Motorcycle show coming to the Midland Center for the Arts

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Motorcycle lovers, mark your calendar for the Jan. 15 opening of the “MV Augusta: Art, Design and Function” exhibit at the Midland Center for the Arts.


The exhibit traces the evolution of the Italian-made motorcycle from wartime transportation to today’s sporting machine, chronicling every year of production.

See more than 75 rare, vintage and contemporary MV Agusta motorcycles from the incomparable collection of Gary Kohs of Michigan, including the “500 Triple,” arguably the most important motorcycle ever manufactured... Read more




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2011 Acura MDX MSRP $42,580

The new Acura MDX features a new 3.7-liter SOHC VTEC V6 with 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, which Acura says now features more heavy-duty parts for extra longevity. The MDX is offered in five trim levels starting with the base model and moving up through the Technology, Technology and Entertainment, Advance and Advance and Entertainment groupings. The Entertainment package, which is offered with either the Technology or Advance groups, includes a rear seat monitor, DVD player, wireless headphones and heated rear seats.



Acura's Real Time Weather and Traffic Rerouting features are newly available with the optional navigation system.

The 2011 Acura MDX SUV features a new V6 engine and the versatility and performance that one expects from Honda’s luxury brand.



The new throttle system and the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) provide excellent acceleration and vehicle control. Entertainment features include the Acura Premium Audio System with seven speakers delivering 253 watts of power. Other audio systems include a 6-disc CD player and speed-specific volume control that compensates for audio gain.



The steering wheel is tilt adjustable with power steering and cruise control. The automatic climate control system links to the Acura Navigation System’s GPS receiver to provide continuous information on the orientation of the vehicle relative to the sun.

Honda has not confirmed any changes under the hood for the 2011 Acura MDX. Should the MDX offer a diesel option for 2011, buyers can expect radically improved fuel economy.

The 2011 Acura MDX ranks 2 out of 17 Luxury Midsize SUVs. The Acura MDX had strong performance, a high-tech interior and – the holy of holies – space for three car seats, with LATCH connecters and all, in the back seat.



The Acura MDX should appeal to a wide range of people. Consumer Guide says the MDX “has contemporary styling and thoughtful features." Acura MDX" has a highly desirable blend of luxury, performance, and convenience.” On the road, the Acura MDX shines with its powerful V6 engine. Acrua’s Super-Handling All-Wheel drive system is standard, and the MDX does well in crash tests.



Inside, reviewers like the MDX’s comfortable first and second row seats. It has a standard third row seat and a lower price tag than the MDX.



The Acura MDX has a standard V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is also standard.

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Memorable MC '81 Paris-Dakar BMW

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By Frank Melling via : www.motorcycle-usa.com

When I rode the factory Paris-Dakar Desert racer I was very much on BMW's Christmas card list, since very few journalists got to ride the works bikes. This was not surprising because there were only three built for the 1981 season. The bike I rode was well and truly trashed - as in terminally dead. It had been hammered round Africa for three weeks and when I got it the poor thing was on its last legs. Even so, I could tell that the bike must have been a formidable tool when it was fresh. It was also a great credit to the factory because the bike clearly had some bloodline linked to the GS80 road bikes, where many of the works entries in the Dakar had no connection whatsoever with the road bikes from which they were allegedly derived.


The record books show that the Munich flat twins were phenomenally successful in the hands of Hubert Auriol, Gaston Rahier and J.C. Morellet - better known as "Fenouil". The factory had two pops at winning the Dakar in 1979 and 1980 before taking home the silverware in 1981 with Hubert Auriol in the saddle.


I'm not sure whether the bike I rode was Auriol's machine, as the factory claimed, but it was certainly one of three works bikes entered by BMW France.

The BMW race team were nice people - keen, enthusiastic motorcyclists and a million miles away from the slick suits and watchful eyes which dominated the marketing and PR departments. I enjoyed riding the bike and look back on it with very fond memories and a sense of real privilege that I was able to have a day's play with it.


Here are my memories from 26 years ago of what was a truly Memorable Motorcycle. Rather than trying to re-write history, and being smart after the event, I have left the story just as was originally written - warts and all. There's just one point of historical interest which needs clarifying. Throughout the story I refer to the ISDT - the International Six Days Trial. At the time, it was still a big deal to actually finish the event and so it still harked back to its original reliability trial antecedents.


The second thing which might seem odd are the references to BMW's wins in the 1979 and 1980 ISDT events. At the time, the ISDT was organized according to capacity bands and the 500cc plus was, de facto, restricted to big, heavy four-strokes. It was this segregation of the bikes which allowed BMW to do so well...






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