About.com Motorcycles

MIC Goes Multimedia to Address Ban on Kid Motorcycles & ATVs

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:39:51 +0000

It's been about a year since motorcycles and ATVs intended for kids 12 and under were banned by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, and thanks to the legal restriction, America's lil' tykes are still being protected from those oh-so-dangerous lead batteries.

The Motorcycle Industry Council has been fighting the ban inanity since it started, and their latest push for a Congressional solution uses a barrage of multimedia messages centered around the Dealernews International Powersports Expo, which will be held February 12 - 15.

Encouraging motorcycle industry members, exhibitors, and dealers to speak up about the ban (which the MIC estimates could end up costing a billion dollars a year), general counsel Paul Vitrano dispatches a video call-to-action which suggests:

Texting "StopTheBan" or "STB" to 30101; when you receive a text response, reply with "yes" to join the campaign.
Send a letter to congress. Instructions are available on www.stopthebannow.com; last year's expo campaign generated over 5,000 hand-signed letters.
Send an email to congress, which you can do via www.stopthebannow.com; last year's efforts generated over 1,000,000 electronic messages to Congress.
Phones and video; the MIC will have Skype stations and video camera booths so multimedia messages can be sent to Congress.

Though this particular effort targets the Dealernews Expo, consumers are also encouraged to voice their opinions through the www.stopthebannow.com website.

By asserting that motorcycle lead content poses no risk to children, that the key to safety is right-sized vehicles, and that the lead ban is hurting the economy, let's hope the MIC (and your) efforts will help bring an end to this unnecessary law.

Kids' Motorcycles & ATVs Banned!

Photo � Kawasaki

MIC Goes Multimedia to Address Ban on Kid Motorcycles & ATVs originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 23:39:51.

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"American Chopper" is No More: Final Episode to Air February 11th

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:32:20 +0000

It seems all those arguments and legal back and forths have finally come to a head: American Chopper has been canceled, and the final episode will air on TLC this Thursday, February 11th at 9:00 pm (8:00 pm, central.) The show originally debuted on Discovery Channel in 2003.

A voiceover on a TLC promo mentions "...a year of change and challenge," suggesting the Teutul family just don't have it in 'em any more to take part in a reality television show. The cancellation could also signal-- at least in the eyes of mainstream America-- the final death throws of the custom chopper. What do you think?

Source: TLC

Teutul Family Rift Proves "American Chopper" Isn't Like Pro Wrestling

Orange County Choppers Builds World's First 'Custom Electric Chopper'

Orange County Choppers Bags Monster Deal with DieHard, Craftsman

Geeks and Gearheads Unite: A Photo Gallery of the Intel / Orange County Choppers Bike

Photo � TLC

"American Chopper" is No More: Final Episode to Air February 11th originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 15:32:20.

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Harley Goes Hollywood... at Least Through Oscar Season

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:39:39 +0000

Harley-Davidson loves to play up their Hollywood history, and an upcoming exhibit at their Milwaukee museum is timed to coincide with the 2010 Academy Awards. From February 12 - March 14, a variety of bikes will be on display at their "Harleys & Hollywood" show.

The exhibit will include bikes from Star Trek, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Wild Hogs, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Visitors will be able to pose for pictures in the saddle of the Softail ridden by Shia LaBeouf in Indiana Jones (pictured above; click to enlarge.)

In addition to the bikes on display, a gallery talk will be held by an Archives and Curatorial staff member every Thursday at 2:00 pm, from February 18 to March 11. Tim Woods and Justin Kell, who worked together on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Star Trek, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, will also host a special discussion about their behind-the-scenes experiences on February 26th at 7:00 pm.

For more info, go to Harley's official museum website.

Harley Hits the Silver Screen

Wild Hogs Sequel Canceled... Are You Disappointed or Relieved?

It's Official: Harley Museum Will Open July 12, 2008

Photos � Harley-Davidson, Touchstone Pictures;
Click to enlarge

Harley Goes Hollywood... at Least Through Oscar Season originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 04:39:39.

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Motorcycle Mutt: What Happens When You Cross an Alfa Romeo With a Bobber

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:51:52 +0000

Here's a two-wheeled curiosity from the mechanical island of Dr. Moreau: Crossbreed Cycles took the heart of a 1970s era Alfa Romeo-- in this case, an all-aluminum 2.5 liter V6 that churns out a reported 156 horsepower-- and shoehorned it into a hardtail Kraftec frame, hooking it up to a four-speed Harley gearbox and Kawasaki ZXR 750-sourced forks and brakes. Its name? Why, Alfabeast, of course.

But what's especially trick about this high-powered one-off is the way everything comes together, from the four downdraft Weber carbs protruding upward through the tank to the six counterintuitively small diameter, four foot-long exhaust pipes.

Wouldn't this baby make a sweet alternative to the plus-sized, super-powered Boss Hoss V8?

Sources:Crossbreed Cycles, Bike EXIF

Photo Gallery: Subaru WRX-Powered KickBoxer Concept Motorcycle

Photo Gallery: Ferrari Tribute Bike

Photos � Crossbreed Cycles;
Click to enlarge

Motorcycle Mutt: What Happens When You Cross an Alfa Romeo With a Bobber originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 03:51:52.

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One Man's Obsession: A Photo Gallery of Jerry Kieffer's Amazing 1/8th Scale Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Model

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:44:24 +0000

After retiring from his job as a field rep for a Wisconsin power company, Jerry Kieffer dove deep into his passion of building perfectly scaled mechanical models. Kieffer says he's a non-professional machinist who learned his craft primarily through trial and error, creating immaculate (and functional) renditions of steam engines, miniature tools, and a John Deere tractor in tiny scale before he ventured into the two-wheeled realm.

Using his restored 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead as a prototype, Kieffer proceeded to build a 1/6th scale version of the bike's pushrod-actuated v-twin (which actually runs!) before he decided he wanted to go even smaller. So he set out to build a 1/8th scale version of the bike, complete with a working powerplant, gearbox, kick starter, and speedometer.

The model is currently in process, and you can see its engine, gearbox, kick start assembly, and sundry other parts (including an amusing practical joke by his engraver) in this 1/8th Scale Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Photo Gallery.

Sources: Cyril Huze Blog, Internet Craftsmanship Museum

Photo � Jerry Kieffer;
Click for One Eighth Scale Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Photo Gallery

One Man's Obsession: A Photo Gallery of Jerry Kieffer's Amazing 1/8th Scale Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Model originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 01:44:24.

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2010 Kawasaki Buyer's Guide: Key Specs and Pricing for Every Motorcycle Kawasaki Sells

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:13:21 +0000

Don't let my recent review of the hooligan-friendly 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 fool ya; hot rods are but a sliver of the Kawasaki motorcycle lineup. There's a broad spread of cruisers, from the Vulcan 900 Classic ($8,149) to the Vulcan 1700 Classic Nomad ($15,199), as well as sportier touring options like the Concours 14 ($14,599).

Wanna hit the dirt? Kawi's offerings range from the humble KLX110 offroader ($2,099) to the aggro KX450F motocrosser ($8,049), and everything in between... not the mention dual purpose standards like the KLR650 ($5,999).

But of course, Kawasaki's also home to the notorious Ninja franchise, which encompasses the beginner-friendly Ninja 250R ($4,299), the rocket-powered ZX-14 ($13,399), milder-mannered family members like the ER-6n ($6,699) and the Versys ($7,599), and a few others.

The whole lineup-- including key specs, pricing, and seat height information-- is encapsulated in this 2010 Kawasaki Buyer's Guide, which includes a few holdover 2009 models which may or may not get refreshed later in the year.

New-For-2010 Kawasaki Motorcycles

2010 Kawasaki Z1000 Review

2009 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Review

2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 Review

2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Review

Photos � Kawasaki;
Click for 2010 Kawasaki Buyer's Guide

2010 Kawasaki Buyer's Guide: Key Specs and Pricing for Every Motorcycle Kawasaki Sells originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 04:13:21.

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2010 Sachs MadAss 125 Scooter Review

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:35:08 +0000

After one particular experience that made me somewhat weary of Chinese-built bikes, you can imagine my mixed emotions when I learned that the Sachs MadAss-- which looked so cool in photos-- was German-designed, and... you guessed it... built in China.

So I'm guessing if you can put yourself in my shoes, you could probably also empathize with my frustration when the MadAss sputtered and died during the first ten minutes of my test ride.

What exactly happened, and does my story have a happy ending? Find out in my 2010 Sachs MadAss 125 Scooter Review.

2010 Sachs MadAss 125 Photo Gallery

2010 Honda Elite Scooter Review

2010 Honda SH150i Scooter Review

2009 Yamaha Zuma 125 Scooter Review
2008 Vespa S150 Review

Photo � Basem Wasef;
Click for 2010 Sachs MadAss 125 Scooter Photo Gallery

2010 Sachs MadAss 125 Scooter Review originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 23:35:08.

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Photo Gallery: 2010 Sachs MadAss 125 Scooter

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:14:21 +0000

It's got fuel-in frame design, front and rear disc brakes, aluminum wheels, and dual stacked headlights... oh, and it's a 125cc scooter that's priced at $2,699.

One person described the Sachs MadAss 125 (in un-PC but honest terms) as, "A bike for people who think a scooter's too gay." I'll be posting a review soon, but in the meantime take a look at this 2010 Sachs MadAss Photo Gallery and tell me: would this industrial looking ride tempt you over to the scooter side?

2010 Honda Elite Scooter Review

2010 Honda SH150i Scooter Review

2009 Yamaha Zuma 125 Scooter Review
2008 Vespa S150 Review

Photo � Basem Wasef;
Click for 2010 Sachs MadAss 125 Scooter Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery: 2010 Sachs MadAss 125 Scooter originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 10:14:21.

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Piaggio's $7.5 Million, 460 mph Other Ride: the P. 180 Avanti II

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:23:11 +0000

Traveling to motorcycle launches usually involves the cramped coach cabin of an aged 737, but Ducati provided moto scribes with a rare treat for their 2010 Hypermotard 1100 EVO intro: a Long Beach to Scottsdale flight aboard a Piaggio P. 180 Avanti II. This private plane is manufactured by Piaggio Aero, a division of the same folks responsible for the Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, and Vespa brands. When I boarded the Avanti's leather and wood lined cabin, I was reassured by the fact that Piaggio Aero was founded in 1884, making it one of the world's oldest aircraft manufacturers.

The twin-engine, turboprop-powered plane is an impressive technical achievement, boasting canard wings up front, a fuselage that provides up to 20% of total lift, and propellers aft of the cabin which yield a surprisingly quiet ride. We made the Long Beach, California to Scottsdale, Arizona trip in just over an hour, and could have been even more expedient, had air traffic control allowed us to nudge closer to the plane's 400 knot top speed (which translates to a ground speed of 460 mph.)

That terminal velocity makes Piaggio's 180 mph Aprilia RSV4 Factory look like a bit of a slouch... but when it comes to fuel economy, I'm betting on the Italian superbike.

For more on the Avanti II, go to piaggioaero.com.

2010 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO and EVO SP Review

2010 Aprilia RSV4 Factory Review

2010 Piaggio MP3 Review

2008 Vespa S 150 Review

2009 Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 8V Review

Q & A with Kevin Andrews, Piaggio and Vespa's Brand Manager

Photos � Basem Wasef;
Click to enlarge

Piaggio's $7.5 Million, 460 mph Other Ride: the P. 180 Avanti II originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 02:23:11.

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2010 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO and EVO SP Review: Lighter, Gruntier, More Hyper Than Ever

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:55:27 +0000

What happens when you drop 15.3 pounds, gain 5 horsepower, and upgrade sundry hardware components? The obvious answer is, "You get a better bike."

But in the case of the new big-bore Hypermotards, the deal is sweeter because pricing was left unchanged-- proving that Ducati is serious about gaining market share while the economy struggles.

I tested the new Hypers in the hills just outside of Scottsdale, Arizona, and you can learn more about the latest Ducs in my 2010 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO and EVO SP Review, with pics available in this photo gallery.

2010 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO and EVO SP Photo Gallery

2010 Ducati Hypermotard 796 Review

2010 Ducati Hypermotard 796 Photo Gallery

2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S Review

2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S Photo Gallery

Photo � Brian J. Nelson;
Click for 2010 Ducati Hypermotard EVO & EVO SP Review

2010 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO and EVO SP Review: Lighter, Gruntier, More Hyper Than Ever originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 15:55:27.

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