Wakan 100 Roadster Strada

The Roadster 100 is fitted with the same 1,640cc, 45-degree v-twin as all other Wakan machines, and it makes 115bhp at 6,250rpm and 156Nm of torque at 4,250rpm.
The Wakan Roadster 100’s tubular backbone chassis is made of chrome-molybdenum and uses the engine as a stressed member. The front fork is a 46mm USD Ceriani number, the rear shock is a ZF Sachs unit, the wheels are forged aluminium Marchesinis and the meaty swingarm is made of aluminium alloy. The bike weighs 177kg dry and claimed top speed is 250km/h.
The Roadster 100 is fitted with a single 340mm brake disc at the front, with six-piston AJP callipers, and the rear disc is 220mm. The bike rides on 17-inch wheels, shod with 180/55 (rear) and 120/70 Michelin Pilot Power rubber.

Ferrari motorcycle price US$300,000

The bike, which took 3,000 man-hours to build, was completed in 1995. Its 900cc, four-cylinder, DOHC engine is custom-built, and produces 105 horsepower at 8,800rpm – enough to propel the 172-kilo bike to a top speed of 265km/h.

Built by David Kay Engineering and bears frame and engine number SF-O1M. It’s the only real Ferrari motorcycle in the world and the ugliest, I would go for the new KTM any day of the week.

Oman Trip 2005

My last trip to Dibba was to attend the HOG Middleast event, I had to commute back and forth from Dubai totaling 800km in 3 days. The trip to Dibba and fourth in a car was quite dull, car travelling is dull and sensational, someone in a Porsche or a Ferrari might disagree, however dive me a motorcycle any time, 2 wheels rule! 4 wheels suck. Luckily I have done the trip to Oman – Khorfakan – Dibba  - Dubai in 2005 and for this occasion I have unearthed some pictures from this trip.

APC launches the airbag helmet for motorcyclists

 

Based in Barcelona, Spain, APC Systems have come out with an innovation that could well save some lives. The Spanish company has developed crash helmets that incorporate an airbag, increasing the level of crash protection for motorcyclists.
According to the company, a small, simple control box fitted on the motorcycle receives and processes data, which allows it to determine when a collision may be imminent. When this ‘black box’ figures out that the rider is about to crash, it relays a signal which inflates the crash helmet’s airbag in less than 15/100th of a second, increasing safety levels for the rider.
There are no cables or any other physical elements linking the rider to the bike – the black box works on its own, in a manner that’s completely unobtrusive. And when it inflates, the airbag provides protection to the rider’s neck and back, reducing the chances of severe injury. In the event of a crash, the airbag stabilizes the neck and protects the upper back, the benefits of which are obvious.
The APC helmet airbag is, apparently, only available in Spain right now, so we do hope it’ll also go on sale elsewhere in the world over the next few months.

Motorcycles Can Be Dangerous For Your Sex Life.

That's a bummer, I wonder if this is true?

We all know that motorcycles are dangerous. But for your sex life too? A study carried out by doctors in Japan has revealed men that ride motorcycles are at risk of impotence and urinary problems because the vibrations of the engine damage nerves in their penises. The survey of more than 230 motorcyclists who rode their bikes for about 3 hours every weekend found almost 70% had problems gaining an erection or emptying their bladders. The reasons: 1-motorcycle seat undue pressure on the perineum, that unknown area between the anus and the scrotum. The pressure can restrict blood flow. 2- vibrations from the engine caused a decrease in two growth hormones in the bladder and prostate related to bladder relaxation. I didn’t know that such a number of bikers had trouble getting one up.

Honda 2025 racer concept sketches...

Honda 2025 racer concept that takes things to a whole new level. Designed to participate in the (imaginary) Great Race of 2025, which will entail going around the world in all of 24 hours, the concept uses Honda’s expertise in automotive, marine, robotics, and jet technologies. Well, whatever… I would rather have the much-anticipated VFR1000.

Destination Fujairah

Telephone rings, wass up? Not much, feeling better? I guess! Well get on a plane and come to Fujairah for the HOG Rally tomorrow, we are a having tons of fun. Let me think it over. 3 Minutes later what the heck, booked the tickets, rented a car and I am on my way to the HOG Rally in Emirates. Accommodation is at the JAL Hotel, distance is 160km from Dubai, I will stay there till Sunday. Shame I don't have my Blitzy with me.

BMW Ad from 1965 really funny

BMW Bobber concept unveiled in Milan

 

With its flat-twin engine, 17-inch wheels, twin petal-type brake discs at front (with six-piston calipers), USD fork, Paralever single-sided swingarm, Ohlins rear suspension and gnarly styling that’s reminiscent of some 1960s scramblers, the Lo Rider is an engaging mix of old-world simplicity and new-age high-tech.

My twin daughters will start motocross!?

Here is the deal, I passed by Tristar to see their new set up and I was introduced to Mark who is running their MX department. I discovered that Mark trains kids and adults on MX riding on a closed circuit. Mark is South African and a motocross veteran, he has some excellent experience from the Paris-Dakar rally and is great with kids.

I asked the kids if they were up to it and it was a unanimous vote, yeah dad when do we start! My twin daughters are smitten with the motorcycle bug, since the age 4 they used to take a ride on daddy’s Harley. At 9 years old they are moving on to their own motorcycles, that's 6 years younger than their dad. Tristar service is great and the kids met Mark today, where they got to sit on the bikes and got their very own set of MX gloves. They will start off on an automatic 50cc KTM for 6 hours each, the cost for the training is 85KD per kids including the bikes. I am so excited to see the results, unfortunately neither Mum or Dad are allowed on the track for the first 4 hours, as we might add more confusion to the kids training.

Judge Bans Mongols Motorcycle Gang From Wearing Trademark Logo

I thought that was a joke, but they ain’t kidding in the land of the free.

LOS ANGELES —  A federal judge in Los Angeles has barred the Mongols motorcycle gang from wearing or distributing its trademarked logo after authorities arrested dozens of its members in six states.

U.S. District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper granted an injunction requested by prosecutors Wednesday that prohibits gang members, their family members and associates from wearing, licensing, selling or distributing the logo.

Cooper on Tuesday initially limited the order to just selling or distributing the logo.

At least 61 members were arrested under a racketeering indictment that accuses some of murder, attempted murder and drug sales.

MotoMorphic Hell Pig

When Victor Komunytsky and Jim davis decided to build the MotoMorphic JaFM, they had to sacrifice their small repair shop and their small business of selling motorcycles in order to put more time and effort into building their beauty. This prototype makes you think of a Respingo when you first see it. The monstrous 250 mm wheel is enough to make heads turn and bring you all the attention you ever wanted. An Aprilia Falco which was baptized as the hell’s pig was the guinea pig to test and try solutions as the tyre proved to be a problem. The next step was to build a multi tubular chassis and they chose an Ohlins fork, Brembo brakes and a couple of other things. The result was a beefy, all American, aggressive motorcycle that sure kept everyone at the motor shows gasping for breath.

The frame and swingarm are made of 6061-T6 tubing and
CNC machined billet 6061.
The lower spars are 5 inch, the uppers 4 inch,
and the frame head is 6 inch.
Gasoline is held in the frame, with a capacity of
approximately 6 1/2 US gallons.
The swingarm is 3 and 2 inch tubing and CNC subcomponents.
Ohlins forks, Penske shock, Brembo brake calipers and
rear mastercylinder, ISR front mastercylinder, Magura/PFM
clutch mastercylinder.
Stainless brake and clutch lines from Galfer.
Rotax V990 fuel injected one liter dual overhead cam
4 valve per cylinder liquid cooled V-twin engine with
a 6 speed transmission and dry oil sump.
The 4 inch diameter tank with hemispherical ends
on the left side of the bike is the oil tank.
First pass Dyno tune yielded 108 hp, 68 ft-lbs of torque.
Wheels and tires: Front 8 1/2 inch with a 250 tire, Rear
10 1/2 inch with a 300 tire; wheels 6061-T6 alloy drawn
and then CNC machined.

Jaguar "leaper" motorcycle

The bike is six feet long and cobbled together with parts from a 1,200cc Buell 97 S3 Thunderbolt that was bought off eBay. It can only reach speeds of 50 mph, but that makes it easier for bystanders to check out the meticulously sculpted fiberglass body that pay's tribute to Jaguar's official mascot. The finished product is a pretty spectacular piece of rolling art, so we think its dynamic shortcomings can be forgiven.
In my opinion its too fugly to look at and even worse to drive, I think its pointless.

Vin Diesel bikes from Lazareth in Babylon A.D.

French maker of high performance custom bikes. Lazareth was a good choice, as the motorcycles coming out of that shop already have a bit of a future post-apocalyptic look to them. Among the cool features are supercharged V-Twin engines, single-sided forks and swingarms, and on-board computers. Customs based on streetfighters are inherently cool in the sea of look-alike choppers and bobbers, so it's a refreshing change of pace to see these bikes featured on film. See video

Naked Aggression

So called naked bikes such as the B-Max and V-King, or was it the other way around? Have reinstated the concept of less clutter more power to the motorcycling world. OK the Monstro still holds a soft spot in my heart, but pales in comparison to the new Daemons on the Block. I would love to have the chance to test ride both bikes, however until that time. I though I would give you my own bike of choice.

Both bikes have been introduced as concept bikes, the B-King 6 years ago and the V-Max about the same. the V-Max is an evolution of the existing 25 years old V-Max. The B-King is a naked redesigned version of the Busa. From an engine stand point both have an excellent pedigree.

The V-Max 1985, was a breakthrough in motorcycling, yes that long back!

4-stroke, liquid cooled DOHC, 4-valve, V-four cylinder - 130 HP  - Weight 262kg. MSRP $6099. Price per HP= 46.9$ / weight to hp ratio 2.0

4 Stroke, 1679cc liquid-cooled 65° V-4, DOHC, 4 valves/cylinder - 190 HP - Weight 310kg. MSRP 16,900. Price per HP= 88.9$ / weight to hp ratio 1.6

V-Max, if  produced with 190 HP back in 1985 the cost would have been $8911, truth of the matter is, I expected the V-MAX 2009 to retail for $12,000. With a hefty price tag of $17,000, its entering the BMW - Harley - Ducati and other so called exotic bike league, putting it out of contention for the mass market. The V-MAX has not been announced in Kuwait yet and even if it does, the local dealer service record is not what will make people flock to buy the V-MAX, if lucky we will see a handful on the streets of Kuwait.

Enter the B-King much heralded in 2001 saw the light of day in 2008, the B-King is powered by the Hayabusa engine with 185HP with a dry weight of 235 KG not a light weight in comparison to others spots bike in its category.

The B-king is priced at 3200KD ($13,000)and if we apply the same calculation ratio as on the VMAX the number will read as follow

Price per HP= $70 /weight to hp ratio 1.2

Although on paper the B-King looks faster the V-MAX delivers 400cc more giving it that extra humph in torque to propel its deficit of 0.4 kg faster through the straight line.

The Suzuki dealer in Kuwait does not offer any warrantee on the bike, this is quite a disaster given you are paying 3200KD for a bike.

Conclusion I would buy neither bikes in Kuwait, the Suzuki for no warrantee and the Yamaha for its rapid depreciating value. Bottom line your money would be better spend on a V-ROD, BMW or Ducati. At least you will get your money worth in terms of warrantee, service and resale value.

Second verdict, if I am residing State side or Europe, I would definitely vote for the V-MAX, given its pedigree and followers there will be enough custom parts to keep you happy.

2009 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR

I am sure most of you have already heard about the latest Fireblade motorcycle from Honda, the one with ABS.All else in the 2009 version are the same as the 2008 model. Honda’s principles of minimalization continues with the Fireblade CBR1000RR new motorcycle. 2008’s new light weight 4 clyinder 16 valve engine, 175 bhp power at 12000 rpm, 84 lb ft torque and six speed are all there

My Projects in Kuwait 2004-2008

Its been 4 years now, I have been driving Harleys in Kuwait throughout which my wife and I have owned a total of 6. My wife started off with a 2002 Sportster then progressed to a 2004 Sportster to settle on a 2000 Nightrain which was totally built form the ground up and dubbed El Super Beasto.I started off by a Heritage 2000 (Hellraiser II), Bought a 2006 Touring (Acrimony) my least favorite and now proud owner of a 2002 super modified Nightrain (Blitz Bomber) Blitzy for short. In between I helped built a friends bike a 2006 Heritage. I you are wondering why I name my bikes, simply is to get my theme flowing, the name of the bike sets the direction of the project, research and parts to deliver on a holistic concept. In a nutshell all the bikes you see below share the same frame and engine, except the Touring model. As you can see there are no limits to what you can create. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but I learned the hard way, that cost is always difficult to control. Therefore its time to stop all customization and concentrate more on driving, these will be the only 2 Harleys, I will keep in my garage for the next 10 years, I hope.

 

    

Yamaha to launch FJR 1400 in 2009?

If you ask me on what is my favorite sports touring bike, I would say with a blink of eye the Yamaha FJ. I had the pleasure of owning one back in 1989 while I was in Europe. I had the FJ for a year and boy I tell you this  bike is built to rack up the miles. I used to drive down to Hamburg from Herning a round trip of 700KM in one day. The FJ was happy cruising at 180km/h all day, blasting on the autobahn with speeds up to 240. The seat was super comfortable and the riding position just right for 6 hours straight in the saddle. Now Yamaha is planning the 4th iteration of the FJ. After introducing the FJ1100 in 1984, with an air cooled in line four engine, the FJ progressed throughout the years till its current form, making one if not the best selling GT bike in Europe. The 1400 version would commemorate 25 years of FJ that is close to the Honda Goldwing.

FJ1100	FJ1200 (My Baby)
FJ1300AE (Electric Shifter)	FJ1400 (Proposed Rendering)

History of Bobbers

There's nothing cooler than a vintage bobber. But let's be honest -- vintage bikes are a pain in the rear. They break down, they leak oil, they need constant babying, and they don't actually perform all that well. What if you could get the cool look of a vintage bike, but with the comfort and convenience of a thoroughly modern motorcycle? This an intro written by about motorcycles to present the Harley Crossbones, sounds like a great pitch to me.

Back to basics
A lot of riders out there have zero notions of what is categorized  as  bobber and what's the big deal about them.

At the end of World War II, Army surplus motorcycles provided cheap transportation for many American veterans upon their return to US soil. The vets gathered together into motorcycle clubs, seeking the camaraderie of shared experience that they missed from their combat days. Former aviators applied some of the lessons they learned from keeping their planes in the air, and stripped their bikes of extraneous metal parts to lighten their loads, make them faster and more efficient. The resulting motorcycles are known as "bobbers" or "bob jobs," distinguished by their truncated rear and tiny front fenders, bucking the then-current trends. Bobbers evolved into choppers, which emphasize more styling elements like raked front forks and other extreme elements. The bobber was all about riding, and getting the most out of your bike by taking off everything extra. The cool looks were a bonus!

Enter Blitz Bomber
The Biltz Bomber builds on the concepts described above, with more power and less clutter. I was sold on the Crossbones, however my financial advisor (My Wife) asked why not build it! And that what I exactly did. Although Harley might provide customers with a so called Bobber look, the Crossbones remains an assembly line bike that will set me back a few thousand of dollars in extensive mods.

Muhannad's close call

Motorcycles are classified as dangerous, not due to the driver ability, but due to the lack of respect from other motor vehicles we share the road with. Adding insult to injury is that the rise in the number of intoxicated drivers on the streets of Kuwait is multiplying at an  alarming rate. Although a lot of efforts is being exerted by MOI to curb the number of drivers operating their cars under the influence, facts still remains that a lot of them are still out there and posing a threat to others. Night riding accentuates the level of danger when riding a bike, of course week ends are probably the worst. What really strikes me is that a major campaign was launched against the use of mobiles in cars, nearly forgotten by now. However the intoxication problem is never tackled as it is considered immoral and no one wants to admit that there is an alcohol and drug problem in Kuwait. So until someone wakes up and smell the coffee, here are some tips for night riding.

A bike is not a truck: a lot of us tend to think we own the road, due the nature of our physic or state of mind , well I got news for you . You are neither at best you are soft target that no one notices.

Reflectors: you need them, there are always blind bats out there, wear reflectors on the back, that will help tell others that you are a human.

Helmet & protective gear, yes you need them, if its too hot for you, don't go out, road rash can be very painful.

Stick to the middle lane, by far this is the best option, you are not obstructing so called Shumachers wanna be  on the left lane, nor are you a target for amateur Indian drivers on the right.

Use your mirrors at all times, check and double check, you never know when the phantom drivers are inches behind you, saving on their battery or trying to act cool.

Drive in groups, its always safer, driver tend to notice large number of bikes and steer away from trouble, as they think we will beat them up for no reason.

If you are on deserted dark strip of road use the flashers, although its against driving regulation, who cares your life is more important.

Keep it cool, don't pick arguments with cars, they are cars and one swerve can send you into a three month hospital stay.

Stay safe and read about Muhannads close call on his blog. Link