KAWASAKI NINJA® 650R

A middleweight that’s capable, practical, strong and fun to ride

With its cutting edge design and astonishing versatility, it is no surprise the 2008 Kawasaki Ninja® 650R excels in real world riding. Mating sportbike performance levels and a comfortable seating position –something rare in the same sentence as sportbike –the Ninja 650R is well-suited for slicing through commuter traffic, running errands and hitting the back roads or a track on weekend days.

This versatility is good, because the more time a rider spends with the Ninja 650R, the stronger their desire to just ride –for any reason –will become. Part of the charm of this sportbike is its design clarity. It blends an innovative engine and chassis into a package that doesn’t truly project its intended engineering outcome until the motorcycle a rider is melded into it. Kawasaki’s development team began with a unique posture –focusing on the rider, not the motorcycle –and thus developed the 650R to have broad rider appeal. Narrowing the distance between the footpegs and striving for a low seat height and minimal effort controls all played into the design effort.

A major component in the achieving the size-efficient nature of the Ninja 650R is its compact liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, DOHC, 8-valve 649cc parallel twin engine. Featuring a confidence inspiring power delivery for new motorcyclists, the engine possesses a smooth responsiveness that is tuned for rider-friendly low and medium rpm ranges. The excellent mid-range characteristics make the 650R a natural in commuting environments, and slipping in and out of traffic will be a cinch thanks to its lightweight trellis frame and responsive steering.

The 650R’s engine may be tuned for manageable delivery, but it also has excellent roll-on response for highway passing and more than enough power to be an entertaining trackday companion.

Kawasaki engineers applied their vast experience building Ninja supersport machines to develop a motorcycle with the performance abilities that will be a match for anything currently available in the middleweight arena, including those with larger displacement. Exceptionally well-proportioned, the Ninja 650R is a motorcycle both novice and experienced riders can be at home with and one that is equally comfortable in daily commuting situations as well as back-road-blasting on the weekends.

MSRP $6,499

BMW F800S

If you've been looking for a BMW sport bike in the middleweight category, the all-new. F 800 S is your ride. This feisty new parallel twin engine cranks out 85 hp and is built for speed and nimble performance. With a low maintenance belt drive and a high performance cylinder head with cam follower valve gear based on the K 1200 S and
K 1200 R, as well as relaxed ergonomics and instantaneous braking power, it'd be hard to find a mid-sized sport bike this solid or reliable. Maybe that's why World Stuntwars champion Christian Pfieffer chose it for his incredible trick riding. So get ready to launch operation tarmac attack, because the new F 800 is ready to rip.

MSRP $9,4750

www.bmwmotorcycle.com

DUCATI 1098R

BUILT TO WIN

The 1098 R is the ultimate Superbike. The most advanced, most powerful twin-cylinder motorcycle ever built. It is the product of a team of designers and engineers focussed on one objective only - to win.
The 'R' is a race bike, pure and simple. Its competition specification and superior components together with advanced electronics and race-proven chassis technology deliver a level of performance that empowers you with confidence and capability. On the road, it distinguishes you as a connoisseur of high-performance motorcycles. On the track it promotes you to a higher level of riding and closer to realising your dreams.
World Superbike rule changes mean that the road-going 'R' version is closer than ever to our factory race bike. The 1098 R is not a replica - it's the real deal. An incredible 180hp L-Twin Testastretta Evoluzione engine in a race-winning Trellis chassis set-up tips the scales at an unbelievably lightweight 165kg (364lbs) and comes with a race kit that introduces Ducati Corse's world championship winning traction control system.
Once again, Ducati raises the bar and sets the world standard for sport bikes while turning the heads and racing the hearts of enthusiasts throughout the world.

www.ducati.com

Ducati Monster 696

THE NEXT GENERATION NAKED

Available from April 2008 onwards, the new Ducati Monster 696 is the next generation naked and the final word in urban excitement. Ride the Monster 696 around your favourite downtown routes in relaxed style or, when the spirit moves you, unleash its dark side to deliver more naked performance than ever before.

A comfortable and confidence-inspiring chassis combines with the famously smooth and powerful Ducati L-Twin engine to provide the most enjoyable riding experience. The balance of new technologies expressed in stylishly finished materials is shaped around the original cool Monster heritage.

www.ducati.com

YAMAHA YZFR6

MSRP $9,699

Engine:

YCCT—Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle—uses a powerful ECU and multiple sensors to provide perfect, smooth engine response and optimal power whenever the throttle is twisted under all conditions.
Twin-injector fuel injection: shower-type injectors above each intake funnel help achieve optimum fuel atomization at high rpm.
Back torque-limiting slipper clutch greatly facilitates braking and downshifting from high speed. Close-ratio six-speed transmission delivers seamless power and maximum acceleration.
GP-style titanium muffler contributes to mass centralization and contains EXUP for a broad powerband, spot-on injection and emissions compliance.
Linerless, direct-plated ceramic-composite cylinder bores mean greater heat dissipation for consistent power delivery and reduced friction.
Cool magnesium valve and engine covers are light and stylish.
Direct-ignition coils, dual-electrode spark plugs and high-output magneto deliver extremely accurate, reliable firing.

www.yamaha.com

HONDA CBR600RR

MSRP $9,599

If 2007 gave any clue, the CBR®600RR has only just begun to write its legacy in the annals of 600-class performance. Crowned the Best Middleweight of 2007 by both Cycle World and Rider magazines, the CBR600RR oozes MotoGP-bred tech. Dual Stage Fuel Injection, Pro-Link® rear suspension, HESD electronic steering damper, wicked new colors for 2008 there's no other 600 like it. And there never will be.

www.honda.com

BMW K1200R

MSRP $14,450

The new K 1200 R Sport is the latest addition to BMW's collection of 4 cylinder bikes. This performance sports tourer is a dynamic, more civilized version of the revolutionary K 1200 R, which won Motorcyclist's Bike of the Year in 2005. It features a semi-faired design that provides protection from wind and rain while allowing the rider to assume a more upright position than other sport bikes. But don't let its refinements fool you. The K 1200 R Sport features the same 163 hp growl of its unfaired sibling and is capable of rocketing you to motorcycle euphoria in a matter of moments. Ready to hit the throttle? It hits the streets in 2007.

Type :Transverse mounted, liquid-cooled inline 4-cylinder, Displacement :1157 cc, Bore X Stroke :79 mm x 59 mm, Horsepower :163 bhp @ 10250 rpm, Torque :94 lb/ft @ 8250 rpm, Valve Gear :DOHC, chain-driven with bucket tappets, No of cylinders :4, Compression Ratio :13.0 :1, Engine BMW Engine Controller - BMS K, Valves per Cylinder :Four, Valves :2 x 32 mm mm intake / 2 x 27,5 mm mm exhaust, Fuel Tank :HDPE, internal pump and internal filter, Alternator W :580 Watts @ 14 Volts, Battery V/AH :12 Volts 14 Amps/hour low maintenance.

www.bmwmotorcycle.com