Honda NAS

Design started on the Honda NAS motorbike concept in 1999 at Honda's research and development department in America.

NAS, standing for New American Sports, was intended to push the boundarys of sports bike design for the American market.

Designers of the NAS realised that the overwhelming majority of sportsbikes had been initially designed and engineered for the track, Honda bikes included, their intention was to try and offer another option, a sports bike built for the road. 

The NAS Designers also wanted to create a machine with more personality which would be easier to make a bond with, a mischievous face can definitely be made out hiding in the headlight fairing.

However the NAS was not all about form, some of the most ingenious engineering solutions in the motorcycle market were seen on the NAS.
For example the unique mono-arm suspension is constructed of carbon fibre and aluminum, with the damper and spring neatly enclosed within a massive steering head.

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The IMME 1200 BMW

The IMME 1200 concept motorbike was the creation of two French design students of the ISD (International School of Design). 

The IMME 1200 is based around the BMW R1200 engine. The name IMME comes from a now extinct German motorcycle maker.

The IMME 1200 concept motorbike gained the interest of BMW who helped in the creation of a prototype for the 2006 Intermot Motorcycle Show in Cologne to go on show at the BMW stand.

A slick trick of the BMW IMME 1200 concept bike is that all the parts needed to be road legal, license plates, lights, mirrors can be removed with the engine start key and then the machine becomes 'track ready'.

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The Audi Moto

The Audi Moto is the work of vehicle designer Bertrand Bach who, working independently of Audi, designed the Moto concept to be a motorcycle which could clearly be identified as an Audi product.
Bach used the iconic first generation Audi TT sports car as inspiration for the Moto concept. This is due to the fact the TT fits in with his intended vision for the Moto concept including clean, strong lines and intricately detailed elements.

A predominant feature of the Audi Moto concept is the fact it uses the bare minimum of bodywork, instead favoring to show off the mechanical parts which themselves have been designed with aesthetics and proportions as a factor.

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The Renovatio (Latin for "Rebirth")

The Renovatio (Latin for "Rebirth") concept motorbike from Confederate Motorcycles based in America is a radical concept bike designed by Confederate's lead designer Ed Jacobs.

The Renovatio is extremely minimalistic with all the mechanical elements of the bike on show. With large attachment points easily accessible on the engine, upgrades and various configurations can easily be exchanged.

The 135 horsepower, 125 ft/lbs of torque V-twin engine of the Confederate Renovatio concept was built by Katech Inc. of Detroit. Katech was hired to design five prototype engines, they chose to base the 1686 cc (103 cu in) V-twin on General Motors LS7 7.0 litre V8. Katech were also responsible for the 16 cylinder engine found in the Cadillac Sixteen concept car of 2003.

Confederate already manufacure two high-end and unique bikes, the Confederate Wraith and the Hellcat F131. The Confederate Renovatio is a concept created inline with Confederates current vision. 

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Suzuki G-Strider 916 cc V-Twin

The Suzuki G-Strider was first seen during the 2003 Tokyo Motorshow. This concept motorbike is best described as half scooter half cruiser motorcycle as it shares atributes with both.

With a feet forward seating position and adjustable seat, backrest, footpegs and windshield the G strider is geared for touring and mile eating.

Futuristic safety features on the G-Strider include two rear-facing video cameras mounted in the rear lighting system, images are then relayed to monitors positioned either side of the handlebars.

Ample power is provided by a 916cc parallel twin engine running through Suzuki's Electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission 

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KTM RC390 CUP – FIRST LOOK

KTM RC390 CUP – FIRST LOOKKTM looks to breed future world champions with this compact new racing bike.

Sachsenring for the German MotoGP, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer unveiled the new RC390 ADAC Cup racer based on the 390 Duke.

Although final details aren’t known at this time, KTM RC390 ADAC Cup is expected be affordable in terms of purchase price and maintenance costs. The further intent is that it be easy to ride and tune. By leveraging both the excellent quality of the 390 Duke and the company’s successful Moto3 experience, KTM has built what appears to be a great spec racer. You don’t need much imagination to see the RC390 ADAC Cup competing in hotly contested races, helping to create a future generation of potential champions.

Power comes from a liquid-cooled, four-valve 373cc Single that produces a claimed 38 horsepower. Controlled by a Bosch EMS integrated engine management system and fed via a 46mm Dell’Orto throttle body, the engine is said to be smooth and have a solid torque curve.

The compact chassis appears strongly related to the 390 Duke’s, featuring a similar steel-trellis frame and cast aluminum swingarm. Wheelbase is a short 52.9 inches and the 43mm WP fork is set at a steep 23.5 degrees; no official trail figure was released. A cantilevered WP shock serves the rear suspension. As for tires, the KTM RC390 Cup rolls on Metzeler Sportec radials, size 110/70-17 front and 150/60-17 rear. The front brake features a single four-piston caliper clamping a 300mm disc. In back, a floating single-piston caliper acts upon a 230mm disc. Claimed dry weight is just 287 pounds with the 2.5 gallon fuel tank full.

KTM’s RC390 Cup racer will make its debut in the 2014 German ADAC Cup. It’s not hard to envision the project growing into an international junior cup. Kudos to KTM for supporting the sport, promoting it and helping make it accessible to younger generations.

Look for a street-legal fully faired version of the Indian-made RC390 to be unveiled at the EICMA show in Milan this November. A representative of KTM North America said the bike would come to the U.S. market, perhaps as early as 2014.

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The Aprilia Magnet

The Aprilia Magnet concept was the Transport Design Degree project of Heikki Naulapää, a 2004 student of the Royal College of Art.


The Aprilia Magnet concept is based around the idea of rider sensation. Naulapää wanted to create a vehicle which offered a new kind of experience while riding. With the Magnet concept he mixed the leaning characteristics associated with motorbikes, with a formula 1 style driving position and small sports car feeling with instruments and "being half-inside".

The primary power source for the Aprilia Magnet concept is a 550cc combustion engine, with drive to the wheels provided by in-wheel electric motors (including magnets, where the name comes from). There is also an additional battery, which gives the Magnet extra power for rapid acceleration. The rider can also switch off the combustion engine for a more subdued and silent riding experience.

The Aprilia Magnet features a tilting mechanism which allows the concept to lean into corners like a motorbike. Other novel ideas featured on the Magnet concept include; brake lights in the helmet for improved visibility, a hidden pillion seat under a removable cover, and side panels with adjustable transparency which the rider can alter depending on the required riding sensation.

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