ICBC Safety Tip: Same Old Story, Same Old Hogs

by Insurance Corporation of British Columbia on Friday, May 1st, 2015

Crashes involving motorcyclists increase in summer. If you’re a driver waiting to make a left turn, look for oncoming motorcycles and yield right of way. If you’re a rider, protect yourself from serious injuries – wear an approved helmet and safety gear designed for riding.

UTVs Are Hot Summer Fun!

by Ian Harwood on Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

Watch out for local ride-and-drive events… you may just find out how much fun life can be! 

 

 

The explosion of utility terrain vehicles on the market the last five years has been incredible.

Popularity has never been this high. The 2014 Polaris RZR XP 1000 is at the top of its class. Rarely do you see a UTV like this offered to the public. Often you would have to go to a Baja race to see these machines perform. 0-30 in 2.26 seconds and 0-50 in 5.33 seconds without any aftermarket add-ons. Wow.

The XP delivers excitement at any speed. The on demand AWD system makes cornering at high speeds incredibly easy. The long travel suspension makes the bumps feel like pebbles on a highway. All the instruments are conveniently located so you can access them quickly without losing site of the trail ahead of you. I noticed how much leg room the XP has leg. After having driven an earlier model that was always a concern.

Interior

The interior features a high performance tilt able steering wheel that is easy to grip and performs very well at high speeds. LED interior lights and very comfortable seats that have being beefed up to hold you in position and feature a new dry seat technology the resists moisture. They also have sliders on them to adjust for legroom. The factory installed doors have an easy one handed security latch and offer an optional accessory lower door section which I recommend to purchase right away. This keeps a lot of debris of your legs.

Having driven many off-road vehicles in my career and in many challenging conditions, I found UTVs to be an extension to the off-road experience. You can go places that you would not normally attempt because of road conditions or overgrown vegetation that limits most vehicles without extensive body damage.

The fact you can take a partner along with you in an open-air cockpit is a big plus and really adds another dimension to 4 wheeling. Although this model is a high-end machine there are plenty of other makes a models at reasonable prices that you can check out at your local ATV shop. Watch out for local ride-and-drive events then go out and experience one for yourself. You may just find out how much fun life can be!

Engine

Type: 4-stroke, DOHC, twin-cylinder

Displacement: 999cc

Liquid cooled

Fuel system: Electronic fuel injections w/ dual 48mm throttle bodies, which respond very quickly. The engine runs on 87-octane fuel without the need for premium.

Starting system is electric

Drivetrain

Drive system: On-Demand AWD/2WD

Transmission: Automatic PVT w/ high/low range, and reverse

Price as tested $22,699

Contact: ian [dot] harwood [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca                               

Summer Catch: Picking the Right Two-Wheeler Ride For You

by Alexandra Straub on Thursday, May 1st, 2014

There are many different ways to get you on the open (or dirt) road (more…)

It’s Spring Car Cleaning Time, Inside and Out

by Keith Morgan on Thursday, May 1st, 2014

Unnecessary weight increases fuel consumption and some of that extra weight could be in the form of mud and dirt on your vehicle’s undercarriage…

If a road trip is part of your vacation plans this summer, it’s time to get the horseless chariot prepared.

That means cleaning it inside and out and performing some important maintenance to ensure you get the best fuel economy.

In most parts of B.C., the swap from winter tires to all-season or summer tires is already well under way (studded winter tire removal is mandatory by April 30). Winter tires are made with a softer and stickier rubber compound that wears faster and increases fuel consumption at higher temperatures. They also tend to be noisier and you’ll hear them even more, now that you can finally roll down the windows.

You may also be dragging around too much junk in the trunk, such as that snow shovel you always pack during in the winter months. Unnecessary weight increases fuel consumption and some of that extra weight could be in the form of mud and dirt on your vehicle’s undercarriage.

(Road salt is probably also trapped in that muddy mess, which is a corrosion accelerant that your vehicle’s body doesn’t need.)

While you’re poking around in the trunk, take a look under the floor cover. Water leaking into the vehicle tends to accumulate in the lowest spots, or maybe that’s why it’s called a spare-wheel well. If the spare is a conventional tire, check its inflation pressure and, while you’re at it, make sure that the emergency jack and tool kit are also in good working order.

An easy check and repair item is lighting. You may need some help confirming that the brake and backup lights are functioning at the rear. Otherwise, it’s a simple walk-around check that should include the turn signals and headlights (both low and high beams) and don’t forget the license plate and those little side marker lights. If you’ve got a vehicle with a headlight (clear plastic) cover that’s showing its age, there are some good products on the market now that help restore clarity.

Wiper blades are another easy check and replace item. A build-up of grease or grim on the windshield will also reduce the effectiveness of the wipers. Clean the rubber wiper blade with a soft cloth soaked in the glass cleaner. In B.C., those windshield wipers typically work harder than anywhere else in Canada and life expectancy can be less than a year.

If they’re still streaking, chattering or generally not doing the job – replace them.

Getting back to tires, a loaded vehicle driven at highway speeds for prolonged periods in hot weather conditions can be a punishing test for tires and the dreaded blow-out is a real concern. Even a tire that looks okay and has plenty of tread remaining may not be in great shape. The “best before” date on most passenger tires is eight years old and you should be able to find a date of manufacture stamped somewhere on sidewall of the tire.

A tire also performs best, lasts longer and provides best fuel economy when its internal pressure is set at a level recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, and checked on a regular basis. The tire decal, with optimal front and rear recommended tire pressures, is usually on the driver’s door or door jam. If not, the owner’s manual should give you the information and/or tell you where the tire decal is located. A single under-inflated tire (by about 6 psi /40 kPa) can cause a 3 per cent increase in fuel consumption.

Using a grade of fuel with a lower octane rating than recommended by the vehicle manufacturer may cause the engine to ping or knock on hard acceleration or when climbing hills, which is not good for the engine!

On the other hand, using a higher-octane fuel than your vehicle’s engine needs is generally a waste of money. That said, the pricier fuel may also contain some additional cleaner additives, which is good.

Have a great summer and a safe driving vacation.

Contact: bob [dot] mchugh [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

ICBC Safety Tip: Summer Brings Its Own Hazards, Too

by Insurance Corporation of British Columbia on Thursday, February 20th, 2014

While our days are continuing to get longer, road conditions remain challenging and visibility limited. As drivers, we always need to be on the lookout for pedestrians but especially at busy intersections and near transit stops where they may be coming and going and not always in a crosswalk.