Bajaj confirms Ninja 250R for May : EDIT: now launched!!!

UPDATED : NINJA 250R LAUNCHED: READ THE REVIEW HERE

The endless wait for the Bajaj Kawasaki Ninja 250R has already frustrated thousands of bikers in India. The bike was first shown at the Auto Expo 2008 held in New Delhi. We thought it would come last year, and then we thought Bajaj would get it in this fiscal year (before March 2008). But the Pune based company has just confirmed that they will be getting the Kawasaki Ninja 250R to India as a CBU (completely built unit) in May 2009. That means four months to go! Damn...

Some of us also thought that the bike would be assembled locally to reduce the costs. Bajaj has choosen to take the CBU route, which means pricing it below the Rs 2 lakh mark will be very difficult. Our fingers are crossed!

The Kawasaki Ninja 250R has a twin-cylinder engine producing close to 30bhp. That translates into a sub 6 second 0-100km/h sprint with a top speed in excess of 150km/h.

WORTH A READ
2009 YAMAHA R1 RIDDEN
2010 HONDA FURY
HONDA CB 1000R XESS
KYMCO QUANNON 150

2009 Yamaha R1 ridden!

Don’t get too caught up on how the new R1 works, with its crossplane crank and irregular firing order, which is the same as Rossi’s factory YZR-M1 (it’s not a ‘big bang’ motor - we’ll explain all in this week’s MCN for the techies among you), all you need to know is the new engine has transformed the R1 into one of the best sportsbikes I’ve ever ridden.


This is what Senior Road Tester, Michael Neeves of MCN has to say after riding the 2009 Yamaha R1 at the Eastern Creek in Sydney.

To read more about the Rossi inspired 2009 Yamaha R1, click HERE

WORTH A READ:
2010 HONDA FURY
HONDA CB 1000R XESS
KYMCO QUANNON 150

2010 Honda Fury : official details

York International Motorcycle Show : American Honda introduced to the world what many have deemed the most radically styled production Honda ever built: the 2010 Fury. The Fury radiates attitude and delivers a total riding experience approaching the outer limits of motorcycling.

The Fury opens the door to the most extreme level of custom looks. But once you’re rolling, the Fury experience is all about that special bond between rider and machine: the unmistakable big V-twin pulse, the characteristic Vee engine note and the no-nonsense riding stance bring you back to the core elements of riding.

Destined to become a milestone machine, the Fury captures the pure, undiluted chopper essence, places it within easy reach of nearly every rider and then backs it up with the same quality and reliability built into every Honda. It’s a radical concept in a unique package, a combination never before offered - until today.

2010 Honda FURY KEY FEATURES:

- Full-on chopper styling
- Longest wheelbase ever in a production Honda motorcycle
- Muscular V-twin power, sound and feel
- Clean looks, superior attention to detail
- Spacious riding position
- Low seat height
- Single-shock rear suspension with hard tail look
- Extra-wide 200-series rear tire
- Slim-look 21-inch front tire
- Legendary Honda fit, finish and reliability
- Unrivaled value

2010 HONDA FURY SPECIFICATIONS:

Engine Type: 1312cc liquid-cooled 52° V-twin
Bore and Stroke: 89.5mm x 104.3mm
Compression Ratio: 9.2:1
Valve Train: SOHC; three valves per cylinder
Induction: PGM-FI with automatic enricher circuit, one 38mm throttle body
Ignition: Digital with three-dimensional mapping, two spark plugs per cylinder
Transmission: Five-speed
Final drive: Shaft
Suspension Front: 45mm fork; 4.0 inches travel
Rear: Single shock with adjustable rebound damping and five-position spring preload adjustability; 3.7 inches travel
Brakes Front: Single 336mm disc with twin-piston caliper Brakes
Rear: Single 296mm disc with single-piston caliper
Tires Front: 90/90-21
Tires Rear: 200/50-18
Wheelbase: 71.24 inches Rake (Caster Angle): 38.0° Trail: 3.5 inches
Seat Height: 26.7 inches
Fuel Capacity: 3.4 gallons
Colors: Dark Red Metallic, Metallic Silver, Ultra Blue Metallic, Black, Matte Silver Metallic (2010 special color - limited production)
Curb Weight including all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel, ready to ride: 663 pounds

WORTH A READ:
Honda CB 1000R XESS!
2009 Moto Guzzi Stelvio ridden

Honda CB 1000R XESS!

The XESS (eXtreme European Streetfighter Styling) version of the CB1000R draws on the most extreme potential of this new Naked streetfighter’s intensely aggressive power. It focuses the customer’s attention on the eventual possibilities for modifying the production model to make it even more stunning.

Read the whole article at dailymotos website

Pic: dailymotos

WORTH A READ:
2009 Honda Fury
2009 Moto Guzzi Stelvio ridden

2009 Honda Fury unleashed

pic: motorcyclenews.com

UPDATES : OFFICIAL DETAILS HERE

Over the last few months there has been a bit of online hype regarding the development of the Honda Fury, a so called factory made chopper. I had my doubts that any company (especially Honda) would attempt to start production of a chopper style bike due to the inherent impracticality that daily riding of a chopper style bike would involve and the fact that it just seems a bit late (choppers have been around for ages...why do it now?).



The hype all started when some images of a Honda Fury patent lodged back in 2008 (it already seems so long ago) were leaked and now before it's official release at the New York International Motorcycle Show we have a photo of the finished product...God bless the internet!


Japanese manufacturers are renowned for their ability to take an already existing motorcycle and make it better but this time round they really have set themselves a huge task. Not only did they have to build a "practical chopper" but they also had to produce one that bike lovers worldwide weren't going to laugh at as it's 40+ businessman owner drove on by. I have to say they haven't done a bad job.



Here are the bikes details:
Wheel base: 1808.5mm (the longest wheelbase of any production motorcycle)
Engine: 1312cc fuel-injected and liquid-cooled V-twin
Tyres: 200 series rear tire supported by a hidden monoshock. Super skinny 90/90-21 front tire
Drive type: Shaft (no it's not a belt)

WORDS,PICS: CAFERACERSRETURN

ALSO READ:
2009 MOTO GUZZI STELVIO RIDDEN

2009 Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 ridden

Pic: www.motorcycledaily.com

Barry Winfield from www.motorcycledaily.com got astride the new 2009 Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200. Here is what he has to say

The big deal about the Moto-Guzzi Stelvio 1200 4V is how it feels to ride. You can read all about how it is named for the famous Stelvio Pass cut into the Ortles Massif, and how there are 84 hairpin bends in it, and write that off as romantic piffle. You can check out the gladiatorial looks of the bike and put that down to the usual European fascination with adventure-tourers.

But once the big Goose is rolling along under you, the accumulated engineering experience associated with a long and storied heritage are made real by the beat of the venerable V-twin, the precision of the big chassis, and the sheer organic conversation the Stelvio has with its rider. Even if you aren't a fan of this genre, or of big V-twins with shaft drive, this bike will charm you into seeing things differently......

Read the whole article HERE

Also read:
Kawasaki pulls out of MotoGP!

Kawasaki pulls out of MotoGP!

Kawasaki out of MotoGP - bad news. New colors for the Ninja 250R - lovely news!

Yep, the recession is having its worst effects for bikers. Kawasaki has pulled out of 2009 MotoGP... sad news, isnt it?

Most of you might be aware of the recently introduced limited edition colors for the Kawasaki Ninja 250R. In addition to Metallic Diablo Black, Sunbeam Red and Candy Thunder Blue, the 2009 Ninja 250R will be available in a Special Edition Lime Green and Metallic Diablo Black combination. The great-looking paint scheme of the new Special Edition Ninja 250R which features Kawi green with black side panels, echoes the MotoGP ZX-RR.

Will Bajaj gets these colors for India? With the Ninja 250R all set for an Indian launch, we can only pray they get these fab colors for sale here as well. Our fingers are crossed!

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Riding to the worlds highest place: Day 6
Suzuki Hayabusa and Intruder tested in India
Triumph threemotard?