Sport

Benelli must have lost its old world charm of making machines pecked with impeccable high cap mills and is finding it difficult to proclaim its identity amidst the modern and competitive world, even more after a Chinese firm acquired it. But now, it seems like a thing of the past, more of a ‘myth’ one could say. Benelli has started showcasing us products designed by CentroStile Benelli, and slowly their reputation seems to have gotten back to its original charm albeit with entry-level machines.

The Italian marquee Benelli, which after raking in some interesting numbers with its range of naked streetfighters, has now come up with its first fully faired motorcycle in the entry-level segment, the 302R. With what is supposed to just be a ’fairing slapped on’ issue with the naked TNT 300, the 302R promises more than that.

Kawasaki had already brought back the ethos of the famed Z1 of 1972 at the Tokyo International Motor Show with the Z900RS retro motorcycle. With almost every brand entering the neo-classic craze, Kawasaki brought one of its own classics back. Although it has the W800, the Z900RS depicts a much more modern take with thoroughly done modish mechanical features, fit and finish.

Now, the same guys have gone ahead and given it a headlamp cowl and dropped bars to get it running on the cafe-racer beeline.

Unwrapped at the 2017 EICMA show, the wardrobe change has made the standard RS the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja Z900RS Cafe. And Kawasaki has decided that we deserve to drive them on our roads and are bringing it to the North American showroom floors as the 2018 model.

Based out of Southend-on-Sea near London, the Auto Fabrica workshop is set up to design, prototype, manufacture a build from concept to final product. Their latest project is the “TYPE 11” breed of machines that has built two bespoke models for two different riding preferences, underpinned by Yamaha’s XSR 900.

This scent was picked up by the folks at Yamaha Yard Build, guys who ask "talented customizers to provide inspirational ideas on how to transform modern Yamaha models into ’Yard Build’ specials." The TYPE 11 gets the “Prototype One” track only machine and a “Prototype Two” road going version.

Drawing inspiration from the brand’s rich heritage, manufacturers are spinning motorcycles that exuberate the classic appeal and character that goes on to showcase their point of arrival into the world of two wheels. With almost every brand entering the neo-classic craze, Kawasaki also brought one of its own classics back, the Z900RS. Although it has the W800, the Z900RS will depict a much more modern take with thoroughly done modish mechanical features, fit and finish.

OBIBOI, our favorite Italian artist has reasons to believe that the Japanese Green Team have another model back in their head that might see the light sometime in the near future. To be called the Z900 RSR Endurance, Oberdan Bezzi sketched a ‘70s replica of the brand’s Endurance feats taking cues from the KR250/500 and the present Z900RS Café.

"JAPANESE CRAFTSMANSHIP" and the "Spirit of CAFÉ RACER". This is how Honda described its new Neo Sports Cafe motorcycle project that was unveiled to the world on November 6th, just a day before the EICMA Milan motorcycle show. Later what came of that is the CB1000R naked-retro along with the CB300R and the CB125R.

Honda started rolling the naked liter onto the streets soon after setting up the stage for to bring in a whole new flavor into motorcycling. Having the same classic design lines with modern underpinnings, the CBR300R is now making its way onto our shores, and we cannot be any less delighted for this honor.

Ducati always has had this insanity in them to time and again bring up machines that push the boundaries of two-wheeled glory, a boundary that will make every other manufacturer look like a speck of dust. For this alone, we must hand it to the Italian with all pomp and flair that they can literally pull off a true bloody special edition.

When it comes to sports bikes with full fairings, there are not many chaps in the world who make them better than these Italians. The Panigale, for instance, is the most coveted superbike for the way it looks, handles and rides. It is one of those Italian Exotics that can sweep you off your feet every time you get yourself near it. And if you do ride one, you know what a fearless machine it is, always wanting to break your spine due to the insanity, unless you tame it.

The current generations of Panigale is a bit intimidating and out-of-reach for a majority of buyers, due to its big and powerful engine and large denominations, in particular for riders who are new to the big bike world. It seems that Ducati has understood this fact, which is why it has come up with the all-new Supersport series, the re-entry of the brand into the family of Ducati. It takes in the 937 Testastretta motor and gets bolted on a relaxed sports bike trellis frame and gets the power lower in the rev range.

There aren’t many quintessential motorcycle manufacturer like this Italian. They have had their own share of trumps and falls throughout their history, but now it seems like MV is enjoying a rare period of sustained growth. Turning motorcycles into a work of art has become a trait at MV, and this F4 has been their flagship for quite some time now.

But this year will be the last for this fabled superbike and MV is planning to phase it out with a bang. A limited “Claudio” edition F4 superbike will be launched towards the end of this year marking the final chapter of the sexiest superbike of our age. It will be cladded with carbon-fiber wheels and a host of other top-of-the-line pieces, as an honor to the late Claudio Castiglioni, father of Giovanni Castiglioni, president of MV Agusta.

Since the time Husqvarna showcased its ‘Real Street’ Vitpilen 401 and the Swartipilen 401 concepts at the 2014 EICMA, the industry is abuzz to see some bonkers design unlike anything seen before on the streets. The following year saw the Vitpilen 701 concept showcased at EICMA, and it wasn’t until this year that we get to see the production models for 2018.

Finally, after playing the tease game all this while, the Swedish Huskies have dropped the Vitpilen and the Svartipilen machines on the streets and will come to a showroom near you. This Vitplilen 701 will be the first of the Husqvarna’s ‘Real Street’ motorcycle lineup that is headed to bring in the Swedish company’s name into the world stage followed by the Vitpilen 401, Swartipilen 401 and Swartipilen 701.

Starting last month, we learned that Harley has begun registering new names as part of their new strategy to add 100 new models in the coming decade. Harley-Davidson has already introduced 10 new ones this year: nine new Softails and the Street Rod.

With 90 more to come, Harley has gone ahead and registered three new names for their new motorcycle models: “Bronx”, ’48X’ and ’Pan America’. Now, new information tells us that Harley has gone ahead and filed ‘Harley-Davidson Revelation’ trademark for its newfound electric tech that includes batteries, chargers, and motorcycle powertrains.

When Clews Competition Machines unveiled their Spitfire model last February, it made headlines all over the internet and received an insane amount of response from the riding folks. Within a short span of a year, this British marquee has proved well beyond conviction that it can make some of the most striking motorcycles the industry has seen.

CCM’s “SkunkwerX” division has unveiled a new Bobber variant of their new Spitfire range at the 2018 MCN London Motorcycle Show that concluded recently. The bike will use the same 600cc single pot mill that does the job on all the Spitfire models including the Scrambler, Café Racer, and the Flat Tracker.

Before Curtiss Motorcycles shifted entirely to being powered by electric, they wanted one last go at making another extremely high-powered, big V-twin motorcycle to pay homage to the early 20th-century inventor, Glenn Curtiss.

And this is what they came up with. Presenting the limited edition “Warhawk”. Named after the famous World War II fighter plane, this machine is the first one after Confederate changed names to Curtiss, and will also be the last one powered by a V-twin gasoline engine.

Ducati has finally bowed down to the millennials who love doing everything through a screen. The brand had dropped a teaser video of a bike that was going to be sold online a while back, and now the bike has been unveiled for the European market only (at least for now). Planned out by the millennial interns at the Ducati offices, the firm has launched a brand new Scrambler model adding to the already strong line-up of six models.

And it’s aptly called the Scrambler Hashtag. Yes, the #. What is even more brain tickling is the fact that Ducati is going to sell these bikes exclusively through a screen rather than on a showroom floor. But it isn’t as straightforward as your Amazon deliveries are.

This is the Indian startup eco-system’s gift to the world. A motorcycle in the newfound electric business that has being brimmed with bells and whistles not found on any other production bike. Emflux Motors is entering with tall claims of having a 125 mph superbike that runs on electricity for up to 100 miles at full range. And if you go full-blown-track-mode, expect a range of around 50 miles.

Called the "Emflux One", it was unveiled at a recently concluded Indian Auto Expo and is aiming at the premium market that caters to the mid-weight motorcycle segment. The company has been working on their superbike for just over a couple of years, unlike other startups that have taken more than half a decade to develop their products.

With what started out as a custom weekend project for Hollywood’s Keanu Reeves, Arch Motorcycles has come a long way ever since it set up shop back in 2007. Joined by a self-taught engineer Gard Hollinger, the company started making production models soon and has to date made three models.

With two models in their existing lineup, Arch Motorcycles expanded their dream project with the brand new flagship model showcased at the EICMA 2017. Called the Arch Method 143, it is a power cruiser that boasts of a powerful V-Twin engine underneath its hood and surrounded by a carbon fiber mono-cell chassis and exquisite materials all around.

There will be times to build and create a motorcycle that is all practical and sensible, and not just that looks good to impress your friends. Then there comes a time for just hanging loose and to go Full Monty on creating a bonkers of a bike without having a client or a brief in mind.

One example of that Custom scene is this build on a Honda CX500 by the National Custom Tech crew of David Widmann, Kurt Kosjek, and Manuel Tilke. Created in their workshop in Feldkirchen, Austria, the crew stripped the old Honda right down to its nuts and bolts, before rebuilding it to include the need of bloody tire warmers. How cool is that?

It is called the Honda CX 500 Highflyer.