A New Fix For Adrenaline Junkies

I really like the reverse trike setup, as you can probably tell from previous posts. I think that from a design standpoint they minimize the shortcomings of a three-wheeled vehicle while simplifying drivetrain adaptation. It's certainly not a new concept, Frenchman Leon Bollee built one in 1896 and they have one on display in the museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

I think the idea has survived this long because it makes a lot of sense for a fun vehicle. Let's face it, you wouldn't be buying one for its cargo capacity.
Well, let me introduce you to the Adrenaline, the latest offering from San Diego's TriRod Motorcycles:

And a slightly different view:

Now the list of goodies: a 120 CID V-Twin engine turning a huge 325 Pirelli tire, carbon fiber over an aluminum and steel race-tuned frame complete with Penske racing shocks. If that's not enough for hair-raising handling I don't know what to tell you.
OK, they're not cheap, the one in the pics is $55k, but you'd spend at least twice that for a comparable car, right? Besides, how many people who drive exotic cars really push them anywhere near the limit of their performance? They also make a Touring model for $35k, which is less than some SUVs out there, and the whole point is to stand out from the crowd, right?

How Cool Is This?

I found this quite by accident earlier today, but it looks completely cool. It's called the env bike and it was designed by a company called Intelligent Energy. Apparently they're looking for manufacturers to put it into production, so anyone with the capacity to crank these babies out, get in touch and let's get these built in time for me to get one for next Xmas!

A Loophole for Motorcyclists

Have you ever heard or used the following statement? "I wish my wife wasn't so dead-set against me getting a motorcycle." Well, help has arrived in the form of the Campagna T-Rex. It's a really cool, totally modern trike. Actually, some call it a reverse trike, because unlike most trikes people are familiar with, the T-Rex has two wheels up front. This makes it much more stable when cornering compared to a traditional motorcycle-based trike with two rear wheels. It also means it can be much lower, because the engine and transmission are placed behind, not under the driver.

Manufactured in Quebec since 1994, they are just amazingly cool. I first saw one at a CART race at Homestead Miami Speedway back in 1996 and I've wanted one ever since. Power used to come from various motorcycle powerplants (including a V-twin from HD), but for 2007 they've upped the ante with Kawasaki's 1400cc, 187 hp beast. This gets you from 0-60 in under 4 seconds and your speed will top 160 mph, which is fast enough for almost anyone. Because it has a full tube chassis and is very light, overall performance should easily put a smile on your face.

For a grin-inducing video of the T-Rex being put through its paces on the show 5th Gear, follow the link to The Kneeslider, one of my favorite motorcycle websites.

Defining Adventure

How does one define adventure? For a lot of people, it means many different things, mostly involving some pulse-quickening activity. Running, cycling, white-water rafting or kayaking, skydiving, you get the picture.
Speed is my kick, I guess. I have always loved to go fast. I personally enjoy my motorcycle immensely, especially on the two-lane twisties in northern West Virginia and southern Pennsylvania. As a rule, I don't normally ride on the freeway, to me it kind of defeats the purpose of riding a bike, but there are enough idiots and apparently suicidal deer out there to qualify it as an adventure.
I also used to go hiking and camping a lot when I was younger, and I can't recommend the Boy Scouts enough for kids who are that age. I also rode a ten-speed everywhere when I was in high school, and like almost everything else I've owned with wheels on it, I had to see how fast I could go on it. I think I got it up to 30-35 mph pedaling downhill on my street. I can't tell you how many cars I almost hit (there were at least 4 side streets and I always ran the stop sign right by my house) but it was definitely a rush.