Owner: Motodisiac - where motorcycles are more than just a passion ... URL:http://www.motodisiac.com/ Join Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:19:58 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Motodisiac - sickness that has no cure. As the name suggests we are passionate about motorcycles and everything that pertains that subject. Site statistics:Click here
Attack of a Clueless Prius 2007-10-31 00:20:40 It was only 5 days ago that I wrote about Prius
drivers. I got some comments in response both off and online. Basically while some people admit that the Prius drivers were somewhat oblivious others bashed me for being subjective and having I quote a “confirmation bias”. So today I got more confirmation without a [...] Read more:Clueless
Wordpress Upgrade - Part Deux 2007-10-29 21:13:49 Or rather WordPress degrade. Again this is absolutely irrelevant to motorsports. But since I had let everyone know that the upgrade went fine one little thing made a world of difference. Basically it comes down to this - once you are logged out of WordPress you can not log back in. For curious tech [...] Read more:Wordpress
Racing Salvation 2007-10-29 10:30:08 Most of US racing fans are doomed to watch Speed channel if they want to see any kind of racing action. Over the years we’ve gotten used to extra long commercial breaks in the heat of the action, World Superbike races or Tuesdays and re-runs of old programs in prime time on Sunday, when the [...] Read more:Racing
, Salvation
Wordpress Upgrade 2007-10-28 20:58:17 This post is absolutely unrelated to anything automotive in general and motorcycles in particular. Just wanted to gloat on the fact that we had just upgraded to WordPress v 2.3.1 which was officially released just a day ago. I am really amazed at how well WordPress has made its blog software. They pride themselves on [...] Read more:Wordpress
Toyota Prius - A Thin Line Between Love and Hate 2007-10-25 12:55:34 Ever since Toyota
introduced its new hybrid car the Prius
has been a subject of various debates. Its actual fuel economy was largely questioned. There has been rumors about its batteries not being environment friendly. Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear made a really harsh review of it that you can see below.
But the subject [...] Read more:Toyota Prius
Freedom of Movement with Less Freedom of Attire 2007-10-24 13:17:21 I admit it - I did not come up with this catchy title. I was discussing motorcycle riding with one of my friends the other day (he knows who he is). And I was sort of complaining that riding is great and saves you time especially on congested roads of Los Angeles. However you can’t [...] Read more:Freedom
, Attire
Rider Down on 405 2007-10-23 12:09:35 I see at least a couple motorcycle accidents a week since my commute includes a lot of riding. Sometimes they are just a little mishaps where the riders escape unhurt, sometimes they are more serious and I cross my fingers in hope that the riders pull it through. Sometimes the accidents just leave me gutted [...] Read more:Rider
A Case of Mistaken Identity? 2007-10-20 16:55:36 I gun it off the stop light. And there I am, the first guy off the light, everyone else behind me, slowly catching up with my fast pace. I see the guy in a very loud low rider. Let him pass me. I am not in a mood to start a pissing contest. I’ll [...]
Is Rossi Cursed and Will The Curse Be Gone with Michelins? 2007-11-04 18:53:40 So Valentino Rossi
highsides out of Saturdays qualifying in spectacular manner.
After being diagnosed with 3 broken bones in his right hand he bravely suits up and shows up for Sunday race. He has NEVER missed a race in his 11 year Moto GP career. He starts well and before you know it we see him slicing through the grid. Just when it looks like he is about to take a couple of valuable points he engine goes caput. Damn Yamaha let his down again.
This season has been by far the worst season for Yamaha team in recent years. Tire failures, engine troubles and suspension woes has been the topic of nearly ever race. Valentino Rossi, 7 time World Champion, looked like a fool trying to win on his inferior machine. Every other Yamaha was nowhere near the top of the podium, usually fighting for one of the last positions.
Does he really deserve it? I want to see him fight for the win, this is where he belongs. Even if Stoner is good (and he is), Valentino will fight him till the end. Vale hi
Mystical Mist 2007-11-03 15:52:26 I was driving South on the 405 freeway this morning around 8 o’clock. And right as I went over the hill and reached the Getty center area I saw it. A mystical mist covering everything in sight. Something fascinating about it. I had to take my camera out and make a few shots. Here they are. I hope you enjoy them.
Road Rage Trigger Factors 2007-11-02 13:54:26 As I was reading news today’s morning I stumbled upon this funny article. A Sydney man was enraged when a woman showed him a “little pinky” gesture making a clear reference to the anti-speeding TV ad campaign.
The guy became so enraged that he threw a plastic bottle out of his car window, hitting the gesturing woman’s car. How insecure should you be to do that?
This anti-speeding campaign was launched a while ago and is a great hit in my opinion. Judge for yourself.
Road rage is an interesting subject. Millions of things could potentially trigger it. Anyone is prone to snap no matter how hard they would deny it. I am sure everyone has experienced a sudden urge at least once in their driving lifetime. It is just the matter of how much can one take.
There is however a huge difference between wanting to express your anger when driving and riding. When I was much younger some one told me that “he who’s car weighs more and is larger is always right o Read more:Road Rage
Weak Spot 2007-11-01 12:10:55 About a year ago somebody on Adv Rider posted a link to old DTM footage on You Tube involving glorious Mercedes 190E and BMW M3’s. Since I’d already owned two E30 M3’s in the past, I figured it was time to try a Silver Star from Stuttgart. About two weeks later I was driving home my newly purchased Mercedes, participating in mini Cannonball Run: St Louis - Los Angeles.
The car more than exceeded my expectations in fun department. Nowadays it just sits under the cover in my garage because I don’t really drive it much, maybe having 3 motorcycles has something to do with it. I’m even thinking about selling it. Actually I was thinking about it until…..
Yesterday I was at one of our customers shops when I saw this car sitting in the corner.
Right away the thoughts of selling my car were wiped away and replaced with big letters glowing in my conscience “I MUST HAVE ONE OF THESE” This is the car that started it all, the mother of all STI&rs
Nobody Walks in LA 2007-10-31 14:00:19 Obesity. Poor Fitness. Traffic. High Pollution. These are the plagues of modern American society. I just got a perfect example why.
Right across from our office, not even 1/8 mile away, we just had a new restaurant opened. Not even a restaurant, just Super Fancy fast food joint where people come for lunch.
Would you walk there? I would but one of my co-workers decided that it’s too far and drove.
In the bottom of the picture is his parking spot, silver M3 parked on the other side of the road is his car. You be the judge.
Read more:Nobody
Crazy Car Accident Videos 2007-11-08 13:14:10 Browsing the web today I stumbled upon these insane automobile accident videos. They come from the capital of Russia - Moscow. With the population over 10 million people and growing it is no wonder that thousands and thousands of cars swarm the streets and roads in and around the city daily and nightly. Problem is that the city plan was thought out and implemented long time ago when the number of cars was significantly less. Endless government convoys zooming through the city at jet-like speeds, the overwhelming number of cars, bad weather conditions and sometimes poor road conditions make the city’s traffic really accident prone.
Here are these videos - http://englishrussia.com/?p=1624. I hope that you watch and learn how one has to be really careful. It takes a split second to get yourself in trouble. So be safe!
Attention - R-rated material.
Read more:Crazy
Bono’s Ducati Is For Sale 2007-11-08 09:00:06 How would you like to own a Ducati
bike that used to house Bono’s behind? Well, if you are in Birmingham, UK on November 23 or planning on being there then you might have a shot. Bono’s Ducati 916 is going to be auctioned at the International Motorcycle & Scooter Show.
And if you thought that bike could not get more famous … Bono wasn’t the first owner. The bike was originally owned by Michael Hutchence, the late INXS singer and then by another U2 member Adam Clayton.
So get your checkbook and head out to Birmingham. Hurry up …
Is Adding Google to Gas Pumps a Good Idea? 2007-11-07 17:46:02 Today browsing through the online news feeds I found this interesting article - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21670329/. Apparently Google
is expected to announce a partnership with Gilbarco Veeder-Root, to include Google’s mapping service on 3,500 Internet enabled gasoline pumps across the US. The maps will be available on the pump’s small screen giving motorists the ability to scroll through local landmarks, hotels, restaurants, and hospitals to the bemusement of the guy waiting behind you. The pump will even print directions.
In my opinion it is yet another attempt by this pump manufacturer to lure customers with fancy add-on features. “We think the service will create more customer loyalty for retailers,” said Gilbarco Veeder-Root spokeswoman Lucy Sackett. I am not sure about customer loyalty. But what it will definitely create is a much longer lines at the gas stations where Google pumps are located. People will start playing around hence transforming a quic
Hot Fuzz 2007-11-07 13:07:56 Have you ever wanted to get pulled over? Normally people stay away from police cars and bikes because you just never know when you are going to get picked. Does getting a ticket for missing front plate or window tint sound familiar?
This morning I proved my theory wrong. I was getting on the freeway as usual, just idling at the red light. All of the sudden I saw her. She was beautiful, sexy and elegant. It was female CHP officer riding BMW R1150RT. Normally the girls working the law are not the prettiest, sometimes I even suspect they have a couple of round ones. She was quite the contrary. I almost thought she was wearing police costume but Halloween is over, so I denied that thought.
As I was drooling at her, the light turned green and she took off, but not before giving me a look and a wicked smile. Was I dreaming? This was one of the moments when everything seems surreal. I chased after her, desperately trying to attract her attension without violating any major laws. I tried pull Read more:Hot Fuzz
Michael Shumacher unveils Ferrari FXX Evoluzione 2007-11-07 03:47:51
Lately Michael
Shumacher has been a topic of the headlines around the world. Announcing that he is coming out of retirement to test Ferrari
F1, riding Ducati Desmosedici Moto GP machine, and now enveiling the hottest Ferrari ever to roll out of Maranello factory - FXX Evoluzione. 860 HP, 9500 rpm redline, F1 inspired transmission and traction control in a body of supermodel. I’m afraid I can’t even pronounce the price. Please wipe off your screen when you’re done.
Michael Schumacher to Moto GP? 2007-11-06 10:59:54
Today in Valencia 7 time F1 Champion Michael
Shumacher completed 58 laps onboard of Casey Stoner’s Ducati. Amazingly he lapped at impressive pace, his quickest lap in high 1:37’s. That is only 5 (!) seconds off the lap record set by Dani Pedrosa this weekend. This just proves that Moto GP bikes are very easy to ride because of all electronics involved.
In 2005 Shumi rode Ducati’s 990cc Desmosedici in Mugello. That time he was 15 seconds off the pace. Did he become a better rider? I seriously doubt it, it’s the bike that gives him the confidence. I can speculate that if he tried riding 500cc two stroke GP machine, he would be 45 seconds off the pace or possibly thrown off the bike.
With high horsepower Moto GP bikes getting more and more manageable every year, the rider’s skill slowly becomes irrelevant. It is clear to me that the Golden Era of motorcycle RACERS is over, replaced by the battle on the technological fronts. I think Dorna should do somethi Read more:Schumacher
Beware the Silent Killer 2007-11-06 09:00:00 Everyone knows that riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous. But not everyone knows of all the dangers that riding possesses. Of course there is a mere fact that you are at mercy of other cars. And obviously the nature can take its shot at you as I had learned recently when Motodisiac and I almost lost our bikes and his girlfriend was almost “gone with the wind“. But besides the visible things there is one more. A silent killer. Its name is “wind noise”.
When I just started riding Motodisiac told me that wearing ear plugs really makes the world of difference. I laughed. I thought ear plugs will cut off everything. And hearing is one of the most important of all senses. Especially on the road. Then sometime later Motodisiac emailed me this article. It goes into specific explanation of how wind noise will affect your hearing. After reading it I got a little worried. So apparently the wind noise can make you go deaf if you are constantly exposed to it. And I ri Read more:Beware
, Silent
, Killer
Putin? Never Heard of Her 2007-11-05 10:06:02 I had to blog about this. The other day I was flipping through pages of the July issue of Wired magazine when I saw this headline - “Putin
? Never Heard
of Her”. It immediately caught my attention and I started reading. Well, according to the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press in 2007 only 36% of Americans could name the president of Russia where as a “whopping” 47% could do the same in 1989. Wow. Did I read this right? That is amazing. In disbelief I immediately googled this research center and actually found the page that described this survey in details - http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=319. God bless the Internet.
It actually gets worse when you read the whole survey page. For instance only 21% can identify the current secretary of Defense Robert Gates (who by the way has been appointed to this position about a year ago). But 64% can identify Beyonce Knowles. “Well, being able to identify Robert Gates is not necess
Gas Prices to Jump 20 Cents - Time to Buy a Motorcycle 2007-11-14 08:47:21 There you have it. America approaches the gas prices that Europe has been having for quite some time now. For a long while Americans were enjoying the 6 liter engine muscle cars, gas guzzling SUVs and trucks without being too concerned about how much they spend on gas. You go to Europe and you rarely see a full size sedan, let alone a large pickup truck or an SUV. It is mostly a small size cars that are widely ridiculed here in the US. Well, ridiculed no more. With the gas prices going up to $4 per gallon I am sure the public opinion will change. May be we’ll start seeing some BMWs with 1.8 and 1.6 engines, Audi A3s and A4s with 1.4L engine, more TDI engines etc? Who knows …
I was in Rome last year. And I was surprised to see the number of motorcycles and scooters on the streets of the eternal city. They were everywhere. You can see for yourself. What you see below is a typical picture there.
So may be the time finally came for people to make a change in their lives. May Read more:Prices
, Motorcycle
, Gas Prices
Tire Change - How to Screw Up a Simple Job 2007-11-13 08:00:24 When I purchased my motorcycle it was pretty clear that I would need new tires real soon. Being a good friend that he is Motodisiac gave me a set of new tires as a birthday gift in the end of September. A couple of weeks ago I found a motorcycle shop near my work, called them in and dropped off the tires and my bike. A couple of hours and 80 dollars later the job was done. How complicated is it to change tires? It is a pretty basic job. With that school of thought I did not feel there was a need to double check that the job was done right. Boy was I wrong.
A couple of days ago we went to watch the Supermoto championship races. Early that morning I arrived at Motodisiac’s parking garage. As we both were getting ready to leave we noticed my chain being a little saggy on the bottom part. That did not look right. After a closer examination we discovered that the chain was not installed properly. And I had been riding like that for a couple of weeks at least. Of course we ended up f Read more:Change
, Screw
, Simple
Supermoto Madness at Morongo 2007-11-12 13:07:31 Last Saturday Motodisiac and I rode out over 100 miles to watch the AMA Supermoto championship held at Morongo casino in Cabazon, CA. After quickly fixing a loose chain on my bike (courtesy of the “professional” tire change work of Moto Club Di in Santa Monica, CA a couple of weeks ago) we took off around 10 in the morning and arrived there right when the race was about to start. The ride itself was slightly tiring. It took a little over an hour to get to the races. No significant traffic on our way, cruising at 85mph (hopefully CHP is not reading our blog :)). But it seemed like either I am not used to riding such long distances yet, or my bike’s seat is not the most comfortable in the world, or my bike is a little low for me. It could be the combination of the three as well.
We were excited to see the riders take off and happy that we got there right on time. The start is the most impressive part. Over 20 riders take off and immediately try to take a sharp turn as f Read more:Madness
One of the Big Boys 2007-11-09 20:57:25 This statement would qualify for a willing suspension of disbelief. In other words a delusion. What made me think I am one of the big boys now? Well, let me tell you.
I was riding cautiously splitting lanes in a dense Friday traffic earlier today when I spotted a rider ahead of me. He was doing the same at a slower speed. The guy was riding a street cruiser type motorbikes. Not something that won’t allow you to comfortably split lanes. So that reason was out of the picture. “May be he is cautious because of a stronger than usual wind” - I caught myself thinking as I was closing in on him. After my trial by fire (or by wind rather) the wind has got to be close to a tornado to freak me out.
I had no intention to push the pace. He was probably 5-10 mph slower which is insignificant. As I was getting closer the rider ahead of me shifted left and let me pass. “Ok, thank you kindly my fellow rider. I will respectfully accept your offer”. So I went by waving a t
Need For Speed 2007-11-14 18:38:17 Some of my friends call me a fast driver. I guess it does depend on a perspective. I have driven my car on a race track. So I know how to push it. I grew up driving a car in a European country with a semi-chaotic city traffic that makes New York driving seem like a walk in a park. With this said I know how to drive both defensively and offensively. To wrap up this somewhat long intro - I know how to drive fast and would occasionally employ that style - guilty as charged. That all changed once I became a motorcycle rider.
I have had my car for almost 2 years now. It is a nice piece of German automobile industry. I really love my car. But as with everything you tend to get bored with things. So earlier this year I was contemplating an idea of getting another German. A bigger, meaner one with more horse powers and a one and a half second faster dash from 0 to 60 mph. Common sense won and I did not make an impulse buy. Some time later I bought my first motorbike. It goes from 0 to 60 one s Read more:Speed
Valentino Rossi is selling his helmet on E-Bay 2007-11-24 02:57:02 If you ever wanted to own a piece of Moto GP history, here is your chance. Together with AGV, ValentinoRossi
is offering his Mugello helmet for sale, along with autograph and personal delivery by 7 time World Champion. This helmet is one of 3 ever made (one Valentino threw in the crowd after emotional win of Italian Grand Prix and the second one he is keeping) The graphics on the helmet are reflecting that Vale is still racing with his heart. The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the biggest children hospital in Italy.
I will be auctioning my Girlfriend a day before the end of the auction, any takers? The price must be at least equal to the winning bid on the helmet
Here is the link to the helmet auction in case you want to try and outbid me
Read more:selling
New lid - Arai Astral X Review 2007-11-20 13:25:36 I have been using my Arai Quantum F for a little over 6 years. Helmet manufacturers recommend replacing one every 5 years or so, and considering my lid also survived a couple of small crashes it was time to replace it.
When I switched to Arai, I was a happy camper. It was clearly the most comfortable helmet I’ve ever had, so I didn’t feel bad about spending $500 on it. However daily use began revealing some of it’s flaws. Fogging shield, little rubber strip falling off, noisy and ineffective vents, poor visor removal design leading to broken parts and expensive visor replacement were among the problems I encoutered. Last 6 months were spent riding with the duct tape holding the side pot, and it wasn’t pretty. Time to get new one.
Right away I knew I didn’t want to spend another $500 for another problem prone Arai. So I started looking at alternatives. A dozen visits to bike shops, helmet swaps with my friends and more helmet trying at Cycle Gear lead me
Recommend Site To A Friend
