Motorcycles

Even the most dyed-in-the-wool motorcycle enthusiasts may not know the name Vyrus, a small manufacturer based in Rimini, Italy, who has quietly been putting out some of the most refined, visually stunning and best performing bikes in the world. This shop is headed by the likes of Ascanio Rodorigo, a long-time collaborator with Massimo Tamburini of Bimota fame. Vyrus currently has four models in its lineup, any one of which would make a fine addition to our running wish list.

What makes bikes from Vyrus so unique is that they showcase all of their technological advancements right there on the exterior in plain sight, and the result is marvelous. Their bikes have another signature look which is the lack of a front folk. This unit is replaced by a swing arm mounted directly to the frame. Their hand-crafted wonders are meticulously executed and feature highly technical components that they machine and mill in- house.

Tamburini Corse is best known for restyling namesakes from Ducati, MV Augusta, Aprilia and Yamaha. The handiwork we've seen so far - their vision of the Ducati 1198 superbike, Ducati Monster, MV Augusta F4 and MV Augusta Brutale - has all been exceptional. Massimo Tamburini, the former big cheese over at Centro Ricerche Cagiva (CRC), a division of MV Augusta, retired in 2008 but his son Andrea is keeping the family name going strong. He is the driving force behind the Tamburini Corse T1, a naked MV Augusta Brutale with lots of carbon fiber and aluminum components.

"I hope all bike lovers will have the chance to try the new products. These will further improve the quality standard already reached by MV Agusta Corse, thanks to their exclusiveness, innovation and design," says Andrea. We don't have many details or any price information on the Tamburini Corse T1 yet but will provide an update when more is known. For now, just ogle at the high-res gallery.

Bimota has been building custom and production motorcycles since 1973 out of their headquarters in Rimini, Italy. Founded by Bianchi, Morri and Tamburini (taking the first two letters from each name), the company got its start modifying Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki bikes, later moving on to Yamama and Ducati before churning out their own models.

Over the last several years Bimota has reinvigorated the brand by producing stellar chassis, bodywork and specialized components while leveraging powerplants from some of the best motorcycle companies in the business. Models like the DB7, DB6 and DB5 have garnered tremendous excitement on the superbike scene.

The Essen Motor Show is a world of wonder with all kinds of modified, custom and high-end automotive and motorcycle creations that push the boundaries of speed and performance. So, it's really no surprise that the Asphaltfighters Stormbringer superbike, what is being called the world's fastest street motorcycle, would make its debut at this event. So, what does it take to garner this elusive title? Top speed is rated north of 199 mph with acceleration times from a dead stop to 186 mph in just 13.9 seconds. Sprint times from 0-60 mph take only 2.9 seconds, while it can hit 120 mph in a mere 6.5 seconds.

Based out of Aelen, Germany, the bike's builder, WARM UP, is a relatively obscure motorcycle company for those in the states, but this may all change with their latest introduction. WARM UP starts with a Kawasaki ZX-10R which is then modified extensively. Even though it still uses the 1,000-cc four-cylinder four-valve engine, German tuner Sepp Buchner manages to mash out 220 hp / 161.9 kW. In addition, a special booster mode actually allows the powerplant to put out 280 hp / 206 KW for short bursts of speed when the bike is above 180 km/h (111 mph). The Ashphaltfighters Stormbringer weighs in at just 429 pounds when fully fueled for an exceptional power to weight ratio.

The famous inline six-cylinder engine from BMW has been widely exulted for years. This powerplant has provided strong and linear engines in their cars and trucks over the last several decades. However, now at the point where the company is moving away from this engine on the automotive side, BMW Motorrad is going to be transitioning this engine into its motorcycle lineup. The new BMW Concept 6 motorcycle at the EICMA Show in Milan has been unveiled to showcase this transfer of technology. 

Even though the BMW Motorrad Concept 6 frame is not really anything revolutionary, basically a K1300R with some extra futuristic looking components, the engine is the company's new 1.6-liter (or more), inline six, mounted at a 55 degree angle. The dead giveaways are the huge outlets jutting out of each side. Power output is expected to be in the range of 175 hp with 96 lb-ft of torque available at 2,000 RPM with a 9,000 RPM redline. Because so much power is available at any speed, the bike has no rev counter on its LED instrument panel. Instead there is a torque readout along with the essential road speed display.

This year's SEMA Show served as a launch pad for the Mavizen TTX02 electric motorcycle, a highly anticipated green bike that will test its mettle at the TTXGP race in May of next year. Azhar Hussain, whose name may be familiar as the founder of TTGXP, is the entrepreneur behind this race-bike. It's still a rumor but it looks like the chassis of the TTX02 is based on the KTM RC8 superbike, a solid platform well known for superior handling at high speeds. As a forgone conclusion, this new dynamo should perform quite well.

The Mavizen TTX02 is powered by two Agni 95 electric motors that output a total of 100 peak horsepower. Torque should be absolutely phenomenal. Three lithium-ion battery packs provide all of the juice required. No word on the mileage yet, but it will at least be capable of running the 38 miles of the TTXGP Isle of Man race course.

The Honda VR and VFR series of street bikes has a long and storied history. VF stands for Vee-Four while VFR means Vee-Four Racing. The name comes from the fact that when looking at the the engine along the axis of the crankshaft, the cylinders and pistons are set up in two separate banks in the shape of a V. Honda was one of the original architects of the V-type four-cylinder engine used for motorcycles. The first generation models dropped in 1982. Now, on generation seven, Honda is releasing a technological marvel with their new 2010 VFR1200F.  Available in the Spring of 2010, the new VFR will come in two forms - a standard model and a one equipped with a dual-clutch automatic transmission, an industry first for a large-displacement bike.

The new Honda VFR1200F sports a 1,237cc V4 motor featuring a unicam crankshaft, variable cylinder management, offset cylinder spacing and throttle-by-wire with an output of 172hp and 95 lb-ft of torque. This is a big engine for a big bike. The European version will tip the scales at 588 lbs with the US version weighing in at 591 pounds. If you opt for the dual-clutch model, the extra heft pushes the weight to 613 pounds.

BMW Motorrad has just introduced their new C1-E electric scooter concept as what "a safe, environment-friendly and highly practical single track vehicle for city traffic could look like in the future." Some of you may remember the C1 scooter that was available in Europe between 2000 and 2003. Offered in two trims, the 125 (124cc) and 200 (176 cc), the original C1 purported to provide a standard of accident protection that was comparable to a European compact car, with a reinforced canopy. The party line was that this thing was so safe you didn't even need a helmet. The C1 was off to the races with sales over 10,000 in 2001. However, due to very poor sales the following year, production ceased in 2002 as market demand cooled.

The BMW C1-E Concept, like it's predecessor, features a fully-enclosed cabin with built-in rollover protection, a front-end impact zone, a four-point safety belt and a low center of gravity. In the years since the C1 was released, BMW Motorrad has advanced a host of electronic aids such as integrated ABS, Traction Control, Tire Pressure Control and Anti-Slip Control. BMW is even toying with the idea of "forward-looking rider assistance systems" that help with cross-traffic and traffic light guidance as well as warning alerts for road hazards, emergency vehicles, sudden braking or advancing bad weather.