Latest Cars And Bikes Reviews

Archive for the ‘Super Bikes’ Category

The basic architecture of this fuel injected, liquid-cooled 105bhp three-cylinder engine can be traced all the back to the original Benelli Tornado superbike. Last year it also featured in the TNT899 super naked, but in this guise the motor is tuned for lots of real-world grunt and has a nice flat torque curve. There’s a healthy kick of power at high rpm and a wailing three-cylinder soundtrack to die for. The throttle response isn’t completely smooth at low revs but Benelli put this down to the fuel mapping they’ve had to use to pass Euro 3 emissions tests. This motor doesn’t have the slipper clutch of its bigger 1130cc brother, so there’s lots of engine braking off the throttle, which isn’t a problem, it just takes getting used to.

In today’s market, the Tre K 899 looks good value for money. For your hard-earned you get exclusivity, a historic badge on the fuel tank, a rasping soundtrack, practicality, comfort and lots of fun. In short, it’s a superb machine.

The spacious riding position is perfect and the pegs and handlebars couldn’t be placed any more naturally for comfortable riding. The seat is nicely padded and there’s excellent wind protection from the manually adjusted screen. There’s a 20.7-litre fuel tank for big miles and it comes fitted with Dunlop’s brilliant RoadSmart sports touring tyres, which is MCN’s 2008 tyre of the year. The leverage offered by the wide bars make the Tre K 899 easy to flick through tight, twisty flip-flop corners. It’s as agile as a big supermoto, like the Ducati Hypermotard or KTM990SM or SMT. With a chassis set-up perfected by test rider and ex-Bimota works racer Gianluca Galasso, the Benelli is stable in the corners and offers lots of feedback, despite have non-adjustable 50mm Marzocchi forks and a Sachs rear shock adjustable for preload and rebound damping only.

There’s no denying Benelli had some quality and reliability issues in the past, but with the new Chinese owners aboard things have changed at Benelli. Although outwardly the Italian firm’s basic line-up doesn’t seem to have changed over the years, there has been a lot of research and development behind the scenes to make their motorcycles more rugged and reliable. Build quality on the Tre K 899 is very good, we’ll have to wait to see how it stands the test of time.

To keep costs down, the Tre K 899 doesn’t have fully-adjustable suspension and is missing some of the fancy panels and bellypan of the Tre K 1130, but there’s still an impressive level of equipment, like 50mm Marzocchi forks, Brembo brakes and a manually adjustable screen. There’s a full range of aftermarket goodies available from luggage to Ohlins suspension.

Yamaha has given the new 2008 Yamaha YZF-R6, the motorcycle looking pretty similar to the current Yamaha R6, it gets a new frame and swingarm, reworked 599cc engine, new slipper clutch, improved front brakes and more aerodynamic bodywork.

Yamaha has become the first manufacturer to introduce a magnesium alloy subframe with the aim of taking weight off the back of the motorcycle to improve the mass centralisation of the motorcycle. The firm says it saves 450g over the previous aluminium alloy subframe.

For 2008 the thickness of the twin 310mm diameter front discs has been increased from 4.5mm to 5.0mm, a change which improves the heat dissipation qualities during extended use.It is quite impressive (by the speed and power) that Yamaha has wrangled from its middleweight racer, which makes up more than half its total sports bike sales.

Kawasaki have their own idea of touring. The result is the 1400 GTR (model year 2008) representing an entirely new genre of high-performance motorcycles: the Transcontinental Supersport. Starting with breathtaking engine performance, impeccable handling and slim riding position, the new GTR adds touring features that make it the most impressive long-distance, high-speed machine on the market today.As another flagship-level model, it was essential for the 1400 GTR to remain true to the Kawasaki brand. Thanks to first VVT (Variable Valve Timing) system in its class the GTR’s engine performance is just as remarkable.

Ultra-low-rpm and mid-range torque output is simply breathtaking, as is the effortless acceleration from any speed.Thanks to the drive-line lash reducing Tetra-Lever shaft drive system power delivery to the rear wheel is so smooth and so direct that it gives the same natural ride quality as a chain.Like its engine, the GTR’s chassis is based on that of the ZZR1400.

While modifications were made for touring comfort and equipment, and the riding position has been adjusted, sport riding quality from Kawasaki’s unique aluminium monocoque frame remains uncompromised. The GTR offers a bank angle on par with the ZZR1400, with excellent steering feedback from the rigid chassis, inverted fork and other high-spec running gear.