Hanebrink Hustler X5 electric bike has top speed of over 80 mph, 200+ mile range

In addition to providing excellent traction on slippery slopes and sandy dunes, the chunky tires of Hanebrink pedal-electric bikes have also become something of a trademark look for the company. Change is in the air though, as signified by the launch of a new website and the addition of a new model to the family. The Hustler X5 electric street bike has the look of a small motorcycle and is capable of speeds in excess of 80 mph (128 km/h), yet also sports some pedals hidden behind the removable lower portion of the fairing.

CEO and Hustler X5's designer Dan Hanebrink told us that his latest creation is "a very capable street electric two-wheeler, able to keep up with and ahead of normal car traffic on city streets and highways. Massive battery capacity, and advanced electronics allow the rider to select power modes for any jurisdiction or situation."

The 120-pound (54-kg) X5 has a dual suspension monocoque chassis with 6061-T6 aircraft-grade seamless aluminum tubing and a watertight sheet aluminum box section that houses the four Li-ion Nickel Manganese Cobalt liquid-cooled AllCell batteries.

Hanebrink says that the battery pack can provide a 200+ mile (321 km) range and a top speed of over 80 mph in competition mode. The battery packs and controllers are custom made to suit the needs of the individual customer.

The bike features a Crystalyte 5303 Mid Motor, 14-speed transmission, inverted triple clamp coil/hydraulic front forks with seven inches (177 mm) of travel and monocoque swing arm rear suspension with air adjustable hydraulic shocks. The bike's creator states that, "optional adjustable offset triple clamp forks allow the rider to adjust for corner entry reaction from very quick to very stable, or anywhere in between."

There's Avid hydraulic disc braking at the rear and Brembo four piston hydraulic disc brakes to the front, and the 20 x 8 x 8-inch rear wheel has a tubeless fat tire while the 120/80 x 14 front wheel gets a Moto GP tire.

"The aero design of the bodywork greatly benefit speed, range, safety, and comfort, and provides convenient compartments to carry needed items," claims Hanebrink. "The bike has operable pedals, and can be pedaled, with the belly pan of the fairing removed. Pedaling does, however, reduce the range and speed (efficiency) of the bike (in a pedaling position, the increased aero drag more than cancels out the benefit of pedaling)."

Despite the sharp-looking edges in the photo above, we're assured that there's no conflict between the rider's legs and the fairing when the lower part is detached with a coin (via six Dzus quarter-turn captive fasteners) and removed for pedal mode.

On the question of the X5's street legal status, Hanebrink told us that "the benefit of a legal electric bicycle is, of course, that it does not require registration, drivers license, or special motorcycle permit, etc. and can be operated where motorcycles are not permitted (National Forest, BLM land, and so on). The owner can register it as a motorcycle, if desired, and benefit from applicable tax rebates."

"There are two operating modes – Legal and Competition. The fact that a vehicle is capable of higher speeds does not in any way imply that the operator intends to break the law. Look at any car or motorcycle on the road today, some of which can exceed 200 mph. The rider may choose pedaling, or full fairing. Both are legal. The law does not require the rider to pedal, only that the pedals be operable."

Pricing starts at US$16,940 and customers ordering now can expect delivery by the end of March 2013. Each model is built in consultation with the buyer, where custom options like different colors and LED lighting/turn indicators can be selected.

Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Sport

Harley Sportsters have been with us for many years now, and with the 1996 1200S Sport edition you could say they've come full circle. First introduced in 1958, Sportsters were based loosely on the K-model racer of the middle to late 50's. Stripped down, narrow, and light-weight, they were considered the Sixties superbike. During the AMF days of the 70's and early 80's, though, the Sporty evolved into Harley's econo-cruiser. With the arrival of the 883 Sportster, and now the Sportster 1200S, Harley has brought the Sporty back to where it started, to compete with semi sporting bikes.
The XL 1200S is an all new model in the Sportster family for 1996. The first road-going Harley to be factory equipped with full-on

adjustable sporting suspension, the 1200 Sport features many other enhancements not found on the likes of any other Harley-Davidson. Items such as new 13-spoke cast aluminum wheels mounted with Dunlop K591 Sport Elite tires, flat, sport-styled handlebars, sport-styled seat with textured insert and embroidered Sportster logo, larger 3.3 gallon fuel tank, and dual front, floating-disc brakes turn this Sporty into a serious backroads scratcher.   The addition of fully-adjustable suspension to the new 1200 Sporty is a radical update for the Motor Company. Of course, in the grand scheme of motorcycle building, adding spring- and damping-adjustable suspension components isn't a big deal -- for instance, designing and tooling up a new motor, like Harley did with their five-speed Evolutions a decade ago, is much more costly and labor intensive. No, the new 1200 Sport is a big subjective gain for many.
"Harley-Davidson has finally admitted that some of their owners might actually want to go blitzing up a twisty canyon road as well as lazily cruising down a boulevard. Call it a sport-cruiser, if you will."
But if a Harley is what you want, and carving canyons is what you crave, then this Sporty is the bike for you. The new Showa suspension offers a wide range of adjustments, and each click of a dial at either end has noticable effect on suspension  action. Handling-wise, the 1200S offers no cause for concern when flicked about in the corners, once properly set up.
If the settings aren't right, the Harley can be a bit twitchy, but proper care and patience while dialing it in will reward the rider with a light-feeling, stable handling machine with quick turn-in and loads of ground clearance. The K591's are grippy and fully up to the task; once banked over, the Sporty holds its line well. Equipped with the best brakes we've ever had the pleasure of squeezing on a stock Harley, a firm pull on the lever returns impressive reduction of speed.
The big 1200cc Evo mill delivers smooth, torquey power with no surprises. Not a real powerhouse, this Sporty relies more on its light weight (497 lbs. dry) and cubic capacity than all out horsepower for its back road performance. All '96 Sportsters feature a new high-contact-ratio gearbox that makes the slick-shifting 1200S a real delight to row through the gears between bends in the road. Ergonomics are mildly sport oriented (for a Harley), with an excellent bar-seat-peg relationship that offers surprising comfort even over longer distances, and makes a great platform for those occasional banzai runs around the local fast sweepers.
"The 1200 Sport is an enjoyable, easy-to-ride motorcycle with no real vices, and without the extreme riding position." 
If riding in the twisties at anything more than a good clip is your idea of fun, you should take a hard look at the new 1200S Sportster Sport. Assuming, of course, that you want a Harley -- because compared to almost any modern sport bike, the 1200 Sporty doesn't stand a chance in hell of staying close when the going gets tight.
The 1200 Sport is an enjoyable, easy-to-ride motorcycle with no real vices, and without the extreme riding position. It's just the best handling, most competent H-D Sportster ever to come out of Milwaukee.

Specifications: 

Manufacturer:  Harley-Davidson
Model: 1996 XL1200S Sportster 1200 Sport
Price:  $7910
Engine: ohv, 2-valve, V-Twin
Bore x stroke: 88.8 x 96.8
Displacement: 1200cc
Carburetion:  40mm Keihin CV
Transmission:  5-speed
Wheelbase: 60.2 in.
Seat height: 28.9 in.
Fuel capacity: 3.3 gal.
Claimed dry weight: 497 lbs.

2006 Harley-Davidson Street Rod Street Ride

You ask yourself; if this is such a fine motorcycle, why would Sean need to preface this story with that opening paragraph? This is where it gets complicated. Depending on what they expect from their motorcycles, different riders will view the new StreetRod as different things. Accomplished cruiser riders will view it as a resounding success. "Standard" riders will see it as another large, solid motorcycle for commuting and weekend fun rides.

The StreetRod is available in five colors, but only the black version gets the beautiful black frame

However, Sportbike riders will see this bike as a failure and just another example of Harley's inability to build a proper sportbike. Me? Well, I'm all f@c&ed up about it. I love all motorcycles (ok, so I sorta hate choppers and I'm really a "sportbike" fan) and I would be overjoyed to have a StreetRod in my (imaginary) stable of bikes. Harley is quick to point out that the StreetRod is NOT intended to be a "sportbike". Think of it as more of a Gentleman's Express that mixes a healthy dose of style into its basic engineering. Thus, I urge you to take my objective dynamic impressions with a grain of salt. I rode the bike as intended and it worked fine. However, I also rode it like I'd ride a standard or hooligan bike, because... lets face it, I have no self-control.
Along with the FX and Sportster "Sport" series of motorcycles, the StreetRod marks a slight departure from Harley's bread and butter "cruiser" product line. All three of those models offer a reasonable riding position and a willing (but still long and heavy) personality and it's no surprise that those three bikes are my favorite Harleys. However, they are still "Harleys" and this fact became evident in the technical briefing, which focused more on style and styling related compromises like the StreetRod's 32° effective fork rake, produced by a 30° steering head, + 2° triple-clamp offset (compared to the VRod's outlandish 38° effective rake from a 34° steering head, +4° offset triple-clamps) which is needed to allow clearance between the "stylish" 19" front wheel and the stylishly funky radiator placement. When we asked why they didn't simply switch to 17" wheels for better clearance, geometry and handling, they replied: "Because it wouldn't look right." Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

V-Rod

Street Rod™

To their credit, Harley recognized the importance of good brakes when designing a fast Gentleman's Express, so they went to Brembo to help them with the new 4-piston Harley-badged brake calipers. Those calipers clamp a set of non-floating 300mm rotors and the bike is equipped with braided-steel brake lines and high performance pads.
It's a good thing Harley upgraded the brakes, because an aggressively ridden 650Lb motorcycle generates a lot of energy. On the road, I found the brakes to be sufficiently strong to deal with whatever I could dish out. However, the pads do bite aggressively around town, so riders will want to be extra observant for traction reducing substances when approaching intersections, lest they lock-up and tuck the front. The improvement in these brakes is particularly startling when compared with the rest of Harley's product line, which is known for dumbed-down brake tuning that offers a soft and friendly application at the expense of responsiveness and overall stopping power. Overall, I really like the new brakes and by the end of the day, their aggressive initial bite receded to the back of my mind as I subconsciously adjusted to them.
The revised chassis geometry is complimented by a new set of non-adjustable 43mm upside-down front forks and a relocated set of longer preload adjustable shocks in the rear. The revised suspension produces a taller ride height and when you couple that with the re-positioned exhaust and footpegs, you get significantly better ground clearance than a VRod. According to Harley, the VRSCR can now be leaned just over 40°, which isn't bad for a "custom" style bike.

Even a big dork like Sean can look cool on the StreetRod

The revised suspension produces a taller ride height and when you couple that with the re-positioned exhaust and footpegs, you get significantly better ground clearance than a VRod

StreetRod riders probably wouldn't want to pick a fight with an FZ-1, but old farts on Suzuki GS-1100Gs should look out!

The StreetRod's revised chassis is reasonably stiff and responsive; however, the luxury liner wheelbase and 19" wheels conspire to make tight corners and quick direction changes a bit slower than they should be. Furthermore, the 32° effective rake means that the front contact-patch is still way out there, so the tire's feedback is muted. Most of the time, this isn't a problem, but as I tried to approach the limits of the bike's newly enhanced ground clearance, I noticed a bit of chatter and an impending sense of doom from the front tire. However, at normal (or slightly faster) speeds, the bike behaves wonderfully, feeling solid and planted. That extra poundage actually helps in this case and doesn't prevent the StreetRod from being responsive to inputs from its rider.
The new riding position strikes a nice balance between sporting and standard, offering excellent control when probing the bike's limits. However, the revised frame is still long and low, meaning it's a bit too tight between the seat and the bottom frame rail. Thus, the pegs are about an inch higher than is ideal for tall-guy comfort. The bars are properly placed and offer a nice neutral arm position that never seems to fatigue, while the new thinner grips give a more comfortable place to hang-on.
The new seat is a bit too soft though, so it is quite comfortable for short trips, but the rider starts to develop pressure points after an hour or two. Towards the end of my long test ride, you were just as likely to see me standing dual-purpose style, as you were to find me sitting like a normal streetbike rider. Of course, this is easy to fix, and a revised (firmer/taller) seat would allow for more legroom as an added bonus. With the seating and legroom issues sorted, the StreetRod would be better equipped to capitalize on its new 5Gal. gas tank, which appears to be good for around 180 miles between stops. (The VRod has a smaller 3.7Gal tank that's only good for about 110 miles.)
When ridden aggressively, the bike's biggest problem is that it's just too long and heavy. When I first heard about the StreetRod, I assumed that it had an improved riding position, improved ground clearance, less rake, more horsepower and lighter weight than a VRod. Unfortunately, only three of my five assumptions were correct, as the horsepower is about the same and the StreetRod is actually 20Lbs heavier than a VRod, thanks mostly to stouter forks and triple clamps. When riding up a canyon road, the StreetRod can be a lot of fun, but when you start back down, the effect is akin to a freight train. It is perfectly controllable, as long as you don't expect to go charging into a downhill decreasing-radius corner hard on the brakes, while trying to shake off some squid on a sportbike. Keep a cool head and you can make good time on the StreetRod, just don't expect it to tear-up Deal's Gap like an XB-9S.

When ridden aggressively, the bike's biggest problem is that it's just too long and heavy

The wonderful engine is basically unchanged from the VRod, aside from a revised exhaust that Harley says ads 5Hp. However, we just dynoed an '05 StreetRod, and its 107.4Hp and 71.2LbFt don't compare very favorably with the last two VRods that we've tested ('03 VRod: 106.6Hp 72.6LbFt / '05 VRod: 110Hp / 75.8LbFt.) On the road, the power delivery is similar to a VRod, though it isn't quite as "impressive", since the new riding position better equips the rider to handle accelerative forces. Seems it's easy to feel fast, when you're already rocked-back on your tailbone. Of course, the VRod may be able to keep up in a straight line, but once you get to the slightest curve, the StreetRod will leave it in its dust.
As I trolled the roads surrounding Palomar Mountain, I found the Street Rod was happiest when kept in the 5 -7K RPM range.
This produced seamless thrust and enabled me to enjoy the delicious sounds, while taking advantage of the bike's improved ground clearance and brakes. That ground clearance isn't class leading, (if the StreetRod fits into a class) but it is sufficient enough that I had to make a conscious effort to scrape anything, and even then, it was only the outside of my boots and the peg feelers that touched down. As "standard" bikes go, StreetRod riders probably wouldn't want to pick a fight with an FZ-1, but old farts on Suzuki GS-1100Gs should look out! Besides, when's the last time a "standard" looked this cool?
Harley is offering the new Street Rod for $16,495. That certainly isn't "cheap", but this manufacturer seems to get away with pricing like that, so I assume it won't be much of a barrier for potential buyers. The VRSC is a damned fine engine, and the StreetRod is a fun bike to hustle around on. We're encouraged by the direction that Harley is taking with the VRSCR and hope it's a sign of things to come.

107.39 Hp @ 8,250RPM / 71.21 LbFt @ 7,600RPM

Have to Increase Your Weblog? Study These Outstanding Suggestions!

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Motorcycle Touring Tips - Riding Versus Touring Buddies

Eric and Charlie were the best of motorcycle riding buddies. They would get together nearly every weekend, ride to breakfast, swap a few tales and visit their local motorcycle shop.

Every summer Eric would take a long motorcycle trip on his bike, while Charlie having obligations to family and work, could only hear about the details upon Eric’s return.

Finally the time came when Charlie could put three weeks together for that long road motorcycle trip. No two ways about it, Eric and Charlie were going to see the country together on two wheels!

Unfortunately, the pre-ride excitement was the best part of the trip.

The guys experienced no mechanical problems, no accidents and no problems back home with family or work. So what happened?

When planning an extended motorcycle road trip there are many things to consider before setting out. The more obvious items are things like where you will be going, the routes you will take along the way and doing your pre-ride preparations on your motorcycle by checking things like tires, brakes, cables and fluid changes. The most obvious problem with long motorcycle trips on the road is often overlooked. That overlooked problem is the person (or group) that is traveling with you.

You need to ask yourself how compatible are you and your riding companion?

Prior to any long motorcycle tour you need to be honest with your assessment of several things and follow up with a candid conversation with your riding partner. Here are a few things to consider.

By : Jim Park aka RideMys

Blog With The Best Of Them With These Great Tips

One of the most popular ways to tell people about your life is by keeping a weblog, or blogging. Blogging can involve journal-like entries about your life, a subject you know about, photos or a combination of all three. Read on to learn some good ways to keep your blog engaging to readers and perhaps, even make yourself a little money.

Always remember that the quality of your blog is of the utmost importance. If you do not have incredible quality content, then your readers will not come back for more from you. You need to give your viewer base powerful articles that make them want more and more from you.

It is vital that you place keywords that are relevant in the title of your blog. Without having relevant keywords, it will be increasingly difficult for your readers to locate your blog. Make use of All-In-One SEO in order to have greater control over the titles that are across your blog.

Allowing guests to post on your blog is a great way to get more people to your site and increase your visibility. Bloggers are always searching for places to contribute their material to. And of course, they will probably want to promote their contributions, leading people back to your blog.

Be conscientious in your use of keywords in your blog. If you sprinkle keywords everywhere in an attempt to get a top listing on the search engine returns, it will backfire. Too many keywords makes your page look awkward. Your credibility will be affected. Furthermore, search engines can actually penalize you for too many keywords.

There are several ways to highlight interesting content on your blog. You can show a list of upcoming posts to pique readers' interest. Another good topic is a list of most popular posts. These are posts that many readers will be interested in. You can also try most commented posts. Many people enjoy reading comments to blog posts. All these ideas will get your readers interested in more than just your current posts.

If you are looking for some good blog content, try posting lists. We've all seen them: "Top 5 tips for weight loss!" or "10 ways to keep your husband happy". People love lists. They are easy to scan for interesting information and good for giving tips and advice. Give it a catchy title and readers will be hooked!

When you are starting to blog, it is important that you never give up. You are not going to get a lot of readers your first day, and even your first week, and that is okay. Just keep writing what you are passionate about, and the readers will come to you.

Be consistent with the times that you are posting. If you post at the same time each day, your readers will start to expect this, and you will find that you will have more loyal visitors. If you start to post at all different times, you may find that your traffic goes down.

Blogging can be a fun and interesting hobby. It helps you to express yourself and can even be profitable if you decide to "monetize" it. The key is to stick with it and keep it up regularly. Consider it as a diary of your life or interests, and stay engaged.

Blogging Tips That Will Change Your Life

While most people have heard of blogging, many are not sure exactly what it is or how they can do it. This article has everything you need to know about blogs and how to maintain them.

Post your blog articles everywhere online. This way, you can be sure they will be seen by a wide variety of readers. Do not limit yourself to just a few outlets to promote your content. Multiple posting locations will help you reach more readers for less work. Exhaust every outlet to get the most attention.

Paid advertising is the most popular and easy way to make a blog profitable. However, if you allow too many advertisements on your blog, chances are you will not attract as many readers. To keep readers returning to a blog, the focus should be on information, not advertising.

Start your blog with some well written posts introducing yourself -- and your viewpoint -- to your readers. Share the basics first. You can include the reasons you are blogging about your topic, any personal history that you perceive as relevant, and pictures or videos, if you desire. You do not need to put up a personal picture, but you do want to include visuals that are relevant to your subject and are reflective of your own personal vision for the site.

If you want to build and hold onto a large audience for your blog, good content is vital. Your blog needs posts that captivate, inform, and entertain your readers. Users are more likely to become repeat visitors when you post high-quality content that they find to be honest and personal.

Try to always be available to your readers. Make a habit out of responding to posts or starting new blogs at specific times. Once you connect to your blog's followers, they expect your presence to be consistent. If you are feeling ready to quit, you won't only be disappointing yourself.

Visuals can be an important part of your blog. Visual aids, such as graphs or images, will make your blog more accessible to the general reader, and thus increase your readership. Graphics and images are important because they capture the attention of your reader.

Provide social media links, so readers are able to follow you. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter will make your blog more successful and help you gain notoriety. These sites will give you many opportunities to interact with your site visitors and attract more readers.

Putting together lots of relevant, quality posts will increase your chances of showing up in search engine listings. Consequently, your website will see an increase in traffic and readers because more people found your website through your relevant blogs. Use this guidance and watch your visitor numbers grow.

If you utilize all of the tips that have been presented within this article, you will be on the right path to making a great blog to read. Make sure to keep in mind all the information here, and reread it if you need to; it's here to help.