AUTOMOTIVE MOTORCYCLE

Perhaps the only thing more important than quality components, is the install. By install, I mean actually correctly wiring the system, and speaker placement. An automobile is a hostile environment for accurate sound reproduction to begin with. Due to this, selecting the correct size of speakers, the ideal placement locations and angling is all the more necessary. For most, the factory speaker locations are all we are willing to work with. Others, however, are willing to cut and fabricate, etc., to create the best audio system possible.

More is not better; many enthusiasts will randomly outfit their cars with as many speakers as they can cram into each corner. What they end up with is a crisscross of conflicting frequencies, creating audio bumps and dips, and an ambiguous sound stage. Ideally, stereo sound should come from two points, and two points only. Unfortunately, no speakers exist that can be practically mounted in the front door grills or kick panels that will reproduce quality audio from 20 hz to 20 kHz. This is, of course, why we have subwoofers, mid range woofers, and tweeters. In a car, we are usually restricted to installing each speaker where it’s most practical.

A typical clean and simple install will have the mid range speakers and tweeters installed in the front doors, or kick panels (to better equalize the path lengths). Any rear speakers should just for a subtle “hall echo” effect, and the high frequency range should be cut off (ie. Tweeters), to avoid pulling the sound stage rearward. The subwoofer will go in the trunk, because that’s the only place it will fit with its enclosure. The subwoofer frequencies are difficult to tell from which direction they are coming from, so trunk placement is usually no problem.

Many premium factory audio systems brag of 8, 9, 10, 12, or whatever number of speakers. I know I said more is not better, but it can be, when professionally installed with analyzing equipment such as a “real time analyzer.” in order to achieve a flat audio curve in a hostile environment such as a car, certain frequencies may have to be boosted to create the best possible sound.

One thing I hate the most about the second moto or main (for you flat track guys) is that the race groove is worn in the track causing it to become a one line affair. This makes it extremely difficult to make passes in a timely manner. This often causes you to reach deep into your bags of tricks to find the best areas and techniques to make passes. You will usually find some techniques that may be considered dirty or aggressive to some riders but they are necessary in order for you to get the win. I am going to share a few of my techniques I have used during races.

The first is more common than you think and I use it often in flat track racing: block passing. This technique requires you to be an aggressive rider and it also requires a high level of commitment to perform. You will need to “set up” the other rider a few turns prior to the turn you want to perform the block pass in. This involves putting pressure on him by showing a wheel and running right on his rear tires in order to intimidate him a little so that he is more forgiving when you execute the block pass. As you approach your desired corner, you want be on the inside and you will need to stay on the gas a second longer than the other rider does.

As you go into the corner start to push the rider towards the outside (don’t make contact). As you get into the apex slow down almost to a stop, this forces the other rider to check up and lose all of their momentum in the turn. Once you accomplish that square up the turn and motor out of it. You have just made a clean block pass and have a little room to spare as the other rider has to shake it off and get his momentum back up. This technique becomes dirty if you run into the other rider as you make the pass. A little contact is ok but deliberately hitting a rider will get you into trouble.

The internet has made the entire process of buying a car used or new an enjoyable experience. To begin with, the net allows you to become well informed about the latest trends in the used car market. Moreover, you don’t have to deal with an annoying car salesman right from the beginning. All you need to do is go to websites and surf through thousands of used cars for sale without having to leave home. Believe it or not, the feeling of you being in control of the situation rather than the car salesman is exhilarating. Besides, you can have fun setting up one dealer against the other in order to grab the best deal.

When buying a car used it is essential to determine the current value, which is easily available online. It is important to check four or five websites in order to determine the retail value. Most sites may vary a bit; nevertheless, you will have an approximation to go by. The secret to buying a car used is to schedule your purchase towards the end of the month. This is when dealerships offer incentives and much more in a bid to get the cars off their parking lot. Try putting in a lower offer around this time and you may get a much more receptive response.

Don’t rush to the dealer immediately when you find a car that suits your fancy. Make a phone call and let the salesman know of your intention to buy the car within the next three days. Make sure you follow the same pattern with three or four dealers, set up the negotiations, and let each one know that you are negotiating with other dealers too. The one who is really keen on selling will probably close a favorable deal with you in a matter of hours. While discussing the price make it clear to the dealer that you will not pay any dealer or any extra fees, since this is not a norm, even though they may insist that everyone does.