Several European countries are now taxing cars and trucks depending on their CO2 emissions. The tax is paid when you register your new car.
If you're driving an electric car, you'll not pay any taxes, but if you're travelling in a M1 Abrams tank, expect to pay a King's Ransom.
So far, motorcycles have not fallen under this scheme, but that has now changed in Spain. Starting next year, new motorcycles will be taxed when registered:
Motorcycles that emit less than 80 g/km of CO2 will be exempt from the registration tax.
Motorcycles that emit between 80 and 100 g/km of CO2 will pay 4.75 percent registration tax.
Motorcycles that emit between 100 and 120 g/km of CO2 will pay 9.75 percent registration tax.
Motorcycles that emit over 120 g/km of CO2 or have more than 100hp will pay 14.75 percent registration tax.
Now what does that mean? First, bigger displacement motorcycles and scooters are going to become very expensive, but what's more important, motorcycle manufacturers are finally going to have to come clean (pun intended) with their CO2 emission figures. You'll maybe have noticed that very few manufacturers actually state what their emissions are. Now they going to have too.... and that's a good thing for everyone. What's not good, is that you're going to have to pay a lot more money....
Evacuees from Kauswagan town, Lanao del Norte province, ride a motorbike in Iligan City, southern Philippines as they flee their homes when Muslim rebels occupied their area early Monday Aug. 18, 2008. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is calling on Muslim rebels to immediately withdraw from several southern townships they have raided, warning the military will crush them if they refuse. (AP Photo/Roger Marcelo)
Although I see only 5 "bodies", I count 6 legs. So possibly the girl in the back of the motorcycle is riding amazon, or there's some poor kid squeezed out to the right.
Posted 14:32:27 Filed under BluetoothGadgets Author: Mike Werner | Location: Normandy, France
Comments:
American company, Chatterbox, have released their latest motorcycle wireless intercom gear: XBi.
XBi uses the wireless protocol Bluetooth version 2, with A2DP (meaning HiFi stereo broadcast).
The rechargeable Li-pol (lithium polymer) battery will last you between 6 and 8 hours of continuous operation (meaning 6-8 hours of uninterrupted music, chatting, phone calls, etc). You can do an express recharge of the battery, taking up only 1 hour.
The XBi is a helmet clip-on unit, meaning you can move the unit from helmet to helmet (in contrast with the glue-on units).
Screws tighten the holder onto your helmet, so no need to worry about the unit blowing away. It'll hold securely and firmly without damaging your motorcycle helmet.
You have two types of XBi kits; open face helmets and full face helmets, and you'll need to order accordingly.
The XBi can be used on its own, since you can interface (pair) the unit with audio (like an iPod or MP3 player), GPS (like Garmin Zumo or TomTom Rider) and with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone.
To properly use the GPSs (or devices that do not have their own Bluetooth), it is recommended that you use the ChatterBox iCombi AG-12 Bluetooth connector. Many wireless headsets have reported problems with the GPSs, and maybe this will solve the problem.
The iCombi plugs into any device with a 3.5mm headphone jack and is powered by its own rechargeable battery. A specific version for the iPod also exists (iCombi AP-21 US$49.99).
Price: US$ 59.99
If you want to talk to your pillion, you'll need to buy a second XBi. Once paired, both units will always function as intercom when turned on. You'll be able to talk to each other with needing to shout or gesture.
However, you can not both be listening to music and talking, you'll need to select one or the other. Selection is done by pressing the function button on the headset. The same applies for switching to the mobile phone.
The unit is not rain/water proof. It'll survive with no problems when there are a few drops, but if it starts pouring down, better put some plastic on it.
This must have been really scary. A couple of deer seem to have hit and merged into this motorcycle. The rider and pillion haven't noticed yet. I wonder if the animals are still alive?
We've seen several attempts by individuals or by big name car manufacturers to have a motorcycle produced in the style of the car. We've seen Volkswagen, Audi and even Dodge produced the Tomahawk motorcycle based on their Viper.
But here's one motorcycle that really takes the car logo serious: a Jaguar motorcycle, based on the Jaguar logo. Impressive....
Not much is known as of yet, how long it took to make the bike, what engine, etc.
Whether you like it or not, you've got to be impressed by the workmanship.
Some Italians had a lot of time on their hands, plus a few nifty power tools. Plus they had a spare Ducati MTS Multistrada motorcycle lying around, so they decided to transform it into something it's not...
This is what the Multistrada looks like:
and after a few days worth of work, they transformed the motorcycle into this:
It looks quite evil, but nice... Now, would I swap my Ducati 1100 Multistrada for this? Nope...
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or MP3 player), GPS (like 
or 
) and with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. 
