Archive for the ‘Repair’ Category
Motorcycle Brake Upgrade
Motorcycles are considered by many people the ideal way to travel, and are a symbol of freedom to some. To others
they may just more affordable than a car. No matter why you decide you wish to own a motorbike, your safety and the safety of others should be one of your main considerations. Motorbike riders need to be extremely observant and constantly aware of developing hazards, as it may be hard for drivers of larger vehicles to notice them. All road users need to take weather conditions into account, but motorcycle riders need to take extra care in bad weather. In winter many do not use their bikes due to the adverse weather conditions.
Over the years, motorcycle manufacturers and component companies have been striving to make riding a motorcycle safer. One area in which a number of advancements have been made is in the field of motorcycle brakes. Although there was a point when motorcycle brakes were extremely poor quality, many riders were in fear of braking suddenly in case they were thrown over the handlebars. With improvements in brakes and bike technology in general, this is not something that many motorcyclists are nervous of anymore, but it is recommended to practice emergency braking on your bike in safe locations when possible, so you are aware of your bikes (and your own!) capabilities.
If you feel your motorcycle brakes are in adequate or worn, it may well be time to look into an upgrade. As technologies are evolving and improving very quickly, even relatively recent bikes could benefit from upgrades after a few years. In recent times, motorcycle braking distances have improved to the extent that performance bikes can brake almost as quickly from high speeds as performance cars. Braking has also become easier to control.
There are a number of options when choosing motorcycle brakes, and what you choose will vary dependant on what type of bike you own ¨C brakes that may be ideal for sport bikes are not necessarily the best suited to larger choppers or lower powered models. If you are new to biking and want to upgrade you brakes, seek advice as to the best way to go about doing this from a reputable source.
If you are in the process of selecting a new motorbike, take the models brakes into consideration. Brand new bikes should offer the best technologies for your budget, but it is worthwhile looking into more than one manufacturer to see which offers the most. If you are purchasing a second hand bike, consider whether it will need a brake upgrade in the foreseeable future, and look into how much this is likely to cost.
In truth, many motorcycles, cars and other vehicles could benefit from receiving more regular upgrades than they currently do. As a motorcyclist, you will need to be very in tune with your own vehicle and should try and recognise yours and its limitations and where you can make improvements. Upgrading your motorcycle brakes can be one way in which you make your bike safer for yourself and others.
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Tags: Auto Repair – part 2
Repair shop is required to get your approval
You must give the repair shop your OK before any repair work can be done to your car. You can do this verbally or in writing. Even if you don’t ask for a written estimate, the shop needs your OK before they can work on your car. If the repair shop does any work on your car without your OK, you do not have to pay for that work. Furthermore, if you claim that the shop did work which was unauthorized by you, then the shop has to prove that you did authorize the work. This is why most repair shops will ask you to sign the repair order before the work begins.
When you go to pick up your car after the work has been done, you should get an invoice which tells you all the work which was done on your car. The invoice should also tell you the price of parts and labor, the hours the mechanic worked on the car, whether any used or reconditioned parts were used in the repair, and what the shop’s guarantee is.
The repair shop is required by law to have a sign measuring at least six square feet which informs you of these rights.
What if repairs are made without your approval?
If the repair shop has done work which you did not authorize, you do not have to pay for it. If you tell the shop that they have no right to payment for the unauthorized work, the shop will almost always dispute that with you. New Hampshire law also says, however, that the repair shop has a “lien” for unpaid parts and labor on your vehicle. That means that the repair shop may refuse to return the car to you until you pay.
A responsible repair shop will give you back your car if you pay for the authorized repairs and place the amount for the disputed repairs into an escrow account where it will be held until the dispute is cleared up.
If the shop forces you to pay the disputed amount before returning your car to you and you need the car back right away, you will probably have to pay the shop for the unauthorized repairs. However, you can then sue the repair shop in small claims court to get your money back.
If you do not need the car back immediately, you can go to court and file a claim against the repair shop. Once you charge that the shop has done work without your OK, the shop has to prove that you did authorize the repairs. If the shop cannot do that, the court should rule that the shop has no lien against your car and that the shop has to give you your money back.
Auto Repair – part 1
We all rely on our cars every day. We need them to be safe and reliable. Our cars take us to work and back, to the doctor’s, to the grocery store. So when the car needs repair, we need to be sure the work gets done correctly and promptly.
You have rights
When you need to repair your car, the repair shop has to figure out what is wrong, tell you how much it will cost to fix, and fix the problem correctly. This pamphlet will explain what the repair shop is required to do by law when you take your car to be repaired, and what you can do if the shop fails to repair your car properly.
What are your rights?
When you drop your car off for repair, you have the right under New Hampshire law to ask for a written estimate containing:
You can also ask the shop to return to you any part that has to be replaced.
If the repair is unusually expensive or complicated, it is a good idea to take your car to more than one repair shop so that you can get another opinion as to the extent and the cost of the repairs to be done.
If you agree to have the repair work done as estimated, the repair shop may not exceed their estimate by more than 10% without your OK in advance.