Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R

The Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R motorcycle is a top-of-the-line crotch rocket. As one of the most popular crotch rockets or sport bikes in the motorcycle category it is probably most well known for its speed. It came into this world in 1999 and with ongoing testing it was the fastest production motorcycle in the world.

It enjoyed an excellent reputation among sport bikes however in 2000 the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers decided that they would have to change some of the specs. They were worried about the regulation that was bound to happen among various governments and they didn't want to have any problems.

So in 2001 and the following years through 2008, they added what is called a timing retard to the fifth gear and a rev limiter. This changed the maximum speed to 186 mph from the 198mph that was enjoyed on the earlier model.

It has six gears however most will keep it in third pretty much for tooling around town and up to 60 mph on the local tracks.

The Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R has a cool 3-way switch on the right handle bar. Choices are - one for full power and response and the other two switches reduce action and output.

And of course - it's a crotch rocket so you're going to be sitting close to the ground. It sits a little lower than some other models and the bars are not as narrow. But most crotch rocket lovers like this.

The translation of Hayabusa from the Japanese language is peregrine falcon. Thee peregrine falcon can travel faster than 200 mph. This Suzuki motorcycle certainly meets that definition.

In 2008 the crotch rockets or sport bike competition soared when the BMW K120S and the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R were brought to the marketplace.

Suzuki is no longer called the GSX1300R in some countries because Suzuki dropped it and they call it simply the Hayabusa.

The Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R can go a quarter mile in 9.62 seconds at 149 mph. It can go from 0-60 mph in 6 seconds and from 0-180 in 15.9 seconds.

The 2009 models come in white and silver, black and gray, black and gold and silver and gray. In 2008 the Hayabusa sold for $12,000 or so. Although now, individual deals can be made with local dealers. And if you're lucky enough to find a used Hayabusa that's not all beat up, that's good too and can save you a lot of money.

So if you're thinking about buying a Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R sportbike you'll get a high performance motorcycle - sport bike or crotch rocket that you'll be proud to own, do endless motorcycle stunts and wheelies and love to ride! But don't buy this crotch rocket - motorcycle as your first bike. Repairs can be expensive and one spill can end up causing a lot of damage. Get a used older bike and practice on that unless you're an experienced rider now.

2010 Mazda 3

The 2010 Mazda 3 is no stranger to the automotive press with dozens of spy shots popping up over the past few months and speculative renderings coming from all around the world. Because the Mazda 3 is Mazda's top selling vehicle in the U.S. it's not hard to see why it is drawing in so much excitement surrounding its unveiling at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The redesign couldn't come up at a better time for Mazda when, even in the midst of a languishing economy, the Mazda 3 continues to be a hot seller among the ultra competitive compact car segment against the likes of the newly revised Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Although nothing is set in stone (read: confirmed by Mazda) yet we have created a list of what to expect when the Mazda 3 is officially unveiled by Mazda: First, the current 2.3 liter motor will be swapped out in favor of Mazda's 2.5 liter currently in the 2009 Mazda6. This will bring power up to around 170 hp, from the current 150-156 hp of the Mazda 3 s-line and will offer both a six speed manual transmission and a five speed sport automatic transmission. The Mazda 3 i-line is expected to carryover its 2.0 liter engine and transmission options.

When it comes to design the 2010 Mazda 3 can best be described as evolutionary with a similar overall body profile and a few changes around the front and back. From the spy shots we can see styling cues borrowed from the new Mazda6 and up front, with flared wheel arches and an upwardly sculpted front bumper reminiscent of the recent Mazdaspeed RX-8 concept car. Following the Mazda6's march towards luxury car dominance, the upcoming Mazda 3 has been spotted with previously unseen luxury amenities in the compact car segment like integrated mirror turn signals, Mazda's advanced keyless entry system with push button start, mp3 hard drive, and numerous steering wheel based controls.

These new features are in addition to the current Mazda 3's options including HID headlights, auto rain sensing wipers, auto on/off headlights, Bose sound system with aux input, lighted vanities, auto down driver's window, one-touch moonroof and power seat controls. None of the new features listed above are set in stone (they were observed on what appeared to be a near final prototype model during testing) it is very likely that the features will remain and be available on the final retail product. The stage is set and Mazda will officially reveal the 2010 Mazda 3's design at the Los Angeles Auto Show which runs between November 17th and 26th.

Pros: Sporty yet classy styling that will age gracefully, minimal overhang in front and back, impressive stance (especially with headlights on), 17 inch alloy wheels on GT models.

Cons: Stock antenna is huge, 17 inch wheel styling is mediocre.

When ordering our long term 2008.5 Mazda 3 s GT model we were sure to spec it out with almost every option available with the sole exception being factory navigation (We went with a Garmin Nuvi 760 instead).

On top end 2008.5 Mazda 3 s GT models the car is outfitted with more aggressive styling cues like a body colored split grille, sportier bumper design, clear LED taillights and all-season tires wrapped around 17-inch alloy wheels. With a combination of sharp edges and flowing body lines typically found on entry level luxury cars, the Mazda3 is a real head turner and is often mistaken as a car that cost $30,000 or more.

On the topic of appearance, the design of the 17-inch alloy wheels left us a little confused. Mazda freshened the wheels with a new design but the newer, snowflake style of the 17-inch wheels looks out of place on a car with such clear sporting intentions. In spite of the snowflakes, the 2008.5 Mazda 3 has a very dominant stance and shows very strongly in photos.

Something that has plagued the Mazda 3's design since 2004 is Mazda's choice to use a long antenna at the rear center of the car to give it a more European look. While we agree that the antenna's placement does look sporty and very Euro, it's also way too big. In fact, the stock antenna measures more than a few inches tall and sticks out of the Mazda 3 like Elroy Jetson's hat.

Our first mod for our Mazda 3 was to swap out the antenna with a shark fin.

Other notable exterior features include turn in (folding) power mirrors, auto on/off headlights that come on automatically at dusk, fog lights, rain sensing wipers and adjustable HID headlights that can be adjusted to one of four levels (Level zero is when the lights are pointed at their highest and level three aims the lights lower towards the ground which is ideal for fog).

Overall the 2008.5 Mazda 3 is very well built with striking exterior design features and significant luxury oriented options that not only make driving safer but vastly more convenient. Whether lighting your path amidst thick fog or automatically sensing and keeping rain off the windshield at varying speeds, the Mazda 3 makes driving more user friendly and fun.

Hummer H3

The 2007 Hummer H3 is smaller than the Cadillac Escalade, the Toyota Highlander, and the Ford Explorer – but it hasn’t lost any of the luxurious panache associated with larger SUV’s. In fact, the 2007 Hummer H3 has been re-born into a gentler, kinder Hummer for the modern world, boasting fuel-efficiency of 16 mpg city, and 20 mpg highway (not bad for a SUV), without compromising the brash look or the off-road prowess of its higher price cousins: the H1 and H2. Critics who once slammed the Hummer for being big, ostentatious, expensive, and a power-tripping fantasy miss the point – for $28,935 you can now get a well-equipped truck uniquely made for truck lovers. In addition, the comfortable leather seats, spacious inner cabin, the 220 horsepower engine, and bodacious exterior suggests the 2007 Hummer H3 is a lot more sophisticated than other SUV’s on the road.

Historically, we can trace the Hummer’s beginning to 1979 when the US military was looking for a new general-purpose vehicle to efficiently replace the Jeep. Although the Jeep was the motorized symbol of the army during Word War II, and the Korean War, by the 1970s it had become obsolete. As such, a call went out for the development of a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to meet the army’s need for moving troops and light equipment to/from the battlefield. In July 1980, AM General’s prototype Hummer was chosen over two other military contractors: Chrysler Defense and Teledyne Continental. Based on a steel frame with an aluminum and fiberglass body, the first Hummer sported a fully independent suspension, and a General Motors 370-inch diesel V8 engine. It produced 150 horses and was able to reach top speed of 60 mph. An automatic transmission put the power to the ground through an all wheel drive system with geared hubs. The tires that propelled the vehicle were 36 inches tall and air pressure could be adjusted from within the cockpit. As such, the first Hummer was a design and engineering marvel. Today there are more than 20 versions optimized for specific military applications.

The Hummer was introduced to the American public in 1990, with the start of Operation Desert Storm. The TV coverage showed U.S. Special Forces driving the Hummer to action in Kuwait and Iraq. That same year, movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger pulled up in one at the Academy Awards. His custom Hummer was the first civilian version and featured the Corvette’s V8 engine. Two years later, the first civilian Hummers were delivered and were much different from their military cousins. For starters, the “civvies” included insulation, sound deadening, and a semi-comfortable interior. However, the price of $50,000 to $90,000 put it in an exclusive category, out of reach for most people.

For 2007, the Hummer H3 has been substantially redesigned to meet the needs of a more demanding public. As such, the 2007 Hummer H3 is a very accessible vehicle that’s easy to get into and drive. Once behind the wheel, you may easily be fooled into believing you’re inside a more expensive Range Rover. There is plenty of room for five adults and the H3’s bucket seats are well supportive and extremely comfortable for long trips. The rear seats fold up, resulting in 55.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The rugged exterior, combined with its comfortable interior makes the Hummer H3 a very desirable niche SUV.

The Hummer H3 is really a tight vehicle that communicates the responsive feel of the road on smooth and rough terrain. The welded, ladder-type frame is based on the Chevrolet Colorado, and makes handling the Hummer H3 much tighter than it should. There are no rattles to be heard that may be otherwise expected of a more utilitarian vehicle. The Hummer H3 has bridged the gap between rural trails and urban living.

Powering the 2007 Hummer H3 is a lighter 3.5-liter, 220 horsepower engine that combines performance with fuel economy. The 2007 H3 achieves 16 mpg in the city and 20 mpg highway. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and the optional four-speed automatic delivers an impressive 225 pound-feet of low-end torque at 2800 rpm. By offering more torque lower in the rpm, you can feel more precise control for off-road handling in hard to reach places. The 17-inch high wheel clearance further makes it possible for the Hummer H3 to go where few SUVs dare to roam.

The only downside to owning the 2007 Hummer H3 is that the four-wheel drive is permanently engaged and the stability control does not come as standard equipment, but is available as an option. The 2007 Hummer H3 comes equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), dual front airbags, and an exceptionally strong frame for enhanced safety. Head curtain and side airbags can also be purchased as options.