Sunday, July 27, 2008

Two Stroke Militia

Here's another helpful and entertaining site in the two-stroke wars — Two Stroke Militia. The site was apparently put together by three guys in the northeast — Jeff Conboy, Tim Weeks, and John Nicholas — and features some of the best analysis and commentary on the two-stroke situation that I've seen. I'm happy to see that they've picked up sponsorship from quite a few companies that also love the smell of race gas and castor oil.

Check out this page on modern two-stroke weapons. Gotta love that new Maico! Is that cool, or what? Tubular steel frame, two-stroke motor, modern styling... Man, that's cool. I'd actually buy a pit pass at a National to see stuff like that. Now if they'd just do a twin-shock version...

I'm going to buy one of their t-shirts. Check out their CafePress store and show your colors. I don't know if that makes me a member or not, but at least they'll know I'm a two-stroke supporter.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Algal biodiesel reduces the 150 million year oil cycle to three days

What does a new development in biodiesel have to do with motorcycles? Well, there are already some interesting diesel motorcycle conversions, but more importantly, the spread of ethanol-based gas can have serious effects on our older bikes. So anything that makes ethanol less appealing as a fuel alternative is good in my book.

It takes approximately 150 million years for organic matter to become oil that we pump out of the ground. We all know the ramifications of this - finite oil supplies, ever-growing demand for a limited resource, economic upheaval as supplies dwindle in our energy-hungry world. We also know the basics of renewable energy - government subsidized ethanol production, rising corn (and food) prices, a lifetime, government-guaranteed annuity for ArcherDanielsMidland, etc. And the attendant problems of switching our vast base of petroleum-based engines to alcohol.

But what if we could reduce that 150-million-year cycle to three days? What if we could create, in that three days, a grade of crude oil that is as high, or higher, than any currently available bio-oil? An oil that is really oil, not an alcohol substitute for oil.

[More...]

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Long live the two-stroke Part Deux: FUD in the marketplace

Two-stroke technology is not banned. Never was. Yet this myth continues to run rampant over the internet. Two-stroke technology is changing, getting cleaner, but this is a story about how purposeful misdirection and a campaign of Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt created a myth, killed development of a promising technology for over a decade, and changed the face of a sport.

Let's assume that a large, multi-national corporation (for simplicity we'll use a fictitious entity called Company H) manufactures everything from inexpensive lawn mowers and power generators to motorcycles and $40,000 SUVs. Every item in their massive product line is powered by a four-stroke motor. Every item, that is, except a small group of dirt bikes. The company has enormous investments and intellectual property in the development, marketing, and sales of four-stroke-driven products.

Company H is aware that certain proprietary methods, techniques, or technologies for lowering two-stroke emissions are either available or under development, some by their primary competitors. But Company H doesn't own any of the intellectual property (patents) associated with this improvement. Further, two-stroke engines do not fit the company's financial model — costing extra for development (since they can't leverage their vast institutional knowledge of four-strokes) — while generating lower margins in sales and service parts.

[More...]

Thursday, July 10, 2008

FIM to put 2-strokes on even footing in 2010

According to this Dec 21, 2007 press release (pdf) from the Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme, the Permanent Bureau has decreed the following:

Motocross Classes: as of 2010, single cylinder engines will be used in MX1 and MX2 and multicylinder in MX3, whether 2 or 4-stroke (open concept). The cubic capacity will be 250cc in MX2, and up to 650cc in MX3. Discussions are currently being held about the cubic capacity in MX1. A decision should be taken in the next three months. Concerning the MX2 class, a maximum age limit of 23 years will be introduced. Moreover, a World Champion will be allowed to defend his title only one time (in the following year).

The FIM Junior World Championship will have an additional class as of 1.1.2010: 65cc. All the classes (65cc, 85cc, 125cc) will be exclusively 2-stroke.

I think this is a move that's long overdue. I'd prefer that there not be a specific technology...

[More...]

Friday, July 4, 2008

Surface Guard Tape

Here's an interesting product I came across recently from ISC Racers Tape — Surface Guard Tape. According to the company it's "a bullet-proof, 8 mil clear, urethane paint protection tape. You cannot puncture this tape with a pen." It has a semi-permanent adhesive and protects against UV, extreme temperatures, and automotive solvents.

I've been using a product called Snider's Paint Guard from Aerostich to protect the paint on my Guzzi from saddlebag rubs and such. It's a clear plastic film that adheres like static film. It work pretty good, but it's hard to apply to compound curves. But it removes easily. I don't know how well the Surface Guard removes after it's been on a few weeks or months - especially if it's been in the sun a lot. But I'm going to get a roll and see. I can see how this would be really good to protect the frame from rub marks around the footpegs after you've spent a few hundred dollars for a nice powder coat job.