Kawasaki starts the week at full throttle and releases the first photos and info regarding four of their 2010 street models, the Ninja ZX-10R, Z1000, Concours 14 and Versys. We have come to find that they are a bit retained with the upgrades, something that defines their strategy in the uncertain times that we’re traversing.
The best example in this concern is definitely the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, which gets the looks of its middleweight brother, the ZX-6R, and an 18-position Ohlins steering damper. I believe it’s in vain mentioning how much more we were expecting considering the competition in this class, but in the end 200bhp is nothing to laugh at.
At least Kawasaki doesn’t break the “all-new 2010 Z1000” promise and the new bike will be powered by a 1,043cc inline-four engine developing 136bhp and 81lb/ft of torque. The frame is now made of aluminum while the suspension and brakes are new as well and the thing has a dry weight of 436.9lbs (198.2kg). The 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 also looks new, but that doesn’t necessarily mean better. It should make a statement against motorcycles such as the Ducati Streetfighter and MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR, but definitely not at a first glance.
The 2010 Kawasaki Concours 14 gets traction control and a fuel economy mode as well as anti-lock brakes and a much more appealing design.
At the bottom of our list is the new Kawasaki Versys, which gets a new strange headlight and what we dare calling a facelift. Powered by the same 62bhp 649cc parallel-twin, this versatile middleweight motorcycle
should now be an even sweeter ride thanks to the new footpegs with rubber inserts, clearly a nice touch claimed to reduce vibrations.
Expect to read more about each model on this page in the next couple of days.
This Japanese biker rides his Honda NSR50 to the very limit and beyond. Although the bike is destined to novices, by watching the video you’ll find that this guy has long passed that stage and he is now even able to touch the asphalt with his head and manages to pivot himself and his ride around that point. Simply unbelievable!
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.
Although Honda has been gradually releasing information about the new VFR1200 engine and dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission, we never got the change to actually hear that V4 running until now, when we’ve come across this video.
The engine has a healthy idle grunt and, although revved probably not higher than 3000-3500 rpm, it sounds insane. The fact is that no exhaust will ever replace a potent engine of large displacement.
If my guess is right, the motorcycle crying behind all that fur is a Yamaha FZR. What I cannot guess is why anyone would ever want to do something like this to a fully-faired motorcycle. Most likely a female motorcycle rider is trying to bring “the fluff factor” in the attention of the motorcycle press or this is simply some strange form of urban camouflage. Still, this is like wearing your overcoat during the summer.
Honda designers and engineers are busy working on the all-new VFR1200 sport-touring motorcycle, as the bike will be unveiled next month, and they’re no cheapskates when it comes to revealing technical information along the way. Last week, we found about the development of a dual clutch transmission that they’re preparing for this all-new model and now the Japanese company has released a video in which Honda senior engine manager Tsutomu Ishii takes us through the details of the 1200cc V4 engine.
The mastermind behind this motorcycle engine explains how they managed to achieve the width of a v-twin and the length of an inline-four, while the freshly created unit has a unicam head design, phase-pin crankshaft, 28° firing order and no balancer. Watch Honda’s official video after the jump.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Picture Gallery
1 comment
RSS -
Webmaster free news |