Great Motorcycles - The Honda RC 30

As street legal, race replica motorcycles go, the Honda RC 30 was a bike that compromised little between the street and the track. The bike was a direct, street legal descendant of the Championship Racing Bike RVF 750, which dominated motorcycle racing in the early and mid 1980's.

The RC 30 was created as a limited edition motorcycle. It gave normal riders a glimpse of the performance potential of a street legal motorcycle, essentially bred for track use. Honda engineers used exotic material and production techniques. If you had to ask how much it cost then you couldn't afford it.

The RC 30 was powered by a 748 cc, liquid cooled dohc (double overhead cam) 16 valve, 90 degree V4 motor. It produced a maximum of 112 bhp at 11,000 rpm.

The bike had a top speed of 155mph and was deceptively fast. When at speed the flat hum of the V4 engine gave the rider the impression of a much lower rate of speed. Because of its race breeding, the RC-30 was happiest on the track or long stretches of country road where the bike's performance could be realized. It was far less happy in the city. It's gearing, especially its tall first gear stressed the clutch. The riding position wasn't the most ergonomically friendly especially for slow speed city riding. As with other race replica motorcycles the narrowness of the mirrors made them close to being unusable.

The RC-30 wanted to be driven hard and fast. At a weight of 407 pounds it was as maneuverable as it was powerful. It featured an adjustable front and rear suspension and used a single sided swing arm.

The RC 30 had a top speed of 160 mph and used a six speed, chain drive transmission. It had an aluminum twin spar frame. For stopping power is used twin discs brakes on the front and a single disc on the rear.

The Honda had all of the qualities a racer would want. It was quick and powerful, had great throttle and engine response, good suspension control and marvelous braking power.

The RC-30 was a testament to the design, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities of Honda.

Buying A Motorcycle

Are you ready to buy a new or used motorcycle? Are you also thinking about what kind of goodies you will need to go along with your new bike? Things like tie down straps, carbon fiber look tank protector, windscreens, cowls, air filters, fender eliminators, lighting kits, etc etc. These are just a handful of thing, there are a slough of parts not mentioned.

Buying A Motorcycle FAQ

You've decided to buy a motorcycle. Flying down the highway, wind in your hair as you zip passed the poor souls stuck in their cardboard boxes, driving in line like they are marching to their deaths. Maybe you've always wanted a motorcycle, and now, finally you have the money to purchase. Whatever the reasons, the time to purchase a motorcycle leads to the many questions: what kind ? New motorcycle or a used? What to look for ?

Q: Which types of motorcycle should I buy?

A: Some love Yamaha bikes, others Suzuki bikes or Honda bikes or Kawasaki bikes are the best on the market. Others prefer Harley Davidson bikes. Just remember you are going to fall, quite a lot in fact. With this in mind, be sure that the bike that you choose is one that can be fixed easily. Some experts recommend the Suzuki GS500 for learners.

Expect you invest a lot of money on things that I mention above. Such as helmet, leathers, gloves, back supports. You can't put a price on safety, you have to take the utmost care and caution every time you ride out in public. You must always be on the lookout for commuters because most of the time they do not even see you.

This is the Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa - the fastest and quickest full production motorcycle ever built!



It will run high 9 second quarter mile times and has been tested as high as 200 mph top speed in stock configuration
It is factory rated at about 175 HP at the crank but has been found to be even higher at speed due to the ram air.
This bike makes more horsepower than many cars but only weighs a bit over 500 pounds!
Not even the Kawasaki ZX-12R which was purpose built to beat the Busa could manage to
prevail against the King of Speed. Check out these head to head test results between the
ZX-12 and the mighty Hayabusa performed by the most respected worldwide Motorcycle publications
in the industry.

Harley Davidson XR 1200

Harley-Davidson XR 1200 to Hit Europe,
U.S. Market Left Empty-Handed

Take a good look at this shot of the new Harley XR 1200 (and click for a larger view), because unless you live in Europe you probably won't get to see it in person. The first bike in the company's 104 year history to be released exclusively outside of the United States, the XR 1200 is based on race-winning XR 750 dirt trackers that were popularized, ironically, on U.S. soil.

The XR 1200 was first unveiled as a prototype in October 2006, and should be available to European consumers in the Spring of 2008. Though off-road inspired, the Sportster-based bike is configured for spirited on-road riding and includes:

• A 1,200cc high-performance V-twin powertrain finished in as-cast silver powdercoat
• Satin Chrome-finished exhaust system
• Downdraft fuel injection and electronically controlled active air intake system
• Specially developed Dunlop Qualifier tyres (front 120/70ZR18; rear 180/55ZR17)
• Lightweight cast wheels with dirt track-inspired design
• Specially developed sports-tuned suspension with 43mm inverted front forks
• Agile handling and ample cornering clearance, with wide handlebars and semi-rearset footpegs
• High performance brakes
• A large white-faced tachometer and digital speedo

Harley-Davidson press materials state that its ergonomics are designed to fit the average height European customer, but we can't help but wonder if this market-specific model would ever be modified for sale in North America.

History of Motorcycles

Motorcycle

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Right: Gottllieb Daimler's 1885 Motorcycle

American, Sylvester Howard Roper (1823-1896) invented a two-cylinder, steam-engine motorcycle (powered by coal) in 1867. This can be considered the first motorcycle, if you allow your description of a motorcycle to include a steam engine. Howard Roper also invented a steam engine car.

German, Gottlieb Daimler invented the first gas-engined motorcycle in 1885, which was an engine attached to a wooden bike. That marked the moment in history when the dual development of a viable gas-powered engine and the modern bicycle collided. Gottlieb Daimler used a new engine invented by engineer,Nicolaus August Otto. Otto invented the first "Four-Stroke Internal-Combustion Engine" in 1876. He called it the "Otto Cycle Engine" As soon as he completed his engine, Daimler (a former Otto employee) built it into a motorcycle.

History of the Harley Davidson Motorcycle

Many of the nineteenth century inventors who worked on early motorcycles often moved on to other inventions. Daimler and Roper, for example, both went on to develop automobiles. However, inventors Harley and the Davidsons developed motorcycles and their business competitors were other new start-up companies such as Excelsior, Indian, Pierce, Merkel, Schickel and Thor.

In 1903, William Harley and his friends Arthur and Walter Davidson launched the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The bike had a quality engine, so it could prove itself in races, however, the company planned to manufacture it as a transport vehicle. Merchant, C. H. Lange, sold the first officially distributed Harley-Davidson in Chicago.

2007 Yamaha YZF600R

FEATURES

Key Features:

• A ram-air-fed 16-valve DOHC powerplant and fully adjustable suspension see to it that the YZF600R gives up very little performance in exchange for its real-world superiority.
• A thick, supportive seat for two behind a fairing designed more for weather protection than maximum aerodynamic penetration at full tuck makes the YZF600R a great sport-tourer too.

Engine:

• Potent 599cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC inline four-cylinder 16-valve powerplant puts out strong, yet street-friendly power perfectly tuned for both aggressive sport riding and everyday commuting.
• Durable, lightweight forged pistons help reduce weight for increased throttle response.
• Ram-air-style intake below headlight aspirates high-pressure cool air for maximum performance.
• Four 36mm Keihin downdraft carburetors ensure crisp, seamless throttle response throughout the rev range.
• Close-ratio six-speed transmission provides optimal power delivery to the asphalt with effortless shifting.
• 4-into-2-into-1 muffler optimizes engine performance while reducing weight and maximizing lean angle with tucked-in positioning.

Chassis/Suspension:

• Legendary Deltabox chassis design is a perfect combination of light weight and rigidity for super-precise handling and cornering.
• Fully adjustable (preload, compression and rebound damping) 41mm telescopic front fork with 5.1 inches of travel offers race-inspired suspension performance with ultra-precise rider feedback during aggressive riding conditions.
• Fully adjustable (preload, compression and rebound damping) remote-reservoir rear shock with 4.7 inches of travel delivers super-precise handling performance and maximum versatility.
• Competition-spec brake system features dual 298mm floating front discs with one-piece four-piston calipers and a 245mm rear disc.
• Five-position adjustable front brake lever fits a wide range of hand sizes.
• Lightweight, cast-alloy, three-spoke 17-inch wheels front and back reduce unsprung weight and support modern radial tires -- 120/60-ZR17 front and 160/60-ZR17 rear -- for excellent grip and handling.

Additional Features:

• Easy-to-reach clip-on bars, a wide, plush seat for two and slightly rear-set footpegs create an ideal ergonomic balance between hard-edged supersport machine and everyday commuter/sport-tourer.
• Big, passenger grabrails and multiple, under-tailsection cargo hooks are great for bringing friends and things.
• Five-gallon fuel tank provides excellent range and is shaped for aggressive riding.
• An easy-to-read analog speedometer, tachometer, odometer, and tripmeter with indicator lights for neutral, high beam, turn signals, low fuel and oil monitor all systems.
• Sleek 60/55-watt multi-reflector resin-lens headlight maximizes visibility and enhances aerodynamics.
• Standard toolkit located in convenient storage compartment under passenger seat.