Motorcycles
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Yamaha developing CVT enduro bike
Yamaha is developing a CVT (Constantly Variable Transmission) enduro machine according to recent patent applications. Conceived by Leonardo da Vinci 500 years ago, the CVT power delivery characteristics could well be a boon in slippery off-road conditions, particularly with some help from a computer. The CVT's biggest advantage is ensuring the motor is always running “in the power band” and as the infinitely variable gear ratios change, it should deliver one smooth rush of power from standstill to top speed. (read more...)
First images Maxtra 125 motor and tests
June 22, 2008 The Chinese Maxtra Racing team completed its first series of tests on the all-new 125 GP development machine in the UK this week. The photography session for the tests has revealed the first images of the radical new motor’s innovative engine architecture. You’ll see from the accompanying image that the single cylinder points downwards at about 45 degrees. This previously untried layout offers improvements to both intake and exhaust. There is more space for an airbox, enhancing the effectiveness of the ram-air intake system and the exhaust clearly has a free run to the rear of the machine.The remarkable full story of the team and its plans can be found here. (read more...)
Tankgrip makes a sports motorcycle two can ride
June 21, 2008 Riding a sports motorcycle with a pillion passenger is possibly a more challenging pastime than riding one properly without a pillion. The design of the bike is so racetrack orientated, that adequate provisions for a pillion are indeed, inconsequential other than meeting minimum regulatory standards. Any Yamaha R1, Suzuki Gixxer or Honda Fireblade perches the pillion six inches above the rider and 12 inches back. The pillions footpegs require the flexibility of a yoga master to use, and the pillion-handgrips invariably also require the arm-strength and balance of an Olympic gymnast for effective use. Under acceleration, the pillion feels vulnerable and under brakes, the rider takes the weight of the pillion. The main problem is that there’s just no logical place to put an effective, strong and comfortable set of pillion handgrips. Until now – enter the Tankgrip - this is a very good idea. (read more...)
Honda announces 'brake by wire' supersport motorcycle
June 11, 2008 Motorcycle 'driver aid' technology is becoming more and more prevalent; the 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R, for example, features a primitive traction/stability control system, and the latest Yamaha R1 and R6 engines feature 'fly by wire' throttles, in which an ECU interprets and moderates throttle inputs before they reach the engine. Anti-lock braking is beginning to feature on almost all touring-style motorcycles, and Honda's Combined Braking system, or CBS, is fitted to several of the company's less sports-focused models, where it distributes braking force between front and rear wheels even if only one brake lever is pressed. Honda's latest advancement in rider aid technology is to combine ABS and CBS into one electronically-managed system that prevents braking lock-ups and also manages weight transfer under heavy braking to help stop the rear wheel from lifting in an emergency stop. (read more...)
Can-Am Spyder Roadster review
It combines the open air exhilaration of two-wheeled transport with the stability of four, but it's not a motorbike and it's not a convertible sportscar. In fact, direct comparisons with anything else on the highway are largely useless because there's simply nothing out there like the Can-Am Spyder Roadster. More than a decade since BRP first began to explore the idea for totally a new breed of three-wheeled road going conveyance and four years since the styling was finalized, the world wide roll-out of the Spyder is now in full swing. Noel McKeegan climbs aboard for a closer look. (read more...)
Yamaha set to release world's quickest motorcycle
June 4, 2008 Yamaha will release what is expected to be the world's quickest accelerating production motorcycle at a press conference later today in Madrid. The production 2009 V-Max will come almost 25 years after the original and groundbreaking 1200cc monster custom was first seen, and is expected to be almost identical to the concept machine shown at the 2007 Paris and Tokyo Shows (pictured above). With an 1800cc fuel injected motor, the new V-Max will produce 210 bhp and feature state-of-the-art everything. The launch is due in Madrid later today and Yamaha is using the internet for a simultaneous unveiling here. If you can’t wait until then, here’s our photo gallery from last year’s Paris and Tokyo Shows. (read more...)
Bold new Chinese Racing bid unveiled
Could history be about to repeat itself? In 1959, a small Japanese team entered the famous Isle of Man TT races on a new make of motorcycle: Honda. The establishment greeted the newcomers with polite amusement. They did not laugh for long. Now a Chinese motorcycle maker has announced it will follow an identical path starting in 2009 – exactly a half century later, there’s an eerie similarity. (read more...)
Harley-Davidson Museum to open in July
May 16, 2008 The 130,000 square-foot Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee will open its doors to the public on Saturday July 12. (read more...)
Dreamfit: the motorcycle for paraplegics
May 15, 2008 A chance encounter with a paraplegic ex-motorcross champion in a hospital carpark inspired Darren Lomman to put together an audacious project: a motorcycle for paraplegic riders - and his working prototype, a heavily modified Honda CBR250RR, is now road licensed and operational. (read more...)
Three-wheeled, GSXR-engined Stealth Tryke
May 8, 2008 The line between car and motorcycle has become increasingly blurred in recent times with the appearance of scintillating 3-wheeled conveyances like Campagna's T-Rex and BRP's Can-Am Spyder roadster. In that vein, the custom made Stealth Tryke from Lehigh Valley Choppers employs a GSXR 1000 engine and wide, flat profile tires to take advantage of the stable "Y" configuration and deliver what looks to be one ripping ride. (read more...)
BMW shows new 1000 supersport BMW S1000RR
April 16, 2008 BMW has applied a lot of resources to its F1 effort in the last two years and is reaping the improved brand values of the success of the BMW Sauber F1 team, which has closed the gap to Ferrari and McLaren at the pinnacle of motorsport. BMW Motorrad (motorcycles) is already in the middle of a broad-based model initiative, and it declared its hand last night in the toughest category of all – superbike territory. The company’s first entry into the area will be the S1000RR, a 1000cc four cylinder that looks a treat, at least based on the racing prototype shown overnight in Munich. (read more...)
Seat Shield Reduces addresses potential health risk for motorcyclists
April 11, 2008 Are motorcyclists increasing the risk of prostate and colon cancer by exposing themselves to low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF) radiation? The answer is yes according to Canadian inventor and author Randall Dale Chipkar, who has created a specially shielded motorcycle seat to minimize this potential danger. (read more...)
Happy Birthday to the Quadbike - 25 this year
The Quadricycle has been around for more than 100 years, becoming temporarily extinct with the coming of the motorcar. Suzuki’s 1983 QuadRunner LT-125 (top left main pic) became the first four-wheeled ATV and revived the industry, offering a platform for sport, recreation and agricultural workers. So it’s a happy 25th birthday from us the modern quadbike (Suzuki's latest Quadsport Z400 pictured). Suzuki - which has regularly set new standards being the first with youth quads, sport quads, independent suspension, differential lock and the first with a race-ready motocross quad - is inviting all Suzuki ATV owners to join in the 25th Anniversary celebrations which will include five regional US-based ATV events. (read more...)
Suzuki and Intelligent Energy commit to hydrogen motorcycle
Motorcyclists will no doubt remember the highly unconventional Suzuki Crosscage Hydrogen Concept bike from last November’s Tokyo Motor Show. The bike was developed in conjunction with British Intelligent Energy (the same folk who developed the ENV fuel cell motorcycle in 2005). Suzuki and IE this week executed a further development agreement which envisages the progression of their collaboration to commercially viable fuel cell motorcycles – it means that the Crosscage, or something quite like it, will appear in a showroom near you. Even more interesting though, is that IE’s home hydrogen generation plants appear the perfect partner for a fuel cell motorcycle – brew your own hydrogen. (read more...)
KTM's RC8 superbike targets Ducati's 1098S
March 20, 2008 World Superbike racing is about to get a serious shake-up in 2009, as new heavyweight contenders step into the ring from BMW, Aprilia and 675 triple. In WSBK 2008, it seems the Ducati 1098S, the fastest Ducati ever with Australia's Troy Bayliss on board, is already standing out the bike to beat - and that's exactly the way KTM have approached the development of their 1148cc v-twin RC8 superbike, which weighs in, on both the scales and the dyno, as an absolute equal to the slippery Ducati. (read more...)
MV Agusta and WallyPower create a limited edition 910R
March 6, 2008 Italian Motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta is to add two new limited addition versions of its new Brutale 910 R naked bikes in conjunction with two of Southern Europe’s most stylish design companies. The already announced Hydrogen Brutale 910 R, in conjunction with clothing manufacturer Hydrogen, will be joined by a Wally Brutale 910 R, both with a LOT of mid range, stunning visuals and elegant lines derived from the 910R version so much loved by the general public. Wally is the Monaco-based designer of outrageous luxury boats which has become a maritime design and manufacture icon since it was founded in 1994 by wealthy Italian yachtsman Luca Bassani. (read more...)
MotoGP night race testing begins
February 28, 2008 For all the thrill of attending a Formula One (F1) or MotoGP event, the majority of the live spectators view the races on TV, and the majority of both sports’ income comes from television rights. F1 and MotoGP are both broadcast to more than 200 countries with Formula One attracting television fees of around US$380 million annually for a cumulative season audience of around 580 million unique viewers. In order to “optimize” television rights revenues, both sports are now moving to night Grands Prix in some time zones so the races can be broadcast live in prime time in the key European markets. The first night “test” begins today in Qatar and presents some interesting logistical problems for the teams. (read more...)
Ducati debuts 1098R superbike with historic 1-2 victory
February 26, 2008 Ducati debuted its 1098 R Superbike in Qatar at the first round of the World Superbike Championship on the weekend, heralding the arrival of its truly landmark roadgoing sibling with a 1-2 victory administered by Troy Bayliss and Max Biaggi. The new 1098-based Ducati superbikes are, due to technical regulations, very similar to the US$47,000, roadgoing, 180 bhp,165kg,1098R which is the first bike available with traction control plus it comes with a rash of gear straight from the MotoGP Desmosedici GP8. Regardless of price, the bike is as close to a genuine winning world superbike as you’re ever likely to get. (read more...)
Sidam's tilting Xnovo three-wheeler: scooter or micro-minivan?
February 26, 2008 Riding the wave of interest started by the Piaggio MP3 and Gilera Fuoco three-wheelers, French scooter importer Sidam is planning to try its luck with a new bike that turns the concept backwards. The Xnovo gives the tilting triangle wheelbase concept a much less fun, more utilitarian application than its Italian forebears, acting like a mini-minivan with huge carrying capacity, a hard roof, windscreen and twin driven rear wheels each on its own swingarm. And while it probably handles like a barge, the Xnovo may well find a niche as a traffic-busting courier/delivery vehicle. (read more...)
Aprilia RSV4 racebike unveiled
February 26, 2008 Aprilia has taken the wraps off the 1000cc, V-4 engined superbike it plans to race in the World Superbike Championship in the 2009 season in front of an audience of more than 1,200 dealers attending the International Piaggio Group Convention in Milan. The race version of Aprilia's first ever 4-cylinder engine is already making a claimed 207 horsepower - with more room yet for development potential - and the new bike is due to make its road debut by the end of 2008. The unique, compact four-cylinder 65 degree V engine configuration achieves peak power at 13,500rpm and uses a computer controlled fly-by-wire system similar to that found in the recent R1 and R6 Yamahas for controlling power output and traction. (read more...)
The Dakar to return - in South America
February 18, 2008 Just six weeks after the last minute cancellation of the 2008 event due to threats of terrorist attacks, organizers have announced that the 2009 Dakar will take place in Argentina and Chile. The planned 9000 km loop starting and finishing in Buenos Aires from the 3rd to the 18th of January is the first to be held outside of Africa. As well as the name, organizers aim to retain the spectacular and varied topography, demanding competition and the spirit of the legendary 30 year old race. (read more...)
Adiva release 250cc convertible scooter
February 18, 2008 Gizmag road-tested the head-turning Adiva convertible scooter in when released in its 150cc guise, now news that a 250cc version of the rain-beating getabout has been announced. (read more...)
Phillippe Starck designed Voxan Cafe Racer Super Naked
February 13, 2008 French designer Phillippe Starck has created this striking minimalist Cafe Racer Super Naked around Voxan's 1200cc engine. Weighing in at 180kg and putting out 140hp, the Cafe Racer Super Naked prototype is just that at the moment - here's hoping it makes the showroom floor. (read more...)
Aprilia’s FV2 concept bike
Providing a futuristic showcase platform for the company's upcoming technical and styling directions, Aprilia’s FV2 concept bike incorporates a fly-by-wire injection system, traction control, ABS, electronically adjustable suspension and carbon fiber construction with a 1200cc, 90-degree v-twin engine that we are likely to see in the RSV and Tuono in the next couple of years. (read more...)
Acabion GTBO: faster than a Bugatti Veyron at only 20% throttle
Bugatti Veyron owners, and indeed car owners as a group, have been looking very smug since the amazing supercar posted its awesome 250mph top speed and 1000 horsepower acceleration that not even the fastest motorcycles could match. But it seems Acabion has taken the crown back for the bike brigade, with its release of a road-ready streamliner that's capable of beating they Veyron's top speed using only 20% throttle. The Acabion GTBO is said to top out at around 340mph (close to 550kmh) if you're game enough to hold on to 50% throttle, and with engines varying from 350 to 750 horsepower, it's a very serious piece of kit... Even if it does have training wheels. (read more...)
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