Quadro 4D Parkour/Special Bikes

Quadro 4D Parkour

A tilting 4-wheeler with twin driven rear wheels, a fairly aggressive paint job and semi-offroad tyres.

The Parkour, named for the sport of urban obstacle-jumping, seems to want to capitalize on this. But while it looks pretty cool, and might be marginally better than its brethren on dirt, it doesn't appear to have longer travel suspension, the low front tilt mechanism will raise ground clearance issues and at the end of the day it's probably way too heavy for serious offloading.

Quadro 4D Parkour-2

Still, as a light offroader, it might have a bit to offer ... and it'd be interesting to see the effect of sticking one wheel into a rut and seeing where you ended up. It's hard to see them making a big dent in American, UK or Australian markets in the short term - they're still a bit 'uncool' for the riding communities in these countries where riding is more of a recreational lifestyle choice than a commuting option. But it'll be very interesting to see how they take off as a safer option on the congested roads of Asia, or the cobblestones of Europe. And in the longer term, it'll be fascinating to see if they end up becoming a larger part of the commuting mix here at home.

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Special Bikes/The Quadro 350D

Quadro 350D

Italy's Quadro is working on bringing a number of 3- and 4-wheeled tilters to the market, but the first to look production ready is the 350D.

A conventionally shaped maxi scooter with an aggressive frontal design, a 350cc motor and two front wheels, the 350D could easily slip unnoticed into a Gilera Fuoco procession. But the front suspension and tilting mechanism looks quite different. Where the Piaggio's tilt mechanism is all managed closer to the headstock, the Quadro system sits quite low to the ground, almost acting as a flexible axle between the two front wheels.

Suspension struts on either side appear to give the front wheels three shock absorbers between them, and a lock-off valve in the middle provides a hydraulic tilt lock. Either way, the system delivers the same claimed 40-degree lean angle as the Piaggio/Gilera platform - which is more than enough for a good time on the road, let alone happy, safe commuting.

The 350D has a cigarette lighter attachment for mobile phone charging, and enough underseat storage for two full faced helmets.

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Special Bikes/Ducati 1199 Panigale Superbike

Ducati 1199 Panigale Superbike

Powered by what the company is calling "the most powerful twin-cylinder production engine on the planet," the Ducati 1199 Panigale Superbike ($18,000-$28,000) promises uncompromising speed — and it delivers in spades. At its heart is the aforementioned Superquadro engine producing 195hp, which thanks to tremendous frame and engine integration resides in a bike with a dry weight of just 164kg — that's roughly 362 lbs — along with class-leading tech like a sporty ABS system, traction control, Ducati's Electronic Suspension, quick-shift, Engine Brake Control, and Ride-by-Wire systems, and a TFT display that changes to suit your environment. Not that you'll have time to notice.
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Pursuit motorcycle to debut at Sydney Motorcycle & Scooter Show

Pursuit motorcycle

Industrial Design student Dean Benstead thinks that compressed air does have a role to play in the future transport mix, and he's designed a working air-powered motorcycle prototype with a view to exploring the viability of the platform.
Benstead's "02 Pursuit" motorcycle is based on the geometry of a current-spec 250 cc motocross bike and uses running gear from a WR250F and Engineair's DiPietro air engine as its power plant. In its current form it can hit speeds in excess of 62 mph (100 km/h) and, given that the first prototype was developed with a focus on design rather than engineering, Benstead believes that performance can be improved with further development.
"The concept evolved from research to sketches to computer modeling before the chassis and bodywork was built and fabrication at local manufacturer, Rinlatech Engineering, began," says Benstead.
"I wanted to explore the viability of compressed air as an alternative fuel, and my childhood experiences riding dirt bikes led me to design the motocross bike based around the Engineair engine."
Benstead also sees the possibility of a marketable model based on the prototype emerging down the track.
"The next prototype would involve a total re-style, different material choices over the current steel tube chassis, such as aluminum or even a futuristic printed titanium, reducing the weight comparable to a heavy-duty mountain bike."
The 02 Pursuit will be revealed in a working demo at the Sydney Motorcycle & Scooter Show in Australia on Friday November 25.

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The Newly enhanced S1000RRmark II from BMW

 S1000RRmark II from BMW

BMW's S1000RR superbike impressed many the first time round, now the German manufacturer has announced the S1000RR mark II. Power and maximum torque figures remain at 142 kW (193 hp) and 112 Nm on the revised superbike with the mostly subtle changes centered on improving response, power delivery and handling. The torque curve, throttle response and suspension have all been tweaked along with the (very effective) ABS and Dynamic Traction Control systems. Externally, the 2012 SS1000RR gets an upgraded instrument cluster, revised rear-end, redesigned side panels with the addition of two winglets for improved aerodynamics and a new range of colors.
The S 1000 RR has has wasted no time populating the trophy cabinet since its release in 2009, winning 13 titles and over 120 race victories in superstock and superbike championships during its first full year of competition. BMW Motorrad, which offers a support service to customers who want take the S1000RR racing, says feedback from the track played a major role in the bike's overhaul.
"We listen very closely to our racing colleagues in many teams, especially the BMW Motorrad Italia superstock team or the IDM Team BMW Motorrad Wilbers Suspension," said RR Product Manager Sepp Mächler." We help these teams out and they give us quick and reliable feedback, which helps reduce development times."

Here's a run down on the key changes:

* reconfigured throttle with 25% less twisting force and tighter twistgrip for improved response

* more linear torque curve and expansion from two to three performance curves (one each for Rain and Sport modes and an additional one for Race and Slick modes); Rain mode now 120 kW (163 hp)

* enhanced tuning between Race ABS and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)

* final drive now 17/45 (was 17/44)

* modified steering head angle, swing arm pivot position, fork projection, and rear shock absorber length

* new internal structure for upside down fork and the rear shock absorber

* new mechanical steering damper adjustable over ten levels

* leaner tail section, modified stainless steel exhaust system, larger intake air guide, redesigned side panels, side aperture grilles and winglets

* revised LCD instrument cluster easier to read rev counter, five dimming levels and additional functions such as "Best lap in progress" and "Speedwarning"

* revised RR logo

* new color variants: plain Racing Red with Alpine white, Bluefire, Sapphire black metallic, BMW Motorrad

   Motorsport

The revised BMW S1000RR was shown this month at EICMA in Italy and is set for release in January 2012.

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Special Bikes/Royal Enfield Bullet Classic

Royal Enfield Bullet Classic at $6,700

Royal Enfield motorcycles were a favorite choice of café racers in the 1950s and ’60s. But like many other brands, the British company struggled to compete with the cheaper and more reliable Japanese bikes that arrived in the late 1960s, and it eventually shut its doors in 1971.
Sort of. In 1954, the Indian government had placed a huge order for Royal Enfield’s Bullet model to supply its border troops. To eliminate shipping costs, the company licensed the name and brand to a factory in India. Production there never stopped, and the Bullet is now the oldest continuously produced motorcycle model ever.
Now brand-new Bullets — with modern touches like fuel injection and electric starters — are being sold in all 50 states. Our 500-cc, single-cylinder Bullet Classic shone on the beach roads of Malibu, California, where the slow speeds and twisty streets suit its upright posture and light build. We wouldn’t take it on a highway, though; it’s not heavy or stable enough to do battle with semis at 75 mph.

Photo: Greg Broom/Wired
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Triumph Bonneville T100 Steve McQueen Edition Motorcycle

 Based on the classic T100 and inspired by the Trophy TR6 McQueen during the stunt scene from The Great Escape, the Triumph Bonneville T100 Steve McQueen Edition Motorcycle ($TBA) will be limited to just 1,100 bikes, and features a Matt Khaki Green paint job, the late actor's signature on the side covers, a solo seat, blacked out headlamp, luggage rack, wheel rims, hubs, handlebars, rear springs, mirrors, and mudguard supports, and arrived individually numbered, with a plaque on the handlebar clamp and a certificate of authenticity.

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Special Bikes/Ducati Hypermotard 796

With a race course heritage and catwalk-worthy looks, the new Ducati Hypermotard 796 ($TBA) is the perfect mix of performance and urban utility. It features an all-new Ducati 796 engine good for 81hp and incredible fuel mileage, an APTC "wet" clutch offering a slipper action to prevent rear-end destabilization during agressive down-shifting — perfect for stop-and-start driving — and either a matte black, matte white, or Ducati red finish.

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Special Bikes/Lossa 1978 Yamaha SR 500 Motorcycle

When it comes to motorcycles, old is the new black. Or something. Moving along, the Lossa 1978 Yamaha SR 500 Motorcycle ($TBA) is another modern adaptation of a two-wheeled classic, featuring a complete overhaul that includes all new wiring, a relocated battery, a GSXR front end, Brembo brakes in the front and rear, RD400 wheels, a host of custom pieces including the sprocket carrier, rear brake stay, intake manifold, and exhaust, a Binellu gas tank, and an  aluminum swing arm, all polished off with a spiffy white/red/black paint job.

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Special Bikes/Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle

Just because you like to ride on two wheels instead of four doesn't mean you can't go green. Meant to be an urban cruiser, the Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle ($12,000 and up) uses six Lithium Phosphate battery modules to propel you from zero to 30 mph in just 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 50mph and a range of 45 miles from a single 3-hour charge. The fact that it looks fantastic is just icing on the cake.

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Special Bikes/Mission One Motorcycle

Now that's what we're talking about. The just-unveiled Mission One Motorcycle ($69,000) is the world's fastest production electric sportbike. Designed by Yves Béhar, the Mission One is a zero emissions vehicle that has obviously brilliant styling. It's got a top speed of 150 MPH and an estimated range of 150 miles thanks to a proprietary high energy lithium ion battery pack. An electric drivetrain and no gear shifting means crazy torque and acceleration. The just-out-of-stealth-mode Mission Motors said the first 50 bikes will be limited edition and will ship in 2010. Watch for a cheaper model this summer.

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Special Bikes/Triumph Thruxton SE

Packed with modern technology but sporting a design straight out of the past, the Triumph Thruxton SE ($10,649) is an intriguing update to the café racer. First impressions start off with the powder-coated red frame, crystal white bodywork, low rise handlebars, 18-inch spoke wheels, red stripe down the center, color-matched fly screen and blacked out engine cases, but it's the Thruxton's fuel injected 865cc parallel twin engine that delivers the thrills, pumping out 68hp and 51ft.lbs. of torque, which makes for some beautiful sounds emitting from the megaphone style pipes. If Speed Racer rode a motorcycle, we think it might look something like this.

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Confederate Renovatio Concept Motorcycle

Even crazier than Confederate's Wraith motorcycle, the Renovatio (Latin for "Rebirth") concept sports a minimalist-industrial look that lacks a traditional frame and puts everything out on display like a drunk stripper. But it doesn't just look like a Satan-approved machine, it's got all the evil power you could ever need — 150 hp standard or 190 hp supercharged, thanks to its

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Special Bikes/Falcon Bullet Motorcycle

Custom-built over the course of 1,000+ hours and sporting more hand-made fine details than we could possibly list here, the only bad thing we can say about the Falcon Bullet Motorcycle ($TBA) is that it's going to be impossible to get your hands on it — unless, of course, Jason Lee decides to put it up for sale. This custom Triumph began with a derelict frame and engine cases from a 1950 Triumph Thunderbird, and features modifications like a 750cc engine made specifically for this machine, a vintage brass lucas tail light, handlebars and levels hand carved from solid rounds of stainless steel and shaped to contour the gas tank during agressive turns, a hand made leather seat, and a stretched frame for a longer stance.

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2011 Honda CBR250R/Babyblade is back

Twenty years ago, quarter-liter sportsbikes ruled the roost in many regions, offering a mix of racy looks, light weight and snappy performance. But in recent years, with all the other major players leaving the segment, Kawasaki has enjoyed unchallenged sales success with its sharp-looking, yet friendly Ninja 250. But the mini-ninja will soon face stiff competition from Honda's totally re-conceived babyblade CBR250R, equipped with a 249cc single-cylinder, fuel injected engine, a tasty fairing that mimics the CBR1000RR and the first instance of optional ABS to grace the market segment. This will be a killer learner machine and a great introduction to the sport for legions of young riders.
Fast-forward 20 years to the learnerbike market of today -– while many countries have graduated license schemes based on power-to-weight ratios, allowing learner riders to get on big, friendly bikes like the GS500, GSX650F, CB400 and the like, the bike that has really been setting sales figures alight is the Kawasaki Ninja 250.

And the Ninja got a lot of things right; it looks fast, but it's not as highly strung as the old ZXR. In fact, it's based on the old faithful GPZ and ZZR bikes that rounded out Kawasaki's 250cc offering for decades. Practical and rewarding machines that always seemed to play second fiddle to the racier looking machines.
The Ninja 250 put a coat of glamor on top of the fantastic GPX platform, creating a learnerbike that was both desirable AND rideable, that drew new riders into the sport but gave them something encouraging and friendly to develop their skills on. Released in 2008 and more or less unchallenged in its segment, it's still selling like crazy.
The engine choice is an interesting one – Kawasaki has had great success with the Ninja 250R's parallel twin, but Honda has opted for a single-cylinder 249cc 4-stroke, fuel injected and very much oversquare, with a bore of 76mm and a stroke of just 55mm.
No power figures are quoted as yet, but that engine configuration suggests a very torquey bike, easy to get off the line and quick to build revs. It's also light, tipping the scales at 161 kg wet. Seat height is a fair bit higher than the Ninja 250R, at 78 cm versus the Kawasaki's 74.5 cm.

Most significantly, the Honda CBR250R will be the first bike in the segment to offer an ABS braking system – in this case, Honda's Combined ABS system, which in addition to managing wheel slip, also makes a proportion of the rear pedal braking pressure activate the front brakes.
It will certainly not match the stratospheric power figures of that era, but as an entry machine into the world of motorcycling, it will serve new riders much better – without sacrificing the desirability factor of the older machines.
The aftermarket is already getting in on the act, anticipating this machine will be a big hit. The recent Thai Motor Expo saw big-name players like Mugen and Moriwaki showcasing an array of aftermarket gear for the new babyblade, including a couple of full fairing kits to make race replicas. Expect this part of the market to take off even harder when MotoGP's 125cc 2-strokes leave the grid forever, replaced by 250cc 4-strokes.
The only thing that remains to be seen is how the new CBR goes against the Ninja 250R – and you can bet your hat there'll be a rash of comparo tests hitting the magazines and the Web the second the CBR250R becomes available – which will be in Q2 this year. Whichever one takes off quicker from the lights, my vote's with the Honda and its ABS system.

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Special Bikes/Harley-Davidson VRSCF V-Rod Muscle

Harley-Davidson's VRSC family just got a little more awesome. Joining the original V-Rod and the black-on-black Night Rod, the 2009 VRSCF V-Rod Muscle ($17,200) is a new addition that means business. This silver bullet is powered by the Revolution 1250cc V-Twin liquid-cooled engine, and features a fat, 240 mm rear tire, Brembo triple-disc brakes with available ABS, satin chrome straight-shot side pipes, and a drag strip-worthy clutch.

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SPECIAL BIKES/Vespa GTS 300 Super

Finally, a Man-Vespa. An update to the popular GTS 250 mid-size scooter, the Vespa GTS 300 Super ($6,200; March) is the company's most powerful yet. The 300 gets its go from a 22-hp 278cc four-stroke single cylinder, liquid-cooled, electronic injection engine — which should be good for a top speed of around 80 mph and a mpg rating of about 70. The 300 Super also also has new 12-inch alloy rims, double-disc brakes, red suspension covers, new grilles, and lots of cargo room.

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Special Bikes/2011 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero

Melding classic cruiser feel with sharp, fighter-jet looks, the 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ($16,500) looks like a fine summertime ride. Powered by a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 1,700cc V-twin engine, it's got plenty of oomph to get you around, and also boasts a six-speed transmission, a fully electronic throttle actuation system, a steel frame, air-adjustable shocks, 9-spoke cast aluminum wheels, a LED taillight, cruise control, and killer custom-style bodywork that will draw just as much attention as its rumbling exhaust note.

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Special Bikes/Orphiro electric motorcycle

The Orphiro Electric Motorcycle is described as a wide body cruiser, and has been built from the ground up by Alexander Steegh and his team from the Fontys University of Applied Science - from the custom drivetrain to the tubular frame and panels. The five Li-ion batteries concealed behind smooth exterior covers are said to offer a range of 60 miles (100 km) and the 72V electric motor offers a top speed of 75 mph (120 kph).

A chunky belt drive connects the motor to the rear wheel, there's a "tank"-mounted console that shows speed and distance with a power switch underneath, and tire-hugging fenders sit atop classic spoked wheels. As you can see from the gallery, disc brakes also feature. Extended front forks, twin headlights and rounded mirrors complete the chopper aesthetic. The recharge time for the batteries is reported to be around 6.5 hours.

The speed and range is probably not going to persuade any hog owner to part with his gas-driven beast like, say, the Lito Sora might, but it does look the business nonetheless.
That's about as much as is being made available at the moment, although Motorcycle USA does say that a price of EUR 49,000 (over US$70,000) has been quoted - which suggests that mass production is unlikely.

(Source: Wired)

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Special Bikes/Ducati 848 EVO

Based on the company's best-selling middleweight superbike ever, the Ducati 848 EVO ($13,000) improves upon its stablemate with a specially tuned Testastretta Evoluzione engine pumping out 140 horses, Brembo Monobloc brake calipers, improved chassis and braking systems, a cross-mounted steering damper for added control, Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tires, and a curb weight of only 369 pounds. Available in traditional Ducati Red or the amazingly stealth "Dark" edition

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