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Whacking Permalink Archive 3-6-03 A pair of Hondas - ride review I took the Honda VFR800 and the Honda CBR900 Hornet for test rides today, and neither of them was quite what I expected. The CBR900 Hornet
The bike felt nowhere near as heavy as I expected, and steered surprisingly well. Yet something about the bike just didn't gel for me, despite it's obvious strengths. It basically boiled down to the problem I had with the ZRX1200 - ergonomics. Something about the seating/handlebar/footpeg position feels very awkward to me, and I never really felt 100% in control of it. For starters, the handlebars on all naked bikes should be wide and close to the rider - like a trail bike. It greatly enhances confidence with the bike's handling and feels more natural when you're in the upright position. Yet for some damned reason, the Hornet, ZRX1200 & Triumph Speed Triple have handlebars that seem far away and close together. Why is this? It reduces leverage and serves no purpose at all. The footpegs felt like they were in the wrong place too. Kawasaki's glorious z1000 managed to stick a big motor into a chuckable, comfy nakedbike frame, with close & wide handlebars. Why can't anyone else do this? A pity really. The Hornet has so many strengths, yet it just doesn't feel right. The VFR800
Let's start with the positives: it looks great, handles beautifully and is super-stable. And those oft-criticised linked brakes (which I've never used before) were a thing of wonder: offering fast emergency braking ability with so much more confidence. As an all-rounder, the bike is a dream, and the passenger accommodations are great. Now, for the big negative: that stupid fucking engine. What in God's name possessed Honda to stick a VTEC engine in this bike? Within 10 minutes I wanted to smash the bloody thing to pieces. What's wrong with the VTEC system? Essentially, below 7000rpm the bike runs on two valves per cylinder, and once you hit 7k it switches to four valves per cylinder. God knows why - it seems to add little performance and gives a ghastly "spluttering" as you pass 7000rpm, where the engine seems to stop then restart, giving the bike a big "jolt". This was a nightmare when accelerating out of corners and just a plain pain in the arse when riding in a straight line. If only
they'd ditched the VTEC system. Without it, the VFR might have damn near
been the perfect motorcycle. At the bottom of the right-hand column of this page, I've added links to some fine little organisations who need your help in their brave fight against the forces of darkness. Go forth
and show your support to these brave souls! I'm weeks
behind in my e-mails. Apologies to those still awaiting a reply. Check out this lovely communist artwork.....
permalink From a Marxism FAQ....
Economic growth of 20% a year!! Heh. Sure, if your growth industries are gulag inmates. Because it'll be hard to make your economy grow when you won't let your consumers buy what they want, let alone let your industries respond to that demand. Ah, but wait, they're gonna buy what they "need" aren't they? Problem is, you commies haven't been too good at providing for needs either. Funny how evil capitalism can produce more of these goods of "need" than any socialist utopia was able to manage, and their marxist economies were built for it, for chrissakes. Agriculture built around "need" which could never deliver enough food. Industry built around "need" which could never produce anything anyone wanted. Marxists have always, however, managed to produce (or at least, procure) a great many weapons, which The Party needs for shooting it's own proletariat....who are supposed to love them...but they don't...even though they're now getting what they need in this new utopia....why won't the ungrateful bastards ever cooperate? (hey!! Stop thinking you imperialist-collaborating pig!! A bullet in the head for you!!) Funny
how things work out. Non-Burqa'd women playing chess!!! Someone re-install the Taliban and restore non-american morals immediately. James
Russell's search requests get
more bizarre and disturbing every time. I'm talking about the third
one. First
it was The Fat
Texan, now we've got another
american getting involved in cricket....
Engel - who's deep insights into American culture have included whinging about the tea, evil poultry conspiracies, the monolithic stupid american voter, and a lot of screeching about Dubya - bids America a patronising farewell. Apparently, our little paragon of wisdom is teaching brainwashed americans how to have fun again because he purchased a trampoline, braving the fearless hoardes of litigation lawyers. No really. Such selfless courage. Then he gets on to his usual macro-mumble:
It wouldn't take an American to tell this unhinged sadcase how wrong he is, but it's unlikely anything could penetrate Engel's Euroweenie delusions and prejudices.
Dude, you've lived their for two years, and you still don't have a clue. What level of rank stupidity is required for this level on cluelessness and disconnection about his surroundings after two years in the place? An illiterate, blind cattle-herder from the Mongolian Steppes could have done more. And yet this idiot, this snivelling gimp, was employed by the Guardian as their American correspondent, and chose to retain him despite week after week of sub-juvenile insights which seemed to be culled from watching too many cop shows. If you
ever needed to know the depths of stupidity that modern "acceptable"
anti-american intellectualism can reach, you will find few better guides
than Engel. |
Motorcycles Guns
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Honda's
new naked musclebike - featuring a retuned version of the superceded 919
Fireblade engine - was a pleasant surprise. The motor was wonderful, with
a beefy mid-range and beautifully crisp throttle response offering some
serious acceleration. While the test bike I was riding had modified gearing
and a set of aftermarket exhausts, I was still impressed by the basic
package. The brakes were great too.
Now
this was an odd experience. The brand-spanking new & "advanced"
version of Honda's legendary V-4 sports-tourer is something I've wanted
to ride for ages.
Matthew
Engel's weekly "America Sucks" Guardian column 
