KAWASAKI POWERS INTO THE NEW YEAR: Kawasaki is building a super new sports tourer. The innovative 1400GTR will have the ZZR 1400's 190 horsepower engine.
"We've taken the engine from the all-conquering ZZR1400, the world's most powerful hyper-sports bike, and retuned it to make the 1400GTR mega-sports tourer deliver the performance hardcore riders demand," according to Kawasaki.
The machine has already taken the interest of bikers who saw it at last year's Birmingham bike show.
Branded a "transcontinental supersport" machine, the 1400GTR will have a monocoque chassis, and a low-maintenance shaft-drive system, rather than the ZZR's chain-drive.
In a bid to keep bike thieves at bay, the 1400GTR will also be equipped with a KI-PASS, Kawasaki Intelligent Proximity Activation Start System which is a 'smart key' ignition system. The integrated stylist hard luggage will give the bike a classic tourer look, taking the hardship out of distance riding. Engine performance is expected to be remarkable with variable valve timing on the ZZR1400 engine for the 1400GTR. "Billed as a 2008 model, the 1400GTR should hit showrooms by August so it will be out early for 2008," according to Angela Griffin of Bikeworld.
THREE NEW MACHINES FROM DUCATI:
Ducati's three most eagerly awaited mighty red machines will be on show at the forthcoming MCN London Motorcycle Show, at ExCeL London this coming February, 1st-4th.
The company will debut the 1098, the extreme Hypermotard and the limited edition exotic Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica.
Meanwhile, rumours abound that a successor to Ducati's 749 is in the pipeline in the shape of an 848. It will be a similar bike to the 1098 superbike, but with a smaller engine.
NEW YEAR HONOUR FOR WHITE:
North West 200 clerk of the course Mervyn Whyte was awarded an MBE for his services to motorcycle racing in the 2007 New Year's Honours List. Mr Whyte became clerk in 2000 when Billy Nutt retired and has served the Motorcycle Union of Ireland for 25 years.
"It came as a big surprise. If it wasn't for the team behind me, the event would just not happen," he said. "Like any organisation we need a structure and format and the club certainly has that in place. Through that the event has gone from strength to strength and we plan to continue to improve it," he added.
If you have bike news, contact motorbikes@irish-times.ie