Arnold Hexden asked:


Copyright (c) 2008 Arnold Hexden

Does the sound of gas moped scooters bother you? It drives me nuts; let me explain. I recently moved to Spain from the UK and after getting my bearings one of the first things I noticed was the difference in the amount of cars on the road; now you would think that fewer cars would be a good thing, however I have reservations. You see there is a fundamental difference here - the weather is better - some 300 days of sunshine a year, which means that there is a huge proportion of the traveling public using motorcycles, mopeds and scooters.

Again I hear you say that must be a good thing as it has to be good for the environment, I agree, however during the summer the noise pollution which occurs at peak times of the day and well into the night can be unbearable. There is also the issue of two stroke engines pumping pollutants into the atmosphere.

That got me thinking about how the scooter manufacturers should be introducing alternative methods of powering these machines. I started to search the big ones such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki etc as they seem to be the main culprits for the noise on the streets around my house. I was amazed at the work that had been done in finding an alternative mode of power, such as Yamaha’s range of hybrid motorcycles which were launched at motor shows in 2005. The problem is they don’t seem to have been brought to market.

It appears that most of the big manufacturers have built concept models and showed them at the major motor shows but few have been have made it to the street.

Honda have been a notable exception to that rule with the stunning Vectrix and have produced a good looking electric motorcycle which is packed with technology and is capable of giving a traditional city bike a run for it’s money. Compare them like for like, and it is hard to tell the difference between it and a petrol scooter, however when you open up the throttle the lack of engine noise gives it away.

Plug it in at night and it will return over 70 miles on a two our charge, It has a top speed of around 65 mph and is extremely comfortable. One of the cleverest things about the Honda Vectrix is it’s “regenerative braking” unlike a gas scooter when you ease off the throttle the scooter does not slow, however you twist it past it’s resting point and the brakes kick in - the further it is twisted the more it brakes, and whilst it does so it turns the motor into a dynamo which tops up the battery charge.

The down side of this fabulous bike is the price, bearing in mind the age group of the average rider is probably between seventeen and thirty years old, I think $12000 which is about 8000 Euro could be be prohibitive and will take take time for them to enter the pr-owned after market.

In the winter when the tourists go home and the town returns to normal the noise subsides and you can hear the birds singing, I only hope that in the coming year the big scooter manufacturers can break down the technology barriers which restrict the development of alternatively fueled bikes and scooters so that we may live in peace.



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May
31
Tsuyoshi E. Suzuki asked:


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Body coverage, a sub-category of liability insurance, covers any claims by the other party for medical expenses in case of an automobile accident where you are found to be at fault. Irrespective of who caused the accident, the insurance company pays for the medical expenses and for the loss of wages that the insured suffers on account of a collision under this policy. Medical Payments Insurance covers medical expenses for injuries sustained in an accident involving any vehicle for the insured, his passengers and other parties irrespective of whose fault it is.

When a vehicle is in an accident for which the driver is established as a legally liable, bodily injury liability covers their liability to others for injuries to them, whereas property damage liability covers their liability for damage to someone else’s property. Ohio auto insurance offers minimum coverage on liability insurance as bodily injuries of $12,500 for each person in an accident, $25,000 for all bodily injuries in an accident and $7,500 for property damages. Minimum coverage should include bodily insurance of $25,000 per person each accident, $50,000 for all bodily injuries in an accident, and $20,000 for damages to property.

You receive a minimum of $20,000 each person per accident for Bodily injury liability, $40,000 for all bodily injuries in an accident, and $10,000 for damages to property in each accident. California auto insurance offers minimum liability insurance of $15,000 for physical injury or death per person per accident, $30,000 for all persons affected in an accident, and $5,000 for damages to property per accident. Liability insurance - You receive $25,000 for physical injuries per person per accident, $50,000 for all injuries per accident, and $10,000 for damages to other’s property due to accident.

Bodily injuries is $20,000 for each person per accident and $ 40,000 for all such injuries in an accident. It is $20,000 for bodily injury for each person, $40,000 for injuries in accident and $15,000 for damage to property. Personal injury protection offers $10,000 for medical expenses, wage compensation for a full year, compensation for loss of services, and $2,000 for funeral expenses in case of death due to accident.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a no-fault insurance covering cost of your personal injuries in accident like loss of wages, loss of services, medical expenses, death benefits. Similarly, medical benefits coverage of insurance provides for additional medical expenses of all covered by your policy. It is a prudent thought to include medical payment coverage along with the car insurance policy, considering the fact that medical attention can cost thousands of dollars.

Low cost auto insurance method is to know the value of your car. Another way of procuring low cost insurance is to know the cost of the insurance of you next car. You can get low cost with a little time and research into the many aspects that effect the cost of your insurance premiums.

Based on the particular circumstances, various deductibles can be opted for that will alter the total estimated annual cost for collision and comprehensive auto insurance quotes.



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