Fast Torque #4

Welcome to the fourth edition of Fast Torque, where the relationship is getting hot and sweaty as spring arrives. What have you got planned for the warmer weather, the longer days and balmy nights? Big rides, a new purchase, or perhaps you're looking at a personal water craft? Maybe you're selling your bike or are upset with Honda's new crossover motorcycle...

Whatever you think, we want to know about it, so write in and tell us and you could win something. Last month's Fast Torque winner was Leigh, who waxed lyrical about the new Suzuki GSR750. He's won himself some Smart Strapz from Andy Strapz valued at $65 and a couple of BRP Can-Am baseball caps too, which are most likely priceless.

This month we're giving away a radiator guard custom made for your motorcycle, from Rad Guard Australia Rad Guard Australia. Valued at $195, the radiator guards protect your radiator from stones, bugs, and general damage, are easy to clean and are made from high grade aluminium. Used by racing teams they come with a three year warranty and are offered in two colours. Now, on to the new letters:

CBR250 ARRGH!
Hmmm... The new Honda CBR250R has one cylinder, is styled by the VFR1200F, and produces less power than the 20 year old CBR250RR and is built in India?? It better be cheap. I would have bought one of these purely for fun if it had been a new CBR250 not a fully faired transport bike with a sticker.
- Jesse

SURFACE TENSION
Nevermind a moped lane. What about a motorcycle lane? The authorities love to enforce laws on lane splitting and filtering but the reality is that motorcycles are stuck in the traffic congestion of vehicles whilst there is plenty of road shoulders etc for motorcycles to get through on. What about introducing a half width lane which motorcycles/mopeds can use to continue their commute on the "artery" roads when the cars are backed up during peak hours. This could easily be done with little more than lane markings on many roads and not requiring of additional road surfacing.
- Michael

NINJA VANISH?
So, let me get this straight. Is this the new 1000cc Ninja or not? Because if it is, then with a 1043cc engine it can't even be homologated for Superbike racing. If it's not, and I suspect it's not because kawasaki have been using the ZX-R moniker for their sports bikes recently, then why not call it the Z1000T or someting like that? I may be a blunt tool, but this is just confusing. I get that Kawasaki want to extend the Ninja brand, but I'm not sure they have gone about it the right way this time, especially for the Aussie market. For some reason we seem to like big bore superbikes and if a potential buyer walks into the dealership and sees the new Ninja 1000 with an adjustable screen and high rise clip ons they're likely to walk right back out, down the road and buy a Gixxer or 'Blade.
- Ninja Lover

FAST AND FURIOUS
That's not a motorbike, it doesn't deserve to be called a motor bike. It is fully enclosed and you can't see any wheels or the motor for that fact. So what if it has motorbike engines, but also there, it has not one but two engines! I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous and should not be allowed for that record. It's just WRONG!!!!
- Wendy

PARTY POOPER
Hi and good on these people for making a stand on the CTP issue. The thing that cheeses me off the most is the fact that almost all CTPs for motorcycles do not cover the rider. Therefore if I hit a roo or a big pothole, I am going to go through our third world health system as a medicare patient. And yet they plan to charge us twice as much for no improvement? Either I am ill informed or the people that are supposed to represent us are letting us all down yet again.
- Jeck

MOTORCYCLE OVERKILL
Going by recent Honda offerings this new 'crossover' bike will be too heavy, too expensive, too thirsty and too complex. I doubt Yamaha (TDM) and Suzuki (V-Strom) will be too worried.
- Reg Loe

SHREDDED DREAMS
Our nanny states will ban the Shredder in Australia, as they have the Segway.
- John

CBR250R FOR ME
Oh my God!! (Honda CBR250R)
- Futakoi

STRYKE ME DOWN
Its a pity Yamaha Australia has no interest in bringing or selling their Stryker cruiser motorcycle range to australia. Maybe they have no balls to go against Harley Davidson...
- Mark P.

HARLEY HEAVEN #1
I do not see why the Road Glide Ultra would not be popular. I bought a new Roadglide in 1992 and then another Roadglide Anniversity in 1993, then H-D discontinued importing them. I much preferred the fixed screen to the Electra Glide version and never bought another new Harley after that.
- Keith Cox

HARLEY HEAVEN #2
I've been waiting for Road Glides to come here. Happy with my NRS but when I'm in the market for a tourer I'd definitely like the Road Glide.
- Greg Lamb

CHAD IS BACK
Congratulations to Chad Reed, who raced superbly in Newcastle at the opening round of the Oz Super X. It looks like he's recovered from the Barr Epstein virus and if his form continues, I reckon he'll be setting up for a red-hot season in 2011. Good work mate, we're all cheering for ya!
- Jay

SHREDDER WON'T SHRED
This wins my vote for the dumbest design ever (and dumbest name). The DTV Shredder looks like it'd fall to pieces if you dropped it onto a rocky embankment, and imagine fixing the track system when you're out in the bush? Caterpillar tracks on something that size just doesn't look right. I'll stick to my Polaris ATV thanks.
- Gustav

POINT OF VIEW
Would like to see Triumph Speed Triple's headlights at different angles but they look great to me even though we are used to the bug eyes. Just trying to 'civilise' the mean machine I guess.
- John Vale

KAWASAKI KUSTOM
I'd buy the street legal version of this custom W800 or what about a scrambler version with pipes running on each side of the bike? Really useful too is the centrestand on the factory and LSL version. Hey Kawasaki australia, I am able to test this bike on a 'round Oz trip, on a demo bike, how about it?
- The Fritze

NORTON SUPERBIKE
Can't wait to test this new Norton 1000cc V4 sports bike. Even if it's not perfect, I've always admired Nortons, and now they're building something that would suit me more than a soggy roadster. Bring it on!
- Matthew D.

KAWASAKI W800
I want one! I have a 2000 model W650 and can't wait for the W800 to get here.
- Doug Hulford

* Some emails have been edited for length and content.

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