The Ostoure Motorbike Based On Persian Designs

It doesn’t quite look finished and from some angles it looks quite mystifying as to which way you’re supposed to sit but one thing’s for sure, the Ostoure concept motorbike is definitely groundbreaking and is quite breathtaking in its own way. Oh, and apparently, it’s also based on ancient Persian carvings – we didn’t know they had motorbikes in ancient Persian times either so you live and learn. As well as the obvious design features, the Ostoure also has some nice technology thrown in for good measure.

Two-wheel drive and an in helmet heads-up-display are some of the impressive features of the bike, which is only alive as a rendering at the moment, but while these elements sound impressively 21st century the hub steering that it relies on has been tried before. Single sock suspension is found on the front and the back of the bike and it has a small front radiator as well as a couple of support radiators on the sides.

The helmet is worth note in its own right. As well as the heads-up-display (three words that combine to sound incredible, futuristic, and beautiful all in one go) it will also have built in speakers and a bluetooth connection to the bike itself. The controls for the helmet are found on the hand grips that will be used to control the hub steering type arrangement.

The bike that looks like somebody’s remove the front end is really only a concept and may not necessarily go into production any time soon. It is the work of Iranian designer Mohammad Reza Shojaie and it has caused something of a stir. In fact it’s even gained the designer acceptance in to the Istituto Europeo di Design in Italy.

Would you buy the Ostoure if it were put into production?

Does it look like the handlebars have been removed or is it just me?

Econogo electric scooter hits UK

An electric scooter which is the first of its kind to come with a removable battery pack has arrived in the UK.

Manufactured by Econogo, the scooter has a detachable battery which uses the lithium ion technology found in most modern portable devices.

Econogo is based in the UK and the YoGo scooter’s detachable battery represents a significant update from the previous generation of electric scooters. This is because rather than having to bring electricity to the scooter, you can now take its battery directly to the power source.

Finding the right socket to which you can connect a scooter with an integrated, non-removable battery pack can be a pain, but detaching the YoGo’s battery means that you can take it with you and plug it in anywhere to charge.

The batteries that power the YoGo will take just an hour to charge up, which is an incredibly short period when you consider the charging time of most battery-powered vehicles.

Econogo supplies two spare batteries with the retail version of the YoGo scooter and according to promotional material this will increase the range of the scooter by 44 miles.

With a top speed of 38 miles per hour achievable from the 1500 watt electric engine, the YoGo is no slouch when it comes to performance. It will also significantly reduce running costs in contrast with those you would see with an equivalent petrol-powered scooter.

The basic YoGo costs £2000 and its restricted 27mph top speed means that you do not need any form of official license to take it out for a spin.

Ducati 1098R Motorbike Review

The Ducati 1098R has been causing a bit of a stir ever since its first appearance. At almost £30,000 for this bike, it is a lot of money, but the consensus so far is that it is well worth the money.

The Ducati 1098R is the lightest and most powerful twin cylinder bike ever produced by the Italian Borgo Panitale factory. This bike has the highest torque to weight ratio in its category. It is rightly seen as the jewel in the crown of Superbikes and has been said to be the ultimate combination of racing bike features applied to a production bike. The engineers at Ducati worked closely with the Research and Development Team to produce a bike which is not only a true racing bike, but is the embodiment of innovation and performance, a masterpiece.

There is a total of 180bhp to call on from it’s 1198cc engine. One of the most advanced featuers is the weight savings made over the standard 1098 model. Standard 1098s weigh in at 173kg, whilst the 1098R is 165kg, a substantial percentage reduction in weight which has been achieved by the use of lightweight aluminium and carbon fibre components. Vacuum cast crank and engine cases have replaced sand cast equivalents. This has allowed Ducati to reduce the case thickness of the components whilst adding an element of extra safety as the sand cast process sometimes allowed air bubbles to creep in, which over a period of time can weaken a component. This possibility is removed in the Vacuum casting process. A lot of attention has been paid to reducing the weight of the engine throughout the process of manufacture, but the reduction of the engine crank cases saved almost 3.5kg in weight alone. The Ducati 1098R has rocker arms which are now chemically hardened, instead of chrome plated. Again, this approach has allowed significant weight savings and added to the durability of the bike. Carbon fibre fairings and a lightweight aluminium single seat cowl have contributed to yet more weight saving.

The new engine has been supplied with a cartridge style gearbox which allows faster changes to gear ratios. An advanced slipper clutch has been added as standard. In addition to the original road legal exhausts, the new Ducati 1098R has a range of new electronics including an adjustable traction control which offers eight different options as well as looking after the secondary injectors. What this system does is to allow different adjustment of the fuel level. Depending on the experience of the rider, this can allow differing levels of control over slide when cornering.

The suspension system of the Ducati 1098R is superb. Modern material used for the fork sliders, Titanium Nitride, produces low friction which allows the sliders to respond effortlessly to every lump and bump on the road. Fully adjustable 43mm Ohlin forks are of the highest performance standard. These Ohlin forks communicate the road contact patch superbly, advising the rider of condition and quality of tyre contact, putting the rider in complete control. The suspension is completed by perfectly balanced Ohlin shocks which are fully adjustable. Further control is added by an adjustable steering damper. This whole package adds up to a superb drive, with excellent traction and steering precision. Lightweight Marchesini wheels which have a weight reduction of almost 2kg over the equivalent supplied to the standard model are used and this adds to the ability of the manufacturers to keep the weight as low as possible.

The Ducati 1098R comes fitted with a system which analyses the ride data. This not only allows real time data to be evaluated, but also the rider is able to retrieve data from previous track sessions or road trips. It is even supplied with software for your computer and a data key which will allow you to download and analyse performance. All components used are the same as those used at British and World Superbike Races.

A special edition Troy Bayliss replica bike is being produced in a limited edition of 500 models. This special edition has been produced to mark Troy’s achievement in winning the 2008 World Superbike title and to recognise his achievements in the sport in total,whilst marking his retirement after the win. Each of the 500 bikes will have an edition numbered plaque, and will come complete with a racing exhaust, bike cover and paddock stand.

At almost £30,000 for this machine, it represents a substantial investment and many people will be wondering whether it really is worth that much of their hard earned cash. However, it is one of the most technologically advanced machines ever made, and the response so far suggests that it is already heading for the status as a modern classic. It has become almost overnight the number one aspirational Ducati.

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