Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

SHOW 1995 Paris Motorcycle Show I.!) 0\ 0\ ...-I 00 ...-I ~ Q) E u o 20 had a choice, you'd want to be a Yamaha dealer in 1996. To mark their 40th anniversary as a motoracycle manufacturer, Yamaha has thrown down a major gauntlet to their ri~als - especially Honda - by relaunching their entire sportbike range, complete with a distinctive family-styling look first revealed on the SZR660 street single launched three months ago. The big surprise at Paris - in a high-profile launch that used the striking talents of a fleet of young two-legged models from the Elite Agency (Naomi and Elle couldn't make it, but their stand-ins stood up just fine) was Yamaha's all-new contender for 600 Supersport supremacy, the YZF600R ThunderCat. The 16-valve slant-block motor uses a forced-air intake system to feed the 36mm CVKD carbs, and with lightweight forged pistons and a redesigned exhaust system delivers 100.1 bhp at 11,500 rpm on 12:1 compression. The lightweight Deltabox frame is based on the YZF75O's, and fitted with the lowdrag, shark-nose bodywork allows the bike to weigh in at 412 pounds dry. The 298mm front discs have new one-piece, four-pot calipers, with fully adjustable 41mm flex-resistant forks. Wheel sizes are 3.5 inch front and 5 inch rear, and Yamaha is very serious about going for gold in the Thunderbike GP support class with the new bike, which is bound to have a spinoff effect for supersport racing. too. 1£ the YZF600 was a complete Surprise, its butch brother the YZF1000 ThunderAce was the long-awaited rival to the Honda FireBlade for sportbike supremacy. The 145 bhp, EXUPequipped 1002cc slant-block engine is based on the old FZR1000 motor, but, apart from a different chassis mounting. has totally revised internals, including a lightweight crank, forged pistons, TPSequipped 38mm BOOR carbs, and a new close-ratio five-speed gearbox. But it's the chassis package harnessing this meaty mega-motor - which delivers a claimed 17 bhp more than the FireBlade, in a bike weighing 32 pounds more - that really impresses, for Yamaha has simply slotted the big engine in a short wheelbase (56.5 inch) chassis closely derived from their YZF750 Superbike. Fitted with massive, fully adjustable 48mm forks, superbike steering geometry and dragresistant bodywork, with a meaty swingarm and all-round adjustable Bilstein-type shock, the ThunderAce is a serious 'Blade runner. As expected, Yamaha's Japan-only TRX850 sports twin came to Europe, in a trio of new colors that emphasized how little it actually shares with a 9Q..degree V-twin Ducati in spite of the slant-block parallel-twin's 270-degree crank throw and the Segale-type composite spaceframe chassis: all-black, and blue or maroon with a silver frame, in case you wondered. The fact that the engine is painted silver rather than black as before lightens the look a lot. Suspension has been stiffened up to suit non-Japanese riding conditions, but otherwise Trixie is just as seen in Japan, where it's become a cult enthusiast's bike in just half a year since its launch back in March. Yamaha has also adopted the TRX motor for the revised version of th.e TDM850, which five years after its debut has been extensively modified, with power up from 73 to 77 bhp with the new engine (79.7 bhp for the TRX), and an all-new, shorterwheelbase chassis with larger-diameter 43mm forks and radials. Styling has been completely changed for a more aggressive appearance with eagle-eyed twin headlamps and a larger fuel tank.. Most manufacturers would have the 401.24-pound bike (the Skorpion Sport Replica with full fairing is 363.76 pounds) and its likely load. The Yamaha TRX850-engined Kobra made another appearance, but production has not been confirmed for 1996 as promised a year ago: Word is that MuZ is marking time on the project while talks continue with the Canadian Aquilini family to bring the BSA marque into the MuZ fold, in which case the Kobra would became a BeeZa and probably adopt the all-new 60degree desmo V-twin engine designed for Norton/BSA by British engineer AI Melling. Italian manufacturers sat on the sidelines at Paris, waiting for Milan - all except Laverda, who accelerated the introduction of their direct competitor to (Above) One of the many strange sights In Paris was the Pheonlx, featuring what looks like rattan and mahogany construction. (Right) Using a 650 Aprlllla motor, the Glynn Kerr-deslgned Boxer SCrambler features a chrome frame and weighs only 308 pounds. drawn the line at this array of novelties but not Yamaha. not this year. In addition to the four-stroke 250cc Majesty scooter already launched in Japan and now going to Europe, where it's likely to score high style marks in Italy and France, Yamaha also debuted what they justifiably claim to be the "ultimate custom bike" - the 1300cc liquid-cooled V-4 Royal Star XVZl300A. Based on the Venture motor, the Royal Star is detuned to deliver 74 bhp with massive torque of 82 ft-Ibs. at just 3700 rpm. The low-rider chassis (seat height is just 28.3 inche~) delivers a 66.7-inch wheelbase. Styling for this unique entry into the custom market is unashamedly Harley-esque except of course that there are two heavily chromed peashooter exhausts on each side! Against this array of oriental machinery, the Europeans each had something new - even if in the case of Ducati/ Cagiva it was only a 750cc version of the Monster custom. BMW had already launched its new RllOORT Boxer tourer at the Frankfurt Motor Show 10 days beforehand, but Paris was the first bike show it appeared at - same as Triumph's two new models, the all-new Adventurer 900 triple and heavily revised Trophy, available in both 900 three-cylinder and 1200 four guise. The Adventurer is strictIy for the Transatlantic market, and is the second of the five different models based on the Thunderbird concept that Triumph plans to launch in coming years. Unlike the retrostyled T-bird launched a year ago, the Adventurer has only a single-seat option, with higher, more pulled-back handlebars to give mOre comfort in the wind. Styling is unashamedly aimed at America, though the mechanical package is unchanged from the 70 bhp T-bird triple. Much more multinational in appeal is the new Trophy sports tourer, whose long-haul credentials have been seriously enhanced to the point that it represents a genuine threat to BMW supremacy in this market - at around 20 percent lower cost. This is one of those bikes that looks far better in the metal than any photo, the wind tunnel-developed curvaceous bodywork displaying a strong identity all its own. Though the mechanical package remains unch.anged in both threeand four-cylinder models, Triumph has concentrated on adding comfort for longdistance riding. with a revised seat and handlebars, optional higher screen, repositioned footrests, new, distinctively styled twin headlamps with remote adjustment, and an all-new instrument pod which includes a fuel gauge and analogue clock. The twin 32-liter hard saddle bags are fitted as standard, yet in spite of their bulk blend in well with the overall styling. are easily detachable and each take a full-face helmet. The first of Triumph's new-generation models of five years ago to be completely overhauled, the Trophy deserves a trophy for hitting the touring target. KTM has now standardized Marzocchi forks and Ohlins rear shocks across the board for their normal two-stroke range, while the LC4-engined fourstrokes use WP suspension front and rear. This includes the 620 Duke which now at last has the long-awaited electric start that is likely to further intensify demand for the ultimate street rod whose success has taken the Austrian company's management by surprise. The kickstart is retained for those who like to impress their friends, or who reckon electric legs are for sissies. A Minarelli-powered Euro 125 beginnerclass enduro is KTM's only 100-percentnew model, and is also the only one to use Paioli suspension front and rear. Aimed at the new 16-year-old market created by forthcoming new European licensing rules, the electric-start street / trail bike has a catalytic converter, disc brakes from the KTM 250EXC and a low (in offroad terms) 33.86 inch for the dual seat. . Also playing to their strength were MuZ, with the launch of yet another'variation on the Yamaha XTZ660-engined Skorpion stree~ single theme: the Skorpion Traveller. A downsized version of the new Triumph Trophy or BMW R1100RT, the Traveller comes standard with two 3Q..liter detachable cases and a full fairing, as well as upsized 316mm front brakes to cope with the extra weight of the Ducati Monster and Bimota Mantra, the naked Ghost 650 street rod. Retailing in Italy for slightly less money compared to the fully faired 650, the Ghost has faint V-Max reminders in the styling but is otherwise very individual, and uses the same basic DOHC air / oilcooled 668cc parallel-twin engine 'as the rest of the born-again marque's current range. Camshaft and ignition timing nave been changed to broaden the powerband, though, with power now on tap from 2500 rpm upward, instead of twice that, and a corresponding increase in midrange torque. Revised EPROM mapping for the Weber/Marelli EFI and a bigger airbox are also included, but the biggest change is the adoption of an all-new, steel-tube trellis frame instead of the 650's twin-spar alloy one, with slightly different geometry and either WP or Paioli forks - the final decision on which will come shortly, with production of the Ghost to begin in January. A feature of each Paris Show is the wild-and-wacky specials the French persist in concocting. and though this year was no exception (see selection of weirdo bikes in photos), one of them is scheduled to make it into production as the ultimate street rod single: the Boxer Scrambler. Designed by Englishman Glynn Kerr, this latest product of Boxer Bikes boss Thierry Henriette's fertile imagination is based on a five-valve Aprilia 650 Pegaso motor, slotted into a distinctive, chromed, twin-tube steel frame with Pegaso forks and a Foumales rear shock. Weighing just 308 pounds ready for the street, the Scrambler is scheduled for production next year, either at Boxer's Toulouse workshop or, says Henriette, in Aprilia's own factory if negotiations with company boss Ivano Begg:io prove fruitful, just as BMW's Funduro is built there on a contract basis. The French bike is a different kind of Boxer, though! (l'

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