M is for motorcycle

moto memories

2011-09-12T18:40:00.000-07:00

Lots of interesting fact in this abbreviated history of motorcycling timeline/chronology. Includes inventions and discoveries over hundreds of years that led up to the manifestation of motorbikes in the late 19th / early 20th centuries.

Other great pages at http://www.motorcyclingmemories.com

...annnd for some history overload, try this: History of Laconia page.

blown mopeds

2011-08-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

Apparently this is like a "thing": supercharging mopeds.

Here is a fine looking specimen in Switzerland with what appears to be a homemade centrifugal blower.

I'm not sure if this is real - a guy doing 90mph on a moped:

and a plehora of images and info: Supercharging small motors at Elsberg Tuning.

Shanghai Living

2011-03-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

Some Canadian dude setting himself up with a ride in Shanghai.

Weird how bicycles and motorcycles share a fenced-off lane on Shanghai roads.

Handmade Portraits: Liberty Vintage Motorcycles

2011-03-15T02:25:00.000-07:00

Handmade Portraits: Liberty Vintage Motorcycles from Etsy on Vimeo.

not a bike, but the neatest "mini motorhome" ever

2010-12-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

a do-everything box that fits most cars. Like a Swiss Army Knife, only better.

Rideback - chicks on robot bikes

2010-12-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.hulu.com/rideback

not a bike (but damned sexy)

2010-12-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

Peugeot EX1 concept car... like something a less-tough, mildly douchy Batman would drive

see the flip book in a new window

Brammo Empulse... F*ck yeah

2010-11-15T15:12:00.000-08:00

Fast... the way bikes are supposed to be.

Let's look at the ad, yes.

Brammo Empulse page

FONZICHI

2010-08-16T19:18:00.000-07:00

Need I reiterate my love for REAL bikes. Riders, not show bikes. FONZICHI is about as real as you get.

Spotted in Carroll Gardens in all it's glory.

I like this bike. Mid-size SOHC fours are cool in any style. This one eats nails for breakfast.

The gods of war are much pleased with Fonzichi.

Racers, Flip Your Switches

2010-06-09T20:58:00.001-07:00

ELECTRIC BIKES !!!!!

RACING !!!!!!

click for video

WHEEEEEEEE !!!!

Philly trolley - i like trains too.

2010-06-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

When the city of Philly was having a hard time financing the building of new cars on it's relaunch of the 15 line ("Girard Avenue trolley"), some genius came up with the idea "Let's just Hot Rod the old ones!"

So they took some shells of old 1940's era PCC trolleys, did some blasting and sanding, cutting and shutting.

Painting, pimping, retro-fitting.

They ended up with the sweetest Public Transpo hack of the last decade: The rebirth of the old school Philly trolley car - complete with modern newfangled air conditioning.

The Broad Street subway and Frankford Ave "El" gets you to Girard Ave on the north side of town.

YOU GOTTA BE F*CKIN KIDDING ME!!!?!

2010-05-01T14:42:00.001-07:00

Not satisfied with the 20-something horsepower in your lightweight Yamaha WR250X supermoto?

Morgan Performance Fabrication makes a turbo kit for them.

Me likey.

click for video

What rides like a Formula car and feels like a bike?

2010-04-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

This sweet 4-wheeled thing.

Crashing would be a bitch. Try not to do that.

click for video

what Americans (and Canadians) do for fun

2010-04-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

flathead Harleys

2010-04-11T16:15:00.000-07:00

K models and WRs... with their racing heritage, they come loaded with tradition and emotional context.

Here are two fine takes on these platforms - from Japan. A cafe K and a WR bobber.

Tough street machines, not shiny trailer queens.

Click for Slide Show
Janta9G1340's "2009 Red Hot Motorcycles" Photoset on Flickr.

Open Thumbnail Page in a new tab/window.
View Slideshow in a new tab/window.

Janta9G1340's other Motorcycle-related photo Collections.

the Megellis are here... the Megellis are here.

2010-04-03T21:02:00.000-07:00

Previously set to be distributed by Qlink... now Bennche (pronounced "Ben-chee" I think), the swoopy little Megellis are rolling out here and now in the U.S. at $3200 USD for the supermoto "M" model.

18 month unlimited mile warranty on the horribly expensive bits (crankshaft, piston, heads, cams). That sounds good - focusing on creating a reliable dealer network and a service-oriented approach is the right way to go.

Now for something completely stupid:
an INSANE, suicidal test ride in Bali.

click for video

Adolescents "Live in Fullerton 1982"

2010-02-27T05:26:00.000-08:00

click for video

on any sunday

2010-02-25T15:46:00.000-08:00

The one, the only.... Bruce Brown classic.

watch it at Hulu.com

V8 motorcycle

2010-02-23T14:30:00.001-08:00

A really cool history of the Moto Guzzi V8 Grand Prix bike of 1955.

But not, as the coverage suggests, the only "futuristic" V8 bike in history.

In fact you have to go back another 50 years to 1907 and Glenn Curtiss' horribly dangerous looking land speed record bike to find the first V8 motorcycle.

old drag bike

2010-02-19T17:46:00.000-08:00

Why have I never heard of this game show before?

Oh that's right... I don't have a TV.

G450X Bimmer

2010-02-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Touratech G450X Supermoto

Pieces to transform a BMW G450X.

Up close to a stock G450X, taking in it's lean, lithe form and intense detail of engineering - that's when I realized what this machine was about. Seeing it in the window of a dealership near Wall Street one night last Fall, I was transfixed. I imagined what it would be like as a Supermoto.

Imagination no longer necessary.

(The 2010 enduro is 49 state legal, on and off road... just add rims and tires and a big disk, baby.)

sometimes you want to go "cage"

2010-01-30T22:02:00.000-08:00

breaking from my normal bike-centric neanderthal routine, I'm having a temporary fascination with Road Whales.

Little Euro road whales, cool and fun looking and extremely fuel efficient.

I like these things. But they are "truck bait" in America with all the bloated over-sized hardware rolling the interstates.

None of these are available in the U.S.

stupid

Wheelhome' Skamper (Fiat Fiorino)

Romahome

Joey (Renault Kangoo mini-camper)

li'l campers

Recession... what recession?

2010-01-19T12:41:00.000-08:00

The results for the recent Mid America motorcycle auction in Las Vegas are interesting.

Some people couldn't bear to part with their precious at any price.

But someone snagged a late 70s XR750 for a cool $17K, and there was plenty of under-$8K semi-old iron that moved, so not all the reserve prices were up in the stratosphere.

Seeing what DIDN'T meet reserve, that gorgeous Harley Peashooter that sold for $25.5K seems like a steal.

new unpronounceable domain name

2010-01-18T07:32:00.000-08:00

All the old motorcycle-icious.blogspot.com links still work - they forward to this new domain motorcyclicio.us.

Remember the movie That Thing You Do, how the band wanted to name themselves "The Oneders" (pronounced "ONE-ders"... Wonders). Except everyone mispronounced it as The "oh-NEE-ders."

Yeah. It's sorta like that.

Oh well.

Free motorcycle museum

2010-01-15T07:09:00.000-08:00

Kiehl's New York
109 Third Avenue
Between 13th & 14th Streets
New York, NY 10003

My girlfriend likes to go to Kiehl's sometimes to get chick stuff - you know: lotions and crap. I don't mind her being a "slow-eee" shopper when we're there because they have antique motorcycles on display (which I always obsess over).

They are a small part of the owner's collection.

I noticed on the placard for an old Indian that it was owned by Steve McQueen. It also mentioned that it is never ridden, which I thought was sad. Steve McQueen was a rider. To him, the thought of putting a bike in a glass case would probably make him itchy - wanting to take a hammer to the glass and bust it free. Maybe even hacksaw off a fender or two... scab on a bash plate and sail it over some whoops in the Mojave desert. Oh yes.

Old bikes are for riding. The awesome clowns at motorcycle cannonball -dot- com are doing just that, god bless their crazy little hearts. In September they will be riding pre-1916 motorcycles across the country. The "Wyman Cup" is named in honor of George Wyman and his cross country ride of 1903. That was the very first time anyone went coast to coast on a motor bike, and motor bikes at the time were more like mopeds of today. Mr. Wyman had to follow railroad tracks for much of his journey - there were no interstate highways, there weren't many major roads.

and now... pictures of old bikes at jurassic racing -dot- com:

Mobiky x 2

2010-01-14T16:50:00.000-08:00

First the Genius model, now the MY16 with bigger 16" wheels. The top of the line model has an 8-speed Shimano Nexus hub.

click for video

I like the ability to pop on and off the subway with a small footprint and no fuss. Why are these not readily available in the U.S. ?

a tough tracker for foppish fancy lads

2010-01-14T12:40:00.000-08:00

This Deus tracker with a surfboard rack (???!!).

I guess riding a badass tracker isn't enough cred. You gotta be headed for the beach to get in some surfing too. If that ain't enough, you can grow a full beard and smoke unfiltered Camels... start dating Supermodels. Whatever it takes.

Yeah, I'd lose the surfboard rack. The rest is about as simple and perfect as you get.

Spotted at Smith+Butler, a Brooklyn "biker chic" store for refined and dandy gentleman in Boerum Hill. Or is that Cobble Hill?

errr... Carroll Gardens?

I dunno. Somewhere above my pay grade is all I know. Check it out if you got the scratch.

and now for some very non-foppish, non-dandy action. The real deal:

click above pix to see the vids

you know: for the kids

2010-01-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

click for video

My sister sent me a video of a kid, not yet 2 years old, riding a motorcycle. Youtube has a bunch of videos of kids on OSET trials bikes - they are electric powered and pretty damn awesome.

The video above is of a highly skilled child, but if you go through the youtube archive you'll find some nutter children doing dangerous things. Some o' them parents need to invest in moto-x armor and full face helmets for their DangerFreak larvae.

wheelmen, saddle up

2010-01-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

It seems to me that using 6061 aluminum plate is a genius design decision for the Comoto by Hirsch design. Being primarily a bolt-together affair it should translate well to scalability of manufacturing, allowing for economical low production runs.

It looks mean too... if a bike don't look tough, what's the point? This one's got looks. It's just ASKING for a badass paint job. I'm thinking Metalflake with a naked Aztec princess on an alter on the side panels.

At 118 pounds total weight and a 40MPH+ top speed, it is essentially a fast bike with no cranks. Municipalities will have to get on track with defining new categories of rules governing the many different types of electric motorcycles and bicycle-hybrids. Are they bicycles? Are they motorcycles? Is the defining factor weight or speed?

The "New Normal" points to a flood in the market of 3rd-gen cheap knockoffs of e-bikes and e-motos in a few years. At least that's what I'm hoping for: a two-wheel electrified bike renaissance not unlike the original "wheelman" bicycle phenomena of the 1880s.

And for those who say that a no-crank bike is for the lazy and weak... you obviously have never jumped a full sized motorcycle up or down a curb or ridden a dirt bike down a flight of concrete steps. Moto-ing is hard work.

I'd like to try some of these under-200-pound machines on the streets (and sidewalks and concrete steps) of NYC.

via gizmag

2010-01-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

Yes. I do Love motorcycles and minimalism.

Yuji Nakae

Via Apartment Therapy

Moped 4 Life

2010-01-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

click for video

Works Engineering / Brand X 2009 motorcycle picture gallery

2009-08-23T15:31:00.000-07:00

The spread of machinery at the 14th street vintage bike block party in Greenpoint was pretty f*ckin epic.

Just so's you know - Brooklyn rules.

Dig the iron:

click for big picture gallery

this is BAD ASS!

2009-08-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

click for video

Enicycle via Core77 via DVICE via gizmodo

how to ride a Honda CRF450

2009-08-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

click for video

This looks like a whole load o fun.

Kawasaki KX450F with Christini All-Wheel-Drive conversion

2009-08-19T21:41:00.000-07:00

Don Williams review at Ultimate Motorcycling of a Kawasaki KX450F with Christini All-Wheel-Drive conversion.

"When the KX450F was switched back to AWD, the bike easily and controllably topped the hill, making the rider wonder if an entirely different bike has been substituted. Quite simply, the difference in these sorts of situations (mudholes are another), the difference cannot be overstated. It's the difference between painless success and unqualified failure."

I sort of have an ongoing fetish for these Christini rigs.

Rise of the (chinese) machines - qlink motorcycles

2009-08-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows anything about bikes knows this: Bikes are all about sexy.

Power, handling, economy - whatever other reasons we have are all secondary. The bike has to look hot. And for those few super-perverse ones (like myself), a hot mess of duct tape, Krylon, rust and dirt looks pretty hot too.

One of the reasons why Chinese bikes have not taken off here is that most of them are styled like "sooo yesterday". Of course there are other reasons: limited dealer networks, bad reliability reputation, etc.

But Fugliness is the maker-breaker factor. With Suzuki now having 2 factories in China, you can be sure that China's well-honed industrial espionage moles are in full swing. What they learn from the Japanese will likely help improve manufacturing and quality control throughout the sector.

Once they improve reliability on the higher-power 250cc class powerplants, and on up into the 400-600cc motors - we'll see a horrendous shakeup in the global motorcycle industry. China's motorcycle manufacturing capacity is greater than the whole rest of the world combined... by a LARGE margin. They are like the U.S. in 1946 on steroids.

Very soon, these non-ugly semi-knockoff-styled machines are hitting our shores.

As a bike lover, and cash-strapped consumer, I'm pretty stoked.

I, for one, welcome with open arms our new Manchu Overlords.

Qlink USA here

Now it's on. Chinese Motorcycles invade Bed Stuy Brooklyn

2009-08-09T03:38:00.000-07:00

These Bad Boys are showing up in Bed Stuy.

There are 2 dominant types of motorcycles in Bedford Stuyvesant: 1) sport bikes and 2) Enduros... specifically, KLR650 Kawasakis.

The Japanese Sport bikes are sometimes blinged out - polished and chromed, painted, aftermarket pipes... though many fly with stock setups.

The KLR650 seems to be the most popular bike here. Really the KLR650 should just be renamed "The official motorcycle of Bed Stuy". Last summer it seemed everyone-and-their-mother was blasting around on one of those big thumpers. Though I'm seeing a few more Honda XRs this summer and I have yet to spot a Suzuki DRZ400SM this year. Not sure what happened to those few DRZs that were wheelying around like crazy last year.

The real Leading Indicator bike spotting event was the 200cc Chinese Supermoto I saw on Malcom X Boulevard last night. The owner said he "imported it from New Jersey" - a beautiful little orange scoot with very little "sticker clutter" on the tank. The color was a little lighter and brighter than KTM orange... more plastic-ey looking. Reminded me of 1970's Chrysler muscle cars: over-the-top tones. Nicely done.

manufacturer's site: here

...annnnnd you can buy them on the Internet. Though I recommend finding a dealer (for ANY bike).

At $2299.00, they might just be the most affordable little city bikes available. At that price, I expect a lot more to be appearing in the hood.

A good starter bike. You know: for the kids. Light and nimble... for avoiding those ubiquitous always-reckless-and-speeding Car Service taxis that infest the streets of Brooklyn like roaches at a Crack House.

The Ching Chong Super Lucky Dragon Motorbike and Sliding Door Manufacture Technology Co., Ltd.

2009-08-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

click for big gallery of Chinese bikes n' stuff

My girlfriend got me this Made in China biker flask from Pearl River Mart. Them Chinese make all kinds of stuff.

All motorcycle images from made-in-china.com

i love The Onion

2009-08-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

Wow, Check Out That Motorcycle Revving!

electric motorcycles

2009-06-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

eROCKIT

I like this funky looking thing. But I think "Handcrafted in Berlin" is code for "will cost an arm and a leg".

Electric motorbikes seem to be everywhere. I've started to see some funky chinese moped-like things delivering Thai and Chinese food around Manhattan and Broolyn.

Now that the 1st annual TTXGP (zero emissions motorbike race) at the Isle of Man is over (written up perfectly here in the L.A. Times) and with development happening everywhere at once, we'll probably start to see "right sizing" of pricing structures for some mass produced Factory models out of Asia.

People are doing stuff in their own garages, both Yamaha and Honda are rolling out e-bikes in the next 24 months, parts are readily available for DIY projects and there are plenty of on-line guides.

It looks like the Golden Age of Electric Motorcycles has begun.

warm sun, shiny bikes

2009-04-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

click for more pictures

My friend Shawn went to Willow Springs last weekend. He sent me some pictures.

All-Wheel-Drive Honda CRF250 on sale... Hellz Yesss. meh.

2009-04-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

I want one i want one i want one i want one.

Christini is having a sale on their CRF250 Frame Kits. The Christini AWD Tax Return Stimulus Sale: $750 off plus free shipping. ($3250 US)

You ship them your bare frame and (in their words) "We’ll return to you a Brand New Pre-Assembled Christini AWD Frame kit complete with Custom Talon Hub, Billet Triple-Clamps, New Tank, White Plastics and Christini Graphics"

SOUNDS LIKE A DEAL TO ME! Now, all I need is a ski mask and a gun...

...and I am there Baby.

More info HERE.

great sales pitch

2009-02-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

The cynical voice inside me says that the commercial for Harley's new "Iron 883" was imagineered by a group of Ruthless corporate Marketing Flacks leveraging the latest obvious trends and targeting young hipster-ific types.

But I'm jaded.

No matter. The bike looks good and the clearest most effective part of the pitch is at the end: $7899 in a big bold white font. Nice. That's all I need to know.

click for video

Russian High-Tech Low-Tech

2009-02-07T07:49:00.000-08:00

Russians have a knack for designing and building good usable machinery.

Check out these oldie-looking Ural side-hacks. The Patrol, Gear-Up and limited edition Sahara models have on-demand two wheel drive: flipping a lever powers the sidecar wheel.

click for slideshow

Their site has all the details.
There's even a page of awesome/retarded flash animation commercials.

This one is my favorite. (Warning: the cartoon's folksy Hillbilly music might get stuck in your head and cause depression. It might drive you to the edge... you know: suicide or bowling.)

Here's another.

oldie but goodie - turbo bike shenanigans

2009-02-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

This video clip of a 500bhp Suzuki Hayabusa Turbo Motorcycle has been on the Global Interwebs for a few years. It's still one of the best videos ever recorded of unacceptable behavior on a public highway. Scary and exciting to watch no matter how many times I see it. Freakin Great.

click image to see video

funky good supercharged motorcycle

2009-02-03T19:40:00.000-08:00

otto nero posted this beauty:

A nicely crafted cafe racer - Jawa single mated to a separate gearbox and supercharged too.

What I found particularly appealing is the single-sided swingarm with what looks to be a drum brake with a hydraulic line going into it. Crazy cool.

simple winter project

2009-01-31T18:54:00.000-08:00

OR IS IT?

The (lack of) braking power on my 70's vintage Suzuki GT550 scares me. I could get all obsessive and trick - swap the entire front end with something modern, but I'm lazy. The easiest, cheapest way to add stopping power: add a second caliper and rotor on the left side from another model of the same period.

A used GT750 caliper (and rotor) from eBay. Clean and mount it up. Will it go smooth, or turn into a total pig-fuck? Stay tuned.

click for larger view

modern caveman paintings

2009-01-26T22:08:00.000-08:00

click for more pictures
cheesy Photoshop mashups of pix scabbed off the Interwebs is good snow-day fun.

wow

2009-01-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

On Southsiders MC' blog HERE,
something wonderful, old and good.

AWESOME Flickr Photoset

2009-01-24T14:49:00.000-08:00

Click for Slide Show
El Caganer's "Las Vegas Antique Motorcycle Auction" Photoset on Flickr. Super good.

Open Thumbnail Page in a new tab/window.
View Slideshow in a new tab/window.

El Caganer's other Motorcycle-related photo Collections.

iron fist. velvet glove.

2009-01-23T08:13:00.000-08:00

click for more pictures
One fine looking RD350 and one tough mother of a T500.
(The Cafe Racer Magazine booth - the last of my pictures from the Javits Center last week.)

Ride Free

2009-01-21T21:42:00.000-08:00

The Reincarnation of Rollie Free

Snow motorcycles

2009-01-21T15:22:00.000-08:00

Waiting for spring, looking out the window at the snow. What I need is a SNOW-BIKE.

Out of China, the Snow Runner (pictured above). Probably not in North America yet.

An American company in Idaho, 2Moto, manufactures bolt-on kits for your dirtbike they call the Radix. As proof of its strength (and their own insanity) they mounted one on a turbocharged 650 Husaberg. Nice.

The concept goes back to the late 70s with the Chrysler Snorunner.

There's also the ready-to-run Snow Hawk, available in adult and child sizes.

And there's the Explorer track kit from AD Boivin Mfg.

NONE of them in my front yard. All I got is snow.

non ass-ey chinese motorcycles

2009-01-21T14:32:00.000-08:00

Foraging through the bountiful treasure trove known as the Global Interwebs, I found some chinese bikes that don't look like ass.
This tough-looking beast from Hi Bird tops the list. A 250cc Dual Sport pumping out 30hp. A bit porky at 300 pounds, maybe due to the weight of an electric starter. But the 5 gallon plastic fuel tank is the deal breaker - that will never pass DOT regs.

(more bikes below) --- Click the pix to see larger images ---

What's this? A blatant rip-off of the Sachs MadAss perhaps? Except with rims, handlebars and USD forks all pimped out in gold. It's a ghetto fantasy moped from some factory in China.

Everyone (as in every Japanese company) is fielding a 250cc Supermoto this year. Of course the Chinese will respond to any dominant trend. This particular one comes in a horny color scheme and a Space Age name to boot: the Apollo Orion Supermoto... available sometime, somewhere, somehow, or maybe not.

New sporting single... or vaporware? 500cc, 50 hp, 370 lb, EPA and CARB certified. The picture looks good. Yeah, i like the picture. Does it exist?

Motorcycle or Scooter? This stylish red thing appears to be a motorcycle. The shape is motorcycle-ey. A CVT automatic tranny, 300cc motor and 90 MPH top speed look promising. But WhatTHUHhellIZzit? It's sort of a mystery.

Side-valve boxer motors and drum brakes. What is old is new again.
I REALLY love these 45 inch (like that? I called 'em 45 inchers) knock offs of decades-old designs. Take your pick - with or without side hack.

Will these become available in the U.S.? Will dealer networks supporting chinese imports grow here? Will our current recession/depression kill, help or hurt the chinese bike market? Which brands (factories) will begin to gain a reputation for quality and reliability, if any?

Is China the Sleeping Giant of the motor vehicle industry as some claim?

I guess we wait and see.

cute dainty little turbo bikes

2009-01-19T22:40:00.000-08:00

Who is Yuji Ochiai?

Apparently he's some dude in Tokyo who builds turbo bikes.

Not your average Euro-American style mega bikes. In Japan 400cc 4-cylinder and 250cc twins must be more common because his company Metal Speed Inc appears to have turned a bunch of them into forced induction mini hyper bikes.

Poke around his site a bit and you'll find a Kawasaki 1100 twin turbo beastie.

Crazy.

As Yuji so succinctly puts it: "Turbo is NO.1!"

Damn right, baby.

Got Mid-life-crisis?

2009-01-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

click for more pictures
Well then. This will cure your ills when a suitcase full of Viagra and Roofies fall short. The 2009 V-Max.

Even guys like me, who aren't into the whole "Boulevard Cruiser" muscle-bike thing, give a nod of respect to the balls-out insanity of such machines.

210 horsepower? TWO-hundred-ten... HOLYJEEZZUZGAWD!

Thank you Yanaha. I'm sure your attorneys are NOT pleased.

Yeah, I can picture myself aboard a V-Max with a broadsword slung on my back... wandering the post apocalypse urban wastelands - foraging for food and slaying vampire-zombies in my spare time.

What? It could happen.

what gear am i in?

2009-01-19T08:32:00.000-08:00

click for more pictures

Back in the day when I was a wee lad still shooting blanks I rode a dinky little 60cc Yamaha JT1. It had a "4 down" shift pattern with the neutral at the end. Sometimes when cutting fast through a tight turn, I'd downshift at the apex and goose the throttle only to be greeted with the engine freewheeling and screaming in neutral. Being leaned over for the turn, the bike would swiftly thud sideways down onto the dirt. Oops.

In the early 70s, Suzuki started putting high tech red LED gear indicators on their street bikes. They used a rotary switch attached to the end of the shift drum

Nowadays gear indicators require microchips and sophisticated algorithms to calculate what gear you're in based on "gear position signals" or road speed/engine speed calculations. This is what is known as "progress" - you need a tiny thumb-sized computer to figure out what a 50-cent switch used to do.

In any case. They are certainly a lot brighter than the hair-thin 7-segment LED display on my old GT550 smoker.

Various models from various manufacturers for various bikes. don't be an assclown and get the wrong one.

The Gipro unit has some "Timing Retard Eliminator" feature that is supposed to make certain bikes run better.

Acumen DG8 at acumen-electronics.co.uk
Acumen DG8 at gear-indicator.com
Datatool Digi at www.datatool.co.uk
Datatool Digi at kneedraggers.com
GiPro
God's own unit from RB Racing.

the blower, man!

2009-01-18T16:40:00.000-08:00

click for more pictures (and a Road Test video!)
"Look at the blower! She's meanness put to music, and the bitch is born to run."

I can not believe I have never heard of these cats before today. TTS Performance in the UK specialize in integrating Rotrex centrifugal superchargers with cars and motorcycles. Belt-driven superchargers: forced induction just the way god meant it to be.

They have kits. For motorcycles. Supercharger kits.

They cost anywhere from £2,000 to £5,000 for a complete kit. There are kits for the Triumph Speed Triple and Rocket-3, BMW 1150, various Jap 4-bangers and Harley-Buells.

Centrifugal blowers allegedly have a very smooth power delivery. Though I don't know how smooth 200 horsepower can ever feel as it runs through the one little tire patch of a motorbike. Clearly, further investigation is warranted.

Someone... get one of these. Now.

Go for it. What are you? Chicken?

TTS has more info HERE and HERE.
Z1000 ride report at 2 Wheel Forum.
TES Performance GSX1400 Streetfighter picture gallery.
and a PDF article of the same GSX1400 from Streetfighters Magazine.

green machine

2009-01-17T21:51:00.000-08:00

click for more pictures

My favorite of the current crop of '09 bikes - the Kawasaki Versys.

It's beautiful in green. Gorgeous. Down for anything "Swiss Army knife" of a bike.

not a motorcycle

2009-01-17T19:01:00.000-08:00

click for video

But CLEARLY, just as much fun as one. The video should be titled "how to ride like a completely self-absorbed twat".

Yeah, totally looks like a blast, and a great way to get around. Especially for subway-enhanced cities.

The Mobiky Genius.

triplet smoker fetish

2009-01-17T14:19:00.000-08:00

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There ain't nothing like a triple with castor bean oil in it's DNA.

poor defenseless BMW gets molested at Javits Center

2009-01-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

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I like this beautifully fugly Beemer - their "entry level" parallel twin.
Dudes were pawing at it like it was a chick on Roofies.

Motorcycle Outsourcing

2009-01-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

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I don't think I'm being an asshole when I say, "Chinese motorcycles are ugly as sin."

BECAUSE THEY ARE UGLY (with a few exceptions - the QLINK XF200 Supermoto is in the not-ugly category).

So let's say you get a designed-in-the-U.S. > built-in-China thing going.

Enter Johnny Pag.

I'm not a big fan of factory built cruisers, which is what they've been selling for a while. but this new Sport model is pretty damn sweet.

They put the same twin cylinder 300cc motor in it, but give it a naked/streetfighter-ey treatment: Black everywhere, wave rotors, pipe-under-seat... you know the drill.

The big 'ol electric fans behind the blocky radiator look a bit kludgy, but I like that kind of kludgy. Makes it look tough.

I'm betting it's a kick-ass funtastic around-town ride.

The bikes are assembled in China by 8-year-old chinese girls. (okay I made that part up.)

Oh yeah, MSRP is $3,399... dollars... AMERICAN dollars.

They should give these away free with Happy Meals at McDonalds. The girl version could be painted pink with a Hello Kitty tank badge.

Hey Johnny, do it up with 17 inch wheels. Or an 18" on the back too. Do it. do it.

do it.

2 wheel drive motorcycles: obtainable unobtanium

2009-01-16T22:41:00.000-08:00

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Two wheel drive. I've been hearing about this sort of thing for years.

There's the utilitarian Rokon sporting the same design for a half century. Ian Drysdale's experiment (his site has a lot of clear information on AWD technologies.) Rumors of a production KTM that remained a rumor.

Same goes for Yamaha. Rumors, prototypes... no production.

Leave it up to some Philly boys to put their money where their mouth is.

Christini Technologies has something to sell you. Not vapor. Actual hardware.

They had a Gas Gas 2 stroke dirtbike on display at the Javits Center today. And a KTM supermoto too.

Both badass.

It will be interesting to see how these things do in terms of reliability. We'll find out soon, as Roland Sands has a Christini AWD-enabled Super Single running in Cali right now. Yes that's right - a road racer.

So if you already have one of the models of Honda/KTM/GasGas that they've already tooled up for, another $4,000 to $4,600 will get you a tricky ass 2 wheel drive version.

Call them up. They're real nice guys. And by "nice guys" i mean: waaaay into bikes.

Go ahead. All the cool kids are doing it.

supermotos rock

2009-01-15T10:25:00.000-08:00

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...even big bloatacious ones like this KTM.

Long travel suspension turns the WORST roads into the MOST fun.

They're pretty much good for most tasks - can turn a mundane commute across town into "race-boy fantasy camp". I wouldn't recommend riding one from L.A. to Chicago in 2 days, but I know it's possible. (Done it ONCE... never again.)

The XR650 in the above Slideshow was my daily ride for years. These days, factories all over the world are churning out this style of bike.

That's progress, baby.

There is a ~~recession~~ depression going on... You could maybe hit up eBay Motors and buy a used one or roll-your-own on the cheap. All it takes is buying a dual-sport/enduro, getting 17" rims laced on and mounting a big rotor and caliper offset bracket.

Maximum fun - Minimum outlay of cash.

sweet hacktastically compelling RD

2009-01-14T10:34:00.000-08:00

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You might be saying "what the f*ck are you thinking, man?"

After all, It's not your typical super-finely-detailed Special. In fact there doesn't seem to be anything special about it at all.

Look at it. It's COOL!

Seems nearly stock, with the money put where it does the most good - old School fork brace, piggyback reservoir shocks, expansion chambers.

Random, eclectic styling: Yellow tank with a lowered badge, weird pastel fenders (undercoat?) with stickers plastered on, a single bar-end mirror (keep it legal), red fork brace, black side panel with the number "4" on it... "8" would've been cooler.

Pure Genius. It would be TOTALLY at home trolling the Forbidden Zone with the Toe Cutter and his gang, thumbing it's nose at "The Bronze".

Seriously... I'm not being facetious here. I love this bike. It's badass.

P.S. - In the future, I might post pix of bikes that actually have chrome and billet on them... maybe.