Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

Production of 650cc Norton models will start at the end of next year

In addition to the release of V4 and Commando models, the British plan to expand their lineup. The Norton V4 and Commando motorcycles, presented to the public in 2018, will not start rolling off the assembly line until the end of 2021. This is primarily due to the fact that Norton, owned by the Indian company TVS, is currently busy transferring production from Donnington Hall to Solihull.

2021 Aprilia RS660 First Ride Review - Video

Thoughts on Aprilia's newest platform, now in video form Videos by Kurt Wallrath, Sean Matic Without a doubt, the 2021 Aprilia RS660 was the motorcycle I most anticipated riding this year, thanks in no small part because I first saw the bike in person over a year ago and salivated over the chance to ride it ever since. No, it’s not a Ducati Superleggera or Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, but between the three, this is probably the motorcycle I’d actually own. Why?

2021 Aprilia RS660 Review - First Ride

Putting the fun back into middleweights Credit: Photos by Kevin Wing I knew this day would come eventually. I didn’t expect it to take so long, but I suppose good things like the Aprilia RS660 are worth waiting for. You see, as an owner of a Suzuki SV650 that’s almost of legal drinking age (and a former Kawasaki Versys 650 owner), I have a soft spot for bikes in this middleweight category.

Everything You Want To Know About The Aprilia RS660 (Except What It's Like To Ride)

Full tech details of Aprilia's exciting new platform. At long last, Aprilia has finally taken the wraps off the highly-anticipated RS660. The first model on a platform intended to be used for years to come, not unlike the RSV4, the RS660 clearly takes some cues from its superbike sibling.

BMW has introduced the R18 Classic, the second model of the new family

The BMW R18 Classic received a wide 16-inch front wheel, a windshield and leather side bags. In addition, it is equipped with a passenger seat, two extra LED lights and cruise control as standard. If desired, both glass and bags can be quickly removed, quickly turning the touring into a cruiser.

Comparing Each End of the Sportbike Price Spectrum: Ducati Panigale V4R and Suzuki GSX-R1000R

How Much Motorcycle Does $40,000 Actually Get You? Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield (street), Caliphotography (track) | Videos by Sean Matic You all know the saying, “You get what you pay for.” It’s an important life lesson that rings true for many aspects of life. Like cheap tools, the pleasure we get for the minimal cost outlay quickly evaporates as soon as it breaks much sooner than it should.

2020 Indian FTR1200 Rally Vs. Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC

Twin Sons of Different Mudders Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield | Videos by Sean Matic When you’re not scrambling to make ends meet or get ahead, it seems like you’re constantly rallying the troops, possibly ’round the flag but usually just trying to instill pep. It’s always something, and both of those things are so ingrained in my psyche that I barely even miss roosting on the track or burning up the backroads. We were less impressed with the all-new Triumph Speed Twin than we expected to be a couple weeks ago, but when SoCal Motorcycles let us swap it out for a new Scrambler 1200 XC, it was love at first ride.

2021 Indian Models Announced Including Roadmaster Limited and Vintage Dark Horse

Indian announced it initial batch of 2021 models including its touring, bagger and Scout models. Along with new color options for several motorcycles, the 2021 model year includes a new Roadmaster Limited, a new Vintage Dark Horse and a restyled Roadmaster Dark Horse. Not included in the announcement were the FTR 1200 and the Chief cruiser, but we expect further news from Indian in the weeks ahead.

Church of MO: 2010 Kymco Scooter Lineup Intro

Has anyone seen a new Kymco lately? The giant Taiwanese manufacturer claimed to be the world’s largest scooter manufacturer once upon a time. Maybe it still is.

Honda introduced the European version of the MSX125 Grom 2021 model year

The legendary microbike received an engine that complies with Euro5 standards and significantly upgraded looks. In addition, the MSX125 will now also be sold under its own name Grom on the European market. Honda Grom received an updated 125cc single-cylinder engine with 9.6 horsepower, aggregated with a five-speed gearbox instead of the previous "four-speed".

Electric Husqvarna E-Pilen Planned for 2022

Pierer Mobility is developing a new range of electric Husqvarna streetbikes for 2022. The new line will be styled after the Svartpilen and Vitpilen line, with the company giving it the tentative name of “Husqvarna E-Pilen“. The Husqvarna E-Pilen was outlined in a slide from the company’s report for investors for the first half 0f 2020.

2020 Husqvarna FE 350s Review

A seriously competent street-legal dirtbike Tractoring up the single-track ascent, switchback after switchback with relative ease, a few thoughts ran through my head. One, this thing’s street-legal. Two, it’s kicking ass on this trail.

Limited Edition Aprilia Tuono V4 X First Look

On the heels of its uber exclusive RSV4 X winged wonder, Aprilia announced a naked version with the Tuono V4 X. As with the RSV4 X, the Tuono version is designed only for track use and will be produced in very limited numbers. Only 10 units of the RSV4 X were made, and all were scooped up in a few hours after online orders were opened, but Aprilia hasn’t announced how many Tuono V4 X models will be made.

Indian FTR750 is Going Hill-Climbing

Indian is returning to its hill-climbing roots entering the 2020 AMA Pro Hillclimb Racing series with a modified FTR750. This marks the first Indian factory hillclimb racer since 1939. The Indian FTR750 will be racing in the series’ new Twins class, which includes overhead cam Twins displacing 650cc to 1203cc or push-rod Twins from 650cc to 1800cc.

2020 Vespa GTS 300 Review

Scootin' on the Sei Giorni As V-Twin is to Harley-Davidson, Ducati is to sportbikes, and tissue paper is to Kleenex, the word scooter is synonymous with Vespa. The signature Vespa shape is what the masses have come to know as a scooter. With a rich history dating back to 1946, Vespa almost immediately won over the hearts and mind of people all over the world.

Suzuki Burgman 400 Long-Term Wrap-Up

There’s really not that much to wrap, frankly. It’s been mostly drama-free. The Suzuki Burgman 400 entered my fleet in mid-March with just 70 miles on the clock, and now sits at 731.

The Real "screamer": Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R

It seemed that the glorious times of the tiny "fours" - 250cc sportbikes with boosted engines to almost 50 hp are long gone. But the Indonesian branch of the Kawasaki enterprise resurrected this breed! The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R sportbike with a 51hp at 15,500 rpm four-cylinder engine is entering the local market, as well as the markets of some other countries of the Far East, including Japan.

2020 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Vs. Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT

Two spruced-up Japanese ADV bikes go head-to-head. Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield | Videos by Sean Matic We’ll admit this is an unusual ADV test. There are any number of competitors we could have lined up against the new-and-improved 2020 Honda Africa Twin.

Honda will introduce the new CBR600RR later this year

There has been no official information from Honda about the new generation CBR600RR yet, but it became known that the 2021 model will echo the older Fireblade in terms of its exterior. The "Six hundred" will receive a "two-eyed" LED head optics, the air intake will be located in the middle. Winglets will be added to the fairing to increase downforce at high speeds.

Retro 80'Veez

Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel & Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield A head-to-head comparison this is not, but rather a showcase of two unique models that blur the lines of what adventure-capable motorcycles can look like. Triumph and Moto Guzzi, motorcycle manufacturers from two very different regions of Europe, both have long storied histories with plenty of ups and downs. The British brand dates back to 1902, two decades before Moto Guzzi began manufacturing in 1921.

2020 MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

MV Agusta tames the Brutale, all 208 hp of it If you were expecting a warmed-over Brutale 1000 RR for 2020, you expected wrong. If the first Brutale of 1997 was a bit, ahhh, brutal, then you’ll be reassured to learn the latest bike is all about rideability. Confidence-inspiring performance was one of the main priorities.

Church of MO: 2010 Literbike Shootout

An Italian and a German walk into a bar… wait, Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Ten years ago, two serious new players from Europe appeared on our shores, intent on upsetting the 1000 cc Japanese applecart. “Inhaling slower bikes like the way an ’84 Seville’s radiator grill consumes flies,” these intoxicatingly fabulous sportbikes – especially the winner of this epic contest – reset the course to where we find ourselves today, which is to say, without a Literbike Shootout.

Triumph introduced a new model - Trekker GT

And it's not even a motorcycle. A two-wheeled novelty from Hinckley is an electric bicycle with a range of 145 km. The new two-wheeled Triumph is visually as close as possible to a classic road bike, all electrical equipment - a battery, an electric motor, wiring - is carefully hidden from strangers' eyes in an aluminum frame.

Indian Files EFTR Trademark for an Electric Motorcycle UPDATE

UPDATE (June 12, 2020): An Indian Motorcycle PR representative reached out to comment on this story, explaining that the EFTR will NOT be an electric version of the FTR, but rather a “youth-oriented product” that will be announced later this year. Here’s the full statement from the Indian Motorcycle PR team: “The trademark application upon which Motorcycle.com based a recent story written by Dennis Chung on June 10, is related to a new youth-oriented product that will be unveiled later this year, and is not related to a new electric version of the FTR 1200.” We’re leaving our original story below, but here’s our take on the clarification. The term “youth-oriented product” can mean a lot of things, from children’s balance bikes to mini-bikes like the Honda Monkey to an entry-level motorcycle.

The Indian Motorcycle Company has registered new motorcycle names

The Guardian and Pursuit names will apparently be the versions based on the new Indian Challenger. Introduced at the end of last year, the Indian Challenger immediately attracted some attention thanks to very interesting "stuffing". It is equipped with a liquid-cooled overhead engine with a displacement of 1769cc PowerPlus - the most powerful V-twin in Indian history, it develops 122 hp at 5500 rpm and 178 Nm at 3800 rpm.

Indian Pursuit and Indian Guardian Trademarks

New models could be offshoots of the Indian Challenger Indian has filed trademark applications for two potential model names: “Indian Pursuit” and “Indian Guardian“. The two trademark applications, initially filed with the USPTO and then with the Australian intellectual property office, were registered for use on “Motorcycles and structural parts therefor.” As usual, the trademark applications don’t offer many details leaving us to speculate on what the names will be used for. The Indian Pursuit sounds like a police vehicle, and Guardian has a similar vibe to it.

Indian FTR Carbon

Indian FTR Carbon differs from the base model in the wide use of carbon fiber parts: the false tank and air filter housing, headlight housing, decorative passenger seat cover and front fender are made of carbon fiber. The motorcycle also has an Akrapović exhaust system made of titanium alloy. Otherwise, the Indian FTR Carbon is completely identical to the S-version of the FTR 1200.

Piaggio Files Patent for Active Aerodynamic System

Illustrations show a last-gen MP3, but the concept could apply to sportier models Piaggio has filed a patent for an active aerodynamic device using winglets that rotate up or down to affect rotational torque. The patent, published today with the World Intelletual Property Office but initially filed in Italy in late 2018, uses a last-generation MP3 three-wheeled scooter in its illustrations, but the principles behind that patent can apply just as well on a two-wheeled motorcycle. It’s public knowledge that Piaggio has been working on an active aerodynamic system, though the choice to use the MP3 in the patent illustrations is a bit surprising.

2020 Indian FTR Carbon Announced for International Markets

Carbon fiber version somehow weighs more than regular FTR1200S Indian announced a new FTR 1200 variant with carbon fiber bodywork for international markets. As of this writing, the 2020 Indian FTR Carbon has not been confirmed for the U.S., though that may change at any moment. Right now, the Carbon model has only officially been confirmed for Indian’s Europe, Middle East and Africa division.

Ducati has resumed production

Italian motorcycle manufacturers are gradually returning from forced downtime. Ducati was the first to resume production of bikes. The Italian authorities have announced the so-called second phase of the return to normal life program, which begins on May 4 and involves the launch of a number of enterprises.