-an OD of Love-

So, Yamaha has decided to celebrate their 50th anniversary by unveiling a new version of their Nmax scooter in Indonesia. They’ve called it the Turbo, but hold your horses—this thing isn’t actually turbocharged. The name might suggest otherwise, but Yamaha's playing a bit of a trick on us here. What we have is the Nmax Turbo, and while it lacks a turbocharger, it does pack a punch with some snazzy upgrades. The real kicker? Yamaha has outfitted this special edition with an electric CVT gearbox. Yes, you heard that right—an electric CVT. This isn’t just any old gearbox; it’s been tweaked to improve acceleration, boasting two distinct modes: “Sport Touring” and—you guessed it—“Turbo.” Now, when you flick it into Turbo mode, the CVT provides an extra burst of power to make overtaking a breeze. It’s the first time Yamaha has slapped this tech on a scooter, so it’s a bit of a big deal. Aside from this electric wizardry, the rest of the scooter remains unchanged. It still sports a 155cc ...

Is it Worth Getting an Unknown Brand to Save €500? Not Really . Let's cut to the chase. We've got two crossovers here: Honda and Voge, in a classic Japan vs. China face-off. They’re both well-equipped, versatile, and anything but entry-level. But should you go for the cheaper, lesser-known brand to save €500? The short answer: is a big fat NO . Pricing Smackdown Let’s talk numbers first. The Honda NX500 is priced at €7,600, while the Voge 500DS comes in at €7,150. you’re looking at a €500 difference. For that little amount, you’re always better off with the Honda even if the price is €1000 less. Here’s why. Head-to-Head: Honda NX500 vs. Voge 500DS Honda has been the king of this segment since the CB500X days. Now, the NX500 continues the legacy with serious competition from Voge. But despite the 500DS  being a well-designed bike with some Italian flair, it doesn’t quite measure up. The Breakdown Heritage: Honda’s pedigree is unmatched. The NX500 carries the legacy of the iconic...

The sheer stupidity of humanity! Here’s a Tesla battery for you. To produce it, you need to dig up: - 12 tons of rock for Lithium - 5 tons of ore for Cobalt - 3 tons of ore for Nickel - 12 tons of ore for Copper You have to move 250 tons of earth to get: - 12 kg of Lithium - 13.6 kg of Nickel - 22 kg of Manganese - 6.8 kg of Cobalt - 100 kg of Copper - 200 kg of Aluminum, Steel, and plastic. The Caterpillar 994A used to move this earth guzzles 1000 liters of diesel in 12 hours. And there you have it, your "zero-emission" car. The greatest scam in history.

Forget the days of solo triumphs. Toyota is eager to crank out more sports cars, but it’s hit a wall—the Japanese giant can't do it alone. Enter the co-pilot strategy: partnering with other brands to bring the thrill back to the road. Case in point, the 2024 Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition.  Now, don’t get too misty-eyed over dreams of a new MR2 or Celica. As much as Toyota's top brass, and indeed all of us, would love a fresh take on these legends, the reality is stark. The market for such niche products is dwindling. Thus, Toyota’s bean counters have been more comfortable sharing the burden. Subaru helped birth the GR86/BRZ, while BMW joined forces for the Supra/Z4. These collaborations make financial sense, but they also keep the flame of performance cars burning. In a candid chat with the Aussie press, Gazoo Racing President Tomoya Takahashi didn't mince words. He admitted Toyota’s solo days in the sports car arena are numbered. “The sports car market is shrinking,” he lamen...

Right, forget the Countach. In 2007, Nissan dropped a bombshell that redefined an entire generation. This burly silver coupe tore down the establishment, set the rubble ablaze, and paved a new path forward. With news that the Skyline GT-R namesake is dead—at least on our shores—it feels like the right time to take stock. Indeed, the R35 Nissan GT-R arrived with a bang that very year. For a middle-class Millennial kid like myself, the R35 seemed to have crawled from a sizzling impact crater like some gleaming alien mech. Those core memories remain. But the GT-R left us with something far more important when the dust settled: a performance-car formula that would dictate everything hence, from BMW to Tesla, even as the R35 itself faded into obsolescence. Maybe that initial feeling of an alien mech landing is hard to remember now. After all, it was 17 years ago. Or perhaps it’s because the GT-R has changed so little since its debut. The R35 feels like old wallpaper. But if you adjust those...

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.   Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead, she asked me softly, why?   I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!   With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement that stated that she could own our house, our car, and a 30% stake in my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent te...

Ah, the good old days when Roman Emperors felt a bit threatened and decided to distract the masses with gladiatorial games and free bread. "Panem et circenses," they called it. How quaint and simple those ancient Romans were, right? But wait, are we really so different? Here we are, Malta, in the thick of an election campaign to choose our European Parliament representatives and local councilors. Meanwhile, we’re embroiled in a serious political crisis with a former Prime Minister about to be dragged to court. Sounds like a gripping drama, doesn’t it? But no, our attention is captivated by Kyannah, Kyonne, and Kyra, the latest human spectacles. Who wouldn’t prefer watching beautiful people in bathing suits, knocking back champagne, over middle-aged men in suits shouting at each other? It’s so much more... relaxing. And it’s definitely not a coincidence. Just when we need to do some serious thinking about our country’s future, out comes another dazzling distraction. Remember h...

Six months suspended sentence for the man who caused the death of Johanna Boni in a crash in Naxxar? In my bloody country, a person’s life means so little! I am outraged that Carmel Cauchi was sentenced to a mere six months in prison, suspended for one year, after the Court of Appeal accepted the Attorney General’s appeal and found him guilty of causing the death of 26-year-old Johanna Boni in a traffic accident in Naxxar eight years ago. This man was also found guilty of causing damage to the victim’s motorcycle and of reckless driving. The fatal accident occurred on 5th January 2016 in Labour Road, involving a cement truck driven by Cauchi and a motorcycle ridden by Boni. In March of last year, Cauchi was acquitted of all charges and penalties by the First Court, which ridiculously concluded that the victim lost her life because she took the risk of overtaking the truck instead of waiting for it to move so she could safely pass from behind. However, the Court of Appeal rightly conclu...

 Here's the blunt reality: No one gives a f*ck!.  That new job you’re bursting to brag about, that daring haircut you're now regretting, whether you had a salad or a cheesecake for lunch—absolutely no one cares.  Your vanity tricks you into thinking the world will adore you. Your anxiety convinces you the world will mock you. Both are utter nonsense.  Everyone is too wrapped up in their own drama to notice your new job, your tragic haircut, or your bloody lunch. The sooner you grasp this, the better.  Take this chap, for instance:  “I used to obsess over my appearance. Constantly fretting about what people thought of my clothes, desperate to make the perfect impression, even on random strangers. I was a wreck, unable to enjoy hanging out with friends, always second-guessing my looks.  So, I quizzed my friends and family: describe the last person you met and what they were wearing.  And surprise, surprise—not one could recall the clothes, the style...

 Paolo Villaggio: The Maestro of Italian Dark Comedy In 2024, the much-anticipated production "Com'è Umano Lui," aired by Rai, captivated audiences with its brilliant depiction of Paolo Villaggio’s life and work. This film beautifully narrates the fantastic story of Villaggio, a legend whose dark comedy not only entertained but also offered profound insights into the human condition. The movie sheds light on how Villaggio’s characters and narratives have become a mirror reflecting the absurdities and trials of Italian society. Early Life and Beginnings Born on December 30, 1932, in Genoa, Italy, Paolo Villaggio grew up during a tumultuous period marked by the aftermath of World War II. His early experiences in a recovering nation profoundly influenced his comedic sensibilities. Villaggio's father, an engineer, and his mother, a teacher, provided a nurturing environment that valued education and intellectual curiosity. However, the harsh realities of post-war Italy als...

In the sun-drenched streets of Alicante, amidst the roar of engines and the scent of burning rubber, I found myself facing a familiar foe: impostor syndrome. Yes, even I, the intrepid explorer of all things automotive, felt the icy grip of self-doubt as I prepared to test ride Kawasaki's latest offering—the Ninja 500 SE. As I swung a leg over the sleek green machine, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension. After all, surrounded by seasoned riders and industry veterans, what right did I have to be here? But as I eased into the saddle, all doubts faded away, replaced by a sense of exhilaration and anticipation. With a flick of the wrist, I set off into the bustling streets of Alicante, the Ninja's engine purring beneath me like a contented kitten. As I navigated the urban sprawl with ease, I couldn't help but be impressed by the bike's effortless agility and nimble handling. But it was on the open road that the Ninja truly came into its own. As I twisted th...

Alright, so you want me to discuss these electric cars, or "green machines," as the environmentally conscious like to call them. Let's be honest, they're about as thrilling as watching paint dry—and that's if the paint is the same shade as a beige sock. I've driven a few of these EVs. They're quiet, sure, like a library full of sedated librarians. They're smooth, yeah, like a plate of lukewarm porridge. And they're "eco-friendly," which is just another way of saying they're about as exciting as a wet weekend in the Lake District.  Then there's the charging. You plug them in and wait for what feels like an eternity. It's like watching a snail cross a motorway. And don't get me started on the range. You drive for about 10 minutes, and the battery's already begging for a nap. It's like having a hamster powering your car. Now, compare that to a proper petrol engine. The roar, the rumble, the smell—it's a symphony o...

 The legacy of the Honda CB750 isn't just etched in history; it’s blazoned across the annals of motorcycling with a big, bold marker. The CB750 was the motorcycle equivalent of a rock star, rolling into town and blowing everyone’s minds, leaving the competition scrambling to catch up. Its influence is still felt today, echoing through the exhaust notes of modern machines. Let’s delve a bit deeper into the development of this iconic bike. Picture it: Honda engineers, fresh off the success of the Super Cub, were tasked with creating something that would not just compete with the British twins but annihilate them. They needed a bigger, badder machine that would appeal to the leather-clad rebels of the road. In 1967, the blueprint for the CB750 began to take shape. Honda’s experience with multi-cylinder engines in their racing bikes, as well as small cars, meant they had the know-how to build a revolutionary engine. The air-cooled, 736cc, SOHC inline-four was both advanced and reliable...