The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Victory Vision 800cc parallel twin automatic concept

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Polaris, well known for ATVs and their Victory cruiser line, came to the Long Beach motorcycle show loaded with something a bit outside their usual lineup. Taking an 800cc parallel twin from an ATV, they built the Vision, a concept bike that looks like nothing I've ever seen. The bike uses a CVT type transmission and shaft drive on a single sided swingarm. There are no foot … [Read more...]

Rapid prototypes

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Rapid prototyping is a relatively new engineering process where some very interesting work is going on. The fab labs we spoke of earlier do rapid prototyping using printers that build up 3 dimensional objects, one thin layer at a time. Some of the objects they build can't really be made any other way but one of the things you couldn't do with the process was build anything that … [Read more...]

We Need More Energy – but not THAT energy!

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Next time you're standing at the gas pump feeling your wallet flatten, your might think finding more oil would be one way to help lower those prices a bit. Keeping those dollars in the hands of folks a little more friendly wouldn't be a bad idea either, not to mention the economic benefits and everyone being a little better off. I know I've had those thoughts and when I see a … [Read more...]

What Is Motorcycle News?

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"Motorcycle accident claims life of rider." "Motorcycle group raises money for children." Well, that about sums it up. Those two topics make up about, oh, I don't know, maybe 90 percent or more of motorcycle news in the main stream press. Throw in the occasional, "Local man builds custom choppers." and the press is pretty well finished. Job done, let's move on. The … [Read more...]

Ducati Monster Challenge again

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Once again the Ducati Monster Challenge is on to find the coolest Monster in North America. It follows the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show around from city to city but doesn't appear in every one. Two of the challenges are already over and the third will take place this weekend in Long Beach, California. There seems to be two different types of competitor, one is … [Read more...]

Norton Motorcycles – great old name, fulfilling new dreams?

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We received an email from Paul Gaudio, Director of Design and Development for Norton Motorcycles, clarifying their reasons for bringing back the Norton name instead of starting anew. We previously commented on the number of old marques, both auto and motorcycle, coming back to life after the original companies had gone out of business. We made the point it appeared to often be … [Read more...]