Motorcycles
Aprilia’s FV2 concept bike
Image Gallery (2 images)
Providing a futuristic showcase platform for the company's upcoming technical and styling directions, Aprilia’s FV2 concept bike incorporates a fly-by-wire injection system, traction control, ABS, electronically adjustable suspension and carbon fiber construction with a 1200cc, 90-degree v-twin engine that we are likely to see in the RSV and Tuono in the next couple of years. Read More
Acabion GTBO: faster than a Bugatti Veyron at only 20% throttle
Image Gallery (3 images)
Bugatti Veyron owners, and indeed car owners as a group, have been looking very smug since the amazing supercar posted its awesome 250mph top speed and 1000 horsepower acceleration that not even the fastest motorcycles could match. But it seems Acabion has taken the crown back for the bike brigade, with its release of a road-ready streamliner that's capable of beating they Veyron's top speed using only 20% throttle. The Acabion GTBO is said to top out at around 340mph (close to 550kmh) if you're game enough to hold on to 50% throttle, and with engines varying from 350 to 750 horsepower, it's a very serious piece of kit... Even if it does have training wheels. Read More
Monster Motorbike: the 13 tonne car crushing colossus
Image Gallery (5 images)
Almost thirty feet (9 meters) long, ten feet (3 meters) high and weighing as much as a school bus, the name emblazoned along the side of this menacing two-wheeled beast says it all - it's the "Monster Motorbike from Hell". Designed and built in Perth, Australia, by stunt driver Ray Baumann where it's been wowing fans with its car and caravan crushing capabilities, the Monster Motorbike is powered by a Detroit Diesel truck engine and six-speed Allison automatic and uses a two-speed Eaton differential from a road train to drive a huge chain on each side of the one-meter wide rear wheel, itself taken from a Caterpillar 80 tonne front end loader.
Dainese tests electronically operated airbag system for motorcycle racing
Image Gallery (12 images)
More than 10 years in the making, the Dainese D-Air Racing system is a new type of rider protection technology that uses a series of accelerometers and electronically operated rate gyros to deploy an airbag mounted in the aerodynamic hump of a leather racing suit when things go wrong on the racetrack. Taking only 40 milliseconds to trigger, the system provides protection for the neck, shoulder and collarbone, cushioning the falling rider before they hit the ground. Airbags have recently appeared into the world of motorcycles with examples like Honda’s airbag-equipped Goldwing and ripcord-operated inflating jackets from Motoair and Hit-Air. The difference with the Dainese system - which is currently aimed specifically at the racing environment - is that it does not require any connection to the motorcycle, kicking-in during front low-side, back lowside or high-side falls. Read More
Yamaha unveils Rossi’s 2008 YZR-M1 MotoGP machine
Image Gallery (11 images)
January 19, 2008 Yamaha unveiled its 2008 YZR-M1 MotoGP machine this week in a large event held in conjunction with sponsors Fiat in Turin, Italy. Last year the M1 was one of the slowest machines on the grid and played a major role in Valentino Rossi’s worst season for a decade, prompting Rossi to roundly criticise the machine publicly and Yamaha to test a V4 configuration and pneumatic valves in the hope of closing the horsepower gap to Ducati’s desmodromic valve system. With Honda employing a pneumatic valve system in its 2008 machine, Yamaha will be the only contender relying on traditional valve springs to close its valves this year. Despite this, Yamaha’s frightfully expensive throttle control system (Rossi) shares favouritism for the title with Ducati’s Casey Stoner (both 6/4). Read More
Howards Killer Customs’ US$150,000 hubless Harley
Image Gallery (27 images)
January 18, 2008 Hubless wheel pioneers Osmos list an array of compelling advantages for their wheel, among them decreased unsprung weight, reduced structural stress, improved braking, and reduced vibration. But from a designer’s viewpoint, where the arresting visuals impact the brain like a sledgehammer, it’s that hole in the middle that counts the most. So if you want to make your custom motorcycle a genuine one-off and you have all the expertise in-house to build it, what else would you do? Inspired by a hubless motorcycle seen at Daytona, New Jersey-based Howards Killer Customs spent US$150,000 on this hubless custom to demonstrate its capabilities. We suspect it was money well spent. Read More
Suzuki Bandit 1250 goes touring
Image Gallery (2 images)
January 16, 2008 Suzuki’s big bad bandit 1250 has been reincarnated as a sensible mile muncher. Suzuki has announced the final specification and pricing for the new Bandit 1250 Grand Touring which sports a roomy top-box and pannier system, additional fairing lowers and Suzuki's bespoke Garmin Zumo Sat Nav system. Read More
Husaberg redesigns the four-stroke single
Image Gallery (3 images)
January 14, 2008 The development of the four-stroke single cylinder motor is exactly as old as the internal combustion engine, but the needs of the motorcycle are still being understood. Accordingly, Husaberg’s radical new design just might be a significant breakthrough. The engine has been reconfigured to put the crankshaft near the off-roader’s center-of-mass and the KTM-owned company claims a significant improvement in handling because of it. Read More
Ducati reveals 2008 Desmosedici GP8 MotoGP machine
Image Gallery (11 images)
Ducati this week unveiled its 2008 MotoGP machine at its annual Wrooom - MotoGP Press Ski Meeting at Madonna di Campiglio. The new GP8 Desmosedici is understandably based on the GP7 which won the 2007 MotoGP title, with small but important changes in the area of the frame, rear suspension geometry, motor and electronic system. The Desmosedici is equipped with exactly the same traction control system used on the new 1098 R road bike which swept all before it in motorcycle magazine awards around the world. No doubt Ducati’s test rider Vittoriano Guareschi was thankful for the traction control as he rode the new machine before the press for the first time – the ice floor he had to contend with could easily have caught out any rider.
Hillbilly’s 150kg, 150 horsepower Buell XBRR Chronos
Image Gallery (41 images)
January 11, 2008 Built as a tribute to Buell’s 25 years of innovation, the XBRR Chronos from Scandinavia’s Hillbilly motors is a 150kg, 150 horsepower custom racebike that matches the power to weight ratio of the latest japanese litre bikes and features some stunning innovations along the way. Read More
Dakar Rally canceled due to terrorist threats
Image Gallery (4 images)
January 5, 2008 For the first time in its 30-year history, the Dakar Rally has been canceled, the day before it was due to start, due to direct threats launched against the race by terrorist organizations based in the area. It appears the event may be moved to sub-Saharan Africa from 2009 onwards. We commiserate with race fans, organizers and the 550-odd competitors for many of whom this "Everest of off-road" event is a lifelong dream. Read More
TriRod launches F3 Adrenaline 3-wheel motorcycle
Image Gallery (9 images)
We've encountered a raft of exciting three-wheeled motorcycle designs in recent years including the Can-Am Spyder, Brudeli's Three-Wheel Leanster, the VentureOne plug-in hybrid and the T-REX from Campagna. More recently, scooter manufacturers have embraced the wide-track stability, braking power and cornering prowess of the two at the front/one at the rear configuration with the release of models like the Piaggio MP3. While many designs are still in prototype phase, it seems certain that the three-wheeled footprint will become an increasingly familiar site on the road with the latest example to cross our desk - the striking tandem seat F3 Adrenaline from San Diego based TriRod Motorcycles - now accepting reservations ahead of a Q2 2008 release. Read More
The world's most expensive motorcycle?
Image Gallery (11 images)
December 11, 2007 If you’re the kinda person that drives a Reventon, won’t tap on a laptop unless it’s a Luvaglio, and only sails Mangusta, then boy have we got the motorcycle for you! It’s called the Ecosse Titanium Series - so called because it sports the world’s first all-titanium frame. And from the 200-horsepower, 2150cc polished billet aluminum v-twin engine, to the MotoGP-spec Ohlins suspension, to the radially-mounted 6-piston billet ISR front brake calipers - with an individual brake pad for each of the 12 pistons - every detail screams "you can't afford me!" At USD$275,000 it's not cheap - but it does come with a free watch. Read More
Cargobike: proper storage capacity on two wheels
Image Gallery (5 images)
December 10, 2007 While they offer huge advantages in getting through traffic, fuel economy, convenience and pure smiles-per-mile, it's no secret that onboard storage on motorcycles is generally absolute rubbish. You might fit a wallet, phone and a spare pair of gloves under the seat, but anything bigger than a helmet, and even a maxi-scooter's stumped. Which is why we were fascinated to discover Cargobike, a two-wheeled conveyance designed with one goal in mind: proper carrying capacity. And that it delivers - 150 whole liters of waterproof, lockable storage capacity, and a maximum load of a whopping 80 kilos in the cargo compartment which is nicely balanced where the tank and engine would be on a normal motorcycle. Read More
Piaggio unleashes the MP3's evil big brother, the 500cc Fuoco
Image Gallery (5 images)
December 5, 2007 The reaction to Piaggio's MP3 carving 3-wheeler has been little short of sensational around the world - the lithe, feisty scooter is opening up a whole new category of vehicles. While the MP3 is something of a learner package, however, the people it's really been impressing are the seasoned bikers, who are in awe of its amazing front-end traction, stability, flickability and the sheer, unbridled fun factor you get from riding it. So you can understand our excitement when Piaggio announced today that a beefed-up 500cc version of the same platform was about to hit the streets, complete with a sportier suspension package that might just let you ride it as hard as it begs to be ridden. Read More
The 85cc mountainbike
Image Gallery (5 images)
November 30, 2007 Design students from Colorado have come up with a mountainbike that incorporates a Kawasaki KX85 engine to bring a new dimension to the idea of lightweight motorcycle - around 125lbs, or just under 57 kilos. Read More
Hyosung unveils 2008 motorcycle range
Image Gallery (5 images)
November 27, 2007 South Korean manufacturer Hyosung has launched new models for 2008 including a new 650cc fuel injected v-twin sports model and a 450cc single motard.
EV-X7: the electric future-cruiser
Image Gallery (5 images)
November 26, 2007 With a style unlike anything that’s come before it, the EV-X7 is an electric streetbike with a 92mph top speed and a range of up to 110 miles. It looks like it runs some sort of hub-centre steering arrangement, and the prototype is now on display in Japan. Axle Group, the makers of the bike, will release a US$2100 mini-scooter using similar technology in the next 12 months. While 92mph represents quite decent performance for a zero-emissions, electric vehicle, we’re sure if you thrashed this oddball motorcycle along at that sort of speed for any length of time, the battery range would be closer to 25 miles than 110. Read More
Vectrix Electric Superbike unveiled at Milan
Image Gallery (12 images)
November 23, 2007 Hot on the heels of its excellent electric maxi-scooter, Vectrix has finally delivered on its promise of an electric superbike, and it’s amazingly close to the concept drawings we saw a couple of years back. Unveiled at the Milan motorcycle show, the Vectrix Electric Superbike has a top speed of around 125mph, a range of around 70 miles and it’ll eat up the quarter mile in around 12 seconds, so it’s clearly got some punch behind the throttle. It'll go into production if interest is high enough - can this be the first true production electric performance motorcycle? And if so - how long 'til they start racing it? Read More
KillaCycle electric motorcycle breaks eight second quarter mile at 168mph
Image Gallery (8 images)
November 15, 2007 Upping the grunt to a huge 500 horsepower courtesy of a new 186 pound battery pack, the KillaCycle has reached speeds of 168mph in becoming the first electric-vehicle in history to enter the “magic sevens” in the quarter mile. The KillaCycle made two runs of 7.824 and 7.991 seconds (with a 0-60mph time of under one second) at the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA) California Bike Week event last weekend at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California, making the new official quarter mile record 7.991 seconds - the sixth occasion on which the KillaCycle has set a new world mark. Read More
2008 Honda CB1000R
Image Gallery (5 images)
November 7, 2007 Pictures have emerged of the 2008 CB1000R – Honda’s new sporty performance naked bike that sees a 1000cc Fireblade engine re-tuned for mid-range performance and dropped into a naked frame. Specs include fully-adjustable forks and radial front brakes taken from the Fireblade, all-new single backbone frame, single sided swingarm, a superb looking 4-swept-spoke ninja-star rear wheel, an all-digital dash and and H.I.S.S. security system. No horsepower figures as yet but expectations are for around 120hp from the re-tuned 1000cc engine. Read More
First ride: Piaggio’s MP3 three-wheeled carver
Image Gallery (22 images)
October 30, 2007 What a hoot! Piaggio’s new carving three-wheeler, with two independently suspended front wheels, opens up yet another whole new category of motorcycle – a category that will surely explode once people get a glimpse of the ability of these stunning bikes. The MP3’s triangle footprint produces some sensational handling characteristics, making it an exceptionally fool-proof learner/commuter bike – as well as a hilarious hooligan tool for more experienced riders. Gizmag spent an afternoon with the scooter that just won’t let you mess things up. Read More
Suzuki’s hydrogen-powered Crosscage motorcycle
Image Gallery (18 images)
Here’s one of the more radical concept motorcycles we’ve seen in a while – Suzuki’s Crosscage concept is a fuel-cell powered electric bike with single-sided suspension front AND rear. The brushless electric motor’s mounted inline with the rear wheel, and looks-wise it’s so far out there that it’s on its way back again. Seems like Bridgestone’s even developed a special futuristic-looking tyre to match the bike’s oddly tesselated discs. We’ve just encountered the amazing concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, where our heads are still spinning from all the ground-breaking technology on show. Read More
Kymco’s new 700cc scooter: a technology flagship
Image Gallery (34 images)
October 25, 2007 Taiwanese manufacturer Kymco is getting ready to stamp some serious presence on the scooter market with a brand new 700cc super-scooter unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Myroad 700i features plenty of neat gadgets such as inbuilt tyre pressure gauges, electronically adjustable suspension, keyless ignition, ABS and an alarm, as well as a 170kmh+ top speed to make it the up-and-coming company’s technology flagship for 2008. Read More
Yamaha's Tesseract four-wheel motorcycle
Image Gallery (3 images)
October 25, 2007 Yamaha is set to reveal a whole new class of four-wheel recreational machine at the Tokyo Motor Show that looks to combine motorcycle performance and maneuverability with four wheels worth of traction and road-holding capability. Details remain sketchy on the Tesseract hybrid four-wheeled motorcycle – ostensibly a four-wheel version of the Vespa, Piaggio and Vectrix three-wheelers with tilting mechanisms (dubbed “dual-scythe suspension”) at both ends making it a carving four-wheeler that retains the advantages of narrow width roughly equivalent to a two-wheeled machine. Powered by an electric hybrid liquid-cooled V-twin, the Tesseract promises ample torque and a top speed that will be theoretical everywhere but a racetrack, and when at rest, the machine will remain upright without the need for a stand via a dual arm-lock system. Read More
Bio-diesel powered motorcycle eclipses 100mpg
Image Gallery (3 images)
October 22, 2007 The 2007 Panasonic World Solar Challenge got underway yesterday with 40 teams from across the globe competing in the 3000 km race from Darwin to Adelaide in Australia. Among the competitors in the Greenfleet Technology Class - a category for internal combustion vehicles promoting an enhanced environmental profile - is the BioBike, a biodiesel-powered motorcycle, constructed by a group of students in Adelaide, Australia, that happily does 96kmh and returns a staggering fuel economy of only 2.2 litres per 100 kilometres. As the design is further refined, BioBike’s creators expect this to drop below the 2 litres per 100km mark (around 107 miles per gallon), and they believe it can be manufactured for around the same cost as a petrol-powered dirtbike. Read More
Custom-built GEICO Chopper to be auctioned for charity
Image Gallery (3 images)
October 21, 2007 Built by well-known motorcycle builder Rick “Big Rick” Hoffman, the customized “GEICO Chopper” will be auctioned online for the benefit of children’s charities with bids opening on October 22. Read More
2008 Yamaha YZF-R6 receives widespread “stealth” updates
Image Gallery (4 images)
Next year’s R6 might not look very different to the current model, but under the sharp-looking bodywork Yamaha’s 600cc Supersport missile has received some significant revisions aimed at improving the bike’s already scalpel-like handling and screaming power. As always, the 600cc Supersport road/track bike category will be extremely hard fought in 2008. With Triumph’s class-smashing 675 Daytona ruling the roost from out of nowhere for the last two years, the Japanese companies are throwing all their knowledge and technology at the category to wrestle back their supremacy. The customer is surely the winner in this battle - next year’s Yamaha YZF-R6 will contain more electronic goodies and tricky technology straight from the racetrack than anything that’s preceded it. Read More
Triumph’s 2.3-litre Rocket III gets re-invented as a tourer
Image Gallery (4 images)
October 18, 2007 Triumph have finally presented the touring version of their hairy-chested 2.3-litre mega-cruiser that they’ve been promising for over 12 months. The Rocket III Touring was unveiled to dealers last weekend in Atlanta. and rather than simply slapping a screen and a set of panniers on the original machine – which would have made for quite an acceptable touring bike – the British company chose to give it a full work-over. The engine has been “re-tuned for lazy, effortless touring” – which we take to mean it’s been partially relieved of its crazed top-end rush in favor of a torquier power delivery… Not that the tyre-smoking original could have been accused of lacking torque. Final power figures are yet to be released, but we wouldn't expect the Rocket III's 140 horsepower peak to be maintained in the Touring version. Read More
Lazareth’s supercharged Buell XB12S custom
Image Gallery (9 images)
October 16, 2007 Ludovic Lazareth has impressed us before with his eye-catching and unique customs. Somewhat of a legend in the French motorcycle tuning and custom building scene, Lazareth’s latest has fascinated us on a technical level as much as for its brutal good looks. Read More
Ducati’s Desmosedici RR almost sold out before production begins
Image Gallery (3 images)
October 12, 2007 Ducati didn’t believe punters would jump at their US$70,000 MotoGP replica motorcycle – how wrong they were. With production still yet to begin, less than 250 units remain to be pre-ordered of what is surely the most extreme production motorcycle on the planet, the Desmosedici RR. If you want one, you’d better move fast. Read More
Honda’s infinitely variable Human-Friendly Transmission for motorcycles
Image Gallery (6 images)
October 10, 2007 Honda has announced what it is calling a Human-Friendly Transmission (HFT) for motorcycles. The new automatic transmission system uses Honda’s own infinitely variable hydraulic mechanical transmission in a lightweight compact configuration ideal for motorcycles. Easy to operate, the HFT realizes outstanding relaxed riding comfort and feel with direct response and excellent transmission efficiency. The system offers two fully automatic shifting modes - D mode for ordinary riding and S mode for a sporty riding - or a 6-speed manual mode. The HFT will be installed on the DN-01, a new motorcycle scheduled for market launch to be introduced at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. Read More
2008 MotoGP teams begin to emerge
Image Gallery (6 images)
October 10, 2007 This year's World Champion Casey Stoner, as well as Rossi, Vermeulen and the Honda team are staying where they are for season 2008 – but beyond that, MotoGP has been a huge game of musical chairs as riders jump from team to team hoping to secure the best bikes for next year. With teams finally settling, here’s what we know. Read More
Aprilia’s upcoming V4 engine to deliver up to 220hp
Image Gallery (4 images)
October 8, 2007 Aprilia tell us their much-anticipated V4 engine is currently undergoing durability testing in four states of tune – from a huge 185 horsepower up to an eye-watering 220 horsepower. Which one will we see in the road-going superbike they’re building? Read More
Formotion: billet bolt-on timepieces for motorcycles
Image Gallery (5 images)
October 6, 2007 Tired of working out dodgy ways to attach a clock you can read while you’re riding your motorcycle? Formotion has released a range of great-looking and affordable bolt-on clocks and thermometers to fit to any bike. Read More
