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September 24, 2007 – Motorcycle Digest

Kawasaki Releases 2008 Ninja ZX-10R
Kawasaki Motors Corp. announced one of its 2008 models — the Ninja ZX-10R superbike. The bike aims to satisfy professional racers while providing street bike characteristics for mainstream riders, according to Kawasaki’s press release.
The engineers who developed the Ninja ZX-10R have been involved with every 600 and 1000cc supersport machine since the 2003 Ninja ZX-6R. They also worked with a professional superbike rider in developing the engine and frame components.
Some specific characteristics include a four-stroke engine that’s liquid-cooled, a displacement of 998cc and the fuel injection is DFI with 43mm Keihin throttle bodies oval sub-throttles with two injectors per cylinder.
Kawasaki will release more information on its new product lineup at its September dealer meeting in Las Vegas.
KTM Unveils a Host of Upgrades to Its ’08 Models
KTM officials recently told its dealer network that the company will have 25 new on-road and off-road motorcycle products in the next few years.
KTM dealers saw a few of these at the company’s North America meeting, held Aug. 20 in Providence, R.I.
Among the new street models will be the 690 Super Duke, a little brother to the 990 Super Duke that the company did so well with after its 2007 model year launch. The 690 will feature a single-cylinder, four-stroke engine and a six-gear transmission. An MSRP was not available for the 690, which will be a 2008 model.
The company also announced it will be bringing the RC8 in model year 2009. The superbike, which will be launched next spring in Europe, will have a new engine that will create more than 150 hp and a weight-reduced frame.
Two new 2008 offerings, which are street legal, include the 690 Enduro, which weighs just more than 300 pounds, and the 690 SMC.
The off-road lineup, including both the SX and XC models, features a host of upgrades, including significant body work, suspension and engine improvements.
Japanese Exports Drop 20 Percent in July
Statistics released Aug. 31 by the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association revealed its members had another down month in July for production and exports.
July marked the fourth consecutive decline for production and the third consecutive downturn for exports compared to the same month of the previous year.
Production dropped 5 percent to 125,063 units for July. Honda (41,138 units) and Suzuki (34,815 units) both posted 12 percent production decreases, while Yamaha was up 4.6 percent (30,108 units) and Kawasaki was up 17.1 percent (18,966 units).
Exports dropped 20.2 percent for July, down from 99,034 units in the same month of the previous year. Suzuki showed a significant drop in exports, down 49 percent to 15,482 units. Honda was down 29.6 percent to 21,752 units. Yamaha slowed exports slightly (0.2 percent), to 24,454 units. Kawasaki posted an export increase of 30.8 percent to 17,313 units.
Thoroughbred Develops Three-Wheeled Vehicle
Thoroughbred Motorsports, a subsidiary of Motor Trike, is developing a trike that could be in a class of its own, and it will be available this fall, according to Thoroughbred’s Web site.
This trike will have a Ford five-speed automatic transmission and a steering wheel. The trike also will come with a CD player, air conditioning and heat. It also differs from other trikes because it comes standard with an 11-gallon fuel tank.
Motor Trike developed the frame and suspension, but it will have a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. The trike is expected to get 45 mpg on the highway and 35 mpg in the city. The new trike will start at $29,995 excluding tax, title and license and freight.
Adly Moto Names New Sales and Marketing VP
Adly Moto LLC has added Terry Nesbitt to its team in the newly created position of vice president of sales and marketing, the company said in a press release Sept. 4.
Nesbitt brings 30 years of experience in the powersports industry to his new position, having previously worked as a sales manager at Kawasaki, the national sales manager for Polaris Industries’ Victory Motorcycles and the president of Viper Motorcycle Company.
The Adly brand has been in the U.S. market for two years.
Big Bear Choppers Announces Newest Model, The Paradox
Big Bear Choppers, a custom V-twin manufacturer based in California, has released details of its latest production creation:?the Paradox.
The bike features new, large diameter wheels, a 23-inch front and 20-inch rear, and has a dimensionally molded downtube cover that not only completes the bike’s front aesthetic lines, but it also hides the less desirable clutch cable. The oil tank is the signature large capacity unit but with unique concave molding design work. psb

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