About Motorcycles

Photo Gallery: 2010 KTM RC8 R

2009-11-06T21:20:57Z

The KTM RC8 seemed pretty radical when it debuted two years ago, and its chiseled bodywork hid a 155 horsepower v-twin that undoubtedly sent ripples of disorientation among KTM loyalists steeped in the brand's well-established offroad bikes.

Enter wave 2 of KTM's superbike attack.

The new KTM RC8 R produces a scorching 170 horsepower and comes equipped with upgraded componentry sure to satisfy niche-loving track junkies everywhere... which I can verify, as my legs are still sore from a day of testing at Laguna Seca.

View shots of the bike in this 2010 KTM RC8 R Photo Gallery, and stay tuned for riding impressions of this bigger, badder superbike.

KTM Crowds the Superbike Market, Unveils their Angular 2008 RC8 Crotch Rocket

2008 KTM 1190 RC8 Superbike Photo Gallery

Volkswagen and KTM, Sittin' in a Tree...

Street Legal KTM X-Bow Coming to U.S.

Photo � KTM; click for Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery: 2010 KTM RC8 R originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 21:20:57.

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TAG Heuer Triumph Bonneville Special Appeases Steve McQueen, Retro Wristwatch Fans

2009-11-05T10:47:14Z

Unlike the iconic leading man who passed away in 1980, the nostalgia for all things Steve McQueen just won't quit. The latest McQueen-inspired toy is a one-off blue and orange Triumph Bonneville inspired by the actor/racer's Porsche in the film Le Mans, as well as the fact that the leading man wore a TAG Heuer Monaco in the movie. Unveiled by '08 Formula One world champ (and TAG Heuer brand ambassador) Lewis Hamilton, the bike will be used for promotional purposes.

Is there a possibility the TAG-edition Bonneville become commercially available, a la the 50th Anniversary Triumph of which only 650 were made? I've dropped a line to Triumph, and haven't yet heard back... but until then, if you're a Bonneville fan (or a Triumph junkie in general), I encourage you to vote for our long term Triumph tester if you haven't already; the running is extremely tight, and voting will be closing soon!

2009 Triumph Lineup

Vote for About.com's Long Term Triumph!

Photos � Triumph

TAG Heuer Triumph Bonneville Special Appeases Steve McQueen, Retro Wristwatch Fans originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 10:47:14.

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Follow us on Twitter!

2009-11-04T21:24:25Z

I'll personally admit to being unenthusiastic about social media; I joined MySpace until I realized how much time I could spend riding instead of staring at a computer screen, and have (so far) successfully resisted the lure of Facebook. But one site I enjoy is Twitter, thanks in part to its 140 character posting limit-- perfect for those who are short of attention span, like yours truly.

If you tweet, I encourage you to follow AboutMotorcycle on Twitter... and if you simply want to scan our headlines and see posts on my latest happenings (like the fact that I'll be at Laguna Seca tomorrow for a KTM launch), just check twitter.com/aboutmotorcycle when the mood strikes.

Happy tweeting!

Logo � Twitter
Click for motorcycles.about.com's Twitter page

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Harley's "Military Appreciation Month" Features Hot Babe, Bikes

2009-11-03T13:18:53Z

Sex sells everything from racing leathers to engine gaskets, but Harley-Davidson's new "American Bombshell" ads-- featuring a retro-riffic Marisa Miller-- draws attention to Harley's first-ever "Military Appreciation Month."

Miller's leggy blondness makes it easy to forget that U.S. soldiers rode Harleys during the Mexican Expedition in 1916, and a special website (h-d.com/thankyou) offers 14 postcards that can be emailed to active or retired military personnel, most of which incorporate Ms. Miller in a variety of pinup-style poses. Active military and veterans can also enter to win a Harley of their choice which will be personally delivered by the bombshell herself, and a promotion with Maxim magazine offers more content including downloadable wallpapers.

Slightly less self-serving than Harley's previous collaboration with Ms. Miller (which hyped the V-Rod Muscle), this marketing promotion centers around a good cause while, incidentally, also highlighting their old school bikes. Especially given the dour state of business these days, can anybody blame them?

Moto Poll: Are Hot Babes Good for Harley Advertising?

Looming Job Cuts and Outsourcing Thicken Dark Clouds Over Harley-Davidson

Industry Shock: Harley-Davidson to Discontinue Buell, Divest MV Agusta

Will This Year's Harley-Davidson York Open House be its Last?

Photo � Harley-Davidson; click to enlarge

Harley's "Military Appreciation Month" Features Hot Babe, Bikes originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 13:18:53.

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2009 Yamaha R1 Review: Big Bang for the Road

2009-11-02T23:48:59Z

A few months ago, I track tested Dunlop's Sportmax Q2 tires on a fleet of flagship literbikes including the Honda CBR1000RR, Suzuki GSX-R1000, and a bike I was riding for the first time, the crossplane crankshaft-equipped 2009 Yamaha R1.

Flash forward a few weeks, and I found myself picking up a Yamaha R1 back home. On city streets, canyon roads, and superslabs, I put the R1 through its paces. I even managed to alternate between the 2009 model and my buddy Greg's non-crossplane 2008 R1 (which allowed me the distinct pleasure of giving him a hard time for his antiquated bike.)

What did I think of Yamaha's latest big bad literbike after riding it through these varied conditions? I touch on the highs and lows in my 2009 Yamaha R1 review.

2009 Yamaha R1 Photo Gallery

Photos � Brian J. Nelson, Basem Wasef; click for Yamaha R1 Review

2009 Yamaha R1 Review: Big Bang for the Road originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 23:48:59.

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Looming Job Cuts and Outsourcing Thicken Dark Clouds Over Harley-Davidson

2009-10-30T14:41:37Z

With second quarter sales slipping 53.5%, these are tough times across the board for the motorcycle industry. But it's an especially difficult period for Harley-Davidson, whose ongoing troubles have dominated anxiety over the domestic bike business-- despite rival Victory's recently announced 56% drop in 3rd quarter sales.

Not only has the Motor Company faced continued losses and announced the discontinuation of the Buell brand and the planned divestiture of MV Agusta, their latest arrows of misfortune center around outsourcing and further anticipated job cutting at their York, Pennsylvania plant.

The embattled York plant is facing outsourcing of noncore jobs to suppliers, namely chrome plating and parts stamping. Though spokesman Pat Sweeney says that vehicle assembly, metal fabricating, and painting will stay at the plant, union president Tom Santone estimates the move will eliminate 400 jobs. Even more threatening are recent news items suggesting that Harley-Davidson is not ruling out building motorcycles overseas, a realistic expectation considering their strong European sales and their expansion into growing markets like India.

Is any U.S. industry sacred, and is this the end of an era in American manufacturing? Considering that Budweiser is owned by a European conglomerate and even Levi's jeans are manufactured abroad, I'd say Harley has served as one of the last bastions of truly great American brands.

Are these outsourcing trends troubling, or simply to be expected given the globalized state of commerce? Share your thoughts with a comment.

Sources: York Daily Record, LA Times

Will This Year's Harley-Davidson York Open House be its Last?

Industry Shock: Harley-Davidson to Discontinue Buell, Divest MV Agusta

Moto Poll: Should Harley-Davidson Receive a Government Bailout?

Harley's Next Stop: India

Harley-Davidson Profit Drops 91%; 1,000 More Layoffs Announced

Logo � Harley-Davidson

Looming Job Cuts and Outsourcing Thicken Dark Clouds Over Harley-Davidson originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 14:41:37.

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Electric Zero MX Motorcycle Beats Gas Bikes in Offroad Challenge

2009-10-29T23:59:25Z

Naysayers and doubters now have one less reason to slam electric motorcycles: Zero's battery-powered MX motocross bike beat a field of 40 internal combustion (and four other electric bikes from rival Quantya) in a scramble-style race put on by the French Federation of Motorcycles.

The competition, which took place in Gironville, France, ultimately highlighted the Zero MX's strengths, though back-to-back qualifying rounds proved a challenge since 15 minute gaps didn't allow enough time for full recharges. Rider Thomas Aubrey qualified in 13th place, then used the bike's 156 pound weight and 23 horsepower to propel himself to fifth in the first moto, and first in the second, for a final top spot finish.

Though the battery capacity and top speed limitations of electric road bikes still force them to lag behind their gas-powered counterparts, it's clear that the instantaneous torque and light weight construction of electric dirtbikes makes them a force to be reckoned with on offroad circuits.

Sources: Reuters, Motorcycle.com

Zero X Electric Dirtbike Photo Gallery

Zero X Electric Dirtbike Review

Zero S Electric Street Bike Photo Gallery

Electric Motorcycles Hit the Mainstream: Brammo's Enertia to be Sold at Best Buy

Brammo Enertia Photo Gallery

Photo � Zero; click for Zero X Review

Electric Zero MX Motorcycle Beats Gas Bikes in Offroad Challenge originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 23:59:25.

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Subaru WRX-Powered KickBoxer Concept Answers a Great Hypothetical "What If?"

2009-10-27T10:27:39Z

A couple years ago, a rumored sportbike from Subaru made the internet rounds. The fully-faired, single-cylinder looked like a perfectly adequate, low-priced middleweight, but it lacked the sizzle of Subaru's insanely entertaining, rally-bred WRX sedans.

Enter non-Subaru endorsed Ian McElroy, who taught himself how to use a CAD program in order to render a stunning, Subaru WRX engine-powered concept he calls the KickBoxer. "The hard part was finding a workable transmission," he says on his Flickr page, "but I saw that Jesse James bike with the radial engine, and realized I could just do what he did."

Now, isn't that the sort of gumption you wish car and bike manufacturers would exhibit every now and then? Take a look at this Subaru KickBoxer Motorcycle Concept Gallery and drop a line in the "Comments."

Sources: The Kneeslider, quantumfinish on Flickr

Will Subaru Build Bikes?

Axial Motiv Inline Three-Wheeled Concept Photo Gallery

GM and Segway Team Up For an Electric Two-Seater Called PUMA

Photo Gallery: The 1995 Ferrari 900cc Motorcycle
What if Ferrari Built a Motorcycle?

Rendering � Ian McElroy; Click for Photo Gallery

Subaru WRX-Powered KickBoxer Concept Answers a Great Hypothetical "What If?" originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 10:27:39.

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Common Questions: How Do You Stay Warm on a Motorcycle?

2009-10-23T23:05:10Z

I've had cold weather riding on my mind ever since I tested a Ducati in typhoon-like conditions a couple weeks ago; after all, it's not very often I encounter harsh riding conditions in my sunny hometown of Los Angeles.

Following my bone-chilling experience on the Duc, I queried my forum friends about how they tackle the cold, and got a lot of great answers from folks bold enough to ride year-round in states that aren't always the balmiest.

Read my Common Questions: How Do You Stay Warm on a Motorcycle? article for ten tips on how to beat the cold, and comment on how you plan to avoid Old Man Winter this year.

Common Questions: How to Brake on a Motorcycle

Common Questions: What Makes a Scooter a Scooter?

Common Questions: What is it Like to Ride a Race Motorcycle

Photo � Stockbyte; click for article

Common Questions: How Do You Stay Warm on a Motorcycle? originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 23:05:10.

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Moto Poll: Vote for About.com's Long Term Triumph Motorcycle!

2009-10-20T23:59:55Z

Last year, you voted for the Gold Wing as About.com's long term test motorcycle, and this year Triumph has kindly obliged by offering one of their bikes as the subject of a 12 month long term test.

But how to pick from Triumph's stable of steeds? I've plucked one bike from each of Triumph's three categories (Modern Classics, Cruisers, and Urban Sports), and your job is to pick one by voting for our next long termer. Click on photos for more info on each bike, and click on the links to vote!

Modern Classic: Triumph Bonneville SE

Despite its 50 year heritage, the Triumph Bonneville incorporates subtle mechanical innovations like fuel injection.
>>Click here to vote for the Bonneville SE<<

Cruiser: Thunderbird

The big-engined Thunderbird was introduced in 2009, and is positioned as a serious Harley-Davidson contender.
>>Click here to vote for the Thunderbird<<

Urban Sports: Street Triple R

The Street Triple R is a middleweight streetfighter, and features high-spec braking and suspension components.
>>Click here to vote for the Street Triple R<<

>>Click here to view poll results without voting<<

2009 Triumph Buyer's Guide

2009 Triumph Bonneville base, SE, and T100 Review

2008 Triumph Daytona 675 Review

2008 Triumph Rocket III Touring Review

2007 Triumph Tiger 1050 Review

Honda Gold Wing Long Term Test Index

Photos � Triumph; Click for more info on each bike

Moto Poll: Vote for About.com's Long Term Triumph Motorcycle! originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 23:59:55.

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