General Motorcycle News
From a BMW press release… Munich. BMW will acquire the renowned motorcycle company Husqvarna Motorcycles. Dr. Herbert Diess, General Director of BMW Motorrad, and the Italian industrialist Claudio Castiglioni signed a contract on 19.07.2007 in Italy. The contractual agreement will come into full effect upon final approval of the EU Read more…
The AMA is working to get a bill passed by Congress that would keep health insurance companies from denying benefits to people injured in motorcycle accidents. This is a really big deal, so take the time to contact your representative and let them know how you feel. With five minutes Read more…
If you haven’t seen it out yet, head on over to Buell’s website and check out the all new 1125R Sportbike. With almost 150 HP, it should be very entertaining. With a 54in wheelbase, it should be the proverbial wheelie machine. Cycle World as a good intro look at the Read more…
Ducati showed off it’s limited production, very expensive Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica at World Ducati Week in Misano. Wow, the lust factor is crazy… 200 HP wrapped in the beautiful 1098 skin should be enough- for now. WebBikeWorld has the story and a few more pictures. Nice, very nice. As Read more…
The old Concours was around a long, long time and it really showed. Well Kawasaki has fixed the problem with an all new bike that uses the ZX14 motor and it is a sweet sport touring machine according to the AMA tester. So what impressed me most? Looking at the Read more…
Suzuki had their annual dealer show last week, and they introduced several new and updated models. At the top of the list is the new Hayabusa. A perennial favorite of the big bore sport class, it is back with a vengeance and taking aim at Kawasaki’s ZX14 with a reported Read more…
From BMW Press Release- Woodcliff Lake, NJ – June 25, 2007…For the second year in a row, the BMW K 1200 GT has been named one of the top ten motorcycles for 2007 by editors of Cycle World magazine. At the 32nd Annual Cycle World Ten Best Bikes awards dinner, Read more…
Here is a really pretty bike and it is owned by the VP of Marketing for Tesla Motors– the new electric car manufacturer. I’ve had a bunch of Monsters and they really are just soo much fun to ride. And they sound good too. Check out his other rides. Nice Read more…
WebBikeWorld has a great article on the custom/restoration of a 74 Ducati 750 GT. Lots of good info and tips as well as pictures. This diary captures the high points of finding, owning and “custovating” a 1974 Ducati 750GT. Custovation is my word for customizing and renovating the build of Read more…
If you live near any of these cities, you might want to head on over and snag a few rides on some cool bikes. Note the requirements- motorcycle license is required as well as normal safety equipment. Same dates apply to the Moto Guzzi demo rides. NEW YORK, June 20, Read more…
For those of you who like the older stuff, this press release from the AMA Museum is a reminder to save Sat June 30th for a look at some great vintage European bikes. On June 30, the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum will host British & European Motorcycle Saturday, the Read more…
The AMA has an article up about the Denver city council putting restrictions on motorcycle exhaust systems that are far tougher than what they require for cars and trucks. Basically, they are requiring a bike to have the OEM exhaust system on it with the EPA noise certification stamped in Read more…
Especially if you remember the 80’s. I saw this over at Autoblog and had to share it. Not exactly bike related, but definately worth watching. [youtube]lNzNRTvE[/youtube]
There are some bike a lot of people will never get to ride- either because of cost or availability, or both. But here is your chance to ride some top shelf stuff for free on some of the best roads in America. Here is the press release for Aprilia: LACONIA, Read more…
Well, it is obvious that he has his home track wired. An impressive win considering his bad start. Poor Nicky Hayden is really fading fast. You do have to wonder what the problem is… From Speed: Valentino Rossi extended his domination of his home race with a heroic performance before 85,000 Read more…
As in liquid CO2 cool. This was posted over at Autoblog. I don’t know if it will work on a motorcycle gas tank or not, but I will definately test it out and let you know. Simply heat the dent with a hair dryer for about 1 min and then Read more…
Since it is Memorial Day here in the US, I thought I would post something that would at least make us think of the past and those who have lost their lives fighting for our freedom. This picture is likely from WWI, I’m guessing, and shows how motorcycles have been Read more…
If you like the sound of 2 Strokes and you like twisty roads, you will like this video. Hit the link below- It should open in Media Player. These guys ride the Deals Gap run up in N Georgia and it is fun to watch them blow past the Harleys Read more…
This looks like something that might happen over at my friend Wayne’s house. Credit goes to Autoblog for posting the video. I wonder where the gas tank is? Maybe it is between his legs like on a bike…At least it would be easy to get out of if it caught Read more…
I have to admit that Streetfighters are my favorite type of bike now. When I was younger, I wouldn’t be seen on anything less than the latest and fastest Sportbike. But as age, and some back problems have caught up with me, I really look for comfort over style now- Read more…
[youtube]9f5NOTZlbzI[/youtube] This one is in a real bike. Granted, it is turbocharged, but it is still quite impressive to see the speedo pegged as the tach keeps climbing. There is a reason that the Hayabusa has the reputation it does. This video has been making the rounds on the internet, Read more…
Autoblog had a post about this car, and it is worth watching the video. Pretty impressive and the engine sounds awesome. [youtube]3Xdks-j3yt0[/youtube]
The AMA asked for suggestions from readers about how to increase motorcycle safety and awareness. Here are some of the responses. The best one was simply to email all your family and friends with this pdf file and ask them to send it on to their family and friends too. Read more…
Casey Stoner on the new Ducati has won 3 of the 4 rounds so far, and his ride in Shanghai proved that he is the real deal. Rossi was right there, but couldn’t get past him. Speed has the whole account as well as results. Nicky Hayden got hit in Read more…
Well, if you’ve always wanted an Aprilia but just couldn’t quite come up with the cash, their new lease program might just get you that exotic, expensive Italian masterpiece you always wanted. Leasing has its advantages if you are of the type who always want the newest toy available, but Read more…
Well, at least for the first quarter. They will no doubt rebound from the February strike in the second quarter as they make up for the lost production. Topix has the story- Sagging U.S. sales and a three-week strike at Harley-Davidson Inc.’s largest production plant caused the motorcycle maker’s profit to Read more…
Cycle World has a short interview with Nicky about the rest of the GP season. he seems pretty upbeat considering the problems he has had so far- “Definitely hasn’t been the best start to the season (referring to an eighth-place finish in round one at Qatar). I feel bad for Read more…
The AMA has another good article posted with tips for being a smart motorcycle collector. Some of these are common sense, but it is really good to go into it with as much info and advice as possible. One thing I have always believed is that it is cheaper to Read more…
The AMA has an article on the new G series bikes from BMW. All the specs are there and riding impressions. With 3 models that range from dirt to street, it should satisfy any of the thumper crowd. As usual with BMW, there is a price for admission… On the dirt-to-asphalt spectrum, Read more…
At least one guy thinks so and he has put a lot of time and money into it. Cycle World has an article on Walter Roehrich’s new bike and the possibility of it going into production. The problem I see, is that it is an expensive niche bike with no volume and Read more…
What a difference a year and new bikes and everything else makes. Rossi was his old masterful self at the Spanish Grand Prix. What is surprising is how poorly Nicky Hayden is running. It’s not just that he is a little off the pace, he is struggling on the new bike. With Read more…
Tomorrow’s race at Jerez should be one of the best ever if qualifying is any indication. Pedrosa has the poll with Rossi second, but the top 10 were seperated by a mere .3 sec. That is crazy… From Speed– Home hero Dani Pedrosa will start his factory Honda RC212V from pole Read more…
Being closer to 50 than 40, I can really appreciate this. Very cool to see these guys clean up. Also, it was surprising to see a Kawasaki EX650 win instead of the tried and true SV650. Check out the whole story over at Cycle World. Somebody check the sponsors list. Read more…
My friend’s Ducati Darmah won it’s class in the Ducati Day show in Daytona. Congratulations to Jerry and Debbie. The bike is an unrestored original in really nice condition. We were very surpised the Darmah won best bevel in the show. There were other bikes that were rarer or in Read more…
Autoblog has been covering the Geneva Auto Show, and one of the more interesting vehicles is the Monotracer. I’m not sure who would want one of these for the $50,000.00 asking price, but I sure there is someone. Since they are only going to make 100/year, all you need is a Read more…
With the festivities already going strong in Daytona, there is plenty to see (more than you will want to see downtown at night!). The AMA site has a page up with happenings and updates. I have a couple of friends down there, and I hope to get some info on the vintage Read more…
Speed has the info on the first day of qualifying in Qatar. Looks like Nicky Hayden is struggling, and Rossi is, well, Rossi. I’m hoping for a great competitive season that goes down to the wire like last year. The 2007 MotoGP season officially got underway today, with riders undertaking Read more…
Speed has a Q&A with the new Kawasaki competition manager regarding the Green Team’s plans for the future. It looks like Kawasaki is going to be in the game for the long haul- Q: Does Kawasaki have a long-term plan for MotoGP?A: Yes, and there is support within the company Read more…
Cycle World has their impressions of the new 07 GSXR from the Phillip Island intro. Improved power, handling and rider adjustments are among the changes for 07. With identical bore and stroke dimensions (73.4 x 59.0mm) as before, the 999cc long-stroke engine’s internals remain unchanged. Designers concentrated on increased combustion Read more…
The AMA has pretty good coverage of the Indy dealer show. With over 1000 vendors, you are sure to see some cool new stuff. Lots of pictures and stuff to make you envious of what you don’t have… I like cool new stuff, but I’m not sure I really need Read more…
Got my new (used) Pegasus Ultralight delivered yesterday. Test ran the engine and checked it out in the driveway. Should get the wing on it later in the week and hopefully fly it.
My crazy friend who stunt rides motorcycles, is putting together a Flight Star, and needed to break in the engine, so he decided to drive it over to my house (sans wings, of course). Needless to say, even though we live out in the country without much traffic, the few Read more…
[googlevideo]-825424937641575531&hl=en[/googlevideo] Well, really an autogyro. Saw this over at Bikes in the Fast Lane. Cool concept, but lets face it, if you are stuck in traffic in a major city, you are not going to be able to just get out and unfold the rotor blades and take off. But there Read more…
[youtube]HaBwb28pUG8[/youtube]My new love is flying ultralight “trikes”, and this little video from Southwest Aerotrekking shows a little bit of why. Well done and it really does show why people describe it as riding a motorcycle in the sky.
BRP has announced their new 3 wheel Can-Am Spyder on their website, and it follows the same theme as the recent Bimoto stuff- unusual, innovative, crazy, etc. They have been seen in the wild at Tail of the Dragon and in San Diego. The video is from San Diego. The really Read more…
WebBikeWorld has the scoop on the new Bimoto Tesi. Bimoto is know for creating bikes that push the envelope, but this is really pushing it! It will be interesting to see how the bike fares when the magazines get some testing time on it. I guess its OK to be Read more…
Bimoto isn’t a name you hear very often, mainly because they are rare and expensive. Well the new DB6 promises to be both of those with a MSRP of 24,900.00 USD. But if you like your bikes naked and exotic, this might be just the bike for you. With a Read more…
Some guys came out to buy a ZX6 that I am selling, and mis-calculated pretty badly in a sharp corner on my road. Amazingly enough, all three of them walked away with bumps and bruises. The car is an Audi A4 I think and it is a testimony to good Read more…
[ifilm]2819749[/ifilm]Compared to some of the other Superbowl commercials, this is just average, but it is interesting to see a huge mainstream technology company like HP using Orange County Choppers as their poster child. Bikes and Choppers have come a long way. The bad boy image is now mainstream.
This is an interesting situation- It makes you wonder if the unions and workers are paying attention at all to what is happening in the US auto industry. Toyota is getting ready to eclipse GM as the world’s largest automaker and one of the main reasons is because GM has Read more…