Monday, December 4, 2006

eBay Motors

eBay Motors is currently one of the seven specialty sites of eBay, catering specifically to buyers and sellers interested in automotives and vehicles. First launched by eBay in 2000 as an effort to boost sales in its automotive auction site, the site has undergone many changes to become what it is now. Positioned at first as two separate sites, eBay Motors was combined with the eBay Auto-trader site and launched as one site under its current name. The company also added a slew of services to attract more users. Although the move upset some of the affected sellers, it proved to be a wise strategy as it boosted the sales of the auction site.

eBay Motors is currently one of the most popular online destinations for buyers and seller of automotives, parts and accessories. eBay Motors also goes beyond cars and trucks auctions: The complete category list includes motorcycles, powersports, boats and other vehicles such as buses, commercial trucks and even aircrafts. eBay Motors is truly the best one-stop online auction shop for anything and everything about motors.

Like other eBay sites, the eBay Motors' special site is designed to make the buying experience very easy and convenient for the user. eBay has successfully created a simple process that works across all of their specialty sites, and eBay Motors is no exception. Online auction and buying experience doesn’t get any easier than the popular Find – Bid/Buy – Pay method.

For the buyers, the Search function and the Category list both serve as an excellent starting point. If the buyer has a specific idea of something that he’s looking for, the search function is probably the quickest way of finding it. If not searching for something specific though, browsing through the categories may be the best option for prospective buyers. Browsing also has the added advantage of seeing items or options that the users wouldn’t have seen using the specific search function. “Surprising discoveries”, as the eBay search help page says.

Then the buyer can proceed to the actual bidding for the item or, if the seller of the item allows it, buy it directly through eBay Motor’s Buy It Now feature. Buy it now is an eBay-wide feature that was introduced by the company as an alternative to the normally used bidding process. With Buy It Now, you can buy an item instantly at a seller-defined price without going through the bidding process.

Paying for items you bought can be done through different methods, depending on the seller. Usually Credit card and electronic checks are accepted. You can also use PayPal, eBay’s own payment system.

Although in the ideal world the three-step process enumerated above should work flawlessly, actually buying vehicles through eBay Motors entails additional steps for the buyer to avoid frauds. The general rule is that the more the buyer knows about the seller and the items that’s being are auctioned, the safer the buyer will be.

Getting to know the vehicle that you’re bidding on or buying means an extensive research must be done if you don’t know much about it yet. Do research on the particular model that you are interested in and make sure that it meets your needs as well as the requirements that your state has set, such as emission efficiency. It is also imperative that you have a good knowledge of actual value of the vehicle. Beware of vehicles that are listed significantly lower than that of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. As for the actual vehicle being auctioned, it would help a lot if you can personally visit and see the vehicle to ensure it is accurately represented. If this is not possible you can have an inspection service check the vehicle for you.

The next important thing to know is the seller of the vehicle being auctioned. eBay Motors has an excellent feedback rating system that will let you gauge the seller’s reputation on eBay. Make sure that you get to know your seller well before bidding or fully engaging into a deal. It is also important to contact the seller and to ask more questions about the auctioned item. Make sure that he replies to your inquiry and questions.

Although care should still be taken by the buyer, eBay Motors has a free Vehicle Purchase Protection Program that protects the buyer’s vehicle purchases from fraud and material misrepresentation. This is granted that the transaction is eligible. The vehicle purchase is protected for up to twenty thousand dollars or the vehicle purchase price, whichever is lower.

There are also other services offered by eBay Motors for the buyers. The PayPal buyer protection program gives protection to users who use PayPal for their parts and accessories transactions. As mentioned, there are Vehicle Inspection programs that provide detailed and thorough mechanical and cosmetic inspection on auctioned vehicles. The Vehicles History Report shows facts about a pre-owned car before the buyer buys the item.

Buying vehicles or parts online gives you the advantage of a consolidated data about vehicles that is very helpful in comparing various items or vehicles that you are considering. Make use of this advantage really well. Compare and always find the best price for items that you’re bidding on. The excellent and proven auction system can also give you possible big savings when buying vehicles in eBay Motors.

After getting all the relevant information go ahead and place your bid. Remember that when bidding on eBay Motors you only need to enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the vehicle you wish to buy. This doesn’t automatically mean that that would be the price you are going to pay for the vehicle. eBay Motors will do the bidding for you and stop bidding and notify you through email once your indicated maximum amount is reached. Bidding on eBay Motors is just as easy and hassle free as bidding on any eBay auction site.

For buyers of collector cars eBay Motors has a special feature called Roadside Assistance. Roadside Assistance provides buyers throughout USA and Canada a free 30-day roadside assistance via the Hagerty Collector Network. The free roadside assistance also covers the first $100 worth of other roadside services such as battery jump, fuel delivery, tire change and lockout service. This feature lets buyers enjoy the first 30 days of their collector cars worry free and can then later on sign up with Hagerty Collector Network if they want to continue with the service.

Buying a vehicle in eBay Motors is surely not only very easy and hassle free but offers very good perks as well. If you need to buy a vehicle and choose to do it online, then eBay Motors is the place to do it.

Motorcycle Insurance Tips

Motorcycles are very popular among the youth as they offer a fun way to ride, are economical to maintain, and give a chance to experience freedom while driving. At the same time, they are more prone to accidents than cars. Hence it becomes important to buy motorcycle insurance. Before venturing out on the road, it is essential that you carry minimal cover, according to the government rules. With so many insurers offering different motorcycle insurance policies, you need to shop around to find a policy with the lowest premium. If you are in the process of buying motorcycle insurance here are some useful guidelines to buy the right policy.

What does motorcycle insurance premiums depend on?

Motorcycle Insurance premiums are decided based on the following factors; riding experience, age, market value of the bike, type of bike e.g. cruiser, touring, sport, sport or touring, your residence locality e.g. crime-infested areas will attract higher premiums, size of the engine like under 500cc, 500-750cc, 750-1000cc and 1000 or more, mileage, any training on motorcycle driving and number of years you have been insured.

How should I buy the cheapest motorcycle insurance?

Since many companies consider motorcycles to be a high-risk mode of transport, they tend to charge a higher premium. But still you can save money by shopping around. Get an insurance quote from a few companies and compare the rates. But it does not mean that the cheapest quote is also the best. Take a motorcycle-riding course to lessen the premium charges. The premiums attracted by older, slower vehicles are far less than those charged on new models.

What are the types of Motorcycle Insurance Coverage?

· Liability in an accident to insure others against damages;
· Passenger liability to cover injuries and physical harm to people in the car;
· Uninsured motorist, which protects you against drivers with no insurance;
· Medical expenses caused in an accident;
· Collision and Comprehensive, covers the costs incurred on repairing or replacing your motorcycle and also against fire, theft and vandalism are the common types of coverage’s.

Besides, you can also insure to protect against any changes done to the bike and its equipments. If you are a beginner, start with a good, simple motorcycle insurance policy. This will increase your chances of getting advanced policies later on, besides saving your money.

Taking A Motorcycle On Your Camping Trip

Traveling across the country on a motorcycle can be exhilarating. You have a greater sense of your environment and immediate surroundings on a motorcycle and can have a sense of freedom when riding. It’s a wonderful way to explore the countryside. Camping with your motorcycle, though takes some planning and adjustments from other, more traditional forms of camping.

Because you won’t have as much space on a motorcycle as with a car, you have to pack lightly and include only the essentials. This is easier then it sounds but will take some planning. Make sure you choose items to take with you that are small and have multiple uses. A good multi tool knife is great and will allow you to do repairs and maintenance, cooking and preparing.

Take a small bag for personal items and choose travel size bottles of everything needed. These are readily available at discount and grocery stores and will help save storage room. Use saddle bags for storing food, clothing and personal gear. You’ll have to economize so be prepared to wear the same clothing several times. Take re-closable plastic storage bags or plastic trash bags for disposing of items and for storing dirty clothes.

You should have ample room in saddlebags and the glove compartment for small items. For sleeping and camping equipment, use the luggage rack or passenger seat and secure these items with bungee cords. Make sure to bring compact equipment that can tightly fold or roll up. You should easily be able to store a collapsible tent and sleeping bag. You can even add a sleeping mat for added comfort.

If you intend to cook while camping out pack only what you’ll need. Look for camping recipes that only require one pot. There are many available and this will help conserve space. You can get eating utensils to store in a saddle bag. These do not take up much space.

For safety, make sure your motorcycle is serviced and in good working condition before embarking on a trip. Chart your route so you know where gas stations and restaurants are on your route. These can be valuable in restocking food supplies and in emergency situations. Keep a map and compass handy so you don’t get lost on the road or while camping.

You may not be able to camp in the lap of luxury when you bring your motorcycle but it will be a fun experience. Your motorcycle has ample room to store the necessities and if you can accept sleeping outdoors and only packing essentials, this can be a highly rewarding experience. Having a motorcycle available also gives you a lot more flexibility in traveling in and out of campsites. It is easy to pack all your gear and leave or go on a short sight seeing trip.

Motorcycle History

A motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine. The wheels are in-line, and at higher speed the motorcycle remains upright and stable by virtue of gyroscopic forces; at lower speeds continual readjustment of the steering by the rider gives stability.

The operator or "rider" sits astride the vehicle on a seat, with his hands on a set of handlebars. The feet are supported on a set of footpegs which stick out from the frame. When the bike is at rest, the rider puts one or both feet on the ground, because the gyroscopic force that keeps a moving bike up is absent. Speed is controlled with a twist throttle on the right side handlebar grip (standard configuration). Braking is controlled with a hand-lever and foot pedal (front and rear wheel, respectively). Gear control (shifting) is accomplished by clutch, disengaged by compressing the left hand lever, and moving a foot-lever up or down. The shift foot-lever is on the opposite side of the machine from the foot brake. Steering is accomplished by trained application of slight turning of the handlebars and lateral shifting of the rider's weight.

The inspiration for the earliest motorcycles, and arguably the first motorcycle, was designed and built by the German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Cannstatt (since 1905 a city district of Stuttgart) in 1885. It was the first petroleum-powered vehicle ever, but for the provision of a pair of stabilizing wheels, a motorized bicycle, although they called their invention the Reitwagen ("riding car"). They had not set out to create a vehicle form but to build a simple carriage for the engine which was the focus of their endeavours. However,if one counts two wheels with steam propulsion as being a motorcycle, then the first one may have been American. One such machine was demonstrated at fairs and circuses in the eastern US in 1867, built by Sylvester Howard Roper of Roxbury, Massachusetts. There is an existing example of a Roper machine, dated 1869. It's powered by a charcoal-fired two-cylinder engine, whose connecting rods directly drive a crank on the rear wheel. This machine predates the invention of the safety bicycle by many years, so its chassis is also based on the "bone-crusher" bike.

In 1894, the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller was the first motorcycle that was available for purchase.

In the early period of motorcycle history there were many manufacturers as producers of bicycles adapted their designs for the new internal combustion engine. As the engines became more powerful and designs outgrew the bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle producers reduced.

Up until the First World War, the largest motorcycle manufacturer was Indian. After that, this honour went to Harley Davidson, until 1928 when DKW took over as the largest manufacturer. After the Second World War, in 1951, the BSA Group became the largest producer of motorcycles in the world. The German NSU was the largest manufacturer from 1955 until the 1970s when Honda became the most prominent manufacturer, a title it retains to this day. British manufacturers (Triumph, BSA, Norton) held a dominant position in some markets until the rise of the Japanese manufacturers (led by Honda) in the late 1960s and early 1970s who were able to produce designs faster, cheaper and of better quality. Today, the Japanese manufacturers Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha dominate the motorcycle industry, although Harley-Davidson still maintains a high degree of popularity in America.

Recent years have also seen a resurgence in the popularity of many other brands, including BMW, Triumph and Ducati.