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| Kostas Gazis's Member Page |
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| Member: |
voldemort |
| Name: |
Kostas Gazis |
| From: |
Athens, Greece
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| Gender: |
Male |
| Age: |
36 years old |
| Riding For: |
21 years |
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| Message: |
You must be a BikePics Member and be logged in to message members |
| Homepage: |
http://users.panafonet.gr/gazis/ |
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| Member Info: |
Yoohoo! This is captain Kirk speaking. Or is it? Ok, so I lied, itīs Kostas Gazis. This is my 6th year as a motorcycle journalist for the Greek motorcycle magazine "0-300" (www.0300.gr). I also work for the Greek TV channel "Mega" in the "Traction" Car and Motorcycle show. In the past I have worked for another Greek motorcycle magazine called "MOTO" for another 2.5 years. I am also a freelancer for whoever wants to employ me. I love motorcycles and ATVs, and they are an integral part of my life. You can find more about me on my personal homepage (link above). |
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1986 Suzuki RG 500
Photos: 8
Info: This was my bike, a project that I was trying to build but finally run out of money, and when the motor seized on me, I decided to sell it for spare parts... It had GSX-R 1100 upside down forks, revalved by Maxton, wheels and brakes from the same monster and some light cosmetic changes on the side panels, GSX-R 750 clocks. R.I.P. my friend.
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2002 BMW R 1150 RT
Photos: 1
Info: Not only this bike is huge, but itīs a beemer 2! WARNING! DO NOT buy a BMW unless you KNOW what you really want is one of these... Otherwise you will be oh so sorry... Not a bad tourer, though heavy and full of electronic gagdetry that you wish wasnīt there.
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2002 Triumph TT 600
Photos: 3
Info: The TT was not a bad bike, although the worst of the 600 bunch in terms of performance. It handled well, and it was a really versatile bike. Here I am scratching the thing, before anyone told me that I had to lean my body a tad more...
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2002 BMW R 1100 RS
Photos: 2
Info: This is what BMW calls a "sporty tourer". Ok kids, letīs face it. ABS can kill you when you are givin the bike some stick. You come up in a corner way 2 fast, press the brakes, and ABS thinks youīre goin to lock the wheels. Suddenly u have no brakes... I hope you had an enjoyable life.
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2002 Suzuki RG 500
Photos: 2
Info: RG 500 Gamma, with CR 500 front system, ZXR wheels, reinforced swing-arm, hand-made exhaust pipes and plastics to match. George Pallis built this one, a road-going bike thatīs scarinī the shit out of anyone near it, in Athens-Greece.
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2002 Honda CB 600 (Hornet)
Photos: 2
Info: CB 600F Hornet. A beautifull bike, wheelies handsomely and offers perfect control in all kinds of tricks. Its only drawback is that the big brother (900) is even better...
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2002 Kawasaki ZX-6R
Photos: 2
Info: The 636 was the winner in our magazine test for the 2002 supersport 600īs. It was fast, it was furious, it had lot of torque in the lower rev department... Me liked...
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2002 Cagiva Navigator 1000
Photos: 2
Info: Navigator is a really wild bike. It packs the -detuned- 2 cylinder punch of the TL 1000 motor and in a really small sized package. Brutal fun for all!
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2002 Honda CB 900
Photos: 4
Info: Rolling burnouts? Wheelies? Jesus Christ Superstar! Itīs the big horny hornet!!! And it rocks. Only thing is, itīs a Honda. Really low-key concearning its looks, with a muffled silencer to top that! So, I had to stand on the saddle to make a statement... although I forgot what I wanted to say.
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2002 KTM 640 LC4
Photos: 2
Info: KTM LC-4 is a really nice bike. Quite expensive but it comes with one of the best setups for off road exploration, together with the ability to be one of the wildest city commuters... On the downside, it vibrates a hell of a lot, and the LC4 engine is known for it''s mechanical problems.
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2002 Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans
Photos: 4
Info: Le Mans 1100 was a great bike to ride. Eccentric and rough in its feel, it had character written everywhere on it. I had fun with the thing, although let us not gorfet one thing. I had to live with it only for a short period of time, ok? Buy it ONLY if you are a mechanic specialising on Guzzis, if you know what I mean...
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2002 Yamaha RD 500
Photos: 2
Info: Here you have an RD 500 project bike built and OWNED by George Pallis, an ingenious mechanic from Athens, Greece. MV Agusta eat your heart out!!!
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2001 Derbi GP1
Photos: 6
Info: What did I do wrong? I only tried to do a stoppie with the sporty scooter from Derbi, but I guess I overdid it. Well, I have to thank Kimo the Dutch photographer and the cameras'' motor-drive for this series of pics. Wow! Letīs do it again someday, eh folks?
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2001 Beta Quadra 50
Photos: 2
Info: They say "jump", you say "how high?"
Well, I consider this pretty high for a 50cc scooter, what do you think? You should have seen the suspension compress on the landing!!! I also tried a single handed stoppie with this lil beauty. Good fun. And I didn´t drop it! Ahaha...
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2003 Suzuki SV 650s
Photos: 6
Info: Aaargh! I lost the front wheel and I am sliding on the tarmac with the SV on top of me!!!
Ok, so the whole setup is fake, but the outcome does look kind of funny, donīt you think? The whole photo-shoot was intended for an article about first aid in case of an accident. Ride safe now, boys n girls ;-)
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2003 Kymco MXer 150
Photos: 5
Info: ATV means one thing. Fun! It slides, it wheelies, it jumps, it skids, it dives, it climbs, it drinks martini shaken but not stirred, it fulfills even the most dangerous 007 missions, it mingles with the Queen, it sails the 7 seas, it is the beez kneez, what can I say, the MXer might be small in cc size, but it packs a lot of fun inside.
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2001 Derbi GPR
Photos: 1
Info: Wow! You, you, you look so... so... so blonde! And also, so tall! Marry me, oh Friedrich, and let´s make lots of blonde babiez now... Well, even a midget would look tall on a 50cc GP replica moped, so spare the compliments. About the blonde look, well, it was a phase you know. Don´t you? I mean, everyone must change their hair color at least once in their lifetime, no? No. Ok, well, what
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2004 Kymco KXR 250
Photos: 10
Info: A sporty looking quad from Kymco thatīs very good in most circumstances, but the most demanding. If you get carried away by its appearance, you will find that the suspension lacks travel and it bottoms out frequently on big jumps and really rough terrain. On the other hand, if you understand its limitations on bumpy ground, itīs excellent for snow, mud, gravel or even tarmac.
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2003 Yamaha Raptor YFM 660
Photos: 5
Info: Yes, yes, yes! Raptor power is what I need. It´s what you need, and you don´t even know it yet! Power-slide king, mudhole conqueror, dirt prince, sand killer, wheelie monster, this is THE ATV by which others will be judged. Suspension-wise is ace, the power is there, the looks can kill. Serious fun for your money!!!
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2004 Aprilia Quasar 50
Photos: 4
Info: This is an entry level 50cc ATV made by Laverda under the Aprilia badge. Oh, the fun... If having fun was to be outlawed, this ATV would have you hanged in no time...
Only 45kph top speed, bu the 2T motor has enough poke to hoist the front wheels and with appropriate brake use you can keep ´em there indefinetely. It wheelies, it does stoppies, it goes on the 2 side wheels. Jeez, my arms hurt
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2004 Beta Motard 4.0
Photos: 5
Info: Beta 4.0. It´s a strange supermotard / city playbike. With the torquey Suzuki DR350 engine, it wheelies from here to paradise... It does stoppies, it wheelies some more, and it surely moves fast through traffic. About the build quality, hmmm, not that happy, and the peripherals are quite cheap. But it´s a nice bike, and quite cheap 2. I would throw the stock can as soon as I would buy on
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1991 Honda Goldwing
Photos: 3
Info: This is a Goldwing Trike conversion from Lehman Trikes, a US firm. Itīs a friggin beast. Itīs heavy, itīs huge, itīs the mother of all mothers. If you try and let go of the handlebars while you are cruising, you will be facing one of the biggest and ugliest tank-slappers ever to contaminate the place of the earth. I donīt understand the purpose of the matter, but hey, I do not originate from the U
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2000 Yamaha Banshee
Photos: 3
Info: When the Banshee screams, its rider joins the chorus. Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God... Show some mercy, give me deliverence or at least gimme some traction! The RD 350 twin cylinder 2-stroke engine is a constant adrenaline pump and it habitually makes the tires to lose grip. And then the powersliding begins. The biggest and the badest powersliding you can imagine. You better get used to it and a
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2005 Kymco MXU 250
Photos: 11
Info: Hey, the MXU is a really good one. A learner-friendly pig that really holds its line. Even if an idiot like myself tries to unsettle it. It just stays there, on all four. Really amazing road-holding capabilities. Well done Kymco. The design is cutting edge, the ergonomics and the build quality are sorted, only the suspension needs some sorting for serious bump-riding and for the jumps. Still waiti
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2004 Kawasaki KFX 400
Photos: 4
Info: The KFX-400 is a beauty. Not only 4 its looks, but 4 its off-road balanced performance. It sports the exquisitely quick-revving Suzuki DR-Z 400 engine; it has descent suspension and offers a composed ride whatever the circumstances. Ok, the suspension doesnt like really high jumps, but otherwise its spotless. The KFX is not 2 powerful to be scary, but its certainly no weakling either. Just the
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2004 Sachs MadAss 50
Photos: 4
Info: The MadAss does exist and is a production model. I didn´t make it up. It´s being made by German manufacturer Sachs, and it´s a real crazy moped. It looks like nothing you´ve seen b4. But it´s real dissapointing to ride. It can only do about 55-60km/h flat out. The little 4-stroke engine is gutless. And the seat is really high. I mean REALLY high. You stretch your arms full
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2005 Arctic Cat 400 4X4
Photos: 6
Info: This is a really impressive ATV. It can handle rocks, tree logs and stumps, it climbs over really steep hills and it has an impressive minimun distance from the ground. 300 mm!!! I even did MX jumps with the thing and it just yawned in my face. Ok, it´s not suited for really fast and wild riding, but that´s not the manufacturers´ intentiion anyway. With fully independent rear suspen
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2004 Polaris Predator 500
Photos: 6
Info: We-hey! We-he-hey! This is fun! I took the predator for a half hour spin and in the end I was knackered, but with a huge grin on my face. What a motor! Ok, you need to use the clutch if the revs drop 2 much, but why would you let them do that anyway? :-) It wheelies, it jumps, it spins. Race-ready, but in Greece it costs a whoping 10.000 euros. Expensive.
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2005 Yamaha Raptor YFZ 450
Photos: 5
Info: The YFZ is like no other sport quad I´ve ridden. Plenty of engine power and excellent suspension both front and back. It handles bumps, jumps, it wheelies on demand, and on the other hand it stays put if you don´t want it to rise. It feels like a complete package everywhere. The suspension gives back so much information that it´s painfull. The YFZ can be ridden as hard as the rider
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2005 Polaris Scrambler 500
Photos: 5
Info: Is this a Utility ATV or a Sport Quad? The answer is, a Utility ATV wearing the clothes of a Sport Quad. It also sports AWD, Sachs front socks, a Fox rear shock, and a very powerfull engine. Under EU legislation Polaris cuts power down to 20hp, but I took my test vehicle to the Greek importers and they removed the limiter. Yi-ha! Power went up to where it should have been in the first place. Somew
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2003 Yamaha Grizzly
Photos: 3
Info: Big bear. Big bad Grizzly. Well, not bad. Benign Grizzly. Big XTZ 660 engine with 5 valves. Excellent 4x4 and great climbing abilities. One of the greatest ATVs of all time. These days it looks a bit small if you compare it to the 800cc monsters that are roaming the woods, but it´s still hanging tough.
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2005 Sym SYM QuadLander 250
Photos: 2
Info: Taiwanese manufacturer SYM is releasing two new quads this Summer. Quadlander 250, and TrackRunner 200. Their built quality is particularly high, their engines are crisp, the brakes really strong. This is indeed a good effort by SYM on the entry level quads. Note that they are EE homologated, so they can be legally used on the road.
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2005 Yamaha XG 250 Tricker
Photos: 6
Info: Yamaha Tricker is a fun-bike. Member of a new BMX-styled category, along with it´s more serious brother the Tricker Air, or Pro, Scorpa 4Tricks, and Beta 4.0SM. It´s versatile, fun to ride, and basic in more areas. It can cope well in the city, but has a very short fuel-range of 110-140km MAX.
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2005 Yamaha Rhino 660
Photos: 4
Info: I will understand if Dennis decides that this vehicle is NOT an ATV or a Quad, and takes it off this server. It is a Yamaha 4x4 vehicle that sports the XTZ 660 engine, but looks, feels and drives like a small pickup truck/car/something. You can´t steer it through your body, like you can with an ATV, and you basically drive it with the steering wheel. Very dangerous to flip over if you overcoo
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2005 Can-am Outlander 400
Photos: 4
Info: One of the best 4x4 ATVs I have ever ridden. Loaded with gadgets and goodies, it has the most powerfull engine in its class, and more! It has independent suspension in all 4 wheels, a unique rear suspension movem,ent, and a frame that is built to hit obstacles and glide over them. The 400 is really powerfull, and can climb near-vertical hills without breaking a sweat. Good engine-breaking for down
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2006 Ducati Sport Classic GT 1000
Photos: 5
Info: I tested the new Sport Classic GT 1000 in Bologna, on the Ducati presentation. The ride was short, almost 90km, but it was fun and enlightening. The new Sport Classic GT 1000 is one of three Modern Classics presented this year by Ducati, and it´s the only one with straight handlebars. That means that it´s the most versatile of the three, and it will appeal to a much wider audience. The e
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2006 Kawasaki ER-6N
Photos: 3
Info: This is a long-term test bike. Excellent motorcycle, with full marks on usability and fun! Pulls great wheelies, and handles impeccably. It´s also very cheap, and offers great value for money. Since we got it in the mag, we added smaller Kawasaki mirrors, a Leo-Vince exhaust (+3hp, -4kg), and yellow Tomahawk tires (great to look at, poor on road-holding). On the way is an LSL handlebar, WP su
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2006 Blata Quadard
Photos: 6
Info: Small Czech built sport quad. Hahaha! Big fun!!! Huge grins! This quad will place your limbs in the weirdest angles. But you will like that! Two stroke engine, thirty something cc, three horsepower, and the thing weighs only thirty kg!
No suspension, no front brake, no electric start. Buy it for your kid, then hijack it, sell the kid and have fun! At least I did...
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2006 BMW F 800 S
Photos: 5
Info: IF you fit a taller screen, make sure that you don''t get a model with gearbox problems, and REMOVE the steering damper, you have a bike that is quite fast, really Japan-easy and fun to ride...
This bike handles very well, wheelies handsomely, slides beautifully and has a ton of usefull gadgetry on.
Is this the new best seller by the German firm? Quite likely so.
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2006 Yamaha Raptor 700R
Photos: 9
Info: Probably the prettiest quad ever. Yamaha did a great job. They fitted the XT 660R 4T, fuel injected engine in a new chassis that''s half aluminum, half steel. The engine has more cc than its motorcycle counterpart, more power and more accurate fuel injection. This quad is better suited for trail or enduro riding, as it''s taller and narrower than the YFZ 450. To achieve pure perfection, it really ne
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2006 Blata B1 Origami
Photos: 9
Info: Amazing! Trully amazing. A watercooled 2T mini-moto with 14hp! Incredible fun! You can barely fit on the saddle, and the power surge hits you hard, lifting the front wheel into the air!!!
Wheelies, stoppies, burnouts, aggressive cornering, races, you name it, it does them all.
Blata''s build quality is top-notch, the disc-brakes have excellent bite and feel, and ofcourse there''s no suspension...
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2007 Honda CB 600 (Hornet)
Photos: 5
Info: The new Honda Hornet 600 07 model is a real Honda treat. As such, it will suit both middle-aged commuters who love to cruise on a bad-ass lookin bike, and hooligans who love anti-social bike behaviour. The bike sports the new CBR 600RR 07 engine, and it''s 5kg lighter than the previous model. It has spot on fuel injection, an aluminium frame, and comes in two versions. One with Combined ABS brake s
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2007 Husqvarna SM 610 S
Photos: 3
Info: This is NOT the SM610S! But, what can I do... Dennis has sort of abandoned adding new models to the site. Pitty. :-( This is the 07 Husqvarna SM610IE. It''s almost identical to the 06 SM610, with the addition of the Mikuni Injection, and some few further refinements. This is an INCREDIBLE motorcycle. Forget about the XT660R (lame by comparison, heavy and good 4 commuting and wheelies). Forget the n
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2007 Aprilia RSV Mille Tuono
Photos: 3
Info: This is the Aprilia Tuono 1000R Factory. It''s a more expensive version of the Tuono R. It''s got Ohlins suspension, some carbon fiber parts, and the company claims it produces more hp. Well, in our dyno test, it didn''t. Same hp with the standard Tuono. Ohlins suspension is a treat though. Good streetfighter, and a bike u can fall in love with. Better suited for race-track use or grippy tarmacs. Not
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2007 Yamaha Raptor YFZ 450
Photos: 2
Info: The YFZ 450. One of the best sport quads in this earthly world. For 2007 it boasts several small improvements, new handlebars, blah, blah... It doesn''t matter. The fact is that YOU ARE HAVING FUN on this. Do you want fun? Do you need fun? Hell YES, you do!
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2007 Suzuki SUZUKI B-KING
Photos: 3
Info: The Suzuki B-King was always meant to be something special. While still on prototype form it was supposed to sport a turbocharged Hayabusa engine, hi-tech biometrics owner recognition, etc. As the project progressed the turbo was scrapped, as was the biometrics gizmo. The silencers started to elongate in order to muffle the brute, and currently the B-King looks like it''s lost most of the edge of t
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2007 Buell XB12S Lightning
Photos: 7
Info: The Buell Lightning XB12STT offers a unique riding experience. I would place it in the same league as the Yamaha MT-01. Both look big and a bit weird, (STT looks like a Ducati HyperMoto clone), both offer good handling, and both differ from most motorcycles. This is not a conventional streetfighter. The torquey engine is made by HD, and it''s brilliant for relaxed or sporti-ish riding. Yes, if you
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2008 BMW F 650 GS
Photos: 4
Info: It says... "BMW F 650 GS", but it''s not the OLD single cylinder 650.It''s a 799cc Rotax parallel twin motorcycle from BMW, targetted at the middle on-off section. It''s got 71hp, does 200+ Kmh, is nimble, cheap, fun to ride and... a bit ugly. But all in all, a really good street bike, with decent off-road capabilities. Forget the G series (that sucked big time). This is a GOOD BMW, with th
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2007 Vespa GTS 250
Photos: 2
Info: The beautiful GTS 250. Based on the more conventional GTV, but with the headlamp positioned on the front fender. It looks classic, yet it feels modern. Only problem is that with wheels as small as these, you get a constant hard -and I mean HARD- beating from road potholes.
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2005 Yamaha Raptor 350
Photos: 4
Info: This update on the historical Yamaha Warrior 350 is good fun, nowdays though it feels quite dated. Sporting the XT 350 engine, it''s sturdy and willing to party -albeit remember that it''s not a top 450 sport quad. Probably one of the best machines to initiate an inexperienced rider on the Sport quad world.
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2008 Honda CB 1000
Photos: 6
Info: This is the 2008 Honda CB1000R.
Just came back from Milan, where I attended the European launch of the 1000cc streetfighter.
Ok, this is THE ONE! The CB1000R is the first ever REAL Stretfighter that uses an inline 4 cylinder engine.
FORGET about the (weak at the knees) FZ-1. FORGET about the wobbly Z1000.
FORGET about the old Hornet 900.
The CB1000R ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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2008 Yamaha WR 250F
Photos: 7
Info: This is the 2008 Yamaha WR250X, which is loosely based on the WR250F. It''s a wonderful little city-bike, with amazine stunt capabilities. Probably the best "rider''s" bike in the 250 category. Potent motor, good brakes, fun, fun, fun! Pitty for the price though -6.500 euros in Greece, almost same price as the XT660X.
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2003 Kawasaki prairie kvf 360
Photos: 6
Info: This is a big 4 wheeler from Kawasaki. It´s actually a 4x4 KVF-360 Prairie, and it´s a real tool for any off-road job imaginable. It handles mud, snow, dirt, rocks and water like a piece of cake. Only drawback is the low top-speed, at around 70km/h. I even did some small MX jums with the "thing", and the suspension was superb. Fun man! I wish I was a farmer...
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2008 KTM Duke II
Photos: 6
Info: This is actually a Duke III. The new 690 Duke. And it''s a really powerful one cylinder bike! It spits 63hp on the back wheel, and it goes up to 190km/h.
Now for the bad part. Though it looks great, it certainly ain''t perfect. It''s geared really high, and it lacks the low-down grunt of a hairy-chested one cylinder bike. It''s also extremely silent (read: reastricted) and it makes a terribly unco
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2008 Hyosung TE 100
Photos: 4
Info: This is the Hyosung TE450 Rapier Quad and not the T100. It''s a very good value for money Quad, and it''s got a Hyosung engine that''s modelled on the RMZ450 motor. VERY powerful, but limited by its basic suspension. Even though the latter is adjustable, it simply can''t cope with bumps. Another drawback is the fast and quirky geometry which makes handling... interesting. Stick some aftermarket socks,
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2008 Yamaha V-Max 1200
Photos: 7
Info: This is NOT the 1200, but the new 1679cc 2008 model. We''ve travelled to San Diego, California, where the Yamaha/Star world presentation was taking place. In spite of the heavy police presence, and in spite of the neighborhood watch maniacs, we managed to taste some action, while at the same time remaining out of jail. The bike is POWERFUL. Yes, 200hp!!! Saw 150mph on the speedo, and everytime you
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| Personal Photos |
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