MOTOR-CAR SPORT

Like Facebook Word came in over the transom today that two new electric superbikes, both from Mission Motorcycles, are now being made available to the public. These good-looking, very high-tech bikes, designed and built in the U.S. (in the San Francisco area), are far from inexpensive, but they’re based on the proven architecture of the Mission Motors racebike that Steve Rapp rode to victory in the FIM/TTXGP race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2011. MISSION R The Mission R (shown above), which starts at $29,999 (factoring in a federal tax credit of $2500), has a chassis designed by James Parker that uses billet aluminum and chrome-moly steel, with an electric powertrain and battery box serving as stressed members. Three lithium-ion battery packages are available: 12 kWh, 15 kWh or 17 kWh, offering respective “real world” ranges of 105, 120 and 140 miles. Claimed horsepower for the liquid-cooled, three-phase AC induction motor is 163.2, and 133.4 ft.-lb. of peak torque is on ...

Like Facebook Let’s face it,  Yamaha ’s YZ450F has gotten a bad rap. Blame James Stewart’s less-than-stellar results on the bike in 2012 prior to his leap to Suzuki, combined with slanderous comments on Internet forums. But guess what? The “backward” design is back, and Yamaha’s engineers, led by Mr. Hiroshi Ito ( WR450F project leader, too) still believe in the rearward-leaning cylinder with intake at the front and exhaust at the rear. Highlights of the all-new engine include reshaped intake and exhaust ports with larger-diameter valves. The piston now has two rings instead of three. Wet-sump lubrication is now used, and the smaller engine is placed farther forward in the frame. A good indication that the ’14 YZ is significantly more powerful is the 20-percent-stronger clutch. The five-speed transmission features new ratios; the gap between second and third is closer while the jump from third to fourth is wider. A new gear-position sensor tells the ECU to select individu...

Like Facebook The stroked 675 MV Agusta Triple our man  Bruno dePrato  heaped praise upon in his recent gallop aboard the new  Brutale 800  has now found its way into a fully faired sportbike version: the new  MV Agusta  F3 800. Bore remains 79.0mm in the MV three-cylinder, but stroke is increased from 45.9mm to 54.3mm, boosting displacement from 675cc to 798cc and compression to 13.3:1 in one fell swoop. MV says that’s good for 148 horsepower at 13,000 rpm (20 more than the F3 675), with 65 foot-pounds of torque at 10,600 rpm, in a package that weighs the same
 381 pounds. Metallic Matt Black Pearl White/Black Red-Silver MV says the 675 produced peak output at 14,500 rpm and redlined at 15,000. In the new bike, higher final-drive gearing works with a new 13,500-rpm redline to wind up at a claimed top speed of 167 mph, and less time getting there. New fuel injectors with a higher flow rate feed the bigger cylinders; otherwise, it’s the same ...