MOTORCYCLE NEWS

Nuviz HUD claims a first

The device (above) is claimed to be the world's first Head-Up Display (HUD) designed "specifically for the needs of motorcycle riders". The manufacturer tells us that the gizmo will fit into any full-face crash helmet and provide "customisable information" on the move such as ... well, such as a rolling road map, actually. As you ride along, the optical thingy projects an image or series of images 13-feet (4 metres) in your line-of-sight. An onboard GPS chip tells you where you are, how fast you're travelling, and when you need to turn right or left, etc. You can "intuitively" access the functions via a wireless controller that can be mounted somewhere convenient on the bike, or possibly on the person. Additionally, you can receive messages, indulge in phone calls, "enjoy" constantly updated info on driving conditions, play music, video your journey—and add voice annotation—thereby enhancing your riding experience.

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Red Z900 for 2018

Kawasaki has released details of a new paint scheme for the Z900 roadster which was first shown to the world in late 2016. Boasting "strong sales and high praise", this motorcycle—with its "Sugomi engineering and design philosophy"—picked up where the Z800 left off. The Z-Eight was a good motorcycle and sold well, but it was a heavy beast at around 229kg (504lbs). Part of that weighty problem was the heavy-duty steel frame that was, okay, mitigated by the wrap-around aluminium cradle sections. Nevertheless, 229kg (504lbs) is a lot more mass than you'd want to haul around on a bike in this sector. Where Kawasaki (arguably) made the mistake was in boosting the power of the 748cc Z750 (77.7kW/106bhp @10,500rpm) to the 803cc Z800 (82.5 kW/113.00bhp @ 10200 RPM) and simply throwing more steel at the old frame—as opposed to completely rethinking the chassis. [More...]