LIKELY TO BE the last new model developed under the Harley Davidson umbrella, the 2010 MV Agusta F4 has been revealed this week at Milan. Featuring a new chassis and engine, the 2010 F4 weighs in at 192kg, developing 138kW at 12,900rpm and 61Nm of torque at 9500rpm. [...]

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ALONGSIDE ITS recently-launched Rocket III Roadster, Triumph has unveiled two new special-edition models at the 2009 EICMA bike show in Milan, Italy.

The Speed Triple SE (above) joined the Rocket III Roadster on the Triumph show stand, flaunting new two-tone paintwork and an upgraded suspension system.

Triumph also took the wraps off the limited-edition Bonneville Sixty at EICMA, [...]

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SUZUKI HAS ANNOUNCED that its all-new race-ready 2010 RM-Z250 motocross bike, is now available in Australia.

Like its larger stable mate, Suzuki’s RM-Z450 motocrosser, the RM-Z250 is the first production motocross machine in its class to feature electronic fuel-injection.

The 2010 RM-Z250 is also a ground-up redesign, with the chassis, engine and suspension all coming in for [...]

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BMW MOTORRAD has announced that its updated R 1200 RT and R 1200 GS/Adventure range of touring bikes will be available in Australia from the first quarter of next year, bringing with them a number of improvements.

For the RT, torque is up 5Nm, peaking at 120Nm at 6000 rpm. Power output from the 1170cc flat-twin [...]

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A NEW TELEVISION commercial launched by Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission urges motorcyclists to take greater care on the road.

According to the TAC, motorcyclists are 38 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on the road than occupants of other vehicle types.

“The TAC wants Victorian motorcyclists to understand that regardless of who is [...]

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BRP HAS ADDED a Touring model to its Can-Am Spyder line-up, pushing the line-up to two models.

The addition of the Spyder RT (Roadster Touring) follows, according to BRP’s Spyder Product Manager Rohan Slater, “a substantial gain in market presence” since the Roadster Sport’s launch two years ago.

“The Can-Am Spyder RS is already a resounding [...]

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FIGURES RELEASED this week by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that sales of motorcycles, scooters and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to September dropped 14.4 percent compared to the same period in 2008.

With 96,455 motorcycles sold between January and September last year, 82,601 were sold in the same period this year - a drop [...]

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ORIGINALLY REVEALED in 2001, the MV Agusta Brutale line started life with a 750cc engine, growing to 910cc and 989cc in the years since.

The growth spurt continues this week, with MV Agusta launching the 998cc 2010 Brutale 990R and 1078cc 1090RR at Italy’s Misano racing circuit.

Developing 103kW and 105Nm of torque, the 990R is down [...]

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HONDA HAS TODAY revealed the all-new 2010 Honda VFR1200F.

While it doesn’t yet feature the promised dual-clutch transmission (which is expected on a later higher-spec variant), the VFR1200F promises high-performance touring from its 76° 1237cc V4 producing 129kW at 10,000rpm and 115Nm of torque at 8750rpm.

Weighing in at 266kg, the VFR1200F will be one [...]

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WHILE IT WON’T save t-shirt-clad scooter riders from losing a few layers of flesh, BMW’s C1-E Concept - based on the European-market C1 - could at least save their lives in a more serious accident.
Equipped with a seat belt, front and rear impact zones, a full roll-bar and low centre of gravity, the [...]

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HONDA’S HERO CRF450R off-road racing bike, updated for the 2010 model year, is now available at Honda motorcycle dealers around Australia. The CRF450R has come in for a number of small but significant tweaks to both the engine and suspension systems, aimed at enhancing balance and control. [...]

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JOINING THE Rocket III Classic and Touring, Triumph has announced the Rocket III Roadster for the Australian market, arriving in February 2010.

Triumph describes the Rocket III Roadster as the ultimate muscle streetfighter, moving out of the cruiser territory occupied by its Classic and Touring cell-mates.

Powered by an upgraded version of Triumph’s three-cylinder 2297cc powerplant, [...]

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ELECTRIC VEHICLE Manufacturer Vectrix - the outfit behind the Vectrix electric scooter that TMR tested late last year - has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US this week.

Vectrix is expected to follow the same path taken by GM, using bankruptcy protection to sell itself to New Vectrix LLC, a company [...]

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JOINING RECENT updates across the Suzuki motorcycle model line-up, the 2010 Suzuki DR-Z400S trail bike and DR-Z400SM Super Motard are now available in Australia.

With refreshed graphics and new colour schemes, both the road-legal DR-Z400S and DR-Z400SM are powered by a 398cc four-stroke liquid-cooled DOHC engine.

Utilising a lightweight, narrow and compact chrome-moly frame, the DR-Z400S rides [...]

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YAMAHA HAS ADDED the special-edition MT-01 SP “Torque Sports” bike to its Australian motorcycle line-up, offering improved suspension hardware, tweaked aesthetics and stickier tyres.

A curious combination of a big, cruiser-style 1670cc V-Twin engine and a lithe sports/naked bike frame, the base MT-01 promises an abundance of low-down torque and a highly sporty ride.

The limited-edition MT-01 [...]

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SUZUKI AUSTRALIA has announced the availability of its updated DR650SE dual-purpose motorcycle, which now comes in black or white and receives new graphic treatments.

Designed to perform just as well on tarmac as it does off it, the DR650SE utlises a 644cc, four-stroke, air-cooled engine to produce its power.

Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material (SCEM) coated aluminium engine [...]

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THE DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION, still a relatively new innovation in passenger cars, is set to make a move on the motorcycle.

Developed by Honda for its large-displacement sports bikes, the world’s first dual-clutch motorcycle transmission  will debut in the 2010 Honda VFR 1200. It will later also be offered in future generations of the [...]

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FOLLOWING A 2007 TREK covering 3000 kilometres from Darwin to Adelaide, the University of Adelaide’s BioBike is now set to depart on a 20,000 kilometre round-Australia trip, eclipsing the 2007 ride.

Conceived by Dr Colin Kestrell and built by the University’s Mechanical Engineering students, the BioBike - also known as Betty - will [...]

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THE HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING is the first production motorcycle in Australia to be offered with an airbag as a safety feature, but since its launch in September last year, little has been heard.

This week, in the first ‘real world’ evidence of its worth, the technology saved a rider’s life in Germany.

“I crashed into one [...]

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OFFICIAL PRE-LAUNCH IMAGES of the 2010 Suzuki GSX-R125 have made their way online today, revealing styling updates that bring the little sports bike in line with its higher-capacity supersports siblings, such as the GSX-R1000.

The current generation GSX-R125 is not offered in Australia, but with Yamaha announcing the local launch of the 2009 YZF-R125 earlier [...]

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FOLLOWING THE local launch of the classically styled Boulevard C109RT last week, Suzuki has announced the release of the 2010 Suzuki Boulevard M50.

Weighing in at 265kg and powered by a fuel-injected and liquid-cooled 805cc 50 cubic-inch V-twin engine, Suzuki says its new entry-level M bike delivers impressive torque through the rev range.

A 32-bit ECM manages [...]

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TOUTED AS the company’s “most advanced 125 production supersport machine ever”, Yamaha has today announced the 2009 Yamaha YZF-R125, arriving in local showrooms from late September.

Developed by the same engineers behind the YZF-R6 and the hero YZF-R1, the R125 features a raft of technology derived from the company’s extensive MotoGP experience.

Powered by a four-stroke, [...]

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FOLLOWING ITS DEBUT in the European Motorcross Championships, Husqvarna has launched the 2010 X-Light TC 250 in Australia.

The flagship model in Husqvarna’s range has been completely redesigned for the 2010 model year.

The TC 250 or ‘X light’ as it has been dubbed, features a new 250cc four-stroke engine, a stronger frame and plastics and revised [...]

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SUZUKI MOTORCYCLES has launched the 2010 Suzuki Boulevard C109RT, a variant of the Boulevard C109R introduced in 2008, in Australia.

Featuring white-wall tyres, two-tone liveries, studded seat trim and passenger footboards, the Boulevard C109RT embodies the famous cruiser style.

The C109RT is powered by a 1783cc DOHC 54 degree V-Twin engine, Suzuki’s largest production engine, and features [...]

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BMW MOTORRAD AUSTRALIA has today announced pricing for the upcoming 2010 BMW S 1000 RR, the company’s first supersports bike.

Revealed in May at Monza’s famed racing circuit, the S 1000 RR supersports bike is BMW’s new weapon for the road and the World Superbike Championship.

With a lightweight water-cooled four-cylinder inline power unit producing 142 kW [...]

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HONDA HAS LAUNCHED its first factory chopper, the 2010 Honda VT1300CX, described by the Japanese manufacturer as a ‘milestone machine’.

Designed faithfully to the traditional chopper formula, the VT1300CX features a high-mount steering head that creates a ’see through’ look to the frame.

A long, slim fuel tank, ultra-low seat, and a huge 200-series rear tyre is [...]

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TO CELEBRATE the recent opening of its newest site at Somerton in Victoria, Honda Australia Rider Training (HART) is holding an open day on August 29.

The event will include free “Try it” sessions for riders at both beginner and experienced levels, and HART is offering $50 off any course booked and paid for on [...]

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ACCORDING TO FIGURES released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), the motorcycle market has experienced a marked fall in sales over the first half of 2009, with scooters in particular declining in showroom popularity.

Around 55,500 motorcycles, ATVs and scooters were sold in the first six months of this year, representing a 14 percent [...]

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LOOKING TO RIDING ENTHUSIASTS for feedback during development, Yamaha has created its 2010 YZ250F with the rigorous demands of motocross in mind.

The feedback Yamaha’s engineers received helped them develop a better handling bike: the new YZ250F allows earlier acceleration out of corners and a less tiring ride.

From the ground up, Yamaha concentrated on building a [...]

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HONDA HAS THIS WEEK announced that the legendary ‘Postie Bike’, the Honda CT110, is now available direct to the public in road-registrable form.

Popular in regional areas as a farming bike and recognised around Australia for its widespread use by Australia Post (and is currently the second-highest selling bike in the country), the Honda CT110 has [...]

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