Diesel Bikes, Abandoned Ships And UFOs In This Week's Beyond Cars Roundup

Diesel-powered motorcycles never really took off, for about one thousand reasons that make them worse than gas or electric bikes, but when have you ever cared about a vehicle being bad? You’re on Jalopnik after all, where we adore the absolute worst pieces of garbage ever set loose on the American roads. You’re a trash connoisseur, and as your sommelier, I present to you a very fine vintage. - Amber DaSilva Read More

Urban exploration is one of the coolest hobbies out there. It gives folks a new perspective on the cities where they live, and uncovers secrets long buried. But what do you do when you run out of urban environments to explore? When your city holds no more secrets to reveal? Well, you sneak onto an abandoned Soviet aircraft carrier kept under guard in China. Obviously. - Amber DaSilva Read More

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a Faraday curtain descended across European airspace from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south. Over 46,000 planes have reported GPS issues while flying over the Baltic since last August, according to the Guardian. While aviation officials don’t believe Russia is purposely targeting foreign civilian aircraft, the interference still poses a safety risk. It’s been a decade since Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine by Russian separatists. - Ryan Erik King Read More

“If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.” The evocative lyrics of “New York, New York” have been more applicable than on Wednesday. An airplane passenger recorded video of a possible UFO over LaGuardia Airport, a drop in the surreal bucket that is America’s largest city. Within the past year, wildfire smoke from Canada engulfed the Big Apple, the Governor deployed a military presence into the subway and a minor earthquake struck the city. I just want some peace to enjoy a slice of pizza and shout, “I’m walking here!” at tourists. Is that so much to ask? - Ryan Erik King Read More

Millions of consumers trust airlines with their lives each day, but few passengers understand how these massive flying tubes stay airborne and why they look the way they do. I don’t remember jets having winglets when I was a kid, but on a recent work trip I took notice of the winglets on all the planes at the airport. Winglets are the vertical tips at the end of a plane’s wing, and they serve a few important functions. - Logan Carter Read More

You’re a motorcyclist, but you’re also a parent — a new parent at that. You want nothing more than to share your hobby of motorcycling with the new kiddo, but they’re just too young to reach the passenger pegs on your Gixxer. Do you just sit back, put the bike in the garage, and shuttle them around in a safe, protective car for a few years? - Amber DaSilva Read More

“This is amazing, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever built!” exclaimed YouTube inventor James Bruton as he churned around a car park atop his freshly-finished self-balancing four-wheel-screw-drive electric motorcycle. The 3D-printed roller bearing and plywood wheels and blunt-nosed shape don’t exactly inspire visions of high-speed corner carving rides, but there’s a certain retro-futuristic view of the world going on that I seriously appreciate. This bike isn’t built to lay down fast lap times, but it can do a lot of interesting things that a normal motorcycle just can’t. It’s a new level of nimble. - Bradley Brownell Read More

You can buy some pretty wild things in America in 2024. There’s fun stuff like an American muscle car that packs more than 1,000 hp, a keychain that lets you hack your neighbors car (sort of), and now a futuristic robot dog armed with tech invented during the first World War. I love the smell of capitalism in the morning. - Owen Bellwood Read More

The Department of Transportation announced a final rule mandating that airlines automatically give cash refunds to passengers and inform passengers of their right to a refund on Wednesday. The policy change highlights the Biden Administration’s continued hardline support of consumer rights in the skies. The USDOT forced airlines to pay out over $600 million in refunds in 2022. The agency also levied a record $140 million fine against Southwest for its 2022 holiday season meltdown. - Ryan Erik King Read More

The world can be a dark and unforgiving place, so sometimes it’s helpful to remember that good things can still be found. Well folks, I just found one of those good things. What we’ve got here is a mobility scooter with a 125 cc motor strapped to it… doing a burnout. All of this is happening as the scooter’s owner and builder cheers on his creation. It’s a wonderful sight. - Andy Kalmowitz Read More