The Body and Machine Section is the place to hang out and grab pertinent information for everything from motorcycle maintenance to fitness to very cool stuff to know about!
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Toyota Recall
Toyota just announced that it would recall approximately 2.3 million vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals on specific Toyota Division models. This action is separate from the on-going recall of approximately 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to reduce the risk of pedal entrapment by incorrect or out of place accessory floor mats. Approximately 1.7 million Toyota Division vehicles are subject to both separate recall actions.
The condition is rare, but can occur when the pedal mechanism becomes worn and, in certain conditions, the accelerator pedal may become harder to depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, stuck in a partially depressed position. Toyota is working quickly to prepare the correction remedy.
In the event that a driver experiences an accelerator pedal that sticks in a partial open throttle position or returns slowly to idle position, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes. The brakes should not be pumped repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist, requiring stronger brake pedal pressure. The vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location, the engine shut off and a Toyota dealer contacted for assistance.
for more info visit here
This is one talented Garage-Girl, artist Deborah Mahan is a wizard with an airbrush, watch her as she free-hands this portrait of the Blues Brothers. Amazing....
John from Flamingo motor-sports takes a minute to clue us in on maintaining our winter machines. Store your street bike, get out on your snow mobile, dirt bike, or ATV and have fun this winter!
Flamingo Motorsports - Palmer MA
Hey, Don't Freak out about the weather, you can still go out and enjoy riding! We take a look at some of the new model Snow Mobiles and ATV's to blast around on out in the winter wonderland!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year From Garage-Girls
Wishing you and your families all the best this Holiday Season. Our hearts are with all of our service men and women serving our great nation. God Bless, See you in 2010!!!!
Holiday "Garage" Gift Ideas
This time of year really isn't about the gifts, but somewhere along the way it has become totally "all about the gifts"... So we decided since people are out racking their brains of what to purchase for that special motorcycle enthusiast on their list, here are a few "Garage Picks" we especially like and think you or your "moto" friend will like. Have fun while doing your Holiday Shopping, we suggest starting out in your most comfortable pair of "comfy" pants, cozy slipper socks, grabbing a glass of your favorite adult beverage, and click on the links below! Now thats shopping you can enjoy!
We love how this boot can be worn just hanging out or riding, we definitely dig how the Trista boot rocks working as dual purpose, a functional riding boot and a casual kicker. This will be a fav by any "Garage" lifestyle fan on your list.
ok so your guy can't be riding in his kicks, it's just not safe, and the days of wearing big boots with all kinds of "Mad Max" looking metal buckles all over them are so 1999! We like this simple riding boot because he can kick over the shovelhead or get out in the driveway and shovel the snow!
Rain Cover, Seat Protector by Mustang
Who likes getting on their bike after a good downpour? Not us, the seat is soaked and you know what that leaves us with.... yup, wet ass... no one likes a wet ass. Mustang has a slick little cover that you can throw over your seat to keep it dry and for $25, it makes the perfect stocking stuffer or gift for someone pretty damn cool!
Men's Sub Glove from ICON
what guy wouldn't be proud to wear this glove supporting the new ACU (Army Combat Uniform) pattern, of the digital camouflage. This glove is more than ready for asphalt chaos, if incurred. The Perfect Present for any serious rider on your list!
Women's Hella Glove from ICON
a classy rider doesn't need all the bells and whistles in her riding glove, just stripped down to pure function with subtle taste, feminine yet tough! A sure to please gift for any rider, any style of bike!
Every rider needs to have a Battery Tender Jr in their garage, so this is always a must have for the holiday shopping list. Lightweight, compact and fully automatic this charger is a no brainer and will light up a smile on anyone who recieves it!
Holiday Shopping Discounts Exclusively for Garage-Girls
It's no secret we can all use a little help with expenses this year, especially with the holidays upon us. A few of our Garage-Girls Supporters have offered some great Shopping discounts exclusively just for Garage-Girls.
Make sure you take advantage of these special savings.....
MUSTANG SEATS
Mustang Seats is very happy to offer a huge shipping discount (it’s just about free) to all Garage Girls and their friends.
Just call 800-243-1392 or email their Marketing Director Marilyn@MustangSeats.com for info.
OtterBox
OtterBox is very happy to offer a 10% discount on every product to Garage-Girls and their friends! Just use this special code to receive your discount when shopping online at Otterbox.com
Code: OtterGarage09
Discount: 10%
Valid: today through 12/31/09
Insurance Coverage, YOUR questions answered.
Several of our readers have sent in questions about motorcycle insurance, so we compiled them and sent them over to GEICO. Lisa Hamilton from GEICO was kind enough to take the time and answer all the questions. If you have any specific questions about motorcycle or automotive insurance, send them in and we'll try to get them answered for you.
~Do you offer discounts for Women riders
We do not currently offer a discount specifically for women riders.
~Should you get a discount if you took the Motorcycle Saftey course?
We offer a ten percent discount in most states for completion of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course. Many companies do not offer a significant discount for the course, but we believe in the importance of riders taking initiative to train themselves in the safe operation of their bikes.
~Why does my age play a factor in a quote?
Age has been shown to be a significant predictor of accidents, so it is used as a rating factor. But, riding experience is also important, and any age rider can have prior bike experience, so we consider both when rating a policy.
~Why does the CC of my bike play a factor in the quote?
CC’s of a bike have also been shown to predict accidents, so they are used as a rating factor. But, at GEICO, we recognize that the performance capabilities of a bike are more significant than cc’s alone, so with us, rates vary more by the actual type of bike a customer has.
~Is there such a thing as cheap insurance?
Some rates are lower than others, and bike insurance can be inexpensive. We encourage all riders not just to pursue “cheap” insurance but to instead find the best value for their money to properly cover themselves and protect their assets.
~what is insurance for disability and death?
Riders can buy Medical Payments coverage for themselves in most states to cover a variety of health-related expenses in the event of an accident. In some states, Personal Injury Protection coverage is available, which may include benefits for disability and death.
~What is limited tort vs. full tort?
With full tort, you can recover all out-of-pocket expenses as well as financial compensation for pain and suffering. Limited tort allows you to recover all medical and other out-of-pocket expenses but not all pain and suffering or non-monetary damages. All Pennsylvania GEICO Motorcycle policies are sold with full tort.
~Can you get a good reduction by increasing your deductible?
Yes, increasing your deductible is a great way to reduce your premium.
~Do you need Collision coverage?
Collision protects your bike regardless of who is responsible for the accident that caused the damage. Consider your bike’s value and your ability to fix it or replace it in the event of an accident when you are deciding whether or not to carry this coverage. Also, if your bike is financed, collision coverage may be required by your lien holder.
~Is roadside recovery included or available?
Roadside recovery, which we call Towing coverage, is available for a very low annual cost.
~What Multiple Bike discounts does GEICO offer?
GEICO offers a ten percent discount on policies with two or more motorcycles.
~What are the limits for annual mileage, commuting, business use.
Is Mexico & Canada coverage included, or available? what if you ride to these countries?
There are no limits for annual mileage or commuting, but if your motorcycle is being used for business, you may need a different type of policy to adequately cover its use. Please call us to discuss this situation.
We can provide Canadian coverage at no additional charge, and we can provide coverage for use in Mexico at an additional cost through one of our insurance partners if you are planning to ride in these countries.
~Does GEICO ask where the bike is stored at night (ie a locked garage) – will this be cheaper?
While we appreciate the care bike owners take in protecting their bike, we do not give different rates depending on where the bike is stored.
~Does GEICO ask about security, alarms, immobilizers etc?
Yes, GEICO gives an anti-theft discount in most states for these devices. We appreciate the steps bike owners take in protecting their bikes from theft.
Changin' Oil
We have told you before and were here to show you this time, changing your own oil is the easiest thing you can do on your own to maintain your bike. Sara took the camera on her own to share with you the easy steps to changing your own oil. If your getting ready to store your bike for the season, now is a great time to drop
the oil, get rid of all the contaminates from running your bike all season. Have Fun in the Garage.
Garage-Girls at the Track!
So this past weekend we loaded up some bikes and decided to head over to a local drag strip for an all bike event. I had the pleasure of meeting Stacy Bortz and her 02 Dyna. Stacy ran her best time of 10.91 that day, that is FAST, way to go Stacy! Stacy's boyfriend Gregg Dahl runs a 91 XL in the mid 9's and after watching Gregg teach some of his buddies how to run down the track, Stacy decided that was something she would like to do. This is her 2nd season running in street class. She hits the track usually every weekend and she's having a blast. We need to keep our eyes on Stacy, I have a feeling we will be seeing much more of her!
Nesa Shares about Her New Seat!
Hey Ladies,
I just bought a Mustang Solo Tour seat for my Sportster, went on a 1500 mile trip up and down 8K' mountains and was very, very pleased with the seat. It helped make the trip as enjoyable and comfortable as could be.
Nesa
Palm Springs, CA.
Garage-Girls Travels
Hey Garage-Girls,
I attended the DELMARVA BIKE event, and saw the Wall of Death performance again. "CHARLES RANSOM" read my t-shirt. Yes, I was wearing a Garage-Girls shirt. He said "I know the Garage Girls." We started talking about many things.
I wanted to share these pictures with you. I was the 6th bike in line, and an hour later the lot was full.
Hope you are doing well.
Love,
Alicia
Lawn Mower Care
The Fall Season finds us getting ready to do lots of storage prep for some of the machines in our garage, one of those machines is the lawn mower. Most Lawn Mowers require weekly, monthly and yearly maintenance in order to keep them running in optimal condition. Of course remember if your not up to doing this type of work yourself you can always find a local Equipment Sales and service shop to maintain your mower for you. If you are up to the task here are a few tips for getting your mower ready for storage.
Most mowers have an instruction manual to follow, but if you don't have one, here are two things you can do prior to storage:
. Drain the remaining fuel from your mower. Always disconnect your spark plug connection prior to draining. In general, the longer your mower sits in storage, the more likely it is for your gas (either in the mower or can) to get bad. By draining the fuel from your mower, you are preventing the remaining fuel from aging and potentially going bad inside your mower engine and carburetor.
. Once the fuel has been drained, reconnect the spark plug wire and run the engine until it burns all remaining fuel and runs out of gas.
Park your mower someplace safe and dry during the winter months. Once the spring sun starts to shine you'll be all set to fire the mower up with no hesitation.
Mustang Seats
Rice-O-Rama
Rollin From Spectro clued us in on this pretty cool grass roots show in Western MA, Rice-O-Rama, always up to check out cool rides, especially old ones I headed out with my nephew to see what this show was all about. Held out at the North Brookfield Sportsman Club there were plenty of spaces for vendors to set up in the swap meet area, I browsed through looking for cool old gas tanks and rare old bikes, I didn't find much that I would consider a rare treasure, but for anyone restoring some older Japanese bikes there was plenty to be found. We liked the bike show and saw some very impressive bikes, along with some cool old "Garage" built rat bikes. The people were super friendly and my nephew and I had an awesome day checking out the cool rides on display. Check out the site here at www.rice-o-rama.com.
New Gear from ICON
Grand Opening of Uhl Studios, Chrome & Chroma Art Exhibit
Good Friend of Garage-Girls, Artist David Uhl will be holding a party and art exhibit for his grand opening of Uhl Studios. Friday August 21st 6pm the good times start with music, food, drink and of course art work on display by all the big talent. If you are in the Denver area stop by and enjoy. www.uhlstudios.com
New Spark Plug wires
Spark plug wires are a very important part of the ignition system on your bike. A set of bad spark plug wires can have too much resistance making it hard for the voltage to reach the plug, causing a weak spark. The wires could have bad insulation and be the cause of a misfire. If the wires absorb moisture they can cause problems when it’s raining or if it’s damp. Check your plug wires for any worn area’s, or signs of cracks. If you see anything that looks iffy, you’ll want to replace the plug wires. Plug wires are sold in all sorts of colors and sized to fit your certain model bike. You can order a custom “cut to fit” wire kit. Changing wires is very simple. Remove the plug wires from the spark plugs and the coil. Next go ahead and dab a spot of the dielectric grease (usually supplied with the wires) on the ends(boots). We recommend when purchasing a new set of wires to use "Taylor", "accell", or "Crane"; these wires use a stronger material for the insulation, which will better deliver the high voltage current to the spark plug.
Pictured left: see the corrosion on the lower wire, below: adding dielectric grease and installing the new wires.
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Injured during Sturgis Concert
OK at what point do these guys realize they are getting old? Playing a gig at Sturgis, the sound equipment fails, Tyler starts dancing around the stage and FALLS off! Next thing you know Joe Perry announces he's being flown to the hospital and the show is over. Looks like he will be ok, Tyler suffered neck and head injuries, nothing life threatening, but this comes after just last month, the band was forced to cancel seven shows due to an unspecified injury, rumored to be a pulled leg muscle, sustained by Tyler onstage. That was followed by bassist Tom Hamilton's departure for a handful of dates in order to recuperate from unspecified "non-invasive surgery." Earlier in the trek, guitarist Brad Whitford was forced to sit out the initial dates due to a head injury, which required surgery, sustained when he was getting out of his Ferrari.
Several months before the tour, Tyler checked into rehab to recuperate from foot surgery. In March he contracted pneumonia, which pushed back sessions for the group's new album. Maybe they should just stick to recording in the studio, one that has wheelchair access!
Fitting Tribute Victory for Danny Eslick
Danny Eslick the 23 year old rider for the GEICO/Rossmeyer Buell race team in the AMA Daytona SportBike Series grabbed a win on saturday August 1st in the Tornado nationals at heartland park Topeka. This win was especially emotional for the team as it came just 2 days after the passing of Bruce Rossmeyer one of the teams major Sponsors. Bruce was killed in a motorcycle accident in Wyoming on his way to the Sturgis Motorcycle rally and races. Eslick now leads the sportbike standings by 18 points over Martin Cardenas.
Our Thoughts and prayers go out to the Rossmeyer family we find this Eslick win a fitting Tribute Victory in memory of Bruce.