There’s nothing wrong with BMW wanting their S1000RR superbike to teach the Japanese liter bikes a lesson – and considering the Beemer’s 193hp and 403.5 lb dry weight, not to mention the $13,800 MSRP, the German giant has all the chances to do so - , but when we heard about the BMW S1000RR Carbon Edition, the first reactions sounded something like “this is just too good to be true” and, yes, we can’t take our eyes off this very exclusive motorcycle.
As the name suggests, the fairing is made of carbon fiber, but BMW options such as traction control, ABS and alarms are all standard on the special edition model. Also, the Akrapovic full exhaust system increases power with as much as 10hp while smoothening mid-range torque. Sounds great to us and with an MSRP of €24,990 ($35,685), the Carbon Edition can make a rider feel extremely proud of his new acquisition.
Electric motorcycles manufacturers are eager for global recognition and the 2010 TTXGP series is THE way to obtain such thing nowadays. As we saw yesterday, Zero Motorcycles have understood this perfectly and entered the competition, but today Mission Motors have also made their much-awaited announcement – they will be racing their 150mph Mission One during the 2010 TTXGP on the Isle of Man and the series’ inaugural American race at Infineon in May. The firsts to sign in before Zero Motorcycles and Mission Motors were Team Agni and CRP Racing, but the grid is far from being complete. Hit the jump to see the Mission One establishing the current land speed record for electric motorcycles at Bonneville and read the full press release.
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As you all know, Buell Motorcycles are dead and gone, but after the brand was killed by HD, people have began to speculate about the last project that Buell was working at. It all started from this photography taken by John Hanson, a contributing photographer for Road Racer X, in the Milwaukee area.
The word is out that Buell had prepared an 1199cc V-twin for what was to become a high performance American superbike. This prototype was surely contoured around the idea of more power and less weight than the 1125R, which could have translated into Buell turning to WSBK. All hope vanished when HD made the radical decision to discontinue Buell. Sad, too sad!
For 2010, Ducati changed the 1098R model name into 1198R, but displacement remains the same – 1198.4cc – which makes the change obvious and things clearer. What is fizically new to the bike compared to the previous 1098R Troy Bayliss LE is an aluminium fuel tank, Termignoni exhaust system and a paddock stand, but you’ll only spot that if you’re willing to look beyond the gorgeous Corse paint job.
Apart from looks, the price – although not yet announced – will be the other factor making the 2010 Ducati 1198R Corse exclusive. Still, models such as the 1198S Corse and 848 Dark Edition have the same build quality and should cost less.
Very satisfied of the BMW S1000R superbike teaser showing the machine in the presence of supermodels and cheetahs, German photographer Markus Hofmann has decided to play the same card once again, this time to present Haute Couture.
Hofmann explained:
“There are so many motorcycle manufacturers that combine motorcycles and women in an artless and sleazy way, that I thought there just had to be a better way of doing it. I had no intention of putting a naked woman on a bike, and it was very clear to me that the bike had to be the S 1000 RR Superbike in the same colour that people have seen on the racetrack in 2009. I didn’t want the bike to fade into the background either; showing the name of the manufacturer was also very important for me, because it made the feeling of a pit stop and racetrack environment much more authentic”
To us, this is the same scenario, only that the cheetahs were probably released in the wilderness meanwhile because they’re nowhere to be found. Video is attached after the break.
MV Agusta teases us again, this time with a video of its new F4 1000 superbike before the official Milan unveiling set first thing next week. We’ve yesterday found out from the official press release that the new Italian motorcycle will develop a claimed 186bhp at 12,900rpm and the engine will be harnessed by a TC MK II traction control, so expect more info as we have it – most likely on Monday 9 November.
In 1993, John Britten, a very ingenious engineer from New Zeeland came up with the Britten V1000. This was a 999cc racing motorcycle weighing 304 pounds (138 kg) and capable of reaching speeds in excess of 187.5 mph (300 km/h). While this information alone is impressive for the period, the amazing part is that Britten built the V1000 by himself in his garage.
Britten’s innovative ideas brought him the joy of seeing his creation competing against Japanese and European racing bikes of the time and actually winning. Sadly, he died of a vicious strain of malignant cancer just 3 years after completing the bikes, and the technology died with him. Considering that the Britten V1000 was ranked 6th Greatest Ever Motorbike in a Discovery TV show, we have reasons to believe that the motorcycle industry could have had a significant contribution from the respective direction.
We recently brought to you the first teaser shot of the 2010 MV Agusta F4 and we’ve just got our hands on a second sneak peek of the new Italian superbike. This comes together with the official press release, from which we find that the engine develops 186 horsepower at 12,900 rpm, connects to the gearbox through a slipper clutch and is harnessed by an eight-way adjustable traction control system.
This Italian exotic motorcycle heads to EICMA for sure, so we will bring to you the full specs and, hopefully, a generous photo gallery revealing the slightly redesigned bodywork in the day of the launch. Read the press release after the jump.
Although it was announced just yesterday – when we published the official pics and gone through some of its details – we can already say the new 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 is the kind of bike you either love or have, but you definitely don’t consider negligible amount. Making sure that it goes directly to your heart is this official video, the easiest way to present the only truly new Kawasaki street bike among the four announced so far. Check it out.
Kawasaki may not have seriously upgraded their 2010 ZX-10R Superbike, but they sure know how to keep people aware of this 200hp motorcycle and the official video presentation that we’ve attached is a good example in that matter. Take a look at it.
