When it comes to European tourers, there’s really no point in trying to look for a four-cylinder motorcycle because all manufacturers there are, in a way or another, keen on twin-cylinder engines. After all, torque is what touring is all about and having a sporty engine that is almost naturally configured to produce torque, does precisely the trick that manufacturers such as BMW and Moto Guzzi are trying to achieve with their R 1200 RT and Norge 1200. We put this last model to the test and came to find that simplicity and refinement stand a better chance on today’s market than mountains of horsepower and numerous gadgets. At least in Europe…
> More
These latest spy shots of the Ducati Strada Aperta come to reveal the fact that the Italian motorcycle manufacturer has entered in a straight line with the development of its new bike in expectancy of the 2009 Milan Show.
The future Multistrada won’t be a veritable street enduro model, but more of a sport-touring motorcycle offering the ability to hit the off-road once in a while. We look at it as to a taller, comfier and possibly more often dirtier Yamaha FZ1, but it is a totally different thing when it comes to the engine. Unlike the Fazer’s in-line four-cylinder engine, the spied bike will be powered by a 4-valve, liquid-cooled Testastretta Evoluzione engine displacing, most likely, 1200cc.
If it is to look at it in terms of engine configuration and expected performance, models such as the Triumph Tiger and KTM 990 SMT seem more adequate for the comparison.
Design guru Oberdan Bezzi has come up with a very interesting Bavarian adventure touring rendering, one that is imagined to replace the current BMW R 1200 GS.
The Italian designer sees in the R 1250 GS as a totally new motorcycle to take around the world, one with sport-touring credentials and sharper looks. The bigger Boxer engine is supposed to develop 120hp, while the bike weighs 18kg (39.68 lbs) less than the current selling one and relies on totally different weight distribution and shorter wheelbase than ever before.
We can’t help noticing the underseat exhaust and much more compact overall look, which is what riders expect from their million miles motorcycle.
Ducati’s stand at the 2008 Intermot show featured the Monster 1100 and 1100S as the main attraction points, but the Italian house also enlarged its 2009 SportClassic range with the GT1000 Touring. This last stood out as the next big attraction (despite the facile transformation, if we look at the standard bike) and we simply had to get our hands on it.
> More
Aprilia has recently presented the official promotional clip for the Mana 850 GT model, which was launched during last year’s Intermot show in Germany.
The 850 GT is the touring version of the Mana 850, the first production motorcycle to feature an automatic transmission, and it stands out thanks to a half fairing and a large windscreen, both meant to enhance comfort during long and fast journeys.
An ABS version of the Aprilia Mana 850 GT is also available. The system was developed by Continental and is found on most Aprilia street models.
> More
Getting as fast as possible to the scene of a fire can sometimes prove as challenging as extinguishing the actual fire. That is when a Firexpress BMW R1200RT comes in handy simply because of the extremely reduced dimensions, compared to those of the fire brigade trucks.
Capable of carrying a modest (also compared to the big trucks) 13.2 gallons of water or foam, the system works by dispersing that quantity in microdroplets and so continues spraying for more than two minutes. The low-speed stream reaches as much as 15 feet while, fully loaded, the bike manages to achieve a top speed of 90 mph.
Several such BMWs are currently in use in Greece and the system is widely spread in the rest of Europe and in Asia, where it fits various big motorcycles and ATVs.
See a demonstration video after the break.
> More
BMW is enjoying the benefits of their latest veritable touring bike, the K 1300 GT, which features electrically-adjustable windscreen as well as heated seat and handles as standard options. Although benefiting of an engine that produces 160 hp, the top speed is limited to 124 mph, so the new BMW would still have a hard time dethroning the
Kawasaki Concours 1400. Still, it makes for one hell of a contender.
> More
Traveling from coast to coast has never been easier than with the new Harley-Davidson CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide. Built for never-ending highways, this motorcycle offers the comfort, performance and style that daylong riding requires, while being highly reliable. It’s the ride that experienced bikers search for when planning the trip of a lifetime although, for the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide, this sounds like the warm up only.
> More
We’ve never underestimated Harley CVO division’s power to deliver a radically upgraded Road Glide, but this is more that we can take. Everything on this bike is taken to a whole new level, unveiling a treatment more likely for supersports bikes to benefit of.
This is one great example of the American company’s ambition to sell production bikes that look and perform like having just rolled out from the custom shop.
> More
The key to mastering the Touring segment is to offer diversity and Harley-Davidson doesn’t just build one or two models and leave owners start from there and accesorize their rides as their hearts indicate (although that might very well be the solution as well), but builds an entire family with models suiting every single possible taste and if that’s not enough, then you can pick the almost ideal model for you and make it really yours.
In fact, the real problem now is which of the seven bikes to choose as all seem to blink an eye at you and each one is well worth checking out. Harley-Davidson worked to improve both the chassis and the engine so the 2009 model years are as new as they get. So you’re invited to get a look at our monstrously big preview based on the American manufacturer’s detailed information about this family.
> More
Pages: 
Picture Gallery
Post a comment
RSS -
Webmaster free news |