News from Honda, Buell, Harley-Davidson and Ducati

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News from Honda, Buell, Harley-Davidson and Ducati

New items 2008

A black paint is supposed to camouflage prototypes. Most of the time, however, it first draws attention to a mysterious object, for example a new Honda. Maybe that’s why the sensational new Buell super sports car 1125 R comes in black. Harley and Ducati, on the other hand, rely more on bright colors.

Since the presentation of the Hornet 600 it was clear that it would come. Still, its appearance so early in the year comes as a surprise: the new Honda CBF 600 was caught by a photographer in Italy, and its pictures prove that the relationship between Hornet and CBF remains as close as before. Similar to the 2007 Hornet, the 2008 CBF also has an aluminum frame; the four-cylinder engine of both models is based on the power unit of the CBR 600 RR, which has been adapted for use in a naked bike or entry-level motorcycle with a different cylinder head. When it comes to the braking system, there is now even complete agreement, because the prototype has the same three-piston floating calipers as the Hornet, and the ABS sensor rings are also identical.

In contrast to the Hornet, the CBF has a conventional four-in-two-in-one exhaust system, the distinctive front silencer of the Hornet is omitted. This indicates a different design of the CBF engine. It will probably be modest with 78 hp, but it will most likely provide more torque at low revs. Such a characteristic would be a real step forward compared to the somewhat weak-chested drive of the old CBF. In terms of appearance and appearance, the new one has also won, that much can already be said. While the reactivated CBR engine was hanging in the old steel frame like in a hastily welded assembly stand, the new one blends harmoniously into the chassis and simply looks better.

Buell 1125 R: If you only look at the outside, the comparison between the new and old engine at Buell is not so clear. The traditional V2 with its cooling fins looks a lot. Technically, however, the latest two-cylinder, developed in cooperation with Rotax, has already rushed to the point of being beyond comparison. Despite 78 cm³ less displacement, the water-cooled 72-degree V2 with 146 hp offers one and a half times the power and turns almost twice as high.

The recipes are known that help an engine to perform like this? large bore, four-valve technology, straight suction paths and so on. Nevertheless, it is always fascinating to see them consistently realized using filigree casting technology. In addition, the Buell engine is characterized by complex vibration damping. Three balancer shafts ensure the smoothness that enables a two-cylinder in this configuration to reach five-digit speeds. Two of these three waves can be localized from the outside; They sit above and below the crankshaft and, in their part-time job, drive the water pump and an oil pump for dry sump lubrication. Possibly the third rotates in one of the cylinder heads, as in the 1000 V2 from Aprilia, which also comes from Rotax. The Buell engine also has the pneumatic anti-hopping clutch in common with it, which is activated by the negative pressure in the intake system when the gas is released.

The suppression of vibrations also created the prerequisite for the engine to be bolted rigidly into the bridge frame typical of Buell. With this network is ?? so Buell ?? the most torsionally stiff frame in the company’s history was created, complemented by a stiffer swing arm and a 47 mm upside-down fork. What makes the experienced reader of chassis data with skepticism is not the design, but rather the geometry of the chassis: 69 degrees steering head angle, 83.3 millimeters of caster and 1384 millimeters of wheelbase speak for a startlingly handy design. How this will cope with the expected performance remains an exciting question. Incidentally, as with all Buell models, the frame also serves as a fuel container and holds 21.2 liters. Despite this ample supply, the 1125 R should only weigh around 200 kilograms with a full tank.

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Pictures: News from Honda, Buell, Harley-Davidson and Ducati

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Harley-Davidson seem breakneck. The management leaves it to the athletically motivated Erik Buell and his colleagues, who bought his company, among other things, in order to be able to expand the range of models without having to change their own brand identity. So even in the 105th year of existence, Harley cultivates traditional virtues. Committed to the classic chopper look is the new Rocker with a narrow, large front and wide rear wheel, the axles of which have a huge 1.76 meter wheelbase. Ace with all Softail models, the hindquarters looks like it belongs to a rigid frame, but is supported by two struts located under the transmission. The narrowly cut fender is mounted on the swing arm. The drive is taken over by the 1584 engine introduced last year with balancer shafts and six-speed gearbox. If you like it a little more playful, you can order the Rocker C for 21,395 instead of 18,995 euros and receive a paintwork in flame design, polished wheels and a fold-out pillion seat as well as an engine finish in black and chrome.

Harley calls the style neo-retro which the XL 1200 Nightster follows. Much matt black with accents in chrome and orange characterize this version of the 1200 Sportster. It is already on sale in the USA, but it comes to Europe with longer struts, which provide more freedom from leaning. The price is very attractive: 9995 euros. The XR 1200, which is eagerly awaited in this country, costs almost a thousand more, namely 10,990 euros. Although the model name and design play with American dirt track traditions, the technology promises a traditional naked bike that should fit very well on European roads. It should be available from dealers in spring 2008.
The new Dyna Fat Bob carries its eye-catcher in front of it: two small headlights in chrome pots give it an unmistakable face. The side view is characterized by the 16-inch disc wheels, which are the style of Fat Bobs. It is also powered by the 1584 Big Twin and costs 15,765 euros. On the American website of Harley, besides these four models, some special birthday models appear, at the same time it is announced that the V-Rod models will all be equipped with 1250 engines. Like the Touring models, they should be available with ABS upon customer request.

New Ducati monsters: As we learned from the first drawing in MOTORRAD 13/2007, the Ducati designers attempt a difficult balancing act between the familiar proportions of the monsters and the pursuit of a relaxed seating position that requires a shorter tank. The solution is to pull the tank flank in the front area over the upper frame tube; this visually extends the tank line, but moves the driver closer to the handlebars. A lot of experience with underseat exhaust systems, especially with their enormous heat radiation when driving slowly, led to the two side silencers. An attractive solution, especially in connection with the single-sided swing arm of the more expensive Monster models. The single-sided swing arm itself had to be cheaper than the complicated welded constructions of previous monsters. They will almost certainly be cast as a cast.

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