Motorcycles are greatly becoming larger trend.  With approximately 8.2 million motorcycles on the road according to the US Department of Transportation in 2010, motorcycles have become a large trend. But with new riders getting on the road everyday, it’s extremely important to ease into your riding. In fact, motorcycle fatalities rose 2.1 percent to 4,612 from 4,518 in 2010. Before you ever get on a motorcycle the best thing your can do is learn.

Buying your first motorcycle in Connecticut is a big step. To help you start, we’ve provided some great beginner motorcycles. Purchasing your first motorcycle isn’t something you should take lightly. Do your research, learn, and give us a call to set you up with some Norwich motorcycle insurance.

Kawasaki Vulcan 500

The ergonomics of this bike is similar to the bike above, but the only downside is the front fork angle. The steeper the angle the more difficult is may be for balance.

Kawasaki Ninja 250

One of the most bought entry-level sports bikes; the Kawasaki Ninja 250 is a good beginner-transition bike. As it’s only 250cc, this is the kind of motorcycle that you could live with for a long time.

Honda CBR 250

This motorcycle is another great 250cc bike. The smaller motor will be easier to get used to for beginners.

Triumph Bonneville

This bike is a wonderful beginner motorcycle for multiple reasons, but mostly being a comfortable riding position. The ergonomics of a motorcycle is important towards the style of riding that a rider may take on. This basic upright position allows being causal and relaxed while riding. One major downside to this bike is price.

Suzuki Tu250

Similar to the Bonneville above, this motorcycle is in basic form with the upside of a low price. With a lower price, you may give up key features compared to other motorcycles, such as rear disc brakes.

As an independent insurance agency, the Byrnes Agency works with a number of leading carriers in the country, enabling us to provide Norwich customers with competitive rates for Norwich Motorcycle Insurance. We also realize that one size doesn’t fit all and can tailor the motorcycle insurance policy to you personally. We provide coverage for sport bikes, cruisers, standards, touring bikes, custom rides — and even scooters. Be sure to give us a call for more information about our Norwich Motorcycle Insurance.

Norwich Insurance Office

Phone: (860) 886-5498

* Please note that the Byrnes Agency does not endorse any of these motorcycle brands.

We are stressed. Between work, home, family, the millions of errands, never-ending schedule and somehow not enough time in the day, it is no wonder that we all experience some level of stress on a daily basis. But how much does it affect us? And what can we do to alleviate it?

Stress can be physical, such as subjecting our muscles to weightlifting at the gym. But it can also be what is in our heads, that overwhelming feeling you have way too much to do and too little time to do it. According to Greatist, Americans rated their personal stress levels at an average of 5.2 out of 10. Twenty-two percent admit to being under extreme stress on a regular basis.

There are hundreds of things that can stress us out, and it varies widely according to the individual. According to LiveStrong, the top causes of stress are childhood trauma, the death of a loved one, divorce, finances, job, health, personal relationships, even pregnancy.

Managing stress helps individuals become happier and healthier overall. Here are some tips to de-stress.

• Seek professional help if you feel like you’re burning out. They can help talk through your stress and give you tools to help manage it.
• Get creative. Find an outlet that works for you. Painting, cooking, dancing, writing, anything that makes you temporarily forget your schedule will work. Make sure to schedule time for it at least once a week.
• Get out in the sun. Numerous studies have shown that spending time in nature lowers anxiety, stress, depression and boosts your overall well-being.

One thing you shouldn’t stress about is making sure you and your family has the proper Connecticut insurance coverage. At the Byrnes Agency, we’ve been providing personal & business insurance solutions, such as employee benefits throughout Connecticut for years. Contact us today for more information for more information about our Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance & Renters insurance in New London & Windham County.

• Dayville Insurance Office
  860-774-8549
• Norwich Insurance Office
  860-886-5498
• Woodstock Insurance Office
  860-928-7928

Norwich Home Insurance: Where Germs Hide

Not only does it look nice, but keeping a clean New London County home keeps your family safe and happy. Getting rid of germs is an impossible task, and not something you necessarily want to do entirely. A little bit of germs is good for keeping our immune system strong. However, there are certain ones homeowners definitely like to avoid. And according to a new study in the New York Times, the places where germs lurk may surprise you.

A new report examined places and appliances in typical households that are the most likely and least likely to harbor harmful germs such as E.coli and salmonella. Researchers swabbed a variety of common kitchen items to test them for germs. The results were surprising. Areas where people expected high areas of contamination, such as microwave keypads, were not the top sources of germs.

Instead, refrigerator ice and water dispensers, spatulas, blender gaskets (the rubbers seal at the base of the blender that helps prevent leaks) and refrigerator eat and vegetable compartments had the highest germ counts. Can openers were another offender, as most people simply use them to open up a can and then toss them back without cleaning them.

The study results indicate that germs tend to accumulate in surprising places that most people don’t think about when cleaning. Not taking the blender entirely apart, for example, or washing vegetables but not the refrigerator drawer they are held in.

Of all the areas in the home, the kitchen is particularly important. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 10 million cases of food poisoning occur in the United States every year, and one in five outbreaks are caused by food that people eat in their homes.

At the Byrnes Agency, we can help you decipher the ins and outs of Windham home insurance policies.  We work with some of the most respected carriers in the country and can provide you with comprehensive New London County homeowners insurance at competitive rate. Contact us today for more information.

• Dayville Insurance Office
  860-774-8549
• Norwich Insurance Office
  860-886-5498
• Woodstock Insurance Office
  860-928-7928

New London County Boat Insurance: De-Winterizing Your Boat

When that first ray of spring light finally breaks through, the first thought is to get the boat back on the water. But pulling your boat out of its winter hibernation requires some initial maintenance work. De-winterizing your boat, engine and trailer before hitting the lake ensures that everything will be in top shape, which will help make that maiden voyage of the summer stress free.

Here are some initial steps to prepping your boat for summer days.

Clean it out. After pulling your boat out of storage, the first thing to do is give it a thorough cleaning, wipe down the interior, vacuum the carpet, and power wash the exterior. As you’re cleaning, do a visual check for any gouges or cracks in the hull, loose or missing rivets, or any other signs of damage that need your attention.

Check for supplies. Make sure to restock your boat with all the essential supplies you may have removed for storage. This can include everything from seats, life vests, first aid kits, fire extinguishers and flares (don’t forget to check the expiration date on flares, inspect the anchor ropes, and certify extinguishers if needed).

Check the engine. If it wasn’t changed before the winter, make sure to change the engine oil, replace your oil filer, and check the out-drive oil as well. Install fresh spark plugs in the engine. Don’t forget to check the battery of your boat. Use a battery tester to check out amps and volts. When you first launch the boat, make sure there are no leaks evident, paying careful attention to the bilge area. Finally, make sure the engine shifts smoothly from forward, neutral and reverse.

Trailer. Often overlooked in the de-winterization process, checking the trailer over is a good idea as well. Make sure to visually check the entire trailer, looking for bends, cracked welds, and check the springs and suspensions for wear and tear or faults. Go over the rollers or bunks and replace any parts that aren’t working. Finally, check that the winch strap is in good shape and doesn’t have any signs of fraying or unevenness.

Connecticut-based Byrnes Agency has you covered. We specialize in Boat Insurance throughout New London County, Middlesex County & Windham County, CT with all the features that matter most to you. Contact us today for more information about our Boat Insurance programs.

• Dayville Insurance Office
  860-774-8549
• Norwich Insurance Office
  860-886-5498
• Woodstock Insurance Office
  860-928-7928

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. And like recent blog posts, Connecticut Auto Insurance: Technology Makes Driving Easier, our main goal is keeping you and your family safe behind the wheel. In this post we’ll tackle one of the leading culprits of distracted driving: texting.

Mobile communication has been linked to a serious increase in distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2010 that driver distraction caused 18 percent of all fatal crashes, and over 416,000 injuries.

Among the mediums of mobile communication, texting has emerged as one of the biggest. An estimate by Bloomberg TV estimates that 8 trillion text messages are sent every year, with 2.2 trillion being sent in the United States alone.

Texting while driving seems to be particularly rampant among teenagers. Forty percent of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put the passengers in danger. And eleven percent of drivers 18-20 who were involved in a crash admitted they were sending or receiving texts when they crashed.

Texting is a particular issue because it distracts the drivers in three ways. It requires you to visually take your eyes off the road to glance at the screen, take your hands away from the wheel to type, and you are mentally distracted by transferring your focus from the road to the message. According to the Federal Communications Commission, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.

The Byrnes Agency provides individuals throughout Connecticut and the country with Auto insurance policies throughout New London County, Windham County & Middlesex County to protect against unforeseen damages and injuries. With access to dozens of insurers, we can obtain the most affordable rates for the coverages you need. Contact us today for more information.

• Dayville Insurance Office
  860-774-8549
• Norwich Insurance Office
  860-886-5498
• Woodstock Insurance Office
  860-928-7928

High End Art Insurance: Met Receives $1 Billion Gift of Cubist Art.

Philanthropist and cosmetics tycoon Leonard A. Lauder promised the Metropolitan Museum of Art his collection of 78 Cubist paintings, drawings and sculptures.

The highly valued collection of Cubist works includes 33 Picassos, 17 Braques, 14 Legers and 14 works by Gris. In total, the collection is valued at over $1 billion, according to the New York Times. The collection will boost the Met into the forefront of early 20^th century art, and fills a previously glaring gap in the Met’s collection. The Met only received in first Cubist painting in 1996.

Mr. Lauder’s collection remains unusual in its singular focus- where other art collectors expand beyond a particular genre and buy widely throughout multiple periods and styles, Mr. Lauder has focused exclusively on Cubism.

High end artwork comes with specific insurance requirements that far outstrip any basic coverage. Especially if you are a collector of high end art, your standard homeowners insurance won’t be enough to cover your collection in the event of theft, loss, or damage. Fine Art insurance is essential, either as a separate policy or an add-on to your Connecticut homeowners policy to make sure you have the correct coverage.

Fine art coverage can include itemized coverage for each item, protection against breakage, especially fragile pieces, and worldwide protection. To obtain adequate coverage, it is essential that a homeowner obtain a full appraisal of their collection so they know its current worth. At the Byrnes Agency, we can help you obtain a certified appraisal to properly establish the actual value of your items. We can also help you protect your valuables against environmental hazards by advising you on storage, temperature, and humidity controls and exposure to heat and sunlight. Contact us today for more information.

• Dayville Insurance Office
  860-774-8549
• Norwich Insurance Office
  860-886-5498
• Woodstock Insurance Office
  860-928-7928

Smart homes always seemed to be the wave of the future- an idea that was really cool, but not quite achievable yet. But now, the time has come. Home automation technologies have evolved significantly in the past few years, making the “smart houses” of the movies only 15 years ago seem distinctly possible. Lighting and climate controls are smarter and more popular. Most devices use wireless technologies so they don’t need to be ripped out of the wall.

While home automation devices can add up initial costs very quickly, they can also help save money in bills down the road. Programmable thermostats controlled from your iPhone let you adjust the heat, or turn it off if you’ve forgotten. And, it can be controlled from wherever you are, whether in the house or on the way to the airport.

Smartphone apps now allow homeowners to control nearly every aspect of their home, even when they are away. Homeowners can receive text messages if a door is opened while they are away. Bulbs can be scheduled to light up, shut off, dim, and even change colors from an iPhone or iPad. The services can even be integrated in some cases, like being able to lower the heat when the security system is armed, or opening a door automatically turns house lights on.

There is a wide range in home automation systems available. Smartphone apps tend to be the most budget friendly way to tech up your home, and the easiest to install and manage. However, they are also limited in how much control they allow, and often cannot be integrated with each other. Large scale home automation projects by professional companies allow you to integrate entire systems together- however, they also must be professionally installed and can be the most expensive option, with large projects beginning around $5,000.

At the Byrnes Agency, we can help you decipher the ins and outs of  New London County homeowners insurance policies.  We work with some of the most respected carriers in the country and can provide you with comprehensive Connecticut homeowners insurance at competitive price. Contact us today for more information.

• Dayville Office
  860-774-8549
• Norwich Office
  860-886-5498
• Woodstock Office
  860-928-7928

Cars are a great showcase for the latest emerging technology. And lately, car tech has gone beyond the fancy Bluetooth and voice-activated Facebook updates to instead focus on safety. Here are some of the newest technologies, as detailed by the Wall Street Journal.

Inflatable seatbelt. Safety-technology suppliers and auto makers have developed shoulder straps with airbags built in. Ford Motor Co. and Mercedes-Benz both offer it on certain new models. The idea improves on the current seatbelt. Although traditional lap and shoulder belts prevent thousands of deaths a year, they also cause “seat-belt syndrome.” The safety mechanism can lead to severe injuries to organs, muscles, and spines especially in violent crashes. Inflatable seat belts are meant to reduce this risk.

Night vision. Driving at night is inherently dangerous. Traffic deaths are three times greater at night than during the day. As safety regulators are increasingly focusing on pedestrian safety, (More than 4,000 pedestrians die each year after being hit by a car), they are developing technology to combat that. One example is BMW; known as “dynamic-spotlight” technology, it uses an infrared camera mounted behind the grille to see the road. The software picks out the outline of a person or animal and signals the car’s headlights to illuminate them and help prevent a collision, and there is an in-camera alert as well.

Computers. Vehicles have traditionally involved a series of mechanical connections that allow the wheel to guide the four wheels on the road. The latest technology, known as a steer-by-wire system, switches the mechanical elements with an all-electronic system. The electronic signal is faster than a mechanical linkage, and allows drivers to choose between four different degrees of serenity or sportiness in the handling of the vehicle. And, if the electric system fails, there is a backup mechanical-linkage system to take control.

Protect you and your family by getting comprehensive New London Auto Insurance & Windham County Auto Insurance policies with the Byrnes Agency. We provide communities throughout the Connecticut area. Contact us today for more information about our Connecticut Auto insurance coverage. 

A multi-vehicle pile-up involving over 100 vehicles occurred during a spring snowstorm that caused havoc on the road between Calgary and Edmonton in Canada. The crash left over 100 motorists with injuries.

The extensive crash occurred on icy roads during a snowstorm of “white-out” conditions. White-out is a weather condition where visibility and contrast are severely reduced by snow (it can be sand as well). The horizon disappears, there are not reference points at all for drivers to navigate, and white-out conditions leave the individual with a distorted orientation and unclear awareness of their surroundings.

White-out conditions can be so severe at times that people can be lost in their own front yard. Even if the door is ten feet away they wouldn’t be able to find it and would have to feel their way back to the house. White-out conditions pose a major risk to motorists on high speed highways and have caused many significant multiple-vehicle conditions.

Driving in the snow, and especially in white-out conditions, significantly increases the likelihood you’ll get into an accident. Here are some tips to avoiding accidents in that last spring snowstorms.

• Slow down and lengthen the distance between your car and the vehicle you are following.
• Stay alert and scan the road ahead, trying to spot potential obstacles. Prepare for other cars to suddenly swerve or skid in front of you.
• Try to keep moving. Even when progress and visibility is poor, you should avoid stopping on the road or shoulder because other vehicles could run into you.

Keep an eye on weather reports, and always carry emergency supplies with you. In the Canadian highway pile up, hundreds were stuck in traffic jams for hours as emergency teams tried to sort through the aftermath. Keep blankets, a flashlight with extra batteries, a good ice scraper, and snacks that can be stored for long periods of time.

Protect you and your family by getting comprehensive New London Auto Insurance & Windham County Auto Insurance policies with the Byrnes Agency. We provide communities throughout the Connecticut area. Contact us today for more information about our Connecticut Auto insurance coverage.