Long Time Away...Again...Plus Links to Articles!

Well, dearest readers (if there is actually someone out there), I have been away from this blog for some time. It was not by choice, let me assure you, but by necessity. Numerous hard drive failures and problems with the data contained on them have placed a significant strain on my finances and my time. I have been very busy writing, though, as that is my only source of income these days. So, without anymore excuses, here is a list of links to some of the work I have done lately. I am planning to keep this up as much as possible and I do hope to start the blog itself again soon...it all depends on whether I an recover my lost data in the next two weeks or so...

Macau Grand Prix

Charlie Mullins Wins AMA Rekluse National Enduro Championship

Motorcycle Fixtures!

Own Rossi's TT R1

Az Heyadri and Riders for Health

Yamaha World Crosser Super Tenere

ASV's F3 Holiday Pro Pack Deal

Telefonica Movistar to Return to MotoGP

Honda Announces New Color for VFR1200F ABS

Royal Enfield in California

Billy Joel Opens Motorcycle Shop

Althea Racing's Gensio Bevilacqua puts his Motorcycle Collection online

Josh Herrin Remains with Graves Yamaha

Honda's CBR250RR to be at EICMA 2010

Schuberth Returns to North America

Zero Motorcycles Gathers Another $2 Million

MV Agusta F4 Voted Most Beautiful on the Web

Scary Study Shows Black Riders More Likely to Become Fatalities

KLIM Supports Team USA at ISDE

Wayne Maxwell Secures Dream Moto2 Ride at Phillip Island

Jason Britton Signs With Two Brothers Racing & 2010 Suzuki Boulevard M109 Review

Jason Britton, and his Team No Limit, have now signed a multi-year agreement with Two Brothers Racing. Two Brothers will be supplying all of the exhaust bits on the machines used by Britton and his team. As you probably already know, Britton is one of the most notable stunt riders today and he is the host of Speed TV's "Super Bikes!" show. For the details, please take the link.


http://tinyurl.com/ygbc8de

The Suzuki Boulevard M109 is not the most powerful machine Suzuki makes, but you would not notice that while experiencing it. It is a bike which is defined by the 'power-cruiser' segment and it shows it. The Boulevard M109 is also not a featherweight by any means, though this fact is often forgotten when tooling around a back road at a high-tilt speed...check the review...

http://tinyurl.com/yjuu2n2

XDL Championship Announces 2010 Schedule

The XDL Championship is the only nationwide stunt-riding championship series in the US. For 2010, they have a schedule which includes five events and a final in Indianapolis. The first event will be held during the first weekend of Daytona Bike Week. For the rest, take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/y9awlgh

The Arctic Challenge: A Test of Three Adventure Bikes

This is what I call a true test of capability! They took three bikes - KTM 990 Adventure, BMW R1200GS Adventure, F800GS - to the Dempster Highway in northern Canada where it crosses the Arctic Circle. It was a simple choice as they are, in fact, on an adventure through the frozen tundra (what's left of it) to decide which of these bikes best meets their needs...have a read of Part I.

http://tinyurl.com/yldwjwc

Now, we have Part II of the adventure. It is interesting to see how things changed once they got off of the pavement for some hard slogging in the back-country and mud.

http://tinyurl.com/y8qh5vq

2010 Ducati Streetfighter versus 2008 Benelli TnT 1130

Ducati versus Benelli - a huge company up against what is essentially a boutique bike maker - and the Streetfighter comes out on top. We could all expect that outcome, but the Benelli offers plenty that the Ducati cannot offer. But, with large production facilities come lower overall prices on components, so Ducati can produce a motorcycle which is cheaper and better equipped than the small Benelli concern can possibly match. The TnT 1130 does shine rather well when it is up against something back as strongly as the Ducati.

http://tinyurl.com/yhl7626

A Norton NRS Takes 'Britain's Got Biking Talent' Title

Tony Haywood, and his Norton NRS, took the win at the yearly Britain's Got Biking Talent and was presented with the award at the Carole Nash International Motorcycle & Scooter Show at the NEC in England. It took him four years and £25,000 to get his Norton in the most perfect state possible. He enlisted Norton people from all over the world, including the new owner of the marque. It was a painstaking process and he was aptly rewarded for it!

http://tinyurl.com/yla5vk4

Erik Buell Starts Erik Buell Racing - Good News

It is nice to see Buell stepping away from Harley and moving back to doing something on his own. He will start by providing race-only parts for racing Buell motorcycles and will build race-spec 1125R motorcycles under license from H-D (the least they could do for him). It will, of course, be known as Erik Buell Racing and will be based in East Troy, Wisconsin. For more info, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yg7xn9k

Ducati Monster Art Club Contest Winners Announced

After months of entries and lots of voting, the winners of the Ducati Monster Art Club Contest have been announced. In first place is the Ducati Trapani Club of Italy with their creation, "Star Glitter." Second place is Magyar Ducati Klub of Hungary with the oddly named "Foodster." And, coming in in third is DOC Ducati Hellas of Greece with their stunning "El Greco", which is my favorite Monster here. Go on over to the site and have a look around; there are some amazing pieces of artwork there and it is worth every minute of drooling (of course, there are also several questionable designs, but that is the nature of imagination)!

http://tinyurl.com/yda9nk8

Shootout: BMW K1300GT versus Kawasaki Concours 14

These big luxury tourers will take you on long-distance ride like no other - amazingly, these machines will also burn up any road the are on, but how do they compare to each other. If you are looking to buy one, these are the 2009 models - so you may be able to get a good deal as the 2010 models hit the showrooms at your dealer. Also, we do know that the Concours 14 has been updated for 2010 with some fancy and useful features. But, the comparison should at least give you an idea of how these machines compare when on the road!

http://tinyurl.com/yawsy48

News From the 8th Annual Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival

There is not much here about the motorcycles which participated in the event, but there is some news. The award for “Best Midway Motorcycle” was awarded to a 1966 Honda CA 77. The runners-up for the award included a 1967 Triumph T120TT and a 1970 Norton Commando S...If you are into vintage automobiles, though, head on over and have a read...

http://tinyurl.com/yefmmm4

2009 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d’Elegance in Las Vegas

The American Motorcyclist Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame has announced details about their 8th Annual Concours d’Elegance to be held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. First of all, it will be held on Saturday 5 December 2009 - perhaps a bit important. Only 75 motorcycles will be invited to attend. They will be judged in 11 categories and one will win the Jim Davis Best in Show Award. It does seem that the AMA has taken a shine to Vegas. But, it is a lot cheaper to get to (for most of us) and there are plenty of nearby hotel rooms...and some entertainment.

http://tinyurl.com/yhca29l

Las Vegas Preparing for Las Vegas BikeFest

October 1-4, 2009 is the date, Las Vegas is the location, and motorcycles are the subject. The 9th Annual Las Vegas BikeFest is expecting upwards of 30,000 riders to attend!

http://tinyurl.com/kjvt7h

Salt Lake City Motorcycle Police are Very Talented

The city's police team entered the 4th Annual Utah Highway Patrol Police Motorcycle Training and Competition event held in Lindon, UT.

http://tinyurl.com/l3kaar