MOTO GUZZI CHASES BMW GSMoto Guzzi has been eyeballing the profitable enduro class, particularly the BMW GS, and has developed its Stelvio to take a slice of that ever-growing market for itself.
The all-new Stelvio is powered by Moto Guzzi's Quattrovalvole 1151cc, 110hp, 108Nm V-twin engine which should give the 214kg bike lively performance.
The Stelvio gets a tubular steel frame, fully adjustable 50mm USD forks, a full adjustable rear monoshock and single swingarm and shaft drive. The front brakes comprise twin floating 320mm discs and four-piston radial callipers while the rears use a single disc and two pistons. The windscreen and saddle can be adjusted (the seat height is 840mm at its lowest point), side bags come as standard, and the pillion passenger's part of the saddle has been designed for long-distance comfort.
WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE BIKE?
The honour of world's most expensive bike goes to the Ecosse Heretic Titanium which costs an astronomical €185,000. It's similar to the standard Heretic, except that the frame is hand-built entirely from titanium - a lightweight, expensive and incredibly rigid material that requires specialist welders and craftsmen to use.
The bodywork is competition specification carbon fibre and the carbon fibre wheels are custom-made by BST. The brakes are specially developed ISRs with six-piston, radial callipers. It's fuel-injected, 2147cc, pushrod V-twin engine is milled from a solid block of billet aluminium and includes many exotic components including a supercharger and an intercooler. Power output is rated at a staggering 210hp and almost 300Nm of torque - enough to power a decent hot hatch let alone a motorcycle. With a dry weight of 192kg, the Ecosse Heretic Titanium is also likely to be one of the fastest motorcycles ever made.
BENELLI UNVEILS NEW SUPERMOTO
The recent Milan show was the occasion for Benelli to launch several new bikes. In addition to the BX449 Motocross and BX505 Enduro, the Italian company (which is now Chinese-owned) introduced a new Supermoto, the BX 570. Powered by a single cylinder, four-valve 570cc engine, the BX 570 produces 65hp which should give the 115kg Supermoto decent performance. Standard side exhaust carbon, 50mm Sachs USD forks, 320mm discs with four-piston radial callipers from Brembo. The new BX 570 should arrive in early 2008 - price at around €9,000 excluding tax.
YAMAHA OFFERS RACE PARTS FOR R6
Yamaha has unveiled a range of race-ready components for its new R6. The parts are designed to conform with World Supersport regulations (so the engine crank and gearbox remain the same) but there is a host of modifications available including a kit to adjust the slipper clutch, stronger clutch springs an uprated oil pump, different gear ratios, new camshafts, sprockets and springs, head gaskets, a new air intact system and special spark plugs. Revised electronics include a programmable racing ECU, a lightweight wiring loom and a connection point for data logging kit are also available. No word on power output improvements compared to the standard 133hp R6, but well over 150hp should be realistic. Supply is limited for parts, however, so R6 customers looking for competition parts should get on the waiting list soon. - Conor Twomey
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