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MV Agusta F3 Unwrapped

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UPDATE: Photos of the MV Agusta F3 have been posted to Asphalt & Rubber.

After teasing us relentlessly with spy photos of the MV Agusta F3, the Italian company’s three-cylinder supersport finally bares all in this photo. The recently repurchased MV Agusta is pinning high-hopes on the middleweight machine, hoping to attract wouldbe buyers with a low price-point that Claudio Castiglioni said could start as low as €9,000.

While it remains to be seen if Castiglioni can achieve that goal, a higher-spec F3 is also expected to hit the market in the €10,000-€11,000 range, which should have a direct 1:1 price conversion to US dollars if MV Agusta keeps its pricing scheme in place.

MV Agusta is also expected to come out with a smalled Brutale-esque machine that also uses the F3’s three-cylinder power plant. While The MV Agusta F3 is expected to official debut this Tuesday in Milan during the EICMA show, it’s not clear if the “Brutalina” will also debut at the event, or will make an appearance later next year. Click on the photo above and after the jump for 4,000 pixels of F3 goodness, and check out the gallery after the jump.

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Racing

Torrential Rain Cancels MotoGP Qualifying at Estoril

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The S.S. MotoGP set sail this weekend, as the Estoril GP looked more like a regatta than a GP race with all the water on the track. A monsoon storm has hit Portugal, causing two for the four practice sessions, including Saturday’s qualifying session, to be canceled because of the inclement weather.

As such Sunday’s GP race grid, for all the racing classes, will be comprised from each rider’s best practice time, which for Jorge Lorenzo is good news, as the Spanish rider ties Jorge “Aspar” Martinez for having the most pole positions from a Spaniard. Also benefitting from cancelled qualifier is American Nicky Hayden, who will start from the second position on Sunday’s grid.

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Bikes

2011 KTM 1190 RC8 R Leaks Ahead of EICMA

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According to the folks at Hell for Leather, KTM is not only updating the 2011 KTM 1190 RC8 R with a bevy of eye-catching color schemes (see the drool-worthy gallery after the jump), but has also taken it upon itself to upgrade the Austrian bullet with an additional 7hp or so, bringing the RC8 R’s final total up to 175hp (torque gets a modest increase of 1.5 lbs•ft, totaling in at 93.6 lbs•ft).

Installing a new crankshaft, heavier flywheel, and dual-plug ignition, KTM hopes that the new 2011 KTM 1190 RC8 R will not only be more powerful than its predecessor, but also smoother and easier to ride. We found the 2010 KTM 1190 RC8 R to be one of the best bikes we’ve ever ridden on the track (we are partial to v-twins though), so the idea that the 2011 KTM 1190 RC8 R will build upon an already exceptional package tickles our fancy quite a bit.

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Bikes

2011 Benelli TnT 1130 “Century Racer”

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Founded in 1911, Benelli is celebrating its 100th year anniversary at EICMA this year with special “Century Racer” versions of its Tornado Naked Tre (TnT), the company’s naked three-cylinder street bike. The Benelli TnT 1130 “Century Racer” (a Benelli TnT 899 “Century Racer” is also being made available) features a desaturated green color scheme that honors Renzo Pasolini, and will be on display at the show in Milan. Along with the Century Racers, Benelli will have an exhibit that traces the company’s motorcycling history throughout its years. More details about the company’s 2011 model line after the jump.

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2011 BMW G650GS – A Face Only a Mother Could Love

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The 2011 BMW G650GS is a quasi-new model from the Bavarian factory, as the bike is built around the same F650GS platform we’re all familiar with, but adds a new headlight and bodywork package to the mix. Taking over from the old G650Gs which was built in China, the 2011 BMW G650GS is built in Germany at BMW’s central motorcycle plant, and is another model being shown ahead of EICMA by BMW, along with the 2011 BMW R1200R & 2011 BMW R1200R Classic.

With a 652cc DOHC liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor that puts out 48hp (and optional 34hp package is also available to comply with Spanish, and soon EU law), and 44 lbs•ft of torque. Tourers won’t be happy with BMW’s 14L (3.7 gallons) fuel tank for the G650GS, down from the previous 17.3L tank. That range trade-off has been made to help make the BMW G650GS more agile though, as the smaller tank helps get the 2011 BMW G650GS down to its 423 lbs wet weight, with a full tank of gas. A bounty of photos awaits you after the jump.

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The 2011 BMW R1200R Gets the DOHC Treatment

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Ahead of EICMA, BMW has released information on the 2011 BMW R1200R & 2011 BMW R1200R Classic street bikes (along with the 2011 BMW G650GS). Getting the R1200GS/R1200GT’s dual-overhead cam twin-cylinder boxer motor, the R1200R series gets a 500 RPM boost, more power (110hp), and more torque (87.77 lbs•ft) from the updated air-cooled 1170cc motor. Other minor updates include a more distinct old school style for the 2011 BMW R1200R Classic, while both bikes benefit from an increased stand pipe (41mm up from 35mm) on the front Telelever suspension.

Other subtle changes to the R1200R’s are the two-bolt configuration on the cylinder head, which used to have four bolts (breath-taking, we know). A shorter exhaust pipe is used with both bikes, with a brushed sleeve for the BMW R1200R, and chrome plated version for the BMW R1200R Classic. The 2011 BMW R1200R will get aluminum alloy wheels, while the 2001 BMW R100R Claissc will have alloy rims held to the bike via spoked hubs for that retro feel.

Both bikes can be fitted with the optional electronic suspension (ESA), which changes the R1200R’s rear pre-load with a touch of a button, anti-lock brakes (ABS), and automatic stability control (ASC). Our favorite touch though has to be the revised instrument cluster, which brings a classy look the bikes. Check out a whole mess of photos after the jump.

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2011 Honda CBR250R – We Shall Call It…Mini-Me

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Do not adjust your computer screen, this not a revised version of the VFR1200F, nor is it the V4 adventure bike we expect Honda to debut next week, it’s not even the bastard love child from a CBR and a Cylon, it is in fact the brand new 2011 Honda CBR250R. A 250cc motorcycle for the rest of us, Honda hopes to snag new riders by offering a more practical street bike in the Japanese, European, Australian, and yes, even American markets later this spring.

Raising the bar a bit, the CBR250R comes with optional C-ABS brakes, which will like be mandatory in the European Union, if the EU Commission has anything to say about it. With performance figures coming in at 26hp and 17 lbs•ft of torque, the fuel-injected Honda CBR250R isn’t going to blow anyone out of the water, but that’s sort the point behind the quarter-liter bike, which should be more than capable of scooting around a young rider on city streets and back-road routes.

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Honda Teases Last Sketch of Its V4 Adventure Bike

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Honda continues to tease its V4-based adventure bike ahead of its unveiling at EICMA next week. Finally showing off the actual lines of the machine, Honda has clearly made a cross between the CB1000R and VFR1200F in this design. Tall and purposeful, the concept clearly has the extra travel to soak-up an uncertain path, but Honda insists the bike is designed for on-road use. We dig the single-sided swingarm, but it will be interesting to see how Honda finishes off the exhaust pipe, and of course the final fit and finish of the design as a whole (the tail, like on the VFR1200F, seems to be an afterthought).

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Radical Ducati 9½

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From the guys at Spanish firm Radical Ducati comes the 9½, a Ducati ST2 motor wedged into a Monster 900 chassis, making an Italian beauty that’s part cafe racer, part streetfighter. Drawing inspiration form Ducati’s single-cylinder race bikes from the 1970’s, the 9½ is not only a looker, but is comprised of parts from Ducatis long forgotten past (but perhaps more memorable bikes, if you can handle that oxymoron).

If you look closely you’ll see pieces from not only the ST2, Monster 900, but also from the Ducati 916 Superbike (swingarm and rear-wheel), and 999 Superbike (fuel tank). Some other Radical parts enter the mix as well from its RAD series, and the result is a retro-esque bike that looks scintillating, classy, light, and fast. Keep your eyes trained for more bikes from Radical Ducati, we expect we’ll see some more great pieces (like this Radical Ducati RAD02 Imola) from the firm as they continue their Desmo mash-up. Bunch o’photos after the jump.

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2011 Triumph Daytona 675R Leaks Ahead of EICMA

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UPDATE: The 2011 Triumph Daytona 675R will not receive any engine modifications over the base model.

More Triumph goodness has seeped onto the internet this morning, and it’s the 2011 Triumph Daytona 675R sport bike that we get to feast our eyes upon as photos of the sporty triple have been leaked ahead of EICMA. Öhlins forks and shock, radially-mounted Brembo monoblock calipers, a carbon fiber fender, and supposedly an upgraded spec sheet? Yes please.

Triumph’s three-cylinder sport bike has always set itself apart in an market segment dominated by inline-fours and v-twins, and with the 675R being a bit of a looker, we think that trend will continue. No word on pricing or hard performance stats, we might have to wait until EICMA for those. Check the photos after the jump.

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2011 Triumph Tiger 800 Breaks Cover – Photos Galore

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UPDATE: Triumph has debuted the Tiger 800 & Tiger 800 XC at EICMA.

After a single photo of the 2011 Triumph Tiger 800 XC made its way onto the interwebs last week, we finally have the full set of pictures from that photo shoot, along with action shots of the Tiger Triumph 800, and studio shots of both bikes.

The two Tiger 800’s are essentially the same beasts underneath their slightly different exteriors, but the most obvious differences gleaned from these photos is the Triumph Tiger 800’s shorter length forks compared to the Tiger 800 XC’s, which obviously have to accomodate a larger-sized wheel (21″ compared to the road-going 800’s 19″ wheel).

Additionally the Tiger 800 XC gains pieces that add to its off-road prowess, such as hand guards and longer mud guard. Optional accessories seem to include fog lights, skid guards, crash bars, and an Arrow exhaust system. We’ll have to wait longer for official specifications, but check-out the gallery of 37 photos after the jump.

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