Friday, November 17, 2006

Another Night With Techno

November 16th, 2006 at 06:00pm, I drive my scooter to the JMS (Jakarta Motorcycle Show) again, because there is something that I want to clear it first. Something about the cooling system of Techno GT 150.



Here is the machine. Lets take a look closer to the cooling system.



This engine is still using Air/Fan Cooling system. Why Kymco is still using this technology on 150cc CVT engine? According to some article on the internet, 150cc CVT engine will produce higher heat than can not be cooling down by only Fan System. It can only using Liquid System. May be there is some secret that Kymco try to offer to us.



See picture above, It said KMAP (Kymco Magnesium Apply Production). According to the Kymco.com.tw, this machine using Magnesium-Alumunium alloy. What I know is this alloy is superb light. Key to Nonferrous said that this alloy will be more cooler. And the most amazing is, this is aerospace technology. Damn, from where does Kymco has this technology!

Back to the heat. If this alloy can release heat better than other alloy, then may be Kymco calculation is correct, that this machine do not need Liquid Cooling system. The answer is simply, because this alloy is cooler.



May be this Fin will help the cooling process. Air flow coming from this fin will flowing to the back. Blowing the hot air backward that blowed by the fan onto the engine surface.



Look at the bottom of this machine, you will see the secondary air that control the emission. They put it on the left side, differ than other type that put on the right side. But this will not effect the emission, because it just only the placement. Left or right is just the same.

Wait, something strange with the muffler.



There is a bolt on the muffler. What is this bolt function after all? I read on some bike magazine. To test bike emission, it should be plug some device on the front, middle and the rear muffler, so the test will be more accurate. May be this bolt is a preparation for this test. If so, then this is a great functionality.



Another feature that I like is, they put a plate in the middle of the shock absorber to protect the electricity from water, sand and dirt, so it will not come up. Yup, I'm so amaze by this, because this is very clever solution to protect the electricity when the road is not in perfect condition.



On the mid stand there a cube that make the stand to stop on the proper place. I think this is funny, because of the shape. Another question is, how strong is this cube can hold up to the high pressure of this machine weight plus the rider when they sit on?



I call it a safe hook, just like SR-125. Why I said that, because when you park this machine and lock it. You can place your stuff on this hook and lock it by pushing it. Your stuff can not be remove until you open your handle lock and this hook will release automatically. Unless they cut down your stuff tie.



The key is just like JR-100. It does not have a shutter key yet! I don't know why, because SR-125 SE+ has this feature. Last I remember that in Taiwan this product had launched before the shutter key invented by the engineers. But if they launch in Indonesia, I said this will be a step back technology. Because in Indonesia, SR with shutter key function is launched before Techno. This key has a great function. Turn to left end to open the baggage and turn to right end to open the gasoline cap.



The speedometer is so futuristic, but I'm so sorry I can not take a good picture of it. May be picture from kymco.com.tw will be a perfect to describe it.



This speedometer is a combination between analog and digital. Speed on the above are analog. The RPM meter are digital, sign by a light that will light the bottom indicator. Odotrip, watch, gasoline capacity are also digital.



The mirror design is very unique and exclusive. See the arrow. When I saw it, first thing in my mind is, "is this mirror had broken?" But when I look closely, it not. This is like a two piece alloy that joined together. The engineers made this mirror is so good, event I do not know how to plug this mirror, I don't see any nut on it. May be they cover it. Very interesting.



Last thing I want to said that the seat has a writing "Techno GT" that same design as the sticker. Cool.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Techno will launch at January 2007

November 12th, 2006, I drive my scooter to JMS (Jakarta Motorcycle Show). I pay the ticket and enter the exibition. My target is only Kymco stand, because I don't have much time. I must hurry and get info as much as I can. After I stand at the front of the kymco stand, suddendly my eye's keep looking at one scooter that keep in the corner. The name was "TECHNO 150 GT".

Wow this scooter amazing, seeing this scooter can not make my eye's to turn to another type.

First I go to the front look and get the picture of it. I admired of it design, it is very modern scooter design, it aerodynamic. I keep looking and see.



Look at the headlight position, cool isn't it. I like it, because it is just like my scooter right now, very exclusive indeed. Not like other brand that put the headlight at the handle bar.



Let's have a look at the handle bar.



Sorry I can not have a good picture of it, because I can not jump in to have a close look. Take close look of the left handle panel. They has design this machine is soo thorough. Rounded like a playstation stick, hehehe, but you can not play like a playstation. You will get caught by the police. And the speedometer is cool too, like a diamond.

And now the deck.



Hehe, this is Kymco like I know. They had put their brand name and logo everywhere. But this is the first time I know that they put it on the floor deck. The design is nice too, like a batman.

Let's move on to the rear.



Techno 150 GT or Techno GT 150 exactly ? Don't know which is correct??? Heck with it. The rear suspension is using gas suspension, it should be more soft rebound than other type. Damn, I should buy this scooter as soon as possible after I have the money. But wait a second, This machine is still using drum brake. Why they do not put disc brake on the rear? Hem, may be they already calculate it that using drum brake is still safe for the rider. May be I should look back on the front disc, how large is it.



Yeah it is big enough for the front disc, may be it about 220mm on the diameter. This should be enough to stop this machine compared to the wheels diameter. It using 120/70-12 on the front.

The most amazing on this machine is the tail.



This machine using led system on the rear light. Brake and turning light both using led system. This will be the first scooter using full led system on the light. I push the seat, yup, it will be comfort enough riding this machine, not too hard and not too soft. But it is softer than other brand.

I must buy this machine, forget it about GrandDink 250 HID, lets focus on this machine. The marketing team said that this machine will launch on January 2007. I know that this machine will be the favorite among kymco rider. Lets wait and see the future of it.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

New Gasoline Consumption

It takes four days to make a trip until I fill up my scooter tank again. The total trip is about 49km * 4 days = 196km

I buy Shell Super Extra for Rp.20.000,- and I get 3.74L.

Let's count my gasoline consumption:
    Consumption = 3.74L : 196km
                            = 1L : 52.406417112299465240641711229947km
                            = 1L : 52km
                            = 1 : 52

Hehe, my scooter is the most economical in gasoline consumption.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Disc Brake Comparisons

After I've got the exact size of 17-inch Disc Brake motorcycle diameter, then I try to make a data comparison for testing both two wheels in braking ability. That is between 10-inch wheels scooter and 17-inch wheels motorcycle.

Before doing a measurement, I make some based assumption:
1. Contact area between the Disc Pad and the Disc it self are same.
2. Both of them are using Double Calipers Brake Pistons.
3. Friction point for Pad and The Disc are same.
4. Engine Displacements are same.

Below is the data that I've collect:
1. 17-inch motorcycle:
     - Tire = 70/90-17
     - Disc Diameter = 220mm
     - Alloy Wheels Diameter = 17-inch
2. 10-inch scooter:
     - Tire = 90/90-10
     - Disc Diameter = 160mm
     - Alloy Wheels Diameter = 10-inch

Note:
1-inch = 2.54cm
            = 25.4mm

Lets count the outer diameter of the wheels
d = diameter(alloy) + (tire thickness * 2)

1. 17-inch motorcycle:
     d = 17-inch + ((70mm * 90%) * 2)
        = 17-inch + (63mm * 2)
        = 17-inch + 126mm
        = (17 * 25.4mm) + 126mm
        = 431.8mm + 126mm
        = 557.8mm

2. 10-inch scooter:
     d = 10-inch + ((90mm * 90%) * 2)
        = 10-inch + (81mm * 2)
        = 10-inch + 162mm
        = (10 * 25.4mm) + 162mm
        = 254mm + 162mm
        = 416mm

Now, I count circumference of the wheels and the Disc:
Circ = pi * d

1. 17-inch motorcycle:
     Circ(wheel) = pi * 557.8mm
                          = 1752.38038217238666841446mm
                          = 1752.3804mm
     Circ(disc) = pi * 220mm
                      = 691.15038378975451246178mm
                      = 691.1504mm

2. 10-inch scooter:
     Circ(wheel) = pi * 416mm
                          = 1306.90254389335398720046mm
                          = 1306.9025mm
     Circ(disc) = pi * 160mm
                      = 502.65482457436691815402mm
                      = 502.6548mm

After that, I make some ratio between wheels and the Disc circumference.
Delta = Circ(disc) : Circ(wheel)

1. 17-inch motorcycle:
     Delta = 691.1504mm : 1752.3804mm
               = 1 : 2.5355

2. 10-inch scooter:
     Delta = 502.6548mm : 1306.9025mm
               = 1 : 2.6

Smaller the ratio, better braking capacity.

The difference between both ratio is just 0.0645. I assume that this is too small difference, and I can ignore this.

So, the conclusion is: "Braking capacity both two wheels are equal".