How To: Motorcycle Alarm Install

To some, motorcycles are just really expensive toys; to others they're a main mode of transportation and a cherished pride and joy. Whatever it is to you, it's probably a good idea to make sure it's protected. Motorcycle theft rates increased over 135% in the last five years, but the saddest part is that only around 30% of the thefts are recovered. In 2005, approximately 70,600 motorcycles were stolen in the US.* Hopefully one of those was not yours.

However, all is not lost. Did you know you can actually install an alarm system on your motorcycle that offers similar protection to that of a car alarm? Shock sensors, tilt sensors, siren, starter kill - all of these things can help prevent the theft of your bike. It may also help reduce your insurance rate.

So what's involved and how difficult is it? The guys from the Snake Pit hooked us up with a tutorial on how to install an alarm on your bike. Follow the jump to check out the details and pics. 

*Source: WebBikeWorld.com

How To: Headrest Monitor Installation

One of the coolest mobile video upgrades that works in just about any car is the addition of headrest monitors. Headrest monitors can offer a few advantages over a flipdown screen. For instance, with two screens, you can technically have more than one source (assuming your screen has two or more inputs). One screen could play a movie while the other is used for a game console like the PS2. And that means no kids fighting over what movie to watch. When it comes time to sell your car, you can replace the headrests pretty easily. Replacing a headliner is more complicated. But whatever reason you're using to  add this kind of system, it's pretty cool.

The guys over at Directed Electronics' Snake Pit hooked us up with this cool tutorial explaining the proper way to install a headrest monitor.  It's not an overly complicated task, but it takes a steady hand, and a "measure three times, cut once" kind of attitude.

Getting Schooled at the Snake Pit: Day Three

Day three at the Pit was one of the most technical yet, and the main topics were relays, relays, audio theory, and relays. Relays are the bread-n-butter of the security and remote start realm, and they also come in pretty handy for custom work, so the heavy focus was pretty important. Audio theory establishes a basic understanding for how the world of audio and sound works, and how different components interact. This is one of the most important days at the Pit, as it establishes the basics that separates the pros from the amateurs. But of course, the guys at the Pit live and breathe this stuff, so after a day in the shop with Brian and Andy—and a little hands-on instruction with "the box"—everyone in the class had learned a lot.

Round and Round it Goes. When it Booms, Everybody Knows!

My buddies over at the Snake Pit car audio training school have updated their member garage with this insane 2006 Chevy Colorado. It's been converted into a two door, but the serious mods are in the bed, where it has the world's first spinning subwoofer enclosure. For more details on the Snake Pit, you can check out my exclusive behind the scenes tour. And hey, if these spinning subs don't do it, the 30,000 watts of Precision Power amps will definitely get some attention. Check out the killer video after the jump!