The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Motorcycle Magazines Having Distributor Problems

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A bit of behind the scenes business news you may have missed is the current battle between a couple of major magazine distributors and magazine publishers. Anderson News and Source Interlink distribute something like 50% of the magazines to the newsstands like Wal-Mart and Barnes and Noble for single copy sales. The distributors wanted to raise their delivery price 7 cents per … [Read more...]

Cyclone Green Revolution External Combustion Engine

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Problem: Conventional engines and new tech engines need fuel to run, often a very specific type, but some fuels are in short or easily interrupted supply and often very expensive or they need a totally new not yet installed, supply infrastructure. Solution: External combustion engines can run on an extremely wide range of fuels, whatever is available, they are true multi fuel … [Read more...]

World’s Fastest Production Electric Motorcycle – 2010 Mission One from Mission Motors

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Just unveiled at the TED2009 conference, the Mission One from Mission Motors, a hi-tech California startup company, building what is about to be the world's fastest production electric motorcycle. How fast? 150 mph. Range? 150 miles. Torque? 100 foot pounds, instantly available whether you're standing still or cruising at 60 mph, no gears, just roll it on ... I think the game … [Read more...]

Ellwood Hybrid – Single Cylinder Reed Valve Intercooled 4 Stroke Engine

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All sorts of interesting custom bikes and engine projects are coming out of Sweden all of a sudden, or at least, I'm just coming across them, and John Ellwood thought we might like to see one more, it's his Ellwood Hybrid, a single cylinder, 4 stroke with reed valves, from a 2 stroke, mounted on the crankcase directing the crankcase pressure to charge the intake twice per power … [Read more...]

Hard Miles – The Iron Butt Rally

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The Iron Butt Rally is something you may have heard of but, like many riders, you may not be familiar with the details. The name makes it obvious you'll be riding one helluva long distance but, other than that, what's involved? When I got a note from Dean Tanji (himself a competitor) about a film he had produced covering the last Iron Butt in 2007 (it's run every 2 years), I … [Read more...]

Wesll 4 Wheel Leaning Suspension System

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Tilting 3 wheelers are getting to be old hat, after Piaggio introduced the MP3, there was a flurry of attention and activity related to the technology and it looks like it works very well. Now both manufacturers and homebuilders are turning out their own versions and there seems to be a ready market. So, yesterday, I get an email from Thomas Melcher of Wesll Corporation with a … [Read more...]