Yamaha unveil R1S

Few days back Yamaha just revealed this R1S on their US website. So at the first look we got confused, is this higher spect R1 or something different?

It turns out to be lower spect than standard R1, So whats hold back this new R1S got over standard R1. Well not too much, the S model gets steel piston connecting rods (conrods) and exhaust headers instead of titanium ones, aluminum for wheels, engine covers and sump instead of magnesium and result ? You get extra 4 kg metal over standard R1. The gear shift assist missing which comes standard on R1 but good news is despit of being lower spect, R1S gets Yamaha's top notch traction control and inertial measurement unit.

So all these factors together makes R1S cheaper than standard R1 ,but how much. In the US R1S will be $14990, which is $2000 less than standard R1, that's some good amount of saving. I've checked on Indian Yamaha site but they didn't mentioned anything about R1S.

The steel conrods on R1S makes more inertial mass which makes fractional difference in achieving top revs compare lighter conrods. but we suspect R1S might ending up producing slightly higher torque in lower rpm due to same reason!

   


    

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Honda revealed RC213V-S

For last few years Honda have set fire on internet about their Moto GP race replica bike, and here it is RC 213V-S. Now it's like tradition to being race replica bikes sky climbing costly, Looking at the R&D and sophisticated technologies went into it, It's fare to judge their higher prices like Ducati did with their Desmosedici RR. But It's clearly Honda who set brand new benchmark with price tag of $184,000 in USD.

The RC 213V-S is going to hand build in Kumamoto factory at rate of one motorcycle per day. RC 213V-S will be available only in two colors, Plain black carbon fiber texture or HRC Tricolor. RC213V-S is powered by race tune compact 90 degree 999cc V4 engine which sports titanium con-rods.

Like any race bike the RC 213V-S is tightly bind package with mass centralized, underseat fuel compartment and carbon fiber fairing plastic. according to Honda theses parts are directly sourced from their GP machine, RC213V-S is only available through special website from Honda.

The some more parts sourced from GP bike are slipper clutch , Ohline forks, sand cast aluminum crankcase, swingarm, adjustable footrests, magnesium Marchesini wheels (17" inches) as well as Brembo braking components ( steel discs Instead of carbon fiber).

Lets talk about some numbers...

The RC213V-S produces 156.8 bhp in street legal form. And we're not kidding , It's just some 10 more horses than supersports class bike, So sure it's like joke after seeing at huge price tag of RC213V-S and years of hype around it.
 Honda also provides optional circuit kit which will make RC213V-S's V4 motor around 212 bhp , still not even close to racebike.

This replica machine weighs 170 kg in dry road form which isn't impressive considering Ducati 1199 Superleggera weighs only 155 kg dry, furthermore racing sport kit drops weight to 160 kg. The sport kit includes different map ECU , revised ram air intake tubes, and race exhaust system.

Having seen over all specifications we can say RC213V-S is really Moto GP level racing package but only in terms of handling and equipments as far as power is concerns, that's not even closer to regular liter class motorcycles , when Honda says "absolute MotoGP machine for street" you suddenly get's strikes about Yamaha's brand new R1 which is derived from Yamaha's Moto GP M1 Machine. Because R1's price tag makes much more sense. Not only R1 but many European machines such Panigale or HP4 makes tad more horses in street format and could even able to match actual GP machines when fully tuned. But we're sure Honda will have no problems to selling all limited numbers RC213V-S faster than expected

   

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2015 MV Agusta F4 RC

This year seems like major overhaul in liter class segment across various companies, Just take example of beautiful R1 from Yamaha or brutal track weapon S1000 RR from BMW.

 Just in case if you don't know , last month MV Agusta dropped their all new F4 RC liter class platform , MV Agusta's specification sheet suggests F4 RC produces insane 212 hp with race exhaust system, or 202.5 hp in street legal format , peak torque of 84.8 lbs remains same in both variants.

Wrapped in carbon fiber fairings,titanium con bolts and race exhaust system, Lithium_ion battery, forged aluminum wheels and  magnesium casings, the MV Agusta F4 RC is whole 16.5 kg lighter than RR model, with a 193 kg dry weight.

Bike comes with updated MVICS 2.0 electronic system which includes traction control,ABS, rear-wheel lift control, and quick-shifter.

MV Agusta F4 RR and RC both are work of art but MV's are always criticized in past for their snatchy throttle response and flat spots in their rev band so it's interesting to see if MV Agusta have resolve their throttle management issues with newer electronic package because MV's inline fours are some of strongest liter class motors available right now.

The newer BMW S1000RR producing some healthy 199hp, while Aprilia RSV 4RR makes 201hp, Ducati's twin cyclinder  1299 Panigale S produces 205 hp, which puts MV Agusta F4 RC as new horsepower champ in it's category.

But as always it's not only power which make's great superbike but blend of various parameters such as handling, fueling, braking and electronics package and as mentioned previously, in past MV's are badly beaten by other bikes due to their weird throttle modulation.   
 

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BMW S1000XR New Adventure Sport Tourer From BMW

From the company that have best 1000 cc HP4 platform and invented the ADV bike with its original GS comes BMW’s new S1000XR, which was shown back in November at the EICMA show. Put simply, the new 2015 BMW S1000XR is an ADV-look sport-tourer powered by a detuned version of the S1000RR’s potent inline-four. According to BMW, the engine in the new S1000XR puts out 160 hp and 83 pound-feet of torque, which peaks at 9,250 rpm.
 
For optimum tractability and smooth, shudder-free throttle response from as low as 2,000 rpm, the BMW engine has vastly revised valve timing and reshaped intake ports. It remains a substantially oversquare engine, with an 80mm bore and the same 49.7mm stroke common to all S1000 models. Inlet and exhaust valves have come down in size by 2mm, and the engine breathes through 48mm throttle bodies. A high-compression ratio of 12:1 means that premium gasoline(petrol), with a Research Octane Number of 95, is required.
 

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Era of Hyperbike starts with Kawasaki H2R!

Though now that the time is here, it is hard to say something new about the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2R that hasn’t already been said. Rebirthing a name that is synonymous with the original superbike war between the Japanese manufactures, Kawasaki has reinstated an old game, and made a bold first move.

At the heart of the new Ninja H2R is a supercharged 998cc inline-four engine which produces 300hp horsepower. You did not read that figure incorrectly. Wrapped around it is a fetching steel-tube trellis frame.
Building a machine that conformed only to Kawasaki’s own desires to make the ultimate motorcycle, it is perhaps refreshing to see a sport bike that isn’t constrained by the rules of a racing series — though Kawasaki has some racing in mind with its carbon-fiber dripping Ninja H2R model.
Essentially a rolling showcase for Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the Japanese OEM hopes that the H2R will serve as a halo product for the rest of the company’s motorcycles, similar to what the Ducati 1199 Superleggera does for the Italian brand, as well as the Japanese firm’s work with its other subsidiaries.

Built as a closed-course model only, i.e. it is not street legal, the Ninja H2R features a centrifugal supercharger, with a focus on outright acceleration. The unit was built from Kawasaki’s extensive knowledge with turbines, as can already be seen on its personal watercraft offerings. Other components were built and design with help from Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ vast knowledge.
For example, the carbon-fiber upper and lower winglets were designed with assistance from Kawasaki’s Aerospace Company. Kawasaki says that these parts increase stability when riding in the ultra-high speed range, and that they were critical to the H2R’s overall design.
And while the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2R might best be known now for igniting a hyperbike ward within the OEMs, it likely also means the dawn of a new era in the motorcycle industry when viewed in retrospect, where smaller capacity engines with forced induction start replacing the naturally aspirated status quo.

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