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Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics
Published October 21, 2009 | 
Motorcycle traffic fatalities in California are down. Or, are they?
2009 Tokyo Motor Show
Published October 21, 2009 |
Motorcycle-USA’s Ken Hutchison is at the Tokyo Motor Show this week, and he’s got a round-up of the show at MC-USA;s web site. You can read it here. I have. What a bore-fest this thing sounds like.
Kawasaki’s not even there. Harley-Davidson is there, but Buell Motorcycles make up a big part of their display, which makes them look sort of stupid. Again. I’m surprised they didn’t force Erik to go, and just stand there weeping publicly, while Harley executives bashed a couple of 1125Rs with sledgehammers.
Other than that, it sounds like everybody was showing off “Green power, maaaan!” and “Save the planet, maaaan!” technology.
Over at Yamaha the big presentation featured the ‘Art of Engineering’. In this philosophy the hot topics were the Smart Power scooter and bicycle-styled experimental vehicles on display in front of the true core of Yamaha’s business: The V-Max R1, Road Star cruiser, new YZ450F and, of course, the world-conquering YZR-M1 MotoGP machine.
Apparently everybody there was really agog over this:
Yamaha ECf
Wow. I just keep looking at it, because I keep trying to think of something I hate more. And I can’t.
I have no doubt the Japanese love it, though. They probably think it’d be a really fun way to wind down after finishing their latest rape comic. Or maybe an easy way to zip home instead of being packed into the subway like sardines during their commute. Just a silent, environmentally-friendly way to get home, followed by watching a TV game show that involves contestants sitting in freezing water while their testicles are crushed in an electric vice.
Yeah, the Japanese enjoy a lot of weird crap, so I bet they adore this monstrosity.
2010 Honda Furys
Published October 21, 2009 |
Yes, I know that the plural of “fury” is “furies”, but I’m referring to the model name, not the state of rage, so the title is OK. But, it is still plural, because Honda has added two new Fury models to accompany the original VT1300.
2010 Honda VT1300CR
The VT1300CR is a more relaxed version of the Fury. The handlebars are swept back more for a more relaxed rider stance. The front of the frame has been lowered as well, so that, while the extreme rake angle still juts that front tire way out in front, it’s got a less extreme chopper look than the high neck that the original Fury sports. The fenders are bigger, and more sculpted, but the tires are smaller (and wider), moving from a 21″ front and 18″ rear to a 17″ front and 15″ rear. They’ve also moved the speedometer onto the tank, instead of mounting it between the bars.
2010 Honda VT1300CS
The VT1300CS is a shorter, thinner bike than the CR, with 4.72″ shaved off the wheelbase, and 5.8″ off the width. It also has smaller, less flashy fenders, but, while it keeps the 15″ tire out back, it goes to a 21″ tire in front. It still has the low neck of the CR model, but narrower, less pulled back handlebars.
I’m not a big fan of the Fury, in general, but I know a lot of people like them. And my chick thinks they’re cute. It’s also one of the few big-boy bikes she can actually pick up off the stand, and flatfoot when she gets it up.
But that boring old 1300cc VTX mill just doesn’t do it for me. This really seems like a bike that screams for one of the Big Twins.