Auto-Tech HQ

A new American motorcycle manufacturer Roehr has just announced its intentions to offer both racing and street versions of the eRoehr electric motorcycle.

Roehr’s first motorcycle, the 1250sc, offers up 180 horsepower via a modified and supercharged Harley-Davidson Revolution engine.  The AC induction unit specified for the Roehr eSuperbike is said to have 96 hp and 210 pound-feet of torque.  Sounds like a monster to me!

A 10 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack will provide the power for the bike.  A second version with a similar motor will be offered that will produce 48 hp and 105 lb-ft paired with a 6kWh battery, and will be a ble to reach a top speed of 100 miles per hour.

The official price has not yet been release.  For a complete press release please read below. 

Source: Roehr

Moto Guzzi has introduced an all new special edition model the Griso 8V SE.  Some of the new features are the new paint colors, either Tenni Green or Rosso Mandello red with a blacked-out power train, stitched leather seat and wire-spoke wheels.  

The Griso 8V SE has also increased the torque output to to 85lb-ft, but horsepower stayed the dame at 110HP.  The extra torque comes from revised cam profiles, fuel injectors, and larger airbox to breathe better.  Please reade a complete press release and take a look at the gallery of an all new Moto Guzzi Griso 8V SE is below.

[View with PicLens]

Click here to read more…

BMW has updated its 2010 R 1200 RT and it its new GS brother with  an all new dual-overhead cams.

The maximum power output of 110 horses stayed the same, but the torque has increased to 88 lb-ft torque and horsepower curves have been improved.  As for an exterior, revised fairing joins a slightly enlarged windscreen have been introduced.  

The final major updates are to the suspension and brakes, including the latest versions of BMW’s Integral ABS brakes and ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment).  Nine different adjustments are available to the rider that adjust front and rear damping along with spring pretension and spring rate up front.   For the complete details please read the official press release below.

[View with PicLens]

Click here to read more…

If you are in the market for a new motorcycle, now might be a good time to visit your local Harley-Davidson dealership.  If you are in to motorcycles, you may have already heard the announcement couple of weeks ago that Harley-Davidson has discontinued their Buell brand.

inorder to move all the stock, they are providing incentives to their dealers.  According to a report from the Hell for Leather, Harley-Davidson is sending a check to each dealership for $5,000 for every new Buell sold regardless of the model.  This knowledge has already spikes the sales of Buell, , but none the less should give customers a little extra negotiating power for the out the door price.  

From what we have heard so far, you seem to be able to get really good deal on these motorcyles, but because it has become such a good deal, and people are buying, most dealers now starting to increase the selling price again.  Happy buying and happy riding!

Ducati Hypermotard is one of the most talked about new motorcycles, but at $14,995, it is priced out of many buyer’s budgets.  Well, the good news is Ducati has just officially announced the Hypermotard 796, and it has much more reasonable price of $9,995.

No real information is yet available from Ducati about the new engine that will power the Hypermotard 796.  All we know is that it is air-cooled, two valves per cylinder and puts out 81 horsepower and 56 lb-ft of torque.  The rough estimate of the new engine displace will be around 800cc.  The weight of the motorcycle is expected to be 368-pound which is a great power-to-weight ratio.

Some other features will include:

• APTC clutch 
• Single-sided swing arm 
• Redesigned top and bottom fork clamps 
• Revised steel trellis frame

Color options will include Ducati red and matte black and matte white.

Click here to read more…

The Brammo Enertia electric motorcycle can now be purchased, as it’s officially on sale.  This eco-friendly battery powered motorcycle is powered by 13.7 HP engine, with torque rating of 31 ft/lbs, and weighs about 280 pounds. With a top speed of about 50 miles an hour, the bike’s got a 45 mile range before needing a 3 hour recharge. It’s not the most powerful of motorcycles for sure, but it looks cool, environmentally aware , and it can be yours for about $12,000.

Source:  Cool Hunting

What you are about to see is a 6 minutes and 45 seconds of pure action video with Ken Block in his 380-horsepower Subaru WRX STI with James May from Top Gear and a special appearance of Ricky Carmichael the motocross racer.  Enjoy!

Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has announced a plans to launch a new electric motorcycle racing series in 2010.  As part of the Road Racing Grand Prix Commission, the project will be led by Azhar Hussain, organizer and founder of the TTXGP.

PRESS RELEASE

The FIM creates a new Series for Electric Motorcycles in 2010

Following the success of the TTXGP race held on the Isle of Man on June 12, the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) has decided to create a FIM Series for electric bikes in 2010. This new FIM Series will be run inside the Road Racing Grand Prix Commission, a great and innovative project led by Mr Azhar Hussain a UK Entrepreneur founder of the TTXGP. The FIM Series for electric bikes will provide an international platform for the development of electric bikes and the technology behind them to be tested in an exciting and challenging way. It aims at driving low-carbon technological innovation forward, to demonstrate that clean-emission transport technologies have matured and can be fun, fast and exciting.
Click here to read more…

So you thought that Zero S was cool? Zero Motorcycles goes and releases another new electric bike for 2009 that is specifically designed for dirt and track. This is definitely a very cool idea I am just not sure how well it will stack up to the true motocross bikes. Zero MX will set you back $8,250 and is equipped with the new set of 48 millimeter upside-down forks along with a beefier rear shock. New 19″ front rim joins the 17″ rear hoop in getting new and more aggressive knobby tires. Although they do not mention the power of the motorcycle, they do say that it has more torque than any other bike in its class. And if this is not enough, you can also opt in for an Extreme Package which will add even more power to already high performance.

Source: Zero Motorcycles

Some of you have already seen a three wheel Piaggio before.  Till now there has only been a gas powerd version, but now, Piaggio has apparently begun production of the three-wheeled MP3 Hybrid. Currently, the bike is only available in Europe with a price of under €10,000 ($14,125), but we’ve been hearing rumors that it could wind up on the Americn soil in the near future. 
We don’t yet have many details on this model yet, but from what we hear, we should see a 125cc gas-powered engine paired up with an electric motor and lithium ion battery pack that will allow for gas-free riding for up to 12 miles. The speculations for combined fuel mileage could go as high as 140 mpg.

This could be a great way for some commuters to get around the again rising gas prices.

Source: 2strokebuzz

[View with PicLens]