Examining Modern Motorscooters

By Mike Scott

In the 1920s, most parts of the world were undergoing the changes resulting from the industrial revolution. Countries like Britain, France and the United States had already made giant strides in this field. Other parts of the globe like the Far East were also experiencing an industrial re-awakening of their own. Taiwan is one of these countries. Today, it is one of the leading exporters of manufactured goods to the rest of the world. One of Taiwan's leading contributions to the industrial revolution is the scooter. This was a product of an engineer called Gino Tsai, who worked for the J.D. Corporation.

The first scooters were foot powered. This means they were not motorized. The technology to motorize the scooters actually emerged later. Gino'd motivation was basically to get to work on time. In these early days of the industrial revolution, numerous factories were being created which required labor. Most people in these times lived in the rural areas and had to commute long distances to get to work. Every morning saw long streams of day workers walking to their jobs and back home again. Gino's invention was geared to alleviate this and that is why the scooter became a popular buy.

Today,scooters have revolutionized the way people commute. A cross between a bicycle and a regular motor cycle, today's scooters, while still resembling their earlier counterparts, are motor powered. In many major world cities, the scooters are one of the most major ways of getting around. This is because cars are still too expensive for the average worker and the income per capita is still low. Let us examine the reason behind the buzz that is sweeping the world regarding motor scooters.

Fuel Efficiency The recent global economic crisis has become an item of focus for many people. This has been caused by the high price gasoline. Gasoline is the lifeline of many world economies and this increase in price has caused financial hardship for many. It is no longer uncommon to see people looking for new and innovative ways of saving money especially in the area of commuting. Motor scooters are a sure way to do this. Their fuel efficient nature is one of the best ways of cutting down on the cost of commuting.

Cheap to maintain Scooters are easier to maintain than motor vehicles. It is not a secret that a motor vehicle can easily cost hundreds of dollars to repair when it breaks down. Motor scooters are easy to maintain because their mechanical configuration is simpler. The total sum of its parts is also much less than those of a motor vehicle. This means that workers with a low income and who cannot afford to buy and maintain a car can easily afford a motor scooter.

Convenient Scooters are very convenient. This means that if you live in a city with a traffic problem, a scooter can be ideal especially when it comes to manuevering your way through traffic. That is why cities which experience issues with traffic have a large number of motor scooters. - 21392

About the Author:

Author is writer and regular contributor to Motor Scooters, a website with resources and information to help you find the right Vespa Scooter.

You Want Luxury And Prestige? Then You Want 2005 Gmc Denali!

By John Smith

GMC's response to the Cadillac and Chevrolet nameplates plus General Motors SUVs is the 2005 GMC Denali. Among GMC's car versions, Denali is the most luxurious. It is undoubtedly full sized but is slightly smaller compared to the largest SUV. This vehicle is perfect for family outings especially with a boat or jet-ski in tow.

The Denali can pack up to nine passengers. It has a three row seating arrangement where the third row can be dismantled or folded up to suit the owners' needs. The bucket seats which are located in the middle or the second row are fully adjustable one by one to suit the individual needs of the passenger. For comparison purposes, Suburban and Expedition are quite longer than the Denali and the latter is easier to maneuver in your garage.

It sports a powerful V8 engine with a 325 horsepower and a torque of 370 pounds per foot. The drawback to so much power is its gas guzzling capability, too! Inside the city, you can get around at 12 mpg while on the highways 16 mpg. But with oil prices at a slump, this is not much a problem.

Denali also displays the following features: automatic transmission, all-wheel drive without low range gearing and an advance braking system. On treacherous paths such as gravel, rugged-two tracks, mud and snow you will be guaranteed of a smooth and safe ride. Quadrasteer is the car's steering device that helps reduce the turning circle during low speeds and it also assists in improving the stability of the car when towing something at great speeds.

Safety is enhanced by a tire-pressure monitor and sophisticated Hydroboost brakes and GM's Stabilitrak antiskid system. Further, the car has a power-adjustable pedal and a multi-zone automatic climate system with front or rear controls. Optional feature is an audio or navigation system which has a control touch screen.

The Denali is a luxurious and cozy vehicle with well-situated interiors. It has leather cover seats that looks perfect and feels so comfortable. The shoulder harnesses are mounted on the seats and fits snugly and can be worn easily. All the switchgear and ancillary controls are located close to the driver on the front. It also has an improved radio reception, a Bose nine-speaker stereo with subwoofer.

The 2005 GMC Denali is by far one of the coolest vehicles to modify. You can get a custom grill, custom wheels even custom doors! It is a unique and desirable vehicle offering power, luxury and prestige. - 21392

About the Author:

Looking for some good info on the yukon denali? Then you need to check out this site, 2005gmcdenali.com for a whole bunch of cool info. Its a site created by a fan, for the fans of the 2005 yukon denali!

Discover The Tools For Car Spray Painting - Spray Paint

By Will Yonder

You could be really successful at painting your car, provided youve a good plan, the right budget and the time. And also you'll most surely need the right tools and equipment. Oh yeah, and you would need a nice and spacious work area.

Frequently inexperienced individuals feel that all they need to paint their vehicles, is a few cans of car paint, and that is it. It doesnt function that way, and say it did then there would be a good deal of car painters out of business.

Tools and equipment to paint your car are not a huge expense, but you do require them.

Item #1 To start out with you will need a good car wash detergent and a degreaser. The car must be perfectly clean before you start out.

Item #2 A variety of grits of sand-paper. Probably there are going to be a few uneven spots that you would need to smooth out.

Item three Putty and a putty knife. Almost every vehicle suffers from those nasty pits that flying stones cause. This is often one of the reasons to prompt you to paint the motor vehicle in the first place.

Item #4 Masking tape and paper to cover the regions that you don't want to get paint on. Dont make the mistake of thinking that you are good enough with a spray can so you could skip this step. One small gust of wind is all it takes to spot the chrome with over flow paint.

Item five Now you are getting closer to genuinely getting down to starting. You would require the primer. How much you require reckons on the amount of sanding and filling you had to do.

Item six The paints of your choice. What colors and brands you are going to utilise is the decision you need to make here.

Item #7 One of the most essential items is the top coat. You genuinely need to protect that splendid paint job once youre complete.

These are several of the tools and equipment plus product you will require to do your job effectively. There're some items that we need to talk about a little more in depth. For illustration, how're you going to apply your paint? You might have chose to go with the aerosol spray paints. In this case you will not require much more to apply the paint. In the case that youve decided to purchase paints that require a spray gun, then you got to include this in your tools and equipment list.

Some other item under tools and equipment even though optional is an electric sander. If you have alot of sanding to do then really consider either renting or borrowing one of these if you dont have them. It could save you alot of time and comfort as well.

Remember its essential that you clean each of your tools and equipment the right way once youve completed the job. Most of the items are not all that low-priced and you never know when your next paint job will come up. - 21392

About the Author:

Have you seen super-slick automotive paint spray jobs on shows cars and wanted that kind of look for your own vehicle? You can download free videos on car bodywork paint at SprayPaintSecrets now...

A Closer Look at Motor Scooters

By Mike Scott

I a tough world economy, the high price of gasoline only adds to the pain. We have seen as prices have jumped almost 100% in just two years in most major cities in the world. This is not to mention that inflation continues to eat at real wages. Against this backdrop, we cannot be surprised if people begin to seek ways and means of saving money. One of the ways of doing this is cutting down either on travel or on the means of travel. That is why many are turning to scooters, mopeds and mobility scooters.

These forms of transport modes save on gasoline and therefore many people are choosing them over fueled powered vehicles. Another reason is that they are environmental-friendly. A third reason is simply because they are fun especially when the weather permits.

Scooters afford a tremendous amount of independence as compared to regular vehicles. Imagine being able to ride even through the back woods where a car generally cannot go. The sense of adventure is exhilarating. One added boon of scooters and mopeds is that even people who have physical limitations which disqualify them from driving a regular motor vehicle can now get around. Before the advent of scooters, people with physical disabilities had to wait until someone would drive them around in a motor vehicle. This tended to be a huge inconvenience.

Motor scooters are the way to go if you want to enjoy your commute as well as save money. The cost aspect of operating a scooter cannot be overstated. They are extremely cost efficient in that one can get around the same way he or she would in a car but in a much more fuel-efficient manner. The machines are also easy to maintain and do not cost a fortune to repair unlike the motor vehicle which can remain ground for days at a garage because the owner does not have the necessary funds.

Motor scooters are also easy to store. One does not need a lot of space. If one has a garage that already has a car or two, it is no hard thing to squeeze a motor scooter or even two inside the same garage. Most people use their garages for multiple purposes. While they were primarily designed as a place for parking one's car, people also use them to store items that would otherwise clutter the house. A scooter can easily fit inside regardless of what other items are stored.

Scooters have a few disadvantages. One is the fact that they cannot be the ideal method of transportation is the weather is bad. In snowy, stormy weather, the regular car scores big against the scooter. The scooter is also much slower than a car. If you are doing a long commute, you might want to think of leaving home in good time. Scooters can also be unsafe especially in a crash. A car is much safer especially in small to moderate crashes. - 21392

About the Author:

Author is writer and regular contributor to Motor Scooter Guide, a website with resources and information to help you find the right Yamaha Motor Scooter.

Choosing An Auto Technician - Are Certifications Needed?

By Rand Stuck

This question apparently occurs to a lot of people who believe its a waste of money to consult a certified technician when it comes to their vehicles. Why not simply call in the neighborhood quack, who has always proved useful with a set of tools, instead? Well, there are various arguments against, but the strongest come in the form of the test lineup and mission statements of ASE (The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) and I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair). These are the two most reputable organizations that certify auto service technicians after conducting tests. Go through the brief backgrounds of each organization, their respective mission statements, and finally their test line-ups.

ASE (The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence)

Even 30-odd years ago, there was no way to tell whether an auto technician was competent. That is, there was no professional standard that auto technicians could adhere to. To fill in this vacuum, the autonomous, non-profit body known as National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) was set up in 1972. As of today, nearly 420,000 professionals can boast that they possess current ASE certifications. They work in all areas of the automotive service industry such as vehicle dealerships, single garages, fleets, and service stations.

In order to obtain ASE certification, applicants must sit for one or more of the ASEs 40-plus tests, which are sorted into different areas of expertise for automobile, medium/heavy truck, truck equipment, school bus, and collision repair technicians as well as engine machinists, alternate fuels technicians, parts specialists, and collision damage estimators. A successful candidate needs to pass at least one exam and make available proof of at least two years of relevant work experience, whereupon he becomes ASE certified. This is not a one-time certificate, though. In order to remain certified, technicians with ASE certification must take a retest every five years. The ACT, which operates various academic and occupational testing programs, is in charge of the tests, and they are organized twice a year in over 800 locations nationwide. The exams impose strict quality control by testing candidates mastery over job-related skills and are not easy to pass. In fact, something like one in three candidates fails.

Needless to say, a consumer stands to gain much from ASE certification. For one, it can become a measure of the knowledge and skills of a technician; second, it tells you a lot about a repair facilitys quality if it displays the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence logo on its signs and advertisements.

ASEs mission: To improve the quality of automobile repair and service through the testing and certification of repair and service professionals in the automotive industry.

You can gain a better idea of the ASE certification and testing by studying the tests as outlined on www.ase.com:

Auto/Light Truck: A1 Engine Repair; A2 Automatic Transmission/Transaxle; A3 Manual Drive Train and Axles; A4 Suspension and Steering; A5 Brakes; A6 Electrical/Electronics Systems; A7 Heating and Air Conditioning; A8 Engine Performance

Alternate Fuels: F1 Light Vehicles-Compressed Natural Gas

Medium Heavy Duty Truck: T1 Gasoline Engines; T2 Diesel Engines; T3 Drive Train; T4 Brakes; T5 Suspension and Steering; T6 Electrical/Electronic Systems; T7 Heating, Ventilation, & A/C; T8 Preventive Maintenance Inspection

Parts Specialist: P1 Med/Hvy Truck Dealership Parts Specialist; P2 Automobile Parts Specialist; P3B Med/Hvy Truck Aftermarket Parts Specialist (Brakes); P3S Med/Hvy Truck Aftermarket Parts Specialist (Suspension and Steering); P4 General Motors Parts Consultant

Advanced Series: L1 Automobile Adv'd Engine Performance Specialist; L2 Truck Adv'd Elec. Diesel Engine Diagnosis

Collision Repair and Refinishing: B2 Painting and Refinishing; B3 Non-Structural Analysis and Damage Repair; B4 Structural Analysis and Damage Repair; B5 Mechanical and Electrical Components; B6 Damage Analysis and Estimating

School Bus: S1 Body Systems and Special Equipment; S2 Diesel Engines; S3 Drive Train; S4 Brakes; S5 Suspension and Steering; S6 Electrical/Electronic Systems; S7 Air Conditioning Systems and Controls

Engine Machinist: M1 Cylinder Head Specialist (Gas or Diesel); M2 Cylinder Block Specialist (Gas or Diesel); M3 Assembly Specialist (Gas or Diesel)

Truck Equipment: E1 Installation and Repair Specialist; E2 Electrical/Electronic Systems; E3 Auxiliary Power Systems

Specialty Test: X1 Exhaust Systems

Now for I-CAR

Set up in 1979, I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) is, once again, an international, non-profit training organization that seeks to better the quality, safety, and success rate of auto collision repair.

I-CAR has put in place a concept best described as Outward Vision, which embodies the organizations intention to define the Ideal State of the collision repair industry with respect to technical training. Heres how I-CAR defines the industrys Ideal State:

That every person in the Collision Industry has the necessary technical knowledge and skills relevant to their position to ensure a complete and safe repair. I-CAR continues to develop and deliver technical training programs to professionals in all areas of the Collision Industry. Furthermore, I-CAR provides a communication forum for anyone interested in proper collision repair. Finally, that I-CAR's primary funding is derived from student tuition and services, insuring that I-CAR can remain unbiased in developing courses and services on an industry-wide basis.

The I-CAR Mission Statement:

To research, develop, and deliver quality technical educational programs related to collision repair; to raise the level of available knowledge and recognize professional achievement; thereby improving communication throughout the Collision Repair, Insurance, and related Industries for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

The following are some of the training courses offered through I-CAR for collision repair technicians:

Identification and Repair Decisions; Adhesive Repair; Welding Repair; Repair of Padded Dashes; Refinishing of Plastics; Analyzing Damage; Creating a Damage Report Manually; Creating a Computerized Damage Report; Safety & Environmental Practices

Understanding Automotive Finishes; Preparing the Surface for Refinishing; Preparing the Equipment, Paint Area & Refinish Materials; Tinting; Applying the Finish; Blending;

Solving Paint Application Problems; Finish Defects, Causes & Cures; Detailing; MIG (GMAW) Welding Cutting & Heating Processes Advanced Welding Methods; Damage Analysis; Straightening Structural Parts; Full & Partial Panel Replacement; Stationary Glass Replacement; Restoring Corrosion Protection; Preparation Panel Replacement and Alignment; Working with Trim and Hardware; Metal Straightening; Using Body Fillers; Door Skin & Intrusion Beam Replacement; Quarter Panel Placement; Moveable Glass and Hardware.

If, after all this, you still think it worthwhile to have an unskilled and unqualified amateur have a look at your car, just to save a few dollars in the short run, the call is yours. However, it is obvious that the importance of a certified and professional technician is immense when it comes to protecting and maintaining your precious vehicle. And whats more, such a technician will always keep himself updated on the latest happenings in the automotive industry, which means even the newest makes and models are safe in his hands. So do not leave your car vulnerable to undue risks. Consult a professionally certified technician today. - 21392

About the Author:

Rand Stuck is a master mechanic with over 13 years experience working on BMWs and currently manages the BMW parts department for an online parts retailer. You can find additional Repair and Maintenance information at AutoWerks Parts & Accessories