IS YOUR GARAGE P ROTECTING YOUR CAR B E TTE R TH A N YOUR B A R G AIN R ATE CAR INSURANCE? IXml in»*i |U »t amonc W a v n c M c G ill 2 3 4 5 W r u c f t R J. « l. O a k v ille 905-847-567 1 An Oakville Beaver Automotive Feature · To advertise in this section call 905-845-3824 or Fax 905-337-5568 \vi;i )M is i >.\y. ii \ i · ; r>. x x u · ci BEST WHEELS And no wonder. The time has never been better to concentrate on the numbers of grown up and proud of it men and women who have made their mark in the career world and now are ready to do the same on the road. Maybe it's all about recapturing youth and the freedom that goes with it. Maybe it's just because we can. Either way. motor cycle sales have soared in the past four years - and the largest buying group are 45-50 year-old men. And women are refusing to be stuck in the back seat these days. They now make about 20 per cent o f the purchases. Though some people work up the motorcycle chain, maybe starting small on a machine with just enough oomph to get you on the road but not enough to stop you from craving more juice later - others start right at the top. In the latter category is Ian John. The sales manager for the motorcycle division o f Budds' B M W 's O akville dealership, he started two-wheeling it three years ago. And he started at the high-end of the line. Today. John is fond o f B M W 's K1200LT . retailing for just under $27,000. and the R1150RT. retailing for just over $ 22,000. Resplendent scenic roadways seem a prerequisite for such a top model bike. Eager to comply, John has taken his BM W 's up into the Sw iss Alps, across Ita ly 's coun try roads, and along Spain's seaside routes, as well as on the German Autobahn where the bike is so popular. John's was just one in a crowd. Just like people, some bikes are made for speed, and others for distance. Fortunately. B M W riders can get the best of both worlds, making it a popular touring bike. " It's a great long-distance bike," said John, who would know. "A fter riding it 400 kilometres the only reason owners need to stop is to refuel, not because they're stiff and uncomfortable." B M W has had almost 80 years to per fect the machine. In fact, the Bavarian Motor Werks began making motorbikes long before it embarked on the auto manu facturing market. That means they know the tricks to make the ride as smooth and comfortable as it is cool. Luxuries such as heated handle grips on all makes, and a heated seat on one. plus adjustable windshields can extend the rid ing season w ell beyond the traditional summer months, said John. For those who take their comfort seriously, heated gloves and vests are available. Knowing women are almost as likely to be buckling on the leather these days and racing the wind on the back roads. B M W recently released a new model motorcycle, designed with female riders in mind. The F650. priced at around $1 (),()()() is light weight and the seat height is closer to the ground to accommodate women's shorter statures, said John. Flee i Bob McIntosh 6 1 6 Y o rk S t. m Oakville Direct: 9 0 5 ^ 2 7 -7 1 9 1 We lease all makes and models. Born to ride - motorcycles are cooler than ever There's no doubt about it motorcycles have a long history' o f cool. By Melanie Cummings SPKC1AL T O TH K BEAVER In North Am erica, cinema has done its best to capture the free-wheeling, rebel essence of the ride, from a pouty-lipped James Dean, cigarette competing with his limpid eyes for the camera's attention, to the darker, more masculine allure of a young Marlon Brando, coiled as dangerous as a snake over the custom leather seat. For a whole generation, life on the open road was made more appealing by the blockbuster punch of Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda in the movie Easy Rider. And in any standard film , it's the guy with the bike who's going to roar off into the sunset with the girl on the back. The bike, whether it's a super-fast sport bike or a heavy-duty touring bike, is the perfect ride for that most romantic of the North American type - the one who travels light and never goes through the same town twice. Strange, then, that North America has been surprisingly light on manufacturers of the most suitable ride since the horse went out of fashion. W ith few exceptions. Harley Davidson held the market by itself, with Indian recently taking another slab at it. Avoid costly accidents with road safety tips (IBOC)-- What causes traffic accidents? A General Motors survey found that almost half of all accidents can be traced to mistakes like running a stop sign. One-fifth of accidents are due to driving over-aggressively. We all know the cost of accidents-- in repairs, fines, rising insurance premi ums. injuries and loss of life. What can you do to avoid these losses? Some of Canada's top driving profes sionals. our truckers, offer these tips: J Inspect your vehicle before heading out. Arc your mirrors, win dows and outside lights clean? Do your signals work? Is your wind shield washer tank full? Are your tires inflated? J Keeping headlights on makes safety sense even during the daytime, as you become more visible to other drivers (and can see others better, too). _1 Signal turns well in advance. Other drivers can't read your mind. ;uid by signaling late you don't give others on the road enough time to react. -J Drive defensively. That means anticipating trouble ahead and keep ing your distance from the vehicle in front (keeping at least two seconds behind). When snow, rain or other inclement weather makes driving conditions tougher, increase your dis tance from other drivers. Give your self time to react. J Keep your vehicle in working order, with periodic tune-ups, paying special attention to your brakes and tire treads and pressure. When driving a car, you share the road with bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. Be aware of every thing else on the road, and respect the rights of cyclists and pedestrians. J On the highway, collisions are often caused by differences in speed. If you're too fast, you tend to change lanes often. If you're too slow, others may take risks to pass you. Stick to the speed limit, and remember that on multi lane highways, slower traffic should keep to the right. Fatigue can dull your reactions or make you fall asleep at the wheel, even for an instant. If you start to feel tired, open a window, talk to passen gers. sing with the radio and keep your eyes moving. If your eyes start to get heavy, stop for a rest and a snack. -- In su ra n ce B ure au O f C a iu u la BMW 's Ian John is comfortable enough to go the distance on his R1150RT. Photo by Riziero V ertolli I T ' S B A C K you m m p ir a & BIGGER THAN EVER! ACQUISITION* WHERE YOU SIMPLY PICK A VEHICLE & PICK A PAYMENT 4 DAYS ONLY! CLBSEB WEBNESDAY TB REABY EBR SALE!! JUNE Gth 9 am-9 pm JUNE 7TH 9 am-9 pm M W'J\{ IlllfiVir JONE BTH 9 am-9 pni i L j JUNE 9th 19 am-5 pm 100s O f PRi-OWNID VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE · TERMINATED LEASES · BANK REP0SSESSI9NS · PRIME ADGTI9N VEHICLES EORB'S · GM'S · CHRYSLER'S · TOYOTA'S · HONDfl S · B M W 'S THESE VEHICLES WILL BE SHLD REGARDLESS OF LOSS OF PROFIT R iC IIVi BACK THE SILLING PRICE 01 YOOR VEHICLE!! IE YOU PURCHASE A VEHICLE AT AUTOPARK SUPERSTURE, BETWEEN JUNE BTH, 2 0 0 2 AND SEPTEMBER 2BTH, 2 0 0 2 , YOUR NAME WILL BE ENTERED IN A RANDOM DRAW. IF YOUR NAME IS CHOSEN YOU WILL RECEIVE BACK THE SELLING PRICE OF YOOR VEHICLE. * 95 down plus applicable taxes & fees. O.A.C "Anyone who purchases a retail vehicle from Autopark Superstore between June 6th. 2002. and September 28th, 2002 draw time, will be eligible to participate in a draw The draw will be held at the premises of Autopark Superstore. 4315 North Service Rd.. Burltngton, Ontario, on Saturday. September 28th at 3:00 p.m. The winning individual will be required to answer a skill testing question odds in winning are approx. 1 in 400. Call for details. " `Interest for No Payments til December. 2002. Is calculated at 8.65% blended in payment. imPi MENTS TIL DECEMBER 2012 s AUTOPARK SUPERSTORE between Appleby & Walkers Line - Off the Q.E.W. «t h w y » ? 4315 H 0 R II SERVICE RB., RUREINGTBN T O M I S S I S S A U G A <=> W o rth S ^ i c a R o o d