Autoblog

Tokyo 2009: Yamaha Super Tenere doesn't panic, always knows where its towel is

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Tokyo Motor Show, Motorcycle

Yamaha Super Tenere Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Yamaha looks to have channeled a bit of BMW with the Super Tenere concept bike that's currently being displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show. Like the Bavarian automaker's Gina concept, the Super Tenere eschews traditional bodywork for a fabric covering supported by some kind of internal skeletal structure. Naturally, the expected production version for next year will come equipped with real bodywork and a fully functional engine... at least we'd hope so.

That future production model will come equipped with a 1200cc parallel-twin powerplant and will do battle with BMW's range of off-road-ready GS bikes. Check out the goods in our photo gallery below, live from Tokyo.

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Yamaha Super Tenere Concept

Tokyo 2009: Yamaha Super Tenere doesn't panic, always knows where its towel is originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Ford Festiva SHOgun replica

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Auctions, Hatchback, Ford, Specialty

Ford Festiva SHOgun replica - Click above for image gallery

Way back in the late 1980s, Chuck Beck, who's perhaps best known for his excellent Porsche 550 Spyder replicas, created what in our minds is still one of the greatest hot hatchbacks of all time: the Festiva SHOgun. While nobody would mistake the lowly Ford Festiva as a performance vehicle, the SHOgun packed a 220 horsepower secret behind its front seats in the form of a V6 engine yanked from a Ford Taurus SHO. A legend was born.

There were only seven SHOguns produced in 1989 (number three is still owned by Jay Leno), so it's highly unlikely you'll ever run into one for sale. Of course, the possibility exists that you could just make one yourself... or, alternatively, purchase this replica on eBay.

The car's current owners claim to have purchased their SHOgun replica from a museum and say that it's powered by a 1996 SHO powerplant. We don't think so. The '96 SHO had a V8 engine and this one, like all the real SHOguns, used a Yamaha V6 - in this case mated up to an automatic transmission. Interested? Click here to visit the auction page.

Gallery: Ford Festiva SHOgun replica

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Ford Festiva SHOgun replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surf & Turf: Abarth makes a powerboat with triple 350hp Yamaha V8s

Noah Joseph — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Fiat

SACS Powershore Abarth SP - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Fiat relaunched its Abarth performance division, it had a fairly straightforward objective: to turn its ordinary hatchbacks into fire-breathing performance models. But as it turns out, Abarth's mandate extends beyond transforming Fiats. The scorpion sub-brand has also turned out the special-edition Yamaha FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corse to celebrate the 100th birthday of its namesake founder Karl Abarth and has teamed up again with the Japanese company - whose MotoGP team it also sponsors, headlined by multiple champion Valentino Rossi - for an offshore inflatable speedboat.

Bringing boatmaker SACS Marine and naval architect Christian Grande into the fold, the Powershore Abarth SP is a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) with not one, not two, but three Yamaha Marine 5.3-liter DOHC 32-valve fuel-injected V8 outboard motors. Each of the three engines produces a tidy 350 horsepower, measured right at the prop-shaft. Based on the SACS Strider 12S, the Abarth SP measures over 40 feet long, weighs 5.7 metric tons and packs a 960-liter fuel tank. Don't forget the double bed, bathroom and galley (that's a kitchen for you land-lubbers). The Powershore Abarth SP is set to debut at the 49th Salone Nautico Internazionale di Genova 2009 in October.

Gallery: SACS Powershore Abarth SP

[Source: Italiaspeed]

Surf & Turf: Abarth makes a powerboat with triple 350hp Yamaha V8s originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoGP: Autoblog tours the Yamaha garages

Drew Phillips — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:09:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle

Yamaha MotoGP Garage Tour - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Access to the garage areas of MotoGP teams is limited to say the least, and all but the highest-level passes will leave you trying to get a glimpse from afar while the mechanics diligently work on the bikes throughout the weekend. Good fortune was with us, however. Yamaha was kind enough to give us access to its garage so we could take a closer look at the inner-workings of a MotoGP team.

While we couldn't spend too much time in any of the areas, we were amazed to see just how much goes into simply setting up each garage. Space is at a premium, so everything is extremely well organized. The workstations are incredibly clean, and some sections are even carpeted. Perhaps our favorite part was getting a close look at the motorcycles and their components. Each bike is a beautiful mass of carbon fiber, titanium, and CNC-machined parts. Yamaha allowed us to take photos, so you can check out the two-wheeled rides of Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Colin Edwards for yourselves in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Yamaha MotoGP Garage Tour

MotoGP: Autoblog tours the Yamaha garages originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO offers excellence without emotion

Chris Paukert — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Ford, First Drive

2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for high-res image gallery

Incendiary Statement of the Day: American automakers haven't made many good sport sedans. It isn't because we can't build 'em - it's just that for one reason or another, U.S. automakers have historically refused to take the segment seriously, all but ceding it to the Europeans and the Japanese.

Thankfully, the Detroit 3 have produced some models that buck the trend, and even better for us, most of them are recent offerings. Cadillac's stonking new CTS-V isn't just a sport sedan - dollar-for-dollar, it may very well be the best in the world. Pontiac's G8 GT and GXP are two excellent examples, and Chrysler's 300C SRT8 and Charger SRT8 make decent cases for themselves, although they're arguably more muscle cars in sedan wrappers than four-door barnstormers. What else is there? In the last 25 years or so, not a whole lot. Once you get past the first-gen CTS and perhaps the Lincoln LS, you're dealing with short-lived, small-volume factory skunkworks models like the Dodge Spirit R/T and SRT4, as well as the Ford Contour SVT. In fact, you're skating on thin (sport compact) ice... until you get to the first- and second-generation Taurus SHO of the late-Eighties to mid-Nineties.

Ah, the Taurus SHO. While it's probably true that the fog of time has conspired to give us a rosier view of the 1989-1991 SHO and the 1992-1995 model that followed the original, few would deny that its spirited 220-horsepower Yamaha-sourced 3.0-liter V6 was anything less than a wondrous engine, or that the standard Taurus' revolutionary slipstream bodywork and tidy dimensions lent itself well to the genre's ethos. Further, for an American mid-size sport sedan, it was the only game in town, yet it acquitted itself handsomely against contemporary Nissan Maximas, and pricier competitors like the BMW 3-Series.

The SHO took a wrong turn (as did the entire Taurus franchise) with the softer V8-powered 1996 third-generation model, and slow sales saw the model expire by 1999. A decade has passed since that car went off to the Great Crusher in the Sky, and now Ford has returned with an altogether different SHO for 2010. Does it live up to the original, or is it more in keeping with the underwhelming model that preceded it so long ago? Let's find out.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO offers excellence without emotion

First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO offers excellence without emotion originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Yamaha FZ6R arrives as a rational sportbike

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Motorcycle, Reviews

Yamaha FZ6R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Before even throwing a leg over the new 2009 Yamaha FZ6R, we couldn't help but think that this bike fits neatly into the burgeoning entry-level sportbike category and is just the kind of motorcycle that most Americans would be better off purchasing than a bike from the more popular supersport category. Generally speaking, though today's crop of 600cc race-replica motorcycles are tons of fun to ride in a proper setting, there are few if any circumstances where it's necessary to have a machine capable of topping 160 mph or accelerating to 60 in around three seconds on public roads. With this in mind, we had very high hopes for Yamaha's latest middleweight sportbike. Did it meet our lofty expectations? Read on to find out.

Gallery: Review: Yamaha FZ6R

Continue reading Review: Yamaha FZ6R arrives as a rational sportbike

Review: Yamaha FZ6R arrives as a rational sportbike originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adventures in excess: Golf cart powered by Yamaha R1 engine

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Videos, Motorcycle

Click above to view video after the jump

It must take a certain kind of person to yank the small and economical 3-horsepower engine from a golf cart and replace it with one from a 2007 Yamaha R1 literbike. For the record, the team behind the transformation did a few dyno passes and managed to record 125-horsepower at the rear wheels. As you might expect, hilarious antics ensued, such as smoking tires and multi-geared wheelies on the dyno, which were then duplicated outside. After viewing the video, we want one, along with a really, really good helmet and full-body armor. Watch the video after the break.

[Source: Youtube via Motorcycle News]

Continue reading Adventures in excess: Golf cart powered by Yamaha R1 engine

Adventures in excess: Golf cart powered by Yamaha R1 engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yamaha reveals 2009 R6 and FZ6R

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:04:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle

Click above for more shots of the 2009 Yamaha FZ6R

While Yamaha's biggest sportbike release for the year is undoubtedly the 2009 R1, the tuning fork crew didn't leave out the smaller-bore machines either. For the last few years, Yamaha's race-ready 600cc efforts have sent the powerband further and further into the stratosphere, optimizing it for the racetrack. Don't expect that to change much for '09. In fact, don't expect much at all in the way of changes to the range-topping R6, as Yamaha cites only a revised ECU that has remapped YCC-T settings. Plus, Honda's not the only Japanese manufacturer with some crazy colors for '09, as the new Yamaha is available in a Halloween-esque orange and black scheme.

Considering that the R6 is such a narrow-minded machine, though, Yamaha has two other fully-faired middleweights to consider for a more streetable package, including the all-new FZ6R. Featuring an engine yanked from the past-generation R6, but revised for more lower-end performance, the FZ6R is not actually based on the naked FZ6 that's been around for the last few years and from which it inherits its nomenclature. One unique bit that is sure to win over some buyers is the low seat height and adjustable riding position, which allows the rider to move the controls both side-to-side and up-and-down. While the '09 R6 retails for around $10,000, the lower-level FZ6R goes for just under $7K, making it much more manageable for entry-level riders. As before, the R6S is still available and bridges the gap between the FZ6R and the high-end R6 coming in at a buck under $8,500.

Gallery: 2009 Yamaha R6

Gallery: 2009 Yamaha FZ6R

[Source: Yamaha]

Continue reading Yamaha reveals 2009 R6 and FZ6R

Yamaha reveals 2009 R6 and FZ6R originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yamaha introduces 2009 R1 with crossplane firing order

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Motorcycle

Click above for more shots of the 2009 Yamaha R1

As is often the case when one of the big four Japanese bike manufacturers introduce a new literbike, there's way too many new features and detail improvements for us to include in a write-up. For the '09 Yamaha R1, though, there are some huge differences which are sure to become major talking points over the next few months. For starters, Yamaha is now the first manufacturer to move its modified firing order technology from the Moto GP tracks to your driveway. Featuring a staggered crossplane crankshaft that locates each connecting rod 90° from the one before it. According to Yamaha, this arrangement allows for the high RPM power of an inline-four with the steady powerband of a twin-cylinder bike. We look forward to finding out for ourselves how effective this is. Other useful technology is the adjustable power button which changes the engine map between three different settings.

Also new is a magnesium subframe, new projector headlamps with integrated ram air ducts and a stubby new rear tail section. Some of the styling changes will take a bit of getting used to, but we are pretty pleased that Yamaha has seen fit to offer a paint scheme from each of its past major color motifs: Yellow and black, red and white and the current blue, plus one thoroughly stealthy version in black and red. Check past the break for more, along with commentary from Yamaha racers including Valentino Rossi.

Gallery: 2009 Yamaha R1

[Source: Yamaha]

Continue reading Yamaha introduces 2009 R1 with crossplane firing order

Yamaha introduces 2009 R1 with crossplane firing order originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yamaha branded Deus Ex Machina concept shatters convention

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 25 May 2008 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Green, Motorcycle

Click on the image to see more renderings of the Deus Ex Machina concept

If somebody asked us what an environmentally-friendly motorcycle of the future would look like, our best answer would be nowhere near as awesome as what Jake Loniak, a student at Art Center Pasadena, came up with. Perhaps that's why we are just bloggers who write about cool stuff instead of the actual designers. Called Deus Ex Machina, which means God Out of a Machine, the vehicle is a blend between a motorcycle and an exoskeleton.

Featuring seven artificial vertebrae, thirty-six pneumatic muscles and a head of its own, the Yamaha-branded concept looks like something out a child's worst nightmare. As speed increases, though, the two front wheels move outward, forcing the rider into a proper forward lean which resembles a current motorcycle stance more closely. In-wheel electric motors get their juice from a hybrid power pack made from Doped NanoPhosphate batteries and ultracapacitors. The designer believes that the machine could accelerate to sixty in three seconds and reach a top speed of seventy-five miles per hour. Sure, we're not likely to see anything like this in production in the near future, but it sure is cool to look at.

Gallery: Deus Ex Machina concept

[Source: GreenCarDesign via Hell For Leather]

Yamaha branded Deus Ex Machina concept shatters convention originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 May 2008 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mint condition Yamaha R6 for sale... just don't buy like this guy did

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:41:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Motorcycle

We always appreciate when folks can give it to us straight. Even if they've done something, um, regrettable, they can at least admit it, give us a no-bull explanation, and we can all get on with the show. Next up in the Please Relieve Me of My Mistake category is a gent in Seattle who got rid of his Ford Explorer for a Yamaha R6, only to realize that sportbikes weren't the must-have accessory he thought they were.

After buying it because it had shiny tires due to Armor All, laying it down in the parking lot at 5-mph, not having the desired effect on females, and putting just 3,000 miles on it, he has decided it's time for the R6 to go. It's possibly the only classified ad to include the word "douchecanoe", and the only R6 to allegedly come with side impact airbags, heated and cooled cupholders from a MINI Cooper, and a Wendy's Baconator coupon. Follow the link for your chance to purchase a piece of shattered dreams. The laughs you'll have while reading come free of charge.

[Source: craigslist]

Mint condition Yamaha R6 for sale... just don't buy like this guy did originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Twist the Throttle" motorcycle documentary series launches online

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Japan, Videos, Motorcycle

Over the weekend, Dylan Weiss from Cry Havoc Productions, Inc. let us know that his latest motorcycle-specific documentary went live at Discovery's Turbo online site. We've spent some time watching the footage, and we think it's awesome. Focusing in on Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW, Ducati, MV Agusta and Bimota, the crew took plenty of footage home with them and managed to ride some of the greatest modern sportbikes ever created along the way. Best of all, over four hours of video is available online for free at their mini-site, broken down into 50 segments.

The whole shebang was shot in High Definition, so we have some serious hopes that it will air on The Discovery Channel, be offered on DVD or both. It's extremely entertaining and we definitely recommend checking it out. Thanks for the tip, Dylan!

[Source: Cry Havoc Productions, Discovery Turbo]

"Twist the Throttle" motorcycle documentary series launches online originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ever see a tilting three-wheeled V-Max?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle

The Yamaha V-Max is pretty much a two-wheeled muscle car, and many people have had a hard time keeping them on two wheels. Solution: add another wheel? Sure, according to Tilting Motor Works. Starting with Legos before moving on to something more substantial, Bob Mighell designed a new front end for the Yamaha V-Max, one that is capable of leaning into corners but offering more grip for cornering and braking purposes. Removing the front forks and tightening eight bolts will transform your bike into a really big Piaggio MP3. Whether that is a good thing or not is up to you.

Speaking of the MP3, that and concepts such as the Yamaha Tesseract prove that people are thinking of making the single-track of the motorcycle into a dual or triple-track. If it allows people who'd like to ride the chance to do so, we're all for it.

[Source: Tilting Motor Works via Bikes In The Fast Lane]

Ever see a tilting three-wheeled V-Max? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10-year ban for popping a wheelie in Miami

Chris Shunk — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:04:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Motorcycle

South Florida has a motorcycle problem, and lawmakers are introducing legislation to show bikers that they'll go a long way to punish those who break the rules. Stunt riding (including wheelies), excessive speeding, and concealable license plates will get you a 10 year ban on your motorcycle license, mandatory jail time, and an impounded bike. If the punishment sounds like the medieval practice of cutting off the hand of a man for stealing, that's exactly how State Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera wants it.

Lopez-Cantera witnessed firsthand a variety of incidents during which reckless behavior was on display, including bikers flying down the highway at 120 mph, high speed wheelies, and more. Police officers can't even run plates since bikers will often flip them up to avoid detection, and it's very difficult to catch a motorcycle on the open road with a squad car. We like motorcycles, even though our focus is on cars, and it's disappointing to see that things have apparently gotten so out of hand in South Florida that draconian enforcement policies are being seriously discussed.

[Source: Visor Down via Paultan]

10-year ban for popping a wheelie in Miami originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorcycle-derived Yamaha engine to power Toyota's IQ

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:26:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, China, Europe, Japan, Hatchback, Toyota

A version of Toyota's iQ concept, originally shown in Frankfurt, is rumored to begin production sometime next year and according to a couple of sources cited by Automotive News, power will come courtesy of Yamaha. The two Japanese firms are currently collaborating on a new 1.0-liter engine based on one of Yamaha's motorcycle powerplants, although output and fuel economy numbers have yet to be disclosed.

Toyota is expected to produce around 100,000 units, with Europe receiving approximately 80,000 vehicles when sales begin in 2009. Although there's no word on U.S. distribution, the iQ-inspired micro-car may find its way into emerging markets in India and China where low-cost transportation is becoming a booming business.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Motorcycle-derived Yamaha engine to power Toyota's IQ originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Watch a 911 GT3 chase a Yamaha R1 on the 'Ring

Chris Shunk — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Supercars, Porsche

We've seen quite a few videos on Autoblog of exotic sports cars tackling the ring, but motorcycles don't make much news here. MCN road-tester Michael Neeves braved the 'Ring back in April in a Yamaha R1 while his brother Ben followed close behind in a Porsche 911 GT3. In the wide-open, the R1 tears the lightning-fast GT3 a new one, but the Porsche consistently caught up in the twistier sections.

The 8:48 lap time pulled in by the Neeves brothers was pretty impressive considering the major traffic on the track and the two accidents that needed to be traversed. Hit the jump to check out the two-wheeled action.

[Source: Motorcycle News]

Continue reading VIDEO: Watch a 911 GT3 chase a Yamaha R1 on the 'Ring

VIDEO: Watch a 911 GT3 chase a Yamaha R1 on the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rocket's return: McLaren F1's forefather set to make a comeback

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 11 May 2007 12:26:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Supercars

Gordon Murray has had his hands in a number of impressive projects over the years. Be it Formula one or the McLaren F1, if Murray is involved, you know it's going to light, balanced and fast.

One of Murray's more intriguing projects was the Rocket, a lightweight, road-going tribute to the open-wheeled racers of yesteryear. Originally equipped with a 143 HP Yamaha superbike engine, the Rocket was able to reach 60 MPH in a mere four seconds, primarily due to its minimalist design.

That was in the 90s. Now, Chris Craft, 24 Hours of Le Mans veteran and avid car collector, and his son Luke have decided to introduce a modern version of the Rocket, powered by a 1150cc Yamaha mill that makes up to 170 HP. Said engine will be nestled within the nuevo-retro body to create an 877-pound terror that might justify it's $100k price tag.

Only 10 Rockets will be produced each year, but with the new found popularity of lightweight track toys, we expect most to be spoken for as soon as the Craft's set up shop.

[Source: Inside Line]

Rocket's return: McLaren F1's forefather set to make a comeback originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 May 2007 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R.I.P.: Lincoln V8

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 09:55:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Ford, Lincoln

Amidst a series of recent shake-ups in Ford's production, a new casualty has fallen prey to the "way forward." The Yamaha derived 4.8-liter V8, currently found in the Volvo XC90, sought a new home within the Lincoln MKS in 2008. That possibility has been squashed, mainly due to the low volume of vehicles that would suit the engine.

In doing so, Ford is putting all their power-producing eggs into one, 3.5-liter V6 engine. This stalwart of Ford's product line is currently available in everything from the Lincoln MKZ to the Ford 500, although the power output will be increased slightly for the MKS, due to it's competitors V8-advantage.

Although this lack of engine choice may prove to be a sticking point with consumers, the possibility of not offering a V8 may be in Ford's best interest if fuel economy concerns continue to mount.

[Source: Automotive News]

R.I.P.: Lincoln V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Aug 2006 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Legends racecar for the street

Eric Bryant — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Etc.

Give Lincoln Brier credit for doing something out of the ordinary when he came upon the idea to convert his used Legends racecar into a single-seat street machine. The task was relatively simple, with the addition of turn signals, lights, a full exhaust system with muffler, and a horn pretty much being the extent of the modifications required to register the pint-sized '34 Ford replica as a homebuilt vehicle. The laws on this vary dramatically by state, so as they say, check with your local authorities before proceeding. To make life a bit more tolerable, Brier also added rear windows and a radio, and swapped out the rear gearing for something a bit taller. Even with the ratio swap, the top speed is a meager 90 MPH, but I'm sure that it's an entertaining experience topping out the miniature car. Oh, and there's no Reverse gear. Would that stop us from having more fun than should (or would) be legal with this thing? Hell no. We'd just choose our parking carefully.

For those not familiar with the Legend circle-track cars, they're pocket-sized tube-framed racers, draped with fiberglass bodies resembling a variety of American classics from the '30s, that are typically powered by Yamaha 1200cc air-cooled motorcycle engines. The majority of the parts are tightly controlled by the rules in an effort to create a level playing field and keep costs relatively low. More info is available from 600 Racing, Legendsforce, and Legends Cars.

[Source: Kneeslider]

A Legends racecar for the street originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas prices are driving more towards motorcycles - or at least providing a great excuse

Eric Bryant — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 12:53:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Hybrid, Green

With yet another summer of record gas prices looming just over the horizon, more and more Americans are turning in their wheels... or at least a couple of them. Sales of motorcycles and scooters are up 8 percent over 2005, and according to the American Motorcycle Association, 35 percent of its members intend to ride more this summer because of gas prices.

Of course, it's probably possible to poke a mathematical hole into this rationale with but a few pecks at the ol' calculator, unless one chooses only the most frugal of two-wheeled conveyances (and a look at the best-selling list, full of Harleys, indicates that this is definitely not the case). According to one dealer, "People are looking for reasons to justify that want, and gas prices do that." Not like there's anything wrong with that, of course; we'd just be a lot happier if new riders would get some training before hitting the streets so that the annual death rate reverses its decade-long ugly trend.

[Source: USA Today]

Gas prices are driving more towards motorcycles - or at least providing a great excuse originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jun 2006 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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