Hot rides on two wheels for 2007 motorcycle season

[totalmotorcycle]

Hot rides on two wheels for 2007 motorcycle season
Tuesday, January 2, 2007 - By David Booth, For CanWest News Service - Saskatoon Star Phoenix - canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix



It's not often that a sport-tourer is the hottest ride at a motorcycle show. But, then again, Kawasaki doesn't update its full-faired Concours every day. In fact, the Concours has been around in basically the same guise for almost two decades with only minimal updates.

But what an upgrade it gets for 2007, with an engine liberated from the mother of all hyperbikes, the 300-kilometres-an-hour ZX-14. Though it's been retuned for greater torque, there's little doubt the gargantuan 1,352-cubic-centimetre inline four, now with variable valve timing, will generate at least 150 horsepower.

The fuel-injected engine isn't the new Concours' only unique aspect. It's one of the rare sport-tourers with ram-air induction, the rear shaft drive rides on a parallelogram swingarm to reduce the "shaft effect," there's a sport bikederived inverted front fork and the same radially mounted front brakes as on true superbikes.

Of course, it also has all manner of touring gear, not the least of which are lockable, weatherproof saddlebags, electrically adjustable windshield, tire pressure sensing system and anti-lock brakes.

Kawasaki Canada has yet to set a price for the Concours, but I doubt the bike will be hanging around dealers for long.

Over at Honda, the touring-oriented news this year remains the air bag-equipped Gold Wing, still the only motorcycle so equipped. Tethered to the Wing's frame where the gas tank would normally reside, Honda's air bag deploys in frontal collisions to prevent the rider (and passenger) from fl ying over the handlebars, minimizing impacts with solid objects.

On a more conventional front, Honda has totally revamped its CBR600RR middleweight sport bike, claiming it to be the lightest sportster in its class. Every component was put on a diet, with Honda even making the cylinder head cover from magnesium and developing a new Fine Diecast (FDC) technology, which supposedly allows a lighter, aluminum beam frame while maintaining the requisite rigidity. It's enough to get the 2007 version of Honda's iconic CBR600 down to a skinny 156.5 kilograms, which should make the RR's claimed 118 hp feel that much more potent.

On a similar vein, but loaded with even more horsepower, is Suzuki's signifi cantly revamped GSX-R1000 superbike. The 2007 bike's motor still maintains the same bore and stroke as last year's model, but Suzuki is claiming a signifi cant power increase.

It will come in handy as the big Sazook has gained six kg. -- mainly due to the addition of a new, dual-canister exhaust system that houses the catalytic converters required to meet future emissions standards.

Racers, of course, will quickly get that weight saving back by grafting on an aftermarket exhaust pipe. They will also benefi t from Suzuki's decision to liberate some of its World Superbike Racing technology in the form of a selectable engine mapping system.

The handlebar mounted, push-button-actuated system allows the rider to tailor the engine's brute power for "standard," "sport" and "wet" operation. This last setting "exceptional people" the ignition timing to soften the power delivery for riding in less than optimal conditions.

Suzuki's other big news is the unveiling of the B-King.

Unlike the concept that the bike maker showed to much acclaim at the 2001 Tokyo motorcycle show, the fi nal edition is not turbocharged nor does it boast that crazy concept's 250 hp. But it is powered by a detuned version of the Hayabusa's 1,300-cc in-line four, so substantial grunt can be expected.

As a betting man, I'd wager that the B-King will show up in Canada with more than 150 hp, so it can wrest the most powerful naked bike laurels from the BMW K1200R.

Yamaha is also unveiling a revamped version of its 1,000-cc superbike.

The 2007 YZF-R1 gets adjustable intake runners that the company claims help maximize midrange torque without affecting the R1's patented top-end rush.

Surprisingly, Yamaha has abandoned its unique fi ve-valves-per-cylinder combustion chamber with the '07 R1. Instead, it is using the now-standard four-valve, twin-intake/twin-exhaust valve arrangement. Yamaha says the revised arrangement lets it bump the compression ratio to 12.7:1 and horsepower to 178.

Although it may not appear on North American shores for some time, the most exciting thing out of Harley-Davidson this year is the new XR1200.

Fashioned after the famous XR750 that has ruled dirt track racing for more than three decades, the XR1200 was created, at least initially, with the demands of the European market in mind. Its air-cooled V-twin engine boasts downdraft fuel injection and can pump out as much as 90 hp.

Matching the engine's increased performance is a chassis with 43-millimetre inverted forks, wide superbike-sized radial tires and four-piston Nissin brake calipers.

A Harley product we will see is Buell's new Super TT, a streetfi ghter version of its Lightning.

Patterned after the latest Supermoto craze, the XB12STT gets number plates as well as a plain white paint job, presumably to serve as the backdrop for custom paint or graphics. The 1,203-cc V-twin boasts 103 hp, 84 pound-feet of torque and weighs only 182 kg. A ZTL (Zero Torsional Load) front brake features a 375-mm disc gripped by a massive six-piston caliper, while Pirelli Scorpion Sync radials feature a supermoto-aggressive tread pattern.

BMW has also jumped on the supermoto theme with its HP2 Megamoto.

Based on the HP2 off-roader, this latest version of the big Boxer gets a boost to 113 hp, 17-inch wheels and road-oriented tires as well as Ohlins suspension and a stylish Akrapovic exhaust system.

Still with the off-road styling, Triumph is taking the wrappers off its latest Tiger soft-roader. Now less "trailie" and more road-oriented than ever before, the Tiger gets a larger and more powerful 1,050-cc version of Triumph's trademark threecylinder engine.

There's also a 17-inch front wheel instead of a 19-incher and a more upright seating position. A fairing offering greater protection rounds off its move upscale.