Suzuki Crosscage & Biplane Concepts -Tokyo Preview

We’re quite fine thank you, meaning we haven’t mixed our socks with our underwear -yet… The Tokyo Show isn’t only about cars; it also hosts motorcycle and commercial vehicle premiers. Suzuki on its behalf will show off two motorcycle concepts, the Crosscage and the Biplane. We found a Japanese teaser press release on both concepts but it didn’t make much sense so we can only tell you that the Crosscage uses fuel-cells while the Biplane, which incorporates a V4 engine, draws its inspiration from airplanes. 

Translated Press Release

Crosscage

It is the fuel cell car which can do optimum power control by combining the air cooled fuel cell system and the advanced accumulator of simple small size light weight. Starting which fuel economy efficiency is fast low, the intelligent energy corporation of feature (England) make adopted the thing to fuel cell unit, in addition it was safe in the accumulator and the lithium ion electric battery whose environmental load is low was adopted. Not only not applying load, being simple in terrestrial environment, from the fact that it is small size lightweight, it has contributed to also the actualization of the sporty style which the sea bass seems

Biplane

The request that was included, you feel the enjoyment of the motorcycle in many people, would like to have having interest in the motorcycle ” “the design proposition model which designates the joy of running by the motorcycle” as shape” is. You propose in order to have representing the common feeling which is felt from the vehicle where “, it designates the kind of image which is riding the airplane” as keyword, calls the motorcycle and the airplane and is different completely. Although it is the machine, the bosom which makes tenderness feel it forced and “the biplane” (bi- the plainness) designated modelling as design motif, it expressed the open impression of not being covered in the canopy. The engine has designed V type 4-cylinder engine in vertical ranging.

eBay: Matthew McConaughey Auctioning Texas Longhorn National Championship Tribute Bike

American actor Matthew McConaughey has put up his motorcycle, a commemorative Texas Longhorn National Championship Tribute Bike, designed and custom-built by Ralph Randolph’s Knockout Motorcycle Co, for sale on eBay Motors. And it’s for a good cause too as all proceeds will be dispersed equally between by Matthew McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin’ Foundation and Texas Exes Scholarship Fund.

Link: ebay , Thanks for the tip Stu!

Video: Motorcycle Wheelie Accident… Oops!

EMBED-Most Successful Wheelie In History – Watch more free videos

Hey buddy! Watch out for that car! “Bang, Crash……wipe out!” Oops, guess this motor cycle wheelie was too busy basking in his own glory to notice the car he was about to crash into. Although it was a fairly graceful plunge, we hope he’s ok. Yikes!

Motorcyclist crosses a bridge in Rio, Greece going 187mph – 300km/h!

If this video’s authentic, I’d definitely have to say that the guy driving this motorcycle has more balls (and less brains..) than a bunch of Corinthian grapes!

Peraves Monotracer – Production Version "Cabin –bike" powered by BMW engine premiers in Geneva

This year’s Geneva Show is hosting several unconventional propositions that combine elements from the world of cars and motorcycles. And we’re not talking about prototypes here but actual production versions. First it was the Dutch-made, tilting three-wheeler Carver One. Now it’s the 2wheeler Swiss Peraves Monotracer. Well not actually a 2wheeler as the Monotracer has two extra retractable “baby-wheels” on its side that allow it to lean with ease to about 52 degrees. According to Peraves, out of every 100 superbike owners in the GSX-R, Fireblade, Ninja, K1200S, R1 and 999R league maybe 20 have ever leaned their machines beyond 40 degrees.

The Monotracer is powered by a 1.2-liter 4cylinder BMW-K-engine with an output of 130Hp. Weighing in at about 485Kg (1.070 pounds) the Monotracer sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5,7 sec and features a top speed of 250 km/h (155mph). Not bad at all for a motorcycle that not only protects you from the forces of nature but also allows you to carry on a few back packs in its trunk –yes it has a 200-liter trunk in the rear. What’s bad is its (basic) price as Peraves is asking a hefty 52.500 EUR (about 70.000 USD) for it and that doesn’t include tax…

Geneva Preview: Carver One production version

“Steer it like a car and it reacts like a motorcycle”. That’s what the Carver One is all about. We’ve been hearing and seeing a bunch of things about the tilting 3wheeler over the past few years, but until now, it was being hand-built for a… handful of customers. Well, time has come for the Carver One to prove itself in the real world as the Dutch company announced that it would present the final production version of its tilting 3wheeler car at this year’s Geneva Show.

Equipped with a 0,67-liter, 4cylinder turbocharged engine the 68Hp strong Carver One hits the first 100km/h (62mph) from standstill in 8,2 sec while reaching a top speed of 185 km/h (115mph). While there’s no word pout on the prices, Carver announced that it will produce about 500 units this year with sales starting in Europe the second quarter

RELEASE: CARVER ONE -The 77th edition of the Geneva Motor Show will feature the world premiere of the production model of the Carver One. Carver Europe, together with Carver Switzerland will kick off this year’s edition with a press conference on 7 March. Members of the press are invited to join us at our stand. From 8 to 18 March all Carver enthusiasts are welcome on our stand in Hall 3 (3112).

Steer it like a car…

… and it banks like a motorcycle. The Carver One feels just as much at ease carving corners, conquering roundabouts and beating traffic jams, as it does on curvy country roads or endless straights, far away from the world and its worries.Its sporty engine gives it just the right power in proportion to its weight, reaching a top speed of 185 km/h (115 mph) while its average fuel consumption remains at a very modest 6 L/100 km (40 UK mpg). But speed on the straights isn’t everything… Go for the corners, that’s where the Carver One pulls out all the stops!

It banks from left to right in just a second. This unrivalled agility lets you cope with any emergency situation, avoid obstacles, and makes for sheer exhilarating fun. And what fun it is: virtually unrestricted manoeuvrability, surfing through traffic, snowboarding roundabouts and pivoting corners. It is like riding your own roller coaster designed as you carve along. It is like flying a glider at ground level. It is like playing the lead in your own version of Top Gun. It is all this and much, much more. When you fly a Carver One the journey becomes the destination.

Stunning looks

It will come as no surprise: developed by aeronautical engineers, form follows function in every aspect of its design. A timeless, distinctive masterpiece with razor-sharp lines, not only for its astonishing looks but also for perfect aerodynamics.

The superb jetfighter-like cockpit comes in any manufacturer colour or custom colour of your choice, hiding the integral welded steel chassis providing safety for you and your passenger. The front window seamlessly merges with the body-coloured roof panel that can be easily detached to enjoy a panoramic view from all angles.

Its sporty 15” alloy rear wheels with large tyres keep the Carver One firmly glued to the road in the corners and on the straights. The uniquely designed front wheel attachment provides the 17” wheel with exceptional road handling and superb manoeuvrability. Two seamlessly integrated louvered air intakes on either side of the cockpit feed the engine extra cooling air and add a zest of futuristic elegance.

… and an interior to match

Sporty, yet stylish, the Carver One fits you like a glove. The intoxicating smell of its luxuriously soft leather interior invigorates you as you enter the sanctuary of your cockpit. Your fingers explore the contours of the driver’s seat, the sports leather-covered steering wheel, the dashboard curves … prelude to the curves of the road that will soon unfold. Your hand rests on the aluminium gear lever knob, your eyes wander over the ergonomically laid out dashboard until they focus on the tilt angle indicators, anticipating excitement… This is as close as you may ever get to flying. Are you ready for take-off?

A masterpiece of engineering

Carver engineers may not be the only ones to have tried to overcome the problem of a narrow vehicle cornering without tipping over, but they are the first and only ones to have pulled it off successfully. The combination of state-of-the-art components and innovative but proven technology has resulted in a reliable, predictable and above all extremely responsive system, nothing short of a revolution in automotive history!

At the heart of the Carver One lies the Dynamic Vehicle Control (DVC™) system which automatically adjusts the tilt angle of the cockpit to the speed and acceleration of the vehicle, enabling a plane-like ‘tilting before cornering’.

A uniquely designed steering torque actuator coupled to an ingenious DVC™ manifold driving two double piston cylinders form the essence of this mechanical-hydraulic system while an additional separate hydraulic system provides for a fail-safe emergency backup solution.

Power assisted front wheel steering and active rear wheel steering make for unparallelled stability when cornering. The DVC™ control unit electronically moderates the cockpit response at low speeds for comfortable road handling under all circumstances.

To top it off, the DVC™ mode selector, a sophisticated piece of programming, allows you to select a driving mode according to your mood and road circumstances. In comfort mode, weaving your way through busy city-traffic and parking is easy thanks to enhanced power steering while the sport mode lets you unleash the rebel once you get the knack of carving.

‘Steer it like a car and it banks like a motorcycle’. It sounds deceivingly simple. And it truly is. All you have to do is steer in the desired direction. With the Carver One, banking in corners becomes second nature, or rather, first nature regained.

Specifications

Performance

Top speed 185 km/h (115 mph)

Acceleration 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.2 s

Max. tilt angle 45°

Max. tilt speed 85°/s

Turning circle (curb to curb) 9.5 m

Fuel consumption (estimated average) 6 L/100km (1:16 – 45 UK mpg – 40 US mpg)

Engine

Cylinders / valves 4 cylinder 16 valve turbo intercooler

Displacement 659 cc

Cooling water-cooled

Max. power 50 kW (68 bhp) at 6,000 rpm

Max. torque 100 Nm (74 lb.ft) at 3,200 rpm

Transmission 5-speed manual & reverse

Fuel lead-free EURO

Emission system catalytic converter with oxygen sensor

Electrical system 14 V / 32 A alternator, Volts 12 V / 30 Ah battery

Ignition ECU multipoint injection with knock sensor –

firing order 1-3-4-2

CO2 emissions 136 g/km

Wheels, tyres, suspension and brakes

Wheels double 5-spoke alloy

front 17”

rear 15”

Tyres

front 140 / 70

rear 195 / 45

Brakes discs on all wheels

Front suspension single-arm with hydraulic s

hock absorption

Rear suspension McPherson suspension with rear-wheel steering

Dimensions

Length 3.40 m

Height 1.40 m

Width (tilt angle ? 25°) 1.30 m

Width (max. tilt angle) 1.60 m

Wheel base 2.70 m

Fuel tank capacity 34 L

Unladen mass 643 kg (1,418 lb)

The table above details the European specification Carver One, which may differ from Carver One models made available outside Europe. For example, for the North American market the Carver One will be equipped with a different engine. Please note that non-North American vehicles are not certified for use in North America.

The package

The list below gives you an overview of our standard package and currently available accessories and options. Contact your local dealer if you need more information or if you want to discuss any additional options. Special options are available upon request.

Standard package

Removable hard top roof in body colour

Alloy wheels – double 5-spoke – front 17″ / rear 15″ (silver)

Sports interior (black fabric trim)

3-spoke sports leather-covered steering wheel

Design aluminium dashboard and gear lever knob

4 instruments: speedometer and mileometer (odometer), rev counter, fuel gauge, engine temperature

Built-in class III remote control alarm system incl. remote control power door lock

Dashboard ‘carving’ LED indicators (continuous indication of the vehicle’s tilt angle) with audible signal

Heating / ventilation / windshield defroster

Electric windows

Front and rear seat belts

Ashtray / drink holder / 12 V socket

Tyre repair kit

Black carpet with Carver logo

Side mirrors and back of driver’s seat: black

Exterior colour – basic palette (white, yellow, blue)

Factory-fitted options

Premium quality full leather (mono-colour or bi-colour) or leather/alcantara interior upholstery

Exterior metallic paint (standard palette)

Special exterior colours (solid black, stealth black (matte black), pearl, or any manufacturer colour or custom colour of choice)

Rear spoiler

High power wheel pack (alloy – dark silver)

Shadow wheel pack (alloy – matte black)

Black package (matte black rear frame, tilt cylinders and front suspension)

Turbo pressure dashboard gauge

Radio/CD/MP3 player type A, B or C (Kenwood) with 4 front speakers (Kenwood)

GPS navigation with Bluetooth™ mobile phone hands-free kit (Tom Tom Go 910)

DVC™ mode selector (comfort/sport)

Accessories

Rear spoiler

Roll-up soft top (black)

High power wheel pack (alloy – dark silver) excluding tyres

Shadow wheel pack (alloy – matte black) excluding tyres

GPS navigation with Bluetooth™ mobile phone hands-free kit (Tom Tom Go 910)

Aluminium luggage rack with luggage bag (waterproof fabric, black)

Engine ECU tuning to 85 bhp

Battery charger

Service & warranty

The Carver One is sold and serviced worldwide through a network of specialised distributors and dealers. The recommended service interval is 10,000 km (6,200 miles) or once every year, whichever is sooner. Servicing and maintenance is taken care of by your local distributor. Contact your dealer for more information. In the absence of a distributor in your country, servicing and maintenance can be arranged through Carver Headquarters. In Europe, the Carver One is covered by a 2-year factory warranty.

Price

Due to tax differences and transportation costs prices differ from one country to another. For country-specific pricing information go to ‘Our dealers’ and select the region and country of choice.

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The Carver One has been granted full European type approval and various initiatives to obtain certification outside Europe have been launched. In Europe, a car driver’s licence is required to drive a Carver One. In the USA most states require either a car licence or a motorcycle licence. Please note that non North-American vehicles are not certified for use in North America. For tax purposes the Carver One is registered as a motorcycle in most countries.

European Distribution

Belgium & Luxemburg Carver Belux

France Carver France

Germany Carver Deutschland

The Netherlands Carver Nederland

Portugal Carver Portugal

Spain Carver España

Sweden & Norway Carver Sweden

Switzerland Carver Switzerland

United Kingdom Carver UK

BMW C.L.E.V.E.R. Concept

BMW just released official pictures of its co-developed three-wheeled, natural-gas powered micro-car called CLEVER (Compact Low Emission VEhicle for URban Transport). Although nothing official yet, but this concept that was funded by the European Commission (Fifth Framework Programme) could base the C1 successor, marrying the worlds of cars and motorcycles. Partners in the C.L.E.V.E.R project included:

BMW

Technical University of Berlin, Institute for Land and Sea Transport (TUB), Berlin, Germany

Cooper-Avon Tyres Ltd, Melksham, Great Britain

ARC Leichtmetall Kompetenzzentrum Ranshofen GmbH (LKR), Ranshofen, Austria

IFP

TAKATA-PETRI AG, Berlin, Germany

University of Bath, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Power Transmission and Motion Control, Bath, Great Britain

Universität für Bodenkultur Vienna, Institute of Transport, Vienna, Austria

WEH GmbH, Illertissen, Germany

The CLEVER concept, a €3.3 million (US$3.9 million) effort, is an enclosed two-seater that combines the safety of a microcar, and the maneuverability of a motorcycle, while being less polluting than other vehicles as it runs on compressed natural gas.

Its strengthened frame will protect the driver in a crash and the vehicle will have a top speed of approximately 50 mph. The 230cc BMW engine—modified by Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP) to use natural gas—produces 12.5 kW (17 hp) of power and maximum torque of 15.5 Nm at 6,300 rpm.

Fuel consumption is estimated to be 2.4 liters/100 km gasoline equivalent (98 mpg US), with 59.5 g/km of CO2 emissions. The compressed natural gas is stored in two removable gas bottles providing a range of 150 km (93 miles).

A problem with three-wheel vehicles with a symmetrical wheel layout is the tipping moment when cornering, which cannot be controlled at high speeds if the vehicle has a short wheelbase. To solve this problem the vehicle’s center of gravity can be moved towards the center of the corner—just as a motorcycle does when it corners.

The do this, the vehicle is a cabin tilter, with the system designed by the University of Bath. The cabin with the front wheel is connected to the power unit and the two rear wheels by a pivot bolt. The rotary movement of the cabin is produced by two hydraulic cylinders (actuators) that are installed between the cabin and the power unit. The actuators create the rotary angle of the cabin of +/-45° relative to the vertical power unit.

Piaggio MP3 -Three wheeler-scooter with two front wheels

With gas prices hiking up every day, a motorcycle seems like a very attractive idea for our city movements. But what if you don’t want’ to –or- you can’t drive on two wheels? Well, then how about three wheels?

Maybe VW’s GX-3 won’t make it to production, but that doesn’t mean we not going to see another three-wheeler vehicle as Piaggio, worldwide known for the Vespa that went in production in 1946, has unveiled an innovative scooter, that draws very close to that concept. Named “PIAGGIO MP3”, the three-wheeler scooter (with two front wheels), want’s to re-define the very concept of ride stability providing an unprecedented riding experience.

Press Release: Cycle parts

The PIAGGIO MP3 frame in high-tensile steel tubes is the result of the best CAD technology and computerized FEM (Finite Element Method) analysis. Elements such as frame strength and weight were precisely defined and tested from the initial phases of the project, with the suitability of each solution checked at every stage.

The PIAGGIO MP3 uses three 12″ wheels with large tyres – 120/70 front, 130/70 rear. Together with the revolutionary front suspension, the wheels provide a tilt angle of up to 40° while riding like any normal two wheeler and simultaneously ensuring better road grip on any surface, especially slippery tracks. The parallelogram suspension also ensures increased stability at high speeds.

At the rear, the cycle parts feature a singlearm suspension with two dual effect hydraulic shock absorbers, a helicoidal spring and four-position preload.

Besides its exceptional stability, the PIAGGIO MP3 also provides brilliant braking thanks to three powerful linked brakes, 240 mm in diameter, and the parallelogram suspension. The result is record deceleration (about 8 m per second) with braking space reduced by over 20 per cent on normal road surfaces and as much as 24 per cent on slippery roads compared to a traditional two-wheel scooter.

Design

The PIAGGIO MP3 has innovative, eye-catching styling while maintaining a clear resemblance to the Piaggio GT (Gran Turismo) range. The new two-wheel front assembly doesn’t detract in the least from the PIAGGIO MP3′s sleek styling. Its size and proportions are those of a normal compact GT scooter, with an overall front-end width of only 420 mm. As a result, the Piaggio MP3 can be type-approved as a standard two wheeled motorcycle.

The rear loading section has been designed to offer maximum comfort and storage capacity: a boot lid painted the same colour as the bodywork provides access to the under seat storage. A substantial 65-litre storage capacity and dual access to the storage area, from the boot lid as well as by flipping up the seat, make the PIAGGIO MP3extremely practical. The storage area comfortably holds two full-face helmets, a small bag and objects up to a metre in length. The under seat storage also has a courtesy light and a seat cover for use when parking in rainy weather. A handy remote control button on the ignition key opens the seat lock and the rear boot lid.

Comfortable, agile, fun and easy to park: with the PIAGGIO MP3, parking hassles are a thing of the past. Because of its innovative three-wheel concept, the PIAGGIO MP3 is equipped with a revolutionary electro-hydraulic front suspension locking system that keeps the vehicle upright without using the usual central stand (which is, however, also available). The rider simply presses a switch on the handlebar to activate the system that stops the tilt mechanism and park without using the stand. An electro-actuator activates a central clamp on the tilt mechanism and generates hydraulic pressure to lock the suspension dampers.

Once the rider has pressed the handlebar switch, the control unit only activates the electro-actuator if the vehicle is travelling at a speed in the range of 23 kph to 10 kph. The exact speed at which this takes place depends on the level of deceleration: the greater the deceleration, the higher the speed at which the tilt mechanism locks. Additionally, the mechanism will not lock unless the butterfly valve is closed and the engine is running at below 3000 rpm.

To ensure rider safety, the tilt mechanism not only shuts off by pressing the handlebar switch, but is also automatically deactivated if vehicle speed exceeds 15 kph, if the butterfly valve is not fully closed or if engine rpm is higher than 3000.

A lever on the inside of the front shield actions the parking brake, making it safe to park without using the stand even on sloping ground and making it possible to park the two front wheels where there is a height difference of up to 20 cm.

The PIAGGIO MP3 dashboard provides comprehensive, at-a-glance trip information. It includes a speedometer, fuel gauge, cooling liquid temperature indicator, clock and partial and total mileage. Other features are a fuel reserve indicator, oil pressure, turn signals, low and high beam, seat or boot lid open warning and an Immobilizer LED. The rider can open the fuel cap and rear boot lid with a single twist of the key in the ignition unit.

Engines

The Quasar 125 i.e. & 250 i.e. are Piaggio’s new 4-stroke, 4-valve, liquid-cooled engines that meet Euro 3 standards. The PIAGGIO MP3has an exceptional distance range thanks to low fuel consumption by both engines (about 25 km/l) and a sizeable 12-litre fuel tank.

Read more http://www.mp3.piaggio.com/

Bicycler runs out cops in hilarious Highway chase !

EMBED-Biker Outruns Cops On Highway – Watch more free videos

Ok, I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of highway chases involving cops but this one is utterly crazy. This guy is on a bike -not a motorcycle, a bike… pedalling as if he’s been chased by the devil himself. Not only does he through a bottle of water on the police car but in the endhe manages to escape ! via: Motorpasion

ESSEN Show: Baal Concept

So, what the “fuchten” is this? Well, except from being a concept that premieres at the 2006 Essen Motor Show, according to its makers, university students, Tilmann Schlootz und Oliver Keller, “the Baal is a cross between a crawler type-vehicle and a motorcycle that wears a 60 Hp engine and has a top speed of 130 Km/h” . Aha, ok now I get it…

Yamaha FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corse Concept Bike with 150HP R1 Engine

We don’t usually post articles on motorcycles but this time we are obliged to make an exception. The ‘naked’ Yamaha concept bike you see in the picture above was developed in cooperation with Fiat’s sport division, Abarth as part of the celebrations to mark the 100th birthday of the Italian firm’s founder Karl Abarth (born on November 15. 1908). The prototype model is based on the FZ1 which is powered by a 1,0-liter engine derived from the Yamaha’s R1 supersport bike. The 4-cylinder unit produces an output of 150HP at 11,000 rpm.

The FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corso is distinguished by the classic Abarth livery which combines Abarth’s Scorpion and Yamaha’s three tuning-fork logo. Mechanical improvements on the concept bike include a new Akrapovic exhaust as well as suspension and brake upgrades.

Along with the FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corso, Fiat’s sport division marked Karl Abarth’s centenary with the release of a limited edition version of the 500 Abarth (click here for details and photos) and a snazzy high performance desktop powered by the new Intel Core i7 Extreme processor (click here to check it out).