Auto Trends

originally uploaded by onlyonebowman

Chock this up to about as anti-treehugger as you can get, but none-the-less a new study presented in this months issue of Journal of Urban Health, suggests that there is a correlation between car ownership and weight gain/loss. There is also some correlation on the proximity of your nearest fast food restaurant, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

Before we go any further, I first have to say, no, this is not a government study aimed at boosting the economy. The study we have here followed the lives of 2,156 adults in the Los Angeles area, looking at their body mass index, proximity to fast food, and status of car ownership.

Car Ownership Makes You Thinner?
An important thing to note here about this study, is that car ownership in and of itself makes you heavier. About 8.5 pounds heavier to be exact. Naturally, one could assume that by walking everywhere you needed to go, you might lose a few pounds each day, and this indeed appears to be the case.

However, once you factor in the proximity of fast food restaurants in your area, suddenly not owning a vehicle can make as much difference as 12 pounds of body weight. The study found that hoofer’s (non-car owners) who lived amongst fast food restaurants, weighed 2.7 pounds more than their fellow neighbors with cars, and 12 pounds more than the hoofer’s who lived in opposing neighborhoods without fast food.

Other Important Factors Playing Into the Study
The healthiest of the folks in this study were the hoofer’s who lived in areas of minimal fast food. Of course your socioeconomics also plays a big role here, as those in the lower economic status areas had more fast food restaurants to deal with, than those in the higher status areas.

You also have to keep in mind that those without cars, were also probably less likely able to afford the full-dining experience of a healthier restaurant, so they had to settle for what was fast and cheap. There are so many factors that can go into a study like this, but for our purposes, we’ll say that having your own set of wheels gives you the freedom to drive to healthier restaurants, but only if you have enough money to enjoy that freedom.

It figures, there’s always some catch to every new and exciting diet program!

Source: Los Angeles Times

expired sfp driver’s license, originally uploaded by sir fanceepants

Let’s face it, when we have to make a trip to the DMV, there is usually little cause for smiling… Except perhaps for the photo portion. We figure, after going through such hell, the least we could have is a decent photo of ourselves to show to our local law enforcement when they pull us over for a ticket. To help with the current battle against fraud however, several states are ordering their grumpy bench waiters to cease that solitary grin and instead maintain a neutral scowl for their drivers license photo.

What this is exactly is a new campaign to fight against fraudulent licenses. When we go to renew our license, many states use a software program designed to scan the new photo and compare it to the old in the attempt to identify if someone is trying to receive a fraudulent identification. Sounds easy enough, but it turns out it doesn’t always work.

What happens is certain forms of computer driven software that the DMV uses to detect facial features, are unable to scan for the features as accurately when the faces they are comparing are smiling. These computers tend to see differences much more accurately when a photo depicts a neutral stare rather than a toothsome grin.

So far there are four states that have adopted this rule, Nevada, Virginia, Indiana, and Arkansas. Approximately 600 folks are caught each year in attempting to receive a fraudulent license, and the DMV hopes to catch even more by adopting this new ruling. There is talk of several other states adopting the “no smiles” rule, leaving your local DMV an even more non-joyous place to spend half the afternoon!

Okay, well we can deal with this as none of us wants to have our identity stolen. But there is a kicker to this story…

Not every DMV has the exact same system. Some states claim that their face recognition software works regardless of whether a person is smiling, smirking, scowling, or picking for golden nuggets. Pennsylvania, for example, claims that they will not be moving to a “no smile” rule, because quite simply, it is not necessary. So, wouldn’t it just be easier to adopt the same software in every state, rather than take away the few smiles a DMV clerk will see in a given day.

But, then again this is state government we are dealing with, and simplicity would be just too… well, darn simple!

Source: USA Today

2009_GSX-R1000_pr-08, Photos by gorm gnuis deamhan

We usually do not cover motorbikes here on Auto Trends, but the new 2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 deserves to be made an exception. It has been 10 years, if you can believe that, since the last Gixxer was put through a full revision.

Redesigned Engine

To begin with, the 999 cc inline-four has been completely redesigned for this year. The valvetrain features larger titanium valves, the compression ratio has been beefed-up from 12.5:1 to 12.8:1, it features a race inspired oil and coolant radiator, as has been given a slick set of dual titanium pipes. Quiet… and lethal!

Most reviews will tell you about the experience of dropping the clutch on one of these bad boys, but truth be told, there are very few riders who would ever want to try this at home. The acceleration from this Gixxer makes adult diapers part of its standard safety equipment, considering 0 to 60 will come at somewhere around 2-seconds (¼ mile 9-seconds).

The bike reaches maximum power at 13,500 rpm, although many amateur riders will never need to see much over 6,000 or 7,000 rpm for short thrilling bursts. While the power to weight ratio of the Gixxer maybe its main course, the real bread and butter comes from its world-class handling.

Redesigned Chassis and Suspension

The chassis has received its fair share of upgrades to ensure the bike can keep up with all its newfound muscle. It has shed around 11 pounds of excess weight (down to 470 pounds) thanks to a number of engineering improvements, including a shorter wheel base, trimmed brake calipers, and lighter alloy wheels.

This bike was designed for the racer in mind, and truth be told, it would take one to realize its full potential. With that said, this Suzuki GSX R1000 has been refined to allow even the amateur to toy a little with its potential without getting into too much trouble. This is thanks to its smooth, predictable, and beautifully damped suspension.

The new Gixxer is actually very well-behaved as long as it is treated with respect. Beyond its refined handling, riders will also appreciate a new ergonomic body positioning, which will not only make longer treks more comfortable, but reduces wind agitation at high speeds.

Let’s Talk Turkey

So how much is it going to cost to put one of these in your driveway? Around $13,000, adult diapers not included!