New 2009 Yamaha V-Max
This is the first official picture ever seen of Yamaha’s new 2009 V-Max - and you can see many more in Wednesday’s MCN (May 28, 2008).
Original Yamaha V-Max review
The Yamaha V-Max won’t be officially unveiled until June 4.
Although details are still sketchy, we’re expecting the new Yamaha V-Max to be the world’s fastest accelerating production motorcycle, regaining the title its forerunner held when it was launched back in 1984.
A standing quarter mile in under 10 seconds is expected, thanks to a massive V-four engine, expected to be at least 1800cc, and more than 200bhp.
Kawasaki Heavy Rises to 4-Month High on Bajaj Tie-Up
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, Japan’s fourth-largest supplier of motorcycles, rose to the highest in four months in Tokyo trading on plans to build motorcycles in India with partner Bajaj Auto Ltd. next year.
Kawasaki Heavy shares gained 2.5 percent to 293 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the highest since Jan. 10. Kobe, Japan- based Kawasaki has had a technical partnership with Bajaj, India’s second-biggest motorbike producer, since 1986.
A tie-up would help Kawasaki Heavy, maker of the Ninja racing bikes, to compete in the world’s second-largest two- wheeler market dominated by Honda Motor Co. Kawasaki Heavy’s entry into India comes as its sales in North America decline on lower consumer spending.
BMW F800SG
New price £6,695
Engine size 798cc
Power 85bhp
Top speed 130mph
Insurance group 12
MCN overall verdict
BMW’s new F800GS is virtually unique: a 750/800 class adventure bike, that to most degrees offers the best of both worlds. It’s light, slim and perky enough to be a credible off-roader yet it’s also substantial, grunty, roomy and potentially sufficiently well equipped to tackle crossing continents. It’s also got a price that’s hugely tempting too.
Engine
Students Run Triumph Motorcycle On Apples
A Triumph Daytona 675 powered by bioethanol fuel today reached an astonishing track speed of 158.7 mph at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground! The biofuel used for this groundbreaking initiative was produced from windfall apples by A-level students from a local school.
Devised by Rupert Paul, contributing editor of Bike magazine, “Project Fast Fruit” aimed to convert and run a high performance vehicle on biofuel using only basic equipment. As such, the fuel was produced in a Chemistry Lab as part of an A-level project by students from the Prince William School in Oundle, Northamptonshire.
Kevin Ash Celebrates A 250cc Renaissance On The New Kawasaki 250R Ninja
The best-selling Kawasaki sports bike in America is not the ZX-6R you might expect, or the ZX-10R - a mad missile if ever there was one. Even calmer stablemates with mass-market appeal, such as our own long-term ER-6f, fail to sell as many over there as the little 250R Ninja. Yet, until now, the quarter-litre Kawasaki has never been available in the UK.
CIDER POWERED TRIUMPH HITS 159MPH
A TRIUMPH Daytona 675 powered by biofuel made from windfall apples has reached 159mph at an official test.
The cider-powered 675 was created by industrious A-level students who turned their chemistry lab into a makeshift tuning garage.
Dr Anton McAleese, Head of Chemistry at Prince William School, Oundle said: “This is a really interesting project for our students to get involved in. It’s important that industry recognises the skills and creativity that our students can offer. Further, it’s often young people today who are the most concerned about the future of our environment, so it’s a topic close to their hearts.”
Death Valley Dual-Sport
As the sun lit up the rock walls on either side of Titus Canyon the eve of our guided tour of Death Valley National Monument was upon us. The only thing left was 50 highway miles back to the watering hole for some much needed re-hydration and chow. This was the end of our ride aboard the new and improved 2009 Kawasaki KLX250S and, after spending all day trying to bust the bike, it was clear the little KLX has the ability to survive both a harsh desert thrashing and commuter duty in urban sprawl.
