Istvan Puskas, a Hungarian motorcycle enthusiast actually took the term ‘custom’ a little too real and spent the last two years chopping his dream chopper from you guessed it… wood.

Puskas has build this one-of-a-kind beauty almost entirely out of weather-resistant black locust wood, and not just as a showcase but as a fully functional machine. Wood isn’t the only unusual material used to create this special chopper. The handlebars and exhaust pipes are made from cow’s horns instead of chromed steel, and deer antlers has been used as decorations. A small Fiat donated the engine while a small wooden barrel serves as a gas tank.

 

It’s not clear whether the agricultural machine expert from Tiszaros couldn’t afford to buy himself an ordinary chopper, or if he just wanted to create something that would gain lots of attention where ever he went. Though some people might disagree with the fact about it being a fully fledged motorcycle, the level of craftsmanship that went into the building this master piece is impressive.

You’ve heard of BMW sedans, sportscars and motorcycles, but how about an electric bicycle sporting the revered blue propeller logo?

Allow us to introduce the BMW i Pedelec concept then. Mr. Ian Robertson head of marketing and sales, BMW, presented the new i Pedelec folding pedal-electric bike at the launch of the first iStore on July 25 on South Park lane in London. Apparently, the company plans to launch around 200 i Pedelec electric scooters in London this summer as part of its fleet for the 2012 Olympic games.

 

The three-speed 42-volt electric hub motor of the bike’s 16-inch rear wheel will only provide motor-assist up to 25 km/h, after which you will have to pedal on your own. The motor delivers 20Nm of torque and can feed some juice back to the battery during braking or when riding downhill. The i Pedelec’s lithium-manganese battery pack is said to offer between 25-40 km per charge, depending on usage of rider. The bike is said to weigh less than 20 kg, due to the lightweight and strong aluminum & carbon fiber frame. It reportedly takes four hours for a full recharge. BMW says that its green commute solution doesn’t need to be insured or registered, and the rider is not required to obtain a license or wear a helmet.

England International and Manchester United star footballer Wayne Rooney has designed an exclusive motorcycle in association with Lauge Jensen.

The motorcycle designed by the superstar is inspired from his famous scissor-kick goal he scored last season against Manchester City FC. The motorcycle will soon be auctioned and the proceedings will be forwarded to ‘KidsAids’ charity.

The exclusive motorcycle has been designed for an auction whose proceedings would go to KidsAids group which supports the sick and poor children in Denmark in collaboration with Denmark’s only motorcycle manufacturer, Lauge Jensen. The motorcycle will be put up for auction at the end of May 2012.

Footballing superstar Wayne Rooney said,“The bike we have designed is inspired by my scissor kick against Manchester City last season. The goal has been described as a score of high quality and technically outstanding and it was a target with great force and beauty. I hope people will agree with me when I say that the motorcycle has all these qualities and more attached with it.”

Tailored to the smallest detail at Lauge Jensen’s shop, the team has put each element of the motorcycle as per the Manchester United ace’s needs. Wayne Rooney will also help to put his unique stamp on the bike with a personalised signature adoring the fuel tank paint job of his kit number.

India’s entry-level performance bike segment is abuzz with new models from different two-wheeler manufacturers.

Kawasaki, Honda and Bajaj have introduced the Ninja, CBR250 and Pulsar 200NS, respectively, to the country’s enthusiasts, who have appreciated the bikes and set the cash registers ringing. It’s DSK Motors, Hyosung’s new Indian partners, whose turn it is now to exploit the surging demand with the GT250R. You might remember that Hyosung recently broke up with Garware Motors and tied up with DSK Motors.

The company has launch the 250-cc performance bike today in Mumbai with a price tag of Rs 2.75 lakh (ex showroom, Delhi) and bookings are already open now. The bike is identical to the GT650R, except for a smaller motor which churns out 28.89 PS of peak power and 22.68 Nm of torque.

DSK Motors and Hyosung are planning to assemble the next batch of GT250Rs in India itself in the coming eighteen months which would bring the cost of the bike down to around Rs 1.5 lakh. The company will leave no stones unturned to make the 250 a success and will also offer tempting finance schemes to woo buyers. A naked version of the bike, called the GT250, will be launched soon thereafter. The competition is becoming fiercer in this segment and we hope other manufacturers also join the fray. For our complete road test of the Hyosung GT 250R, and how it fares vis-a-vis the Honda CBR 250R, pick up the June issue of Bike India today.

Triumph has been incubating and hatching the 1200 Tiger Explorer since July 2006 but has now finally added it to its Adventure range.

They had to design and build a brand new engine as well as a brand new bike. The Explorer’s 1215cc three-cylinder motor shares no parts and no dimensions with any other engine in the current Triumph range. Three cylinders run 85×71.4mm bore and stroke dimensions and a full ride-by-wire Keihin fuel injection system takes care of a number of important aspects such as cruise control, traction control and capping the top speed to 220kmh. Triumph claim a peak figure of 137PS and – the most crucial part – a peak torque figure of 121Nm delivered at 6,400rpm. The 1200 Explorer comes, as standard, with traction control, ABS, cruise control and heated grips.

Suspension front and rear is courtesy of Kayaba. A 46mm inverted fork and a monoshock unit with progressive rising rate linkage at the back offer 190mm of wheel travel and 194mm respectively. The new Tiger comes with adjustable rider seat height, handlebar position and screen in line with a 20-litre fuel tank. One of the interesting points to take note off is that the 1200 Tiger has a 16000km service interval. Just a feather in its cap to prove it can stand tall for a long time.