@TSMB, how do you feel about the USMC motorbike? A KLR 650 fitted with a compression engine designed for Jet-A?
@insightful: my “vaporware” amphibious vehicle would be a surplus DJ5 postal jeep with twin pontoons on pivots and jackscrews. You’d partially lower the pontoons from the stowed position, drive down the boat ramp, and get wet tires. Fully extend the pontoons, slide the driver’s side door open, and begin fishing!
You’d need to swap in an engine with a PTO…or just a 5hp outboard, if you don’t need to go fast…
The latest trend of monster sized motorcycles, tipping the scales at nearly 800 pounds, getting maybe 30 mpg, engines bigger than those in small cars. Some think of these as the ultimate motorcycles, I think they miss the whole point of a motorcycle.
Just like other facets of our economy, whether it be camouflage clothing, m16 knock offs and the like, you guys are absolutely right about the Hummer being another attempt to make profit off the macho mentality of the military brand. They all make for ridiculous vehicles. Viva la free market . Ridiculous products will always be with us,
I know someone that owned an H1 wagon. He sold that and bought the convertible version. I don’t know whether he drove it off road, but he did tell a story about driving it to work on day. It was snowing and he was going the speed limit. A police car pulled up behind him with its lights on. He pulled (way) over onto the shoulder and kicked up a huge rooster tail of snow which landed all over the police car’s windshield. When the officer arrived at his HUMMER, the cop was livid and my friend was laughing. He drove away without a ticket. He was also known for driving rental cars hard; very hard. Former motorcycle racers still get their ya-yas out apparently.
It fits the need beautifully. The military has need for high-mobility vehicles that they can parachute down with troops to give them fast mobility, and they need these vehicles to operate on readily available fuel. Troops dropping onto a zone with these bikes could easily have a huge advantage over the enemy.
The military is also buying vehicles very much like the ones on the old “Desert Rats” TV show. They call them “Desert Patrol Vehicles” or DPVs. Bruce Meyers would be proud. Desert warfare has changed the hardware needs.
Not only did The Governator buy one for himself, but he also acquired–at the expense of the State of California–a small fleet of them for his staff and security people.
@BLE: “The latest trend of monster sized motorcycles, tipping the scales at nearly 800 pounds, getting maybe 30 mpg, engines bigger than those in small cars. Some think of these as the ultimate motorcycles, I think they miss the whole point of a motorcycle.”
I’d have to agree with you there. I’d love to own a fuel injected Honda Goldwing, if I could get one with a 1,200 cc or less engine. Anything over 1,500 cc is overkill. Heck, I even think Boss Hoss motorcycles are pretty cool, but I don’t see why I can’t get one with a V6 instead of a V8. I certainly don’t see the point of riding a motorcycle that gets worse fuel economy than a car.
texases The Zimmer and others like it are mostly caricatures of classic vehicles. The only one I really like is the 1935 Auburn Boat Tail Speedster which is pretty faithful to the original. It is my favorite classic. How about the 1970s “Stutz” Blackhawk pimpmobile? YUCK!
Two vehicles that didn’t make much sense when introduced in the 1970s during the contrived oil shortage were the Citicar and the Elcar. Both were battery powered cars and had a very limited range and the safety factor on each was terrible. The Citicar had an optional propane heater that fogged up the interior windows when used. Neither vehicle could really keep up with traffic if the speed was above 30 mph.
I think the late model full size behemoths they call pick ups are right up there
I can’t believe that so many purchase these giant four wheel drive gas guzzling pick ups and SUVs that take the kids to and from school. There are busses available (but they for some reason are not used). (I hate seeing 50 passenger school busses with 3 kids on board) and make trips to and from work plus less than 2 mile round trips to the grocery or convenience store. I just don’t get it.