Benelli didakwa sedang membangunkan enjin parallel-twin 400cc bagi menggantikan platform 300cc sedia ada.
Perkara itu didedahkan menerusi dokumen paten terbaru yang difailkan di China yang turut memaparkan sebuah jentera Benelli BJ400J.
BJ400J merupakan motosikal jenis ‘touring’ yang bakal dirasmikan penguatkuasa polis di negara itu menggantikan jentera 300cc yang memaparkan rekaan sama dan telah digunakan sejak 2018.
Ini kerana di China, jentera polis sentiasa mendapat versi yang dinaik taraf terlebih dahulu sebelum diperkenalkan kepada orang awam.
Menariknya, Benelli juga dikhabarkan akan menggantikan kesemua platform 300cc sedia ada termasuk pada model 302S dan 302R dengan enjin 400cc terbaru itu.
Benelli membesarkan bore dan stroke kepada 70mm x 52mm sekaligus berupaya menghasilkan nadi terbaru yang mampu menjana sekitar 45hp.
Sementara itu, membesarkan enjin dari 300cc ke 400cc juga membolehkan komponen lain dikekalkan antaranya kerangka, suspensi, rim dan brek.
Enjin sama juga pernah didedahkan syarikut induk Qianjiang menerusi QJMotor 400RR sebelum ini.
Sementara itu, langkah terbaru ini juga membuka pasaran yang lebih luas bagi Benelli yang bakal meletakkan jentera 400cc terbaru itu dikalangan jenama lain antarnaya Kawasaki Z400.
Dalam perkembangan sama, dokumen tersebut turut mendedahkan Benelli BJ400J itu menawarkan komponen premium antaranya brek Brembo, cakera brek dan fork USD.
The highly anticipated Kawasaki ZX-4R looks to be on its way, as confirmed by the latest reports.
Talk of a new 400cc inline-four sports bike has been around for quite some time, ever since the introduction of the quarter-litre ZX-25R.
Japanese publication, Young-Machine – known for getting the latest insight for Japanese motorcycles – has made the ZX-4R its latest cover for April with a render that is likely to be close to the final product.
The headline also suggests that Kawasaki is prepping for an official reveal very soon.
While the ZX-4R is somewhat related to the ZX-25R, the former will follow the ZX-10R design, prominently the sunken headlight and the air-duct.
Reports also suggest that the new bike will feature premium components, from Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), USD forks and riding modes.
We have yet to secure any information regarding how much power it might produce, but rumours have that it could be around 75hp and above.
Chinese OEM manufacturer, Colove, is currently working on a 400cc inline-four engine.
The new powerplant potentially could trigger a rise of small-displacement supersport in China.
Interestingly, while the golden era of Japan’s four-inline makes around 60hp (Honda CBR400RR, Kawasaki ZXR400 & Yamaha FZR400), the powerplant built by Colove makes 74hp @ 13,500rpm and 44Nm @ 12,000rpm making it the most powerful 400cc ever built.
According to reports, its larger bore and shorter stroke (59mm X 36.5mm) allows the engine to rev higher than its 400cc ancestors.
Apart from the impressive figures, the new engine is tangible evidence that the Chinese motorcycle industry is evolving at a rapid pace.
The latest reports also suggest that the new engine could make its debut as early as 2022.
Nevertheless, the Chinese motorcycle market already has a long list of bikes ready to make its way to Europe and Asia with the likes of CFMoto, QJMoto, Benda and Zontes.
(Source: Bennetts)
Honda has upgrade its entry-level game in the Japanese market by updating the CB400X and CBR400R for 2022.
The 400cc motorcycle now gets a host of upgrades which in turn making them a better performing road-bike in the country.
The 400cc displacement is built specifically to cater lower displacement license owners in Japan who finds obtaining a license for higher-capacity motorcycle painstakingly expensive. This in turn, is why the CBR400R and CB400X is popular in Japan.
Nevertheless, the CB400R and CB400X received premium components for 2022, which includes a Showa Separate Function Big Piston (SFF-BP) forks similar to the one available on the CBR650R. The SFF BP improve handling and cornering remarkably well, hence traslate to an engaging ride.
Following the footsteps of the recently updated CBR500R and CB500X, the 400cc variants now features dual front disc brakes and radial mounter callipers.
The 2022 CB400X also follows the same design language as the CB500X which includes a taller windscreen, full LED lights and longer travel suspension, inverted front forks and dual front disc.
Despite rolls out with dual-purpose tires, the CB400X is a more road oriented bike.
Both models are powered by Honda’s 399cc, liquid-cooled, 180-degree parallel-twin engine that produces 45hp, more than enough for young and inexperience riders to enjoy the ride without getting into too much trouble.
There could be another version of the RS range from Kawasaki, as reported by Young Machine.
We usually ignore baseless rumours, but considering the allegation comes from the most reliable Japanese publication, we know there is more to it than rumours.
Team Green recently expanded the RS range with a new Z650RS – prompted by the well-received Z900RS – powered by the same parallel-twin engine found in the Z650 and Ninja 650.
While it is unclear the type of engine to be used on the Z400RS, the Japanese firm is said to introduce an overhauled 400cc engine taken from the Ninja 400.
Nonetheless, it is an exciting time for Kawasaki as the company recently announced plans on dedicating significant resources to developing an all-new hybrid engine to phase out all fossil-fuel vehicles by 2035.
The world of adventure and dual-purpose riding has just got more interesting as KTM announced that their KTM 390 Adventure is set for debut as a 2019 model. Their entry-level adventure model will be sharing the same platform as its sport and naked siblings, the 390 Duke and RC390. (more…)
Bajaj Auto has just launched their latest 2018 Bajaj Dominar 400 yesterday in India. Their top of the range flagship model now comes in two new colour schemes which are Canyon Red and Glacier Blue. Bajaj Dominar 400 fans can still get the bike in Matte Black option although the other colourways have been dropped out. (more…)
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