KTM 200 Duke: “Why? Because it is intense…”

The lean, mean, KTM 200 Duke likes to rev hard and fast...

In January this year, KTM launched the 200 Duke in India, the world’s second largest market for motorcycles. Developed in collaboration with Indian company Bajaj Auto – which holds a 40% stake in KTM – the 200 Duke is part of KTM’s new global strategy and will be available in all countries where KTM motorcycles are sold.

The KTM 200 Duke is a refreshingly new take on the quarter-litre class, which has small-bore sportsbikes like the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, Honda CBR250R and Hyosung GT250R, and regular, commuter-spec machines like the Yamaha Fazer 250 and Suzuki Inazuma 250. Of course, the 200 Duke has a slightly smaller engine than the aforementioned bikes, but in terms of real-world performance, it just might be on top.

The 200 Duke is powered by a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 200cc engine that produces 25 horsepower. The bike has a light, stiff, tubular steel space frame, USD fork and monoshock from WP, single 300mm brake disc at the front with two-piston caliper, 230mm disc at the back, six-speed gearbox and a 10.5-litre fuel tank. Dry weight is about 125kg.

We think the 200 Duke is a pretty interesting bike, not just in the context of the Indian market but also in terms of its prospects worldwide. It’s small, stylish, edgy and funky – should be quite a tool in the city. Our friend rearset, a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast who also writes about bikes, recently bought one of these little orange wonders, and we thought his take on the 200 Duke sums the bike up very well indeed. So, here’s what rearset has to say about the 200 Duke:

Battle of the V4s: Honda VFR750R RC30 vs Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC

The late-1980s Honda VFR750R RC30 and the current Aprilia RSV4 are both iconic machines, from different generations. But how do the two compare against each other?

What can we say about the Honda RC30 that hasn’t already been said before. Yes, we’re among the vast number of fans which the 750cc V4-engined VFR750R still has more than two decades after it was launched. A mere 3,000 units of this bike were produced between 1987-1990 and even back then, it cost a massive US$15,000. The RC30’s claimed dry weight was 185 kilos and according to some magazine road tests of the era, the bike weighed as much as 215kg with all fluids and a full tank of fuel. And by modern standards, the 750cc V4’s power output was rather ordinary – 112bhp at 12,000rpm, which went up to a more respectable 133bhp with the HRC race kit that was available from Honda.

If the RC30 wasn’t all that powerful and was a bit heavy, what’s the fuss all about? More than 20 years on, why is the world still so taken with the VFR750R? Perhaps there is no logical answer to this question. Maybe it’s the image we have in our minds, of watching men like Joey Dunlop and Steve Hislop and Carl Fogarty racing the RC30 around the Isle of Man. Maybe it’s the bike’s sheer beauty, its racy stance, its single-minded racing focus and the fact that it was designed by HRC that makes it so attractive. Or perhaps it’s the bits inside that Honda V4 – titanium conrods, 360-degree one-piece crank, gear driven camshafts – that make the bike exotic and desirable.

Based on Honda’s RVF750 world endurance and TTF1 racebikes, the VFR750R RC30 was essentially a ‘homologation special,’ built to satisfy the requirements of the World Superbikes series which started in 1988. The first batch of 1,000 bikes was released in Japan in 1987 and sold out quickly, despite a price tag of 1.5 million Yen. The RC30 came to Europe in 1988 and to the US in 1990, by which time it had already won the first two WSBK titles – Fred Merkel won the 1988 and 1989 World Superbikes championships aboard the VFR750R. Apart from WSBK, the RC30 was also very successful at the Isle of Man TT races in the hands of riders like Steve Hislop, Joey Dunlop and Carl Fogarty.

2013 Bimota DB9 Brivido riding impression

The MCN team travels to Bimota's headquarters in Rimini, Italy, to ride the all-new DB9 Brivido. Fitted with the very powerful L-twin from the Ducati 1198, Brivido is Bimota's new super-naked and is expected to be launched in Europe by the end of this year. So just how good is it? And can it take on machines like Ducati's own Streetfighter?
Source: MCN

Ducati Monster Diesel: Could have been cool, but isn’t

That's the Ducati Monster Diesel and no, we don't want one!

Ducati have announced a new special edition model of the Monster – the Monster Diesel – which according to the company epitomizes ‘urban military chic,’ whatever that is. Based on the Monster 1100 Evo, the Monster Diesel is being unveiled this month alongside the new Diesel collection at the fashion label’s stores in New York, Rome and Tokyo.

‘The Monster Diesel and the collection dedicated to it reflect the ‘coolness’ of this iconic motorcycle and our brand in general. The collaboration with Diesel underlines our focus on the style and trends that shape the market and I am delighted to associate our world with that of fashion and, in particular, with Diesel. Both brands globally represent technology and innovation in pure Italian style,’ says Gabriele Del Torchio, President, Ducati Motor Holding.

‘When we had the opportunity to work with Ducati, with last year’s MotoGP sponsorship, we discovered a whole world of shared values and common roots. That brought us the desire to create something new together, and we made it in the only way we know – taking the great know-how of both companies and mixing it with passion and creativity. The results are unique products, characterised by a great mix of design and technology,’ adds Stefano Rosso, Project Leader and son of Diesel founder.

Wayne Rainey on rivalry with Kevin Schwantz, Eddie Lawson, John Kocinski and Kevin Magee

As a guest a honour at the 2011 Stafford Classic Bike Show, three-time 500cc motorcycle GP road racing world champ Wayne Rainey talks about his rivalry in racing with Kevin Schwantz, Eddie Lawson, John Kocinski and Kevin Magee. He also talks about his last race in Misano, in 1993, which ended his career. Wayne is one of our childhood heroes and just listening to him talk is, for us, a privilege. How we wish we could meet him once and chat with him about how motorcycle racing used to be in the 1980s and 1990s...

Husqvarna Nuda 900R wins Red Dot design award

It's official - the Husqvarna Nuda 900R is a paragon of good design. Ahem.

According to Red Dot’s website, their design award dates back to 1955 and is one of the world’s largest and most distinguished design competitions, with more than 14,000 participants from over 70 countries this year. ‘The Red Dot design award internationally reaches more advocates of good design than any other design competition. Its award, the red dot, is the distinctive quality seal for aesthetic forms, moving trends and designers with a strong sense of responsibility,’ claims the institution, which is based in Germany.

The Red Dot jury consists of 30 design experts who present the award in recognition of outstanding design achievements in diverse fields – automobiles, architecture, life science, medicine and consumer electronics. And this year, Husqvarna are one of the winners, getting a Red Dot design award for the new Nuda 900R. ‘The Husqvarna Nuda 900R is the first motorcycle to unite the BMW Group’s proven engineering prowess with elegant Italian flair. With its minimalist design, every element defines the athletic exterior that lends the bike its unique dynamic tension,’ says a press release from BMW.

Aprilia SRV850: High-res pics and more details

The Aprilia SRV850, a scooter for those who secretly want an RSV4...  :-)

Aprilia first announced the SRV850 in October 2011 and they’ve now released more details of their super-scooter. ‘Everything about the SRV850 recalls the technical, performance and aesthetic standards of an Aprilia superbike. It brings the philosophy of performance without compromise, which is part of the Aprilia DNA, into the world of scooters,’ says the Noale-based company.

As befits a ‘super-scooter,’ the SRV850 is fitted with a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled 839cc V-twin that produces 76bhp and 76Nm of torque. The double cradle steel tube trellis frame and aluminium swingarm have been designed to provide high-speed stability and final drive is via sealed Z-ring chain for maximum efficiency. The SRV850’s suspension – 41mm fork and adjustable monoshock – is also optimized for high-speed handling and cornering prowess. In fact, Aprilia claim that the scooter handles like a sportsbike and lean angles of up to 45° are possible.

2013 Moto Guzzi California 1400 unveiled, Piaggio announces new Advanced Design Center

We think the 2013 Moto Guzzi California 1400 is a handsome brute!

The Piaggio Group has announced that it will open a new Advanced Design Center in the US – in Pasadena, California – and this will be headed by designer Miguel Galluzzi, who has been responsible for designing bikes like the Ducati Monster, Cagiva Raptor and Aprilia RSV4. ‘With the expansion of our industrial and commercial operations around the world, we are also implementing an ‘intelligence globalization’ policy to create an international system of competences in the areas of product marketing and style,’ said Roberto Colaninno, Piaggio Group Chairman and CEO.

The announcement was made at a Piaggio Group Americas convention in Miami, which was attended by more than 300 Piaggio distributors and dealers based in the US, Canada and South America. During the presentation, two new bikes were also unveiled – the 2013 Moto Guzzi California 1400 (which will soon be launched in the US) and the all-new Aprilia Caponord 1200.

Coming back to the Advanced Design Center in California, this will work closely with the Piaggio Group Style Center, which is headed by Marco Lambri, as well as Group R&D centers in Italy, China, India and Vietnam. ‘Setting up a research center in California opens a window on the changes that will be taking place in our society, way of life, and urban and metropolitan mobility models in the next few years. The new Advanced Design Center in Pasadena will be working not only at the cutting edge of style developments, but will also be cooperating with the world’s top universities and research centers,’ said Colaninno.

2012 Suzuki GSX-R1000 tested at the Homestead-Miami Speedway

On this episode of On Two Wheels, Bradley Adams of Sport Rider heads to the Homestead-Miami Speedway to test the 2012 Suzuki GSX-R1000...
Source: Sport Rider

2012 KTM 990 Supermoto R gets 9M+‑ABS from Bosch

KTM really have got the recipe right with the 990 Supermoto R...

The 2012 KTM 990 Supermoto R, which the Austrian company claims is ‘the most radical twin-cylinder Supermoto on the market,’ now gets Bosch 9M+‑ABS. Er… yeah, that’s the big news on KTM’s big supermoto – an updated anti-lock braking system which makes the bike safer. With its 114bhp fuel-injected liquid-cooled 999cc V-twin, we suppose the Supermoto R is still as much fun to sling around corners as it ever was, but now when it’s time to throw out the anchors with full force, the new Bosch system is likely to keep you from ending up in a ditch.

As with all KTM bikes, the chassis and suspension on the 2012 Supermoto R are top-notch. The tubular space frame made of chrome-molybdenum steel, WP 4860 ROMA USD front fork (160mm travel), WP 4618 BAVP DCC monoshock (180mm travel) and twin floating 305mm brake discs up front with radial-mount four-piston calipers, the whole package is fully optimized to go fast not just in a straight line, but also around corners. With the back wheel always drifting sideways, if you wish. The bike weighs 192kg dry, which does seem to be a bit heavy, but at least the 15-litre fuel tank should provide some decent range, should you choose to go touring on the Supermoto R. But the (hypothetical) bike that would interest us most would be a new KTM 690 SMC R stuffed with an engine from the 990 Supermoto R. Now that should be fun… :-D