Kawasaki Concours 14

Already our favorite liter bike of 2008, the CBR1000RR looks even better minus its handsome fairing. All we’d add would be a sheet metal undertray for the seat unit, some foam to sit on and some so-small-you-can’t-see-them LED lights. Bonus points for leaving the stock exhaust on; quiet is the new loud.
I'm trying to figure out a good way to style my Daytona 600 into a modern day cafe-fighter. SO far I've moved the indicators to the frame where a fairing mount point was and removed all but the top fairing. This took some re-wiring. My first thought was to get speed four lights and intake in the hopes that everything would bolt right on(the two bikes share the same frame and engine). But now that I've realized that triumph overprices it's parts horrendously (108 bucks for one light!!!)I think it would be better if I just get a nice big seven inch single headlight, mounting brackets for the light and instruments, bar-end mirror and no air intake. I hope the lake of plumbing doesn't mess up my engine's performance. I saw another dude with a Naked Daytona 600 with no intake other than the frame holes...so I guess it works out.

Ducati Desmosedici RR

Strip the carbon fiber fairing off Ducati’s MotoGP replica and you’re left with a bike that exudes mechanical aggression, not race pedigree. Ride this to a bar and no one’s going to mistake you for a balding stockbroker living out a mid-life crisis. It’s easy too; the fairing will bolt right off; all the necessary lights and oily bits stay attached. We’d add some crash damage and worn out slicks to complete the look.

Think the 2009 Yamaha VMAX is an over styled, overweight let down? Here’s the performance cruiser for you. A small single seat unit might be a worthwhile addition, as would some Confederate Hellcat headlights

stripped sportsbikes as the new café racers

Yesterday’s Ducati Monstersedici RR got us thinking. While we liked the idea of a naked bike powered by a 200bhp MotoGP-inspired v4, the highly advanced engine didn’t look at home in the Monster’s svelte lines. In fact, contemporary roadsters like the Monster, Honda 919, Triumph Street Triple and Yamaha FZ6 all look a little over-styled and limp wristed next to the sportsbikes that donated their engines. What’s missing is a strong technical element to the look, something that isn’t provided by the sharply creased plastic and weird exhaust cans of bikes like the Kawasaki Z1000 and Suzuki B-King. That look is surprisingly easy to achieve. Strip the fairing from most current sportsbikes and what you’re left with is a perfectly functional motorcycle, just one whose style is provided by its mechanical components, not plastics. Motorcycle design’s mantra has always been form follows function, it should be: function is form. Click through to see the three bikes we think are best suited to this treatment

superhawk

honda-cbr600f4i

Honda CBR600F4i SpecificationsManufacturer: Honda MSR: $8199 Model ID: CBR600F4i Model Year: 2003 Type: Honda Sport Bike Emissions: California version meets CARB 2004 emissions standards. Available Colors: Metallic Silver/Black, Metallic Silver/Red Honda CBR600F4i Engine:Engine Type: 599cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder Bore and Stroke: 67.0mm x 42.5mm Compression Ratio: 12.0:1 Valve Train: DOHC; four valves per cylinder Carburetion: Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) with automatic choke Ignition: Computer-controlled digital transistorized with three-dimensional mapping Honda CBR600F4i Drive Train:Transmission: Close-ratio six-speed Final Drive: #525 O-ring-sealed chain Honda CBR600F4i Suspension:Front Suspension: 43mm HMAS cartridge fork with spring-preload, rebound and compression-damping adjustability; 4.7-inch travel Rear Suspension: Pro-Link HMAS single shock with spring-preload, rebound and compression-damping adjustability; 4.7-inch travel Honda CBR600F4i Brakes:Front Brakes: Dual 296mm discs with four-piston calipers Rear Brake: Single 220mm disc Front Tire: 120/70ZR-17 radial Rear Tire: 180/55ZR-17 radial Honda CBR600F4i Dimensions:Rake: 24 degreesTrail: 96.0mm (3.8 inches) Wheelbase: 54.5 inchesSeat Height: 31.7 inchesDry Weight: 370 poundsFuel Capacity: 4.8 gallons

KawasakiZZR1400

13-way Compression damping. 11-way Rebound damping. Fully adjustable Spring preload.Suspension, rear Bottom-Link Uni-Trak with gas-charged shock. Stepless Compression damping. Stepless Rebound damping. Fully adjustable Spring preload.BRAKES Brakes, front Dual semi-floating 310 mm petal discsDual radial-mount, opposed 4-piston, 4-padBrakes, rear Single 250 mm petal discOpposed, twin-pistonDIMENSIONS Dimensions (L x W x H) 2,170 mm x 760 mm x 1,170 mmWheelbase 1,460 mmGround Clearance 125 mmSeat height 800 mmDry weight 220 kg (ZX1400C) / 224 kg (ZX1400D)Fuel capacity 22 litresPERFORMANCE Maximum power 142 kW {193 PS} / 9,500 rpm (EUR/USA/CAN/AUS)140 kW {190 PS} / 9,000rpm (MYS)78.2 kW {106 PS} / 8,000rpm (FRA)Maximum power with RAM Air 149.5 kW {203 PS} / 9,500 rpm (EUR/USA/CAN/AUS)147.1 kW {200 PS} / 9,000 rpm (MYS)Maximum torque 154 N·m {15.7 kgf·m} / 7,500 rpm (EUR/USA/CAN/AUS/MYS)119 N·m {12.1 kgf·m} / 4,500 rpm (FRA)Kawasaki press release

KawasakiZZR14002008rev

White faces make them easy to read.* Multi-function LCD digital display includes a fuel gauge, gear position indicator, dual trip meters, odometer and clock.* Use of CAN interface between the meter and the ECU reduces the number of cables and allows a greater volume of information (e.g. fuel consumption) to be exchanged.SpecificationsENGINE Engine type Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke In-Line FourDisplacement 1,352 cm³Bore x stroke 84 x 61 mmCompression ratio 12.0:1Valve/Induction system DOHC, 16 valvesFuel system Fuel injection: ø44 mm x 4 (Mikuni)Ignition DigitalDRIVETRAIN Transmission 6-speed, returnFinal Drive Sealed ChainPrimary reduction ratio 1.556 (84/54)Gear ratios: 1st 2.625 (42/16)Gear ratios: 2nd 1.947 (37/19)Gear ratios: 3rd 1.545 (34/22)Gear ratios: 4th 1.333 (32/24)Gear ratios: 5th 1.154 (30/26)Gear ratios: 6th 1.036 (29/28)Final reduction ratio 2.412 (41/17)Clutch Wet multi-disc, manualFRAME Frame type Monocoque, aluminiumWheel travel, front 117 mmWheel travel, rear 122 mmTyre, front 120/70ZR17M/C (58W)Tyre, rear 190/50ZR17M/C (73W)Rake/Trail 23° / 94 mmSteering angle, left / right 30° / 30°SUSPENSION Suspension, front 43 mm inverted fork with top-out springs.