Motorbikes Blog

Following are the pictures of some of the bikes that showcased at the Goodwood festival of Speed 2007. From vintage to the latest ones it was a delight for every bike lovers’ eyes.

It was a good blend of bikes and bikers abilities. Only thing I can tell is that it would have been a great pleasure to just be there and watch it happen all in all, in front of you.

But no one can tell what it was and how enormous was the event without being there, you can only have a peek from the pigeons hole, by looking at some of the images below.

We’ll surely miss this event, for it fulfilled our automotive appetite right till the gullet, which seldom happens!

Image Credit : Autoblog

The Suzuki GSX 1300R, also known as the Hayabusa, is a hypersport motorcycle introduced in 1999. The name Hayabusa is the Japanese term for the Peregrine Falcon, known for its speed, and perhaps a joke at the expense of the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird which was the fastest production motorcycle prior to the Hayabusa. The Peregrine Falcon is a predator of the common blackbird. Its extreme performance capability has also dubbed the bike as a “high abuser” of legal speed limits.

Afterwards, certain bikes were out to dare the Hayabusa top speed for a production motorcycle, including the BMW K1200S, the Kawasaki ZX-12R and the new ZX-14. And now Suzuki has decided for the 2008 model that they’ll not only revamp the super-bike, but will boost the size of the engine from 1299cc to 1340cc.

The compression power increases from 11.5:1 to 12.5:1. The 41cc increase in displacement stems from a 2mm increase in stroke giving each tube of the Inline-four a final spec of 81mm x 65mm (bore/stroke). Inside, there’s a new three-ring aluminum alloy forged slipper piston. The motor also gets a new set of titanium valves for intake and exhaust. The sizes haven’t changed, but the alternative metal has reduced the weight.

A little technology pulled from the GSX-R line is the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) which provides three options of power delivery. A 4-2-1-2 exhaust which meets Euro 3 and Tier 2 emission regulations has been attached. Overall length has increased to 86.6 inches while the wheelbase is same. A 15mm higher windscreen and vertically stacked dual headlights are a part of the new look. The seat and rear sub-frame have been lowered by 17mm.

A pair of 310 mm balanced front rotors (10 mm smaller) offer less unsprung weight and are pinched by new Tokico radial-mount calipers. The single-piston rear caliper grabs a larger 260mm rotor (+20mm). There’s a Diamond like Coating (DLC) on the lower section of the inverted fork for less stiction. The steering geometry is virtually indistinguishable at 24.2 degrees of rake and 98mm of trail, an increase of 1 mm.

The revamped instrument cluster now features four analog meters for speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and water temperature with a new S-DMS mode indicator, gear position indicator and adjustable engine rpm indicator.

Since its introduction, the major Japanese motorcycle manufacturer realized that the power and speed wars among flagship sports bike would not end and would eventually lead to increased government regulations, an unfavorable public image due to more fatal accidents and higher insurance premiums.

The new Hayabusa will be available in Orange, Blue, and Black. Expect to see this ‘fiend’ sometime in October with a price tag of $11,999.

The Aita network of stores has added new helmets for autumn-winter 2007-2008 period. The new models look trendy and cool, and ofcourse, work well towards safety, the first priority for helmets.

This new collection features 25 new designs for helmets, all upto the safety norms of the European Union. There is an ample range of colors and weaves, should you decide to personalize your helmet. Interiors of these helmets are made of fiber and are extractable for cleaning/dusting.

Via: TopEstilo (Translated)

Vespa has emerged as a style icon from the past 60 years. After all these years it still seems to be young and ready to become the heart beat of somebody who wants to have fun with it. With the years passing by it has an immense capability to bounce back into the present-day rather than becoming a thing from the history.

Panasonic’s Cycle Web Studio has launched an electric bike that features a nickel metal hydride battery that can take you 20 miles on a single charge. And for rest of the distance you can always rely on your leg muscles.

The bike is available in orange or green but you need to hurry as only 200 of the bikes have been manufactured, in a partnership between Panasonic and Harajuku fashion brand Beams.

Via: mobilemag

If your bank account is restraining you to get a fuel cell-powered Honda FCX or Chevy Sequel car, you can still honor your eco-friendly values with the Hydrocell bike. Developed by a British company dubbed Valeswood Technology Development , this bike touts a metal hydride storage tank, which is integrated with an alkaline fuel cell stack. The bike has the storage capacity for 40 liters of hydrogen that drive the bike to about 60 miles. The price tag reads $1,400, which I don’t think is going to trouble you much considering your concern for the environment.

Via: Autobloggreen

Yamaha’s new motorcycle, the Tesseract is very different from what you would expect a motorbike to be, simply because this one has four wheels. An additional pair of rims provide extra stability, but still the driver is able to lean the bike around bends and park it upright.

The company says addition of more wheels has not increased the width of the new motorcycle, as compared to conventional motorcycles. Set to debut in Tokyo Motor Show this month, the Tesseract has a V-Twin petrol engine and a hybrid drivetrain. Apparently, even motorcycles have decided to go hybrid.

[Via: Auto Express]

Harley-Davidson has officially announced the company’s intention to begin production of the XR 1200TM motorcycle for the European market in the spring of 2008. The XR 1200 is a naked street, great handling high performance bike with styling cues inspired by the legendary Harley-Davidson XR 750 flat track racer.

The XR 750 is a deliberately built race bike that has conquered more race wins than any other racing mobike in the history of motorcycle sport. The XR 1200 prototype was first unveiled to huge acclaim from customers and the media alike by Bill Davidson (great-grandson of one of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s founders) at the Intermot motorcycle show in October, 2006.

The XR 1200 is the result of a close collaboration between the Motor Company’s Milwaukee-based product development team and Harley-Davidson’s European product planning team. The European team has played a significant role in defining the specifications and ergonomics of the XR 1200. The team has collectively worked with US Ride and Handling engineers on suspension, braking and handling development.

According to John Lewis, Marketing Director for Harley-Davidson Europe, the XR1200 is the perfect way to round-off a superb 2008 product line-up. Harley-Davidson has acknowledged an overwhelming customer and media feedback since the XR 1200 prototype’s unveiling.

The XR1200 will be equipped with a cooled motor to air from 1200cc, answering to the European detailed lists, and product in series, more powerful that never has been realized from Harley-Davidson. With a freedom for the lean angle; specially tuned Showa sports suspension, including 43mm inverted front forks; high performance Nissin brakes; and specially developed Dunlop Qualifier tyres, the XR 1200 is set to become the best handling Harley-Davidson regular production machine ever seen.

The XR 1200 is a bike full of purpose and character united with great performance, handling and a unique feel. Above all else it will be a bike that will offer a hugely rewarding riding experience.

The price of XR 1200 is still in phase of appraisal, but it presumes that the price, to clearly of the taxation, can be maintained to of under of the 10,000 Euro.

Technical characteristics

• Styling and livery inspired by XR 750
• Motor from 1200 cc, the elevated performances, painted to silver-plated powder
• Feeding with vertical culverts and electronically arranges assets of aspiration of the controlled air
• Tires Dunlop Qualifier (front 120/70ZR18; posterior 180/55ZR17)
• Circles in alloy from the reduced weight, only in their kind, with design inspired to that one of the motion from dirt track
• Sport Showa suspension to calibration, specifically developed for this model, with staple to steles turns upside down to you from 43 millimeter
• Great dowries of agility and ease of handling, and generous lateral rake
• Nissin brakes to high performances
• Studied ergonomics according to the medium height of the European customers
• Position of raised and sport guide, with wide handle-bar and leggermente rear footrests
• New exclusive instrumentation for the model

[Images: Harley Davidson]

What makes the Victory Vision special? The bike is as good as it gets with sleek looks and a powerful 106 c.i. V-Twin with a six-speed transmission. It’s fuel tank can take in six gallons of fuel that ensures you go a long distance before you get your bike refueled, but that isn’t what I am talking about.

Votronic is offering BlueBike system which is a Modular Communication System. The system allows the rider to be in touch with the outside world whilst riding. The helmets have Bluetooth and can be tuned as per the necessities.

The two basic helmet versions are capable of communicating with each other and everybody (rider & pillion rider) and the good thing, they can phone with their own Bluetooth mobile.

The BlueBike Solo is a tiny device that can be used together with an MP3-Player or with a tuner as well as a walkie-talkie. Furthermore, it can be used with the phone.

The BlueBike Premium version consists of a basic control unit, which is resolutely installed at the bike. This enables the biker to hook onto external audio sources like tuners and MP3s, the voice output of the navigation device, even to a mobile which does not have Bluetooth and for a walkie-talkie.

The battery on all the three systems last for at least 20 hours. Votronic’s BlueBike system comes along a price tag starting at €350 or $481 and could elevate depending upon the options chosen.