DERBI Mulhacen - The Thumper Cafe Scrambler

Please note that all images are 3000 x 2500 or higher. This is because you will truely and really appreciate the beauty of this bike. So while I apologize for the size which will take a long time to download, but believe me, you will like what you see!

DERBI is one firm which has been a standout in World Championships in the smaller categories. Derbi has made its status legendary with 10 World Championship titles in the 50cc, 80cc and 125cc categories. In 2008, DERBI claimed back the 125 World Championship title with its Balas Rojas (a. k. a Red Bullets) which was their 19th title including 11 titles for riders and 8 as manufacturers. But these championship titles were very few previous to 2008; in fact the last title before 2008 came in 1989 and that was in the 80cc category. There are not too many Spanish bike builders now but Derbi seems to be holding rather well and it has been well received in the biking community for whom Derbi is actually intended for. Although Spanish, it is now owned by the Italian firm Piaggio.
As such majority of the bikes are within the 125cc range. However there is this other engine of 659cc which has a body to die for, I mean the overall look of the bike that is. Of course, this is the Mulhacen 659. The same engine does duty on three different versions, the regular Mulhacen 659, the Mulhacen Café 659 and the limited edition Mulhacen Café 659 Angel Neito LTD Edition. Pronounced Mull-hass-en, Mulhacen is the name of a mountain in the Iberian Peninsula. From the first time it was displayed at the 2004 Munich show, the bike was very well received and it has also won an award from the Motorcycle Design Association (MDA) winning the third spot for "Best of Show" when it was competing against Benelli's TNT, KTM's RC8 and Yamaha's MT-01.

Among the 3 versions, first came the Mulhacen 659, essentially a scrambler. Then for the many fans of street versions, the bike came in the form of Mulhacen Café 659 and now Derbi have dedicated this new Euro3 version of the Mulhacén Café 659 to Angel Nieto, the man who contributed the most to make the Derbi brand famous in the racing world by winning world championships between 1969 and 1986.
The idea of making a Scrambler came to Derbi as they wanted to bring back the 70s in a modern machine. This is another new-age retro which seems to be the flavour of the decade. By sheer looks of the bikes, it is just magnificent. It’s so sleek looking that you feel like keep on staring at it as it stands still. Now Derbi has gone a step further and launched the Mulhacén Café 659 Angel Nieto LTD version. It is oh-so-beautiful. So elegant and the new colour scheme is absolutely breath taking. Only 50 units of the L.E. which will be built. The Café version differs from the L.E and the regular in its tyre size which are thinner, a slightly longer wheelbase while having a shorter overall length.
Like some other manufacturers (e.g. Aprilia) Derbi gets the engine from the Yamaha-Minarelli partnership and the engine is a single-cylinder four-valve Euro 3 compliant engine. It is the same engine that powers Yamaha MT-03, XT 660 and Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada. It has a steel tube frame with aluminum swingarm. Basically the models are the same but the ergonomics of the motorcycles have been carefully reworked for the different versions.The engine is a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, SOHC, four-valve, 659.7cc single-cylinder unit that has a modest 47bhp on tap and 55Nm of torque and weighs around 170kg. Top speed is around 165kmph and a 0 to 100 is achieved in 6.44 seconds. Torque is quite good even at low rpm which helps the rider feel at ease in urban traffic as well as long winding roads. All the 3 models have almost similar specifications, with the difference in tyre sizes that is smaller tyres with a slightly longer wheelbase while having an overall shorter length for the Café version. The Café version has a removable seat cowl and the suspension is kept soft for long distance travel.

Actually the Mulhacen Café looks a little bit of a dual purpose, probably because of its long stance typical of a scrambler, but it is essentially a café racer. Actually no, I mean it is sort of a mixture, but it is also projected as a middleweight sportsbike, so it is actually worth for that category as to go along with the Café Racer category (which is anyway an urban sport bike), it has some typical sportsbike character like the 17-inch wheels (shod with 110mm (front) and 150mm (rear) Pirelli Diablo tyres), 43mm USD Marzocchi fork (non-adjustable), fully adjustable ZF Sachs monoshock and high-spec Brembo brakes with radial-mount callipers at the front. So, it seems it will please a lot of bike fans of different categories from scramblers to café racers to sportsbike and a little of dual purpose. It is a good mixture between these categories albeit you have to compromise on certain aspects on building cross category bikes. Looking at the bike, you know the tyres are definitely gravel friendly and aluminum swing-arm will surely handle well on off roads but it has a soft suspension which is for in alignment for city driving and just might be not that helpful in the mountains. But the good thing is that it is factory set and can be adjusted. The seat height is also lower than one would expect on a scrambler, but good enough if you think you are on a café racer. This might mean that the foot pegs may touch the tarmac though.

The engine is of course the trusted and tried one, but the Mulhacen has its fuel injection is re-mapped specifically for the bike. There is ample torque at the bottom of the rev range for its city riding pleasure.
Opening the throttle in first will have the front arcing up in a smooth controllable wheelie with the second gear perfect for typical town speeds of 30-40mph. Well, it will easily do over 160 kmph and would touch the 175kmph mark. The rear shock is neatly placed, offset on the right-hand side of the swingarm and with the battery at the center of the middle of the frame, it centralizes its weight. The Yamaha -Minarelli 660cc single is known to have a nice pull above 5,000rpm and also known as very satisfying in the twisties and you could enjoy all that to the 7000 rpm. Although the feul injection has been re mapped, power comparision vis-à-vis other models based on the engine (say XT660R), the power has been detuned in the mid range which is probably due to the single silencer and the size of the airbox. Riding style is aggressive with the rider sitting close to the tank.
The digital clocks are small but clearly visible. There are eight different levels of backlight brightness to illuminate the dash with a clinical white glow. The small fuel tank will see you up 138kms (86 miles) before you are being informed to refill or else by another 24 kms more and you will need to start dragging the bike.
The Mulhacen is the baby of one Mr. Klaus Nennewitz, who was previously involved with Aprilia in creating the Tuono and Falco and Mr. Jose Gonzales who was man behind the design. To create a narrow bike, one usually prefers a single downtube splitting into two bottom cradles and that is there, but don’t miss the unique side-mounted rear suspension that has the shock in upright position. Why this is important is because can you think about any other combination which would allow such a narrow and low midsection while still housing a proper-sized air box? It’s probably an overlook by most or all of us, but there are many similar detailing that has gone into the bike for which Mr. Gonzales needs to be applauded, but even if you miss the great detailing, everything comes out as a total picture when you really start appreciating the beauty without knowing what it is that has really taken the cake. From the bodywork to the proportions and the lithe curves, everything seems so well suited.

Now coming to the main part, the looks! Just standing there, it simply looks brilliant, no doubt about it. Those spoked wheels, fat tyres and the sweet exhaust gels so well with the small but very good looking tank which is so in tune with the low-seat and the big massive swingarm! And that massive front disc brake also adds to the overall macho but slick look.All in all, basically it is a fun bike and will suit riders from all ages and categories, it won’t overwhelm you, you won’t be overpowered but you will have the smile of riding a middleweight bike with lots of character and with even much much more style. Derbi probably wants it to feature as a all rounder and as such it has certainly done a wonderful job. Well, it is not actually cheap anyway because at 6,785 UK Pounds or 7,700 Euros or 11,000 USD, you can get a lot of bigger multi cylinder bikes which will be much more powerful. In fact, barring the YZF R1, you can get any of the supersport bike from the Yamaha stable even the R6 or the FZ1, but what the Mulhacen promises you is a stand out anywhere. You will be noticed! This actually is a piece of art, very customized but you can have it. Visit the DERBI website, you will also like the off-roaders and in case you want some further info on the specific bikes, here are the links to the Mulhacen 659, Mulhacen Café 659 and Mulhacen 659 LE.

Specifications
Engine - Single cylinder, 4S, 4 Valve, 659.7cc
Bore x stroke - 100 x 84 mm
Fuel supply - Nippondenso electronic injection with second air system, 44mm throttle valve
Cooling system - Liquid
Compression ratio 10:1
Lubrication system - Dry sump with oil pump
Ignition starting system - Electronic & Electric
Primary & Secondary transmission - Gear & Chain
Clutch - Multi-plate
Gearbox - 5 speeds
Front & Rear suspension - 43 mm. Upside-down fork, 120 mm travel & Hydraulic progressive linkage monoshock, 120 mm travel
Tyres - Front: 110/80 x 17" (for LE & S), 110/60x17” (for Café) & 150/70 x 17" (for LE & S), 160/60x17” (for Café)
Front & Rear brakes -320 mm disc & 245 mm disc
Wheelbase - 1.386 mm (for LE & S), 1.390 mm (for Café)
Total length - 2.120 mm (for LE & S) & 1.998 mm (for Café)
Maximum width - 800 mm
Seat height - 810 mm Fuel tank - 13 Litres

Interestingly, BIKE EXIF featured a deriavative of the Mulhacen (Mulhacen Hot Bob) on their daily feature today. I am a subscriber of BIKE EXIF and everyday they send you a nice motorcycle link of rare bikes and as I was writing the text of the post, I was surprissed to see BIKE EXIF also featuring the same. Here is the permanent BIKE EXIF link to the Mulhacen Hot Bob. From Bike Exif "The great Spanish names of Ossa, Bultaco, and Montesa have gone, but Derbi remains—albeit as a subsidiary of Italian giant Piaggio. Most Derbi motorcycles are sub-125 cc city bikes, but the Mulhacén 659 is an interesting crack at the burgeoning scrambler market. It’s powered by a Yamaha-designed big single, reportedly the largest engine ever fitted to a Spanish motorcycle. At the 2006 EICMA show, Derbi revealed this ‘Hot Bob’ concept: unsurprisingly, nothing came of it, but the Mulhacén is gradually making a name for itself as a respectable scrambler with a strong dash of style. The latest variant from Derbi is the “Mulhacén Café 659 Angel Nieto Limited Edition”, a tribute to a 1970s Spanish roadracing hero. It has a slightly better paintjob than Hot Bob."

The Hot Bob and the Original

1125CR & TNT1130CR - Carrying the hearts of CR

There is no doubt that Café Racer is one of the favorite styling among any kind of bikers. You will meet bikers who are not too fond of cruisers, bikers who don’t like bikes with fairing, but you will probably meet none who doesn’t like Café Racers. In fact, everyone loves it. And with the new-age retro cult in, Café Racers are back, thanks to Ducati, Triumph and Honda. Now, Café Racers essentially mean naked bikes, but what we have here are 2 Café Racers which are not exactly naked.
It’s beyond us whether to like these bikes or not, but when you have companies as hallowed as Benelli and Buell announcing these bikes as CR, we all need to just stand up and appreciate these bikes. Why? Because CRs, what we know off, is that beyond the beautiful image it depicts, it has to be a racer, right? Now-a-days we have CRs with puny engines with the styling of a CR. Not to take away anything from this wanna-be CRs, after all the style of a CR is what makes it stand apart and bikers like modifying their bikes in the CR format. So Benelli and Buell have unleashed the heart of a Café Racer in total new packages. The TNT 1130 CR from Benelli packs a whopping 142 hp from the 1130 engine while the 1125CR from Buell belts out 146 hp from the 1126 cc engine. What are these? Monster figures from naked street bikes. And that’s why, they are in the Café Racer society, street scorchers from light weight vehicles for pure adrenaline rush and that with all modern features.

Buell promotes the 1125CR as a 21st century Café Racer, not a new-age retro. So with time, we know everything changes. These are the new generation Café Racers. The Buell CR is a mixture of sportbike and streetfighter. It has class leading performance figures with that distinctive Buell styling. Its Erik version of what a modern CR should look like. And we cannot argue with Erik on that. You know the 1125R monster from Buell and this 1125CR has the same machine beneath. With little to debate on its awesome performance, it has a sound which complements the performance factor to a T. Yes, handling has always been a positive feature of a CR, but how many CRs do you know are liquid cooled? Well, this CR is…
So what is the big thing about the performance that Buell is associated with? What rides the CR and other sister bikes is the Buell trademark Helicon engine. The Helicon engine was Erik’s vision to have such an engine which has the ‘perfect’ power delivery regardless of the displacement. With addition thinking heads on the drawing board, they drew an engine which is lightweight, fast-revving, big-bore with short-strokes resulting in delivery of broad and seamless power, hitting 146 hp just before hitting the rpm redline. The torque figures are even more impressive. The torque ‘curve’ is actually ‘flat’ topping out at 82 ft./lbs with only 8 ft./lbs. of variation along the entire powerband. This component makes the bike rideable at any gear and that is why Buell makes such nice sportsbike. The Helicon features dual overhead cams, a self-adjusting hydraulic chain drive and magnesium valve covers, the valve train design is both lightweight and very compact. The valve train design is typical Buell innovation and this technology reduces friction and permits a quicker valve opening due to reduced weight. An additional innovative performance enhancing feature is the RAM air system which pressurizes the air box for a performance gain at speeds over 130 kmph using computational fluid dynamics to optimize the air flow.

Buell bikes are known for their performance streaks and a great chassis is required for this. The chassis featured in the CR1125 has been called Buell Intuitive response Chassis (IRC). Intuitive means instinctive or spontaneous. The rigidity of the chassis is aided by the engine acting as a stressed member of the frame. The frame assembly is 10 pounds lighter than previous designs and like Erik’s innovation, it has the 5.3-gallon fuel capacity storage within the frame. That’s not all, inside the frame there are air flow channels for heat dispersion and efficient airflow. The swingarm is made of cast aluminum and has been tuned for stiffness and placed with an optimal pivot point. It also has slider-bobbins for increased protection and easy use of a rear stand and completing the package are the 47 mm inverted fork tubes that are secured in rigid triple clamps. The front suspension is fully adjustable that will help the rider set up for different adjustments as the terrain demands. This further accentuates that daft handling that Buells are famous for. The rear mono suspension is also fully adjustable for the rider’s weight and riding style. No bike’s handling can be complete without able braking and stopping capabilities. The 1125CR has Buell’s trademark Zero Torsional Load front brake which is a 4-pad, 8-piston caliper and single 375 mm rotor. Why a single for such a bike? Actually, there is no need of double discs as the new rim-mounted design eliminates the need a second disc, which helps significantly in reducing weight. The bike features the famed Pirelli Diablo Corsa III tyres to go with those sweet looking 6-spoke cast aluminum wheels which are very light.

The instrument panel has Buell’s ODIS (On Board Diagnostic Information System) which will give the rider 99 lap times and splits in addition to ambient air temperature, coolant temperature, average and instantaneous fuel consumption, miles to next service display, etc. Standard features include an analogue tachometer, digital speedometer, gear position display, ignition mobilizer, low fuel light and even miles traveled on reserve. What more information could you possibly want? Stocks and shares?
Coming back to the engine, you know it’s better to have a 72-degree V-angle than 90-degree as it is more compact and also it can be centralized for better weight distribution. The Buell has the same logic and with the engine placed forward, the front wheel carries 54 percent of the vehicle weight which improves handling and stability. Everything in the Buell chassis is just perfect for maximum effect. To aid the lower centre of gravity, the aluminum frame doubles for the fuel reservoir. Also the radiators are mounted longitudinally between the front wheel and the frame, placing their weight lower and closer to the center of gravity. Even the muffler and exhaust catalyst are located below the engine. And the best thing is that it weighs only 170kgs (375 pounds) dry. The Helicon engine is trademarked exclusive to Buell. This 146 hp machine has 82 ft./lbs. of torque in a broad linear powerband which provides a superbike riding experience. The redline is at 10,500 rpm. The dual overhead cams have self-adjusting chain and gear drive which gives the head a compact design. The engine is primary balanced with three internal shafts, reducing weight and to minimize vibration.Like any other supersport bike, it has dry sump oiling and has a 6-speed gear box. Rear wheel hopping during high-speed downshifts is reduced by the assistance of the Hydraulic Vacuum Assist (HVA) slipper-action clutch.
The smoked windscreen actually looks very good with those dazzling headlights. The headlamps are incorporated into the front fairing and it features a six-bulb headlight system for brilliant illumination at night. The front & rear turn signals and taillight are LED. It has a very sleek rear section with a passenger seat hidden under an easily removable cowling.

Now coming to the looks, yes, many of us heard about it before is that how can a CR be a CR with those scoops and all, some say, it just takes away the CR ‘look’ or just take away the scoops to make it to a proper CR. Well, this is evolution and if the scoops are present, it is because it aides the bike for what it is meant to be. Powerful and fast like a Café Racer. The front fairing and windshield design driven by Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis and aerodynamic testing optimizes airflow to reduce drag and increase rider comfort. This is Buell's Advanced Cooling System and instead of relying on air churned up by the front wheel like yesteryear’s café racers, Buell engineers routed virgin air through a split radiator, along the specially channeled frame, and cleanly out the back of the bike. Also these performance scoops are designed to act like frame-sliders, helping to prevent damage to parts of the bike that are a lot more painful to replace. Come to think about it, this is ACTUALLY a café racer. It has the heart in its right place. Café Racer are meant to be nimble, fast having a low center of gravity and the 1125CR is all that. This is the 21st century and this is a 21st century Café Racer. Visit the BUELL website to have an insight to the 1125CR

Specifications
Engine - 1,126 cc, Helicon, Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 72 V-Twin
Bore x Stroke - 4.055 in. (103 mm) x 2.658 in. (67.51 mm)
Maximum Power & Torque - 146 hp (109 kW) @ 9,800 rpm & 82 ft-lb (111 Nm) @ 8,000 rpm
Compression Ratio - 12.3:1
Intake - Zero-resistance airbox, Pressurized RAM air intake
Primary Drive Type & Ratio - Helical gear &1.806:1 (65/36)
Secondary Drive Type - Belt
Overall Length & Width - 80.7 in. (2,050 mm) & 29.3 in. (744 mm)
Seat Height, Laden & Unladen - 30.5 in. (775 mm) & 32.7 in. (831 mm
Ground Clearance - 5.43 in. (138 mm)
Wheelbase - 54.5 in. (1,384 mm)
Fuel Capacity, Total & Reserve - 5.3 gal. (20.1 l) & 0.8 gal. (3 l)
Dry Weight - 170 kg (375 lb)
Tyres Front & Rear - Pirelli Corsa III (both)
Tyre Size Front & Rear - 120/70 ZR-17 & 180/55 ZR-17
Wheel Type, Front & Rear - 6-spoke, ZTL cast aluminum & 6-spoke, cast aluminum
Wheel Size, Front & Rear - 3.5 in x 17 in & 5.5 in x 17 in
Mileage - 15.4 kmpl (36 mpg) city & 20 kmpl (47 mpg) highway

And here we have the Benelli TNT 1130CR. We can agree that this beauty from Italy has more of a streetfighter look, but Benelli has given the CR tag in the nomenclature itself, so we do have a cafe racer here. Okay, the design idea used for the development of the Cafè Racer was that of creating a bike inspired by yesteryear’s racing bikes, but with unique, sophisticated details to make it modern and effective. Even the colour was also evoked form the past. And that is what the 1130CR is. A bike with the power and performance of a sportbike and the comfort of a standard bike. And come to look at it, it is actually a proper Café Racer. It has a nice windscreen, albeit small, clip on handlebars, a single seat, foot board adjustment, so it has everything you find in a Café Racer.Yes, Benelli bikes are expensive, in fact any Italian bikes, but the thing is you won’t find anything regular run on the mill items here, it is Italian and being a Benelli, it is even more rare.
Benelli has basically 2 engines, an 899cc and the bigger bored out 1130cc engines beside the offroader engine. All the bikes are woven around these models to cater to different categories. In the U.S, there is only the 1130cc engine.
Like all Benelli machines, this CR bike will give you the option of modifying the engine with a single button. Like many sports bike featuring this option, you can opt for power or traction control which of course will also offer you better fuel consumption, well though not by much as the TNT 1130 Café Racer seems to be quite a guzzler. But then if you have the money to buy a Benelli, you would probably never ever think about economy. Just for the record, it will give you a ride of around 120km from the 16.5 liters tank. The free power configuration makes it possible to fully enjoy the power of the bike at 135 hp while the traction control will let you enjoy the bike in city urban driving through the twists and corners with a reduced power output at 112 hp.

The CR also offers adjustable forks (extension and spring preload), with a hardened surface to improve the sliding qualities. This feature is also available on the rear shock though only pre-load which greatly helps the rider in all asphalt conditions. The bike is considerably lighter thanks to the Marchesini rims in forged and machined aluminium alloy and the Brembo braking system with a 4 piston radial calliper and a 320 mm diameter double disk at the front.
The engine is a super refined 3 cylinder in line 4 stroke machine which is fitted with anti-vibration countershaft with a total displacement of 1130cc. It is oil cooled The TNT Cafe Racer 1130 isn't your average Cafe Racer. That is so damn true. There is no classic styling cues of the 70s to start with and if it was not for the CR moniker in the bike, you would most probably categorize it as a Streetfighter. But then even Benelli is saying it’s a crossover of café Racer to a Streetfighter. Moreover the colour is probably a little too bright for a Café Racer, but genetically, it does have café racer properties. See, even the mirrors are by the end of the bars, isn’t that a café racer? Well, just having some components like those certainly doesn’t make it one, but riding one will most definitely make you *feel* that you are on a Cafe Racer. On the other hand, what you have here is an exotic machine of fine art. It is, let’s say a muscular cafe racer with smooth curves. This machine is as modern as modern can get. It’s quite fast for a triple and it will happily take you to a top whack of 230kph, and don’t worry for its ride. Reviewers have said that the ride is excellent and it is a very sweet handler and also those big discs brakes will make it absolutely safe for you.

Take a good look at it. Even if you are not a big fan of radical designs featuring mean cuts and angles, on a second look, you will really appreciate this beautiful created design. There have been too many concerns with both these bikes as how could you categorize them as Café Racers. The belief is that Café Racers are self –designed bikes, like homemade ones where you develop those clip on handles and the dome at the rear and unwritten laws would have it as an air cooled exposed engine and must resemble a 70s bike. As such there are ‘real’ café racers like the TRIUMPH Thruxton or DUCATI Sports 1000, but Buell and Benelli has also done their own homework before they got to these models. Look, look wise these bikes may be different from a café Racer as chalk and cheese, but let me reiterate that there is also a heart of the Café Racer. The heart is a fast paced machine which is easy to ride in urban settings. That part both Buell and Benelli got it right. Yes, probably a few designs from the past simple like a round headlamp would have been more suited or even lower handlebars, but both these companies mention their CR as new generation café Racers. Now if sports bike can evolve over the years, then Buell and Benelli has every right to try to evolve the thinking pattern of a café racer lover. Maybe they have disappointed many a café racer fan, but I am sure it has won quite a new number of fans and also impressed some old ones. After all, the heart is in the right place. Visit the BENELLI website to get a load of the TNT 1130CR
Specifications

Engine – 1130cc, 4 stroke, 3 cylinders in line, tilted forwards 15°, fitted with anti-vibration countershaft

Bore X Stroke - 88 x 62 mm
Cooling System - Liquid, with lateral double radiator, served by two electrofans
Oil Cooling System - Radiator
Distribution - Chain driven double head cam shaft with 4 valves per cylinder
Lubrication - Wet sump
Max Power & Torque - 136 hp @ 9250 rpm & 117 Nm @ 6750 rpm
Caburation - Electronic injection with 1 injector per cylinder
Ignition - Single coil inductive discharge electronic ignition
Clutch & Gear box- Wet clutch & 6-speed extractable
Transmission - Straight toothed primary gear, chain driven secondary
Suspension Front & Rear- Marzocchi 50 mm diameter upside down fork & ASD steel tube trellis swingarm with Extreme Technology single shock absorber with adjustable rebound and spring pre-load
Wheels - Die-cast aluminium alloy front 3.5”x17”, rear 6.00”x17”
Tyres Front & Rear – Dunlop Tubeless, radial; Front 120/70 x 17” & Rear 190/50 x 17”
Brakes - Brembo; Front twin floating disk, 320 mm diameter, with 4 piston caliper & Rear single disk, with twin piston caliper
Wheelbase - 1419 mm
Dimension - 2100 x 1050 x 790 mm (L x H x W)
Seat Height - 780 mm Dry Weight - 199 kg