Vespa's unpronounceable future The Vespa Quarantasei (46 in Italian) is a concept inspired by the 1945 MP6 prototype and it's more wasp-like than ever. Times have changed though and engine technology has made significant advances in the last 65 years. While the Quarantasei is a styling concept, its engine is the real deal. The new motor is an air-cooled, fuel-injected 3-valve 4-stroke. It'll be available as either a 125 with 1... By Sean Smith News - Nov 8 2011 -
A closer look at the KTM Freeride E As the first electric motorcycle from an established manufacturer, this KTM Freeride E is a significant bike. When we unveiled it last night, we expressed some concerns over specs that seemed inferior to those of the Zero X. Now, with full data, can an Austrian dirt bike company hope to compete with a Bay Area startup? ... By HFL Staff News - Nov 8 2011 -
Now this is a Husqvarna If Husqvarna is going to be BMW’s youth brand, it needs street products that are more than me-too KTM wannabes. Products like this Husqvarna Moab concept. With mechanical configuration and purpose loosely based around the idea of an updated ‘60s or ‘70s desert sled, the styling manages to reference motorcycling’s golden age without shamelessly copying bikes of old. Equipped with a 650cc si... By HFL Staff News - Nov 8 2011 -
KTM Freeride E: the electric motorcycle has arrived For years, electric motorcycles have existed as a quirky footnote to the rest of the motorcycle industry. Tiny startups sold literally dozens of emissions-free, high-price commuters. But the electric motorcycle is no longer a novelty, a relatively major manufacturer is now making one. This is the KTM Freeride E and it’s set to electrify the masses. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5SqoyR8Ht0 K... By HFL Staff News - Nov 7 2011 -
2012 Yamaha TMAX: practicality, defined While other manufacturers are busy sticking motorcycle engines in maxi-scooters and maxi-scooter engines in motorcycles to create odd new breeds of hybrid, Yamaha is continuing its domination of that world with continual refinements to the basic concept. This new 2012 Yamaha TMAX looks to be essentially the perfect take on the large scooter concept, combining immense practicality, total comfort a... By HFL Staff News - Nov 7 2011 -
Honda NC700X: the CR-V of motorcycles Dig the comfortable ergos and rugged styling of ADV bikes, but do most of your riding in town where comfort, affordability and fuel economy count the most? The Honda NC700X shares its powertrain and frame with the Integra maxi-scoot and Honda NC700S naked, but looks like it could ride around the world. Now put down those torches, adventure touring fanatics, this isn’t supposed to be next bike ... By HFL Staff News - Nov 7 2011 -
Honda Crosstourer: boldly going where pavement has gone before “The Crosstourer will deliver all the fun and excitement of a sports tourer; with the comfortable upright riding position and manoeuvrability of an adventure machine.” There you have it. The Honda Crosstourer, revealed here in production form is a taller, more comfortable take on the VFR1200. Traction control, combined ABS and a Dual Clutch Transmission capable of operating in fully-automatic ... By HFL Staff News - Nov 7 2011 -
Ducati 1199 leaks ahead of EICMA Due to be released at EICMA this week, the new Ducati 1199 Panigale has leaked. Check out the gallery for the first clear shots of the 195bhp, 395lbs (wet) v-twin. We've already covered the 1199 extensively, but these shots do reveal a few new things. DES (Ducati Electronic Suspension) is clearly visible on both the front Öhlins NIX30 forks and rear TTX-36 shock of the S model. This will be the f... By Sean Smith News - Nov 6 2011 -
A new engine for little Moto Guzzis Moto Guzzi is refreshing the V7 range with an all-new engine. Claiming a 10 percent improvement to the current 48.8bhp output as well as more torque, improved fuel economy and lower emissions, the engine is distinguished by it’s seriously attractive new valve covers, which eliminate the plug leads, leading to a cleaner look. Elsewhere, the engine remains true to Guzzi heritage, the crank is long... By HFL Staff News - Nov 4 2011 -
The age of universal traction control is upon us First used on a production car in 1971 (Buick full-sizes) and on a production motorcycle in 1992 (Honda ST1100), Traction Control has long since evolved from a dorky safety aid to a sophisticated, desirable performance enhancer. TC makes it possible for bikes and cars to be more powerful than ever before, while remaining exploitable to mere mortals. Long standard on virtually every automobile sold... By HFL Staff News - Oct 19 2011 -
700cc parallel-twin will power Honda scooter, naked, adventure bikes Honda has released details of a 700cc parallel-twin that will power three new bikes debuting for 2012. The first of those is this maxi-scooter, which locates the engine mid ship, like the segment-defining Yamaha TMAX. There, it’ll be equipped with a second generation version of Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission. Perhaps tellingly, Honda is touting fuel economy numbers rather than horsepower or ... By HFL Staff News - Sep 26 2011 -
Is this the production BMW Concept C? Unveiled at EICMA last year, the BMW Concept C teased a new maxi scooter that’ll arrive in production form this fall. In February, BMW revealed it was planning two versions of the the scooter without detailing how’d they differ. Now, these pictures of a heavily disguised bike have been released, along with vague details of a pretty advanced sounding electric drivetrain. So BMW’s planning a h... By HFL Staff News - Jul 13 2011 -
Husqvarna 900: power, weight and power-to-weight Husqvarna has released technical details and a promotional video for their upcoming 900cc street-bike. We already knew the motor is a punched out hot-rod version of the F800 parallel twin and now that there are some numbers, we can start making real comparisons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRy-O-TUUXwThis appears to be an official "spy" video released by Husky in part of this pathetically tr... By Sean Smith News - Jun 29 2011 -
Spy Photos: Husqvarna’s new street bike These are the first images of Husqvarna’s new street bike, captured while it’s undergoing pre-production testing in Germany. Why is an Italian street bike testing in Germany with a BMW-badged engine? BMW owns Husky and is donating its 800cc parallel-twin to the new bike, Husqvarna is then increasing its capacity to 900cc and installing it in a streetfighter-style package. These images provide ... By HFL Staff News - Jun 14 2011 -
Spy Photo: 2012 Ducati superbike hits the road Yesterday, we brought you the very first image of the 2012 Ducati superbike testing at Mugello in SBK trim. Now, here’s the first picture of the production machine that will hit dealers next year. Make no mistake, this is going to be a radically different motorcycle to the current 1198, just check out the under-engine exhaust, horizontal shock, lack of a traditional steel trellis frame and tiny ... By HFL Staff News - Jun 1 2011 -
This is Husqvarna’s naked roadster That 900cc, F800GS-derived, parallel twin Husqvarna’s been showing off? It’s going in this naked roadster. BMW’s Italian dirt bike brand just released these sketches, teasing a product that will likely be unveiled at EICMA in November. So what do they tell us? It’s hard not to draw parallels to KTM here. A dirt bike company getting into street bikes? The hard angles on the minimal bodywor... By HFL Staff News - May 27 2011 -
Is Yamaha developing a production Tesseract? What's Yamaha building in there? By HFL Staff Industry - May 26 2011 -
This is Husqvarna’s new street bike motor This is the 900cc parallel-twin that will power Husqvarna’s first adventurer tourer. Very closely based on the 798cc engine of the BMW F800GS, Husqvarna has not only increased the capacity for more top-end power and stronger low-end torque, but redesigned the exhaust and airbox in pursuit of the same goals, while also dropping some weight and centralizing mass. The existence of a new Husqvaran... By HFL Staff News - May 9 2011 -
Aprilia Caponord 1200, a faired Dorsoduro Will Aprilia’s new adventure tourer essentially be a faired supermoto? Judging by this evidence, yes. By HFL Staff Adventure & Dual-Sport - Mar 1 2011 -
Husqvarna adventure tourer, BMW maxi scooters coming this year Speaking at the launch of the BMW K1600GT/L in South Africa last week, BMW Motorrad VP Hermann Bohrer revealed the existence of a forthcoming adventure tourer from the company’s Italian dirt bike brand, plus two maxi scooters believed to draw inspiration from the BMW Concept C. That Husqvarna adventure bike won’t go head-to-head with BMW’s existing range, rather it’s believed to be skewing... By HFL Staff News - Feb 22 2011 -
EICMA 2010: motorcycle gear Traveling to EICMA last week to research their 2011 purchasing, the guys from London’s Urban Rider also took the time to put together a list of what they though was the coolest new riding gear at the show. All text and photos: Urban Rider. Brembo Helmets Although these were debuted at last year’s show it is only now that dealers are able to get their hands on them. The main USP is t... By HFL Staff News - Nov 15 2010 -
2011 Husqvarna SMR449/511: a BMW G450X supermoto Equipped with the same Kymco-made single-cyinder and concentric gearbox output shaft/swingarm pivot as the BMW G450X, these new Husqvarnas are sort of an Italian supermoto based on a German dirt bike. The SMR449 and 511 are more than just slick tires and 17-inch wheels though, Husqvarna claims advantages like improved ground clearance, an improved ability to stick big jumps and better all-round tr... By HFL Staff News - Nov 10 2010 -
Details: Aprilia Tuono V4R Out of all the bikes at the EICMA show — including the Diavel, F3 and Triumph Tiger 800 — it’s the Aprilia Tuono V4R that really needs a closer look. Not because it’s a complicated bike — a “naked” version of the RSV4 with a little less power and the addition of APRC — but because we think hiding behind those horrendously surprised headlights there’s actually a good looking motor... By HFL Staff News - Nov 9 2010 -
Video: Honda’s EICMA bikes explained Honda had highs and lows at last weeks EICMA show in Milan. High being the CBR600F, a more practical version of the Hornet that sits somewhere between that and the CBR600RR in the Honda range. Low being the V4 Crosstourer, a “concept” based on Shamu that won’t be going off road even if it looks like it wants to. In the middle somewhere is the VFR800X Crossrunner, a reborn VFR800 apparently e... By HFL Staff News - Nov 8 2010 -
