technology

Vance & Hines Launches New Four-Valve Suzuki Racing Engine

Racing Applications include Pro Stock, Pro Mod and Pro Street Classes https://vanceandhines.com/ February 1, 2021 – Santa Fe Springs CA – Vance & Hines today launched the company’s long-expected four-valve motor for Suzuki GS-based drag racers. The new powerplant will debut at the NHRA Gator Nationals in Gainesville FL in mid- March. Several teams will be competing with the new Suzuki-based motor and a new Vance & Hines-designed chassis at that event. “The scale of this launch is unprecedented in the drag racing world and it highlights our company’s technical capabilities,” said Vance & Hines President Mike Kennedy. “This engine and the cylinder head design are applicable to several racing classes and easily adaptable to every team that is currently running a two-valve Suzuki GS. This launch is a proud moment for Vance & Hines and hopefully will net many victories for our Suzuki riders in 2021 and beyond.” The new four-valve head modernizes the technology in Suzuki drag racing motors. It replaces the two-valve design which was introduced in 1998 and it retains the 1850 cubic centimeters engine displacement. For the first time, Vance & Hines has integrated finger follower technology rather than a shim-under-bucket design in a drag racing cylinder head, which allows for less mass in the valve train and increased RPM. The intake and exhaust port spigots are modular, so they can be adapted to different air boxes and exhaust pipes without redesigning or remanufacturing the head itself. This allows the new head to be used not only in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class, but also in the Pro Mod and Pro Street classes. Design credit for the motor, code named “VHIL18504V,” goes to six-time NHRA champion Andrew Hines. The head was completely developed in Solid Works CAD design and was a fully functional running model […]

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Triumph Motorcycles Announces All-New Speed Triple 1200 RS

All-new in every dimension, the Speed Triple 1200 RS has been purpose designed from the ground up to deliver an absolute revolution in terms of Speed Triple power, performance, handling and technology, giving the ultimate performance naked sports ride. The All-New Speed Triple 1200 RS – Triple Powered Revolution All-new in every dimension, the Triumph Motorcycles Speed Triple 1200 RS has been purpose-designed from the ground up to deliver an absolute revolution in terms of Speed Triple power, performance, handling and technology, giving the ultimate performance naked sports ride. A revolution in Speed Triple power and performance The most powerful and fastest-accelerating Speed Triple ever. All-new higher capacity 1160cc triple engine. 180PS peak power: up 30PS. 125Nm peak torque: up 8Nm. 650rpm higher-revving, 12% lower inertia engine. All-new free-breathing intake and exhaust, with incredible sound. A revolution in Speed Triple agility, handling and precision The most agile, precise, dynamic handling Speed Triple ever. 10kg lighter, at just 198kg wet. All-new mass centralised chassis. Narrower, with a more dominant and purposeful riding position. Track specification equipment including: Performance tuned fully adjustable Öhlins suspension Metzeler RACETEC™ RR tyres Brembo Stylema® brakes. A revolution in Speed Triple technology The smartest, sharpest and most technologically advanced Speed Triple ever. Optimised Cornering ABS & switchable Optimised Cornering Traction Control (with IMU). All-new 5” TFT instruments. Five riding modes, including enhanced Track mode. New Triumph Shift Assist up-and-down quick-shifter. New distinctive full-LED lighting. New full keyless system. My Triumph Connectivity System fitted as standard. A revolution in Speed Triple attitude and style All-new muscular and arresting poise and presence. Purer, cleaner and sharper lines. Undeniable focused speed triple design DNA. Striking new dynamic headlight and tail-light designs, with distinctive new light signatures. THE MOST POWERFUL, HIGHEST TORQUE AND FASTEST ACCELERATING SPEED TRIPLE EVER. With an all-new

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BMW Motorcycles the First to Use Bosch’s New Integrated Split Screen Display

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Providing motorcycle riders with the same level of infotainment technology already available for drivers has proven to be quite a challenge. Because of the particularities of two-wheeled motoring, technologies that have been available in cars for some time now are just beginning to be adopted. Take for instance Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which have been brought as standard to the range of bikes just this year by two of the biggest names of the industry, Harley-Davidson and Indian. And this sluggishness applies to hardware as well. In a move that is certain to cause a stir, parts supplier Bosch announced at the beginning of the month the launch of its (and the world’s) first integrated split screen for motorcycles, but also a smartphone integration solution called mySPIN. The screen is a TFT 10.25-inch in size that can simultaneously display relevant vehicle information, and smartphone apps content like navigation. According to Bosch, BMW motorcycles (we are not being told which ones) will be the first to use them this year (also, unclear when will BMW have time to integrate it in its bikes in the little time left until the end of 2020). As for the mySPIN app, it was designed to work with both the split screen and the usual ones. Ducati, for instance, will deploy it together with a new 6.5-inch display without the split-screen option, and Kawasaki will follow, although we’re not told with what screen it will use. mySPIN has been around for about two years now in the watersports segment, but now expands to motorcycles to provide “smartphone content in an integrated and easy way while riding their bike.” Using it, riders get access to a community, Dash Radio, Genius Maps and Sygic, among others. “Our clusters in combination with

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Ducati is producing a motorcycle with built-in radar

by Kris Holt from https://www.engadget.com The Multistrada V4 has several rider assistance features. Ducati has started production on what it claims is the “world’s first motorcycle equipped with front and rear radar technology.” The company worked with Bosch on the radar system, which allows the Multistrada V4 to offer some rider support features. Each radar weighs 190 grams and is about the size of an action camera, so the system won’t add too much weight or bulk to the motorcycle. The front radar enables adaptive cruise control, which helps the Multistrada V4 automatically adjust its distance from other vehicles while riding at between 30 and 160 km/h. The rear radar can detect vehicles that are in the rider’s blind spot. The system can tell you when vehicles are approaching at high speed. Ducatti hasn’t revealed much more about the Multistrada V4, save for the fact it has a “new, light and compact V4 engine.” The company has yet to reveal what the motorcycle even looks like. It’ll show off the Multistrada V4 for the first time on November 4th. 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 Production Starts – 1st Motorcycle With Radar Tech by Nithyanandh Karuppaswamy from https://www.rushlane.com The 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 is the first production motorcycle to be equipped with front and rear radars for rider assistance systems The 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 has entered production at the Audi-owned sportsbike marque’s Borgo Panigale facility near Bologna, Italy. In its fourth generation, the popular adventure tourer ditches the L-Twin motor in favor of Ducati’s new V4 unit. The all-new adventure tourer will make its world premiere on November 4. The fourth-gen Multistrada V4 is claimed to be the first production-spec motorcycle to be equipped with front and rear radar technology. In 2016, Ducati worked in collaboration with the department of electronics,

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Harley-Davidson pushes EV Technology with 2020 LiveWire Motorcycle

HARLEY-DAVIDSON PUSHES EV TECHNOLOGY TO THE EDGES OF THE EARTH WITH THE 2020 LIVEWIRE® MOTORCYCLE HOW THE LIVEWIRE MOTORCYCLE TOOK ON THE WORLD MILWAUKEE (September 24, 2020) – The Harley-Davidson LiveWire® model is an exhilarating electric motorcycle that pushes the boundaries of performance, technology and design in the two-wheel world. When an opportunity presented itself to Harley-Davidson to showcase the LiveWire motorcycle’s capabilities and performance in the most extreme conditions, H-D seized the challenge for the unheralded 13,000 mile off-road trek. The process to accomplish this journey is documented through Harley-Davidson’s podcast series. Listen to the H-D Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribe to get new episodes of the show automatically each week. This six-part series documents how near-production LiveWire models were modified to shred dirt roads, single track, and desert trails over 13,000 miles of extreme off-road conditions. “Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson. This podcast series is a premier showcase for how Harley-Davidson’s talented staff of engineers and designers go above and beyond in their mission to create motorcycles that unlock adventures wherever they may lead. These efforts can be experienced in the 2020 LiveWire – a shining example of how Harley-Davidson innovates to lead in the electrification of motorcycling. It’s an experience that can only be truly understood after riding it.” Utilizing the same talented Harley-Davidson engineers and designers that developed the LiveWire motorcycle, a select group was assembled from the broader development team to modify near-production LiveWire models to complete the journey. Together, this team designed, modified, and assembled a motorcycle in under 30 days. After initial testing, the team incorporated feedback to finalize ergonomic and storage systems on the bikes. In 60 days, the motorcycles were headed to the southern tip of Argentina.

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Hero Ultra Sport electric motorcycle under development in Germany

by Nithyanandh Karuppaswamy from https://www.rushlane.com The Hero e-US is expected to be unveiled at one of the high-profile events in foreseeable future Hero Electric and Hero MotoCorp are two different companies. Both are into manufacturing and selling of two wheelers in India. The former has only focused in electric vehicles, while the latter, which is India’s largest two wheeler brand, is yet to launch an electric vehicle. With electric vehicles the future, Hero Motocorp’s Technology Center in Germany (HTCG) is currently collaborating with the two wheeler giant’s Jaipur R&D HQ to develop a new premium electric motorcycle concept in addition to working on mainstream, cost-effective EV solutions. Hero e-US or Hero Ultra Sport Eectric According to a recent report by Moneycontrol, the powerful electric motorcycle concept which is currently under development by Munich-based HTCG is called the e-US (electric Ultra Sport). No additional information is available at this point but it is likely to be a design study to gather public opinion about a potential electric high-performance flagship. If we were to hazard a guess, the Hero e-US could be an edgy street fighter with performance levels equivalent to a conventional quarter liter motorcycle. Or it could even be offering higher levels of performance to match something like the Ultroviolette F77. The concept is expected to be showcased at a high-profile event when it is ready. The timeline is not clear as of now. Branding challenge for electric portfolio Speaking at the latest Annual General Meeting, Hero Motocorp’s chairman Pawan Munjal stated that the company is well on course with its plans to enter the promising electric two wheeler market in the country. He also added that the pure electric products that are being developed by Hero Motocorp are independent of its subsidiary Ather Energy’s products. It is to be

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BMW Reveals New F Series Models, Changes Limited to Visual and Equipment Upgrade

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Since a little over a decade now, the motorcycle family over at BMW Motorrad included the so-called F Series. The models in this family are some of the most preferred choices of riders looking for bikes equally good for everyday use, but also packing touring capabilities. This week, the German bike maker announced a series of upgrades for three of the F Series bikes. As such, the F 750 GS, F 850 GS and F 850 GS Adventure get updated with new color schemes, new standard equipment, and more choices when it comes to optional equipment. From this point onward, all three models come equipped as standard with visual upgrades like LED flashing turn indicators, a USB charging device at the front right of the cockpit, but also mechanical ones, including ABS Pro and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC). The engine remains unchanged. The same powerplant breathes life in all three models, namely a 853cc liquid-cooled 4-valve, 2-cylinder, tied to a six-speed gearbox. Despite being the same on all bikes, the engine has different outputs depending on the model it is used for: 77 hp on the F 750 GS, and 95 on the two variants of the F 850 GS. Visually, there are new colors on the table as well. The 750 can now be wrapped in Light White with tank center cover painted in vehicle color, and black matt painted rims, black handlebars and seat bench in red/black. The 850 gets Racing Red with the tank centre cover painted in the vehicle color, and black-coated fixed fork tubes, black rims and seat bench in black/grey. For the Adventure, BMW introduces Ice Grey. You can have a detailed look at all the changes BMW has in mind for the F Series in the press release

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BMW to Add New Cruise Control System to Motorcycles

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com For reasons that have to do with the way they are built and used, motorcycles do not benefit from the same wide array of comfort or safety systems developed for cars. Strides are being made though to have some of these technologies migrate to motorcycles as well. As far as cars are concerned, cruise control has been around in some form or another from about the time they were invented, but for motorcycles adapting the tech proved a bit more complicated. There are a few bikes out there with cruise control, such as the BMW S1000RR, or the Yamaha FJR-1300, but the tech is not widely available, and of course not as standard. BMW Motorrad plans to change that, and announced that it would “soon offer this type of rider assistance system.” Called in BMW speak Active Cruise Control (ACC), it is a brand new system that has been developed together with Bosch. It can automatically regulate the speed at which the bike is traveling based on the speed set by the rider and the distance to the vehicle driving in front. The system will try to maintain the distance from the vehicle in front as set by the rider, who can choose one of three settings. To calculate the distance, ACC uses a radar fitted at the front of the motorcycle, and it works together with some of the other systems on the two-wheeler, including the brakes and the ABS system. The system can detect only moving vehicles, and will not react to stopped cars or traffic lights, BMW warns. According to company, the new system is also able to automatically reduce speed during lean angle cornering, while at the same time trying to keep acceleration and deceleration within tolerable limits during an increased

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Honda Reveals CB-F Concept as the Future of Six Decades Old Series

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com In Honda’s lineup, the CB Series is one of the most extensive. Born a little over six decades ago, the line includes everything from road to racing motorcycles. That means the family will still be around for many years to come, and a glimpse of what’s around the corner was just revealed by the Japanese. Two major motorcycle shows were planned in Japan in the coming months, in Osaka and Tokyo, but because they were canceled on account of the coronavirus pandemic, Honda and others were left with finding alternate means of revealing their newest products. Honda planned to show no less than 29 motorcycles at the said events, and decided to slowly unveil them online, starting Friday, March 27. The CB-F concept was the one chosen to spearhead the avalanche of models. Developed as a preview of future CBs, the concept is said to also be a homage to past generations, including the CB900F, one of the oldest of the family. Built on a lightweight chassis with high-tensile steel mono-backbone structure, it comes with an inverted front fork suspension and an aluminum single-sided Pro-Arm at the rear. Both should make the bike ideal for use on both urban and winding roads. Powering the bike along is a 998cc water-cooled inline 4-cylinder DOHC engine, linked to a six-speed transmission. The specs for it were not released, but the Japanese say it “eases through its rev-range and provides ample torque.” “The CB-F Concept is the result of revisiting the CB series’ history, which reached its sixth decade last year, and thoroughly exploring what to preserve, and what to evolve with the company’s flagship sports bike,” the bike maker said in a statement. “The CB-F Concept is an ambitious fusion of cutting edge technology with a design

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Electric scooters can help cities move beyond cars v pedestrians

by Alex Hern from https://www.theguardian.com The government is showing signs of legalising electric scooters on roads, but new laws should be about safety, not horsepower If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that being hit by a scooter hurts less than being hit by a bike. That may sound like a strangely negative place to start, but it’s sort of fundamental to why I’m glad the government is finally showing signs of legalising the use of electronic scooters on public roads across the UK. The current state of the law is a mess. Its broad strokes are reasonable enough: powered vehicles require an MOT and registration to use on public roads, while unpowered vehicles do not. Pavements are for foot traffic only. Access requirements complicate matters, but only a little: wheelchairs, both manual and powered – legally, “class three invalid carriages” – can go on pavements, while some – class four – can go on roads as well. Then, in the 1980s, the law was modernised to support the first generation of electric bikes. Fitted with simple motors that aided hill climbs, it felt silly to ban them as electric vehicles, and so a new category – the “electrically assisted pedal cycle” – was invented, and the laws amended further in 2015 to remove weight limits, allow for four wheels and increase the maximum power of the motor. Which means, as the law stands, you can ride a four-wheeled vehicle of potentially unlimited weight, largely powered by a motor up to 15.5mph, on public roads without training, licensing or registration. But not an electronic scooter. Nor, for that matter, a 5kg, 10mph “hoverboard”, unlikely to hurt anyone save its rider. Looking at the laws from the ground up, the distinguishing characteristic should be safety, not how a

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