Tag Archives: controversial

WHEN WE RODE RICKY CARMICHAEL’S 2002 WORKS CR250R TWO-STROKE: THE WEEKLY FEED

April 4, 2024 David

For 2002, Ricky Carmichael made a controversial swap to Honda. Some followers initially turned away, however as quickly as he began profitable, Ricky was as standard as ever. Mid-season, Honda gave us the chance to trip the works CR250R two-stroke that Ricky used to seize the Supercross championship that yr. It had been on show on the Hard Rock Cafe since RC gained Vegas. We additionally received to select the brains of Honda teamsters Chad Watts and Erik Kehoe, mechanic and supervisor, respectively, for Team Universal Studios Honda. We received a glimpse into the preferences of RC and the way a lot totally different his indoor sled is from his out of doors bike.

No doubt about it, Ricky Carmichael’s swap to Team Honda paid off. Despite his first-round DNF and one other nasty get-off at Pontiac, RC had a stellar Supercross season, profitable 11 mains, 12 heats and his second 250cc indoor title. He’s began off the out of doors season in dominating vogue, too, profitable 10 motos in a row. Yep, Honda must be happy, profitable its first indoor title since McGrath did it in ’96. The break between Mt. Morris and Southwick, was our alternative to trip Carmichael’s championship bike.

“My very first lap on the Honda at my supercross track at home,” mentioned Carmichael, “I set my all-time lap record. The bike is so stable I could go faster without working as hard.”

“Ricky took the bike home to Georgia,” mentioned Chad Watts, “and when it came back the bars were rotated down, almost to the tank! The steering head is taller on the CR, so Ricky wanted the bars lower and further back. It’s funny, Ricky uses the #999 McGrath-bend bars, and McGrath uses the Ricky bend.”

Sebastian Tortelli was RC’s teammate in 2002.

It additionally appears RC is quite a bit like former Team Honda star Jean-Michel Bayle in that, as soon as he finds the setting that works, he sticks with it. “He may want a click here or there, but the basic setup doesn’t change from track to track, race to race,” says Chad.

As for us, we had a troublesome time even driving the #4 Honda at Glen Helen’s Supercross observe. According to check pilot Spud Walters. “It’s like riding the world’s fastest minibike. His bars and levers are so weird that it actually hurt my clutch finger after a few laps. Actually, if you rotated the bars to the “normal” place, the levers could be good for old-schoolers. As for suspension settings, RC is very like MC in that he likes his bike very low within the again and the fork stiff, which makes the bike really feel like a chopper. And what might be extra steady than a chopper?

Just as McGrath likes his shock to settle and keep put, Carmichael takes the thought to new extremes. Give the Carmichael bike the seat-push check, and it’ll transfer an inch then cease chilly. Press more durable, and it presses again, refusing to budge. Likewise, carry the rear fender, and the rear wheel comes off of the bottom. There’s a lot compression and rebound damping within the works Showa shock that it seems like The Dead Zone. When it settles, it’s like having solely six or seven inches of journey left, and it virtually bottoms on the faces of jumps. It works for Ricky, although. Up entrance, the fork isn’t almost as damped because the shock, but it surely’s fairly darned stiff. Spud by no means bottomed it, because the O-ring indicator confirmed we had a very good inch of journey left. There’s no spike or mid-stroke harshness of any kind, and the bike turns extraordinarily effectively, regardless of being arrange for Ricky’s back-it-in driving fashion. “Ricky steers with the throttle and his hips,” mentioned Watts.

One factor is for certain, RC’s motor is as quick as his chassis settings are bizarre. The manufacturing facility Honda Gieken Asaka engine places out some 56 horsepower, equal to a KX500. Response is instantaneous, though it’s a little bit wealthy off of the very backside. It comes on within the decrease midrange and builds energy extraordinarily shortly into an eye-watering, white-knuckle top-end. It’s like being shot out of a cannon. And why not? The HGA crank, particular gearbox, handmade pipe, digital ignition, cylinder, head, works Mikuni carb and Delta V-Force reed work effectively collectively and accommodate Ricky’s whiskey-throttle hand. We appeared for a titanium throttle cable or one the dimensions of a clutch cable. Nope, Chad simply retains a watch on the OEM unit. He does use heavy-duty clutch springs to assist the motor take care of Ricky’s zealous left hand, although. Reliability is large with the brand new CR250R mill. “We use the same motor for five races,” mentioned Watts. “We’ve received these actually killer metallic containers, and I Fed-X them forwards and backwards between races.

Chad and the staff change frames and swingarms each 5 races, then they swap out the parts to staff observe bikes, thereby saving the brand new manufacturing facility bits for the race bikes. To additional decrease the again of the bike, Chad additionally cuts down RC’s subframe and makes particular cuts to the seat foam. “HGA also sends us seats, so Ricky has a choice from track to track.” As for tires, RC can be set in his methods. “No matter what, RC wants a 756 rear. Fronts are either a 739 or the factory 742,” Chad mentioned.

HGA radiators enhance cooling capability over inventory, so RC by no means has to fret about overheating, even on the hottest out of doors races. RC has by no means misplaced some extent from a flat tire as a result of he runs bib mousses indoors and out. Nor does he like the broader 2.5-inch rear rim for hard-packed tracks. Also, though he runs a large 280mm entrance disc, a 240mm rear disc and works Nissin master-cylinders and calipers. He likes a nylon brake line as an alternative of the manufacturing facility braided-steel ones. It’s additionally very free on the lever, a lot in order that it smacked Spud’s hand below braking. Hinson offers staff baskets and stress plates. Chad not too long ago did a motor that had 11-12 hours of racing and observe on it, and the basket’s tangs have been simply beginning to groove.

Yep, the Honda guys are stoked. RC goes sooner than ever, and now he’s driving pink. Cliff White did his homework effectively in organising a machine that RC would love, and the staff has gelled behind its new star. “When anyone at Team Honda wins, everyone gets a bonus,” added Chad. How are you able to beat that? You have a man who’s simple on gear, devoted to coaching like no different, pushed to win all the things in sight (together with observe) and so humble he doesn’t even run his #1 plate. And, for those who assume Honda’s latest successes are all because of Ricky, take into account that Sebastian Tortelli is commonly the quickest man on the observe, as soon as RC units it on cruise management. Tortelli is on the identical machine as Ricky and has produced a few 1-2s for the staff, so a few of that pace must be the bike. And the staff behind it.

Spud Walters was the DB check rider for RC’s bike.

MOTOCROSS SET UP
How RC’s MX trip differs from the SX bike

Speeds are greater and so are the temperatures throughout the out of doors season. Long earlier than this MX season began, Team Honda was testing in earnest. The powerband needed to be moved up and made wider, suspension settings needed to be finalized, as did steering geometry and ergonomics. Here are the issues that have been performed in another way when constructing RC’s out of doors bikes.

• Fork: Lighter damping and spring charges, fork dropped in triple clamps for extra high-speed stability.
• Holeshot system: Removed for the concrete start-pads of the MX sequence, as RC desires as a lot rear-wheel traction as doable.
• Handlebars: Rotates them ahead a little bit for extra front-end traction.
• Engine: More top-end energy and over-rev via revised cylinder and ignition settings.
• Gearing: Where RC runs 14/53-56 in supercross, relying on the observe and soil, he runs 14/50-53 outside. The wheelbase varies barely relying on sprocket alternative.
• Shock: Lighter damping and spring, linkage unchanged. • Maintenance: Watts swaps engines each 4 races as an alternative of 5.

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TWO-STROKE THEATER

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News

Tesla Takes U-Turn On The Cybertruck’s Anti-Flipping Clause

November 18, 2023 David

In a surprising twist, Tesla has hit the brakes on a controversial clause in the Cybertruck’s purchase agreement that left owners facing a hefty $50,000 penalty if they dared to sell their prized electric pickup within the initial 12 months. The clause was quietly deleted last week, giving Cybertruck enthusiasts the green light to turn a quick profit on their new wheels.

This move by Tesla aligns with an industry trend of curbing speculative resales, a tactic previously employed by luxury car manufacturers like Ferrari and Porsche. The Cybertruck, with over a million reservations and deliveries starting later this month, is poised to test the waters of demand in an electric pickup market that’s seen its fair share of hype. Tesla insiders have long been revealing details about Cybtertruck, although leaks have been silenced in recent months.

With Elon Musk signaling a slow production ramp-up, the anticipation for the Cybertruck’s arrival is electrifying. The revision in Tesla’s policy now allows owners to potentially capitalize on the high demand by selling shortly after taking delivery. As the first Cybertrucks hit the road, it remains to be seen whether opportunistic sellers will seize the chance to cash in on the electric pickup craze. With this model being a niche of its own, there’s no guessing its future.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Road and Track, Electrek, Car and Driver, and MotorTrend.

Not So Scary Anymore: Tesla Walks Back On The Cybertruck Flipping Clause

Tesla will no longer punish Cybertruck buyers for “flipping” their vehicles.

Recently, Tesla took back its anti-flip rhetoric from the pre-order/purchasing agreement terms for the upcoming Cybertruck EV. With the original document claiming those who tried to flip their pre-order or sell their truck within 12 months of getting it would face a fine of $50,000, Tesla now seems to have walked back on that promise/threat.

One reason this happened is likely due to the fact Tesla can’t use its resources to monitor customer behavior (no company should do this), on top of fulfilling the million-plus deliveries slated to happen once this EV truck releases.

With many critics comparing and even preferring Cybertruck to the F-150 Lightning, we could be entering a battle of the EV pickups.

There’s Not Much Legality To Tesla’s Original Anti-Flip Clause

With this recent withdrawal, Tesla has backed off its lawsuit/court-heavy flip clause, which received much backlash from customers and those with Cybertruck pre-orders. One of the main reasons people took issue with this bogus claim from Tesla is that, as part of the rule, Cybertruck owners were prohibited from selling or transferring the title of their EV to another buyer within the first 12 months of ownership.

Typically, when someone buys a new car, it’s there to do whatever they want with it. Tesla essentially promising to become Big Brother to all Cybertruck owners didn’t sit well, and for good reason. There have been issues of people with pre-orders effectively selling or “flipping” those reserved Cybertrucks on eBay and other marketplace sites, which, in that case, punishment makes sense.

However, once someone OWNS a Cybertruck, they should (and now can) do whatever they want with it. Keep it, sell it; it’s not Tesla’s business.

Getting Sued For Selling A Cybertruck Too Early Is Poor Marketing

Tesla Cybertruck Steering Wheel — Tesla via YouTube

The original Cybertruck agreement mentioned a $50,000 fine for reselling your Cybertruck “too early.”

With this clause out of the way, it’s worth noting in the original documents customers signed upon giving their $100 deposit for a Cybertruck delivery, Tesla promised to pursue legal action, asking for a $50,000 fine from flippers. Considering a Cybertruck (base model) will retail for a smidge under $40,000 as per the pricing at the time of the launch. (although we expect its final MSRP to be much greater), you’d end up paying the same amount for allegedly flipping your new truck.

That in itself is where most of the damage from a PR standpoint came regarding the rule. Although nobody wants to pay aftermarket prices for a Cybertruck, reselling one after a few months should not lead to a massive fine. This quiet deletion on Tesla’s part took that into consideration, and for the sake of a smooth release, we’re glad Tesla did this.

These Cybertruck alternatives might be worth looking into if you’re irked by these recent clause updates.

With A $100 Deposit For Cybertruck, What Did Tesla Expect?

It’s worth noting that a huge issue with the Cybertruck reselling market has been the reservation fee (or lack thereof) customers had to pay to secure a new EV pickup. Tesla only set the Cybertruck reservation fee to $100, which is entirely refundable.

With this fee, people bought a reservation knowing they wouldn’t keep or even see the Tesla, listed the confirmed vehicle pre-order on a site like eBay, and then inflated the price tenfold. As per the last update, Tesla has over 2 million reservations. That is why this clause likely became a thing, although reselling a physical vehicle within 12 months should be fair game. We’re sure Tesla knows it messed up and will charge a higher RSVP price in the future.

Tesla is also rumored to not even deliver Cybertruck at the initial $40,000 price point, so those customers with a confirmed pre-order could be in for a surprise.

Delays, Delays, And Oh Wait: More Cybertruck Delays

Aerial three-quarter rear view of a Tesla Cybertruck — Tesla

Tesla plans to ramp up Cybertruck production to 250,000 per year starting in 2025.

On top of secret clauses being added, removed, and modified, Cybertruck is facing incredible production delays. With over a million pre-orders, Tesla “hopes” to ramp up production enough to make 250,000 Cybertrucks annually by 2025, which would still mean years of waiting for some anxious owners. Considering that the manufacturing process for Cybertruck has reportedly been a nightmare, the auto giant is likely still in the slow stages of producing these pre-orders.

Of course, that’s not to say Tesla *can’t* do this and make it right, although at this point, don’t expect a Cybertruck to appear at your doorstep until 2025, 2026, or even later, if you do the math.

Deliveries Should Start As Early As December 2023

Now that the Cybertruck is expected to come to dealers in very small batches ending in 2023 and entering 2024, it’s even more important drivers understand what they agree to upon signing and purchasing a Tesla Cybertruck.

With the first production versions of Cybertruck coming to Austin, Texas’s Gigafactory, there’s no better time to read your contract. This clause being removed could only be temporary, so make sure to keep a close eye on what you sign before driving off.

The Tesla Cybertruck Release Continues To Cause Controversy

Since 2019, Tesla Cybertruck has sparked outrage and interest online.

Since the news of Cybertruck broke in 2019, the world has never forgotten this uber-modern EV pickup. For good and not so good reasons, the Tesla Cybertruck will make noise upon its large-scale release in 2024/2025, although it’s best Tesla keeps things smooth sailing as we enter this final chapter of pre-production and clause adjusting.

After all, when you buy a car, it shouldn’t feel like signing your life away. Luckily, the company removed its aggressive language and legal structure from the Cybertruck order agreement, but it’s worth keeping a close watch on said document. The original release should have been in 2021/2022, and we’re now almost to 2024, with the first batch of these being finished. SpaceX has started to use Cybertrucks, and from what we know, it’s been going well.

Controversy or not, the Cyber

News

Tesla Takes U-Turn On The Cybertruck’s Anti-Flipping Clause

November 18, 2023 David

Not So Scary Anymore: Tesla Walks Back On The Cybertruck Flipping Clause

Tesla will no longer punish Cybertruck buyers for “flipping” their vehicles.

With many critics comparing and even preferring Cybertruck to the F-150 Lightning, we could be entering a battle of the EV pickups.

There’s Not Much Legality To Tesla’s Original Anti-Flip Clause

However, once someone OWNS a Cybertruck, they should (and now can) do whatever they want with it. Keep it, sell it; it’s not Tesla’s business.

Getting Sued For Selling A Cybertruck Too Early Is Poor Marketing

The original Cybertruck agreement mentioned a $50,000 fine for reselling your Cybertruck “too early.”

These Cybertruck alternatives might be worth looking into if you’re irked by these recent clause updates.

With A $100 Deposit For Cybertruck, What Did Tesla Expect?

Tesla is also rumored to not even deliver Cybertruck at the initial $40,000 price point, so those customers with a confirmed pre-order could be in for a surprise.

Delays, Delays, And Oh Wait: More Cybertruck Delays

Tesla plans to ramp up Cybertruck production to 250,000 per year starting in 2025.

Deliveries Should Start As Early As December 2023

The Tesla Cybertruck Release Continues To Cause Controversy

Since 2019, Tesla Cybertruck has sparked outrage and interest online.

Controversy or not, the Cybertruck unleashes a new age of electric manufacturing, and as long as we’re not being scared into signing a contract, this release should go fairly well. Even now, we’re seeing brands like Honda take inspiration from the futuristic Cybertruck (or so it seems), so expect more lookalikes in the coming years.

Motorsport

Volvo CEO: Dropping Apple CarPlay Is the Wrong Approach

November 17, 2023 Prafful Singh

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have been controversial in the car industry recently. General Motors plans to phase out CarPlay in its upcoming electric vehicles. However, Volvo’s CEO, Jim Rowan, believes it’s important to offer these in-car services.

Rowan emphasized the significance of providing options like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to cater to the vast number of iPhone and Android users worldwide. He highlighted the convenience of seamlessly connecting smartphones with the car and the multitude of app choices available.

Rowan also expressed opposition to the idea of charging customers for in-car subscriptions, such as heated seats. However, he didn’t rule out the possibility of in-car performance upgrades for electric vehicles.

Volvo currently utilizes an Android Automotive-based operating system and offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in all its vehicles. The company’s latest models, including the EX30 and the EX90, come with CarPlay as standard equipment and offer over-the-air updates.

Volvo recently updated Apple CarPlay in over 650,000 of its cars to enhance the layout and provide native support for Apple Maps and other navigation services on the driver display. This update also allowed the display to show incoming call information.

News, Technology

Amazon Is Testing a Controversial Change to Its Rating System

August 17, 2023 David

Amazon is currently testing a new rating design that has generated controversy among those who have seen it. Concerns have been raised that this change could mislead customers about the quality of a product. For instance, if a company manages to attract a large number of five-star reviews on its product page, users may focus solely on this positive rating and overlook numerous negative reviews. To mitigate this potential issue, Amazon may consider displaying only the percentage of five-star reviews left by trusted users whose purchases have been verified. It’s worth noting that the test is currently limited and it is unclear whether Amazon plans to implement it on a wider scale in the future.

Given Amazon’s recent announcement of a new feature called AI-generated review summaries, it’s not surprising that the company is testing changes to its rating system. This feature aims to simplify the review process by considering only feedback from trusted customers whose purchases have been verified. Fake and incentivized reviews are a well-known problem on Amazon, as they can easily deceive customers into buying low-quality or counterfeit products. To combat this issue, Amazon has taken steps such as filing lawsuits against fake review brokers.

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