What did we learn from the Chinese GP?
Well, we learned that you don’t need a
double-decker diffuser to win Grands Prix, with young
Sebastian Vettel taking a very well earned win at the rain
soaked Chinese Grand Prix after making no errors at all. To
really hammer the point home, team mate Mark Webber in the
second of the two Red Bulls came in behind him to make it
not only Red Bull’s first win, but also first 1-2. Webber
could have won, if he had not made two mistakes, from which
he did recover, but lost time. And remember that Red Bull
has a single stage diffuser.
Much of the pre-race interest was with the antics in Paris
as the hearing continued against the “diffuser three” by the
other seven teams. The highlight was Ferrari’s Queen’s
Counsel describing Ross Brawn as the most arrogant man on
the planet for even daring to think that he was correct,
against the design teams of Ferrari et al. With the Brawn
diffusers being judged legal (again), who was arrogant and
who were the dummies?
It was difficult conditions in Shanghai, but these are the
best drivers in the world, or so the PR machine would have
you believe. Don’t believe. Nelson Piquet should be dropped
at Renault. His performances are woeful, and with Renault
team boss Flavio Briatore describing championship leader
Jenson Button as being as fast as a concrete traffic
bollard, where does that place Piquet? If Piquet Senior were
not funding his son’s drive at Renault … draw your own
conclusions. Nakajima is also nowhere. Williams should drop
him (if it weren’t for the fact that the Williams has a
Japanese engine). Draw your own conclusions again.
Brawn GP had a good weekend and 3rd and 4th was as good as
they were going to get. Button had a good scrap with Webber,
but admitted that he couldn’t hold the Red Bull under the
conditions. Not bad for a bollard. 4th for Barichello, the
old age pensioner (thanks Flav), was also well deserved.
Flavio should look at his own team before criticizing
others.
Ferrari? The worst start to the season since Julius Caesar
made the wrong decision to attend the Senate hearings. Massa
had water in the electrics and following top level hand
waving, both Ferraris will be fitted with on-board CRC
de-watering fluid for the next race (in the desert).
Raikkonen says the championship situation “looks difficult”.
Great comedians, these Finns.
McLaren? The much vaunted rain driver Lewis Hamilton (after
the wet Silverstone race last year), made mistake, after
mistake, after mistake. However, he will probably deny it,
on advice from the pit wall. Kovalainen did the slow but
steady strategy and finished in front of his world champion
running mate. A good effort in a slow but steady race car.
BMW? Kubica has become a WCW (world champion whinger) but
did a magnificent job in mounting Trulli’s Toyota. What they
will call the offspring, I am unsure, but perhaps just a
BMTWAT?
The rest? Forget it, other than Sutil who did try hard to
get a point for Team Poppadum, but lost his nose and front
wheels six laps from home.
Bahrain this weekend. Don’t miss it.
Bahrain GP this weekend
Following the Chinese GP last weekend, comes the
Bahrain GP, held in the desert. Sand blowing across the
circuit is always a big problem.
The complex cost USD 150 million to construct, and Bahrain
hopes to become the driving force of motor racing in the
region. Read those numbers again - USD 150 million. That is
why you will not see an F1 track in Thailand!
The GP telecast is at 7 p.m. and I will be watching at
Jameson’s Irish pub, in front of the big screen. Join me at
6 p.m. for something to eat and a quiet beer before the
explosive action.
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week I asked when were curved
windscreens first used? The answer was 1914 on the Kissel.
So to this week. In the early days, the spare wheel was
usually tacked on to the rear of the car. Which car, and
when, did the spare wheel become enclosed in the tail?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
Most Practical / Useful
When you want to hop on a ‘bike which is more
than a step-through, to go to the shops, visit someone or
simply enjoy a bit of a ride out then most of the bigger
machines including the middleweight sports are a pain.
Yamaha’s FZ6 doesn’t really comply since it is a big bike
with high revving engine to extract maximum power to compete
with Suzuki’s (SV650S) and Honda’s Hornet (not on show)
Kawasaki
ER-6n
Kawasaki showed a naked middleweight, the ER-6n, which it
has steadily developed over the last few years. It is a
liquid-cooled, DOHC, 8-valve 649 cm3 Parallel Twin with fuel
injection. Apparently, the engine’s mid-range power
characteristics make the bike especially fun to ride at
medium speeds on city streets. Roll-on response is
exceptional, offering impressive passing performance. ABS is
an option in some markets. A modern Triumph Bonneville, 650
cc twin?
This got my vote because of its no nonsense build and lack
of frills. A get on and go bike that doesn’t look difficult
to run and maintain.
(Thank you Alan for a very detailed overview of the
motorcycles at the 30th Bangkok International Motor Show.)
Genuine Tourer
My definition of this category, based on
considerable experience is as follows: It must be big
enough, with weather protection, to carry two adults in
comfort at high speed for 8 hours per day. It must have a
three piece hard luggage system built in with room enough
for a tank bag. It should be possible for a reasonably fit
male to maneuver the machine while parking, turning around
etc with a dead engine.
BMW
K1300 GT
Honda’s Gold Wing falls out here because of the sheer
physical size and weight, equipped as it is with an 1850 cc
6 cylinder engine plus all of its accoutrements. BMW no
longer import their K1200LT into Thailand for a number of
reasons which include servicing problems.
Yamaha’s FJR1300 has been around for some time and the
latest version was on display, the FJR1300AS. This has the
optional clutchless gear changing facility. This works
either by foot as normal or via a thumb switch on the left
hand ‘bar, without the need to operate the clutch lever.
Such a system is highly beneficial in heavy traffic
conditions but not necessary on open road touring.
New on the scene is the new BMW K1300GT. It looks a bit slab
sided and dated but actually is high tech and high
performance with an output of 160 hp (118 kW) and up to 135
Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm from its 1300 cc 4 cylinder
engine. Equipped with a good range of standard and optional
equipment, including ABS and the availability of a wide
selection of accessories, this ‘bike is a modern Genuine
Tourer.
While definitely not a fan of BMW, its Duolever front and
optional ESA II rear suspension adjustment system combine to
give a ride which should suit most riders/ passengers and
load arrangements.
ESA II Electronic Suspension Adjustment is an optional
system that allows you to modify the suspension set-up
depending on the load you are carrying. It automatically
sets the best possible combination of suspension height,
spring rate and damping settings.
So, expensive it is, but in this case you get what you pay
for with the BMW K1300GT.
More on the Bangkok
Motor Show bikes
Our roving motorcycle correspondent, Alan Coates,
continues his review of the motorcycles displayed at the
Bangkok International Motor Show.
Naked / Muscle (Retro)
There were plenty of contenders here; Suzuki’s
1250 Bandit which has been around for a long time but is
very competitive pricewise. You get a big lump for little
money but chassis and suspension are dated.
Kawasaki have gone the retro route with their Z1000 which
harkens back to the late 70’s early 80’s. A modern
powerplant in an uprated chassis / suspension set up but
with too much plastic and a pair of silencers that would not
look out of place on a double decker bus.
BMW
K1300R
Yamaha offer the FZ1, essentially a stripped down, detuned
R1. Not designed as a muscle bike, just a model created to
fill the gap in their model range.
Triumph’s Speed Triple 1050 looked menacing, caged, as it
was, on the Dirtshop stand. Now a major player globally; for
2009 Triumph produce a range of 16 ‘bikes to suit most
tastes and are once again enjoying some success on the race
circuits with the Daytona 675. However, the 1050 Speed
Triple is billed as a street fighter and has proved to be a
very successful seller. For 2009, the 3 cylinder engine
delivers 130 bhp with unique evocative sound and character.
The ‘bike comes with very little by way of extras or
superfluous bits, it has iconic twin headlamps, tapered
aluminium Magura bars, black multi spoke alloy wheels and
twin short exhaust cans. The specification includes twin
Brembo 4-piston 4-pad radial calipers mounted on fully
adjustable black anodised Showa USD forks, fully adjustable
Showa monoshock rear suspension and a single sided swing
arm, all at a very competitive price.
Dirtshop again presented the Ducati Monster, this time the
1100S with an after market can fitted. The 1100S chassis is
part tube and for 2009 part casting. The result is
lightweight at 168 kg but the V-twin only puts out some 95
bhp so it is no arm wrenching Monster. Maintenance of the
exposed drive belt under the engine is of concern in adverse
operating conditions. The specification is high with Brembo
brakes, Ohlins front and rear but then so is the price, it’s
an exotic head turner but lacks the serious grunt of some of
the others in this class.
Last and far from least is a new model from BMW, not
previously known for naked / muscle ‘bikes. However, the all
new K1300R is a revelation, not only for the specification
but also for the simple fact that a vertically challenged
rider with 29 inch inside leg can actually “flat foot” to
maneuver the bike. With an engine output of 173 hp (127 kW)
and 140 Nm of torque it is very impressive as is the
technical specification. It has the BMW Duolever suspension
for optimum handling, and options include ABS, TPC (Tyre
Pressure Control) and ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment)
like the K1300GT tourer. Shaft drive is standard.
Another option available is gear shift assist, allowing
riders to change up without declutching or taking their hand
off the throttle. A useful aid in those drag starts from the
traffic lights.
BMW won me over on the specification of the K1300R, its
impressive powertrain and the fact that my feet touch the
ground, a first for me with any BMW.
