VOL. 50 ISSUE 43 OCTOBER 29, 2013
braking power may be reduced
and increase the risk of a crash.
The bikes being recalled
include certain model year
2004-2013 GSX-R600s and
GSX-R750s and 2005-2013
GSX-R1000s.
Suzuki will be contacting owners of the affected units, who in
turn can take their GSX-Rs to
Suzuki dealers for a free replacement of the front master cylinder.
The recall will begin on November 4.
In a letter dated October 18,
Suzuki Motor of America said:
"After a long-term service life of
the motorcycle without changing
the brake fluid, the brake fluid
can deteriorate and absorb moisture. The brake piston inside the
front brake master cylinder may
not have uniform surface treatment. This combination of con-
P35
ditions can lead to corrosion of
the brake piston." This corrosion
contributes to the generation of
gas and due to the side position
of the reservoir, may not be "adequately purged from the master
cylinder."
As the gas accumulates the
front brake lever "may develop
a 'spongy' feel and stopping
distances may be extended, increasing the risk of a crash."
THE SUPERLEGGERA
Ducati has unveiled its limited
edition 2014 Ducati 1199 Superleggera. Translated in English
as superlight, Superleggera is
a fitting name for a motorcycle
that carries a claimed weight of
just 341.7 pounds (dry). Yes, it's
an 1199 Panigale R that the folks
from Bologna put on a major
weight loss program.
Made up of titanium, magnesium and carbon fiber –the
1199 Superleggera weighs in
23 pounds lighter than the Panigale R. Yes, 23 pounds lighter.
And Ducati didn't just stop at the
weight-loss program, they also
added more horses – five more to
be exact – giving the 1199 Superleggera 200 hp. Let the boasting
of highest power-to-weight ratio
of any production motorcycle in
history begin.
The limited edition models are
definitely an exclusive buy with
only 500 of the 1199 Superleggeras leaving the factory in Bologna. Owners of the Desmosedici
RR or R version Superbikes were
given the first right of refusal to
purchase the new bike and apparently quite a few took Ducati
up on that offer as 75 percent
of them have already been sold.
Each model gets its own individual number inscribed on the top
clamp.
The 1199 Superleggera gets its
baseline from the "R" spec 1199
Panigale, incorporating a magnesium monocoque frame and
magnesium Marchesini wheels.
To make it even more "Super-
leggera," Ducati has given it a
carbon-fiber rear subframe and
bodywork, a lithium-ion battery,
and a full-titanium exhaust system
with stainless-steel headers.
The Superleggera gets a lightweight Ohlins FL916 front fork
with machined fork bottoms and
an Ohlins TTX36 rear suspension with a titanium spring. It gets
its stopping power from Brembo
M50 Monobloc brakes, with a
racing-style MCS 19-21 front master cylinder and remote adjuster.
