From the monthly archives:

August 2005

Computer Concept Cars and Motorcycles

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 8/25/2005

in Motorcycle Design

Every day there are more amazing examples of what can be done in the computer before tools and metal meet for the first time. The finished computer concepts can be so photorealistic that unless you look really closely, and sometimes not even then, the computer image is undetectable from the real thing. When I recently [...]

What happens when a car stalls in traffic on a busy highway? Instant traffic jam, naturally, but how does the tow truck get to the car if the highway is filled with cars? Suppose you had a small agile vehicle like a motorcycle that could also tow the car from where it was stuck? Enter [...]

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High gas prices – China fuel shortage

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 8/23/2005

in China

OK, I’m smiling. One of the reasons for high gas prices is huge worldwide demand, no small part being the Chinese demand from all of the new drivers in that booming economy. Why shouldn’t they drive, gas is cheap in their government controlled world so just buy a car and cruise, right? Looks like reality [...]

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Ducati North America Hall of Fame

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 8/23/2005

in Motorcycle Business

Ducati North America has created the North American Ducati Hall of Fame for those individuals who have made the greatest contribution to the Ducati brand. The first three inductees are Doug Polen, Eraldo Ferracci and Bruce Meyers.
Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North America said, “Since being purchased by TPG in 1996, DNA has been established [...]

Classic Bike auction

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 8/22/2005

in Motorcycle Business, Vintage Motorcycles, Workshop & Tools

This classic bike auction looks like a nice one. It’s an estate sale for a fellow that just kept buying and collecting, he never seemed to sell anything. Over 130 great vintage and classic motorcycles just as he left them, lots of parts, too. There’s also old cars and tools, it’s the kind of auction [...]

Nicky Hayden to be featured on TV

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 8/22/2005

in Down Time, Motorcycle Racing, Motorcycle Shows

Nicky Hayden, along with brothers Tommy and Roger will be featured on the “Jeep World of Adventure Sports” on NBC at 2:30 pm eastern time on August 27th. It will look back on the U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.
via MotoGP web site

You can find turbos and superchargers for most of the Japanese bikes these days but I haven’t seen much for Italian bikes. Koehler, a German company, makes this Moto Guzzi supercharger and it looks really nice. Of course, the Guzzi V-twin is mounted transverse in the frame so a blower just fits in so neatly. [...]

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Pantera Dragster

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 8/20/2005

in Motorcycle Builders, Motorcycle Design

When I mentioned extended swingarms the other day, I asked why the V-twin chopper guys weren’t doing more of it instead of all of the long fork, radical rake designs we see. I saw the Pantera Dragster before but never really looked very closely. I just noticed an ad for it again and the long [...]

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