Daily news about motorcycleshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/en-usWed, 15 May 2013 18:00:00 +0200 Mon, 6 May 2013 18:00:00 +0200

#Ossa - Spanish legendary motorcycle manufacturer Ossa, risen from the ashes a few years back, has been beavering away making new models. And they seem to be doing a good job, since they had for a few years only one model in their catalog, now they have 6.

- Factory 125
- Factory R 300..........

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]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/ossa-release-two-new-and-updated-trial-motorcycle-models.htmSpecial-BikesMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/ossa-release-two-new-and-updated-trial-motorcycle-models.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/ossa-release-two-new-and-updated-trial-motorcycle-models.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/ossa-release-two-new-and-updated-trial-motorcycle-models.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/ossa-release-two-new-and-updated-trial-motorcycle-models.htm?opendocument&comments Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0200

Usually when I go out to make photos for an article, it involves packing up my motorcycle with all my cameras, computers, sleeping gear, toothbrush, etc, or it might involve planes, trains and automobiles. But whatever the mode of transportation, it'll mean it's going to take a while before I get there, and even longer before I get back. That's because I live in the real countryside, in a small (186 inhabitants) village in Upper Normandy. My next door neighbors are cows, and I mean the animals.

Once or twice I've had something as a source for an article close-by, usually 15 to 30 minutes ride from my house, and that made me happy, but last weekend on Sunday, in the closest town to me, Cany-Barville, was a exhibition called "100 Years of Motorcycles". Cany-Barville is almost at walking distance from my house, a little over 5 kilometers, so the expo got marked in big black marker in my agenda (something my iPad did not like), since it was going to be one I was not going to miss.

The only thing that troubled me, and I never got a response, was why "100 years". Motorcycles have existed for more than 100 years. Anyway, it didn't spoil my fun. So off I went to the exhibition. Now do remember, we're in the middle of "shit-kicker" country, so whatever it was going to be was small but done with gusto. ..........

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]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-100-year-celebration-of-the-motorcycle.htmSpecial-BikesMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-100-year-celebration-of-the-motorcycle.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-100-year-celebration-of-the-motorcycle.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/france-100-year-celebration-of-the-motorcycle.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-100-year-celebration-of-the-motorcycle.htm?opendocument&comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0200

I thought I knew most of the big motorcycle manufacturers out there, but I was wrong (as usual). When you have a manufacturer who makes some 200,000 motorcycles and scooters per year, you'd expect to know them, right? I mean, Ducati is world famous, but only produces some 50,000 units per year, so 4 times that should be even more know....

The company is called Italika, and they are Mexico's big motorcycle manufacturer. They started using the Korean Hyosung motorcycle as their basis, assembling them in Mexico, but now they're on their own. They design and make several models and sell them not only in Mexico but Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Panama and Brazil.

As far as market share goes, Atalika "own" the Mexican market with some 63% market share in 2011; impressive for a company created in 2005. 1,000,000 motorcycles were made and sold since their creation. Here's what a few of their bikes look like...........

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]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/ever-hear-of-motorcycle-manufacturer-italika-theyre-big.htmSpecial-BikesMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/ever-hear-of-motorcycle-manufacturer-italika-theyre-big.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/ever-hear-of-motorcycle-manufacturer-italika-theyre-big.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/ever-hear-of-motorcycle-manufacturer-italika-theyre-big.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/ever-hear-of-motorcycle-manufacturer-italika-theyre-big.htm?opendocument&comments Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0200

Hmmm... looks like an interesting video. It's a documentary of a Motorcycle Cannonball "race", not by hardcore race motorcycles, but by pre-1916 motorcycles.

You can imagine how tough a coast-to-coast race would be on present-day race or endurance motorcycle, so you can imagine how it would be on a vintage bike dating before 1916. Some don't even have a transmission. The need to rebuild their engines in the parking lots, and keep squeezing every bit out of the bike to make it to the coast. And I guess the bikers will need to have their kidneys and other organs remolded after each day.............

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]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/movie-the-1st-motorcycle-cannonball-race-documentary.htmSpecial-BikesMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/movie-the-1st-motorcycle-cannonball-race-documentary.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/movie-the-1st-motorcycle-cannonball-race-documentary.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/movie-the-1st-motorcycle-cannonball-race-documentary.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/movie-the-1st-motorcycle-cannonball-race-documentary.htm?opendocument&comments Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:00:00 +0200

Are there still any motorcycle manufacturers out there that haven't started selling in India or at least announced that they are planning to? Almost any self-respecting manufacturer has decided to enter this mega market. The last one to make their intentions known that they want to sell their high-end motorcycles is Polaris with their Victory Motorcycles brand.

Polaris are not an unknown name in India, since they sell ATVs, but it'll be a first for Victory. Apparently the Victory motorcycles will be shipped to India, not built there (CBU - Completely Built Unit). Any unit that is not manufactured in India faces enormous import duties (about 110%), so much so that you can expect the already expensive motorcycle to double in price before it reaches the customer's hands...........

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]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-now-victory-motorcycles-to-enter-india.htmSpecial-BikesMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-now-victory-motorcycles-to-enter-india.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-now-victory-motorcycles-to-enter-india.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/india-now-victory-motorcycles-to-enter-india.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-now-victory-motorcycles-to-enter-india.htm?opendocument&comments Mon, 4 Feb 2013 18:00:00 +0200

Imagine that... a motorcycle capable of doing 400 mph (640 kph). And it was up for sale at eBay for US$27,000. Of course, it's not a motorcycle that you can ride in traffic.

No, the motorcycle built by Glenn Brittian is a rocket motorcycle. So it's one step up over the Marine Turbine Y2K motorcycle, since it has a rocket, not a turbine engine.

The "motorcycle" is meant for drag races, since it'll last a quarter mile before you need to feed it pennies to go again, or more likely hydrogen peroxide. The bike's rockets provide 3500 pounds (that's 15.6 kN or the equivalent of 7,000 horsepower) of thrust, and it uses 30 lb (14 kg) of fuel PER SECOND...........

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]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/world-fastest-motorcycle-sold.htmSpecial-BikesMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/world-fastest-motorcycle-sold.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/world-fastest-motorcycle-sold.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/world-fastest-motorcycle-sold.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/world-fastest-motorcycle-sold.htm?opendocument&comments Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0200

Another interesting crowd-funding project on Fundable.com is the Robertsham CiTi. The CiTi comes from Robertsham, and looks like it is the result of the consummation between a Honda Goldwing and a Fiat 500. The resulting child is a three wheeler, as wide and long as a Goldwing, with the protection of a Fiat.

The Robertsham CiTi is a single seat motorcycle with a cage, i.e., a roof, windscreen and seat belt. So you don't need a helmet, or leathers, you can use your normal business clothes, step into the CiTi, put on the seat belt, and drive away. It's a bit like the ill-fated BMW C1, but with more protection...........

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]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/help-fund-and-get-this-cool-robertsham-citi.htmSpecial-BikesMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/help-fund-and-get-this-cool-robertsham-citi.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/help-fund-and-get-this-cool-robertsham-citi.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/help-fund-and-get-this-cool-robertsham-citi.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/help-fund-and-get-this-cool-robertsham-citi.htm?opendocument&comments Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:00:00 +0200

MTT, Marine Turbine Technologies, have already captured the imagination of many bikers with their turbine powered super-motorcycle, the MTT Y2K. Made famous by Jay Leno, just turning on the engine will set many biker's hearts pumping extra blood through the veins. Or should I say kerosene? With an incredible power (320 hp) and dazzling top speeds, the super-motorcycle is only surpassed by its price. Let's face it, even the most expensive MV Agusta will look like spare change when you outfit your motorcycle with a helicopter turbine engine.

MTT are in the process of finishing off their latest creation, a hyper-super bike (for lack of a better word). The new motorcycle will receive a Rolls-Royce C-20B gas turbine engine developing 420 hp!!! A top speed of 420 kph is expected, and you can expect also to outgun any 4 wheel cage in acceleration...........

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]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/mtt-coming-out-with-a-new-turbine-hyper-superbike.htmSpecial-BikesMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/mtt-coming-out-with-a-new-turbine-hyper-superbike.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/mtt-coming-out-with-a-new-turbine-hyper-superbike.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/mtt-coming-out-with-a-new-turbine-hyper-superbike.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/mtt-coming-out-with-a-new-turbine-hyper-superbike.htm?opendocument&comments Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:00:00 +0200

Many folks dream of owning a special motorcycle but can't afford it. Cruisers, sports and even bobbers. The customization alone can cost you an arm & a leg, not to mention the motorcycle itself.

But it doesn't have to be so, not if you're not proud. Chinese Regal Raptor makes makes low priced motorcycles, from "normal" street motorcycles to cruisers and bobbers...........

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]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/a-bobber-for-less-than-euro-3000.htmSpecial-BikesMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/a-bobber-for-less-than-euro-3000.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/a-bobber-for-less-than-euro-3000.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/a-bobber-for-less-than-euro-3000.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/a-bobber-for-less-than-euro-3000.htm?opendocument&comments Thu, 4 Oct 2012 14:00:00 +0200

When the Horex was announced in 2010 in Germany, I was a bit sceptical. In the present day fuel and economical crisis, developing a new brand and motorcycle that has an enormous engine, and therefore fuel consumption, was in IMHO the wrong moment. I would have thought that any new manufacturer would go electric, or maybe hydrogen. But in this gutsy move Horex announced their first motorcycle using a 6 cylinder engine with a total of 1200cc.

The 6 cylinders are in V shape, but also inline, making this special design named VR. Their first, and so far only, model is a roadster, the Horex VR6, Roadster. So I decided to pay them a quick visit at the Intermot motorcycle exhibition......

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]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/intermot2012-horex---the-german-muscle-motorcycle.htmSpecial-BikesMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/intermot2012-horex---the-german-muscle-motorcycle.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/intermot2012-horex---the-german-muscle-motorcycle.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/intermot2012-horex---the-german-muscle-motorcycle.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/intermot2012-horex---the-german-muscle-motorcycle.htm?opendocument&comments