WELCOME! "THE CAR NUT" --- AWARD-WINNING AUTOMOTIVE JOURNALIST STEVE PARKER'S WEBSITE

NEW APRILIA SCOOTERS FOR USA MARKET ARE HUGE GAS-SAVERS

With gasoline more expensive than ever, and even though some car-makers are working hard to  make a gallon go farther than before, motorcycles and motor scooters are naturally growing in popularity. They're fuel misers, and many of the smaller two-wheel machines can achieve 50 miles per gallon even on a bad day of going uphill at freeway speeds in a constant head- or cross-wind. The US is seeing an influx of scooters, especially those with under-500cc engines, the kind of machines which people in European and Asian countries have made use of for many decades but were not sold in the US because, frankly, Americans didn't want them, and the company's which made them didn't see a marketplace for their product in the US' 50 states. Now, with gas approaching $4 a gallon nationally, still below its price in most of the rest of the industrialized world, suddenly bikes of all displacements and horsepower are looking more and more attractive, especially in America's drier, warmer locales. (Photo - Aprilia helmet; Remember, April is Helmet Month! Wear it!).

Aprilia is one of motorcycling's best-known names throughout the world, even though the name is still not so easily-recognized in the US. Some Aprilia models have been sold in America under other names, but more and more the Aprilia name is becoming familiar; the company's emphasis on racing in various two-wheel series worldwide has gone a long way to educate American buyers to their many products, the same way many "foreign" cars were first introduced to the US in the 1950s and '60s.

We'll let Aprilia tell most of the "rest of the story," because these new machines, 100cc and 200cc four-stroke "automatic" scooters, usually work pretty well, are priced reasonably and you can't argue with their fuel mileage figures. In fact, these days, when Maseratis are called "the poor man's Ferrari", these Aprilia scooters might very well be the best and least-expensive way for the average American to own and personally enjoy Italian styling and sportiness. But I must admit --- My first bike was a Yamaha 175cc Enduro, and it cost about $500 brand-new in 1971. My second motorcycle, a Honda 550/4, purchased new in 1974, cost about $1,400. Seeing the prices of the following 100cc and 200cc machines still does sort-of catch me by surprise! But hey ... Allow me to complain about getting older! Now here's the latest from Aprilia:

2008 Aprilia 200 and 100 - An Authentic Italian Experience  
2008 Aprilia Scarabeo Scooters: An Authentic Italian Experience, Sized to Suit

Signature styling, big wheel safety, class leading features and unbeatable value distinguish Aprilia's Scarabeo 500 and – new for 2008 – the 200 and 100

With more than 750,000 Aprilia Scarabeo scooters sold during the last 15 years, this model line is a household word among style and value-conscious Europeans. Now, in addition to the Scarabeo 500, Aprilia has added two new Scarabeo models to its portfolio, the Scarabeo 100 and 200. Whether they have a taste for the "big bike" cruising qualities of a large 500cc scooter or prefer a smaller machine, American riders will find the right size within this popular Italian family. Ready for any challenge, whether it involves in-town errands, cross-town commutes or out-of-town distance rides, these "automatic motorcycles" are the definition of authentic style, performance, premium quality and unparalleled value.

The Scarabeo 200 is chock-full of great ideas. A flat platform provides added space for load carrying. A  windshield fixed to the steering head channels air flow over the rider, guaranteeing turbulence-free travel and surprising weather protection, even at high speed. Generous analog-digital instrumentation includes an on-board computer with handlebar controls. The system's many functions include outside air temperature display with ice warning for the hardiest of scooteristi. Even the center stand has been carefully designed to afford the best possible leverage-now every rider will find that lifting his or her Scarabeo on to its stand is a quick, strain-free experience.

The heart of the Scarabeo 200 is an advanced single cylinder four stroke engine, designed by Aprilia exclusively for the Scarabeo. It is lightweight, eco-friendly and packs an impressive 19 hp at 8250 rpm, with generous torque (12.5 lb./ft at 7500 rpm). That makes the Scarabeo 200 the most powerful scooter in its class. All this power is available without sacrificing fuel consumption or low emissions, the Scarabeo runs both fast and clean. One of the ways Aprilia achieved this dynamic package is by optimizing valve timing in the same way engineers tune the company's high performance racing engines. As a result, engineers were able to combine high peak power and good midrange punch with low emissions.

The Scarabeo 200 is available at Aprilia dealerships nationwide for $3599. Color choices include Couture Blue and Shine Red.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON OPENS MUSEUM IN JULY

This July, the all-new Harley-Davidson Museum is opening in ... Where else? Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Apart from all the celebrities like Jay Leno (almost a guaranteed attendee, if not the Master of Ceremonies) and many of the RUBBIES (Rich Urban Bikers) who got turned-on to Harley by Leno and a lot of other celebs, the crowd will mostly be made-up of us "regular" folks like us.

Celebrities have long been attracted to the full-throat burble of a Harley, going back to Marlon Brando in the 1953 flick, "The Wild One," (though serious film and bike buffs know that Brando rode a Triumph in that film, but Harleys were featured as the rides of some of the "gang of bikers" who terrorized a California town called Hollister. Inspiration for the movie came from a story in LIFE magazine, which was as popular as POPULAR MECHANICS and READERS' DIGEST in the "day," with a near full-page photo, which years later was admitted to have been "staged" for the photographer, which forever lent motorcycling its "criminal" and  "rebel" air.

"What are you rebelling against?" a member of the town asked Brando's character in "The Wild One", and, Brando replied, "What've ya got?"

There had been earlier "cycle" movies from the '20s and '30s which, if they didn't have much to say for themselves in the way of script, acting or directing ... If nothing else, they memorialized board track racing, a born-and-bred American style of racing which started in Los Angeles. Several miles of boards were attached in the shape of one of today's NASCAR "bullring" tracks, like Bristol, for instance, with fast straights and high-banked corners where speeds were even higher than on the straightaway. A fall almost always meant significant damage to the racer and bike, of course, but "splinters" from these tracks actually killed more than one contestant. The "Speedway" racing bikes of today are related to these "board-trackers"; no brakes, a single four-stroke cylinder of 500cc and fuel, "modified," with nitro-methane. No joke, these machines, now ... or then.

Of course, one of our other all-time favorite celebs, Robert Blake, added to Harley's mystique through his movie, "Electra-Glide in Blue". And we'll allow the Harley people to have their full say about their grand new museum:

In March of 2005 the city of Milwaukee and Harley-Davidson Motor Company signed formal agreements related to Harley-Davidson's purchase of the Museum site at Sixth and Canal Streets near downtown Milwaukee. In late February 2006, designs for the Museum were unveiled. On June 1, 2006, Harley-Davidson launched construction of the much-anticipated Harley-Davidson Museum with a groundbreaking ceremony. The event held on the future Museum grounds at Sixth and Canal Streets in Milwaukee was attended by hundreds of invited guests, including state and local government officials; representatives of Harley-Davidson riders, dealers, suppliers and employees; current and past company executives; and local business and community leaders.

MV AGUSTA, YAMAHA, BMW, HONDA ALL WITH NEW BIKES

Lots of new motorcycle news, including one bit which heralds the end of an era. Honda is ending the manufacture of motorcycles at their Ohio plant, and you can read more about that at the end of this posting. At the same time, Honda has just recently announced the sale of their DN-01 model in Japan, their all-new automatic transmission-equipped two-wheeler, a production model of a vehicle we first saw at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show (see, sometimes these things do make it into production). What follows are the photos and  PR releases made available to us by Honda, BMW, Yamaha and the legendary MV Agusta, all about their new bikes. Enjoy!

Remember now, we're posting most of this using the manufacturer-supplied copy ... So keep that in mind when things get a bit too "hypee".

BMW K1000R

It's been long-rumored that BMW is considering a campaign in the Superbike racing world with a machine inspired by the bikes from Japan. In fact, test mules have been seen lapping racing circuits with Yamaha R6 bodywork, meaning that the chassis and engine are quite compact for this class. BMW has made liter-bikes (1000cc and more) before, but none have used the industry-standard chassis layout placing the four-cylinder engine transversely between the frame rails with chain-drive and upside-down forks. It will be interesting to see what engineering details BMW chooses to utilizes, because they never do anything exactly like everybody else. In point of fact, they usually do it before anyone else! The bike should make 190 horsepower or more to do battle in Superbike racing if they want to be competitive. Like the Aprilia RSV-4, the BMW will give riders, racers and spectators a few interesting story-lines when World Superbike starts its 2009 season.

2008 YAMAHA YZ-F R6

Light, powerful and bristling with knowledge gained from years of racing, the YZF-R6 is the most advanced production 600cc motorcycle Yamaha—or anybody else—has ever built. The YZF-R6 was the first production motorcycle with a fly-by-wire throttle system—for flawless response under all conditions. YCC-I, Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake, introduced in 2007 on the R1, is now used on the R6 to vary intake tract length for excellent cylinder filling and a broader powerband. On the higher-revving R6, its benefits are even more pronounced. Slipper-type back torque-limiting clutch greatly facilitates braking/downshifting from high speed.

New for 2008:
Over 50 friction-reducing strategies have been employed inside the engine, including the use of wider crank  bearings. Upgraded fuel injection mapping for the YCC-T dual-injector system complements the higher compression ratio for great throttle response and reduced engine braking. A magnesium subframe removes weight from the rear of the motorcycle for increased mass centralization. All-new frame takes handling to the next level, allowing more precise turn-in, greater corner speed, and tighter exits. Thicker headpipe-headstock and swingarm pivot area walls, and elimination of the frame crossmember, help achieve perfect balance. New swingarm has internal ribs added, and extruded section is now forged to work with the new frame. Revised outer fork tubes, a new lower triple clamp, and increased fork offset provide highly tactile front-end feedback.

Moving the rider and bars forward and slightly lower enhances braking and turn-in performance. Clip-ons are also lower and re-angled. Front discs are 310 x 5mm instead of 4.5mm for increased cooling qualities. Increased fork height adjustability and rear ride-height adjustment range accommodate a greater range of riders and tires. Revised bodywork results in even greater aerodynamic efficiency.

"NAKED" KATANA-STYLE "SUZUKI STRATOSPHERE" CONCEPT AN OLDIE AND GOODIE

Remember "naked motorcycles"? The styling was developed to make motorcycles appear more purposeful, like "applied art with a practical purpose", as some people have said about race cars, which are recognizable as cars, but stripped down to their basics. You could also say the style helped motorcycles "look fast standing still", a statement used to describe some sporty cars and real sports cars. The style uncovered as much of a bike's frame and engine as possible, so it appeared as sort of a 'skeleton' with an engine in its low middle and a wheel at either end. A look at such a bike showed-off its individual parts, including even much of the swing arm and rear suspension set-up. The look was all the rage, especially with Japanese-made machines, back in the early part of this century. Now Suzuki is re-re-releasing photos and info on what must be one of their favorite motorcycle concepts of all time, the Stratosphere concept from the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, an 1100cc monster with an Inline 6-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission. (Photo - Cutaway of the Inline-6 which powered the Stratosphere).

Always one of the best exhibits at the Tokyo Motor Show is that of the motorcycles. If a journalist writes about the motorcycles displayed there, you know that he or she spent a lot of extra time and trouble in covering the show during the two press days, which works out to a total of about only 16 hours to see the entire show, shoot photos, do interviews and somehow be able to explain it all, vehicle-by-vehicle, when they get back home.

The building where the Tokyo planners put the motorcycles (and this past year, the 2007 show, also most of the busses and trucks which were on display again for the first time in about a decade) is a several hundred yard walk from the main building at Makuhari Messe, where the cars are on display. The walk is up and down some huge flights of "decorative concrete" stairs, and if you've saved the bikes for the last couple of hours on the final media day, one thing you don't feel at all like doing is walking on more hard surfaces. But hey, it's a job, and usually doesn't necessitate much heavy lifting, so who are we to complain, right? But patting ourselves on the back a bit, we do have on this site extensive Tokyo motorcycle coverage from both the 2005 and 2003 shows in the form of Photo Albums ... Check the left-hand margin for those albums (we had some digital tech troubles while covering the 2007 show, and didn't have the time to make the fixes we needed in time shoot the bikes, but we did take a slow walk through the gigantic hall, taking notes and creating some 'mental pictures' to help us get the facts straight when we got home).

And instead of using the Suzuki corporate PR release about this machine, we found a website dedicated to Suzuki motorcycles called www.SuzukiCycles.org, produced by a fellow named Jarmo Haapamäki. If you're a Suzuki enthusiast, or just interested in motorcycles at all, we recommend a visit to his site. What you'll be reading below is from Jarmo's site, and I found his writing to be a bit more exciting and interesting that the release from Suzuki.

2005 Suzuki Stratosphere Concept - 1100cc in-line 6 Cylinder

Suzuki Stratosphere
Overall Length: 2,100 mm (82.7 in)
Overall Width: 720 mm (28.3 in)
Overall Height: 1,150 mm (45.3 in)
Engine type: Liquid-cooled 1,100 cc Inline-six, DOHC, 24 valves. 180 bhp.

BMW's HP2 BIKE; GRAND TRADITIONS OF ENGINEERING, STYLING AND HORSEPOWER IN SEVERAL MARKETPLACES COMBINED

BMW began as an aircraft engine and auto parts builder; motorcycles and then, complete cars, all came a bit later. In fact, following the use of various colors and images as a corporate logo, the blue and white BMW logo (or "roundel", which is also the name of the BMW Car Club of America magazine) is a representation of a plane's rotating propeller and was registered in December, 1917 (all of that info is always good for winning a bar bet). BMW counts for a lot of motorcycle 'firsts', perhaps the most-important of the modern age was being first to offer anti-lock brakes on a two-wheeler (in 1987 on the K100 Mark II), followed-up with ASC, Automatic Stability Control, in K- and R-series bikes in 2007. With all the excitement about the high-horsepower BMW 1-series coming into the US, a lot of people forget that, while the company makes, for the most part, truly fantastic, if heavily-priced, automobiles, they have often used their motorcycle division as a 'test bed' for engine and suspension parts which eventually found their way into the four-wheeled versions of BMW (the same can be said for Yamaha, whose "Genesis" cylinder heads have found their way in some form or another into Toyota and other engines, as well as Honda using their bike-developed engine tech in their automotive division). In fact, BMW spent many of its earliest years as a parts-maker for the then-new aircraft and automobile industries. One of the company's founders, Gustav Otto, was the son of Nikolaus August Otto, inventor of the four-stroke internal combustion engine. Let us remind you to 'double click' on the photos to really appreciate them. (Photo - 2008 BMW HP2).

BMW motorcycles have always been highly-appreciated by customers who value reliability, top-end horsepower mated with big low-end torque, liquid-cooling, interesting and even, lately, outrageous styling, and aficionados aren't afraid to reach deep into their pockets (and pocketbooks) to bring one home. For instance, BMW was the first motorcycle manufacturer to offer a cockpit fairing as standard equipment in 1973 on the R 90 S, today considered a revolutionary sport bike. In 1976, BMW's R 100 RS was the first production motorcycle fitted with a wind tunnel developed fairing. That worldwide BMW bike audience enjoys the theory and the reality of a "Boxer" horizontally-opposed engine; used by BMW (in their motorcycles, only), Porsche and Subaru cars, the engines have proven tough and extremely dependable. (Photo - 1973 Kawasaki Z1; I road-tested one when they were new!).

Starting in 1996, the California Department of General Services selected BMW motorcycles for use by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). That state purchases about 200 BMW motorcycles every two years to fill their state-wide fleet of about 600 bikes, total. The then-CHP commissioner said that the company's anti-lock brakes explained his decision to purchase motorcycles not made in the USA; traditionally, most American police agencies had used US-made Harley-Davidson bikes, but, starting in the 1970s, US police agencies started buying Japanese motorcycles, especially when Kawasaki broke past the 750cc engine size with their then-revolutionary (1973) 903cc Z1 model. (Photo - 2008 BMW 1-series coupe).

To see BMW's thought-process at work in both their car and bike divisions, just look at BMW's all-new "entry-level" automobile model, the new 1-series. The 135i coupe offers a 300-horsepower twin-turbo'd 3.0 liter V6 ... And, yes, this is a model in their "entry level" series, starting at $35,675. Why, that's only $10K more than the company's all-new HP2 Sport motorcycle (full info below). (Photo - 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom with an "articulated roof" engineered and installed by EDAG of Fulda, Germany and the Mini Clubman).

Keep in mind that BMW also engineers and manufactures Rolls-Royce and Mini; that's quite a range of vehicles ... We wonder what early GM executives, who set-up that company to provide a car priced right (they thought) for every strata of American society, would think of a company which makes motorcycles and cars ranging in price from around $25,000 to well over $1 million.

By the way, the Mini Clubman, that new "shooting brake" of theirs (that's what they call station wagons in the UK) starts at $19,950; the turbo Clubman S will go for $23,450. And now, we'll let the BMW factory PR people have their say about their new two-wheeler:

"Boxer Fans - Reach for Your Checkbooks

The BMW HP2 Sport, arriving soon at US BMW Motorrad retailers, will have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $25,375 (excluding taxes, license, options, and handling charge) and a destination charge of $495. The high-performance (HP) two (2)-cylinder Boxer is the third motorcycle in the HP model range customized to meet the requirements of the ambitious sport rider. (Photos below - 2008 BMW HP2; and check out those blue wheels, the single monoshock, gold-colored reservoir and yellow spring system under the seat controlling the swing arm).

The sportiest, most powerful and lightest Boxer ever manufactured, the HP2 Sport follows in the footsteps of the HP2 Enduro and the HP2 Megamoto. It features numerous exclusive details, previously restricted to racing, that were never before seen in series production BMWs. Technology such as the self-supporting and aerodynamically optimized fairings made completely of CFK, the gear shift assistant, a dashboard similar to that used in the MotoGP, the forged aluminum wheels and brakes with radially mounted calipers make the HP2 unmistakably athletic on both country roads and race tracks.

The most striking difference between the BMW HP2 Sport from the endurance racing Boxer is the brand new cylinder heads: each of the double overhead camshafts (DOHC) uses a drag lever to actuate the valves that are larger than those on the BMW R 1200 S. Further modifications, such as the flow-optimized intake and outlet, new forged pistons and adapted connecting rod, help the engine to achieve the necessary higher output compared to the basic engine. A new stainless steel exhaust system is placed below the engine for the first time, keeping the lower area of the motorcycle extremely slim for greater freedom of movement for a "hanging off" riding position. Although designed for racing prowess, the BMW HP2 Sport does not forego the safety benefits of ABS. A sophisticated antilock brake system, specially adapted to the HP2 Sport, is available as an option and is configured so that it can be deactivated for the racetrack.

Following the BMW Motorrad Motorsport design, the carbon-fiber bodywork of the HP2 Sport is partially painted Alpine White, while the engine spoiler carries the two-tone "HP2" lettering and the lattice frame and wheels are painted in the BMW Motorrad color of Motorsport Blue." (end of release)

Now, with BMW's factory folks having had their say above, let me ask a question: Who of you out there, upon first seeing BMW's (then and still) revolutionary R1200C, did not immediately start saving-up to make that purchase?

Maybe you saw it in the 1997 James Bond movie, "Tomorrow Never Dies", maybe at a motorcycle show, maybe in one of the bike magazines. No matter where, we all understood instinctively that something new was upon us, that a new level had been reached, there was a new measure of motorcycle design out there ... and it was all for the best.

Even people who did not immediately like the design had to at least admit that BMW deserved nothing if not our respect for trying something new, and putting it out there in front of the entire world. (Photo - BMW R1200C).

Our feeling is that if BMW had not designed and brought the R1200C and other R12 series bikes to market, then Harley-Davidson would never have had the courage to contract with Porsche to help with the engine and other design aspects of their machines, and the HD VRod would never have been made. (Photo - Harley-Davidson VRod).

BMW has carried with it, perhaps because of its Teutonic background, something of a staid, even at times  boring, reputation. At least in my mind ... But think of the M1, or those first 2002ti cars, the first cars the factory road-raced in the US (with the BRE team taking a lot of wins, BRE stands for Brock Racing Enterprises) and on and on to the latest 6-series; then there were some losers, especially the most-recent 7-series, which has taken a lot of heat for its rear-deck design, and which the company changed in mid-production. Another loser, not as small, though, was the 318i, the last "entry level" car BMW tried to sell in the US. It was a great, great small car, slightly overpriced for the times, but peppy enough to be fun and with that almost-patented terrific tight, BMW handling.

In any event, BMW has made its mark, first in aircraft and motorcycles, eventually in automobiles, with sometimes radical designs which have questioned everything which came before it, which oversees cars from Mini to BMW to Rolls-Royce -- And of course designing, engineering and building some of the best motorcycles the world has ever seen ... or ridden!

   

From top, the first BMW product, an aircraft engine, here in a Fokker, circa 1925; first BMW motorcycle, the R32, 1924; first BMW car, the 1927 Dixi.

2008 SUZUKI GSX-R MACHINES DETAILS AND PRICING

The London Motorcycle Show at the "Excel London" exhibition hall and convention center runs until February 3rd, and we've got two of the newest Suzuki bikes which are being displayed there, along with their pricing (well, pricing in the UK, but we convert it to US dollars for you) for the 2008 GSX-R600 and the GSX-R750. To see the details of these machines and explore all of our "Everything Motorcycle" section, simply click on that section's name in the right-hand margin, or just click here ... and enjoy!

Triumph 2008 Sprint ST --- Updated Tourer With "Superb Handling, Powerful Engine and Unrivalled (sic) Reliability"

One of the great names in motorcycling, Triumph, might have occasionally gone out of production,  and its factory was shut down completely in 1983, until resurrected by construction magnate John Bloor (he bought the name and whatever else was left for $100,000), but Triumph never went out of style. For the past several years they've even begun to flourish, with the company paying attention to trends worldwide and, much like Harley-Davidson, realizing, understanding and capitalizing on and exploiting the value of nostalgia, building machines which in appearance and even sound hearken back to an earlier time, to 1959 perhaps, which was the best year in history of British motorcycling, but with modern mechanicals and electronics which makes bikes like Triumph dependable, along with already being good-looking, in that retro sense, and, of course, fun to ride. (Logo above - Triumph's current logo, beginning in 2005; Photo below - 2008 Triumph Sprint ST).

Many of us of a certain age, who grew up in a time when the machines from a particular Asian nation were just getting started with very serious sales in the US, which continue to this day, had our very first rides on a bike with either an American or British pedigree. These were, for the most part, and looking back with our perfect 20/20 hindsight, truly horrendous machines to use to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Heavy, unreliable and with poor handling, Harley-Davidson and Triumph, BSA and Norton bikes allowed the student to perfect a riding technique which out of necessity included the "best way to pick up a bike once it had been dropped while waiting at a traffic light", as well as the proper way to, using foot pressure, get one of the two pistons into its TDC (top dead center) position, the better to make the beast start using the kick start method. They machines were almost always twins (with the occasional single-cylinder thrown in for good measure and even more torture for the rider).

When kick-starting a bike, the rider is trying to start the "flame propagation" procedure in just one cylinder, no matter how many cylinders total. So, with a 500cc machine, for example, in a twin configuration, the rider was kicking 250cc's at a time; when Japan's four-bangers came out, they were easier to kick-start, as the rider was kicking only 125cc's worth of the engine. Triumph's unique use of three cylinders (Triples, they were called, and demons they were and still are continues to this day. Japan's Kawasaki brought out their own triples in the mid to late '70s, and they were some of the meanest, nastiest bikes ever built. So ill-handling were they that Kawasaki eventually put steering dampers on them). (Logo - Triumph's 100 year anniversary logo, 1902 to 2002).

Also, there was generally no other way to start the bike; no electric start as a regular feature. Those that did come with this wonderful new technology, which had been in-use on cars and trucks for, oh, at the time, only 65 years or so (electrical engineer Charles F. "Boss" Kettering developed an electrical self-starter first used on the 1912 Model 30 Cadillac) often had the feature incorporated into their name (1977's T140ES Bonneville Electro Triumph motorcycle). Some of these machines had large displacements, which meant kicking-starting them and having your foot slip off the kick pedal could result in a truly interesting "rebound" or "kickback" strong enough to either break the rider's right leg and/or ankle and/or throw the rider off the bike, sailing some 20 feet into the air, with the motorcycle left in a heap. Messy affair, that.

With all that said, who can resist the allure of a new Triumph? This from the same UK industry which produced rotary-engined motorcycles for both the police and general public, just to keep things "interesting" on the Motorways (Norton), and the 1981 Triumph T140LE Royal Wedding Bonneville in honor of Prince Charles and Diana. Someday I'll post my road test of the Suzuki RE5 rotary, the single scariest machine to ever hold a human passenger. But that nostalgic feeling definitely exists, especially among those of us who learned to ride on a Triumph Tiger Trail (750cc, pre-electric start). We'll let the folks from Triumph tell their own story of their machine, because frankly, how could we write anything better than a PR release which includes the words "keen" and "sublime" in the same sentence, and "delighted" in the opening paragraph? (Logo - Our favorite, Triumph's logo from 1932 to 1933, it reads, "All over the world").

Without further ado, the 2008 Sprint ST, which is for sale only in the UK, in their own words:

"TRIUMPH LAUNCHES 2008 SPRINT ST

Triumph
Hinckley, Leicestershire, United Kingdom

For 2008 Triumph Motorcycles is delighted to announce the release of an updated version of its acclaimed touring champion, the Sprint ST. The bike, which was originally launched in 1999 and last updated in 2005, has been a consistently popular member of Triumph’s UK line-up.

A direct response to customer feedback, the changes for 2008 are subtle but serve to enhance the outstanding performance of this superbly versatile motorcycle. The new model features a steel fuel tank, enabling the use of a magnetic tank bag, whilst the footrests have been modified and now employ a more durable rubber for prolonged wear. The headlight performance has also been markedly improved.

Renowned for its superb handling, powerful engine and unrivalled reliability, the Sprint ST has won a host of accolades since its launch and has come to represent the very pinnacle of sports touring refinement. Just last year, it beat off competition from 12 other bikes to win German motorcycle publication, Motorrad’s, 50,000km endurance test.

Available from January, the 2008 Triumph Sprint ST costs £7,999 (USD$15,897) otr. An ABS version is also available at £8,599 (USD$17,089) otr. Colour options are Pacific Blue, Graphite and Tornado Red.

For those keen to experience this sublime machine for themselves, a free test ride awaits at most Triumph dealers." (end of release) (Logo - What may be Triumph's first logo, 1902 to 1906).

Now, didn't we tell you? Would Harley ever use the phrase "whilst the footrests"? Though (probably) not intentionally so, the phrase "The headlight performance has also been markedly improved" brings back memories of the dreaded UK electrics firm, Lucas, whose nickname for ages has been "Prince of Darkness". There are the great Lucas jokes, such as "Lucas headlamps have three positions; dim, flicker and off" and "Smoke coming from a Lucas-equipped machine is nothing to worry about; it is merely a leak", and many more. It's said that sarcasm needs a bit of truth in order for the joke to be understood; in Lucas' case, and speaking as the ex-owner of a Triumph Spitfire sports coupe, the truth in Lucas "irony" jokes is more than just a "bit".

What is also special about this release is that in the US, one of the strictest rules of PR is that one should "never repeat the allegation", because that only reminds people of the original charge. The classic example of this rule is Richard Nixon's declaration of, "I am not a crook". That sound/picture bite will live on in infamy. Anyone who sees it, even centuries into the future, will assume Nixon was a crook (and they'd be right). Likewise, Triumph is reminding everyone in this release that, apparently, the older version of this bike had a poor headlight, and the bike's footrests wore out quickly and were poorly placed. But when all is said and done, there's a lot to be said for corporate honesty (something Richard Nixon would not have understood).

The British motorcycle industry will always be remembered and appreciated for one particular thing, and this is a positive, a good way to end this story: The penchant for coming up with some of the best names for their companies and the individual models made by those companies. (Logos courtesy www.sorenwinslow.com).

HARLEY TO SPONSOR "ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP"

Harley-Davidson has enjoyed amazing success by appealing to two very different segments of society in the USA; the first group we'll call the "hardliners", those people who may have spent time on the fringes of society and are truly "rebels", people who didn't belong to "motorcycle groups", they belonged to "clubs" with names like "Hessians" and "Hell's Angels". These are the hardcore Harley owners, and the company was brilliant in co-opting that lifestyle as their own. The second group of Harley owners are newer, wealthier, younger and more likely to add sound-baffling to their bikes because the noise bothers their wives. These people are generally known as "Rubbies", the shortened version of a derisive term, "rich, urban bikers". There is another, third important group of Harley buyers, those riders in other countries who feel that Harley is the epitome of the "American lifestyle". There are many Harley clubs in Japan, for instance, which may have hundreds of members, and they all might be over 65 years old; not too bad in a country where the average new Harley costs $30,000 and above. And the Harley exhibit is always one of the best-attended (and among the largest) at the Tokyo Motor Show. A visit to the Harley website offers visitors a choice of some 25 different countries from which to get sales information. Click on this line to visit "Harley World" in Japan. Worldwide, their "Harley Owners' Groups" (HOGs), have been a tremendous success in organizing Harley owners and bringing new buyers "into the fold". Harley has just made another tremendous business decision in deciding to become the first major international product sponsor for the "Ultimate Fighting Championship".

  According to the Associated Press story: On its way to becoming a mainstream sport, Ultimate Fighting Championship, just the latest in guilt-free homo-erotic entertainment for American males, has long courted a sponsor that could bolster its image. (Photo  --- Harley's good-looking and successful V-Rod was designed with help from Porsche).
   The fast-growing UFC is finally getting one. The Las Vegas-based company that specializes in mixed martial arts is teaming up with Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Motor Co.
   UFC President Dana White, whose comp any surpassed more than $200 million in customer retail revenue for the second year in row, said it was the first time UFC had landed a major sponsor in a long-term deal.
  The deal calls for Harley-Davidson to place its famous logo in the center of UFC's well-known Octagon, where the fighters duke it out in usually explosive and sometimes bloody fashion, and at weigh-in backdrops and news conferences.    The sponsorship also includes World Extreme Cagefighting, which
Zuffa LLC, UFC's parent's company, bought in Oct. 2006.
   UFC held 11 pay-per-view events in 2007, one more than the previous year.
   Harley-Davidson, known for its sleek designs and powerful engines, is the leading motorcycle maker,  with about half the market. The UFC pairing gives the company a chance to reach younger riders.
   Mirroring an industry trend, Harley-Davidson has seen its average buyer's age creep up in the past few decades, with the average rider in 2002 just under 45 years old. In 2006, the average buyer was in his late 40s.
   Harley owners are nothing if not loyal. According to the company, nearly half of its sales in 2006 were to previous owners.
   Harley-Davidson's profit and sales have been slipping as U.S. consumers become more cautious about their spending. Mirroring the overall U.S. motorcycle market, Harley-Davidson's domestic sales were down 2.5 percent in the most recent quarter, while they were up 8.8 percent overseas.
   The company is due to announce its fourth quarter results next Friday. Analysts are expecting another weak quarter.

MOTORCYCLE BUILDER "JESSE JAMES" IS NOW AN ENVIRONMENTALIST ... RIGHT

Just because he regularly and proudly co-opts Nazi insignia for his own corporate logos, stands accused of stealing a union's logo for his own (anti-employee, anti-union) purposes, was fined $275,000 by the California Air Resources Board for selling motorcycles with engines not approved by the state and has to go 2,000 miles from his home in So Cal to find a group which might listen to him, all that doesn't make motorcycle customizer "Jesse James" a bad person. No, because now he's an environmentalist, too.

Speaking (or whatever it is he does) to a so-called "design forum" sponsored by Autoweek magazine in Detroit, James said, according to news accounts, "Ten years ago, I didn't care about the environment, now I'm wondering, am I turning soft or is it real?"

Whether James was speaking about the environment or some aspect of his personal life "turning soft", we don't know, but someone should tell James that most of the people in the world who know about these things say that yes, "it", meaning global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions, among other problems, is indeed very real. We'd recommend that the next time James and his wife are at a show business awards event of some kind, he might want to ask some of the many celebrities pulling-up in alternative-fueled or alternative-engined vehicles just why they are doing so. Most of them can afford any vehicle they'd want. Bike-riding, car-loving celebs like George Clooney and Jay Leno might be able to clue him in on what's going on outside that hamburger stand he owns in Long Beach, CA.

"I see Al Gore --- he's a dork. I see these people on the Internet, and it's like they just want to take away all the Camaros. Is it just hype or is it real and there will be no gas? I know I don't want to go to an electric Formula One race," James said. "At the track it would be like, 'I think they're coming, but I can't hear them.' "

Now, who can argue with that? When James gets his own Nobel Prize, I'm sure Al Gore will send him a note of congratulations.

Speaking about the $275,000 fine levied on his company, James said, "Someone has got to get the EPA and CARB under control so it's really about the environment and not just about collecting money."

Maybe James should run for office. Or his wife could; Californians have some strange predilection for voting for actors.

"I think Japan is whipping our ass with small, basic cars. Cars try to do too much these days. We should just make basic cars and let people do what they want to them."

Now, there's enlightened thinking ... for 1974. Just what Japanese "small, basic cars" is he referring to? The $80,000 480-horsepower Nissan GT-R? Any Lexus, Acura or Infiniti models included in his thinking? Subarus? Mazdas?

James might be surprised to find out that the vast majority of car-buyers (and motorcycle-buyers) do very little, if any, customization to their vehicles. The aftermarket is indeed huge (some $30 billion annually, worldwide), but fewer than 10% of car-buyers 'customize' their rides to any major degree. (Photo --- The "Sheet Metal Workers" union logo on the left, and James' co-opted version of it on the right).

Hmmm ... Maybe if people like James, instead of joking about the future he's leaving his kids, would take the time and whatever brains they have to develop products which save fuel, cut emissions and increase horsepower, all at the same time ... like Ford's EcoBoost engines ... people like him could afford to pay their fines, stay in business, design their own logos and not need to cozy-up with Nazi and White Supremacist types to make their money ... Just a thought! James might even get, dare we say it, respect! And we'd like nothing better than to see James develop some of these kinds of products. We could not care less about him personally... But the world needs these products, and if someone like James can build them, that's fine with us.

Don't get us wrong ... James is an easy target ... And we do think it's great that he is "talking the talk," but next he needs to walk the walk ... Perhaps at next year's Detroit Auto Show (or maybe he'll even be invited to speak at his local auto show, the Los Angeles Auto Show), "Jesse James" will roll-out some great, environmentally-oriented engine products which will make him more money than he's ever dreamed of. We doubt it, but maybe ... just maybe ... he'll prove us wrong. And if he does, we'll be the first in line to invest in the products and encourage others to do the same.