BMW K1600GT and GTL

BMW thrilled us with news of the first inline 6-cylinder motorcycle engine in almost 30 years, this one the centerpiece of a pair of high-end touring bikes. BMW says the undersquare 1649cc mill will produce a prodigious 129 ft-lb of torque at its peak, culminating in a 160-horse shove down the highway of your choice.

The sporty-ish K16GT will replace the 4-cylinder K1300GT, and the K1600GTL becomes the luxury-touring wagen of the reputable German brand. Both are available with a gamut of technology and luxury options, including electronically adjustable suspension, traction control, heated seats and grips, and multi-mode engine mapping, among a host of other options that should deliver a truly regal ride. And the engine sounds delicious, as we heard when we saw the K16 reviewed at Jay leno´s garage last month.

“A six-cylinder motorcycle engine is a rare thing, no matter the era,” Pete notes. “But one from BMW promises high levels of refined technology and presumably lots of smooth power. Wrap that mill in a techy BMW chassis and all kinds of pushbutton electronic gadgetry, and the K16GT screams über-tourer.”

Yet to be announced are the prices in America, but read here for Canadian pricing that starts at $24,100 for the GT. We’ll have to wait till April to sample the newest Six on the block.

MV Agusta F3

When it comes to understanding motorcycles, Italians perhaps do it better than any other nation. So when attendees at last month’s EICMA show in Milan were polled to find the “Most Beautiful Bike,” MV Agusta’s F3 was the easy winner, pulling in an extra 18 percentage points over the runner-up Ducati Diavel.

It only takes a short glance at the F3 to realize it’s something special. Its chiseled styling makes for an immediately positive first impression, which is then underlined by a sexy single-sided swingarm and one of the coolest exhaust systems ever, a triple-pipe shorty outlet that is a symphony of design.

Symphonic, too, should be the sound of the 675cc three-cylinder engine at full song. We’re huge fans of Triumph’s 675 Triple, both its sound and character, so we’ve

Shoei RF-1100 Enigma Helmet

Building on the strongest pedigree in the motorcycle helmet business, SHOEI is proud to introduce the all-new RF-1100 Enigma Helmet. Since its 2003 inception, the RF-1000 has enjoyed great success, but that didn’t stop SHOEI’s world-class development team from throwing out the molds to build a brand-new helmet from scratch. Combining customer and dealer requests with advanced technology, modern testing practices, and 50 years of helmet-building experience, SHOEI is pleased to deliver the finest motorcycle helmet that money can buy. The all-new, groundbreaking Shoei RF-1100 Enigma Motorcycle Helmet-where aggressive styling meets SHOEI’s unrivaled attention to detail, and the evolution of perfection is once again met.

Features:

• Q.R.S.A. (Quick Release Self-Adjusting) Base Plate System
• CW-1 Shield
• AIM+ Shell Construction (Snell M2010-Approved)
• 5 Shell Sizes
• Shell-Integrated Spoiler
• Variable Ventilation System
• Dual-Layer EPS Liner
• Interior System
• Chin Curtain
• Breath Guard

2011 Suzuki GSX-R 750

The last of the great 750s, the new Gixxer motorcycle is outfitted with a 750cc 4-cylinder engine with an over-square bore and stroke ratio that incorporates a higher-revving design.

New engine features include revised camshaft profiles, shot-peened conrods, chrome-nitride-coated upper compression and oil control rings, and pentagonal ventilation holes.

The Suzuki 4-into-1 stainless-steel exhaust system with a titanium muffler, uses a Suzuki Exhaust Tuning (SET) valve to improve torque and throttle response in the low-to-mid RPM range.

The Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) offers push-button selection of two racing-developed engine control maps to suit road conditions and personal tastes on the GSX-R 600.

Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) fuel injection, uses fine-spray 8-hole injectors for improved fuel atomization, which contributes to more complete combustion.

Also found on the 2011 Suzuki GSX-R 750 is a race-developed, lightweight Showa Big Piston front-Fork (BPF) and Single Showa rear shock that features externally adjustable rebound and compression damping, along with adjustable ride height.

Even more trick on the Suzuki may be the Brembo front brakes with fully floating 310mm discs and radial-mounted, four-piston monoblock calipers.

The 750 GSXR instrument cluster features an analog tachometer with LCD readouts of the speedometer, odometer, dual trip meter, reserve trip meter, clock, coolant temperature/oil pressure indicator, S-DMS and gear position indicators.

2011 Suzuki GSX-R 750 | Motorcycle Specs

• Bore Stroke: 70.0 mm (2.756 in) x 48.7 mm (1.917 in)
• Compression Ratio: 12.5 : 1
• Engine: 750cc (45.8 cu. In), 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC
• Fuel System: Fuel Injection
• Curb Weight: 190 kg (419 lbs)
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 17.0 L (4.5/3.7 US/Imp gal)
• Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.12 in)
• Overall Length: 2030 mm (80.0 in)
• Overall Width: 710 mm (28.0 in)
• Seat Height: 810 mm (31.9 in)
• Suspension Front: Inverted, telescopic, coil spring, oil damped
• Suspension Rear : Link type, coil spring, oil damped
• Tires Front: 120/70ZR17M/C (58W), tubeless
• Tires Rear: 180/55ZR17M/C (73W), tubeless
• Transmission: 6-speed constant mesh
• Wheelbase: 1390 mm (54.7 in)
• Warranty: 12 Month Limited Warranty

REV'IT! Ignition Leather Jacket

This jacket is an interesting one.

Pros: Seems like great protection and fits comfortably. I am inclined to go for the ProLife back protector over the foam pad included...The mesh breaths great and the fit of the jacket doesn't change much as you add the H20 liner and insulated vest that it comes with. The style is clean and simple.

Psuedo-cons: none of these were dealbreakers for me, but some things to consider before purchase perhaps. The cuffs appear to be meant for gloves to tucked under vs over the sleeve. Euro style perhaps? This either makes gauntlet-style gloves very wide to go over the cuff or potentially crammed into the sleeve. The zips really should have pulls attached, can't grab 'em w/ gloves on. Also there are only 2 main outer pockets, 1 cell-phone pocket, and a series of very small pockets in the liner, so not much cargo space.
About the fit, I'm 6' tall, 42 chest, 32 jeans waist and cinching the side velcro adjusters makes the jacket balloon a little at the belly/flanks if u know what i mean. Wish the jacket had either elastic waist or slightly more taper at the bottom.

Overall very nice construction!

Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200

As noted above, the old Tuono was our favorite offering from the Noale, Italy-based Aprilia, but the new V4R will lose the previous model’s 1000cc V-Twin character. However, twin-cylinder fans needn’t fret, as the 1197cc Dorsoduro steps in to fill that void.

The 750cc Shiver and Dorsoduro are very appealing in their own right, yet performance from their three-quarter-liter V-Twins have been a little underwhelming. But after years of rumors about larger-displacement version of the same engine, Aprilia has finally delivered with the Dorsoduro 1200.

The Max Dorso has already been introduced in Europe, and our correspondent Tor Sagen brought back a glowing review you can read here.  Although no lightweight (at a stated 457 lbs dry), the Dorso 12 comes to the party with a claimed 130 crankshaft horses to give it midrange grunt the 750 can’t approach. The big Dorso’s appeal is also expanded with high-end features like traction control and optional ABS.

“The Dorsoduro 1200 is all I ever wanted from the 750 that wasn’t there,” said Sagen after his ride. “The 1200 engine has got all that full richness I always look for in V-Twins. That sorted, the bike is now 100% pure fun.”

Just as intriguing, this new 1200cc V-Twin will surely find its way into other Aprilia models. We anticipate a Shiver 1200 to be unveiled during 2011, and it’s possible the new powerplant may find its way into a pseudo adventure-tourer like Ducati’s weird but successful Multistrada.

The only downside is that we’ll have to wait until mid-2011 until the Dorsoduro 1200 arrives in North America. MSRP is set at $11,999.

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Kawasaki has upped the ante in the literbike wars with the most technically advanced sportbike it’s ever created. Its traction-control system is not only highly sophisticated, it is also standard equipment and is the first high-performance TC to be fitted to a Japanese sportbike.

A few weeks ago, lucky canine Pete came away from riding the new Ninja at Road Atlanta gushing about the transparent nature of the Sport-KTRC TC. “The system’s activation is notably seamless and not nearly as assertive as Ducati’s DTC,” he wrote in his First Ride review. He also praised its improved chassis and rippin’ 170-horse powerplant.  And the MO staff agrees that this is one of the most attractive Ninjas ever.

One caveat: Kawasaki recently placed a “technical hold” on ZX-10Rs, withdrawing shipped models from the market until it solves a still-undisclosed problem, rumored to be within the engine but not something that could cause catastrophic failure. Kawasaki is playing conservative with this issue, but you can bet they’ll have it sorted promptly.

Anyway, you can’t buy a cheaper TC-equipped sportbike than the ZX, ringing in at $13,799. A racetrack-developed ABS system adds $1000 to the price.

Although we still need to sample the 10R on the street and in the company of its rivals to judge its ultimate potency, we’re already believers in the potential of this exciting new literbike. Pete ended up his review warning the other Japanese brands: “Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha had better step up their game ASAP or risk a shrinking profile in the literbike wars.”

 

Ducati Diavel

Last year Ducati smacked us with an adventure-touring surprise in the form of the oddball Multistrada, which we’ve since tested and loved several times. For 2011, Ducati further expands its customer base with the Diavel, a weird new roadster built within the power-cruiser idiom.

Despite the cruiser analogies, those at Ducati who have ridden the Diavel say it doesn’t really share any cruiser qualities. They promise a level of handling far beyond anything with a cruiser label, including a respectable 41-degree lean angle. And with a retuned version of the strong 1200cc V-Twin from the Multistrada, expectations are for a unique and stimulating ride.

“Let's see,” Pete muses. “A motorcycle with a claimed 162 hp and 94 ft-lbs joined by ABS, traction control, rider-selectable engine mapping, a slipper clutch and a monstrous 240mm rear tire from Pirelli. I like most cruisers, but I think I'll like Ducati's interpretation of a cruiser even more.”

Diavel prices start at $16,995 when they hit dealers around March, 2011.

Triumph Daytona 675 SE

The 2011 Triumph Daytona 675 SE best super sport bike in the world or a class of run speed. Designed for the racetrack to 2011 Triumph Daytona 675 SE compete with the best in the super sport class, Triumph’s Daytona 675 is the bike to beat on both road and track. 2011 Triumph Daytona 675 SE Winner of the 2009 Super test ‘King of Super sports’ award and MCN’s Sports bike of the Year, the Daytona 675 delivers a killer blow with its combination of outstanding handling and a storming three-cylinder engine