The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Motorcycle Horsepower Wars – Are they back?

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While I was perusing the new Yamaha models yesterday, I noticed something we haven't seen for some time, ... horsepower numbers. Right there among all of the other specs were clearly stated horsepower figures, FJR1300 at 145 hp, FZ1 at 150, R1 at 183, pretty interesting stuff. When Kawasaki released their new models, those numbers were missing but with the ZX-14, for instance, … [Read more...]

2006 Yamaha FJR1300 AE – electric shift

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The big Yamaha FJR series has always been a very nice bike, lots of folks swear these are the best sport touring machines out there. This year, Yamaha has a nice high tech touch available on the FJR1300 AE model, electric shift five speed transmission, there's no clutch lever. You shift with paddles on the left grip or with your left foot. I bet that would take a few minutes to … [Read more...]

2006 Yamaha R6

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Yamaha brought out all of their new 2006 models, among them, the 2006 Yamaha R6. We don't see the need to review each model every company brings out, they have whole websites for that, but we like to highlight a few distinctive features here and there. The feature about the R6 you've probably heard about is the redline, 17,500 rpm. That is one amazing redline. It used to be the … [Read more...]

Motorcycle powered Isetta and Messerschmitt

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We've given a lot of attention to the Smartuki here but there were some early motorcycle powered cars with interesting designs, too. The BMW Isetta and Messerschmitt KR were around in the 1950's and early 1960's. Long out of production, Tritech, a company in the U.K., started making replacement parts so owners could keep them on the road and restore their former glory. After a … [Read more...]

Kawasaki adds to contingency program

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Kawasaki has announced their 2006 contingency program: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., (KMC) recently announced that the all-new 2006 NINJA® 650R and NINJA® ZXâ„¢-14 will be included as eligible models in the Team Greenâ„¢ 2006 Race Rewards Program. Effective January 1, 2006, Kawasaki is increasing payouts at major road racing events across the country, including Superbike … [Read more...]