The Smart Design. Function and form have to work together, whether you’re boring a hole in a transmission sprocket cover or forming an exhaust pipe or building the perfect frame. “All our bike parts need to do all the things they need to do well, but they also need to look good doing it,” James says. “If it’s just functional and well-built, then it’s probably bland and boring. That doesn’t fit our style.” He says research is the key to making something special: “I get inspiration from everywhere, from furniture to 1970s Formula One cars to aircraft. Finding out how those things are made, and then using those techniques and processes in a creative way, is rewarding to me.”
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2009 PM Car Makeover
Eco-Muscle
Almost everyone agrees that hybrid cars are the next big step on our way to an all-electric future. But what if we use two parallel powertrains, gas and electric, to drive a full size car? That way, we can offer the muscular V8 performance that buyers crave, yet still produce zero emissions around town.
In December, PM tackles plane crashes. What happened to Air France Flight 447, and what new technologies can help prevent similar disasters? Also look for 20 Macgyver repair tips, and our annual holiday gift guide.