Harley-Davidson to work their magic on Cagiva

Will the Cagiva Elefant and Raptor models return in full force now that Harley-Davidson has turned their eyes on them? Most likely, yes. With financial support from the American icon combined with Italian heritage, these models are rumored not only to be revived, but to be powered by engines developed by Harley-Davidson in collaboration with BRP Rotax.

After acquiring MV Agusta and Cagiva, HD tries to make its debut in the world of all-around motorcycles, but there are also plans for scooters

Miami Cuban American Frank Jimenez nominated for Florida Supreme Court
Crist offers up ideas for balancing budget, sparing services

Ducati Monster developing into Desmosedici RR

Realizing that the $72,500 asking price for the Ducati Desmosedici RR excludes him from the start, a French Ducati fan took matters into his own hands and turned his Monster SR4 into what appears to be a bulkier Desmosedici RR, but without the astonishingly high retail price. The passionate builder also took its time and photographed the bike during the different stages of development and this is how we got the pleasure to share these with you.

Although technically it remains as the Monster’s L-Twin was preferred over a 200 bhp V4 Desmosedici RR engine, the fiberglass fairing and gas tank, the windscreen and headlights as well as the fake underseat exhaust are all testimony of passionate work and detailed craftsmanship.

I reckon that copying isn’t the solution and that he could have gone for something original, but otherwise the guy wouldn’t have ridden a DesmoMonster and, apparently, that’s what he wished the most.

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Gurney Aligator Instigator: not the usual thing

Following the OCC model (only that without the fights), Dan Gurney and his son Justin have created an all-new Aligator Instigator model. This baby is an aggressive piece of machinery built around a 2032cc S&S V-Twin engine, the biggest and most powerful one used at Aligator Motorcycles, but by the way they’re evolving, we reckon that not the last one.

Properly exploiting the engine’s capabilities is the six-speed gearbox and a custom-built exhaust system, but the piece that definitely required a great amount of work is the chrome-moly 4030 tubing. The latest Aligator rides on Dymag forged alloy wheels which are linked to the frame by an USD fork and an aluminum swingarm together with Penske monoshock. The brakes were provided by Beringer and the instrumentation by Motec.

Brazilian claims to be John McCain’s old flame

No more AMA Road Racing for Honda

This weekend, Honda announced to drop all factory support of AMA road racing as a result of a culmination of facts: "current global economic situation and its impact on Honda" (the official variant), the Suzuki supremacy in the AMA Road Racing with Mat Mladin and Ben Spies as pilots and the ongoing conflict with Daytona Motorsports Group, the new management for AMA Pro Racing.

Until the radical solution was made, the only Honda factory rider contracted for next year’s season was Neil Hodgson.

Press release after the jump

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Motorvue’s interpretation of the 2010 Ducati Hyperstrada

Motorvue has proposed their interpretation of Ducati’s future enduro motorcycle, the Hyperstrada which is expected to hit production as a 2010 model year.

The model has already been announced by the Italian house at various dealers and it is expected to be a fierce competitor for the BMW R 1200 GS. The present year’s Ducati Multistrada will most likely evolve into a radical new motorcycle with a futuristic look inspired on the recently launched 1198, but we’re sure there’s more of it yet to come.

Chances are that we’ll be seeing an official pre-production version of this bike by the end of 2009.

Brazilian claims to be John McCain’s old flame

Three Beijing policeman made happy by Harley-Davidson

Apparently, Harley-Davidson goes for the Chinese market. No, not the public one as I’m sure they’ve conquered it for a long time now, but the police departments market (if we can even call it that way).

AP News

Two Beijing traffic police officers ride motorcycles donated by Harley-Davidson Motor Company near the Tiananmen Tower in Beijing, China, Monday, Dec. 8, 2008. Chinese media reported Tuesday that Harley-Davidson Motor Company donated three Harley police bikes to Beijing’s Dongcheng District traffic police branch for traffic police patrols near the Tiananmen Square. (AP Photo/Color China Photo)

We know that at a certain time in the American Motor Company’s history, heavy motorcycle production destined for police departments meant the difference between bankruptcy and success.

The way I see it, their strategy is to open an appetite for Harleys in an area where they haven’t had much success and so go through the financial crisis by making use of the same old artifice.

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1995 Ferrari motorcycle searching for owner

Arlen Ness, before ending up designing Victory motorcycles for Polaris Industries, designed a Ferrari motorcycle inspiring on their famous Maranello model. It seems that the bike is the only one to have received an official Ferarri chassis number (SF-01M) as it apparently met the Italian car builder’s demands. The two-wheeled Ferarri is, of-course, a sportbike with great references not only thanks to its name, but also due to the 900cc DOHC motor developing 105 horsepower at 8,800 rpm.

Although the headlight is almost identical to what you would find on a 1995 Suzuki GSX-R750, the bike features Testarossa styling cues on the sides, the four-cylinder engine looks like handmade and the Ferrari Red makes it definitely stand out. But how radical, sophisticated or unique can a motorcycle be or look like so that someone would pay as muck as $300K for it these days. It seems that we will have to wait until the 20th to find out as that is when the auction for this bike ends.

Hutchinson pulls out of Fort Lauderdale mayor’s race

Honda Fury finally gets tested…and spied

Honda has been preparing a whole new custom motorcycle for quite some time now and it seems that they have reached the testing faze. The best proof is this spy shot – originally presented by Solo Moto – presenting the Honda Fury undergoing final testing in Arizona, USA.

As seen in the picture, Honda tries a totally new approach towards the cruiser market, setting the new motorcycle apart from what we originally gotten used to. The first thing that strikes you is the design. With custom wheels, a very low seat and smooth fuel tank and rear fender, the new Honda model makes us very curious about its every single unique feature.

Let the campaign for 2012 begin
McCain reminds Biden he’s been tested in crisis

Suzuki GSX-R Barbie Edition

We’ve recently “admired” every girl’s idea of a BMW R 1200 GS and it included a lot of pink. Well guess what? Things don’t change a bit in the case of this Suzuki GSX-R K4. Even more, we know that this is no photoshop modified picture as it shows the bike in action on the track as ridden probably by a Barbie girl.

No reasons to get upset guys! Everybody does whatever they want with their bikes.

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Bush says summit leaders agree to cooperate better

Aprlia Mana X concept

Having recently gone a little over its hand with the all-new Mana 850 – a typical European naked bike that features CVT shiftless transmission, an electronic ride-by-wire system with multiple throttle maps as well as a helmet storage place instead of what appears to be the gas tank – Aprilia finds new ways of recovering Piaggio’s investment.

The first result takes the form of the Mana X concept which was recently presented at the EICMA show in Milan. So while the original Mana 850 is a dedicated commuter, its X derivation can be easily confused with a supermoto bike or even a dual-sport one as it is radically changed, mostly in what concerns the apparel because the same basic chassis underpins the X.

Get a look at that extremely low and spacious seat, at those thick tires covering the spoked wheels as well as at the waved rotors. Should I even mention the headlights or you’re already hooked? I thought so.

Honduran president calls for legalizing drug use

BMW R1200GS Barbie Edition. WTF?

When I first saw this picture I checked the calendar to see if today is by any chance Valentine’s Day and this is just the result of some guy desecrating his bike in order for his girl to forgive him for not spending as much time cuddling or something like that. But no!

There have actually been “rumors” (which I would have loved not to hear about)) that BMW is preparing a Barbie Edition and this is just a rendering of that because otherwise the world of those who actually go around the world will be turned upside down. Can you imagine that? How can anyone even picture such a horrible image?

Bye, Bye girls! And then she goes vrrrrooooomm. I feel like puking.

Mexico City mayor aims high

A tricked out Honda Rebel by Heiwa

What a radical transformation! The way in which the crew at Heiwa modified this series motorcycle – one related to which you don’t hear many “wows” – is simply amazing and it shows that sometimes the real challenges consist in what is unappreciated and left behind.

Details such as the raw heat-forged shifter, the switches on both sides of the oil tank as well as the satin-finished megaphones and fittings make all the difference, but adding a N.O.S system to a 250cc engine is an idea I couldn’t have got not in a thousand years.

Under Bush, US influence in Latin America wanes

Need a Lift? A Pitbull Motorcycle Lift?

Pitbull Motorcycle Lifts are the perfect items for when you need to do some maintenance work, repair or simply clean up your bike. They allow a full 25" lifting height and are the most resistant out there. Also, they are capable of a complete 360 degree rotation so you won’t be needed to move around the bike as you detail it, but simply and easily rotate the ingeniously built lift.

The company has recently made a TV ad in which the entire functions of their cruiser specific lift are being explained and demonstrated. So if that looks like the next item to be purchased for your garage, go to www.pitbullmotorcyclelifts.com and order yours.

Diaz-Balart brothers face Democrat-dominated White House and Congress
Diaz-Balarts face new political reality in D.C.

Aprilia to sell MotoGP bikes

It is now official. Aprilia will sell previous Grand Prix motorcycles ridden by Tetsuya Harada and Jeremy McWilliams in the 1999 and 2000 500cc World Championships. If you are a fan I probably don’t even have to mention that the bikes in case are RSW 500 V2 GP models and simply skip to the number of bikes and the prices.

Well, things complicate here as Aprilia doesn’t mention their financial demands, but do adds the fact that buyers will have to sign a contract in which they take the obligation of not divulging the technical details as they will continue belonging to the Italian maker, under intellectual property law.

Getting down to business, we find that only three are available:

The bike used by Harada in the 1999 season; The bike used by Harada in the 2000 season; The bike used by McWilliams in the 2000 season.

If you’re ready to spend some serious cash on one serious bike you can contact Aprilia here.

Obama calls on Americans to support rescue plan

Harley-Davidson taking pre-orders on XR-1200

Harley-Davidson has just started taking pre-orders for the much raved XR-1200 model and if you’re quick you might just have yours in December. How is that possible? Simple, you got to have a thing for the Orange and

Obama to use executive orders for immediate impact

Dubai’s women officers ride on Suzuki GSX-R1000s

Having created a two-wheeled Department of Protective Security and Emergency, the authorities in Dubai thought that their six highly trained and specially chosen women officers must rely on some serious horsepower in order to follow up the Gulf region’s exotic cars often driven insanely crazy by rich guys. The response came in the form of black painted Suzuki GSX-R1000 patrol bikes and the fairly-slower Yamaha 1200.

Now, I don’t know how some people get that lucky, but considering my heavy hand/foot and by the looks on their faces, I reckon I don’t want to find out.

High turnout among black voters could tip Georgia to Democrats

Ducati NA announces additional units of the Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica

Ducati North America has announced that additional units of the Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica will be produced and addressed to the market in cause.

McCain, Obama both want to rebuild U.S. forces

Are you obsessed with your motorcycle? Here’s the cure!

For those of you who want the garage to look like you very own showroom, Harley-Davidson introduces bubble protection. It is like placing your motorcycle in a balloon only that it doesn’t take off, at least until the next Harley invention.

The bubble was created especially for Harley-Davidson motorcycles to fit in it, meaning that most other bikes are perfectly suitable to be bubbled up due to their fairly smaller dimensions. Why would someone do that, you ask? Well, don’t you ever go in your garage to admire the two-wheeled jewel? In that case you know that a simple transparent cover just doesn’t do the job.

The best of it is that the air compressor features an incorporated filter so that the air circulating inside the bubble is humidity and dust free, keeping your bike clean and preventing metal parts from rusting.

Five star accommodations for your bike require between $269 and $289 depending on the size.

BMW’s renderings regarding the Lo Rider

The recently unveiled BMW Lo Rider concept strips down to the very essence of motorcycling and brings us customization possibilities that were frankly unexpected from a manufacturer known more for its army and touring motorcycle, not this cruiser-like model.

But it seems that finding new means of thrilling a rider’s heart is the way to go into the future and BMW gets a decent head start with the sketches released after the public unveiling in Milan. These make public twelve customization possibilities which are imagined by BMW designers and could very well materialize into something real.

Motorcyclenews launches the question on everyone’s minds: “Should BMW build the Lo Rider?” and you are invited to answer to on their website.

P.S. By the way that these sketches look, you know my answer!

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Yamaha FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corse

Karl Abarth was born in Viena on the 15th of November 1908 and moved to Italy in 1931 where he became an auto designer and five-time European motorcycling champion.

He also established Abarth & C. in 1949 where he manufactured racing cars and performance exhaust systems, some of them being present on the market to this day, the best way to distinguish an Abarth product being the scorpion logo.

Given the tight connection between Abarth and Fiat, who bought Abarth & C. in 1971, and also the successful collaboration between Fiat and Yamaha, the celebration of 100 years from the birth of the great designer is made through a special edition FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corse.

Yamaha Italy has presented the FZ1 within a special exhibit dedicated to Karl Abarth and the bike stands out due to the Ohlins suspensions package, Marchesini rims and sleek tires, Brembo brakes, Akrapovic titan exhaust system as well as the multitude of Rizoma pieces. Also, the Red and White color scheme and Abarth style graphics enhance the performance look of this naked, leaving us wondering if it is ever going to be produced in a limited edition as the bike in the pictures is only a prototype.

López Obrador to protest Mexico oil reform plan

Terminator Salvation to feature the "Moto-Terminator"

Remember how Arnold Schwarzenegger used to ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Terminator back in the 1980s when the movie was in vogue? Well, in Terminator Salvation, the latest of the series and expected to make a debut in May of 2009, a scary motorcycle is the actual Terminator.

Starring new action hero Christian Bale, the new movie continues the fight between man and the machines which try to take over the world. Among these machines, the Moto-Terminator stands out as the Apache of motorcycles and it is all the result of a visionary man: Production director Martin Laing.

Palin breaks with McCain on gay marriage amendment
Let the campaign for 2012 begin

MotoGP Riding Secrets DVD

SRO SPORTS announces the DVD release of “MotoGP Riding Secrets”, a material that is suppose to familiarize amateur riders with the techniques of the best motorcycle pilots in the present. With 121 minutes of running time and a price of $24,99, the viewing of this new DVD will have impressive consequences on your lap times.

Press release after the jump

Inquiry: Gov. Palin abused state power

The bikes at SEMA 2008

Even though the SEMA show in Vegas is mostly about cars, motorcycle tuners also get their fair share of attention from organizers and this is how we end up amazed by the new creations that appear every year. And if you take in consideration the haste in which these bikes are built, we end up appreciating these true works of art even more.

Now that everybody goes green in the auto and moto industries, they even ended up displacing an electric and a hybrid motorcycle this year.

McCain, Obama get tough, personal in final debate

BMW Lo Rider

BMW presents the Lo Rider concept at EICMA in Milan as a new approach towards the roadster style and with plenty customization possibilities available in order for man to become one with the machine. Based on the future rider’s preferences, the muscular looking concept will feature customer combined minor design elements or even customer opted headlamp unit, fuel tank, and front and rear fenders.

Press Release after the brake

Israel, Rodstrom, Sobel won’t be facing recounts

Ducati StreetFighter now unveiled

The Ducati StreetFighter, a naked bike that is expected to be launched tomorrow night at the EICMA show in Milan, now features official photos and website.

This big bike gets the 1098 engine so there will be plenty of power to deal with the competition as the L-twin cylinder, 4 valves per cylinder Desmodromic; liquid cooled engine is capable of 155 hp at 9.500 rpm.

Italy’s new favorite naked features a Monster-like exhaust for retuning the engine, but that’s just a detail considering the bike’s aggressive looks and matched Black color.

Just imagine how you’ll be doing wheelies on this thing as it only weighs 167 kg. You do the math and get to one hell of a power to ratio!

Obama Opposes Vote on Colombia FTA
McCain’s rally song list is eclectic

Shinya Nakano to race for Aprilia in 2009

Shinya Nakano now completes Aprilia’s team for the 2009 World Superbike Championship after signing a contract for 2009 with the possibility to carry over to 2010. The event took place yesterday after the racer visited the Racing Department of Noale. Apparently, that wasn’t a tough decision to take as the idea of racing side by side with Max Biaggi thrills Nakano.

Press release after the break

McCain to visit Florida next week

Latest Husqvarna concept: V1000 Grand Turismo

Designed by Marcus Carlsson from Sweden, the new concept is a combination between Suzuki’s TL1000S and a Husqvarna roadracer from the 1930s.

A ‘café-racer-going-on-superbike’, as its creator likes to consider it, the machine features a donated TL1000 V-Twin front fork and engine with a futuristic looking exhaust. The rest was just labor and passion concluded in 1,200 hours of work.

Don’t get too caught up by the next picture. Simply scroll down and hear that engine idling.

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Road-ready BMW S1000RR revealed

BMW has entered the final stage before showing the green light for production in what concerns the S1000RR superbike.

Caught testing at Albacete, the new bike features details such as the graphics, indicators and number plate hanger and, as MCN reckons, an ABS system is now certitude. Also, the S1000RR is expected to have two separate LCD readouts providing information about the bike’s systems such as traction control and the previously mentioned ABS.

Hutchinson pulls out of Fort Lauderdale mayor’s race
Seniors at The Villages set to welcome Palin

SkyBrake: Motorcycle Jacking Days are over!

In order for riders to avoid becoming the victims of Grand Theft Moto they are now offered a very efficient anti-motorcycle jacking solution. Called the SkyBrake, the system is composed from two devices, a small transmitter which you must always carry on your body and a receiver playing the role of an immobilizer which is mounted to the motorcycle engine.

Knowing that, let’s imagine the next scenario: You are happily commuting in New Mexico, let’s say, and stop at a traffic light. A hijacker separates you from your bike and rides away with it. Normally, this would be a good time to call the cops…or start crying, but that’s not the way a true biker works things out, doesn’t it? The thief won’t manage to shift second and the engine will be cut out by the engine blocking module so that you can recover your bike unharmed.

The system is sold for €250 and it is 100% efficient as long as you don’t make the mistake of fitting the transmitter also on the bike.

Complete coverage of the Americas Conference

MV Agusta 910 Bestiale is now available as kit

Remember the news conform which Yacouba Galle’s MV Agusta 910 Bestiale will go into production? Well, it is half true. The good part is that the kit available for turning your Brutale into a Bestiale has just been released and it is available at www.vesuvioracing.com, but the bike won’t see the production line pretty soon.

They’ve also created a nice promo in which they point out the ex journalist’s talent so here it is.

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KTM announces production for competition electric motorcycle

KTM announced to have successfully created a fully functional electric enduro prototype which will go into production within two years. The project saw financial support of the Austrian government and meets the strict “Ready to Race” requirements of the highly demanding maker.

Relying on lithium ion batteries that withstand 40 minutes of exploitation in race conditions and loads in one full hour, the future KTM develops 29.5lb/ft without polluting a bit. Also, the prototype loses significant weight due to the lack of a gas tank, exhaust, clutch and other musts of the internal combustion engine, reaching a total of 17 kg for the battery pack and the electric motor.

Although bikes pollute less than cars the Zero Emissions Motorcycle project directs our thoughts towards racing in populated centers as the future racing bikes are less polluting than a horse on a racecourse.

Bolivia’s Evo Morales shuffles Cabinet amid protests

Electric Self-Balancing Unicycle

The Unicycle in the video below not only is self-balancing, but is electric-powered and uses accelerometers and gyroscopes to control the forward and backward movement instead of you doing all that pedaling.

Created by Daniel Wood of Focus Designs Inc., the SBU, as it is shortly named, is in limited market testing right now. Go to focusdesigns for availability.

Haiti moves step closer to new cabinet

Ducati Superlight 2020

Italy presents to you the Ducati Superlight 2020, the result of intensive work of students at “Transportation design” from the “Institute of Applied Art and Design” (IAAD) in Turin, Italy working strong collaboration with Ducati. The concept is being displayed at the 2008 “Facts of Design”, event organized by IAAD.

Ducati members of this project were Andrea Ferraresi (Style coordinator) and Bart Janssen (senior designer). They thought students how to take in consideration things such as effective technical methods, ergonomics and costs while their Institute teachers guided them in every single detail until finalization.

This looks like a plausible concept to us, given to the fact that it looks like a present day bike, only that funnier.

ACLU trying to help felons vote
Florida Democrats rally around Biden

Aprilia to unveil Shiver 1200 and Dorsoduro 1200?

According to a spy shot from Solomoto, Aprilia is currently working at the Dorsoduro 1200 and, most likely, the Shiver 1200 which gives us reasons to believe that the upcoming EICMA show in Milan reserves many surprises from the Italian maker. The same sources claim that Aprilia is also expected to unveil an all-new Caponord 1200 and a new bike that stands as a future competitor for the BMW R1200GS.

But, sticking to what we know for the moment, the Dorsoduro and Shiver will be powered by the same 1200cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, DOHC, 8-valve V-twin engine that will produce 130bhp at 9000rpm and 120Nm at 6500rpm. Now, with those numbers in mind, note that the weight increase will only be around 5 to 7 kilos, proving that the Italian engineers haven’t rested on their laurels.

With a little bit of luck, the EICMA show in November will clear things out. And if it doesn’t, we’ll dig to find out some more.

Miami-Dade contractors employed Capitol Hill lobbyist

Michael Schumacher crashing his Honda

They say no racer tries hard enough if it doesn’t eventually end up crashing, but we have no reason to question Michael Schumacher’s ambition as these pictures reflect that best.

Practicing at Sachsenring for the German Superbike, the former F1 champion skid the peg too much until it ended up crashing his Honda CBR1000RR during a high-speed corner. The funny part is the face he made while preparing to face the unforgiving test of the asphalt

Miami Lakes elects Michael Pizzi as mayor
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Jaguar bike has finished being bolted on

A few months ago we would have presented to you the first pictures of a Jaguar motorcycle together with the little information we had on it at that time. The pictures, which were taken during production, said pretty much all about the bike then, but you can get up to date as the bike is now finished and presented to the public.

Called the Leaper bike, it clearly combines the English car manufacturer’s logo with a motorcycle. The innovative idea belongs to Barend Hemmes, but the project was undergone with the help of Polar Cycles in South Yorkshire.

Mr Hemmes, an interior designer aged 36 said he came up with the idea when doodling in the office and that the artistic part consisting in the fiberglass bodywork was made by him, together with a sculptor.

In order for this cat to purr as good as it looks the guys at South Yorkshire used parts of a classic 1,200cc Buell 97 S3 Thunderbolt bought off eBay. The V-Twin engine manages to power it up to a top speed of 50mph which isn’t impressive at all, but makes it easier for admirers to get a first glance when it rolls through urban jungle.

Poll: McCain has big lead in the South

A thing of style: Ferrari Helmets

Ferrari presented two new helmets, the Red and the Red Kid, which will be produced and marketed by the Italian company New Max.

Inspired by the “Rosse” Maranelo style, the Red Ferrari helmet features the maker’s special colors and the beautiful logo of the exclusive brand. Details make all the difference and these helmets are full of them. For example, the visor’s mounts feature the shape of a Ferrari tire while the lining completes the one-off look.

But, a helmet must offer protection no matter how good it looks and these new ones are made out of a thermoplastic material while the visor is polycarbonate with advanced optical properties. The Dupont-made inner lining is anti-allergic and the safety belt features aluminum and rubber insertions for increased comfort and safety.

The Red Ferrari helmet is homologated and can be painted Red Race, Black or Yellow Process. Sizes are: XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL.

As its name says, the Red Kid is destined for children (aged from 6 to 14) who plan on riding in style. Inspired on the big version, the Red Kid retains the safety level as it is made out of the same materials and covered in the same colors, based on the customer’s preference, but comes in an universal size which allows the adjusting of the inner lining conforming to the head’s dimensions.

Pollster: Obama doing well in conservative N. Carolina districts
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Husqvarna SM 450 R

Husqvarna’s 2009 ascension starts with the new SM 450 R model unveiled at the Intermot show recently, a bike that has both potential and guts to make a difference after the company has been acquisitioned by industry’s giant, BMW.

For starters, the 2009 model year is expected to be an even sharper handler due to the all-new frame aimed at enhancing those racing abilities while the engine is perfected for even more performance and longer life.

At the exterior, a redesigned headlight will easily stand out together with 2009’s graphics. Overall, Husky claims a weight reduction of no more or less than one kilogram, leaving us wondering how many horsepower the engine gains.

That, my friends, we will find out as soon as Husqvarna releases the full specifications on this new model.

Brazilian claims to be John McCain’s old flame
Statements by McCain and Obama on 9/11 anniversary

Suzuki GSX-R series inspires Burgman concept scooter

Searching the web, we’ve come across this beautifully styled Suzuki Burgman 400 which is a scooter replica of Suzuki’s road racing lineup. At a first glance there really isn’t anything not to like about the recently unveiled concept at a Las Vegas Suzuki conference.

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European motorcycle industry launches wide road safety campaign featuring cartoon character

Probably because reckless motorcycle riders often think like children, the motorcycle industry launches European wide road safety campaign featuring a cartoon character, suggestively called Lucky.

Press release after the break

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Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 4V ABS

Moto Guzzi has put the Stelvio 1200 back in the cards now that it launched the ABS version at the Intermot show. The 2009 Stelvio 1200 4V ABS is an undisputable contender for models such as the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 in the super enduro category.

What distinguish the 2009 model year is, undisputable, the upgraded braking system with double piston radial pincers and ABS, but the all-season accessories such as the adjustable saddle and windshield enhance comfort and, implicit, a rider’s capacity to cover up miles. Also, the sidebags have you ready for the long haul and make sure you never ask for more. Anticipating a rider’s needs, the historic manufacturer also ads a small glove box with handle command to the range of goodies.

The 2009 Stelvio 1200 4V is available either white or red painted. These colors do make it stand out as the stylish Italian bike that it is even though the category of riders to which it is addressed doesn’t look quite for that at a bike.

Bimota DB8

This is the first picture of the 2009 Bimota DB8, a bike about which hasn’t been released any information yet, neither official pictures. The naked Bimota will be based on the DB7 superbike so we can speculate that the engine will be a 160 bhp1098cc V-Twin. Also, it is expected for it to receive the same frame, swingarm, suspension and brakes. Wait, isn’t that pretty much all there is?

Riding position will be different as the DB8 will feature streetfighter handlebars instead of clip-ons and, there will be no fairing to cover the mechanical parts.

A decent competitor for it is considered the Aprilia Tuono and we must admit that the bikes are very similar.

Win a Ducati Monster 696 with Pro Italia’s Fall Charity Raffle

The friends from Pro Italia are raffling a new 2009 Ducati M696 to benefit the International Rett Syndrome Foundation. Tickets are $25 each (or buy 5 chances for $100) and limited to 500 total. Tickets are available in their online store or in their Los Angeles showroom.

Tickets are available now until October 24th. The winner will be announced on the 26th of October at the annual Love Ride in Pomona. The first prize winner will win a 2009 Ducati Monster 696 (MSRP $8,995) and the second prize winner will receive an America leather jacket from Vanson (a $550.00 value).

For more information go to —>http://www.proitalia.com

Moto Morini Scrambler

Yet another star from the Intermot show in Cologne, Germany is the 2009 Moto Morini Scrambler, a high displacement naked bike that shares its class with the Triumph having the same name.

The Moto Morini is indeed a fierce competitor thanks to its 1187cc V-Twin engine and tough looks, which makes us wonder when the English maker will make its 2009 comeback.

Featuring 19-inch wheels dressed in off-road rubber and supported by Marzocchi inverted forks with many protective attachments, the Moto Morini Scrambler is the perfect companion from where the asphalt ends. Equipped with Brembo brakes, it will provide the best of stopping power, but on that same surface, something that makes us tend to call the Triumph Scrambler a better all-around bike. But we will wait to see for ourselves what the Morini can do and we’ll then give a verdict.

Lego bike with real bike handles = ingenuity and a lot of free time

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy inspired the creation of this impressively accurate remote-controlled Lego replica named the Mindstorms NXT Fat Boy. Good for kids, but not for us, you will say and we must agree, but what makes us interested in it is the fact that its controller is shaped like a real bike’s handles.

In the video attached below you will notice that it also leans, like any respectable modern two-wheeled toy and the additional wheels aren’t easy to spot. So now you know what to buy your kid for Christmas and we also know who’s going to be playing with it when snow will cover the asphalt.