Recently, there has been a lot of attention paid to full-cowl super-boats powered by parallel twin-cylinder engines. We explored their potential to become a new trend.
Authentic SS that can be bought for 1 million yen, a feeling of explosive hit
The "YZF-R7" is probably the model that Japanese sports motorcycle enthusiasts are paying the most attention to right now. Yamaha announced the model for the US and Europe in May this year. Based on the MT-07, which recently debuted with a new model, the YZF-R7 is positioned as a full-cowl sport motorcycle for fun riding that aims for pure riding enjoyment.
The engine is a liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, in-line 2-cylinder, DOHC, 4-valve, 689cc engine producing 73.4ps/8750rpm, the same maximum output as the MT-07. The strengthened steel frame has been upgraded to a more sporting dimension, with special upside down forks and rear shocks for the front and rear suspension, and radially mounted master and caliper brakes.
An assist and slipper clutch that mitigates shifting downshifts has also been newly installed. It weighs 188 kg, which is standard for this class, but the wheelbase has been trimmed to 1395 mm and the ride position has been improved with separate handlebars under the top bridge, giving it a full-fledged sports specification reminiscent of the flagship R1 of the YZF series.
It will be released in Japan at the end of 2021 and will be priced at around 1 million yen, so I already have a feeling it will be an explosive hit.
The Next Moto2 Machine! The Track Weapon from KTM
The RC 8C was also announced last week on the KTM website as the latest 2022 model. The RC 8C has been described as an ultra-lightweight, circuit-dedicated weapon for aggressive riders who want to "rub elbows".
The engine is a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, in-line two-cylinder, DOHC, four-valve, 889cc engine from the 890 Duke R that produces a maximum output of 128ps. The chassis, constructed from a traditional KTM chromoly trellis frame and machined parts, was handcrafted without compromise, and the steering head angle and offset can be adjusted.
The front and rear suspensions were built using the same process as the RC16 MotoGP machine, with WP's APEX Pro Spec and Brembo's top-of-the-line Stillma brakes. In addition, forged aluminum wheels by Dymag and Pirelli racing slicks are used for a serious time attack. The motorcycle is limited to 100 units and is priced at 4.3 million Japanese Yen, but it has already been sold out.
It will be interesting to see in which category this machine will be raced, but one thing we can say is that it is close to Moto2 spec. Currently, Moto2 uses the Triumph Street Triple R's 3-cylinder 765cc engine due to regulations, but if you consider the 2-cylinder equivalent, it would not be surprising to see it compete in the same category. Of course, none of this has any basis in fact, but let's look forward to the plans for a model for public roads.
Benefits of paratwins found through real-life experience
Why parallet twin-cylinder nowadays? I recently had a chance to find the answer to this question. I took the Aprilia RS660, which is already on sale in Japan, for a test ride on the circuit and was impressed with its driving performance.
The engine is a newly developed liquid-cooled, in-line two-cylinder 660cc engine with a 270-degree crank and a maximum output of 100ps, which is not an outstanding specification when you look at it on its own, but it is just so smooth and easy to handle. It's easy to get a feel for how the paratwin's pulsating feel and flat torque hold the road, and because it doesn't have the explosive surge of power of a big-displacement straight-four engine, it's not intimidating to open the throttle. This allows the rider to open the throttle more quickly, which in turn allows for faster corner exit, and more time to open the throttle fully, which increases the top speed on the straights. In addition, the latest electronic control system will follow the rider's skill.
Compared to Aprilia's flagship model, the RSV4, the wheelbase (1370mm) is 69mm shorter, the seat height (820mm) is 31mm lower, and the vehicle weight (183kg) is 16kg lighter. The RSV4 has 200ps. Of course, the RSV4 is a direct descendant of the superbike racer with over 200 horsepower, so there is no comparison, but it is clear which is easier to handle for the "normal rider".
So, in a nutshell, the middle-class parallel twin-cylinder supersport can be described as a "rider-first machine. And that's not just in terms of performance, but also in terms of price. If there are any signs of a boom, it's that riders around the world are beginning to realize this.
