The coolest bike on the road in the early 1970s? The fire-breathing Kawasaki Z1, the machine that took the four-cylinder Superbike to new levels, with a 903cc dual-overhead-cam engine and pure muscle-bike styling. The Z1’s DNA lives on today in the Kawasaki Z1000 - a modern interpretation of the muscle bike, with a fuel-injected 1,043cc dual-overhead-cam motor that can take you anywhere you want to go. Read the full article »

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Ltd. announced plans to expand production capacity of its second motorcycle production plant, which is currently under construction, and to build a third motorcycle production plant to meet increasing demand in the rapidly growing motorcycle market in India. The second plant is currently being built in the Tapukara Industrial Area of Rajasthan and is scheduled to become operational in July 2011 with annual production capacity of 0.6 million units. Read the full article »

Electric bike manufacturer Zero Motorcycles have announced that their Zero S electric motorcycle received the prestigious “e-Bike of the Year” award at Europe’s Clean Week 2020. Being evaluated among electric motorcycles from around the world, the Zero S finally became the first electric motorcycle to win the newly created category. This year, all Zero Motorcycles models come with several technical improvements as well as a new look, including a complete overhaul of the Zero S and the Zero DS. Read the full article »

Massimo Tamburini is one of the best designers in the motorcycle industry, he designed bikes such as the Ducati Paso, the MV Agusta F4 and Brutale or the Cagiva Mito. But his best work yet is the 1994-1999 Ducati 916 which was included in the Guggenheim’s Museum The Art of the Motorcycle exhibit of 1998-1999. Now, you can buy yourself a „new” 916 for a reasonable price of €20,000. The seller lives in Monaco, and according to him, it’s probably the lowest mileage 916 in the world, since it has only 42 km (26 miles) on the clock. Read the full article »

Have you ever wondered how a Ducati becomes a masterpiece? The Italian manufacturer answers that question: „Breathtaking, impeccable attention to detail, always. Ducati motorcycles have a look that is unmistakable; their design is one of the key driving forces behind their stunning success, their style ensuring they stand out at motorcycle shows, in the paddocks and - above all - on roads worldwide.” Read the full article »

The British arm of Aprilia has announced that they will a quick shifter as an optional add-on to the 2012 RS4 125 sportbike. Inherited from the RSV4 R APRC, the quick shifter allows for clutchless upshifts without needing to close to the throttle. The bike is powered by a liquid-cooled DOHC four-valve engine delivering 16hp. There’s no word yet whether the quick shifter option will be offered in the U.S. when the Aprilia RS4 125 arrives later this year as a 2012 model. Read the full article »

South African motorcycle designer Pierre Terblanche is noted for his work at Ducati (he designed bikes like the 999, Hypermotard, Supermono, Multistrada, and Moto Guzzi concept bikes), but he left the Italian manufacturer for Norton three months ago. 90 days was enough for Terblanche to draw some sketches of future Norton models. MCN reports that none of the sketches are confirmed for mass production. Read the full article »

British brand Triumph is recalling two thousand 2010 Thunderbird models. These motorcycles were built with an incompatible thread locker/screw combination at the front fender mounting. These screws might become loose, and the screw heads can contact the side wall of the front tire, leading to tire deflation, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will install new screws, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners also contact Triumph Customer Service at 1-678-539-8782. Read the full article »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced an update for the DOT regulations covering motorcycle helmets on May 13 that took effect immediately. The new rule is meant to decrease the use of "novelty" helmets while making it more difficult to sell helmets with markings that resemble the current "DOT" label showing compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218, the motorcycle helmet safety standard issued in 1973. Read the full article »

Marlon Brando’s estate executors have filed a suit against Harley-Davidson Motor Company for the unlicensed use of Brando’s name on a line of boots. Brando Enterprises is seeking to recover damages caused by the sales and marketing of the unlicensed boot. The lawsuit says the boots look similar to a pair that Brando wore in the 1953 movie „The Wild One”. The movie mogul says, "The Marlon Brando name is among the most recognized in the world. Only a select few can transcend generations and Marlon Brando is in that rarified group of globally renowned icons. Read the full article »