Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

Suzuki Unveils New Bandit 650 Range

In our ongoing coverage of everything worth covering and talking about and beating to death that happened at EICMA, Suzuki unveiled a new Bandit 650 range in Milan earlier this week. Both the 650 and 650SA models received styling and practical updates that bring a new sharp and dynamic look to the 2009 middleweight class. With new edgy styling, the naked Bandit 650 is headlined by sleeker modern headlights, and newly styled mirrors that make it resemble an angry bunny rabbit.

Motorcycle.com Weekly Community Round-up

Here are a few things going on around the Motorcycle.com Forum Network: Do you use your rear brake?? Another double question mark post. mrcubes2u on the Ducati Monster forums asks if you ever use your rear brakes.

Honda to produce V4 in 2010

Honda announced at EICMA that they intend to introduce a new V4 motorcycle in 2010. Very few details about the new bike have been released, only that it will be powered by Honda’s iconic V4 engine configuration. The Japanese manufacturer is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its V4 engine.

KTM Turns up the Heat in Milan

After attending a large consumer show of any kind, be it car, RV, boat or motorcycle, it often feels like the entire event was a blur. For that reason, I thought I would highlight some of the more noteworthy models shown at the EICMA show in Milan, starting with KTM. KTM is getting ready to race next year with the RC8 R, a superbike, which they unveiled in Milan this week.

POW! 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R at Autopolis

Each week I’ll be cracking open the galleries of Motorcycle.com and ripping out the best high-quality images of motorcycles. POW! or Picture Of the Week will bring the best photography of Motorcycle.com to you in exclusive desktop wallpapers available only through The Sidecar.

BMW Lo Rider Concept at EICMA

BMW Motorrad has unveiled a bold new concept bike at the EICMA show in Milan which they call a study in design and engineering. Using the words purist and powerful to describe the concept, BMW has left nothing but the essentials present in a truly naked motorcycle. One of the goals of this concept is to custom fit man and machine.

Wild Hogs Stolen?

Tim Allen and Boxing Cat Productions Inc. have been named in a lawsuit for allegedly stealing the “Wild Hogs” concept from a script given to him in 1999 by Battle One Productions Inc. The interesting part to the story is that the suit is for a measly $25,000.

Finally, a Gun Rack for your Motorcycle!

I can picture it now: You are out on your Kawasaki Ninja in the middle of the woods. You do a quick burn-out on the back of a small turtle and take off. You Weave left and right between the majestic pines and sorrow-filled willow trees as you speed along the mossy forest floor.

Prince Philip Diggs Hydrogen Motorcycles

The worlds first Hydrogen Fuel cell Motorcycle, the Intelligent Energy (IE) Env has been nominated for the prestigious Prince Philip Designers Prize. The Env is nominated among other mentionable designs such as the Aston Martin Vanquish, the Royal Opera House extension and the corporate identity of the Post Office. Despite being launched over 3 years ago (March 15th 2005) to universal acclaim in London, the bike just hasn’t caught the Princes eye until now.

MORE Exciting News from Ducati?

Ducati held its third Global dealer meeting this past weekend where it showed the cards up its sleeve. While Ducati unveiled the highly anticipated Streetfighter 1098, 1198, 1098R Bayliss replica and the M11 to press, it also showed dealers a fifth model. This model is so secret that security asked to see dealers’ mobile phones to make sure no photos were taken.

EICMA 2008: First Impressions

I have had a little walk around checking out the preparations for the show. I haven’t seen anything that I haven’t already seen or heard about previously, but here’s a selection from three of the halls. Yamaha are the only manufacturer to use an industrial crane to place some of its bikes up on high rise stands.

A Weighty Issue

For as long as I can remember, motorcycle manufacturers have been playing fast and loose with regard to what they claim for the weight of their bikes. The “dry weights” they foisted upon us had little basis in reality. The “dry” part of that claim meant that listed weights on a spec chart were the result of all fluids being MIA from the bike, including necessities like engine oil, coolant and fork fluid (not to mention fuel), but even that didn’t fully explain the overly optimistic specs.

No Passion

While thinking about an idea for a blog I happened upon the below unpublished blog while rooting around for some ideas. I it wrote last October, and after reading it I had a chuckle. Whadda ya think?

OEMs Plug into Electric Bikes

KTM introduced its prototype electric motorcycle earlier this week, and electric bike manufacturer Zero Motorcycles almost immediately responded by opening sales on its 2009 Zero X dirt bike (look for our review of the 2008 model next week!). But these two companies aren’t the only ones exploring the possibilities of electric-powered motorcycles. In September, Japan’s largest industrial information journal Nikkei Business Daily reported that both Honda and Yamaha have set target dates for launching their own electric-powered motorcycles.

Wanna Take Your Bike for a Spin Across the Lake?

If you’re anything like me you’ve spent hundreds of hours dreaming of the time you could ride a motorcycle across the water – perhaps even take a scenic ride to the Caribbean. Anybody…hello…Bueller? OK, I’ve never actually thought about it before in my life, but somebody has.

The Best Racing You’re Not Watching

I don’t think I’ll ever understand the American motorcycle racing fan. I recently rambled on how American race fans can’t hold a candle to the throngs of Euro bike race devotees. They may be a little crazy, but they routinely come out by the tens of thousands, and they’re rabid about the sport of roadracing.

Happy What?

For those paying attention to the motorcycle industry this year, you may have noticed how many anniversary models have launched. It’s a banner year for getting older. And it’s time again for Motorcycle.com to celebrate its birthday, on Saturday.

Motorcycles Claim More Marine Lives Than Combat in Iraq

Motorcycle accidents have allegedly taken more Marine lives in the last 12 months than enemy fire in Iraq, according to a recent report on CNN. Twenty-five Marines have suffered from fatal accidents in motorcycle crashes since November 2007. It was also noted that all but one of them involved sport bikes.

Honda Likes to Dress Up

Who doesn’t love Halloween? Well my neighbor down the street who turns off all his lights and flips the sprinklers on for Halloween night doesn’t, but he’s a jerk. Honda was in a Halloween spirit when they came up with this ad campaign consisting of some of their rides “dressed” in ridiculous outfits.

Knievel Glowing with Excitement for Halloween

I always thought that more things should glow in the dark and apparently I’m not alone. Stuff that needs to glow: Car keys light switches people who are about to jump me in a dark alley (so I can see them coming) golf balls dog poop so I can avoid stepping in it tv remote the toilet seat low door frames or anything else I can bump my head into. Glo-Tek has decided that maybe motorcycle and bicycle riders should probably glow too and have released a line of products to do just that.

Restoring a 1972 Harley is Scary Enough

Evan Cantrell is a 16 year old from Oxnard who will be using his ’72 Harley that he is restoring to make you afraid, very afraid. This year marks the 10th Halloween that the Cantrell family has gone overboard with the festivities. This year will have a haunted hotel porch theme.

7 Motorcycles for Those Who Can’t Stay Balanced

I remember my first bicycle. A blue frame with white handlebars and a long white banana seat for comfort. I was riding a Smurf.

XDL Championship

The Indianapolis MotoGP was arguably one of the most anticipated motorcycle events of 2008. It just so happened that the XDL had a stop of their tour in Indy at the same time. Coincidence?

How-To: Naked Conversion

Are you sick of that fiberglass fairing always blocking the wind and getting in your way? Pour gasoline liberally across desired surfaces, light a match and in no time you’ll have the bike of your dreams! Not only will you get rid of the fairing but also those pesky eyebrows your girlfriend has been bugging you to tweeze.

Harley Bridges Gap

Since the V-Rod came to fruition a number of years ago, it has been somewhat of an overlooked and under appreciated stepchild in the Harley Davidson family. Die-hard Harley guys just don’t seem to accept it as one of their kin. And why would they?

Motorcycle.com Weekly Community Round-up

The good old forums. The water coolers of the internet. The grapevine.

Ninja Comes Back to Life

Kyle Dansie purchased his 1986 Kawasaki Ninja ZX 900 on eBay for $500. At the time, it had roughly 18,000 miles on it with only the tires, frame and suspension in working order. Kyle then managed to convert this motorcycle not only to run without gasoline, but to harness solar power to charge it.

Half Sportbike + Half Sportcar: Suzuki SXForce Concept

How does that saying go? “Necessity is the mother of invention.” All the riders who regularly decide between two-wheels or four should get a kick out of the Suzuki SXForce concept. From the outside this peppy car looks like a highly-customized street dream.

Boots, Bikes and a Garbage Truck

A motorcycle convoy escorting a garbage truck carrying 140 pairs of boots was due to arrive at a police station in Texas today. I know, that sounds like the set up for a joke or a college prank, but it’s for a very worthy cause. The Reguladores Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club and garbage disposal company Waste Management, Inc.

A Man of LOVE

I had a unique opportunity this week to sit down with Oliver Shokouh, the founder of the Love Ride, only days before the 25th anniversary of the purportedly largest one-day rally in the world, kicks-off this coming Sunday, October 26. First and foremost I’m very grateful for Oliver to set aside over half an hour of his precious time so close to the event. Not only does he head-up this massive event, he’s also busy running the very busy and successful Harley-Davidson/Buell of Glendale (California).