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Suzuki to Yamaha - Motorcycle Live in Pictures

Suzuki to Yamaha - Motorcycle Live in Pictures

Posted on Dec 09, 2016

Part 3: Suzuki, Triumph, Vespa & Yamaha.

The final part of our photographic journey through the hallowed halls of the NEC takes us from the new Suzuki GSX-R1000R to the race-ready R6 from Yamaha. Along the road we'll take in Triumph's T120 Bobber and Vespa's 946 RED. There may even be the odd diversion or two...... Suzuki Suzuki unveiled a slimmer, shorter and arguably sexier looking GSX-R1000. The new model is also dressed to the nines with all manner of technological bling lifted from Moto GP. So in come Variable Valve Timing. 10-stage traction control, engine braking control, rider modes, anti-wheelie and throttle -by-wire. That VVT should significantly extend the four cylinder 999cc 16v inline engine grunt range whilst max power is claimed at 199 bhp and 87 ft lb of torque.   Suzuki GSX-R1000R 2017 Suzuki GSXR1000R exhaustNew Suzuki GSX-R1000Rgsxr1000r-shock-barSuzuki 2017 modelSuzuki Motorcycle Live 2016 Suzuki GSX-R1000R Showa Balance free forks         The R model which we've pictured here comes with even more bells and whistles. The front forks get an upgrade to Showa Balance Frees (shown below left), there's an autoblipper, launch control and quickshifter for starters. In the unlikely event that you doubted that this thing can shift, it's set to be Superstock 1000 champion Taylor Mackenzie's ride next year. Before we leave Suzuki we must also give a nod to the V-Strom 250, the new baby of the family. v-strom-250-full-view This looks a solid workaday bike, built to get you around town with the minimum of fuss and indeed fuel.     (click to enlarge thumbnail) The manufacturer claims a full 17 litre tank will earn you as many as 310 miles. The fuel-injected parallel twin is pitched to serve the urban rider, offering some decent grunt at low to mid revs, claiming nearly 25bhp at 8000rpm and over 17 ft lb of torque at 6,500.                                                                                                                                                          Triumph The Triumph stand was a real box of delights. The warm welcome given to the new Street Scrambler and Street Cup (which we featured in our NEC preview blog) was as predictable as it was agreeable. But the marque brought much more freshly minted metal, including a tasty T100 Bonneville and our favourite, the T120 Bobber. The "Brutal Beauty" has been accused in some quarters of betraying Bonneville's British identity, what with its low-slung, hard-tailed Harley-esque looks. We say "Pah!" to that.  Yeah, bobbers may have originated in the US of A but us Brits have a fine if shorter tradition of turning out these beauties. The T120 is no exception. At its heart of this 1940s style motorcycle lies  a liquid cooled eight valve 1200cc parallel twin, Bobber-tuned to kick out more power and torque. This stripped back modern retro is armed with ride-by-wire, traction control, torque-assist clutch with, for your riding comfort, underseat mono-shock. Billed as a factory custom Triumph clearly understand many of you will want to do your own thing, hence the battery of some 150 accessories to accompany the new model.  It certainly didn't take customisers Down & Out long to do a glorious number on the factory bike. Within just three weeks of the bike's world debut at EICMA, the Barnsley bespokers had created this wee beauty. Whilst traditionalists may mutter it's our feeling that most bikers and Bonnie fans will warm to this latest incarnation of the iconic Bonneville. Triumph T120 Bobber T120 BonnevilleT120 Bobber 1200cc engineTriumph Bobber Motorcycle Live 2016Bonneville BobberTriumph Bonneville Bobber         Vespa The fact that this all-red version of Vespa's classic scooter looks properly gorgeous is enough to merit featuring here. But behind the exterior splendour of this new model lies hidden beauty. That's because for every single one sold, Vespa owner Piaggio will donate €150 to RED, the charity founded by Bono and Boby Shriver to fight AIDS. Should you need more reasons beyond feeling and looking good, this little stunner features a  three valve four-stroke that Vespa claims is top in class for both fuel efficiency and emissions. It's reasonably nippy too, offering a top speed of some 58mph, with a braking system and traction control helping to keep things stable. Vespa 946 RED Bono Vespa 946 RED AIDSVespa 946 RED fighting AIDSPiaggio Vespa 946 RED For more details of the Vespa RED project click here.       Yamaha You'd expect one of world motorcycling's big guns to come well-armed, and Yamaha certainly didn't disappoint. The Japanese manufacturer put on quite the display which included the new MT-09 and meaty MT-10SP. But many eyes no doubt turned first to 2017 R6, a mean looking - check those narrow-eyed headlights -  beast which comes with R1 type 43mm front forks, 320mm radial caliper front discs and an air-slicing cowl and screen. The power and range of the 599cc four valve, four cylinder DOHC engine is harnessed via a Quick Shift System which provides clutchless upshifts and constant mesh six speed transmission. The superior electronics also come from the R,  the whole impressively specified package creating quite the supersports temptress. Yamaha R6 2017 R6 Motorcycle LiveYamaha R6 Motorcycle LiveYamaha YZF-R6 2017New Yamaha R6 2017         Also stroking the eyeballs was the XSR900 Arbarth, created in association with the car tuning aces previously found doing their thing in the MotoGP paddocks. A modern retro cafe racer, this limited edition machine - just 695 will be made - more than hints at its 1960s design inspiration. Swallow handlebars sit behind a light carbon nose and fender and in front of a suede sports solo seat. Akrapovic provide a neat looking titanium exhaust with slip-on mufflers with the spec naturally enough including the proprietary Assist & Slipper clutch, ABS and traction control.  Power is provided by a four-stroke, liquid-cooled 847cc inline triple. Fancy one? We can't say we blame you but be prepared to join the queue that will form when Yamaha opens its online registration scheme at 1pm on January 17th . Yamaha XSR900 Abarth Yamaha Abarth XSRYamaha motorcycles 2017Yamaha XSR900 Abarth Akrapovic exhaustXSR900 swallow handlebarsAnd finally before we go, just a quick mention in the credits for the T7 Tenere Concept. This dual-sport has quickly garnered plaudits from off-road fancying bike reviewers and the wise money is for it to swiftly move from prototype to production. Based around the parallel-twin 700 from the MT-07 the bike has been developed in conjunction with Yamaha's rally team. It shows, what with its high-spec KYB suspension and chunky 21" and 18" front and rear wheels. A custom exhaust comes from where else but Akrapovic, whilst other nice touches include a carbon fairing and skid plate. The whole spells adventure with a capital A. Yamaha T7 Tenere Concept Yamaha Motorcycle Live 2016Yamaha bikeYamaha motorcycles 2017yamaha-t7-tenere-concept-rear-wheel         Well, that pretty much wraps up our A-Z of Motorcycle Live in Pictures for this year. If you've not already seen them don't forget to check out the earlier chapters in our little photographic story. You can view part 1 (Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda Indian) by clicking here, part 2 (Kawasaki, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Peugeot, Royal Enfield) by clicking here and our dedicated feature on Norton's show-conquering V4 by clicking here.
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