happy new readings: December 2010

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Yamaha FZ8

2011 Yamaha FZ8

The all-new FZ8 has a streetfighter attitude with sporkbike manners.

Have it all.

The all new 2011 Yamaha FZ8 is a do-it-all sportbike with amazing all around performance for both urban commando and the weekend canyon carver. And at 800cc it splits the difference between a 600 and liter-bike so you get light weight handling along with great torque... all in a stylish, upright package.

Combining sports bike performance and aggressive naked styling with all day riding comfort, the 2011 Yamaha is a special breed of motorcycle. The word practical pops to mind, but don't confuse practical with dull. Most riders can only afford one machine and the new 2011 FZ8 is worth a serious look. It delivers solid performance from its new 779cc inline-4 engine and excellent handling thanks to the Yamaha FZ1 inspired twin spar aluminum frame. And when it comes to comfort...

The motorcycle world is becoming more highly specialized by the day.

Special niche models are popping up everywhere. Unfortunately, most of us can only afford one bike. The new FZ8 is a brilliant "all-rounder" that brings fun, excitement and adrenalin to each and every ride. It is ready to slice its way through the "twisties", cruise the backroads in comfort and style or make that daily commute a bunch more enjoyable. Attitude, power, handling and style, the new FZ8 is the ultimate everyday sport bike.
Aggressive looks and aggressive character define the new Yamaha FZ8 – a high performance real world sports bike designed to deliver a shot of adrenaline every time you turn the key.
At the heart of the FZ8 is a flexible and powerful 779cc engine with instant drive and torque at low revs, and a trademark Yamaha rush of horsepower as you approach the red line. Light, easy handling and roomy ergonomics round out the ultimate everyday sports machine – and the optional ABS system makes hard braking safe, whatever the conditions.
The FZ8 is not a bike for beginners – it’s the naked sportsbike with true attitude and the power to back it up.

Yamaha FZ8

Yamaha sports bike

new Yamaha sports bike

2011 Yamaha sports bike

Yamaha FZ8 sports bike

Yamaha race bikes

2011 Yamaha FZ8

BMW HP2 Sports bikes

2011 BMW HP2 Sport

BMW HP2 Sport. Throttle up. Blast off.

With a staggering 130 horsepower, the HP 2 Sport features the most powerful Boxer engine ever designed by BMW Motorrad. For the first time ever, double overhead camshafts are included in our famous opposed twin cylinder motor, kicking out even more revs. Making the HP2 Sport even more track-ready is new Quickshifter technology, which means faster gear changes without having to chop the throttle or use the clutch. Add a fully adjustable Ohlins sport front and rear suspension, Radial mounted Brembo Monobloc brakes, a lightweight carbon fiber aerodynamic fairing, not to mention forged racing wheels and tires and a MotoGP-inspired cockpit that computes lap times and other racing data, and the result is one of the most advanced sport bikes to ever scorch the tarmac.

Outstanding race results are inexorably linked with BMW Motorrad’s flat twin “Boxer” models. So it is an obvious step to build a high-end version! The result is the BMW HP2 Sport: the uncompromising realisation of the 24-Hour Endurance racer as a road machine. 100 per cent motor racing genes, licensed for the road. An exclusive sports machine by BMW Motorrad for motor racing connoisseurs and 2-cylinder enthusiasts which puts racing expertise into serial production – with power and authenticity. With an incredible air/oil-cooled 98 kW (133 bhp) and 115 Nm – a unique performance for a serial production “Boxer”!

BMW HP2 Sports bikes

2011 BMW HP2 Sport Features
When BMW Motorrad presented the BMW HP2 Sport in autumn 2007, a dream came true for many boxer fans. Not only is the BMW HP2 Sport still the sportiest and most powerful series production flat twin of all time tailored to meet the needs of ambitious two-cylinder sports riders – its numerous exclusive details used up to now only in motorsports which entered series production for the first time on the HP2 Sport are truly fascinating.
Now BMW Motorrad is following up with the road-licensed “HP2 Sport Motorsport” special model.

The HP2 Sport achieved numerous successes in scores of races all over the world in the past 3 years, among other things with the BMW Motorrad Works Team in selected Endurance World Cup races. The racing boxer took part in renowned 24-hour classics such as Le Mans or Bol d'Or.

Like the factory machines the fairing, fuel tank, seat bench, front mudguard and engine spoiler are painted in the BMW Motorsport colours Alpine White, Lupine Blue metallic and Magma Red. The forged aluminium wheels are in Lupine Blue metallic at the front and Alpine White at the rear. In addition this exclusive special edition with the green and black start number areas on the seat body as well as the factory sticker set is visually very close to the successful BMW Motorrad Motorsport works motorcycle.

The HP2 Sport Motorsport has the same technical basis as the HP2 Sport launched in 2007. The flat twin engine equipped with double overhead camshafts and high-engine-speed capable cam followers used for valve operation delivers 98 kW (133 hp) at 8750 rpm. Maximum torque is 115 Nm at 6000 rpm, maximum engine speed being 9500 rpm.

The stainless steel exhaust system runs underneath the engine and generates the inimitable throaty boxer sound from a silencer which is aerodynamically well placed under the seat bench.

A further exclusive racing feature is the shift assistant in conjunction with the closely synchronised gearbox which permits fast upshifting without having to operate the clutch or stop accelerating. In order to reverse the shift pattern for motorracing if required, a respective substitution pressure sensor is available as an option.

The equipment and suspension of the BMW HP2 Sport Motorsport also features motorracing technology. The spring elements of the Öhlins sports suspension are fully adjustable and a Brembo braking system with radially bolted monoblock four-piston fixed callipers ensures optimum deceleration even in tough motorracing conditions.

Optimum ergonomics are ensured by the adjustable foot rest system, the cast aluminium adjustable handlebar ends as well as the radial-hand Magura instruments. The standard 2D dashboard, which stems directly from MotoGP racing, provides the rider with conventional information as well as with lap times and further motorsports relevant data.

Lightweight construction was a major factor in designing all components. This not only includes the self-supporting front fairing and the self-supporting rear made of carbon or the weight-optimised forged wheels, but also hidden details such as the lightweight generator used in motorsports.

With a dry weight of only 178 kilograms (199 kg fully fuelled according to the DIN norm), the BMW HP2 Sport Motorsport provides playful handling and great motorsports potential, be it on country roads or on the racetrack.

As an option BMW Motorrad offers ABS especially adapted for sports use. An additional pressure sensor in the front brake circuit permits more sensitive brake regulation and prevents the control unit from releasing the front brake too early when weight is taken off the rear wheel suddenly. The ABS can also be deactivated for racetrack use.

The HP2 Sport Motorsport is now available for order and limited to 400 units

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The 'Fish

We're off to Whitefish for the New Years weekend. Its always a good time and from the sounds of it there is a shit load of snow down there. There's always lots of people from the Lethbridge area down there so whether you're on the hill or drinking at the Bulldog, the Northern or the Bierstube, you're more then likely to run into someone you know. I'm heading down with a bunch of buddies and I'm hoping no one ends up in jail like before. I gotta feeling that things might get ugly though. I'll have my camera with me at all times so I'll make sure I get it all captured....well most of it, the legal stuff that is.

Here's a funny 'How to properly rock 80's gear' guide:

1980s headbands, fluoro outfits: what 80s fashion to wear on a ski holiday?

You have decided to go on an 1980s retro ski holiday, but what to wear? The 80s has such diverse fashion, so we will narrow it down to a more stable period of the decade. Imagine it is 1987 or 1988. From this picture below, which way would you dress? Left or right?

The correct answer is...

If you selected, the blue skier on the left you would probably be spotted as a big dag in the 80s or probably fairly normal in the 90s. However, the skier on right is the ultimate 80s fashion guru. So why is this?

1. Headband

The headband, like leg warmers, is another ultimate 1980s fashion item. It lasted most of the decade from Duran Duran at the start of the decade, right through to the end. This one is special because it is a replicatant of the Japanese Kamakaze head bands.

2. Cats Eye Mirror Glasses

Not just your regular mirror glasses, but these are 'Cats Eyes'. Mirror glasses were hard to wear because they were often too dark. In addition, your eyes dilated too far and often caught too much stray radiation. To solve these problems, the tinting was reduced at the center and they looked like cat's eyes.

3. Fluoro Suit

Perfect colour combination -pastels are too 'early 80s' to wear. Instead it is best to wear this yellow, red and green-ish suit. None of the colours should be too primary or dark, but this is the right combination.

What about evening wear?

After a hard day's skiing the next problem arises: what to wear with that late 80s fashion feel? Fluoro is fine on the ski fields, but it is 'so out' to wear fluoro or your ski suit at night. You will probably need to ditch the headband and sunglasses too. Since you will be skiing, it is safe to assume that it will be cold and you will need something warm. Around the world people call these woollen tops, jumpers, pullovers or sweaters. But even with so many terms, not one of them seems to probably describe these lovely garments...

Ski Bunnies...

Thanks for all the views! On December 27 I had over 500 visitors, 300 which were new to the blog. That's a new viewing record for the blog. Not that it means anything to you guys reading it, but it gives me more reason to keep doing it.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Triumph Daytona 675

2011 Triumph Daytona 675

Daytona 675. The class leading sports bike. Stunningly agile.

The best supersports bike in the world? Winner of Supertest's "King of Supersports" four years running. Designed for the race track, the Daytona 675 is the bike to beat on the road too. It’s the combination of outstanding handling and a storming three-cylinder engine. With 125PS and more torque than the competition, the Daytona 675 offers a truly exhilarating ride. With a lightweight and narrow chassis, fully-adjustable front and rear suspension it's composed on all surfaces while monobloc radial brake calipers deliver eye popping stopping power.

Triumph Daytona 675

A winner on the road and a winner on the racetrack, Triumph's groundbreaking Daytona 675
has set a new standard in the ultra-competitive supersport class.

Debuting the 675cc three-cylinder format in a sea of otherwise conformist 600cc fours, the
Daytona 675 has garnered a cabinet full of awards and accolades since being first introduced for the
2006 model year, including two Masterbike titles and an undefeated three Supertest titles. The Triumph has also proved successful in supersport racing around the world, winning national championships around the world and finishing fourth in the 2010 Supersport World Championship in the hands of the ParkinGO BE1 Racing team�fs Chaz Davies.

The latest specification Daytona 675 delivers 125PS at 12,600rpm with a class-leading 72Nm torque,
making the Triumph one of the most flattering sportsbikes to ride on both the road and track, and
endowing it with an addictive soundtrack only a triple can provide. The engine itself is an integral part
of the overall design, with the stacked gearbox allowing for a very compact powerplant that contributes to one of the lightest and most balanced supersport bikes on the market.

As you would expect from a class-leading sportsbike, the Daytona 675 is well equipped in the chassis
department too. The fully-adjustable 41mm inverted front forks and rear monoshock unit both benefit
from sophisticated high and low speed damping control, allowing riders to set their Daytona 675s up
for maximum accuracy while retaining a plush ride. Radially-mounted Nissin monobloc calipers give
outstanding levels of feedback and stopping power, while lightweight wheels keep unsprung mass
down and contribute to an agile motorcycle that changes direction in a heartbeat. To fully exploit the
Daytona 675�fs outstanding chassis, the bike rolls out of the factory wearing Pirelli�fs race-developed.

Triumph Daytona

Triumph Daytona

2011 Triumph Daytona 675 SE

The best supersport bike in the world or a class of its own? Designed for the racetrack, to compete with the best in the supersport class, Triumph’s Daytona 675 is the bike to beat on both road and track.

Winner of the 2009 Supertest ‘King of Supersports’ award (for the fourth time, no less) and MCN’s Sportsbike of the Year, the Daytona 675 delivers a killer blow with its combination of outstanding handling and a storming three-cylinder engine.
With the lightest and narrowest chassis in the class, the Daytona 675 delivers outstandingly agile and intuitive handling. Fully adjustable suspension front and rear, with separate adjustment for high and low speed compression damping, gives the Daytona 675 superb composure on all surfaces, while top-of-the-range monobloc radial brake calipers up front deliver eye popping stopping power.
But it is the engine that makes the Daytona 675 stand apart from the competition. With 126ps and more torque than the competition, the 675cc triple offers an exhilarating ride for novice and experienced riders alike. With its unique and wicked three-cylinder howl, the Daytona 675 delivers an unadulterated experience like no other sportsbike.
Updates for 2011 include new instruments, decals and a new Dayona 675SE option.

Honda Fury VT1300CX

2011 Honda Fury VT1300CX

The Look. The Sound. The Feel. The Fury.

We understand perfectly if you think your eyeballs are lying to you. Indeed, the 2011 Honda Fury VT1300CX appears to be something from the farthest fringes of the two-wheeled world. Yet it's a Honda, through and through. Here we have the rolling incarnation of the pure, undiluted chopper essence, a machine that simply looks right, sounds right and goes straight to the heart of radical enthusiasts. Yet despite the extreme lines and head-turning looks, the 2011 Honda Fury VT1300CX is backed up with the same fit and finish, functionality, affordability, quality and reliability built into every Honda. Who would have ever thought it possible?
Witness the Fury — hands down, the most distinctive custom Honda has ever created. Long, lean and mean, stretching nearly six feet from axle to axle, this machine literally screams with chopper style. And once you’ve saddled up and fired that big 1312cc V-twin, and felt its throbbing pulse beneath you, you’ll know you’ve experienced a motorcycle like none other. Ever.
A Masterpiece of Form and Function

Make no mistake, the Fury is all about the way it looks, sounds and feels—and the way all these sensations make you feel when you’re riding it. But like all Hondas, the Fury is also a showcase of engineering, boasting innovative features like Programmed Fuel Injection, custom-cast wheels, specially designed shaft drive, and, of course, that monster 1312cc V-twin. Call it the perfect marriage of style and substance

Honda Fury

Norton Commando 961

2011 Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer - Specifications
American MSRP: Model may not be available in the USA
Canadian MSRP: Model may not be available in Canada
United Kingdom MSRP: Price: £13,995 British Pounds (Price shown includes the 'On the Road' costs and VAT for the UK.)
Please note, the Commando 961 Cafe Racer and the Commando 961 Sport are currently only available in the U.K. and will be made available internationally to purchase from your nearest Norton dealer in the near future.

Frame
- Frame: Steel tubular with integral oil tank
- Swing arm: Twin-sided steel construction
- Wheelbase: 1420mm (55.9 in)
- Rake: 24.5 degrees
- Trail: 99mm (3.9 in)
- Front suspension: 43mm Ohlins USD - Adjustable preload, compression & rebound damping.
- Rear suspension: Ohlins reservoir-style twin shocks - Adjustable ride height, reload, compression and rebound
- Front wheel: 36 spoke 3.50 x 17” Black Rim
- Rear wheel: 40 spoke 5.0 x 17” Black Rim
- Front tyre: 120/70 x 17”
- Rear tyre: 180/55 x 17”
- Front wheel travel: 115mm (4.53 in)
- Rear wheel travel: 100mm (3.94 in)
Brakes & Hydraulics
- Front brakes: Full Brembo system, twin Brembo 320mm semi-floating hi
carbon stainless steel discs & Brembo 4 piston radial callipers
- Rear brakes: Full Brembo system, single Brembo 220mm disc, Brembo 2 piston “Gold Line” calliper
- Brembo front brake master cylinder, with integral reservoir
- Brembo hydraulic clutch master cylinder, with integral reservoir
- Brembo rear brake master cylinder
- Brembo hydraulic clutch actuation slave cylinder
- Gear box: constant mesh 5 speed
- Final drive: 525 “O” ring chain
- Clutch: Wet multi-plate hydraulic lifter
- Electric start
Transmission
- Gear box: constant mesh 5 speed
- Final drive: 525 “O” ring chain
- Clutch: Wet multi-plate
- Electric start Power Assembly
- Engine type: New engine developed by Norton and F1 engine builders, MCT of Oxfordshire, England. Parallel twin with push-rod valve actuation, dry sump, 3 bearing crank and balancer shaft.
- Displacement: 961cc
- Cooling system: Air
- Valve actuation: Push rod, 2 valves per cylinder
- Bore x stroke: 88mm x 79mm
- Compression ratio: 10.1:1
- Power: 80PS @ 6500RPM
- Torque: 90Nm @ 5200RPM
- Exhaust: Café Racer Sports Exhaust
- Ignition: Crank fired electronic
- Euro 3 compliant with electronic fuel injection and multiple 3 way catalytic converter
Electronics & Controls
- Charging system: 300 watt hi-output charging system
- Instrumentation: Norton electronic analogue speedo & tachometer