Road Princess

I just love the blast of adrenaline of dirt bike racing - I mean it’s totally radical! I just love watching bikes fly off big humps on the race tracks. It has been my passion ever since I bought a motocross bike. I’ve been practicing too and joined minor events in our community. It is a fun-filled activity that tests your endurance, skill and determination - definitely the game for extremists!

As my passion unfolds through different events, I’ve been dreaming of a motocross bike that someday I will call my own and drive it down the dirt tracks and fly! One of the best bikes that amaze me is the Honda CRF-450R. This bike has won for five consecutive years as the Cycle World’s Bike of the Year since 2001. This super light dirt bike has a great handling and is very responsive.

If you’re not aware of this cool dirt bike, here are some of the specifications which I got last night from Honda’s website along with my research about Honda AEM cam gears and the Honda cold air intake.

ENGINE

• Engine Type: 449cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke
• Bore and Stroke: 96.0mm x 62.1mm
• Compression Ratio: 12.0:1
• Valve Train Unicam; four-valve
• Carburetion Keihin: 40mm flat-slide
• Ignition CD with electronic advance

DRIVE TRAIN:

• Transmission Close-ratio five-speed
• Final Drive #520 chain; 13T/48T

CHASSIS, SUSPENSION, and BRAKES:

• Front Suspension: 47mm inverted Showa cartridge fork with 16-position rebound- and 16-position compression-damping adjustability; 12.4-inch travel
• Rear Suspension: Pro-Link Showa single shock with spring-preload, 17-position rebound-damping adjustability, and compression-damping adjustment separated into low speed (13 positions) and high-speed (3.5 turns); 12.5-inch travel
• Front Brakes: Single 240mm disc with twin-piston caliper
• Rear Brakes: Single 240mm disc
• Front Tire: 80/100-21
• Rear Tire: 100/90-19

DIMENSIONS:

• Rake 26.79 degrees
• Trail 109.4mm: (4.3 inches)
• Wheelbase: 58.7 inches
• Seat Height: 37.6 inches
• Ground Clearance: 13.4 inches
• Dry Weight: 218.5 pounds
• Fuel Capacity: 1.9 gallons

OTHERS:

• Available Colors: Red
• Model ID: CRF450R

In the auto industry, you can find here different body styles such as sedan, coupe, convertible, SUV, crossover SUV, pickup truck, minivan and the likes. These are used to indicate in what form a car will be marketed. The same is used in the world of two-wheeled speed machines - the motorcycles. Types of motorcycles include the cruiser, sports bike, touring, naked bike, feet-forward bike, scooter, moped, off-road bikes, farm bike, Derny, and towing. Of all of these types, the one that I fancy the most is the naked bike type. Let me fill you in on the background of this motorcycle body type.

When Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati introduced the Monster in 1993, a new bike style started. With the Monster’s sports bike-like looks but with the engine and frame fully exposed, it became the first naked bike. And of course, the Monster became, for me, the naked monster.

According to its manufacturer which is known for producing motorcycles which can outrun Volvos even if they are equipped with high performance Volvo engine parts, the Monster is the choice of prominent celebrities like Formula One drivers and Hollywood stars. Currently, the Ducati Monster has the lowest set height of any Ducati units making it one of the most comfortable bikes to ride in. I think it is even more comfortable than sitting inside a BMW equipped with BMW struts.

According to this site, these are the specifications for the 2007 Ducati Monster:

Engine and transmission:

• Displacement: 695.00 ccm (42.41 cubic inches)
• Engine type: V2
• Stroke: 4
• Power: 72.01 HP (52.6 kW)) @ 8500 RPM
• Torque: 61.00 Nm (6.2 kgf-m or 45.0 ft-lb) @ 6200 RPM
• Compression: 10.5:1
• Bore x stroke: 88.0 x 57.2 mm (3.5 x 2.3 inches)
• Fuel system: Injection. Marelli electronic fuel injection, 45 mm throttle body
• Valves per cylinder: 2
• Fuel control: Desmodromic valve control
• Cooling system: Air
• Gearbox: 6-speed
• Transmission type
• final drive: Chain
• Clutch: APTC wet multiplate with hydraulic control

Physical measures:

• Dry weight: 168.0 kg (370.4 pounds)
• Seat height: 770 mm (30.3 inches) if adjustable, lowest setting.
• Wheelbase: 1,440 mm (56.7 inches)

Chassis and dimension:

• Frame type: Tubular steel trellis frame
• Rake (fork angle): 24.0°
• Front suspension: Marzocchi 43 mm upside-down fork
• Front suspension travel: 130 mm (5.1 inches)
• Rear suspension: Progressive linkage with preload and rebound Sachs adjustable monoshock
• Rear suspension travel: 148 mm (5.8 inches)
• Front tire dimensions: 120/60-ZR17
• Rear tire dimensions: 160/60-ZR17
• Front brakes: Double disc
• Front brakes diameter: 300 mm (11.8 inches)
• Rear brakes: Single disc
• Rear brakes diameter: 245 mm (9.6 inches)
• Exhaust system: 2 aluminum mufflers

You all know I love motorcycles and what could be better to ride than the fastest bike there is? Naming the fastest bike out there is pretty tricky though. That is because bike manufacturers had a “gentlemen agreement” that they would keep their bikes to a limit of 186 miles per hour. To me, it’s kinda like General Motors using the same parts for its brands like a Saturn brake pad can be used in a Chevy. It’s like they have to be uniform or something which kinda takes the thrill out of the race to produce the fastest but safe bike. But before they agree to do that, the 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa recorded speeds of 192 to 197 miles per hour.

So for me, that is the fastest production bike ever or at least for now that the agreement still stands. Anyway, they only agreed to that since they want to please European lawmakers. Anyway, a faster bike can be found, like that one Jay Leno owns - the Y2K bike which is powered by a helicopter turbine engine. It would be so expensive though that it will not become a production motorcycle. But the Hayabusa can be bought easily if you have the cash and the guts to ride a bike that can outstrip luxury cars like those BMW cold air intake-equipped BMW X5s.

If you want to compare your ride to the fastest production motorcycle, here are the motorcycle’s specs from this site.

• Model: Suzuki GSX 1300 R Hayabusa
• Year: 1999
• Category: Sport touring
• Rating: 78.1 out of 100
• Displacement: 1298.00 ccm (79.20 cubic inches)
• Engine type: In-line four
• Stroke: 4
• Power: 175.00 HP (127.7 kW)) @ 9800 RPM
• Torque: 140.00 Nm (14.3 kgf-m or 103.3 ft-lb) @ 7000 RPM
• Fuel system: Injection
• Valves per cylinder: 4
• Starter: Electric
• Cooling system: Liquid
• Gearbox: 6-speed
• Transmission type final drive: Chain
• Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 248.0 kg (546.7 pounds)
• Seat height: 805 mm (31.7 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
• Wheelbase: 1,485 mm (58.5 inches)
• Front tire dimensions: 120/70-ZR17
• Rear tire dimensions: 190/50-ZR17
• Front brakes: Dual disc
• Front brakes diameter: 320 mm (12.6 inches)
• Rear brakes: Single disc
• Top speed: 308.0 km/h (191.4 mph)
• Fuel capacity: 22.00 liters (5.81 gallons)

So that’s it gals and guys, the fastest production motorcycle - the 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa.

For those who know their cars, Big Foot is a legend on its own. The behemoth is that 4WD Monster Truck which is very popular in the United States. Dubbed the “original monster truck” Big Foot dwarfs even the bulky Chevy Silverado or even the F-Series Super Duty truck from Ford. While not necessarily the biggest truck in the world, it holds viewers in awe with its oversized proportions.

For two-wheeled machines, it is the Big Toe which holds the world captivated. Big Toe is a giant among motorcycles. It previously held the record for being the tallest rideable motorcycle. It is 2.3 meters in height or 7.5 feet. That means that it is even taller than the “Beast of the East” Shaquille O’Neal. Houston Rockets’ Yao Ming is only an inch taller.

According to statistics, Big Toe is eight times the size of a full sized sports bike. Even the popular Honda Gold Wing pales in comparison to Big Toe. It is estimated that Four Gold Wings would only make one Big Toe - not that it’s possible, of course.

The humongous motorcycle weighs in at an astounding 1,645 kilograms and is 5 meters long. The hugeness of this monster bike is apparent in its choice of tires. It uses tractor tires. The sheer size of its wheels though needs support to keep the bike upright. It is equipped with training wheels and a specialized hydraulic suspension system. The motorcycle was built by Swedish Engineer Tom Wilberg.

Since the bike is very tall and its engine is that of a Jaguar, starting the bike does not involve using a kick start lever. Its control panel enables the driver to start Big Toe with a push of a button. It is also equipped with a 500W 4-way speaker sound system with CD player.

Powered by a 1975 Vintage Type E Jaguar Single Overhead Camshaft 2-Valve 60 –Degree 300 horsepower 5.3-liter 12-cylinder engine, Big Toe can reach speeds of 100 kilometers per hour or 62 miles per hour. According to Wilberg, it took about six years and more than 3,000 man hours to complete Big Toe.

The motorcycle held the record as the tallest rideable motorcycle in the world until March last year when American Gregory Dunham constructed a motorcycle standing at 3.429 meters or 11 ft 3 in. Even Yao would be dwarfed by the motorcycle. While Big Toe is no longer a record holder, it still has that swagger of a monster bike. I would like to clear things up though - contrary to what you may have heard, Big Toe is NOT related to Big Foot, they merely share the same given name but they came from different families.

How you say ‘speed’ in Japanese? Anybody know the answer?

When it comes to Kawasaki, speed means only one thing - 2008 Concours 14. If you want to be stylish, classy, speedy and sophisticated, better go fast and stop whatever you’re doing. Whether you’re fixing that Saturn splash shield or some Saturn catalytic converters, stop doing that and make a deal with this one.

The latest model combines an out of this world engine performance plus the ideal handling and comfortable ride. It also has a mass of extra features to build up a remarkable high-speed to make it the most powerful machine that man has ever built.

Considered to have top-of-the-line features, this super sport machine comes with radial-mount brake calipers, ram air induction, aluminum monocoque chassis, and inverted fork which are all visible.

It only means that this model is not just an incredible monster on the road but an enormous giant on the mountains and rail networks just like any other super sport bike. But hey, when I say monster, it doesn’t mean a big fat giant trying to bring destruction on the streets. Once you look at the Concours 14, you’ll say ‘Wow!’ because of its physical attributes. But here’s the irony: once you try it, you’ll be surprised by its lightweight feeling.

Equipped in the Concours are braking performance features like the enhanced ABS brake system that features radial-mount front calipers activated by a radial-pump main cylinder. The ABS brake system aids the motorcycle to generate great power and a dependable braking ability performance. Add to that is the Concours 14’s receptive handling that provides the rider with a feeling of total control for that forceful and confident ride.

One of the functional touches fitted to Concours 14 is the KI-PASS well-known as Kawasaki’s Intelligent Proximity Activation Start System - an electronic authorization system used for the first time on the vehicle. Other features include accessory power, shaft drive, grip heaters, adjustable windscreen, and locking side cases.

Also, it comes with a quiet and dependable shaft drive so you would not get irritated by noise. There also is a unique four-link design. To lessen driveline lash and have smoother acceleration, the Tetra-Lever shaft drive system is included. Rear wheel power is also even and nonstop.

Still not convinced? Well, let’s see. The luggage room features a slender design. There are sensors built in the front and rear wheels that keep an eye on to the tire pressure. It also displays the information on the instrument panel that gives the riders peace of mind. So those who are fond of driving high-speed or love to go up and down a mountain road, this one will fit you. So are you now ready for a safe and thrilling adventure? Pack up because the Concours 14 guarantees you a wild and electrifying ride that will make so many heads turn.

I’ve been an avid fan of their reality TV show on Discovery Channel. Every episode, a brand new concept bike is being featured and you can witness how the bike is assembled down from one piece up to smallest and to the last detailing. I admire the way they make customized bikes. I mean, I never miss one episode of the show. I really love to own one of these awesome bikes.

Peter Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. started and pioneered the Orange Country Choppers (OCC) in 1999. Since then, the OCC earned nationwide recognition and success by creating and bringing up marvelous motorcycles broadcasted at the American Choppers cable TV show on Discovery Channel. They become as popular as any celebrity and they were featured in the most popular motorcycle magazines in the US and overseas.

One of the episodes I’ve seen (that was last year I guess) on American Choppers was the making of the Black Widow Bike. I know OCC fans have seen this episode too. For those of you who didn’t, here are some bits so… attention please.

The Black Widow Bike is a spider-inspired concept - yep, with all the webbings and stuff. Just imagine how Spiderman looks like, but picture it with a bad attitude and a tougher look than Spidey. Oh yeah! The exact word is “cool”. I’ve watched every step they’ve done until the Black Widow Bike was completely assembled into a perfect mean and powerful road machine!

Here are the features of the Black Widow Bike:

Model Features

• Over 75 Parts
• Dual Exhaust
• Rotating Belts
• Detailed Wiring
• Working Kickstand
• Spyder Web Air Intake
• Spyder Web Seat Support
• Working Brake and Clutch
• Custom Black Widow Paint
• Orange County Chopper Logo
• Steel Spyder Webbing Fenders
• V-shape Handle Bars with Webbing
• Spyder Web Design On Leather Seat
• Working Air Suspension on Rear Tire
• Spider Web Rims on Front and Rear Tire
• Spyder Web Foot Pegs Flip Up and Down
• Gas Tank Painted Like Black Widow with Steel Webbing
• Precision Diecast Replica
• Baked Enamel Finish
• 1:10 Scale Model
• 12 Inches Long