More details have been released on the BMW F800GS dual sport, which plants the twin cylinder motor from the road-going F800 motor into a dual-sport frame. The motor’s output remains similar to the road bike’s with 85 hp available but with power coming on a bit earlier (max hp at 7,500 rpm vs 8,000 rpm … Continue reading BMW F800GS – details
Calling an 800 a 650 just seems wrong … and very, very un-German. BMW calls it a 650, but the new enduro model is more than that. In fact, it’s an 800, but a detuned one, with the F800 series motor set up for linear power across the range, delivering a maximum 71 hp at … Continue reading BMW F650GS – details
Based on the competition version of this machine, the G450X is BMW’s new street-legal enduro model. A single-cylinder, DOHC, forward-canted motor allows for a straighter air intake channel and therefore better fueling from its fuel injection system, with a max claimed power of 55 hp. The engine employs an unusual reverse-rotating crankshaft, with the (cable-operated) … Continue reading BMW G450X – details
V-twin-powered FV2 A concept superbike and what appears to be a production supermoto model have been put on display by Aprilia at the Milan Motorcycle Show. The FV2 is a radically-designed high-performance model powered by a 1200 cc, 90-degree V-twin developed from the 750 cc powerplant of Aprilia’s Shiver. A carbon fibre chassis integrates the … Continue reading Aprilia double dare
CB1000R replaces 919. Honda’s naked streetbike, the 919, gets a sportier attitude this year with a new look, significant chassis upgrades and a transplanted motor from the 2007 CBR1000RR – making it a CB1000R. The supersports motor is retuned for punch at low and medium rpm ranges and gets smaller 36 mm fuel injector bodies … Continue reading New Honda CB1000R
RC8 in production form KTM has shown a production version of the 1190 RC8 superbike at Milan. Seen in prototype form a few years ago, the new bike is equipped with an 1149 cc motor that pumps out a claimed 155 hp. The RC8 gets a steel trellis frame with cast aluminum subframe, USD forks, … Continue reading KTM RC8 superbike
1098R gets more power and less weight. More Ducati news from the Milan show includes the new 1098R – a tuned up 1098 with an 8 kg weight loss over the standard 1098 to boot. Ducati claim that this makes the 1098R the most powerful and lightest twin ever built by them. Max claimed power … Continue reading Ducati 1098R
848 gets additional 100cc and 1098 styling. Ducati’s middleweight sports model has grown up this year, with a boost in displacement to 849.4 cc and a 30 per cent increase in maximum power. The 848, revealed this week in Milan, has also lost weight compared to the 749, down 20 kg for a total dry … Continue reading Ducati 848
Monster 696 gets more power With more muscle and a convertible wardrobe, Ducati’s Monster 696 enters 2008 ready to defend its status as a member of the famiglia Naked Bike numero uno. The new 696 cc air-cooled motor produces 9 per cent more horsepower (now 80) and 11 per cent more torque (50.6 lb-ft) than … Continue reading Ducati Monster 696
Top: F800GS (with optional luggage) Middle: F650GS Bottom: G450X Enduro BMW’s much-lauded F800 will be shown in GS dual-purpose format at the Milan Motorcycle Show later this week. The new F800GS takes its styling cues from the R1200GS and uses the parallel twin motor as seen in earlier F800 models, and comes with long suspension, … Continue reading BMW release new models