Motorcycle Sport: motorcycles

Showing posts with label motorcycles. Show all posts

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Piaggio will release 250cc sport motorcycles

Everyone knows that Piaggio is known as a manufacturer of scooters, but wait, reportedly will release a Piaggio Motorcycle sport a 250cc engine. It seems that this news makes you wonder why Piaggio 250cc Motorcycle wanted released, but now Piaggio already has brand you normally produces sport motorcycles, the Aprilia.

popularity is what makes Piaggio wanted to create a bike in the 250cc segment, Piaggio turns out, is more popular than the Aprilia. Of course, competition motorcycles in the 250cc segment will be increasingly fierce, and will be ready to confront the KTM Duke 200, Honda CBR250R and Kawasaki Ninja 250R.

Reportedly Piaggio will use Aprilia RS4 as a basis 250cc motorcycle. It is estimated, that engine will be used is a quarter liter with 4 valves a cylinder and also the injection system and liquid-cooled, and can issue a power to 25-30 bhp.

GPS for motorcycles can be used to communicate

GPS (Global Positioning System) is indispensable for those of you who like to explore on a motorcycle. Even more interesting GPS can be used as a means of communication along the way.

The product from Yucomtrack can be used for motorcycles, which can be placed on the motorcycle handlebars, wooow very interesting. and its more unique GPS can be used as a means of communication among users with a distance of 15 meters, and can facilitate communication when touring.

Oops almost forgot, Yeah GPS is commonly called the Moto-Navi, to charge the battery takes about 3 hours and can be used up to 8 hours.

Below is a way to connect the GPS to communicate:

1. Turn on the GPS that can be used as a signpost.
2. Turn on the bluetooth facility in it.
3. Bring your fellow frequency GPS users.
4. Verify the user inter GPS.
5. The riders were able to communicate, up to a distance of 15 meters.

The arduous task to test 50 motorcycles in two days

At the end of last week, days 13 and 14, happened on the proving ground of Pirelli, Sumaré, São Paulo State, the vote of motorcycles motorcycle of the year contest finalists of the Duas Rodas magazine.

The worlds largest motorcycle contest elects the best releases of the last 12 months, you must have at least three competitors in each category. You can also participate in the "Bike of the year" from previous year and/or category most in demand, if the number of launches is not enough.

Picking up all the information from Honda GL 1800 Gold Wing

For the second consecutive year had the opportunity to join this select group of journalists who had a "difficult task" to test and vote in 50 different categories 12 bikes, in two days. "Difficult" because the level of the bikes is getting better, and in some categories it was difficult to appoint a winner.

The questions on which we have 5 to 10 notes were: engine, suspension, brake, Comfort, Manoeuvrability, Design and Cost-Benefit. The latter weighed to improve or worsen the average of several of them.

Besides me, the jury was composed by Arthur boiler (Infomoto Agency), Celso Martinez, (Canal Nostalgia), Cicero (Duas Rodas magazine), Leandro Mello (Program Auto Sport/the Duas Rodas magazine), Roberto Demarco (newspaper O Globo) and Téo Mascarenhas (O Estado de Minas). The public can also participate by voting via the magazines website. The result will be announced on the evening of 24 October. Stay tuned!

Here are the finalists:

Motor Scooter
Honda Biz 100
Honda Biz 125
Kasinski Win Eletrika

Street up to 150cc
Dafra Riva 150
Honda CG 150 Flex Fan
Suzuki GSR 150i

Street up to 300cc
Dafra Roadwin 250R
Dafra Next 250
Honda CBR 250R
Honda CB 300R
Yamaha Make 250 BlueFlex tip

Trail
Honda NX 400i Falco
Honda NXR 150 Bros
Honda XRE 300
Kasinski CRZ 150

Big trail up to 800cc
BMW G 650GS Backwoods
Honda NC 700X
Honda XL 700V Transalp
Kawasaki Versys 650 City
Yamaha XT 660Z Ténéré

Big trail up to 1200cc
BMW R 1200GS
Honda VFR 1200X Crosstourer
Kawasaki Versys 1000
Yamaha XT 1200Z Super Ténéré

Touring
Harley-Davidson Street Glide
Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited
Harley-Davidson CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide
Honda GL 1800 Gold Wing
Kawasaki Concours 14

Sport-touring
Honda CBR 600F
Honda VFR 1200F
Kawasaki Ninja 650
Kawasaki Ninja 1000
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R

Sport
BMW S 1000RR
Honda CBR 1000RR
MV Agusta F4
Yamaha YZF R1

Naked up to 800cc
BMW F 800R
Honda CB 600F Hornet
Kawasaki ER-6
Kasinski Comet 650 GT

Naked up to 1200cc
Honda CB 1000R
Kawasaki Z1000
MV Agusta Brutale 1090

Custom
Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback 1600
Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 1600
Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special 1250
Suzuki Boulevard M800R
Suzuki Boulevard M1500R

Rare German and UK motorcycles

There are some really rare bikes in this world which are quite unknown to non hardcore motorcycle enthusiasts. Not that it has some exemplary engineering or set the world on its foot, but these bikes are so rare that they immediately become collector’s item once it is discovered in garages and other dingy places. Motorcycle came into existence during the late 19th century and the early 20th century was the kind of trial and error period with more errors to say. These errors have now become collector’s item. I am trying to start a series where these rare motorcycles can be featured with a brief history of its company. Of course most of them were from Britain or Germany as they were the pioneers of motorcycles during the first half of the 20th century and maybe you won’t believe it, but in Germany during the 20s to say 50s, there were around 500 production houses which were into motorcycling.

We all know about Adler as a car and motorcycle manufacturer, but they also were into bicycles and typewriters. The first half of the 20th century was dedicated to cars although Adler started out with motorcycles in 1902 which unluckily was very short lived. It was only after WW II, Adler refocused on motorcycles when 2 wheelers gained prominence as a cheap means of transport. Initially they started out with small 200cc engines. Their motorcycles were reputed to carry an excellent chassis and good suspensions which meant Adler bikes gave good riding comfort. The first 200cc engine was the M200 twin which was later refined and came out as the M250 Twin and it also became the best seller for Adler. It is said that brands like Yamaha and Ariel went into motorcycling after looking at the success bought by the M250. However after a decade and half, an electrical company by the name of Grundig bought Adler in 1958 and the motorcycle wing was shut down the same year. To its credit, Yamaha based their first twin cylinder motorcycle upon the Adler and also the company met reasonable success in endurance racing.

Maybe you do not remember the name, but I am definite you have seen this bike somewhere, in a forum or a website. And probably you have even heard about Mars Stella but couldn’t recognize one if you see it standing. Well, this is the Mars Stella 150cc two stroke single. If you have seen some of my recent posts related to Legend of The Motorcycle, look for the white motorcycle written MARS in the tank. In 1921, Mars built a behemoth of a bike, the White Mars which (at that time) had a 986cc twin engine (boxer) and a frame of pressed steel. The engine came from a Maybach boxer. As majestic as it is, this was not probably a practical bike anyway. 30 years later, a certain Mr. Rudi Albert designed this Mars Stella 150 which turned out to be a huge success. Mars had built the then futuristic White Mars in 1921 and it was ahuge and resounding success in Germany. The company used Fafnir and Zedel engines, while Fafnir was German, Zedel was Swiss and both companies sold their engines to many German companies during that time. With the World Wars and all, Germany had an unstable economy and Mars shut company in 1924.

NSU (Neckarsulm Stickmachen Union) was a relatively more well known company and it was active for more time compared to companies which were around during its time. The company started their business in 1873 with manufacturing and repairing knitting machines. With the new century, they experimented with motorized bicycles getting engines from Zedel just like Mars did as mentioned in the previous paragraph. But they soon making their own engines and usually companies launch themselves and refine their machines to race level so that they could gather more global attention. NSU just didn’t bother making the first step and so not surprisingly their first production class was race bikes. It worked for them and also the fact that at the very first time it participated at the Isle of Mann in 1907, 2 years after their first model was out, it finished a creditable 5th. Then came the first World War, but NSU was just waiting for the war to be over, NSU were back by 1922 and within a decade, NSU was one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world. Even the second WW was not enough to dampen their enthusiasm and in 1956, a streamlined 500cc NSU twin raced at an incredible 210 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. But by the late 60s, NSU wanted to get into the car business as the market was again getting up, their rotary engine car flopped and VW bought the company putting an end to once very formidable motorcycle company.

Like most motorcycle companies, Victoria also started out being a bicycle manufacturing company in 1886. Just before 20th century was to arrive, they produced their first prototype motorcycle in 1899. Then they took 5 years in the new century to make that prototype into production house and even when they did, it has those oft mentioned Fafnir and Zedel engines. Even after WWI, they continued to outsource their engines from Fafnir, Zedel and then contacted BMW for a 493cc horizontally opposed fore and aft twin cylinder engine. At those times, even BMW were making just engines and later when BMW began building their own motorcycles, Victoria recruited former BMW designer Martin Stolle to further develop the engine. Two of their successful models were Aero, a 250cc 2 stroke engine and Bergmeister, a 350cc 4 stroke engine and both models were reinvented time and again. The Aero came just after WW II and was in heavy demand in the 50s. The Bergmeister was announced in 1951 but was not released until 1953 along with a new Aero model. The 350cc had a 35 degree V-Twin engine with a four speed transmission and a powerful driveline. The Bergmeister was very successful but margin was less as production cost was very high. And BMW along with DKW were coming on strong. In the early 60s, due to financial strain, Victoria merged with DKW.

Now, if like me, you belong to Generation X, you might recall our grandfathers riding bicycles by the name of Rayleigh and they would vouch for it for their smoothness and what not. I thought it was defunct, but hey! It is very much active still making bicycles (UK website, US website). It was only a few years back that I got to know that the same Rayleigh company used to make motorcycles. Of course by the name you know, it had to be British. They made their first motorcycle in 1899 and in 1903, the Raleighette was born, a belt-driven three-wheel motorcycle with the driver in the back and a wicker seat for the passenger between the two front wheels. It was not much of a success. In 1930, it launched an atypical motorcycle, a motorcycle fitted with a cabin for cargo and a hood for the driver and followed it up with some more varieties which hardly resembled a motorcyle. There was even a saloon variant. But their real machines which made news were there luxury bikes that they developed post WW I. A 698cc flat twin, which was later replaced by a 798cc 60 degree V-Twin engine. Unluckily both had very short production life. Raleigh also produced models with sv engines of 174 to 498cc, and ohv engines of 348cc and 498cc. It was again in 1958 Rayleigh launched a moped with a 50cc engine made by BSA and they revolutionized the moped concept and as such the company is called ‘Father of Mopeds.

Source of info and photos - Goodol Wikipedia, Cyber Motorcycle and stkone Flickr album . The Cyber Motorcycle website is truly one of the best sites to follow Vinatge and Classics. It literally has everything you can possibly dream of. I picked up a few images from stkone Flickr album. Man, you should see this album, it has captured almost all the vintage European bikes from various shows and events.

Motorcycle Sport

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Sunday, May 12, 2013

Piaggio will release 250cc sport motorcycles

Friday, May 10, 2013

GPS for motorcycles can be used to communicate

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The arduous task to test 50 motorcycles in two days

Monday, May 6, 2013

Rare German and UK motorcycles