Russian Motor cycle made Kalashnikov

The makers of what has been described as the “world’s greatest weapon”, the Russian Kalashnikov machine gun, were also pretty handy at constructing motorbikes, selling around 11 million of them since their formation in 1927. For many years, this Soviet motorbike factory ran second only to Japan in production numbers. One of its most popular bikes was the 1929 Izh-1, and this is a 2012 take on the motorcycle by designer Igor Chak. The concept design comes with more safety features than 10 Volvos combined and is aimed at making riding on the highways and byways safer than walking.

Some of the safety features include dual front airbags and a type of crumple zone for front-on crashes. There’s a radar system, on-board cameras for safe braking distances, traction control and ABS.


Like some systems in hi-tech cars, the bike would be able to detect vehicles braking suddenly in front and automatically apply the brakes safely. It would also include proximity side sensors to detect blind spots, and the handlebars vibrate to warn riders of potential collisions.

Chak has designed the bike to automatically adjust traction for icy conditions, wet roads and the front intakes double as aerodynamic stabilizers for high-speed riding.
Crumple zone

The motorcycle’s airbag system works similar to a car’s crumple zone, absorbing much of the impact and keeping the rider safer. The front airbag has a unique design – it’s pointy arms catch the riders’ shoulders as he/she is thrown forward. Installing airbags on a motorbike isn't as far-fetched as you might think. Honda has been looking into installing airbags on its motorcycles for some time, and systems are in development that are worn by the riders themselves.

The skeleton fork design crumples on impact to take the maximum hit, not the rider.

An on-board computer keeps the rider connected through an LCD 3D touch screen that displays warnings, maintenance requirements and diagnostics, as well as which level the bike is being operated in – sport, comfort or manual.

The Izh 2012 concept would also connect with your smart phone to allow you to answer calls hands-free (but only when stationary, of course).

To ride this bike though, if it ever goes into production, you’d want to live nowhere near speed humps as the bashplate looks so low you’d practically have to dismount and carry your bike over one.

Other features include night vision camera display, a 140hp V-twin engine (50 percent plastic), a Lithium sulfide-powered 60W electric engine with two-speed gearbox (for emission-free riding), or an automatic or six-speed gearbox for the petrol-powered motor, magnetic brakes, hydraulic back-up system.

Pie-in the-sky stuff, but safety is always worth thinking about.

Read More......

Naked Middleweight Comparison

Kawasaki ER-6n vs. Suzuki Gladius: Six of one, half dozen of another
What brought you to motorcycling? Maybe you grew up riding ‘cause your old man rode, so it was only natural you would, too. Or perhaps you came to the two-wheeled world a bit later in life, either out necessity for affordable transport or because a friend talked you into taking a ride on the back of their bike despite your previously having no interest in riding. You might even be one of the many recent moto virgins who finally reached a point in life where years of squirreling away enough discretionary coin finally granted access to two wheels.
Of the various paths that brought us to motorcycling, one common factor keeps us here: fun! The fun factor is either what first wooed us to bikes or, like a bad drug addiction that you wouldn’t have unless a “friend” introduced you, it’s what kept you hooked from the first taste.

If you’re in the market looking for that next injection of bike or have completed some rider training and are ready for bike numero uno, boy, have we got a couple fun bags for you! To ice the cake, these new middleweight machines even offer some sensibility to go with the laughs.

Twofer Twins

Gladius and ER-6n Specs Comparo

Though Kawasaki’s ER-6n has been available in Europe since 2006, it’s finally made it to U.S. shores in a newly revised form for 2009. The ER is the fraternal twin to the Ninja 650R, the bike the U.S. got in 2006 and is also updated for ’09. It shares identical chassis and engine specs (just as they did in ‘06) to the Ninja but does away with virtually all bodywork, save for minimalist radiator shrouds that house turn signals, and a prominent headlamp that functions somewhat like a flyscreen.

This year marks the first revision to both the ER-6n and Ninja 650R. In our review of the 2009 ER, Kevin “Canadian Bacon” Duke, educated us with the news that Kawasaki smoothed out engine vibes inherent in the parallel-Twin engine architecture. Team Green reduced buzz by way of rubber bushings in the upper-rear engine mounts, rubber mounts for the steel handlebar, rubber-covered footpegs, and even included rubber mounts for the pillion grab rails. Other updates include revised frame stiffness, a lighter catalytic converter, and reshaped fuel tank and seat that are more welcoming of shorter riders. The Ninja 650R also received updated bodywork styling, and both bikes share a new instrument cluster.

Whether by a need to capitalize on shifting market trends or some other undisclosed logic, Suzuki laid to rest the venerable SV650, a bike that quickly reached cult status after its 1999 introduction. Oh, the wailing and gnashing of teeth that must’ve happened amongst the Suzuki loyal when they learned the naked SV650 was no more for 2009 (a fully faired SV650SF remains in the lineup at $6,999). Although Suzuki refuses to refer to the 2009 Gladius as a “replacement” for the SV650, the fact that the Gladius is powered by a revised and updated V-Twin that made the SV so popular makes it hard not to see this new naked sportster as an SV reborn.
for detail....www.motorcycle.com

Read More......