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New Delhi Auto Expo 2012 – Motorcycle Manufacturers Draw Battle Lines for World’s Second Largest Market

In past years, the biennial Auto Expo in India slipped under the radar while the industry was focused more on shows such as EICMA in Italy and Intermot in Germany. But with India’s middle class starting to flex its financial muscle while other markets continue to struggle, the New Delhi show is becoming much more prominent, with major OEMs positioning themselves to claim a piece of the India’s 13 million vehicles-a-year market. We’ve already looked at India-produced Royal Enfield’s new Thunderbird 500 and Hero Moto’s hybrid scooter concept which debuted at the Auto Expo, and today we’ll look at what the major international OEMs presented.

BMW Set New Sales Record in 2011 – Husqvarna Sales Continue Plunge

BMW sold 104,286 motorcycles in 2011, the most units the German manufacturer has sold in a single year in its entire 90-year history. 2011 sales surpassed the previous record of 102,467 units sold in 2007. 2011 also saw a 6.4% increase in BMW’s motorcycle sales over the 98,047 units sold in 2010.

Crank(er) up the volume

Want to listen to your tunes on the go but don't want to wear earplugs? Well this new Sportech Cranker tankbag could be for you. It features an integrated speaker and amplifier and runs off 4xAA batteries.

Looking after number 1

There was a time when a rider’s number indicated his position from the previous season, with the ultimate accolade being the number 1 emblazoned on the front of the champion's bike. The rise of branding in MotoGP and a rider wanting to market themselves, born from Barry Sheene and his retention of no.7, saw riders decide against displaying their finish from the year before. Rossi, who on winning his numerous championships, stuck with his famous #46 in defence of his titles, instead of stamping a great number 1 on his bikes.

Long jump record safe for now

Robbie Maddison unofficially broke the world record for distance jumped on a motorcycle during practice for Red Bull's recent 'New Year. No Limits' event. His official jump however was just short of Ryan Capes' 391-foot record, landing at 378 feet, 9 inches.

Elbow Down…On A Supermoto?

There it is, folks. That’s Spanish roadracing and supermoto ace Dani Ribalta goofing around for the camera and getting his elbow on the ground. In case you’re wondering, no, he didn’t crash.

Hero Moto Unveils Leap Hybrid Scooter Concept, Claims 235 MPG

Indian manufacturer and former Honda partner Hero MotoCorp has unveiled a new hybrid scooter prototype at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi. The Hero Leap runs on a series hybrid powertrain with the battery-powered electric motor providing most of the power and the gasoline engine acting as a range extender, charging the battery and supplying power when the battery runs low. Hero claims fuel economy of up to 100 km/l, which translates to an eye-popping 235 mpg.

MPG or BHP?

If you were a child of the seventies, you may remember Craig Vetter’s name from his previous work as a stylist (Triumph Hurricane) or his huge fairing business, Vetter Fairings.  Since then, the 69 year-old industrial designer has become obsessed by fuel consumption - or rather highlighting how poor motorcycles are delivering impressive figures. He originally ran a series of fuel challenges in the eighties and now the economy has taken a nose dive, he has resurrected the competition, figuring that the time is now right to highlight these issues again. According to Vetter, three of every four American gallons of petrol is imported – reason enough to devote his time to raising awareness.

Would you pay £160,000 for this?

Pretty it may be, but you wouldn't catch me spending £160,000 on this 1915 Harley-Davidson 11-F Twin that's coming up for sale at a Bonhams auction. It's allegedly one of the most sought-after Harleys and has buyers from around the world itching to splash out on it. Not literally, you'd hope.

2012 Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 Unveiled in India

Royal Enfield has unveiled a new 500cc Thunderbird cruiser at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi, India. The 2012 Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 is a larger displacement version of the 346cc Thunderbird which Royal Enfield first unveiled in 2000. The original Thunderbird 350 was Royal Enfield’s first model to use a unit construction engine.

2012 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition – Ryan Dungey Replica Announced

Days before the start of the 2012 AMA Supercross season and Ryan Dungey’s debut on the 450 SX-F, KTM has unveiled the production version of the motocrosser featuring a new engine and chassis. The 2012 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition is equipped with a fuel-injected 449cc four-stroke engine paired with a five-speed transmission. The new engine has a 95mm bore and a 63.4mm stroke, compared to the previous version’s 97mm x 60.8mm engine.

Supercross Preview With Factory Kawasaki Riders Ryan Villopoto & Jake Weimer

In anticipation of this Saturday’s Supercross opener in Anaheim, California, Kawasaki invited a select crowd of enthusiasts and journalists to join their employees at the corporate offices in Irvine, California, for the annual Team Monster Energy Kawasaki pep rally. We sat down with defending SX champ, Ryan Villopoto, and his teammate, Jake Weimer, to get their perspectives on the upcoming season. Both men entered last season at less than 100%.

Paul Teutul Sr. to Compete in Next Edition of Celebrity Apprentice

“American Choppers” star Paul Teutul Sr. will be appearing on another television reality show, joining the cast of the upcoming season of “Celebrity Apprentice“. Orange County Chopper‘s Teutul will be competing in the 12th season of Donald Trump‘s show, and the fifth to feature a cast of celebrities (or pseudo-celebrities, depending on how you look at it) each competing on behalf of a chosen charity.

BSB 2012; Mystic Mac investigates

In my opinion, the smartest move in the BSB off season has to be Michael Laverty moving from Swan Yamaha to HM Plant Honda. With a ban on electronics for 2012, and in particular traction control, WFR's Graham Gowland has already proved to Laverty how competitive an EVO spec Fireblade can be - so I’m tipping both these riders to be bang on the money at the Brands Hatch season opener in April. Unlike BMW, Kawasaki and Yamaha, Honda have deliberately developed their road-going Superbike without electronics to give a user friendly feel with good mechanical traction, so it’ll be interesting to see how the opposition copes with their high-tech trickery stripped off.

New: Alpinestars T-Fuel jacket

Alpinestars have launched a new waterproof jacket, the T-Fuel WP. Here's what Alpinestars have to say about it: The unique style of the T-Fuel WP is accentuated by the bespoke leather trimming and bold, clean lines. A waterproof and breathable membrane, generous storage and CE certified protection deliver a jacket that is both stylish and versatile.

Robbie Maddison Sets World-Record Distance Jump Record [Video]

In a live broadcast from San Diego, Calif., ESPN celebrated the New Year by televising the first-ever simultaneous world-record breaking distance jumps as Levi LaVallee and Robbie Maddison launched across more than 300 feet of water in San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park. The world-record feats set by LaVallee at 412 feet, 6 inches and Maddison at 378 feet, 9 inches were witnessed by thousands of fans in attendance as the fog cleared over the marina. Both Maddison and LaVallee broke their own records.

Yamaha Factory MotoGP Team Loses Another Sponsor

Yamaha’s factory MotoGP team has lost a major sponsor for the second year in a row. Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas will not be extending its sponsorship agreement with the Yamaha team, ending a three-year relationship. Last year, the Yamaha team lost the title sponsorship of automobile manufacturer Fiat.

Piaggio Recalls Fly 50, Vespa LX50 and S50 Scooters

Piaggio is issuing a recall on its Fly 50 scooter and Vespa’s LX50 and S50 models due to a potential failure in the ignition control unit. The three scooters use the same four-valve four-stroke engine and may be subject to the same problem. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) unit on the affected scooters may fail, altering the ignition timing.

Top 10 Motorcycle News Stories of 2011

Top 10 Motorcycle News Stories of 20111 of 11Next Last At Motorcycle.com, we concentrate on news and reviews of the hottest new bikes, but there are plenty of others stories to be told about the motorcycle world. As the year draws to a close, we now look back at some of the biggest news stories from 2011. 1 of 11Next Last

Just Finishing is a Victory: Filming the Ironman Triathlon [Video]

A 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile run. That is what defines the Ironman Trianthlon, one of the most physically grueling competitions in the world, a race so harsh, the sport’s mantra is “Just Finishing is a Victory.” Victory Motorcycles has released a video showing a different side of the famous Ironman World Championship at Kona, Hawaii, taken from the perspective of the motorcycle-riding camera operators which film the  annual race. Victory sponsored some of the camera teams that filmed this year’s race for outlets such as NBC television and the 12-minute video shows some of the work that goes into this subset of motorcycle riding.

Yamaha Canada Cuts Prices to Move Closer to US Pricing

As a Canadian, I’ve gotten used to accepting a lot of differences between Canada and the United States. It’s colder up here. The taxes are higher.

FasterSafer.com — A Motorcycle Rider’s Best Investment.

When it comes to improving the performance of a motorcycle’s weakest link, Nick Ienatsch and Ken Hill have taken on an enormous task. You see, this link is always changing and never constant, but can be molded and improved. It’s not a motorcycle at all.

Xaus tests Moto2 Bimota

World Superbike regular, Ruben Xaus was impressing some track day regulars with his skills earlier this month at Almeria. The lanky Spaniard (who is now apparently a part owner of Bimota), was putting the Rimini manufacturer's Honda CBR600-powered Moto2 machine through its paces in the December sunshine. The short term plan if for it to be raced in domestic championships but I for one would love to see it on the MotoGP Moto2 grid.

Bridgestone tyres 2012 sneak preview

In November Bridgestone were shooting their 2012 range of tyres ready for launches next year. I was invited to the super-short Snetterton 100 to help out with riding some bikes. It hadn’t been long since I'd ridden at Snetterton and I was all too familiar with the new part of the track named ‘the 100’.

Ducati never made an 848R

There never was an 848R, or S or SP. Ducati just made the 848 and then tweaked it by adding Brembo monobloc brakes and a slightly more powerful motor to produce the 848 EVO. The owner of this 848 has really gone to town, billing his bike as an 848R.

Tested: EXO2 Heated Jacket

It still amazes me how few people know about heated clothing. The cold is a major factor in why people put their bikes away for the winter but if you wear the right kit, you can comfortably ride all year 'round. The EXO2 Stormrider jacket can be plugged into your bike's battery or powered by a rechargeable battery pack.

Motorcycle.com Presents 1199Forums.com, the Ducati 1199 Panigale Forum

Motorcycle.com is proud to announce the addition of a new Ducati 1199 Panigale forum to our network of motorcycle enthusiast communities. 1199Forums.com will offer owners and fans of the Ducati 1199 Panigale a place to connect with other enthusiasts, share photos and stories, discuss upgrades and modifications and find great deals on aftermarket accessories. The new Ducati 1199 forum joins the Motorcycle.com forum network which also includes Ducati.ms, DucatiMonster.org, Sportbike.net and TwoWheelForum.com and dozens of other communities for motorcyclists and enthusiasts.

This isn't Rossi's GP12

Unless you've been in a cave for the past decade, you'll know that Valentino Rossi loves a special paintjob, whether that's on his lids, bikes, cars or even his massive motorhome. This design by Nicolas Ceroni shows what Valentino's GP12 could look like in testing guise. Let's be honest, it's not going to look like this, as Valentino is actually quite restrained with his pre-season test paintjobs.

On Board the 2012 Honda CBR1000RR with Jake Zemke

Veteran AMA racer Jake Zemke was on hand for the recent press intro for the 2012 Honda CBR1000RR. We asked Jake to go a couple of laps for us at Infineon Raceway with our GoPro camera to show us what it’s like to ride the CBR for someone used to pushing the bike to its limits. Check out the onboard video after the jump.

2012 'Blade tail tidy from R&G

R&G Racing have released the first available tail tidy and crash protection accessories for the 2012 Honda Fireblade This is what R&G have to say about the new products for the 2012 Fireblade: Crafted from 2mm thick stainless steel for lightness and powder-coated black for a high quality finish, the Tail Tidy is easy to install and comes with comprehensive, step-by-step fitting instructions. Currently the only product of its type available for the 2012 Honda CBR1000RR, the £79.99 Tail Tidy features an ultra bright LED number plate light and can retain the standard Honda indicators or be used with R&G’s own Micro Indicators (£27.49). Also included in the box are spacer options for the indicator mounts to work round different size number plates.