In the attempt to make it possible for vehicles to benefit of more power (sometimes in huge quantities) motorbike/trike makers end up adding an extra wheel, for more stability. But how do you call something that has four wheels, a 500 bhp BMW V12 engine that runs on bio-ethanol, and yet is rode like a veritable motorcycle?
Apparently, we will have to settle with talking about the Lazareth Wazuma as being a quad with French origins and an absolutely mind-blowing $284,000 price tag.
After the jump, see a beautiful video courtesy of MotoRevue.
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The Ghost motorcycle concept was created by Imran Othman, a designer living in Singapore and who was inspired by the famous adrenaline junkie known as “Ghost Rider”, but also by a flying falcon. Given the first source of inspiration, we reckon this concept bike is extremely fast, while the overall shape does share a few aerodynamic parts with the mentioned hawk, which is very cool.
Offering a very aggressive riding position and an appealing look, the Ghost concept most likely looks tempting even to “Ghost Rider” itself, but will this bike end up a fact or is this just one of those situations in which “Now you see it... and now you don’t...”?
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We’re quite familiar with unusual motorcycles here at TopSpeed, but this cigarette-shaped motorcycle shows we haven’t seen it all. The strange creation belongs to a man called MK Sudakar, who is an inventor and environmental activist living in India and who developed this for his country’s recent public smoking ban – “Break the Habit”.
Apparently, this isn’t the man’s first strange invention. He is also the inventor of a motorized suitcase and a motorized toilet. I wonder: part of which campaign those creations were?
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The SS Trike is a fresh new approach towards the idea of having a three-wheeled vehicle that is rode like a motorcycle. In fact, it actually addresses to “non trike” riders, but requires no balancing skills whatsoever. Power comes from either a 96 or 113ci engine of the same V-twin configuration and the transmission is a six-speed unit, allowing for better mileage and more speed out on the highway.
Probably the best (for those who appreciate the style) about the SS Trike is the extremely low riding position and the unique look that comes with it. There’s currently nothing like it on the market, but neither the SS Trike isn’t that official. The production version will make its debut at the Sturgis Rally in the production class of the 2009 AMD Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building next week.
Hit the jump to see a video with the bike in action.
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Harley-Davidson has recently launched the 2010 model range featuring nine brand new models. This is the effect of the company now investing in the brand, despite poor sales. The expected result is to conquer the new generation and so bring a new wave of Harley buyers.
The new models address to all kinds of riders and benefit of Harley’s new plating process called "Midnight Pearl" and used to add a nice detail to components such as the headlight cover, timer and derby covers, fender strut covers found on the CVO Fat Bob.
While the Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110ci V-Twin engine is supposed to get at least a 50bhp power increase, the rest of the models will get "slammed suspension," and many many options such as a “flame paint scheme,” "a larger front wheel," "a new tail light assembly," " a slimmed-down exhaust," "new paint schemes and styling details" as well as a "a low, light and lean extreme profile”.
Hit the jump to read the official press release.
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When buying a motorcycle, some riders look for speed and others for comfort, but the most challenging part for motorcycle makers was to build one machine that meets these two requests. There you have the incredible Honda Goldwing meeting the comfort standards of even the most demanding riders, but you still have to earn enough money to buy and maintain such a model. The guy who did this to his Kawasaki Ninja clearly doesn’t, but we certainly can’t blame him for that. This is just an original way to make sure he still has a vertebral spine in his 70s.
Who among you will do the same thing to their sports motorcycle?
Carpenters rarely drift away from their object of activity, but when someone thinks at having a wooden fairing built for a Honda Nighthawk, bike building (or, better said, bike dressing) turns into a job for the man with few tools and plenty of imagination.
This particular creation was spotted at the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show and we understand it was quite a big attraction.
These pictures, courtesy of Stephane Feugere, show Lara Stone and Baptiste Giacobini shooting the press kit for Chanel’s pre-spring 2010 collection at the Chanel boutique on Rue Royale in Paris. The event took place last Friday and the man behind it is Karl Lagerfeld, who commissioned this Triton café racer for the occasion.
While the pictures look marvelous, we’re sad to say that the bike is not for sale.
When human test riders simply aren’t enough, companies adopt ingenious methods to test their products and we’re facing such an example here and now. Castrol needs to know how their synthetic oil performs in extreme conditions, from the desert heat and to the freezing Antarctica temperatures, which is why they use Flossie for the job.
The robot motorcycle tester can endure virtually any harsh treatment and still prove effective in providing the feedback that Castrol needs. The best of it is that it can adapt to any motorcycle or scooter and ride every single two-wheeler to the max.
We reckon it won’t be long until we see the ugly looking thing on the racing track, despite the fact that it can’t yet balance without assistance.
See the video after the jump.
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Polish vehicle manufacturer Marotti has created a rather unique reverse-trike that is claimed to be "as dynamic as a motorcycle and, at the same time, as safe and easy to drive as a car." While the engine powering it was easy to procure from a Honda VFR750, the design sure gave a few headaches. Built as a fighter jet to hit the streets, this Marotti creation is, obviously, inspired from the aeronautic industry.
Given the 100 horsepower developed by the 750cc V-four engine and the only 970-pounds weight, the machine does quality as a blast, at least on paper. If you’re willing to see the facts, hit the jump and check out the no less than four videos that we’ve attached. Guess what? They all prove that this Marotti is built for pure fast launches, which translate in burnouts when space is limited.
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