Category: Motorcycles

1. Discover the Touratech R 1200 GS Rambler

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 9th Feb 2017

   A super-lightweight 1200cc adventure bike with excellent enduro characteristics, high performance potential and fantastic suspension.
   
   A liquid-cooled boxer weighing less than 200 kilos that bounds nimbly over rough terrain. Not merely a pilot study, but a real ready-to-go concept bike, with outstanding off-road credentials. That's the Touratech R 1200 GS Rambler.

   

2. Kawasaki introduces updated colours for 2017

   Posted on 10:00am Wednesday 3rd Aug 2016

   Announcing new colour-ways for several popular existing models, Kawasaki are forging towards the 2017 season with characteristic optimism.   

   The much loved Z800 e version first seen in 2013 is the first machine updated for the upcoming model year. The most accessible Z super middle weight now comes with belly pan with new colour and graphics encompassing Metallic Spark Black with Matt finishes.

   For fans of the larger capacity classes, the ZZR1400 Performance Sport model will run alongside the ever-popular standard version. Both are updated with new colours with the Performance Sport appearing in a stunning Golden Blazed Green with Metallic Spark Black look and the standard version featuring bold Metallic Spark Black paint with Golden Blazed Green highlights.

   Kawasaki has taken the ZZR1400 and Z800 e versions to the next level with the three revised colour ways featuring upgrades to ensure the machines keep their legendary power and character.

   Commenting, Morihiro Ikoma, Director of Kawasaki Motors Europe, underlined the importance of updates for the machines.

   “Both the Z800 e version and ZZR1400 have been consistent sellers across Europe since their introduction. The Z and ZZR brand lines are very important to our dealers and customers so it’s great to launch such bold and appealing updates in advance of the sales start later in the year.”

   In the UK the Z800 e version should hit showrooms in October whilst the new colours of ZZR1400 standard and Performance Sport will be available from December 2016.

3. Get paid for giving your views and opinions on a future generation Motorbike!

   Posted on 10:00am Friday 1st Apr 2016

   A famous motorbike manufacturer is looking for roadster/naked bike owners over 500cc+ who bought their bike from new and since 2013.

    

   A group of riders will be given the opportunity and privilege to see a Motorcycle that has been designed for the future and before it has been released to the general public. You will be part of the development as your views and opinions will assist in this future generation bike.

    

   This will be held in Birmingham next weekend (9th / 10th April). Those who take part will be paid for your time, which includes travel expenses. Refreshments will be provided. The session will last 2.5 hours during one specific time and day over the weekend. The times will depend on the bike you own. 

    

   Examples of qualifying bikes are: Ducati Monsters, Harley-Davidson forty eight, Harley-Davidson softail slim, Street Bob, Yamaha Bolt, Honda CB1000, Yamaha XJR1300, Kawasaki Z800/100, Asprilia, MV Augusta Brutale, BMW R800/R1200R among others.

    

   If you have such a Motorcycle and fancy being part of this, contact Simon @ [email protected] letting him know which model you own, along with contact details.

4. APRILIA RACING TEAM GRESINI - Qatar Test

   Posted on 5:00pm Tuesday 23rd Feb 2016

   Losail (Qatar), 23 February 2016 - The first true tests of the Aprilia MotoGP project have just been concluded. In fact, the three days of testing had the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini hard at work on the new RS-GP, the prototype developed entirely at Noale that will be used in the upcoming 2016 season.
   
   Despite the extremely recent debut of a completely new project, the Aprilia garage is highly optimistic. Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl began working on development straight away, immediately noticing promising room for improvement in the new prototype. There really isn't one single area where efforts were focused: the new RS-GP has nothing in common with previous Aprilia projects except for know-how. It is a completely new MotoGP bike in every component without exception, developed based on the data gathered during the 2015 season with last year's laboratory bikes.
   
   The Aprilia RS-GP machines will be back on the track in Qatar just a few days from now for the official IRTA tests that precede the first race of the season.
   
   ROMANO ALBESIANO (Aprilia Racing Manager)
   "After the Aragon shakedown with the test riders, Alvaro and Stefan began to get to know the new Aprilia RS-GP here in Qatar. These were three very intense and positive days of work. We are bringing home a lot of information and some growing pain problems we need to solve, but above all we are leaving with confirmation that the new bike's dynamic performance is significantly better than the 2015 bike. We have an important development path ahead of us that will be necessarily accelerated, but we are confident that this will be a season of growth toward a decidedly interesting level."
   
   FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager)
   "Hearing the positive comments from our riders after the first kilometers ridden astride a completely new bike was exciting. The RS-GP seems to have gotten off on the right foot. Alvaro and Stefan noticed a clear improvement in dynamic performance compared to the 2015 bike. Now we have a big development schedule ahead of us but we know we are starting from an extremely solid base.”
   
   ALVARO BAUTISTA
   "In these three days we explored the new bike, doing a lot of work with short sessions since this was the first real test with the 2016 RS-GP. Obviously we are not at 100% but we have a very good starting point. I think that we are already at a similar level as the end of 2015 with the difference being that we are just at the beginning. There is a lot of room for development whereas with the old bike we were at the limit. We still need to work on a lot of things but I'm pleased with the work Aprilia has done. In the next tests I hope to be able to lay the foundation for the new season.”
   
   STEFAN BRADL
   "This test was really important as it was the first contact with the new bike. First impressions are good. I see a clear difference compared to the old bike and we are moving in the right direction. At the moment I have a good feeling despite the fact that we have a long way to go before we'll be able to say that we're satisfied. That was to be expected at the beginning. This is a completely new and decidedly demanding project, but we can truly say that we are off on the right foot.”

5. Kawasaki UK re-launch Team Green for the 2016 race season‏

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 29th Dec 2015

   

   After a record breaking season for Kawasaki, which includes winning the World Superbike Championship, the Manufacturer’s Championship at British and World level and being top of the table in Superstock 1000 and 600, Kawasaki UK has today launched Team Green – a banner to cover both the on-road and off-road racing efforts at all levels.

   Originally launched back in the 1980s by Alec Wright – Racing Manager at Kawasaki Motors UK Ltd – Team Green represented the pinnacle of racing. Back in the day, Team Green became the name on everyone’s lips and something everyone wanted to be part of, both on the dirt and tarmac, and success followed with John Reynolds winning one 600 Championship and two 750 titles and other riders sweeping the board winning all the UK schoolboy championships plus the AMCA 125 and 250 titles in 1985.

   In 2013, Team Green Youth MX Team was launched and represented Kawasaki UK at all major British Youth Championships. There was success on track with the team winning the Small Wheel 85 Championship in 2013 and the Big Wheel 85 Championship in 2014.

   Mark Spiller, Kawasaki UK Marketing and Brand Development Manager, said: “Racing has always been an indulgence and the personal pleasure of many and that is certainly very true of all at Kawasaki Motors UK. However, the KMUK Team Green approach to racing includes more than the action on the track. We have reinstated the values of the past and this means we operate in a true working partnership with all our officially supported teams at every level.”

   “2015 saw the re-launch of Team Green in the UK, an umbrella brand supporting all UK off-road race activities from Youth to GP’s. Team Green is a community that introduces the Kawasaki brand to the youngsters at club level, providing the “ladder of opportunity” to help achieve aspirations and remain with the family at every level of the sport.”

   For the 2016 season, all on-road and off-road teams will be under the Team Green umbrella, a term that also covers the Team Green Sport partners, including: stunt performer Lee Bowers and Freestyle MX rider Jamie Squibb as well as Team Green Kids Ambassador seven-year-old, Lottie Trenchard.

   Ross Burridge, Senior Racing Co-ordinator, said: “We’ve created a team that’s very much akin to how Team Green was in the 80s and 90s in that the riders – despite some being young – operate in a very professional manner. This has helped, not only our success on track, but also created a desire for many other riders to want to be a part of it. For 2016, I’m personally very excited to see Team Green feature in the road racing scene too with GBMoto and I feel that the ethos of Team Green will be replicated at the highest level of road racing in the UK. Roll on 2016.”

   With the Ninja 300 Cup run by the British Motorcycle Racing Club entering its fifth season, now known as ‘The Team Green Junior Cup’, and with Team Green being represented in a number of British Championships – including: Superbike, Superstock 1000 and 600 and Supersport – and across a number of off-road disciplines, Kawasaki is the team on track to watch out for in 2016.

   Keep up to date with the latest Team Green news on the website at: www.kawasaki.co.uk