Random International News thread

[Noor]

This thread will be used to post all abroad biking news, which might not be relevant to Indian market but just for information.

News posted here wont be counted in the xNewsreaper contest

[Noor]

Free test ride on the new Piaggio Yourban LT 300.



Piaggio are offering free tests rides on the new MP3 LT at 40 locations across the UK.

The MP3 which requires just a car licence to drive was designed with scooter-commuters in mind and has two front wheels for extra stability whilst maintaining all the benefits of a conventional scooter.

Since its introduction in 2006 the original MP3 has sold over 80,000 units worldwide. The new version, the Yourban LT 300, has been redesigned to be lighter and more compact. MP3 City Tours are now taking bookings.

Source - http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Ne...ourban-lt-300/

[Noor]

Motorcycle gloves of the future?

Check out these sci-fi motorcycle gloves that allow you to control a smart phone when it’s in your pocket. The gloves make it possible to answer calls and listen to music while riding at the touch of your fingertips.

The BEARTek glove comes in two parts, an inner one with the controls and a motorcycle or ski glove that it slots into. Although these are not yet in production they are available to pre-order.

BEARTek Bluetooth Gloves - YouTube

[Samarth 619]

New fuel efficiency standards to be adopted by 2016 unveiled in U.S

The U.S automobile market, one of the most critical auto markets in the world which had also been the largest auto market in the world just an year ago is also home to the expansive luxury sedans and the big bad gas guzzlers. Now it has been reported that in order to set a new vision in terms of fuel efficiency, the U.S President Obama along with other top executives of the Detroit have announced the new fuel efficiency standards for the country.
It was reported that the new regulation extends the fuel efficiency standards agreed to in May 2009 that increase fuel efficiency standards to 14.49 kmpl by 2016. The latest agreement to be announced on Friday will be implemented in 2017 through 2025 and will require passenger cars and light trucks to get 23.16 kmpl by 2025. Details on incremental increases in fuel efficiency have not been released yet, according to reports.

It was also reported that the key provision in the regulation that made it palatable to the auto industry is that California, along with the governors of some 12 other states, have agreed not to impose their own fuel efficiency standards through 2016. Auto manufacturers have been concerned over the last few years as California and several other states have threatened to impose their own set of rules more stringent than those of the U.S. government. Automakers have been concerned that the cost of meeting the regulations would have driven vehicle prices higher to a point where auto sales would have been severely impacted. The administration's compromise to lower the 2025 figure from 23.97 to 23.16 kmpl helped alleviate some of those fears. Slower sales would lead to lower production and layoffs. Nevertheless, auto manufacturers estimate achieving 14.49 kmpl over the next five years will cost the industry $51.5 billion, it was mentioned.

New fuel efficiency standards to be adopted by 2016 unveiled in U.S | WheelsUnplugged

Note: Miles/ Gallon from the article have been converted to kmpl, by me.

[Samarth 619]

Triumph leads big-bike sales charts

TRIUMPH are leading the sales charts for 500cc+ motorcycles for the first half of this year. The figures, taken from January to June, show that Triumph have sold 5,118 motorcycles, an increase of over 11% compared to the same period last year.

Honda's sales put them in second place, however their total sales of 3,731 are a league away from Triumph's figure. BMW's sales of 3,511 motorcycles put them in third place.

Top 10 manufacturers by sales over 500cc:

1. Triumph - 5,118

2. Honda - 3,731

3. BMW - 3,511

4. Kawasaki - 2,811

5. Harley-Davidson - 2,373

6. Suzuki - 2,362

7. Yamaha - 1,929

8. Ducati - 1,390

9. KTM - 657

10. Aprilia - 461


As only 1 manufacturer (Honda) among the top 6 is in MotoGP and all others are lagging behind in the lower 4, it shows that people don't really buy the "race on Sunday, sell on Monday" trick anymore...
Its more about what your road bikes can do, and how suitable they are for people's needs that matter. Now, Honda might win races but for some, its much wiser to get a BMW S1000RR than a CBR 1000RR.


Read more: Triumph leads big-bike sales charts - Motorcycle news: Industry - Visordown

[vrugonnab]

Guys, check out this video on Ducati escapism:

Escapism on Vimeo

Nothing flashy, nothing like pulsar mania ad.. but it still feels like it captured the essence of biking. Just makes you think that it's so darn good to start the bike before sun rise, wish our bike makers focus on this aspect of biking in their ads.

Not sure if this belongs to this thread.. mods please move it, if it doesn't belong here.

[Samarth 619]

A New Comeback: Horex.

Horex was a German motorcycle Company which was taken over by Daimler Benz in 1960 and the production stopped. On June 15, 2010, it was announced that the brand would be revived and that a Horex motorcycle with a narrow-angle, six-cylinder supercharged engine would be available for sale in Germany, Austria and Switzerland at the end of the year 2011, with international sales to follow.


The News is: No bike yet, but they're making a museum...







DESPITE the fact the firm's ambitious new 1218cc narrow-angle V6, supercharged naked bike (that will be 204bhp for you, sir) has yet to go on sale, the company is already working on emphasising the fact it's an age-old marque rather than a newcomer to the scene.

Despite the fact that Horex is such an old brand that it's been largely forgotten – or never heard of – by the current generation of bikers, the traditional thinking that you've got to have “history” to be successful in the bike market is alive and well here.

Let's just hope that at some stage they have some real production bikes to continue that history.

Horex. No bike yet, but they're making a museum... - Motorcycle news: Bizarre - Visordown

[Samarth 619]

A new ZZR1400 due next month



Note: The above pic is NOT the new ZZR 1400. The new ZZR's photos would be available by August end.

OUR Japanese sources are telling us that Kawasaki will release pictures of its new ZZ-R1400 before the end of August.

Little is known about the bike, except that it's expected to be a revamped, facelifted version of the current machine rather than an entirely new model.

Exactly how the styling changes is a moot point. The distinctive side vents are a trademark feature, and probably set to stay, while the two round-section exhaust end cans, which seem rather dated compared to the strangely-shaped pipes that most modern bike sport, are also expected to stay; in Japan such pipes are considered synonymous with power in a way that under-seat or belly-mounted single exhausts simply aren't.

Of course we'll be doing our best to bring you any news and pictures of the new ZZR as soon as it arrives, but in the meantime, let us know what you think; are high-powered straight-line missiles like the ZZR and 'Busa outdated now that sharp-steering superbikes can match them in terms of power? Or is there still something special about a bike designed with top speed placed above cornering in its priority list?

When a BMW S1000RR can make 200 bhp, it raises a question on the need and existence of such straight line missles, which have better alternatives available not only for straight line power, but also touring?

Read more: New ZZ-R1400 coming this month - Motorcycle news: New bikes - Visordown

[Samarth 619]

American Legend Gary Nixon passes away due to complications in Heart Surgery. R. I. P Nixon.

The rider who Barry Sheene honoured by wearing his t-shirt under his leathers died last week from complications of heart surgery.



Gary Nixon, the gritty former dirt tracker who came out of the American Midwest to become one of the first great American road racers on the world stage, and who formed a lifelong bond with Sheene, was 70 years old.

"That guy loved motorcycle racing; dirt track, road racing, amateur racing, vintage racing,” Ducati Marlboro’s Nicky Hayden said of the two-time AMA Grand National Champion. “The sport will definitely miss him."

Hayden was one of many young riders Nixon helped in the decades after he retired. But the relationship with Sheene is the one that endures. They seemed like an odd couple, though they both rose from humble beginnings. Sheene rose from a modest upbringing to embody the quintessential sportsman/playboy, the first British rider to flourish in the nexus of sport and celebrity. The ginger-haired Nixon grew up in Oklahoma, an oil-rich state in the middle of America where he plied his trade on dirt tracks.

Nixon spoke in a manic mumble, about as far in the English language as you could get from Sheene’s Cockney. Somehow they struck up a friendship in 1970 that would endure to the end of Sheene’s life and beyond. If you were Nixon’s friend, you were his friend for life.

Erv Kanemoto, the legendary tuner whose roster of world champions includes Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Gardner, and Max Biaggi, was lucky to witness the relationship close up.

"(Sheene) really liked Gary," Kanemoto said. "Every time you see the leathers open he’d have the Nixon t-shirt."

"The thing with Gary, he wasn’t a real politician," Kanemoto says laughing. "And he kinda said what he felt and believed what he felt, really believed it. If you were his friend, he’d do anything for you and Barry sensed that. It seemed like they really were good friends. And I don’t really know how that was initiated, to tell you the truth. And they’d talk during the winter through the different winters and so there was no question about their friendship."

Kanemoto also formed a lifelong bond with Nixon, who he first worked with in the early 70’s on Kawasaki’s nascent road race program. The pair would win plenty of races, but the one they didn’t win, or rather, weren’t credited with winning, is the one that would haunt them the rest of their lives.

Kanemoto spoke to Nixon on the morning he had two surgical stents inserted. "He actually sounded like he did ten years ago," Kanemoto said. Nixon was on his way to recovery when he suffered a heart attack.

"Everything seemed to be good, the doctors felt," Kanemoto said. "They were surprised and shocked."

Source: Gary Nixon: American racing legend passes away - | Motorcycle News | Bike News | Motorbike Videos | MCN

[mvchamp]

Guys, check out this video on Ducati escapism:

Escapism on Vimeo

Nothing flashy, nothing like pulsar mania ad.. but it still feels like it captured the essence of biking. Just makes you think that it's so darn good to start the bike before sun rise, wish our bike makers focus on this aspect of biking in their ads.

Not sure if this belongs to this thread.. mods please move it, if it doesn't belong here.

Wow!! I loved the video. Thanks for sharing.

[aargee]

Hoka Hey challengechallenge's website.

Hoka Hey begins motorcycle challenge | Clutch and Chrome

[surya220]

A new ZZR1400 due next month



are high-powered straight-line missiles like the ZZR and 'Busa outdated now that sharp-steering superbikes can match them in terms of power?

In a word, YES.. The reasons are quite simple.. The ZZR and 'Busa can be used with touring panniers or saddlebags, they won't leave you with a back ache after a two hour ride and they'll travel a whole lot more on a tank of fuel before requiring a refill compared to the hourly drinking habits of most Litre Class SBKs.. And, the way they Roll On between 80-200 kmph quite simply beggars belief even today amidst the latest high strung Litre Class machines like the BMW S1000RR and the Aprilia RSV4 APRC.. In my opinion, Kawasaki should try to inject some fresh blood into the ZZR and make it even better rather than cosmetic or visual upgrades.. Something along the lines of 240+ BHP..

[MJ1984]

Guys, check out this video on Ducati escapism:

Escapism on Vimeo

Nothing flashy, nothing like pulsar mania ad.. but it still feels like it captured the essence of biking. Just makes you think that it's so darn good to start the bike before sun rise, wish our bike makers focus on this aspect of biking in their ads.

Not sure if this belongs to this thread.. mods please move it, if it doesn't belong here.

Simple and Amazing!

[Samarth 619]

In a word, YES.. The reasons are quite simple.. The ZZR and 'Busa can be used with touring panniers or saddlebags, they won't leave you with a back ache after a two hour ride and they'll travel a whole lot more on a tank of fuel before requiring a refill compared to the hourly drinking habits of most Litre Class SBKs.. And, the way they Roll On between 80-200 kmph quite simply beggars belief even today amidst the latest high strung Litre Class machines like the BMW S1000RR and the Aprilia RSV4 APRC.. In my opinion, Kawasaki should try to inject some fresh blood into the ZZR and make it even better rather than cosmetic or visual upgrades.. Something along the lines of 240+ BHP..

You answered "YES" to the "whether ZZR's outdated?" question, but your reasons go in favor of "NO". Anyways.

For touring, luggage, panniers, etc. we have dedicated machines from BMW, etc. which also include a 1600cc inline-6 motorcycle now. And these ZZR and Busa's aren't that comfortable too, they're still on sportier side and focus.
Although yes, I totally agree with the roll ons, and 6th gear speeds. No replacement for displacement it seems.

About 240+ bhp, it might not happen as:
* the Japanese have a 300 kmph top speed agreement,
* Hayabusa seems to be the leader in terms of low and mid range torque, and ZZR will further lose an edge if it attempts to reach 240 bhp, not to mention it will be even more of a fuel guzzler.

Let's see what happens...

[surya220]

My answers in bold..

You answered "YES" to the "whether ZZR's outdated?" question, but your reasons go in favor of "NO". Anyways.

I answered YES to the part where you asked whether is there a need for such hyper tourers in face of 200bhp Litre Class SBKs..

For touring, luggage, panniers, etc. we have dedicated machines from BMW, etc. which also include a 1600cc inline-6 motorcycle now. And these ZZR and Busa's aren't that comfortable too, they're still on sportier side and focus.

Even Kawi has the Concours.. And, those BMWs you mentioned are less efficient than the ZZR and 'Busa..

Although yes, I totally agree with the roll ons, and 6th gear speeds. No replacement for displacement it seems.

Always..

About 240+ bhp, it might not happen as:
* the Japanese have a 300 kmph top speed agreement,
* Hayabusa seems to be the leader in terms of low and mid range torque, and ZZR will further lose an edge if it attempts to reach 240 bhp, not to mention it will be even more of a fuel guzzler.

Not quite.. The top speeds can be restricted, but it doesn't mean there should be very less power output.. Think of the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG.. Its got more power than the 2009 Nissan GTR, but is still limited to 155MPH (250kmph).. As for the fuel efficiency part, please read about the Lexus LF-A's engine to understand what's possible today.. In a nutshell, its a V10 engine, built with the dimensions of a V8 and the weight of a V6 engine.. And, its about 30% more fuel efficient than similar sized engines from other manufacturers.. So, the technology exists.. Whether or not Kawi and Suzuki will make an investment for these technologies is their decision..