For decades , the V4 engine has had an aura of the exotic . Whether powering a MotoGP bike or a Yamaha V-Max , it ' s a layout that ' s been associated with high-end models simply because it ' s more expensive to manufacture than either inline four or V-twin designs . So , the existence of not one but two Chinese-made V4 engines - with more in the pipeline - is a striking illustration of how far the country ' s motorcycle industry has progressed . The latest is the newly revealed QJMotor 600 V4 , a middleweight cruiser powered by a 90-degree V4 that shares a few design cues with some of Honda ' s old engines , but not enough to be considered an outright copy . |
Using four chain-driven overhead camshafts , it ' s the centrepiece of a bike that has almost no direct rivals apart from the machine that beat it into production as China ' s first V4 motorcycle , the Benda Black Flag 500 . Benda ' s model was launched last
' China ' s second V4-powered bike '
summer , and is also a cruiser , powered by a homegrown V4 . At the moment , QJMotor hasn ' t revealed specifications of its V4 , but the Benda will be its clear target . With
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an extra 20 % capacity over the Benda ' s 496 cc , it should achieve a similar increase in power - the Benda makes 54 hp at 10,000 rpm , so the QJMotor will be somewhere around 65 hp . The bike ' s styling has some overtones of Harley ' s Sportster S , particularly in its lozenge-shaped headlight and the shapes of the tank and rear fender . Like other QJMotor bikes , its suspension comes from Marzocchi - QJMotor ' s patent company , Qianjiang , manufacturers Marzocchi components for both the Chinese and export markets - while the brakes use QJMotor-branded radial calipers . QJMotor already has a growing export |
presence , with many of its bikes typeapproved in Europe and the USA , and importers and dealers in both of those markets . As such , the V4 is likely to appear outside China in coming years . The engine is also likely to appear in other models beyond the initial cruiser . Future Chinese V4 engines include another Benda design , this time a much more powerful , 1200 cc unit , and one being developed by CFMoto , targeting 1000 cc and more than 200 hp . |
The proliferation of rider assist systems is arguably the defining characteristic that motorcycles have made in the last decade - expanding from simple traction control to a baffling array of adjustable options designed to save us from ourselves . Now Honda is working on perhaps the most ambitious yet in the form of a jump control system for off-road riders . The basics of the system , which is revealed in a patent application from the company ' s R & D department , are anchored in now familiar rider assist technology , including ride-by-wire throttles and inertial measurement units ( IMUs ). To these , Honda intends to add a front-facing camera and a computer that can recognise an approaching jump . The camera and jump-recognition |
software side of the design is arguably its most complex element . It registers when the bike is approaching a slope , estimating the distance to the slope and its angle , as well as the position of its peak - the point at which the bike is likely to leave the ground . With this information , the system can then adapt the bike ' s speed , intervening between the rider and the throttle to slow down if necessary , and even applying the brakes , to match a pre-selected jump setting . The patent suggests three settings , in much the same way that existing traction control systems often operate . In its most moderate setting , the jump control is intended to prevent jumps entirely , slowing the bike down as it approaches the peak of the slope to make sure both wheels stay firmly on |
the ground . In its mid setting , the system allows a moderate jump , controlling speed to ensure the bike doesn ' t fly too high or too far , and during flight it modulates the throttle and rear brake to control the bike ' s angle , keeping a slightly nose-up attitude and aiming for a two-wheeled landing . In its most extreme setting , the system allows a longer jump and can be configured for a rear-wheel landing , keeping the nose higher during flight . As with other rider aids , Honda envisages a further layer of options for the system , allowing the jump distance to be tailored - something that could be particularly useful on a motocross track where a rider is repeating the same jump again and again . Although the system is designed for |
off-road use , the popularity of adventure bikes means it could appear on road-going models in the future . But perhaps the most valuable purpose for the system is hinted at by the patent ' s illustrations , which show a Dakar rally-style bike . In longdistance rally-raid competitions like the Dakar , when riders spend hours in the saddle , often going over endless sand dunes , jump control could be a useful aid to help ensure a momentary lapse of concentration doesn ' t result in a potentially race-ending crash . |