Concept motorcycle : Yamaha Gen-RYU hybrid

Yamaha is dropping no less than 9 world premiere models on the 39th Tokyo Motor Show coming up later this month. Of special note to us is the Gen-Ryu hybrid motorcycle prototype (damn!) which combines the YZF-R6 600cc engine with a high output, high efficiency electric motor. Combine that with some fat wheels and that long wheelbase and you've got a machine said to perform and handle like a "1,000cc class machine." Eco-power not workin' it for ya? Ok, well consider it has a vehicle-to-vehicle distance warning system, a "cornering light system" for a little night time knee-scraping action, and a noise cancelation system which is said to allow for an intercom, voice navigation, hands-free cellphone calls, and music player — damn impressive if it really works! And just for kicks, how about an LCD so you can watch those cagers mouth "what the…" as you roll on by.

Via

Fantastic Penton / KTM "Oldie" Jack Pine Special Supermoto.

Double post from the two-stroke page.

I get some good traffic over here from the PentonUSA.org folks so every now and then I like to go over and see what they're up to. Great bunch of folks and if you're even remotely interested in old Penton or KTM motorcycles (or any old dirtbike from that era) then go pay em a vist. Great Stuff!

Anyway while I was snooping around over there I stumbled across this beauty. I love this sort of treatment. I was very tempted to buy a similarly built bike a while back that was based on an XT500. It's one of the styles of bikes that really shine when "modernized". Power should NOT be a problem and I imagine she handles brilliantly.


Mr JC Hubbard had the breakdown in his post as follows:
'77 Penton 175 Engine with Lectron Carb

'77 Penton MC5 Frame & Tank
'80 KTM 175 Swingarm
'89 KTM GS 125 Forks, Wheels, Brakes
'78 KTM Torque Pipe
Trail Tech Cannondale Odo/Speedo
Magura Hymec Hydraulic Clutch
Magura 167 Front Brake Master
Kenda Tires
"Not mine, but a Very Unique project that I've helped my neighbor with. BTW,,,It's STREET LEGAL and is rode almost everyday, in nice weather!!"
Saw this on ktmtalk.com...In the "Oldie" Section Can't believe it -- but it's real...



Thanks Gents!

concept motorcycle : Yamaha launch hybrid 2010

Back in 2005, Yamaha showed the wacky 2005 Gen-Ryu hybrid concept bike at the Tokyo Motor Show amidst a raft of other very non-conventional two wheelers such as the aptly named FC-Me fuel cell bike, the ingenious Deinonychus elec tric reconfigurable motorcycle, the Chivicker, Passol and the Maxam two-wheeled limousine. Now it appears certain the bike will become a showroom model in 2010. A series of patent applications detail the new motorcycle which uses the YZF-R6 600cc engine to turn a generator which in turn powers the rear wheel. History shows that every Yamaha styling patent published over the last 20 years has resulted in a full production machine, so there's little doubt this one is also heading for a showroom near you in the very near future. You can expect to see it in the flesh for the first time at the Tokyo Motor Show later this year.

Read Full story