Tag

2015

Browsing

We sort of spoiled the fun with the MV Agusta Stradale 800, thanks to our Bothan spies. Nevertheless, here is a comprehensive gallery of the latest “new model” from Varese. Essentially a detuned MV Agusta Rivale 800 with touring bags and a windscreen, the Italian company says we can expect to actually see this model available in a timely fashion.

Making 115hp (down 10hp from the Rivale) and adding 7lbs in bulk, the Stradale shares a new larger fuel tank with its Rivale sibling. The Stradale also sits lower to the ground, giving up .7? in minimum ground clearance, for a total of 4.92? in ground clearance.

Interestingly enough, the Stradale has the same front suspension travel as the Rivale, and gains .8? in rear suspension travel over the Rivale, to 5.91? of rear suspension travel. Suspension is done by Marzocchi up front, and Sachs in back, same as on the Rivale.

True to Aprilia’s typical form, where there is a base model, there must be a “Factory” model to go with it. 2015 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory builds off the Tuono V4 1100 RR, and adds Öhlins suspension, upgraded brakes, and forged aluminum wheels to the package offering.

Like the Aprilia RSV4 RF superbike, the Tuono V4 1100 Factory comes with a special livery, so everyone knows you dropped the extra coin on the go-fast parts, which we think is rather fetching. This is how you make what is already the best streetfigther even better. More photos after the jump.

We already showed you the first photo of the new Aprilia Tuono V4 1100, which as the name implies gets a modest displacement increase for the 2015 model year. Tacking on an extra 5hp, for a total of 175hp at the crank, the 2015 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 also gets the second-generation APRC electronics package, as well as other chassis refinements.

Coming in two trim levels, the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR is now the base model, and shown here. The top fairing has been changed for both models, and now replicates the three headlight design found on the RSV4 RR. These changes also allowed 3 lbs to be trimmed from the Tuono, which should please the performance-minded.

Details of the Aprilia RSV4 RR have finally surfaced, and it seems the folks at Noale have not been resting on their laurels, having just won the 2014 World Superbike Championship. As such, the 2015 Aprilia RSV4 RR makes a cool 201hp from its 999cc V4 engine, with peak torque coming in at 84.81 lbs•ft at 10,500 rpm.

Not only does the 2015 Aprilia RSV4 RR make 16hp more than its predecessor, but it’s also three pounds lighter (1.5kg). Aprilia says the power gains come from reducing internal frictions, improving combustion efficiency, and fluid dynamic efficiencies. These changes allow the RSV4 RR to rev higher than before, and thus make more power.

The Kawasaki Ninja H2 street bike has finally debuted at the EICMA show, giving motorcycle fans a glimpse at the road-going counterpart to the Kawasaki Ninja H2R track-only machine. Based around the same 998cc supercharged inline-four engine, the Kawasaki Ninja H2 makes an astonishing 207 hp with ram air, 197hp without. For reference, the Ninja H2R makes 305hp, without ram-air.

Kawasaki has designed its supercharger system to have two-step gear-ratio, allowing for maximum boost and low and high engine speeds, and the supercharger impeller reaches 130,000 rpm when the Kawasaki Ninja H2 is at its 14,000 rpm redline. Peak torque is 98 lbs•ft, at 10,500 rpm, with the supercharger primarily helping to broaden the powerband for better street riding.

For the 2015 model year, Triumph is continuing its new trend of offering more premium “x” variations of existing machines, as we saw with the Triumph Street Triple Rx, last month at the INTERMOT show. Getting the x-treatment at EICMA is the Triumph Tiger 800, and first up is the 2015 Triumph Tiger 800 XRx.

A more refined version of Triumph 800cc road-going adventure bike, the big news is Triumph adding traction control as standard, cruise control as standard, and switchable ABS to the Triumph Tiger 800 XRx.

One of the motorcycles we’ve been anticipating at EICMA, the 2015 BMW S1000XR has finally debuted. As the name suggests, the S1000XR borrows from the S1000RR superbike’s 998cc inline-four engine platform, and its derived heavily from the S1000R roadster, thus it makes a cool 160hp and 83 lbs•ft of torque.

Like the Ducati Multistrada 1200 it competes against, the BMW S1000XR is seen more of an adventure-sport motorcycle, than an outright tourer. Built to satisfy the go-fast needs of on-road riders, the 502 lbs (wet) S1000XR still has the chops to go where the sidewalk ends, but is more at home pounding pavement.

While the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1M was being debuted in Milan, Italy at a star-studded press event, Yamaha Motor USA invited a group of journalists down to southern California to experience the new liter bike first-hand — Asphalt & Rubber was among those attending.

For anyone who has been up-close with the Yamaha YZR-M1, Yamaha’s MotoGP bike, then there are obvious design cues that you can see carried over to the new street bike. The airbox cover is gilled, the air intake is squared, with the pointy nose slightly covering it, making it look like a collapsed pentagon.

Indeed, Yamaha is trying to draw distinctions between the new R1 and its sophisticated M1 race bike. The electronics package on the latter has certainly helped in developing the 2015 Yamaha R1, taking the Tuning Fork brand as having one of the least sophisticated superbike, to now one of the most sophisticated.

A bike that we know has been coming down the pipe for quite some while, the 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 (or the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer, as our European readers will know it) is finally a reality. No more trademark applications, no more CARB filings, no more leaked photos, the budget-minded three-cylinder sport-tourer is here, debuting at the EICMA show today.

As expected, the Yamaha FJ-09 is based off the Yamaha FZ-09 platform, gaining longer suspension pieces and more touring features for its purpose. The windscreen, handlebars, and seat are all adjustable, allowing one to tailor the ride to their preferences. And with a 4.8 gallon fuel tank, that ride can go quite some distance.

Like the FZ-09, the FJ-09 comes with a ride-by-wire throttle, ABS brakes, traction control, and adjustable riding modes. Yamaha also has a range of accessories for the Yamaha FJ-09, helping riders add luggage and other touring items to the new sport-tourer.

Available in either Matte Grey or Candy Red, the 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 will be available in the USA and Canada. American riders can expect the new FJ-09 to be in dealers in November 2014, with a price tag of $10,490 MSRP.

While the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 is pretty impressive in its own right, the folks at Iwata weren’t content to let things be, and thus have produced the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1M. An exclusive extension of the R1, Yamaha calls the R1M the closest thing there is to the company’s GP machine, the Yamaha YZR-M1.

Featuring the same 200hp “CP4” crossplane 998cc inline-four engine as the base model, Yamaha has added Öhlins’ ERS semi-active suspension pieces to the superbike, along with carbon fiber fairings, and a robust GPS-powered data acquisition system.

The Yamaha YZF-R1M utilizes the powerful electronics package that Yamaha has developed, with traction control, launch control, wheelie control, slide control, and anti-locking brakes all acting in unison through the inertial measurement unit (IMU).

Able to know how the motorcycle is moving through six-axis, the Yamaha YZF-R1M can then tailor how it responds to rider and road inputs, via the engine, the suspension, and the brakes.

As expected, and leaked earlier today, the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 has broken cover at the EICMA show in Milan.

An all new machine from Yamaha, the new YZF-R1 is a giant leap forward from Yamaha, with its eyes squarely on dominating the race track, throughout all racing leagues.

At the core of the new R1 is a new crossplane motor, now dubbed the CP4 engine, which is producing 200hp without ram-air.

The engine features titanium fracture-split con-rods, 10.5 liter airbox, titanium exhaust, and a slipper clutch to boot. For the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 though, the story is really all about the electronics.