Forbidden Fruit
FORBIDDEN FRUIT
Tempting bikes, for sure, but most are not for US cosumption
IGNITION
NEWS
HUSQVARNA 701
Although there were 13 Husqvarnas on display at EICMA-seven enduros and six motocross bikes-the lion's share of attention was paid to the intriguing 701, a concept said to acknowledge the historically Swedish marque's 110-year history while also pointing to its future. Powered by a 690cc single with a claimed 75 hp, the 701 looks like a supermoto of the future, boasting a chrome-moly frame and clean, uncluttered looks that reflect Scandinavian design. Neat details include a long, ribbed seat that reaches forward all the way to the radiator shrouds, plus an exhaust that is almost completely covered in back, where the fuel tank also resides. Will owner KTM build a Husky like this? Probably not.
-AB
SUZUKI RECURSION
We saw it happen in cars and then in bikes. More power needs a bigger engine, which needs bigger brakes, a stronger chassis, and a bigger gas tank. Finally, you can hardly steer the monster; it's a power station on wheels. Can we please have the handling of a middleweight but with real power? Revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show, this turbocharged 588cc parallel twin is called "Recursion," which means "flowing back, repeating." Recursion makes 100 hp at 8,000 rpm, but peak torque is a whopping 74 pound-feet way down at 4,500 rpm. Instead of the never-ending upshifting of a 600, Recursion delivers the grunt of a literbike, given across a three-times-wider band and packaged into a light middleweight. -Kevin Cameron
YAMAHA R25 CONCEPT
Will the Ninja 300 and CBR300R steal all the entrylevel-sportbike thunder in the US forever? We hope not because the R25 Concept is a killer riff on YZR-M1 styling that dresses up an all-new 249cc parallel twin. Says the press material: "It boasts a powerful and sporty ride in the high rpm range while being easy to handle. The R25 is positioned and offered as an entry-model in the sportbike category for developed markets like Japan and Europe and as a top performance sportbike for emerging markets, primarily throughout Asia." You'll notice it didn't say "America." Yamaha US said "no comment," but we're fairly certain a street version is on the way to our shores.
Mark Hoyer
YAMAHA MT-07
Here's another Europeanmarket unobtainable that needs to be sold in the US, perhaps marketed as the kid brother to the exciting new FZ-09 triple. It's the Yamaha MT-07, which is powered by a 689cc parallel twin with a claimed 75 hp and 50 pound-feet of torque. This Yamaha looks like quite a machine, another good beginner bike that's sporty enough for a fun romp in the local mountains, even if it's the Adirondacks and not the Alps. The liquid-cooled powerplant, with a 270-degree crankshaft and a compact single-axis balancer, is tuned for excellent lowand midrange torque, and the steel backbone frame uses the engine as a stressed member. Claimed wet weight: 395 pounds. MT, for the record, means "Masters of Torque." We kid you not.
-AB
BIMOTA BB3
→ Reorganized Bimota is already showing promise. Biggest news at EICMA was the BB3, a fromscratch project released in concert with the arrival of new owners Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni.
Arguably the ultimate BMW-powered Bimota, the BB3 shoehorns a 190-hp 999cc inline-four from the S1000RR into a steel trellis frame. Aluminum side plates clamp the rear engine mounts, solidly locating the swingarm pivot and double-link-actuated Öhlins shock.
Elegantly styled, the BB3 might be the best-performing Bimota ever. Steering-head angle is 25 degrees, wheelbase spans 56.3 inches, and claimed dry weight is 394 pounds. Appealing numbers, for sure.
Bruno dePrato
YAMAHA MT-09 STREET RALLY
→ In Europe, the FZ-09 is called the MT-09, and we're glad to see Yamaha's superb threecylinder engine being used in other applications such as this intriguing new Street Rally. This Yamaha, unveiled at EICMA in Milan, is in essence Yamaha's version of an MV Agusta Rivale, a naked performance bike with a motard soul. To that end, the Street Rally has special body components that include a headlight cover, fueltank shrouds, side number plates, a wind deflector, and hand guards. What's more, this Yamaha boasts a flat and slim seat that allows for more aggressive motard-style cornering, as do the grippy, motard-style footpegs. For those looking for fun on wheels, your bike has arrived. But alas, not in the US. AB
HONDA CB650F
-» We sure wish Flonda sold the Europe-only CB650F in the States. Those gorgeous exhaust headers, so reminiscent of those on the classic 70s CB400F, are in desperate need of some heat-caused bluing, and we're more than happy to oblige. This is the Streetfighter that Flonda needs, a much more entertaining bike than, say, Flonda's trio of 500s and the NC700X but still a great beginner machine that looks like it will absolutely come alive when the road begins to twist. Flonda also sells a fully faired version called the CBR650F, but we're more smitten by this city shredder with the beautifully exposed 649cc inline-fourthat puts out a claimed 86 hp at 11,000 rpm and 46 pound-feet of peak torque at 8,000 rpm.
-AB
KTM RC390
-»Although KTM hasn't announced if the RC390 supersport is coming our way, it hasn't denied it, either. We have a hunch the super single's arrival is imminent, but until that announcement comes, we can only drool and keep our fingers crossed. A steel trellis frame similar to the Duke 390's is hometo a liquid-cooled, counterbalanced, 375cc, dohc, four-valve, single-cylinder engine. Fueling is managed by a Bosch EMS with a 46mm Dell'Orto throttle body. KTM claims 44 hp from the engine. A radialmount Brembo four-piston caliper and 300mm front disc, lightweight 17-inch, cast aluminum wheels wrapped in Metzeler rubber and standard ABS (at least in Europe) are component highlights on the claimed-325pound-dry machine. BC
HONDA CBR1000RR SP
→ If you can't beat the onepercenters, join them: This special CBR gets Öhlins suspension at both ends, Brembo monoblock front brake calipers, and distinctive HRC graphics-also racier ergonomics via new clip-ons and footpegs. More power, too: Hand-picked pistons and connecting rods give it the best possible balance, while a revised cylinder head and exhaust system "add additional power and torque." A lightweight subframe carries a single-seat cowl that shaves weight and optimizes the bike's CC. Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC tires complete this Euro-inspired CBR.
Very nice, indeed, as it should be for the CBR1000RR SP's estimated $17l< price tag.
John Burns
DUCATI MONSTER
→ Powered by the 11-degree Testastretta 1,198 V-twin, this 1200 is a real monster: 135 hp forthe base model and 145 forthe S. With cylinder-head attachment points and tightly triangulated framework, the chassis is conceptually similar to the Panigale's.
Overall, the new Monster is much biggerthan the Miguel Angel Galluzzi-designed original, with a 4.6-gallon gas tank, a 59.4-inch wheelbase, and a curb weight of 460 pounds. A 43mm Kayaba fork and a single-sided swingarm with a cantilevered Sachs shock are standard; the S has Öhlins suspension. Electronics are derived from the Panigale.
The MSRP for the standard 2014 Ducati Monster 1200 is $13,495; the S retails for $15,995.
HONDA CTX1300
→ The CTX series, Honda says, is all about combining higher levels of comfort and technology to create a unique ride, and the new CTX1300s (standard and Deluxe) are a luxurious departure from the CTX700. This one gets the 1,261cc V-4 from the ST1000, the dual exhausts of which actually sound pretty burly, and the low, 29.1-inch seat and semi-cruiser ergos make it accessible to a wide variety of body styles and tastes. Detachable hard bags protrude not much fartherthan the mirrors, which should make it a superb commuter.
The new CTX1300 is your basic Honda bagger-quite a bit smaller and lighter than the Gold Wing-based F6B. No official price yet, but we expect it to be near $17,000.
DUCATI SUPERLEGERRA
→ Project 1201, code name for the 1199 Superleggera, is an exceptional sportbike. Weighing just 342 pounds dry, this 200-hp V-twin is a work of mechanical art, with extensive use of titanium (valves, exhaust, shock spring, hardware) and magnesium (dash support, frame/airbox, wheels). Priced at $65,000, the 1199 Superleggera will be produced in a 500-unit run.
zero SR
→ Best "real" electric you can buy? Zero's it, and the new SR model pumps it up. More grin inducing than the 67 hp will be the 106 pound-feet of always available torque. Claimed range with the ZF11.4 battery pack is as much as 137 miles.
