New Voxan

New for 2009 the Voxan Roadster

Source Moto Revue via Faster and Faster

Ducati rendered speculation

What a Ducati Stradaperta 1200 might look like...

Source Omnimoto via Motorcycle Specs

Honda Hoot canceled

Seems like as everyday goes by, Honda cancels something else. First it was F1, then AMA Superbikes, and now the loved, and wholesome Honda Hoot festival. After 15 years of the very successful festival Honda is not putting on a 2009 event because, you guessed it, the economy.

Maybe it's just me but I think they should have the Honda Hoot because the economy is in poor shape. I know the people down south that rely on tourist money would agree with me.

Source Motorcycledaily

Honda planning electric motorcycle

In a recent speach Honda's CEO announced the company was working on a battery/electric motorcycle. He added that Honda will have an electric bike on the market in two years.

Source Honda via Motorcycledaily

New S&S powered Alligator

Alligator motorcycles, the low-slung bikes pioneered by racer Dan Gurney, has come out with a new model called the Instigator (get it? instant-gator). Unlike the original Alligator, which was powered by a 700cc Honda scooter engine, the new Alligator is powered by a 2023cc S&S V twin. Only 50 will be made.

Source Faster and Faster

Harley's CEO set to retire

It was recently announced that Harley-Davidson's chief executive officer and president, Jim Ziemer, will be retiring in 2009. Ziemer started work for Harley nearly 40 years ago as an elevator operator. He later became the CFO in 1990 before becoming the CEO in 2005. His successor has not been announced yet.

In unrelated news, here's the winner of Harley's "Bikes, Camera, Action" video contest.



Source Kneeslider and Harley-Davidson

Honda pulls out of AMA Superbike

Honda will no longer have a factory team in the AMA Superbike series. They will, however, still support independant teams running Honda bikes. It isn't clear whether or not the economic downturn effected this (as in Honda F1), or if it was because of Superbikes new owners, the Daytona Motorsports Group. So far only Yamaha has announced a factory team for Superbike.

Source Motorcycle Daily

FIM announces Moto2

Moto2 is the 600cc class set to replace the 250cc two stroke class in grand prix racing. Engines will be naturally aspirated four strokes. There will be rev-limits based on number of cylinders (16k for four cylinders, 15.5k for triples, and 15k for twins). Weight minimums based on the number of cylinders will also be in place. There are also a number of rules aimed at keeping costs low and competition high. Electronic aids on bikes are very limited. Teams will be able to buy other teams engines after races (teams must sell if there's an offer) for a fixed price of $26,700 USD.

It seems as though the 600 will run along side the 250 for the first races, with the 600's gradually displacing the two strokes. It should be interesting to see how this works out.

Source Faster and Faster and Motorcycle News

Ducati dealers issued a customization contest

To help spread awareness of the 1100 version of the new Ducati Monster, Ducati has given 58 of its US dealers a challenge. The dealers are given extra body panels and Ducati's accessory book to go wild and come up with some great designs. An online vote will be held from Jan. 1 through Jan. 13, presumably on Ducati's website.

In (somewhat) related news, Angelina Jolie is purportedly getting a Monster 1100 for her husband Brad Pitt. Jealous? I am.

Sources Autoblog and Faster and Faster

The AMA and the 50-500cc European motorcycle tariff

The US government is considering a 100% tariff on European motorcycles displacing 51-500cc's. The tariff would be a responses to the European Union's ban on US hormone-grown beef. The AMA has sent a letter to the US department of Commerce explaining the damage this would cause the industry. The AMA argued that any actions should be through agricultural tariffs.

I feel they have a great point. The models affected would be mostly European dirt bike models, a market that has nothing what-so-ever to do with hormone-grown beef. This move would really benefit the US in any way. It would simply punish European motorcycle manufacturers, and likely award Japanes manufacturers.

Source Motorcycle Daily

Kawasaki's new ZRX

Apparently Kawasaki has reintroduced (?) the ZRX1200. Though there doesn't seem to be any signs of it come in to the US (or UK).

Source Motorcycle News

Kymco's new sport bike

Kymco has been making inroads in the US with their affordable (cheap) scooters and ATVs. The Taiwanese company recently showed US riders their new sport bike, the Quannon 150. This bike is powered by a 150cc ohc single that produces 14hp. Not a lot, but the bike is only supposed to weigh 299lbs. 150 and 125cc motorcycles are especially popular in countries that have displacement limits for licensing requirements (I believe India has a 150cc cut off). The bike will go on sale in the states for $3449.

Source Motorcycle Daily

New Honda Interceptor?

There's been a lot of speculation over the next Honda VF, or Interceptor. So far we haven't seen anything from Honda themselves. This is a rendering of what the Interceptor may or may not look like. It appears to be base heavily on Honda's recent V4 concept bike.

Source Motorevue via Faster and Faster

New electric bikes

It seems like more and more electric bike concepts are poping up every day. A couple of, vintage sport bike-based examples made news recently.

Top - This bike is a prototype for the Isle of Man's newly proposed "green challenge" the TTXGP. It's based off an old GSX-R and uses two electric motors generating 86hp. The bike is capable of doing 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 105mph.

Bottom - Eva Hakansson, member of the KillaCycle drag bike team, rides around her creation - the ElectroCat. The bike is based off of a 125cc two stroke Cagiva. In place of the gas engine there is a  DC motor with lithium ion batteries that produce 7.5kw (about 10hp). The ElectroCat tops out at 60mph and will go about 50 miles on a charge.

Source Faser and Faster

XR1200 is US bound

Harley's dirt track inspired XR1200 is infact making it to the states. Harley is taking orders this December for a limited run of 750 XR's (750 for XR750 get it?). Fortunately the bike does add a some performance bits to go with it's sporty looks. Showa inverted forks, Nissin brakes, Dunlop Qualifiers (only Harley to offer those eh?) and engine tuning producing 90hp are all very welcome features. The bike will come in orange, black, and white and retails at $10,799.

It's interesting to think exactly what this bike will compete against: Kawasaki ER-6N, Suzuki SV650, Ducati Monster? It will likely overpower bikes like the Moto Guzzi V7 and Triumph Thruxton. Maybe Ducati's GT 1000 is it's closest match?

It's nice to see Harley diversify and appeal to younger, more sport oriented customers. A street legal XR is loooong overdue, so the XR is a welcome addition (even if it based on the heavy Sportster).

More on Honda's chopper

Pictures have surface from the rumored Honda crusier from Solomoto via the Kneeslider. It looks awfully extreme for Honda, it should be pretty good.

Source Solomoto via Kneeslider

Massimo Tamburini retires

It seems as though Massimo Tamburini, designer of some of the 

greatest  (and that's not subjective) motorcycle in recent years has

just retired from Cagiva. Tamburini has lead MV Agusta's design team 

for the last 13 years.This news comes as a shock (to me), as I have 

read Tambrini was excited to with MV's new owners Harley-Davidson. 

It's not clear why Tamburini chose to reitire now, but he is confident 

that the team that follows him will do well. Tamburini is responsible for 

designing greats like the Ducati 916 and the MV Agusta F4 series.

Source Kneeslider

Rummors of a custom Honda

Motorcycle daily has reported a rumor regarding a teaser video featuring a raked out factory chopper from Honda. The bike will apparently be fuel injected with "chopper" wheels, a 200 series rear tire, and will be based off the VTX1300.  Honda's attempt at Harley's Rocker C and Yamaha's Raider perhaps? We'll see.

Source Motorcycledaily