2009 Infineon Raceway AFM Race - Crystal Platt - Turn 10 Crash
Crystal Platt - Turn 10 (I)
Photographers are warned in every photo meeting about the dangers of shooting on the outside of turn 10. This sequence highlights the danger.
2010 Ducati Hypermotard 796 Announced
2010 Ducati Hypermotard 796
The day I nearly lost my leg
It was 1980. It was late on a Summer Saturday afternoon. I was 20 years old, full of the dumbass fearlessness that so often accompanies youth. I was riding a 1969 Harley Shovelhead. I accelerated quickly from an intersection on a busy main drag, leaving the rest of the cars behind. I wasn't racing, but I was moving along faster than the rest of traffic. I wasn't wearing a helmet—this was long before California eliminated that choice.
9 New Models for 2010 - 2010 Harley Davidson Models Announced
Here are the highlights from the 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle model line-up announcement on July 25, 2009. The announcement includes 9 new models—here is a list of the 9 new models:
FLHTCUSE CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide
2010 Harley-Davidson CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide
The CVO™ Ultra Classic® Electra Glide® is a limited-production motorcycle for the discerning touring rider that combines custom paint, a potent powertrain and a well-chosen array of top-line accessories.
The CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide is built on the innovative Touring chassis introduced by Harley-Davidson in 2009, based on a single-spar, rigid backbone frame and a stout swingarm developed to withstand the demands of long-haul touring riders and today's more-powerful engines.
2009 Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide - First Ride
Photo by Kevin Wing.
The 2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide, part of the 2009 Harley-Davidson Touring lineup is new from the ground up.
This lean and mean bagger features a lowered rear suspension and a smoked mini-wind screen. There are attractive styling features on the Street Glide, and the Black Pearl bike I rode looked great.
2009 FLHX Street Glide features
- New 2-1-2 exhaust system
- New engine isolation system
- New Isolated Drive System
- New Black Slotted Disc cast aluminum wheels, 17" front and 16" rear
- New Dunlop 407 tires, 130/80-17 front and 180/65-16 rear
- GTX hard saddlebags with color matched latches
- Optional ABS brakes - $795
- 40-watt Harman/Kardon audio system with CD/AM/FM/WB/MP3
Flossie, the Castrol robotic motorcycle rider...
Flossie, the Castrol robotic motorcycle 'rider'...: Photo courtesy of and copyright by Castrol
The uber-techs at Castrol have been hard at work perfecting a bad-ass robotic test "rider". Well, it doesn't really ride, but it can sit atop the motorcycle and do all the throttle, clutch, and shift actions that a human rider does.
Among the many stated benefits:
- Flossie can be fitted onto any bike or scooter for testing on a chassis dynamometer.
- Flossie can act like a new rider, learning how to operate all the controls, gaining proficiency over time.
- Flossie will perform the same gear change or the same acceleration time after time.
- Flossie doesn't get tired or saddle sore
- Flossie doesn’t mind the excruciating noise of the bike in the chamber as its engine screams away
- Flossie doesn't worry about riding in extremes of temperature
- And, most importantly, Flossie is a safe rider
(Source: Castrol)
Of course, I think this is complete bull. Castrol engineers built Flossie because it was just a wickedly-cool looking 'bot!
Here's a short YouTube video showing Flossie in action and one of the techs giving background details...
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