Bikes Talking

The Yamaha Tesseract is just not a motorcycle as it is way more awesome than a plain motorcycle.

I was initially shocked to see when I was at a motorshow sometime back. If you are a true bike fanatic, then please don’t read any further as this is for those who like to experiment with their bikes.

Firstly, it has four wheels and the frame is not much bigger than a motorbike. Can you imagine - a four wheel bike? Well I could, as Yamaha is known for their experiments with their products.. Their objective was to combine the performance of a motorcycle with the stability and road safety of a car.

In addition to the four wheels, the Tesseract has two different engines – one which is gasoline and the other electrical. While the gasoline engine is a huge one, the electrical engine is there to impress biker babes and eco chicks and has an impressive performance record that comes as a bonus. By the way, it has a top speed of 200 mph.

The 4MC (four wheel motor cycle) is the original work of a company director and engineer, Nick Shotter. He had specifically designed the 4MC to get its rider through traffic safely as well as efficiently. His interest in safety originated from being injured in a road accident when working as a London motorcycle courier. The 4MC has evolved through Nick’s rigorous design process which began in 1989. In 2000 the 4MC won a DTI Smart Award for a feasibility study. Nick then introduced the 4MC to many well known manufacturers with an invitation to buy the 4MC's intellectual property (IP). Between 2004 and 2008 he built a full sized working prototype to further demonstrate the 4MC. I reckon he must have come to some arrangement with Yamaha. Anyway, thanks to both Nick and Yamaha

Please remember the Tesseract is a bike-car, if I can call that and it is already on the production line.

Who hoo…..a car and a bike, and they both perform their functions. Don’t get me wrong, I am certain the Yamaha Tesseract would be fun but I am also certain that an off road oriented quad would be even greater fun.

What is the first thing a motorbike fanatic would ensure that he has with him or her when they ride their bike. Their helmet.

Now, what is a motorbike helmet?

A motorcycle or motorbike helmet is a type of protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. The primary goal of a motorcycle helmet is motorcycle safety - to protect the rider's head during impact, thus preventing or reducing head injury or saving the rider's life. Some helmets provide additional conveniences, such as ventilation, face shields, ear protection, intercom etc. Motorcycle helmets greatly reduce injuries and fatalities in motorcycle accidents, thus many countries have laws requiring acceptable helmets to be worn by motorcycle riders.

Modern helmets are constructed from plastics. The conventional motorcycle helmet has two principal protective components: a thin, hard, outer shell typically made from polycarbonate plastic, fiberglass, or Kevlar and a soft, thick, inner liner usually made of expanded polystyrene or polypropylene "EPS" foam. The purpose of the hard outer shell is to prevent penetration of the helmet by a pointed object that might otherwise puncture the skull, and to provide structure to the inner liner so it does not disintegrate upon abrasive contact with pavement. This is important because the foams used have very little resistance to penetration and abrasion.

I hope in the coming months to review a whole range of some of the more popular motorcycle helmets such as HJC, Shoei, KBC, Nolan, AGV, Suomy, Joe Rocket, Davida, Bell Helmets, Icon Helmets, and more.

Arai, is ranked number One in customer satisfaction in all eight J.D. Power And Associates Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Studies. An unprecedented achievement, Arai helmets earned this distinction in every J.D. Power Study to date - in voting done by thousands of riders themselves. Every Arai helmet is virtually 100% handmade. Each craftsman signs the helmet shell along the way. And every helmet is hand inspected at least three times during construction. Not every hundredth helmet or every tenth one — every single helmet.

Mr. Hirotake Arai, a hat maker by trade, started his company over 65 years ago. He was an artisan, a craftsman - and a motorcycle rider. Today, Michio "Mitch" Arai, another lifelong rider, runs the company. And his son, Akihito, is now the third generation. If your family name was on your product, how well would you make it? They have approached the care of riders with a singular obsession for quality and innovation since the beginning. Simply said, Arai's primary goal is not to be the world's biggest helmet company, but the world's best.

Give them a try as I am sure you will like them.

I have written this mainly as a piece of information, for bike lovers. Although we have been exposed to the 2008 Hayabusa, little is known about the 2011 Hayabusa. So, this is mainly for those hardcore enthusiasts of the Hayabusa. It is quite a long piece, but it is worth a read

So, read on.

With performance credentials that have established it as the hottest sportbike on the planet, the Suzuki Hayabusa is designed for the serious sport rider who will settle for nothing less than the best. Its combination of unsurpassed power, crisp handling and superb aerodynamics creates the ultimate sportbike. You could say that the 2011 Hayabusa is so intense, that it’s in a class of its own.

The Suzuki GSX 1300R, also known as the Hayabusa, is a hypersport motorcycle, which was introduced in 1999. The name Hayabusa is the Japanese term for the Peregrine Falcon, known for its speed, and perhaps a joke at the expense of the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird which was the fastest production motorcycle prior to the Hayabusa The Peregrine Falcon is a predator of the common blackbird. Its extreme performance capability has also dubbed the bike as a “high abuser” of legal speed limits.

Afterwards, certain bikes were out to dare the Hayabusa top speed for a production motorcycle, including the BMW K1200S, the Kawasaki ZX-12R and the new ZX-14. And in the 2008 model, Suzuki decided that they’ll not only revamp the super-bike, but will boost the size of the engine from 1299cc to 1340cc.

And to think that I used to be satisfied with a 350 cc model !

Suzuki brought out the new 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa and there is more displacement, 1340cc versus the old 1299cc. Like the B-King, the rider can choose between engine settings, but the Hayabusa rider has a choice of three instead of the B-King's two, there's probably something labeled "light speed" on the Hayabusa.

Full features and specifications from Suzuki press release follow:

• The 2011 Hayabusa is equipped with a 1340cc, in-line, DOHC liquid-cooled engine with 16-valves, and Twin Swirl Combustion Chambers (TSCC).

• Lightweight aluminum alloy pistons with a compression ratio of 12.5:1 are used for maximum performance in all conditions. Hard, smooth chrome-nitride Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating on the upper compression and oil control rings on each piston reduces friction while improving cylinder sealing.

• Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material (SCEM) cylinder plating improves heat transfer, durability and ring seal.

• Lightweight titanium valves allow the use of light valve springs and high lift while maintaining accurate valve control. Iridium spark plugs are used for high combustion efficiency.

• The Hayabusa's engine is fed via Suzuki's SDTV (Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve) fuel injection system with dual 12-hole, fine-spray injectors per cylinder and ram air intake with large volume airbox.

• S-DMS (Suzuki Drive Mode Selector) allows the rider to choose from three different engine settings depending on riding conditions or rider preferences.

The Hayabusa comes with a large volume 4-2-1-2 exhaust system with a large capacity catalyzer, dual triangular canisters and closed loop system.

A high efficiency curved radiator features dual electric fans controlled by the ECM for increased cooling capacity. The oil cooler has 10 rows cores for increased heat dissipation.

Transmission Features

The Hayabusa comes with an optimized 6-speed transmission. Oil spray to the 4th, 5th and 6th gears reduce wear and mechanical noise during highway cruising. Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS) serves as back-torque-limiting system for smooth downshifts and also contributes to a light clutch pull.

Chassis Features

A lightweight and rigid twin-spar aluminum frame minimizes weight while maintaining high torsional strength.

The Hayabusa has been outfitted with a fully adjustable inverted front fork featuring DLC (Diamond-Like Coating) coated inner tubes. The front suspension offers minimal friction resistance and provides outstanding suspension performance over a variety of riding conditions.A bridged aluminum alloy swingarm features a cross-sectional shape for increased rigidity, which also helps cope with improved rear tire grip and increased engine output. The Hayabusa's fully adjustable rear shock absorber has a 43mm piston and 14mm rod diameter.

Radial-mount front brake calipers offer maximum braking performance and allows for smaller 310mm front brake rotors resulting in reduced unsprung weight and improved handling.

A lightweight single piston rear brake caliper works in conjunction with a 260mm rear brake disc.3-spoke cast-aluminum-alloy wheels are shod with 120/70ZR17M/C (58W) front and 190/50ZR17M/C (73W) rear radial tires.

Vertically stacked twin headlights provide increased light intensity, improved light distribution and match the elegant flow of the Hayabusa styling.

The Hayabusa's instrument cluster features four analog meters for speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and water temperature with a S-DMS mode indicator, gear position indicator and adjustable engine-rpm indicator.

Advanced aerodynamics offering superb wind protection both for normal and completely tucked-in seating positions.The Hayabusa comes with a bright, durable LED taillight, with clear inner lens and red outer lens.

• Overall Length 2190 mm (86.2 in)
• Overall Width 735 mm (28.9 in)
• Wheelbase 1480 mm (58.3 in)
• Ground Clearance 120 mm (4.7 in)
• Seat Height 805 mm (31.7 in)
• Curb Weight 260 kg (573 lbs)
• Transmission 6-speed constant mesh
• Final Drive Chain, RK GB50GSV Z4, 114 links
• Suspension Front Inverted telescopic, coil spring, oil damped
• Suspension Rear Link type, coil spring, oil damped
• Brakes Front Disc brake, twin
• Brakes Rear Disc brake
• Tires Front 120/70ZR17 M/C (58W), tubeless
• Tires Rear 190/50ZR17 M/C (73W), tubeless
• Fuel Tank Capacity 21.0 L (5.5 US gallons)
• Fuel Tank Capacity CA 20.0 L (5.3 US gallons)

Engine:

• Displacement 1340cc, 4-stroke, Liquid-cooled, 4-cylinder, DOHC
• Fuel System Suzuki fuel injection
• Starter Electric
• Ignition: Electronic ignition (transistorized)

• Warranty: 12 month unlimited mileage limited warranty.

MSRP (Maximum Retail Sales Price) : Coming Soon

Whew….. Watch out for the 2011 Hayabusa.

What are bikes or motorbikes?

Bikes, Motorbikes or motorcycles are various names by which the bike is well known.

Here, I refer to it as a bike.

Bikes are so designed that they can cruise, race, used for long travel, or navigate in a rush. Basically it is good for both, on and off road conditions.

Bikes are one of the most affordable methods of transport not in some areas, but in most corners of the world. On an average there are around 32 to 33 people in every thousand people owns a bike. It may seem that this average is not quite a lot, but it is in Asia where 60% of the world's bikes are available. Now, that's quite a lot. This doesn't mean that bikes are not popular in other parts of the world. It is in fact one of the common type of transport preferred in most parts of the world. If you take figures and statistics, there are around 200 million types of bikes, scooters and mopeds, three-wheelers and other two-stroke vehicles that are present. For a bike lover, this is great news.

Today, the motorbike market is controlled by the Japanese bike companies and they include Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki and many more. Despite the number of brands available in Japan, BMW, Harley Davidson and some Italian brands are hot favorites and rake in quite a number of sales.

This week, we focus on the 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200.

What to say…..except va va vroom.

Basically, it has it all. there is ABS, slipper clutch, traction control, single sided swing arm, adjustable screen, a digitized LCD console, high and low seat options,
centre stand and heated grips etc. It is simply beeauutifuul.

To put it short, it is an impressive sports and adventure bike whose electronic aids can help you tackle any rugged trail. It also achieves very high levels of performance with comfort.

In short, the Multistrada 1200 offers is a superbike, that comes with comfort and the ruggedness of a sport tourer with easy ergonomics and has the ability to venture off-road

Try riding one today and you will know what I am trying to project.

Bikes Talking was started because I wanted to pictures of great bikes along with my views on them in a blog format, so that I can get feedbacks from people with similar taste. Besides, there is nothing else that I like more than a great bike.

I've now been riding a bike for over ten years. Not that it makes me anyone special; it is just that I love doing so.

People who know me, say that I am passionate and am bit crazy for anything mechanical. Not that I get offended by it, but actually take it as a compliment. I have restored quite a few bikes and am in that phase where I dig Italian Bikes (Moto Guzzi and Ducati to name a few).

Actually, Moto Guzzi has been building bikes from a long time back – a picture of the first V700 is given above. Guzzi has a crush for big bikes. Sometime back, a bike that was over 250 cc / 300cc was considered big and most of Guzzi’s bikes were 500cc and above. The Falcone 500 (picture given below) is an example of it.

I now need a new motorbike. I ordered the motorbike a few months ago as I decided that I needed a new motorbike, to go with my fingerless gloves. I look pretty good with my shirt off. Not that I'm going to do that as my physical condition is now not in a position to display publicly. I wouldn’t have hesitated doing it a few years back, but that’s another story. Anyway, I do intend to ride or cruise around the streets on my new motorbike.

For those of whom who do not know me that well, I do a great deal of biking. By biking, I mean motorbikes are my passion and I have no desire to end that in the near future. Of course, I do get tempted, in fact seduced by other bikes and as a result, when no one else is around, I browse chrome on the net. Cool dude huh?

But the main problem is that not many of the current motorbikes ignite much interest. Of course, they are eco-friendly, cool, sleek, fast but what they lack is that soul. Besides, I am not someone who likes to glide over 150 mph….so my attention is still with the older bikes.

And when I stumble across a beaut, I will keep you guys posted and try to post that picture. And if I ever get down to build one (someday), I will post that too….

As a matter of fact, I look pretty cool with my shirt off. Not that I'm going to post that image, as I am a bit old for that – I would have done it, if I am a bit younger and I would have all the girls drooling. Anyway, one of these days I intend to cruise "shirtless" through the city on my bike. Summing up my soft porn habit, which I am sure you would have done too – I mean staring long at somebody else’s ride and drooling. Lastly, nothing is sweeter than discussing this with your buddies over a glass of beer at the pub…

Welcome to my world of bikes… and it goes "vrooooom", just as you would imagine a motorbike would go.