Vw Power For Brazil's Big Kahena
VW POWER FOR BRAZIL'S BIG KAHENA
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THE STYLING SUGGESTS it's a sportbike, but the Brazilian Kahena is in fact a 697-pound motorcycle powered by a Volkswagen flatFour engine.
If the concept rings a bell, it’s because another Brazilian company introduced the VWpowered Amazonas some 10 years ago, (see Cycle World, November, 1985).
No word yet on Kahena performance, but its 1584cc engine makes a claimed 65 horsepower, 15 more than that of the Amazonas. Although the Kahena engine is old technology, its maker, Techica Paulista de Maquinas Ltda, has built its own single-sided swingarm, monoshock rear suspension and aluminum twin-spar frame.
By Brazilian standards, the Kahena is very affordable, costing around $10,000 at current exchange rates. Imported large-displacement motorcycles sold there cost more than $15,000. There are no plans to bring the Kahena to the U.S., says its maker.
