The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Classic motorcycle books

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Book publishing these days is a pretty automated affair, they churn out titles by the thousands and if a title doesn't sell by the truckload, it's dropped from the list and thousands more are introduced. It's a shotgun method to locate a few good ones, but the audience for one of those books, even if it's excellent and due much respect, might not be large enough to create a … [Read more...]

Norton Shrike 3 wheeler

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Well as long as we're doing motorcycle powered 3 wheelers, here's the Norton Shrike. Built some time back in 1984 by Dave Norton, a mechanical design engineer who, after a friend's accident, decided to build something with safety as his priority. He drove this as a daily driver for several years until the original Yamaha 650 Maxim engine blew. It was restored recently but this … [Read more...]

Avon Tyres launches new “Viper” motorcycle tires

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Avon Tyres has a new line of motorcycle tires aimed at sport and supersport machines. From the Avon press release: Now available in North America for 2005, Viper builds upon the success of previous Avon ranges and offers a wider choice of sizes and a host of improved technologies. Viper Sport comprises 11 sizes: AV59 Front: 110/70R17, 120/60R17, 120/65R17, 120/70R17, & … [Read more...]

DIY motorcycle powered cars and more

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Back around 1975 or 1980, Mechanix Illustrated, Popular Mechanics and Home Mechanix magazines had loads of articles featuring the work of Robert Q. Riley. The articles centered around do it yourself motorized vehicles, often combining power from a small gasoline engine with electric batteries or, in some cases, powered by one or the other alone. The vehicle bodies were often … [Read more...]

Coors brewing ethanol from spilled beer

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With the price of gas on everyone's mind, lots of folks are looking for alternatives, like ethanol for instance. Nice idea, made out of corn or sugar or ... spilled beer? Yep. Over at Coors, they noticed a lot of spilled beer sloshing over the sides, according to this story, millions of gallons of spilled beer, so they decided they might put it to good use. They pipe it down to … [Read more...]