Buying a Motorcycle Leather Jacket – Some Tips

Motorcycle jackets are, of course, an essential item for motorcycle riders and reflect the personality of the wearer. There are many other considerations however, apart from good looks. High on the list of priorities is how well the jacket will protect you in the event of an accident. Is the jacket comfortable when riding and suitable for both summer and winter wear? Motorcycle jackets are expensive so they should be durable and last for many years.

Some Considerations when Buying a Motorcycle Leather Jacket

The fit – Motorcycle jackets are designed to be comfortable when in a riding position so the jacket should be shorter at the front, to prevent riding up, and longer at the back to provide adequate cover. The sleeves should be long to cover your wrists when holding the handle bars and it should be roomy in the shoulders for ease of movement. The neck should be snug but not restrictive and the wrists and waist should have closures to keep out the wind.

Protective Armor – Motorcycle jackets, above all, must provide protection in the event of you coming into violent contact with the road. Adequate padding is necessary jackets are usually padded at the elbows, back and shoulders. Padding may be extra material or better still plastic inserts or reinforced Kevlar. Make sure the armor stays in place when you wear the jacket. Some inserts tend to move around.

Pockets – most motorcycle jackets have plenty of pockets. Opt for ones with flaps as wind can get through zippers unless they have material patches if the back or front. Inner pockets are useful for keeping your wallet and cash in.

Liners – removable insulated liners are great for using the jacket in cold weather.

Vents – vents are necessary to allow you to be cool in the summer. Leather is very warm so you’ll overheat in the summer months unless there is a way to allow air circulation in the jacket.

Color and reflective materials – black is the traditional color for motorcycle jackets and although it look good it’s not the best material for safety reasons. You can’t easily be seen in a solid black jacket! Some type of reflective material is necessary but we don’t want to spoil the looks of the jacket with huge neon stripes! White piping on the back and sleeves can be reflective and logos are often also made from reflective materials.

Winter riding – In the winter you need maximum protection from the elements. A jacket that is cut long, below the hip is better at keeping out the wind and cold. Heavy insulation, often in the form of removable linings is needed and the jacket should be adjustable to give a snug fit at wrists, waist and neck to keep out the wind and cold. Adjustable flap type collars are better than zips and fit snugly but not too tightly.

Leather in the rain – Leather is not meant to get wet so wear a rain suit over your leather jacket in the rain. Water will deplete the natural oils in the leather and lead to deterioration and cracking. If it does get wet hang the jacket up in a warm place, away from any direct sources of heat.

Oiling your leather jacket – You should oil your jacket occasionally especially after it gets wet using a mink oil specially made for leather. this will replace the natural oils in the leather and help to keep it supple and looking good. With care a quality leather jacket should last at least ten years.

Tips for buying motorcycle leather jackets

Buy the best quality within your budget
The leather should be 1.2mm thick at a minimum.
The stitching should be firm and well done especially in areas that will be under strain.
Sleeves should be slightly longer to cover wrists when riding
Leather at the neck should be soft enough to prevent chaffing

Vehicle Donation: Just One Way of Making Your Contribution

Over the past few months, charitable institutions have tried their best to encourage the public to make larger donations. The economic downturn has hit charities hard, causing a drop in their funding, and they need . more money than ever before to continue doing their good work. The main focus of charities recently has been vehicle donation. Major charitable institutions like The American Red Cross and the Goodwill Industries have found out that their income has suddenly increased because of more individuals contributing big donations like vehicle donation instead of smaller cash donations With this in mind, these charities are now trying to increase awareness of the benefits that come with an auto donation.  
Today, charitable institutions are looking at the bigger picture. They are sending out the message that you don’t have to just donate a car to make a difference. Charitable institutions accept all sorts of large donations. They are very capable of flipping those large items, getting the funds they need. Like others, I might think twice before donating my car, but there are numerous other items, slightly less valuable, in and around my home, which I would be hapy to donate to a charity. Many people feel the same and charities would like to capitalize on this.
These charities are mostly looking for motorboats, motors, trailers and other such things as donation. Their reasons for accepting such items as these are numerous. The charities can themselves go about selling the items and sometimes get more value from their sale than you would. There is also an advantage for those making the donation. Donating a boat, trailer or a similar item will entitle you to the same kind of tax exemption that you would recieve by donating a car or truck. The rules governing tax exemption are the same. You must record the details of the donation on your tax form, along with the value of the car.
All in all this is a win-win senario for you as well as the charities. Charitable institutions with the help of your donation will be able to continue their good work and you can enjoy a small tax exemption by getting rid of an item that you did not need in the first place.

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Often Answered!!! I would like to express my thanks to Vandergriff Toyota and automobile revenue team for helping me discover the vehicle I had been searching for. I was surprised to come across that whenever I asked a question or expressed a concern, I wasn’t created to think like I was “bothering” someone and also the patience the vehicle revenue team displayed. I’ve had my share of dealerships and hate to think like I am not worth waiting on, but never once did I experience that way when dealing working with Vandergriff Toyota. I discovered the vehicle I was seeking and a smile to go along with it!! Thanks Vandergriff Toyota for generating me think #1!!

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How to Choose an Auto Body Shop

As a large majority of the general public drives an automobile, it is important to have certain resources on hand which relate to the car. Things such as insurance companies, auto dealers and automotive parts stores are all important businesses to have close by should an individual need their assistance. However, perhaps the most important business contact an individual should have is an auto body shop. As a good auto body shop is important for your car repairs and pocketbook there are a few ways an individual should go about selecting the best auto body shop in their area.

Consider Recommendations

Since many individuals use auto body shops, it is highly likely that one will know someone else who has also used a local auto body shop. As a result, asking for recommendations from friends and family members is a great way to select the perfect auto body shop. There are a few different reasons why considering recommendations is a good step to take prior to settling on a particular body shop. First, friends and family members will be able to state whether they have had a favorable experience with a particular auto body shop or not. Not only will they be able to comment on the overall cost of services but how the staff handled their automobile situation as well. This is a great point of reference when you are trying to find a shop that does good body work while charging a fair price.

Another reason to consider asking for recommendations from friends and family members with regard to choosing an auto body shop is to make sure that the company you are considering dealing with will treat the customer in an honest and fair manner. As any individual who has to put their car in the shop wants it to go as smoothly as possible, asking for recommendations with regard to auto body shops will help because you will be able to find a good shop with reasonable prices.

Have an Auto Body Shop Picked Out Before it is Necessary to Use One

Because an inoperative car, due to an accident or otherwise, is already a stressful situation, one does not want to face any additional stress by having to find an auto body shop to fix their car at the last minute. For this reason, it is a good idea to have an auto body shop picked out before one even needs the assistance of one. This is also beneficial as the individual can check out the shop beforehand and ask questions of the staff, such as do they offer towing to their facility, for example, and receive answers to other important questions.

Warranties

Another factor to consider when wondering how to choose an auto body shop is whether or not the auto body shop offers warranty on any of its parts or services. Since warranties are frequently offered in auto body shops, if one shop doesn’t offer many warranties or any warranties at all, then that prospective customer may very well wish to keep looking for an auto body shop that does offer warranties on its parts and/or services. When a shop offers warranties it makes the customer feel as if the shop is confident in their work and will do a good job.

Payment Accepted

Another factor which may be a determining one when choosing an auto body shop is what types of payment the shop accepts for auto body repair. If the auto body shop only accepts cash and checks in limited instances which must be paid up front, then perhaps considering another auto body shop which accepts many different forms of payment, such as a variety of credit cards, may be the best bet. In addition, auto body shops may sometimes offer installment plans which can work out well for those who are on a strict budget yet need to have their automobile repaired as soon as possible.

Choosing the right auto body shop is a very important decision to make. By considering the previously mentioned tips when choosing an auto body shop, it may just help the individual choose the best possible one.

Now is Great Time to Buy a New Car

Now is a great time to consider purchasing a new car. With the influx of cars waiting to be sold there are some fantastic bargains on offer at the moment.

If money is no problem you can simply go out and buy whatever car takes your fancy, however for the majority of people buying a car can be an expensive outlay. There are many different ways to buy a car.

You could save the money yourself and wait until you have sufficient to buy a car with cash or a cheque. This is fine if it is not going to take you long to save the money. In reality if you only save a little amount each month by the time you have saved enough the chances are the make and model will have changed and the price may have increased. The downside to this is the waiting-when you have made your mind up to buy a car it can be very frustrating not being able to drive it off the forecourt straight away!

Alternatively if you decide to buy a car from a dealership you will have more options, such as buying the car with either a hire purchase or leasing agreement. Straightforward hire purchase is where you pay a deposit and enter into an agreement to make monthly repayments over an agreed period of time. Dealerships offering 0% finance are a great way to save on interest rates if you are considering buying a car with hire purchase.

Many car dealerships will also offer Personal Contract Purchase (PCP). This option is ideal for people who change their cars frequently. PCP has a flexible deposit and flexible repayments usually over a two and half or three year term with a final optional settlement figure. This figure is calculated when you purchase the car, providing you with a current value settlement. At the end of the finance term you will have three different options to choose from. Firstly you can pay the agreed settlement figure and ownership of the car will be given to you outright. Secondly, you have the option to hand the car back to the dealers and walk away. You will not owe any money but you won’t have a car either! Thirdly you can part exchange the car to upgrade to a newer model. This is the most common option as it allows you to have a new or nearly new car every three years or so. Mileage restrictions will be applied and excess mileage will be charged.

Lastly-be honest with yourself-waiting to win the lottery to buy a car isn’t really an option at all!

Begin your search of purchasing a new car by going online and taking a look at car dealerships who specialise in selling the make of car you prefer. If you have no particular preference to the make or model of car it is still worth going online and looking at the great deals some dealerships are offering at the moment on their brand new cars.