A_R_R_2015_04

14 | AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDER

NEWS

V

icious hailstorms damage

hundreds of motorcycles every

summer and many can wind up back

in sales yards around the country at

heavily discounted prices. Some still

have dents in their tanks, smashed

fairings, broken lights, indicators and

mirrors, while others may be repaired.

They may be an a ractive

option for riders who want a cheap

utilitarian motorcycle for use as a

courier, adventure bike or cheap

commuter and aren’t concerned with

what it looks like. But the RACQ has

warned riders to do their homework

before deciding on buying a hail-

damaged bike.

“Think about what you intend to do

with it,” says RACQ technical manager

Steve Spalding. “If it’s to fi x it, then

factor in the cost of repairs. If the

discount off the purchase price, plus

the cost of repairs doesn’t work out

cheaper than its normal selling price,

then think carefully before jumping in

on a hail sale.”

Another trap is the fact that some

insurance companies may not off er

full insurance cover if a vehicle is

hail-damaged and unrepaired. It’s

best to check with your insurer before

commi ing to a purchase.

“If you do decide to buy a hail-

damaged bike and fi x the damage,

make sure you carefully inspect it fi rst

so that you can properly factor in all

of the repair costs,” advises Steve. “Also

check whether the parts you need are

available or if there are lengthy delays

in supplying these parts.”

Storm damage can be more than

just dents and smashed lights which

are easy to see. If there has been fl ash

fl ooding, the bike could also have been

submerged. That can mean long-term

corrosive damage to electrics which

can be expensive to repair. Steve

advises that such damage can be

diffi cult to spot and could have issues

with warranty.

“Check with the selling dealer if

any hail damage will aff ect the bike’s

new warranty cover, particularly if

there are future problems related to

water entry into electronics,” he says.

His advice is to be wary: “End-of-year

sales o en lead to some a ractive

off ers; it may be be er to wait for

these rather than buy a

hail-damaged bike.”

GREEN FACTORY

T

he world’s largest motorcycle

manufacturer, Hero Motorcorp, has

opened a “garden factory” in India with

roo op greenhouses, a vegetation wall to

fi lter indoor air and solar power.

It’s been awarded the top

environmental score by the Indian Green

Building Council and is one of many green

factories planned around the country.

Designers William McDonough +

Partners call it “Octa-Generation”, which

means it captures or generates eight

things: electrical energy, heating, cooling,

water from the air, carbon dioxide for

roo op greenhouses, food, jobs on the

roof, and air quality for people working in

the building.

“Features rooftop green

houses, a vegetation wall

to filter indoor air and

solar power.”

■ Blending into its environment

HONDA

MILESTONE

Who would have thought that when

Honda began making motorcycles in

1949 with the 98cc Dream Type-D, it

would one day build its 300 millionth

bike? That honour goes to a 2015

40th-anniversary Honda Gold Wing

produced at the company’s Kumamoto

Factory in Japan.

Today, Honda produces

motorcycles, ATVs and side-by-sides at

32 plants in 22 countries.

Big H makes it

300,000,

r Honda’s Motegi Museum showcase many of

Honda’s models

AVOID THE STORM

Be wary of cheap, storm-damaged motorcycles

ARR112_010-026_News.indd 14ARR112_010-026_News.indd 14 2/3/2015 9:48:03 AM2/3/2015 9:48:03 AM