Car of the Year 2016
02/12/2016. Category: Wheels. Topic: cars.
The Car of the Year (COTY) choices made by the different magazines and organizations are always interesting. This year, 2016, the results were as surprising as the outcome of United States presidential elections if only that the odds on the predictions were long.
There are many different classes for which awards were made, included Small Cars, Electric Cars, Executive Cars, Sports cars, MPVs and SUVs. But here we’ll look at Car of the Year, usually chosen on top of the classes.
Read more…Toyota Hilux moose test
31/10/2016. Category: Wheels. Topic: cars.
This is fantastic material for conspiracist.
After losing WWII, the Japanese devised a cunning long-term plan to destroy their old enemy, the Allies. Over decades they crafted cute little cars and pickups that crept into the hearts of the Americans and Europeans. The Toyota Camry and Corolla, Hondas and Nissans have consistently featured well in the rankings of top car sales charts.
With the unsuspecting Americans and Europeans tightly enclosed behind the locked doors of their cute little imports the Empire struck back. Read more…
New Triumph Bonneville T100 vs T120
04/10/2016. Category: Wheels. Topic: motorcycles, Triumph.
Triumph expanded their award-winning Bonneville range with the launch of the new Bonneville T100 at the Intermot 2016 motorcycle show in Cologne, Germany.
At only 11 kg (24 lbs) lighter than the T120 the new T100 is not quite a baby T120; they share the same chassis. In fact, the official specifications report the T100 wheelbase at 5 mm (0.2 in) longer. The T100 seat also is 5 mm higher than the 785 mm (30.9 inches) stated for the the T120.
Looking at pictures and videos, it’s hard to tell the difference. The T100 looks every bit as good as the T120. Read more…
Honda X-ADV adventure scooter launch set for EICMA 2016
15/09/2016. Category: Wheels. Topic: Honda, motorcycles.
One of the most important vehicles in the modern motorcycle world is to be launched at EICMA in November 2016.
Honda first showed the X-ADV as the “City Adventure concept” alongside the new CRF1000L Africa Twin at EICMA 2015 as a foreshadow of “a new development direction for adventure-focused machines.”
The teaser videos are titled “Your horizons are going to change forever” and “Every road is my road.” And that seems like a promise the world has eagerly been waiting for.
Read more…Science behind remarkable new Wall of Death motorcycle world record
27/04/2016. Category: Wheels. Topic: motorcycles.
By Hugh Hunt, Reader in Engineering Dynamics and Vibration, University of Cambridge.
The Wall of Death has been the most enigmatic dare-devil motorbike stunt for more than 100 years. Motorcyclists ride around the inside of a vertical wall, rather like a huge barrel, at speeds of around 48 km/h (30mph). Most Wall of Death “drums” are about 10 metres (32 feet) in diameter.
There is a Wall of Death near Cambridge, UK, run by Ken Fox. He was approached by NorthOne Television to assist in a mad project to set the world speed record for a motorcycle ride around the wall. The stunt was performed live on Channel 4 television on 29 March 2016 – and I was lucky enough to be right there, as a consultant engineer for the show. Read more…
Buying a personal jet is a matter of clear thinking
12/03/2016. Category: Wheels. Topic: aircraft.
Put your modesty aside for a minute. You wouldn’t mind owning a very light personal jet, would you? Imagine taking a quick trip to Las Vegas without first having to stand in sweaty queues at the airport and then getting a seat next to your not-so-favourite kind of person. You just get on and go. Quickly.
Imagine the response of your friends when you invite them along. Imagine the respect. Read more…
Getting rich kids to school quickly
01/03/2016. Category: Wheels. Topic: cars.
You’re a good parent. You also are stinking rich and spoil your kids rotten. It’s only obvious that you want your seedlings to get to school comfortably, stylishly and quickly.
Fortunately, you have many options. But you also have to compete with the Joneses who refuse to be outdone when it comes to chauffeured four-door transport. Among them, they already use a Porsche Canamera, Maserati Qutroporte, Ferrari FF, E63 AMG S, BMW M5, Audi RS7, Cadillac CTS-V and Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.
How can you take the cake? Read more…
The motorcycle mechanic and the heart surgeon
26/02/2016. Category: Wheels. Topic: lol, motorcycles.
A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the engine of a motorcycle when he spotted a well-known heart surgeon in his shop. “Hey, Doc, can I ask you a question?”
The surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to the mechanic working on the motorcycle.
The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, “So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take the valves out, fix ’em, put ’em back in, and when I finish, it works just like new. So how come I get such a small salary and you get the really big bucks when you and I are doing basically the same work?” Read more…
Early Xmas for motorcycle fanatics
26/11/2015. Category: Wheels. Topic: motorcycles.
It is early Xmas in 2015 for motorcycle fanatics with the introduction of more than 50 new models.
Some of the motorcycles were long rumoured, others were total surprises. Some will be available by Xmas but most are scheduled for release in 2016.
The biggest surprise was the Yamaha MT-10, basically a naked R1, with the same chassis, swingarm, suspension and electronics as the YZF-R1S – but slightly re-tuned for more mid-range oomph. It is an impressive-looking machine. Read more…
Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Specs
24/07/2015. Category: Wheels. Topic: Honda, motorcycles.
“Survivor, champion, icon. The Africa Twin was designed to withstand thousands of miles of desert and dirt – now it’s returning to do it all over again.”
“It’s been a long wait. But—trust us—it’s worth it. The all-new Honda Africa Twin is the machine that will let you wander wherever your adventures take you. The 998cc parallel twin uses Honda’s exclusive four-valve Unicam® cylinder-head design for smooth, tractable power. Offered with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a new DCT transmission with selectable on- and off-road modes.” Read more…