From the monthly archives:

May 2006

No sooner is the Piaggio MP3 3 wheeled scooter introduced and there is already talk of a 400cc version coming this winter. According to Piaggio’s marketing director in France, that’s coming along with a Gilera branded 3 wheeled scooter, too. The scooter world seems to be coming out with all sorts of developments, perhaps in [...]

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Yamaha Scooter Airbag

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 5/26/2006

in Motorcycle Business, Motorcycle Safety

First we had the Honda Gold Wing airbag, a motorcycle industry first, and now Yamaha has developed an airbag system for their ASV-3 research vehicle, a scooter based on the Maxam 250. (ASV – Advanced Safety Vehicle)
There is no mention of this feature being introduced in a production Yamaha of any sort, but if [...]

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Harley Davidson in Vietnam?

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 5/25/2006

in Economics and Politics, Motorcycle Business

Trade negotiations between the U.S. and Vietnam succeeded in lowering or eliminating the barriers for selling Harley Davidson motorcycles in Vietnam.
In addition to lifting an outright ban on large displacement motorcycles, Vietnam will adopt a basic and transparent motorcycle operators licensing system, relax distribution restrictions and reduce tariffs on heavyweight (650cc-plus engine displacement) motorcycles [...]

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Suzuki Hayabusa Police Interceptor

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 5/25/2006

in Alternative thinking, Motorcycle Safety

If you’re passing through Oklahoma and you think you can just speed through the state without any chance of getting run down from behind, think again. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has a little surprise for you, a Suzuki Hayabusa Police Interceptor, all nice and shiny and black and radar equipped. The OHP is set to [...]

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The World’s Fastest Indian DVD will be coming out June 13, 2006. It’s available now for preordering so you’ll be able to see it as soon as it’s released.
As often happens with movies like this, they get distributed to a limited number of theaters and though most of us would happily pay at the box [...]

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No Formula 1 for Valentino Rossi

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 5/24/2006

in Motorcycle Racing

After all of the speculation about Valentino Rossi jumping to Formula 1 due to his multiple tests with the Ferrari team, Rossi himself says no.
No Formula One, at least for the moment. I’m staying with bikes. … I will carry on racing in MotoGP for a while yet. … I believe my work in [...]

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The electric motorcycle guys over at Thunderstruck Motors have come up with this AC Motard powered by a 48 volt AC motor. It’s geared for 60mph, has dual disc brakes with regenerative braking and a seat height of 36 inches. Price is $6200.
If you’ve watched any videos of electric motorcycles, you can see the performance [...]

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Feet Forward Motorcycle Designs

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 5/24/2006

in Motor Vehicles, Motorcycle Design

A comment on The Kneeslider a couple of weeks ago from Ace King, points to his own site where he’s designing a “feet forward” or recumbent motorcycle powered by a Honda VF750. It’s an interesting design with double A-arm front suspension, a seat from an Acura, a GSX-R radiator, and a lot of unique pieces [...]

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