The Intermot saloon in Cologne, Germany was THE event for BMW to unveil the S 1000 RR model on which pilots Ruben Xaus and Troy Corser will compete in the World Superbike Championship.
The Bavarian house doesn’t give much information about the racing model apart from the fact that the engine will deliver 180 horses which will be harnessed by ABS and traction control, but the way it looks says all for the moment.
Suzuki Great Britain announces GSX-R1000 Cameron Donald and GSX-R600 Bruce Anstey replicas as celebration of the Suzuki Relentless by TAS team victories in the Superbike, Superstock and Supersport categories.
The special edition motorcycles are production-based and, certainly, a dream came true for fans of motorcycle racing. They feature the team’s coloring and graphics and exert a magical attraction even from the pictures.
George Cheesman, marketing manager of Suzuki GB referring to this subject, "The Relentless by TAS team achieved incredible success at this year’s TT, almost delivering a clean sweep of wins. To celebrate this, we are pleased to offer these special edition models via the authorised dealer network in the team livery, with celebratory graphics in addition too."
Retail price for the GSX-R1000 Donald replica is £9,170 while for the GSX-R600 Anstey replica is £7,403.
Manufacturers that are successful on the track often apply this strategy in order to get more money on virtually the same product and for customer paid commercial. But as you take a look at the bikes you understand why each and every time fans compete for these bikes and then compete on them.
Remember the news about Michael Schumacher riding Team’s Ten Kate Honda Fireblade? Well, this is the video which completes it. Looks like the two wheels offer a whole new kind of excitement for a seven times F1 champion. Just look at him go around those corners!
Vectrix first unvieled its first Electric Superbike prototype at the Milan 2008 autoshow. It is claimed to be the first of its kind. Vectrix an established electric scooter company is willing to begin production of this electrifying concept as soon as it gets 500 orders at €55 000 . Vectrix is hoping to be in production within two years.
The Vectrix SBK concept is driven by a 240V, 60kW permanent magnet, brushless DC motor that delivers peaktorque of 102Nm at zero revs, with a 7.5kW/hour, lithium-ion battery that makes up 64kg of the bike’s all-up 204kg.
Range is claimed to be:
200km at a steady 40km/h
100km at 80km/h
70km at 120km/h
Vetrix claims top speed will be 200km/h and a standing quarter mile within 12 seconds. The batteries will hold enough charge for 20 flat-out laps of the Vallelunga circuit in Italy "in eerie silence". Gives a new meaning to ride the lightening!
Former F1 pilot Michael Schumacher had the opportunity to get a feel of the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade rode by Carlos Checa in the World Superbike championship and he made the most out of it. The bike is being tested on the French circuit of Magny-Cours by Checa and the Ten Kate team before the 3-5 Octomber round of the championship so that is where Schumacher tested the bike.
Having embraced motorcycle racing after he retired in 2006 as a seven times F1 champion, Schumacher raced a Honda CBR1000RR in this season’s IDM Superbike series so it was up for the challenge.
That is exactly what HANNspree Ten Kate Honda team manager, Ronald ten Kate, said: "I’m always a little nervous letting someone ride our bikes before the end of the season, but with Michael, I was happy to make an exception. He’s proved to be more than capable of handling the power of our CBR1000RR and he’s really a very good rider".
Schumacher said: "It was interesting to see how a professional superbike team works. It was difficult to understand the machinery fully with such a short amount of time but it was a great experience. It was also good to be a team-mate with Carlos who I have known for a number of years. I would like to thank Mr ten Kate for giving me the opportunity to try things out".
