Motor Authority - blog Tag: motorcycles

Today’s Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conference held in Long Beach, California, saw the unveiling of a new all-electric motorcycle that its makers claim is the fastest of its kind in the world. The motorcycle is the new Mission One from American sports bike design firm Mission Motors.

The Mission One is the first product from the Californian start-up and it is destined to go on sale next year in a limited run of just 50 examples. Each bike will be priced at a substantial $68,995 but will be followed soon after by more affordable versions.

Power comes from a liquid-cooled 3 phase AC induction motor running on... Today’s Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conference held in Long Beach, California, saw the unveiling of a new all-electric motorcycle that its makers claim is the fastest of its kind in the world. The motorcycle is the new Mission One from American sports bike design firm Mission Motors. The Mission One is the first product from the Californian start-up and it is destined to go on sale next year in a limited run of just 50 examples. Each bike will be priced at a substantial $68,995 but will be followed soon after by more affordable versions. Power comes from a liquid-cooled 3 phase AC induction motor running on lithium-ion battery pack. The electric motor's linear torque curve provides peak torque of 100ft-lb at zero rpm - a feature petrol engines cannot match. This ensures that the motor delivers faster off-the-line acceleration than most petrol-powered motorcycles and does not require gear changes. While no independent testing has been conducted, Mission Motors claims its Mission One will reach a top speed of 150mph and cover a 150 mile range on a single charge. Recharge times are expected to take roughly eight hours on a standard 110V outlet.Mission One electric motorcycle Read More

Honda announced today that it will be developing an electric-powered motorcycle, with sales of the bike expected to begin some time next year. The news will be pleasing for those of you who remember Honda's electric moped concept that was unveiled back in 2004 but failed to see production.

Honda's CEO, Takeo Fukui, stated in December that Honda was "developing a battery-powered electric motorcycle which emits no CO2 during operation". The decision to implement the technology in a motorcycle was explained by Fukui, who claimed that "the characteristics of a battery can be better utilized in the area of motorcycles, which are often used for... Honda announced today that it will be developing an electric-powered motorcycle, with sales of the bike expected to begin some time next year. The news will be pleasing for those of you who remember Honda's electric moped concept that was unveiled back in 2004 but failed to see production. Honda's CEO, Takeo Fukui, stated in December that Honda was "developing a battery-powered electric motorcycle which emits no CO2 during operation". The decision to implement the technology in a motorcycle was explained by Fukui, who claimed that "the characteristics of a battery can be better utilized in the area of motorcycles, which are often used for short distance travel." Fukui expects the electric motorcycle to be extremely popular in "newly emerging countries in regions such as Asia and South America", because "motorcycles are being used for everyday transportation" and that these markets are exhibiting "long-term and steady market growth". He did not mention whether or not the electric motorcycle would make it to American shores, however American-based electric motorbike company Vectrix has proven that the vehicles can be popular in the United States market. Honda's plans to develop the electric motorcycle demonstrate the company's greater focus on volume products, especially following last year's dismal period for the automotive market for which Honda is expected to announce a profit of just 1.6 billion euros ($2.2 billion), almost three-quarters less than 2007's earnings. For this reason CEO Takeo Fukui is determined to refocus the company on where it excels - small, fuel efficient vehicles. The fall in profit has also prompted the Japanese company to introduce drastic cost cutting measures, and late last year the company began looking for buyers for its Formula 1 team following poor race results and heavy expenditures. An early report that the team had sold to Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu turned out to be false, and now Force India owner Vijay Mallya appears to be a front runner for the purchase. Read More

Three-wheeled vehicles are a classic and quick way to get around the typical automotive certification standards, since such 'cars' are classified as motorcycles in many countries, including the U.S. In the case of the Energya, however, the three-wheeled design is also a performance feature, helping cut weight and harness the power of its motorcycle engine in a more accessible format.

The fact that not everyone wants to drag a knee across pavement at ludicrously high speeds means that the market for three-wheeled vehicles that promise to deliver some of the fun of lightweight, high-revving vehicles like motorcycles is strong, if niche. The... Three-wheeled vehicles are a classic and quick way to get around the typical automotive certification standards, since such 'cars' are classified as motorcycles in many countries, including the U.S. In the case of the Energya, however, the three-wheeled design is also a performance feature, helping cut weight and harness the power of its motorcycle engine in a more accessible format. The fact that not everyone wants to drag a knee across pavement at ludicrously high speeds means that the market for three-wheeled vehicles that promise to deliver some of the fun of lightweight, high-revving vehicles like motorcycles is strong, if niche. The Energya is what Higgins-Aubé, Inc., the vehicle's designers, call a 'motomobile' - half motorcycle, half automobile. While it's still in the design stages - the images shown are just detailed renderings - the vehicle is already well into planning as well. It is designed to get its power from a motorcycle engine routed through a six-speed sequential motorcycle gearbox, using only minimal controls and comfort feature to keep weight as low as possible. Performance targets are 0-62mph (100km/h) in less that 4.0 seconds with lateral acceleration in excess of 1.0g on street tires. To achieve these figures, the Energy will require an engine output of about 200hp (149kW) and a total weight of about 770lb (350kg) - not unreasonably far off from a big superbike. Suspension is high-tech, with superposed unequal A-arms, dampers that protrude slightly through the upper cowling, and high-tech materials to keep total weight, as well as unsprung weight, to a minimum. With enough money and backing, Higgins-Aubé thinks it could have the Energya on the roads within 18 months. Sometime after its debut as a combustion-engine vehicle, the company also plans to offer an all-electric version, but as yet no details of the EV are known. Via: NextAutosSUB G1 three-wheel roadsterBrudeli 654LHiggins Aube Energya three-wheeler Read More

The Intermot, or Cologne Motorcycle Show, is being held this week and Honda has taken the opportunity to display a conceptual motorcycle. Dubbed the V4 after its innovative engine configuration, the bike is more of a design study than anything else - a highly stylized and non-functional sculpture of the direction the next generation of Honda's bike line.

Neither the wheels and tires nor the engine are functional or - strictly speaking - even present, though they are hinted at by the forms of the V4 Concept's lines. The intended powerplant is an all-new iteration of Honda's legendary four-cylinder V-engine constructed with oval pistons.

... The Intermot, or Cologne Motorcycle Show, is being held this week and Honda has taken the opportunity to display a conceptual motorcycle. Dubbed the V4 after its innovative engine configuration, the bike is more of a design study than anything else - a highly stylized and non-functional sculpture of the direction the next generation of Honda's bike line. Neither the wheels and tires nor the engine are functional or - strictly speaking - even present, though they are hinted at by the forms of the V4 Concept's lines. The intended powerplant is an all-new iteration of Honda's legendary four-cylinder V-engine constructed with oval pistons. Several other motorcycles are on display in Honda's booth as well, including the world premiere of the CBF125. A range of Honda's V4 engine race bikes offers a visual history of Honda's movement through the ranks of road racing motorcycles. Over 30 years of V4-engined racing history, from the oval-pistoned NR500 through to the most modern example of the Honda V4 in the 2008 MotoGP RC212V. The V4 Concept is designed to reflect that past and leverage it into a new future, according to General Manager for Honda (UK) Motorcycles, Steve Martindale, "Today has highlighted the incredible heritage, reputation, experience and success that Honda has achieved over the last 60 years on two-wheels and the three milestone anniversaries are certainly something to be celebrated. But what is perhaps more important now is that Honda intends to further build on these qualities, along with the V4 design concept, in order to take motorcycles and, motorcycling more generally, in to a new and exciting era." Being a design study, there are no firm production plans, details or specifications on the V4 Concept.Honda Intermot 2008 Read More

Genres like motorcycle, car and all-terrain vehicle are becoming increasingly blurred as more manufacturers make forays into three-wheeled territory. Like a more athletic version of the Can-Am Spyder, Norway's Brudeli Leanster 654L has finally entered production.

Based around the KTM 690 Supermoto, the Leanster 654L features a purely mechanical suspension system, which the company says "leaves the rider in control." The initial idea for the three-wheel leaning vehicle was born on the slick wintery gravel roads of Norway, where a standard motorcycle is simply too treacherous for transport most of the year. The 654L was designed to provide... Genres like motorcycle, car and all-terrain vehicle are becoming increasingly blurred as more manufacturers make forays into three-wheeled territory. Like a more athletic version of the Can-Am Spyder, Norway's Brudeli Leanster 654L has finally entered production. Based around the KTM 690 Supermoto, the Leanster 654L features a purely mechanical suspension system, which the company says "leaves the rider in control." The initial idea for the three-wheel leaning vehicle was born on the slick wintery gravel roads of Norway, where a standard motorcycle is simply too treacherous for transport most of the year. The 654L was designed to provide all of the handling of a motorcycle, but with some of the stability of a quad or a car. "Making 100 meter controlled powerslides at the local dirt track oval is a quite unbeatable feeling. Especially when this is a street-legal vehicle that you actually came cruising with to the track," says Geir Brudeli, inventor of the Leanster. "Then just a few minutes later you could be at a go-kart track without any change of setup, leaning 45 degrees into corners with a control superior to that of a normal motorcycle." Pricing for the Brudeli 654L is expected to start at about $30,000. Total production volume of the Leanster is expected to be small, as the company is still essentially a startup financed by twelve investors and Norway's government through its 'Innovation Norway' program. Being a completely independent manufacturer has enabled it to take some novel approaches, but it will also make the transition to full-scale production difficult or impossible in the near term. The vehicle has been around in concept for since 2006, but only recently has the production vehicle been developed and approved for final construction. It will make its official debut at the Intermot motorcycle show October 8-12.Brudeli 654L Read More