Ducati has shown its 2013 motorcycle line-up at the INTERMOT motor show in Cologne earlier this month. The iconic Italian motorcycle manufacturer displayed a race-spec Ducati 1199 Panigale RS13, which is ready to enter the World Superbike Series in 2013, with other models gaining refreshed color schemes, including the Ducati Monster Diesel.

The Ducati 1199 Panigal gets a new arctic white shade while a special edition Ducati 848 EVO superbike gets Ducati Corse Test Team livery and lighter alloy fuel tank. The recently introduced Ducati Multistrada 1200 with semi-active Ducati Skyhook Suspension was also at the motor show.

The winners of the German Design Award 2013 have been announced. The German Design Council’s panel of experts selected the most outstanding designs for this 'prize of prizes' and conferred its award on BMW Group Design three times for two cars and the Husqvarna Nuda 900 R. This year’s German Design Award ranked the Husqvarna Nuda 900 R, which received a special mention for their particularly outstanding design aspects. The award ceremony will be held on 15 February 2013 during the Ambiente international consumer goods fair in Frankfurt.

Thanks to its goal of setting innovative design trends with an international impact, the Design Council enjoys broad resonance for its German Design Award which, after just two editions, already ranks as an important yardstick for design trends and added brand value in Germany. The business and design worlds commend the initiative as an enhancement to publicizing the German design scene and corroborate the Design Council’s approach by their active involvement. More than 1,500 submissions were presented to the international panel of experts in Frankfurt am Main on 16 and 17 August 2012. The 30-strong jury of the German Design Award 2013 comprises design experts from a range of areas. Hailing from business, academe and the design industry, they are acknowledged authorities in their fields.

The 2013 Yamaha FJR1300A gets a complete electronics overhaul with Supersport-inspired features like Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T), Traction Control (TCS) and D-Mode (Sport and Touring). All these technologies work in unison with an all new Cruiser Control system to ensure what Yamaha promises will be more 'inspired ride.'

The look of the FJR1300A has been completely modernized starting with a more aggressive shape and design of the front and side cowls. The windscreeen has been changed and now raises and lowers twice as fast and retains the same position when the key is removed.

The 2013 Triumph Tiger 1200XC. Now this we do like the sound of... in short the XC version of the Triumph Tiger 1200 of last year in Adventure circles gets aluminum rimmed, steel spoked wheels with tubeless tires, ride by wire, traction control, cruise control and switchable ABS all as standard, hand guards, fog lights, belly pan and engine protection bars. Also the Triumph Tiger 1200 XC gets extended service intervals along with different (extended) warranty.

Like the Triumph Tiger 800XC, the Tiger 1200XC is more off-road oriented, the basics are unchanged the familiar triple-cylinder 1215cc engine is still at the heart of the machine.

Key to the look of the Triumph Tiger 1200 XC are the new aluminum rimmed, steel spoked wheels.1 The high impact Adventure hand guards are a bonus while the high performance 55 watt dual fog lights deliver increased visibility for those late rides. Tough 22mm steel tube engine protection bars and a heavy aluminum belly guard combine for more protection.

Yamaha has been showing us what's in the line-up for 2013 and we were pretty surprised the factory was being so candid so early on, until we saw what it wanted to show us.

Here it is then... basically it's a change to the range as far as colors, graphics and the odd minor changes here and there go.

Husqvarna Motorcycles is an international manufacturer of offroad and onroad motorcycles, originally founded in Sweden. The company joined the BMW Group in 2007 and has since been profiting from a dynamic and sustained boost to its innovative power. Today, Husqvarna Motorcycles is headquartered in the North Italian town of Cassinetta di Biandronno in the Varese province and can look back on over one hundred years of traditional motorcycle building. This makes Husqvarna Motorcycles the world’s oldest motorcycle maker with an unbroken history of production, which has turned out a large number of championship winners.

For instance, the history of Husqvarna Motorcycles has recorded huge successes in international offroad racing, reaping eighty two championship titles to date. Husqvarna Motorcycles could also celebrate road racing victories in the twenties and thirties. It was therefore only logical to supplement its present model range with dynamic, sporty motorcycles for onroad riding.

Developed jointly with BMW Motorrad, the Husqvarna Nuda 900 and Husqvarna Nuda 900R models helped Husqvarna Motorcycles to make its comeback on the onroad motorcycle segment in 2011. Presenting the purist, sporty design language so characteristic of Husqvarna Motorcycles, these two crossover bikes form the dynamic riding bridge between the Supermoto and the naked bike, defying all attempts at categorisation.

Besides their daring, vital visual appeal, they also offer a sporty, dynamic riding experience where agility and performance enter into a harmonious union. As soon as they arrived, their dynamic riding properties were howered with praises from the trade press.

The world’s most successful travel enduro is perfected. The 'BMW GS' concept has embodied riding pleasure and the desire for adventure for over 30 years. This applies especially to the GS motorcycles with the opposed-twin 'boxer' engine. The 'big GS' allows motorcyclists to explore the most remote corners of the world - an idea that has already inspired numerous globetrotters to set off on their travels.

But the GS was and still is much more than this. Whether sports-style cornering on winding country roads, excellent travel times due to high motorway speeds, relaxed tours with a passenger or daring rides over rough terrain - every GS has offered supreme mastery of these skills in its respective era and this won’t change with the new version.

It is the unique integrated concept of the big travel enduro bike with boxer engine, complete with authentic charm and a powerful, high-torque engine, which is loved by legions of motorcycle fans all over the world to this day. It is not for nothing that the “big BMW GS” with boxer engine has been the undisputed frontrunner in its market segment for many years and is the best-seller within the BMW Motorrad model range. BMW is now beginning a whole new chapter in GS history: the most popular travel enduro in the world has been brought to perfection.

Castrol has decided to shift its global Research and Development base for motorcycle lubrication products from England to Asia (India). The main reason for this is that Castrol wants to be closer to motorcycle manufacturers. It sees this as an opportunity to work in the largest market of motorcycles worldwide.

By locating to Asia, Castrol will also be closer to ASEAN countries, including Thailand and Indonesia, which are its biggest markets on global scale.

There are two types of people who buy motorcycles. For the first group, a motorcycle represents the cheapest form of motorized transport. Here, there is usually little interest in the vehicle beyond essential maintenance, nor enthusiasm for the more exciting sensations of motorcycling. It's just transport – one step up from a bicycle, but a big step down from the car, which most of this group would rather own. Chances are, they will not be reading our website.

The second group is diametrically opposed to the first. Motorcycling to them is a passion, a symbol of freedom and often a lifestyle. They ride a motorcycle by choice. In fact, many make that choice on a daily basis, because despite the paradox of a higher dedication to motorcycling, many of these people also own a car. So wealth, or the lack of it, is one of the guiding factors that determine which group we fall into.

The fact there are models in between the Honda Wave and the Honda CBR1000RR 'Fireblade' proves that shades of grey exist between the two extremes. Just because you're an enthusiast doesn't mean you don't have certain practicalities to respect, such as luggage, a passenger or just a bad back. At the other extreme, reluctant commuters may take a certain pride in their machine and enjoy some of the benefits, such as maneuvrability in dense traffic and the ease of parking. Ultimately, however, we're not and while function and emotion may very rarely be found in equal ratio, the majority of us are polarized towards one or other of the extremes. When it comes to the prime purchasing motivation, motorcycles are either the cheapest wheels or they're expensive toys.

Ben Spies arrived at Misano for the San Marino Grand Prix on the heels of news that he has signed for Ducati team next year, drawing a line under thoughts of a return to World Superbikes and repeating his statements that he still has plenty more to prove in the MotoGP paddock.

The official announcement from Ducati also confirmed his teammate as Moto2 hotshot Andrea Iannone, who has a successful test of the Desmosedici the previous week, lapping Mugello faster than Valentino Rossi had in qualifying.

The team will be supplied with full factory equipment, and run by current satellite team operators Pramac.

For Ducati, it brings another strong rider on line to help with development of the currently trouble-some Desmosedici. The factory is reeling after the failure of its marriage with Valentino Rossi, though the Italian did have his best finish of the season in Misano when he ran second to Jorge Lorenzo.