Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Kawasaki Ninja 250
By Special Correspondent Akshay Singh Ahlawat
It seems the wait for the entry level sports bike Kawasaki Ninja 250R will soon be over with Bajaj finally announcing its launch in May-June 2009 . Below is the news, which was published earlier in the Economic Times.
PUNE-BASED Bajaj Auto will launch sports bike Ninja 250 from technology partner Kawasaki in the next four to five months, while it gears up to introduce motorcycle, jointly developed with Austrian firm KTM by next year.
“The Kawasaki Ninja 250 will be launched by May or June,” MD Rajiv Bajaj said, while launching the company’s executive segment bike XCD 135 DTSSI, which has been priced at Rs 45,000. He said the Kawasaki Ninja 250 is expected to be priced above Rs 2 lakh.
On the company’s plans to introduce motorcycles from Austrian bike maker KTM, in which BAL has over 25 stake, he said the first of the jointly developed products will be launched by next year. “The bigger bikes from KTM like the Duke and RR will be assembled in our facility.
Their introduction has been delayed a bit. But we have been developing two bikes with engine capacity above 125 cc with KTM. The first of the jointly developed bikes will be launched next year,” Mr Bajaj said.
Bajaj will be importing the Ninja as CKD (completely knocked down) units from Thailand to save on custom duties. The Ninja features a DOHC 249cc parallel twin cylinder engine which is more compact than the previous bike offering good mass centralization and improves the handling.
It now offers good low and mid range torque thanks to dual overhead camshafts. The overall design of the bike is very well balanced and wind tunnel tested and of course the trademark ninja styling carried from its bigger siblings.
The bike has a top whack of 175kmph and 0-100 just under 6 seconds enabling the rider to exploit the powerband and is sure to please enthusiasts who were in dire need of a low cost sports bike.
KTM bikes
- Bajaj will then launch bikes from the KTM range – 690 Duke, which may be assembled at Bajaj’s plant at Chakan.
- KTM Duke will be Powered by a high-tech single-cylinder engine
- Versatile, lightweight sportsbike, which might be priced at around Rs 3.5-4.0 lakhs in the Indian market.
- Subsequently, Bajaj may bring in the KTM RC8 -KTM’s top of the line superbike, which would rival the likes of the R1 and Fireblade. The RC8, will be imported into India as a CBU so, will not cost less than Rs 10-12 lakh.
- Bajaj will continue to refine and evolve its Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi.
- Major changes expected on the 220 DTS-Fi are – styling changes, engine tweaks, monoshock rear suspension (similar to the Honda Unicorn), better brakes (Taking some inputs from the TVS Apache), and revamped instrumentation (which is aging).
So, lots of Sports biking action up ahead ! Stay tuned to IAB for then-and-there news and scoops.
Monday, August 30, 2010
2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Things that make you go Hmmmmmm
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Dying man- His last wish is to ride his Electric trail bike motorcycles
It turns out that this hamagioendothemaloma cancer, is the eighth most common cause of cancer deaths in men.
Two seconds after the staff got the email, the factory wrote back and said they would pull parts of their own personal E-bikes and have the other parts flown in by airfreight ASAP so the man can get it as soon as possible.
Everyone is working fast and furious to make this last wish come true for him. Will keep you posted as this develops.
Monday, August 23, 2010
MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR Kit
MV Agusta announced today a new "track only" Cannonball Kit for the Brutale 1090RR. With the new package, MV Agusta wants increasing the performance, making the bike even lighter and fully exploiting its technology.
The new Cannonball Kit includes a modified Engine Control Unit, cylinder head, camshafts, valves and exhaust system, which is manufactured completely from titanium and is completed by a low and spirited exhaust pipe. The result is an increase of 21 HP to a total of 165 HP. At 9.000 revs/min the power is 140 hp, at 10.000 it is 160 hp, a little later the maximum is reached, an absolute record for Brutale.
The new technical components enables the Brutale Cannonball to excel on the track: the exciting performance are restrained by the pure chassis and by high quality suspension components which enable the rider to enjoy easy handling and the typical pleasure of riding an MV Agusta bike.
Suzuki Boulevard C109R/RT
In their attempt to create the absolute modern cruiser, Suzuki engineers have taken the power plant from the M109R and retuned the camshafts for more low-end and mid-range torque over horsepower and so deliver a classic piece of machinery, not only in style, but in attitude as well. The 1783 cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 54-degree V-Twin sets the Boulevards C109R and C109RT up against the best in the business, so a GSX-R-derived electronic fuel injection system seems like a great solution for the two models. And so does the wide-ratio five-speed transmission.
Like the engine and gearbox, the chassis was built for the long haul. With a high-tensile double cradle steel frame and Showa suspension working on both ends (49mm forks deliver 130mm of wheel travel and a rear monoshock linked to an aluminum swingarm), these bikes are meant to offer first class accommodations.
But stopping an 838 lbs or 900 lbs (touring model) curb weight is never an easy task. That is why Suzuki uses a combined braking system. So when applying only the front brake lever, two pistons out of three will provide the needed braking power, but when applying only the rear brake, this last will be used at full capabilities and the front will intervene with a single piston. You can imagine what happens when you hit both. This may not be extracted from the world of races, but it gets the job done proudly.
The Boulevard C109RT offers a plus of comfort thanks to a tall windscreen and passenger backrest, but also decent carrying capacity thanks to a pair of leather saddlebags. The bad boy image is enhanced by the studded seat while the new for 2010 white wall tires give it a retro look as well.
1957 Norton Seeley Jap Racing 1000
Friday, August 20, 2010
But lest you think Victory might be going the way of the Dodo bird (or Buell, R.I.P….), you should be aware that sales of the Polaris Industries spin-off were up 48% in the second quarter of 2010, despite a lackluster economy and a general shrinking of the two-wheel market – the 1400-plus-cc market is down 14% in North America this year. It was also Victory’s third consecutive quarter of increased market share and retail sales, thanks in large part to the successful Cross Country and Cross Roads light-tourers introduced late in 2009. In international markets, Victory sales are up 25%.
And for 2011 Victory continues to evolve its lineup via several engineering improvements, including the adoption of the 106 cubic-inch V-Twin across Vic’s entire lineup. The 106/6 was previously available only on the Vision, Hammer, Jackpot and the hot-rod Vegas LE).
The 106-incher comes in two states of tune. The Stage 1 version in Victory’s touring lineup produces a claimed 92 hp and 109 ft-lbs of torque. The cruisers receive the slightly hotter Stage 2 iteration with lumpier cams claiming 97 hp and 113 ft-lbs. Victory Engineering’s James Holroyd notes that the enlarged 1731cc motor offers 14% more horsepower at no increase in price. We can get behind a program like that!
Upgrades to Victory’s powertrain also include a totally re-worked 6-speed transmission that promises smoother shifting, easier neutral access, and 100,000-mile durability.
The 2011 Cross Roads, like all new Victorys, receives a totally redesigned 6-speed transmission with a neutral-assist feature. Gear whine in 4th and 6th gears is dramatically hushed. zz
Victory claims a 66% decrease in driveline lash via the use of “hi-lo dog/pocket” design, and alternating heights of the gear dogs are said to result in a better fill of pockets while increasing the likelihood of engagement. Shift forks have been redesigned for increased bending resistance, and selector drum tracks have been reprofiled to ease shifting. Durability is upped thanks to a larger bearings and wider gear-sets for 4th and 6th gears. A Neutral Selection Assist feature eases access to neutral even after clutch degradation, helping extend the range for oil service from 3,000 miles to 5,000.
But more importantly, Victory has alleviated the annoying whine from the previous tranny’s spur-type gears by employing new helical-cut gears. These reduce noise dramatically, a significant 6 to 10 dBA, depending on which gear is chosen, now allowing Victory’s touring models to meet Euro noise regs. The quieter gears (including a primary-drive gear-tooth geometry tweak) have a nice side benefit of letting engineers hog out the size of the exhaust’s outlet tips to emit a more satisfying rumble from the tailpipe.
Although Victory didn’t release any fully new models for 2011, several updates have spread through the line in addition to the 106-cube motor and reworked transmission. Here’s a list of this year’s upgrades.
Honda Gold Wing GL18HPM Audio 2010
MSRP: Starting at $22,899 Base MSRP
ENGINE
Engine Type 1832cc liquid-cooled horizontally opposed six-cylinder
Bore and Stroke 74mm x 71mm
Induction Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI)
Ignition Computer-controlled digital with three-dimensional mapping
Compression Ratio 9.8:1
Valve Train SOHC; two valves per cylinder
DRIVE TRAIN
Transmission Five-speed including Overdrive, plus electric Reverse
Final Drive Shaft
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION / BRAKES
Front Suspension 45mm cartridge fork with anti-dive system, 5.5 inches travel
Rear Suspension Pro Arm® single-side swingarm with Pro-Link® single shock with computer-controlled spring
preload adjustment with two memory presets; 4.1 inches travel
Front Brake Dual full-floating 296mm discs with CBS three-piston calipers
Rear Brake Single ventilated 316mm disc with CBS three-piston caliper
Front Tire 130/70R-18
Rear Tire 180/60R-16
DIMENSIONS
Rake 29.15° (Caster Angle)
Trail 109mm (4.3 inches)
Wheelbase 66.5 inches
Seat Height 29.1 inches
Curb Weight 895 - 928 pounds, depending on option packages selected
Fuel Capacity 6.6 gallons
OTHER
Model ID GL18HPM
Emissions Meets current California Air Resources Board (CARB) and EPA standards.
Available Colors Metallic Red, Metallic Black, Pearl Yellow, Metallic Titanium
FACTORY WARRANTY INFORMATION
Three Year Transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty; extended coverage available with a
Honda Protection Plan.
Can-Am Spyder RS Roadster 2010
North America MSRP: starting at $16,499 USD
Engine
ROTAX Engine
Manufacturer BRP-Rotax
Type 990 V-Twin
Displacement 998cc (60.90 cu. in.)
Bore 97 mm (3.82 in.)
Stroke 68 mm (2.68 in.)
Cylinder 2
Valves per cylinder DOHC 4
Max output 106 hp @ 8500 RPM (79 kW @ 8500 RPM)
Max torque 77 lb.-ft. @ 6250 RPM (104.3 Nm @ 6250 RPM)
Compression ratio 10.8:1
Ignition type Electronic ignition with dual output coil
Lubrication 5W40 semi-synthetic oil
Exhaust system 2-into-1 with catalytic converter
Cooling Liquid-cooled
Injection Multi-point EFI with 57 mm-diameter throttle bodies
Drive Train
Gear box 5-Speed manual (SM5) with transmission-based reverse
Optional gear box 5-Speed semi-automatic (SE5) with transmission-based reverse
Final drive 28/79 ratio final drive with
Kevlar-reinforced drive belt
Clutch Wet, multi-plate, manual operation through a hydraulic piston
Electric Equipment
Magneto 500 Watts
Starter Electric
Battery Sealed maintenance-free, 12V, 21 Amp
Geometry
Front suspension Double A-Arm with anti-roll bar
Front suspension travel 5.67 in. (145 mm) shocks
Rear suspension Swing-arm with monoshock
Rear suspension travel 5.67 in. (145 mm) with adjustable cam
Chassis type SST Spyder (Surrounding Spar Technology)
Steering DPS (Dynamic Power Steering)
Tires & Wheels
Front tire KR21 165/65R14
Front nominal pressure 13-17 psi (90-117 kPa)
Rear tire KR21 225/50R15
Rear nominal pressure 26-30 psi (179-207 kPa)
Wheel size, front Aluminum 14x5 (355x127)
Wheel size, rear Aluminum 15x7 (381x178)
Brakes
Type Foot-actuated, fully integrated hydraulic 3-wheel braking system
Front braking system 4 piston calipers with 10.2 in. x 0.25 in. (260 mm x 6 mm) discs
Rear braking system Single-piston caliper with 10.2 in. x 0.25 in. (260 mm x 6 mm) disc
EBD Electronic Brake Distribution
ABS Anti-lock Braking System
Parking brake Mechanical, foot actuated to the rear caliper
Safety & Security
VSS Vehicle Stability System
ABS Anti-lock Braking System
TCS Traction Control System
SCS Stability Control System with roll-over mitigation
DPS Dynamic Power Steering
DESS Digitally Encoded Security System
Vehicle Dimensions & Weights
Dry vehicle weight 699 lb. (317 kg)
Front storage capacity 11.62 US gal. (44 l)
Front max load capacity 30 lb. (15.9 kg)
Total vehicle load allowed 440 lb. (200 kg)
Fuel capacity 7.13 US gal. (25 l)
Oil capacity 1.19 US gal. (4.5 l)
Coolant capacity 0.85 US gal. (3.2 l)
GVWR 1,188 lb. (540 kg)
Ground clearance 4.5 in. (115 mm)
Vehicle overall height 45.1 in. (1,145 mm)
Vehicle overall length 105 in. (2,667 mm)
Vehicle overall width 59.3 in. (1,506 mm)
Seat (top) height 29 in. (737 mm)
Wheel base 68 in. (1,727 mm)
Wheel track, front 51.5 in. (1,308 mm)
Type of gas Unleaded, 87 octane minimum
Color Choices
Full Moon Silver
Roadster Red
Quantum Blue
Millennium Yellow
Pearl White (RS-S Special Edition only)
Features
RS RS-S
Sport windshield X X
11.62 US gal. (44 l) front storage X X
Parking brake X X
Digitally Encoded Security System X X
Speedometer X X
Tachometer X X
Electric fuel gauge X X
Dual trip meters X X
Engine temperature X X
Ambient temperature X X
Gear position indicator X X
6-Spoke custom wheel kit o X
Custom white trim seat o X
Spyder rolling travel bag o X
Custom decals NA X
Exclusive pearl white color NA X
Two-year warranty X X
X - Standard Feature on RS
X - Standard Feature on RS-S
o - Optional Feature