Saturday, September 28, 2013
TVS BMW TO LAUNCH A 250CC BIKE BY 2014
“These products will be manufactured by us in India with two different styles, features and specifications, one for BMW for sale throughout the world and one for TVS,” added Srinivasan about the production plans. As we already reported the agreement is only for developing and producing motorcycles and it will be up to the individual companies to market and sell the motorcycles, which means that both TVS and BMW will share their products separately like before. However, in India, BMW has only two dealers at the moment. As the production of the newly developed products is expected to begin in India, BMW will have to develop a larger sales network, so they can match-up with the production. Stephan Schaller, President BMW Motorrad said, “In view of changing motorcycle markets, demographic developments, and increasing environmental demands we are expanding our product range so as to tap into fresh growth potential.” He further added, “In future we will be able to offer vehicles in smaller capacity classes in addition to the BMW Motorrad core segments.”
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Key Performance Indicators 2013 Honda CBR250R ABS
ENGINE
Engine Type 249.4cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke
Bore And Stroke 76mm x 55mm
Induction PGM-Fi, 38mm throttle body
Ignition Computer-controlled digital transistorized with electronic advance
Compression Ratio 10.7:1
Valve Train DOHC; four valves per cylinder
DRIVE TRAIN
Transmission Six-speed
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION / BRAKES
Front Suspension 37mm fork; 4.65 inches travel
Rear Suspension Pro-Link single shock with five positions of spring preload adjustability
Front Brake Single 296mm disc/ABS
Rear Brake Single 220mm disc/ABS
Front Tire 110/70-17 radial
Rear Tire 140/70-17 radial
DIMENSIONS
Rake 25.0 degrees
Trail 98.6mm (3.9 inches)
Wheelbase 53.9 inches
Seat Height 30.5 inches
Curb Weight 366 pounds. Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel-ready to ride.
Fuel Capacity 3.4 gallons
Miles Per Gallon 77 MPG – Honda’s fuel economy estimates are based on EPA exhaust emission measurement test procedures and are intended for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you ride, how you maintain your vehicle, weather, road conditions, tire pressure, installation of accessories, cargo, rider and passenger weight, and other factors.
OTHER
Model Id CBR250R ABS
Emissions Meets current EPA standards. Models sold in California meet current CARB standards and may differ slightly due to emissions equipment.
Available Colors Black, Red, Pearl White/Blue/Red
Note Specifications subject to change without notice.
*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel-ready to ride.
**Miles per gallon values are calculated estimates offuel consumed during laboratory exhaust emissions tests specified by the EPA, not during on-road riding. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you ride and maintain your vehicle, weather, road conditions, tire pressure, cargo and accessories, rider and passenger weight, and other factors.
Meets current CARB and EPA standards
Sunday, September 22, 2013
2011 Buell 1190RS Racing Review
But anyone familiar with Erik Buell tenacious always knew I would see him and his influence on another streetbike. It was only a matter of time.
Well, that time has become the Expo weekend Powersports Dealer in Indianapolis, Indiana, when Mr. Buell made his 1190RS streetbike again.
"Theyre so deep!" Motorcycle.com said during the debut of the bike, a mixture of euphoria and exhaustion, her face painted.
After Harley-Davidson has killed the Buell Motorcycle Company, Buell has restricted the construction of Streetbike motorcycle competition based solely on the construction of previous production motorcycles. This agreement has been completed.
Vision to produce a Buell sport bike U.S. enters a new chapter with 1190RS, a serious development in the countryside bike racing 1190RR private during the 2010 season with the AMA Superbike pilot Geoff May
Buell RS is covered with fresh new skin, now a real fairing and a new sleek design and cutting edge carbon fiber. His nose is very sharp, with a pair of projector headlights lens over the other similar to the Ducati 999, but a simpler layout.
Speaking of magnesium wheels RS is very special. Magnesium alloys are generally not used wheel Streetbike pounding from bumps and potholes can damage the metal relatively rigid and brittle.
Costly efforts to reduce weight also included the adoption of a lithium ion battery, helping to bring the total mass of less than 400 pounds (wet, but without fuel).
The cast aluminum frame looks outwardly similar to the 1125R, but is actually a new design, a new swingarm, which incorporates a chain drive instead of belt 1125R.
Gone are the awkward double-side-mounted radiators, which made it seem 1125R fat RADS replaced by a twin engine oil cooler in front of the sandwiching near the vacuum pump.
Buell continues his predilection for a front disc brake a little different now with 8-piston Nissin increased carbon through dual-entry fiber to deliver cool air to help heat the hangars. Its CDE has integrated its racebike since mid-last season.
No longer having to build bikes to suit a price level, Buell has equipped the RS high-end componentry. The top-shelf Ohlins fork and shock handle suspension duties, while billet aluminum is used to control foot and triple clamps.
The dealer is the next step in the right RBE. Buell says he does not care what brand (s) if the dealer sells at the moment, but he insists that the passion for sport bikes. Initially, the EBR 1190RSs first sold by the operation of the Buell East Troy, Wisconsin, located on the corner of the former factory Buell.
Buell is well known for his endless dedication and hard work, but has again taken to another level. "I worked harder today than I ever dreamed," he said. "Im really strange feeling manic."
"There are lots of options," he said of what could be next, including the ability to design new engines and the bike cold.
1190R-platform development continues at the racetrack with a rider may Geoff test machine to another season in AMA Superbike competition.
Meanwhile, we hope to have a walk in the 1190RS soon as possible. Is there snow on the way to America ...?
Saturday, September 21, 2013
BMW F 650GS Dakar
Make Model | BMW F 650GS Dakar |
| Year | 2000-01 |
| Engine | Liquid cooled, four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
| Capacity | 652 |
| Bore x Stroke | 100 x 83mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11.5:1 |
| Induction | Fuel induction |
| Ignition / Starting | Capacitor Discharge Ignition system / electric |
| Max Power | 50 hp @ 6500 rpm |
| Max Torque | 44 lb.-ft. @ 5200 rpm |
| Transmission / Drive | 5 Speed / chain |
| Front Suspension | 41mm telescopic fork with stabilizer bridge |
| Rear Suspension | Spring setting and rebound stage damping continuously adjustable |
| Front Brakes | Single 300mm disc 2 piston caliper |
| Rear Brakes | Single 240mm disc 1 piston caliper |
| Front Tyre | 90/90 S21 |
| Rear Tyre | 130/80 S17 |
| Seat Height | 870 mm |
| Wet-Weight | 192 kg |
| Fuel Capacity | 17.3 Litres |
| Consumption average | 21.4 km/lit |
| Standing ¼ Mile | 13.7 sec |
| Top Speed | 177.1 km/h |
| Reviews | Motorbikes Today / Motorrad / Bikepoint |
| Manual & Tech info | BMWgsclub.nl / Hint & Tips |
OK so it is really a dirt bike. It is very tall, has miles of suspension and runs on chunky nobblies. The very name "Dakar" conjures up images of huge central European motocrossers storming across miles of unforgiving desert tracks. You might be forgiven for thinking it would therefore be a pretty compromised road bike. Youd be wrong. Very wrong.
The BMW F650 Dakar is one of the most versatile and competent road bikes it has been my pleasure to take anywhere. It makes a fantastic town bike as you would expect, our limited off road test (we like to give our test bikes back in one piece!) confirmed its usability off road but incredibly, it would chug along quite nicely for mile after mile of motorway too. All this and BMW reliability,
BMW engineering and of course, the BMW badge.
I must admit, I was pretty apprehensive before picking up this bike. Drop off a full house BMW touring bike and bring back the Dakar down the same 200 odd miles of the M1. Oh dear. What chance would this offroader stand with my first impressions blighted so severely, or so I thought.
The first thing you notice as you swing your leg over 34" of seat is the five inches of free space this leaves between your feet and the ground, that is of course if you only have 29" of leg to swing. This fairly fundamental mismatch is far less of a problem than less vertically challenged bikers might think. Most tall bikes are crossers or supermoto and therefore pretty lightweight, a slight angle and theres not so much tippy toeing. I have never been one to paddle a bike around anyway and once you get your feet up this bike balances beautifully.
This particular bike was fitted with a Laser end can and started up with a startling bark. Nice. Almost un-BMW-like but perfectly appropriate for such an aggressively styled machine. The throttle doubles as a volume control (!) and you can pretty much choose how much noise you make by being more or less violent with it.
Immediately on pulling away you are struck by how balanced the bike is and how much control this gives you. Good job too because the first thing I did on this bike before joining the motorway was to test the handling on a lovely long lefthander. Oops. The corner appears to tighten up as I drift wide with that sinking feeling. But theres no fuss, no drama and the balance helps what might have been a long graceful oversteer into the bushes is a gentle reminder that only half of the rubber on this tyre is actually reaching the road. The chunky enduro nobblies seem to walk across the tarmac but they dont really let go and you soon get used to the slightly wider line.
And so onto the motorway. I do like big singles and I am a confirmed short shifter by nature but in the interests of science, thrash this bike up through the box. The exhaust note changes from a deep visceral bark to a machine gun staccato and the engine spins up without complaint or, thankfully any nasty vibration. No great surprises from the Rotax waterboiler in the power department and no great alacrity in the resulting velocity curve but a very pleasant surprise with the respectable pace at which this machine will comfortably cruise.
Having been worried I would be spoiled by the immediate experience of the BMW1150RS I had just dropped off, I find I am actually much happier cruising on this machine at the same, if not slightly higher speed. Bizarre. More to do with the speeds you can get away with in the UK than any criticism of the bigger Boxer engined machine. A "barely legal" (that will keep our search engine busy!) cruising speed on the Dakar is more comfortable (and more fun) than its bigger brother. The tall fly screen works particularly well at keeping the windblast at bay while the engine just feels indestructible without any intrusive vibration. A slight weave sets in at 90 plus, as you would expect given the aerodynamics of such a bike but things never get out of hand. Two hundred miles later and I could turn around and do it again. No numb bum, no vibration whitefinger and no complaints.
It is only when I start wheeling the bike into the garage I begin to notice the size and weight of this machine. For a single cylinder four stroke, albeit watercooled and all that, it is a heavy bike tipping the scales at 192kgs. The figures dont lie but it is just a number and in motion the bike carries this weight well. Fuel is carried low under the seat and the designers must have got something right with the geometry because, well, it just doesnt feel heavy at all.
Looking around the bike, you are struck by the attention to detail and the build quality of the cycle parts. You have to look pretty close though, in the same way that "money talks, wealth whispers", the BMW doesnt shout at you with garish acronyms and loud logos. It is the simplicity and elegance of construction that almost hides itself but lets not forget, this bike is designed for reliability and durability. The simpler the better. Controls, often a moot point with BMW bikes generally are pretty good on this example. You get heated grips as standard and if youve never experienced this on a bike, you are missing out big time. The warmth is welcome on all but the sunniest of days, especially in the UK and creates a whole new relationship with the bike. We digress.
Rear suspension is adjustable for preload from a chunky dial on the right hand side of the bike and also for damping on the shock body. Cranking up preload makes wheelies a doddle but the softer setting makes for a much more comfortable ride. And the ride is comfortable. One of the advantages of a higher sprung weight is the ability to soak up bumps without upsetting the rider. No bumpy, flighty supermoto tendencies here, my only criticism of the comfort was that I couldnt share it with a passenger. Our bike came with a single seat and hard plastic compartment cover although the rear footrests were still fitted. I cant really see the point of the single seat option and I would have to worry about landing on the solid cover in the event of a forced landing. Right on the coccyx.
The Dakar makes an excellent town bike, especially given the bumpy roads around London.
Dirt bikes are the two wheeled equivalent of the ubiquitous SUV (Sport Utility Vehicles aka shopping trucks) and you get the same high and mighty feeling when riding such a tough looking machine as this. The Dakar is in its element dicing around town, strafing errant motorists with a loud crack from the exhaust. This bike encourages hooligan behaviour which contrasts wickedly with the erstwhile sensibility of the BMW moniker. I find myself jumping speed bumps and deliberately aiming at potholes, just because I can. The Dakar will soak up just about anything you can throw at it.
Given BMWs excellent record in winning the gruelling and highly competitive Paris-Dakar on bikes like this, it is almost heresy to suggest that the F650 Dakar is the perfect commuter. But it is, so shoot me. There is also a whole host of optional accessory luggage and given the way this bike shrugs off its weight, I would expect a fully loaded bike to behave with the same delicate balance and sure footed agility.
The Dakar differs from its closest relative, the unfortunately titled "Funduro" not only with its striking "Desert Blue" paint job but an extra couple of inches of suspension travel at either end and larger diameter 21" front wheel. ABS is not an option on the Dakar (unlike the Funduro) but then I am personally not a fan of ABS on bikes, especially on bumpy town roads or in heavy traffic, so no complaints here. For those of you who havent experienced ABS it feels like the bike shoots forwards just when you really want it to stop. Heartstopping when it kicks in. The science is sound and there are figures to prove ABS will stop you quicker but Id rather feel the tyre begin to slip rather than the brakes begin to go away...
So who should consider a bike like this? Well frankly, who shouldnt? The Dakar does pretty much everything; on-road, off-road and everything in between. I must admit I really missed the Dakar when I had to hand it back to BMW. More so than any other bike I have been fortunate enough to test. It was just so easy to live with. Reliable, comfortable, practical and the ideal vehicle for weekend outdoor adventure and day to day traffic dodging.
Sure there are better enduro bikes but they are usually compromised for serious road use. What about the current surge in Super Moto machinery? Well the best of those are really competition bikes, hilarious for short trips but tiring on longer journeys. Youd need a road bike too or a good proctologist. The closest all rounder in this category has to be the Funduro of course but "Funduro"? Oh dear. Great bike Ill bet but wouldnt you rather have a Dakar in your stable? I would. In fact one of these days I rather hope I will.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Yamaha Cage Six
The stern also protected iron layer (skid plate) to add strength if the bike trail or bounced. What is needed here freestyler, like footsteps in the front fork and rear, as well as hand protectors attached to the handlebars. Another secret weapon in the form of packets dual-rear brake caliper.
Kawasaki KLX450R Africa
Finally a green bike returns to compete in an important rally, after some sporadic apparition, in these last years, happened by means of private pilots foreigners. The KL Kawasaki KLX450R Africa is all Italian. It is discussed some jewlery built from the veteran Fabio Benetti that naturally has made use of also dell experience of the companion of team, Greatest Church, but above all that of the dakariano for antonomasia, Franco Summit.
The bike was built literally "at home", making use of itself of the collaboration of some local craftsmen, in the first place that of the Firm Zevi of Schiavon (YOURSELVES). Numerous the renovations immediately from the KLX450R Africa to give back the suitable to such type of contest: on sutti the large keel that wraps the roomy previous tank of quite 22 liters, while a second tank, always for the gasoline, lived in the left part-rear of the bike and contains other 6.5 liters of fuel.
The fairing, naturally, hides all important instrumentation of navigation, but a lot other are the structural interventions adoptees on this means. The lamp on the left radiator (commanded from a sensor but that can be activated also manually) and both the radiators slightly were folded and detached from the chassis to favor the flow dell air. The engine, that is of series, was not changed.
The fairing, naturally, hides l important instrumentation of navigation, but a lot other are the structural interventions adoptees on this means. The lamp on the left radiator (commanded from a sensor but that can be activated also manually) and both the radiators slightly were folded and detached from the chassis to favor the flow dell air. The engine, that is of series, was not changed.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
2011 Triumph Thunderbird Storm Review
New Year, Triumph take a page from the book America and efforts to raise with the new Thunderbird Storm. In short, while T-Bird is an elegant, friendly cruiser Storm is a certifiable badass.
But as they say, not to replace the transition, and an optional 1700 cc Big Bore kits available for the Thunderbird is now installed as the Storm series. This set includes the most obvious pistons, cams reviewed, the largest segments, new cylinder liners, piston pins, and seals. Upgraded clutch springs have also dealt a blow to power. Consider the T-Bird still need to be warned: it is still involved in a smaller engine.
The rest of the engine characteristics remain the same: it is still a liquid-cooled, dual overhead cam head and a range of 270 degrees of fire that especially the accessory exhaust system Triumph sounds strangely like a certain American-twin V exhaust note of Milwaukee. 9.7:1 compression ratio, and fed into the cylinders through the gas fuel injection. In fact, the rest of the Storm is pretty much black-out T-Bird as well.
Before you ever throw a leg over the bike, I took a step back and just admire its beauty. Styling is a subjective topic, but my first reaction is that Triumph has done its homework on how to style a cruiser which still retains its aggressive character. To validate my point, sitting outside the hotel, there were some storms draw the attention of hotel guests, which covers almost the entire spectrum of ages, men and women. Curiously, the storm draws attention for its lack of chromium in the same way that T-Bird does for its abundance of it.
Since the cylinders are side by side, rather than the V-angle, the seat can be closer to the bar with the fuel tank, which does not need to be stretched to cover the front of the cylinder as a V-Twin . Storm is also very useful to confirm raised bar, which does not change the distance of the bar, but the status bar tweaks just a smidge. This puts the pilot in my size in a comfortable and natural.
Thumb-starter, and is as impressive as it is made up of 1699cc parallel twin engine. Counterbalancers twin engine that naturally suppress feelings Buzzy. My focus is shifting from just the engine moving again. 1700 cc mill is a key part of the bike has everything and needs attention. Each touch of the accelerator to produce a sense of immediacy and strap the rear wheel, it felt like the whole body. No matter which one you have six gears, a wide spread of torque is not accelerating in storm quickly. Enough to pave the way for a short gear teeth are used in the top five quickly, but the high level of indebtedness of the sixth makes it ideal for overdrive.
In the tight stuff, it was impressive storm (for a cruiser anyway). It balanced turn-in and have a good line, with its track 151mm. Suspension, which consists of a 47mm Showa fork and dual front shocks in the rear, providing 4.7 and 3.7 inches of travel, respectively. The units are not adjustable save up adjusting the preload on the rear.
While the storm is building the momentum forward, occasionally comes to rest is also important, and the Storm offers a worry-free performance and impressive, which is something not normally associated with bikes this category. Dual 310 mm floating disc at the front are coupled to each Nissin four-piston, while the 310 mm rear disc is attached to a fixed twin-piston Brembo. The binding energy compared to only provide decent stop, but press the rear brake lever and also has the power braking feel the sport.
Storm is available in any color as long as its black, but at least you get to choose Matt Black and Jet Black. One of them will cost you $ 13,899.