Suzuki’s 2010 sportbike lineup gets a new member – the GSX1250FA. The new addition will sell in Europe and compared to the Bandit 1250, it only has an extra full fairing to brag about. Everything else, the engine and tranny as well as the chassis are all shared with the Bandit 1250S, while the fairing didn’t required much work or imagination either as it was simply inspired from now this bike’s smaller brother, the GSX650F.
The fact is that Suzuki plans to sell the all-new GSX1250FA as a cheap (price is yet to be announced though) and versatile sport-touring motorcycle. For that reason, they offer genuine accessories such as windshield, top case and side cases among others.
Colors available for the 2010 model year are Candy Indy Blue, Metallic Oort Gray and Pearl Nebular Black. We hope this bike makes it to the United States in a couple of years from now because we truly like it. Read the provisory specs and features after the break.
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The fact that Honda is planning to launch an all-new VFR model powered by a 1200cc V4 engine in 2010 is no news for any of our readers, but the fact that the all-new bike will feature a dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission does sound fairly interesting even for those who aren’t that much into motorcycles.
Derived from a similar system used in the car industry for several years, Honda’s much more compact three-mode system is supposed to offer faster and yet smoother shifts. Riders of next year’s VFR will be able to select one of three different modes: two fully automatic ones and a manual (although not classic) shifting mode.
Having two clutches, it means that each one will be responsible for an equal number of gears among the six available.
We’ve attached Honda’s dual-clutch demonstration video as well as the press release after the break.
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After crashing out at Indianapolis, Valentino Rossi won his second consecutive victory on the Misano track in San Marino. This win positions the World MotoGP Champion 30 points ahead of Jorge Lorenzo, who had to satisfy with second place at the end of the Misano race. Third place was occupied by Dani Pedrosa.
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Honda America has released the photos and information of their first row of 2010 street models, which includes the Honda CBR600RR and CBR1000RR, the all-new Honda Shadow Phantom as well as the NT700V. In the supersport segment, there’s no revolutionary upgrade, but only engine changes for the CBR1000RR and new color schemes and graphics for both RRs.
While the US market is no stranger to the Honda Shadow and the Shadow Phantom model is nothing more than a black, custom version with a 750cc, fuel-injected engine, the NT700V comes as an entirely new and very interesting entry. A sporty commuter powered by a 680cc V-twin engine? Is this Honda’s attempt to turn the US market towards fuel efficiency, user-friendliness and clean sportbike looks? What happened to the DN-01?
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Tom Miceli is a dedicated and hard working young man, who recently presented his own electric motorcycle at the Southern Energy and Environment Expo 2009. Tom has a BS degree in Industrial Design from the Appalachian State University in the US and the electric sportbike, that he designed and constructed in a single semester, features an 84-volt lithium-ion battery, which powers a three-phase AC motor that produces 105 lb feet of torque and 46 hp. The batteries offer the ION a 60-mile range, while the top speed is an estimated 80 mph.
After showing his creation to an impressed audience, Tom took the ION for a test ride, so here’s the video from the event.
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The words in the title probably describe the world’s smallest, lightest electric folding bike in the best possible way. Designed and constructed in Christchurch, New Zealand, the YikeBike is a fairly awkward mean of urban transportation, even one that could pass as a bicycle if it wasn’t for the 1.2kW electric motor powering it. It is made of carbon fiber, unfolds in 15 seconds and only weighs 22 pounds (10 kilograms). Also, given the fact that it only takes 6 x 23.6 x 23.6 inches (150 x 600 x 600 millimeters), you can start carrying it once it finishes carrying you.
But wait to hear the interesting part: the thing is equipped with electronic brakes with built-in anti-skid system. The manufacturer claims the thing is very easy to maneuver and has just released a video in order to prove that. Given the $4900 price, we have strong reasons to believe that the YikeBike will not gain much popularity. Click pass the break to watch the fairly interesting video for a not that interesting product.
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The request for entry-level naked motorcycles in Brazil and Europe will be satisfied starting 2010 also with the all-new Suzuki GSR250.
Expected to be presented later this year, the small, versatile and quite possibly fun bike draws inspiration from the B-King and GSR600, while power (30bhp, to be precise) comes from a quarter-liter, liquid-cooled, DOHC fuel-injected engine. The parallel-twin unit stands for user-friendliness, the spacious seat stands for comfort and the under-seat storage is meant to make the GSR250 a bit practical. Also, there’s a digital LCD screen to keep things modern and fancy.
There’s no word on price yet, but if the thing’s cheap, it will surely find its home in South America and Europe.
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After gaining popularity by racing the Enertia TTR sportbike at this year’s Isle of Man TT motorcycle race, Brammo announces that their bikes are now available at select Best Buy stores.
Brammofan blog was already interested in the subject and after reporting that the Enertia TTR racers were on display at select West Coast Best Buy stores, they started to dig deeper into it. So they went at the Cascade Station Best Buy in Portland, Oregon to take this picture of the bike and also to find out that there are three in stock. Those having a license with a motorcycle endorsement can take the electric bikes for a spin, but hopefully without trying to imitate the way professional racers rode the bikes back in June. Still, we’ve added a video of the Brammo Enertia TTR at the Isle of Man TTX GP in order to start your interest even more.
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It looks more like a scooter to me, but it’s true. The word in Europe is that Yamaha and Toyota will team up to build the first hybrid motorcycle. We’ve even heard that it’s gonna be dubbed the ‘Prius’ (no, not the buzz car) and that it will be powered by both a 20bhp internal combustion engine and an electric motor, but that’s more than we can take. How’s that for you?
The internal combustion engine will be a 250cc horizontal single with two jobs to do: send power to the rear wheel and to a generator in order to supply the batteries with electricity. Everything is supposedly done through a high-tech ECU.
During these last few weeks, MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo has been oscillating between Fiat Yamaha (his current team) and Ducati Marlboro for the 2010 season. While Ducati’s multi-million dollar offer did sound tempting, Lorenzo has decided to renew his contract with Yamaha and will continue being Valentino Rossis’s skilled teammate. It seems that riding the best bike for the job is more important for a racing rider than any financial offer.
‘Today is a good day because I have decided to remain with the Yamaha factory team in 2010. It was a very important decision and that’s why I have had to take the last few weeks to make it, but I think that this is the best decision for me in this moment,’ said Lorenzo.
‘We have no doubt that he has the ability and drive to become MotoGP world champion and we are proud that he has decided to remain with Yamaha, despite having received some very serious approaches from some of our competitors. This timely decision now allows us to focus on the present championship and to make definitive plans for our 2010 MotoGP program,’ said Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing.
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