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Don’t want the hassle of a loan to secure that CanAm Spyder – what about leasing one?

5/17/2010

What is a motorcycle lease?
A motorcycle lease is a rental agreement. The motorcycle is actually owned by the finance provider and then leased to the user for a set term. What this means is that the user has full use of a new bike that has a predetermined residual value.

How does a motorcycle lease work?
Legal ownership of the motorcycle to be leased remains with the Finance Company and you use the bike paying rent for that use for the term of the lease contract. During the term of the lease, you merely pay rent and do not obtain ownership or equity in the bike you are leasing. Under a motorcycle lease agreement you are responsible for maintenance and running costs, insurance and registration fees for the bike.

Residual
The finance lease residual is the amount that will need to be paid to the finance provider at the end of a finance lease. Finance lease residuals are set by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Why lease?
·         Rentals fully tax deductible if used for business use

·         The Interest Rate is fixed for the term of the motorcycle lease agreement

·         Lease repayments are fixed for the term

·         GST on the purchase price of the motorcycle is claimed back by the finance provider on your behalf. This lowers the amount financed to the purchase price minus GST

·         GST on the monthly repayments may be claimable by your employer

Who should consider leasing?
Leasing works best when you use your bike predominantly for business ie used for business for more than 50% of the time.

Travelling Light

5/16/2010

I guess, for me, Motorbike touring could be described as Travelling Light. You can’t take much with you, you can go anywhere and meet people along the way, and leave the world and any troubles behind. No-one describes these feelings and emotions better for me than the masterful Leonard Cohen:

I’m travelling light
So Au Revoir
I’ll miss my heart
And my guitar

It’s lovely here
So far away
I couldn’t take
Another day

The songs won’t come
But if they did
I’d go back home
So God forbid

I guess I’m just
Somebody who
Has given up
On me and you

I’m not alone
I’ve met a few
Who were travelling
Travelling light

While I’m sure Mr Cohen was not thinking about the free wheeling spirit of the open road and touring on the back of a motorbike, the raw emotion in the text above does draw direct comparison to those I have felt before.

Escaping the real world to travel light. For me I’ve left things behind to enable me to go – never a guitar – I have no musical talent – more so for me it might be my mobile phone or my large screen TV, but none-the-less it’s about escaping away from what makes me comfortable to challenge my own emotions at different times. The ending of a relationship or a crap week at work have all been triggers to leave the comfort of home to travel light.

It’s lovely here so far away, I couldn’t take another day – exactly the pressure that has pushed me to hop on the bike and discover something new, ‘so far away’. So far away not only in distance, but removed from all that was going on back in the city – that broken heart (again), or that bad customer meeting on Thursday morning.

Travelling light – the perfect way to describe the way to escape the world, and troubles and really question and discover who you are.

Meatloaf

5/15/2010

The iconic Meat Loaf “Bat of Hell” Album cover is the earliest link I have to music and motorbikes. The motorbike and long haired rider are bursting out of the ground, I guess like a Bat Out of Hell, and marks the start of a Meat Loaf Motorcycle partnership that works its way through the music on the album itself, through to the “Bat Out of Hell 2”. Disappointingly for me, Bat Out of Hell 3, while having a similar style and artwork has no motorbike.

The original ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ album opens with the title track and epic “Bat Out of Hell”, a song according to lyricist Jim Steinman inspired by the teenage tragedy songs of “Leader of the Pack” and “Tell Laura I Love Her”.

The song, Bat Out of Hell, contains the sound of a roaring motorcycle – and despite being actually made on guitar sounds realistic and works perfectly for the overall song, and the story it tells as the story works toward the climax of the motorcyclist lying fatally injured having ridden his bike as fast as it has ever gone before.

Riding in Thailand

5/15/2010

As we’ve seen with the discussions about the CanAm Spyder motor bikes are a fantastic option for touring and travel.

While it’s unlikely that you’ll find a CanAm Spyder in the corner bike rental shop in Ko Samui, getting around and exploring with the wind in your face is one of the best ways to see many areas. It means you can escape from the main – tourist riddled most popular areas and discover the real parts of a country.

In Thailand tackling the roads is not for the faint hearted, Hazards are everywhere – pot holed roads, strange lawless intersections, vehicles that would not be allowed on roads in most other parts of the world, combined with an overreaching disregard for any road rules by the general public.

Having said all of that, that is part of the fun, and being able to get back to the hotel bar and discuss the dramas of the day on the road, wind in your hair, as you have navigated your way through all these kinds of challenges to discover that secret beach, or unforgettable view makes it all the more worth while.

Motorcycles, and for the lesser adventurous, mopeds are widely available for rent in Thailand. You can find them in resorts, provincial capitals and other large towns. Whether it’s a good thing or not – probably more so a reminder of the risks that face you out on the road, drivers licences are rarely requested when hiring, and few firms will worry about insurance.

With that in mind I strongly recommend a general safety check ahead of getting on with it. Key things like tyres, oil and brakes need a once over before heading out. Common sense things like a helmet, proper shoes (definitely not those resort thongs), and long sleeves and trousers.

Perhaps the best thing to always keep in mind is that medical help is not always going to be close at hand.

How to prepare for a Road Trip

5/11/2010

There are a number of things that are important to consider when getting ready for that big trip. Obviously the most important thing is to ensure you have your Can-Am Spyder fully serviced , had the tyres checked and fully optioned with the most relevant accessories like GPS, boot and trailer, and windscreen for example.

Having got your bike ready to go, now you need to get yourself ready to go. Plan your route so that you travel the right amount of distance knowing that, despite the extraordinary comfort level of your Can-Am Spyder, you need to have breaks and appropriate accommodation. For some of you, this might be the local camping ground, utilising your new Trailer Camper, and for others it might be the finest hotel you can find on the side of the road.

Having got all of this sorted, have a think about some things that will be useful in the extra storage space the Can-Am provides, just in case you find yourself in a sticky situation.

Things like are all worth considering to pack

Clothing:

DOT-approved Helmet
Rain jacket and pants
Rain gloves
Summer gloves
Winter gloves
Balaclava
T-shirts
Socks and underwear
Synthetic long underwear
Long-sleeved shirts
Turtleneck shirts
Extra jeans
Light jacket
Leather pants/chaps
Riding boots
Bandanas
Sunglasses
Goggles/night time eye protection
Change of shoes

Bike Maintenance:

Tool kit
Replacement fuses
H-D SYN3 lubricant
Paper funnel
Multi-purpose spray lubricant
Motorcycle jumper cables
Tire pressure gauge

Personal Items:

Basic toiletries
Emergency cash
Coins for tolls
Sunscreen
Earplugs

Miscellaneous:

Road maps
Bike registration and insurance info
Motorcycle owners or service manual
Motorcycle warranty card
Camera
Cargo net
Bungee cords
Swiss-style pocketknife or multi-tool
Tote sack
2-3 large trash bags
Extra zipper-lock bags

EMERGENCY ITEMS

Personal first-aid kit
Emergency contact number (include doctor/medical professional)
List of medical conditions (include allergies)
List of current medications
Flashlight
Spare key
Emergency blanket
Cellular phone and charger
Duct tape

Classic Bike Movies

5/11/2010

We at TrYbike have wonderful memories of the 1969 Classic Easy Rider. A movie that showed the world what motorbike touring was all about, the pursuit of freedom and the ideal of the open road.

So, we are interested in your feedback or ideas. We have started the list for you – perhaps you disagree, but we think number one is a clear standout.

Therefore….number 1: Easy Rider

Number 2: Terminator 2

Number 3: The Wild One

Number 4: The Worlds Fastest Indian

Number 5: Mad Max 2

Freedom on the back of a bike

5/9/2010

A close friend of mine tells me a story about the first time she ever rode a motorbike. She had just been through a fairly messy break-up and at the relatively tender age of 27 decided that she would take a brave step to demonstrate her independence. She was sent to Sydney for work and decided to spend the weekend in Sin City, to think and spend some quality time for herself.

My friend had spent all her life being a "good girl" - she was a good student, a good daughter, a good friend and, eventually, a good girlfriend and wife. Unfortunately, her marriage had not worked out despite her good intentions - her husband had been very conservative, only happy with the conventional life, with a 'normal' wife, lacking in ambition and inclined to make safe decisions. She was sick of being the good girl and had struck out in a way that was not consistent with the expectations she and others had held for her by leaving her safe husband and her safe life.

So, here she was in Sydney and walking in the Rocks, watching the crowds, all the couples and the families. And just wanting to do something new, different and, at least to her, risky. And across the crowded marketplace, she spied a sign: "Harley Rides, only $100 for an hour". At first, it struck her that $100 for an hour wascrazy, let alone a motorbike, holding on to a strange man. Then she thought "bugger it, why not?". And away she went, scared like crazy but feeling terribly brave. For the next hour that's what she did. The wind through her hair and every bend thrilling. The time flew by and at the end of the ride she could still feel the adrenaline. This was freedom!

It would be nice to say that this was the beginning of a great new relationship between my friend and bikes, but that was not to be. She was, after all, still a good girl who enjoyed being in control of her life. But to this day she still brags about this experience.

A great ride Over The Ditch in Auckland

5/9/2010

This is going to be a half day ride not a full day like the other blogs I have posted. The reason being is that you would find it really hard to find by yourself.

Since Auckland is such a big place you will really find it hard to navigate your way out of. The quickest way is to head north via the North Western Motorway to the Great North Road exit. Then head south on the Great North Road until it turns into Ash Street. Go straight and head along Rata Street and Titirangi Road. When you reach Titirangi, turn right into scenic drive.

It gets real easy from here on in.

This ride is really enjoyable ride along Scenic Drive, the trees along the road are a really high along the road it will be hard to see any scenery. Then to Piha Road turnoff on the left. The camber is all over the place so just watch this corner.

Phia Road has few side roads and its very narrow, windy and twisted so this is great fun. The one side road you might like to do down is the one to Karekare. It is a narrow road even for motorcycles but it’s a really great road to ride. Then once you reach the end then take the Lone Kauri Road back to Phia Road.

Not far past the Karekare turnoff you will be overlooking a huge cliff then the black sandy beach of Phia. The run done the side of the cliff is even more fun going up let alone going down. There are some nice shops in Phia so you will be able to get a good lunch there.

Brisbane's best ride.

5/9/2010

If your a local to Brisbane you will know this ride very well but remember this is also for the visitors. And they may not know about one of the worst kept biking rides in Australia. Yes, that’s right we are talking about the ride to Dayboro and Mount Mee.

Leave Brisbane on Samford Road through Samford Village. This back road will take you round Lake Samsonvale up to Dayboro, here you will find an amazing bakery and even better pub. Head north on Highway 58 in Dayboro and ride along taking in the spectacular ridge road to Mount Mee. Keep your eyes open for the view of Glass House Mountain along the way.

Just before you reach Mount Mee take the fork in the road to the right which is signposted to Campbells Pocket and Wamuran. When you reach the D’Aguilar Highway you would have wondered how you got there so quick. It is probably because you enjoyed that bit of road.

Turn right heading toward the town centre of Caboolture, turn right to Morayfield and head south until you reach Bruce Highway. From here it’s just a short ride back to Brisbane. This ride is about 140km. If this seems a little short, consider reversing the route and turning right in Samford Village. This road will take you up to Mount Glorious on the even more famous Mount Glorious/Mt Nebo motorcycle road. In Mount Glorious you’ll find the famous and popular haunt for riders and some serious bike candy out the front too.

Come back to Brisbane via Mount Nebo and Brisbane Forest Park. Please take care here as the road conditions are not that crash hot.

Round the Bay in a Day - Melbourne

5/9/2010

Melbourne has on every side, wonderful twisting mountain roads and bosky dells galore. This run has no traditional bike runs but all the same its spectacular scenery will pull you into this ride.

Heading to Geelong on the M1 or also called the West Gate Freeway. Be careful on this road as under almost every bridge you will find a speed camera.

Geelong is a nice town, take a drive along the coast line just round the edge of town. Here you’ll find many cafes and restaurants. Now get onto the Bellarine Highway B110. This road is very flat but there are some breweries and wineries along the way which might strike some interest.

You will come to spectacular Queenscliff which has many a place to have lunch. Take a stroll up the main street of Queenscliff and take in some of the shops. There is also a great Ice-cream Parlour for and after lunch treat. Get back on your bike and head towards the pier and get ready to board the ferry across The Rip to Morning Peninsula

There is a little freeway here however the real scenic view is riding up along the Point Nepean Road, Marine Drive then Nepean Highway. If you want a nice little bike road, head up to Arthurs Seat.

Driving back on the Nepean Highway will take you through the outer suburbs of Melbourne with beach views most of the way. You’ll find yourself ending up in St Kilda, the Mecca of socialising.

Now you have ridden round Port Phillip Bay which is round 210km.