Herald Kruger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW Motorrad, used his 2017 interim report to announce that there will be 14 new models in the next year and that customers will be able to choose between a ‘wide range of different drive trains’.

Now, before you get very excited, many of these will be small updates for Euro4 exhaust emission rules, or existing motorcycles that we already know about which have not yet made it to showrooms – like the BMW K1600 Bagger, which is now classed as a 2018 model.

Continue Reading

MotoGP could be going electric in just over two years, with a series planned to run alongside the established three classes at selected events from 2019.

Plans are still at a formative stage, and the current outline is for something of a novelty series – but Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has now confirmed talks are already in progress with more than one interested supplier. Some reports suggest as many as four manufacturers are interested, but Ezpeleta has confirmed that it will be a one-make series with identical machines.

One aspect of the plan that has filled the paddock with doubt is Ezpeleta’s assertion that the riders will be drawn from MotoGP and Moto2 classes. Teams reacted with surprise at the notion that they would be prepared to release contracted riders to take part in an inevitably risky novelty race.

Continue Reading

Honda’s commitment to bringing new riders into the motorcycle fold has never been more evident. From its lovable MSX125 to the commuter-centric NC750X, Honda’s rang of novice-friendly models cover the gamut. Now, Honda aims to stroke the fire of the young and restless with its all-new 2017 Honda Rebel 300 and Rebel 500, a pair of bobber-style models with a cool minimalistic look and attractive price.

Both Honda Rebel models share identical styling and chassis components. A low 690mm seat height, mid-mount foot pegs, and low-rise handlebar – all providing a balance of style and control. Backing out of a parking stall is light duty, as is low-speed maneuvering. Handling is light and neutral with easy turn-in feel and a very good sense of stability. Cornering clearance is adequate for a bit of spirited play but grounded in cruiser roots when pushing the pace.

Ride compliance proved up to the task of soaking up some of Bangkok’s more battered roads, and the 43mm forks offer good support under hard braking. The brakes provide ample stopping power with intuitive feel with the ABS, though a longish reach to the nonadjustable clutch and brake levers may prove a stretch for youthful and female hands.

Continue Reading

Michelin has released its all-new Power RS sport road tire that is said to be 3.5 seconds faster per lap than its Pilot Power 3 predecessor while offering better dry-weather grip and stability than its rivals. These include the Bridgestone S21, Continental Sport Attack 3, Dunlop SportSmart 2, Metzeler M7RR and Pirelli Diablo Rosso III.

Developed over two-year period and featuring two new patents, the Michelin Power RS is a premium sport tire that is primarily intended for road use while handling the occasional track day. It is positioned below Michelin’s track-focused Power Cup Evo and also replaces the SuperSport Evo tire.

The Michelin Power RS features dual-compound technology whereby soft and hard compounds are overlaid – including on the front tire for a quicker turn-in – with a softer compound on the shoulders for more grip when leaned over.

Continue Reading

Leather motorcycle suit. If you ever want to feel like a real motorcyclist, bung on a set of Berik Force Race suit. Yep, you’re almost a famous MotoGP racer immediately. Except for that weird hump at the back, the way they nibble incessantly at your nuts and you have to stand like you have a ray in your hands due to the way the arms are cut to be in the right position when in a racer crouch.

Yeah, you come down to earth pretty quickly. But they do look very cool, and when your toilet region gets back to its regular shape, well, there’s a rough chance someone will want to get to know it. Yes, a leather motorcycle racing suit is sexy.

Of course, it ain’t all about that. Fact is, if you are going anywhere near a track without having a motorcycle suit, well, run out the front with a crayon and draw a big line down the middle of the road. See how the crayon is diminished in size and eventually no longer there? That’s you when it comes to abrasion if you come off at speed.

Continue Reading

The first thing you notice when looking at the Moto Guzzi Audace is that it has immense road presence. There is no way it can be missed. It is audible and has magnetism in its appearance.

The most important desigh element in any cruiser is its engine. Of it’s not substantial and beautiful enough, it can ruin the whole style completely. A cruiser’s engine is its brawn and its heart at the same time. And it is all the more prominent in the Moto Guzzi Audance.

The transverse mounted V-twin engine with the two cylinders protruding at either side is Audace’s biggest visual impact and there’s no two ways about it. This arrangement makes everything else big and wide as well. The fuel tank has to be wide enough to heep the proportions right. When everything is put together, the front-half of the Moto Guzzi Audace looks big and wide, highlighting its mechanical beauty. The drag-bar handlebar and shorter mudguards add muscularity to the design.

Continue Reading

The new Suzuki GSX-R150, which is essentially a completely newly developed fully faired 150cc sportbike. When we looked at the engine specification on paper we had doubts about the performance, the engine is the smallest, only 147.3cc, compared to the Honda CBR150R and Yamaha YZF-R15. When we first rode the GSX-R150, we came back impressed. The 147.3cc single-cylinder, DOHC valve, liquid-cooled engine was smooth and revved freely, while the chassis resulted in a motorcycle that handled exceedingly well.

The designers of the Suzuki GSX-R150 have clearly borrowed some design futures from the latest Suzuki GSX-R1000. Just looking at the motorcycle and you will directly see that it’s a GSX-R family member the DNA is unmistakably present.

Continue Reading

Dani Pedrosa took a master-class victory at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, starting from pole position, leading the race from the first corner to the chequered flag, and setting the race’s fastest lap on the way to taking his 30th win in MotoGP, the 53rd in his career.

In winning the 3,000th Grand Prix race ever held, Dani also earned the Repsol Honda Team’s 100th victory in the MotoGP class and became the only rider to have won at least one race for 16 consecutive years. Dani is now fourth in the Championship, with 52 points.

To complete a perfect weekend for the Repsol Honda Team, Marc Marquez scored a brilliant second-place finish after chasing his teammate for 27 laps. The reigning World Champion is now third in the standings with 58 points, just four down on the leader.

Tomorrow the Repsol Honda Team and a few other MotoGP teams will take part in a one-day post-race test.

Continue Reading

Volkswagen are considering a sale of Ducati as part of their mission to streamline the business in the wake of the emissions scandal, according to the Reuters news agency.

VW are said to have appointed investment specialists Evercore, who are apparently evaluating possible options for the sale after VW’s Audi division purchased the brand in 2012. Although the exact price has never been confirmed, the 2012 purchase of Ducati was said to be worth approximately 860 million Euro.

Reuters says their source told them that Ducati have annual earnings of 100 million Euro before tax, which would give the company a valuation of between 1 to 1.5 billion Euro.

Continue Reading

About 6 months ago we brought you the first pictures of Benelli’s future 1200cc touring bike and now we have seen images of the new three-cylinder engine that’s going to power it and also, more than likely, a big-bore adventure bike.

These pictures, from a Chinese design patent, reveal in detail Benelli’s new triple cylinder engine. While they show the name Qjiang – reflecting Benelli’s Chinese ownership by the QiangJiang Group – the cam cover still proudly bears the Benelli name. Although partially hidden by hoses feeding the oil cooler, there’s also what appears to be a ‘1200’ script on the right-hand side of the cylinder casting.

Continue Reading