Author: Devon Brozek

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Motorcycle, Rumormill, Design/Style

Secrets Revealed: Germany’s Das Neue Motorrad set to release all new production motorcycle originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 May 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Motorcycle, Racing

As the action continues relentlessly in the premier venue of motorcycle racing, round three took us to the land of champagne and baguette, as the French race lent the first glimpse of clarity into how the championship fight might turn out.

Straight out of the chutes, Fiat-Yamaha rider and international superstar Valentino Rossi converted a great start into an early lead, while Dani Pedrosa and points leader Jorge Lorenzo brought on the chase. The Yamahas were quickly one-two as Lorenzo passed Pedrosa and began to close the gap on Rossi. By lap seven, the points leader made his move for the front, only to see Rossi respond almost immediately to reclaim the lead. After ten loops, Lorenzo put a pass on that would stick, and was able to hold a convincing five-second lead as he passed the checkers, extending his overall points margin to nine ahead of Rossi, who repeated his second place finish from Spain. This also marked a third straight top finish for a Yamaha pilot in as many rounds, a feat that has not been repeated since 1980.

Behind the leaders, the battle to round out the top five was an intense one, using up the entire race to play out. During a dramatic final lap we saw Pedrosa surrender two positions in another battle of teammates, allowing Andrea Dovizioso to squeak by followed by the hard-charging Ducati topped by Nicky Hayden, who again carried the red team’s results. Casey Stoner struggled and was put out of the race early due to a turn-six crash that he would be unable to return from, begging the question of whether his mind has already departed for Japan? Next stop: June 6th for all things Italian at Mugello and a chance for dethronement of the Yamahas. We can hardly wait!

[Source: MotoGP.com | Image: AP Photo/David Vincent]

MotoGP 2010: Action continues at LeMans, no letup in sight [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorcycle

It’s been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder. If you took one good look at Ducati’s most versatile motorcycle ever, the Mutistrada 1200, and immediately came to the decision that you just can’t sleep soundly until one is parked safely in your garage, well, we have good news and bad news.

The good news is that you are not alone, as prior to its official launch, Ducati claims to have pre-sold more than 500 units. Let this serve as reassurance of your impeccable taste and buying expertise, and also a warning that your heart may just be growing fonder, which is the bad news.

After the official launch over the upcoming weekend, Ducati expects orders to more than double. In a press release, the masters of anticipation Italian company reveals that the failure to expect the unexpected will lead to a sixty-day wait for “2010’s Hottest Motorcycle,” as Ducati calls it. Look on the bright side – at least you will have time to figure out all of the different riding modes! View the full press release after the break.

[Source Ducati]

Continue reading The Wait Is On: Ducati announces demand oupaces availability of Multistrada 1200

The Wait Is On: Ducati announces demand oupaces availability of Multistrada 1200 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games, Motorcycle, Humor

Say you and three of your closest buddies find yourselves out for a leisurely Sunday cruise on your motorbikes, when you stumble upon the old schoolyard merry-go-round. Following an intense session of cerebral activity, and the obligatory drawing of straws, it is decided that all the necessary ingredients are on hand for a primitive recreation of the Gravitron. We know, it can feel like so long between carnival visits sometimes.

Moral of the story: First, if you are the guy in the red pants, it’s officially time to begin the new friend hunt. Second, if you haven’t yet found a use for motorcycles, open your mind, they really are very multifaceted. When was the last time you utilized your car to create a backyard, makeshift carnival ride? Wait, don’t answer that, just hit the jump to watch the complete Moto-Go-Round experience. Thanks for the tip, Duy.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Moto Merry-Go-Round yields both disaster and hilarity

Video: Moto Merry-Go-Round yields both disaster and hilarity originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Motorcycle

In a preliminary report, the Governors Highway Safety Association recently indicated a 10% drop in motorcycle related fatalities around the U.S. in 2009. This decline marks the first such improvement in over a decade as deaths have been on the rise consistently from 1997 onward.

Are we really seeing improvement in motorcycle safety, equipment and riding ability? Likely not. As the old saying goes, numbers don’t lie, and the drop in fatal injury’s comes on the heels of the most extreme decline in motorcycle sales in recent history, which no doubt helped put the brakes on the awful upward trend.

The report goes on to attribute everything from the economy and aging baby boomers to increased training efforts from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation from coast-to-coast. Oh yeah, and we almost forgot the bad weather! Although it may seem that the GHSA can’t seem to pick a clear cut reason for the drop, we can only hope history will not repeat itself in this instance, allowing this positive trend to continue. To see the full report and suggestions for increased safety, hit the jump for the release.

[Source: Hell For Leather]

Continue reading First drop in motorcycle related deaths in a decade, are we really any safer?

First drop in motorcycle related deaths in a decade, are we really any safer? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorcycle, Celebrities, Humor

Remember when sex was safe and motorcycles were dangerous? Longtime two-wheel fanatics may recall the stern warnings from our concerned fathers regarding the single most dangerous part on your very first motorcycle. No, not the nut behind the bars – the burning-hot exhaust pipe. Pop-rocking, motorcycle-riding, all-around bad girl Pink apparently didn’t get the memo. The singer suffered the dreaded “pipe burn” during a recent ride aboard hubby and freestyle motocross legend Carey Hart’s bike.

Will the singer allow the mishap to put the brakes on her passion for motorcycles, or the men who ride them? Not likely, as she was in good spirits soon afterward, even poking fun at the accident via Twitter. She was quoted as saying, “burnt my leg on hubby’s pipes,” following that up with a statement that sparked a bit of controversy: “burns are no fun. Hot pipes aren’t either. At least not that kind.”

We’re not going to take a stab at what she’s referencing there. Let’s just hope Pink’s not in too much pain to perform another semi-nude acrobatic routine in time for next year’s Grammy awards, and is ready to tear up the streets on on her favorite Triumph again soon.

[Source:Clutch and Chrome | Image: Trico-AlphaX/X17online.com]

Our favorite bad girl: Pink burns her leg on Hart’s hot pipe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Motorcycle

Determination is been defined as to do or achieve something with a firmness of purpose. We can’t think of a more fitting description of Australian daredevil freestyle motocrosser Robbie Maddison’s high flying motorcycle stunts over the last few years.

This determination was fully exemplified last Thursday in Greece, as Maddo and his custom-built Honda CR 500 two-stroke (no, they are not dead yet) became the first man and motorcycle pair to cross the Corinth Canal… that is, in flight. Covering the gap required navigating a run that, to put it mildly, was less than Ideal. Maddison threaded his way by a pool, across a soccer field and past a chicken coop while traveling on surfaces ranging from concrete and wood to grass and eventually carpet on his way to just under 80 miles per hour before taking flight.

However, soaring 279 feet through the air was not Maddison’s longest leap. If you remember New Years Eve 2007, during the Red Bull “New Years, No Limits” series, Robbie flew 322 feet to set the Guinness Wold Record for distance jumped on a motorcycle. That being said, the Corinth Canal jump was more of a technical achievement that placed Maddison 311 feet in the air mid-flight.

Athletes like Maddison keep pushing the limits ever further with companies like Red Bull footing the bill to go bigger and badder year after year. We can’t help but wonder if those limits will be found, or if progression of equipment and stunts can go on at their current frenetic rate. Click past the break to watch the video and to hear what Maddison had to say about this latest stunt. Thanks for the tip Brandon!

[Source: ESPN]

Continue reading Video: Pushing the limits with Robbie Maddison, 311 feet above the Corinth Canal

Video: Pushing the limits with Robbie Maddison, 311 feet above the Corinth Canal originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Hybrid, Earnings/Financials, Motorcycle, Electric

In traditional Yamaha fashion, the company announced a move that may finally allow it to stake a claim as the first big player in the breakout electric motorcycle category. By putting the For Sale Sign on 63.25 million corporate stock shares, the tuning fork company hopes to raise an impressive 812 million dollars that it will dedicate to a highly charged electric and hybrid engine development plan across both their two-wheeled (motorcycle and electric bicycle) as well as aquatic (boat and outboard motor) product lines. We have seen many concepts and indications of Yamaha’s intent, but very little follow through up to this point.

The plan seems to be part of a healing process following 2009 in which the company posted losses north of $2.3 billion. Yes folks, we said billion… ouch! Yamaha, a company that traditionally has been eager to carve its own path in the powersports segment, hopes new fuel efficient and electric designs will lead to increased popularity in developing markets that have an ever-growing importance to manufacturers industry wide. We are left holding our breaths as to when these developments will make their way into the U.S. That will, no doubt, be largely dependent upon our buying trends. In addition, the company has also pledged to make all of its offerings more competitive throughout its lineup.

Most importantly, this means we will see some much needed diversity in the development of electric motorcycles. This from the company that brought us the fist modern four-stroke motocross bikes, as well as snowmobiles. We will eagerly look forward to Yamaha’s new offerings, and the following jolt that it could mean for the company as a whole. Now, to figure out how to commute in the bicycle lane on our shiny new Yamaha electric motorcycle.

[Source: Reuters]

Writing on the Wall: Yamaha raising funds for alternative engine development originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Classics, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Motorcycle

When you hear the term biker babes, the images that fill your mind may include bleach blond hair and the scant use of finely crafted leather bikinis. So you probably haven’t stopped to consider the sexier side of the scooter industry, right? Don’t feel bad – we needed a little encouragement too.

Usually when talking Vespa, we may be covering a new model release, maybe explaining how practical the “wasps” could be for your urban commute or that Sunday trip to the beach. Who knew beyond their cool, iconic exterior that Vespa has had so many run-ins with the fairer sex over the years? When we stumbled across this video history of the women of Vespa, it seemed the right thing to do was pass it along. Sexy, cool classic – Vespa knows just how to get our attention. Click past the break to see for yourself.

[Source: SoloMotoTreinta via Twowheelsblog]

Continue reading Video: Celebrating 60 years with the women of Vespa

Video: Celebrating 60 years with the women of Vespa originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorcycle, Canada

Just when we thought we were going to have to get an AMA Pro License to ride any new Buell creations, an official press release from BRP, or Bombardier Recreational Products, appears to have leaked out, spelling out the company’s plans to team up with Erik Buell and for the launch a new line of two wheelers called Bomber Motorcycles. Or so it would seem.

Many rumors have circulated recently pointing out the interest that BRP had shown in purchasing the Buell brand, however much to the chagrin of its many fans, Harley-Davidson would not concede in any talks of selling Buell, choosing rather to spend just over 100 million dollars to pack up shop and cling to some sort of lingering pride. Well, that was all so last week. As the old saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and Erik Buell and BRP have supposedly come up with a way to make the merger happen. Although none of us are supposed to know this yet, BRP spokesperson Avril Foujour (uh huh, yeah) confirmed yesterday that the press release was in fact official and had been leaked ahead of it’s planned April 2nd release date. Apparently they didn’t want anyone to think this was some sort of clever April Fools gimmick… oops, I think they got us.

Though all indications are that this may be the World’s Most Elaborate April Fools’ Joke, let’s take a moment to consider just how much effort went into this prank. There’s a name for the new company and bike (Stratofortress), an estimated release date (fourth quarter 2010) and plenty of typically boastful press release copy. There’s a logo (see above), a Facebook page, Twitter account and even a dummy website. Someone has way too much free time on their hands, no?

See the complete and undeniably fake press release after the break.

[Source: Asphalt & Rubber]

Continue reading The most elaborate April Fool’s joke ever? Buell and Bombardier (don’t) team up for new streetbike

The most elaborate April Fool’s joke ever? Buell and Bombardier (don’t) team up for new streetbike originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorcycle, Design/Style

If we didn’t know any better, we’d have to say that the adventure motorcycle segment is the hottest thing on two wheels this year. With the first string players like BMW and KTM off the benches and in the game, a whole new generation of competitors is quickly joining in the action.

Enter the Aprilia Tuareg 750 (no, not the Touareg), a new middle weight concept from the Piaggio camp, that looks to take aim at more “off the beaten path” kind of pleasures. A healthy tubular steel frame and proposed weigh of just 441 pounds should provide a strong starting point for true adventure touring, and with a 19-inch rear and 21-inch front wheel combination, the Tuareg would give the choice of running the even the most aggressive rubber. Those of you who are long-time fans of the Italian brand should recognize the Tuareg name. This is not the first Tuareg to make it’s way out off the Aprilia assembly line, but a bigger and certainly badder version of the original single cylinder adventure bike of the early 90’s.

We can’t help but notice the similarities between the frame, suspension and power-plant of the very moody Dorsoduro 750 that recently spent some time here in the Autoblog garage. Finding itself on the field surrounded by MVP performers like the BMW F800GS, we hope the Tuareg will have a personality all it’s own, that is… one that loves going new places and doesn’t mind coming home dirty and tired. We’ll keep you in the know as more details surface, and did we mention the more street friendly 1200cc version? Stay tuned, as we know BMW surely is.

[Source: Motociclismo.it via Asphalt & Rubber]

Aprilia dives deeper into the venture of adventure with the Tuareg 750 concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Motorcycle

Picture this: It’s ten minutes after five o’clock, you’re heading north on the 405 freeway, leaving Los Angeles. You won’t appreciate your favorite two-wheeled conveyance much more than at this moment. If you spend time traveling through California, you know the practice of lane-splitting can shave hours off of an otherwise grueling commute. The act of passing slowed or stopped cars between lanes, however, appeared to be limited to to the Golden State, with slim hopes of spreading east. Until now, that is.

Under House Bill 2475, Arizona lawmakers would allow lane-splitting during aone-year “trial period.”. This would only encompass Maricopa County, home to the Phoenix metro area and its surrounding suburbs.

Local news reports indicate differing opinions over the plan’s safety. That said, riders who lane-split in California (not to mention the millions who regularly do so every single day in Europe and Asia) will tell you the practice can indeed be performed safely. What’s more, lane-splitting reduces fuel consumption, travel times and roadway congestion.

As traffic grows more intense each year, it’s hard to view attempts to reduce congestion as anything but positive. If Arizonans need another excuse to enjoy their year-round riding conditions, it could soon come with the passing of Bill 2475.

[Source: ABC15.com | Image: akeg via CC-SA 2.0]

Two wheels to the front: Arizona to legalize lane splitting. Maybe. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle, Electric, Off-Road

We first brought you news of KTM’s planned debut of two new electric motorcycle only days ago. It appeared as if the world would have to wait for the Tokyo Motorcycle Show and the official March 26th release date to get its eyes on fully exposed photos.

If you were holding your breath for the unveiling, you can thank German mag Motorrad for breaking the photos early. As we can see now, the supermoto and enduro versions differ quite extensively, despite sharing a frame and power-train. The unique single crown fork protruding from a BMX-like handlebar and headtube combination holding a single headlight certainly set the slick-tired version apart from its knobby clad counterpart. We can’t help but notice the rather dainty tubular steel frame on each model, despite plastic covers that give the illusion of a much beefier unit.

How much will it cost for your very own stick of 30-horsepower, 200-pound, orange-blooded electric dynamite? A proposed price of €10,000, which at current exchange rates is just over $13,500, seems in no way competitive amongst stiff competition from Zero and others already in the market. But it is still way too early to take much of an educated stand regarding KTM’s charge into the electric cycle niche. We won’t know anything concrete until we can put power to the ground aboard a Freeride ourselves.

[Source: Motorradonline.de, 1000ps.at via Hell For Leather]

First look at the KTM Freeride: Electric motorcycle photos leak from Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Motorcycle, Rumormill

You can’t breathe a word about Harley-Davidson these days without being swirled into the rumormill. Even the financial analysts have chimed in to speculate about a possible buyout. The official news traveled fast regarding the corking of the Buell bottle, but that still leaves the better-looking Italian cousin. What will become of MV Agusta?

Word on the street indicates that Harley may be in talks with a few different – and equally interesting, we might add – buyers, the first of which is Paul Berlusconi, brother of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. For a brand that couldn’t be more quintessentially Italian, an MV/Berlusconi marriage seems rather appropriate, or adatto as they may say it in Italy.

The buyer behind door number two is where things get more exciting. Rumor has it that BMW has shown serious interest in MV Agusta.

Can we get confirmation from either party? Of course not, but stay tuned for updates as this story develops. Either way, we hope to see MV Agusta on two wheels (or, you know… sometimes just one) for years to come.

[Source: Motociclismo.it]

Going Once, Going Twice: Do we hear any bids for MV Agusta? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Performance, Videos, Honda, Motorcycle, Racing

We’re sure you are familiar with the old expression that hindsight is 20/20. In most cases this adage holds true, particularly, when it comes to all of the beautiful cars and motorcycles we wish we would have kept over the years. It wasn’t exactly a case of hindsight, but rather well planned forethought that drove Bengt Gunnarson to hang on to two of Honda‘s most elusive models by tucking them away safely in his shop’s basement.

Continue reading Ultimate Reveal: Uncrating buried treasures, Honda NR 750 and RC30 [w/video]

Ultimate Reveal: Uncrating buried treasures, Honda NR 750 and RC30 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Europe, Motorcycle, Rumormill

Could it be true? The rumormill is running overtime with reports of a potential merger between a pair of our favorite two-wheeled giants: Ducati and Piaggio.

Piaggio has no comment on the matter, refusing to either confirm or deny the supposed Ducati deal. Still, we can’t help but run through the what-ifs, assuming there’s a shred of truth to this. Perhaps we’ll finally see some stability in the U.S. surrounding the many great brands under Piaggio’s roof.

Could Piaggio’s broad scope of product (currently offered throughout the Vespa, Moto Guzzi and Aprilia lines), coupled with the stable dealer network Ducati has built, be the recipe for a successful challenge to rivals from Japan and beyond? Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.

[Source: Motoblog.it via Two Wheels Blog]

Rumormill: Ducati/Piaggio merger in the works? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle, Racing

If you’re into going too fast on two wheels, chances are the name Terry Vance has crossed your radar a time or two. The pilot of Need-for-Speed Duo Vance & Hines spread the word recently from Daytona International Speedway that a new spec series featuring the Harley Davidson XR-1200 will run this year along with select AMA road racing events.

The Vance & Hines XR-1200 Series, as it is officially being called, will kick off at Road America this June in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, coincidentally, very close to Harley Davidson’s headquarters. Hmm. Question: How can one guarantee a Harley clad in Vance & Hines goodies will win races this year? Answer: You guessed it, the above-mentioned series is born. Looking on the bright side, at least the current economic state was taken into account when pricing the race kit.

For a mere $3,500, potential racers will get full exhaust and fuel management systems and race body work that includes a number plate, solo-seat and tail section, as well as the belly-pan valance. But wait, that’s not all. A 17-inch front wheel and matching front fender, steering damper, oil cooler relocation package and race graphics is also on the menu. Now that’s what we call a deal! Of course it will be available to the public as a street legal kit as well. The claim to fame is that anyone with an XR and a dream can get involved without significant investment.

Fact is, some top talent has made its way through the ranks as the result of spec class racing. Add to that, who doesn’t like to watch a good Boxer Cup from time to time? It can be fun when the playing field is leveled a bit. Let’s hope the action is strong and the series spreads beyond it’s slated current boundaries (east of the Mississippi only) to give everyone a chance to hear the ever pleasant sounds of a big twin bouncing off the rev limiter at race-track near you.

[Source: AMA Pro Racing]

We Smell a Ringer: Vance & Hines XR1200 spec series set for 2010 debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorcycle

Festivities and events once again shifted into high gear this year in Daytona, Florida, as the 69th installment of Daytona’s “Bike Week” roared into town with all the usual suspects present and accounted for. Year after year, bikers far and wide have flocked to the beach to cut loose and congregate in the warm Florida sun.

It all started on January 24th, 1937, when Ed Kretz wrung out his Indian on the hard sand beach winning the first ever Daytona 200, or ‘Handlebar Derby,” as it is know by most locals. It was official, Daytona was a two-wheeled town and what’s now known as Bike Week was born. Each year popularity grew for the races, and soon, as non-race related activities flourished, crowds became more and more rough-edged. The invasion, as it came to be called, became so rowdy that after the 1986 event a special task force was formed in cooperation with the city and chamber of commerce to manage the gathering.

Some things have not changed. Daytona’s Bike Week is now a ten-day festival and is known as “the worlds largest motorcycle gathering.” It also continues to attract crowds from all over the globe… as well as corporate sponsors, including the likes of Budweiser and Harley-Davidson. With this event aging along with it’s patrons though, will Daytona hang on to it’s bad-boy, bar-banging reputation?

Take a look at this years events schedule. It reveals a discount prescription card and a section dedicated to the event’s “Executive Riders,” who apparently “shed the confinements of day-to-day business and evolve into a completely different self.” Whatever that means. Only time will tell what the next phase of Daytona Bike week will be. We certainly hope it includes a little bit of the spirit Mr. Kretz and others in the early days displayed, hanging it all out atop two wheels on a beach in Florida.

[Source: Official Bike Week]

Daytona Bike Week 2010: The magic number is 69 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Motorcycle, Electric

You may have read our latest report regarding the future of recently canned Buell Motorcycles. Everyone’s favorite American sportbike company hit the chopping block a few months back at the hand of industry giant Harley-Davidson, and its cropping of the division has led Erik Buell to forge ahead with his competitively obsessed Erik Buell Racing brand. However, a key player in the now defunct company may have sparked a bright future with another American motorcycle company.

Zero Motorcycles, the little electric motorcycle manufacturer that could, has announced the hiring of former Buell Vice President of Engineering Abe Askenazi. Coming off of a 14-year stretch with Buell, Askenazi will no doubt bring a level of experience and insight to Zero beyond its years. With funding at an all time high and the obvious future in electric vehicles, the transition from combustion to current should be rewarding for both Askenazi and Zero. Click past the break to view the complete press release.

[Source: Asphalt & Rubber]

Continue reading Zero Charges Forward: Electric motorcycle company hires top talent from Buell

Zero Charges Forward: Electric motorcycle company hires top talent from Buell originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorcycle

It was called “Seth VS Death” by the marketing gurus in Milwaukee. Seth Enslow, who we’ve barely heard a peep from in years, emerged yesterday atop a modified Harley-Davidson XR1200 with the goal of breaking the world record for longest jump aboard a Bar and Shield-clad cycle.

For reasons unknown, his quest takes us to Sydney Harbor in Australia. Utilizing a ramp-to-ramp setup, Seth managed to surpass the existing record of 157 feet, set by Bubba Blackwell in 1999, extending the new mark to 183.7 feet. This came as a result of a second attempt, due to the fact that cameras were not rolling (oops) during his first flight of 175 feet. What does it feel like to set a flight record aboard American Iron? Mr Enslow said he was “stoked” and continued, “I might have broke a record, but I think I broke my nut too.” Apparently, the 562 pounds plus metal tank multiplied by 183 feet equals pain equation had not crossed Seth’s mind.

In it’s official press release, HD cites the hope of appealing to “a new generation of counter-culture riders” as the reason behind promoting the jump. And, of course, there was a nice Evel Knievel reference thrown in for good measure. Is this the last we will see of Seth and his airborne XR? That seems doubtful, but judging by the crowd, or lack thereof, this could be one record that may stand the test of time. Click past the break to watch the video. Thanks to G.D. for tip!

[Source: Harley-Davidson]

Continue reading International Flight: Seth Enslow breaks world record on a Harley-Davidson [w/video]

International Flight: Seth Enslow breaks world record on a Harley-Davidson [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments