The New Honda Sabre 2010

Honda is about to release its new Sabre in the U.S. shortly continuing its run of chopper-esc motorcycles such as the Fury.  The Sabre is very much styled after the Fury but hopefully won’t resort to chromed plastic as much as the Fury does (awful, just awful)  While the Sabre does look good and most likely will perform adequately given the Honda heritage it lacks the chopper soul and unique WOW! factor that comes with choppers.  If anything it’s just a little too perfect looking.

The Sabre is priced at $11,799.00 standard, and the ABS model will make your bank account $12,799.00 lighter.

Specs are below and if you pick one up let RTWW know what you think of your new ride

2010 Honda Sabre | Specifications

Model: VT1300CS / VT1300CSA ABS

Engine Type: 1312cc liquid-cooled 52° V-twin

Bore and Stroke: 89.5mm x 104.3mm

Compression ratio: 9.2:1

Valve Train: SOHC; three valves per cylinder

Induction: PGM-FI with automatic enrichment circuit, one 38mm throttle body

Ignition: Digital with 3-D mapping, two spark plugs per cylinder

Transmission: Five-speed

Final Drive: Shaft

Suspension
Front: 41mm fork; 4.0 inches travel
Rear: Single shock; 3.9 inches travel

Brakes
Front: Single 336mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear: 296mm disc with single-piston caliper; Optional ABS and CBS available in Black color only

Tires
Front: 90/90-21
Rear: 170/80-15

Wheelbase: 70.0 inches

Rake (Caster Angle): 33°

Trail: 118.0mm (4.6 inches)

Seat Height: 26.9 inches

Fuel Capacity: 4.4 gallons

Colors: Black, Candy Dark Red (ABS/CBS available in Black color only)

Curb Weight*: 659 pounds (VT1300CS) / 676 pounds (VT1300CSA ABS)

Honda’s other chopper styled bike, The Fury…

Playboy gets into Motorcycles

Playboy has been the epitome of cool for decades, and now in 2010 it has made the connection with the world’s other source of ultimate cool, motorcycles!  Rather than handing its ‘Playmate of the Year’ for 2010, Hope Dworaczyk, a car along with $100,000 as a prize, this year the vehicle of choice was arguably the best sports bike currently available, the BMW S1000RR.

Here’s another picture of Miss Dworaczyk which doesn’t feature a motorcycle, but is ahhh …interesting all the same : )

The Bangor Elim Church Car & Motorcycle Show

Last Saturday RTWW was at the Bangor Elim Church Car & Motorcycle show, and the RTWW Flickr page has been updated with some pictures from the day.  The show was well attended as always and benefited from fantastic weather (This Editor still has the sunburn to show for it!)

The show featured a good collection of bikes and trikes from all eras, alongside classic British cars from the last few decades.

Stunt shows from former European extreme stunt riding Champion Kevin Carmichael http://www.kevincarmichael.com/

…and Relentless UKFMX http://www.ukfmx.com/

…were expertly done and great fun for the crowds.  Other features of the day were the fashion show and judging of the best bikes and cars attending the show.

This was the 8th show at the Elim Church and many of those regular attendees said it was the best yet.  Well done to the organisers and RTWW is looking forward to next years show.

Pictures from the Show are available on our Flickr Photostream

A New German Motorcycle Company Rises?

Das neue Motorrad – The updates began quietly enough on-line on the 12th of May and will continue until launch day on the 10th June 2010.  My knowledge of German is non-existant, my apologies any fans in Germany, but this all seems very exciting.  Launching a new bike brand in the current financial climate is bold to say the least, and what are they launching, a standard or electric/hybrid bike.  Hope it doesn’t turn out to be bland after the build up.  Should BMW be worried?

Visit the web site here for more information.

Transform two motorcycles into a car & back again.

RTWW loves a good ‘out there’ futuristic bike and this new concept model has that and a whole lot more.

The pictures are of the “Plug-In” concept car/bike by Ramesh Gound, dreamed up as his final year Diploma project at the National Institute of Design.  Gound says there’s a “buy 1 get 1 free” shopping attitude in the market around the Ahmedabad area of India where he’s based.  This everyday idea gave Gound the inspiration to take two motorcycles and give them the ability to link them in the middle to make a car!

The two drive-by-wire bikes allow a biking houshold to combine their rides to create a car for a relaxing long journey, then at your destination, break apart and go exploring.  The extra car bodywork is made of D3O, which when the bikes are not attached, neatly folds away within the bike’s frame.   There are no engine details but it would be an idea to make the bikes electric vehicles that doubled their range as a car, that would definately make it a vehicle for the future.

Are you Iron Man?

In an update to our previous mention of Universal Designs and their superhero inspired motorcycle suit designs, the company has produced a new one for the billionaire playboy bikers amongst you.

Just as Robert Downey Jr’s character Tony Stark declared at the end of Iron Man, “I am Iron Man!” now you can do the same as you dismount from your suitably hi-tech ride, with the UD Replicas Iron Man Mark V leather suit.  Taken from the hit sequel this will turn heads, especially if the chest arc piece lights up as it should.

BMW Recalls 122,000 bikes

Yikes!  In a Toyota style admission of braking problems BMW has issued a worldwide recall of 122,000 bikes.  The potential problem lies in leaking brakes in their boxer engined models where vibration has shaken components loose.

A BMW spokesman has stated: “We already had one technical service campaign three years ago, when we brought in new brake hoses for the respective bikes, but over time we realised that the outcome by using these new brake lines was not as good as we expected, so we developed a new solution.”

The spokesman added that the problem was caused mainly by vibrations and that brake hoses could leak, causing the bike to lose brake fluid.

“Usually the rider will realise this because he sees the brake fluid on the bike, and will take it for a service,” he said.

“It’s only if the driver doesn’t realise, and the brake fluid has completely gone, that the failure of the front brake might occur, but we are not aware of a single accident caused by these defective brake hoses.”

Owners of those bikes affected by the recall should receive a letter inviting them to attend a service at their nearest dealer.

The New 2010 Triumph Sprint GT

Well, after a number of recent spy shots we knew this was coming.

Triumph has just released a few details of its new Sprint GT an update of the successful Sprint ST which has been one of the best sports-tourers of recent years.  Fairing changes, a side mounted exhaust replacing the under seat one of the previous model, engine tweaks to produce more bhp (130) and more torque, and with  new style panniers and ABS as standard, it would appear the new Sprint is good competition for the Honda VFR1200.  The Sprint while a success and highly regarded amongst its users, has been almost a well kept secret for the 5 years it’s been on the market.  Hopefully the surge in interest for tourers will shine a spotlight on Triumphs excellent machine. The new Sprint GT is priced at £9499, which at more than £2500 less than the Honda VFR1200, makes it all the more attractive.

Triumph’s press release is below –

Five years after the introduction of the popular 1050cc Sprint ST sports tourer, along comes a new model with greater practicality and more emphasis on the ‘touring’ aspect of ‘sports touring’: the Triumph Sprint GT.

That is not to say the Sprint GT has lost the sporting edge that made the Sprint ST one of the most popular and enduring bikes in the Triumph range. As you would expect from a British machine wearing the famous Grand Tourer tag, the Sprint GT delivers outstanding real world performance in a practical and stylish package.

Performance is taken care of by an updated version of Triumph’s legendary 1050cc triple. First introduced in the 2005 Sprint ST, the latest incarnation of this great engine has been updated to deliver increased power, torque and usability. With 130bhp on hand, the Sprint GT offers excellent real world performance, with development focused on power delivery in the mid-range rather than chasing peak power.

Practicality is the GT’s byword with new 31 litre panniers, ABS brakes as standard, underseat storage, built in rack with well appointed grab rail, 200 mile fuel range and an optional top box capable of swallowing two full sized helmets and offering a 12 volt power supply to allow ‘on the go’ charging of electrical items such as laptops and mobile phones. And price? At £9,499 on the road, the Sprint GT offers real-world performance at a price other sports tourers can’t come close to.

Countdown to the North West 200

It’s that time of year again as Northern Ireland goes bike mad with the return of the North West 200 and you can follow all the action on the official website, www.northwest200.org.  Northern Ireland’s North coast will be packed with thousands of bike fans this weekend for one of the world’s greatest road races which always brings guaranteed thrills.  If you are heading up there you may find useful our partner Ride It Right‘s interactive coastal route map, which was designed to get the best, and safest, ride out of the fantastic roads around the event.

Ride It Right has held a number of very successful meetings and events in the past to promote the safe riding of this route.  Visit the Ride It Right web site for the full interactive map.

Also, if you can’t make it to the North West itself, the BBC has extensive coverage on its dedicated website

If you are up there have a great time and, if you get any good pics of the riders or just of you and your ride at the event, send them in to info@ridethewildwind.co.uk or post them on our Facebook Page.

Personalise Your Bikes Tyres with the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa

The new high-tech motorcycle tyre from Pirelli, the Diablo Rosso Corsa, adds a little extra personalization than usual.  As well as features such as EPT (Enhanced Patch Technology) to give better performance and grip, the tyre has the unusual feature of being able to have text and images of your design printed on the tyre wall.  For those who love their personalised number plates this is surely irresistible!

As well as fun features Pirelli also lists the following reasons for you to dress your sportsbike’s wheels with their rubber;

Road Grip
Thanks to the latest generation Supersport compound, DIABLO ROSSO™ Corsa delivers grip in a wide range of temperatures and applications under typical street-riding conditions.

Racetrack Grip
Thanks to the WSBK driven compound on the shoulders, grip is also guaranteed in severe track-riding conditions at high lean angles for impressive power transmission to the ground.

Street Handling
The adoption of Ideal Contour Shaping (ICS) technology guarantees a quick and reactive ride, a reassuring contact feeling and precision cornering.

Racetrack Handling
DIABLO ROSSO™ Corsa ensures high capability to bear all stresses with maximum confidence even in quick direction change.

Economy on road
New reinforcement chemicals and a new a curing system allow DIABLO ROSSO™ Corsa to preserve performance characteristics (drainage, stability and grip) throughout lifetime.

On Track Consistency
By adopting Enhanced Patch Technology (EPT), DIABLO ROSSO™ Corsa ensures quick warm-up and a consistent hi-performance level lap after lap together with excellent performance recovery after stop&go.

Wet behavior
Thanks to Functional Groove Design (FGD), DIABLO ROSSO™ Corsa provides best-in-class wet performance for “peace of mind“ riding in critical conditions.

More detial can be found on Pirelli’s web site