Airbag crash testing...

I've been wondering how you go about crash testing motorcycle airbags....

Airbag motorcycle jacket crash tested

The history of the Dainese airbag system

Blinders

Hey, how long have you been sitting there?
Me, I'm just plugged into my electric chair
Hey, is there weather still outside?
Don't want to seem like a coward
But all I do is hide

I got my blinders on
I got my blinders on
I got my blinders on
Can't you see I'm gone.

I'm sitting in the dark
Getting no tan from this screen
Pale back light, Holy LCD
It's become the only light
The only light that I see

I've got my blinders on
I've got my blinders on
I've got my blinders on
I've got my blinders on

I don't answer when it rings
That's why God created caller ID
(bridge)
Hey, Even I
see the irony
Escape the real world by watching
something called Reality TV
It's real to me
(chorus)

I got my blinders on
I got my blinders on
I got my blinders on
Can't you see I'm almost gone

Hey, I hear the world is fallin' apart
Won't anyone come in my den and break my heart
My thumbs are getting tired
But I've still got my pride
My stupid pride

I've got my blinders on
I've got my blinders on
The world around me's lost
But I've got my blinders on

Hey, How long have you been there?

Best No-Bake Cookie Recipe EVER

I've gotten a lot of requests for this: Amy's No-Bakes are the best: 

Melt one stick butter (1/2 cup) in a heavy saucepan. Then add 1/2 cup milk, 2 cups granulated sugar and 3 tablespoons raw, unsweetened cocoa (I usually do heaping). Combine in saucepan over medium high heat. Here's the tricky part that has taken a lot of practice for me. When the mixture starts to boil in the middle of the pot but hasn't come to a full rolling boil, I set my timer for 3 minutes since I can't do seconds on my oven timer. Stir constantly and let it reach a full rolling boil. Remove from heat when the timer gets down to 30 seconds (2 min. 30 sec. boiling time total). Add 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 cup peanut butter (I usually just scoop out a huge spoonful's worth). Stir 'til combined then add 3 cups raw oatmeal. Quick cooking or old-fashioned both work just fine. Drop by spoonful onto foil or parchment paper and let cookies set.   The boiling time is the trickiest part. Too short and you will end up with goopy, tar-like cookies that you have to eat with a spoon. Too long and they will be hard, dry and crumbly. Don't be surprised if it takes a few batches to get the consistency just right. Once you get the hang of it, they really are very quick and easy to make and I almost always have the ingredients on hand. ~Amy Hunt

Old Bikes Good for Old Bones?

It's a stretch but the health benefits of motorcycles comes from our friends over at the Kneeslider:

 A daily dose of whole body vibration may help reduce the usual bone density loss that occurs with age, Medical College of Georgia researchers report. Researchers found vibration improved density around the hip joint with a shift toward higher density in the femur, the long bone of the leg, as well. Hip fractures are a major cause of disability and death among the elderly. Well, the study didn't specifically cite motorcycles, but what better whole body vibration machine is there? Combined with previous studies that show lifting weights keeps bones strong among older folks, this could be a nice boost for Harley Davidson, or any big bike for that matter, giving all of us Boomers a great new reason to fire up the big V-Twins for medicinal purposes and ride forever.

The UK Hondamatics

Here's a look back at the 1970s Hondamatics from Brit magazine Visor Down. Pretty cool to see how the UK bikes were set up different than the US bikes. Also interesting to see that only about 1,000 were sold.

A monumental step forward in motorcycling history. The Honda CB400 Hondamatic was the firm’s last foray into automatic technology. With a dizzy 27bhp propelling 200kgs of lardy, badly suspended rolling stock the performance was never going to be electrifying. (http://www.visordown.com/features/history-of-the-hondamatic/11934.html )

Visor down's look back was inspired by Honda's attempts to reintroduce motorcycles with automatic transmissions in the US and abroad with the DN-1 (nicknamed by dealers as the Do Not buy One) and the VFR 1200 (UK version )

They like the transmission better:

In operation it’s amazingly good. Smooth, fast, drama-free, predictable and slick. On the track I tried really hard to assess the two automatic modes but, to be honest, as good as it may be, on a race track it’s crucial that the rider makes the gearshift decisions.

On the road, though – the DCT system really came into its own allowing more brain capacity to be used for absorbing everything going on around and about.

Which is the whole reason I like my old hondamatic...

Read more: http://www.visordown.com/features/how-does-the-dct-on-the-honda-vfr1200-work/11876.html#ixzz142cIky3z