The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

$3,000,000 car

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For those of you on your computers now and not watching the live Barrett Jackson auction on Speed TV, you missed seeing a 1954 Oldsmobile F88 concept car go for $3,000,000. That's $1,000,000 higher than their record sale in a prior auction. Prices this year are nuts. … [Read more...]

Secure keys cracked

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Just yesterday I posted the link to the lock picking championship and said that since mechanical locks were so vulnerable, electronic keys would be much more necessary. Today, we find out the code to those keys has been cracked. Graduate students at Johns Hopkins University have come up with a system, using off the shelf computer equipment and some home brewed software, that … [Read more...]

Proton makes a move on Ducati

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Proton, sponsors of the Kenny Roberts MotoGP team and controlling interest in MV Agusta, recently made a bid to buy into Ducati. They have abandoned those plans and intend instead to concentrate on growing their other motorcycle brands. They are the biggest carmaker in SE Asia and are planning to use the Agusta brand on various car models. This should be interesting. Thanks to … [Read more...]

Technical illustrations

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Sometimes when we read an article about the latest motorcycle we look at the illustrations to better understand what the words are all about. It's easy to breeze right over the skill involved in putting the illustration itself together so it's accurate and artistic. Jim Hatch is one of those guys putting out great work, you've probably seen an illustration or two by him in … [Read more...]

Motorcycle sales up

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A story in USA Today covers the rising sales of motorcycles in the U.S. in 2004, the best year since 1979. Although total sales were up there has been some slowing toward year end and unsold inventories at Harley Davidson are up. The average age of buyers is also rising which may reflect the rising prices of many motorcycles, especially custom cruisers which are often way up … [Read more...]

Chilly weather

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I just mentioned four days ago that the temperature hit 70 degrees. Right now it's in the low teens and heading for 0. I doubt I'll be seeing any bikes out in the next day or so. … [Read more...]