Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

2012 Kawasaki Versys 1000 Makes North American Debut in Canada

As we’ve previously reported, the new Kawasaki Versys 1000 will not be imported to the U.S, but it will be available in North America in Canada as a 2012 model. Kawasaki Canada presented the Versys 1000 at its display at this past weekend’s North American International Motorcycle Supershow in Toronto, for the new “adventure sport” model’s debut on this side of the Atlantic. While he can’t speak for Kawasaki USA’s decision making, Bob Calwell, district manager for Kawasaki Canada, he does note that the Canadian company does have a history of making different product selections.

Ural Sales Increase 39 Percent In 2011

Ural, the funky motorcycle sidecar manufacturer from Russia, is boasting a 39% increase in unit sales for 2011. Considering the company’s total expected output for last year was approximately 1,100 models, you won’t notice an influx of sidehacks dominating your local roadways, but this is really good news for the small manufacturer of eclectic two-wheelers, especially in the midst of a deficient economy. Ural recognized an article in the New York Times and a collaboration with bike builder James Hammarhead for some of the company’s increasing popularity.

Report: Danny Eslick Signs with Erik Buell Racing

Two-time AMA Sportbike Champion Danny Eslick has reportedly signed with Erik Buell Racing to ride the EBR 1190RS in the 2012 AMA Superbike Championship. According to RoadRacingWorld, Eslick will join the already-signed Geoff May for a two-rider EBR team. RoadRacingWorld reports EBR has secured additional sponsorship, allowing the team to sign a second rider.

Traction control? Yawn...

My long-term Fireblade went back to Honda last week and, seeing as it’s sunny and mild outside now, I’m already missing it. It is one of the best 1000cc sports bikes out there, I don’t care what anyone else says, the way it makes its power is just perfect for fast road use. With the Power Commander 5 fitted and the fuelling sorted my 2011 Blade performed as well if not better than the 2012 version.

Visordown's revised 2012 MotoGP calendar

Now that Jerez has confirmed MotoGP for 2012, that's 4 races in Spain. We had a bit of a debate about the current calendar in the office and thought we could do a better job. Frankly.

Ducati Diavel gets more Öhlins treatment

Here's a look at some tasty black Öhlins forks for the Ducati Diavel. This is what Öhlins have to say about them: We've developed a set of performance forks for the awesome Ducati Diavel to give increased handling capabilities to this already unique ‘muscle bike’.The FGRT 301 ‘Road and Track’ forks have been especially designed with black outer tubes and gold fork sliders to retain the mean and moody look of this 160bhp monster machine, something that reflects the front suspension on the Ducati MotoGP machines.Featuring 48mm forks containing Öhlins NIX 30mm cartridge technology, the new forks offer improved road manners and high performance capabilities for when the pace increases. With adjustment of compression and rebound split between the two fork legs, the new forks offer unrivalled control and feel whatever the conditions.The forks follow the successful introduction of the Ohlins rear shock for the Diavel and it is expected many customers will combine the two suspension systems for the ultimate in comfort and handling for their machine.Öhlins has a fantastic relationship with Ducati with models such as the Multistrada 1200S and the eagerly awaited 1199S Panigale utilising electronically adjusting Öhlins suspension systems.The Öhlins FGRT 301 Road and Track forks are available now and are priced at £2597.90 + VAT.

AMA Supercross: 2012 Anaheim I Results

Ryan Villopoto picked up where he left off while Ryan Dungey gave KTM its first ever AMA Supercross podium as the season kicked off in Anaheim, Calif. Reigning champion and Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Villopoto took the holeshot and led all 20 laps to win the Anaheim I season opener by over 12 seconds ahead of Chad Reed‘s TwoTwo Motorsports Honda. “Villopoto made us look silly out here tonight,” says Reed.

Lehman Trikes Founder Passes at 60

Lehman Trikes announced the passing of its founder and director, John K. Lehman, from heart failure brought on by an embolism. The 2009 Sturgis Hall of Fame member died Jan.

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.