The three-day MotoGP test in Qatar has finally concluded with some very interesting results from the entire grid. One thing is for sure is that Yamaha has got it locked down when it comes to putting down some incredible lap times, particularly Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) who was the fastest out of all the three days.
I commute on my bike on daily basis, seven days a week. And I could actually count and remember the number of cars who actually use their turn signals on each trip.
Of the thousands of cars and other vehicles (including motorcycles), only an average of 30 actually used their turn signals. That’s per one-way trip and it seems to be getting worse.
Just today alone, I had 3 “donkey-holes” who just jammed their brakes in front of me. No signal.
Yeah, yeah, I admit that not all motorcyclists are angels, especially this epidemic in Malaysia where the red light means a suggestion to stop for some idiots. But we’ll get to that and we’re not going to hold back. Unfollow us be damned.
Okay, okay, enough ranting and let’s get on with it.
Complete lack of thoughts and consideration for others. What’s important is that he or she gets there, everybody else can go and hang. I don’t like to stereotype, but this sort of drivers are usually in big boxes with four wheels and those who think their vehicles can go anywhere. Wink wink.
“I’m turning left at the intersection ahead and I’m already in the left lane. So, why do I need to signal?” Wrong! Your car hasn’t got all the aerofoils and spoilers of a Formula 1 car, does it? Meaning you do slow down before turning. The sudden drop of speed gives little to no warning to the vehicle behind.
What I meant is his favourite song, but since he drives like a buffoon, it might as well be Bieber. Point here is about being distracted. Besides the stereo, it could be the cute Amoi (Chinese girl) or Awek (Malay girl) he’s trying to impress, a mom who’s child has just spilled his milk (from inside his tummy), yelling match with the spouse, daydreaming of being alone with Margot Robbie on a desert island (hubba, hubba), thinking of ways to show the Boss who’s the real boss, discussing multi-million Ringgit project on the phone, etc., etc.
Uh huh. Yes, I personally knew drivers like these. You want to know troublesome, dude? Try holding on to the clutch lever then stretching your thumb out to push the turn signal button on a bike. Riders with small hands and short fingers know how it’s like. And you, in the car, have the signal stalk right at your fingertips, which you can sweep it on in one single motion when you turn the steering wheel. And you’ve air-conditioning and Bieber to listen too, on top of that!
One of my family members used to stick religiously to this mantra. He seemed to have this notion that the car in the next lane would intentionally speed up to cut him off should he signal his intentions. My observation was that the other cars were already too close, and he was just trying to muscle in at the last possible moment.
He’s since stopped this habit, after almost causing a motorcyclist to smack into his rear bumper. The rider retaliated by breaking his side view mirror.
There are times when the roads are so deserted it’s like the shimmering lights are still far away. But rural roads are where other vehicles or people or animals will jump out of nowhwere.
Not that we don’t appreciate those who do use their turn signals. However, there are some who think that the act of signaling means an M1A1 battle tank or Airbus A380 has to give way.
Triumph Motorcycles has announced that they will be moving all of their volume production models to be manufactured in their Thailand factories. With more focus on R&D at their UK headquarters, the Thai production line will be taking most of the bulk of the manufacturing process while their Hinckley factory numbers will be dropped to around 4,500 units annually. (more…)
The Qatar MotoGP Test is currently underway and after two days of testing, Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) remains at the top of the timesheets despite saying that he is still not ‘ready to race’. Still getting with grips with the 2020 Yamaha YZR-M1 ‘factory-spec’ machine, the young Frenchman continues to impress and improve his riding skills against the rest of the field. (more…)
The final MotoGP factory squad, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, unveiled their latest 2020 Aprilia RS-GP with the latest livery (same, same but different compared to last season’s) but with a slight difference to other teams; their official photoshoot includes Aprilia’s official test rider, Bradley Smith. (more…)
There are still many types bikes that we need to cover, but let’s get the main types out of the way first, by moving on to the cruiser.
Yet to come is the tourer, sport-tourer, adventure/dual-purpose/dual-sport, sportbike. That should cover all the road bikes. We’ll then move to the off-road bikes.
The mainstay of cruisers is about completely a laid-back riding and attitude. It’s about the engine’s torque reverberating through the entire bike and the rider’s body. Style matters the most here. It’s about presence. It’s about making a statement. It’s about being different in an age of mega-complex, highly advanced motorcycles.
Talk about cruisers and one is inclined to think about leather clad riders on thundering machines that rattle your car’s windows as they pass. Honestly though, that image was promoted by the stalwart of cruiserdom i.e. Harley-Davidson.
Good examples are Harley-Davidsons; Indian Motorcycles; Honda Rebel; Yamaha Royal Star; Kawasaki Vulcan; Triumph California, Bobber, and Rocket III; etc.
There are sub-genres to cruisers, of course. You get bobbers, choppers, trackers (as in flat track replicas), Sportsters/Scouts, baggers, tourers, and finally powercruisers such as the Yamaha V-Max, Harley V-Rod series, Ducati Diavel and now the new Triumph Rocket 3.
BMW is set to join the cruiser market with the R 18, but there’s no official word on which types they’ll market.
Styling (apart from the powercruisers) is normally “nostalgic.” Harley-Davidson is the company who’s always evoking images of what happened in 1903, 1984, 2003, etc. However, the Motor Company has moved away from the traditional retro designs for a number of their models recently.
The other big name in cruisers is Indian Motorcycles. Under the Polaris group, there were two lines of cruisers, initially, the other being Victory. The latter produces models with highly retro cues, while the latter more modern, powercruiser styled models. However, Polaris has closed Victory to concentrate on the Indian brand.
Cruisers are easy to spot. They have really low seat heights, long fuel tanks (apart from the Sportster), large rake angles, long wheelbases (i.e. stretched out). Bobbers have “bobbed” (cut off) rear fenders. Choppers have “raked out” steering angles with long forks; and powercruisers look like bulls – on steroids – with chunky rear tyres, forks, front tyres. Tourers have major league wind protection, stereos, hard luggage, while baggers are more of the cut-down form of tourers.
The “Sport” models such as the Sportster, Scout, Rebel were actually meant to be like the standard motorcycle although have more cruising character.
A low seat height, regardless of model style. The rider’s legs are usually placed forward with the feet next to the engine or even ahead.
Depending on the type of handlebar installed, the rider sits either upright or with his torso slanted forward. Lower and shorter handlebars called “drag bars” have either low or no riser at all, thus necessitating a long reach forward.
There are so many types of handlebars catered to cruiser riders’ individual tastes.
While we usually think of cruisers as heavyweights, there are once that begin from 125cc. But it’s true that the largest volume production engine capacities are in the cruiser segment. Case in point, the 2020 Triumph Rocket 3 with its massive 2500cc triple.
Oh yeah, Harley had just announced the 131 cubic inch (2147cc) Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee 131 Crate Engine, making it the largest V-Twin. BMW has the honour of having the largest Boxer engine at 1800cc.
There are just a number of types of engine configuration in this segment made of Singles, V-Twins, parallel-Twins, Triples, and now the Boxer. However, the main platform is the narrow-angle 45-degree V-Twin which Harley had promoted for ages.
Most 45-degree V-Twins are primarily air-cooled, except for certain liquid-cooling for certain Harleys. But the coolant only circulates around the cylinder heads and exhaust ports.
Harley also has a liquid 60-degree V-Twin called the Revolution which powers their er… powercruisers.
The 90-degree V-Twin in the Ducati Diavel is liquid-cooled as the engine is shared with the Multistrada sport-tourer.
Triumph’s Bobber uses a liquid-cooled 1200cc parallel-Twin.
The Rocket 3 is liquid-cooled, of course!
Cruisers are all about torque, more torque and most of all, torque. As in low-end and tractable torque.
This is one reason why it’s difficult for most cruiser riders to switch to other form of bikes. That massive low-end power allows them to ride through traffic without the need to work the gear lever like a tap dancer, and overtaking traffic needs just a small turn of the throttle.
On the highway, the massive V-Twins turn over at around 1,500 RPM while a torquey, high horsepower, high RPM 1000cc superbike does it with 4,500 RPM, at the same 110 km/h. This character gives the cruiser a relaxed sensation – hence cruising.
The new Harley engine we mentioned above stomps out 177.6 Nm of torque (horsepower is upped to 131 now). If you think that’s a lot, the Rocket 3 triumphs (pun intended) with 221 Nm and 165 hp.
Chassis is generally basic with the main concern about carrying the mass of the motorcycle, rider and pillion, and the luggage. Therefore, the frames are usually made of large gauge steel tubing.
The suspension is tuned for comfort, rather than corner carving (apart from the Rocket 3 and Diavel).
Harley brakes were supremely lacking for a long time, but they’ve since upped their game, especially in the face of Indian and Victory. Again, the Rocket 3 and Diavel are in the performance market, thus they’re equipped with the latest Brembo brakes.
The cruiser segment was the last of the road bikes to see up-to-date ABS and traction control. However, most are still considered basic in the face of other bikes in the luxury market.
The performance segment is again different, of course.
Fuel tank sizes typically range from 12 litres and above. The heavyweight cruisers usually carry 23 litres or more. Stylistic considerations may dictate the smaller “peanut” tanks, of course. Remember that Americans lead the cruiser market, therefore the bikes are meant to travel long distances.
Yes, yes, there are cruiser riders who ride no further than to Starbucks or Hard Rock Café and back, but there are also such riders in other segments, too.
The cruiser segment is the hotbed of motorcycle customization. There’s everything from mild to wild, from the gentlemanly to the outright weird.
The manufacturers also offer factory customization and upgrade kits with hundreds and thousands of choices.
