It may seem unnecessary to insure your motorbike, especially when it has not been used for five years. Insurance companies often make it seem like they are cheating people by charging them for premiums over many years but not paying any compensation. You should think about the medical bills that you may have to pay if an accident happens. You might have to pay for the repair or replacement of a bike stolen from your own pocket if you don’t have insurance. You might even have to cover any damage done to your bike or another person.
A motorcycle can be in an accident, or it may have mechanical issues that require to be towed. If the cost of insurance includes this expense, it will take away the financial burden of paying for such a costly service. The insurance company will pay any monthly balances that you owe to the dealer who sold the bike to you, depending on the agreement between the parties. This prevents you from having the bike taken away and sold because you didn’t pay the balance.
In the event of an accident, there are legal procedures that must be followed, especially if the property or persons belonging to third parties are damaged. To claim damages compensation, the third party affected files a lawsuit. You should not enter into a lawsuit, especially when it is likely that you will lose all of your time and money, as well as the fact that you will be required to compensate the third person.
You can reduce the hassle and cost of finding a company that will insure you by searching online. Because you can look at all the offerings of the different companies while sitting down, rather than moving around from one place to another, it is much cheaper. This saves you a lot of time and energy. You can also post detailed information about your bike as well as what you are searching for. The program will then run and you will be able to see a list of companies that match your description. You can read about Motorbike insurance quotes – What coverage do you need? by clicking here.
Comprehensive coverage can be purchased that covers you, your bike, and any third parties. You can include another bike, another person, or a vehicle as third parties. This coverage also covers property damaged due to a collision with your bike. If the bike is stolen or damaged, the insurance company will replace it. A comprehensive, custom-made policy can also cover valuable parts. If you do not have comprehensive coverage, third-party insurance is required by law.
When you request motorbike insurance quotes, there is a process that you must follow. The answers you provide to the company will determine the rate of interest that you are required to pay. Be careful what you answer. Every insurance company will ask you about your daily mileage, how far you travel, and what you use the bike for. Some riders buy a bike for fun, while others go trailer biking. Some riders use their bike for work every day, while others only use it on weekends or when they are not at home. Your interest rate will rise if your bike is used for adventure and fun, while those who use it for regular riding will see a lower rate.
Some companies offer standard quotations that can be used with any motorbike. Motorbike riders should not accept a quote that is too low-quality. He will find that more reputable companies are willing and able to provide a quote based not only on his needs but also on the type and work he does with the bike.
You can’t be too cautious when purchasing insurance for your motorbike. This is because, unlike other road users and cyclists, there are more chances of your motorbike being involved in a serious accident. These accidents may even prove fatal and result in the bike being written off. A bike owner who borrowed the money to buy the bike will find himself in a difficult situation. He will need to have liability insurance and pay for his hospitalizations. A motorbike owner should have adequate coverage to protect his bike in the event of an accident. An intelligent owner will include a replacement clause in his policy, to cover any emergency, even if it is more expensive than he expected. Click here to read about Ironhorse Trailer for Owners – Buy an Ironhorse Motorbike Trailer.
You can show your insurance provider that you are a safe rider and get your insurance premium reduced by showing them how responsible you are. You will be considered a good risk if you wear a helmet when you ride your motorcycle and have a jacket to protect you from any impact.
A clause that covers a breakdown occurring when the rider is not in the city or at night is another good one to include. A policy that includes this clause can be accessed by a call. He will then be able to arrange accommodation while the bike is being towed to safety and taken to a garage to be repaired. An insurance company that is reliable will reimburse all costs incurred in such instances.
You should seek advice from an insurance attorney before getting a quote for motorbike insurance. This will ensure that you have the right policy to protect you in the event of an emergency.
We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback about the new parklet. There’s been an equal number of inquiries regarding how to actually go about getting it done for other small businesses in the area. Below are a few guidelines, links, and lessons for those of you who might be thinking about installing a parklet yourself.
Equipped with an anti-tagger mini gun
The parklet was fully financed by the Freewheel but had to be approved by the city. The application process is fairly straightforward but will require you to present blueprints, gain the approval of neighbors, and provide some justification as to why your idea would be a positive contributor to the community. In most cases, businesses are required to take up two full parking spaces with their parklet addition (we used the pre-existing bicycle corral to the north of the parklet to justify a complete pair). More information on the application process and specific selection criteria can be found on the official Pavement to Parks website.
Park your butt, not your car!
As mentioned above, you will need to send in blueprints for your parklet. Rebar Group is responsible for the majority of parklets in the area and their experience branches into other areas of public space as well. They can help you through the process with minimal involvement.
The Freewheel took on a more involved approach and worked closely with Kanbayashi Designs to come up with our own unique design. The garden element of the parklet was done by Micah Reed of Thrive landscaping, who has since consulted us with considerable enthusiasm on how to better look after our plants.
The Mission has been good to us over the years and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to give back to the community. Maybe we have a bias but it seems that the parklet is doing more for the community as a whole than a parking space ever did. We’re happy we were able to get it installed successfully and wish you all best of luck in giving this City a more neighborhood feel.
If only judging by the calendar, summer is apparently here. The cooler air does however make for great riding conditions and, if nothing else, justifies the occasional use of vintage wool jerseys. Regardless of whether you’re addicted to the buzz of rubber on tarmac and the pulse of your own cadence on a nasty climb, or you find yourself more at home in the light that splits the redwood canopy where your only company is damp earth and thirsty ticks, summer is a prime time to ride. In the spirit of the season, we thought we’d share a few of our favorite rides in the Bay Area and the more nostalgic (often maudlin) memories of those trails and loops that have been loved and lost to geography.
Marc recommends: For roadies in the Bay Area who need a day ride into Marin the Mill Valley to Muir Woods loop. A great morning ride. It will get you up and away from the city with very little traffic and will have your legs pounding depending on your commitment to the ascents. A long, well-earned descent gives you the opportunity to work on your handling, or just cruise and enjoy the ride. There is an additional map available on the Marin County Bicycle Coalition website.
Quit yer wine-ingAndy recommends:
Summer! (?) on Conzelman Road
For 3-4 day touring enthusiasts:
Tour of NorCal A 200-mile ride gives or takes. Take the ferry to Vallejo. Ride to Calistoga, Bodega Bay, Pt. Reyes and back to SF. The scenery is awesome and the Silverado Trail through Napa Valley is quieter than any of the main highways. You’ll find a number of campsites reserved for hikers and cyclists that will usually only charge you three to five dollars for the night rather than the full fare for a more auto-friendly campsite.
For mountain bikers:
Tamarancho or Skeggs Point.
Jason recommends:
For Sunday afternoon:
Golden Gate Park. You’ll need a blanket, picnic basket, beer or wine, a baguette, or a few other things to eat, and a girl in a sundress riding a mixie. There are cross trails in there as well if you get bored.
Getting higher mountain bikers: The Monarch Crest Trail in Colorado, near Monarch Pass. “Because it’s fun to ride bikes on! It’s full of rocks, roots, and dirt. True cross country. It includes two passes over 11,000 feet and ends with a 30-mile downhill that winds through aspen groves and takes about two hours.”
Scott recommends:
For some potentially intense climbing and not a lot of time:
Conzelman to Rodeo Beach Loop It smells and looks better than a spin class and the workout can be just as rewarding. Stay on Mitchell up into the hills even after it turns into a less-developed path after the beach, it’ll lead you around into a cyclo-cross loop with some off-road sections and great views but WATCH OUT for the gate at the end as it’s around a blind corner and occasionally closed. You can return via Bunker road to the tunnel or break off right at McCullough Road for a final climb to the top of Conzelman.
Braille in the Soquel Demonstration Forest of Santa Cruz County, outside of Los Gatos. Banked turns, drops, steep, technical, flowing, everything. A long climb up a fire road pays off with a 30-45 minute descent if you stop and smell the roses.
The weekend warrior. Full-face not required if you make it to Australia: Manly Dam, a mix of sandstone, health, and coastal forest located 15 minutes outside the Sydney suburb of Manly. “Ride at 6 am, surf at 7:30 am, work at 9 am.”
Feel free to share your own recommendations for rides with us!
Take a look at some of these. The Freewheel is clearing out old mountain bike stock. Pending size and riding style, you might be lucky enough to roll out with one! All bikes are eligible for a full year of free adjustment maintenance and all warranties are valid from the date of purchase. Call us if you have any questions at 415-643-9213
Giant Glory 1 2008 Small SOLD
Glory 1 2008 Small $4500->$2100
A truly heavy-duty all-mountain bike. Borderline downhill. Highly specialized for intense riding. The fact that it has a drive train seems almost superfluous, you shouldn’t be trying to ride up anything with this one. Unless you’re hucking 30-foot drops, this thing will handle anything you throw at it. Ideal trails would be found at Pacifica or just take the beast to Tahoe.
Giant Reign 2 2010 Large Was: $2150 Now: $1395
Reign 2 2010 Large $2150->$1395
A relative gazelle as far as all-mountain bikes are concerned. Six inches of suspension in the rear, 150mm of travel up front, and an aggressive head tube angle make the Reign a formidable bike for the trails that demand speed and the ability to take a hit. An ideal trail would be Braille in the Soquel Demonstration Forest.
Giant Trance 2 2007 Large Was: $1700 Now: $900
Trance 2 2007 Large $1700->$900
The Trance is capable of several types of riding but is most suited to cross-country single track. It’s one of the earlier models with the anti-brake jack maestro rear suspension that would set the standard for later models. It’s fast and capable of handling technical climbs and descents with confidence.
Giant Reign X2 2010 Medium Was: $2150 Now: $1790
Reign X2 2010 Medium $2150->$1790
Nearly seven inches of travel on coiled suspension. 160mm of travel in the front and a very aggressive headtube angle act as an insurance measure against eating dirt. Truly a heavy-duty all-mountain bike. A blast to ride provided you don’t need to do an excessive amount of climbing. Ideal trails would be around Pacifica or UC Santa Cruz (although the latter is illegal).
Giant Trance X3 2009 Medium Was: $1900 Now: $1150
Trance X3 2009 Medium $1900->$1150
Lighter duty than the Reign, the Trance X is classified as a trail bike. Somewhere between cross country and all-mountain, the Trance X is a great compromise for those of us who know we’ll be riding several different types of trail and can’t afford a shed full of bikes. With five inches of travel and 120mm of suspension up front, the Trance X is capable of taking bigger drops but can still climb and sustain longer rolling trails. Ideal trails would be Braille or Sawpit in the Soquel Demonstration Forest.
Giant XTC 29er 1 2010 Medium SOLD
XTC 29er 1 2010 Medium $1950->$1500
An excellent hardtail. Rear suspension plays two roles: taking big hits and stabilizing the rider. The 29″ wheels give the rider a lower angle of attack when rolling over obstacles and thus substitute the secondary role of the rear suspension to a notable degree. The stiff frame aids in climbing and an increased contact patch helps on turns and in wet conditions. All of this gives you a formidable speed machine. Ideal trails in the area would be Skeggs Point, Joaquin Miller Forest Park, or for a quick morning ride, Mt. Sutro.
Giant Trance X3 2010 Large SOLD
Trance X3 2010 Large $2000->$1500
Lighter duty than the Reign, the Trance X is classified as a trail bike. Somewhere between cross country and all-mountain, the Trance X is a great compromise for those of us who know we’ll be riding several different types of trail and can’t afford a shed full of bikes. With five inches of travel and 120mm of suspension up front, the Trance X is capable of taking bigger drops but can still climb and sustain longer rolling trails. Ideal trails would be Braille or Sawpit in the Soquel Demonstration Forest.
Commencal Meta 5.5 2010 Large Was: $3400 Now: $2300
Commencal Meta 5.5 2010 Large $3400->$2300
Commencal does a great job with aggressive mountain bikes. The Meta 5.5′s super stiff swing arm design helps create a fast-climbing all-mountain bike that will have you begging for more and probably integrating phrases such as ‘apres below and ‘ta bicyclette est un bicyclette délabrée!’ into your vocabulary.
If you were parking your car on the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge last Sunday morning you might have found yourself temporarily concerned by the green mass of paisley and skulls flowing out of the mist-shrouded bike path. This year’s Freewheel/Hunter Cyclocross Team kit is one of the louder designs we’ve had in a few years. The intensity of the kit makes the team more visible if not inadvertently adding to a general sense of intoxicated nostalgia among onlooking former dead heads.
At the base of Conzelman Road, Freewheel riders checked over their bikes one last time and continued the scheduled ride into Marin’s Headlands. After the initial climb, they dropped back down through the occasionally tight Coastal Ridge Trail.
Swimming in it Most people will agree that fog isn’t necessarily the weather of choice for anything aside from strolling through London or perhaps evading fractious bands of pirates off the Horn of Africa. The low visibility higher up in the headlands often rendered it difficult to see the next rider ahead, let alone the next section of trail. But as the ride progressed, the moisture began to remind riders what cross season is all about: mud. The fog gave the track just enough moisture to be tacky and satisfyingly messy without causing too much concern about losing control. Weathering a handful of flat tires and a pair of opportune pit stops, the team took on the long slog up Miwok, rode through Tennessee Valley, and bombed back down Bobcat.
Later in the day, riders cleaned up and rendezvoused at Golden Gate Park for a team barbecue (special thanks to Anisah and Carlos) with friends and companions, where riders were reminded what cross season is all about: beer and good company.
There is no year affiliated with these beauties because they have been made the same way for slightly less than forever. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Ernesto Colnago’s fluted tubing gives the rider a stiffer ride and adds to the already sultry aesthetics. What makes this particular collection special is the fact that the Colnago factory built the frames for The Freewheel with threaded steer tubes in order to hold true to the traditional track style.
Cinelli 2010 Gazzetta 54cm $700->$450
The Gazzetta is built to be a combination of traditional subtlety and modern practicality. The Columbus tubing cro-moly steel frame and dialed geometry hold true to the track tradition while the frame itself benefits from the stiffer 1 1/8″ headtube and flared stays.
Mondonico Pista 56cm $1600->$1400
Handmade in Italy, Mondonico’s Pista utilizes high-grade Niobium-doped steel which is both light and able to stand up against the elements. Let’s not get carried away, leaving this bike to sit outside would be equally shameful as wearing baby seal fur. Nevertheless, it is a frame built for a lifetime of admiration, envy, and, if you get around to it, riding.
Bianchi Super Pista 49cm $750->$650
The Pista Concept became a reality with the advent of the Super Pista. The frame is a legitimate competition-level aluminum track frame that is both light and stiff. The seat tube has been cut concave to accommodate short chainstays and a tighter rear triangle. A carbon fork makes for a softer ride on rough streets and it’s been drilled for a front brake.
Surly Steamroller 56cm $420->$360
Bombproof, comfy, utilitarian. The Steamroller is Surly’s answer to the problem of a bunch of dudes riding around town on ultralight bikes that were made for the track. With the simplicity of a track bike with the beef of an urban assault vehicle, the Steamroller is capable of zipping around town at one end of the day and cyclo-crossing into mud pits at the other. It’s less aggressive in geometry than other track bikes, modeled on a classic touring geometry, giving the rider an arguably more sustainable riding position.
Dolan 2010 Track 54cm $550->$375
A more affordable track frame option, the Dolan is a solid build that gives the rider a remarkably stiff ride for track and city applications. A great deal considering the carbon Alpina fork that it comes with.
Masi 2009 Coltello 49cm $690->$490
Masi’s Coltello combines the personality necessary to compete in the velodrome with the looks that will help offset your awkwardly over-intense face in the photo finish.
Your face
It’s a legitimate competition-level aluminum track frame that is both light and stiff. The seat tube has been cut concave to accommodate short chainstays and a tighter rear triangle. The carbon fork softens the ride for forays outside the velodrome and, for the safety-conscious, has been drilled for a front brake.
Mikkelsen Track 50cm $1000->$900
Bernie Mikkelsen is based in Alameda, just across the Bay from the city of San Francisco. His frames are clean, light, and made with Deddachi Tubing. This particular frame is made with a 1″ threadless headtube and otherwise is bedazzled with sparkly lettering on the downtube for those riders who appreciate a bit of bling with their dock-workers blue.
The Freewheel Cyclocross Team came out strong at the beginning of the 2011 season. Despite an unfortunate injury, the team has already collected 9 top-ten finishes. Abe Rotstein took two top-ten Cat A spots in Monterey throughout September. Jackson Rhodes placed 3rd in the 10-14 Young Men’s in Prunedale and later fought for a well-earned 1st in Manzanitas on October 9th. Lion of Fairfax saw Kathleen Hannon bring home 1st in the Women’s Elite while Rotstein took a bad fall which resulted in a dislocated shoulder.
Falconer in Manzanitas. Photo by: Daryl Rogers
The team raced a “low-tech, flat, dry and fast” course in Sacramento on October 8th and several of the racers followed through to the October 9th Central Coast series in Manzanitas. Cameron Falconer started strong, crashed, and fought back to 14th in the Men’s Cat A, while Rotstein, recovering from his injury, powered to 9th place. Konrad Mathesius finished mid-pack in the Men’s Open B’s and Carlos Corujo raced in the Men’s 35+ A’s.
Returning to Manzanitas the following weekend, Falconer pulled out a 9th-place finish. Hannon fought for 3rd place in the elite women’s, while Daryl Rogers finished mid-pack in the Men’s Open B’s.
Overall the team is looking at a strong season coming into the Bay Area Super Prestige Series. For the sake of karma, or booze, a handful of team riders are volunteering for set-up and clean-up at the October 29th Surf City Races in Santa Cruz. Feel free to join other hecklers at Candlestick Point State Park (across from Candlestick Park) this weekend, October 23rd. It’ll be better if the weather doesn’t hold out. BYO cowbells and beer.
