Tag: motorcycle

  • Why You Should Invest In A Motorcycle

    MotorcycleAre you looking for a change in your life? Do you love the idea of riding a motorcycle? Whether you’ve ridden in the past or you want to see what it’s like, owning a hog is a worthwhile investment, especially as you get older. You don’t even have to be a motorcycle enthusiast to buy one; you just have to realize why it’s a great buy and what it can do for you. So, to help you get into that mindset, let’s go over the top reasons you should be investing in a motorcycle.

    Personal Freedom

    Sure, you have some freedom with a car, but the fact that you can carry passengers and cargo means that you will always have people who want to get a ride or have you pick something up for them. Additionally, there are certain places that a car just can’t go due to size constraints. Conversely, on a motorcycle, the world is your oyster. Best of all, you can enjoy the ride without anyone asking if they can come along or if you can swing by somewhere to run some errands. Simply put, motorcycle time is you time.

    Easy to Maintain

    Even if you don’t have the best motorcycle tires on your bike right now, swapping them out is a relative cinch compared to what it would take with a car. You don’t have to be a certified mechanic either, as you can find plenty of information on how to maintain and improve your bike over time. This way, instead of paying someone to fix small issues on your ride, all you have to do is go to a motorcycle parts store and get the piece you need.

    Exciting and Adventurous

    How much excitement do you get on a regular basis? Does it feel like your life is becoming a bit dull? While we can’t promise that a motorcycle can fix everything, it does give you an adrenaline rush to keep you coming back for more. Whether you ride to work or take it out to the country, each excursion is an adventure.

    When it comes to buying a bike, you are adopting a lifestyle, not a mode of transportation. As such, it’s an investment in yourself, so treat it accordingly.

     

  • BMW Concept Roadster at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

    Here at Automobilesreview, we don’t pay attention to what is happening in motorcycle world, but we just can’t miss the super-sexy BMW Concept Roadster. The motorcycle was exhibited at the 2014 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and immediately won the hearts of the fans.

    The Concept Roadster represents BMW’s vision of the future generations of boxer-powered roadsters. The impressive motorcycle is powered by a newly developed two-cylinder 1.2 liter boxer engine with 125HP (92 kW) at 7,750RPM and 125Nm (93 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500RPM.

    The bike features single-sided swing arm with cardan drive and a light tubular space frame. It has a typical low front end and high rear one, which enables the rider to control it easier. Concept Roadster comes with LED front and rear lights as well as a fuel tank of gloss milled aluminum. The self-supporting rear structure is fashioned from a single piece. Last, but not least is the integrated single seat upholstered in Alcantara.

    More of the styling features include lateral air intakes made from gloss aluminum as well as valve covers. The engine spoiler has an aerodynamic function and integrates the entire front silencer.

    We are pretty sure that all petrolheads will love this bike. After creating one of the best sport bikes in the world (1000RR), BMW continues to impress its fans.

    Source: BMW

  • Drag Racing – Times and Power [part 2]

    Let’s continue with the reaction time. With several words, it is the time between the green light signal and when the car passes the starting line. Normal reaction time is between 0.5 to 1 second and if it is under that, the driver is either lucky or trying to “cheat”.

    All this characteristics are connected and can explain everything that happens on the race track, even how the driver controls the car.

    The time and the terminal speed are the most important characteristics and normally the proportions are these: 15 to 14 seconds on ¼ mile – 150 to 160 km/h, 14 to 13 seconds – 160 km/h to 175 km/h, 13 to 12 seconds 175 km/h to 190 km/h, 12 to 11 seconds from 190 km/h to 210 km/h and all cars in the 10 second mark and below that have terminal speeds of more than 210 km/h.

    So, what happens, when the car have high terminal speed and bad ¼ mile. Usually, there are two reasons – bad start and low traction after that. The cars, which are not 4×4 and have a lot power like turbocharged BMWs, Porsches or Mercedeses. The conclusion is more wheel spin leads to bad ¼ mile time and high terminal speed.

    So, it turns that drag racing is not only a chase between two cars on a straight line and changing gears or waiting for the automatic transmission to do that. There are a lot for very important factors, which can work in your benefit, if you know them and try to improve not only your car, but yourself, too.

    More power, less weight and good, prepared driver – the formula of the success at ¼ mile races.

    Bugatti vs Porsche Drag
    Bugatti vs Porsche Drag


    [Part 1]

  • Drag Racing – Times and Power [part 1]

    Drag racing is one of the most interesting events in the automobile world, especially for the spectators. Essentially, it is a race between two vehicles on a special dragstrip, which is a long straight facility for conducting acceleration events. When we say vehicles, we mean everything that can run… fast! – motorcycles, cars, sports cars, “funny” cars and top fuellers.  This time we will talk about ¼ mile races – 402.33 meters.

    There are two main types of events – start-and-fast beat, which is very “easy” to do. Just step on the gas pedal, when the lights are green and change gears (if you drive manual). The second type is bracket racing, which is very popular, too. The contestants choose their fastest time that they think is possible and who finishes first is a winner, but if you beat your announced time of 14.20 with for example 14.05, you will lose. These rules give opportunity to slow cars to catch up with very fast ones.

    Now to say something about times just to have some idea for what’s really going on at the dragstrip. Usually, the normal cars around and under 200HP are in the range of 18 to 15 seconds. Those, which have sports nature, are from 14.9 to 13 seconds and the best of them are under 13 to 12 seconds. The cars with times under 15 seconds has at least 200HP and they are not very heavy like 1500kg (3306 lbs) or more. The cars around 13 seconds have 300 to 400HP and those under 13 seconds are extremely powerful – 500HP and more. Of course, there are a lot of exceptions, but normally this is the situation.

    Other very important thing is the terminal speed, which again can show you how powerful the car is and how it uses that power and puts in on the tarmac. Again, usually the normal cars have terminal speeds of 120-140 km/h. The sports ones – 140 to 160 km/h and the best 160 to 190 km/h. If you see a car with over 200 km/h, it is either very tuned or very powerful with poor driver.

    The start is extremely difficult, because the driver needs to know his car very well. Of course, a start with powerful car is more tricky and, but if you have launch control – congrats.

    The first 60 feet (20 m) usually take from 1.6 to 2.4 seconds or more, if the driver can’t drive his car very well. Once again, the normal cars (if driven perfectly) are between 2.8-2.4 seconds, the sports ones from 2.4 to 1.8 seconds and if the time is around 1.4-1.5 seconds, this is either very powerful 4×4 vehicles or a RWD with slick tires.

    To be continued…

    [Part 2]