MOTOR-CAR SPORT

      New 2014 Yamaha FZ-09 On display at Intermot last October was a prototype 3-cylinder  Yamaha  engine. Today, a mere eight months later, we’re revealing the 2014 Yamaha FZ-09 – an $8000 naked sporty bike with impressive specs and an alluring price. Also new from Yamaha is the 2014 YZ450F and YZ250F. Joining the ranks of other Triple manufacturers, namely  Triumph  and  MV Agusta , the FZ-09 looks to trump its competition by virtue of more displacement and a lower MSRP. The new FZ-09 replaces the FZ8 but the FZ1 remains in Yamaha’s 2014 model lineup. TRIPLE PLAY:  Intermot 2012: Yamaha Unveils Crossplane Triple Concept How the FZ-09 Stacks Up Displacement MSRP Yamaha FZ-09 847cc $7990 Triumph Street Triple 675cc $9399 MV Agusta Brutale 800 798cc $13,998 Yamaha refers to its new engine as a “crossplane crankshaft,” but in fact all three-cylinder motorcycle engines use the same 120-degree crankshaft spacings – ...

TEN NEW MOTORCYCLES WE’RE DYING TO RIDE IN 2013 Large press conferences from Honda and Ducati held right before EICMA 2012 may have stolen a bit of the thunder from Milan’s annual motorcycle show, but we still came away impressed with the variety of significant new bikes on display. Although finding the 10 motorcycles that we’d most like to ride in 2013 certainly qualifies as a tough task (hey, only  Bruno dePrato  speaks Italian), that’s the reason we’re here. 1. Aprilia Caponord 1200 This adventurer-tourer, developed from the supermoto-inspired Dorsoduro 1200, is a versatile machine, fun in the city yet big enough for a two-up ride into the country, aided by good wind protection and that large, 1197cc V-Twin. In addition to a ride-by-wire system with three maps (Sport, Touring, Rain), the Caponord 1200 boasts ABS and traction control, both of which can be defeated. The available Travel Pack offers active suspension damping, cruise control and color-matched p...