BMW K 1200 S sets 175.57 mph World Land Speed Record

"It was a rare opportunity for me and BMW," commented Sills, an avid BMW enthusiast, who, collectively, has amassed more than 300,000 miles on four BMW motorcycles within the last seven years. Sills went on to say, "The best part is that our record on the stock BMW K 1200 S matched to the mile, the historic last record run of 173.68 mph by Ernst Henne on a specially equipped streamlined BMW! He must have been watching over us."

Sills, who began making his mark on the Bonneville Salt Flats four years ago and who holds the world 80cc and 100cc motorcycle streamliner records, also clocked a record speed of 169 mph, riding the K 1200 S two-up with passenger Erin Hunter. The pair received a standing ovation from a cheering crowd of fellow competitors as they made their way into the pits.

The records, which were ratified on October 25, 2005, were set September 8, 2005 according to rules set forth by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the century-old, Swiss-based governing body for five motorcycling disciplines (road racing, motocross, trial, enduro and track racing).

Another record at Bonneville was achieved by Brian Parriott and San Jose BMW, fielding the BMW K 1200 R Power Cup bike, setting an AMA speed record for unstreamlined motorcycles in the 1300cc class at an average of 164.480 mph and top speed of 167.331mph. San Jose BMW is also no stranger to Bonneville, having previously set the 1000cc world record with their infamous R 100 "Wrecking Ball".

The new BMW K 1200 S is the most powerful motorcycle ever produced by BMW Motorrad. A 167 horsepower engine delivers performance of 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds. Yet, its unbridled engine power is effortlessly controlled by a newly designed six-speed gearbox and an all-new front suspension system, called the Duolever - another first-ever innovation found on the K 1200 S, delivering comfort, nimble control and an unprecedented capability for speed. The BMW K 1200 S has been available for sale through authorized BMW Motorrad retailers as of May of this year.

Record setting speeds were set in mph, and thus have not been converted to km/h.

2011 Honda Silver Wing ABS Review

A lot of scooterists want specialization from their ride. They want a grocery getter. They want a sport-tourer. They want a commuter. They want a lifestyle accessory. And so the permutations of scooters produced by various manufacturers cater to a variety of those tastes, wants and needs.

And that makes life rough for the riders who want it all. Searching for a do-anything machine can prove maddening in a world of specialization. It’s a little like trying to find a good general practitioner when you’re hunting for a doctor; all you come up with are docs with rarified pedigrees.

The 2011 Silver Wing continues with its same swoopy, aerodynamic design. It’s definitely attractive, but an update might be in order.

Fortunately, Honda’s Silver Wing answers that call for a scooter that is as happy on a long road trip as it is making the daily commute. And maybe that shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Silver Wing has picked up a number of fans over a decade for its blend of power and practicality.

A generous fixed windscreen provides ample protection.

Let’s start with the first half of that blend when looking at the 2011 edition of the Silver Wing. In terms of power, a 582cc liquid-cooled parallel-Twin with DOHC (four valves per cylinder) and EFI sits at the heart of the Silver Wing to deliver smooth and steady power. This yields nice off-the-line acceleration and enough power to give you confidence that you can escape any uncomfortable situations that might develop on the road.

Flying around Southern California’s network of freeways, the Wing's 582cc Twin is awake and ready for action — you twist, it goes. Blasting past drivers that were rolling chicanes holding up traffic and other highway and interstate obstructions was effortless and seemed second nature to both rider and scooter. During regular freeway cruising, the Silver Wing felt entirely happy sitting at 70 mph or so for long periods of time. The parallel-Twin just keeps humming below, like an appliance.

In fact, the Silver Wing often feels like it was made with the freeway in mind, because the scooter delivers a full package experience on the freeway. That smooth, steady, always-there power was complemented by terrific, rail-like handling. I chalk that up to the fore and aft suspension. Up front you’ll find a 41mm hydraulic fork with 4.7 inches of travel, and in back dual hydraulic shocks featuring five-position spring-preload adjustability and 4.5 inches travel.

Both fore and aft you’ll find single 276 mm discs with a three-piston calipers that offer not only ABS, but a dual-braking system.

The result is a surprisingly level at stability higher speeds, which adds to the overall confidence and enjoyability of the ride. The rider doesn’t have to constantly look ahead to pick lines through bad pavement and the like, and can instead concentrate on the important things, like what’s happening with traffic up ahead. About the only time you do feel the pavement is when the road truly gets rough, but even then, the motorcycle-like amounts of suspension travel soften any blows and keep you on track.

Braking is the big deal on the 2011 edition. This year’s Silver Wing offers a combination of both ABS and dual braking. Both fore and aft you’ll find single 276 mm discs with a three-piston calipers. While I wish that a scooter with a 550-pound curb weight would have twin discs up front, I have to give props to the scooter’s overall braking system.

And I call it a system for a reason: How you apply the brakes determines how the pistons actuate as part of the overall dual braking scheme. Squeeze the front and two of the three pistons engage. Squeeze the back and the third front piston kicks in along with the rear pistons. It sounds completely unnatural, but the result is stopping power that feels completely natural and predictable. Most importantly, it brings those 550 pounds to a quick, surprise-free halt.

Given that you’ll probably spend longer stretches in the saddle, I have to give big points to the Silver Wing’s seat and ergonomics. The riding positions on maxi scoots are a major pet peeve of mine. I’m not a huge fan of the legs-forward position that is almost forced on riders of larger scooters. I much prefer to be on top of a ride, rather than in it. But the Silver Wing gets it right. The seat height and position were perfect for me and, with an adjustable backrest, I didn’t find myself searching around for a good position like I do on a lot of other sloping, scooter saddles.

For two-up riding, the pillion portion of the saddle is equally generous, and flip-out footpegs ensure the passenger is in position that is comfortable yet still stable for the pilot.

Also a generous fixed windscreen paired with aerodynamic design ensures provides good protection from the wind. It’s also worth noting that the Silver Wing seems less affected by crosswinds, as well. I’m not sure why that is, because the Silver wing appears to have just as much bodywork as any other maxi scoot, but even through strong gusts from the side, the scooter felt firmly planted on the pavement.

From a utility perspective, the Silver Wing’s under-seat storage offers 14.5 gallons of stowage, which provides more than enough space to house your helmet and riding gear when you're parked, and a bag and your lunch when you’re headed to work. Or some grocery bags if you’re hitting the supermarket.

On longer trips you might find the trunk a little limiting due to its stepped shape. The flat portion at the rear of the trunk space steeply slopes down in such a way that it makes longer items hard to fit. For instance, testing it out with some camping gear, I found that after stowing my ultra-light sleeping bag and tent/bivvy I was running out of space and realized I’d have to sling my daypack of clothes and small items I was hoping to fit in the trunk over my shoulders.

Jutting behind the seat is a mount for a top box for more storage. It fits the scooter’s lines well, and my only complaint is that I wish it had some kind of spot where one could fit a bungie cord or two in order to strap down odd items and use that mount as a rack.

Up front, you’ll find no standard glovebox on the Silver Wing. Instead there is a shallow compartment on one side for smaller items such as shades or toll-road cash, and on the other is a much deeper, narrower compartment for fitting… a 40-ouncer? A halibut? It’s an oddly shaped space that seems perfect for loaves of bread.

If you can figure out what this space is intended for, you win whatever goes in it. We think it’s for baguettes.
  
A perfect spot for shades, toll-road cash or a passport.

Styling-wise, the Silver Wing is pretty much the same Silver Wing before except this time you can get it in any color as long as its black. Admittedly, the 2011 Silver Wing’s black livery is particularly attractive when complementing the rest of the package. It’s a look that works well, but couldn’t Honda offer at least one additional color?

The Silver Wing’s controls and dials offer no frills, but are easily read and used. The bars offer a comfortable riding position that still offers good control.

But maybe an extra color would be a half measure. What I think a lot of prospective Silver Wing owners would truly jump at is a new look. The current Silver Wing look is a good one. I like its long, swoopy, aerodynamic lines, but it’s time for an update. The Silver Wing GT 600 found overseas offers some more aggressive styling, and perhaps that could be a direction the scooter’s design could go in. Suffice it to say that the scooter needs an style update.

The other question mark I have is the Silver Wing’s $9,099 starting price. For me, that seems a little steep for a scooter that, while powerful and with excellent handling, has yet to receive a fresh look and lacks some of the extras that would instantly demand a top asking price. That said, I think the Silver Wing’s crafty linked braking alone is worth additional money.

All in all, the Silver Wing has had more than 10 years to hit its stride, and it’s a confident stride at that. With solid handling and a beefy powerplant paired with good utility, the Wing delivers a balance that is often hard to find. If you’re seeking a do-it-all maxi scoot, the Silver Wing should be on your short list.

2013 Harley-Davidson CVO Overview

New to the 2013 CVO stage are the Road King and Breakout while the Ultra Classic Electra Glide and Road Glide Custom return for encore performances. Auspicious is the 2013 model year for Harley-Davidson as the company celebrates 110 years of motorcycle manufacturing. To augment the occasion, Harley is offering three CVOs in anniversary garb with 110th-anniversary badging and fuel tank medallions, but the Breakout is way too cool to participate in any organized merrymaking.

They’re all special, but our personal favorite of the four 2013 CVO models is the new Softail Breakout in its Hard Candy Gold Dust/Liquid Sun with Pagan Gold Graphics color scheme.

Standard among all CVO models is the Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 engine (110B on the Breakout) and the new Assist & Slip Clutch Pack said to reduce driveline loading during downshifts. The clutch lever has been reshaped to optimize control while clutch action is reduced by 10 percent and clutch lever hold-in force is 17 percent lower. Twenty-thirteen CVOs also come with cruise control, ABS and H-D’s Smart Security System as standard equipment.
Extra benefits when purchasing a 2013 CVO come in the form of a CVO embroidered indoor/outdoor storage cover and a one-year membership to the H-D museum including all kinds of special CVO privileges and discounts.
Let’s now get on to the specifics of each new 2013 CVO model.

The Heavy Breather intake attached to the Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110B engine emphasizes the Breakout’s virility.

2013 Harley-Davidson CVO Breakout
Price: $26,499
Worldwide Production: 1,900 units
Performance: 112 ft. lbs. @ 3500rpm
Colors:      • Black Diamond/Molten Silver with Crushed Slate Graphics
   • Crimson Red Sunglo/Scarlet Lace with Hammered Sterling Graphics
   • Hard Candy Gold Dust/Liquid Sun with Pagan Gold Graphics

Best power-to-weight ratio of any 2013 Harley, but cornering ability is limited because of minimal ground clearance and suspension travel.

Polished chrome Turbine wheels rolling on a fat 240/40-18 rear tire and equally wide 130/60-21 front with fenders chopped to the legal limit to show off as much rubber as possible, the new Breakout strikes an imposing profile without trying. Weighing 724 pounds wet and producing a claimed 112 ft.-lb. of torque at 3500 rpm, the Breakout boasts the best power-to-weight ratio of any 2013 Harley-Davidson model.
Powering the CVO Softail is a Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110B engine with a Heavy Breather intake. The Electronic Sequential Port Fuel-Injected (ESPFI) motor is manipulated via Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) and the power is delivered to the rear wheel by way of hydraulic clutch operation, an Assist & Slip Clutch Pack, and a 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission.
Of the three paint schemes two feature hand-polished steel sections on the fuel tank and fenders while the third incorporates hand-laid lace stenciling. While the two hand-polished Breakouts sport black leather seats, the Crimson Red model flaunts brown leather seats. The CVO Breakout also boasts a polished and chromed single-rib cast aluminum oil tank.
For a full review of the 2013 CVO Breakout click here.

Absent since 2008, the Road King returns to the CVO lineup with an MSRP almost identical to its predecessor from five years ago.

2013 Harley-Davidson CVO Road King
Price: $29,999/$30,999 anniversary model
Worldwide Production: 3,620 units including 900 anniversary models
Performance: 118 ft. lbs. @ 3750rpm
Colors:    • Burgundy Blaze with Hot Fusion Graphics
   • Crushed Sapphire with Cold Fusion Graphics
   • 110th Anniversary Edition Diamond Dust/Obsidian with Palladium Graphics
    

The Wind Splitter windshield with adjustable venting works, but some may not approve of its styling, and for that it’s detachable.

The Road King isn’t new to the CVO scene, having received the customized treatment on four other occasions, but at $29,999 next year’s CVO Road King is priced nearly the same as its last iteration in 2008, but with 2013 model-year amenities. The new CVO Road King is the first Road King to receive a factory-installed audio system with a 200-watt amplifier. The system features handlebar controls for operating the included 8GB iPod or your personal iPod/iPhone. Sound is pumped through two 5.25-inch speakers mounted in the fairing lowers and two 5x7-inch speakers located in the saddlebag lids. A handy carrying pouch in the saddlebag keeps the iPod/iPhone safe and dry when riding.
The 2013 CVO Road King is distinctive by way of its vented Wind Splitter windshield. The detachable windshield was developed in the Wichita State University’s wind tunnel. Using computational fluid dynamics, the H-D team was better able to determine the flow of air over and around objects thus significantly reducing wind buffeting to the rider. The vane within the vent is adjustable to match air flow to a rider’s preference. Not a breakthrough technology, the vented windscreen does, however, work as described while its swoopy design distinguishes it from lesser aftermarket options.
Other 2013 refinements include a new, ergonomically designed, 1.25-inch, chromed handlebar and a solo touring seat (via a removable passenger pillion) with a lower seat height. A low-profile console includes both a speedometer and a tachometer, and features programmable background colors. A new painting process features hand-finished graphics created with textures and solvents in a multistep process resulting in unique detailing on each motorcycle.

Back in black, the CVO Road Glide Custom returns for 2013 in its more-black-than-chrome guise.

2013 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Custom
Price: $32,999/$33,999 anniversary model
Worldwide Production: 3,150 units including 900 anniversary models
Performance: 122 ft. lbs. @ 3750rpm
Colors:    • Atomic Orange/Galaxy Grey with Edge Graphics
   • Roman Gold/Burnt Emerald with Edge Graphics
   • 110th Anniversary Edition Diamond Dust/Obsidian with Palladium Graphics
    

If light made noise, the dual LED Daymaker headlights illuminating the way for the CVO Road Glide Custom would be deafening.

While not exactly a Dark Custom, the blacked-out CVO Road Glide Custom introduced last year returns for 2013 with one magnificently bright trait — the Daymaker LED headlight. A first for any production Harley, the LED headlamp, compared to a halogen bulb, increases low-beam lighting distance (punch) by 30 feet (345 ft. vs 315 ft.), and the spread of light by 55 feet (120 ft. vs 65 ft.). High-beam effectiveness is even more impressive, increasing the headlight’s punch from 610 feet to an amazing 740 feet (an increase of 130 feet.), and the spread from 110 feet to 120 feet.
Viewed side-by-side at night with last year’s halogen-equipped Road Glide, the increased viewable field is obvious, and while the LED low-beam and high-beam lights are 37 and 31 percent brighter, respectively, power consumption is reduced by 50 percent.
Like the Road King, the 2013 CVO Road Glide gets the new 200-watt amplifier to feed its six speakers: two 5x7-inch fairing-mounted speakers, two 2-inch dash-mounted tweeters, and new for 2013, two 5x7-inch saddlebag lid speakers with bridged tweeters. Gone is last year’s unsightly radio antenna, now hidden within the fairing. The Harman/Kardon stereo features CD/AM/FM/WB and comes standard with an 8GP iPod in the right saddlebag.

With 122 ft. lbs. of torque on tap at 3750 rpm, the Road Glide boasts the highest performing CVO engine. Complemented with respectable ground clearance, the Road Glide makes for a sporty handling bagger.

Also new on the 2013 Road Glide Custom is the 1.25-inch, internally wired, black powder coated handlebars, a smoked Wind Splitter windscreen with a ghosted H-D graphic, diamond pattern leather seats, as well as hand controls, brake pedal, pegs, floorboards and heel shifter from the new Sliptstream Collection.

The best bagger in the business is the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide. The only way to one-up this machine is to throw down the extra thou for the Anniversary Model.

2013 Harley-Davidson CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide
Price: $37,599/$38,599 anniversary model
Worldwide Production: 3,900 units including 1,100 anniversary models
Performance: 118 ft. lbs. @ 3750rpm
Colors:    • Stardust Silver/Dark Slate/Titanium Dust with Thunderblade Graphics
   • Tribal Orange/Dark Slate/Inferno Orange with Thunderblade Graphics
   • Typhoon Maroon/Black Diamond/Burgundy Blaze with Thunderblade Graphics
   • 110th Anniversary Edition Diamond Dust/Obsidian with Palladium Graphics

I could spend all day, every day in this position until financial ruin or death made me stop. Yep, the seat is that comfortable.

At $38,599 the 2013 CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide Anniversary Edition earns the honor of most expensive production Harley-Davidson, but the standard model at $37,599 is only $350 more expensive than the 2012 model it’s replacing.
One of the most comfortable full-dress touring cruisers available today, the Ultra Classic Electra Glide is also an impressive performer in its own right. Having the pleasure to be aboard the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide on a spirited ride through the coastal mountains North of Monterey, California, during the CVO’s recent press introduction, I later parked the bike with a newfound appreciation for its handling mannerisms. Along a particularly bumpy stretch of asphalt, the FLHTCUSE bottomed its suspension a couple times and scraped its floorboards now and again, but it never once lost composure, which, for a bike weighing 927 pounds wet, is quite an accomplishment.
And all this backroad scratching is taking place with music streaming from my iPhone safely secured in the saddlebag and blaring through the Harman/Kardon stereo system with high-performance BOOM! speakers (four 5.25-inch speakers with 40W per channel) and bass booster ports. A high fidelity, high performance experience on a luxo-touring motorcycle representing 110 years of American perseverance.

The cockpit is functional, efficient and aesthetically pleasing, and the sound system is without equal.

For 2013 the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide returns with only one model-specific change, perforated leather inserts on the seats and backrest, but it also enjoys the upgrades of the other CVO models including the Assist & Slip Clutch Pack, Slipstream Collection of grips, floorboards, pedals, pegs, etc., the indoor/outdoor CVO  embroidered cover and new paint schemes.

Blogging Tips That Will Make You More Money

Bloggins is the most popular work-from-home job opportunity out today. Millions of people attempt to blog every year and no matter what your reasons for wanting to start a blog, it helps if you understand how to build and subsequently operate your site. Here are some great blogging tips you can use to assist you.

Since blogging is on a personal level you should avoid writing formally. You should still write in a professional manner and use proper grammar. Your readers will be able to relate to you more when you are writing to them in a casual way and will continue reading your blogs.

If you are interested in blogging, but you don't particularly like to write, try starting a blog about one of your creative talents. You could try a photography blog and share your hobby with others. Or you may write poetry or music that you could post samples of. If people like what you have to offer, they will come back for more.

If you have contests or giveaways on your blog, remove them once the contest is over and the winners have been announced. The post announcing the results will allow readers to know about the contests you have had. The contest itself is out of date information that should be cleaned up.

Divide your blog into categories and subcategories so viewers can easily find your content. Not only will this make it easier for your viewers to locate information, but after you have accumulated enough content, you will have a much easier time keeping it sorted in your own inventory as well.

If you have a very long post, divide it into smaller parts, posted with the title and part number. If a reader finds the first part engaging, they will be enticed to return for further installments. Doing so also ensures that your readers do not become overwhelmed by an especially lengthy post.

Create a good blog design. Too many bloggers today build a blog that is far too cluttered and difficult to read. You want your blog to be simple and one way you can achieve this is by having simplicity in your side bar. Whatever you add to your side bar such as a widget or advertisement, you should ask yourself if someone would actually click on it. If not, then do away with it.

If you have a child or teenager who is interesting in creating their own blog, be sure to talk it over with them, giving them some rules and guidelines to follow. Let them know this is for their own safety. Some things to cover include, not giving out personal information such as full names, where they live, and of course, no provocative photos!

It's important that you understand that there's more that goes into blogging that meets the eye. Hopefully,these tips have shed some light on the subject. While it's not a very difficult subject, it is still a highly detailed one. Use these tips to get you started on the right track.