Saturday, May 23, 2009

Aprilia Mana 850

The APRILIA MANA 850, MANA ABS
The Aprilia MANA is the state of the art in motorcycle technology. Only Aprilia, with its legendary technical skills, would have dared take on a challenge of this entity. The Aprilia 850 MANA is so advanced and so unique that it simply cannot be compared with any other motorcycle. The Mana takes all the stress from motorcycling while injecting more satisfaction and more fun into riding under all conditions, from commuting to sports touring on the open road

Its revolutionary Sportgear transmission is electronically controlled to deliver unrivalled riding pleasure. So whatever your riding style, and whatever the road conditions, the MANA is the bike you will want to be on.
The transmission management system offers a choice of three "Autodrive" mappings plus a manual, seven speed, sequential gearshift, so you can be absolutely certain to find the perfect ratio for any traffic condition and riding preference. Whether you are just nipping across town or blowing away the cobwebs on a winding country road.

The DESIGN
Its exclusive, unmistakably Italian styling, the 850 MANA embodies the perfect combination of elegance and practicality. As with all Aprilia nakeds, the Mana's high-tech components make an essential contribution to overall design.
The 16 litre tank is located under the seat, lower than normal, to distribute weight more evenly and lower the bike's centre of gravity. The "traditional" tank location is occupied instead by an illuminated storage compartment that is lined with non-slip, non-scratch material and big enough to house a full face helmet. The compartment also incorporates mobile phone storage and a 12V power socket.

The ENGINE
There can be no doubt that the Mana engine has opened new horizons in the world of motorcycling, featuring as it does a twin cylinder layout, electronic fuel injection, bags of torque, and above all a revolutionary transmission system that completely replaces the conventional mechanical gearbox and delivers a whole new motorcycling experience even under sport riding conditions.

Aprilia 90° longitudinal V twin four stroke. Liquid cooled. Single overhead cam with chain drive, four valves per cylinder.
Fuel Unleaded petrol.
Fuel system Integrated engine management system. Weber Marelli electronic fuel injection with one 38 mm throttle body.
Ignition Digital electronic ignition, with two spark plugs per cylinder, integrated with fuel injection system.
Starting Electric.

The BRAKES
Impressive stopping power is delivered by the very best braking technology currently available, developed in-house by Aprilia. Radial calipers with 4 pistons are the state of the art for motorcycle brakes and ensure maximum active safety under all braking conditions. The generous front discs are 320 mm in diameter, the standard size for Aprilia's big bikes, and are complemented by a single 260 mm rear disc.
A sophisticated two channel ABS system maximises the Mana ABS's already impressive levels of active and passive safety by preventing wheel lock on slippery surfaces and improving braking performance.





BMW K1200R Cupracer


Ducati Desmosedici RR

DUCATI DESMOSEDICI RR: THE ULTIMATE DUCATI EXPERIENCE

The body design and the aerodynamics faithfully reflect the Desmosedici GP6. The colour scheme, the fittings, the materials used in its construction as well as the technical features of the powerful four-cylinder desmodromic engine built by the Borgo Panigale factory engineers, leave no doubts whatsoever: the Desmosedici RR is the ultimate expression of the most extreme MotoGP racing machine today.

The Engine
The Ducati Desmosedici RR features advanced technology and aerodynamics that are derived from the GP6 currently being raced in the 2006 MotoGP World Championship.
The engine of the Desmosedici RR accurately reflects that of the MotoGP bike: Ducati's traditional desmodromic distribution, guaranteeing precise valve control up to the highest revs, is perfectly matched to the 989 cc four-cylinder 'L' layout, with four titanium valves per cylinder, in asymmetrical Twin Pulse configuration, producing a masterwork of precision engineering.
The double overhead cams are gear driven, a sophisticated and reliable solution that enables precise valve timing in all conditions. This authentic copy of the Grand Prix engine is completed by a six-speed transmission, which retains its 'racing' characteristic by being cassette type, and a hydraulically actuated dry multi-plate slipper clutch.
The aim of producing a light but robust engine has led not only to an unrivalled quality component design but also the use of exclusive racing-derived materials: sand-cast, aluminium crankcase and cylinder heads, titanium connecting rods and valves, sand-cast magnesium engine covers.

The Chassis
The engine clearly represents the beating heart of this fantastic motorcycle, but the technological advancements also extend to the chassis: a signature tubular trellis hybrid frame, refined components, and a superb carbon fibre body. This is a motorcycle that is destined for an expert rider, someone who is always looking for extreme sporting performance, as well as being an exclusive, esoteric, reliable product that is more than capable of track racing.
The bike is totally inspired by the racing machine, the Ducati Desmosedici GP6, from which it inherits all the aggressiveness of its lines. It is fitted with a new lightweight multifunction dashboard, developed in collaboration with Ducati Corse, the same one that will be fitted to next year's racing machine, the Desmosedici GP7.
The bike's development could not have been made possible without the significant collaboration of Vittoriano Guareschi, the official Ducati Corse tester, whose riding abilities and hundreds of hours of track time have made a fundamental contribution to the evolution of the project.

For the first time the Ducati Desmosedici RR uses a new welded tubular steel trellis hybrid frame (ALS 450) with the frame geometry that is the same as that of the Desmosedici GP6.
This construction guarantees an excellent stiffness to weight ratio, allowing superior manoevrability and riding precision. Attached to the red frame is the rear seat support in high temperature resin type carbon fibre. This material, normally used only on racing bikes, has the characteristic of being extremely lightweight but exceptionally rigid.
The Desmosedici RR sports a new extra-long, cast, forged and pressed aluminium alloy swingarm. The geometry and the technology of this component derive directly from the MotoGP bike, and give the RR a high level of traction control.






Honda CB1000R XESS Streetfighter Concept

The XESS (eXtreme European Streetfighter Styling) version of the Honda CB1000R draws on the most extreme potential of this new Naked streetfighter's intensely aggressive power.

The Power of Dreams, the CB1000R should be considered "The Model of Dreams" in the Naked category - a dream bike starting with a unique Honda basis and customised with the most impressively designed accessories.

The CB1000R is spectacularly emotional bike, the velvet-red XESS builds even more on that emotion - aggressive as a panther and ready to holeshot with a premium motorcycle image. That's why the tank is graced with the new Honda Wing emblem that only decorates top-end models like the RC212V, the Fireblade and the DN-01.




Peugeot HYmotion3 Compressor Concept

This is based on the extensive experience of Peugeot Motorcycles, specialists in the scooter field, as well as the creativity and innovative capabilities of stylists and engineers working for Automobiles Peugeot.

The Style
On the basis of a frame designed by Peugeot Motorcycles, Peugeot car stylists unveiled a resolutely sporty and avant-garde design which also captures the spirit of their latest creations, for example the Peugeot 308 RC Z concept car.
Two polished aluminium roll-over bars support the "bubble" which protects the two occupants. This use of materials is strongly reminiscent of the RCZ concept.

These bars make a significant contribution to the vehicle's overall personality and balanced proportions. In addition to the comfort provided by this structure, the bars end in a handle which can be used by the rear passenger. To preserve the vehicle's clean lines, there are no rear-view mirrors, this function being carried out by two display screens on the instrument panel offering optimal rear vision.
Viewed from the front the vehicle creates a strong impression of modernity with its row of light emitting diodes (LEDs) on either side of the base of the front windscreen. These provide highly efficient lighting and also ensure that the vehicle can be seen easily in traffic.

The two electric motors, one in each wheel, are present at the front of the vehicle. With a power of 2 x 3 kW, they are powered by "lithium-ion" batteries and recharged by an energy recovery system which operates during deceleration and braking.
Therefore, there are no mechanical connections between the front and the rear, everything being controlled electronically ("by wire"), allowing optimisation of the available space.

This hybrid technology, as well as its special innovative layout, is an important vector of research and development for Peugeot. Known internally as "HYmotion", this system is presented in multiple formats, featuring different types of engine, on Peugeot's stand at the Paris Motor Show. This concept demonstrates that the technology can be installed in any type of vehicle. In addition, different types of conventional engine can be combined with different types of electric motor.
The HYmotion technology in this case is particularly miniaturised to ensure an environmental performance of the highest order.

The suspension and the structure are designed to take account of this technology's application. The parallelogram type front suspension (i.e. with tilting wheels) has a transverse damper at its centre and ensures optimal driveability and vehicle stability. These technical components are located on the wheel hubs, therefore reducing the vehicle's centre of gravity following the example of the low-slung tubular frame.
The Braking, rendered more efficient by the presence of an ABS system, it relies on three ventilated discs and, above all, the front electric motors, which recover energy to recharge the batteries. This assembly (three wheels + electric motor braking) also reduces the braking distance by around 30% compared to a two-wheel scooter equipped with traditional brakes.





Vespa GTV 250 ie Sidecar

The Vespa GTV Sidecar, a prototype that evokes atmosphere of the 1950's.

The travel returns to assume romantiche shadings and the spirit vintage of Vespa finds ulterior expression in this special preparation.

The first one sidecar in fact launched them in 1948, coupled to Vespa 125, been born own in that year; it was quickly growing of interest for this detail vehicle thus to catch up in the same years the world of the competitions (memorable the enterprise of Salvetti that caught up with its Vespa 125 Sidecar the step of the Aprica to 1.181 meters facing sometimes 20 cm of snow not struck and peaks of slope of 10%).

In first 50 years 'the sidecar it finds I use also in the common use satisfying the need of mobility to accessible price.

The Vespa GTV Sidecar returns to make to live again in this prototype the pleasure of the experience of a travel in sidecar and the image vintage, joined to the state of the art of the technology of Vespa of today.

Motor 250 4 stroke, 4 valves, water cooling, injection electronic, system refraining to disc on the two wheels, Vespa GTV IE represents the spirit vintage of a brand that it has known to at best become icona of the Italian style in the world taking advantage of a technology that characterizes Vespa in 21st century.