Ducati Streetfighter 848

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Italian bike manufacturer, Ducati, is expanding its street bike line-up by introducing the latest member of their family, the 2012 Streetfighter 848.

With the likes of the BMW F800R and the Yamaha FZ8 in the market, Ducati is looking at the Streetfighter 848 to enter the fold and provide some stiff competition for its rivals. The bike is built using the company’s own steel trellis frame to go with components that include an adjustable inverted fork, a pair of Diablo Rosso Corsa tires, and radial-mount Brembo brakes. Ducati also announced that the Streetfighter 848 will carry the Ducati Traction Control, a system that we’re all familiar with in both the company’s Multistrada and Diavel lines.

The Streetfighter 848 will be powered by the company’s very own 848 Testastretta 11 engine that produces an output of 119 horsepower and 63 lb/ft of torque.

The bike is expected to hit the market by the start of next year and will be offered in a number of options, including three different color schemes: Ducati red, yellow, and matte black.

Type 9 by Zero Engineering

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Zero Engineering has revealed the first details on the 2012 Type 9 - a motorcycle that honors American motorcycle building history since its inception back in the 1950’s. The new Type 9 isn’t just an all new performance oriented frame and suspension, it also has a killer look that will make everyone swoon.

The Type 9 features an F-1 racing inspired suspension that uses a multi-link system and high-tension shock to deliver an incredibly quick and smooth response to the road. This kind of suspension is a first in the industry and is combined to an S&S 96" Evo engine and a Primo Rivera 5-Speed transmission.

The company is also offering its customers the possibility to customize their bike just theway they would want it. Engine sizes range from 96" to 124" and come in natural and black finishes. Pegs come in brass, aluminum, or black anodized aluminum.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14

For more than 40 years, Kawasaki has shocked and awed the motorcycle world with its big-bore streetbikes. From the arm-stretching 500cc H1 of 1969 to the legendary 903cc Z-1 of 1973, all the way to the high-tech Ninja ZX-10s and 11s of the ’80s and the ZX-12s and 14s of the new millennium, Team Green has continuously kicked butt and taken names in the large-displacement sportbike category.

Fast forward to 2011 and Kawasaki has another storm brewing with the new Ninja ZX-14. Looking as menacing as ever before in its lime green set-up, the Ninja ZX-14 takes the tradition of its predecessors and antes up to cater to the demands of the new-age riders.

Packing a technologically-advanced powertrain set-up to go with a sublime finish and carefully-constructed body, the ZX-14 will be as in demand as any Kawasaki bike that has come out of Japan in recent memory.

Not that we’re surprised considering that the motorcycle brand has been doing this for well over four decades, and they’ve established a reputation as one of the best in the biz in that time.

Find out more about the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 after the jump.

Kawasaki Ninja 1000

Sportbikes have always been a popular staple in American society, thanks to the excellent combination of a powerful engine and handling performance with a high degree of comfort, practicality, and top-end styling. Over the years, Kawasaki has provided the market with some of the best bikes of this segment, dating back to the original Ninja 900R of the 1980s, to the ZX-11 of the ’90s, and the ZZR 1200 of the the new millennium.

Today, the Japanese motorcycle brand is proud to announce their latest offering to the line-up, the new Ninja 1000. As the name suggests, this sportsbike is all about stealthy good looks that are combined with an unassuming, yet powerful engine, resulting in a machine that’s more than capable of stopping you in your tracks before you even realize what just happened. Sort of like a ninja.

The bike’s core - the frame, engine, and suspension - are all made from the finest materials and built with the sort of high-end technology that Kawasaki has built its name on. So don’t be surprised if the new Ninja 1000 drops your jaws to the floor; it was built specifically for that purpose.

Find out more about the Ninja 1000 after the jump.

BMW Scooter Spied Testing

A while back, BMW brought out the E-Scooter Concept that would be previewing the brand’s electric drive line. Not much has been said about the production model as of yet, but our spy photographers were quick to click when they spotted this future electric bike testing, and they say it sounds just like a gas-powered model.

It is believed that the scooter caught testing is, in fact, a production version of the BMW Concept C unveiled in 2010 at the EICMA Motorcycle Show. Known as BMW’s maxi scooter, the new model will use a 650 cc engine and will be offered in two different versions. However, don’t expect to see much from the concept in the production version, especially those blue tires and lasers that made many fall in love with it to begin with. Those will definitely not be showing up as the production model will adopt a more conventional appearance.

gallery: 2010 BMW Concept C

gallery: BMW E-Scooter Concept

Video: Kawasaki ZX-10R blazes the Nurburgring in 7:50

It seems that every time there’s a discussion about a hot lap around the Nurbugring, we immediately assume that another edgy supercar is at it again. The list of manufacturers that have taken stabs at the ’Ring is as long as the course itself so excuse us for being a little excited watching a motorcycle take center stage around the track.

The lap comes courtesy of Bridgestone test driver, Tim Rothiq, and a Kawasaki ZX-10R. We won’t have to remind you about the face-morphing characteristics of the Kawasaki superbike because Rothiq was able to do it for us.

The ’Ring offers plenty of challenges even for the most astute of riders so watching Rothiq navigate around the track and blast through it in spectacular fashion is a sight to behold.

Don’t be fooled by the 7:50 time being way short of the record 7:14 lap time of the Lexus LF-A; the latter is a supercar after all. It’s about as impressive a bike lap as you’ll find anywhere.

And a big kudos to Tim Rothiq for his incredible effort coercing the Kawasaki ZX-10R to behave during the lap time. Lord knows the slightest mistake can lead to a pretty nasty spill.

Check out the video and enjoy the ride, folks!

Kawasaki KLR 650

For the adventurer whose sense of fun includes a jaunt into the dirt or an expedition deep into the woods, Kawasaki has a new touring motorcycle that opens up that world to limitless possibilities.

Imagine that, right?

The Japanese motorcycle brand recently unveiled their new touring bike, the KLR 650. Built to handle just about every imaginable terrain save for the Moon’s surface, the KLR 650 is the kind of bike you’d want to take just about everywhere. It’s got looks that’ll make people stand up and take notice; it’s got an engine that’s both powerful and fuel efficient; and on top of that, it won’t cost prospective buyers a fortune.

It’s a package that riders have flocked to; the KLR650 has been the best-selling dual-sport six years in a row and you only need to look and ride at this bike for a short time to find out why.

Find out more about the 2011 Kawasaki KLR 650 Dual Purpose Motorcycle after the jump.