volume 5 | issue 4
MAY 2014
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MOTORCYCLE NEWS
U.S. Military Developing Stealth Motorcycles
The U.S. military is currently developing hybrid motorcycles that are fast, silent and stealthy for its ground troops. Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently awarded research grants to two companies for the development of these hightech motorcycles, Fox News reported. According to the report, the military motorcycles can run on a portable electric power source, or the JP-8 jet fuel used by both American and NATO combat vehicles. When running on electric power, the motorcycle will be completely silent. With the JP-8, it will be very quiet.
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(Photo : Reuters / Rupak De Chowdhuri) The U.S. military is developing hybrid stealth motorcycles for its soldiers
AROUND THE WORLD
Blind Man Rides
A race car builder who lost his sight as the result of a racing accident in 2012 is now riding a three-wheel motorcycle with the help of a GPS system that gives him audible cues to keep the trike on a straight course. The National Federation of the Blind says Dan Parker will ride his custom-built trike on the runway as part of an air show this weekend in Columbus, Ga. Last summer, Parker became the first blind man to complete a two-mile motorcycle race at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Quote of the Month
“It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end.”
Courtesy: Honda Canada
2014 Honda Gold Wing Gold Wing Valkyrie - hot rod heart
Honda launched the original Valkyrie by riding it down the stairs into a smokefilled underground Blues club in Chicago. Yes, it had that kind of cachet. The press were stunned, here was a motorcycle no one expected; the mild mannered Gold Wing super-tourer stripped down to its hot rod heart. The original Valkyrie was the love child of an in-house skunk works team at Honda, who knew that the Gold Wing platform
had the potential to offer so much more to performance minded cruiser riders. So outrageous was its performance that even American V-twin riders nodded in grudging respect when they encountered one of these 1500 cc six-cylinder brutes on the street. First released in 1996, the Valkyrie was a strong favourite with press and riders alike, all the way through till 2003, and was renowned for the siren music that emanated from its six concealed exhaust
outlets. Then suddenly, it was gone, and legions of fans were left singing their own blues. Well faithful fans, the wait is finally over, the new Gold Wing Valkyrie is here, bigger, badder, and better than ever. Staying true to the original concept, the new Valkyrie is based on a Gold Wing stripped down to the bare essentials. The glorious 1832 cc flat-six is retained, as is the rigid twin-spar aluminum CONTINUED ON P.3
*With the purchase of the Breakfast Sandwich of the Day, Receive a medium coffee & hashborwn (at locations where the hashbrown is not available, a donut will be substituted) for an additional $1.39 +tax. Offer subject to end without notice. Promotion valid at participating locations during store hours.