81 Honda Cb 650 on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Results From Day 2 Of World Superbike Testing At Phillip Island

World Superbike testing at Phillip Island came to a close today, and when the dust settled, reigning champion Tom Sykes stamped his authority, setting the fastest time of the test at 1:30.239, just five thousandths shy of the outright lap record held by Carlos Checa. The time was set during the morning session of testing, though nobody was able to best Sykes for the remainder of the day. Eugene Laverty, who was fastest on day one, showed his pace was no fluke as he stayed near the top of the time sheets, ultimately finishing second behind Sykes, with a best time of 1:30.513.

OEMs Plug into Electric Bikes

KTM introduced its prototype electric motorcycle earlier this week, and electric bike manufacturer Zero Motorcycles almost immediately responded by opening sales on its 2009 Zero X dirt bike (look for our review of the 2008 model next week!). But these two companies aren’t the only ones exploring the possibilities of electric-powered motorcycles. In September, Japan’s largest industrial information journal Nikkei Business Daily reported that both Honda and Yamaha have set target dates for launching their own electric-powered motorcycles.

"Dangerous" assistant

Honda has patented its development in the field of interactive technologies that prevent accidents, following BMW. The Japanese proposed a warning system about the danger that lies in wait for the driver in the blind zone. Honda engineers have proposed equipping the motorcycle with cameras and radars that will detect dangerous proximity to another vehicle or pedestrian and warn the driver through light indication or tactile feedback.