Monday December 1, 2008
After some seat time on a
Vespa S 150 (review coming soon), I developed a few lingering questions about why Vespa does things the way they do. So naturally, I pestered the company's brand manager, Kevin Andrews, who offered explanations for the Italian philosophy behind building scooters.
Kevin also told me that the biggest Vespa ever, the 2009 GTS 300 Super, is coming to the States early next year. So to get the scoop on lingering Vespa questions, read my Q & A with Kevin Andrews, and check out shots of the supersized Italian scoot' in this 2009 Vespa GTS 300 Super Photo Gallery.
Related:
Photo © Vespa
Click for Q & ASay it Ain't So: Study Correlates Motorcycles and Impotence
Thursday November 27, 2008
I was just
singing the praises of motorcycling when I came across an article outlining increased risks of erectile dysfunction associated with riding. The study suggests* that 69 percent of 234 motorcyclists who rode three hours every weekend reported mild to severe erectile dysfunction-- yikes! The Japanese study also found that 70 percent of motorcyclists with hard-padded saddles had ED, while soft-padded saddles correlated to a 63 percent rate.
Doesn't it seem like if something's fun it's probably bad for you in one way or another? Regardless, I'm sure you can still find plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving**.
Related:
*Outlined in this International Journal of Impotence Research abstract, as well as here (the full text requires a paid subscription)
** I guess I'm thankful that I just had to explain to my wife what erectile dysfunction is.
Photo © Shalom Ormsby / Digital Vision / Getty Images
Click to enlargeTuesday November 25, 2008
It seems the whining has finally paid off-- after seeing the Harley XR1200 sold on foreign shores but unavailable stateside, Milwaukee's slick dirt tracker-inspired Sportster will finally be sold here in the good ol' U.S. of A.
We suspected this might happen following a certain trademark application, and based on a Westminster, California dealership's website, pre-orders will be available now through December 15th. The bike, listed with an MSRP of $11,179, wears a brawny 90 horsepower, air-cooled V-twin, beefy brakes, and a dry weight of 551 lbs. A total of 750 bikes (in homage to the famed XR750) should be available, with more on tap if demand is strong enough.
For shots of the bike we'll soon be able to buy (and stop complaining about not having at our disposal), check out our 2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200 Photo Gallery.
Related:
Photo © Harley-Davidson
Click for Harley XR1200 Photo GalleryMonday November 24, 2008
That's right, I stashed groceries under the Vespa S 150's seat... not to mention a certain
half-helmet and a few other goodies. You see, during my two weeks with a 2008 Vespa S 150, I used it as an errand-running mule up, down, and across town. And after all that riding, I only had to
fuel it up once-- and the tank wasn't even empty!
A review is coming soon, but until then here's my 2008 Vespa S 150 Photo Gallery.
Related:
Photo © Basem Wasef
Click for photo gallery 
