Kawasaki cruises to cool with new bagger motorcycle
Monday, 25 October 2010 | Written by Digits | Print | E-mail

It may be hard for newer riders to appreciate, but when the term bagger was first used around motorcycles, it wasn’t exactly meant as a compliment.

But the days of bikers being embarrassed about having a range of accessories on their motorcycle to help ease them along those long rides seem to be fading into two-wheeled history. Nearly every motorcycle manufacturer that rides into cruiser territory has embraced the very rawness of the bagger bike.

No stranger to helping their customers go the distance, Kawasaki have revealed a model for 2011 that romances the open road as well as the eternal image of the wandering biker.

Looking to the Spanish word vaquero, which means “cowboy”, Kawasaki have apparently designed the hulking bagger under the mantra of ‘whatever it takes’, at least to get riders into this new machine.

Featuring a massive 1,700cc SOHC liquid-cooled V-twin engine, the Vulcan Vaquero hides its powerhouse technology with retro looks, even as it delivers 108 foot-pounds of torque. The Vaquero’s advanced electronic fuel injection reportedly optimizes engine response without detracting from its distinctive V-twin throb. A water-cooled alternator produces a staggering 46.8 amps, plenty to power a selection of electronic accessories to enrich motorcycle travel. The Vaquero offers true touring-bike convenience in the form of its electronic cruise control system, conveniently operated from the right handlebar and usable at any speed between 30 and 85 mph in any of the top four gears.

Kawasaki's Bagger

The engine’s features include an overhead cam design, high compression and a long-stroke dimensional design that results in the sort of effortless low- and mid-range thrust that’s so desirable and useful in a big-inch cruiser. Vaquero’s throttle valve system works with the advanced electronic fuel injection to optimize engine response without detracting from its distinctive V-twin throb. The system utilizes an Accelerator Position Sensor (APS) and a Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) that feed data to the ECU, which adjusts the throttle plates to tailor intake airflow accordingly.

Kawasaki's BaggerFollowing in the standard for cruisers, Vaquero’s 1700 cc engine runs it power through a six speed transmission with overdriven 5th and 6th gears, which contributes to a relaxed ride and excellent fuel economy at highway speeds.

Design-wise, the latest offering from Kawasaki highlights its sparing chrome against powder black components wrapped with fairings reminiscent of muscle cars from the 1970’s. While not design as radical as Victory’s Vision when first introduced some years ago, Kawasaki have made the lines of its Vaquero just different enough to catch the eye.

Coming in black, sorry Ebony and Candy Fire Red on the abbreviated fairing, sculpted tank and curvaceous bodywork is finished with a wildly shaped rear fender that integrates equally stylish taillight and turn signal assemblies.

Among the sweeping lines is a scooped saddle with a minimalist passenger pad. The seat height is just 28.7 inches and along with sporty one-piece seat the overall look is a low, long classic cruiser look. The frame holding all this hardware together is a single backbone, double cradle unit designed to be as slim and light as possible for an easy reach to the ground and optimal handling.

Kawasaki's Bagger

The fairing that has the muscle car vibes is supposedly lower than a traditional windshield or full fairing, but Kawasaki promises it still cuts a decent-sized hole in oncoming atmosphere, giving the rider a useful still-air cocoon in which to enjoy the ride.

Kawasaki's BaggerWith all the obvious effort that has gone into the over look and feel of the Vulcan Vaquero, it’s no surprise it sports hard-case side bags that lend themselves to the low, long, ultra stylish lines.

The cost of all this cool? The Vulcan Vaquero 1700 has a recommended sticker price of $16,499 with a webpage full of accessories to keep any biker confident their ride will look different from any other similar model they may come across in their travels.

Kawasaki seems to have married the current ‘chop-shop’ trend with their own distinct touch, and motorcycle manufacturers are finding the most success with touring models. Consequently, it should be interesting to see how the riding world takes to Kawasaki’s latest sleek offering.

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS CRAP FROM HARLEY!!!

Harley-Davidson Tries To Quiet Motorcycle Noise - Loud Pipes' Cost
By Art Friedman

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In a message entitled "Something We Never Want to Lose" on his company's website, Harley-Davidson Motor Company President and CEO Jim McCaslin tackles the issue of motorcycle noise and the increasing backlash motorcycling is experiencing as the result of loud pipes. Citing a four-fold increase in negative media coverage during the last decade, bans on motorcycles in some communities, attempts to curtail major motorcycle events, anti-tamper legislation, and other limitations of freedom for motorcyclists as the result of complaints about loud pipes, McCaslin says, "We all, every Hog lovin' one of us, must do everything we can to protect our sport and keep it as strong as it is today."

In other words, it's time to pipe down.

This is the second stage of Harley-Davidson's campaign against loud exhaust pipes. Its initial effort last year was directed at and through dealers, with posters and literature that attempted to educate dealers and riders about the negative consequences of loud pipes. Harley-Davidson spokesman Paul James also told Motorcycle Cruiser that during the next few months Harley will cease shipments to dealers of racing exhaust systems that can be fitted to street models. We could no longer find any racing exhaust systems listed on the company's accessory website. However, Harley-Davidson still offers dozens of accessory exhaust systems that are street-legal (and therefore acceptably quiet), including for use in California.

Industry concern over the problem of loud exhaust pipes is nothing new. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has long warned riders that attitudes shaped by complaints about loud pipes frequently compromise the AMA's efforts to battle anti-motorcycling legislation and regulation. That same concern was echoed by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation a few years ago when it adopted the AMA's stance against loud pipes. The Motorcycle Industry Council has conducted anti-noise campaigns for over 30 years.

These days, the loud motorcycle you hear roaring past is likely to be a modified Harley-Davidson. This is somewhat ironic because Harley was among the first motorcycle makers to tackle exhaust noise a century ago. In the early days of internal-combustion vehicles, many vehicles were annoyingly loud as delivered, but the threat of anti-motor-vehicle legislation soon had automakers fitting mufflers to their vehicles. As McCaslin's message points out, quieting motorcycle exhaust pipes posed greater difficulties because there is no room for a bulky muffler on a bike. However, Harley engineered an effective silencer, and the resulting bike became known as The Silent Gray fellow. Its relative quiet contributed to its reputation as an elegant, advanced machine and helped distinguish Harley-Davidson Motor Company from dozens of rival American motorcycle makers.

Changing to an aftermarket exhaust system has become almost a knee-jerk reaction for many cruiser buyers. However, unless labeled as meeting federal and state standards, all of these exhaust systems are illegal and virtually all are illegally loud. There are exceptions, such as systems offered by Harley that meet requirements for all 50 states or all states except California. Exhaust pipes are changed for a variety of reasons. One is the search for performance improvements, although, as McCaslin and the AMA point out, not all deliver--and some increase power in a portion of the power band while reducing it in others. Some motorcycle owners change exhaust pipes to personalize the appearance. And many who modify their bikes' exhaust systems simply want the noise, often for vanity's sake. Some motorcyclists profess to believe that "loud pipes save lives," although research tends to contradict that popular axiom. (Few of those who say they want exhaust noise for safety's sake use other means--such as brightly colored apparel--which have been proven effective.)

Harley-Davidson's current stance actually puts it on the cutting edge of corporate responsibility regarding exhaust-noise. It is the only company that has both taken an anti-noise stance and offers street-legal accessory exhaust systems as an alternative to loud aftermarket pipes. Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki have never offered nor endorsed accessory systems for their cruisers. Both Victory and Yamaha offer exhaust systems that are not illegally loud as "racing" modifications, though no effort is made to qualify customers by asking for racing credentials. You have to find and click on footnote notices on their sites to learn that that the systems are not legal for the street, and the disclaimer page on Yamaha's site was not working when we visited. Neither company offers legal accessory exhausts. We also asked Yamaha if it had any plans to follow Harley-Davidson's lead on this issue, but we had received no reply to our email a few days later.

As the leader in the cruiser market, Harley's public stance on loud exhaust pipes may finally signal a turning point for an issue that continues to put motorcyclists in a very bad light and prompts increasing calls for restrictions on motorcycles and motorcyclists. Though some riders will try to contend that their noise doesn't really bother anybody, that they have some sort of right to annoy everyone they ride past, or that their noise protects them, such arguments have to sound increasingly hollow when the biggest cruiser-motorcycle maker points out that they are actually risking all motorcyclists' freedoms and asks them to "think about the consequences our actions have on others, before others take action against us."

Harley-Davidson is not simply speaking out about the problems that illegal loud pipes cause for the entire motorcycling community. The Motor Company also offers street-legal accessory exhausts systems and exhaust components for its various motorcycle model families. An alternative to universally loud aftermarket exhausts, the Harley accessory pipes, such as the these 50-state-legal slip-ons for Dyna models, provide a legal option for riders who want to customize.

Cologne motorcycle show 2010
The Kawasaki Z1000SX

For the uninitiated, the Cologne motorcycle show is where manufacturers begin to unmask upcoming models in their range, before the majority reveal their full 2011 line-ups in Milan in November. We'll be bringing you reviews and more details in the next few months, and in the meantime here's a summary of the most important models at Cologne.


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BMW

We covered first details of BMW's two new 1,600cc, six-cylinder touring bikes in August, but it has only now released pictures. No big surprises visually, but it's worth noting how well BMW has disguised the bikes' bulk.

Beneath the bodywork both bikes are identical, including the 158bhp engine, which is claimed to have a huge spread of torque – 70 per cent of the maximum is available from just 1,500rpm – as well as being outstandingly smooth, as a six should be. But the bikes also come with an array of impressive new technology, including an optional self-levelling headlight that produces a horizontal beam even when the bike is leaning for corners.

Triumph

For 2011 the class-leading Speed Triple is being almost entirely renewed. The 1,050cc engine is upgraded to produce 133bhp (5bhp extra), with eight per cent more torque, while the chassis is all new, despite looking similar. It promises to be sharper and more agile, too. Controversially, the distinctive circular twin chrome headlights have been replaced with black "foxeye" units, otherwise Speed Triple fans should be happy.

The new Thunderbird Storm's power and torque are boosted by the fitment as standard of Triumph's previously optional engine oversize kit, increasing capacity to 1,700cc. The bike is now finished with a blacked-out, minimalist look.

Kawasaki

The company has responded to criticism of a tired and unadventurous range with four new models, including an all-new flagship superbike, the Ninja ZX-10R, aimed at BMW's S1000RR. The headline feature for this is the claimed power output of 197bhp, while the bike is a full 22lb (10kg) lighter than the old model, which was no heavyweight. The frame, geometry, wheels and suspension are all new, and the bike also features an ultra high-tech traction control system and optional race-inspired ABS brakes, along with three different engine power mode options.

For less extreme high performance, the Z1000SX – in effect a Z1000 with a full fairing and larger tank – could be a surprise hit of 2011. Power is 135bhp and the tank holds a useful 4.2 gallons (19 litres). It's also very good looking.

Triumph's Bonneville is under attack from Kawasaki's new W800. The parallel twin is a stunning looking retro bike, and technically interesting for the shaft and bevel gear-driven overhead cam.

The Voyager Custom follows the US "bagger" theme, meaning it's stripped down, blacked out and generally mean looking, and although it's closely based on the existing VN1700 it features a lot of unique bodywork components.

Suzuki

Nothing radical, but GSX-R fans should be happy with the all-new 600 and near-identical 750, especially the fitment of cutting edge Brembo Monobloc front brakes. The bikes are 20lb and 18lb (9kg and 8kg respectively) lighter than the 2010 versions, with more power and 10 per cent better fuel economy.

It's taken the company a long time to do the obvious and produce a Kawasaki Z750 rival, but that's what the GSR750 is. The bike uses a detuned version of an older GSX-R750 engine with sharp styling and high-spec chassis components, and should sell well.

Ducati

Ducati will be showing its most important new models at its home show in Milan, but it unveiled the fabulous 1198 SP superbike in Cologne. This includes all the electronics found on the stock 1198, including traction control, on-board data logging and the new electronic quickshift gearchange, and adds top quality Öhlins suspension, a larger capacity, aluminium fuel tank and lightened chassis components, including Marchesini wheels.

Win NEC Show Tickets!

All of these bikes and many more due to be unveiled at the Milan show in November will be on display in the UK at Motorcycle Live at the NEC in Birmingham from November 27 to December 5. Tickets cost £15 in advance, £17 on the door (£10 for seniors, 11-16s £5, 10 and under free).

You can win one of 10 pairs of tickets in an easy-to-enter competition at Ash On Bikes.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Biketoberfest is set to roll into Daytona Beach, with an estimated 150,000 motorcyclists arriving in Central Florida for the four-day event.

The popular annual event, which could generate $200 million for the local economy, begins Thursday and runs through Sunday.

Biketoberfest draws motorcycle riders from all over the world and offers numerous festivities, including bike shows, racing and concerts.

"It's sort of a prelude to biker Halloween, you might say," said Steed Wyllie, who runs Froggy's Saloon in Daytona Beach. "We have a DJ booth up here, (and) girls on these platforms that will be dancing throughout the day and night."

Wyllie said business has been slow, so he's hoping the bikers rev up their engines and the economy.

"You can tell the economy has been slow in this country. I can tell by the amount of people that show up and how much business we do," said Wyllie, who added that bikers are great customers. "Waitresses to bartenders say bikers spend the most money, they have the best time and they are the easiest to deal with. There's a big myth, 'The bikers are coming to town, hide your women and your children.' It's not like that. It's a brotherhood of people."

The event was started in 1992 as a way to build on the popularity of Daytona Beach Bike Week, a 10-day event held every March.

Image: Michael Drabikowski – via Bike EXIF

I can’t even ride a scooter, but I certainly can appreciate this nifty gallery of 15 manly motorcycles for the manly man over at Cool Material. This one above is the Robb Handcrafted Cycles Harley:

There are only really two types of motorcycle custom shops in the world – the ones that customize Harleys and the ones that do it wrong. What do you get when you cross the engine from a 67 Harley, Ducati forks, and carbon fiber? Perfection in motorcycle form. Australian builder god Dylan Robb built this bike over an eight month period in his shed with almost no tools. In our opinion, it’s more impressive than building a suit of armor in a cave from a box of scraps – and not just because it’s real.

Link

Cologne Bike Show: 2011 GSX-R750 and 2011 GSX-R600

By Andy Downes -

New bikes

05 October 2010 08:47

Suzuki has just publically unveiled the Suzuki GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 at the Cologne Bike Show

They are claiming 9kg weight reduction over the previous GSX-R600 taking it down to 187kg. This is due to engine weight losses and an entirely new chassis.

The GSX-750 has had an 8kg weight reduction and also 10% improvement in fuel economy.

Harley-Davidson, do you know why you got so much support last year when you announced the possibility of leaving York? It's because Harley-Davidson fuels the local economy.

This message has nothing to do with the hard working Harley-Davidson employees. It is addressed to the corporate greed of Harley. Harley needed the community's help when things got tough last year, and they got it. A year ago everyone worried about Harley leaving York, but they stayed after receiving state funding and massive job cuts. Harley had a chance to thank the community this year and dropped the ball on their loyal customers.

All the local businesses in York were probably prepared for a big turnout for bike week, but it did not live up to their expectations. As a result, they probably bought too much merchandise in anticipation of a big crowd and lost money. The local businesses do everything they can to support Harley for this annual event.

Harley could have been a part of the festivities, but elected only to worry about themselves. Harley wants to cut pay, cut jobs and cut the local businesses out of making some extra money. They did nothing to support all of their loyal supporters who travel to York every year. FOX 43 did more for this event than anyone else this year. They should be commended for trying to make this event a success.