Paris Hilton unveils 125GP team



Clad in a skintight pink, white and blue bodysuit with ample cleavage exposed, Paris Hilton proved last weekend why she is not your average motorcycle race team owner.

But in a blaze of publicity in Madrid on Saturday, the socialite, model and actress unveiled her shock new 125GP adventure.

Unveiling a striking pink, blue and white paintscheme, Hilton jetted in from America to launch the new SuperMartxe VIP by Paris Hilton team.

Hilton tweeted about her new venture saying: ‘I'm so proud of my new motorcycle team. So exciting!’

She later tweeted to her three million plus followers: ‘I can't believe I have my own racing team! So cool!’

Hilton’s team will run Sergio Gadea and Maverick Vinales in the 2011 125GP world championship.

It has been rumoured that Hilton will attend at least five races next season.

Article from MCN


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Audi LSR concept Motorbike

audi concept motorcycle heads straight to bonneville


Designer Marc Senger has recently presented his latest concept, the Audi LSR land speed record motorbike. A superbike of the future, the Audi rocket is scheduled for the 2031 Bonneville Speed Week trials and, judging by the way it looks, this streamliner is a winner already.


2. Audi LSR concept

Read More: Top Speed

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Ambulance motorbikes

A motorbike ambulance in Mbale, Uganda

THREE motorbike ambulances are helping to save lives in the Mbale region of Uganda, thanks to the PONT (Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust) link.

The vehicles were handed over by three members of the Welsh Ambulance Service at a ceremony in Uganda last week.

This is the first time the poverty-stricken region has had an ambulance service.

Within two days of the launch, which was also attended by Wales’ chief medical officer Dr Tony Jewell, one of the bikes had already transferred 17 people to hospital or health clinics, potentially saving their lives. Julian Newton, a paramedic supervisor from Hawthorn ambulance station in Pontypridd, who has just returned from Mbale, said: “It’s absolutely certain these motorbike ambulances will save many lives and probably have already, in the first few days.

“Unlike in this country, where the lives we save are due to the use of medicines or a paramedic’s interventions, over there it’s often a simple case of getting people to a hospital or a health facility that saves lives. I feel very humble to be involved in something that will make such a big difference to people.”

The ambulances, which are suitable for use on Ugandan terrain, are the result of two years of work between Mbale and PONT. They have been funded by donations to PONT, including more than £4,000 from the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Rotary Club, in Leicestershire.

The three areas that make up the wider Mbale region – Mbale, Manafwe and Bududa – are each now covered by a motorbike ambulance. Mr Newton, who was accompanied by colleagues Mandy George and Giovanni Riva on last week’s Uganda trip, added: “The vision for the future is that the bikes will prove successful and, as the economic situation improves, the Ugandan government will recognise their value and roll them out to other parts of the country.”

Members of the Welsh Ambulance Service and PONT last year trained 60 people in Mbale as first responders as a forerunner to motorbike ambulances.

Read More: Wales Online

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Limited Edition £6000 Yamaha YZF-R125.

Yamaha has unveiled a show-special YZF-R125 – but at over £6000, it could take the average teenager a while to save up for one.

The popular sports 125, which already costs £3999, gets a £478 full Akropovic exhaust system, Galfer Wave brake discs, a bubble screen, pillion seat cover, frame protectors and a £1200 paint job.

Because it’s a one-off, unveiled to showcase accessories at Carole Nash Motorcycle Live, the only way to get one is to pay for everything separately, bringing the cost to £6072.

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Readers recommend motorbike songs: The results

That mixture of thrill-seeking and abandonment is not unique to bikers, but it certainly seems to be popular
    Riding a Harley Davidson in the Californian desert 
'Looking for adventure' ... riding a Harley Davidson in the Californian desert. Photograph: Alamy When you hear the word motorbike, what do you think of? Marlon Brando in an unfortunate cap astride his Triumph? The ultrafast races in Akira? Or, and apologies if you had managed to shut this out of your memory banks, John Travolta and his baby-soft cheeks pootling around in Wild Hogs? 

As some of the Readers Recommend community observed, the meaning of the motorbike, all that symbolism stuff, is a lot less broad than its four-wheeled pal, the car. Different cars say different things about their drivers, but in music, it seems, bikes are about rough-edged individuals feeling freedom in their hair. 

Steppenwolf, obviously, are largely to blame. Or Dennis Hopper. Or both. Born to Be Wild is inextricably linked to Easy Rider, but it summarises that film's attitude with its motto: "Looking for adventure/ Or whatever comes my way." That mixture of thrill-seeking and abandonment is not unique to bikers, but it certainly seems to be popular.

The Allman Brothers conceive of the Midnight Rider, who heads out with just the clothes on his back and a silver dollar in his pocket. The Jesus and Mary Chain take the same idea and turn it into narcissistic fetish: "I cut the road like a sharpened knife/ And I'm in love with myself/ There's nothing else but me." 

The Living End, taken from the Mary Chain's Psychocandy, is a ball of buzzing noise and is complemented by both Suicide's droning epic Ghost Rider and the frenzied breakbeat of μ-Ziq's The Motorbike Track. Quite what it was about the motorbike that encouraged such sounds is not apparent; maybe somebody had experienced one too many rattling carburettors. Other songs engage with the iconography but explore it from different angles. Neil Young's Unknown Legend is a waitress and mother of two. But in Young's mind's eye she's a Harley-riding rebel "colliding with the very air she breathes". Richard Thompson sings a ballad of a love brought short; James, the owner of the titular Vincent, is felled by the law – his lover Red Molly survives him. The tragedy is circumscribed by the fact that Red Molly's feelings for James were, in the first instance, caused partly by the bike. Without the means of his own destruction the couple would never have come together in the first place.

In Daniel Johnston's Speeding Motorcycle, the dreams of speed remain, but the bike is the man: "Pretty girls have taken you for a ride/ Hurt you deep inside but you never slowed down." Johnston aspires towards the robustness of the machine itself, not the Dennis Hopper archetype that owns it. 

The Manic Street Preachers composed a great hook upon which to hang their wailing against the functions of capitalism. Here it's possible to see the bike as a fake rebellion: "Under neon loneliness/ Motorcycle emptiness." At least, that's one reading. I'm much clearer as to why the refreshingly unpredictable Dr Alimantado has made this week's list. The Barber Feel It is not in any way a contemplation of bikes, but it does feature a 50cc machine growling away in the background.  

This week's playlist: 
1. Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf 
2. Midnight Rider – The Allman Brothers 
3. The Living End- The Jesus and Mary Chain 
4. Ghost Rider - Suicide 
5. The Motorbike Track - µ-Ziq 
6. Unknown Legend - Neil Young 
7. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson 
8. Speeding Motorcycle - Daniel Johnston 
9. Motorcycle Emptiness - Manic Street Preachers 
10. The Barber Feel it - Dr Alimantado & Jah Stitch   
 
Article from The Guardian
 
  
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Amazing Motorbike Modifications

These motorbike certainly won’t get unnoticed wherever they show up, and all you have to do to have one like these is a little creativity, time and money. But it looks like the owners of these modded motorbikes have gone a bit too far with their desire to have something unique.

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Article from lol hunter

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Triumph motorcycles celebrates as profits rise


Profits rocketed more than fivefold at Triumph Motorcycles last year, as the British motorbike maker drove through better cost control and use of working capital.

Despite a "very difficult year for the global motorcycle industry", Triumph also grew turnover by 3 per cent to £312.4m for the year to 30 June.

This was driven by "strong" sales of motorbike parts, clothing and accessories, such as automatic breaking systems, said a spokeswoman. However, unit sales of motorcycles fell by 1.5 per cent to 45,501 over the year, which suggests that Leicestershire-based Triumph was able to push through price increases.

But the group, which was founded in 1902, said it was cautious about the outlook for the global market 2011, "due to the continued global economic crisis and the impact on consumer confidence and spending on discretionary consumer goods".

Triumph, arguably best known for its Daytona 675 model, said the world market for motorcycles bigger than 500cc has tumbled by almost half since its peak three years ago.

Triumph grew operating profit by 504 per cent to £15.1m for the year to the end of June, compared to just £2.5m for the previous year.

The profit acceleration was the result of "strong sales of motorcycles and related products, benefiting from better cost control, improved use of working capital and favourable impact from currency exchange rates," said the company.

While it is cautious about the macro environment for global motorbike sales, Triumph stressed it was stepping up its research and development budget and that the public and dealers had responded positively to its new bikes.

A spokeswoman said that Triumph has already launched five new motorcycles of which the new Speed Triple and the Tiger 800 Adventure range are the "most significant"

Article from The Independent

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New Kawasaki concept trike unveiled


Lehman Trikes recently unveiled the company’s latest concept trike at the Kawasaki dealer meeting in Las Vegas, according to a press release from Lehman.

The company designed its new model based on the Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Lehman put the vehicle on display, so Lehman and Kawasaki could receive feedback from dealers.

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to solicit feedback from Kawasaki’s dealer network,” Ken Hines, president and CEO of Lehman Trikes, said in the release. “The Vulcan 900 has proven itself as an outstanding motorcycle in the below 1000cc cruiser category and serves as an excellent foundation for a trike that would raise the bar in its class for performance and value.”

The Vulcan trike is being explored as Lehman’s next product.

Article from Power Sports Business

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Dirt Bike Show 2010 | UKBike was there to see the action!


All Images are on our facebook page. Click here

UKBike visited The International Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh Park which kicked off in action and style on Thursday, with visitors flocking through the doors to see the latest 2011 model machines, products, clothing and accessories from all the leading manufacturers and suppliers.

On top of all the latest exhibits, the action arena was off to a lively start with audiences packing into the stalls to witness the air-time antics of the Bolddog freestyle team. Other visitors took the weight off their feet and sat back to enjoy the fashion shows, interviews and live performances on the main hall two entertainment stage.

Tommy Searle is making a welcome and popular return to Europe after two years racing in the USA. Searle has returned to ride for the CLS Kawasaki team in the MX2 GP class, and was happy to get back to the International Dirt Bike Show to meet his many UK fans.

On the quad front, KTM UK announced its British and European championship team, with British Championship runner-up Mark Watson moving up from his private KTM team to the works supported KTM team managed by former European champion Richard Cole. Watson joins James Hellewell in the KTM UK team and they are due to start testing their 2011 machines next week.

Article from bikeland


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iTrials jumps onto iPhone

Motorbike trials game iTrials is now available on the App Store

Published on Nov 2, 2010

If you fancy playing something like Trials, the popular Xbox 360 motorbike trials simulator, developer Tooko's iTrials for iPhone may just be up your street.

Even though RedLynx develops games for the iPhone, Monster Trucks Nitro 1 and its sequel, for example, we’ve yet to see an iPhone version of its Trials motorbike extravaganza. Looking to capitalise on this, iTrials features 3D graphics courtesy of the Unity engine, 27 levels packed with obstacles and the ability to crash horribly, thanks to Ragdool physics

To keep you hooked, levels and stages are unlocked as you progress, and Facebook and Twitter integration means you can show off your achievements to friends. You can even compete against the world using the Agon Online Leaderboards.

If the idea of riding high-powered bikes over seesaws and moving platforms just isn’t enough, perhaps the promise of free updates with more levels will.

iTrials is available now for 59p from Apple’s App Store.




Article from knowyourmobile


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MV Agusta F3 triple | UKBike News


We've got some tech info on the middleweight MV Agusta F3 triple. Lots of claims for power and sophistication...

It looks like the MV Agusta F3 triple we wrote about here is going to be the big star of the Milan Bike show this week and the Italian outfit is making the most of its status as the season's hot ticket. At the moment all we have are press claims, but you can pick the facts from the fantasy below.

And you can say what you like, but it looks fantastic and if the reality lives up to the claims (and if it makes it into full production), then MV will have a winner and Castiglioni will have pulled it out the bag. Again.

ENGINE
This iconic engine has now returned in the form of an avant garde middle weight supersport with performance technical solutions based on the demands of Claudio Castiglioni who is convinced that this is the ideal architecture for a middle weight supersport.

The engine is the most compact, incredible short and narrow engine ever seen in this category. The powerplant is incredibly modern in design, technologically advanced and capable of generating the most power ever seen in this category. One of the numerous technical features is the counter-rotating crankshaft, never before seen on a production supersport engine.

ELECTRONICS
The most advanced electronic engine control system has been designed specifically for this
extraordinary three cylinder. For the first time on an MV (and in the middle weight supersport
category) there is Ride By Wire with multi-maps that optimize the power output in all riding
conditions. The MV TC traction control has been incorporated into the engine control system raising the dynamic control to a new level on the F3.

CHASSIS
As always, those who ride MV Agusta's have become accustomed to having the very best components and the maximum performance from the chassis. The new F3 follows this tradition with a level of quality that exceeds most of the 1000cc superbikes on the market.

As with all previous MV's, the advanced frame design incorporates a mix of steel tubing and aluminum side plates that wrap around the ultra compact engine offering a level of compactness never before seen on a supersport motorcycle. The compact engine dimensions left the maximum liberty to design the most advanced chassis on the market with an exceptionally long single sided swingarm that guarantees traction and feedback to the rider.

The components, as always, are of the highest quality. The Marzocchi front fork
is completely adjustable as well as the Sachs rear shock. The front brake system consists of a Nissin radial master cylinder and Brembo radial calipers and discs. It is simply the best and the new standard by which all other middleweight supersport bikes will be judged.

Article from superbike

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Honda drives in new CBR250R


Mumbai, Maharashtra, October 28, 2010: Honda has unveiled its all – new 2011 CBR250R motorcycle to the world in Thailand.

The new CBR250R is a lightweight motorcycle developed to cater to the rising international demand for small and efficient lightweight bikes. Currently there is a lack of options in that segment internationally with a very few players like Kawasaki and Hyosung producing such motorcycles.

The Japanese auto company has also confirmed that the 2011 CBR250R will make its way to India early – mid 2011. The bike will be launched in Thailand this November though.

The new bike has been developed by Honda Japan with significant involvement from Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) and Honda Thailand.

The CBR250R will be powered by a 250cc single cylinder engine, with a flat and well – spread power and torque curve for maximum driveability at low and mid range rev band and better efficiency.

The bike will source materials and components from strategic sources to keep the prices as low and competitive as possible.

We hope that by ‘competitive’, Honda is not implying a price tag close to that of the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, which retails for a very high price of close to Rs 3- lakh in India. The CBR250R uses a light construction, diamond shaped, tubular frame that is said to offer agile handling and great manoeuvrability.

Article from Humsafar

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Top Gear: Stig's helmet fetches £3,400 at auction

The distinctive white racing helmet worn by The Stig on the BBC's Top Gear fetched £3,400 at auction on Wednesday night.

The distinctive white racing helmets worn by The Stig on the BBC's Top Gear fetched £3,400 at auction
 
The distinctive white racing helmets worn by The Stig on the BBC's Top Gear fetched £3,400 at auction.
 
It was sold by Sophia Vaizey, who was given the helmet as a leaving present after working on the show as a production co-ordinator for 18 months.
One of the programme's presenters, Richard Hammond, signed it, along with production crew members and The Stig himself, who has now left the motoring show but wore it from around 2002 to 2005.
The helmet went under the hammer at Gorringes Auctioneers in Lewes, East Sussex, with a guide price of £1,200 but ended up going for almost three times as much to a private collector.


Mrs Vaizey, 30, from Hove, previously said she hoped the helmet would fetch a good price following the recent highly publicised High Court battle involving the BBC over the disclosure of The Stig's identity.

She said: "The Stig wore that one on the show for quite a while. He then got a new one for safety reasons, so it got stored away in the Top Gear office.
"I was quite surprised when they gave it to me but also I felt honoured."
The BBC recently took legal action to block publication by HarperCollins of an autobiography which would unmask racing driver Ben Collins as the show's mystery driver.


But after more than a day of legal argument in private, Mr Justice Morgan said he would not grant the BBC a temporary injunction to do this as he said his identity was already widely known.

It had been a badly kept secret for some time, having already been published in the media last year.
Collins has since joined rival show Fifth Gear on Channel 5 where he will appear without his trademark helmet.

Article form the telegraph

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WIN a Motorcycle Helmet and a Motorcycle Rainsuit worth £129.98! | UKBike


WIN a New MTR Motorcycle Helmet K-11 Flip and a PROOF Splash II Motorcycle Rainsuit.

We are offering all UKBike members the chance to win a MTR Motorcycle Helmet K-11 Flip, retailing at £99.99! AND a PROOF Splash II Motorcycle Rainsuit, retailing at £29.99!

1st place will win our main prize, the new MTR Motorcycle Helmet K-11 Flip along with 1 of 3 PROOF Splash II Motorcycle Rainsuit's, 2nd and 3rd place will also win one of these fantastic suits.

It couldn’t be easier to be in with a shout for this fine prize. Simply send us a review of a bike that you know well from the past or present. On the 22nd of November the UK Bike team will select a winner, the prize will be sent via post, and the winning review will be our ‘featured review’ on the UKBike home page for the first last week of November!

We are looking for interesting, informative reviews of a decent length that sum up your bike experiences, both good and bad. Got a particular story attached to the bike? Share it with your fellow members! Feel free to add some action to your review with photos and video – but it’s the words that we’re most interested in!

Closing date for reviews is November 21st, the winner will be announced and contacted in the week of the 22nd of November.

1st place winner will have the choice of size and colour of the helmet, (Black or Silver).

All winners of our rainsuits will have the choice of size and colour too, (Black or Red)

Good luck!

Terms and conditions.
Entries must be submitted by 11.59pm on November 21st 2010. The winner will be notified by e-mail the week of the 22nd of November.The UKBike team’s decision is final. Members can submit multiple bike reviews. Any enquireies or problems with sending photos please email kai@ukbike.com 

Harley Profit Rises as Finance Unit Makes Up for Slumping Motorcycle Sales

Harley-Davidson Inc, the biggest U.S. motorcycle maker, said third-quarter profit more than doubled as earnings in its finance unit made up for declining sales worldwide.

Net income rose to $88.8 million, or 38 cents a share, from $26.5 million, or 11 cents, a year earlier, Milwaukee-based Harley said today in a statement. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was 36 cents. Revenue fell 1.9 percent to $1.09 billion, and retail sales slid 7.7 percent.

Chief Executive Officer Keith Wandell, who has cut costs by renegotiating labor contracts, said Harley is focused on transforming itself to “succeed at today’s volumes.” The financial-services unit, which makes loans to motorcycle buyers, had operating income of $50.9 million compared with a $31.5 million loss a year earlier.

“Motorcycle demand is slumping, and that slump has yet to show signs of abating,” Brent Miller, an analyst with Gradient Analytics in Scottsdale, Arizona, said in an interview. “That’s a bit concerning. How long can a company continue to count on its financial services arm to fill in that gap of dragging demand?”

The new labor agreements at factories in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin reduce jobs, give new employees fewer benefits and will let Harley add and cut workers based on demand. The Wisconsin contracts start in 2012.

MV Agusta

Excluding discontinued operations such as the MV Agusta line of motorcycles, profit rose to 40 cents a share from 24 cents a year earlier.

Harley raised the low end of its production plan for this year. It now expects to ship 207,000 to 212,000 motorcycles to dealers, a decrease of as much as 7.2 percent from last year. In July, it forecast shipments of 201,000 to 212,000, as much as a 9.9 percent decrease. Deliveries fell 27 percent last year to 223,000 from 303,500 in 2008.

Most motorcycle sales are discretionary purchases, which consumers reduced as the economy slowed, Wandell said today.

“All of our market data and research indicates there’s still a tremendous affinity for the brand and a desire to own Harley-Davidson motorcycles,” Wandell said in an interview. “It’s a matter of getting some help with the economy on top of everything else we’re doing with our strategy.”

Harley’s U.S. retail sales in the three months ended Sept. 26 fell 9.4 percent from a year earlier. Industrywide retail sales of heavyweight motorcycles fell 14 percent, Harley said.

Harley declined $1.25, or 3.9 percent, to $31.24 at 10:44 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares gained 29 percent this year before today.

Rossi to wear Ducati motorcycle clothing at Valencia test

Rossi has been authorised to switch to Ducati early 

Valentino Rossi will pull on his Ducati-red motorcycle clothing for the first time at the post-season testing session at Valencia.

MotoGP teams only have a limited number of sanctioned testing sessions, and Rossi was keen to get to work with the Ducati team as soon as possible - the first opportunity being the test in Valencia shortly after the season finale.

There had been much speculation about whether Yamaha would allow the contracted rider to test in Ducati motorcycle clothing, but it seems that the manufacturer's executive officer for engineering operations Masao Furusawa has granted the Italian his wish.

Rossi told broadcaster Italia1: "Furusawa called me and told me it was a way of saying thanks for what I have done for Yamaha.

"I think it's a nice gesture and it shows that Yamaha has valued the things done over these years."

Rossi achieved another podium in the latest round in Australia, finishing third after a late passing move on Nicky Hayden, his teammate for the 2011 season.

Article from PH Motorcycles

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Kawasaki ZXR, 900cc Review




Review

Well where do i start? How about with the styling, in one word for the year of release....aggressive! razor sharp rear end and gaping ram air mouth, sqautted ''arse up and head down'' riding position finish the bike of nicely. **how much** a nice clean and tidy find will see you with a little bit of change from £4,000. mid range £3,500. poor state £2,800. **will i be aching after 30 mile? what does it go like and will i survive the twistys** This bike was designed for the track. So in all honesty the riding position......Read More

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Brightona 2010 - UKBike was there to see all the action and get some photos.


Click here to check out all the pictures from the day.

Brightona 2010, ran successfully yesterday down at Maderia Drive. UKBike was there to see all the action.

Brightona is one of the biggest motoring events with participants as high as 40,000, Brighton was heaving with motorcycles of all shapes and sizes most of the day.

Since 2004 Brightona has donated a staggering £75,000!! This has allowed vital life saving equipment to be purchased and improve the lives of hundreds of people and families in Sussex.

Growing each year, Brightona raised £12,500 in 2006 and £23,000 in 2008. Hopefully 2010 broke the record.

Bikers come from all over the country; in fact, all over Europe - and maybe even further afield.

This was truly a sight worth seeing! Bikes start to arrive mid-morning and fill up the Drive: the noise, the smell of petrol fumes, the wave and wave of arriving bikers all generate an atmosphere of excitement. A great coming together.

By the time the Drive was filled up, a vast range of motobikes is on display. Bikes and bikers of all ages; bikes, trikes, sidecars; every manufacturer's name in the history of the motorcycle in represented. An exaggeration perhaps, but you'll certainly find Vincent, Norton, Kawasaki, Honda, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Aprilia, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Victory, BSA, BMW, Triumph, Suzuki, National Chopper Club, and many customised machines, especially trikes.

There was also a stage, DJ, rock'n' roll, bands, etc to provide the entertainment.

We were there with our camera yesterday taking a number of pictures of bikes that took our fancy. All our photos will be uploaded to our facebook page www.facebook.com/ukbike.

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Biker banned for only 8 weeks after doing 107mph in 40mph limit!

Motorcyclist caught doing 107mph

A self-confessed “petrolhead”, who rode his Suzuki motorbike at 107 mph in a 40 mph zone in Stowmarket, was today banned from driving for eight weeks.

Sudbury magistrates heard John Dove, 26, of Stowupland, had only owned the machine for a month when police saw him on a dual carriageway.

Dove, who admitted speeding on August 1, was also fined £250 and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Is an 8 week ban too small seeing as he was travelling nearly 3x the limit?

Article from EADT24

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Pedrosa thankful for motorcycle clothing, but title hopes end.

Pedrosa's accident has ended his title hopes

Pedrosa's accident has ended his title hopes.

Dani Pedrosa was thankful for his robust motorcycle clothing after a heavy crash in practice for the Japanese round of the MotoGP championship at the weekend.

Unfortunately for the premier class' in-form rider, a high-speed tumble through the gravel left him with a triple-fracture of the collar bone, which appears to have handed the riders' title to compatriot Jorge Lorenzo.

But thankfully Pedrosa's motorcycle clothing prevented more serious damage to the rider's ankle, after X-rays showed the heavy impact had not broken the joint.

"We X-rayed the ankle as well and it is okay. He had old fractures but nothing new, just a small contusion," said MotoGP medical director Michele Macchiagodena.

However, with Pedrosa out of action and Jorge Lorenzo continuing to score points, the Yamaha rider now needs to finish in a ninth place during the next race to confirm himself as the 2010 MotoGP world champion.

Pedrosa recently signed a new two-year deal with Honda, where he will be joined next season by current Ducati rider Casey Stoner.

Article from PHMotorcycles

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$50 Motorcycle Retrofitted To Run on Solar Power

Tony Danger Coiro, a student at Purdue University, has recently created a zero-emission electric motorcycle that is powered by solar energy. The motorcycle, which initially cost about $50, is a transformed version of an old 1978 Suzuki.

He spent more than $2500 retrofitting and redesigning the bike, which is capable to reach a top speed of 45mph, having a range of about 24 miles per charge.

Coiro in collaboration with Jim Danielson and Sean Kleinschmidt, a colleague have launched the Purdue Electric Vehicles Club. Kleinschmidt and Danielson converted a 1987 Porsche 924S they bought for $500 to run on electricity, during their summer vacation.

According to Coiro, the Purdue EV Club will commercialize its latest electric cars prototypes and technologies. Meanwhile, Coiro has started designing a new green motorcycle equipped with a 100-horsepower motor that will reach a speed of 100 mph and a range of nearly 100 miles per charge. Besides this, the bike will have no drive trains, having the motors located in each wheel.

Source: Green Optimistic

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Vintage Motorcycles Set for RM Auctions

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Motorcycle Auction

Formed in 1991, RM Auctions has become the world's largest collector car auction house, specializing in quality automobiles and classic motorbikes.

RM returns to Hershey, Pennsylvania next month (October 7-8, 2010) for their annual Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey event.

In addition to the impressive roster of four-wheel rolling history consigned for sale, RM Auctions will also be presenting a select array of vintage motorcycles.

The motorcycles range from a four-horsepower 1911 Flanders to a 1960 Indian-Enfield. There is also a 1926 Cleveland Fowler Four, a 1948 Indian Chief Bonneville, a 1930 Excelsior Super X Streamliner V-Twin and a 1905 FN Type A 4-cylinder motorcycle.

These beautiful and rare collector motorcycles all come with appreciatively sizable price tags - which is always good fodder to excite the attendees into zealous bidding.

For those who might be interested in participating in the auction but are unable to attend in person, RM Auctions has a range of remote bidding options, including Internet, telephone and absentee bidding.

The motorcycle auction will stream live online at rmauctions.com, providing real-time coverage of the bidding and sales.

For more information on RM Auctions, from full event details to a copy of the digital auction catalog go to RM Auctions Motorcycles.

Article from ultimate motorcycling

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MotoGP Paddock Girls in Aragon 2010



The glamour of the MotoGP Paddock Girls, at the thirteenth race of 2010 in Indianapolis.

Video from Motogp


Electric scooters and motorcycles

Zero-emissions two-wheelers are very much in their infancy but the choice is growing all the time.

Electric scooters and motorcycles  
Piaggio MP3 Hybrid.
 
This is still at the pioneering stage, with none of the major players even participating, leaving the field open for a motley collection of strange brands, rebadging, a very wide mix of quality and no clear leader or single growing force.
That's not to say everything looks like it's come out of a garden shed, but equally it's unrealistic to expect the levels of design sophistication or build quality you'd find in a Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki or Yamaha.
Only two electric motorcycles are available and sales of these still register in the dozens so you're as unlikely to see one as hear one.

The rest are scooters, the majority Chinese built (which generally bodes ill for quality) and the handful of different models come with a multitude of brand names that seem to come and go. In other words, while there are some reasonable products out there, beware.



Electric scooters and motorcycles

Hybrid powertain with electric motor mounted alongside the rear wheel shaft (left side)


Motorcycles Zero
 
These are designed and built in Scotts Valley, California, as fun and performance machines rather than simply commuters, although they will fulfil that role.

Founder Neil Saiki is a qualified aeronautical engineer and the design reflects this. They look pretty good, too, more like conventional supermoto and trail bikes than worthy transport for geeks and greenies.

There are four models, which are essentially the same machine with minor differences according to purpose. The X and MX are for off-road use only, where their very low noise levels make them highly suited to dedicated parks and circuits near built-up areas.

The S and DS are road-legal supermoto and trail bikes differing only in wheels and tyres, priced from £7,995. These come with a two-year warranty. A "future-proofing" warranty is also available at additional cost, with upgrades at much reduced cost.

The Zero S and DS can be ridden with an A1 licence, the same as a 125cc petrol bike. Although the 67mph top speed is only slightly more than a conventional 125's, the acceleration is claimed to be substantially greater.

The claimed range is 50 miles, with a four-hour recharge time.
 
Quantya 

Swiss-made machine with a top speed of 45mph which, like the Zero, is legally in the same category as a 125. The Quantya Strada isn't cheap though - £9,100 is close to superbike money for learner bike performance, although the UK importer is also working on a hire-and-ride arrangement which will help mitigate this.

It looks very much like a conventional small trail bike, and its off-road credentials are good, the plan being to set up off-road parks using these machines exclusively.

While the top speed is low, as with most electric vehicles, initial acceleration is good, with a time of 1.9 seconds quoted for 0-42mph, which will keep you in front of most traffic from the lights.

The Strada's throttle response characteristics can be changed to suit different riding styles, although this demands a laptop computer when it ought to be possible via a handlebar switch, as it is on many conventional motorcycles.

The open-road range is claimed to be 40-50 miles, dropping to 25 miles in stop-start traffic. Recharging takes about two hours.
 
Scooters Xero Tech
 
A range of scooters imported as part of the Green Tech product range by the Best Buy technology chain, the new UK division of the large US company. Although the scooters are assembled in the Far East, Xero is a British company, so with this and Best Buy behind them they're a safer bet than most.

Three models are on sale, the Urban Citi, Urban Tourer and the Classic, the most popular because of its traditional scooter looks. This is available as 1kW and 3kW versions, although if you make use of the 3kW Classic's greater performance the range will inevitably suffer.

This is quoted as 30-40 miles, with an eight-hour recharge time. Top speed is retstricted to 30mph to comply with the machine's moped categorisation. A 12-month/6,000-mile warranty is offered, which is reassuring. Prices start at £1,499.


Best Buy has stores in Thurrock, Southampton, and Merry Hill (West Midlands), with more opening in Liverpool, Croydon and Derby this year. A retail website launches in the autumn.
 
e-max
Electric Transport Ltd offers the e-max 110S for £3,450 and the stripped down 80L for £2,950. The 110S is the more practical, with a claimed 60-mile range and two- to five-hour recharge time, while the 80L can cover 28 miles in one go for a recharge of 1.5-3 hours.

e-max is a German company based near Munich, while the scooters are built at a German-owned and managed factory in Wuxi, near Shanghai in China.

Lithium-ion batteries are used with a purpose-built motor located in the rear wheel. A booster button is fitted which increases power by 80 per cent, useful for steep inclines. Disc brakes are fitted front and rear.

These are more costly than most of the generic Chinese scooters, but the design and quality are a significant improvement.
end_of_the_skype_highlighting
 
Piaggio MP3 Hybrid
 
It's not all-electric but the MP3 Hybrid is the only machine from a major manufacturer that comes close. The strange double front wheel layout is common to petrol MP3 scooters and is very successful in Italy for the additional braking power and stability.

The Hybrid combines a 125cc four-stoke engine and electric motor with increased battery capacity. The relationship between them is controlled by an electronic management system where the electric motor aids acceleration from low speeds while the engine recharges the batteries.

Piaggio claims up to 170mpg and 40g/km CO2 emissions, and the MP3 Hybrid can also be used on electric power only in zero emissions zones, although its range is restricted to a dozen or so miles, and top speed is just 20mph with weak acceleration. The price is £8,255.
 
Do I need a special licence to ride one?
 
The licence requirements for an electric motorcycle depend on the category in which it is classed, in line with conventional two-wheelers. Most electric scooters are counted as mopeds, which means a top speed of no more than 30mph.

These can be ridden on a car licence without L-plates if you passed your test before February 2001, otherwise a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate is required, but still no L-plates. Mopeds are not allowed on motorways.

A 125cc equivalent demands a motorcycle licence, either the full class A or the A1 light motorcycle class, or it can be ridden with L-plates after CBT has been passed (as long as a provisional A or A1 category is on the licence).

Note that passing a test on an electric two-wheeler will restrict you to automatic motorcycles or scooters only.

Article from the Telegraph



Motorbike helmet that lets you see road behind

450 Helmet Camera

Brit device that saves lives

A motorcycle helmet which gives riders eyes in the back of their head is set to transform road safety in Britain.

The Reevu MSX1 Helmet contains a tiny mirror in the top of the visor which allows the rider to see behind him.

The device uses technology which was originally developed in order to transmit messages to submerged oil rig divers.

The helmet has so far saved the lives of hundreds of customers, who have since written to the Sunderland-based company to express their thanks.

Engineer Graham Steele, 48, worked on the original technology in the late-1980s, which used pagers inside divers' helmets to prevent accidents in the North Sea.

He had to create a screen which was easy to read when it was close to the wearer's eyes.

Reevu chief executive Graham, who invented the helmet, said: "In the 80s there were a lot of divers being killed in the North Sea because at the depths they were working, it was difficult to pass them information. Pager technology was all the rage back then and the idea was to make a small LCD screen inside the helmet on which the divers could read messages.

"But if you hold a screen very close to your eyes, you can't see it - the focal length between your eye and the thing is too short. But one day I was in my workshop and had a Eureka moment."

Motorbike enthusiast Graham said: "I realised that even though you might not be able to see a screen when it is it close to your eyes, you can see it clearly if it is reflected onto a mirrored surface from behind you. We realised we had a brilliant idea for a motorbike helmet."

The top of the helmet liner is sculpted so the rider can see behind simply by glancing up into the rear-view mirror. The rider is more aware of his surroundings through peripheral vision.

Since ordinary motorbike helmets restrict both the wearer's hearing and field of vision, it is thought they have already prevented hundreds of accidents.

The Reevu helmet is available direct from the manufacturer and retails at around £249.

VIEW IN FRONT

Bikers can switch between looking at road ahead and the mirror

MIRROR VIEW

Tiny device reflects the view of the road behind like a car rear-view mirror

VIEW BEHIND

Technology used by North Sea divers was the helmet's inspiration

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/

Tomizawa '48' to be retired from Moto2

Organisers to present late racer's parents with memorial plaque


MOTOGP ORGANISERS Dorna are to retire the number '48' from future Moto2 championships as a marked of respect to Shoya Tomizawa, the 19-year-old Japanese racer killed during the Moto2 race at Misano, just under a fortnight ago.

Tomizawa was killed after a three-bike pile-up at one of the fastest parts of the course. Earlier this week the upcoming Japanese star was buried at a ceremony in Japan.

A memorial plaque bearing Tomizawa's race number will be given to his parents as a tribute to their son.

Read more: http://www.visordown.com/