With the right old men in place, I am ok with that. Sadly, those gems are few and far between.
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H-D kills off more models ?
- Thread starter TK4
- Start date
Mad Mike
Well-known member
It's really a thing, and a heavy contributor to the demise of heavy manufacturing and the transportation manufacturing sector in the UK. It's also prevalent in health care, the NHS relative performance is a pretty good study on how tenure based hierarchy can stifle innovation and performance.
Apparently (I haven't talked to those involved in almost two decades), the CN tower operates on a similar model. They are (were?) always for sale and nobody that worked there wanted to implement any changes that a potential owner may not like. So the whole team exists to maintain the status quo. wtf. Why would you pay a team of people to do almost nothing for years? Infuriating attitude. If I bought it, I would whack all of those wankers.
Roadghost
Well-known member
Worlds fastest engines use pushrods.
Top Fuel Dragster Drag Racing Lagana World's Fastest US 131 Motorsports Park - YouTube
Trials
Well-known member
Actually I think the worlds fastest engines are jets
but there might be a pushrod in some of them somewhere.
Roadghost
Well-known member
LOL. Not rocket engines? My goodness those jets have come far.Actually I think the worlds fastest engines are jets
When you look at documentaries of the UK automotive and motorcycles sectors you see an enormous reluctance to innovate or invest in technology. "New" vehicles being made with parts designed 30 years ago and tooled in plants with worn out machinery meant poor performance and poor reliabilty. Tenure prevailed, but also a very ridgid class system where those who went to the right schools and came from the right families ran everything and everyone else was just a workie
Would triumph be the exception? They do not innovate as much or push the boundaries in R&D but they definitely seem to be on par with other manufacturers in tech, performance and reliability.
Open to be proven wrong, just my thoughts looking at their lineup.
bigpoppa
Well-known member
depends, you talking pre or post hinckley?
Speaking of triumphs, saw a triumph car today in hamilton
:/ Eeeh. Salt plus british cars is not a good combination.depends, you talking pre or post hinckley?
Speaking of triumphs, saw a triumph car today in hamilton
The current Triumph, Norton, Brough and Royal Enfield have nothing to do with the traditional British auto industry. They are not owned, made or designed by Brits.
The "traditional" British technology was designed in a pub and built in a shed.
The "traditional" british auto industry went down the tube in the '70s, in the end because of labour unrest. IIRC Ford Dagenham worked 70 days in 1974 because of strikes.
The Brits didn't invest in R&D, mostly because WW2 wrecked their economy, then they rebuilt their economy as a socialist heaven... which the workers thought applied to them... and they went on strike.
A LOT
The fact that the Brits OWN Formula 1 tech tells us they DO know how to build cars and bikes, they just have to figure out how to do it for profit.
The "traditional" British technology was designed in a pub and built in a shed.
The "traditional" british auto industry went down the tube in the '70s, in the end because of labour unrest. IIRC Ford Dagenham worked 70 days in 1974 because of strikes.
The Brits didn't invest in R&D, mostly because WW2 wrecked their economy, then they rebuilt their economy as a socialist heaven... which the workers thought applied to them... and they went on strike.
A LOT
The fact that the Brits OWN Formula 1 tech tells us they DO know how to build cars and bikes, they just have to figure out how to do it for profit.
You said it. And they killed off the V-Rod so they could produce the Street at their Kansas City plant, which they also killed off.
Yes, certainly.
I was referring to UK moto companies of the 60 - 70's, who rested on their laurels as the Japanese manufacturers overtook them in terms of technology, design, reliability and value.
Roadghost
Well-known member
The Vrod would still be here if people bought them. Vrod was the fastest production motorcycle when it came out. Nobody bought. Who is going to buy one when Jap bikes are half the price?
TK4
Well-known member
"The Vrod would still be here if people bought them. Vrod was the fastest production motorcycle when it came out. Nobody bought. Who is going to buy one when Jap bikes are half the price?"
The V-Rod was a Porsche design and came out of the VR1000 road racing program. The Motor Company's big mistake (IMO) was building a power cruiser instead of a supersport bike a la Ducati.
BTW - I sincerely doubt it was the fastest production motorcycle when it came out. The Hayabusa and ZX14 clobbered it on top end, and I'm guessing the second generation VMax in the quarter mile. Your opinion (and results) may differ.
The V-Rod was a Porsche design and came out of the VR1000 road racing program. The Motor Company's big mistake (IMO) was building a power cruiser instead of a supersport bike a la Ducati.
BTW - I sincerely doubt it was the fastest production motorcycle when it came out. The Hayabusa and ZX14 clobbered it on top end, and I'm guessing the second generation VMax in the quarter mile. Your opinion (and results) may differ.
Roadghost
Well-known member
"The Vrod would still be here if people bought them. Vrod was the fastest production motorcycle when it came out. Nobody bought. Who is going to buy one when Jap bikes are half the price?"
The V-Rod was a Porsche design and came out of the VR1000 road racing program. The Motor Company's big mistake (IMO) was building a power cruiser instead of a supersport bike a la Ducati.
BTW - I sincerely doubt it was the fastest production motorcycle when it came out. The Hayabusa and ZX14 clobbered it on top end, and I'm guessing the second generation VMax in the quarter mile. Your opinion (and results) may differ.
No, their big mistake was thinking 20-something dolts who still live at home had $30,000 to spend. Yes, it was the fastest - two months later the 'busa came out and yes, it was faster on the top-end and $10,000 less. Even today though, I would take a Rod over a POS ugly 'busa.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
Triumph is the exception - they are still churning out some great stuff however most of their production is done in Asia.
As for the rest, India and Germany have conquered or rescued English car and bike brands
Priller
Well-known member
Before the Hayabusa, the CBR1100XX Blackbird (a name so cool I have to type it all out) and ZX-11 were speed kings, both at the strip and for top end. The Hayabusa was even named that because it's a falcon that kills blackbirds in Japan.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
GSX1300R Hayabusa is also fun to type out.
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