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with handlebar button with two positions to adjust the engine power delivery to the type of conditions . There is a " precise and reliable " electric starter , with the engine and clutch derived from the RR . The |
By Ben Purvis and Robin Bradley
diaphragm clutch has three settings for adjustment of lever pull effort and progressiveness . A new rear sub frame is now similar in design to the RR model and offers updated side panels that keep the bike narrow while enhancing the look . The redesigned rear sub frame has allowed for a new air filter box for an overall throttle responseimproving air flow . The work on the filter box has had a bearing on air delivery , increasing the generosity of the engine at low rpm ( torque ) while reducing intake noise , thus heightening the level of riding comfort . The battery ( BS Battery ) is now a lighter , higher performance lithium design and the fuel tank has been increased to 8.8 litres without sacrificing the width of the bike .
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Bimota Since being bought by Kawasaki , Bimota hasn ' t been short of radical new models - launching the Tesi H2 , KB4 and KB4RC over the last couple of years - but the only completed new model to be seen on the 2022 EICMA stand was the BX450 . Something of a surprise , and certainly a departure for the Bimota name , the BX450 is essentially an enduro version of the Kawasaki KX450X , sharing the Japanese motocrosser ' s frame , engine and even its bodywork , but featuring a slightly larger fuel tank , Bimota graphics and basic lighting equipment . The electronics are also remapped , with revised throttle maps and traction control settings , but it would be
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fair to question whether the changes are enough to earn the Bimota branding . That accusation certainly can ' t be levelled at Bimota ' s other announcement , the Tera . Seen only as a bare chassis so far , and as a then-unnamed sketch last year , the Tera is Bimota ' s first Adventure bike and notably features a Tesi-style hub-centresteered chassis overseen by Pierluigi Marconi . Expected to feature the same Euro 5-compliant , supercharged 147 kW ( 197 hp ) engine that Kawasaki uses in the H2 SX and Z H2 models , the Tera has a redesigned front swingarm concept that adds more steering lock and suspension travel compared to the Tesi , and will use electronically adjustable , semi-active damping from Marzocchi , giving height adjustment at the touch of a button . |
However , the Tera still appears to be some way from production , so we don ' t expect to see showroomready versions until 2024 . |
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Birò |
Estrima , an Italian electric micro-mobility sector specialist , presented Birò at EICMA - described as the smallest [ two-person ] four-wheeled electric vehicle . Hugely versatile , Birò can stop and get charged " almost anywhere ", even using a regular domestic electricity supply outlet . First seen in 2008 , Birò is " one of the first electric quadricycles launched on the market . Now much updated - not least in size with more room inside but the same external dimensions , maintaining its bragging rights as the smallest fourwheel electric vehicle in the world . The footprint on the ground remains a record - less than 2 sq m at 111 cm wide and 179 cm long . However , the internal volume increases - in the standard model the rear compartment goes from 41 to 122 litres (+ 200 %) and is accessible from the inside ; in the Birò Big the oversized luggage compartment - from 204 to 308 litres (+ 50 %) - can be configured thanks to the |
multifunction parcel shelf . Comfort for taller people also improves with an extra + 4 cm between the seat and sunroof . A new EV Motor Smart Driver is smaller and lighter ( only 350 kg ). During the charging phase , the energy absorption is a maximum of 1.1 kW . Birò requires no new infrastructure . Unlike many prior personal transportation vehicles for one or two people , the construction of the Birò is as strong as possible within the parameters of present-day materials and safety system designs , which will go some way to answering the fears that have held back the use of such vehicles in heavy or fast city traffic before . It may not yet be a universal solution , but as part of an automated downtown ride hailing system , it certainly looks like a promising solution for cutting journey times . |
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Brixton Brixton is not a brand that has hit the mainstream yet , but its combination of European design and Chinese manufacturing makes for a compelling balance between style , equipment and price . The upcoming Crossfire Storr and Layback models take Brixton a further step forward . Both the Crossfire Storr and Layback are still officially ' concept ' bikes , but it ' s worth noting that Brixton has never made a concept that hasn ' t become a production machine . Both models are likely to reach showrooms eventually , although probably not before 2024 . The Crossfire Storr is the more conventionally appealing model , taking the existing Brixton
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Crossfire 500 platform and A2-legal , 35 kW twincylinder engine and wrapping it in an on-trend Adventure bike package . There are overtones of Husqvarna Norden in the styling , with an oversized circular headlight , split across its centre with ' Brixton ' branding , set in a near-vertical , tapering front fairing , but practical elements abound including sensible bumper elements built into the side panels to shrug off scratches , even providing a home for a small first-aid kit on the right-hand side . The suspension and wire wheels come straight from the existing Crossfire 500X scrambler , so there are few barriers to turning the Storr from concept to production model . The Layback is very different and breaks new ground for Brixton by being the company ' s first electric offering . An ultra-simple scooter designed to |
appeal to youngsters graduating from BMXs and skateboards , it features an exposed steel tube frame surrounding and protecting a battery and electronics package between the rider ' s legs . The footplate is made of bent plywood like a skateboard deck .
Crossfire Storr
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