racing to rescue

Posts Tagged ‘Summer’

When spring fever hits, it’s hard to restrain the excitement and urge to get outside and enjoy the outdoors, especially for bikers who have been able to enjoy their favorite pastime during winter. Although you may be anxious to hug the open road on your motorcycle right away, if you take the proper precautions when removing your bike from winter storage, it can save you time and money, as well as increase your safety. Use these helpful hints when preparing your motorcycle for your summer adventures:

Inspect your fuel tank – Basem Wasef, an expert author on motorcycle topics for About.com, provides some great insight into preparing your motorcycle for summer riding. Wasef recommends that you inspect your fuel tank by opening the cap and determining whether the fuel is clean or not. If you notice any decay or buildup of residue, drain the tank, and then clean the carburetor and fuel lines before running the engine.

Kevin Crockett, an expert author for Ezine.com and motorcycle enthusiast confirms the inherent risk that old fuel can cause by claiming, “old fuel can cause your fuel lines and carburetor to clog from gum.” He also recommends checking the tank for rust. “If the tank has rusted, you will need to clean and seal it to prevent flakes of rust from clogging the carburetor jets.”

Finish this step by adding a fresh tank of fuel before you ride your motorcycle.

Change your fluids – Drain old engine oil, replace the filter, and then replenish the engine with new oil before you ride your motorcycle this summer. Other fluids you need to check include transmission fluid, brake fluid and coolant.

Lubricate cylinders – Wasef claims that by removing the spark plugs and pouring two tablespoons of oil into the spark plug ports, you can lubricate the top portion of the cylinder walls. This can be useful if you failed to spray fogging oil on the top of the cylinder when you prepared your motorcycle for winter storage. Examine the chain and lubricate it, if necessary.

Charge your battery – Inspect the battery leads for corrosion. Wasef advises topping off each battery cell with distilled water before charging. Make certain the battery is fully charged before going on your first motorcycle ride. Otherwise, you run the risk of becoming stranded because of a depleted battery.

Inflate your tires and shocks – Inspect the tires for hairline cracks, bubbles, weak spots or stress marks and address each issue separately. Inflate each tire to the specified quantity of air pressure. Continue by inspecting the shocks. Give the kickstand a few trial kicks, and lubricate it if uncooperative.

Wash and wax your motorcycle – Thoroughly clean the exterior of your motorcycle using a gentle cloth, and then protect it with a thin coat of wax.

Use a safety checklist – The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers a free safety checklist that you should use every time you ride. The T-CLOCS checklist, which stands for tires and wheels, controls, lights, oil, chassis and stands, covers every critical safety aspect on your motorcycle.

Finally, don’t get caught in the rain without your rain gear! Protect yourself and your motorcycle against theft, damage from collision, vandalism and more with affordable motorcycle insurance. Nationwide can tailor a motorcycle insurance policy to fit your unique needs, even if you have a custom bike. Contact an expert Nationwide agent today for your free quote, and ask how you can qualify for an auto insurance discount when you choose to insure your motorcycle with Nationwide, too.

Article by Joel Weaver

Entrepreneurial growth firm Geneva Roth will open Ultimate Auto Cars in Las Vegas, NV with one simple premise… make the car-buying experience as simple as possible.

“Reliable cars at reasonable prices,” says John See, General Sales Manager, “that’s what we do.”

The days of trying to up-sell a customer are gone, See said. Too often, the customer walks onto the lot and asks about a specific car or price range and the salesman immediately starts trying to talk him into buying a car that’s out of his price range. The bait is the financing, and the reward is the money made on a higher-priced car and interest on the loan. The salesman is acting in his own self-interest and in the business’s, not the customer’s.

“We’re not going to try to talk a customer into a more expensive car. Today’s consumer comes to the lot with a greater understanding of what they’re looking for and what they can afford,” said See. He went on to discuss the amount of information available at the buyer’s fingertips on the Internet. As a company with several Internet-driven business, Geneva Roth understands this very well.

The used-car buyer is not looking for anything extravagant, usually a solid, reliable car to get him to and from work, run errands, etc. The Ultimate Auto Cars inventory will focus on these types of vehicles – coupes, sedans and a few SUVs.

Internet-driven business… for the time being

Ultimate Auto Cars will have its Grand Opening in late summer. In the meantime, Geneva Roth will be liquidating current inventory in order to buy more vehicles for the lot. See stressed that during the liquidation, no reasonable cash offer would be turned down for any of the vehicles currently in inventory.

The lot will be conveniently located on the east side of Las Vegas. The address is 3210 Fremont St. See said that the dealership would like to have 30 cars on the lot, with most priced in the ,000-,000 range, although there will be some cars in a lower price range and some up to ,000.

While Ultimate Auto Cars is waiting for the new lot to be finished and the building to be turned into the type of facility in which customers will be comfortable, buyers can access the entire inventory at www.ultimateautocars.com. They can then make an appointment to see any vehicle that sparks an interest by calling 702-426-6159.

No Hassle Financing is one of the cornerstones of the business. What once took hours to complete now takes a few minutes. For buyers with bad credit, or no credit at all, Ultimate Auto Cars has a “Buy Here, Pay Here Program.” The application is quick and easy. The customer’s job is their credit, and the loan provider has streamlined the approval process and the customer knows the status of the application in a few minutes.

Ultimate Auto Cars also has a No Haggle Pricing Policy. The price is in the window, and that is the price whether the buyer pays cash or finances the purchase. “Everyone’s heard the story about the car salesman who says he needs to talk to his manager to get your offer approved on a car,” said See.

Most of the time, they’re not talking to the manager at all. They’re e-mailing, texting, getting some coffee. They know the bottom-dollar price on the car. The problem is, the customer doesn’t, he explained. “With Ultimate Auto Cars, they’ll know the bottom-dollar price when they look at the car.”

When purchasing a car, dependability is the most important thing. Ultimate Auto Cars provides CarFax information for every car in its inventory, available on the website.

“The experience of buying a car shouldn’t be stressful” said See. The offices are clean and comfortable. The sales staff is friendly, efficient, professional and bilingual. Information is made available to the buyer from the start, from the price to the terms.

“We make it easy to get a reliable car at an affordable price,” said See. “It doesn’t get any easier than that.”

Ultimate Auto Cars is currently located at 6965 Speedway Blvd. Ste. X106. Buyers interested in any of the cars listed on the inventory page of the website should call 702-426-6159 to make an appointment.

Ultimate Auto Cars is the first Geneva Roth venture into the used car industry.

About the Author

Joel Weaver is the Community Manager for geneva Roth.

Article by Mitch Harmatz

Many of us have our “dream vacation” planned out for the summer. It may involve hopping in the car to drive across the country to visit friends or family, or simply a drive up the coast from Southern California to San Francisco.

Whatever your “dream vacation” is, don’t let it turn into a nightmare because of a breakdown. Have your car inspected by the San Pedro automotive experts before you hit the road to make sure your vehicle is safe for a road trip.

San Pedro Automotive Maintenance – The 40-Point Safety InspectionAn inspection of all of your vehicle’s major systems is critical to keeping you safe on your vacation. That’s why the San Pedro automotive pros provide a comprehensive 40-point safety inspection to avoid problems before they happen. A little maintenance before a trip can prevent a big blowout in the middle of one.

Every San Pedro automotive safety inspection includes a thorough examination of:Engine systemBatteryAir conditioning health FluidsFilters BrakesTiresAlignmentSuspensionLightsWindshield wipers

The list goes on and on. Your San Pedro automotive maintenance chnicians take the time to make sure your vehicle is not only safe, but also operating at its peak performance so you can enjoy your summer road trip without the slightest worry of car trouble.

If you want to do some basic check-ups on your own, don’t forget to:Check the engine oil and transmission fluid. How long has it been since you had your oil changed or transmission flushed? If you’re not sure, see the San Pedro automotive service professionals to help get you prepared for your trip.Change the air filter if it hasn’t been changed recently.Check the power steering fluid, brake fluid, and windshield washer reservoir.Inspect the tires. Poorly inflated and/or worn tires can quickly ruin your trip. Inflate the tires, including the spare, to the manufacturer’s suggested tire pressure. If your tires show uneven wear, you have an alignment problem that can cause your car to skid at high speeds on the interstate. If you feel any vibration at cruising speed, it’s time to have your tires balanced. In any case, the San Pedro automotive and tire specialists can quickly adjust your alignment or balance your tires. Check to see whether the jack is in properly working condition in case of a flat tire.Make sure you have a first aid kit, a flashlight, and extra water.

San Pedro Automotive Maintenance – The First ChoiceThe San Pedro automotive experts want to be your first choice and your second opinion before you start your summer vacation road trip. Get the 40-point safety inspection to ensure your car is ready for all of the adventures you’ll have. Make an appointment online at www.ParkPlazaAutomotive.com or call 310.831.2888.

About the Author

Whatever your “dream vacation” is, don’t let it turn into a nightmare because of a breakdown. Have your car inspected by the San Pedro automotive experts before you hit the road to make sure your vehicle is safe for a road trip.