A recent issue of ForbesLife featured another amazing toy not quite ready for primetime. But one that definitely gets you thinking. The Blade XTZ is an electric motorbike that equals or outperforms every gas-powered bike in its weight class (200-250cc). It’s about 25-50 lbs lighter, and offers more torque (250 pounds) than traditional dirt bikes. The top speed isn’t that impressive (at just over 40mph), but that’s plenty fast for motocross or trail riding.

Manufactured by Electric Moto Corporation, This dirt bike breakthrough is very cool. It runs the trails so silently, it would seem to be be almost dangerous if there were other bikes out there. You can barely hear it coming.

Check out this video of two BLADE XTZs running some trails together. As the article observes, “it’s a bit like watching TV with the sound off” and it’s true. Anyone used to the high-pitched engine whine of an offroad bike will definitely do a doubletake when you see a BLADE XTZ go by.

I just received the latest issue of Onboard from Cavendish & White. Cavendish White is a luxury yacht specialist that specializes in yacht charters, yacht sales, and yacht management services. This issue contains a sections on things every yacht ought to have, and there are some incredibly cool products.

One in particular caught my eye.

The Gibbs Quadski is a high-speed all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that converts into a watercraft at the flick of a switch. It’s a modern version of the lumbering, but versatile WWII amphibious craft (D.U.K.W. or Ducks) I first experienced at the Wisconsin Dells as a child—only brought to life as a sleek combination ATV/WaveRunner.

This extraordinary vehicle has a top speed up to 45mph on both land and water, using proprietary marine jet-propulsion and wheel-retraction systems. It can operate for two hours on the water and has a range of 370 miles or more on land. Unfortunately this amazing ride is at the prototype stage only, we won’t be able to order and climb aboard one for a while.

For more information about Gibbs Technology visit their website. They also manufacture an aquacar (Aquada), and for lack of a better description an aquahummer (Hummadinga).

You can check it out in the following video as well—don’t mind the cheesy music.

All the best,

Doug

When I think “Best Of” Stores, names like Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Cartier come to mind. Kohl’s? Not so much. They have good deals and carry some nice brands, but the overall shopping experience leaves room for improvement.

But Kohl’s is doing something that deserves recognition. Kohl’s is adding solar electric systems to the rooftops of 63 stores in CA, when complete they will be generating 35-million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy annually.

It’s great to see a big box retailer step up and put together an initiative that will truly help the environment.

All the best,
Bill

There are people who would look at this and shake their heads, wondering why anybody would want a roof rack on a classic Porsche 911 Targa?

Why wouldn’t you?

The owner of this car obviously likes to kayak, and isn’t a Porsche made to drive? By using a car rack, he gets to kayak and enjoy the drive to and from his kayaking experience.

Time is the one luxury that we will never be able save for, or buy more of.

At 3LUXE we have a goal of helping you simply find the best. In doing the research for you, we are giving you the gift of more time. Take inspiration from the photo above and make the most of your time.

All the best,
Bill

In today’s consumer driven culture we have grown accustomed to, and expect options. Whether we’re choosing a product or deciding where buy it from, we want options. Many times the number of options available can be overwhelming and we need a simple solution (like 3LUXE). Other times we know exactly what we want to buy, but want options on where to buy.

For many of us, myself included, iTunes has become the de facto option when it comes to purchasing music. One of the issues with iTunes; most of the purchased music can only be played in iTunes or on an iPod. If you have a zune, rio or one of the hundreds of other players available, you can’t take the music with you. Now thanks to Amazon there is an option. Amazon (AMZN) released AmazonMP3 in beta today. This new service offers songs for $.89 and there is no Digital Rights Management (DRM). No DRM means you can play the music you buy, on any player.

The Amazon offering requires you to install Amazon’s MP3 downloader on your computer. When installed, you can buy and download music from Amazon and it will be automatically added to iTunes. This afternoon I was looking for the song 1234 by Feist (the song from the new Nano commercials). I made the choice to buy it from Amazon (along with a John Coltrane Album). I now have the option to play those songs in iTunes, on my iPod, or my Rio Sport MP3 player. Amazon’s beta library is limited compared to iTunes and the purchase process isn’t as elegant. But they are pushing innovation and change to give us all another option.

Thanks to Amazon, I get the music I want, and I have the option to listen to it, where I want.

All the best,
Bill

Times Square on New Years Eve, Mardi Gras in New Orleans and St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago are arguably “Best Of” celebrations here in the US. But when it comes to history, tradition and size, there are few celebrations in the world that compare to Oktoberfest.

What started 197 years ago, in 1810 as a celebration to commemorate the wedding of King Ludwig I to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, has grown into a two week world-renowned celebration that will draw more than 6 million visitors this year. The Mayor of Munich tapped the first keg at noon today and promptly poured the first, of over 6 million mugs or krugs, of beer.

If you’re not fortunate enough to be seated at one of the more than 100,000 beer tent seats in Munich, you can most likely enjoy festivities close to home. The festival has been replicated in cities, restaurants and bars around the world. I’ll be checking out St. Paul’s celebration in a few of weeks.

If you enjoy beer at home, check your local store’s selection of Oktoberfest Brews available to enjoy in a Best Of krug in the comforts of your own home.

Prost!
Bill