| Latest 2006 news  The latest confirmed new 2006 models are as follows: Yamaha FZ1 Naked, Yamaha 1700 MT 0S Concept (with very funky looks and fly-fairing) , not so confirmed Suzuki Stratosphere (1.100cc six cylinder) and Honda CBF1000. Enjoy the new Yamaha's for now. 2006 Yamaha R6 additional details just released: Dry weight: 161kg, Max torque: 66 (68)Nm @ 11.000rpm, 127bhp (133) @ 14.500rpm, red-line confirmed at 17.500rpm and it has got a new slipper clutch. More details further below about the R6 and fly by wire. Yamaha has launched the first big bike with button gearing, the FJR1300AS. Yamaha calls it Yamaha Chip Controlled Shifting. Also see the new 1.900cc V-twin, the XV1900 Midnight Star. Yamaha's largest ever V-twin.
      
Honda CBF1000S has got a detuned CBR1000RR engine of 78KW and 99Nm. Shown in our photo below is the CBF600. The 1000S will be a budget half faired all-rounder. Whilst Yamaha's new FZ1's looks to be full out performance street fighting maniacs, the CBF1000S will be the good boy that does everything in a civilised manner. None of which we would object to, it's down to preference. 150bhp in a 198kg package can be too much too handle (and pricey) for someone looking for their first do-it-all 1000 and Honda will be ready to snap up those customers with the CBF.  Aprilia SXV and RXV, competition spec V-twin’s for the road  Aprilia has competed with the 450cc in-house developed v-twin for well over a year now. The press has long speculated that the engine would be used in new road models but Aprilia has categorically denied this would ever happen. Aprilia told us last year that the engine would not be suitable in a road machine due to high maintenance. The 450cc engine revs very high and redlines at 13.000rpm. Peak power is a claimed 60bhp for the road version which is virtually the same as on the race bike. Both SXV and RXV will come with Whole Vehicle Type Approval, which means it has lights, indicators and even mirrors. The SXV will be a hardcore supermotard with the 450cc engine and the RXV will be an equally hardcore enduro with a 550cc V-twin. Stripped of the road kits both bikes are expected to be competitive race bikes out of the crate. Just look at that gorgeous frame, swingarm and exhaust. The SXV comes with Dunlop D208RR’s in 120/70-17 and 180/55-17. Just from the tyre choice it is obvious this will be a supermoto with serious horsepower and cornering abilities. The rubber is actually better than the standard D208’s that Yamaha use on their R1 with more than 170bhp. The SVX also gets radial Brembo brakes and wavy brake discs. Suddenly that new Tuono might have to wait… The RXV comes with Michelin Enduro knobbly tyres.  Aprilia told us that in the recent non-championship Alp d'Huez, Jerome Giraudo used the production engine, which makes a claimed 60 bhp, in his factory chassis and pronounced it "trez bien". Production is due to commence in Noale in October and the first bikes is expected in the UK the first or second week of November. The price for the SXV 4.5 will be £6370 (€9.000). At the moment these are all the details until the bikes are officially launched.  
Currently Aprilia has got the Pegaso 650 Strada and MX125 Supermotard in the line-up for the supermoto fans. The Strada is a single cylinder 650 with more road and touring biased abilities whilst the MX125 SM is a 33bhp pure fun two-stroke supermotard. The new XV's will be hardcore racing machines in comparison.   
MV Agusta Brutale 910 ridden  We have just updated the Blog and Raptorama links with the latest stuff we have been up to. Check them out for the latest photos of MV Agusta Brutale 910 and Honda Gold Wing 30th Anniversary. Follow those links as they will be updated during next week with more. We are of course working on more news stories as well all the time. We have received hints that there are two new KTM Superduke's called Superduke Titanium and RR. It sounds as if they have received similar treatment as Benelli did with the TNT. Expect a RR version to have radial Brembo brakes, lower race-like clip ons and possibly a RC8 style chunky swingarm. KTM will launch their 2006 road bikes in Milan later this year. There are also rumours about a brand new six-cylinder Suzuki called Stratosphere with retro Katana styling. Have you seen any of these bikes? Share it with us!
Triumph Daytona, any future for the British sportbike?  Remember TT600? No, neither do we. If it's a British sportbike it must be called Daytona. We have asked Triumph to tell us the fate of all the Daytona's from the Daytona 600, 650, 675 to the 955i. You will find a couple of new photos of the Daytona 675 as well. Here are the questions and answers:
Daytona 600: R&R; We are pretty sure there are still quite a few 600's out with the dealers (or maybe not?) What have you told the dealers to do with these? Will the ones that don't sell be sent back to Hinckley and get a 650 engine, new 650 decals and black silencer? - Triumph; "NO! There are not that many left in the network, these will simply be sold by the dealers."   
Daytona 650: R&R; For how long will you keep the 650 in the line-up now that the 675 is out in the open? I assume until it is sold out from the factory, but then again you might have other plans for it? - Triumph; "The 650 is not in the 2006 model year round up therefore the only bikes available are the ones we have left in stock (only about 40 in UK)"   
Daytona 675: R&R (see comments further down); Can we have some more photos in different colours please? - Triumph; "Press CD available at Paris show 30th Sept." 
Daytona 955I: R&R; Since the new 675 takes styling clues from the original T595 it is fair to think that this styling eventually will benefit the original Daytona (955i) as well. Without necessarily having the Daytona 955i in mind, can you say what sort of state of tune Triumph has been able to achieve reliably with the 1050 motor? -Triumph; "We have no plans for developing the 955i Daytona at present."   
R&R comments 675 and 955i: The fate of the new 675 seems obvious. Triumph has done a darn good job in designing the latest Daytona triple narrow like a twin and sharp as a Japanese sword, or maybe Excalibur would be more suitable to compare it to. Anyway the bike looks like a winner even though the spec sheet still does not blow us completely away. The fact it is a triple should solve a lot of people's issues with a bhp too little and a kilo too much we think. We sincerely hope the new 675 will be a big hit for Triumph as this would be bound to lead to the same recipe being used on the 955i (we think so regardless of what Triumph tells us this year) Daytona 955i: In the world of supersports the 955i is now the chubby borderline sports tourer. We enjoyed riding it immensely, but we did so when riding Honda CBR1000RR as well. The Honda is better on absolutely everything even "real world riding". Yamaha's R1 is more comfortable for each year it distances itself from the '98 launch and even Ducati has become more humane with the 999. So we are not surprised at all when Triumph tells us there is no future plans for the 955i or a big bore sports bike. The firm seems to be happy with the Sprint ST at the moment for big bore sport offerings, but it will be miles away from the new 675. It will be a huge and expensive task for Triumph to upgrade the 955i to 675 standards. For this reason it may take a couple of years, but we are certain we eventually will see a replacement for the Daytona 955i. Keep the faith! By Tor Sagen/Photos: Claire McHugh & Carlos Ballester. Triumph Rocket III Classic 
Triumph has now released photos of the 2006 Rocket III Classic. It comes with a lovely new two-tone classic colour scheme. Red/white and Black/red. The Rocket III Classic comes with rider footboards, pull-back bars and a comfy stitched touring seat as standard. More on all the current Daytona's later today.  
Scrambler in blue 
Scrambler essentials: Engine: 865cc parallel twin Seat height: 825mm Dry weight: 205kg, Fuel tank: 16.6 litres, 54bhp @ 7.000rpm and 69Nm @ 5.000rpm First official Suzuki GSR600 B-king photo 
I bet some of you have been eager to see this guy in real life. Here is the B-Prince (that is our term, not Suzuki's) in black and white. We have not got the official specs yet and Suzuki will not reveal them until after the Paris show. But Raptors & Rockets expect it to have a detuned version of either the K5 or even K6 GSX-R600 engine. The bike is aimed directly at Yamaha FZ6 and Honda CB600 (599) that both have high performance in-line four engines derived from their supersport models. Suzuki already have a strong midrange line up in SV650 and Bandit 650. Even though the new GSR600 has got a high performance engine, very chunky swing arm and underseat exhaust we expect it to be priced for the punter. That new swing arm looks very similar to that of the K6 GSX-R600. Expect it to be more expensive than both the SV and Bandit, but not by much. We have received a new photo of the 2006 GSF1200 Bandit S as well for your viewing pleasure. Read more about it in our brief overview further below along with the K6 GSX-R's. Thanks to all you guys that sent us the spy-shot to the right. 
Kawasaki ZZR1400 (Ninja ZX-14 in US) power-trip deluxe  Hole in the sky by Black Sabbath comes to mind when looking at the new heart-shaped ram-air intake winged by ZX-10 style teardrop outer lights. The air intake is there to create warp-like speeds and you can call yourself Captain Kirk if you buy one. It certainly looks like something from outer space. Outer space is not unknown territory for Kawasaki heavy industries as they are one of the NASA suppliers of space technology. Most powerful Kawasaki ever 
Kawasaki has claimed that the new ZZR1400 is the most powerful Kawasaki ever and also the most powerful road bike ever. They have done so without providing us with the full specs, but with the ZX12R in mind we believe Kawasaki speaks the truth. The ZX12R has got 185bhp and the rumours from earlier this year spoke of 192bhp for the new ZZR. Expect monster torque from the new 1.352cc motor. It develops 10kgm of torque already at 2.000rpm and just continues through a wide rev-range. According to Kawasaki there is a delightful kick after 6 (000rpm) as well. The speedo is graded to 190mph. Bore x stroke is: 84x61mm. Kawasaki states that the ZZR1400 marks the start of a new engine generation... Kawasaki's new flagship (spaceship) model features an evolved aluminium monocoque frame from the ZX12R. Even though the new hyper-tourer looks rounded and bulky Kawasaki claim it is almost as narrow as the 12R. Engineers have made sure there is a good balance between sports riding and high speed motorway work. The air box is located in the frame (as on the 12R) and the fuel is stored in the rear of the fuel tank that continues under the seat (between your legs basically) We have not been told what capacity the fuel tank is yet, but Kawasaki has mentioned a large volume fuel tank in their press release.  The wheelbase on the new ZZR1400 is shorter than ZZR1200 but longer than ZX12R.
V-tail light is distinctive. Direct activated shift lever rather than linked for more direct feel. You only get the under cowl in front of the rear wheel if you opt out of having a centre stand. ZZR1400 is long and low with minimal drag. ZZR1400 has new wheels with centre ribs which are slightly offset so that tyre balance weights can be located at the wheels centreline. This is important for stability at extreme speeds. Other details: -ABS will be available. -310mm petal brake discs with radial 4 pot calliper front and 250mm 2-pot rear brake. They are Nissin's which is a bit of a surprise (Kawasaki tend to use Tokico) It will be the very first bike with radial Nissin ABS brakes. That should stop the beast. -Hydraulic clutch. -Tyres: 120/70-ZR17 front and 190/50-ZR17 rear. -Pillion seat cover available as shown further above on the red bike. -Do we want to ride it on the German Autobahn? Yes, please! If you have heard of a new bike, seen it, got photos of it, experienced something extraordinary on a bike or got motorcycle news you think would be of interest to Raptors & Rockets then send us an e-mail! If it is really good and we have not already got the images or news we'll send you a freshly baked doughnut from Asda (Wall mart) Alternatively the Raptors & Rockets DVD. Use the same e-mail to send us feedback or questions too! If you live in Japan, China, Russia, Italy, France, Norway, Africa, Middle East, any English speaking country, Germany or Spain doesn't matter. We can read in any language! VN900 Classic 
The new VN900 follows in the big VN2000's footsteps and gets an extra 100cc's for 2006. It also gets the same combustion chamber and intake/exhaust porting design as its bigger brother.  
Everything has been done to make the engine look bigger than it is and you should easily be able to keep up with the bigger cruisers. The new engine also gets fuel injection. Final drive is now belt. TS 4 new Suzuki's revealed  It looks like the 600 class will get no less than three new equally revolutionary new models for 2006. Dry weights well below the 160kg mark and 120bhp on the rear wheel is nothing short of revolution in the most competitive motorcycle class. Suzuki has in the latest years had a tradition of keeping their 600 1 or 2 kg lighter than anyone else. We expect the K6 GSX-R 600 to be at least 3 kg lighter than the K5's due to new engine, chassis and exhaust design. But the big question for next year is; Will Suzuki own the racetrack? Or will it be Yamaha or even Triumph. TS.
GSX-R750 Estimated: 150bhp 161kg 
GSX-R600 Estimated: 133bhp 158kg 
GSX-R1000 178bhp 166kg  One of these will be king of the supersports next year.
GSX-R600 Estimated : 133bhp 158kg Yamaha YZF R6 : 125bhp 161kg Triumph Daytona 675 : 123bhp 165kg New Bandit GSF1200S Suzuki has updated the ever lasting Bandit 1200 S for more touring and two-up comfort. It has got a redesigned front fairing and a new seat unit with more padding for the pillion. The old air-cooled engine derives from the old tuners favourite GSX1100. We have got no further details at this moment, but we do not expect the new Bandit to have any engine tweaks. TS 600 sketch The sketch of the GSR shows Suzuki is serious in offering a competitive mid-range naked. It will be more suited to compete against the likes of Yamaha FZ6, Honda CB's and Kawasaki Z750 with a detuned K5 or K6 GSX-R600 motor than the Bandit 650. 
2006 Ducati Monster S2R 1000DS Ducati has now released the photos of the 2006 S2R 1000DS. Chassis and looks are basically identical to the S2R 800 and S4R. The S2R 1000DS gets the air cooled 2 valves per cylinder Desmodromic engine we also find in the Multistrada and Supersport. We expect it to be the 95bhp variant with emphasis on torque low down in the power curve (99Nm @ 5000rpm) Something the 2 valve air cooled engine is known for. There is a variation of different state of tune in Ducati's 992cc multi-use Desmo. The ST3 sports tourer has got a 3 valve liquid cooled version so don't be surprised if Ducati launches a S3R with the 107bhp 3 valve Desmo in the future. The Supersport has also got the 95bhp air-cooled version. The bike is offered in a new grey colour scheme with a longitudinal black stripe complemented by black rims, in addition to the classic red with white stripe and the black with white stripe colour combinations. Seat height is 800mm and dry weight 178kg. TS 
Ducati S2R 1000DS New Triumph Threesome for 2006 
Triumph has today (13/09/05) finally confirmed three new 2006 models. The Daytona 675, Scrambler and Rocket III Classic. The new Daytona 675 gets a brand new triple engine and that is a world first midrange triple. Triumph claims the new triple has got a very strong bottom end linked to a heavy mid range punch with good power at peak as well. Triumph says in their press release: “The strong, torquey three-cylinder, 12-valve unit is extremely compact and narrow, contributing to the overall slimness of the bike, and features a stacked, close ratio, six-speed gearbox, Keihin closed-loop fuel-injection system and a free-flowing exhaust with an underseat silencer.” The engine looks to be tilted about 40 degrees forward with a brand new aluminium cast frame that wraps over the motor. This has allowed Triumph designers to use an unusually slim design along with the narrow new triple. Each new and compact cylinder is of 225cc’s. The new USD fork and rear mono-shock are fully adjustable. Daytona 675 triple gets the same radial callipers as the 2005 Speed Triple. Triumph has chosen super sticky Pirelli Dragon Supercorsa's for their new supersport. It's also got similar number plate holder as the 2006 Yamaha R6. The bike weighs in at 165kg dry and the maximum power is 123bhp @ 12.200rpm. Seat height is 825mm. Triumph might tell us that they will not compete in WSS or similar championship, but with the new specs and sharp good looks we think the bike deserves to be raced. TS 
Rocket III classic is firmly focused on rider and pillion comfort, the Rocket III Classic comes with rider footboards, pull-back bars and a comfy stitched touring seat as standard. All subtle but significant touches that add to the bike’s long haul abilities. Rocket III Classic gets two new classic two-tone paint schemes coach lined by hand. The finish on the engine and cone-silencer will be black. We do not have photos of the new Classic as Triumph has not shot them yet! We will post them next week fresh from the shoot. Scrambler: Triumph says; "Adding a new twist to the Modern Classics range is the twin-cylinder Scrambler. A fresh take on Triumph’s past, the Scrambler is a redefinition of the bikes made famous by 50’s thrill-seekers such as Steve McQueen into a contemporary urban context. A ‘do anything, go anywhere’ kind of bike, inspired in part by the relaxed culture of sunny California and in part by the stylishness of southern European scooter aficionados, the Scrambler has been specifically developed for a particular group of riders currently underserved in the market.  Scrambler is Triumph’s latest addition to the modern classics range. The parallel twin is the same as in Thruxton 900 that was launched in 2004. This is back to the old roots for Triumph, back to the time of Steve McQueen’s heydays in the 60’s and 70’s. Even back to the 50’s. The bike is the first nostalgic off-roader we have seen and features knobbly tyres and tall upswept ‘shooters, small headlight and a flat seat. There is no denying the fact that this bike with the Triumph badge has got more credibility than any other modern classic. More details on the three bikes as soon as we have them. TS 
First 2006 official Aprilia Tuono 1000 R photo  Just in from Aprilia is this first official photo of the new head-banging hooligan from Noale, Italy. We have all seen the spy-photos from the factory, but they did not do the new Tuono justice. This is the real thing in new colour Fluo red with chequered flag paint on the petrol tank. The new Tuono 1000R has now got the latest generation V60 power plant directly from the RSV-R superbike. The details are as follows: Maximum power: 98 kW (133 HP) at 9,500 rpm. Maximum Torque: 10.4 kgm (102 Nm) at 8,750 rpm. Chassis: NEW FRAME, new swing arm, new USD fork, lower seat height (15mm lower) all directly from the RSV-R. TS
• Brand new styling
• New V 60 Magnesium engine
• Dynamic air intake (the only naked with this technology)
• New electronic fuel injection system with 57 mm throttle bodies
• New 16 bit engine management unit
• New exhaust system with twin silencers and three way catalytic converter with Lambda oxygen sensor
• New aluminium alloy perimeter frame
• New double banana aluminium swingarm
• New rear suspension linkages
• Lighter steering yoke
Maximum power is 98 kW (133 HP) at the crank and maximum torque 10.4 kgm at only 8,750 rpm
The seat is 15 mm lower
Some of the main characteristics of the new V 60 Magnesium:
• New cylinder heads for improved gas flow and cooling.
• New camshafts and valve springs. R6 136bhp We have used our calculators and compared the 2005 R6 with the 2006 R6. The current R6 makes 120bhp @ 13.000 rpms and an additional 6 bhp with ram-air after Yamaha's own calculations. With the new shorter stroke and engine and exhaust technology advances our sources tells us the redline is at 17.500 rpms. The current redline is 16.000 rpms and compression ratio 12.4:1. The new R6 has got more compression and the ratio is 12.8:1. Maths is not our strongest side, but we reckon the new engine puts out max horsepower at 14.500 rpms. We believe the number to be 130bhp and if we add the direct air induction it should make 136bhp. Those are pretty impressive numbers, but here at Raptors & Rockets we are more impressed with that lovely new exhaust solution both Yamaha and Suzuki has chosen for their new high tech 600's. It makes sense to get rid of the bread box and replace it with something less intrusive. Not to mention what it has done for mass centralisation, aerodynamics and weight reduction. We have placed our bets on a dry weight of 162 kg for both the R6 and GSX-R600. The innovation does not stop with just lighter chassis and more power. The new R6 has got fly-by-wire* electronic throttle. Yamaha calls the system YCC-T. Read more about fly-by-wire below. The only reason you would want fly-by-wire on a motorcycle is basically traction control. TS  *Fly-by-wire explained: If the fully mapped characteristics of the engine are known, taking into account RPM, throttle opening, air density (including ram-air effects), engine temperature, fuel temperature etc., the throttles can be controlled by the engine computer to deliver torque proportional to throttle position. If the engine cannot deliver as much as the rider is demanding (due for instance to too low RPM) it just goes to maximum throttle. This is the most progressive engine, as it takes out all the dips and bumps in the torque curve, and means that the engine designer can tune for maximum power. The second option is a variation on this, with the gear ratio being used to modify the throttle setting so that the rear wheel torque is controlled directly. With the ratio selection now also under full computer control, the optimum ratio for acceleration can be selected instead of a higher than optimum ratio, which riders often use to reduce the response of the engine to throttle changes and thus facilitate control of the motorcycle.
Fly-by-wire in the fighter jet When Sukhoi produced their fly-by-wire, relaxed stability fighter, the Su27, (fly-by-wire equals "care-free flying", equals "no skill required"....) their test pilots discovered that the fly-by-wire control system allowed them to use parts of the flight envelope where they had previously not dared to venture. They developed super-manoeuvres to enable combat pilots to escape from pursuers, including the Tail-slide, the Cobra and the Hook. Western fighter pilots and manufacturers were stunned when Viktor Pugachov demonstrated these manoeuvres at low level, at Farnborough in 1989, flying the Su27. Using computers to fly the aircraft did not spoil the entertainment one bit. Military pilots, just like motorcycle racers want the maximum performance from their mounts. The term wire: the term wire here is a shielded, electronically insulated conductor. If you would like to do some of your own research on fly-by-wire you could try Regis Laconi, Colin Edwards and Shane Byrne. All Aprilia RS3 Cube victims in MotoGP. Or maybe traction wasn't the problem. 150BHP confirmed for new Yamaha FZ1  These are the details you have been waiting for all summer. The new Fazer has got a recent version of the R1 engine and now boasts more power than most sports bikes. 150 bhp@11.000rpms and 106Nm@8.000 rpms. Dry weight is down from 208kg to 204kg and the new petrol tank can take 21 litres rather than 18 litres on the current FZ1. The rear tyre is a 190/50-17 and the new swing arm is longer to cater for all those horses. Wheelbase is up from 1450mm to 1460mm.
All the details has been released for the new MT-03 as well. It has the 660cc singe from the XT and develops 45bhp @ 6.000 rpms and 56.2Nm. MT-03 weighs 174.5kg dry. TS 
 Triumph Sprint ST ABS stops fast!
We have just posted our comments after testing the ST ABS. Click on the photo to check it out. It is not a full test, only comments. This is about as much fun as you can have with an ABS sports tourer at this end. More about ABS brakes here later. To the right is another two wheeler that only shares the ABS system with the ST. It's easier to play a bit with the Peugeot Jetforce as it will do this every day, wet or dry all the time. The ST is more of a heavy beast compared to the small city scooter from France. Our next ABS bike on test will be the 30th anniversary Gold Wing and we promise to try and do the same with that as with the ST. Next week you can look forward to amongst many other things the official photos from Aprilia of the 2006 Tuono. Use that F5 button and it will appear sometime next week (week 37). TS Aprilia SVX 4.5  Since Aprilia first revealed it had developed its own 450cc V-twin there has been much talk about a road version. The competition bike shown on the photos is made out of highly exotic materials to maintain a certain degree of reliability for the high revving 77 degree twin. In the race bike it redlines at 14.000 rpms. Aprilia has overcome the initial problems making the engine reliable within reasonable service intervals and there will be a road version for 2006. It will still be a highly tuned Supermotard and as such high maintenance is the norm. We expect between 50-60bhp in the road version. The styling is based on the competition bike and our sources tells us it's a stunner. We expect the SVX to be available both as a SM and Enduro. The pricing will almost certainly be at least 10% more than for the class leading single, but we know people that would sell their Granny for this bike. TS
New Gold Wing introduces the airbag to motorcyclists 
"TOKYO, Japan, September 8, 2005 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced it has succeeded in developing the world’s first production motorcycle airbag system. The new system, which can help lessen the severity of injuries caused by frontal collisions, is to be made available on the new Gold Wing motorcycle scheduled for release in late spring of 2006 in the US and mid 2006 in Europe."  We all knew the Gold Wing was a bit of a car with reverse gear and such. Now Honda has confirmed with the newly developed airbag that probably only ever will fit on a Wing or equivalent from BMW. We are wondering what happens to the pillion when the airbag pushes the rider backwards? Honda did not answer that question in their press release. Raptors & Rockets will ride the 30th anniversary Gold Wing very soon, but we will not attempt any crash testing.
2006 VFR800 (Interceptor in US) Vtec steps in @ 6.400rpms now. No V5.  
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