Cult of Dualsport

Nice roundup of electric motorcycles

Popular Mechanics has a buyer's guide for plug-in bikes. I've blogged about the Quantya, Brammo and Zero, but there are a few others here that I haven't heard of. Like the Ultra Motor A2B Metro below, which is cool but clearly not offroad capable ... well, not in my hands, anyway!

When it comes to electric propulsion, motorcycle companies are way ahead of carmakers. While electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf are still in the development phase, there are around a dozen credible e-bikes on sale today that offer a lot more than just green credentials: near-silent operation, running costs that amount to pennies per week, low insurance rates, little maintenance and uniquely fun performance.

d3o armor in Klim Adventure Rally Gear

Awhile back I was salivating over a pair of Klim offroad pants. Today I found the d3o Labs site.

d3o is an Intelligent Shock Absorbing material containing intelligent molecules that flow freely when moving slowly, but on shock lock together to absorb impact energy.

Check their FAQ page for more, and their product page where I saw the new Klim Adventure Rally Gear.

The team at Klim have spent the last 2 years developing the Adventure Rally Gear, which is possibly one of the most technically advanced products now on the market. Technical features include GORE-TEX fabrics including high performance GORE-TEX® SUPERFABRIC®, & LOCK-OUT™ closures; a fully integrated harness system; heat / abrasion resistant leather pannels in key locations; fully waterproof neck brace compatible collar; an integrated water baldder system and high capacity storage system. Last but by no means least is the inclusion of d3o™ intelligent shock absorption to the elbows, hips, knees, shoulders and back. All these features and the passion put into their making means this is truly phenomenal adventure riding gear.

Now this is a worthy addition to my armor research page.

Roost: Gizmag.

You are Iron Man ... or you could be if you wore this 'vastly more portable' suit!

My wife says she doesn't like Safeway. Maybe she'd like it better if she wore this. And maybe I could look like Iron Man if I wore this. Come to think of it, we could shop at Safeway together as The Iron Couple.

Seriously, though, I found this when reviewing my article on body armor -- which I'd like to update sometime soon. This product will not be featured, no matter what Universal Designs says:

Make no mistake, this is not a costume. As a ‘replica’ of what IRON MAN™ ‘wears’ this motorcycle suit has been brought to life with real world function and use…all the while paying tribute to the IRON MAN™ suit as seen on the big screen in all it’s glory.

For $1100, you too can wear this suit. If you dare. See ya at Safeway, dude!

Roost: Geekologie.

The $60,000 DIY flying motorcycle

Forget dual sport, multi-mode vehicles are here. I could see myself abandoning motorcycles for this -- if I had a pilot's license, which I don't. Samson Motorworks and DAR Corporation are collaborating on the project.

The photo below is the Switchblade, a 3-wheel, 2-seat, 150 MPH vehicle with retractable scissor wings. According to the web site, it can use the included 150 HP engine, or an "applicable motorcycle engine."

Roost: Instapundit and Scientific American.

Six inch drop

I'm getting ready to ride again, but I have a solution in search of a problem.

• The Ford Expedition I just bought needs a new ball mount for the hitch.
• The trailer requires a 6-inch drop.
• I have a hitch-mounted cargo carrier.

So, I was looking at this item, but it only has a 3.25-inch drop. I can't find anything similar with a 6-inch drop.

I could buy a ball mount with a 6-inch drop, and weld something like this to it:

But, as the first paragraph explains, this really isn't a problem. The obvious solution is just to buy a frickin' ball mount for $50 or less and call it good. Why am I obsessing about the cargo carrier AND the trailer when 99% of the time I'll just be using one or the other?

Please don't answer that.

Hand me that ultrasonic transwrench, will ya?

After posting about the new Ducati Multistrada 1200, I ran across this article about Robert Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) and modern man's inability to fix his own stuff.

'WE NEED a return to individual integrity, self-reliance and old-fashioned gumption," wrote Robert Pirsig in 1974's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. This seminal book is ostensibly about a motorcycle road trip but the narrative is primarily a framework for his philosophical reflections, centering on the view that modern "man is separated from what he does".

I used to do a lot of my own work, even though I'm not a mechanic. From rebuilding the top end of a 1980 Honda CB 650 to changing out the exhaust manifolds on a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder, I've done my share. These days, it's all I can do to change my own oil.

Hand me that cybernetic autocrowbar, eh?

Update: I didn't realize it at first, but Seventh Sanctum has quite a few "generators" for "random characters, plots, ideas, and more to use in your writing, games, art and more." It's where I got my Ultrasonic Transwrench. Hey, you didn't think that was real, did you?

Fued kills company producing six stroke engine

Well, this is sad. More on the story here, and an explanation of the six stroke engine here. It seems that the SixStroke.com web site is currently out of commission.

Motor racing legend Jack Brabham is among the parties embroiled in a Federal Court battle over multi-million-dollar engine technology invented in a South Australian farm shed.

The soured relationship between directors of the company established to market the technology has resulted in a civil action over alleged breaches of contract and subsequent cross-claims.

Federal Court Justice Jayne Jagot on Monday was told the revolutionary technology was valued at an estimated $US1.4 trillion ($A1.51 trillion).

It would replace the valve system of a conventional engine with an additional four overhead pistons, the court was told.

SA farmer and inventor Malcolm John Beare, 58, created the technology after 20 years of tinkering in the machinery shed of his property.

He built two prototypes of the engine, in a Yamaha and a Ducati motorcycle, his barrister Susan Gatford said.

Neck brace Q&A from Cycle News

Cycle News has a couple articles about the neck braces that have become so popular in recent years. Part I, and Part II. They're asking some good questions.

What is it that is compelling our industry to snatch up these pricey devices at an exponential rate? Will these devices really save our lives? Or are we merely buying into superstition in response to one of our greatest fears?

In this two-part in-depth feature, we set out to not only discuss, but scrutinize the different concepts of neck protection in the industry. We look into the background of the companies producing these systems, learn more about each one’s intended design, and investigate the research and development behind them.

In the second half, we’ll take it a step further and discuss the most common criticisms and greatest misconceptions about neck protection and spinal cord injuries. Do we fully understand what they are, as well as what they are not? Do we have realistic expectations as far as what they can and cannot protect us from? Are we wrapping our necks in a false sense of security? Are we in effect buying confidence off the shelf? What do we know other than what we’ve been told?

Liquid crystal tech for goggles and visors

Company AlphaMicron is adapting liquid crystal technology to a wide range of new products. I'll be on the lookout for goggles with this stuff! Ohio.com has a report:

AlphaMicron is already applying its product to rearview mirrors that automatically dim to reduce glare, as well as to ski goggles and motorcycle helmet visors that allow users to control the tint with a quick tap of a button near the temple.

From the AlphaMicron web site:

With the RA aftermarket motorcycle insert your helmet visor can adapt as fast as the lighting conditions change throughout your ride. Utilizing AlphaMicron's VALiD technology an aftermarket insert attaches directly to your existing visor. A small rechargeable electronics housing is attached to your visor, and with the connection of this housing to the insert your visor tint can be changed with the touch of a button.

This insert will be available summer/fall 2009. It is also currently being designed for several OEM helmet manufacturers.

Skiers and snowboarders constantly face the problem of changing light conditions on the hill. Until now, the answer has been to carry two pairs of goggles, or switch to the inferior protection of sunglasses, or struggle to see in flat light with a dark lens or squint when the sun comes out while you are wearing a high-contrast lens. The UVISION Magic™ puts an end to that with the touch of a button.

AlphaMicron pioneered a high-tech solution to a simple problem; state-of-the-art liquid crystal technology is applied to a double lens to produce a goggle that can instantly switch from a high-contrast lens ideal for flat light to a darker lens ideal for bright sun.

Dakar on a Sidecar

Perusing David's comprehensive motorcycle web index I found a link to Hog Wild Racing and their Harley V-Rod sidecar manufactured for Pike's Peak and Dakar. It's one hell of a story!

Based on a motocross racing sidecar. Overall dry weight of complete bike 800 pounds. Top Speed 103.2mph. Licensed street legal, California.
           
EML-Delta-Box MX Special (custom design & fab), upgraded to accept 2003 Harley-Davidson V-Rod (Revolution), 1130cc, V-Twin, fuel injected, water cooled, 5-Speed transmission, 110 Horsepower, 74 ft-Lb torque, stock belt drive converted to chain drive.

Wheels custom fabricated by Keizer Wheels, heat treated spun aluminum 6061-T6.

Fuel Tanks 13.5 Gallons total (51L). Main tank 5051 aluminum, 11.7 gallons, split into two independent tanks, each with it's own fuel pump, shutoff valves, and vents. Secondary 1.8 gallon tank under drivers seat.

Water Tanks 1.5 Gallons total (6L), mounted under main fuel tank, not visible.
   
Fully custom stainless steel 2 into 1 exhaust by Mark's Performance Products, Mark McDade.