A Toyota spokesman in Japan indicated that the braking complaints received were involving situations where the drivers were on a bumpy road or frozen surface. According to one complainant on record at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “My 2010 Toyota Prius has a serious braking problem, the car lunges forward after (I) apply my brakes over a bumpy surface. This is very unexpected and luckily no one was in front of me otherwise I would have hit them. This already happened several times, took my car to the dealer and no solution, I don’t know what to do with a brand new (car) like this.” There are many complaints with similar descriptions around braking/acceleration problems when encountering even minor bumps and potholes with the 2010 Prius.

Brakes in the Prius and other hybrids operate differently from those in standard cars. Hybrids use an engagement system between their braking system and electric motors to generate electricity for recharging the batteries along with a standard brake system. The braking problems could lie within this engagement system.

This latest issue with the Prius is on top of Toyota’s recall of 3.8 million cars in November 2009 to fix accelerator pedals and software to address what has been reported as sudden acceleration problems. Toyota dealers were making modifications to the gas pedals by removing inches from the bottom so the gas pedals would not get trapped under the floor mats. Toyota then followed up that recall with another recall for sudden acceleration on January 21, 2010. On that day Toyota Motor Sales announced a recall of 2.3 million vehicles which included:

2005-2010 Avalon

2007-2010 Camry

2009-2010 Corolla

2010 Highlander

2009-2010 Matrix

2009-2010 RAV4

2008-2010 Sequoia

2007-2010 Tundra

According to a USA article titled “100 Toyota drivers filed complaints before recall”, “she would become one of more than 100 drivers, according to a USA TODAY search of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints database, who over the past few years have had their Toyota vehicles take off when they weren’t expected to.”

Apparently Toyota was not as aggressive at dealing with the issue as they have let on. According to LaHood, “The recalls involving pedal entrapment and possible sticky gas pedals on Toyota vehicles are some of the largest in automobile history. Every step of the way, NHTSA . . . officials pushed Toyota to take corrective action so that consumers would be safe.”…”Today, Toyota is apparently taking the right steps to address these safety issues. Unfortunately it took much effort to get to this point.”

During a Congressional hearing on Weds, February 3rd, the Transportation Secretary said that owners of recalled Toyotas should stop driving them until they are repaired. He was quoted as saying, “… stop driving it, take it to a Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it.”

Toyota has stated that they have a solution to deploy for the accelerator issue, but there hasn’t been any official Toyota release regarding the 2010 Prius braking problem. Toyota’s U.S. sales have plunged 16% in January as an apparent reaction to the sudden acceleration recall, even as sales of other automakers rose. What the affect of this Prius issue will be, no one knows. It is apparent that Toyota’s image has suffered severe damage and we’ll have to wait and see how long it will take for it to recover.

To read an in-depth article on this situation from a 3rd party go to http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/01/more-than-floor-mats-toyota-recalls-2-3-million-vehicles-for-sticking-accelerators.html for Consumer Reports review on the Toyota recall.

You can also remain informed on Toyota announcements at http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/toyota-consumer-safety-advisory-102572.aspx .

Al Wannestadt is an automotive enthusiast and researcher. In his spare time he works on restoring historic muscle cars. He works as an independant consultant for CarLocate, a directory listing new and used cars. They also have research pages for other hybrids like the 2010 Honda Insight

The reason I’ve always liked Lamborghini is what they stand for: raw power and noise, crazy styling and their ability to make you feel eight years old all over again. As a child I grew up with the largest hardback book of cars you’ve ever seen. I remember there were only 100 cars in the book, but for some reason every page was the size of a house. To be honest even at a mere eight years old, the majority of the cars looked dated even when newly released. Ferrari was going through a slump, the Delorean was made of tinfoil and no disrespect to the French, but the Venturi was hardly a supercar thoroughbred.

However there were two pages of the book of real interest and they lovingly featured the Lamborghinis Countach and Diablo. The former looked like a Transformer halfway between being robot and vehicle, with its half open vents, angular styling and larger rear wheels making the front bumper burrow through the tarmac. The Diablo as with the Countach had doors that opened to the heavens rather than in the conventional manner and was the first Lambo to achieve 200mph. Both wouldn’t have looked out of place with rocket launchers and wings on them and from that moment on, Lamborghini were the dream car maker for me.

It’s safe to assume then that my day driving the Gallardo was a slightly exciting one. Looking back at the Countach and Diablo they were unwieldy machines that didn’t top any reliability surveys and this played on my mind a tad, not so much the reliability, but the fact I’d end up in a hedge backwards at 150mph thanks to poor handling. The amazing thing however is this: since Volkswagen have taken over the company and used their engineering resources (Audi included) the Gallardo is not only the most beautiful car they’ve made, but it’s so easy to drive quickly even an oaf like me can do it.

Ok let’s prove that fact with some statistics. My current car has a 1.6 litre engine, an asthmatic 111bhp and a 0-60mph time of 11 seconds. I am used to driving this and am aware it is painfully slow, but to compare that to a 5.2 litre, 552bhp 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds Gallardo is simply scary. Not willing to show my fear to the instructor however, I did the usual laps in slower cars to practice the racing line and then I was ready to go.

The version I drove had the additional benefit of having a flappy paddle gearbox so all I had to do was pull up on the paddle on the right hand side of the steering wheel to change up a gear and do the same on the left to change back down. As you’d expect from a car that does 0-60mph “faster than you can say this sentence out loud” the gears required changing frequently. If you’re hoping I’m building up to a big crescendo, complete with big crash you’ll be disappointed I’m afraid. The gear changes were as smooth as silk, the roar from the V10 was heavenly and the steering was perfectly balanced. I’ve driven many Lamborghinis on the PlayStation and although it sounds idiotic to say so, the real experience, although far more exciting and involving was no scarier than lying on the sofa, pressing go on the controller.

There should be no other car on an eight year olds’ wall than the Gallardo, it is stunning to behold – angles suit a car far more than curves I’ve decided. The front bumper is my personal favourite feature with two huge air intakes ready to eat anything they encounter. The doors may now open conventionally rather than reaching skywards, but the spirit of Lamborghini coarses through every vein of the Gallardo. The cost of this magnificent creature is a mere £143, 350. Ok so maybe the car isn’t perfect after all, but for the six people who will buy one in the next decade, it’ll be money well spent.

Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. Here he discusses Car Dealers.

The reason it’s not an issue is that having designed the original 911 over 40 years ago, Porsche’s design team have been eating sausages and drinking beer at their local pub. As a result, there’s been no discernable change in how the 911 has looked over the years which has meant that if you bought a used Porsche and adorned it with a personal number plate, your neighbour would have no clue as to its age.

It’s probably with good reason too that the design office has been untouched for so long. When the design team finally did leave the pub, their eyes straining at the daylight and beards dragging on the floor, they created the Cayenne which would cause a blind person to projectile vomit at the sight of it. Ugly doesn’t even begin to describe why Porsche would allow not just the production of a 4X4 but the production of such a monstrosity.

Thankfully it’s not the Cayenne but the Boxster that has become the German firm’s biggest seller to date. Unsurprisingly for a car that costs a third of a 911, it looks like a miniature version of its big brother. In fact the design team were so lazy this time around that the front end could quite easily be the rear and visa versa as they look near identical. When it was launched there were fears that buying one would advertise that you couldn’t afford a ‘proper’ Porsche like the 911.

Whilst this fact is true, the Boxster is so good to drive that any stigmas are well and truly unattached during the 0-60mph dash. A 2.7 litre version will cover the distance in 6.2 seconds which is only marginally quicker than a Honda Civic Type R. However to buy the Boxster purely on straight-line speed is to miss the point entirely. For driving pleasure the Boxster is simply fantastic. Through the twisty lanes it holds the road and rewards you with precise steering that never once feels like it’s going to put you in a hedge. On the motorway it happily takes on the role of grand tourer, with road noise kept to a minimum and cabin comfort set to ‘high’.

You can even use the word ‘practical’ to describe it, because with the engine in the middle, you have a small boot at both the front and rear of the car which adds up to a full luggage set of space. There’s a slot in the dashboard for your phone’s SIM card, so you can make calls hands free and plenty of leather to wrap you up. The roof folds away electronically and unlike most convertibles doesn’t ruin the look of the Boxster when it’s up or down.

There’s a quote in one of my favourite films of all time Lost in Translation where Bill Murray’s character finally realises what the viewer has known for some time – he’s having a midlife crisis. Scarlet Johansson’s character asks him “have you bought a Porsche yet?” “No” comes the reply “but I’m thinking about it”. Yet the Boxster is so stylish and well made that it appeals to a far broader spectrum of people than just the mid 40s crowd. The price appeals to far more people than the £80,000 upwards a 911 costs. A brand new 2.7 litre Boxster will set you back £32, 320 and with quite a number dotted around car dealers, market prices are very competitive indeed.

A very early model from 2000 will set you back £10,000 and with fantastic build quality, you are getting a mid-engined Porsche that’s as good as new for peanuts. The Boxster was re-designed and re-launched in 2005 but fear not because after a number of hours playing spot the difference, it still looks firstly like a miniature 911 and secondly just like the old Boxster. The sausages and beer must be fantastic at that pub…

As a result you can have any age of Boxster and apply the same adage to that of the 911 – pop a personalised number plate on it.

Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. Here he discusses Car Dealers.

You will want to find a car seat that is known for its safety, and customer reviews. It’s important to avoid car seats that people haven’t rated well and don’t recommend. Instead, you want to find what the hottest, best-selling items are on the market. You will be able to do this with the help of car seat reviews. Out of five stars you want 5 stars of close to 5 stars. You also want to make sure it’s a safe car seat. In the description do they talk about how it meets or exceeds U.S. safety standards? If so, you know you’re choosing a safe car seat!

There is a lot to consider, but going with a good brand is also important. One of the most popular brands for car seats is Britax. All of its car seats have received close to a 5 star rating, now that is something to talk about! The brand is known for its safety, excellent features, customer reviews, and is highly recommended by most parents.

One car seat you may want to take a look at is the Britax Regent Youth car seat. It is one of the many that parents find great and that reviews love. To find out more information on this car seat, and to see which great features it has to offer you and your child, continue reading below.

Who it’s best for:

- This car seat is great for children 22-80 lbs! That allows a ton of room for your child to grow without having to buy a car seat in between.

- It is to be used forward facing only due to weight requirements.

Comfort:

- It comes with comfort foam and EPS protective foam for safety and comfort.

Safety features:

- Has the LATCH safety system.

- Comes with a pull front harness adjustment.

- Has 4 shoulder slots for closer fit.

- Comes with a flexible buckle latch system and versa-tether.

- A tangle-free 5 point harness with belly pad.

- Includes a patented HUGS system.

Extras:

- It includes a mesh storage pouch/cup holder.

- Has a removable and washable fabric cover for your convenience.

As you can see, this car seat has it all! It has some of the best features a car seat can offer, has everything your child needs to stay safe, and really has some nice, convenient items. Your child can be riding in style with the nice patterns it offers, in comfort and cleanliness due to the extra padded, washable covers, and can have the convenience of setting their snacks and drink in a pouch that is always in arms reach.

Find the best Britax Car Seats as well as more of my work at Findmycarseat.

There are few tools required for accomplishment of this task. The usage of such tools will reduce the man power required and makes it easy. It includes ring terminals, wire brush, electric pliers, dielectric grease and socket set.

The first step is to open the car’s trunk or the hood. Choose any of these two which is closer by the antenna. The antenna ground wire is located first. It can be easily identified as it is the only wire coming out of the antenna’s base. There is another large cable going to the radio. There always exist a misconception between these two words. And the best way to differentiate them is by their size variation.

The ground wire is extended until it reaches the car’s frame by elongating it longitudinally. Now one should look for the bolt that is nearer to the wire. While selecting the bolt one should always remember that the bolt should the one that attaches one frame to another. The bolt can be either a hinge attachment or it can also be a cross piece.

It should not be one of those bolts which attach the frame and the car’s body. One should connect the antenna to the ground as directly as possible to the frame. This makes sure that no residual voltage present in the antenna passes through the radio. The above step ensures the safety of the radio. A socket wrench can be used to remove a bolt easily.

The bolt is cleaned thoroughly first. A wire brush is used to remove any kind of dust or debris in it. The bolt is coated and the ground wire of antenna’s bare copper end is also coated with a layer containing a considerable quantity of dielectric grease. This will ensure that there is no safety problem in the connections being made with the antenna and the wire.

The above lubrication step also ensures that there is no debris or rust formation in the ground connection that we are about to perform. This is because of lubricating effect of the grease. The ground wire of antenna’s bare copper end is wrapped with the bolt and it is reinstalled into the frame firmly.

Thus one should know how to get a good ground on a car antenna, if he wants a good music while a road drives.

Find the best Auto parts at bargain prices and much more information on Car Audio for the right music system. Powernetshop.at have the best product evaluation on the internet.

For completing the task you the following materials will be required: a socket brush, wire brush, dielectric grease, ring terminal, and electrical pliers. You can get these things in your local electrical store.

First find out whether the hood of the car or whether the trunk of the car is located near your car`s antenna and open it whichever is nearer. You will find a single wire and a larger cable coming from the base of the antenna. The wire is the antenna ground. Locate this wire and pull the ground wire so that it reaches the car frame.

Now you have to locate a bolt on the car`s frame but make sure that the bolt is such that it connects frame to frame and not the one that connects the body of the car to the frame. For example choose a cross piece or a hinge attachment. The purpose of such a selection is that the ground wire should be connected directly to the frame.

Now with the help of a socket wrench remove the chosen bolt. After removal, clean the bolt and the area around the bolt such that it is free from all kinds of dust, debris and rust.

Take a small amount of dielectric grease and coat it over the bare end of the ground wire and the bolt. This dielectric grease will provide the necessary protection from dust and moisture thus helping to prevent the formation of rust. This step is quite important because if the rust formation begins to take place, then the grounding performed will start to lose its effect.

Before reinstalling the bolt back in its place, wrap the antenna ground`s copper wire around the bolt securely. To avoid the grounded wire coming off the bolt due to the continuous vibrations that the vehicle is subjected to, use a ring terminal. Before reinstalling the bolt, place the bolt through the ring. Do not operate a radio that is connected to an antenna but not grounded properly, as the excess voltage can damage the radio.

Follow these steps up to the hilt and get rid of all your worries regarding excess voltage damaging your radio. With the help of these simple steps get a good ground on a car antenna and start enjoying your radio.

Find the best Auto parts at bargain prices and much more information on Car Audio for the right car stereo. Powernetshop.at have the best product evaluation on the internet.

If the car’s radio antenna is not grounded properly we get two main problems. One of the two problems is when we turn on our radio in the car we do not get very good signal and as a result the quality of the music or voice gets ruined. Another main problem is that the extra voltage in the car antenna can damage the antenna and the radio or even burn them. Sometimes, we get shock when we touch the car antenna or the radio buttons because of poor or improper grounding. So, good grounding of a car antenna is very important for safety purpose and for quality purpose.

The main purpose of grounding the car antenna is to receive the excess voltage from the antenna and pass it on to the earth so that the antenna and the radio parts are saved from being damaged or burnt. This article includes the things that will be needed for good grounding of a car antenna and the simple and easy instructions on how to get a good ground on a car antenna.

The things that will be needed for good grounding of a car antenna are wires for the socket, dielectric grease, ring terminal and electrical pliers. The hood or the protective cover which is nearest to the antenna of the car is opened carefully. The car antenna has only two wires coming off its base. The one is the larger cable that is connected to the radio in the car and the other is the smaller wire. The smaller wire is called the antenna ground. The antenna ground is located first.

Antenna’s ground wire is pulled till it reaches the frame of the car. A bolt on the car’s frame attaching the frame to frame is found such that the ground wire can reach that bolt. There are bolts which attach the frame to the body. Only the bolts which attach one frame to another frame like a hinge attachment or a cross piece should be selected. This allows us to connect the antenna’s small ground wire directly to the frame.

The selected bolt is loosened with a reciprocating motion of a socket wrench. Socket wrenches come in a variety of types; hence the suitable variety of socket wrench is selected for loosening the bolt. After removing the bolt completely from the frame of the car the bolt and the bolt hole are cleaned by the use of wire brush to remove all the dust particles and the rust.

The bare copper end of the wire and the bolt are coated with little amount of dielectric grease. The bare end of the copper wire is wrapped carefully on the helical ridge of the bolt and it is reinstalled into the frame using the same socket wrench.

Thus we have seen how to get a good Ground on a Car Antenna in easy way in simple steps.

Find the best Auto parts at bargain prices and much more information on Car Audio for the right music system. Powernetshop.at have the best product evaluation on the internet.

To help make finding the best Toyota websites a little bit easier, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite websites. I hope you enjoy them and there are at least a few new ones you have never heard of before.

Official Toyota Website http://www.toyota.com – Naturally Toyota’s own website is the holy grail of resources relating to the newest models, history, and everything else that you ever wanted to know. Design your dream vehicle, learn about the Toyota Racing Team, or find a dealer near you.

Toyota Owners Online http://www.toyotaownersonline.com/ – This is the official website for owners of a Toyota to track their service history, learn car care tips, drivers tips, do it yourself advice, and even access an online interactive owner’s manual. This is the perfect way to maintain the ideal maintenance schedule for your vehicle.

Toyota Wikipedia Entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota – The Wikipedia page is a great place to go for anyone looking for a full history of the company and its cars. It’s a fascinating read that I highly recommend it for the true fan. Be sure to check out the individual entries for your favorite vehicles for more in-depth entries about their history and performance.

Toyota Nation http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/ – The Toyota Nation is one of the top independent message boards to discuss all things Toyota. With 200,000 members and nearly 3 million posts, this forum is sure to have a lively discussion on everything you could want to know on your favorite vehicles. On the message board you will find sub-forums for each individual model and get a chance to talk with tons of other fans just like you.

Toyota USA Newsroom http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/default.aspx – The official newsroom for Toyota in the United States. Here you see the latest and most important news as it is released. Be the first to learn about new vehicles, new programs, and a whole lot of other great news.

Toyota Racing http://www.toyotaracing.com/ – For the Toyota Racing fans among us, the official racing homepage. Get race updates, racing schedules, interviews with drivers, and everything else a racing fan needs to know to cheer on their favorite drivers on the track. The Toyota Racing Team gets even more exciting every time I visit this website.

These are just a few of the many great websites and resources available to Toyota fans online. Hopefully the above resources are enough to get you started on becoming a true fan online. Now it’s your turn to start discussing your favorite Toyota news, vehicles, racing facts, and more. Head over to some of the websites I’ve listed right now to get started. I hope to get a chance to talk to you on a forum or at an event.

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Today I want to share with you some of my favorite Ford related websites. This isn’t a complete list of excellent sites by any means, but it should be enough to get you started. Check it out:

Ford http://www.Ford.com/ - Where better to start your research then at the company’s excellent homepage. Here you can find research on every model, learn the latest news, get information on car maintenance, and a lot more. This is the perfect resource for any fan of the company to start their fun.

Ford Racing http://www.1Fordracing.com/Fordracing/ - From NASCAR to NHRA to Drifting, this is the site to visit when you want to get the latest news and updates from Ford’s racing team. After checking out the results from the latest races, be sure to equip your vehicle with Ford racing parts.

Ford News Room http://media.Ford.com/ - The official site to get the latest press releases and news from Ford. Be the first to learn about new models, new vehicle features, and see exclusive videos before anyone else.

Ford Forums http://www.Fordforums.com/forum.php - With 70,000 members and 1.2 million forum posts, the forums are an excellent place to go to discuss all things Ford. Talk about classic vehicles, or modern cars, trucks, and SUVs. There is always great conversations going on about all of your favorite cars.

Ford Wikipedia Entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company - The Wikipedia page is a great place to go for the history of the Ford Motor Company. Check out the links on the page for entries about your favorite cars. Also, since it’s Wikipedia, if you see anything that you can elaborate on, feel free to add it to the site.

Blue Oval Forums http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/ - The Blue Oval Forums is not as big as other forums but is another great place to go for interesting discussions. The great thing about this message board is that you can find a lot of interesting discussion directly from Ford employees.

The Ford Story http://www.theFordstory.com/ - The Ford Story is the company’s way of engaging customers in conversation. On the site, you can see stories written by people just like you. You can also see what’s being said on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and other social media websites.

This was just a few of the many great resources available online. Between news, reviews, history, racing, and discussion, the websites listed here have the potential to keep your mind occupied with Ford for years to come. However, if you’re looking for even more great resources, try a Google search. You’d be surprised how much great information you can find.

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But BMW hasn’t forgotten the purists. And though it’s now using singles, twins and fours to power its bikes, the venerable flat twin-cylinder powerplant will probably remain in place for some time yet. The versatile trademark Boxer motor has been used in sportsbikes, sports tourers, tourers and adventure sportsbikes. Now the most powerful version of all has been fitted to the most exclusive BMW to date, the HP-2 Sport. Essentially a road-going replica of its endurance racer, the 130bhp limited-edition model was first seen at the Paris show late last year. And by the time it reached the dealers, the vast majority had been sold. It’s still possible to buy an HP-2 Sport, but you’ll need to get a bit of a hurry on if you fancy one.

Spending a few hours with the BMW recently showed me why it’s in such demand. Though I would add straightaway that the more time you spend with the bike the more you’ll appreciate it for what it is. One of the first things to realise is that the 1200 is not a direct competitor to Japanese 1000cc sportsbikes – though it is a great alternative. It simply doesn’t have the power and speed to rival bikes like the Fireblade or GSX-R1000. However, don’t get the impression that the Bee-Em is slow because it’s far from it.

Central to the bike’s performance is its classic 1200cc Boxer twin motor. Based on the one fitted to the R1200R sportsbike, it features many revisions including twin cams, radial valves, increased compression and a close-ratio gearbox. Elsewhere, carbon bodywork (including a self-supporting seat unit), digital MotoGP style dash, Ohlins suspension and a quickshifter, all help to increase the status and quality of the bike.

You wouldn’t exactly call its style cutting edge, but there’s no doubt the HP-2 does have a classy visual appeal. It looks good from a distance, and once you get closer for a more detailed peek, it’s obvious this is a well-crafted machine featuring excellent engineering. If you want to stand out, then the HP-2 can help. The show is matched by some decent levels of go too.

It’s an easy bike to get on with thanks to a relaxed and roomy riding position making it both comfortable and manageable – something helped further by the adjustable bars and footrests. Part of that manageability is down to the lightweight of a claimed 178kilos dry and how well that’s distributed. Round town at lower speeds, the bike feels well balanced and tighter moves between traffic don’t present any real problems. But it’s out and away from the busy streets where the big twin shows its best qualities. Well suited to a speedy run down a twisting backroad, the HP-2 steers lightly and accurately. And the pace and fluidity with which it can be put on its side and then brought back to the vertical is very impressive. It makes the bike feel really agile and gives you the impression that it’s even lighter than it actually is. It might not be the smallest of sportsbikes but it’s certainly one of the most flickable.

Joining forces with the ‘just right’ nature of the bike are the two fully adjustable Ohlins shocks and Brembo brakes. Both manufacturers’ products work extremely well, though in the case of the suspension there is some slightly unconventional behaviour to get used to. The Telelever front end gives a supple yet supportive ride and allows the Michelin front tyre to stay mated well to the road even when it becomes less than billiard-table smooth. Under braking though, the usual dive associated with the conventional telescopic forks is not in evidence. There’s a slight amount to begin with but then, even when you’re using the Brembos hard, the BMW stays pretty much level. The initial strangeness of the feeling that the brakes might not be working as well as expected is soon overcome though as the monobloc radial calipers offer massive stopping power. And they do so with plenty of feel and progression. ABS is an option on this bike, but the set-up is so friendly I’m not sure that it should be a priority order.

The brakes are possibly the best feature of the bike, and are up there with the very best fitted to any production bike. They really help to make the job of going fast on the HP-2 all the more safe and secure. So too does the engine. It has bags of torque and flexibility, not to mention lots of deceptive speed further down the rev range, and runs quite sweetly and smoothly thanks to very good fuelling and little vibration. But though the well-mannered nature of the delivery continues at higher engine speeds, a sense of much greater urgency begins when the digital tacho gets to 6000rpm. At that point there’s a significant hike in acceleration and the bike very much starts to get a move on. It’s not quite the sudden change in momentum as it can be on a four cylinder bike, and it won’t make the Bee-Em either slide or wheelie either. Instead, you get a solid boost in the torque that pushes you back into the seat unit as the bike charges forward with that certain and forceful punch so typical of a twin-cylinder engine. It’s still friendly when it’s doing all this, but it’s definitely driving the bike much harder when it is. The first few times you sample the extra thrust, it’s quite breathtaking making you think the motor is making much more power than it does. Once you’re used to it more it just makes you grin and soon addicts you to dropping down through the very slick gearbox to have some more.

The HP-2 Sport is the first ever production bike to be fitted with a quickshifter and though it’s good, unless you use it when you’re in a real hurry and only when you’re on full throttle, it can make the change feel a bit snatchy. It’s not really a problem as such, and like the slight torque reaction from the longitudinal crank which pitches the bike over to the right when you first spin the engine up more, you soon get used to it. In some rider’s eyes they’ll add to the appeal of the bike and help set it apart from the more automated Japanese superbikes, which though absolutely brilliant, can at times feel a bit sterile and sanitised.

The HP-2 Sport is easily BMW’s strongest performing production bike to date, and allied to its exclusive, classy appeal is a bike to form a real bond with. It’s certainly not cheap, but then quality never is. Like other Euro-classics like the 1098, and KTM RC8, it’s certainly worth considering, especially if want to ride down an alternative road.

For a motorcycle insurance quote for the HP-2 Sport or any BMW, simply visit www.cia-motorcycle-insurance.co.uk. BMW motorcycle insurance is a strength of CIA Insurance as it is an expert in BMW bike insurance for riders of all types, including bike insurance for experience riders, motorcycle insurance for new riders, motorbike insurance for women or even multi-bike insurance. For a cheap motorcycle insurance quote call 0844 888 8575.

2007 BMW HP-2 SPORT

Price: £15,150

Performance: 150mph

Engine

Type: air/oil cooled, 8-valve, dohc, flat twin

Displacement: 1170cc

Bore x Stroke: 101 x 73mm

Compression: 12:5

Maximum power: 133bhp @ 8750rpm

Maximum torque: 85lb/ft @ 6000rpm

Carburation: Bosch electronic fuel-injection, 52mm throttle bodies

Gearbox: 6-speed with quickshifter, shaft drive

Cycle parts

Chassis: Steel tubed trellis

Suspension: Front: Telelever, fully adjustable Ohlins shock

Rear: Paralever, fully adjustable Ohlins shock

Brakes: Front: twin 320mm discs with four piston radial calipers

Rear: single 265mm disc with twin-piston caliper

Wheels/Tyres: Front: 120/70 -17

Rear: 190/55 -17

Rake/trail: 24 degrees / 86mm

Seat height: 830mm

Wheelbase: 1487mm (1507mm)

Fuel capacity: 16 litres

Dry weight: 178kg

MOTORCYCLE journalist extraordinaire and one of the most respected bike testers in the business Chris ‘Mossy’ Moss supplies reviews of the latest motorbikes on CIA Motorbike Insurance.