That car guy who at one point in time qualified motorcyclists as being ‘grown up man in power ranger suits’ might not have been that far from the truth considering that Universal Designs have created the Dark Knight Batman leather motorcycle suit. It is made of cordura, leather, kevlar and CE approved armor, which can be removed when you’re not actually riding your way to the end of delinquency.
Priced at US$998, the suit will be sold in a number of 1000 units, so you better hurry up if you were long planning to find the right gear to wear on your midnight cruiser.
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This Sunday at the Estroil MotoGP round, Yamaha will be presenting their new FIAT Punto Evo graphics created by Aldo Drudi, FIAT’s reference designer, both for the Yamaha M1 bikes and the rider leathers. FIAT, Yamaha’s main MotoGP sponsor has recently launched the brand new Punto Evo model and the new liveries are made clean and pure by the predominant white color, in perfect accordance with the car’s Euro 5 engines. The initial layout wasn’t significantly modified, but the machines now stand aesthetically better and riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo are also enthusiastic about their new racing looks. Read the press release and check out more photos after the break.
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What you see here is the production version of the Honda CB1100 concept presented back in 2007. Although Honda doesn’t say a word about it apart that it will be officially unveiled at the Tokyo Show next week, we can already notice that there are no significant differences between the concept and production form of what is expected to be a fresh new approach towards the original idea of an inline-four cylinder motorcycle.
The Honda CB1100 Customize concept shown in red in the picture gallery points out the new bike’s customization possibilities with parts that will be offered by the Japanese manufacturer itself. We hope the 2010 Honda CB1100 will make it to the US and us on it as soon as possible.
A month ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda unveils their own approach towards the idea of a personal mobility device, a funky little unicycle that they call simply U3-X. This invention is based on ASIMO research, so it features an incline sensor that detects the leaning angle based on the rider’s weight shift and reacts according to direction and speed requirements detected. Making it possible for the user to go forward, backward, side-to-side or diagonally are a series of small wheels housed within the large wheel. Honda calls this the Omni-directional driving wheel system.
Powered by electric motors capable to move the U3-X around with a top speed of no more than 4 mph, Honda’s latest innovation has a lithium ion battery that can keep it operating for a full hour. The thing is also very light (only 22 pounds) and features foldable seat cushions and footrests, making it very easy to use and carry around.
Honda will show the U3-X at the Tokyo Motor Show next month, but they’ve also just released the official pics and press release, so check them out after the break.
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Pizza Hut raises the bar on professionalism by fitting all their delivery bikes with a giant digital countdown clock showing traffic participants that their 30-minute time limit for each delivery is always respected. Yet they don’t mention what happens if the delivery time is not respected for any reason.
Knowing about the existence of the Aprilia RSV4 Factory and actually hearing about an “R version” that the Italian company has prepared for next year, you tend to ask yourself how did they possibly transform the supersport motorcycle into an even faster two-wheeler destined for the track, one well worth of the extra “R” in its name. The fact is that the new Aprilia RSV4-R, which will be unveiled this weekend during the twelfth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship scheduled to take place on the Imola Circuit in Italy, is actually a budget version of the original RSV4 and the only thing confusing is simply the name.
Starting from the initial model, Aprilia has taken the all-new RSV4 through a process of removing all the expensive parts and replacing them with much cheaper ones. As a result, the fully-adjustable Ohlins front and rear suspension is gone and it is expected that so will be the carbon fibre fairing and lightweight wheels.
Overall, the 2010 Aprilia RSV4-R will weigh more and not be able to go as fast around bends as its much more expensive brother, but cost $19,600. Considering that this is a bike that buyers will most likely purchase for road use, we don’t think they’ll miss the ultra-expensive parts much and yet definitely appreciate the price.
Honda has taken the 2010 Honda VFR1200 to the alps for some nice action pics ahead of next month’s official unveiling and this is where it was spotted by a very dedicated MotoBlog reader, who got the chance to take a few pictures with the bike before it blasted down the tight mountain roads.
Although it was initially thought that the new VFR will have generous dimensions, it hasn’t, so that the innovative technologies such as the dual clutch transmission and variable cylinder management can make a strong point in this industry. Also, we reckon it doesn’t weigh much either.
Click here for the VFR1200 engine sound.
Ducati recently confirmed that a mid-sized Hypermotard is on the way and – according to MCN – it will be unveiled next week. The entirely new bike is supposed to be powered by the 696cc air-cooled V-twin currently found on the middleweight Monster, but nothing is sure until Ducati takes the wraps off the new model next weekend.
Drawing inspiration from the current 1100/1100S Hypermotards, the new model should be a much lighter and very nimble motorcycle capable of performing well both during urban adventures and track riding sessions alike. The engine should be tuned for more low-to-mid rpm power and that always gives riders a rush. Still, we should wait until Ducati finally releases some official info about this model. To be continued…
Global specialist in energy management Schneider Electric has contracted Orange County Choppers to build their first hybrid motorcycle about which Paul Teutul , Sr. says it will be "capable of traveling farther, without refueling or recharging, than any other OCC bike in history." The parallel hybrid powertrain will be supplied by Schneider Electric while the guys at OCC bring in their design ideas as well as top quality build.
Obviously, you’re gonna see the whole story and the actual bike during a future American Chopper episode scheduled for next year, unless you’re a selected Schneider Electric contractor partner, meaning that you’ll see the hybrid chopper later this year and even get the change to win one of the eight such bikes that OCC and Schneider Electric give away.
After the jump, we’ve attached the video and the press release that resulted from this partnership. We’re eagerly waiting for the actual bike.
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If concept bikes are supposed to be windows of the future, this thing here is a veritable glass wall. Created by British designer Matt Williams, the “KTM Motorbike” not only offers a great view over design brilliancy, but also has the innovation factor to back it up. Featuring a hub-center steering system which eliminates dive under braking, this KTM concept should handle like a superbike, while the steering angle is much more generous than on classic motorcycles.
Although it is supposed to be built around a small frame and powered by a KTM V-Twin engine, we simply cannot get over the aggressive looks of this concept and the cruiser-like riding position that it offers. If we’re right, if made, this motorcycle will offer the best of both worlds: superbike performance and cruiser comfort. Ouch, that will surely change some things in the motorcycle industry.
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