Motorcycle Live
takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from November 23 to December 1. Here
are the star attractions from every manufacturer:
APRILIA
There's a fierce battle brewing in the naked sports bike class, with BMW,
Kawasaki and KTM all launching challengers to Aprilia's
Tuono V4R. The Italian is upgraded for 2014 with tweaks to its 999cc V4
engine – which now produces 170bhp – plus civilising features including
softer suspension, larger fuel tank and more comfortable seat. It's still
wild but also slightly more practical, and reasonable value at £12,432.
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| The Aprilia Tuono V4R |
The German firm has four exciting newcomers, of which the S1000R naked sportster is the most powerful. Essentially an unfaired version of the fearsome S1000RR sports bike, it produces 160bhp from a mildly detuned 999cc four-cylinder engine, weighs just 207kg with fuel, and features two alternative modes, traction control, race ABS braking, and optional semi-active suspension. The price will be announced at Motorcycle Live and is likely to be very competitive, at about £10,000 for the base model.
BMW has revamped two more of its flat-twin models with the liquid-cooled engine introduced in this year's R1200GS. The globe-trotting Adventure version of the dual-purpose boxer gets the same 1,170cc unit, which produces 125bhp. Other traditional Adventure features include a large 30-litre fuel tank (10 litres up on the standard GS), bigger screen, and an extra 20mm of suspension travel at each end.
There's also a new version of the R1200RT tourer, featuring the liquid-cooled boxer engine with a heavier crankshaft for smoother running and taller gearing for more relaxed cruising. Along with alternative riding modes and ASC stability control as standard there's a new option called Gear Shift Assistant Pro that allows changes without using throttle or clutch. Chassis and bodywork are also updated, including a 20mm lower seat. Semi-active suspension, Dynamic ESA, is an option.
The R nineT is a retro model with the old air-cooled, 110bhp boxer engine. It was recently unveiled to mark the firm's 90th anniversary as a bike manufacturer. Designed as a basis for customisation, the nineT features a tubular steel space frame with removable pillion section. Sporty cycle parts include forks borrowed from the S1000RR, monobloc front brake calipers and wide rear tyre.
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| The BMW S1000R |
CCM
This Bolton-based firm with a long history of off-road competition is launching its dual-purpose roadster, the GP450 Adventure. Its 40bhp, 449cc single-cylinder engine was previously used by BMW and Husqvarna and sits in a British-built frame adorned with high-quality European parts. It's very light at 135kg, and is set for immediate production at £7,995.
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| The CCMGP450 Adventure |
DUCATI
The iconic Ducati Monster enters its 21st year of production with a major change – its first liquid-cooled engine. The Monster 1200 and higher specification 1200S are both powered by versions of the eight-valve Testastretta V-twin used in the Multistrada. The 1200S is 10bhp more powerful than the standard Monster, at 145bhp, and comes in white as well as the standard 1200's red. Both feature a larger fuel tank and the Monster's first height-adjustable seat, suggesting Ducati is aiming to improve practicality and comfort as much as performance.
Motorcycle Live will provide many Ducati enthusiasts with a first chance to see the recently launched 899 Panigale. This smaller capacity version of the 1199 Panigale differs by being designed for the street as much as the racetrack, but it still produces 148bhp, thunders to over 160mph and features chassis parts including Showa's Big Piston Forks and Brembo's Monobloc brake calipers. At £12,495 it's considerably less expensive than the 1199, though hardly cheap.
The 1199 Superleggera is an upgraded Panigale that holds a tuned version of the 1,198cc V-twin engine in a chassis dripping with lightweight titanium, magnesium and carbon-fibre. Producing over 200bhp and with a dry weight of just 155kg, the "Superlight" undoubtedly meets Ducati's claim to have the highest power-to-weight ratio yet from a production motorcycle. With a price of £54,000 it's also one of the most expensive – and, with only 500 being built, one of the most exclusive.
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| The Ducati Monster 1200 |
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Unless you know your Harley Davidsons you’ll have to look quite hard to spot many of the changes to the American marque’s touring models. But the recently introduced 2014 tourers, including the Street Glide (its top seller) and giant “full dresser” Ultra Limited were comprehensively updated, with the latter even getting a partially liquid-cooled engine for the first time.
Several other Harley models are also updated for 2014, notably the Sportster, which gets ABS brakes. But Harley’s other main news is one of its biggest ever developments: the launch of a middleweight V-twin. The Street 750 combines an all new liquid-cooled engine with typical Harley styling in a compact, relatively lightweight machine. The Street will be built in India and the US, aimed at younger riders and those in developing markets. It will be Harley’s least expensive model but is not due on sale in Britain until 2015 and therefore will not be appearing at the NEC.
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| The Harley-Davidson Street Glide |
HONDA
The CTX1300 is totally new, a pannier-equipped cruiser powered by the 1,261cc liquid-cooled V-twin from the Honda ST1300 Pan European tourer. The transverse-mounted engine is detuned to give 83bhp with increased low-rev performance; standard features include a twin-speaker sound system.
The naked CB650F and fully faired CBR650F newcomers closely follow the format of the existing Hornet and CBR600F. The 649cc, four-cylinder engine is tuned for low-rev performance and fuel efficiency, and produces 86bhp – 14bhp less than the old 599cc unit. The bikes also share basic chassis design, based on a steel frame, with the sportier CBR having firmer suspension.
As well as tweaking the CBR1000RR Fireblade with a more aggressive riding position and a revised four-cylinder engine with an extra 3bhp to 178bhp, Honda has introduced a track-focused Fireblade SP (standing for Sport Production). It combines the standard model's engine changes with factory-matched internals for better balance. Its main changes are to the chassis, which includes Öhlins suspension, Brembo Monobloc front brake calipers, single seat and special paintwork.
Younger and less experienced riders are likely to be attracted to the CBR300R, a novice-friendly single-cylinder machine based on the existing CBR250R and styled to match the Fireblade. Enlarging capacity to 286cc increases the liquid-cooled, sohc engine's peak output to 30bhp; the steel-framed chassis incorporates ABS brakes on both wheels while a slimmer seat improves manoeuvrability for shorter riders.
Honda has also revamped its faithful VFR800F sports-tourer. Bodywork is redesigned for a slimmer look; the 782cc, V4 engine is retuned for improved midrange performance and a lighter exhaust system contributes to a 10kg weight saving.
Finally, Honda's family of commuter-friendly parallel twins is refreshed with new NC750S, NC750X and Integra. All three share a larger, 745cc engine that produces more torque.
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| The Honda CBR300R |
INDIAN
The UK debut of the new range of Indian V-twins, following the famous American marque's relaunch this summer by Polaris, the snowmobile giant that also owns Victory. There are three models: the Chief Classic, a traditional US-style cruiser; the Chief Vintage, which adds a windscreen and soft panniers; and the Chieftain, which has a solid half-fairing with adjustable screen, and hard panniers.
All three are powered by Indian's Thunderstroke 111 engine, an air-cooled V-twin that gets its name from its cubic inch capacity, which translates to 1,811cc. They're traditional American bikes, reminiscent of the Chief built before the original Indian firm ceased production in the 1950s. Prices range from £18,499 to £22,250.
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| The Indian Chieftain |
first published in www.telegraph.co.uk
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