Bajaj has also invested 35-240 million Euros developing two platforms, which will be commercially launched by 2010 in India. Without giving official details, the Indian company is planning to increase its stake even more.

What if anything do bicycles and motorcycles have in common? Besides the whole two-wheel thing, it isn’t outright apparent that these two “handle-barred beasts” share more than ancient ancestry. Modern Off-road motorcycle and Free-ride bicycle designs side-by-side illustrate how much technology the two have in common. Exploring where the discipline of free-ride motorcycling can go, Project M85 bridges the gap between petrol and pedal-powered adrenaline sports. + A ton of videos after the Jump!Design is evolutionary, as every new version of something is an improvement on the past – or should be. Small innovations overtime surmount larger, once impossible, obstacles. Motorcycle design is no different, the industry has seen fantastic technical innovations in the last decade alone. Looking back into history even further provides an outstanding perspective of where our beloved two wheelers came from and insight into where they might be going in the future.

What motorcycles got from bicycles.

It shouldn’t be a secret that motorcycles are the inspired evolution of their quieter cousin, the bicycle. The first motorcycles were little more than the motorized version a bike. Obviously considerable progress has been made over the years – it would be hard to image pops here laying down a patch with this ride.

What Motorcycles have given back.

So we can recognize the timid two wheelers as an ancestor of the first motorcycles. So, without them we might not be able to scream down highways on technological wonders like the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 or cruise the strip atop a Harley-Davidson Softail® Fat Boy. At the same rate however, motorcycle specific innovations have helped fuel the progress of aggressive biking design. It seems crazy, but modern off-road motorcycles now have more in common with bicycles than at any other point in time besides maybe, the very beginning.

Side-by-side: 2008 KTM SX 105 / ‘09 KTM APHEX Free-ride

The similarities start to become more evident when comparing the two. A 2008 KTM SX 105 Off-road motorcycle and the 2009 KTM APHEX Free-ride. (Yes KTM makes bikes too!) ‘cept for a few hundered pounds of motor, the two actually do share a lot of the same technologies.

• Hydraulic disc brakes
• Double-clamp front shock absorbers
• Rear coil shock and swing arm
• Increased tire diameter and puncture-resistant tubes

With so much in common, even the pricing looks the same – with the APHEX actually costing more! A (4.199,00 € ) $5,374 US bill for the APHEX compared to $4,598 US for the SX 105. All the APHEX needs next is an internal gearing mechanism – the first generations of which are actually hitting the bike scene this year.

What’s Next?

Project M85 is the brainchild of Dustin Griffith and Grady Barfoot. Their creation is – to date – the most successful convergence of two disciplines, Motorcycling and Free-ride biking. Described as an Ultra Free-ride Motorcycle, Project M85 bridges the gap between downhill bikes and motorcycles.

An engine is a great addition for dowhill bikers cramping the up-hill crank. “Where’s the Gondola?” If you are still not convinced, here’s their promo video. Looks pretty sweet.

Video Extravaganza!

Project M85 Promo

An extreme example of Down-hill biking

Just to round it out, this one is strictly moto x

Red, Blue, Green & Black – these are motorcycle colors, right? Well, orange definitely needs to be considered a motorcycle color too. Full discretion first, I’ve a thing for KTM bikes. Maybe it’s the euro origins of the company, their exemplary branding and strong corporate identity or the fact that nobody can pronounce the names KTM stands for – Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, originally and then Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen.

This weeks POW! is from a Review of the 2008 KTM RC8 1190 by Tor Sagen earlier this year. Peuker/Buenos Dias on photography bringing some spectacular imagery of the bike in action, Tor in the cockpit, with some impressive scenery to boot! Be sure to pickup these Free desktop wallpapers after the jump!

Get more Motorcycle Desktop Wallpapers or…

Search the Motorcycle.com Galleries and let me know which picture you want as the POW! for next week.

Having vested interests in Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini, it would be of no surprise if Volkswagen did indeed come out with its very first motorcycle. In fact, it should be more surprising that they didn’t delve into this arena sooner since they seem to be a dominant force in every other facet of the automotive market.

It has been speculated that the motorcycle would be produced with the assistance of Austrian motorcycle maker KTM. The two companies already worked together on the KTM X-Bow, which utilizes the 2.0L turbo from the Audi TT so a motorcycle collaboration wouldn’t be much of a stretch.

The Volkswagen dealer network could be of great assistance to the appeal and accessibility of this bike, if it actually came to fruition of course. No technical specifications have been leaked yet but it would make sense to snatch an existing engine out of the KTM parts bin. Preliminary images suggest styling cues similar to a naked standard which have been popular in Europe for years but are finally gaining momentum in other markets as well.

KTM is getting ready to race next year with the RC8 R, a superbike, which they unveiled in Milan this week. Featuring an 1195cc liquid-cooled V-Twin that puts out 165 horsepower, an optional race exhaust allows for an output of 180 ponies. The 75-degree twin cylinder no doubt produces a decent amount of torque as well as the addition of a more competitive suspension. The angular bodywork and bright colors may not strike a chord with everyone but they certainly will get noticed. Combined with the orange frame and matte white highlights, the Austrian firm offers a distinctive look setting it apart from the competition. It won’t get mistaken for a Ducati or BMW, that’s for sure. The standard RC8, which was released somewhat recently, is still nothing to sneeze at with a 75 degree V-Twin engine displacing 1148cc’s, making 155 horsepower. Look out Buell 1125CR!

Also new from KTM is a touring version of its 990cc Supermoto. The V-Twin powered SMT gains a small fairing, more rider friendly ergonomics and luggage.

There is also the option for a Supermoto R, which drops weight and ups the handling and braking potential for those who want to ride harder rather than longer.

Finally they also released a new 990 Adventure R model that loses the ABS, adds nine horses and gets better suspension and brakes. It looks as though KTM is getting serious and looking to take on some pretty tough competitors. It is one thing to build something that looks cool when it is standing still, but I for one can’t wait to get on these bikes and put them through their paces to see if they ride half as good as they look.

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In September, Japan’s largest industrial information journal Nikkei Business Daily reported that both Honda and Yamaha have set target dates for launching their own electric-powered motorcycles.

Yamaha is reportedly aiming to launch its electric bike by 2010. According to the Nikkei Business Daily, it will have a range of about 60 miles on a single charge and is comparable to 50cc motorcycles.

Honda meanwhile is looking to launch its lithium-ion battery-powered motorcycles in 2011. The Nikkei Business Daily says Honda is targeting Japan’s postal service which may be looking for an alternative to replace its fleet of 90,000 motorcycles.

Even BMW is looking into producing an electric motorcycle. BMW Motorrad President Hendrik von Kuenheim mentioned the idea in a speech at Intermot.

“In the coming years we can envision that – apart from the combustion engine – the electric drive could be implemented in a new vehicle concept at an acceptable price combined with an acceptable range,” said von Kuenheim.

Some of MOrons on the Motorcycle.com forum haven’t sounded too impressed about electric motorcycles, with some wondering about how fast they could go and whether we’ll be switching from paying high gas prices to high electricity bills. And I’m sure the “loud pipes save lives” followers will question the safety of quiet-running electric bikes.

One things for sure though, the OEM that makes the first big splash in producing a clean, efficient, powerful and fun to ride electric bike will have a strong grip on this new and developing class of motorcycles.

Now we hear word that the Austrian manufacturer will soon enter the supersport class. A prototype is already completed, according to Hubert Trunkenpolz, KTM’s managing director of sales and marketing.

“Development is finished,” said Trunkenpolz in the October, 2008 edition of Dealernews.
“Now we just have to bring it into production. I think you’ll see it at the latest in two years’ time at the American dealers.”

Trunkenpolz said KTM is courting a younger market with this new supersport contender. “We’ve analyzed the target groups – going to the skater parks and places like that in an effort to understand what their desires are,” he said in Dealernews. “We want to get young people really excited about getting on motorcycles.”

KTM also indicates that the new bike will be priced affordably, which is a challenge with the current dollar-to-Euro ratio. KTM also needs to ramp up its dealer network to cater to the street market, saying that not all of its off-road-biased dealers will be receiving the expanding street lineup.

The supersport class is notoriously difficult to crack, made even tougher by the category’s price sensitivity. It will be interesting to see what KTM reveals and how competitive it can be on price.