A Triumph Daytona 675 powered by bioethanol fuel today reached an astonishing track speed of 158.7 mph at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground! The biofuel used for this groundbreaking initiative was produced from windfall apples by A-level students from a local school.

Devised by Rupert Paul, contributing editor of Bike magazine, “Project Fast Fruit” aimed to convert and run a high performance vehicle on biofuel using only basic equipment. As such, the fuel was produced in a Chemistry Lab as part of an A-level project by students from the Prince William School in Oundle, Northamptonshire.

Triumph Motorcycles, the iconic British motorcycle manufacturer, initially entered into the scheme some four months ago by providing its world leading Daytona 675 model as the test bike. Today’s successful final run was the result of four months of hard work – the school having fermented and distilled around 6,000 crushed apples while Bike magazine modified the Daytona’s engine to run on bioethanol.

Surprisingly little modification was required – just a remap of the fuel injection system. The engine was then tested thoroughly using commercially available E85 (85% ethanol) with very encouraging results. The project then moved to the next phase, with testing and optimization of the engine using the fuel produced by the students before undertaking today’s run at Bruntingthorpe.

Rupert Paul of Bike magazine commented,
“We believe that achieving a speed 158.7mph sets a record for a production bike on home-brewed fuel. Biofuel is a buzzword at the moment, with the Government setting a target for all petrol and diesel to contain a minimum 5% biofuel by 2010. Although they are still questionable from an environmental point of view, biofuels are here to stay, and this experiment was all about exploring how much power we could extract from them – as well as having some fun.”

Andrea Friggi, PR & Communications Manager at Triumph Motorcycles commented,
“At the moment all Triumph motorcycles are designed for optimum performance with non-ethanol fuel but are compatible with E10 (10% ethanol). We’re currently investigating making all models compatible with E25 fuel so while this is a fun experiment it does have a serious side and we’re looking forward to reviewing the results.”

Dr Anton McAleese, Head of Chemistry at Prince William School said;
“This is a really interesting project for our students to get involved in. It’s important that industry recognises the skills and creativity that our students can offer. Further, it’s often young people today who are the most concerned about the future of our environment, so it’s a topic close to their hearts.”

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Leopoldo Tartarini, the founder and president of Italjet has created this wonderful, gracefully retro moped – the Italjet Amarcord. The Amarcord leaves viewers speechless right at first sight. Its retro styling, futuristic and timeless look, combined with the high tech rear suspension system are truly representative of a work of kinetic sculpture!

The Amarcord is styled to look like a 1920s Italian sporty moped but with the addition of excellent comfort and the convenience of a state-of-the-art modern 150cc 4-stroke engine. This machine is in the final stages of development at the Italjet factory and will be available soon.

It looks like a super-retro equivalent of the Kawasaki KSR110. I want one! Do you?

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Triumph Motorcycles has introduced a mean and moody Matt Black colour option to accentuate the popular Speed Triple’s aggressive, stripped down looks and make it stand out even further from the crowd.

The 1050cc 2008 Speed Triple is the sharpest yet, featuring a raft of chassis refinements including radial-caliper four-piston Brembo front brakes, Magura tapered bars, an all-new subframe and redesigned multi-spoke wheels. These developments have already proved to be a big hit with Triumph customers, with strong demand making it once again one of the best-selling bikes in the company’s range.

Triumph’s Speed Triple has become an iconic model since the launch of the original version in 1994, delivering unparalleled attitude in a uniquely styled package. Over the years it has been constantly developed in order to maintain its position as the definitive factory streetfighter.

Speed Triples are famous for being offered in a variety of eye-catching shades over the years, with the 2008 model coming in Blazing Orange, Jet Black and Fusion White, as well as the new Matt Black option.

The Matt Black Speed Triple costs £7,999 OTR and will be available in UK dealers from the end of April. Triumph Motorcycles, the iconic British motorcycle marque, is solely owned by John Bloor as part of the Bloor Holdings group of companies

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Recently, custom chopper builder Jesse James has unveiled his West Coast Choppers CFL II frame. The ‘CFL’ in the name presumably stands for ‘Choppers for Life’. The CFL II frame is revolutionary as it is constructed from folded sheet steel, whereas conventional chopper frames are made from steel tubing, welded together. This is not altogether a totally new idea as motorcycles have used stamped steel frames in the past (BMW’s late 1920s ‘Star’ frame comes to mind). However, Jesse James has done something new for the world of choppers, where this frame is basically made from flat sheet steel, which is bent and welded together with strategically placed steel tubing, in a sort of ‘origami’ fashion. A departure from the rise of all the funky, but ultimately quite similar choppers we’ve been seeing over the past few years.

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CYRIL DESPRES, Photographer: van Oers J.

The KTM Rally Team are about to launch an attack on the first ever “Dakar Series” Central Europe Rally which sweeps almost 2700 km through Hungary and Romania starting in Budapest on April 19 and finishing at Hungary’s Lake Balaton on April 26, 2008.

Organizers had planned to stage the first Dakar Series in 2009 but the last minute cancellation of the Dakar Classic in January 2008 for security reasons prompted them to accelerate plans for the Central Europe Rally. The event goes some of the way towards reversing the disappointment of professional teams and amateurs who were denied the chance to test themselves in the Dakar.

Seven Stages and two countries
The rally is in seven stages with 1092 km of special stages and 1579 km of road sections starting in Budapest before sweeping east for a loop into northern Romania before returning to Hungary to finish at what is one of Europe’ biggest lakes. Organizers had planned to hold more of the rally distance in Romania but recent bad weather including heavy snow, forced significant changes to the course.

KTM Rally Team manager Hans Trunkenpolz underlined that the organizers had already achieved much in the extremely short preparation period. He said the KTM Factory Rally Team, including riders of the caliber of Dakar winners Marc Coma and Cyril Despres, were committed to delivering a solid performance in the new event.

INTERVIEW WITH HANS TRUNKENPOLZ, KTM RALLY TEAM MANAGER

HANS TRUNKENPOLZ, Photographer: van Oers J.

WHAT IS THE INITIAL SITUATION WITH THIS NEW EVENT?
The stages are significantly shorter than those in Africa for which our Rally Replica bike was developed, so the full tank capacity will not be needed. Our top riders will also not be called upon to test their full physical endurance on these shorter stages so the sprinters among the rally and Enduro riders will have a good chance to be on the podium.

Also, the terrain, which apparently includes lots of narrow tracks and curves means we will not be able to take advantage of the speed and the power of our rally bikes. Riders on bikes with less displacement will have the advantage here.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE KTM RALLY TEAM?
Our Rally Team will tackle these new challenges on our Rally bike. They won’t be switching over to a lighter type of offroad bike from our offroad program. We are confident that the world’s best rally riders in the KTM Rally Team will be able to fight for victory even under unusual conditions. KTM is putting Cyril Despres and Marc Coma on a prototype RALLY LIGHT bike, which with its reduced tank capacity, narrower cladding and a somewhat modified geometry should suit these new conditions.

WHAT SHOULD WE UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM “RALLY LIGHT VERSION”?
For a long time now we have been thinking of developing a module for the Rally Replica that would allow it to be converted to better suit rallies with shorter distances between refueling stops. The cancellation of the Dakar and this short term confrontation with very different conditions has brought this development forward. We’ve immediately put it into practice so we do not lose our competitive edge. According to the KTM philosophy, if this RALLY LIGHT kit that is being tested by the factory team comes out positively then any Rally Replica owner will be able to buy it. One important advantage of this new development is that a rider can vary his machine between standard and light during the rally. If the day calls for relatively easy reach then he can use the light version; if there are longer distances between refueling stops then he can use the standard version. This should ensure that KTM continues to be the dominant brand in rally sport. When this kit will be availab le depends on what modifications we have to make after the Central Europe Rally, but it should be on the market in time for the planned Dakar replacement rally in January 2009.

Hans Trunkenpolz concluded by saying the Central Europe Rally will be of a very high standard. “It’s going to be tight all the way but we will very much miss the special challenges of the long stretches in Africa,” he said.

Find daily reports and the latest pictures on ktm.com – KTM Racing – Rally

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It’s fair to expect that a bike with more power or a bigger engine will cost you more to insure. But when it comes to Suzuki’s all-new 2008 GSX-R750, the trend has been well and truly bucked, thanks to Suzuki’s official insurance scheme with Express Insurance.

With the new model launched to critical acclaim in Spain just a few weeks ago, Express Insurance has analysed various postcode areas and age ranges across the UK. The company found that, in many cases, it was able to offer rates lower than those quoted on rival manufacturers’ 600cc machines.

Commenting on the scheme, Suzuki GB’s Paul de Lusignan said, “With Express Insurance we have been able to remove the only real obstacle to those contemplating a 750 over a 600. In some cases there was a saving of nearly £100, making the GSX-R750 a truly cost effective option, too.”

Typical examples (fully comprehensive cover):

Age 35, living in GL51 – Yamaha R6 = £305.00 / Suzuki GSX-R750 = £215.00

Age 45, living in CM6 – Honda CBR600RR = £210.00 / Suzuki GSX-R750 = £150.00

As well as offering competitive rates on the GSX-R750, Express Insurance has also secured highly competitive rates on the new GSX-R600 model, making it considerably cheaper to insure than its rivals, too.

For a bespoke quotation call Express Insurance on 0800 980 6080 or visit www.expressinsurance.co.uk.

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The United Kingdom’s motorcycle industry is in an upbeat mood with powered two wheeler (PTW) registrations in March and the first quarter of the year holding up well.

PTW registrations last month were only 3.2 per cent down on the same month last year at 18,624. Over the first three months of the year the market is just 2.2 per cent down with a total of 30,694 registrations. To add a little more perspective, although March 2008 is down on March 2007, it is still over 10 per cent up on March 2006 and puts the industry on track to exceed 140,000 PTW registrations for the second year in succession.

“On the one hand, people are increasingly concerned about the economy. Rising prices, worries about the housing market and the credit crunch are making people feel uneasy about spending,” said Craig Carey-Clinch of the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA).

“But this could well have a positive impact on the PTW market. Record petrol prices, rising household bills, high taxation and widespread gloom could well make people think very carefully about their transport needs. Time wasted in congestion, expensive and uncomfortable public transport, high parking and congestion charges and the massive costs of car ownership make a moped, scooter or motorcycle increasingly attractive. A PTW is a real and viable alternative that can cut journey times, is easier to park, low cost to run and helps cut CO2 emissions. There’s probably never been a stronger reason to switch to two wheels.”

The naked and touring categories showed gains of 17.7 and 23.7 per cent respectively with the Kawasaki Z1000 and Honda NT 700V the biggest sellers, although the motorcycle sector was 4.2 per cent down in March and 3.3 per cent down in the first quarter.

Moped registrations were up for the month by 4.3 per cent and 3.3 per cent for the first quarter. Scooter registrations dropped marginally in the month by 2.4 per cent. The biggest selling manufacturer in March was Honda, followed by Suzuki and Yamaha.

Another factor likely to be influencing the market is changes later this year that will make it more complex to gain a PTW licence. In 2006 51,000 new riders gained licences with an estimated 57,000 additional new riders last year. The MCIA says that more than 70,000 could take tests this year in a bid to beat the changes. The industry has a special web site at www.takeyourtestnow.com to help guide people through the test process.

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The brand new Yamaha YZF-R125 has now arrived at authorised Yamaha dealerships. Initially available in limited quantities, customers will have to move fast to grab Yamaha’s new R-Series baby.

The four-stroke, fuel injected 125cc steals most of its design cues from the larger YZF-R6 and comes with big bike appeal as it is truly a full sized motorcycle, giving a stable and sure-footed feel. The R125 has been widely approved of in the UK’s specialist media and Yamaha’s dealer network has also been waiting eagerly for the bike to arrive. Simon Belton, Marketing Manager for Yamaha, commented ‘Those of us who have been riding a while really wish that we had had the YZF-R125 to start our riding careers on. The size of the bike really adds to the riding experience and creates a secure and comfortable feeling when riding the bike, essential for new riders’.

Plenty of accessories are available for the YZF-R125 too, with double-bubble screen, roller protectors, pillion seat cover and tank protector. In addition, customers will receive a factory two-year warranty and one year’s RAC cover – a great deal all round.

The Yamaha YZF-R125 is available in blue, white, yellow and black, priced at £2,999.00, prepared for the road (excluding vehicle first registration and excise duty).

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After his hard fought third in yesterday’s Portuguese Grand Prix, Fiat Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi was back out on track today for a one-day test at Estoril. The team are anxious to take every chance to continue the crucial development process between the Yamaha M1 and the Bridgestone tyres and today’s test was focused on just this.

Rossi tested a wide range of new rubber compounds with an eye to the next race in China, at which Bridgestone has a strong record, and the 29-year was very pleased with the day’s results. He tested new front and rear tyres as well as some qualifying tyres, and improved set-up and feeling in all areas. After 90 laps his best time of the day, 1’36.707, put him second behind Dani Pedrosa and he also bettered his fastest lap from yesterday on race tyres.

Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino’s team-mate and the impressive winner of yesterday’s Grand Prix, did not test today as he flew to Barcelona to have an operation on his right arm after suffering pain due to Compartmental Syndrome in the last three races. The procedure is a common one amongst MotoGP riders and Lorenzo and his team of specialists decided to go ahead with it today as he will now have nearly three weeks of recovery time before the next race. Together with his surgeon, Dr Xavier Mir, Lorenzo will hold a press conference at 1500 hours tomorrow and further information will be available immediately afterwards.

DAVIDE BRIVIO – Team Manager
“Today was all about tyres, set-up and our ongoing task of improving the Yamaha-Bridgestone package. We tried new front and rear race tyres and also some new qualifying tyres, and we found some good solutions to take with us to China. We were able to improve rear grip and durability especially and these are two key areas for us. Valentino worked very hard today and completed 90 laps, and he deserves to be happy with a job well done. Of course we are always working on the general setting and we hope that we’re going to be arriving in China now with an even better bike than we had this weekend. Thank you to everyone for another long weekend of hard work and now there’s some time to relax before we make the trip to China.”

TEST TIMES
1. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda 1′36.455
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1′36.707
3. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JiR Team Scot MotoGP 1′36.791
4. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda 1′36.928
5. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha 1′37.145
6. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 1′37.146
7. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro 1′37.330
8. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki 1′37.617
9. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1′37.725
10. James Toseland (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha 1′37.767
11. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1′37.781
12. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1′37.782
13. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing 1′38.023
14. Toni Elias (SPA) Alice Team 1′38.695
15. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing 1′39.065
16. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Alice Team 1′39.223
17. Marco Melandri (ITA) Ducati Marlboro 1′39.725

Estoril: Lap Record
J. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2008, 1′37.404

Estoril: Best Lap
J. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2008, 1′35.715

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Kumamoto Plant Exterior

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that production has begun at the new motorcycle plant it has constructed within the property of Honda’s Kumamoto Factory.

The new plant was built with the concept of a “people-friendly and environmentally-responsible plant” and emphasis on “light, wind and water.” Employing Honda’s state-of-the-art high efficiency production technologies, the new plant will serve as the global leader of Honda’s motorcycle production operations around the world. In addition, Honda sought to reduce any impact on the surrounding environment, as the plant is located near the base of Mt. Aso, as well as achieve a further improvement of the work environment. The plant employs environmental initiatives from various perspectives, including the installation of a solar panel system and utilization of natural light. As a result, the new plant is built as a “green factory” which will achieve a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the existing motorcycle plant at Kumamoto Factory.

Kumamoto Overhead View

While maximizing use of existing facilities and equipment, new equipment and technologies have been introduced based on the ideas of Honda production associates, such as automatic lifts and lift assist devices, that help associates in processes involving heavy components. Through these measures, the new plant achieves ergonomic improvements in production processes and a better work environment, as well as improved production flexibility.

Further, the motorcycle production line from the existing motorcycle plant at Kumamoto Factory gradually will be transferred to the new plant, with the transfer expected to be completed before the end of 2008. Motorcycle engine production will also be transferred to this new plant from Honda’s Hamamatsu Factory before the end of 2009.

Once the process of consolidating motorcycle production is complete, the new plant is scheduled to produce a full range of motorcycles from the 50cc model, such as Super Cub to medium and large-sized motorcycle models. Honda Motor has invested approximately 33 billion Yen into this plant, which has a capacity of about 500,000 units per annum, including ATVs.

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A Triumph Daytona 675 powered by bioethanol fuel today reached an astonishing track speed of 158.7 mph at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground! The biofuel used for this groundbreaking initiative was produced from windfall apples by A-level students from a local school.
Devised by Rupert Paul, contributing editor of Bike magazine, “Project Fast Fruit” aimed to convert and [...]

read full story of "PROJECT FAST FRUIT: STUDENTS RUN TRIUMPH DAYTONA ON APPLES"

Leopoldo Tartarini, the founder and president of Italjet has created this wonderful, gracefully retro moped – the Italjet Amarcord. The Amarcord leaves viewers speechless right at first sight. Its retro styling, futuristic and timeless look, combined with the high tech rear suspension system are truly representative of a work of kinetic sculpture!
The Amarcord is [...]

read full story of "ITALJET AMARCORD"

Triumph Motorcycles has introduced a mean and moody Matt Black colour option to accentuate the popular Speed Triple’s aggressive, stripped down looks and make it stand out even further from the crowd.
The 1050cc 2008 Speed Triple is the sharpest yet, featuring a raft of chassis refinements including radial-caliper four-piston Brembo front brakes, Magura tapered bars, [...]

read full story of "TRIUMPH JOINS THE DARK SIDE"

Recently, custom chopper builder Jesse James has unveiled his West Coast Choppers CFL II frame. The ‘CFL’ in the name presumably stands for ‘Choppers for Life’. The CFL II frame is revolutionary as it is constructed from folded sheet steel, whereas conventional chopper frames are made from steel tubing, welded together. This is not altogether [...]

read full story of "WEST COAST CHOPPERS CFL II FRAME"

CYRIL DESPRES, Photographer: van Oers J.
The KTM Rally Team are about to launch an attack on the first ever “Dakar Series” Central Europe Rally which sweeps almost 2700 km through Hungary and Romania starting in Budapest on April 19 and finishing at Hungary’s Lake Balaton on April 26, 2008.
Organizers had planned to stage the first [...]

read full story of "KTM RALLY TEAM TACKLES FIRST CENTRAL EUROPE RALLY"

It’s fair to expect that a bike with more power or a bigger engine will cost you more to insure. But when it comes to Suzuki’s all-new 2008 GSX-R750, the trend has been well and truly bucked, thanks to Suzuki’s official insurance scheme with Express Insurance.
With the new model launched to critical acclaim in Spain [...]

read full story of "LIVING IN BRITAIN? INSURE THE NEW GSX-R750 FOR LESS THAN A RIVAL 600"

The United Kingdom’s motorcycle industry is in an upbeat mood with powered two wheeler (PTW) registrations in March and the first quarter of the year holding up well.
PTW registrations last month were only 3.2 per cent down on the same month last year at 18,624. Over the first three months of the year the market [...]

read full story of "BRITISH MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY HOLDS UP WELL"

The brand new Yamaha YZF-R125 has now arrived at authorised Yamaha dealerships. Initially available in limited quantities, customers will have to move fast to grab Yamaha’s new R-Series baby.
The four-stroke, fuel injected 125cc steals most of its design cues from the larger YZF-R6 and comes with big bike appeal as it is truly a full [...]

read full story of "YAMAHA’S YZF-R125 NOW AVAILABLE AT UK DEALERSHIPS"

After his hard fought third in yesterday’s Portuguese Grand Prix, Fiat Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi was back out on track today for a one-day test at Estoril. The team are anxious to take every chance to continue the crucial development process between the Yamaha M1 and the Bridgestone tyres and today’s test was focused [...]

read full story of "ROSSI WORKS TOWARDS CHINESE CHALLENGE"

Kumamoto Plant Exterior
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that production has begun at the new motorcycle plant it has constructed within the property of Honda’s Kumamoto Factory.
The new plant was built with the concept of a “people-friendly and environmentally-responsible plant” and emphasis on “light, wind and water.” Employing Honda’s state-of-the-art high efficiency production technologies, [...]

read full story of "HONDA’S NEW KUMAMOTO FACTORY BEGINS PRODUCING BIKES"