The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

They Don’t Build Motorcycles Like They Used To

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Do the best current motorcycles live up to the standards of old? Is a Honda or Harley in the dealer today, anything like those from years past? 20 years ago, the Edge Foundation gathered a group of thinkers and doers from a great many fields and each year asks a question of the assembled minds. The most recent question was “What have you changed your mind about?” As I … [Read more...]

3 Wheeler Motorcycle License Proposed in Colorado

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More 3 wheel vehicles, considered motorcycles for registration and licensing, is leading another state, Colorado, to propose a separate 3 wheeler license. Although sidecars have been around since the earliest years of motorcycling, the newer reverse trikes, like the Can-Am Spyder, are getting enough exposure that some are suggesting another category is necessary or at least … [Read more...]

Tata NANO – The Motorcycle Replacement

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Well, here it is, the Tata Nano, the People's Car we wrote about the other day. The fuel injected, all aluminum, 623 cc 2 cylinder engine puts out 33PS (about 32 horsepower) and drives the rear wheels. According to the press release below, it has crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorages plus lower pollution levels than two-wheelers being … [Read more...]

Tata Wants to Replace Motorcycles with a $2500 Car

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There's a fair amount of anticipation in advance of this week's introduction of the People's Car in India by Tata Motors. The major selling point is the $2500 price tag. It's certainly not going to be a luxury ride, we're talking very basic transportation here but the 600cc 4 seater could have a major impact on the motor vehicle market in India, perhaps in other countries, … [Read more...]

Gatsby Radial Engine Motorcycle by Paul Yang

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Jesse James and JRL Cycles built customs based around the Rotec 7 cylinder radial engine, now Paul Yang of IronGatsby Motorcycle has produced the Gatsby. I ran across this bike in the latest issue of Barnett's Magazine and according to the article, Yang has been working on this for 2 years so it sounds like these radial engine ideas popped up on the radar of some builders in a … [Read more...]