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• 2016 BMW i8 gets matching limited Cruise e-Bike

  In Bikes, BMW, Cars, International News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 6 October 2016 5:05 pm / 4 comments

  

  As part of BMW’s Lifestyle range of products, the BMW i8 special edition – recently premiered at the Paris Motorshow – gets a limited Cruise e-Bike that matches its Protonic Dark Silver paint scheme. Priced at 3,500 euro (RM16,224), the Cruise e-Bike comes with bright Electric Blue rims to complement the frame.

  A “hybrid drive” – basically a bicycle with bottom bracket mounted electric motor – powers the Cruise e-Bike with a 400 Wh battery. Called the “Performance Line” drive, there are four different power modes available from “Eco”, which adds a 50% boost to the rider’s power, up to “Turbo” that gives a 275% gain.

  Top speed of the e-Bike is 25 km/h with electrical pedal assistance. In addition to this, 10-speed gearing allows riders to tackle steep slopes or for sprinting. Each Cruise e-Bike comes with a certificate and special badge, and production is limited to 300 units. The e-Bike is available from selected BMW retail partners.

   

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• 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650 sportsbike and Z650 naked sports announced – ER-6f and ER-6n replacements

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Kawasaki / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 6 October 2016 3:32 pm / 4 comments

  

  

  With Kawasaki’s ER-6f sportsbike and ER-6n naked sports being the solid sales success that they are, it appears as if their replacements have now made an appearance. For 2017, Kawasaki have announced the 2017 Ninja 650 and the Z650 naked sports.

  Carrying the 649 cc DOHC eight-valve parallel-twin from the ER-6 bikes, this power plant puts out a claimed 67 hp at 8,000 rpm and 65.7 Nm of torque. Fuelling is taken care of by by EFI with twin-36 mm throttle bodies containing dual-valves.

  Braking is with dual-piston calipers grabbing 300 mm petal discs in front and a single 220 mm disc at the back, with Bosch 9.1M ABS. The Ninja 650 weighs 193 kg, while the Z650 comes in at 187 kg, with both machines having a very rider-friendly 790 mm seat height.

  There is currently only one colour option available for the Ninja 650, Kawasaki Racing Team, or KRT, colours of black and green, while the Z650 gets four paint schemes. These are Pearl Flat Stardust White/Metallic Spark Black, Candy Lime Green/Metallic Spark Black, Metallic Flat Spark Black/Metallic Spark Black and Metallic Raw Titanium/Metallic Spark Black.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Yamaha MT-10 updated with quickshifter, MT-10 SP gets YZF-R1M tech, Ohlins electronic suspension

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Yamaha / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 6 October 2016 2:05 pm / 1 comment

  

  Revised and updated for the new year is the Yamaha MT-10 naked sportsbike, and it is joined in 2017 by the MT-10 SP. Improvements have been made to Yamaha’s litre-class naked bike for the next riding season, and the SP model gets technology transferred from the YZF-R1M superbike.

  For the base model MT-10, the Yamaha 998 cc Crossplane 4 engine continues on, putting out 158 hp at 11,500 rpm and 111 Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm. What is new – like the 2017 Yamaha MT-09 – is the inclusion of a Quick Shift System (QSS).

  Allowing for faster footwork through the six-speed gearbox, the QSS is combined with revised engine mapping to smoothen out throttle response. ABS, traction and ride modes remain, and an Assist & Slipper (A&S) clutch is now standard, eliminating rear wheel lock-up during down-shifts.

  

  

  

  The 2017 Yamaha MT-10 SP sees technology from the YZF-R1M racetrack weapon making the transition to road use. Ohlins Electronic Racing Suspension makes its appearance on the SP, giving optimum suspension setup based on road and riding conditions.

  Also new for 2017 on the MT-10 SP is a thin-film transistor (TFT) LCD colour display, which is rider-selectable for day-or-night riding conditions. As part of the package, the SP uses a lightweight short-wheelbase aluminium Deltabox frame.

  There are three paint schemes available for the Yamaha MT-10 – Night Fluo, Race Blu and Tech Black – while the MT-10 SP only comes in Silver Blu Carbon, similar to the YZF-R1M. Availability for both naked sportsbikes is said to start from February 2017.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Ducati SuperSport and SuperSport S revealed

  In Bikes, Ducati, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 6 October 2016 10:40 am / 1 comment

  

  After the leaked press photos from two days ago, Ducati has officially revealed the 2017 Supersport and Supersport S at the Intermot show in Cologne, Germany. Designed as an everyday bike that is easy to handle and comfortable, the SuperSport is for the rider who wants an everyday bike, but with sporty handling.

  The SuperSport carries a 937 cc Testastretta 11-degree engine – taken off the Hyperstrada – and tuned to give 113 hp. Standard is the Ducati Safety Pack that combines Bosch ABS and traction control which gives the rider three ride modes, Sport, Touring and Urban.

  As Ducati’s take on a versatile “sports-touring” machine, the SuperSport comes with relaxed riding positions for the pilot and pillion, and a height-adjustable windscreen provides wind protection. Fuel is carried in a 16-litre fuel tank, which would allow the SuperSport to cover 200 km rides with ease.

  

  

  

  There are two model variants available, the base SuperSport and the SuperSport S. The SuperSport S comes standard with fully-adjustable Ohlins suspension, Ducati up/down quickshifter and a pillion seat cover.

  These items can be installed on the base SuperSport and are available from the Ducati Performance catalogue. “Expert riders will appreciate the true sports personality of the SuperSport, its excellent road performance and evident penchant for journeying and everyday use. First time riders will discover versatility, easy handling and, above all, the very essence of sports riding,” said Ducati chief executive officer Claudio Domenicali.

  Domenicali also said that the EICMA show in Italy this coming November will see more additions to the Ducati range, during the Ducati World Premiere. “We’ll reveal the other bikes being launched by Ducati this coming year, meeting many of the needs and wants of the riders in our community and those who, thanks to these latest machines, will soon be joining it,” he said.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Yamaha MT-09 updated for the new year – now with LED lights, quickshifter and upgraded suspension

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Yamaha / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 5 October 2016 6:45 pm / 23 comments

  

  Very popular in the Malaysian market is the Yamaha MT-09, much loved for its low price-to-displacement ratio, and its very capable three-cylinder engine. First launched in 2014, Yamaha has updated the MT-09 for 2017, making this the second generation of its “Master of Torque” series motorcycles.

  Up front, this naked 849 cc triple sportsbike gets full-width LED headlights – making the MT-09 resemble the MT-10 – replacing the single lens unit on the previous model. At the back the tail lights are also new, and feature LED lighting in two vertical rows.

  In the engine room, the MT-09 gets Yamaha’s Assist & Slip (A&S) clutch, which acts as a slipper clutch under downshifting load, while delivering precise engagement. Clutch lever pull has also been reduced by a full fifth, or 20%, reducing hand fatigue while riding in slow traffic conditions.

  

  

  

  A welcome update is the inclusion of the Yamaha Quick Shift System (QSS) quickshifter, which now comes as standard fitment. This was something we remarked upon when reviewing the Yamaha MT-09, and it is, indeed, a necessary piece of kit for an engine as quick as the MT-09’s.

  On the suspension side, Yamaha has obviously been listening to feedback, as the forks are now updated 41 mm diameter units with adjustable rebound and compression in the right and left fork legs, respectively. The rear tailpiece is now gone for 2017, replaced by a swingarm-mounted carrier for the number plate.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000 – the Gixxer goes high-tech

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Suzuki Motorcycles / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 5 October 2016 6:05 pm / 2 comments

  

  That the 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000 was coming in the new year was no surprise at all, with Suzuki making an official announcement of the Gixxer replacement as far back as 2015. What was anticipated were the changes that were going to be made to Suzuki’s flagship superbike, and it was well worth the wait.

  Top of the list is the variable valve timing (VVT) system in the GSX-R1000. A completely mechanical system – as dictated by MotoGP rules – a cluster of ball bearings is driven by centrifugal force to change the cam orientation and affect valve timing for top-end power.

  Suzuki claims the big Gixxer will produce 199.2 hp and 117.6 Nm of torque. According to a Motorcycle News report, Shinichi Sahara and Eiji Sasaki, GSX-R chief engineer and engine project leader respectively, have said the GSX-R1000 engine gets a power boost from “about 10,000 rpm.”

  

  The GSX-R engine is also physically smaller, with paired velocity stacks – long and short – in the inlet tract to produce both mid-range and top-end power. The Gixxer comes in two flavours for 2017, the base GSX-R1000, and the more race oriented GSX-R1000R.

  Differences between the two include the suspension, where the ‘R’ model gets Showa’s Balance Free Fork (BFF) and Balance Free Cushion (BFRC) rear shock, while the base model makes do with the Showa Big Piston fork. Apparently, Suzuki test riders did not find any advantages to a semi-active suspension setup during development, so the Gixxer’s suspension is an all-mechanical setup.

  

  

  

  However, electronics are now the norm in the world of superbikes, and the 2017 GSX-R1000 is no different. There are three engine modes, a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), traction control with 10 settings, and cornering ABS. The GSX-R1000R, in addition to the base model’s electronics suite, also gets launch control and an up-and-down quickshifter.

  Instruments in the Gixxer’s cockpit are also all-new for 2017, with the base GSX-R getting a black-on-white dash, while the R gets the inverse. Lighting now uses LEDs at both ends of the 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000, and the GSX-R1000R gets a pair of LED DRLs.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Triumph Street Cup – the Thruxton R’s younger sibling, with 900 cc twin and cafe racer styling

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Triumph / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 5 October 2016 5:29 pm / 0 comment

  

  Perhaps the epitome of a modern sports bike dressed in retro clothing is the 2016 Triumph Thruxton R, with its 1,200 cc parallel-twin, Brembo brakes and Ohlins suspension, but the price of entry might be prohibitive to some. To that end, Triumph revealed the 2017 Street Cup at the Intermot show in Cologne, Germany, based on the 900 cc twin taken from the Street Twin.

  To keep costs down, most of the Street Twin’s mechanicals are used in the Street Cup, but with distinct styling touches that make the Cup runneth over. Eschewing the pukka clip-ons found on the Thruxton R, the Street Cup does the business with a pair of down-swept handlebars held in the normal manner on the upper triple clamp.

  A removable solo seat hump gives it the distinct cafe racer style, and a pair of upswept exhaust pipes in a black satin finish completes the look. The seat is also new, placing the rider slightly higher in the saddle, and slightly further back.

  

  

  

  The Triumph Street Cup also gets a pair of rear shock absorbers that are taller, but provide the same amount of suspension travel – 120 mm. This jacks up the back-end a little higher, steepening the steering angle and giving the Street Cup quicker steering response.

  Available at the end of the first quarter of 2017, the 2017 Triumph Street Cup will come in two colour schemes that have hand-applied pinstriping – Racing Yellow and Silver Ice with Jet Black, or Jet Black and Silver Ice with Gold. The 2016 Triumph Street Twin retails in Malaysia for RM55,900 including GST.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Honda and Yamaha to team up for manufacture of small-displacement “Class-1” scooters in Japan

  In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, International Bike News, Yamaha / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 5 October 2016 5:27 pm / 2 comments

  

  To cater to the burgeoning market for small-displacement scooters, motorcycle giants Honda and Yamaha have entered discussions for a possible manufacturing collaboration. Intended to cater to the Japanese “Class-1” category – covering scooters with 50 cc engine displacement or 0.06 kW electric motors – the partnership is meant to produce products for the short-range urban personal transport market.

  Targetted to begin distribution at the end of 2018, Honda will supply 50 cc scooters to Yamaha as an OEM. Currently in Honda’s catalogue as the TACT and Giorno, which are sold only in the Japanese domestic market, Yamaha will rebrand these scooters as the Yamaha JOG and Vino.

  In addition to this, Honda and Yamaha will jointly develop 50 cc “business scooters” for the Japan market. Designed to cater to small businesses in dense urban areas for delivery of goods and services, the new business scooter will be called the Benly and Gear, under Honda and Yamaha, respectively.

  The collaboration will also see the development of an electric scooter under the Class-1 classification, with the definition of issues concerning electric vehicles, such as range, power, charging time, performance and cost. This will see Honda and Yamaha sharing developments with other motorcycle manufacturers to promote the electrification of motorcycles.

  Honda EV-Neo electric scooter

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  Honda Giorno

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Kawasaki ZX-10RR – track focused limited edition

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Kawasaki / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 5 October 2016 1:06 pm / 3 comments

  

  When Kawasaki launched the 2016 ZX-10R, we thought it was perhaps the ultimate iteration of a race bike for the road. Turns out we were wrong, with the unveiling of the 2017 Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

  Coming in Winter Test colours – a scheme we enjoyed on the ZX-10R we tested – the Kawasaki ZX-10RR will only have a production run of 500 units, just enough for homologation purposes. While outwardly looking much the same as the ZX-10R, the RR hides its capability under the fairing.

  A modified cylinder head is designed for high lift cams – which are available separately as part of the bike’s race kit – and the tappets get a diamond-like coating (DLC) to reduce friction and mechanical loss. The engine cases have also been strengthened to withstand the rigours of racing.

  

  

  

  On the electronics side a Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS) is installed, and allows for both up- and down-shifts. A proper six-axis inertial measurement unit, as opposed to the ZX-10R’s five-axis unit with a sixth axis electronically computed, is new for the ZX-10RR.

  The 2017 Kawasaki ZX-10RR rolls on Marchesini seven-spoke forged wheels, because lightness. Brembo M50 radial-mounted calipers take care of the braking, grabbing grooved Brembo brake discs and actuated by a radial master cylinder.

  Keeping the weight down further, the ZX-10RR comes with a single seat, which shaves a kilogramme off the all-up weight. No word on what the price of this limited edition Kawasaki superbike might be, but the 2016 ZX-10R retails in Malaysia for RM104,859.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP and SP2 – taking the fight to the black and green machine

  In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 4 October 2016 11:58 pm / 10 comments

  

  17YM CBR1000RR Fireblade SP

  If there is one thing Honda – via its racing arm Honda Racing Corporation, or HRC – hates doing is playing second fiddle to anyone, and its 2017 CBR1000RR SP and SP2 superbikes look to be doing just that. Taking careful aim at a certain black and green machine, Honda has shown it is deadly serious about taking the fight to the current World Superbike champions.

  Honda has just released the complete specification sheet for the 2017 CBR1000RR, and the wait for the the update is well worth it. Taking a close, long look at the 999 cc DOHC inline-four that has been the cornerstone of Fireblades since 1992, the 2017 version puts out 189 hp at 13,000 rpm and 116 Nm of torque at 11,000 rpm.

  What is even more impressive is the diet the CBR1000RR has undergone, and it now weighs in at 195 kg wet – 15kg less than the 2016 model. Part of the weight reduction goes to the use of aluminium in various areas, including a die-cast aluminium sub-frame, magnesium engine covers and a titanium exhaust that shaves 2.8 kg off from the previous version.

  

  17YM CBR1000RR Fireblade SP

  What is more astounding is the inclusion of a 16-litre titanium fuel tank, produced using a deep-drawing process that makes it 1.3 kg lighter than the equivalent steel unit. According to M. Sato, project leader for the 2017 CBR1000RR Fireblade, “All 1000 cc sportsbikes are extraordinary examples of high performance engineering. But for us, for our new Fireblade we want extraordinary to be the pleasure of handling and controlling such a machine. Its true purpose – wherever it’s ridden – is to enjoy something that is not normally experienced in everyday life, something that cannot be surpassed.”

  The new CBR1000RR also comes with a full suite of electronic riding aids, including nine-level Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), Selectable Engine Brake (SEB) and Riding Mode Select System (RMSS). A quickshifter is standard, and three settings for the downshift assist that works in conjunction with the ride-by-wire auto-blipping.

  Suspension for the Honda superbike is from Ohlins, and uses Ohlins Smart-Ec, or semi-active, suspension. The front fork is a 43 mm NIX30 Smart-EC fully-adjustable unit, while the rear is suspended by a TTX36 Smart-EC absorber, also fully-adjustable.

  

  

  

  While the specification for the 2017 Honda CBR1000RR SP is impressive enough on its own, the SP2 version takes things up a notch with lighter Marchesini wheels and carbon-fibre patterns on the bodywork. The big difference lies inside the engine.

  On the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2, the cylinder head uses bigger valves, with narrower included valve angles but identical valve pitch to the SP1, ensuring that cylinder head breadth and width remains the same. The spark plugs are longer, with an optimised combustion chamber shape derived from the RC213-V MotoGP race bike.

  Designed as a homologation special, the SP2 will have not one, but two race kits available. One kit is designed for full-on racing use, while the other is for general circuit purposes.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Suzuki GSX-R 125 in surprise reveal at Intermot

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Suzuki Motorcycles / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 4 October 2016 10:33 pm / 8 comments

  

  Many manufacturers seem to be gunning for the small bike market, especially in the quarter-litre and below class. While Yamaha, Kawasaki, and KTM have been going great guns with their offerings, and Honda firing a broadside with the CBR250RR, conspicuous by its absence was Suzuki.

  Right up till the 2016 Intermot show in Cologne, Germany. In a surprise unveiling, Suzuki dropped the covers of the GSX-R 125, a single-cylinder full-fairing sportsbike meant to take the fight to market leaders such as the Yamaha YZF-R125 and Aprilia RS125.

  There were no real numbers to be had for the new small bike, save that Suzuki says the 2017 GSX-R 125 has “the best power-to-weight ratio, torque-to-weight ratio, acceleration, handling and fuel economy in the 125 class,” according to a Motorcycle News report. With a low seat height that is designed to be rider friendly, the mini Gixxer comes with an LED headlight, LCD instruments and keyless ignition.

  

  

  

  Coming in three colours – white, black and Suzuki Racing Blue, the GSX-R 125 looks to be a hit in the learner bike market, and other places where 125 cc-class bikes rule the roads, such as Indonesia and India. The 2017 Suzuki GSX-R 125 is set to hit markets sometime in the middle of next year.

  It is a shame though, that it is likely that the GSX-R 125 will never come to Malaysian shores officially since Suzuki Malaysia is no longer in the business of producing small capacity motorcycles, preferring instead to service the large-displacement motorcycle market.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 BMW Motorrad R nineT Racer – retro with style

  In Bikes, BMW Motorrad, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 4 October 2016 9:12 pm / 1 comment

  

  With the launch of the 2017 R nineT Racer at the Intermot show in Cologne, Germany, BMW Motorrad has proven the versatility for its Heritage series machine. Complemting the base model R nineT, along with the recently announced R nineT Scrambler, the Racer exudes a very 70s retro charm, looking like it just rolled out the paddock at the Isle of Man.

  Changing the very nature of the R nineT is the addition of an Imola-style fairing sporting a single round headlapmp. Harking back to the racers of the 60s and 70s, the R nineT Racer is a solo affair, with the rather basic rear sub-frame gone, along with the rear foot-pegs.

  The 1,170 cc air-cooled Boxer engine is now Euro 4 compliant, no mean feat considering the size of those pistons, and rated for 110 hp according to BMW Motorrad. The frame is also painted silver, to distinguish the R nineT Racer for its base and Scrambler stablemates.

  

  New for 2017 is the Racer’s stainless fuel tank, a 17-litre unit that is made out of steel, as opposed to the R nine T’s gorgeous aluminium tank. Obviously done with the intention of keeping costs under control, a proper racing fuel tank in aluminium is available from the Motorrad catalogue.

  Finished in BMW’s racing colours of white with red and blue stripes, the R nineT Racer rolls on five-spoke allow wheels in modern 17-inch wheel widths, allowing for the fitment of sporting rubber. The front forks are not adjustable for anything, while the rear absorber has preload and rebound adjustment.

  

  

  

  Twin analogue clocks grace the inside of the cockpit, with discrete LCD panels to provide other information from the bike’s on-board computer. ABS is standard, and BMW Motorrad’s Automatic Stability Control (ASC) is a factory option.

  A nice touch are the R nineT Racer’s rear view mirrors, which are mounted to the fairing mounting frame, instead of on the fairing itself. Part of the R nineT experience is the ability to customise the bike exactly the way you want it, and the Motorrad catalogue for its Heritage-series machines is crazily extensive, allowing for a myriad of styling options.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Kawasaki Ninja H2 Carbon limited edition – comes with new rear shock, Euro 4 compliant

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Kawasaki / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 4 October 2016 6:03 pm / 3 comments

  

  New for 2017 is the limited edition Kawasaki H2 Carbon, of which only 120 units will be made. Coming with a carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) upper fairing cowl which places it somewhat in between the road-going H2 and track-only H2R, the H2 Carbon has the same paint scheme as the H2R, but in a matte finish.

  A new Ohlins TTX rear shock absorber is standard across Kawasaki’s hyperbike range for 2017, giving 22 clicks of adjustment for rebound and compression. This is combined with a redesigned shock linkage that is claimed to improve the H2’s track prowess.

  Taking a leaf from its superbike sibling, the Kawasaki ZX-10R, the H2-series now comes with a Bosch six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), which also gives it cornering ABS. With the engine remaining unchanged for the new year, the H2 also gains quick down-shifting.

  

  

  In the instrument panel, a new “bank angle” display is added, to show how far the bike is leaning. The H2’s real-time lean angle is displayed, and the maximum “angle-of-dangle” is recorded for the ride.

  To ensure the H2 machines comply with Euro 4 regulations, the exhaust collector layout has been altered. Revised silencer innards and bigger catalytic convertors that have more platinum, rhodium and palladium are said to improve emissions.

  GALLERY: 2016 Kawasaki H2R
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Aprilia RSV4 and Tuono V4 1100 updated, new Aprilia Tuono 125 naked sportsbike joins RS4 125

  In Aprilia, Bikes, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 4 October 2016 4:42 pm / 1 comment

  

  As we head into the last quarter of 2016, everyone seems to be jumping on the new model or update bandwagon, and this includes Italian firm Aprilia. For 2017, both its flagship machines, the RSV4 superbike, and the Tuono V4 1100 naked sports, receive updates.

  Both the RSV4’s 999.6 cc and the Tuono’s 1,077 cc V-fours are now Euro 4-compliant for the upcoming year. Aprilia claims the RSV4’s mill will put out 201 hp, while the Tuono’s narrow-angle engine has 175 hp on tap.

  Ohlins suspension is now standard fitment for the RSV4 RF model, with the very latest Ohlins NIX fork in front and TTX shock at the back. The Tuono gets suitably valved Ohlins NIX forks, with the TTX rear shock being an option.

  

  Changes have also been made to the Aprilia Ride Performance Control (APRC) suite of riding aids. Aprilia Traction Control (ATC) – new for 2017 – now comes with eight settings, and is adjustable on the fly without having to shut the throttle. Aprilia Wheelie Control (AWC) is also new, with three setting, and like the ATC, adjustable while riding.

  The Aprilia Quick Shift (AQS) allows for clutchless up- and down-shifts, all with an open throttle. Launch Control (ALC) is now available, for track use only, while a pit lane speed limiter lets riders determine a pre-set speed limit with the push of a button.

  Cruise control for its 2017 machines is said by Aprilia to come with new electronic management. Both the 2017 Aprilia RSV4 and Tuono V4 1100 come standard with Bosch 9.1 MP ABS, along with Brembo M50 Monobloc brakes, grabbing 330 mm diameter brake discs in front.

  

  

  In the small bike arena, the new 2017 Aprilia Tuono 125 naked sportsbike carries the same 124 cc single-cylinder DOHC four-stroke as the RS4 125 full-fairing sportsbike. As reported by Motorcycle News, the engine is Euro 4-compliant, and comes with ABS as standard.

  Smartphone connectivity is standard for the Tuono 125, which displays the bike’s information and engine state on the rider’s phone. A laptimer is included into the LCD multi-function display, and controlled using switches on the handlebar.

  The Tuono 125 also comes ready to accept the AQS system as used in the Tuono V4 1100. As for the Aprilia RS4 125, 2017 sees it getting a new deisgnation – the RS125 – and will come with a USB port for devices, and space under the seat for a six-inch tablet.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2016 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2016 Aprilia RS4 125

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2017 Ducati 939 SuperSport photos leaked ahead of official launch tonight at Intermot show in Germany

  In Bikes, Ducati, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 4 October 2016 2:47 pm / 5 comments

  

  In a surprise development, photos of the 2017 Ducati 939 SuperSport looking suspiciously like they were leaked from the official Ducati press kit have appeared on various websites. From the photos, it looks like the 939 Supersport will be offered in red and white, typical of Ducati’s first-run offerings.

  The Ducati trellis frame, in red, is evident, with a fairing that covers less of the 939 cc Testastretta 11-degree engine. The front lower-half of the fairing comes in matte-black in the red version, while the other 939 SuperSport comes in an overall shade of stormtrooper white.

  Dual-shotgun exhausts signify Euro-4 compliance, something we saw on the 959 Panigale in Thailand earlier this year. LED daytime running lights grace the headlights and turn signals, and from the instrument cluster, three ride modes are legible.

  

  

  

  Brembo Monobloc radial calipers are in evidence, and a single-sided swingarm – missing from the 959 Panigale – carries over from the bigger Panigale series. Of note is the white version, which carries a “SuperSport S” label on the side of the fairing.

  Gold-anodised forks are visible on the white 939 SuperSport, as is what looks to be an Ohlins rear shock absorber. This might be the upgraded version of the SuperSport, if the photos are to be believed.

  All will be revealed later today at the Intermot show in Cologne, Germany. We shall be posting updates as and when events happen, so stay tuned.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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