ROAD-SPEC V4 Aprilia sbk

THE ROAD-SPEC V4 Aprilia superbike has finally been caught on camera - undergoing its first fast laps at the Croatian Grobnik circuit last week.

Sent out as part of a normal track day, the bike was almost missed in the gaggle of similar-looking Mille's.

Spotted by the eagle-eyed Mille fans at the Croatian website apriliabase.com the lads there pointed out the new ram-air intake under the lights, the massive silencer, the forged Marchesini rims, Brembo brakes and the Ohlins suspension.

Text: VISORDOWN

Derbi Terra 125 Adventure

If you needed any more evidence that adventure touring is overtaking sportsbikes in popularity, here it is. 125s provide practical, cheap transportation to tens of thousands of European teenagers, who get a license for one of these easier, cheaper and earlier than they can for a car. Traditionally this market has been the preserve of miniature sportsbikes and race rep scooters. The Derbi Terra 125 Adventure will be the first adventure touring bike for teenagers. Complete with knobbly tires and aluminum panniers, it should actually be more capable of crossing the Sahara than any of its bigger, heavier competition.


Here is a video of the bike


Technical Specification;
Engine Single cylinder 4Stroke 4V EURO 3
Timing system Double overhead camshaft, 4V
Bore x stroke 58 x 47 mm
Displacement 124,2 cc
Fuel supply Carburettor Æ 30
Starting system Electric
Cooling system Liquid
Compression ratio 12:1
Lubrication Dry sump
Ignition Electronic CDI
Transmission Gear assembly
Clutch Multi-plate
Gearbox 6 speed
Front suspension Æ 41 mm hydraulic fork. 195 mm travel
Rear suspension Mono-shock with adjustable spring pre-load. 150 mm travel
Front brake Single Disc Æ300 mm.
Rear brake Single Disc Æ220 mm.
Tyres Front 90/90x21” - Rear 130/90x17”
Battery 12V 6Ah
Maximum lenght 2.195 mm
Maximum height 1.408 mm
Maximum width 793 mm
Wheelbase 1.454mm
Seatheight 850 mm
Fuel tank 11 L (2,5 reserve)
Dry weight 117 Kg

2009 Yamaha V-Max official pictures

This is the first official picture ever seen of Yamaha's new 2009 V-Max. The motorcycle won't be officially unveiled until June 4. Although details are still sketchy, we're expecting the new V-Max to be the world's fastest accelerating production motorcycle, regaining the title its forerunner held when it was launched back in 1984.

A standing quarter mile in under 10 seconds is expected, thanks to a massive V-four engine, expected to be at least 1800cc, and more than 200bhp.

SOURCE : MCN

2009 Yamaha V-Max - debut on June 4th 2008

We have carrying regular updates on the all new V-Max. Finally, Yamaha will be launching the bike on the 4th of June, just days away from today.


ACCORDING to Visordown.com's Japanese factory insiders, the all-new Yamaha V-Max will be launched to a waiting world in just over 12 days time.

The countdown has begun for a worldwide launch of the new musclebike all over the web, a rolling countdown on the Yamaha Motor Europe website is playing all coy and just counting down the days, hours and minutes but our men in Japan say that the build up is all for the new Max.

The new V-Max prototype has been doing the rounds at major motorcycle shows for the past 18 months - although only a full-scale model, the bike did show the firm's V4 Otodama motor which is widely expected to be at the heart of the finished motorcycle.

Although the bike will be presented to journalists in Madrid at the same time as it is launched on the website the bike won't be able to be ridden until around September with it expected in dealers Spring 2009.

To see the rolling countdown and bookmark the website so that you can see the bike first, without having to wait for a rubbish CGI drawing in a weakly paper (sic), go to: http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/

SOURCE: VISORDOWN

Also see:

V-Max Video
September 2007 post
August 2007 post

Limited Edition Suzuki GSXR-1000

Suzuki GB has announced a limited edition run of pearl white and metallic silver for the GSX-R1000.

The white and silver option will join the already existing white/blue and black colour choices.

Suzuki GB marketing manager George Cheeseman commented, “Customer demand in the past has proven how popular the limited colour runs are, so we are pleased to be able to offer this addition to the already popular GSX-R range.”

The pealr white and metallic silver GSX-R1000 will be available from all authorised Suzuki dealers at a price of £8,949, but Suzuki only have a limited number of the motorcycles.

SOURCE : MCN

Schumacher registers for German Superbike series

Schumacher allgedly registers to enter a superbike championship under a false name

ACCORDING to German newspaper Bild seven times F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher has just registered for the German Superbike Championship under the false name of Marcel Hiederhausen to race in the series' next round at Oschersleben.

He is expected to compete for the Holzhauer Racing team, whom he tested for a couple of weeks back. Anyone still think that he won't turn up in MotoGP at some point?

Source : VisorDown

Volkswagen to make motorcycles?

Should Volkswagen start building motorcycles? Apparently VW chairman Ferdinand Peich has said that he wishes that VW had bought Ducati when it had the opportunity to do so more than twenty years ago.

Now news has emerged that VW is thinking of collaborating with Austrian bike maker KTM to produce motorcycles. VW has already helped KTM build its first road car, the X-Bow, which also uses an Audi 2 litre engine.

The question is whether the bikes would be branded VW, or whether they would be branded something more upmarket, like Audi. After all, BMW has a successful motorcycle business and an Audi bike, or perhaps even another one of VW’s sportier brands, like SEAT, would make good sense in terms of market positioning.

Then again, the VW badge is regarded as mid-level prestige in most countries, so VW Motorcycles just might get up.
World-wide, and in Australia, motorcycling is growing in popularity, and it’s been a long time since a new brand emerged onto the market.

Should VW build a range of motorbikes? And if so, would you cross-shop a VW bike with the likes of BMW, Ducati and others? Or would you regard the VW brand as too car-focussed and lacking in heritage?

ALSO SEE
KTM'S X-BOW

Pic taken from : AutoExpress

2009 Husqvarna TE 310

Last week in Barcelona, Husqvarna introduced a new displacement to its line of enduro machines. The 2009 TE 310 features a bored out 250 (from 76mm to 83mm) engine that Husky hopes many consumers have been waiting for. In fact, several after-market kits will take your 250cc four-stroke motocross or off-road machine to roughly 310cc, because many riders (particularly, amateurs) feel this is the ideal combination of the light, tossable 250 with the added torque of a bigger bike.

The new 310 will have a lighter chassis, and other changes that will be shared with various 2009 model Husqvarnas. We will provide more details when they are available.

Source : Motorcycledaily