popular mechanics 2009 - 07

[...]... to keep wakeboarders at a eady speed Ma erCra ’s X-1 features a 310-hp (upgradable to 350) 5.7-liter engine, is built around the world’s be -selling wakeboard hull, and is known for producing thick, well-defined wakes U P G R A D E P M Win is HarleyDavidson XR1200 Few motorsports are as definitively American as flat-track racing And the Harley-Davidson XR-750 dominated the sport is year, Harley launches... receive Harley-Davidson Rider’s Edge training (where available) too To enter and to read all the conte rules go to popularmechanics.com/harleysweeps — BEN STEWART Random Draw Sweep akes: No purchase necessary to enter or win Harley XR1200 Giveaway Sponsored by Hear Communications, Inc Beginning June 2, 2009, at 12:01 am (ET), through July 13, 2009, at 11:59 pm (ET), go to www.popularmechanics.com/harleysweeps... an aggressive suspension For the traditional, air-cooled, pushrod 1200-cc V-twin, Harley bumped the compression ratio to 10:1 and added performance cams and ele ronic fuel inje ion It’s comfortable, easy to ride and exudes the kind of chara er that could only come from Harley-Davidson e fir batch of 750 bikes is available in Harley’s classic orange-and-black livery We’re so smitten by this bike, we asked... precise?” Roy says e program is passable as a and-in for a small ruler, but don’t use it for DIY proje s, or anything that requires exa measurements POPUL ARMECHANICS.COM For amateur photographers, a snap-on hotshoe flash is one of the quicke ways to give pi ures a pro-like polish But decent flashes tend to be bulky and can co almo as much as an entry-level SLR camera e Canon Speedlite 270EX ($160) possesses... America, including smarter grids, weatherized homes, ronger levies and fa er trains popularmechanics.com/rebuildingamerica Destination SUPER HOME COOLING 101 No purchase necessary to enter or win The Super 8 Destination Super Sweepstakes Sponsored by Hearst Communications, Inc Begins 03/05/2 007 at 12:01AM (ET) and ends 07/ 01/2 007 at 11:59pm (ET) Odds of winning depend upon the total number of eligible entries... cool down an engine? Does the summer require thicker oil? What kind of coolant? Mike Allen debunks summer auto myths and gives tips to keep cars fit yearround popular mechanics. com/auto Visit popularmechanics.com every day for new stories and magazine-feature extras NEWS + TRENDS + BREAKTHROUGHS Parachute Diameter: 52 feet e parachute is designed to survive deployment in the Martian atmosphere at Mach... as its gaspowered cousins, its 9-inch tines can be adju ed up to 18.5 inches wide, allowing it to turn more than enough dirt for a typical homeowner’s flower bed or vegetable patch — SETH PORGES e 36-volt battery provides up to 1000 watts of output for up to 45 minutes PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL COGLIANTRY Six 9-inch-diameter tines can be spread up to 18.5 inches wide POPUL ARMECHANICS.COM | J U LY 2 0 0 9... than 40 feet e next age in the program is to mount the gun and sensor on an MH-60 helicopter for flight te ing Development should be complete in 2013, with the sy em entering service in 2015 GEAR + TOOLS + TOYS Bed Maker Gas-powered tillers aren’t the dirtie tool in the shed—their four- roke engines are cleaner than the two- rokes used in leaf blowers, ring trimmers and chain saws—but they ill spew... possess a valid driver’s license Sweepstakes subject to complete official rules available at http://www popularmechanics.com/super8 SUMMER MYTHS Air conditioners are one of the bigge energy—and money— drains in the home e PM editors have all the tips you need to ay cool, without cranking up that old a/c popularmechanics com/home_journal Will turning on the heat really cool down an engine? Does the summer require... of which make use of the iPhone’s built-in accelerometer We took a look at three programs that are meant to replace measuring and leveling tools, and gave them to PM’s senior home editor, Roy Berendsohn, to te Can an all-in-one tech produ replace (some of ) your carpentry toolbox? — SETH PORGES the promise roy’s take Light Bright bottom line Carpenters use ring-suspended plumb bobs to make sure their . to popularmechanics@hearst.com. All letters are subje to editin for lenth, yle and format. Subscribe Please go to subscribe.popularmechanics.com. what do you think? 8 J ULY 2009 | POPULARMECHANICS.COM EpW ISSUE Y our. 708/352-4094 Klassmark, 52 W . Burlington Ave., La Grange, IL 60525 E-Mail popularmechanics@hearst.com. Mail Popular Mechanics, 300 W . 57th St., New York, NY 10019-5899. Fax 646-280-1081. Please. change of address, and subscription orders, log on to service.popularmechanics.com, or write to Customer Service Department, Popular Mechanics, P.O. Box 7186, Red Oak, IA 51591-0186. Back Issues