or Regional Representative, sometimes also called as the national vice president.

National Secretary is the third person in motorcycle club, he is responsible for the money of the club and for the collecting of fees from local chapters. He is also responsible for recording all constitutional changes.

National Enforcer can be called right hand of national president, he is a body guard. It is also in his responsibilities to give out punishment for club violations.
Chapter President is the main person in each chapter, he may be claimed to this position or members may vote him.
When the president of the club is absent, Chapter Vice President takes the responsibilities of leader.

The most educated person in chapter becomes a Chapters Secretary (Treasurer. He maintains all calculations: collects dues and pays bills.
Person who maintaining orders meetings of the club is Chapter Sergeant at Arms. He has to be very strong physically and loyal to the chapter president. He is like club enforcer.
That is the Road Captain who makes decisions about routes to be taken during runs. He is also responsible for refuelling, getting food and maintenance stops. He can use club’s money for necessary things, such as bail.

Those people who are fully accepted by the staff of the gang and who pays dues are called Members. They live by club’s constitution laws and obey all president’s orders.
People who want to become Members first of all must become Probate or Prospective Members. Usually they spend from one month to one year in a status of probation and then club members make a unanimous vote to decide whom to accept. During all this time they have to prove that they are worth to become a member. Frequently their tasks are to carry weapons for club members and stand guard at club functions. Prospective Members do not wear colours and has no voting rights.

You may also take part in club’s life and not to be a Member, but in this case you must be Associate or Honorary Member. It is a person who proved his value or usefulness to the gang. Usually status of Honorary Members gets bondsmen, attorneys, motorcycle chop owners and auto wrecking yard owners. They are allowed to take part in gangs’ parties or in town runs, but they do not have voting rights and rights to wear colours of the gang.
Most gangs show their identity by wearing gang colors, making gang tattoos, or T-shirts with the gang’s signs. All these attributes usually include Nazi symbols, or vulgar phrases, skulls, and satanic-type symbolism.

Modern motorcycle gangs have much in common with traditional organised crime syndicates, crime families or drug cartels. Motorcycle gangs also own and protect their drug distribution networks. Gangs that form the “Big Four” control 75% of the North American Methamphetamine market. To control such a big market they use all methods – such as murders, rapes, assaults, arsons, intimidation and torturous interrogations.

Other crimes that bring in millions dollars more to gangs: robbery, prostitution, extortion, theft, arson, bombings and contact murders.

In 1970s, more then 800 outlaw biker gangs operated on the territory of the United States. In 1980s, the FBI has recognized motorcycle gangs as a priority in their program of fighting with organized crime. Federal agencies together with state and local police have made a lot of operations to arrest and convict members of the major motorcycle gangs.
Many of today’s biker gang members are well educated, most of them are earning college-level degrees in computer science, criminal justice, finance, business and law, but they use all their knowledges in crime activities. Members are armed with the latest in military technology and use protection of the best lawyers. Biker gangs are cooperating with prison gangs, street gangs, racist groups, drug groups, and traditional organized crime families.

I can conclude that motorcycle gangs are like small countries inside real country. And as they represent the criminal side their rights should be strictly minimise by federal law in order to protect peaceful citizens.

Many young race bike motorcycle riders will attend super bike school so that they can hone their skills and become more proficient on the street. There are too many motorcycle accidents from crotch rockets in the United States of America and each year people are killed simply because they cannot handle the performance of the bike. Eventually if does that make it thru that initial learning curve they will become efficient and excellent rider, but in the meantime they can be quite dangerous.

Super bike classes are generally held on the track; a racetrack made for high performance motorcycles. This is where they will learn how to ride the motorcycle and handle all of its idiosyncrasies and performance issues. Unfortunately, the racetrack is much different than the street. On the street there are cars, which are always out there ready to hit you and on the track everything is moving about the same speed and in the same direction. Sure it is a good place to start but it makes sense to take this to the next level.

It is for that reason that I propose virtual-reality super bike motorcycle simulators. These simulators will have a motorcycle inside of a dome, which will actually be a flat-panel display and it will have actual scenery and real live simulated roads, turns and traffic. It makes sense to teach these young motorcycle racers how to ride on the street because that is where most accidents will occur.

The best way to capture all the footage needed for a race bike virtual-reality motorcycle simulator would be to put a camera on the front of a motorcycle and drive it through the streets of Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles and also through many canyon roads with sharp corners and surprises.

Once the footage is captured it would go to a digital film room for editing and then it would be incorporated into a computer system that would run the virtual-reality super bike simulator. By doing this we could save lives and wouldn’t it be cool? Consider this in 2006.

When people decide to purchase a motorcycle, the person should not forget to buy a helmet. This is not only because it is the law but for the safety of the biker and the passengers on board.

Finding the best motorcycle helmet in the market can be extremely difficult for the first timer or the veteran rider. This is because there are so many companies offering the same number features and benefits.

People who don’t know what to do should review these tips that are designed to make that decision possible.

Motorcycle helmets come in different sizes just like shoes. The individual can measure this at home or have the sale person do it in the store. If the brand that the person wants doesn’t fit well, its time to try other brands that are also available.

The helmet should be snug so that it will not fall off or move when riding the bike. The biker should be sure it is not too tight because this will be difficult to put on or take off after use.

It is advisable to leave the helmet on for 30 to 45 minutes because this the length of time is the only indicator if the person will be comfortable using it for those short and long trips on the road.

The customer must also pay close attention to the strap used on the helmet. It is better to get those that have two rings that fasten together than those that are strapped on because tests have shown that this will not come off easily when cruising on the road.

Before purchasing the helmet, there are two things that the individual must check.

First it does not have any defects such as scratches, dents, cracks or any metal sticking out which could be dangerous for the driver.

The second is that this should have a seal of approval from bodies such as DOT or SNELL which have certified the safety standard of the helmet. Consumers are advised not to buy those that do not have any safety certification sticker printed on the product.

Is there one brand of a motorcycle helmet better than the others? No because most of these products comply with the safety standards set by the government and have been tested.

The person will just have to try these on to be able to find the right one that will fit well on the head. The biker should remember that this could be the only thing that could save the life of the person in case an accident happens.

Carbon fiber motorcycle helmets are one of the most modern helmets around. The carbon fiber material used in motorcycle helmets refer to carbon filament threads woven into cloth or felt. It can also be a composite material made from carbon filaments that make up the protective shell of your helmet. This material can also be combined with another material such as Kevlar in the manufacture of stronger and lighter helmet models.

Carbon fibers in helmets are made by superheating an acrylic fiber that results to better strength and stiffness to weight properties. Carbon fiber composites can achieve the strength of metals at a significant savings in weight, the two factors needed in making quality motorcycle helmets.

Kevlar is created by dissolving a polymer in a solvent and then extracting the fibers and then spinned to form threads. Although Kevlar has properties that are similar to carbon fiber, it lacks compressive strength. By combining carbon fiber and Kevlar, one can get a laminate that has three times the flexural strength than that of Kevlar alone.

Carbon fiber motorcycle helmets provide a lighter yet more durable helmet than most motorcycle helmets today made from fiberglass. With carbon fiber motorcycle helmets, it is now possible to make more compact motorcycle helmets that are lighter and less bulky.

Most carbon fiber helmets are available for you from custom helmet manufacturers. But there are other manufacturers now beginning to make motorcycle helmets out of this extremely useful material. With it, motorcycle helmets become lighter, stronger and cooler.

There are now carbon fiber motorcycle helmets such as the THH T-69 that offers you a DOT approved motorcycle helmet. Its smaller shell design helps in making it ever the popular choice with most riders today. There is also the HJC AC-12 full face carbon fiber helmet that incorporates racer tested features for use by the ordinary motorcycle rider on the road.

It has features such as the Flow Through ACS Advanced Channeling Ventilation Feature System that provides extraordinary ventilation to make you feel cooler. It also makes use of an Anti-fog System to provide you with a clear view even in the coldest of days. This motorcycle helmet also has a built-in communication system speaker cavity to allow two-way or multi-channel communication when required.

With today’s technology, motorcycle helmets have evolved to provide you with better protection and a more comfortable riding experience. With all the choices now available for you, you would surely have that helmet that would work for you.

When pondering the purchase of motorcycle leathers, there are several issues that one must consider. While one would think that style would be first and foremost, in actuality, it is the protection that a good set of motorcycle leathers affords the skin that is of the utmost priority for any serious biker. Leather has over the years been proven to be the best material for motorcycle clothing, due to its resistance to tear, its natural warmth, and its acting as a first layer of defense by coming between the biker and the rough asphalt road. Leather has often literally saved the skin of many bikers.

All leather is not the same. In this article, I will attempt to address the choices that a biker faces when purchasing motorcycle leathers. We will explore the different types of hides available, the different tanning processes, and how to tell the differences.

There are basically three hides that you will run across when looking for motorcycle leathers: Pigskin, Buffalo, and Cowhide. You may at times find such hides as Lamb skin, sheepskin etc. Just make a note that these hides are inferior and should not be considered riding grade leather.

Pigskin

Sometimes called “Soft Leather“, pigskin is very thick and soft to the touch. It will keep you warm in the winter and looks very nice. There is nothing wrong with soft leather (pigskin or lambs skin) except that it has a tendency to tear, is not very durable, and is not considered riding grade leather. If you are looking for the “Biker Look” but do not ride, Pigskin is the way to go! Also, for garments that are not necessarily worn for protection, (such as leather vests) pigskin and lambs skin are excellent choices due to their suppleness and pliability. There are many fine styles available in soft leather and it is the least expensive leather out there. If you ride, stay away from Pigskin for protection; spend the extra money to protect yourself with some true riding grade motorcycle leathers.

Buffalo Hide

Another high quality leather, Buffalo Hide is not from the North American Buffalo, but the Water Buffalo, a native of India and Pakistan. Many leather products come from this part of the world, and the Pakistanis are world renown for their expertise in the manufacturing of leather garments. Buffalo hide is also very thick (ca 1.2mm) and can be tanned in both top grain and naked leather processes. Durable and not easily torn, Buffalo Hide, though not as common as cowhide, is considered to be riding grade leather.

Cowhide

The most common material used for motorcycle leathers is Cowhide, chosen for its strength and durability. It is anywhere from 1-1.3mm thick, depending on the tanning process, is naturally warm, and will afford the utmost protection against road rash. The ultimate in riding grade leather, Cowhide is the choice of Bikers everywhere.

Whichever type of hide you choose, you need to also understand the tanning process, and how it adds or detracts from the quality of the leather. Leather was once the skin of an animal, and therefore must go through a tanning process to strengthen it, and to keep it from decomposing. Tanning makes the skin stable and rot proof without sacrificing its structure and strength. The tanning process involves several stages, including the removal of the hair and the outer layer of skin, as well as the fatty part of the flesh. The hide is then stabilized by one of several methods using animal oils, alum, chrome salts or vegetable tanning. How it is actually finished determines the quality, or riding grade, for our purposes.

To fully understand choices available, one must first understand the term “grain”. The grain is the epidermis, or outer layer of the animal’s skin. While imperfections such as cuts, scars, and scratches will exist, the grain in its natural state has the best fiber strength, and therefore the best durability. The grain also has natural breathability, resulting in greater comfort to the wearer.

Finished Split Leather

The middle or lower section of a hide that has been split into two or more thicknesses. A polymer coating is applied and embossed to mimic grain leather. Finished splits should only be used in low stress applications because they basically have no grain. If the polymer coating is left out it is often used to make suede. Not considered to be riding grade, but can look good nevertheless.

Top Grain Leather

Top grain leather has been sanded to remove scars and imperfections, then sprayed or pasted for a uniform look. The smooth side is where the hair and the natural grain used to be. Top grain is probably the most common material found in motorcycle leathers. It is not the best leather available, but with a medium price range, and thicknesses of 1 to1.2mm, top grain leather is considered to be a strong and durable riding grade material.

Naked Leather

Also known as Full-Grain Leather, this tanning process uses only the finest of hand picked hides. Full Grain leather has only the hair removed and is not sanded to remove imperfections, thus the epidermis remains in tact. Naked (without embellishment) Leather has nothing other than the dye added. Full grain naked leather requires no breaking in period and is soft to the touch from the very beginning. Hides are typically 1.3+mm thick, and must be hand picked for uniformity. The natural full-grain naked leather will wear better than other leather, and will actually improve over the years. This type of leather is the ultimate riding grade; the most sought after, and consequently, the most expensive.

How to Tell the Difference

Finished Split will be thin. Most riding grade leather is at least 1mm thick. Top Grain leather is the top of the skin and has small bumps all over where the hair follicles used to be. Top grain garments are somewhat stiff when new, and require a breaking in period. On the other hand, naked leather, or full grain leather is very smooth and does not exhibit the small bumps that are present in top grain. Nor is the garment stiff when new. Naked leather is soft to the touch from the beginning and requires no breaking in period.

Pigskin or Pig Napa most resembles naked leather, in that it is a soft and supple hide, and can also be very thick. Not to say that it happens often, but beware of unscrupulous retailers that try to pass pigskin for full grain cowhide. If it’s cheap, it’s probably pigskin. Lamb skin is also very soft and pliable, though not as thick as pigskin. Lambskin also has a smooth surface.

Things to keep in mind are that most leather garments are manufactured overseas in India, Pakistan, and China. The “Made in America” garments are going to be the most expensive on the market, and the quality of the hide and the workmanship is not going to be that much better. Many motorcycle leathers are designed in America and made in Pakistan. As mentioned previously, Pakistan is world renown for its leather expertise, and you should be able to trust their labeling. Pakistan exports both Buffalo hide and Cowhide garments. Leather garments manufactured in China are usually made from pigskin. This is not to say that it’s always the case, but you should be able to tell by price.

Remember, if you ride – Don’t skimp on the Motorcycle Leathers, they could someday save your hide!

When people decide to buy a motorcycle, the dealer will usually throw in a helmet. This is because state regulations require bike owners to have this on as a safety device. Before leaving the place, the individual should check if this will snugly onto one’s head.

If this can easily be taken on and off, then the person can already drive away. Most motorcycle helmets come in just one color. This is usually in yellow, red, white and orange. Should the individual want to add style to it; there are places that offer stickers that will look good on the helmet.

The decal store is not that hard to find. This is because the people who run these places also make stickers for cars, boats and trucks. The person can drive around town to find it, check the local directory or surf for these in the Internet.

There are hundreds of sticker designs to choose from. The individual will notice that these are available in different shapes and sizes which also means that the price of these vary from $.99 cents to $4.00.

People who want this to look cool and flashy should get those that are reflectorized so that motorists can see the biker on the road. This safety feature will prevent drivers from bumping into the biker from the back causing injury or death.

Many people want to add stickers that have lines going from the front of the helmet until the back. Others want a big cartoon caricature on the sides or on the rear.

If the design the customer wants is not available, the dealer can probably make a customized version according to the specifications given by the client.

Before selecting the sticker, it will be a good idea to imagine how the bike owner will look with it in front of a mirror. If this will make the individual look like a clown, it is advisable to choose something else.

The only safety feature that a motorcycle has against collisions is the helmet. This is because this two-wheeled machine doesn’t have the space for a seat belt or air bags that are commonly found in automobiles.

So if the person wants to look cool and be safe on the road, it will be a good idea to have stickers on it. This will probably make the individual stand out in a crowd of bikers who might mistakenly get someone else’s head gear when it is time to go home.

If you are looking for a custom motorcycle helmet, there are many shops that can make one for you. There are a lot of motorcycle helmets you can choose from. With many designs and makers to choose from, you would surely have your hands full finding one that you will like. Different designs offer different levels of comfort and styling. There are different types of motorcycle helmets available for different types of rides.

One of the more common motorcycle helmet types is the full face helmet. This type of motorcycle helmet covers the whole head and provides the most extensive head protection to the rider. A rear extension of this type of helmet covers the base of the skull while the front tries to protect the chin. A plastic face shield allows protection to the eyes and nose and provides access to the face if pushed up. Riders would usually experience of heat, claustrophobic sensation and reduced hearing while using the full face motorcycle helmet.

Then there is the ¾ motorcycle helmet, also known as the open face helmet. This type of helmet, just like the full face helmet, covers the back of the skull but gets rid of the lower chin armor and face shield in order to provide better airflow, hearing and peripheral vision. As added protection, most open face helmets are equipped with visors that help block out sunlight. For the eyes, it is always recommended to use goggles or wrap around sunglasses as a means of protection.

There is also the half helmet that would give you the most minimum coverage allowed by motorcycle helmet law. This type of helmet has the same front design as the open face helmet but with a cropped rear portion. The use of goggles and sunglasses can provide additional protection to the rider, just like the open face helmet. Before buying this kind of helmet, make sure that it meets the government standard for motorcycle helmet safety.

But if among the hundreds of motorcycle helmet designs available do not have the features that you want, you can have one custom made just for you. Custom made motorcycle helmets are for those with special needs. They are for people who look for a unique type of helmet in terms of design or shape.

Styling is also the reason why many people would want to have custom motorcycle helmets instead. No matter what you choose, make sure that what you are using can provide you with the level of safety and protection required by motorcycle law. These helmets are made for your protection much more than just for looks. That is what you should always bear in mind.

Motorcycle Shops must sell motorcycles to insure their success. They must get new clients in, sell them bikes and treat them well so they come back for service, accessories and tell all their friends. Once the referral networks get going and the word-of -mouth advertising a motorcycle shop can do a bang up business. But first they must get customers in the door.

A robust yet inexpensive marketing and advertising program might do the trick. Let me explain; you see, Direct Mail Marketing and Direct Mailing Strategies for Motorcycle Shops makes sense for a lot of reasons. Motorcycle shops would be wise to send out direct-mail marketing pieces three times per year to all the households within a 15-mile radius of the shop. Especially to those high net worth zip codes in the area.

Direct Mail Marketing and Direct Mailing Strategies for Motorcycle Shops works because it reminds people that they love motorcycles and keeps your business name in front of them. The return on investment for direct-mail marketing is significant compared to other types of marketing and advertising. If you own a motorcycle shop you should consider direct-mail marketing and think on this in 2006.