Monthly Archives: April 2009

Author : Janet Bugby

Two motorcycles models were introduced by Honda in 1983 that were to have a big impact on the motorcycling community One was the Honda Shadow 750 and the other the Honda VF750F Interceptor They were very different in design but both models extended motorcycle engineering enormously

With an innovative V twin engine Honda s engineers produced an engine for the Shadow with two cylinders arranged in a V configuration that considerably reduced vibrations In previous V twin engines with the angle between the cylinders not at 90 degrees imbalance causes vibration and added weight, complexity and cost is caused by the counterbalances needed to damp these down Honda overcame this problem by using an offset dual pin crankshaft which achieved a perfectly balanced V twin engine with a narrow angle, the first of its kind Honda later used this design in the VT500C Shadow and the VT500 Ascot

The Shadow also had other design innovations including a one way Sprague clutch, designed to stop wheel chatter which was also a problem with previous V twin engines Three valve cylinder heads and twin plugs, still used by Honda in Shadows produced today, were also introduced with this model of Shadow Three valves improved fuel flow and reduced emissions are a result of twin plugs These innovations increased mileage and liquid cooling stabilised the temperature for lower emissions and better performance

These innovations substantially increased performance giving the Shadow a performance equal to that of motorcycles with at least 50 more displacement

Honda didn t stop there however Other features included hydraulic valve adjusters, electronic ignition, hydraulic clutch and front brake and other features designed for easy maintenance and improved performance needing only regular oil changes and spark plugs replaced on a regular basis it was one of the easiest motorcycles to maintain in its day

innovative and forward thinking design is great but looks are equally important! General opinion is that the Shadow s looks were also a huge leap forward During the 1950 s and 1960 s classic American cruiser styles had become increasingly popular and these designs were incorporated into the Shadow from the drawing board rather than slapped on as an extra as other motorcycle manufacturers were doing This gave a completely integrated style to this cruiser Design considerations that made the Shadow stand out from the crown include cast wheels, angled muffler, twin seats, backrest and a stylish front end

The VT500C, introduced in 1983 was available in Black or Candy Wineberry Red Both the rear fenders and fuel tank were painted, the engine covers were black and the side covers chrome From 1983 to 1986 a Red and Black Honda Shadow decal with a gold outline was on the side cover The headlight was rectangular and chrome and there was a single horn

By 1985 colours available were Candy Glory Red or Black and the headlight was now round it also had dual horns and a twin seat with an integrated backrest In this year the engine covers were chrome and the fins were enlarged

One of the most popular lines ever produced placed Honda at the front of the cruiser movement Today the Honda Shadow is as popular as it was when it was introduced more than two decades ago

For more information on motorcycles and some good deals on used Honda and Yamaha motorcycles check out http://motorcycle-enthusiasts.com/used-honda-motorcycles or http://motorcycle-enthusiasts.com/used-yamaha-motorcycles

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Author : Paul Hata

Technological advancements have made many people realize that there are still other fuel sources aside from the traditional ones There are now hydrogen fuel cell cars that are soon to be released in the market In fact, some auto blogs revealed that some tests are already conducted to prove the efficiency of using hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles

Perhaps you’ve heard or read that some diesel engines are converted to use vegetable oil and there are also those who prefer to purchase hybrid cars Have you ever considered a hydrogen fuel cell car? And why should you choose one?

The Advantages

Using hydrogen fuel in automobiles has some benefits You see, a lot of people want to take advantage of free things Well, hydrogen is more or less free The source of hydrogen is water and the HHO cell found in the car’s engine separates it You can get water from your faucet or in any other water source You will surely cut down your fuel expenses

Another good thing about fuel cells is that you can help save the environment Fuel emissions from cars can harm the environment and if you’re using hydrogen fuel, you will decrease the emission of greenhouse gases Global warming is a threat to the planet and through hydrogen, you can help save the entire planet

The Disadvantages

Most of today’s cars are not designed to use hydrogen fuel cells You can’t simply take your car to an auto mechanic and have it converted An HHO cell is needed and it should be installed in your car Once you obtain the HHO cell, you can get assistance or help from online sites Some websites provide step by step instructions on how to install the cells You will usually start in purchasing the needed materials, installing the HHO cell, and finally, starting your new hydrogen fuel cell car

So, how does the hydrogen fuel cell car work? If you want to use hydrogen fuel cells, you must know how it works Water is made up of oxygen and hydrogen The molecules are separated by magnets found in the cells Once the gases are separated, they are forced to the car’s combustion chamber to be burned and in turn produce energy to power your car With a hydrogen fuel cell car, you will only use gas when starting the car and then start the water combustion process later on

There will come a time when hydrogen fuel cell cars will roam the streets Until then, you need to gather as much information so that you will know everything about fuel cell cars Fuel sources nowadays are mostly harmful to the environment but if every individual who owns a car converts to hydrogen cells, the best interest of the can be promoted

You hardly notice that you’re spending thousands of dollars on the gas of your car But with hydrogen powered vehicles, you can save a lot of money and at the same time, you’re also preserving the environment You can even use the extra money to buy other more important things

Hydrogen fuel cell cars are now gaining popularity in the automotive industry If you want to follow the trend, have your car converted as soon as the fuel cell cars become available In the meantime, surf the net and acquire more knowledge about hydrogen fuel

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars
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Author : Gregg Hall

There are many reasons to why you should go to a car show but you are the only person who can choose what the real reasons are why you like to go to car shows so much There are going to be many reasons why you like to go to car shows but many just say they like to go to a good car show because they like to see all the different kinds of cars and what styles are there

If you are a car person then you are going to like car shows no matter what it is There are going to be all kinds of different cars there for you to look at but I am sure that you only like a certain style that is why there are so many different styles of cars when you go to a car show They want the people that are coming to the car show to like all the cars and they want to have a variety of cars to let the people look at

It doesn’t matter what type of car that you like you are going to find a car that you like at a car show no matter what type of car show that it is There will be every type of car from old wagons with air suspension to porches with massive amounts of horsepower All I am saying is that it doesn’t matter what type of style cars you like you will always see something that you like at a car show

If you are interested in a certain car then you can just walk over to the owner and start talking to them about their car I am pretty sure that you wont be able to just walk up and talk to them while they are judging but I am sure that you will be able to talk to them after the show or right before it starts You will always be able to talk to car owners and talk about their rides

A lot of people get their ideas from car shows to build a new car That is where most of the criteria comes from is from car shows all over the place If someone sees a car that they like then they will most likely build a car just like it to take it to a car show and try and win some prizes and places

If you are one of those people that like discounts on parts and other things then a car show is where you are going to meet those people that are going to hook you up If you don’t ever go to a car show then how are you ever going to meet anyone that can help you or wants to help you on your new car? If you want help you need to go to a car show and get some ideas Just visit a car show and then see what happens

Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about cars as well as a car care products at http://www.nsearch.com

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Author : Art Gib

Jeeps have come to symbolize rugged outdoor experiences in driving But did you know that after World War II they were assembled in India? In fact, this episode in the Jeep’s history opened the door for the beginning of a multi-billion dollar Indian automobile empire Here’s how the Jeep came to India and started a whole new industry in that fledgling country

In the early 1940′s, when it became apparent that America might very well be drawn into the raging world war, the United States military sent out an emergency request to automobile manufacturers: create an all-terrain vehicle to certain standard specifications and have a prototype built within 49 days These vehicles were, of course, to be used for war time purposes and needed to be rugged and tough, but not as big as trucks

The Bantam Car Company must be credited with creating the first prototype, and submitting it on time in the process It was hand built, and met nearly all of the army’s explicit specifications The Willys and Ford companies also submitted their own improved designs, but did so later, and used Bantam’s original as a model In short, the army’s contract went to the Willy-Overland company, who then contracted with Ford to help it build the 700,000 vehicles needed

After the war, K C Mahindra came to the United States in his capacity as head of Indian Supplies He happened to meet Barney Roos, who had invented the Jeep, and became fascinated with this new vehicle design Realizing that the Jeep would be a perfect vehicle with which to navigate India’s unpaved roads and rugged backcountry areas, Mahindra and his business partner brother J C won the bid contract from Willys and began assembling Jeeps in India

From this enterprise, a business empire was born Mahindra and Mahindra (or M&M as it is often called) also began the manufacture of farming tractors, and the burgeoning company began to trade shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange in 1956

As it grew, M&M diversified its services to include a steel company and, much later, an IT subsidiary But M&M never lost its love for utility vehicles, and it began manufacturing light service vehicles in 1965 which retained much of the look and all of the ruggedness of the original Jeep design

Today, Mahindra has taken on the passenger vehicle industry, and produces over 20 designs All feature clean-burning high mileage diesel engines which are both powerful and easier on the environment In fact, Mahindra engines emit 30% fewer carbon emissions than conventional gasoline engines

Mahindra is now making their utility vehicles available to the American car enthusiast Who knew that the all-American iconic Jeep would have such an influence in that part of the world? And it all began with an Indian businessman’s appreciation for the vehicle’s contributions to the victorious exploits of World War II

For information about Mahindrana, and more about high quality Indian cars, contact Global Vehicles USA. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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Author : Samantha Kleiner

Picture yourself being in a situation where your house is flooded Your walls stained, your documents wet, your ceiling bulging, your basements flooded, your carpets and rugs shrunken and almost everything you see in your house is water, water and more water

Of course the next step to this horrible nightmare is the water removal of your flooded house Dealing with a flooded home is naturally catastrophic to anyone being in that situation The damage to your house and to your belongings might not be irreplaceable Moreover, there is also an issue that you have to do water removal as immediately as possible or else, another problem will set to unfold

Problems that are if water removal is not done properly or just ignored, your house might be in a serious situation Flooded basements that are left without being treated could cause more damage to your whole household Because basement is located in the lowest area of any house, flood can easily get into that part and it could cause to be a breeding ground for mosquitoes Which brings malaria or even the worse, dengue fever can come into your own home

If furniture’s are left wet for a long time and you didn’t do any water removal on them, a possible way to salvage you furniture is to hire someone to upholster them again Leaving them wet for a long time might even cause for living bacteria to get there and causing more havoc in your house If you truly left it longer than expected, the only possible water removal solution that you can give to your might be expensive furniture’s are to throw them away

That goes the same with your carpets and rugs Leave them soaking wet and no water removal is done to them will cause them to have a sour odor In addition, if you have animals in the house, your wet carpet would smell like them, a stinking smell that you definitely won’t want into your house Even worse to this is the formation of molds, bacteria, and mildew that can grow as fast as you think with carpets If you leave your carpets long enough and let them dry without even cleaning them, the smell, the mold, and the destruction of your carpet will definitely be the last for your carpet

Cutting off the electricity and checking out your gas line are two of the most important parts of water removal that should never be ignored Even if you ignore to save your house possession but you have to keep in mind your safety If you ignore cutting off the electricity while your house is flooded, the worse scenario that you could possibly encounter is electrocution You definitely, don’t want that to happen to you!

Seeing all these consequences of ignoring water removal right away, will make you pay even harder than you think Not only you got hit by a flood but also you will get hit by your pocket if you don’t when washing our vehicle Hard water is usually used A car wash in our neighborhood also does the same While this is the most practical way of washing our cars, many are not aware that minerals contained in the local water supply can stick into windows and windshields, leaving spots that may prove to be irremovable later on, or worse, can affect one’s line of sight while driving This spots can also damage your car’s sparkling and radiant paint coat

One way of reducing if not eliminating the need for water removal is by drying out the car completely after every wash If using a car wash dryer, take time wiping off water spots from the surface, windows and tire trims

Hard water spots are expected if your car is often exposed to garden sprinklers Spotting these annoying car spots is the first step to hard water removal and water spots are easier to catch on light-colored cars Water removal must be done immediately as soon as these are spotted as they can leave lasting dents on your car finish if you do not remove them fast

Because of the cooler temperatures at this time, late in the afternoon is the best time to deal with your “spotted” car Before starting with water removal procedure, position your vehicle to a shaded area and give it time to cool down Water spots do not go away easily, and the minerals that need to be removed will instead embed themselves further into one’s car paint if you do water removal on a hot surface

For treatment and removal of tough water spots, try using white vinegar which is said to be the best home remedy for hard water removal Water and white vinegar should be mixed in equal amounts then placed in a spray bottle Then spray on solution to your car, using a clean cloth to wipe afterwards While white vinegar may remove those annoying water spots, it can also remove the sheen of the car so prepare wax for application to the car after the solution

For car owners who are well able to afford it, car shops do have available lubricants and polishes which are especially formulated for hard water removal on cars These products can give a better finish than the home solution as commercial formulas do not leave any swirl marks and instead, gives the car a good shine while removing the problem marks

Window glass with the same problem would require the use of fine grade steel wall for hard water removal When removing the stain, take extra caution not to damage the glass as this could easily break with pressure

Other than hard water, another problem area for car owners would be floodwater removal The cases may be few and far between, but once a car gets soaked in floodwaters, several functions of the car can be endangered all at once This could include fogging of lights, dirty and wet upholstery, and outcroppings in the wheel

Samantha Kleiner writes articles and shares information on fire and water for Baltimore Water Removal Company and Fort Myers Water Removal

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Author : Thomas Jones

Pressured by the soaring prices of gasoline, the world finds itself in a state of emergency, and this brings to attention the significance and need for hybrid vehicles The demand for the phenomenal cost-saving idea is born from consumers who are, in these harsh times, trying to find ways to eliminate, or at least reduce expenses on transportation, and it all adds up to gasoline efficiency and such so is the search for cost-efficient vehicles Car buyers were quick to show positive interest when Honda released a range of hybrid cars and this raised the demands magnificently for these types of vehicles

At the moment, the Honda Civic Hybrid is the lead hybrid vehicle manufactured by Honda Motor Company Limited – a giant Japanese car company Nevertheless this car is a next-generation development, and thus not the first of its kind in the hybrid vehicle domain Preceding the Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda initially revealed the Honda Insight, a fuel-efficient two-seater Naturally, sedan being the most popular among people’s car choices, Honda quickly designed and created a vehicle combing both economy and efficiency with the sleek outcome of a sedan car The Honda Civic Hybrid was the eventual outcome

Vehicles that use hydrogen fuel cells as a source of power like the Honda Civic Hybrid are expected to be the cars of the future, and belief is that these cars will soon consume the car industry given the fact that consumers hungrily await the era in which these vehicles become the market norm For the moment, hybrids remain, even so to be visibly potential The idea of combining the functionality and power of electrically-driven motors with diesel and gasoline based motors is the eventual and successful result contained in the Honda Civic Hybrid along with other vehicles that induce hybrid-technology

With the physical form of a straightforward four-door, the Honda Civic Hybrid demonstrates and achieves the complete functionality and uses just like any other sedan Most owners and interest-driven people admit that the Honda Civic Hybrid provides a practical experience and quality functionality, mirroring the original Civic range, that being the base-model that the hybrid vehicles are modeled on In a nutshell, the Honda Civic Hybrid is just a recreation of the widely prevailing Honda Civic, but with hybrid technology

The Honda Civic Hybrid vehicle has a seductive interior and exterior design which attracts a lot of buyers Compared to the Honda Insight, this car is larger in aspects of length and width, and is even lowered slightly By this the car maintains a maximum result of economy-efficiency and better performance Considering the design of the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight, both of which are hybrid vehicles, the designs implement significant physical methods to prevent the wind tunnel system from negating the enhanced features proposed by these cars, and so Honda assures that the Honda Civic Hybrid is modeled around this factor

To learn more about hybrid cars visit hybridcarchat.com and check out the how do hybrid cars work.

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Author : Gregg Hall

Many people do not realize how important it is to take proper care of their tires for better fuel economy Caring for your tires is important to prolong the life of the tires but it is also a crucial factor in fuel economy Keeping your tires rotated, inflated to the right PSI and having the wheels properly aligned and balanced can drastically increase your gas mileage

Proper tire inflation is a major culprit in poor fuel economy If you are like most drivers you probably don’t fully recognize the magnitude of how improperly inflated tires can adversely affect fuel economy If your tires are under inflated it causes them to be softer and can lessen your gas mileage by as much as four percent if you are running ten pounds under, on the other hand if your tires are inflated properly it can increase your gas mileage by over three percent

When tires are kept at their recommended air pressure it not only gives you a better ride and superior handling but also allows for optimum gas mileage You should keep the tires inflated at the recommended pressure that is indicated on the driver’s side door If there is a range instead of a certain number you should inflate the tires to the higher number to maximize your gas mileage It is also important to be sure that they are inflated evenly

In the winter your tires need even more attention because they will lose a pound of pressure for every ten degrees that the temperature drops The air pressure in your tires goes down in cold temperatures and this just adds to the resistance that is caused by slush and snow You should check your tires more frequently in the winter time and be sure that all of your tires are inflated equally Be sure to have your own tire gauge because many times those at service stations are inaccurate

You should also rotate your tires to be sure that the wear is distributed evenly over all of your tires You can find the tire rotation pattern in the owner’s manual for your automobile and you should do this a couple of times a year You also should be aware that the types of tires used affect gas mileage as well

When it is time to replace one of your tires you should look at your owner’s manual to see the tires recommended for your vehicle If you have a local tire service person that you trust you can ask them for recommendations as well Look for tires with low rolling resistance

Wheel alignment is another crucial aspect that should not be overlooked If your wheels are improperly aligned they can cause unnecessary friction which also cuts fuel economy as well as the life of the tires

Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about vintage cars as well as a car care products at http://www.5starshine.com

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Author : Brenda Williams

When Henry Ford first started producing automobiles to realize his dream of a car for the common man, a car was, well, a car Although an object of desire, it was still an object It did not have a persona nor did it have a gender Although in the early days, most of the drivers were men However, the invention of the electric starter put women in the driver s seat

And once women started to drive cars it naturally followed that sooner or later women would start to buy cars So men bought cars, women bought cars and couples bought cars together However, along with technology, car manufacturing became more and more sophisticated in its effort to appeal to a buying public At first, we heard the words sports car, sedan, luxury car, hardtop, and convertible

Then not so long ago, the phrase guy car and chick car started to pop up These categories were established by young buyers not by grandmothers driving Lincoln Continentals or soccer moms in a SUV

So just what is a chick car? It is not, as the name might suggest, a means of transport for chickens It is a car owned and driven by women but not all women However, it is hard to define, as there are so many definitions Urban dictionary defines a chick car as a car that is mostly driven by females, but is occasionally driven by males

As an example, they cite the Volkswagen Beetle However, Volkswagen sold over a million Beetles, so some men must have driven them more than occasionally Another definition given is a car that looks sporty, but has an automatic transmission, with the accompanying remark that no man with two legs would ever drive a car with an automatic transmission Again, many men own and drive cars with automatic transmissions

A third classification reads any sports car that is available only with a four cylinder engine and an automatic transmission While the automatic transmission is questionable, the four cylinder engine has some validity, as men are known to favor powerful engines where as women consider economy In analyzing the buying habits of men and women who love and buy sports cars, most women limit their purchases to $30,000 00 while men shoot for the $100,000 mark

Another definition reads, Any car painted in pink, light blue, or champagne is a chick car This might be more meaningful as it is difficult to imagine a Fortune 500 executive, a truck driver, or a construction worker behind the wheel of a pink car

And finally a chick car can be categorized according to the buyer s perception The car has to be perceived as reliable – a car that can be depended on to make it to its destination In this category, most Japanese cars were identified as chick cars while British cars were categorized as guy cars

Examples that have been given of chick cars in addition to most Japanese cars, are the new VW Beetle in any color but black (black makes it a guy car); the Mazda Miata, the VW Rabbit convertible, and the VW Jetta

However, in the final analysis, chick car may be synonymous with beauty It is all in the eyes of the beholder

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