Called the Aebulle - Korean for "cocoon" - designer Shane Baxley says the magnesium-framed trike was inspired by the cocoon of the European Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io, for all you lepidopterists).
The one-off bike was created by one Chris Barber who fitted Alfa's V6 on a Kraftec frame. There are six individual exhaust pipes (three on each side) while the Weber carburetors breath through a set of pipes that stick out from the gas tank.
The 2.5-liter V6 engine is hooked up to a 4-speed transmission from a Harley Davidson while the forks and braking system are sourced from a Kawasaki ZXR-750 superbike.
Via: BikeExif & eBay
Photos by Phil Alex with the help of friends Mike and Aaron
In yet another attempt to bridge the gap between its cars and scooters, Peugeot has unveiled the HYbrid3 Evolution concept, a three-wheel drive, gasoline-electric hybrid scooter, at this week's Milan International Cycle and Motorbike Show. The three-wheel drive HYbrid3 Evolution is a roofless version of the HYbrid3 compressor that was presented at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and it is equipped with a 41HP 0.3-liter petrol engine driving the rear wheel, and two 3kW electric motors, one in each front wheel, delivering a combined output of 8HP.The electric motors are powered by lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged by an energy recovery system active during deceleration and braking. There are no mechanical connections between the front and the rear motors, as everything is controlled electronically by-wire.
Peugeot says that like many hybrid cars, the HYbrid3 Evolution can be driven in a number of different ways, including in all electric mode for a range of up to 10 km (6 miles), petrol only mode and a combination of both petrol and electric motors.
According to the French company, the hybrid scooter returns an average fuel consumption of 2.0lt/100 km (117.6 mpg US) with C02 emissions of 48 g/km.
Peugeot did not say if it has any plans to introduce a production version of the HYbrid Evolution.
We're not sure how many of you are willing to spend a good five minutes for a simple 'walk around' video with no action, but BMW has released footage of its new Concept 6 motorcycle that was revealed earlier this week. The concept bike sports a newly developed, 1.6-liter inline six-cylinder engine that will soon find its way into one of the Bavarian firm's production motorcycles. Watch the video after the jump.
Not many have tried, even less have succeeded in dropping a six-cylinder engine in a series production motorcycle but the boffins at BMW's Motorrad division are determined to make it work. After all, don't forget that BMW's automotive division has made a name for itself with its acclaimed straight-six power units that have been used in the Bavarian firm's cars for more than seven decades.The new 1.6-liter straight six-engine for motorcycles is making its debut on the Concept 6 and although it isn't clear how much of the design shown on this bike that features many aerodynamic components such as the twin-tipped engine spoiler and the air guide elements derived from the new S 1000 RR Supersports will make it into production, BMW confirmed that the engine will expand the K-Series in the "foreseeable future".
The Bavarian company also revealed that the first model to be introduced with the straight-six will be a top-of-the-line BMW touring machine.
The compact power unit with cylinders tilted to the front by 55o is said to be approximately 100mm or 4" slimmer than all former straight-six production engines and only a bit wider than a large-capacity straight-four with conventional technology.
The straight-six featured in the BMW Motorrad Concept 6 comes with dry sump lubrication while the oil reservoir is provided by an oil tank integrated at the rear of the engine block.
BMW says that the while output of the new six-cylinder will be approximately in the same range as on the firm's 1.3-litre straight-four power units (around 175 horsepower), torque will be at the top of the range already offering 130Nm or 96lb-ft of torque from just 2,000rpm and at the same time rev up to almost 9,000 rpm. For example, the K1300 S produces a peak torque of 103 lb-ft or 140 Nm at 8,250 rpm.
The company also claim that the six-cylinder unit which is equipped with a fully controlled catalytic converter returns a better fuel economy than a comparable four-cylinder under normal touring conditions.
