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* $1000 off coupon offer is available between February 1, 2012, and March 31, 2012. Offer available on select unregistered Suzuki models. This offer is for 2011 and prior Boulevard M109R/Limited Edition and other slect models. See dealer or visit www.SuzukiCycles.com/SalesEvent for more details. Offer is non transferable and holds no cash value. No transfer, substitution of cash equivalent of Coupon permitted. Promotion is subject to change without notice. Limit one Coupon per purchase. Void where prohibited. **The above financing programs are offered by Sheffield Financial, a Division of BB&T Financial, FSB. Minimum Amount Financed $1500; Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Subject to credit approval. Approval , and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Other financing offers available. Financing promotions void where prohibited.

How Off-Road Vehicles Work

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FEATURE ARTICLE

HOW OFF-ROADVEHICLES WORK

In recent years, millions of Americans have purchased four-wheel- and all-wheel-drive vehicles. Many of these

folks never change the factory design of their truck or sport utility vehicle (SUV) and never tackle a driving challenge more severe than commuting to work through snow or rain. But a few feel the inexorable pull of na-ture and the road less traveled. These intrepid explorers spend countless hours and a few extra dollars to modify their factory trucks and SUVs into off-road vehicles capable of chewing up dirt roads, crawling over rocks and climbing near-vertical hills. A few even purchase vehicles -- all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility-type vehicles (UTVs) -- designed exclusively for cross-country adventures.

If you’re hearing the call of the wild and feeling the need to explore nature, then you might be ready to become an off-roader. But before you head for the hills, take some time to understand what off-roading is all about and what it takes to transform a factory vehicle into an off-road vehicle. Going un-prepared into the wilderness can have serious consequences. You can get stranded. You can get lost. And, in a worst-case scenario, you can get hurt. In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted in Octo-ber 2009 to write mandatory rules to regulate UTVs, following 116 deaths and 150 injuries since 2003. Many of these accidents were caused by vehicle rollovers, which occurred because drivers failed to follow the manufac-turer’s safety instructions [source: CBS/AP].

So, take it slow and easy. Understand how the various systems of your vehicle work. Then understand how to modify those systems to ensure that your vehicle functions

effectively and safely in off-road situations. This article will provide a good first step. In it, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about off-road vehicles, from the ground up. And speaking of the ground, let’s start with off-road tires, which increase your vehicle’s clearance and give it traction in dirt, mud, snow and sand.

Off-road TiresThe primary function of tires is to provide

traction. For normal vehicles, this means gripping a relatively smooth paved or gravel surface. For off-road vehicles, this means gripping a variety of surfaces, from rocks and boulders to sand and dirt to snow and mud. As a result, tires are one of the most important purchases you’ll make for your off-road vehicle.

Before you head to the local tire shop, think about the kind of driving you’ll be doing. It’s possible to buy smooth-riding tires (or street tires), but this implies you’ll rarely, if ever, be driving off regular roads. As this is an article about off-road vehicles, let’s set aside any discussion of smooth-riding tires and focus on the three major types of off-road tires available for four-wheel-drive vehicles:•If your vehicle will be splitting its time between highway and off-highway use, it will need all-terrain tires. These tires feature a tread design with interlocking tread elements that provide good traction in dry snow, ice and mud, as well as on paved surfaces. They are relatively inexpensive and have good longevity.•If you spend more time driving off-road, then you should consider mud-terrain tires. With aggressive tread patterns and larger lugs, these tires offer extraordinary gripping power in all kinds of off-highway terrain, especially wet snow and mud. They are also extremely durable, with super-tough side-walls to absorb the impact of rocks and other off-road hazards. They will, however, set you back a few more dollars than all-terrain tires and will lose their tread faster.•You might want dedicated snow tires if you drive in areas that get lots of the white stuff. Snow tires stay soft and pliant even in subze-ro temperatures. They also have a number of grooves and channels, known as sipes, in the tire tread. Sipes bite into wet snow and ice to improve traction in slippery conditions.

Because ATVs and UTVs are off-road vehicles by definition, they generally come standard with mud-terrain or all-terrain tires. Sand tires are also available for ATVs that hit the dunes. Sand tires feature either horizontal or V-angled paddles, or extru-sions, that churn sand and deliver superior traction. Once you’ve chosen a tire, you can decide on a wheel.

For a 4x4 vehicle equipped with mud-terrain tires, a drive through mud and water is a walk in the park.

DEALER INFO

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Installing a car alarm system is almost a given. No one wants to experience car theft, and everyone wants the

discounts offered by car insurance com-panies for having an alarm system. Car owners have a choice of two main types of car alarms: a passive alarm and a non-passive alarm, also called an active alarm.

A passive alarm sets automatically when the driver turns off the ignition. Be-cause no thought is required and the alarm is so reliably set, insurance companies of-fer larger discounts for passive alarms. Many models of passive alarms allow owners to switch between passive and ac-tive functioning. While passive alarms are convenient because they don’t require ef-fort to set them, they must be disabled to open the car door or the trunk.

A non-passive alarm requires an action to set it, usually clicking a device that sets the alarm. Many non-passive alarm mod-els offer some of the same features of pas-sive alarm brands, such as remote starting and remote keyless entry. Also, most non-passive alarms can be set to operate as a passive alarm.

The big advantage of a non-passive alarm is that it lets the driver turn it on when it’s most convenient. This means the driver can turn the ignition off and do other things, like get things out of the truck, before having to set the alarm. Many people simply prefer the control that a non-passive alarm gives them. The big disadvantage is that the driver always has to remember to turn it on!

In a recent study by the most accredited automobile insurance companies showed that the Central San Joaquin Valley is #1 in Auto Theft in the nation, specially Fres-no, Visalia, Merced, Madera, Modesto and Stockton to name a few. With this in mind, it’s important to take a closer look at the type of alarm that is protecting your vehicle.

Many cars come with an alarm as a standard feature. Some manufacturers may offer the option of a passive or non-passive alarm installed system on their new cars. No matter what system a new car has, drivers may opt to replace the factory-installed alarm system with a dif-ferent or more advanced aftermarket sys-tem. Car alarms systems are more reliable than ever. But keep in mind that aftermar-

ket do-it-yourself systems, like steering wheel locks, are often just too easy for expert car thieves to counter and may not be sanctioned by an insurer.

The insurance discount for having any alarm system will most likely be modest, especially in the case of a non-passive alarm. Insurance companies may not rec-ognize all types of car alarms, and they almost certainly will want one to be pro-fessionally installed before it qualifies for a premium discount.

Premium discount aside, a car alarm is worth having to reduce the risk of car theft and the risk of a car being vandalized. Always remember that a passive or non-passive car alarm alone won’t prevent car theft. Drivers must still implement good anti-theft practices.

CONSUMER REPORT False Sense of Security?Do You Have a

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