Triumph and TAG Heuer have joined forces to create a unique motorcycle named “Bonneville Heuer”. The bike is inspired by Steve McQueen and the Porsche 917 K that he raced in the movie “Le Mans” while wearing the famous Gulf Oil Blue and Orange colors.

Enthusiasts waiting for us to mention the limited number of units scheduled for production and the very special price will most likely be disappointed to hear that there will be a single such motorcycle built and it will be used for promotional purposes.

Triumph Bonneville by TAG Heuer originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 November 2009 08:44 EST.

read more

Aprilia plays with the 2010 Dorsoduro Factory and we’ve just got our hands on the leaked pictures showing that. While the standard version is very aggressive already, just like the Italians like their bikes to look, the Factory adds carbon fiber parts and a black frame, achieving an overall much more aggressive result.

In what the engine is concerned, this remains the 749.9cc twin developing 92 hp at 8,750 rpm and 60lb/ft at 4,500 rpm. While these numbers are more than decent for a midsized super motard, the engine also works closely together with the “Ride by Wire” system, which is available in three modes: sport, touring and rain.

The suspension equipment now translates into a Sachs kit, which is adjustable to as much as 45mm, while the braking system maintains the same 320mm discs and now works with four-piston Brembo calipers. The sad part is that ABS doesn’t find its place in this equation, like in the case of the standard version.

Expect the Dorsoduro Factory to gather quite a crowd at Aprilia’s EICMA stand this year.

Milan 2009: 2010 Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 November 2009 13:44 EST.

read more

Ducati has finally made their much awaited move – to go against the BMW R1200GS – and they did it in their own characteristic style. Not only the new Multistrada 1200 looks one-of-a-kind, but it is also backed up by a 150hp Italian engine.

During no less than two years, we’ve seen the new Ducati Multistrada being developed, rendered and tested until finally finding out that two versions will be available – a standard version with optional ABS and a high-spec S version (how does an Ohlins electronically adjustable suspension system sound to you?). This last ramifies into two editions – Sport and Touring.

The Sport Edition can be distinguished by the presence of carbon fiber parts such as the engine covers, front air intakes, rear mudguard and spoilers.

The Touring Edition’s distinguishing features are the panniers, heated grips and a centre stand. More information as we have it.

Milan 2009: 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 November 2009 12:17 EST.

read more

It seems that Shaquille O’Neal has inspired these two daring stuntman to get their own act together and because they wanted things to turn out for the best, they used a very low motorcycle instead of a massive Cadillac. Unfortunately, the guy supposed to jump did it too late and although he survived, I have a hunch he won’t end up with any grandkids to tale the tale too.

Guy compromises family jewels in bike stunt originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 6 November 2009 16:11 EST.

read more

This Suzuki Burgman 125 scooter is clearly having a bad day as the owner left it parked on the sidewalk and then workers came to pour concrete all over the place. It seems that the thing is now an integrated part of the Via del Porto Fluviale in Rome.

Hmm, last time I checked, Japanese scooters weren’t an ingredient of Roman concrete.

Suzuki Burgman 125 + fresh concrete = bad mix originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 6 November 2009 14:28 EST.

read more

The SEMA Show in Las Vegas is all about standing out from the crowd in a way or another and the 2009 edition turned out to be the ideal occasion for Azhar Hussain, TTXGP founder, to officially unveil the TTX02 electric racebike.

This is the 2010 production version of the exact same bike that won the 2009 TTXGP Isle of Man Electric Motorcycle TT race and it is powered by twin Agni 95 electric motors providing a great deal of torque just above idle and little under 100 horsepower at full blast. Energy (11 kWh) is supplied by three lithium ion battery packs and everything is housed in a KTM RC8 chassis, a good choice considering that the TTX02 is a 130 mph supersport motorcycle.

At least that is what we consider it to be (according to the official claims, of course), but Hussain refers to the TTX02 as being a "laptop on wheels." That is mainly due to the fact that each machine features a dash-mounted computer that runs on Linux, comes with its own dedicated IP address, on-board web server and connectivity to wireless networks, just to start your interest. For more information watch the two videos of the bike’s launch that we attached after the break or go to mavizen.com.

Mavizen takes the wraps off 130mph TTX02 electric racebike at SEMA originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 6 November 2009 13:07 EST.

read more

This funny video was sent to me by a friend who referred to the situation of the characters involved as being “a fairytale gone bad.” Long story short, the 20-year-old would have done anything to take his new girlfriend into bed so he let her ride his motorcycle with him as passenger. They both ended up hugging a mail box and then judged on TV.

Judge Judy solves a funny motorcycle crash case originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 5 November 2009 16:49 EST.

read more

This picture shows Hollywood celeb and motorcycle enthusiast Angelina Jolie starring as Evelyn Salt and riding this beautiful Triumph Street Triple R. The character in cause is a CIA officer accused of being a Russian spy and who goes on the run to clear her name. We hope that the stylish British motorcycle helps and we won’t see it crashed in the movie.

Brad Pitt must be proud of having such a courageous wife, but I don’t believe she attended the “lose the paparazzi” test that her life partner recently failed.

Angelina Jolie riding a Triumph Street Triple R originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 5 November 2009 15:51 EST.

read more

Moto Morini had to come up with something special for the 2009 EICMA show and an upgraded version of their Granpasso turned out to be the solution, such as these first photos of the new bike reveal.

Built on the platform of the standard Granpasso – their big adventure tourer – the SM will have a more aggressive riding position and feature new suspension and braking systems, sporty wheels and tires as well as a different exhaust system to help retune the engine. Sounds like Moto Morini created the Granpasso 1200 SM for the supermoto track, but don’t really think that the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 has serious reasons to worry about.

First photos of the new Moto Morini Granpasso 1200 SM originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 5 November 2009 15:06 EST.

read more

Very satisfied of the BMW S1000R superbike teaser showing the machine in the presence of supermodels and cheetahs, German photographer Markus Hofmann has decided to play the same card once again, this time to present Haute Couture.

Hofmann explained:

“There are so many motorcycle manufacturers that combine motorcycles and women in an artless and sleazy way, that I thought there just had to be a better way of doing it. I had no intention of putting a naked woman on a bike, and it was very clear to me that the bike had to be the S 1000 RR Superbike in the same colour that people have seen on the racetrack in 2009. I didn’t want the bike to fade into the background either; showing the name of the manufacturer was also very important for me, because it made the feeling of a pit stop and racetrack environment much more authentic”

To us, this is the same scenario, only that the cheetahs were probably released in the wilderness meanwhile because they’re nowhere to be found. Video is attached after the break.

Haute Couture makes BMW's S1000RR Superbike look even better [w/video] originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 4 November 2009 15:44 EST.

read more

Having signed with Tech 3 Yamaha for 2010, Ben Spies will run his very first Yamaha MotoGP bike at Valencia during the final round of the MotoGP World Championship and his new team has just come up with this absolutely superb Sterilgarda paintjob for the occasion.

Spies won the 2009 World Superbike Championship for Yamaha, while his best result in MotoGP is a 6th place at Indianapolis in 2008, when he was racing for Suzuki.

Tech 3 Yamaha reveals Ben Spies' MotoGP bike originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 4 November 2009 13:54 EST.

read more

MV Agusta teases us again, this time with a video of its new F4 1000 superbike before the official Milan unveiling set first thing next week. We’ve yesterday found out from the official press release that the new Italian motorcycle will develop a claimed 186bhp at 12,900rpm and the engine will be harnessed by a TC MK II traction control, so expect more info as we have it – most likely on Monday 9 November.

Video teaser: 2010 MV Agusta F4 1000 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 4 November 2009 12:29 EST.

read more

In 1993, John Britten, a very ingenious engineer from New Zeeland came up with the Britten V1000. This was a 999cc racing motorcycle weighing 304 pounds (138 kg) and capable of reaching speeds in excess of 187.5 mph (300 km/h). While this information alone is impressive for the period, the amazing part is that Britten built the V1000 by himself in his garage.

Britten’s innovative ideas brought him the joy of seeing his creation competing against Japanese and European racing bikes of the time and actually winning. Sadly, he died of a vicious strain of malignant cancer just 3 years after completing the bikes, and the technology died with him. Considering that the Britten V1000 was ranked 6th Greatest Ever Motorbike in a Discovery TV show, we have reasons to believe that the motorcycle industry could have had a significant contribution from the respective direction.

Video story of the Britten V1000 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 3 November 2009 16:44 EST.

read more

Harley-Davidson has declared November "Military Appreciation Month," inviting fans to pay a tribute to both active and retired U.S. Military personnel on a specially created “thank you” section of their website. Fans of the iconic American brand can create an electronic postcard featuring model Marisa Miller and Harley-Davidson motorcycles or buy limited-edition posters, postcards and calendars featuring the Victoria’s Secret Angel from HD dealerships. Also, one lucky active or retired military will win a motorcycle as part of the “Salute Those who Defend Freedom” campaign. Press release is attached after the jump.

Update: video is now also added.

Harley-Davidson and Marisa Miller salute the U.S. Military [w/video] originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 3 November 2009 15:32 EST.

read more

We recently brought to you the first teaser shot of the 2010 MV Agusta F4 and we’ve just got our hands on a second sneak peek of the new Italian superbike. This comes together with the official press release, from which we find that the engine develops 186 horsepower at 12,900 rpm, connects to the gearbox through a slipper clutch and is harnessed by an eight-way adjustable traction control system.

This Italian exotic motorcycle heads to EICMA for sure, so we will bring to you the full specs and, hopefully, a generous photo gallery revealing the slightly redesigned bodywork in the day of the launch. Read the press release after the jump.

Officially official: new MV Agusta F4 heads to EICMA originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 3 November 2009 14:37 EST.

read more