KTM To Reveal Electric Motorcycles At Tokyo Motorcycle Show

KTM is set to reveal two electric motorcycles – which the company describes as “near-series prototypes” – at next week’s Tokyo Motorcycle Show.

The Austrian motorcycle (and race-car) manufacturer has yet to reveal specific powertrain details for the two electric bikes – one a supermoto and the other an enduro model. A pair of teaser images have been released however, and from little can be seen, both bikes appear to be ‘the real deal’ when it comes to their road-readiness.

KTM describes the two bikes as “near-series prototypes which in one year’s time will transfer the “Ready to Race” sporting spirit of the brand into a series model fit for the 21st century.”

An earlier concept called the KTM Zero Emissions (no relation to the Nissan project of the same name) drew power from an electric motor offering 40Nm of torque, its lithium ion battery packing around 40 minutes of charge.

The two KTM concepts aren’t the first electric motorcycles to appear on the scene however, with other electrified motorcycles surfacing over the past few years – including the Mission One Electric Sports Bike, offering 135Nm of torque, a 240km riding range and a top speed of 240km/h.

Motorists Want Cyclists Charged For Road Use: Survey

Research by Insurer Budget Direct this month has shown that a significant majority of motorists want cyclists to pay registration fees if they are to ride on the road.

Surveying 1251 customers, the research showed that almost half of the respondents would like to see cyclist registration fees introduced, with the funds to go towards infrastructure to better accommodate cars and bicycles.

Four out of five motorists believe that more bicycle paths would create a better environment for cyclists and motorists alike, while half of the respondents admitted to having a limited understanding of the laws that apply to cyclists.

“This isn’t the first time we have researched how motorists feel toward cyclists, and while education and understanding of the road rules is improving, there is still confusion as to how these two road user groups can work together,” Budget Direct’s Richelle Ward said.

Ms Ward said that despite improved Government involvement, more could be done to help motorists and cyclists get along.

“Reports show that 2009 was the 10th consecutive year that bicycle sales in Australia have outsold cars, and while our governments are actively investing in cycling infrastructure, there is still an opportunity for greater understanding on the roads between motorists and cyclists.”

Burnout Paradise Update Brings the Bikes

If you’ve ever been into ridiculously fast boost driving, there’s a fair chance you’ve played one of the games from the Burnout series. An update released recently (codenamed “Cagney”) for the latest in the series, Burnout Paradise, included some new game modes and support for custom soundtracks on the PS3 version.

That’s not what this news item’s about though. It’s about bikes. And night-time racing.

Due this month, the latest update (“Davis”) will breathe some life back into Paradise with the inclusion of night-time racing (as if zooming through Paradise City wasn’t hair-raising enough already!), and motorcycles.

Unfortunately, the bikes may lose a bit of their excitement with a lack of dramatic crashes and airborne bodies that one would expect with such from a game like Burnout, with the game’s developer Criterion opting for a much more child-friendly crash-and-vanish when you take corner just a little too fast.

I’m certainly not complaining, though. With motorcycle-only events included, I can’t see how this won’t make current Paradise owners grin even more when they can battle their friends online on two wheels rather than four.

And another thing… it’s free!

2010 Ducati Hypermotard 796 Details And Pricing Announced

Offered as a smaller, more agile alternative to the Hypermotard 1100, Ducati distributor NF Importers has today announced pricing and details for the 2010 Ducati Hypermotard 796.

Bearing the same dramatic design cues as its bigger brother, the 796 is lighter with a dry weight of 167kg and more accessible thanks to its lower 825mm seat height.

Rather than using a revised version of 696 engine, the 796 is powered by a brand-new Demosdue engine developing 59.6kW at 8000rpm and 76Nm of torque at 6250rpm.

The 17-inch Enkei wheels are of lightweight aluminium stock, improving handling, braking and acceleration. Sizes mirror those of the 1100; 3.50 up front and 5.50 to the rear.

Suspension is managed up front by 43mm Marzocchi forks, while a Sachs shock handles the rear end, along with an adjustable spring preload and return damping.

An APTC ‘wet’ clutch creates a ’slipper’ action, preventing the rear-end from destabilising on downshifts, while improving the lever’s usability in peak-hour traffic thanks to its lighter feel.

The 796’s brake package features twin 305mm semi-floating Brembo discs with radially mounted four-piston Brembo callipers up front. Up back, a 245mm disc and two-piston calliper features.

The instrument panel features lap time memory storage, an automatic light-off function and immobiliser status.

Pricing and Availability
Available now, the Ducati Hypermotard 796 is priced at $16,390 RRP, plus dealer and statutory charges.

2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Revealed

Ducati revealed its new 2010 Multistrada 1200 this week at the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milano, Italy.

The Multistrada 1200 will be available in three variants – the 1200, the 1200S and the 1200S Touring – and all three feature the first use of ABS on a Ducati. For a little something more, the two up-spec S models get Ducati’s new electronic suspension system.

The 2010 Multistrada 1200 is powered by a variant of the company’s 1198cc Superbike engine, called the Testastretta 11° and developing 112kW.

The Multistrada 1200 features a slipper clutch, pushing the new Ducati toward the sportier end of sports-tourers.

According to Ducati, the Multistrada 1200 is four bikes in one: sports, long-distance touring, urban runabout and road enduro.

Thanks to switchable ride modes, the Multistrada 1200 can vary its riding feel and output (down to 75kW for Urban mode) to best suit the four riding profiles.

The base model 1200 weighs in at 189kg, while the premium 1200S and 1200S Touring models each weigh 192kg.

The Multistrada 1200 is fitted with 50mm Marzocchi forks, the S models getting upgraded Ohlins suspension, and a healthy serving of carbon fibre for reduced weight and cosmetic enhancements.

The Ducati Electronic Suspension system, along with ABS, Ducati Traction Control and engine maps can all be adjusted from the instrument panel.

The 1200S Touring gets side panniers, heated grips and a centre stand to set itself apart.

2010 Ducati Hypermotard 796 Announced

Offered as a smaller, more agile alternative to the Hypermotard 1100, Ducati has revealed the 2010 Ducati Hypermotard 796.

Bearing the same dramatic design cues as its bigger brother, the 796 is lighter with a dry weight of 167kg and more accessible thanks to its lower 825mm seat height.

Rather than using a revised version of 696 engine, the 796 is powered by a brand-new Demosdue engine developing 59.6kW at 8000rpm and 76Nm of torque at 6250rpm.

The 17-inch Enkei wheels are of lightweight aluminium stock, improving handling, braking and acceleration. Sizes mirror those of the 1100; 3.50 up front and 5.50 to the rear.

Suspension is managed up front by 43mm Marzocchi forks, while a Sachs shock handles the rear end, along with an adjustable spring preload and return damping.

An APTC ‘wet’ clutch creates a ’slipper’ action, preventing the rear-end from destabilising on downshifts, while improving the lever’s usability in peak-hour traffic thanks to its lighter feel.

The 796’s brake package features twin 305mm semi-floating Brembo discs with radially mounted four-piston Brembo callipers up front. Up back, a 245mm disc and two-piston calliper features.

The instrument panel features lap time memory storage, an automatic light-off function and immobiliser status.

2010 MV Agusta F4 Revealed At EICMA Show In Milan

Likely to be the last new model developed under the Harley Davidson umbrella, the 2010 MV Agusta F4 has been revealed this week at Milan.

Featuring a new chassis and engine, the 2010 F4 weighs in at 192kg, developing 138kW at 12,900rpm and 61Nm of torque at 9500rpm.

With the new four-cylinder engine’s capacity dropping from 1078cc to 998cc, power is down on the outgoing model by 3kW.

A new electronic injection system uses 49mm throttle bodies with a ‘Torque Shift System’ for variable lift intake.

A slipper clutch and the TC Mk II traction control system – which offers eight levels of adjustment – figure among the new model’s features.

According to MV Agusta, the new F4’s fairings have the lowest frontal area in the inline four-cylinder segment, comparable to the front of a twin.

MV Agusta says the new model’s chassis is shorter, narrower and 10kg lighter than the 2009 model.

“The launch of the new F4 builds upon the success that started with the new Brutale and will lead MV Agusta to write new pages full of tradition and victories,” Enrico D’Onofrio, managing director of MV Agusta said.

“The F4 was born from a completely new project with the single-minded goal of improving upon perfection and increasing the synthesis between the art of design and supersport performance.

We will continue to invest in the design and development of new models in the future in order to increase the product range of our extraordinary motorcycles.”

The new F4 features all-new styling, including the fairings, seat and tail, and squared-off versions of the brand’s trademark ‘organ pipe’ exhaust tips.

Up front, the F4’s headlight design retains the same basic styling as the outgoing F4, but features a poli-elliptical mono-element and a xenon bulb – the first of its kind for motorcycles.

Triumph Debuts Bonneville Sixty, Speed Triple SE At EICMA Bike Show

Alongside its recently-launched Rocket III Roadster, Triumph has unveiled two new special-edition models at the 2009 EICMA bike show in Milan, Italy.

The Speed Triple SE (above) joined the Rocket III Roadster on the Triumph show stand, flaunting new two-tone paintwork and an upgraded suspension system.

Triumph also took the wraps off the limited-edition Bonneville Sixty at EICMA, which comes in a retro-inspired two-tone colour scheme that harks back to the classic 1960 Bonneville T120.

While the Bonneville Sixty’s enhancements are limited to its Meriden Blue-on-Caspian Blue paint (above) and 650-unit limited production run, the Triumph Speed Triple SE comes with upgraded suspension specs.

Things down below have been revised with new damper internals and a five percent softer rear spring rate, improving ride comfort and reducing fork-dive during hard braking.

The Speed Triple’s 95kW 1050cc three-cylinder engine carries over unchanged.

In addition to the Rocket III Roadster, Speed Triple SE and Bonneville Sixty, Triumph announced at EICMA the beginning of a new partnership between it and suspension specialists Ohlins.

Ohlins will now supply Triumph with a range of accessory rear suspension units for its Urban Sports range, which includes the Daytona 675, Street Triple, Speed Triple and Tiger.

BRP Can-Am Spyder Line-Up Gets A Touring Model, Available Early 2010

BRP has added a Touring model to its Can-Am Spyder line-up, pushing the line-up to two models.

The addition of the Spyder RT (Roadster Touring) follows, according to BRP’s Spyder Product Manager Rohan Slater, “a substantial gain in market presence” since the Roadster Sport’s launch two years ago.

“The Can-Am Spyder RS is already a resounding market success, although, clearly, its full growth potential is only beginning to materialise,” Mr Slater said.

“We are delivering the expansion of our Can-Am Spyder roadster line-up as promised at its launch in 2007 and believe the announcement of the Spyder RT will further accelerate the momentum experienced thus far.”

Powered by the same Rotax 990cc V-twin engine as its Sport sibling (and the Aprilia RSV1000), the Spyder RT also features a BOSCH-engineered Vehicle Stability System that includes Anti-lock Brakes, Traction Control and Stability Control.

BRP has designed a trailer package for the RT – the RT622 – which is compatible with the trike’s vehicle stability system and offers an additional 622 litres of storage.

The BRP Can-Am Spyder RT will be available from early 2010, and customers can pre-order now.

Exact sales figures for the Can-Am Spyder Roadster Sport were not available at the time of publishing.

2009 Motorcycle Sales Down 14 Percent On 2008

Figures released this week by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that sales of motorcycles, scooters and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to September dropped 14.4 percent compared to the same period in 2008.

With 96,455 motorcycles sold between January and September last year, 82,601 were sold in the same period this year – a drop that FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar describes as “resilient” despite the fall.

“The motorcycle market has faced a period of challenging economic circumstances and although down on the record highs of last year has remained resilient,” Mr McKellar said.

“It is encouraging to see that some brands [BMW, Husqvarna, BRP and Triumph] have managed to record increases on last year.”

“While these positive achievements provide grounds for optimism, some areas of buyer confidence remain fragile,” Mr McKellar said.

“The industry would caution against any further interest rate rises and urge those contemplating buying a new motorcycle to take advantage of the current low rates,” Mr McKellar said.

Road-bikes remained the most popular segment in the market, recording 30,984 sales (down 14.5 percent on 2008), followed by off-road bikes with 29,615 sales (a 12.5 percent decrease).

ATV sales remained largely unchanged, down 2.3 percent on last year with 14,202 sales.

Scooters fared the worst of all, sales falling 33.9 percent year-to-date with 7800 sales compared to 11,808 in the same period last year.

Yamaha was the overall market leader with 18,019 sales. Honda followed with 17,949 sales and Suzuki rounded out the top three with a distant 11,568.