PRODUCT REVIEWS
The Return of The Supra
By Jancarlos Cruz
Toyota is a very successful car brand that makes millions selling their brand vehicles and continues to grow through the years. Toyota has made very good quality everyday cars and continues to make them, but there is one car that Toyota made that does not exactly fit into the everyday car category. And that car is the Toyota Supra. The Supra is legend of a car and is extremely popular in JDM (Japanese Domestic
Market). The Supra was not always a Supra, it started its life as a Toyota Celica and soon became its own model car. There are 2 very popular Supra models that many JDM car fans love, and they are the Mk 4 and Mk 3 mostly the Mk 4. The engine was the probably the best feature of the car with its 2.5/3.0L 6 cylinder DOHC twin turbo engine known as the 2jz. The engine is one of the most popular engines ever made and is extremely tune-able and is practically bulletproof and can hold tons of horsepower. But there a new car coming off the dealer line with the same badge on it. It has been an 18 year gap since the last Mk4 Supra was released in 2002. But now Toyota has brought it back with the new 2020 Mk5 Supra. The engine hasn't been released yet but the was revealed at the New York Auto Show.
The new Supra has a nice body style with little parts that give off a Supra vibe. But the main question everyone is asking is if the new Supra has what it takes to take the crown from its older brother? In my opinion I do not think the car has what it takes to beat the old Mk4 supra because of all the new and important features that the car needs to run properly. The only Supra was old fashioned and was able to be modified in millions of ways without having to do much but with the new technology
coming removing just the radio will immobilize a car. But I am curious to see if the new Supra can surprise the fans of the old Supra and beat the old Supra. Has Toyota made the right choice on bringing back the Supra? It will be only a matter of time before there will be millions of review videos and comparison videos on the old and new Supra and to see if the new is better or if the old is better, and I personally believe that the Mk4 Supra was the best Supra to have ever been made and until I see that new Supra prove that false I am going to stick with it. Another feature about the Supra is now its a automatic and the old Supra the people who really loved it had manual transmissions. I am curious to see if people do modify this Supra if they will keep the regular transmission or change it if that is possible without damaging major parts in the car.
Rap/Hip Hop Albums Recently Released
By Jordan Pierce
Lil Pump- Harverd Dropout Album
“Harverd Dropout” is Lil Pump’s second debut album and the follow-up to his eponymous debut mixtape. The title,”Harverd Dropout” is intentionally spelled with an E to avoid legal action from Harvard University. Lil Pump allegelly states that he dropped out of Harvard University and “saved the rap game”. His most streamed song on the album is “I Love It”by Kanye West & Lil Pump (Ft. Adele Givens)”. So far it has 412 million views on Youtube. The album is about forty minutes long and the reviews aren’t that good. Reviewers are saying that the album has too many drug references. Reviewers are also saying that the melodies are pointless and the hooks are “dragged out”. A reviewing company called,”Pitchfork” has gave the album 3.8 out of 10.
Offset (⅓ of the Migos)- Father of 4 Album
Offset has brought the world his first solo debut album named,”Father of 4”. Offset has 4 children, Jordan Cephus is the oldest, Kody Cephus, Kalea Cephus, and the youngest Kulture Cephus. All of his children have different mothers. Offset talks about the struggles he went through in his life. He talks about how he wasn’t even sure if his first daughter, Kalea was his. Offset tells his story about how he was brought up and the difference between his upbringing and his luxurious life now. A reviewing company called,”Pitchfork” has gave the album 6.8 out of 10. He also raps about how he got his wife, Cardi B(rapper) back after there were accusations of him cheating on her. Offset even announced his apology at one of her concerts. This album brings stories to life.
Battle of The Supermoto’s
By Joxiel Pineiro-Cruz
Supermotos are motocross bikes that have been converted into road racing eligible bikes. There are a variety of 4- stroke and 2- stroke dirt bikes that have been converted into supermotos over the years. The components which must be changed or included in order to make a dirt bike a supermoto and road legal are:is turn signals, headlights, tail lights, mirrors, license plate, speedometer, fuel gauge, wider wheels, different size tires with different tread, bigger brake rotors, bigger brake caliper, and the fork guards may have to be modified to allow the wider wheels to fit without rubbing. All these components are typical requirements to build a road legal supermoto. Although these are the required modifications to build a supermoto most manufacturers who sell dual sport bikes already have the majority of these components installed from factory.
Honda, KTM, and Yamaha are the three most known manufacturers in the United States that sell factory built dual sport bikes and supermotos.
Honda sells the new Crf 450L which is a factory built dual sport bike. This bike is capable of riding on rough terrains as well as public roads with no problem. This bikes engine has a displacement of 449 cubic centimeters and it is a liquid cooled 4- stroke engine
putting out about 23.6 horsepower to the rear wheel. This bike is equipped with an aluminum frame so it is fairly lightweight. The 450L weighed in at 289 pounds dry. The way Honda made the 450L street legal is by equipping the bike with mirrors, headlights, turn signals, taillights, speedometer, and license plate. This bike is in competition with other manufacturers to see who has built the best dual sport/ supermoto.
KTM sells the KTm EXC 450 which is a factory built dual sport bike that is road legal. The KTM EXC 450 is equipped with a 4- stroke, 4 valve, liquid cooled engine. This bike has a pretty high power output being 51 hp. Compared to the Honda 450L this bikes power output gaps the 450L because the hp output of the Honda was only 23.6 horsepower. The KTM EXC 450 weighs about 245 pounds dry so it is definitely lighter than than the 450L. Similarly to the 450L this dual sport bike is equipped with knobby tires, turn signals headlights, tail lights, and a license plate as well as a speedometer.
Yamaha has built one of the most popular dual sport bikes compared to other manufacturers. This bike is the Yamaha WR450F which is a dual sport road legal dirt bike. This bBike is equipped with a fuel injected single cylinder, engine with a displacement of 449 cubic centimeters. This dual sport bike weighs 249 pounds dry and is equipped with turn signals, license plate, headlights, taillights, and a speedometer.
After reviewing these three dual sport bikes I think the KTM is the best bike based off performance and features. The KTM EXC 450 was the lightest bike out of the three and it had the highest power output.
