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With the warm weather ahead, many people look to motorcycles as a fuel-efficient transportation alternative. Summer can be a fun time of year to hop on a bike as your means of transport, but like any used vehicle they should be purchased with care. The following tips can help you find a motorcycle that will operate smoothly for years to come:

• Inspect the paint. If the paint is weathered looking, chipped or cracked this means the bike has probably not been protected from the elements when not being ridden. And scratches on the bike can indicate it has been laid down (tipped over or crashed in such a way it winds up laying on its side on the ground).
• Inspect the engine and transmission cases. You will want to check for any seepage or leaks. If you are uncertain of how to inspect an engine or transmission, bring along a trusted mechanic.
• Check the brake discs to ensure they are smooth and clean. Brake discs on a motorcycle should never be blue. This is an indication they have been overheating. 
• Check out the tires and their tread. If someone has been riding a bike too hard it is very noticeable on the bike’s tires.
• Start the bike. If the bike has trouble starting, or emits blue smoke beware.
• Test drive the motorcycle. Through a quick test drive you can learn a lot about the motorcycle. Accelerate through all the gears. Start slowly to get a feel for the bike. Be sure to test the brakes and make sure they are not pulsating. On a clear piece of road test the maneuverability of the bike.

Questions to Ask Previous Owner

There are many components of the bike you can inspect yourself, but open up a dialogue with the seller. They often can clue you into the condition of the bike through what they do or don’t say!

Ask them if they bought the bike new. Have there been previous owners of the bike? Ask them if they have ever dropped their bike or if it has been in an accident. Ask for details about their maintenance schedule and if they have any records they can share with you. If you are buying locally, ask them who performs their maintenance. It never hurts to hear the opinion of the mechanic.

Ask them about where the bike has been stored. And get a feel for what this bike was used for. Was it a daily commuter or a thrilling sport for them? This will often dictate how well they treated their bike versus how much abuse it has suffered.

Finally be sure to find out if they have the title to the bike. If they do not have the title it will make the process much more difficult for you as the buyer and more costly. If you do decide to purchase the bike, write up a bill of sale with the details of the transaction. Remember to listen to your instinct. If the deal feels too good to be true or off in any way, step back. There are plenty of options available for you as a buyer and while there is always risk involved in buying used, you should find a deal you are comfortable and happy with.

Remember, if your used motorcycle does end up stranding you, give us a call. We are available 24/7 for motorcycle towing assistance.

It’s hard to imagine life without a cell phone. After all, most of us have become very dependent on them. Mobile apps help make our lives a little more manageable, and now they even make driving a little easier as well. Check out these awesome apps for drivers.

Honk

Chances are, if you live in an urban area you probably have to use a parking meter quite often. There’s also a good chance that you’ve received at least one parking ticket because you failed to refill your meter on time. With Honk, you’ll never have to worry about forgetting to fill another parking meter or forgetting where you parked your car. This app is simple to use. Indicate the time you have on your parking meter and then choose how many minutes prior to the meter expiring that you want the app to alert you. The app also uses GPS to plot your car and guide you back to its location.

GasBuddy

Don’t you hate when you fill up your car only to find that the gas station several blocks down from where you just filled your tank is ten cents cheaper? With Gas Buddy, you can find the cheapest gas prices in your area. Sort by price, distance, fuel type, and even fuel grade!

Waze

Wouldn’t it be nice to have the power to predict traffic? Well with Waze, you can! Waze is a turn-by-turn navigation system that allows users to make real-time traffic updates. When you’re in a time crunch, Waze can help you pick the quickest route.

Give these apps a try. They may make your driving experience a little bit better!

The price of gas is constantly fluctuating and the unfortunate truth is that they tend to go up more than they go down. Trying to understand the reasons for the constant fluctuation can be very frustrating for drivers, especially when it has such an impact on their wallets.

There are many reasons why gas prices fluctuate and they are all very complex. The biggest factor affecting the price of gas is the demand for crude oil. The demand for crude oil becomes greater than the supply as the number of global drivers increases. But the number of drivers hitting the road every year isn’t the only thing affecting the supply and demand chain.

Other factors that play a role in the global oil market include geopolitical issues, natural disasters, the season, and OPEC. The supply and demand for oil is manipulated by OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) in order to keep the prices of oil where they want them. This is usually done by slowing down production.

During the summer, gas prices have a tendency to increase for several reasons. In order to perform necessary maintenance, gas companies will shut down their refineries during the summer. Gasoline is also formulated differently for the summer months. Additives are added to decrease pollution and smog. Therefore, the summer-grade fuel is more expensive to produce than the winter-grade fuel. Natural disasters such as hurricanes can also adversely affect gas prices by shutting down refineries and offshore drilling rigs.

It’s hard to say what gas prices will look like in the future, especially with the advent of more fuel efficient vehicles and the increased attention being paid to alternative fuel sources—guess we’ll find out.

How much love do you show your car? After all, it’s always there for you when you need to go from point A to point B. To get the most out of your vehicle, make sure you are giving it the TLC that it needs by keeping up with routine maintenance. Not only will this keep your car running optimally, but your car will run more efficiently as well. Regular maintenance should include:

Annual Tune Up: Having a tune-up performed once a year will ensure that your car is getting the best possible fuel economy, is performing optimally, and will help keep your emission levels within an acceptable range.

Oil Changes: To keep your engine clean, change both your oil and your oil filter regularly. Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual to see how frequently your oil should be changed.

Check Your Tire Pressure: It is important to keep your tires properly inflated to prevent premature wear and flat tires, so check your tire pressure at least once a month.

Check Your Wheel Alignment: After a while, your steering and suspension will get knocked out of alignment from driving over potholes and bumpy roads so it is important to have your wheel alignment checked about once a year. Proper wheel alignment will help improve fuel efficiency, handling, and decrease the wear on your tires.

Not taking proper care of your car and neglecting regular maintenance can leave you broken down on the side of the road. If this happens, call Pippin Towing & Recovery in Festus for a tow.

We found a pretty entertaining chart, filled with recognizable trucks from TV and movies. For your sake, we hope that your truck falls somewhere closer to the “radical” end of the plot, but if your car or truck does happen to be exhausted, or needs some help making it in to the shop, call us up at Pippin Towing! We’re located in Festus and serve the entire area!