yesterday at the annual Brooklyn Bastille Day celebration they thew a new twist into the mix. a collection of vintage Solex bikes. Okay, they may look like someone bolted a sewing machine to the front wheel of a ghetto bike, and sure walking may be faster, they’re fascinating pieces of machinery. If I had been a little more sober I may have begged a test ride.
Archive for the 'gearhead' Category
250 MPH Bugatti Veyron
I’m having a hard time telling if he’s dragging on those slow turns, or has really good balance.
Absolutely brilliant.
so… rumor has it that my BMW F800GS has been delayed till $%#%* September.
Looks like I may have to do like these guys and improvise…
via Xavier
watched this (again) and this, attended this, saw then placed an order for…
Engine: Water-cooled, 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, four valves per cylinder, two overhead camshafts, dry sump lubrication
Capacity: 798 cc
Rated output: 63 kW (85 hp) at 7,500 rpm (optional 91 RON version: 61 kW (83 hp) at 7,500 rpm)
Max. torque: 83 Nm at 5,750 rpm (optional 91 RON version: 81 Nm at 5,750 rpm)
Emission control: Closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter, emission standard EU-3
Tyre, front / rear: 90/90 - 21 54V / 150/70 - 17 69V
Wheelbase: 1,578 mm
Brake, front: Twin disc, floating brake discs, diameter 300 mm, double-piston floating calipers
Brake, rear: Single disc, diameter 265 mm, single-piston floating caliper
ABS: Optional extra: BMW Motorrad ABS (can be switched off)
Seat height: 880 mm (low seat: 850 mm)
Inner leg curve: 1,940 mm (low seat: 1,900 mm)
Dry weight 1): 185 kg
Unladen weight, road ready, fully fuelled 2): 207 kg
Usable tank volume : 16,0 l
Solid preview of the bike is available over at Mike Werners place
Yet another reason to love Ewan McGregor. As if Long Way Round and Shallow Grave weren’t enough.
Ewan McGregor said he is sick of Britain’s “ludicrous nanny state” rules, which he said might force him to quit the country, in an interview to be published Tuesday.
Health and safety regulations were becoming “insane”, the 36-year-old film star told the weekly Radio Times magazine.
The Scottish actor, who played the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the most recent Star Wars trilogy, blasted the rise of security cameras and London’s congestion charge, which forces drivers to pay to enter the city centre.
McGregor recently completed a 15,000-mile (24,000-kilometre) motorcycle adventure, riding the length of Africa with best friend and fellow actor Charley Boorman.
“Our trip opened my eyes to how insane the rules are in Britain — CCTV cameras everywhere, congestion charge — a ludicrous nanny state.
Personally I can’t wait till Long Way Down
Must resist urge to break things…
…
In the West Midlands, the owner of The Staffordshire Knot pub was fined even though he could prove himself innocent of speeding. Stephen Gittus, 39, parked his Kia outside of his establishment on the date and time that a notice he received in the mail claimed his car was hurtling through Wolverhampton at 40 MPH in a 30 MPH zone on Willenhall Road. Several witnesses confirmed that Gittus was playing darts in a crowd of thirty patrons at around 10pm on the date in question.
Last Tuesday, however, Wolverhampton Magistrates Court dropped the speeding charge but did not care that Gittus was innocent. Instead, they imposed three license demerit points and a £420 (US $840) fine on him for “failing to supply information to police” regarding the ticket. Section 172 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act requires motorists to identify the driver of a vehicle accused of speeding, even if the vehicle in question was parked at the time.
on a Jetpack?
it’s only $155,000
and sometimes the bear gets you…
(may be a bit slow to load, but it’s worth it)
I’m not sure which is worse, that someone invented this USB hub, or that I want one…
stolen from Bikes in the Fastlane
so Mayor Bloomie wants to start charging drivers $8 a day to enter (what everyone in brooklyn calls) the city (manhattan below 96th street). while i generally don’t think that this it’s the .gov’s job, i would like to propose a modest compromise that may help to ease congestion. bring back the motorcycle (and scooter for you hip kids) parking. it works pretty damn good in italia, and even frogland (or at least it did until the commies of paris started cracking down on 2 wheelers and implemented, suprise suprise, congestion taxes for the cages).
