Faster and Faster: March 09

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Nanotechnology: Smart Helmets could save motorcyclists’ lives in the near future

Smarter than thou: The smart helmet, with its embedded nanotech sensors, will know exactly what's going on in your brain...

Researchers at the University of Illinois, in the US, are said to be working on a ‘smart helmet’ that could possibly benefit motorcycle riders. Initially developed for combat soldiers, this helmet would, in the event of a mishap, be able to transmit head injury data to emergency medical services.

The smart helmet is still in the development phase, and over the next one year, researchers plan to test regular helmets that have been modified and fitted with nanotechnology sensors. Working in tandem with the latest communication technologies, these sensors will be able to record and relay real time information about injuries to the wearer.

In the event of an accident, sensors embedded in the smart helmet would start recording changes in crucial factors like changes in oxygen levels in the blood, the heart rate, and other systemic variables in the brain. This information, relayed to medical teams that respond to an emergency, could possibly help them deal with potential problems and minimize the impact of serious injuries.

Also see:
Rider Alert: Put a lid on this...
Street survival for motorcyclists: The 50 things you need to know!
Want to go faster? Here are some tips from Superbike mag...
Track riding for newbies: Ron Haslam's masterclass!
Beringer working on next-gen brakes for motorcycles...

Monday, March 10, 2008

Peraves MonoTracer: 100 units to be produced in 2009

Peraves MonoTracer vs Suzuki GSX-R? Bring it on!

Pics: Peraves

The rather remarkable MonoTracer, which fits right into the growing trend of ‘motorcycles’ with more than two wheels, is on track for going into production. The MonoTracer is currently being shown at the Geneva Automobile Salon, and the Switzerland-based Peraves say they will ramp up their production facilities to manufacture up to 100 units of this vehicle in 2009.

The Peraves MonoTracer features a self-supporting composite-monocoque chassis that’s made of kevlar and carbonfibre, bonded with epoxy-resin and reinforced with aluminium crash and roll bars. The suspension is comprised of a 50mm USD Marzocchi fork up front, and Monolever swingarm at the back.

Peraves have used the BMW K1200R’s liquid-cooled, 16-valve, 1171cc, 130bhp inline-four in the MonoTracer. The engine drives the rear wheel via BMW’s shaft-drive system and the gearbox is a sequential, manual-shift, four-speed (plus one reverse) unit. An automatic clutch is optional.

With its retractable stabiliser wheels, the MonoTracer will lean at angles of up to 52 degrees!

The high-tech MonoTracer gets three 320mm brake discs with four-piston calipers. ABS is standard fitment, while an anti-spin ASP system is optional. All controls – clutch, brakes, gear-shift and throttle etc – work like those on a conventional motorcycle. The fully enclosed MonoTracer has a sophisticated ventilation system, and full airconditioning is optional.

With a dry weight of 460-485kg (depending on the options chosen), the 130bhp MonoTracer accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, and top speed is in excess of 250km/h. And while those figures are impressive, the MonoTracer’s real calling card is its ability to safely lean into very fast corners. With its retractable stabilizer wheels – which deploy automatically when needed, in less than half a second – the MonoT can lean at angles of up to 52 degrees, which is anywhere between seven to 10 degrees more than what most superbikes ever do.

So yes, the funky-cool Peraves MonoTracer looks like a lot of fun, but it’s also terribly expensive – about 52,500 euros (US$81,000) plus VAT. But if you can afford one, riding one of these mad Swiss machines should be an absolute blast! More details on the official MonoTracer website here.

Also see:
Some very cool, very funky trikes on Faster and Faster
Lumeno Smera: Another car-motorcycle hybrid!
Pendolauto: Franco Sbarro's at it again...
Honda DN-01: Is this the future of motorcycling?
Noré Sébastien's motorcycle art...
Heavy Hitter: MV Agusta F4 Veltro Pista!
Face-off: The world's fastest bike vs the world's fastest man...

External links:
M-USA: 2008 Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 road test
Hot Buns: America's 10 Best Burgers!
Getting into a fight? Here's what you need to know about kicking some arse...
2008 Suzuki GSX-R750 and GSX-R600 image gallery

Dannii Minogue remains our no.1 favourite Aussie motorcyclist. (Who else can ever make an old Yamaha Fazer look so good?!) More of the delectable Ms Minogue here and here

Fast bikes, hot babes on Flickr!

And here's the new promo video for the Bajaj Pulsar DTS-Fi, an Indian-made sportsbike fitted with a single-cylinder, oil-cooled, fuel-injected 220cc engine. Interesting...
Via: Motorcyclist at Large

MotoGP results: Rookies do well in Qatar!

Stoner won the 2008 season opener in Qatar...

...Andrea Dovizioso took fourth, Rossi finished in fifth place while Capirex took eighth
Pics: Flickr

Full race report here

2008 MotoGP: Results from the Losail circuit, Qatar
1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 42min 36.587 secs
2. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 42min 41.910 secs
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 42min 47.187 secs
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Scot Team (M) 42min 49.875 secs
5. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 42min 49.892 secs
6. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 42min 50.627 secs
7. Colin Edwards USA Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 42min 51.737 secs
8. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 43min 9.092 secs
9. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 43min 9.590 secs
10. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 43min 14.941 secs
11. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 43min 20.871 secs
12. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 43min 26.444 secs
13. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 43min 26.458 secs
14. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 43min 35.119 secs
15. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 43min 35.517 secs
16. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 43min 42.230 secs
17. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1 lap