Tag Archives: Turbocharger

Brough tests $185k 180hp AMB 001

Brough Superior has tested its $A185,000, 180 horsepower turbo AMB 001 track toy that comes with plenty of carbonfibre and Aston Martin wings.

The bike is not road registrable and only 100 will be made at their factory in Toulouse, France, with delivery late in 2020.Brough Superior AMB 001 track toy carbonfibre Aston Martin

Brough Superior Motorcycles Australia Sales and Network Development Dale Schmidtchen says they have one on order.

“We have been told they are expected in Q4 of this year and they are selling fast,” he says.

“I personally think they would look great sitting in a living room and admiring.”

The first Australian distributor for the venerable British-now-French marque in more than 80 years has opened a showroom in Brisbane.

Brough Superior Fred DrakeImporter Fred Drake with the Brough models

The model line-up is:

  • SS100, $105,000 (Euro 3);
  • SS100, $110,000 (Euro 4);
  • Pendine Sand Racer, $105,000;
  • Anniversary, $168,000;
  • AMB 001 (track only), $185,000.

Click here for a short test ride and more info on these models.

Tested on the track

The AMB 001 is a joint project by Aston Martin and Brough Superior.

Their project mule took to the track at Pau-Arnos in France recently to begin its comprehensive testing program in traditional Aston Martin Camo livery.

Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman said:

Everybody involved has managed to make tremendous progress with the development of AMB 001, despite the challenges we have all been facing. This special motorcycle is, like our road cars, the result of beautiful design melding with modern technology to produce a bike that any collector will be proud of. We are delighted to see how much progress has been made, both on and off track and look forward to the moment when production starts for this stunning machine.Brough Superior AMB 001 track toy carbonfibre Aston Martin

Prototype testing is one of the most vital parts of the development process with a test motorcycle allowing the team to validate the chassis geometry, the ergonomics and dynamic behaviour. 

In the same way that Aston Martin’s vehicle dynamics engineers can ‘read’ a car, Brough Superior’s test rider feeds back on all areas of performance, from the overall dynamic feel of the bike to details regarding cornering, braking, acceleration and the like.Brough Superior AMB 001 track toy carbonfibre Aston Martin

Brough Superior CEO Thierry Henriette said:

One of the key design features of the AMB 001 is an aluminium fin that runs along the full length of a carbon fibre tank, passing under the saddle and out onto the rear. The body holding the fin and supporting the saddle is one of the areas where we called on the unique knowledge of Mecano ID, who joined the project to apply specialist aerospace-quality carbon fibre skills to the exclusive AMB 001.

While the focus of the track testing is directed at the chassis, engine bench testing takes place in parallel.

The AMB 001 is powered by a 180hp (134kW) turbo-charged engine. The turbo package includes an intercooler with an oversized/wide intake manifold.

Once this testing process is complete the AMB 001 will go into production this northern autumn at the Brough Superior factory in Toulouse, France.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Yamaha opt for car-like turbocharger

Yamaha appears to be planning on a blown future with a turbocharger system similar to that used in many cars where the unit is next to the exhaust manifold.

The Japanese company filed a patent in April 2019 for a parallel twin with two turbo options, the other placing the unit inside the exhaust.

Now it appears they have opted for the car-like turbocharger system.

The original patent filing showed drawings (above) of a turbo in an MT-09 which is actually powered by a triple-cylinder engine.

However, the drawings don’t necessarily mean they will build the engine, the bike or use the MT-09 to house the engine.

If it’s the MT-09 engine with a cylinder lobbed off, it would be about 588cc which would be the same engine capacity as the Suzuki Recursion turbo concept unveiled in 2013 with a single-overhead-cam parallel-twin turbo engine.

Suzuki Recursion - Katana turbo blownSuzuki Recursion

Blown era

Yamaha’s turbocharged decision follows the success of Kawasaki’s supercharged H2, patent filings by Suzuki and Honda for turbo engines and Ducati applying for a patent for an exhaust system turbine.

So it seems the future for motorcycle engines might be blown, either with forced induction or exhaust.

The switch to smaller, lighter, more powerful yet more fuel-efficient blown bikes makes a lot of sense given the stricter emissions rules in Europe and California, as well as tough imposts such as a charges for or restrictions on older bikes entering CBDs.

Turbo was the “next big thing” back in the ’80s with models from several of the Japanese manufacturers, including the Honda CB500 Turbo, Yamaha XJ650 Turbo, Suzuki XN85, and Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo.

They had manic light-switch power that made them not only difficult to control, but dangerous. They were also temperamental and unreliable.

However, modern low-boost mini turbos and superchargers which have revolutionised the car industry in recent years would be a lot more controllable and reliable than the temperamental rocketships of the ‘80s.

Turbocharger problems

Turbos and superchargers require a fair bit of plumbing and coolers.

They are easy to fit in a car where space is not scarce like on a motorcycle.

The Yamaha patent presented two different solutions to the problem.Yamaha turbo blown

In one filling, the exhaust headers merge into one to pipe the gas through an intercooler into a low-mounted turbocharger in front of the engine with the catalytic converter underneath.

The other filing (top image on this page) has the turbo upside down and closer to the headers, allowing the cat to be mounted in front of the cylinders.

It is not only more compact but would also heat the cat faster and decrease emissions. That’s why they have chosen to go with the latter.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Yamaha’s future might be blown!

Yamaha might be going down the blown track like Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Ducati with a patent filing for a turbocharged parallel twin.

It follows Kawasaki’s H2 supercharged bike and patent filings by Suzuki and Honda for turbocharged engines, while Ducati applied for a patent for an exhaust system turbine.

So it seems the future for motorcycle engines might be blown, either with forced induction or exhaust.

Blown filing

The Yamaha patent filing shows drawings of a turbo in an MT-09 which is actually powered by a triple-cylinder engine.

However, patent drawings don’t necessarily mean they will build the engine, the bike or use the MT-09 to house the engine.

If it’s the MT-09 engine with a cylinder lobbed off, it would be about 588cc which would be the same engine capacity as the Suzuki Recursion turbo concept unveiled in 2013 with a single-overhead-cam parallel-twin turbo engine.

Suzuki Recursion - Katana turbo blown
Suzuki Recursion

Blown era

The switch to smaller, lighter, more powerful yet more fuel-efficient blown bikes makes a lot of sense given the stricter emissions rules in Europe and California, as well as tough imposts such as a charges for or restrictions on older bikes entering CBDs.

Turbo was the “next big thing” back in the ’80s with models from several of the Japanese manufacturers, including the Honda CB500 Turbo, Yamaha XJ650 Turbo, Suzuki XN85, and Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo.

They had manic light-switch power that made them not only difficult to control, but dangerous. They were also temperamental and unreliable.

However, modern low-boost mini turbos and superchargers which have revolutionised the car industry in recent years would be a lot more controllable and reliable than the temperamental rocketships of the ‘80s.

Turbo problems

Turbos and superchargers require a fair bit of plumbing and coolers.

They are easy to fit in a car where space is not scarce like on a motorcycle.

The Yamaha patent presents two different solutions to the problem.Yamaha turbo blown

In one filling, the exhaust headers merge into one to pipe the gas through an intercooler into a low-mounted turbocharger in front of the engine with the catalytic converter underneath.

The other filing (top image on this page) has the turbo upside down and closer to the headers, allowing the cat to be mounted in front of the cylinders.

It is not only more compact but would also heat the cat faster and decrease emissions.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com