Yamaha were the first company to put an alternative front end into mass production on a motorcycle, but they were by no means the first to experiment with replacing the front forks in favor of a better design. One of the pioneers of alternative front ends is Dutch ‘Specials” builder Nico Bakker, a man with several decades of chassis and suspension building to his credit and an impressive consultancy list that includes BMW and laverda. And his QCS1000 (QCS stands for Quick Change System, both wheels can be changed in a very short space of time) is the latest incarnation of his own very effective design.

Traditional front forks are inherently flexible and can affect a motorcycle’s steering geometry as they compress in corners. A method of separating the steering from the front suspension is generally considered to be the way forward for motorcycle design, and as yet only Yamaha and BMW have put alternative front suspension systems into production. But Nico Bakker has a system which he has been using since 1998 which is both clever and effective.

The QCS is a hand built ‘special’ that uses a Yamaha FZR1000 engine for its motive power, around which is wrapped an aluminium alloy square-section chassis onto which are bolted single-sided swingarms front and back. The front suspension system works in a very similar way on that Yamaha GTS1000 – the steering is handled via a spar running from the hub of the front wheel to the steering crown, while the suspension is actuated by the single-side swingarm that bolts onto the front of the chassis. The benefits of this system can best be realized by a high-performance sportsbike, which makes Yamaha’s decision to fit it to a modest-performance sports-tourer surprising.

But the performance of the QCS is anything but modest. The derestricted FZR1000 engine oozes power and torque. The five-valves-per-cylinder inline four makes 145 bhp in the QCS and is capable of whisking it u to 165 mph in the QCS and is very short order. The rear suspension is also a single-sided swingarm affair, but without the necessity for steering the system, is used primarily for fast wheel changes (Honda developed this system for their endurance racing bikes, and it has subsequently been used on road-going machines by Honda and Aprilia)

On the road the QCS delivers exactly what it promises. There is no front end drive when hard on the brakes, and the bike is rock-steady mid-turn. It exhibits none of the drawbacks of traditional front forks and, unlike the GTS1000, the steering response is both fast and positive. A massive front disc brake gripped by a six piston caliper helps stop this 160 mph beast, and a massive 180/55 section rear tyre helps the QCS tenaciously in the corners. The svelte bodywork and ‘unusual’ suspension system give the QCS a look all of its own – the swoopy styling and bright red paint tells the world that this is one serious, and very powerful, motorbike.

Review

Feature

• Color: Silver
• Size: X-Small
• Icon Speedfreak Alliance SSR Sportsbike Helmet for Men
• 2009 Model

Overview

Sometimes it’s hard to top yourself. We’ve put out so many sick graphics that coming up with artwork nastier than the Manic or Subhuman becomes a daunting task. We had to go deep – all the way too the skeletal level – to pull out the Speedfreak. Gutted, blistered, and oozing with sores. Available in seven distinct colors to match your own innards.

• DOT and Snell M2005 Approved
• Polycarbonate shell
• Imported
• 2009 Model

Sizing Note:

• XS = Hat Size: 6 5/8 – 6 3/4 – Inches: 20 7/8 – 21 1/4
• Sm = Hat Size: 6 7/8 – 7 – Inches: 21 5/8 – 22
• Med = Hat Size: 7 1/8 – 7 1/4 – Inches: 22 3/8 – 22 3/4
• Lg = Hat Size: 7 3/8 – 7 1/2 – Inches: 23 1/3 – 23 1/2
• XL = Hat Size: 7 5/8 – 7 3/4 – Inches: 24 – 24 3/8
• 2XL = Hat Size: 7 7/8 – 8 – Inches: 24 3/4 – 25 1/8

Specifications

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jan 20, 2010 15:22:48

Junior Ready Bed Watch Reviews

Saturday, February 25, 2006 11:55 PM

I first saw him as he crested a hill in the oncoming lane near Kaneohe.  He was astride a Harley Softail, sporting a very yellow hued paint job.  No helmet, Aviator sunglasses, a t-shirt, jeans, & black leather gloves, typical attire for such a rider.  I had a quick glance, and I turned my head back to promptly ignore him, when this guy did something most unexpectedly.  He waved.  My initial reaction was shock, as 95% of people that ride cruisers don’t acknowledge sportbike riders in any way.  About six hundred meters later I began to feel bad that I hadn’t cheerfully waved back.

I shouldn’t just wave at my own kind…I was ashamed that I had become so callous and biased against my motorcycling brethren, that I had forgotten a most paramount fact.  This man is a fellow motorcyclist.  We are all on two wheels, and it saddens me that this great divide exists at all.  I think it’s just jealousy. Maybe people that ride cruisers just hate us because our bikes are way better…Kidding, kidding.

Hi Friends,
I have purchased my Yamaha Gladiator 4 months back
Till now Im happy with the performance of the bike…Its pickup is so nice…….

As i am a new rider , looking comfotable.
As per my analysis there is no other 125cc bike will match with the performance of Gladi…
Its style too superb….When U r looking for a stylish,powerful and reliable bike then U can select the GLADI…..Its the best option for U.

According to me positive and negative abt GLADI is as follows

POSITIVE POINTS

# Stylish(fantastic)
# Powerful in that segment
# Easy Handling
# Nice Torque
# Good Pickup

NEGATIVE POINTS
* LESS MILEAGE( GETTING AROUND 45 in CITY)
* Little bit stiff on gear shift. Especially at high gear(Expecting that may coreected after 1st service…)
* Compared other bikes feels little bit noisy…..(compare with honda shine)…..But I love it…

If U r lokking for a 125cc sporting bike then go for GLADI……
whatever it may be,,,,The product is from YAMAHA….So U can trust on Engine for sure…..Their engines are well named for reliablity….NO other branded bike wont last like this…

If U r looking for a commuting bike then U can select any other …. GLADI is only for the people who loves bike riding….

I am totally new to this game of blogging. I am to sit at home and wait for some results for the next few months, So I thought I will get some others also to suffer with me. After all misery loves company.  I was looking around for what to write on and found that ” How to build a superbike” and Rocket Science are the hottest and coolest topics. And since I did not know anything about these and not much about anything in the whole universe, I thought I will write about something that happened to me.

I know it was a let down, But read on guys I think it is  a good laugh.

I want to tell you something that happened with me. Have you seen people from outside India come here with their brick sized cameras with telescopes attached to them and wanting to see “Real India, Poor India”. Well if you have not,I live in kochi, kerala and I have. And last day in a street in Kochi I was asked by a Zimbabwean the same question as I mentioned earlier. He wanted to see the kind of India that is portrayed in “Slumdog Millionire”. And the only part he could grasp from that movie was the slum part of it. Not his fault at all. He has seen only that in his life. All that I had to say to him was to go and look in your own “backyard”.

Yes, India does get about 6% of its GDP which amounts to about 42 billion US Dollars from Tourism and such telescopic camera wielding, in search of heritage loonies. All I have to say to them is that, yes I know, they were dangling from jungle ropes when we were having proper education and civilization and they want to go back and show a picture of a slum and say to their cronies “See I was in the real India”. But don’t do that in the expense of the 1 Billion Indians who want to and are moving towards becoming a world super power.

To those visiting India : Indians believe in their Vedas and old popular sayings. And popular sayings just don’t get more popular than “Aditi Devo Bhava” – A guest is equal to God. So all of you guys are welcome anytime and we Indians will give our whole lot to make you guys happy. That is the tradition here. But don’t come here to ask stupid questions.

NB: There are execptions to all laws and the writer is not responsible for any mishap that may have happened or could happen or is happening right now to you in INDIA.

Motorcycle Madness:

I swear I was gonna photograph the house, using my bike as a foreground, but I ended up taking pictures of my bike with the house as the background. Here are the pictures, at least you can still see the house, it’s big, cozy and nice.

The following two snapshots were taken by my wife, great pics:

All the pictures above are simply an obsession towards my motorcycle. I love every detail of it and every penny I spent caring for it.

!!!

The 2009 Fireblade has arrived and the big news for the new model CBR1000RR is ABS! Check out www.fireblades.org  for the full story & more photos on how Honda will continue to dominate the 1000cc class in 09.

So for all of you CBR400 fans we have a new section on our forum to discuss all aspects of the baby blade.

Straight away this part of the site has become popular with lots of members posting images and discussion on little Honda. As things stand we are letting the other CBR250 and CBR125 owners post in this part of the site.

Another part of the evolution of fireblades is the new swap setcion where you can swap parts, bikes, gear and accessories. Check it out !

For those of you whol like the fireblade then of course the CBR1000RR photos thread is a great read also, the 2008 fireblade is winning a lot of praise to don’t miss your chance to check out the latest tips and advice from the guys who ride them day in and day out.