Honda's entry in the big-selling supersport 600 class was in considerable need of an update as, compared with Yamaha's track-oriented, sleekly styled R6 in particular, it seemed heavy and even a little old-fashioned. So Honda has updated it. The 2007 model has a new frame, engine and bodywork, and only the suspension is shared with its predecessor. It's worth making an effort in this class, too. Worldwide, this is the best-selling motorcycle category, and in sports-minded Britain it's stronger still, despite shrinking a little in recent times.

Like many other classes, this is one which sells on the image of performance as much as its real-world usefulness. And why not? If it gives an owner pleasure, there's nothing to condemn as far as I'm concerned.

The new CBR compares very well indeed in outright performance, as we discovered at the fabulous Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama, USA. The newly constructed circuit draped among the rolling, wooded hills is one of the finest I've ridden for its technical blend of swoops, curves and blind summits, and I have no doubt that the enjoyment was enhanced by the ability of the Honda.

Dnepr (Russian: Днепр or Ukrainian: Дніпро, Dnipro) is the brand name of heavy motorcycles produced in Kiev, Ukraine. It has been in use since 1967.

Motorcycles have been produced in Kiev since 1946 at the Kiev Motorcycle Plant (Kievskiy Mototsikletniy Zavod, Киевский Мотоциклетниий Завод, KMZ, КМЗ). Initial production was of a 98cc 2-stroke model that was confiscated from the German firm Wanderer as reparations. The original design for KMZ heavy motorcycles, and their cousin the IMZ, is taken from the pre-WWII German BMW motorcycle R71, which the Soviet Union licensed in 1940. The plant and equipment needed to make the M-72 (the Soviet derivative of the BMW R71) was transferred from the Gorkiy Motorcycle Plant (Gorky Mototsikletniy Zavod, GMZ located in the city of Gorkiy (Nizhny Novgorod) in 1949. The first batch of M-72 motorcycles was produced in 1952 with the supply of 500 engines from IMZ. In 1958 KMZ replaced the plunger framed M72-N with the swingarm framed K-750. (This frame may have been modeled after the post 1955 BMW duplex frame). In 1964 KMZ introduced a military model, the MV-750 with a differential two-wheel drive to the sidecar wheel. In 1967, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, KMZ released their first OHV engine in the "Dnepr" K-650. Unlike the earlier sidevalve engines with their roller bearing crankshafts, this engine featured a sleeve bearing crankshaft as found in the WWII Zündapp KS750. The K-650 was superseded by model MT-9 650cc, which was available in both solo and sidecar models (often referred to as the best "Cossack" as it was reliable and had all the good features. The MT-10 was the first Soviet motorcycle to feature 12volt electrics.

The plant was founded on November 6, 1945.

It is situated in the capital of Belarus - Minsk:
Motovelo Corporation, 8 Partizanski Ave., Minsk, Belarus 220765; Tel: 375 17 221-6905; Fax: 375 17 221-6806

The plant manufactures on parallel assembly lines motorcycles and bicycles. 70% of bicycles are exported to Russia, while 90% of motorcycles are exported to countries outside of former USSR - Iran, Vietnam, Turkey, Mexico, UK, France, USA, Germany.

"Hey," I tell people who question my winter transportation plans. "I saw Kamrad riding his old Suzuki down Lake Street in February. If he can ride in February, I'll be riding on New Year's Day!"

Of course, having the will to ride all winter won't do you any good if your scooter isn't up to the task. On the Saturday we planned to test the Ural, the morning temps registered in the low thirties. Brrrr. I strapped the cameras and notebooks to the venerable Seca Turbo, pushed the starter button and heard an annoyingly familiar sound&emdash;one half-dead battery spinning the starter through maple syrup-like oil just fast enough to inspire hope. This always leads to a fully dead battery.

I called Northern Sports near Brainerd to explain the situation and reschedule the ride. "No problem," Marlow said. "You ought to get one of these Ural sidecar rigs. You'll be riding all winter."

Introduction

Build with the look of speed and with performance to back it up, the CBR 1100XX Super Blackbird was the fastest production motorcycle when it was launched back in 1996 but afterwards Honda decided to concentrate on obtaining a great sport-touring model as Suzuki and Kawasaki were fighting for those extra mph that would sell a motorcycle much better.