Hit the road with these speedy cycles
Suzuki’s Hayabusa
A crop of new high-performance motorcycles can match or even exceed this mark, making them powerful contenders for summer driving.
Here are just a few of the new motorcyles on the market that are making a trip out on the open road a tempting option for hobbyists and serious riders alike.
BMW’s K100R
BMW’s K100R comes equipped with a 1293 cc engine with up to 173 horsepower. Yet the motorcycle only weighs 217 kilograms. It is equipped with a HP Gearshift Assistant, a gearshift lever that allows the rider to shift up without operating the clutch, allowing acceleration without interruption. And it is fast. It can go over 200 kilometers per hour even when air resistance is factored in.
Its electronically controlled suspension system adjusts according to road conditions, and it has an ASC (automatic stability control) system that prevents the rear wheel from sliding. The motorcycle retails for 24.9 million won ($19,879).
Hayabusa
In Japanese, hayabusa means falcon, and the Suzuki motorcycle gets its name from the speed the birds of prey can reach when descending vertically - 300 kilometers per hour. The motorcycle’s top speed is 322. Such speeds are made possible with the motorcycle’s aerodynamic design and a 1340 cc engine that can generate a maximum horsepower of 197.
The Hayabusa has dominated the high-speed motorcycle category for over 10 years. It sells for 208 million won.
GP800
Gilera’s GP800 has the biggest engine capacity among mass produced scooters. The motorcycle is equipped with an 850 cc V-twin engine, can go as fast as 200 kilometers per hour and has a 76 horsepower engine. Though scooters are often thought of as slow starters, the GP800 goes from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 5.7 seconds. It sells for 19.8 million won.
VMAX
When it was first developed, this Yamaha motorcycle was winning short-range drag races. It is equipped with a 1679 cc V4 that makes for an extremely powerful 200 horsepower at 9,000 rpm.
The motorcycle is covered in an advanced aluminum frame, which makes for better handling. Sales of the VMAX are limited, with only 10 allocated for sale in Korea this year. It retails for 32.8 million won.
RSV4 Factory
This motorcycle is manufactured by Italian motorcycle powerhouse Aprilia and comes packed with a 999 cc V4 engine with 180 horsepower. The intake pipes allow the motorcycle to produce steady motion at both high and low speeds. The motorcycle is being sold for 44 million won.
CBR1000RR
Honda’s CBR1000RR, also known as the Fireblade, is equipped with a 999 cc four-cylinder engine and has a power output of 174 horsepower.
The motorcycle has an electronic steering damper that helps stabilize the steering when driven at high speeds. The motorcycle sells for 20.5 million won.
By Kim Tae-jin [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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