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| Injector |
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| HKS Injectors are precision units engineered to deliver the fuel needed on high-performance applications. When an engine’s horsepower is limited by the factory fuel injectors, larger HKS Injectors can be used in addition to or to replace the factory injectors. This allows higher horsepower to be achieved. HKS Injectors range from 450cc to 1000cc, and are available in top-feed or side-feed. |
Ricoh's new GXR digital camera system, where the lens and sensor are made into an interchangeable unit that slides into the camera body
Image Gallery (3 images)After weeks of speculation and the accidental pre-announcement release of a demonstration video, the Ricoh GXR digital camera system has finally been officially announced. Not only is it claimed to be the smallest and lightest digital camera that allows lenses to be changed, but as the lens and sensor comprise one interchangeable unit, photographers can now choose different sensor/lens combinations for different photographic conditions.
Rumors of something special coming from Ricoh had been circulating for weeks but the company had managed to keep things more or less under wraps until the evening before the official announcement.
A video from the UK's consumer magazine Which demonstrating Ricoh's modular GXR was posted to YouTube and although only online for a few short moments, it was long enough for eagle-eyed camera lovers to spread the good news.
The GXR is claimed to be the world's smallest and lightest digital camera with the ability to change lenses, a crown previously claimed by Olympus' Micro Four Thirds system. Unlike your typical digital camera, the 113.9 × 70.2 × 28.9 mm body of the GXR does not contain an image sensor or processing engine. The lens, sensor and engine are all contained in a separate unit which slides into the main body.
This effectively allows the photographer to choose to take shots using (at product release) a large 12Mp APS-C size CMOS sensor or a diminutive 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor at 10Mp. But the modular design doesn't stop there.
As well as framing shots on the 920,000 dot high resolution 3 inch LCD display at the body's rear, there's also the facility to add an external viewfinder in the hot shoe slot on the top which can be tilted for optimum comfort. Although there is an integrated flash, a GR DIGITAL III external flash is also available.
The A12 50 mm (equivalent) F2.5 MACRO camera unit uses a 23.6 x 15.7 mm CMOS sensor which offers just over 12MP. The unit measures 68.7 × 57.9 × 38.6 mm, has an ISO sensitivity of up to 3200 and supports 720p video at 24 frames per second. In normal mode the lens offers a focus range of approximately 30cm to infinity, whilst macro mode will give approximately 7cm to infinity.
The 10MP S10 24-72mm-equivalent f2.5-4.4 wide-angle lens unit uses the CCD-shift method of camera shake correction. It's housed in a similar sized unit and offers the same ISO3200 sensitivity as the A12. It features the Smooth Imaging Engine IV processing engine and a clever self-retaining lens cap, a teleconversion lens and a wide conversion lens can all be added as optional extras.
Of course there is quite a heavy price to pay for all this relative freedom that the modular approach can offer - the overall cost. According to the now fully reinstated Which video (see below) the body will cost £420 (about US$700), the A12 macro lens £600 (about US$1000) and the S10 £300 (about US$500) when the system is released in December.
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| Pillow Ball Mounts |
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| Most factory suspension mounts (the point where the strut or shock assembly meets the vehicle’s body) are constructed from rubber or plastic for maximum ride comfort. These mounts can flex and bend hindering suspension performance. HKS’ Pillowball upper mounts are constructed with anodized aluminum and stainless steel to form a solid mount between chassis and suspension. |
Mavizen TTX02 electric motorcycle
Image Gallery (22 images)We've long argued that electric motorbikes make sense - low-emissions, quiet operation, instant torque and hardly any maintenance compared with their gas-guzzling cousins. The sluggish reaction of the established industry players to this e-revolution has created an opportunity for names like Brammo, Vectrix and Zero to try their hand, and now a brand that dares to put the words "electric" and "superbike" in the same sentence. Launched last week in Las Vegas, the 130+ mph, GBP25,000 Mavizen TTX02 is based around a KTM RC8 frame, ships with two Agni motors and boasts a hot-swappable battery and drivetrain architecture. Born from, and bred for, the world's first electric GP, the bike is a "laptop on wheels" that runs on the Linux OS, comes with with integrated IP connectivity and a USB based system bus for open source engine management, and although it's not being sold as a street legal machine, TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain says the package can still provide a pathway from the racetrack to the road.
On first impressions there's no doubt that the looks the part. The addition of Mavizen's own fairings to the RC8 chassis, plus the obvious change in color scheme, the twin Agni motors and the absence of the distinctive headlight help to differentiate the TTX02 racebike from the KTM.
The bike's top speed is specced at 130+ mph (depending on gearing) with 70kw peak and 40kw continuous power. The range is 25-50 miles using the 6kWh Circuit pack under track conditions, but this can be stretched to 130 miles "under regular road use" with the 11kWh Snaefell Pack according to Mavizen. There's also a yet to be finalized 3kWh Sprint pack on offer which provides six miles of track use.
Stopping power is provided by 320mm double disc Brembo's at the front and a 220mm disc at the rear while the drive train is from the Isle of Man TT winning Agni bike with the "interchangeable capacity dependent on the pack selected during purchase".
Dry weight is 110kg which jumps to 160kg once batteries are added (Circuit Pack ) and in a specification we're not used to discussing for a motorcycle, the OS is Linux, although Mavizen says it's also tested against Windows and may look into Android.
The TTX02 is first and foremost a racebike that will give a new breed of competitors a development platform with which to take a place on the TTXGP grid, or any national or FIM championship. "Mavizen is about growing the grid," says Hussain, stressing that the company"wants to be a platform provider and facilitator for the TTXGP, not a competitor." Competitors who choose the TTX02 platform will be encouraged and expected to tweak the bike to gain a racing edge, and the swappable drivetrain and versatile management system is designed to facilitate this.
The onboard IP connectivity also makes it easier for fledgling race teams the ability to configure the bike themselves, and for regular buyers, this means that the bike can be remotely diagnosed and tweaked by Mavizen if there's a need for modification. Hussain's aim is to take full advantage of the "laptop on wheels" potential offered by electric motorcycles so that "you can just log onto the bike as if you are logging onto a website".
But what if you want to get take your GBP25,000 superbike to the streets? The TTX02 is built on a homologated chassis and the clever part is that although it's not being sold as a road legal bike, it still ships with a wiring loom fully integrated into the frame. This means that when you buy all the lights and other bits and pieces required to make it road legal (and this of course will depend on the jurisdiction you live in), the process becomes much more straight forward.
Mavizen is targeting March 2010 for shipping of the TTX02. Initially sales will be online and a limited production of 50 units will be brought to market. The target price complete with a Circuit Pack is £25,000.
The versatile architecture around which the bike is built also positions Mavizen to create a stable of bikes based on a common power pack concept, so we don't expect that the TTX02 (which we see as a groundbreaking step towards the day when e-bikes will outstrip their petrol-driven counterparts) will be the last we hear from these guys.
We'll be riding the Mavizen TTX02 soon, so stay tuned for a full review. Meanwhile, there's loads of exclusive pics of the very first TTX02 in the Gallery.
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| Intercooler Kits |
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| HKS Intercooler Kits are application specific upgrade kits for factory intercooled turbocharged vehicles. Designed specifically for each application; intercooler width, height, thickness and placement are calculated for maximum efficiency and performance. All necessary silicone hoses, brackets, hardware and fittings are included for a complete bolt-on installation. Most application specific HKS Intercooler systems and upgrade kits are CARB exempt (CARB E.O. #D-186-21). |
We've dealt with plenty of amphibious vehicles here at Gizmag, and they've tended to fall into two camps - practical but unexciting, or cool but nonexistent - at least in a production sense. So the WaterCar Python comes as a bit of a surprise, looking for all the world like a pimped-out pickup truck, but offering blistering performance both on land and water. With the right engines built in, this hot rod can make mid 12s at the drag strip, hit 60mph in 4.5 seconds, and burn up the highway at well past 120mph - and it's capable of more than 60mph on the water as well - a true performance boat once the wheels are lifted out of the way. Crazy stuff!
The Python has a completely different focus from humble, practical amphibians like the Sealegs. Its primary aim is to turn heads wherever it goes - and it's got this part nailed. It's a monster on the road, all smooth lines, grunty performance and gleaming paint. Then you drive it straight down the boat ramp into the water, and watch as bystanders start picking their eyeballs up off the ground.
Once in the water, you press a button that retracts the wheels on an angle, you engage the jetboat engine and away you go - the Python absolutely flies once it's in the drink. Getting in and out for a swim or a waterski is easy - just open the doors and climb down. It's the kind of craft that's impossible NOT to notice, and its inventors clearly see it as some sort of rolling party machine: the ultimate big boy's toy.
From a practical standpoint, the Python has highway-legal and nautical lighting built in. In the U.S., it needs to be registered both as a car and a boat. It can easily be driven in and out of the water at any boat ramp and, if the conditions are favorable, at many natural shorelines, too. Maintenance-wise, it's roughly the equivalent of maintaining a boat and a car - although more time and care needs to be taken if you use it in saltwater.
The Python comes as a rolling chassis for around US$170,000 from the California-based WaterCar company, which is looking to extend its dealer network internationally. You buy it as a fully-customized shell without a road engine or transaxle, and then fit the biggest, nastiest Corvette LS motor you can afford to provide the ponies. On water, the Python uses a Dominator jet.
So, once your engine is fitted, you're looking at upwards of US$200,000 worth of amphibious fun machine - definitely not for the shy or faint-hearted. Whether or not you appreciate its in-your-face aggression, you've got to admit this machine is one heck of a technical achievement. Well done lads!
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| Hi-Power Exhaust |
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| Inspired and designed from endurance and GT racing in Japan, HKS developed its Hi-Power Exhaust system for both turbocharged and naturally aspirated applications. HKS has incorporated this new race inspired offset muffler and piping design into many street applications, which offers a greater flow and higher-PRM power gains due to the less restrictive design. This is achieved by eliminating unnecessary bends for the straightest exhaust path. |
Ferrari Concepts on display
The new Ferrari’s concepts of the myth are now a reality. The selection of the 20 best nominees for the Ferrari of the future, created by automotive design students of four of the most prestigious schools worldwide (Center for Creative Studies of Detroit, Coventry School of Art and Design, European Institute of Design of Turin and Tokyo Communication Arts), are currently being exhibited at the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello. The students have been challenging themselves in the production of scale 1:4 Ferrari models, innovative and fresh in style and functionality as well as in external and internal volumes, proposing stimulating alternatives to the internationally acclaimed shapes of the current and previous mid-engined eight cylinder cars and the front-engined twelve cylinder cars.The contest has been organised in partnership with Pininfarina and with the support of Alcoa, the company that produces aluminium spaceframes for Ferrari.
On 18 November, the Galleria Ferrari will host the prize-giving ceremony. The 20 selected projects will be voted by a technical board of jurors, including the Ferrari Style Committee, whose main members are Luca di Montezemolo, Piero Ferrari, Jean Todt, Amedeo Felisa e Massimo Fumarola – and the senior management of Pininfarina (Senator Sergio Pininfarina, Andrea Pininfarina and Ken Okuyama).
The four winners will get the opportunity of work experience at Ferrari or Pininfarina, transforming the academic project into professional practice. The winner of the Alcoa award, who will get an aluminium reproduction of its model and, in case of significant proposals, special mentions will be added.
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| GT Sport Turbo Upgrade |
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| HKS GT Ball-Bearing Sport Turbo Upgrades are bolt-on turbo upgrade kits for factory turbo-charged vehicles. These kits consist of new, larger HKS GT turbos designed to bolt directly on to the stock manifold(s). HKS GT Sport Turbos are designed and sized to promote maximum power and response for maximum airflow throughout the RPM band. From the HKS precision cast turbine and compressor housings to the specially designed blades, each turbo is crafted to provide high levels of performance and quality. |
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| PFC F-CON |
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| The HKS PFC F-CON is a plug-in fuel management system designed to supplement and refine the OEM fuel curve to maintain a proper air/fuel mixture when increasing boost pressure in turbocharged applications. The PFC F-CON optimizes the factory injector pulse width signal by recalibrating information obtained by both the PFC F-CON absolute pressure sensor and the OEM engine control unit (ECU). Each unit is application specific and includes a preprogrammed ROM for a particular performance stage. |
The crossover is an essential move to any basketball player. Even though only the guards will need it most, knowing it is always an added bonus.
You should have it in your arsenal.
To achieve a crossover, you do a feint likely to sucker a defender into committing their foward momentum in that direction, and then make a lunge for free space.
Put more simply, persuade the defender to go one way, as you go the other.
The move is also known as an "anklebreaker".
This guide takes you through the steps of making a good crossover. As the move requires a good level of balance, fitness and practice, the rest is up to you.
STEP :
Remember: You control where the ball goes.
The name for the "triple threat" position derives from the fact that the offensive player with the basketball has three choices regarding what to do with the ball. He or she can either dribble, pass, or shoot the ball. Because of this variety of choices defenders must give the offensive player in the triple threat position a wide berth. The offensive player, therefore, has plenty of room to operate.
You close your eyes
And leave me naked by your side
You close the door so I can't see, the love you keep inside
The love you keep for me
It fills me up
It feel like living in a dream
It fills me up so I can't see
The love you keep inside
The love you keep for me
I stay to watch you fade away
I dream of you tonight
Tomorrow you'll be gone
It gives me time to stay, to watch you fade away
I dream of you tonight
Tomorrow you'll be gone
I wish by god you'll stay
I stay awake
I stay awake and watch you breathe
I stay awake and watch you fly, away into the night
Eascaping through a dream
I stay to watch you fade away
I dream of you tonight
Tomorrow you'll be gone
I gives me time to stay
To watch you fade away
I dream of you tonight
Tomorrow you'll be gone
I wish by god you'll stay
Hey.....
Stay.....
I stay to watch you fade away
I dream of you tonight
Tomorrow you'll be gone
It gives me time to stay
To watch you fade away
I dream of you tonight
Tomorrow you'll be gone
It gives me time to stay
To watch you fade away
I dream of you tonight
Tomorrow you'll be gone
I wish by god you'll stay
The Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 88 engine was released for the 1999 model year in September 1998. The Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 96 was released for the 2007 model year. Although these engines were the successors to the Evolution engine ("Evo"), they share a number of characteristics with nearly all previous Harley-Davidson engines. Both engines have two cylinders in a V-twin configuration at 45 degrees, are air-cooled, and control valve timing with push-rods. The crankshafts have a single pin with a tongue and fork arrangement for the connection rods. These are sandwiched between a pair of flywheels.
The Twin Cam wasn't initially used in the Softail model family before the year 2000. This was due to the chassis' design and issues with increased vibration. The increase in vibration was a result of the direct mounting of the engine to the Softail frame. Dyna models are "rubber mounted" and therefore do not suffer the same vibration problems. Harley then solved the issue by making a redesigned version of the Twin Cam, the Twin Cam 88B. The 88B is essentially the same as the original Twin Cam, but with a different engine block design and twin chain-driven counter-balancers. This had caused some controversy among Harley veterans, claiming that the "Harley vibes" were a part of their motorcycles. The Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 96B engine was released at the same time as the Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 96A model, for the 2007 model year, and is currently used on all Softail models
