For almost two years I have been enjoying local canyons on a1999 Yamaha R1. This bike was purchased with all of 1700 miles on it, and not a flaw to be found. That was thanks in part to sitting in a hanger at Santa Monica Airport. A space rented by Nick Cage to the store many of his toys.

On the R1

This bike was the latest and greatest in the late nineties. It had everything the competition had, and more. First released in 1998, Yamaha was out to give the fellow liter-bike contenders a run for their money. The big targets were Honda's CBR 900, and Suzuki's GSXR 1000. Boasting 127bhp at the rear wheel and a top speed of 186mph, it was the prime example of "kando", as Yamaha corporate calls it.

On top of the factory bells and whistles, this R1 assures smooth control with a Scott's steering dampener. Additional power and flow is accomplished via a Yoshimura Stage III exhaust, and jetting system. Stopping is made easier thanks to a Brembo brake upgrade and stainless steel lines front and rear. What more could one want... right?

This was number sixteen for street bikes I have owned, it quickly became my favorite. It didn't sit as low as my GSXR, but made up for it with power and performance. Even having said that, I felt the need to find a newer toy for my soon-to-be birthday.

Enter a deal on a beautiful 2008 Honda CBR 1000RR. But not just any RR, this one was bought new by Guy Webster for his own birthday. After only 1000 miles on the ticker, Guy decided to trade out for a Ducati. I don't blame him as I doubt I would ride such an aggressive bike one day over fifty!

The "RR"

I was happy to be the new proud owner of this modern day two-wheel rocket. Oh how things have changed in the past decade. The fuel injection is my favorite, followed by the electronic steering stabilizer and sipper clutch. Overall this bike just feels more refined than the R1. Yet theirs something amiss, something a little hard to explain.

I have owned newer bikes before and after the R1, but something makes me miss it so bad. I think it was the attraction to the rawness of a bike with synchronized carbs. Maybe it was the fact that you actually have to rev match your down shifts, not having the safety of a sipper clutch. It's nice to know that I don't need technology to help me ride well.

These two excellent examples of two-wheel utopia now sit side by side in my garage. The R1 has been sold to a fellow gearhead in Colorado. It will soon be transported to it's new home in the Rockies. Having family there, I'm glad I can visit someday.

Ride on,

Lance

The L.A. Auto Show went as fast as it came. Another year of new rides and reviews. Even with less manufacturers present, it was still a great show. On a positive note, this made for plenty of room to take in the show. Press members also battled less for space while covering the event. I'm sure it helped for the public as well.

Talking to a friend and fellow gearhead, we discussed the highlights. He works for a Chevy dealer, but couldn't help but appreciate the Ford display. He liked the interactive trivia games and the on-site test drives outside. Ford was flexing it's American muscle for SoCal's car-loving audience to see. We agreed this presence existed as well at last month's SEMA Show in Vegas. I was quick to point out the abundant amount of late-model Camaros at both shows too.

A few other less automotive savvy friends called me from the show. Funny how many think I live at these events. Don't get me wrong, my dream job would be covering all the shows worldwide. Frankfurt and Tokyo auto shows would be the top of my list! But I shall digress as SPEED TV has yet to knockdown my door.

No matter where the auto show, they all give you a wide spectrum of what's to come. From the latest hybrid to the fastest super car, it's all there. At the end of the day some of us love our cars, while other maintain the "A to B" mentality. Transportation is the modern way of life. It's a big part our history, and isn't going away anytime soon.

Motor On, Lance

Next stop was the near all-white display of Audi. But first, something caught my eye in the less crowded BMW booth. It's the long awaited BMW S1000RR motorcycle. I know what you're thinking, "this isn't the International Cycle Show in Long Beach Lance!" and you're correct. Having said that, I couldn't resist seeing this modern marvel first-hand.

While BMW isn't new to the motorcycle industry, this stunning sport bike is. Boasting 193 horsepower, it's the most powerful 1000cc on the market. It has all the latest bells and whistles one would expect from this Bavarian company.

Amongst an ocean of white and red Audi's was the Audi A3 TDI. The very morning we attended this car was announced as the 2009 L.A. Auto Show Green Car of the Year . An award I was long awaiting for either VW or Audi to win. Now I'm not against hybrids and alike, but respect is deserved for a vehicle that gets double the average mileage and puts out considerably less emissions than it's gas-powered siblings. On top of that it looks sexy and oozes luxury, not like the overplayed utilitarianism style of the Prius.

Yes that's right, the TDI is a diesel! Lose the thought of the soot spewing truck your contractor drives, or the slow moving tractor you get stuck behind in the country. Diesel powered vehicles make up for more than 50% of the vehicles sold in Europe. They have been exploiting the excellent traits a diesel engine holds. The "EU" has also been frontiers in design for these fuel sipping torque monsters. Take the VW Jetta TDI; this car has reportedly sustained a 50+ MPG in real-world testing. While some may not "drink the Kool Aid", diesel's are a realistic short-term solution to our fuel addiction.

It was easy to become more impressed with every aisle of the show. Soon to come, my final observations and synopsis of the 2009 L.A. Auto Show.

Ride on, Lance

Has it been a year already you ask? Yes. This year the L.A. Auto Show is open for press Dec. 2nd & 3rd. It is open to the public from December 4th-12th.

Like the SEMA Show, this is a big West coast event for the automotive industry. Sticking with tradition, my producer and I decided to hit the show on the second press day. The first day consists of all the releases and such, but can be a bit of a zoo as well. We rather have some extra space to shoot our videos and to take in the scenary.

These last few years may have been hard times for the auto industry, but it has been some of the best years of new releases. From leaps in fuel economy, to bar raising standards in safety and quality. I mean who would have thought a car selling for $19k would have Homelink, Bluetoothe and power everything!?

Within the first several minutes of entering the Show, I ran into fellow gearhead Adam Corolla. Adam is also shares his take on the auto industry via his website: CarCast. I guess I was a bit on the casual side as Adam jokingly whispered in my ear "You guys' really don't belong here do you?" I laughed and stated we were in fact on official business shooting video for our site. He then rushed off to check out the new Mercedes Benz SLS AMG.

I found the SLS AMG absolutely breathtaking. This is the latest release from the German-based king of luxury. In the past Mercedes had Mclaren handle their super car efforts, now it was the company-owned AMG department in control. Wow did they impress! They translated the sexy lines of the original 300SL of the fifties into a sleek modern day coupe.Here's our latest video covering this, and several other cars.

Keep an eye out as I will posting more of my take on the show along with pics & videos!

Happy Motoring, Lance