Monthly Archives: November 2009

Brain swelling is the immediate effect of head injury and it is a proved fact that the stopping of this effect can make the difference between life and death because of the pressure that the brain has to subdue when it meets the skull. This is precisely what paramedics are trying to prevent when applying a cold pack on the head of accident victims. So hearing about ThermaHelm having created the Brain Cooling Helmet, we started digging deeper into this potential life saving idea, only to find that the prototype stage is now completed and it should see production.

ThermaHelm’s Cooling Helmet works by storing separately gel or water and ammonium nitrate in a slim plastic packet positioned in the lining. During a serious crash, tiny spikes pierce through the separate compartments, causing the ammonium nitrate to mix with the gel or water, triggering an endothermic reaction that cools the brain, dramatically reducing the effects of the crash. Furthermore, it features an LED indicator that warns premature activation, small cameras that are able to record those crucial 60 seconds before a motorcycle crash, integrated Bluetooth headphones and fog-free visors. In other words, it brings helmets into the 21st century.

Press release and video are attached after the jump.

ThermaHelm Cooling Helmet can turn out to be a live saver [w/video] originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 26 November 2009 14:12 EST.

read more

Share on Facebook

Aussie Racing Cars Final Showdown At Phillip Island This Weekend PaddockTalk Sharing the meeting with the final round of the Australian Super Bike Championship is fitting given the two wheeled origin of the 1200cc Aussie Racing Cars …

Continue reading →

Share on Facebook

Those with a soft spot for trikes can finally fulfill their passion without getting into trouble. What you see here is a three-wheeled vehicle that looks like the Stealth bomber, allowing us to suppose that the cops won’t be right on your tail once you give that Corvette engine some juice. Called the Cheetah, this is one of the most unusual trikes we have seen lately and it is powered by a fuel-injected, Corvette LS-1, mid-engine V8, which is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, meaning that this unique cat is not as hard to master as you would think.

From obvious reasons, this project started from a brand new chassis made of stainless steel, while the aluminum bodywork with hydraulic tilt is what actually gets the peoples attention, apart from the fact that it takes as much parking space as an SUV.

Stealth trike gets Corvette mill! originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 26 November 2009 12:17 EST.

read more

Share on Facebook

Star builds the Road Star S and Road Star following the classic recipe, but adds a high-tech fuel injection system as well as a range of distinctive features that have become this maker’s emblems by now. Features such as the belt final drive, 9-spoke cast wheels as well as the amazing fit and finish are setting Star apart from the rest of the Japanese crowd and closer and closer to Harley-Davidson built quality.

The two classic Road Star models address to mature and experienced riders who demand the most from a cruising-type motorcycle and also prefer the possibility of accessorizing their standard bikes instead of going for those touring Silverado ones that Star also offers.

Star Road Star S originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 26 November 2009 11:29 EST.

read more

Share on Facebook

In order to pay a tribute to the 750SS Imola, Ducati’s notorious sportbike from the 1970s, Spain-based Radical Ducati has created an absolutely gorgeous café racer, which was recently revealed. They call it the RAD02 Imola and it is built for track use, but we hear it can be homologated with a few tweaks.

The engine is a 900SSie unit with hot cams, while the chassis is that of a Monster S4R with 749S fully-adjustable forks and MV Agusta ride-height adjuster. Also note the asymmetric megaphone cans, which we happen to like a lot.

The Spanish Ducati builders are already taking orders and mention that the price depends on the exact specs. Still, considering the hours spent to achieve this kind of built quality, the Ducati RAD02 Imola café racer addresses to riders with deep pockets.

Find out more here.

Ducati RAD02 Imola café racer by Radical Ducati originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 14:53 EST.

read more

Share on Facebook

This is a wall clock conceived specially for motorcycle lovers and not only. It runs thanks to a small motor that moves a bicycle chain on which you will find attached the numbers, totalizing 12 hours.

But this thing has actually exceeded the conceptual faze and it is now a very exquisite item that surely won’t end up on the garage wall. That is mostly because of the $2.338 tag price, but if only things were that easy. You actually have to order and pay this wall clock for motorcycle enthusiasts and then wait four months until being delivered to you.

I reckon most bikers have an engineer side and can end up with something similar for as little as 50 bucks in less time, so why bother?

The first clock specially made for bikers! originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 13:15 EST.

read more

Share on Facebook

Say you have a Ducatisti in the house and don’t really know what to buy him/her for Christmas. Things are now made much easier for you with this new website that Pro Italia and Ducati have launched – Ducatigifts.com. Offering performance parts and accessories, protective gear and casual Ducati clothing, the site is like Santa’s bag of goodies for each and every fan of the Italian brand.

Press release is attached after the jump.

Pro Italia & Ducati team up to launch Ducatigifts.com originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 12:11 EST.

read more

Share on Facebook

Star saw the immense potential of the custom cruiser market not long ago and they are already benefiting from the amazing success of their Raider models among those in search of bold looks and performance to match. The 2010 model years follow a natural evolution with few color scheme changes, while the engine remains the same 113-cubic-inch fuel-injected V-twin.

Why change it if it ain’t wrong? We couldn’t agree more!

Star Raider originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 11:20 EST.

read more

Share on Facebook

It is enough to take one look at this 1980s Suzuki Katana 1100 to see that the bike is hours and hours of work away from its original state and all the credit goes to UK-based Steve Adams, owner and customizer of what turned out to be one of the most beautifully reinvented legends among Japanese motorcycles.

Among the modifications brought to our Brit’s Katana we would have to name the 1,170cc Wiseco piston kit, gas flowed head, EFE 1100 cams with adjustable cam sprockets, Keihin 37mm carbs, titanium bolts and custom-made exhaust system as being the most important and this is only in the engine department.

The frame was reinforced and a Suzuki Bandit 1200 swingarm was bolted on it. This Suzuki now rolls on 17-inch Dymag magnesium alloy wheels supported by a GSX-R750 K4 front fork and Ohlins rear shock units. The high performance brakes feature Yamaha R1 and Suzuki TL1000 parts such as the Brembo radial master cylinder up front, while the rear brake is thumb-operated.

How’s that for a way to make an old motorcycle new again?

Suzuki Katana 1100 by Steve Adams originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 14:57 EST.

read more

Share on Facebook

Ever since the world has first seen Ducati’s all-new Multistrada 1200 we’ve been hearing complains about the thing looking like a duck mostly because of that big nose. Even so, the most potent BMW R1200GS competitor was voted the most beautiful bike at the EICMA show in Milan, where Ducati unveiled it.

Because he thought the new Multistrada needs a nose job before fully deserving its votes, Motoblog reader Marco has come up with this rendering. He started by removing the front beak and repositioned the LED lights and that’s pretty much it. Simply take a look at the bike’s profile and you’ll notice the difference yourself.

Ducati Multistrada 1200 “small nose” rendering originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 13:08 EST.

read more

Share on Facebook