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This story is amazing on so many levels.
http://awesomobile.com/2011/a-man-bu...atch-literally
The part where they dig a hole and knock the side out of the house is my favorite. "Hey neighbor, whatcha doin'?" BOOM
Here's the real site:
http://www.kiengineering.com/
The rear tends to lock up pretty easily in the wet or under hard stops. Fortunately, the rear locking isn't nearly as catastrophic as locking the front.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razor Ramon
When you brake, the weight balance of the bike (and you) moves toward the front tire--that's why the front of the bike "dives" lower than the rear. This shift in weight balance takes weight off the rear tire which in turn makes it easier for the rear tire to lock up. Without weight on the rear tire, it doesn't have much traction. Consider that the ultimate effect of weight balance moving forward is that the rear tire comes off the ground (a stoppie), in which case you'd have zero traction and the tire would "lock up" with any application of the brake. That's the extreme, but any weight balance shift leading up to that is another degree in that direction.
That's pretty rad. A lot of times, custom builds look poorly proportioned but that actually looks pretty good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joust Williams
What really chafes my ass is people actually get paid to do this. Why can't my job be this fun?
You have no useful skills in a fun field?
None.
The driver in that video is one of the founders of DC Shoes. He can afford to do, and does, just about whatever the hell he wants. He was almost 40 when he began driving seriously.
Yep, originally a graphic designer...Quote:
Originally Posted by Tones
Ken Block is a pretty good driver. You should check out the video of him driving on a mountain slope with snowboarders.
For a variety reasons, including 1.) My old helmet getting a bit old, 2.) I didn't have a full-face spare for passengers, and 3.) Impulse, I purchased a new helmet last week:
Scorpion EXO-700 in Neon Green
It's hard to display via screen how bright this fucker is, but here's a comparison to a typical helmet:
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/tnl/att...8&d=1332133659
Nice pic.Quote:
Our Apologies!
The page you are looking for can't be found.
Try the webBikeWorld search box above and enjoy the ride!
I love how he didn't use the attachment feature.
The paint is so bright that the board couldn't handle it.
My wheels...
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/tnl/att...4&d=1333250158
It's an '04 Saab 9-3 ARC. That's from back when I first got it. It's a crappy picture because the car's covered in snow, but it's all I've got.
The engine's only a 4 banger, but it's a peppy turbocharged 2.0 liter. That, in combination with my BFGoodrich g-Force Sport tires, makes for a fun ride. :cool:
I like Saabs. Sucks they went kaput
Do you know if bikes have some kind of metering valves like cars do to prevent the front brakes from engaging before the rear drum brakes? I know very little about bikes and am curious.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkRyan
Some bikes have linked brakes, where rear brake inputs (through the foot pedal) are applied to both the rear and front brakes. On most bikes, though, the front brakes are activated by the right lever on the handlebars, and the rear brake is modulated with the right foot pedal. They are not linked because conditions determine the braking limits of the front and rear tires.
I don't use my rear brake very much.
Brakes on most bikes, including mine, are very simple. There is nothing connection them, no electronics whatsoever--just hydraulicly operated calipers through a handlebar lever and a foot lever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bojack
Increasingly though, new bikes are coming with more advanced braking. Linked braking does what Tones described, applies some of both brakes when jut one lever is used. I'm not sure if it's just a mechanical connection or some electronic shit, but my guess is mechanical. Bikes with ABS typically have some linked braking, though in sportier bikes it's either minimal or not linked at all.
Subaru Forester. Brand new. It's so much fun!!!
Did you opt for the sti/xt (whatever they call it in the forester) version?
Oy, I've had a long weekend. It's about time to get the RX-7's registration renewed, which also means it needs to be inspected, which also means it needs to run. It has been suffering from some random electrical problems, including randomly not starting. This in itself wouldn't be a huge deal, but if the fuel pump is running but the car isn't cranking, this car will flood and it will be a pain in the ass. The last thing I did to the car was install a new starter, I figured the cable between the battery and the starter was loose, as that can cause all kinds of electrical funkiness.
I spent a lot of time yesterday trying to hunt it down, and I gave up. It couldn't possibly be the battery could it? I had left it on the charger all day, and the multimeter shows it reading 12 volts. It would be pretty stupid if I did all this work and it was the fucking battery. I can't jumpstart the car due to where it is parked, so I remove the battery from my Miata, install it in the 7 (it doesn't fit, but fine for diagnostics) and the car cranks right up with no trouble. This actually surprised me, I expected flooding, smoking, something, but nope, cranked right up and purred. I had forgotten about the sexy, sexy exhaust I had installed a few years ago, it's quiet but awesome.
Went to the store, got assraped for the battery, and I installed it and some new battery terminals today. I drove the car to the parts store to pick up some new wiper blades and oil, then pamper my car with an oil change, new wipers, and some light engine cleaning. I also check for the lights and stuff for inspection, and everything is fine except when I popped up the headlights THERE'S A FUCKING WASP NEST THERE. Cobwebs in the engine bay, wasp nest in the headlight, okay, this car has sat too long.
The car seems to be running great. Not perfect, but much better than I would expect after sitting nearly a year, and having at for a year before that. I'm not sure if it's because I'm used to the powerless Miata or what, but this car really HAULS when it wants to. I mean, I know it's only like 170 HP or so, but when your car weighs 2400 pounds it feels like a rocket.
Thing is, the car needs a lot of work. I'm not certain I'm in love with the car anymore, so I am unsure if I want to keep the car or sell it to someone who really will love it. It's a gokart from hell, and I love the rotary, but the car has one issue that is nearly impossible to fix-the steering sucks. It uses a recirculating ball type steering, with no power assist, so at low speeds it drives like a truck. I may be happier to go back to a 2nd gen RX-7, but if I don't get a turbo model they won't be nearly as fast as my 84 is now, so I may not be happy. Also, my car may not look like much, but the engine is strong as hell, and the suspension and exhaust are upgraded quite a bit. It will cost a lot of money to get another RX-7 and do comparable upgrades, as most cars you buy will either still be rolling on 20 year old shit or will have newer "upgrades" that are shit from ebay.
What to do, what to do...
Thanks for making me think of the rx7 I had ten years ago. It had a smokescreen!
Remember, volts don't start your car. Amps do. If a battery is old then it is possible for your car to show 12+ volts on the DMM but not flow enough amps, something to do with internal battery resistance due to corrosion on the cells or something. Also, unless you really hammer on it flooding isn't usually that big of a deal since a lot of gas will get pushed out the back as the engine cranks.Quote:
Originally Posted by GohanX
Lastly, if your RX has best 2/3 concerning driveline/suspension, interior, and exterior then keep it yo! RXes are pretty slick. Have you checked into adding power steering? There are power gear box steering cars out there, lots of 'em. Conversion kit might only be a couple hundred bucks and a weekend of work.
It's possible, but neither cheap nor easy. The last one I saw was actually a modified and rebuild VW Golf steering setup. Only $800!
Did Mazda not actually make a power steering set up for it?Quote:
Originally Posted by GohanX
Yeah, me too. This one is my third. Too bad it's also apparently going to be my last. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by stormy
Regarding braking on motorcycles, I thought that it was a giant no-no to use just the front hand brake? Isn't, like, 70% of your average bike's stopping power from the rear? And, God forbid, you lock up that front wheel. I was taught to always use both brakes, and I try to make it a habit to do so if for no other reason than to have the muscle memory in the event of an emergency.
They did, and it's awful. The problem isn't really the lack of power steering, but the lack of rack and pinion steering. The fixes are either to buy a custom rebuilt box like I mentioned, or replace the subframe with a 2nd Gen 7 or Miata, then use that car's parts. It's tough to be motivated enough to do that when I have a perfectly working Miata that drives perfectly already!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bojack
I can probably tighten up the play in the steering box and replace some of the bushings and shit, that would help a little.
It's the other way around--your front does 70% of braking (at least). What happens when you brake quickly? All your weight transfers to the front of the bike. (You feel this in your wrists or knees.) The added weight to the front increases the traction of the front tire, and the reduced weight on the back tire reduces the grip of the back tire.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gondolin
You're right that locking up the front is bad news and generally much worse than locking up the back. But it's also much less likely to lock up because of weight transfer. Squeeze the brake lever progressively--and not suddenly--and you will not lock up the front even under hard, hard braking.
...So it is. And the way you explained it makes sense. Thanks for the correction, man. The last thing that I want to be doing is riding around with a mistaken understanding of how things operate.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkRyan
With the hills around here, I find I use my rear brake a LOT.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tones
Hills? Hills are a myth.
As a bonus, I can now park on ANYTHING without fear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tones
Click for full size
Yup. The horizon line looks like something out of Inception out here.
Rack and pinion isn't necessarily better than an old pitman arm set up. Car makers use them because they're cheaper and more compact, sometimes lighter too. Making sure your box is adjusted and your components are in good shape should take a lot of play out of your steering and make it less truckish.Quote:
Originally Posted by GohanX
Had a three-day weekend for Good Friday/Easter, did a lot of riding. On Friday I did a 230-mile-plus loop with a couple of coworkers through the North Bay, Marina, Sonoma, Napa. Today I did a quicker 100-mile loop through my usual spots and snapped a pretty nice shot of my bike. Thought I'd share.
Click for full size
That's real pretty, right there.
Yeller, you down for a ride down the coast some day? Holding hands?
Okay, I've made a decision. I'm keeping the RX-7. I'm going to make it my daily driver if I can get it running well enough to get decent gas mileage. I've got a lot of work ahead of me, but compared to installing a suspension it's fairly easy, if not tedious work. The odd thing is I'm thinking of detuning it some for the sake of drivability and comfort. I must be getting old.
I've been bitten by the bug again...
How about this: Sell the rotary lump, and install an LSx for twice the power, 50% better gas mileage, and better resale value?
Edit: Never mind, you have a first gen, right? Memory serves that the FC and FD are better LSx donor recipients.
Yeah, I'm not going for power here, the car has more than enough. If I just wanted something stupid fast it would be easier to put a stupidly powerful FI setup in the Miata. Or just buy a bike.
I've got a friend with a LS1 powered FD. It's awesome, but not for me.
Sounds dreamy.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkRyan
I'm MIA through mid-May, sometime after that?
--
Been getting used to riding with passengers lately, makes things way different on low-gears but not so bad on the higher end. Modified breaking distance is another thing I'm getting used to. Any general advice on that front?
Since there is more weight on the rear, you can use a little more rear brake, but the stopping distance will still be a bit longer. When I ride two-up, my objective is to make the ride pleasant for all parties involved, not to drag a knee or use all of the throttle. I just remind the girl always to get on/off from the left side, so that there are no burned calves, and to hold on however it's comfortable for her. Start off slow to prevent freaking anyone out, and as a result you won't get a deathgrip around your torso.
Ideally, you should adjust your rear shock to a firmer setting to account for the extra weight, but I never had that tool, and it hasn't been an issue.
No fatties on the back of Tones's bike. It'll be a while before I'm comfortable taking on a passenger.
That is a thing of beauty. Nice shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkRyanHad a three-day weekend for Good Friday/Easter, did a lot of riding. On Friday I did a 230-mile-plus loop with a couple of coworkers through the North Bay, Marina, Sonoma, Napa. Today I did a quicker 100-mile loop through my usual spots and snapped a pretty nice shot of my bike. Thought I'd share.
Click for full size
Sounds like your holiday didn't suck. I'm jealous; I haven't been able to take advantage of any of the nice weather that we've had in CT this year. :cry:
Not worth the risk nor the public humiliation imo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gondolin
Dude had better be careful with his throttle...
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/tnl/att...1&d=1334193526
I dunno, hit it just right and hold on (while she's distracted) and he might be free of the beast.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gondolin
Honestly, many LS1 powered RX-7s are more about reliability and consistant power and not so much "durrr....500 hundet horsepowerin a tiny jap car"Quote:
Originally Posted by GohanX
Rotaries are a nice destraction and an interesting curiosity. I like alternative designs, but day to day, they suck balls.
Look at all the v12 Jags that were Chevy 350 swapped in the 70s and 80s.
I've been driving rotaries off and on for 15 years now. Them's fightin' words! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Wildkat
My rotary is awesome day to day
I test drove a Mini Cooper S today. I like it. The power was better than i thought it would be, yo soy turbos. Transmission was not as good as my RX8. No curvy roads in the area to try it out on either, but handling seemed good. I'm thinking about it for my next car. I love the ice blue color they have.
You should totally get it and give me the 8!
I remember going to VIR for an event where you donated to charity and got to run your street car on the track. Not really racing as you couldn't pass, but it was good. The funny thing is the pace car was a VIR staff member in a Mini Cooper, and he was being followed by Vettes, Mustangs, imports, and even a few Italian exotics and nobody could keep up with that fucker in the stock Cooper. I gained a lot of respect for Minis that day.
Question no one I know has been able to answer, why do German cars use stupid ass wheel bolts instead of studs and lugnuts like the rest of the world?
probably tradition
My old man just took home a brand-new 2012 Dyna Wide Glide yesterday...
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/tnl/att...4&d=1336366276
I got to take it out for a quick putt around my 'hood before the clouds rolled in... which also happened to be my first ride of the season, woohoo! Even better, he's storing the bike at my place and I have full access to it. :cool:
interesting pet name. Why does your mom put up with that?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gondolin
I assume that that was an attempt at some kind of burn? I don't get it. Explain.
Counter-burn!
indeedQuote:
Originally Posted by Tones
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/tnl/att...6&d=1336924709
Counter burn?
admitting you don't understand an obvious joke isn't really a burn.
More like pretending to be stupid, hoping other stupid people will find the joker stupid.
I'm going to my first autocross event of the year next month. 2 days and it's typically a long, fast course since it'll be at an airport. I'll try to take pictures if I can. Unfortunately, there's no real time to take pictures of the action since I'll either be racing or working the course.
Awesome! I <3 autocrossing. Will you have an instructor ride along?
I'm not allowed to get a motorcycle :(
It's ok, after watching a guy who had the right of way decapitated by a pickup truck, it's not worth it.
Yeah, but still...
Nope. This will be my 5th (?) AX event, so it's going to be just me. When I first started I definitely had an instructor, but after some seat time and pointers from friends of mine who are good AXers, the training wheels are off. If this were a SCCA-sanctioned event (National Road Autosport is hosting the event I'm doing), I probably would need one since the course designers for the SCCA tend to be sadistic.Quote:
Originally Posted by GohanX
Heard a story at band practice last night about how some guy in his Ferrari hit another guy on a motorcycle at 90+mph. It was the dude's first ride on his bike and his wife apparently tried to convince the guy from not riding his bike that day. He didn't stand a chance. Sad story. I will NEVER own a motorcycle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hubbitron
Paul (88mph bassist) was supposed to race at the Meadowlands on Sunday when the accident happened, but it got cancelled.
http://www.northjersey.com/dumont/05...orcyclist.html
Here's a pic of the Ferarri and what's left of the motorcycle after the crash.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...2950-large.jpg
I read "first autocross of the year" as "first autocross." Stupid brain.
I heard one time a guy died because of some circumstance that was beyond his control. :(
Finchie just earned himself a rep.
And I imagine getting tapped by somebody doing 90+ wouldn't end well regardless of whether you're on a bike or in a car.
Yeah, pretty much. I don't think most people on the highway really understand just how much force is involved in moving a vehicle at 90 mph or how much impact that creates when that vehicle suddenly and violently stops moving. Just because cars these days can easily do it, doesn't mean it's a good idea if you aren't trained for high speed driving.
Of course, the worst accidents around here are on 2 lane state highways with 45 or 55 mph limits.
The 2012 Impreza is hideous. Subaru should just pay Toyota to make that generic looking turd while they are at it.
Disgusting.
Tomoco owns controlling interest in Fuji Heavy Industries. I dunno if they could pay Toyota.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fe 26
I was implying that they ruined the look of that series. It was one of the few asian imports that was something special. Now it looks like every other small car.
The Subaru BRZ is the joint Toyota/Subaru venture and from the looks of it ... delivers in spades.
mehQuote:
Originally Posted by Advocate
Not AWD/turbo, no sale.
Damn, that's a pretty glowing review of the BRZ. I'm stoked to read reviews and comparos from Car and Driver for reference. I can live without AWD--I prefer RWD. And the power is pretty solid for the car's weight. An extra 50 hp would be transformative but I'm more into revs than power these days.
That's why I love my car. It's agile and tops out at 8K RPM.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkRyan
This car even resembles mine: 2.0L/200hp, but the weight distribution is better, which makes it a better handling car. The fact that it comes in a 6-speed auto is a bit disappointing. Why would they even consider it? Manual or go home, imo.
I love rev happy cars. I freaked my dad out when I test drove the Miata and revved it up to 7000 RPMs, he was sure that the engine was going to explode. I also love having a passenger in the car of the RX7 when they hear the rev buzzer for the first time. It's extremely loud, and I just grin and call it my "it's time to shift" indicator.
Yeah, my dad freaked out when I told him I sometimes take my engine to 8K RPM. That's what it was built for!
Because the 6 speed auto from the Lexus is the god tier of transmissions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Type Ryan
Call me old fashioned, but I just don't think "performance" cars should come in automatic, regardless of what type of auto transmission is installed.
K grandpa.
Not my fault people don't know how to drive. At least, that's what I think of when I see a sports car or "peformance" car with an auto installed. It screams, "I'm a Noob!"
No, you're more angry that those "noobs" are riding the left lane and are causing a massive back up on the Baltimore Pike.
Focus your anger more properly.
Wrong topic. Not even going there.
Performance driving requires a bit more skill than automatic transmissions are able to provide. I'll check to see if any AXers I meet in a couple weeks have auto transmissions installed. I'm also doing a PDX event in August, and I'll do the same. I think I know what the results will be.
I understand autos in normal cars/daily drivers for the convenience it offers to some, but to put them in performance cars gives the driver a false sense of security. Most people don't know how to drive their cars, so putting an unexperienced driver behind the wheels of a car that is driven way differently and requires a bit more attention than your average commuter car is stupid, imho of course.
Basically, when you're in a faster car you need to pay a lot more attention, and automatics take away your attention because all you need to do is look and step on the gas, leaving time to do fuck all besides pay attention to the road/how you're driving.
If I ever get to drive again, I'm gonna move to an automatic. It kills me, but I am fucking feeble.
And yeah... sweet ass cars with an automatic transmission are bullshit. I'll be purchasing a shit-banger, thank you very much.
I agree, but there are some good auto transmissions out there with manual shifting options. I still prefer manual, but I could see myself with something like the Miata's or RX8's 6 speed auto as a compromise for the wife.
fyi: its a six speed manual with the option for a 6 speed auto (used in the Lexus IS) read: paddle shiftersQuote:
Originally Posted by Type Ryan
http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/brz/features.html
edit 2: It was a joke.
edit 3: the vid even shows the guy shifting and talking about heel-to-toe shifting. Something that can only be done in a manual.
I think paddle shifters are fucking proper. You're still controlling when the car shifts, you just don't have to do a little dance first.
Agreed. Paddle shifters/quick shifters are fine. I just cringe when I hear "automatic transmission" in anything other than a daily driver, or shit-banger if you will.
I will not.
Yuck automatic transmission. It's the worst.
My wife has an old man car, and the auto is funny. You'll be driving normally, the auto decides to randomly downshift and apply the full 200 ft lbs of torque all at once with little warning. It makes for interesting commutes.
fun times.
also: better get that checked out.
anecdotal: My sisters current B/F is a transmission mechanic. He builds tranmissions from scratch. I can ask him for you.
pm your cars details. I'm mighty confident he can tell you what's wrong.
So it was in the news recently, but here's a video of a korean couple in their hyundai when it suddenly accelerates and slams into traffic at 80 mph.
Nothing's actually wrong with it, it's just that the car has no power (140 hp) but 200 ft lbs of torque. That combined with me being unfamiliar with autos makes for interesting rides.Quote:
Originally Posted by Advocate
