While the Ducati 1199 Panigale is getting a number of revisions under the skin for its second year on the market, like an improved chassis and suspension setup (more on that later), it seems Ducati has also seen fit to offer its superbike in a color other than red. Behold from INTERMOT, the 2013 Ducati 1199 Panigale in Arctic White. Apparently this is the new matte black, which is what we’re all really waiting for. Photos after the jump.
Debuting a three-cylinder concept at the INTERMOT show in Cologne, Yamaha is teasing the hypothesis of a tuning-fork brand triple with a crossplane crankshaft.
A technology that was developed in MotoGP for Yamaha YZR-M1, and then handed down to the Yamaha YZF-R1 in 2009, the unique qualities of the crossplane inline-four cylinder motor has been a key component to Yamaha’s potent, yet ridable machines.
Taking that same idea, and then applying it to a three-cylinder engine, Yamaha hopes to create a new motor that will appeal to street riders.
Zero Motorcycles continues to upgrade its model line-up, with the 2013 Zero Motorcycles bikes getting a motor and battery upgrade. Offering bikes now in 8.5 & 11.4 kWh packages, Zero claims city mileage ranges to be 103 & 137 miles, respectively. The motors on the Zero S, Zero DS, and Zero MX have been bumped up to 54hp spec, the Zero XU retains its 27/28hp configuration, and the new Zero FX gets a 44hp lump.
The big addition to the family is the 2013 Zero FX (pictured above), which follows the lines of the Zero DS dual-sport, but uses the same chassis as found on the MX. The Zero FX appears to be the more off-road capable version of the Zero DS. While the DS will have 8.5 & 11.4 kWh options for its battery packs, the Zero FX will come with only 2.8 & 5.7 kWh unit options — the same as the Zero XU and Zero MX. Pricing on the Zero FX starts at $9,495.
The added battery and power boosts should help keep Zero Motorcycles in check with Brammo, which is set to finally bring its Brammo Empulse R street bike to market later this year. With 2013 rumored to have a “Brammo Killer” in the line-up, we’re not quite sure if the Zero S design lives up to the hype, even with its upgraded power train, but considering the sales figures between the two companies, we might be wrong on that assessment. Photos after the jump.
Our first official news from the showroom floor of INTERMOT is Honda’s race bike for the 2013 Dakar Rally. Rumored, teased, and now official, the 2013 Honda CRF450 Rally is as the name implies, a CRF450 built out and specially suited for adventure rally racing. The fuel-injected off-roader will get its first outing at the Rally of Morocco, which starts October 14th.
Honda intends on fielding five riders on the 2013 Honda CRF450 Rally bike: 11-time Baja 1000 winner Johnny Campbell (USA), Helder Rodrigues (Portugal), Felipe Zanol (Brazil), Sam Sunderland (United Kingdom), and Javier Pizzolito (Argentina). Expect to see Honda CRF450 Rally on the Dakar Rally starting line come January 1, 2013 in South America, where it will take on the KTM contingency of Marc Coma and Cyril Despres.
Getting spotted a day ahead of schedule, the 2013 BMW R1200GS has broken cover with most of its water-cooled glory, sort of. The good folks at Oliepeil.nl managed to get onto the show floor at INTERMOT, and grabbed a few photos of the BMW kiosk displays for the new GS.
Visually similar to the current R1200GS, the new water-cooled 1,170cc BMW R1200GS makes 123hp and 92 lbs•ft of torque at 6,500 rpm. That makes for a noticeable bump over the current model’s 110hp and 88 lbs•ft of torque. That added power comes with some added weight though, as the the 2013 BMW R1200GS tips the scales at 525 lbs at the curb, roughly 20 lbs heavier than the outgoing model.
We will have to wait until tomorrow to get the full details and official photos of the 2013 BMW R1200GS, but this should whet your adventure-touring appetite until then. Has the king retained its crown? More photos after the jump.
KTM continues to be the harlot of the motorcycle industry, as the Austrian company has again spread its legs open for our ever-growing two-wheeled lust — this time in the form of the 2013 KTM 1190 Super Duke. Some more “spy photo” nonsense, the KTM 1190 Super Duke is seen here in its unfinished prototype form, though we certainly won’t have to wait long before the bike’s official unveiling in a few weeks at INTERMOT.
Expected to get a de-tuned version of the KTM 1190 RC8 R motor, one can likely expect that KTM 1190 Super Duke to share its engine with the already leaked and debuted KTM 1190 Adventure. If that is the case, expect a torquey 147hp machine that should slot in nicely with competitors like the Ducati Streetfighter and Aprilia Tuono V4 R.
With a brochure photo of the 2013 KTM 1190 Adventure leaking yesterday from KTM’s website, today we see more photos of the Austrian brand’s new adventure hitting the interwebs on the ADVrider forums. A studio shot of the 2013 KTM 1190 Adventure R, and two more photos of the base model give us a clearer picture of what KTM will “officially” unveiled at INTERMOT in a few weeks’ time.
The changes between the KTM 1190 Adventure and the KTM 1190 Adventure R are subtle, but the “R” is KTM’s more off-road oriented model between the two. As such, it sports a 21″ wheel up front, and an 18″ wheel in the back. Crash bars, a shorter windscreen, and single-piece saddle complete the changes, though we can expect other non-visible additions like upgraded suspension, etc.
The folks at KTM briefly let leak a brochure photo of the 2013 KTM 1190 Adventure today, giving us our first good look at the completed machine. A prototype of the bike was recently reviewed by Motorrad, this new photo confirms many of the details that the Germans dropped in that article.
Based on the KTM RC8 R’s 1195cc LC8 v-twin motor, the KTM 1190 Adventure sees the superbike lump re-tuned for its adventure-touring duties, and in that capacity it makes 147hp. Meanwhile at 518 lbs with a full tank of gas, the 2013 KTM 1190 Adventure is a touch heavier than its 990cc predecessor, though we don’t think you will mind.
Ahead of this fall’s motorcycle shows, Ducati has unveiled its 2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 range, which sees the sport-tourer getting a host of updates. Featuring a second-generation Testastretta 11° motor, perhaps the bigger news is the inclusion of Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS), Ducati’s new semi-active suspension system. Other changes also include an updated three-level ABS system, as well as revised aesthetics.
As we tipped yesterday, the 2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak edition gets a new color scheme, as it uses the team’s livery from this year’ hill climb, and appears to take the reigns as Ducati’s “sport” offering for the MTS1200. In addition to the new colors, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak gets the Ducati Skyhook Suspension, as does the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring. DSS will not be available on the base model Multistrada 1200 however.
New for 2013 is the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Granturismo, which is aimed to be a more purpose-built touring option in the Multistrada line. Featuring an increased side luggage capacity, top case, additional LED illumination, enhanced wind protection, and long-distance tires among other things, it will be interesting to see how Ducati prices the Granturismo against the regular Multistrada 1200 S Touring model here in the US.
If you believe the Honda CBR 250 Forums, Big Red is set to drop some 500cc machines at INTERMOT/EICMA later this year. Expected to be lower-spec models built in the company’s Thailand factory, the 2013 Honda CBR500 & 2013 Honda CB500 are interesting offerings that fall in between matrix of the Honda CBR250R, Honda CBR600RR, Honda CB1000R, and Honda NC700S.
It is not clear what market Honda intends to drop these models in, though we are having a hard time seeing either the Honda CBR500 in North America, but both bikes do represent an added stepping-stone in Honda’s model lineup for new riders. One thing is clear, manufacturers like Honda are starting to question the previously proscribed displacement categories with their new models.
We have known for some time now that BMW was working on a successor to its wildly popular BMW R1200GS motorcycle. Expected to be a water-cooled boxer-twin, the new GS is an incredibly important machine for the German brand, and BMW is wasting no time hyping its unveiling. Set to break cover in just over a month at the INTERMOT show in Cologne, our wait to see the next iteration of the GS line is now almost at an end.