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Sepeda motor Honda Supra X 125 Series, produksi PT Astra Honda Motor (AHM), menduduki urutan pertama pasar motor di kelas 125 cc di Indonesia. Berdasarkan data Asosiasi Industri Sepedamotor Indonesia (AISI), sepanjang semester pertama 2008 (Januari-Juni), penjualan Supra X 125 Series mencapai 386.215 unit. Atau rata-rata terjual sebanyak 77.221 unit per bulan.

Harus diakui, persaingan sepeda motor di kelas 125 cc keatas jenis bebek (underbone/moped) sangat ketat. Pasarnya antara lain diperebutkan oleh Supra X 125 Series (Honda), Jupiter MX 135 cc (Yamaha), Kaze ZX 130 dan Kaze Zone 125 (Kawasaki), serta Arashi 125 dan Shogun 125 (Suzuki).

Di kelas 125 keatas ini (underbone), hingga Juni 2008, Jupiter MX 135, sepeda motor produksi PT Yamaha Motor Kencana Indonesia (YMKI) menduduki urutan kedua dengan angka penjualan sebesar 182.479 unit.

Sementara itu, sepeda motor produksi PT Indomobil Suzuki International, yaitu Shogun dan Arashi masing-masing terjual sebesar 83.977 unit dan 1.324 unit. Sedangkan produk andalan Kawasaki, yakni Kaze ZX 130 dan Kaze Zone 125 masing-masing terjual sebanyak 6.339 unit dan 925 unit.

Honda sendiri terus berusaha mempertahankan posisi jawara dan meningkatkan angka penjualan sepeda motor Honda Supra X 125 CC Series, dengan meluncurkan varian terbaru Supra X 125. Kendaraan terbaru ini diharapkan makin memperbesar kontribusi Supra X bagi penjualan Honda secara keseluruhan.

Supra X 125 terbaru yang telah diperkenalkan AHM ini memiliki sejumlah fitur baru, seperti Head Lamp (lampu depan) yang dilengkapi dengan visor futristik dan sporti, lampu sein yang menyatu dengan lampu senja, desain penutup kaki (advanced 3D legship) yang makin dinamis, desain knalpot yang menggunakan racing look serta panel instrumen elektronik yang modern.

Supra X 125 ditawarkan dengan 13 varian warna. Adapun harganya dibanderol sebesar Rp 13,950 juta untuk tipe karburator (velg jari-jari), Rp 14,950 juta untuk tipe CW (velg racing) dan Rp 16,100 juta untuk tipe injeksi. Semua harga on the road Jakarta. (*)

Had a little more time to work on the HONAHA cafe racer, and added a nice 4 into 1 exhaust, jetted up the carbs a size, and cleaned it more.  I found the exhaust on craigslist for 20 bucks.  It had a fair amount of surface rust, and a little bit of road rash.  To solve these problems, and still fit it in my budget, I used some fairly abrasive metal polish on a scotch brite pad to brush off all the rust, and grime.  The header looks like really nice now, like a brushed aluminum rather then chrome.  I then added a 5 dollar exhaust tip from Schucks, and am running it straight.  This straight pipe sounds mean, just enough for everyone to hear, but not enough to annoy innocent bystanders.  Here are some new pics, I think it improved the overall look of the bike. Tell me what you think.  For more info and pictures, check out the MY CB550 page.

This is not the place to talk about the greatest sale and other boring stuff like that. Here I will be sharing what is going on at the dealership and show people how to get great deals on their next car no matter who they buy them from.

Of course my mission is to sell cars, that is how I earn my living, but if I can give back to the people that have helped us become one of the top Suzuki Dealers and share with others what is going on in our world it will make this blog worthwhile.

Desde seu lançamento em 1999, a Suzuki Hayabusa GSX-1300R fez história por ultrapassar a barreira dos 300 km/h. Lançada na Europa no ano passado, a versão 2008 da cultuada superesportiva com diversas modificações e tecnologia de ponta chega agora oficialmente ao Brasil.

Alguns importadores independentes já disponibilizavam o modelo, geralmente vindo dos Estados Unidos -- mas a J.Toledo/Suzuki da Amazônia alerta aos consumidores que compraram estas unidades que, além de elas não estarem "tropicalizadas" (adaptadas ao nosso combustível com porcentagem de álcool), tais motos não estão cobertas pela garantia de fábrica. A nova Hayabusa já pode ser encontrada nas autorizadas Suzuki nas cores laranja, branca, azul e preta, a um preço sugerido de R$ 61.200.

MUDANÇAS
O motor da Hayabusa ficou maior. Passou dos antigos 1.299 cm³ para 1.340 cm³. O propulsor de quatro cilindros em linha, 16 válvulas, DOHC, teve as câmaras de combustão redesenhadas para aumentar em 11% a eficiência na queima da mistura ar/combustível. Sem falar no novo sistema de alimentação com dois bicos injetores por cilindro. As válvulas e os cilindros também mudaram, resultando em uma taxa de compressão maior: 12,5:1. A potência máxima é de 197 cv, um aumento de 25 cv em relação ao modelo anterior.

DESIGN E CICLÍSTICA
A Suzuki tem se mostrado eficiente na atualização de seus modelos sem deixar de lado a identidade de cada um deles. Na Hayabusa não foi diferente, já que o design que a consagrou se manteve, mas parecendo mais moderno. O farol continua uma peça única, mas com desenho renovado. A carenagem ganhou novas entradas de ar e um coeficiente de atrito menor para melhorar a penetração aerodinâmica. Para isso, também, o tanque foi posicionado mais baixo, para permitir ao piloto se "esconder" atrás da bolha. Na traseira, as setas estão embutidas e a lanterna mudou. Chamam a atenção também os dois novos escapes. Perderam os cromados e ganharam uma cobertura preta.

Na parte ciclística, mais novidades. O quadro de dupla trave superior feito em alumínio ficou mais leve e mais resistente a torções. Na dianteira, o garfo invertido também é novo. Assim como o monoamortecedor na balança traseira, que ganhou novo desenho para melhorar a tração da mais potente Hayabusa 2008.

Os freios dianteiros trazem modernas pinças, fixadas radialmente, que mordem dois discos de 310 mm -- menores, porém mais eficientes do que na versão anterior, garante a Suzuki. Na traseira o disco de freio ficou maior: 260 mm de diâmetro com pinça de um pistão. As rodas também foram redesenhadas e são calçadas com pneus Bridgestone BT-015 de alto desempenho. Tudo para suportar mais potência vinda do novo motor e garantir a dirigibilidade, um dos pontos altos do modelo.

Uma qualidade mantida foi o conforto da garupa. Para isso, o assento foi rebaixado juntamente com o sub-quadro traseiro, mantendo assim o caráter "sport-touring" dessa superesportiva. O piloto, além de poder se situar melhor sob a bolha, conta com um novo painel de instrumentos. Com quatro mostradores analógicos,

traz velocímetro, tacômetro, marcador de combustível e de temperatura. Conta aind

a com indicador de marcha engatada e a

indicação do S-DMS (modo de mapeamento do moto

r) escolhido.

Ao que tudo indica, a nova Hayabusa deve reassumir o posto de moto mais rápida

do mundo e acirrar a g

uerra entre as marcas japonesas, principalmente com a Kawasaki e sua ZX-R 14. As previsões falam em velocidade máxima de 320 km/h -- ou seja, garantidamente a moto de série mais rápida do mundo. (por Arthur Caldeira)

Suzuki Hayabusa GSX-1300R

UOL Carros

BMW GINA Light Visionary Concept

The Concept: BMW's latest concept car shatters all the tried and true conventions about automobile design. For Head of BMW Group Design, Christopher E. Bangle, it's all about "breaking paradigms." A year in the making, the GINA Light Visionary Concept abandons the usual concepts of side panels, roof, front aprons, and doors in favor of a clean, seamless form with four main components. Contrary to rumor, the car is not named after some hot, mystery woman, instead the name actually stands for Geometry and Functions in "N" Adoptions, which speaks to BMW's new design philosophy focusing on maximum freedom and creativity. The two-seater roadster is created from an expansion resistant fabric spread across a metal structure, giving it that smooth, sculpted look.

Coolest Feature: Skin is definitely in on the GINA. The flexible material allows the concept to move in ways that were previously only conceived of through movie magic. Together with its metal frame, this car is able to adapt to all situations through its ability to change shape. When moving at high speeds, the GINA automatically creates a rear spoiler by raising a built in component on the frame. The ultra flexible skin lets the spoiler form with nary a wrinkle, and the car's headlights remain hidden beneath the flexible skin. After being activated by the driver, the skin cover opens revealing the headlights and thereby creates the illusion of a car opening its eyes. All of these transformations are controlled by a combination of electronics and hydraulics. As for the skin's makeup, it's a hybrid composed of mesh-netting support. It's resistant to low and high temperatures as well as water-resistant.

Expected Pricing: It's a pretty safe bet that GINA's current model won't make it to the production line. Bangle says, "The GINA Light Visionary model just shows ONE possible answer to the whole approach of materials." Expect to find GINA-like features in future BMW models.

Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept

The Concept: Debuted at the 2008 New York Auto Show, the Kizashi 3 concept is the final iteration in the Kizashi series. Aptly named -- Kizashi, in Japanese, means prelude or preview -- the series offers a bold look into Suzuki's design future. Sporting strong and elegant lines, these cars are meant to represent the toned physique of an athlete in motion. A definite head turner, the production-ready Kizashi 3 combines the stunning looks of its predecessors, bringing the concept one step closer to production. Described by Jeff Holland, the company's public relations manager, as "a near luxury sports sedan," the final version of the Kizashi 3 will feature a 300 horsepower, 3.6 liter engine with "a possible hybrid or high tech variant of the power train model." Suzuki is currently in the process of developing pre-production models and working to push the car into production.

Coolest Feature: While the Kizashi 3 definitely possesses outer beauty, its real story lies under its hood. Powered by a 3.6-liter Double Overhead Cam (DOHC) V-6 engine with plated cylinders and a six-speed automatic transmission, the Kizashi 3 packs a punch. Taking a cue from its motorcycle heritage, this vehicle is all about speed and performance. With its impressive 300 horsepower, coupled with Suzuki's all-wheel-drive system, the Kizashi 3 is ready for the starting gate in 2010.

Demographic: With its three iterations, the Kizashi is set to appeal to a wide audience. There's the crossover and wagon for families, and a sedan that could appeal to driving enthusiasts and a younger demographic.

Expected Pricing: Suzuki has been known for producing affordable vehicles and the Kizashi will be no different. "We like to say it's like an Audi for half the price," Holland quips. "It's a Suzuki; it's got to be affordable. It's very important to the brand."

Smart Fortwo

The Concept: While many Americans think that bigger is better, the Smart Fortwo's design challenges that notion. Birthed from a partnership between Swatch and Mercedes Benz, the Smart car is a fusion of utility, customization, and art. Its name alone defines its purpose -- Smart actually stands for Swatch Mercedes Art. Measuring 8.8 ft. long and 5.1 ft. across, the Smart car was built for city driving. "The real focus of the design and the size of the car is to answer the problem of urban congestion and city driving," says Communications Director, Ken Kettenbeil, "The Smart's size and maneuverability gives it an advantage when navigating sticky driving situations." The dilemma of finding parking is also a thing of the past since two Smart cars easily fit in the average parking space. Its size also plays a part when it comes to fuel economy. While hybrid cars tend to have slightly better gas mileage, the gas powered engine Smart car is the highest rated gas engine with 33 city and 41 highway miles.

Coolest Feature: This has to be the Smart Fortwo's customization capabilities. Swatch inventor Nicolas Hayek, wanted to bring the same color, fun, and changeability found in his timepieces to a car. With that in mind, all of the exterior colored panels on the Smart car are changeable. Panels come in six colors and are relatively inexpensive, selling for approximately $1000. The interior also features a variety of colors. Another cool feature can be found in the transmission. It's an automated manual, which means you can switch between automatic and manual.

Demographic: The Smart Fortwo has universal appeal. With its low price tag, the Smart car's destined to appeal to first-time buyers like college students and recent grads. Its unique look will likely attract trendsetters who are always on the search for the next cool thing.

Expected Pricing: $11,600

Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept

The Concept: As electric cars continue to gain popularity in the States, Chrysler aims to stay ahead of the pack with its ecoVoyager concept car. Designed for a trip that's on par with a private jet, the car reaches a top speed of 150 mph, going from 0 to 60 in 8.8 seconds, and with a driving range of 300 mpg. Principal Exterior Designer, Greg Howell, combines luxury and innovative design in an attempt to look ten years into the future. The ecoVoyager's one box design scheme is simplistic yet bold. Sporting a panoramic glass roof and doors that open at a generous 90 degrees, the ecoVoyager is a testament to the beauty and elegance synonymous with the Chrysler brand. In an attempt to bring more Chrysler cues to the car, the windows, front grille, tail lamps, and headlamps are modeled after the trademark Chrysler logo. The interior of the car is just as impressive as its exterior, featuring four individual chairs capable of heat and massage, and the Direct Sound function, which allows all users to hear the music of their choice sans headphones, without disturbing other passengers.

Coolest Feature: Besides its polar ice paint job, the coolest feature on the ecoVoyager is its electric motor. Capable of developing 200 kilowatts or 268 horsepower, the ecoVoyager can go from 0 to 60 in less than 8 seconds. The ecoVoyager also has a range extender in the form of an advanced hydrogen fuel cell that increases the car's range to more than 300 miles. The braking system also captures energy that would be lost, returning it to the battery. Together with its low emissions (water vapor), this makes the vehicle a boon for design conscious environmentalists.

Demographic: As a luxury vehicle, the ecoVoyager might be out of range for the average car buyer. Described by design director Lance Wagner as a "mature vehicle," expect to see young at heart baby-boomers and the financially well off behind the wheel of this stunner.

Expected Pricing: Undetermined

Dodge ZEO Concept

The Concept: Dodge, also looking to step into the electric car arena, introduces the 2008 Dodge ZEO (Zero Emissions Operation) concept. Inspired by the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, the ZEO is a four-passenger sport wagon with a touch of muscle car thrown in for good measure. With a top speed of 130 mph, the ZEO goes from 0 to 60 in less than six seconds, enough to please any performance fanatic. "It breaks the stereotype of what a small, efficient electric car can be," says Wagner. "It shows how much personality and style these kinds of cars can have." The ZEO interior is just as innovative. Designed to give the impression of being a "single piece of sculpture," the inside is decked out in all white. The center console extends down from the windshield, giving the impression of being in a dual cockpit.

Coolest Feature: The ZEO's best feature hands down can be found in its overall design. The roof and windshield combine into one continuous piece of glass, offering each passenger the best view. Its aluminum plated inserts, crosshair grille, and bold wheel arches give the ZEO its wow factor, while its front and rear suicide doors add extra flair.

Demographic: The Dodge ZEO could appeal to car enthusiasts, techies, and the socially conscious alike. It satisfies the need for speed, combined with a futuristic look packed with all the necessary cool gadgets, and most important: it's easy on the environment, so you can tear down the track with a conscience that's crystal clear.

Expected Pricing: Undetermined

Jeep Renegade Concept

The Concept: The 2008 Jeep Renegade concept is a mean, lean, green machine. Built from recyclable materials, sustainability is a major theme in this concept car. Fitted with oversized tires, and a speedster windshield, this car is built for an off-roading, cross-country adventure. The new Jeep sports a more elongated look than its boxier forerunners. In keeping with that close-to-nature vibe, the Renegade was designed as a full time open-air vehicle, meaning it has no roof. In lieu of a roof, the back trunk can be fitted with a number of "lids." The lids act as storage chests for all your outdoor needs including lids built for kayaking and mountain biking. There is also an "as built" option that can fit two matching water scooters and there's also an open storage space.

Coolest Feature: This car is green all over. Its building materials are all eco friendly: the chassis is molded without the use of harmful resins, while the metallic green color is added during the molding process, which cuts out harmful paint solvents. An advanced hybrid and regen-braking system allows the Renegade to reach a fuel economy of 110 mpg, approximately four times greater than that of a gas-only car. Topped off with seats made from soy-based foam the Renegade is both innovative and socially responsible.

Demographic: Jeep's history of being outdoorsy continues with this concept. With its outdoor sport-friendly removable lids, the Renegade will appeal to off-roading fans, mountain bikers, and anyone who likes to play hard. It's also an obvious choice for the environmentally conscious.

Expected Pricing: Undetermined

Hummer HX Concept

The Concept: The Hummer HX redefines the look, feel, and attitude of the Hummer. In an effort to stem the tide of a slowing off-roading market, the HX's slick new design is a welcome departure from Hummer's usual brick-shaped silhouette. The HX takes a minimalist approach, and at 81 inches with 103-inch wheelbases, it's a lightweight compared to its predecessors. Its two-door, open-air concept is a reflection of the adventurous vibe of its three young designers. Lead Exterior Designer, David Rojas looked to the skies for inspiration: "I looked at stealth planes like the F-117 fighter plane. It has faceted surfacing and I used it in bits and pieces in the design." The new modernized grille design is based on a picture of an alligator coming out of the water. The HX stays true to its Hummer roots with body-on-frame construction, mounted on independent front and back suspensions, prominent air intakes, and hood vents. To make this concept an unstoppable off-roading machine, the HX is equipped with 35 inch off-road tires, a 4 wheel drive system, and the new E85 FlexFuel 3.6L SIDI V-6 engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. Throw in a complete underbody armor kit and a power-operated winch, and the HX concept is a force to be reckoned with.

Coolest Feature: Hummer hasn't been known for customization, but the HX should change public perception. According to Rojas, the HX can be reconfigured into three different forms. "You have the slant back, which is iconic to Hummer. You can also take the rear hatch off which enables the squareback, which offers SUV capabilities for maximum capacity. If you take the whole thing off and fold the back seats down, you have a SUT which is a small truck." Other additions of note are the removable fender flares and the removable doors that are advantages for serious off-roaders.

Demographic: Hummer has always been a favorite among the younger market and the HX should continue in that tradition. Its scaled-back size has the ability to draw in an audience that was previously intimidated by the larger models. The HX's biggest audience will come from the off-roading market where Hummer has traditionally made its bread and butter.

Expected Pricing: Undetermined

]]> http://motorcyclenut.wordpress.com/?p=114 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:09:19 +0000 motorcyclenut http://motorcyclenut.wordpress.com/?p=114 Found a picture of this bike I bought while going to the Naval School of Cryogenics in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1976. It was a pretty neat bike with 5 low gears and 5 high gears. I took it with me when I left Virginia and when I was stationed in Kingsville, Texas in 1978, I took a jump at a local motocross park and landed wrong and cracked some ribs. I ended up selling the Suzuki in 1979.

Serão, ao todo, 47 novos veículos ou versões de modelos que já são comercializados. Quer saber quais são eles? Clique no título da matéria e confira.

A lista está em ordem alfabética e por marcas.

Abarth Grande Punto SS
Abarth 500 e SS
Alfa Romeo Mi.To
Alfa Romeo 8C Spider
Alpina D3 Biturbo
Audi A5 Cabrio
Audi A6 2009
Audi Q5
Audi Q7 V12 TDI
BMW Serie3 2009
BMW Serie7
Brilliance BS4
Dacia Logan MCV/Break 2009
Ferrari California
Fiat Grande Punto 2009
Ford Fiesta 2009
Honda Fit/Jazz II
Hyundai Matrix 2009
Hyundai Sonata 2009
Hyundai Grandeur 2009
Hyundai iX55
Infiniti G37
Infiniti G37 Coupé
Infiniti EX37
Infiniti FX37 y FX50
Kia Eco_Cee'd
Kia Soul
Lada Kalina SW 1117
Lada Priora 2170
Lamborghini Murciélago Super Veloce
Mazda RX-8 2009
Mercedes GLK
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
Nissan Qashqai+2
Opel/Vauxhall Insignia
Peugeot 308 CC
Porsche 911 2009
Renault Mégane
Renault Laguna Coupé
Seat Ibiza SC
Subaru Forester Diésel
Suzuki Alto
Suzuki SX4 Sedan
Toyota iQ
VW Golf VI
VW Scirocco
Volvo XC60

Steel prises are rising, inflation is rising, savings of the people are reducing, interest rates and loans are becoming expensive and global recession is setting in. In short, there could not be a gloomier time than this for the auto industry. But the never-say-die spirit of the automakers is helping turn the tide.

I'm reminded of a beautiful quote given by Albert Einstein, which the auto makers seemed to have followed to the core :

Out of clutter find simplicity;

From discord find harmony;

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

Maruti and other competitors, like Tata, are focusing on using alternative materials for components for raw materials while Honda and GM reducing their administration expenses by reforming canteen menus and starting in-house training centers for their employees.

Just a few days ago, some companies were employing very innovative practices like energy efficient pumps, ventilators, and non-artificial and eco-friendly towers for cooling office premises!

At such times of inflation, most companies are reducing the number of workers, and trying to extract as much work in order to improve the bottom line of the business.

I've got a few ideas of my own too! (which auto industries can follow)

1. Reduce inventory costs by getting all the suppliers closer to your manufacturing unit (Japanese firms do this all the time - it is believed that this helps keep inventory costs to a bare minimum, in short, make the product when the product is demanded)
2. Distribution Systems should be highly efficient and must save fuel in the case of transporting cars from the factory to car outlets. Bigger trucks and computerised systems are a must. Famous example : UPS (United Parcel System in USA saves millions of dollars each year this way)
3. Inviting employees to make decisions. Sometimes the best ideas come from the people whom you least expect to deliver them...
4. On a light note, executives of the companies should shed those formal shirts, ties and courts to more comfortable clothes in order to avoid using excessive air conditioning.

I'm waiting for the best suggestions to come from you people! Any comments, writings, please post them!!

The background is that I I needed to clean up some parts for my Suzuki GT750 project for welding and painting, and with all the nooks and crannies it was taking far too long to sand the parts down. I have an air compressor, and actually tried out a cheap sand blasting unit from Princess Auto, but several things gave me pause:

• you really need a lot of air for it to work well
• the mess made by all the sand flying about is amazing
• it is not good for the lungs - actually if you want to do this sort of thing, you need either a fully enclosed cabinet for smaller items, or a full head cover with external air feed to pressurize the hood to ensure you aren't breathing silica dust and paint chips when blasting larger items

Bottom line - not recommended mainly due to safety concerns unless you are willing (and able) to invest the money in the right safety and compressor equipment.

One of the fellows in the RMS branch of the CVMG had mentioned to me, that there was a local outfit here in Calgary offering do-it-yourself sand blasting by the hour so I thought I'd give them a try. Consolidated Compressor is in the east industrial area of Calgary and the rates are quite reasonable. They have about 8 stations, and on any given day you will find several people happily blasting away as per the photo to the right. As I was new to this, one of the folks there stepped me through the 'how tos' before I got started. It isn't a difficult process - basically just point and shoot, taking care not to get parts of your own body in the way ! They supply instructions, gloves and ear plugs, a fully enclosed helmet with external air supply, work areas where you can clamp your work, and all the compressed air and sand you need. Long sleeves and long trousers are a must, and as well it is also a good idea to not park your car too close, just in case you point things in the wrong direction ! The process is fast - paint, rust, etc., just flew off the work pieces I had, and the resultant bare metal finish is ready to go for paint or additional metal working as required.

I have to assume the same sort of service is available in other cities, and if not then that's a shame because its a great idea !

Track Listing

1. OUR DAYS (ORIGINAL MIX)
2. OUR DAYS (SERENITY MIX)
3. OUR DAYS (TV Mix)
4. Rain of Tears -CM VERSION-

1. OUR DAYS (ORIGINAL MIX)

It's a ballad of course, but I'm not really impressed since Ami's vocals are very nasally here.  It's also kind of messy.  Then it just explodes with drums and it was just loud and Ami being really bad here.  It was just a very odd ballad that turned out bad. LOL

2. OUR DAYS (SERENITY MIX)

Actually, even though it is still a pretty bad song vocally.  They took out the drums which made the song even more of a ballad.  There were some other changes.  Especially where she's yelling and it's echoed, that was pretty cool and picked up more pace in this mix.  Way better than the original.

3. Rain of Tears -CM Version-

In other words a preview of the track that'll appear on her next single "HAPPY NEW MILLENIUM", which will be where I'll review the track itself.

Alright, this single was a bomb for me.  OUR DAYS sounded like a generic ballad with bad vocals added in.  The remix was better than the main track but not by much.  So this single failed many levels

We decided to attack through the double doors which opened on to one of the fields, if we could get that open then we would be able to chuck things out and have a clear run to the bonfire. It was slow going as there was very little that could be definitely be chucked out but we did manage to clear a tiny section and brush the floor.

It was weird coming across little mementos from my father as we cleaned (he passed away last year) but I suppose that is going to happen a lot as we sort things out. One of the shelf units still has his handwriting on in chalk which made me smile so I took a photo of it.

Podia começar aqui a falar da minha nova namorada (a Eva Longoria *), mas não...prefiro falar sobre outra coisa. Futebol, que acham? Benfica? Pois é, ao que parece o Benfica têm um poço de petróleo debaixo do estádio da luz...só grandes transferências...

Já que falei em transferencias, no outro dia ouvi uma frase fantástica: "Os jogadores entram no Benfica com o perfil de "Vedeta" mas quando saem passam a ter perfil de Coxos", "Os jogadores que entram no Futebol Clube Do Porto são completamente desconhecidos (ou quase), e passam a ser Vedetas quando saem". Ora, sendo eu benfiquista, ferrenho por sinal, mesmo assim tenho de concordar com estas frases. E não é preciso grandes argumentos para confirmar isto, o Kikin Fonseca e Adu chegam. Mas como sou ferranho, digo: "Vamos ganhar esta mer** toda!!!"

Ora, já falei sobre futebol, de que me resta falar...Dos bandalhos então pois!!!! Conhecem??? Se não conhecem deveriam conhecer!!! É pah, estou cheio de saudades desse pessoal, que belas patuscadas se faziam (e espero continuar a fazer), que belos desportos ultra-radicais se praticavam... (Vou chorar)... Que bela Gerupiga é a do Puto... (Estou a Chorar)... Que bons tralhos nós mandámos...Que bom é o dia em que o Pedro F. faz anos e puxa da carteira para pagar... Que bons eram aqueles palheiros no chão...Ah que saudades...

Pronto, já chorei...agora vou falar de coisas mais alegres. Sabiam que fui andar de Datsun, mais umas quantas vezes, com o meu GRANDE AMIGO David??? Máquina aquele gajo...tirando a parte em que tivemos de empurrar o carro uns 300 Metros (acabou-se a gasolina). É pah, aquilo anda nas horas do Diabo :mrgreen: !!! (aqueles trilhos de terra batida estão bem limpinhos).
Já vos contei que andei com este mesmo gajo de LTZ 400??? E que ao sacar cavalinho (estando os dois em cima da mota) batemos com a parte de trás da LTZ no chão??? Sem dúvida alguma que já vivi grandes aventuras com este Murnetas :D !!! Ah, já me ia esquecendo, saltamos de um paredão, para a água, com uma altura de mais de 7 metros...e se não fosse ele eu não saltava!!!
Além disto tudo, não podendo faltar como é óbvio, ainda bebemos as nossas SAGRES (não gostamos da outra cerveja rival, mas em tempo de secura entra tudo)

Ena pá, hoje fartei-me de escrever, hã? Dando por terminado o post deliciem-se com a minha nova namorada: (é boa não é? :mrgreen: )

So it is my next task, although I'm not going to start it right away I have to do a little bit more writing first so I won't be able to get stuck in for a week or so. As you can see from the pictures it's in quite a state but it has potential, oh yes, potential indeed.

The double doors open out on to a field which is perfect for testing bikes in but sadly they have been blocked up now with stinging nettles and some sort of broken forklift. It seems that before I can do any sort of restoration on motorcycles (like the Suzuki) I'll have to restore the workshop.

As you can see there is no shortage of tools, but they are all jumbled up. There is even a lathe although I'm not quite sure what I'd use it for.

The vague plan is to get the workshop fairly sorted out and then use it to get the Suzuki I found in the shed into working order again, possibly on the road. It turns out that the bike was taken off the road pre-SORN and so it might not exist anymore. Hopefully the Dayona won't spend too much time in the workshop but it's handy to have one all the same.

Just looking at the photos of the workshop makes me want to have a cup of tea and stand around in a boiler suit examining project. Perhaps I should invest in a boiler suit, it seems only right.

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OVERALL GRADE: 81 B-

Made almost entirely of Birch ply, the new GSX-R is painted in the renowned Suzuki blue and white colour scheme and features the iconic GSX-R logo down its side panels.

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It's a tricky question, if you tell friends you are going to get a supersports bike as your first proper big bike they can get a bit jumpy. This is a terribly fast bike, but it's also a well behaved bike. It's even okay in town - once you get used to the turning circle.

It's not even my first big bike really, I've been riding around off road for years, mostly trials riding but a bit of scrambling too. Some of the trials bikes I used to ride on were big thumping monsters so if anything they are more tricky to ride than the Daytona so I think I'll be fine. Mr Insurance has slightly different ideas but I suppose that will be part of the fun.

The garage cleaning went well today, one more day and it will be a smart place to put motorcycles. I've got two classic bikes that will go in there as well so they needed a smart home. I didn't find any other motorcycles, well not exactly.

After supper I was told that there was a Suzuki Stinger (a very rare bike) in one of the sheds so I went and found that today. It's a basket case but since the are so uncommon it's probably still worth a bit.

Oh and I paid in a cheque today from a national newspaper for something I wrote about six months ago. It was for £400 so that's the Daytona fund started. The invoice said 'Loo Phone' was the name of the piece, which it wasn't, it had nothing to do with bathrooms or telephones so they must have got confused. Either way I'm keeping the money.

The cheque is from a rather right-wing newspaper who probably disapprove of motorcycles so I don't feel quite so bad about writing for them anymore. Maybe I could use a bit of the money to buy some lesbians or socialists a pint. That would annoy the paper even more.

Amazingly unique, and surprisingly stylish... Goldwing cafe racers are the real deal. I don't have much to say about this bike. It pretty much speaks for itself. I never knew you could make one of these old monsters look so good. It's like a giant CB. Speechless.