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Mavizen's 130 mph Electric Motorcycle Has Built-In Web Server, WiFi and Linux
Honda EV-Cub Marries Electric Bike With 2WD, Star Trek Communicator
Scorpion EXO 900 3-in-1 Transforming Motorcycle Helmet
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Navin R Johnson
11/06/09

In reply to Mavizen's 130 mph Electric Motorcycle Has Built-In Web Server, WiFi and Linux
Not that this isn't pretty freekin cool, but nowadays to have an on-board linux machine isn't too tough.

Throw a Gumstix Overo or Sheevaplug in your saddlebag and you motorcycle can have a linux server too ;) #mavizenttx02
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KTK1990
11/05/09

In reply to Mavizen's 130 mph Electric Motorcycle Has Built-In Web Server, WiFi and Linux
You make 1 crash, and thats just like you threw your laptop out the window (or into the back of a car at low-high speed).

And that thing better have a Solid state HD in there for when you do things like go over speed bumps and bumpy roads. #mavizenttx02
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maven2k
10/12/09

In reply to Honda EV-Cub Marries Electric Bike With 2WD, Star Trek Communicator
This is a great looking bike. It looks like the old Honda Passport, which were really nice little bikes.
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Alfisted
10/11/09

In reply to Honda EV-Cub Marries Electric Bike With 2WD, Star Trek Communicator
Honda may have finally found the perfect way to kill customers with torque steer. Why not just make it fwd?
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Dacker
10/11/09

In reply to Honda EV-Cub Marries Electric Bike With 2WD, Star Trek Communicator
LOOP looks like a walkie-talkie, not a texting device. The bottom circle looks like the speaker and the black doodad in the top-left is probably the push-to-talk switch or the volume dial.

This seems silly though. First, it would mean riding the bike one-handed. Second, wind noise, not engine noise is the problem on a small bike/scooter., Third, you hopefully have your head stuffed into a helmet, restricting your ability to hear anything from a 1" speaker.
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
10/11/09

In reply to Honda EV-Cub Marries Electric Bike With 2WD, Star Trek Communicator
And then the rider crashes into a tree trying to look down at that little communicator screen. Thanks Honda!
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Lizard_King
10/11/09

In reply to Honda EV-Cub Marries Electric Bike With 2WD, Star Trek Communicator
Somebody better tell Christini that Honda is first

[www.christini.com]
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trx0x
10/11/09

@Lizard_King: does christini make an all electric 2WD bike?
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Lizard_King
10/11/09

@trx0x: "Honda's not alone in the 2WD space, nor is the space really that new—at least for concept vehicles." . The article goes on to say that Honda may be ready to commercialize on the 2WD market, "or at the very least an all electric one". In other words, being electric was secondary to 2WD, something Christini has been making, and selling, for a while.

I know, I know - but Christini's is AWD. Yes, it is. And as any Subaru owner will tell you, AWD is a type of 4wd, as is full time and part time 4wd (though I have a bias on PT4WD).

Honda's not first to market here.
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Scaramanga
10/11/09

@Lizard_King:

Even Christini isn't the first to make a 2WD bike. In fact the the long history of 2x2 bikes Christini contribution is unremarkable.

More recently, Yamaha made a the WR450F 2-Trac, and KTM had a similar hydraulic front-wheel-drive system, as well as BMW F800 competition bikes.

[www.mcnews.com.au]

Recently, there's even been a 200hp Yamaha R1 2WD bike:

[www.fasterandfaster.net]

If you really want to look back, the first 2x2 bike was the 1924 350cc Raleigh. The first well-known mass produced 2x2 is the ROKON (they've been selling these since the 60s)

The first hydraulic front-wheel drive was the 1983 DR 250 Suzuki. In the 90s Suzuki made the XF-5 and Lander for the Japanese markets.

Honda is taking this to the next step. Obviously an all electric model is much easier to incorporate a 2x2 system since motors can be mounted on the wheels. They will be the first to mass-produce a 2x2 scooter in mass numbers.
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Lizard_King
10/11/09

@Scaramanga: Okay, I never commented that I thought that Christini had invented the 2-wheel drive motorcycle. Christini is the most popular model of AWD/2WD motorcycle right now, and is a production bike, kinda.

The comment was made because Christini modifies Honda bikes (and KTMs, but I've only seen the Hondas in person), and has been doing this for a few years, but Honda gets credit for this as a commercial entry, no nearly the first, but most importantly, NOT THE FIRST 2WD system on a Honda bike.

I've ridden one, it is pretty rad, better than the bicycle version they have. I can't imagine a use on the road though, I want to keep my traction for turning and leaning, leave that front wheel unpowered for me.
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Scaramanga
10/12/09

@Lizard_King: My point being that Christini deserves no real credit in this conversation. They were not the first to commercialize 2x2 bikes, and aren't even the first to commercialize hydraulic front-wheel drive systems- as I've pointed out.

Nobody need tell "Christini that Honda is first"...

In fact, if we are talking about small outfits like Christini doing 2x2 Hondas they are NOT the first for that either. Xuereb's Australian firm has also makes Honda CR500s using a similar hydraulic front-wheel drive years before Christini. There was even a late-80s Honda XR250 modified for 2x2 shown at Hond's Idea Days ages ago.

Beyond that, this EV-cub is an entirely different beast all together.

The Cub is the best selling powered vehicle of all time- 60 million vehicles. If Honda builds this then it makes a strong statement by going EV with a full-electric 2x2.
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Edited by Scaramanga at 10/12/09 1:03 AM Scaramanga was starred Scaramanga was unstarred

bnetter12
10/11/09

In reply to Honda EV-Cub Marries Electric Bike With 2WD, Star Trek Communicator
No no no they expect you to place the call then leave of course, and everyone will do that. I mean no risk see, Bluetooth is my answer to the other commentors.
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Lizard_King
10/11/09

@bnetter12: I place and answer calls when driving my motorcycle all the time. I do not see what the issue is, it seems most of the people that have a problem with it do not ride motorcycles.
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RainyDayInterns
07/30/09

In reply to Scorpion EXO 900 3-in-1 Transforming Motorcycle Helmet
Nolan is the way to go. We did the same, but with one which has a movable face bar for "eating" without taking the thing off :-)

http://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2009/Home/June/Week2/RDMHomeJun1109.htm#NolanHelmets
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JacquelineCachebag
07/30/09

In reply to Scorpion EXO 900 3-in-1 Transforming Motorcycle Helmet
Third one looks like something from Halo
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DeusExMach is a star-bellied sneetch. promoted this comment JacquelineCachebag was starred

DeusExMach wonders what the hell happened to his star.
07/30/09

@JacquelineCachebag: That's just what I was thinking. Good to know that I can go from Mark-VII to Recon to Scout on the fly.
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infmom
07/30/09

In reply to Scorpion EXO 900 3-in-1 Transforming Motorcycle Helmet
I've got a Nolan full face helmet with a flip front. Bought it when I bought my Vespa in 2004!

I can't imagine how people deal with bugs in the face when riding without a full face helmet.
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