When I first saw this picture I checked the calendar to see if today is by any chance Valentine’s Day and this is just the result of some guy desecrating his bike in order for his girl to forgive him for not spending as much time cuddling or something like that. But no!
There have actually been “rumors” (which I would have loved not to hear about)) that BMW is preparing a Barbie Edition and this is just a rendering of that because otherwise the world of those who actually go around the world will be turned upside down. Can you imagine that? How can anyone even picture such a horrible image?
Bye, Bye girls! And then she goes vrrrrooooomm. I feel like puking.
The recently unveiled BMW Lo Rider concept strips down to the very essence of motorcycling and brings us customization possibilities that were frankly unexpected from a manufacturer known more for its army and touring motorcycle, not this cruiser-like model.
But it seems that finding new means of thrilling a rider’s heart is the way to go into the future and BMW gets a decent head start with the sketches released after the public unveiling in Milan. These make public twelve customization possibilities which are imagined by BMW designers and could very well materialize into something real.
Motorcyclenews launches the question on everyone’s minds: “Should BMW build the Lo Rider?” and you are invited to answer to on their website.
P.S. By the way that these sketches look, you know my answer!
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Suzuki carries on with the production of the 2009 GSX-R 600 with little design tweaks done to it and by presenting a new color range aimed at upgrading the bike’s exterior. The first occasion to see it life is at the upcoming motorcycle saloon in Milan, this November.
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Searching the web, we’ve come across this beautifully styled Suzuki Burgman 400 which is a scooter replica of Suzuki’s road racing lineup. At a first glance there really isn’t anything not to like about the recently unveiled concept at a Las Vegas Suzuki conference.
Like the GSX-R series, it features an aerodynamic front end characterized by perfectly integrated headlights, signal lights as well as air scoops, everything being adapted to the fairly bigger scooter front end. The seat is extremely spacious and the passenger’s handles unite into what replicas a racing rear end on top of the scooter one.
There are also performance additions to the quiet, fairly small machine that often finds its purpose of life underneath modern European couples. These are the powerful brakes featuring waved discs and the exhaust which, like on the GSX-R models, have that nice triangle shape and follow up the machine’s design lines.
God knows what they’ve done to the engine, but as far as we can see, the road behavior has been improved by lowering the concept scooter while the color scheme is exactly like the one of the bike that inspired its creation in the first place.
Now, I love super sport bikes and everything that has to do with them, but if you can come up with a plausibly reason to why would anybody wish such a transformation, I am ready to accept it. Until then, I find no reason for it to go into production as it isn’t practical at all…though I would love to swing a leg over it during a day at the track.
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According to a spy shot from Solomoto, Aprilia is currently working at the Dorsoduro 1200 and, most likely, the Shiver 1200 which gives us reasons to believe that the upcoming EICMA show in Milan reserves many surprises from the Italian maker. The same sources claim that Aprilia is also expected to unveil an all-new Caponord 1200 and a new bike that stands as a future competitor for the BMW R1200GS.
But, sticking to what we know for the moment, the Dorsoduro and Shiver will be powered by the same 1200cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, DOHC, 8-valve V-twin engine that will produce 130bhp at 9000rpm and 120Nm at 6500rpm. Now, with those numbers in mind, note that the weight increase will only be around 5 to 7 kilos, proving that the Italian engineers haven’t rested on their laurels.
With a little bit of luck, the EICMA show in November will clear things out. And if it doesn’t, we’ll dig to find out some more.
This is the first picture of the 2009 Bimota DB8, a bike about which hasn’t been released any information yet, neither official pictures. The naked Bimota will be based on the DB7 superbike so we can speculate that the engine will be a 160 bhp1098cc V-Twin. Also, it is expected for it to receive the same frame, swingarm, suspension and brakes. Wait, isn’t that pretty much all there is?
Riding position will be different as the DB8 will feature streetfighter handlebars instead of clip-ons and, there will be no fairing to cover the mechanical parts.
A decent competitor for it is considered the Aprilia Tuono and we must admit that the bikes are very similar.
Honda has just unveiled its latest motorcycle concept at the Intermot saloon in Cologne, Germany and it has already become the subject of serious controversy.
The V4 Concept Model stands out due to its hubless wheels, a faired-in front swingarm, tire covers, as well as due to incredible smooth, futuristic design. Although the fairing is apparently made out of plastic, behind it sits a four-cylinder V-Engine which is by now a trademark in this business. This is definitely “The New Beginning”!
Press release after the jump.
2009 Honda V4 Concept Model
Press Release:
Cologne, Germany, October 7, 2008— Honda Motor Europe Ltd. exhibited the World Premiere V4 Concept Model at Intermot Cologne. The V4 Concept Model proposes a new, sensual design direction based on Honda’s trademark 4-cylinder V- engine.
This year Honda celebrates its 60th anniversary as a company and next year the 50th anniversary of its participation in road racing, as well as the 30th anniversary of racing with an innovative 4-cylinder V-engine with oval pistons. Considering these milestones, Honda chose “The New Beginning” as its exhibition theme leading into 2009 and exhibited the V4 Concept Model which signifies the beginning of a new era.
For Intermot, Honda collected and exhibited successive V4 race machines as well as mass-market motorcycle products which were developed by feeding back the technologies cultivated through participation in challenging race competition, enabling visitors to review the lineage of 30 years of V4 engine technologies and see how Honda will take motorcycling somewhere it has not been before. The exhibition also offers an easy-to-understand introduction to various challenges Honda has undertaken in order to create joy for its customers, by utilizing its technologies that have been continuously advanced through Honda’s 60-year history and by its participation in motorsports.
Honda understands the global trend today that motorcycle users see increasing value in more emotional and sensual performance during the real world riding experience rather than absolute performance measured in numeric specifications. On another front, user friendly features that meet with human sensibilities are also becoming important along with safety and environmental features, especially in mature markets.
Honda believes that the challenge to create attractive products with an increased focus on sensual performance will be the key for the future. At the same time, safety and environmental technologies as well as future energy technologies will continue to become an important theme for the development of motorcycle products. Moreover, in order to offer a comfortable life with motorcycles for a larger number of customers, Honda will put increased focus on the human-fitting match of rider and machine. Conceived around the trademark 4-cylinder V-engine, the V4 Concept Model expresses functional beauty as well as a more sensual image to appeal more to the emotions of people. Embodying Honda’s passion for motorcycle development, the V4 Concept Model expresses the unique characteristics of Honda for a new era.
The V4 Concept Model mobilizes the driving forces of Honda – dreams, challenges, and creating new value. Honda positions this model as “the new beginning” of Honda’s motorcycles.
Honda will also exhibit one other World Premier mass-production model and three Europe Premier models at Intermot.
Freshly unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show is the entirely new HYmotion3 Compressor concept by Peugeot. A three-wheel tilting trike which features combined characteristics of a car and a scooter, the concept benefits of late Peugeot ‘HYmotion’ technology involving simultaneous powering of a petrol engine and two electric ones.
Featuring two seats and three wheels, the all-new vehicle powers the rear wheel with a 125cc, supercharged petrol engine developing 20 bhp. That only could have decently powered the Peugeot (and it actually can when selecting petrol only engine mode), but in that case it wouldn’t have been called a hybrid. So it gets two equally powerful (3kW) electric motors for each front wheel, quality that makes electric-only mode possible.
As you already suppose, the Peugeot is a highly efficient fuel economic trike, and you haven’t even heard the best of it yet. It actually features start/stop system which offers significant reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in urban and stop-and-go traffic. Still, performance isn’t that bad as it needs 11.2 seconds to hit 60 mph while a quarter of a mile will require 17.6 seconds.
Because the HYmotion3 features roll-over protection, designers made sure that wind protection and that of the elements won’t become things to worry about so a screen/roof was added, making the trike worthy of being ridden by people wearing expensive suits rather than leather jackets.
Peugeot’s master plan also includes parallelogram type front suspension, which allows the front wheels to tilt, anti-lock brakes and a regenerative braking system which charges the batteries of the front electric engines. Life on board will also be made easier by the rearview camera and ride-by-wire controls.
The way I see it, Peugeot is most likely to stay keen on this project as there is a continuous increase of commuter vehicles and I wouldn’t be surprised if it will head to the production line in a couple of years.
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Harley-Davidson is expected to introduce a new concept next month at the Intermot motorcycle show in Cologne, Germany. A leaning reverse-trike, the new machine will be based on the 115 horsepower Revolution motor powering the V-Rod, but up until this time only the patent drawings have been released.
Much ahead the American Motor Company, Brudeli Tech has announced production of their Leanster 645L and the official launch at the same upcoming motorcycle saloon.
Even though Harley-Davidson started producing trikes earlier this year, the future concept is expected to be an even greater success, considering the markets demands. Still, Harley’s trike will be a half way competitor for the Leanster as this last one has the ability to go both on paved roads and off the road is necesary, something that we’re not expecting from Harley-Davidson.
Stay tuned to find out more information about this concept trike and, hopefully, the first official photos.
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It is now confirmed. Ducati will present an all-new naked model featuring the engine on the 1098 at the EICMA show this November.
The 2009 Ducati Fighter has already been presented last week to authorized dealers under a strict confidentiality regime and despite all previous controversy, it is now a fact that its price will hire it just between next year’s Monster 1100 and the Ducati 1098 models.
A future fierce competitor for the MV Agusta Brutale, Aprilia Tuono and the Benelli TNT, the Ducati Fighter is yet another great way of exploiting the mighty 1099cc water cooled V-Twin powering the Ducati 1098 though it is expected that the engine will be retuned for low-and-mid rpm fun. Also, the gearbox is expected to undergo the same treatment.
Apart from the engine, the Ducati 1098 will also donate the frame and rear end to this future naked cousin, but no more as the Ducati Fighter drifts away from the super sports bike by featuring a shotgun-style exhaust and, possibly (hopefully, if you ask me), a single-sided swingarm.
In expectancy of the EICMA show on the 3rd or 4th of November, this is all the info we have on the bike, but be sure that this won’t be the last you hear of it.
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