With 193 crankshaft horsepower and a claimed dry weight of 404 pounds, BMW says the S1000RR has the best power-to-weight ratio of any production bike. And, by the way the S1000 lofts its front wheel onto Portimao’s front straight at 150 mph, we’re becoming believers!

But BMW’s RR isn’t just a monster motor. Turn-in response is brisk, its brakes are ferociously powerful yet provide excellent feedback, and the entire package is remarkably easy to handle for a hyperbike with such elevated capabilities.

BMW has never been afraid of incorporating the latest technologies, and the S1000s we rode were equipped with high-tech features such as traction control, race-level antilock brakes, multi-mode engine tuning selections and BMW’s Gearshift Assistant that allows full-throttle upshifts without backing off the throttle or using the clutch.

What is especially amazing is how BMW has instantly become competitive with Japanese literbikes that have been developed over a decade or more. While we’re not yet prepared to to say the S1000RR can beat the best from Japan and Italy without riding them back to back, we can say with confidence BMW’s RR will give any of its established rivals a run for the money.

BMW has fired a potent salvo into the literbike market, and it will surely shake up the pecking order of its competitors. Check back with Motorcycle.com on Monday for our full report.

The flat black sets the tone on this aggressively styled chopper with a hardcore edge that is keeping with tradition by including the same top quality components you have come to expect from Big Bear Choppers. The S&S 100 inch motor is here, as well as Baker 6 speed overdrive raw transmission with polished covers making sure the gas from the14 gauge steel 3.5 gallon custom designed fuel tank makes it to all the right places. Progressive softail suspension helps support the steel 12 gauge fender that covers the 18×250 rear tire. The 1 inch rear axle along with the chain drive and heavy duty clutch complete this strong drive train for the guy who wants to lay rubber.

BBC premium machined raw billet triple trees and BBC billet lower legs along with Performance Machine brakes and calipers are all standard on this Bear.

“This is a serious rider’s ride” commented Kevin Alsop CEO and President of Big Bear Choppers “This Bike is built around the drop seat configuration for a low center of gravity adding stability at high speeds. This bike is comfortable, reliable and built for the customer who doesn’t want to worry about chrome or paint, Its Hard core it’s the real deal, just maintain and ride!”

“This new bike represents what our focus is for the 2010 lineup, top quality, low price” commented Mona Alsop Vice President of BBC, “People are ready to start having fun again, this Bear Bones bike will help them do just that”. The goal of BBC is to drive this market forward and deliver a product line to their dealers that is not only sellable in the market of today, but will be in high demand by the new demographic of consumer for the future. Just wait and see what’s next from Big Bear Choppers.

Complete specifications are available at www.bigbearchoppers.com or at any authorized Big Bear Choppers dealer.

About Big Bear Choppers: Big Bear Choppers is located in Big Bear Lake California.

Battling against experienced racers, a muddy track and humorous rider-to-motorcycle ergonomics, I managed to outshine all of the racing glory at the nearby Infineon raceway by taking home the gold, shoes. Top prize for endangering my life in a battle of laughter and pocket-sized Singles was a pair of size 13 sneakers spray painted gold. Still got ‘em on the shelf! I even had Gary Nixon sign them for me.

Three years later, with suspension and power increases, Team Green throws down another event, tomorrow at the Fox Racing Design Headquarters in Irvine, CA. Introducing the 2010 Kawasaki KLX110 & KLX110L, I’ll be there once again to represent Motorcycle.com.

Review now on Motorcycle.com.

During the U.S. intro of the new Concours 14 I had a little chitchat about the ’10 Z with some of my buddies at Kawi. Although I don’t think they’ve seen the attached Euro market video, from what little they told me about the bike’s performance, the opening minutes of this video seem to corroborate what the Kawi staff here said after they rode the bike.

In case you’re not readily familiar with the history of the Z in the U.S., we have it here largely at the behest of management at Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA, as the bike is primarily for the European market. And we only have ourselves to blame. The Z, despite being a sales dominator in Europe, is a sales eliminator in the States.

Nevertheless, Kawasaki U.S. A. has once again gone out on a sales limb and asked that the Z1000 be delivered to America after having seen what the new Z is and what it’s about.

I know there’s a lot of pissing and moaning on the Net about the new style of the Zed (for ma’self, I like it!), but remember that it really isn’t made for us, but for Europe, ‘cause apparently, for some silly reason, we don’t buy naked standards in the same volumes as cruisers and repli-racers.

Stepping down of my soapbox now…

I rather enjoyed the most recent iteration of the Z, so I’m even more geeked to ride the new one. I’ll be slipping ol’ Duke man some sleepy time pills in his Diet Coke just to ensure I get the invite to the U.S. launch of the new Z, and not him.

For youz bitchin’ about the Z’s new colors, turn your head away near the end of the video when a quick glimpse of a secondary Euro color of what looks like a very sultry and subtle deep maroon with a crazy faux snakeskin seat cover. That seat can go in a minute, but the alternate color is sharp!

With more carrying capacity than ANY motorcycle on the market — even some automobiles —- Can-Am sent touring guru and friend-of-MO, Fred Rau, on a tour of Canada and the United States to promote the new 5-speed luxury touring roadster. For those of you not following Fred’s blog @ SpyderFred.com, here’s a little taste of the scenes and opinions he encountered on his great many miles.

In the last year, more than 100,000 test rides have been given at events like these across the country. Many of the interested buyers are current touring bike owners  — Ultra Glides and Gold Wings — and Can-Am has “reinvented riding” so as to get you on board. You might be next!

The world’s first production electric superbike, the Mavizen TTX02, was unveiled on Tuesday. The bike has been nicknamed a ‘laptop on wheels’ and is being produced by TTXGP (Time Trial Xtreme Grand Prix) founder Azhar Hussain.

“We are living in a click culture and connectivity is the key, across the board,” says Hussain. “Our approach was to find how we could make a laptop go racing. We think electric vehicles have more in common with consumer electronics than traditional automotive.”

What should make IT people everywhere wet their pants, the TTX02 is the first factory production vehicle to be delivered with a dedicated IP access and connectivity to the network. Each bike can be connected from any browser through an on-board web server and WiFi.

“By building on the open standards of the internet and the PC, we unlock the creativity and lower the costs of innovation for teams, enthusiasts and riders,” says Hussain. “

Azhar Hussain founded TTXGP, the world’s first zero carbon, zero emission motorcycle race which took place at the Isle of Man TT in June this year. The TTX02 is inspired by the winning bike, the Agni X01.

“The limited production bike, the Mavizen TTX02, gives potential participants a chance to acquire a bike that they can develop themselves to make it competitive and unique to them,” says Hussain.

The Mavizen TTX02 uses the rolling chassis of an FIM homologated and road legal bike – the KTM RC8. The bike will be available for delivery in Q1/2010 with a limited production of 50 units. For more information visit Mavizen.com.

Hit the jump and see how the new traction control system (KTRC) works.

2010 Kawasaki Concours 14 Review

Motorcycle.com contributor Tor Sagen was at Mugello in Tuscany and was scheduled to do a few laps on the world-class circuit on the RSV4R, a lower-spec version of the Aprilia RSV4 Factory. Tor reports the engine problems were being attributed to the conrods from the first batch of 50 pre-production engines.

The faulty engines broke down five times as they were being ridden by international motojournalists. Thankfully, none of them crashed or were injured during the incidents. Tor interviewed a motojournalist from the Netherlands who was on the fifth bike that blew.

Here’s his take:

Tor also reports that the problem was isolated to a single, newly produced batch of conrods. The RSV4R uses the same engine configuration as the RSV4 Factory, but the conrods from the faulty batch are not being used in any production models. Aprilia’s quality control team will be extra diligent on any new batches and the final production bikes should be damn near bullet proof.

Thanks for the report, Tor. And we hope you don’t have swine flu.

Official Aprilia RSV4R video:

Related Reading:

2010 Aprilia RSV4R unveiled
Aprilia to debut RSV4R at Imola
2009 Aprilia RSV4 Factory Review
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