GM-Segway PUMA: It’s that urban mobility thing again…

The GM-Segway PUMA project. Revolutionising urban mobility...

Pics: AutoblogGreen

Okay, so it looks more like a high-tech motorised wheelchair rather than a motorcycle, but it does have two wheels and it can seat two people, so maybe the PUMA has a place on Faster and Faster after all? PUMA – Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility – is a joint project taken up by General Motors and Segway and the aim is to build a vehicle that will change the way we move around in cities. Of course, we’ve all heard that one before…

Anyway, the PUMA is a working concept that was showcased in New York city today. It’s powered by lithium-ion batteries, is self-balancing and features by-wire tech for acceleration, steering and braking. The PUMA is also fitted with vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology, is Web-enabled and if you’re feeling particularly lazy, the thing will even drive and park itself.

‘We are excited to be working together to demonstrate a dramatically different approach to urban mobility,’ says Jim Norrod, CEO of Segway Inc. ‘The Project PUMA prototype vehicle embodies this through the combination of advanced technologies that Segway and GM bring to the table to complete the connection between the rider, environment, and others,’ he adds.

The GM-Segway PUMA can travel up to 56km on a single charge, will do a top speed of about 56km/h and can carry two people. Of course, it’s still a concept (albeit one that works…) and production reality may be far off yet. Still, this does seem to be the sort of thing we’ll all be riding around in, ten years from now…

The GM-Segway PUMA in action...

Jawa celebrates 80th Anniversary, announces 650 Dakar

The new Jawa 650 Dakar will be available in regular and touring versions...

Pics: MotoFlash

Belying the various obituaries that are written about the company every year, Jawa continue to soldier on. And on. And on… In fact, Jawa, set up by František Janeček in Czechoslovakia, in 1929, is actually celebrating its 80th Anniversary this year. We aren’t completely clear about how the company’s business is structured these days, but according to the information available on the Jawa website, Jawa Moto spol. s r.o., headquartered in the Czech Republic, is still making Jawa motorcycles, dune-buggies and even a tiny diesel-powered car!

Now, while Jawa products aren’t exactly cutting-edge, the company is trying to launch better, more contemporary products. The latest bike to be announced by the Czech manufacturer is the 650 Dakar, which will be fitted with a single-cylinder liquid-cooled 652cc four-stroke engine – the same unit that’s also fitted to the Yamaha XT660. Manufactured by Motori Minarelli (a part of the Yamaha Motor Group), this rather basic, simple engine produces 47 horsepower at 6,500rpm and 57Nm of torque at 5,000rpm.

Apart from the Italian-made engine, the Jawa 650 Dakar is also fitted with various other Italian bits – Paioli forks, Grimeca brakes and other components from Verlicchi and Bitubo. The bike, which weighs about 190kg dry, will be available in regular and touring versions, with the latter being fitted with a bigger windshield and a set of three luggage cases. The launch date has not been announced though it seems the 650 Dakar will be available from 2010 onwards. More details on the Jawa website here

An all-new Jawa cruiser-style machine (above), powered by a 300cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine, for the Argentinian market. And (below) the old Jawa 350, which is fitted with an air-cooled two-stroke parallel twin. Yes, Jawa are still making two-strokes, though these are not for sale in the EU

Sylvain Guintoli buys a Lamborghini Gallardo

Guintoli, who was with Ducati in MotoGP last year, is now driving around in a Gallardo...
Pics: Superbike

Ex-MotoGP racer, Sylvain Guintoli, who’s with Crescent Suzuki in BSB this year, has bought a Lamborghini Gallardo for himself. ‘I got a good deal. It's really fast and so enjoyable to drive. My wife thinks so too, and I'm starting to run out of excuses why I can't let her drive it,’ says Guintoli. Hmm… damn cool, we must say. Sure, we love bikes more than anything else, but having a Lamborghini Gallardo parked next to your Ducati 1198S (or, probably, a GSX-R1000 for Guintoli!) can’t be such a bad thing…

Here's a Fifth Gear video where a Ducati 1098 goes up against a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. And here's one good reason why Lamborghini should stick to making cars...

Pimp my ride: AC Schnitzer K1300R

The AC Schnitzer K1300R. Not too bad, though we wouldn't take that shade of green...

Pics: AC Schnitzer, via MotoFlash

The guys at AC Schnitzer are at it again and this time they’ve got their hands on the BMW K1300R. ‘A real racing look and flowing transitions are achieved on the AC Schnitzer K1300R by the cockpit and lamp trim, the front spoiler and the pillion cover. In their design, priority was given to perfect fit and simple installation while retaining the powerful styling lines. The engine spoiler is totally new and guarantees adequate ground clearance for every setting of the ESA suspension,’ says the Schnitzer website.

AC Schnitzer have added their own forged alloy wheels, titanium (steel is optional) exhaust system, belly pan, cockpit and headlamp trim, handlebar and pillion seat cover to the K1300R (some of these bits are also available for the K1300S), and they claim their bike looks, sounds and runs better than the stock 1300R. Hmm… if it were our bike, we’d take those wheels and the titanium exhaust, but keep everything else stock. That green paint just doesn’t look right somehow. Anyway, more details on the AC Schnitzer website here

Aprilia RSV4 Factory prices announced

The 180bhp Aprilia RSV4 goes on sale in Europe this month...

Pics: Motoblog

All those who’ve been waiting for the awesome new V4-powered Aprilia RSV4, rejoice – the company has announced prices for the bike, which will now be available at Aprilia dealerships in Europe. The RSV4 Factory comes with a list price of 20,000 euros (US$26,375) – a bit expensive when you consider the fact that a Ducati 1198S costs about US$22,000.

Like some other litre-class superbikes, the RSV4 gives its riders three modes to choose from – the track mode liberates the full, 180-horsepower fury of that high-tech Aprilia V4, sport mode softens the power delivery in the first three gears and the street mode restricts power to 140bhp.

The Aprilia RSV4 has been designed by Miguel Galluzzi (the man who did the original Ducati Monster), who now heads Aprilia’s design department. The bike is being raced in the 2009 World Superbikes series, with ex-MotoGP men Max Biaggi and Shinya Nakano riding for Aprilia this year.

Damn cool, even if it is more expensive than a 1198S!

Malaguti Phantom F12R Bayliss Limited Edition

For 16-year-olds with 2,560 euros (US$3,375) to spare, this Malaguti should be your dream ride!
Pic: Motoblog

Every year, Malaguti launch these very cool looking racer-rep scooters and this year’s offering is the Phantom F12R Bayliss Limited Edition, built to celebrate Troy Bayliss’ last world championship victory in World Superbikes. With its 50cc liquid-cooled engine, multifunction dashboard with digital LCD display, CVT transmission and 13-inch wheels shod with fat, sticky tyres, we guess this scooter would be a dream come true for 16-year-olds. For the slightly more elderly, here's a riding impression of Bayliss' championship winning Ducati 1098R...

2009 Yamaha MT-01 SP launched

The 2009 Yamaha MT-01 SP is all about 'Kodo'...

The MT-01 has always been a bit… dull? So Yamaha are trying to remedy that now, with a limited-edition SP version. Yes, the company has launched the 2009 MT-01 SP, which gets a few extra bits and pieces to spice things up a bit. The engine is still the same 1,670cc v-twin, which produces 90 horsepower at 4,750rpm and 150Nm of torque at 3,750 revs. Wet weight is 265 kilos.

On to the new bits – the MT-01 SP gets a 43mm USD Öhlins fork and adjustable Öhlins rear shock. The bike rides on 17-inch wheels, which now wear 120/70 (front) and 190/50 (rear) Pirelli Diablo Rosso rubber. According to Yamaha, all these changes provide ‘a more intense experience of ‘Kodo,’ a Japanese expression for soul beat, pulsation or the external expression of latent power.’ Er… yeah, well, whatever. We’d still take the 2009 R1.

Elsewhere today: For those who'd rather have a Yamaha V-Max, here's the hottest 'Max ever...!