When we look at buying a car, we usually check out the gas mileage, the odometer, the standard equipment and, of course, the price. We rarely spare a thought for braking systems, because we presume (correctly, as it turns out) that the law requires manufacturers to engineer vehicles to stop within a certain safe distance.
There’s more to driving safety than counting car lengths or timing a 2 – 3 second following distance. Brakes have feel and balance. They work differently in warm, cold, wet or dry conditions. They fade over time. Nothing can substitute for knowing the distinctive braking characteristics of your vehicle. Do you know yours?
Giving your own brakes the once-over may seem daunting, but if you have eyes, hands and feet, you already possess the tools you need to catch some major problems before they spin out of control. In this article, I’ll show you how to use your body’s onboard equipment to inspect your fluid, pads and indicators, and take you on a quick tour of other tools you’ll need to check your fluid, bleed your brakes and test your proportioning valves.
Whether you’re looking to pick up a high-end ride, or you just dig chrome dubs and alloy mags, chances are you’ve caught the chatter over brake dust covers. What are they? What are they for, and do they do what they claim to do? In this Question of the Day article, I dig into the dirt surrounding these wheel shields.
Motorcycles are not merely part of the iconography of culture. They are also among the many inventions woven into the fabric of history, and they reflect the spirit of freedom and adventure of the historical figures who rode them. How well do you know your motorcycles in history?
In the beginning, it was down to a bunch of backyard grease monkeys, factory owners and manufacturing magnates to kit-bash, jury-rig and cobble together the first motorized two-wheelers. Although few of them stayed in the game, their legends live on in the steel and chrome of today’s hogs, choppers and scoots. How well do you remember the now-defunct greats?