Motorcycle News
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...
Harley-Davidson Q2 2009 profit down 91% - the slump continues...
Harley Davidson sales slump continues
Well, I'm sure it won't come as much of a surprise in this economy: Harley-Davidson reports second-quarter profits are off by 91% over the same quarter in 2008. Revenue declined 27 percent to $1.15 billion. Hard times are expected to continue into 2010 as the economy remains weak.
Click here to continue...2010 Ducati 848 - Nicky Hayden Special Edition
The 2010 Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Special Edition.
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2010 Harley-Davidson Model Information - Rumors and Gossip
2011 Models Announced
7/27/2010 update: H-D announces three new models for 2011.
2010 Harley-Davidson Models: What will the new model year bring? (Photo by Kevin Wing)
It's that time of year again: collecting the latest information about the upcoming 2010 Harley-Davidson models.
7/25/2009 update: H-D announces 9 new models for 2010.
Click here to continue...Hydrogen-powered motorcyle created by Alex Bell and Andres Pacheco
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Research
http://engin.swarthmore.edu/?page_id=72
(Photo courtesy Swarthmore College)
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D.I.Y. hydrogen-powered motorcycle
Here's something you don't see every day: a do-it-yourself hydrogen-powered motorcycle.
Hydrogen-powered cycle: (Photo courtesy Swarthmore College)
Alex Bell and Andres Pacheco (who are engineering majors at Swarthmore College) spent two years and approx. $10,000 developing the motorcycle for a class project. Click here to continue...
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