Brutal Electric

No, it's not from MV Agusta, but it is called the Brutus (a name, not a concept like Brutale) and it is definitely electric. What you see here is the second generation of the original Brutus from Chris Bell, a Las Vegas builder. This machine sports a mechanical, but clutchless, five-speed transmission which drives the rear wheel via a chain drive, as opposed to the belt used on the first model. It also is rumored to have a top speed in excess of 100 MPH, a range of 100 miles, and does 0 - 60 MPH in 4.7 seconds. Given the 535 pound weight, that is power! The battery providing that juice is an all-new lithium polymer which should last 50,000 miles. Since Mr. Bell is being mostly mum on specs, that is about all the information available. For more, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/6wqy4x7

Honda RC-E Electric Concept

Late (again) with this news about the soon to show - at the Tokyo Motor event, of course - Honda RC-E electric superbike concept. The idea here is that the RC-E may actually reach production, though, so not so much of a concept as a prototype. Whether this is more than a rumor will only be known in time. Until it either becomes reality or burns out with the many others which came before it, we can let our eyes wonder over the curvaceous machine that is the Honda RC-E. She is sweet, no?

http://tinyurl.com/7fkt56e

Breaking News: KTM Will Go Electric & Jeff Ward Joins AMA Pro Racing

KTM has announced that they will be showing two electric motorcycles at the Tokyo Motor Show next week. They even leaked obscure photos of the machine - much like Honda's VFR1200F, Ducati's Multistrada 1200, etc. Anyway, it is very sweet to hear that the orange Austrian marque will actually consider producing electric enduro and supermoto models. If they produce them, I guarantee they will sell with the one caveat being the price. Take a look and watch for more Tokyo Motor Show news...

http://tinyurl.com/yzmkzm6

It has also been announced that Jeff Ward, a nine-time AMA Pro Racing Champion in motocross, supercross and supermoto, will be joining AMA Pro Racing as a rider liaison and advisor. The man is a living legend. He is in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, he competed in IRL events including the Indianapolis 500 - where he was voted Rookie of the Year - and it goes on like this...He will be a very valuable asset to both riders and the AMA Pro Racing owners, Daytona Motorsports Group. Maybe he can bring back some legitimacy...

http://tinyurl.com/ykqk6ke

Monday Afternoon Moto News - Jason DiSalvo, Industry Gossip & TTXGP

This past weekend, Jason DiSalvo decided to go outside and get some training done. Where it gets interesting is when you consider that he lives in New York state - and they have snow on the ground! He went out with his playbike (a dirt machine) and threw some snow around in process of getting himself in race shape for the Triumph team with which he will contend the 2010 World Supersport Championship season.

http://tinyurl.com/yh7jrek

In industry gossip ,we get word that KTM is going to produce their 125cc concept machines which were present at the Milan EICMA Show just last year. They will be built in India and will be sold globally. There are plenty of other rumors - some we have already heard and some which are new. There is a great part on the future of a four-wheeled leaning motorcycle (ala Yamaha Tesseract)So, please do not forget to take the link and have a good read!

http://tinyurl.com/yd39w78

And, finally, there is news that Road America, of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, will be hosting the final event of the TTXGP’s eGrandPrix North American Championship. It is certainly nice to see another round added to this series as the Isle of Man TT organizers shuttered that round recently. If only it will help gain some notoriety for the organizers and participants alike.

http://tinyurl.com/yzqz6aq

Friday Night Extra - Suzuki Hydrogen (FC) Powered Burgman Scooter

It actually runs and it does quite well as an inner city commuter - especially since it is one of very few like it in the known Universe and the technology is almost brand new. It sure would be nice if we could make hydrogen easily and without causing more pollution. The full review will be out in the MCN (UK) issue of next week. For now, we only get a soundbite or two, but it is something completely new. Good for you Suzuki and your sweet Burgman scooter!

http://tinyurl.com/yd4oosb

Even more on this soon-to-be-yours scooter: http://tinyurl.com/yfa4w34

Busy Sunday Morning Moto News - Aprilia Concept

There is another concept vehicle based on a motorcycle engine and performance characteristics. The designer, Heikki Naulapaa, has taken an Aprilia 550c.c. V-twin engine, given it three wheels, a sitting riding position and an additional electric motor. It is called the Aprilia Magnet and it earned the creator a design position at the Italian firm. Now, if only they would decide to produce it!

http://tinyurl.com/yjsvvam

Have you wondered how the engine developed for the new Motus motorcycle works? Where it is made? Or, how important it may be for the future of motorcycle engine development? Well, you will not get all of those answers at the link, but you will get a very detailed view of the all-new gDI V-4. It is the first of its kind made in the US and is built by the company which provides high-end Corvette engines (let's hope their motorcycle engines are more reliable). It's at least worth having a look!

http://tinyurl.com/yb98kja

Thursday Morning Moto News Part 3 - General News

First up is a list - complete with photos - of some of the most extreme and insane motorcycles ever built. Though most of them are prototypes or concept vehicles, many are also production and could have been purchased after they were built. However, some of them are just simply insane. Either way, you are bound to find something which gets your heart pumping! (Mind you, though, that some choices here you will not agree with.)

http://tinyurl.com/ybfjddz

Husaberg brings you highlights of the 2009 ISDE in Figueira da Foz in Portugal. The videos are posted to YouTube and they are all about the Husaberg riders, so take the link and enjoy.

http://tinyurl.com/yb39lcy

Now we hear that Kenny Eggers has passed away at the age of 80 - natural causes, they say. He was part of the "BSA Wrecking Crew" from 1950's era racing in the US. He took fifth place in the Grand National Series opener at Daytona, riding a BSA Shooting Star. That launched him into fame as every racer who finished in front of him was also on a BSA. He will be remembered as a great racer, a talented builder and an all-around nice guy.

http://tinyurl.com/y9g3klk

Monday Morning Moto News - Back to Work Edition

Yep, the holiday season is now over - we have to face it and get back to work. Some of us worked over the holiday anyway, but it is always evident that normalcy has returned when the e-mail inbox gets full by 7 AM.

In the first story of the first work week of 2010, we get yet another spy shot of the forthcoming MV Agusta 3-cylinder 675c.c. machine (rumored), which may be known as the F3. It may be just the same as the shot we have from the Euro magazines, so expect no more.

http://tinyurl.com/y9juqmf

How about some more updates from the 2010 Rally Dakar in South America. There are a few here, so take your time in reading them. Coma has been assessed a penalty which could see him lose his chance at the title this year, but the 450 machine of Sherco rider David Casteu put him in second with Yamaha WR450 rider Frenchman David Fretigne taking the victory on the second day. There is much more beyond the links.

http://tinyurl.com/ycgdxrl

http://tinyurl.com/y8kkpnp (English needs work on this site)

Valentino Rossi will be showing up at the Auto Expo in New Delhi, India, 5 - 11 January 2010. He will be there representing Yamaha Motors for the event. It will certainly add to the attendance at the show!

http://tinyurl.com/y8nm2ke

A short piece on the World Superbike 2009 season and what we might expect in 2010. After all, Ben Spies won fully half of the races lats season, so who will take his place on the podium? Hopefully, it will finally be Haga's year!

http://tinyurl.com/yauaxmh

Even More New Year's Eve News from the Moto World, Part 2

Didn't expect this news to make it, but here it is...

There is a sweet bike which was found on eBay by the bloggers at Motorcycle Classics - a 1984 Kawasaki GPz550. Now, this bike may not be very interesting to you, but to me it was a very significant motorcycle. They were everywhere when I was growing up back then and they were certainly hard to miss when on the street. This model has over 37,000 miles on it, but it was very well taken care of...take a look!

http://tinyurl.com/y9pfynx

Next, we have a trip to the Bonneville Vintage GP at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. This is just an article describing what happened at the 4th annual event in 2009 - and noting why you should not miss the 2010 running. Anyone who enjoys classic or historical motorcycles and motorcycle racing will enjoy this event like none before it!

http://tinyurl.com/y8z7m6c

Well, we also have a concept motorcycle which borrows heavily from the Confederate models in its design. The RK Racer is - of course - based on a Buell 1200 engine (not sure which one they mean) and it has many sharp edges. See if you think it is any better than what the Louisiana manufacturer (Confederate) produces and take a long look.

http://tinyurl.com/yecbhtm

And, yet another list of concept and prototype motorcycles which the author of the post hopes will one day enter production for sale to us mortals. It is very similar to many others you may have read, but it has plenty of pictures for which you are bound to produce your own drool! Some of these are simply gorgeous!

http://tinyurl.com/ydvcglc

Very Interesting Motorcycle Concept - Deus Ex Machina

Yeah, the name is kind of tired, but the concept is rather cool in its execution. It is a motorcycle which you wear. It completely protects your head, back and arms, and uses an advanced battery technology coupled with an electric motor in one of the wheels. It is a truly forward-looking design which borrows from the Honda and Toyota concepts which we have seen come out of the Tokyo Motor Show and others. Take a look - it would be a very nice addition to anyone's job.

http://tinyurl.com/yeofl34

This Could Be the Head for the MV Agusta "F3"

Though we are not even sure that MV will call the new 675c.c. triple the F3, we do know that they have been testing something around Northern Italy for some time. Apparently, at the linked site, someone with a MV Agusta e-mail address dropped a photo in their comments which looks like it could be the cylinder head for the new 675 due to hit the market in 2011...maybe. (One thing to notice in the photo - I do not see that the valve train will be a radial setup like the other MV Agustas have.)

http://tinyurl.com/yeu33b4

NOTE: This was a false lead; it is not the new 675 triple head.

Valentino Rossi Calls for Limits in MotoGP and More Displacement

That is right, too, Rossi is all for the idea of moving the MotoGP race bikes back to 990c.c. or 1000c.c. to make the racing more challenging and more fun to watch. He states that the 800c.c. bikes are boring - we've heard that from him before. And, he wants to limit computer control of the bikes somewhat to allow the racer's skills to determine who wins - not who has the best electronics package. Makes sense to me...

http://tinyurl.com/yfn9qyh

Demonstener D1200R Will Go Into Production

Only five will be made, and they are up for auction on eBay now, but they will be on the road soon! The D1200R is a highly modified BMW which is designed as a sport machine with incredibly smooth action. The low center of gravity, the boxer-twin engine, the high-end custom suspension, and that awesome streetfighter look - it looks almost like it would run on nuclear fusion...

http://tinyurl.com/yczlpfw

The EICMA BMW Concept 6 - a Detailed Look

Though very few details were presented to the press and public at the EICMA Milan show, but from what was there some engineers have thought about what the machine could mean to the motorcycle industry. As it has been rumored that the Concept 6 engine is heading into production very soon, these thinkers have made some comparisons with what was shown and motorcycle industry history. So few 6-cylinder motorcycles have seen production over the years and now BMW is poised to change that for the 21st century...

http://tinyurl.com/ykl4fxv

The Future From The Past - 1985 Suzuki Falcorustyco

In November of 1985 at the Tokyo Motor Show this bike drew crowds like no other - and for good reason. I remember this bike (yeah, I'm old) when it made it into the American press. The hydraulic drive mechanism was really a bold idea, and it may rise again. Anyway, take a ride into the past and enjoy this design which remains interesting to this day - 24 years ago! The name, though, is Falcorustyco...sounds almost comic book - not bad.

http://tinyurl.com/ykd8s2k

Victory Motorcycles' CORE to be Displayed at Carole Nash Show

At the NEC starting later this month will be the Carole Nash International Motorcycle and Scooter Show. And, Victory Motorcycles will bring their CORE concept to the show - it will be the first ever showing of one of the most exciting and innovative motorcycles the industry has seen in a long time. Get your show tickets and make sure to stop by this booth (along with the others) while you are there!

http://tinyurl.com/ylrbuld

EICMA: Detail on Moto Guzzi's Award-Winning V12 Concept Motorcycles

Pierre Terblanche is someone with whom most of us are familiar - at least those of us who have a leaning towards Italian motorcycles. He was the principal - but not only - designer for the Moto Guzzi V12 series of concepts which we saw at EICMA. These machines did win a coveted design award at the show there in Italy, but how much do we know about them? Not too much, actually. We certainly gleaned some details from previous reports, but if you take the link below, you will learn much more about these potential production prototypes...

http://tinyurl.com/ydnj2qo

Green Speed Motorcycle Concept - Air Powered Motorcycle

It seems to have been a labor of love - as so many concepts are - and it does come off as a very interesting bit of technology. The Green Speed Air-Powered Motorcycle was designed by Edwin Conan and a team of his students; it is based on an engine designed by Australian Angelo Di Pietro. The idea is actually quite well-developed and it is possible that this machine could see production someday. Their current target is to take it chasing a record speed run. There are plenty of photos after the link...

http://tinyurl.com/yg9soqx

EICMA: Video of BMW Motorrad Concept 6 Motorcycle

Just a short note to say that this video is focused on the new BMW concept motorcycle - the BMW Motorrad Concept 6. It has an in-line 6 engine which may go on to power some new models from the Bavarian manufacturer. So, in some respects, it is more than just a 'concept.'

http://tinyurl.com/yfp26de

FTR Moto Enters Their Moto2 Machine in CEV National at Jerez

In the interest of improving on their technology, FTR will be placing their current development rider, Graeme Gowland, on their Moto2 prototype in the CEV Buckler Spanish Championship this coming weekend. The event will take place at Jerez, and will provide a very good testing ground for the team and engineers. They have been advancing the bike bit by bit after testing at Albacete a few weeks back. Look for them to place high on this machine.

http://tinyurl.com/yfjwqc3