MOTOR-CAR SPORT

ZTECHNIK VSTREAM WINDSHIELDS FOR BMW G650GS & SERTAO ZTechnik Press Release: ZTechnik announces three new VStream windshields for the 2011-2013  BMW  G650GS and G650GS Sertão. The VStream aeroacoustic contour features a wider profile at the top of the windscreen, which pushes turbulent, noisy airflow to the side and away from the rider’s helmet. The additional wind protection provided by the VStream calls for a stronger mounting system than the OEM bracket. Many oversize aftermarket windshields mount on the OEM bracket, leading to vibration of the windshield.  ZTechnik manufactures a structural tubular frame that ensures stability of the windshield at all speeds. The frame mounts to four solid points at the sides of the headlight housing. It is easy to assemble and offers an additional mounting point for ZTechnik’s Z6010 Accessory Mount. The new VStream windshields are available in three different heights and tints and are made from tough 4.5mm FM...

MV Agusta F4 Gets ABS for 2013 The boys and girls in Varese, Italy are giving only modest updates to the MV Agusta F4 for the 2013 model year, as the company’s four-cylinder superbike will sport an ABS package from Bosch. Featuring the dual-channel Bosch 9M+ anti-lock braking system with anti-rear wheel lift, the F4 will be able to handle better low-traction stops and wet surfaces. As the name suggests, the Bosch system also keeps the rear-wheel from lifting up during hard braking actions, which may throw a wench in your plans for epic stoppies, but it also will keep Italian dream machine in-check when diving deep into the braking zones. MV Agusta has programmed two modes into the ABS package: Normal and Race. In the “normal” mode, ABS kicks in freely and at all times, whereas in “race” mode, its thresholds are set much higher for racing conditions. Pretty straight-forward stuff, right? And yes for you Luddites, the Bosch 9M+ can also be switched completel...

KTM E-Speed – An Electric Scooter from Austria Not soon after KTM CEO Stefan Pierer dismissed the viability of electric motorcycles, and told Italian journalists that the Austrian company was scrapping its plans to build an electric dirt bike, the KTM Freeride E , KTM has announced the KTM E-Speed electric scooter study, with Pierer even making the bold statement that “we at KTM are completely convinced of electric mobility as a perfect complement to conventional powertrains.” Debuting the machine at the Tokyo Motor Show, KTM has appropriately recycled the same battery and motor technologies from the Freeride E concept, and put them in the unimaginatively named E-Speed scooter. Using a liquid cooled 14.75 hp / 26.5 lbs•ft motor, KTM has opted for a larger 4.36 kWh battery pack for its metro-targeting scoot. Speaking about the KTM E-Speed, Pierer said “in the long term, the electric drive will come out on top for short distances – particul...

KTM Freeride E – OEMs Enter the Electric Motorcycle Fray   The writing has been on the wall for sometime now, as the entire electric motorcycle community has been waiting for a major OEM to debut its own electric motorcycle. Answering that call, KTM unveiled atEICMA today the new 2012 KTM Freeride E. Saying that as the leading off-road motorcycle manufacturer (KTM accounts for about 50% of the worldwide dirt bike market), the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer could not afford to sit idly by while other companies innovated in its space. Built along the Freeride’s ride anywhere mantra, the KTM Freeride E comes with 2.1kWh of battery power on-board, and is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor. With a rated output of 10hp, KTM says the electric motor is good for 30hp peak, with a maximum of 300 Volts going through the system. Helped by its small battery size, the Freeride E weighs only 204 lbs and can be recharged off a 220V socket in 90 minut...

Norton Motorcycles is gearing up for  another entry  into the  Isle of Man TT , and while the British company’s project has been sequestered in Donington Park during the off-season, the team has released one very interesting photo of the now named Norton TT Racer. Giving us a glimpse of the bike’s front wheel area, we can see that Norton is using BST carbon fiber wheels, six-pot ISR calipers, Dunlop tires, and Öhlins suspension. However, the interesting thing with the Öhlins FGR forks is that they are clearly beyond WSBK-spec, and there appears to be electrical connections going to the forks’ rebound and compression damping adjusters. The electrical leads can only mean one thing, a racing setup with  semi-active suspension . With Öhlins  a little late  to the semi-active suspension game in the two-wheeled world, it wouldn’t surprise us to see the Swedish company working with Norton and other partners to get its system developed and ready f...