| Author |
bike or car - & what type ? |
gelfen
Joined: Nov 22, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Melbourne, Australia
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melbourne newspaper the Herald Sun has a weekly feature called Cars Guide. in this series of articles they took a dozy BMW R1150R Rockster and turned it from this
BMW Rockster - Germany's idea of a tough road bike.
into this
"Rocky" - No more Mr. Nice Bike
...here is an extract from the final article:
ROCKY was just a misunderstood kid from the wrong side of Berlin when we took him under our wing last month. Fresh off the boat, the BMW R1150R Rockster was asking for trouble in Melbourne's back alleys with his stripy clothes and bug eyes.
We'd had one of his “streetfighter” relatives at Cars Guide and found him more than willing for a few rounds. But he was too quiet, a little soft in the legs and his get-up was all wrong.
He needed help. Five weeks later, our project bike version is a serious athlete ready to take on all-comers.
There's no doubt he was a bit out of shape when he arrived, but Rocky produced a few surprises in training, with a quarter-mile time of 12.84sec (we were expecting a 14), and a fastest terminal speed of 101.60mph.
At the Broadford road racing circuit, he ran a best lap time of 1:21.78.
Despite the beating he copped, Rocky never threw in the towel. We heaved a sigh of relief, the training program wasn't going to be too hard.
With a change to a Leo Vince SBK alloy muffler, Rocky sounded better and ripped through the quarter at Calder Park in 12.297sec, with a terminal speed of 108mph exactly, before rain stopped his exhibition match.
Fitted with Ohlins shock absorbers to stop his rear end fading and back in the Broadford “ring”, Rocky went under his previous best on the first lap and quickly produced a 1:17.75 despite an inferior rear tyre.
But improved performance wasn't enough. To win the hearts and minds of Australia's streetfighter fans he had to look cool.
The self-adhesive orange metallic candy stripes were easily removed from the matt black paint on the tank and sidecovers, while the wheels and oil cooler covers went off to be resprayed gold.
His bug-eye headlight went in the box marked “return to BMW Australia, Mulgrave”, replaced by an Acerbis Diamond enduro headlight reminiscent of headgear used in the Power Rangers TV series. The headlight protector bar also went gold.
With the white self-adhesive racing number background removed and a pair of Powerbronze iridium indicators, Rocky looked like a giant blowfly.
The stock instrument assembly was replaced by a Trailtech Motorcycle Computer with anodised billet surround. It runs off an electronic sender unit on the front wheel, which has speed, odometer and tripmeter readings among its 19 functions.
With the tacho gone, a shift light would have been nice, but we didn't miss the neutral indicator, thanks to the slick gearbox. The indicator self-cancel function no longer worked, but we didn't miss that either.
A set of carbon-fibre rocker cover shields from BMW's Boxer Cup model cleaned up the engine's appearance. This week we sourced some black ignition lead covers to complete the cool, “blacked out” look of the motor.
Rocky is slimmer, quicker and smarter than he used to be. Now it's time for him to strut his stuff in front of the BMW bosses in Mulgrave, near Melbourne.
So far they've fobbed Rocky off &$150; like a prodigal son disinherited after getting tattoos and a nose ring.
Things could be even worse when head office in Germany finds out.
We're hoping they'll let him go on the “show” circuit, visiting BMW showrooms around the country.
Check with your local dealer or keep an eye on CARSguide for developments.
Herald Sun
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jazzmeister
Joined: Jan 12, 2004
Posts: 49
From: Malacca, Malaysia
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@jojo, the biggest production bike that should be out by now is the...
Triumph Rocket III
2,294cc - 140 cubic inches
147ft.lbf torque
140 bhp
Fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, three-cylinder engine
Shaft drive
240/50 section rear tyre
Life is a journey we all must make... |
*Jojo*
Joined: Oct 15, 2003
Posts: > 500
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@jazzmeister - Thanks for the info there mate. By the way is the Triumph bike a cruiser, off-road or a sports one ? |
jazzmeister
Joined: Jan 12, 2004
Posts: 49
From: Malacca, Malaysia
PM |
@jojo,
no worries mate! the trumpy's a cruiser, by the way... big, fat, beautiful cruiser.. hahahaha
check it out at http://www.triumph.co.uk/site/intro.cfm
Life is a journey we all must make... |
*Jojo*
Joined: Oct 15, 2003
Posts: > 500
PM |
@jazzmeister - Wow ! The bike looks like a Harley there, 'almost' similar to the one Arnie used in T2, but I prefer sports bike rather than cruisers . . . Thanks again ! |
Ronnie Biggs
Joined: Sep 08, 2003
Posts: 29
From: ... over yon hills and far awa
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I gotta get me one of them Triumph Rocket III's - who wants a clean 1500 Goldwing?
This message was posted from a P800 |
*Jojo*
Joined: Oct 15, 2003
Posts: > 500
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How about a 'zebra' here using a big bike to runaway from his lion predator . . .
[ This Message was edited by: laffen on 2004-08-09 00:02 ] |
*Jojo*
Joined: Oct 15, 2003
Posts: > 500
PM |
Well, a simple 'bicycle' will do well with me. Provided that it will be very safe from the hands of the 'bikenappers', so I provided some of the latest 'alarm' & 'steal-proof' gadgets around it, and I mean 'around'. Take a look . . .
[ This Message was edited by: laffen on 2004-08-09 00:02 ] |
*Jojo*
Joined: Oct 15, 2003
Posts: > 500
PM |
I am riding here my ever reliable '94 Yamaha FZR 750cc Sports Production Bike . . . Sorry for the delay in posting I still have to sort out my old pics in my archive. I am wearing (using) an old Motorola Star Tac Analog fone (black pouch side belt clip) - the best during that time here in Manila . . .
[ This Message was edited by: laffen on 2004-08-09 00:02 ] |
Jowi
Joined: Feb 21, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Pilipinas
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@jojo-In our country,u need both. Bike 4 trfc & car 4 aircon. Well,u can use d bike during evenings w/c trfc is heavier & d car during daytime coz of heat & humidity.
This message was posted from a T68i |
*Jojo*
Joined: Oct 15, 2003
Posts: > 500
PM |
@jowi - YES ! I definitely agree with you. I only use my bike of course when the sun is shining hot outside, but during rainy days, I often use my car to my shop. About the 'aircon' thing, I can also say that you can also experience the so-called 'airconditioning' when riding on your bike, and that is what you call - 'aircon-tinuous' ! |
Jowi
Joined: Feb 21, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Pilipinas
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Jojo-u mean air pollution
This message was posted from a T68i |
*Jojo*
Joined: Oct 15, 2003
Posts: > 500
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@jowi - YEEEEEEES ! Exactly mate. as I have made into an expereince after riding a bike for a looong time now- 15years to be exact, I started with a 150 cc peugeot scooter, even you have your leather jacket on, the ride is still comfy and cool at times specially when I go out at around 4 a.m. So there's really no need for an aircon then, even if it's so impossible to install one on your bike. |
*Jojo*
Joined: Oct 15, 2003
Posts: > 500
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Here are some more photos of bikes I've found in my archive (I've photgraphed these 2 myself mates! - December 2000). I've spotted these bikers in Tagaytay, an hour away drive from the metropolis, located already in the countryside. Unfortunately, the riders took a break in a fastfood chain- McDonald's. On weekends, you can spot group riders like these in Tagaytay, I've also seen some Audi TTs, Porsches, Ferraris and Harleys (Davidsons) group clubs in that place.
In these 2 photos you can see a honda VFR 400cc, (2) Suzuki 750cc SRAD-Red/White, Kawasaki Ninja 7R-750cc and a Kawasaki Bandit.
[ This Message was edited by: jojo51069 on 2004-03-19 19:17 ]
[ This Message was edited by: laffen on 2004-08-09 00:01 ] |
*Jojo*
Joined: Oct 15, 2003
Posts: > 500
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Any photos of your bike mates? Please don't be shy to show them ! |
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Posted: 2004-02-10 03:56
