Etc.

etc.

MORE ON MERGER

The planned “Kawasaki/Suzuki group” announced last August will eventually result in the emergence of a new brand of Japanese motorcycle. “It won’t be a Kawasaki, and it won’t be a Suzuki,” said Masamoto Tazaki, president of Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Analysts expect the merger to increase margins, reduce model overlap and development costs, and step up competition with Honda and Yamaha.

SUZUKA SUZUKI

The ultimate repli-racer? That may well be Yoshimura’s Suzuka 8-Hour spin-off, the limited-production Tornado S-1. Based on Suzuki’s GSXR1000, the carbon-fiber-bodied sportbike is loaded with high-end hardware, including BBS wheels, Nissin six-piston brakes and Öhlins suspension. Already an overdog, the liquid-cooled inline-Four benefits from a Yosh EMS and TriOval exhaust, headwork, more compression, lumpier cams, revised cases and a deeper sump. Yosh claims 168 horsepower and 80 footpounds of torque. Want one? Better hurry. Only 50 examples are planned. As for price, if you have to ask...

FALLEN FRIEND

Motorcycling lost one of its behindthe-scenes heroes last November when Peter Fassnacht, 46, passed away from complications resulting from bacterial meningitis. Fassnacht devoted much of his life to rider training, first with the Canada Safety Council and later with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Fassnacht joined American Honda in 1995, and this past June was chosen to head its Rider Education Department. “We will remember Peter for his love of motorcycling, his commitment to rider education, his dedication to excellence and his quick, warm smile,” said Honda’s Ray Blank.

REHAB FOR ENGINES

Need a motor rebuild? PMC North America, the nation’s top powersport engine remanufacturer, is entering the motorcycle market with a full line of rebuilt twoand four-stroke products for Harley-Davidson, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha, among others. “Why should bike owners have to suffer costly repairs and downtime when they can now get reliable rebuilt engines at a fraction of the cost-with fast delivery?" asks Thomas Harper, founder of the Largo, Florida-based company. All engines come with a nofault, 12-month warranty. For more information, call 800/654-4888 or log on to www.pmcna.com.

JUST THINK ABOUT IT...

Whether or not you covet one, the Segway Human Transporter represents a whole new era for the man/machine interface. Just think about moving ahead while aboard this battery-powered two-wheeled sidewalk cruiser, and it happens. We tend to lean forward a bit at such moments, and the Segway’s array of gyroscopes, accelerometers, chips and whatnot senses the shift and sets things in motion. Lean a little farther and go faster, up to about 12 mph. Straighten up a bit and the Segway slows to a stop. Arch your back slightly and off you go in reverse. The only conventional “control" is a left-hand twist grip for steering. Gyro stabilization lets this thing glide smoothly up and down ramps, and even across a bed of gnarly stones. Riding it feels like skiing without skis—or snow-and inspires smiles and joyful emotions. Look for Segway’s (www.segway.com) breakthrough in intuitive controls to influence many electro-mechanical devices to come.