The origin of pocketbikesWritten by Steve Robinson
The concept of pocket bikes also known as mini bikes, mini motos, or mini motorcycles) began years ago in Japan, a country known for miniaturizing full-scale products. As crude mockups of first pocket bikes were developed and ridden, a brand new trend and following developed. As sport spread into Europe, Italian manufacturer Polini began research and development into producing high quality racing Minimoto bikes. Throughout years, combination of Japanese innovation and Italian craftsmanship has produced ultra high performance pocket bikes. Some of today's top motorcycle racers got their start in sport of pocket bike racing. Champion riders started in this smaller scale sport and eventually dominated all pocket bike racing events throughout world..
| | Michelin Reinvents the TweelWritten by Richard A. Brink
Every once in a while a product comes along that catches your eye. The new Michelin Tweel is just such a product. Shown here mounted on an Audi A4, demonstating its flexibility, is what Michelin North America Inc. has dubbed Tweel. It is a tire and wheel combo that comes as an assembly, requires no air(the flexibilty comes from spokes)and is retreadable. Can you imagine never having a flat again? The Tweel uses a network of elastomeric polyurethane spokes to control ride characteristics. These ride characteristics can be set independently of each other, for instance, verticle stiffness-which primarily affects ride comfort-and lateral stiffness-which affects handling and cornering-can both be optimized, pushing comfort level and performance envelope at same time. This is something todays pneumatic tire just cant do. The possibilities of Tweel seem endless. For instance, since Tweel requires no air, holes or channels could be designed in tread that
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