HAMBURG – (dpa) – Fast, furious and comfortable – that’s the brief for motorcycle designers in the hotly-contested sports tourer segment and in 2001 there is a whole new array to choose from.
Take the new RST Futura from Aprilia. With its distinctive, angular styling and high-tech features this is a model intended to appeal to sports bike riders as well as people who want to travel long distances with a pillion and panniers.This bike is Italian through and through and offers plenty of practical features like the removable integrated pannier system which comes as standard. Under the full fairing is a revamped version of V- twin motor with 996cc capacity, it has been retuned for more mid- range torque. It costs around 11,500 dollars.BMW of Germany is replacing its mile-eating 1100 GS with a new 1150 version. Next to the R 1150 RT, the GS and R variants get a facelift too. Fear not though, the big-fuel injected twin has lost nothing of its robust character. New too for 2001 is a R 1200 RS with a restyled fairing.The enclosed C1 125-cc scooter gets a bigger brother in the shape of a 175-cc variant turning out 18 horsepower. Several models in the BMW range are being offered in dual versions this year, with the Integral ABS braking system as either standard or extra.Cagiva is sticking with the ancient bird of prey image, offering a scaled-down Raptor in 650-cc trim, and the V-engined V Raptor 650 with its distinctive nose fairing. A special version of the original Monster concept with tubular steel frame and pared-down bodywork, is a V-Raptor 1,000 with carbonfibre parts.Ducati’s latest headturner, the 996 R is already sold out for this year but then only 500 of of them were offered on the Internet and were spoken for within hours. Top of the Monster range is the S4 (around 11,000 dollars) while the sports tourer 4S has been slotted into upper echelon on the touring range. That makes the naked Sport 750 Nuda and 750 Carenta the best bet for newcomers to the range.Over in Milwaukee the world’s oldest motorcycle manufacturers have decided to focus on what they do best. The new Harley-Davidson FXDXT Dyna Super Glide T-sport offers loads of torque and street credibility plus a new redesigned handlebar fairing that’s even adjustable. The big twins have gained an electronic anti theft device that immobilizes the engine while the Sportster 883 gets six horses and now has 53 HP.There’s no substitute for cubic centimetres, something Honda took to heart when they fashioned the giant VTX 1800 which has 1,795 cc and an estimated 97 horsepower. The mother of all touring bikes has a giant stablemate too in the shape of the GL 1800 Gold Wing, a rolling list of superlatives in the motorbike world with 119 horses from a six-cylinder engine. Silver Wing is the name of the fattest step-thru scooter from Honda with 600 cc. Reworked versions of the CBR 600 F and F Sport are available for those who like their bikes less beefy.Kawasaki has developed the ZRX 1100 further. With more power and some modifications the model is now designated ZRX 1200 and turns out 122 horsepower. Three variants are bein offered: “naked”, with handlebar fairing and the S with a nose fairing. That fairing also graces a new version of the ZR-7.Moto Guzzi is celebrating 80 years in the business with the Rosso Mandello. The limited edition of the V 11 Sport has a lot of carbon parts on board, the fairing, mudguards and endpot silencer.The new Brutale Oro from MV Agusta sees the Italian maker of some of the world’s most desirable motorbikes move away from its fully- flared image. This brutal, naked bike with the same inline four- cylinder 750 engine as the F4 has been enhanced with a carbon fibre tank and some tasteful magnesium parts. Acquiring one costs 27,000 dollars. For bikers who find the mighty F4 a sluggard there’s an tweaked F 4 SPR supersportster along with a limited F 4 Senna.Suzuki’s new super sports GSX-R 1000 will be at the dealers for the European spring season along with that blast from the past, the Triumph Bonneville. The legend lives on at Triumph who have resurrected the classic twin by blending retro looks with modern technology. The standard Bonneville turns out 61 horsepower while a revised Tiger 955i has 98 horses on tap.Finally, Yamaha’s new FJR 1300 is the embodient of the new sports tourer segment. Weighing in at just 237 horsepower and with a brand new 145-horsepower engine, this machine has an excellent power-to- weight ratio. Saving further kilos are the frame and swinging arm both cast in aluminium. For 12,380 dollars it can be parked in your garage.
