Progressive Insurance to Offer Rewards

Progressive’s motorcycle insurance customers can now look forward to more than just carefree days on the road. Riders insured with Progressive now earn benefits with its Loyalty Rewards program. Customers start earning rewards on day one. The longer they stay with Progressive, the more savings and benefits they receive.

“We give our loyal customers tangible rewards, like accident forgiveness and discounts, the longer they stay with us. Plus, the program is free and the rewards get better with time,” said Chris Johnson, director, customer relations. Progressive customers with auto, RV and boat policies also qualify for loyalty rewards. For more information, visit the Loyalty Rewards page on progressive.com. About Progressive The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies makes it easy to understand, buy, and use auto insurance. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us whenever, wherever, and however it’s most convenient for them—online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, or in-person with a local agent. Progressive offers insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes. It’s the fourth largest auto insurer in the country, the largest seller of motorcycle insurance, and a leader in commercial auto insurance. Progressive also offers car insurance online in Australia at http://www.progressivedirect.com.au.

2011 Aprilia Shiver 750 First Look

Aprilia USA announces the return of its Shiver 750 as a 2011 model. This year’s Shiver carries over the same basic features from the predecessor, including its affordable-for-an-Italian-Twin MSRP of $8999, but delivers a sportier ergonomic package. A two-inch narrower seat leads the ergo changes, with Aprilia claiming better bike control from the revised perch. The Shiver’s handlebar position moves forward, with the footpegs placed further back, with the aim to pitch the rider in “a more race-riding position.” A narrower 5.5X17-inch rear wheel replaces the previous 6x17-inch unit, with Aprilia promising improved handling and faster turn-in speed. The Shiver upgrades visually from the 2009 model we tested, care of a short windscreen and wave brake rotors (read the 2009 Aprilia Shiver vs. Ducati Monster 696 Comparison). Unchanged is the 90-degree V-Twin powerplant. The 8-valve design measures a 92 x 56.4mm bore and stroke to reach its 750cc displacement. Power claims are 95 horsepower and 60 lb-ft torque. The 2011 Shiver does feature Aprilia’s Ride by Wire engine mappings, however, as standard feature, with three settings available: Sport, Touring and Rain. The chassis consists of a tubular steel frame and
Aprilia Dealer Locator
aluminum swingarm. Front suspension is a non-adjustable inverted 43mm fork with rear shock adjustable for rebound and preload. Braking comes via dual 320mm front disc and radial mount four-piston calipers. The rear brake is a single 245mm disc with single-piston caliper. The 2011 Shiver will be offered in Aprilia Black or Crowd Silver.

2010 WSBK Magny Cours Saturday Insider

In his last weekend in WSB before switching to MotoGP, Cal Crutchlow cemented his title as Mr. Superpole 2010 by securing his sixth pole of the season. The 25-year-old Sterilgarda Yamaha rider has shown blistering pace in qualifying all year, but it now remains to be seen if he has the race pace to stay at the front in the two races tomorrow. Compared to some of his rivals he has not shown the same level of consistency, but with tire life unlikely to cause a problem for anyone, he will for sure play a part in tomorrow’s races.

“It’s my last race weekend in WSB so it’s nice to be on pole,” said Crutchlow. “There are a lot of people in the UK here at Magny Cours and it’s nice to have their support. It’s also a payback to Yamaha who have put a lot of faith in me over the last two years and also for the next two years in MotoGP.” “I guarantee there will be two good races tomorrow. There are 17 guys that are really close and I look forward to entertaining the crowd.” Frenchman Sylvan Guintoli secured his best qualifying performance of the year, much to the delight of his home crowd. The Alstare Suzuki rider claimed second spot and has the added incentive of a good result tomorrow given that he currently has no contract for a ride in 2011. “It’s been a great day,” Guintoli said. ”We’ve been making progress all season and it’s good to do it here at my home race, even if I actually live in the UK. The feeling I have on the bike is good and I can push hard. I am happy with my race pace and I believe tomorrow will be a good day because I really want it.”

Czech rider Jacob Smrz finally got to grips with his Aprilia after a tough transitional period since switching from Ducati back in Brno. Smrz has secured his second front row start in a row. Despite still suffering the effects of the flu, Max Biaggi has been in impressive form all weekend and his Superpole performance was no exception. The 2010 WSB champion topped the timesheets in both Superpole 1 and Superpole 2 before securing fourth in Superpole 3. “This is a track that has been good for us last year,” Biaggi said. “I finished on the podium in both races and I know we can do a good job. I am surprised at the lap times because it is so close, much closer than last year because then there was only three or four us doing similar lap times. Now seven-tenths separates over 12 of us and this made qualifying very exciting. One mistake will cost a lot.”

Hannspree Ten Kate rider Jonathan Rea surpassed even his own expectations by making it into Superpole 3 to qualify sixth on the grid. Rea, who is riding with a broken scaphoid and ligament damage plus a dislocated shoulder, said:

“I’m running a shorter bike than I did yesterday and it’s helping me turn the bike. The grip from the track doesn’t feel as good today as it did yesterday but I’ve still been able to string some good laps together and I’ve done a race distance on a tire. My fitness for the race is still a question mark but I’m in a lot better shape than I thought I’d be in.”Carlos Checa secured his place on the second row and remains confident that he can run at the front in the race despite losing out on top speed and hard acceleration to his four cylinder rivals. Fellow Ducati riders Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga have also shown impressive race pace but it was a day of high drama for Haga. The Japanese rider, who crashed yesterday, suffered another two crashes today but still made it into Superpole 3 where he secured eighth on the grid. The Xerox Ducati rider, who has brilliant form at the French track, crashed heavily when he lost the front the moment he hit the brakes exiting the down-hill left at the end of the lap. In Supersport the championship leader, Kenan Sofuoglu, was in stunning form and has been the benchmark throughout qualifying. Title rival Eugene Laverty methodically chipped away at Sofuoglu’s advantage to secure second on the grid, but admitted that he has to ride harder than he would like and needs to make an improvement to his set-up during the morning’s warm-up.

Yamaha Re-Signs Jorge Lorenzo

Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd is delighted to announce that it has reached an agreement with Jorge Lorenzo whereby the Spaniard will remain with the factory for the next two years.

23-year-old Lorenzo, who joined Yamaha in 2008, has won an impressive seven races so far this season and is on target to take his first premier-class crown. He currently leads the standings by 56 points with five rounds remaining. Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Lin Jarvis said, "we are extremely happy that we have reached an agreement with Jorge to remain a Factory Yamaha rider for 2011 and 2012. Since he joined three years ago he has made great progress and has improved himself every year to go from fourth place and ‘best rookie' in 2008, to second place in 2009, to challenging for the MotoGP championship title in 2010. I am particularly pleased to finally get the agreement in place here in Japan because it will now enable Jorge to focus all of his efforts and concentration in the coming weeks to try to secure his first MotoGP class rider's title. Being only 23 years old I believe Jorge has a long career ahead of him and hopefully he can win many world titles with Yamaha. "Jorge will be joined by Ben Spies in the Factory Team next year and with these two exceptionally talented hungry young riders we will start the 2011 season with the most exciting and competitive team in the paddock." Lorenzo added, "my first choice was always to stay here with Yamaha and I am very glad that this will happen. I feel happy here; I have good people around me, a strong relationship with Yamaha and a great bike. I want to say thanks again to Lin Jarvis, who has always supported me. Now we are focused on winning the championship but I am already excited about next season. I know that Ben and I can do a great job for Yamaha and I want to thank them for their belief in me."

2012 Yamaha Super Tenere

The U.S. adventure-touring segment expands next year with Yamaha’s decision to import the on/off-roading Ténéré for the American market. And not too soon, as adventure-touring fans in the U.S. have clamored for over a year for this machine.
Powering the Ténéré is a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve-per-cylinder, 1199cc Parallel Twin with an 11.1 compression ratio. The Twin also uses a 270-degree crank firing order. A two-axis primary balancer helps smooth vibes inherent in the Parallel Twin configuration. The engine is fed by a downdraft twin-bore fuel-injection system utilizing 12-hole injectors. The exhaust is a 2-into-1, 2-step expansion system ending in a short, elliptical muffler.
Engine power is routed through a wide-ratio six-speed transmission to a shaft drive system using a hypoid rear gear to ensure everything is as compact as possible. The Ténéré's engine crankshaft is kept low and close to the footpegs in order to keep the bike's center of gravity low.

A steel frame holds the Twin as stressed member. Yamaha touts steel as a good frame material for quelling vibes as well as offering a good balance between rigidity and flexibility.
Suspension on the Super Ténéré is fully adjustable. The 43mm fork has a little less than 7.5 inches of travel (same for the shock) and is adjustable for preload; compression and rebound dampening round out fork adjustments. The shock has a remote dial for preload adjustment, and also offers rebound damping.

If you hope to compete against BMW's adventure-touring benchmark GS, then you’d better bring some whiz-bang gadgets. The Super Ténéré uses Yamaha’s YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled-Throttle) fly-by-wire technology, first introduced on the 2006 R6. An all-new three-stage traction-control system that works in conjunction with YCC-T regulates ignition timing and fuel injection volume based on rear wheel spin. The rider can disable T-C.
The bike also employs Yamaha’s D-MODE engine mapping. T-mode for Touring (and general riding) softens engine response while S mode allows unbridled access to the Ténéré’s claimed 108 crankshaft horsepower at 7250 rpm and 84 ft-lbs at 6000 rpm.

Anti-lock brakes and Yamaha’s own version of linked brakes, the Unified Brake System (UBS), haul the Ténéré’s claimed 575-pound wet weight (504 lbs for the GS) down from speed. The linked brakes allow the rider to operate front and rear brakes together by simply pulling the front brake lever, while applying the rear brake overrides UBS to provide traditional separate front and rear brake control. Front 310mm wave-type rotors are attached to an aluminum 19-inch front wheel (110/80 tire), while a rear 282mm wave-type rotor spins with an aluminum 17-inch rear wheel (150/70 tire).
Long miles seem possible with the Super’s 6.0-gallon fuel tank, and the 34.25-inch seat height is adjustable to lower height 1.0 inch.
Nearly everything about the Super Ténéré, from displacement to seat height(s) to wheel and tire size to electronics, is a frontal assault on BMW’s A-T segment-dominating R1200GS. And if the below pricing info is accurate at this point, even the Ténéré’s MSRP is designed to undercut the 2010 GS’s base price of $14,950. Furthermore, the Beemer’s base price doesn’t include many of the trick electronic features, like traction control for example, that are standard on the Ténéré.
The 2012 Super Ténéré will be available through a Priority Delivery Program (like FJR1300s) at Yamaha dealerships nationwide beginning in September, with customers placing advance deposits of $500. Deliveries begin in May of 2011. The Super Ténéré has a starting MSRP of $13,900 and will be available in Blue as pictured as well as Raven.

Sparta Launches Cyclechex

Sparta Commercial Services, Inc. is excited to announce today the public launch of its new subsidiary, Specialty Reports, Inc. (SRI), DBA Cyclechex. SRI intends to offer online access to detailed product ownership and usage reports for various classes of previously owned assets. SRI’s first commercial product release, available now, is Cyclechex.

Cyclechex is the first and only online service that will provide detailed motorcycle history reports to consumers, retail dealers, lenders, and insurers, enabling any interested party to have critical information about any motorcycle prior to a purchase, the granting of a loan, or the issuance of insurance coverage. Cyclechex will offer, for a fee, a historical report that may include information about accidents and crash report data, along with title information, documented last recorded mileage, lemon law status, and the number of previous owners. The Cyclechex system tracks the motorcycle’s history through its Vehicle Identification Number, a seventeen character unique identifier for every production vehicle in the world, regardless of the country of origin. A similar system has been available in the automotive industry for a number of years, and is widely used by auto dealers and consumers throughout the country. Commenting on the launch of Cyclechex, Jeff Dobish, Executive Vice President of Marketing for the new Sparta subsidiary, said, “According to Powersports Business there are now four times as many pre-owned motorcycles being sold in the U.S. versus new. These statistics make the value of a Cyclechex report self-evident, whether you’re a consumer looking to purchase a used motorcycle from a private party, a dealer who routinely takes in used units as trade-ins, or a dealer who wants to offer an additional level of assurance to customers wanting to purchase a pre-owned vehicle. The Cyclechex history report will provide a comfort level never before available. For a lender considering a loan on a given motorcycle, or an insurance carrier contemplating the issuance of coverage, the critical information provided by a Cyclechex motorcycle history report can make the decision about a specific vehicle easier and more reassuring.” Anthony Havens, Sparta’s CEO, said, “We’re very enthusiastic about Cyclechex, and we believe that this product will be very well received by the powersports marketplace. We’re convinced that Cyclechex is perhaps one of the most significant contributions to the industry in many years, and we’re looking forward to a highly successful and profitable future for this new entity. Sparta will continue to add innovative products and resources to its offerings to ensure that it can fill gaps in the marketplace, meet the needs of its customers and dealer network, and enhance shareholder value.”

2011 Yamaha FZ8 First Look

Yamaha’s sporting line of motorcycles grows with the introduction of the new 2011 Yamaha FZ8 street bike; a streetfighter-style machine that offers European styling and a conventional riding position with a sporting engine and chassis character. At an MSRP of $8490, it slots in directly between the FZ1 and FZ6R, Yamaha’s two current streetfighters. Beneath the 4.5-gallon fuel tank lies a liquid-cooled and fuel-injected 779cc Inline-Four. The engine uses the same cases as the pre-crossplane crankshaft-equipped Yamaha YZF-R1, but gets an entirely new crankshaft and top end. The engine operates with a conventional engine firing order, unlike the current R1, while the powerband has been specifically tuned for the rigors of urban riding with more low-to-mid rpm torque output. Each piston slides within a cylinder that features a 68.0 x 53.6mm bore and stroke. Fuel is squeezed at a 12.0:1 ratio and the bike uses a 16-valve cylinder head, actuated by dual overhead camshafts. Power is transferred back to the rear tire through a manual cable-actuated clutch, 6-speed transmission and chain final drive.

The engine is suspended within a black cast aluminum frame mated to a swingarm of the same composition, with its handling emphasis put on moderate-speed agility. Front-to-rear weight bias is claimed to be 51/49; suspension includes a 43mm inverted fork and a spring preload-adjustable shock absorber. The FZ8 rolls on 17-inch cast aluminum wheels that feature a 5-spoke design. The wheels are paired to Bridgestone Battlax BT-021 sport touring tire in sizes 120/70 front and 180/55 rear. Braking components consist of a pair of 310mm discs clamped by 4-piston calipers up front and 267mm rear disc with a double-piston caliper out back. The cockpit of the FZ8 is similar to the FZ1 and is designed to be a balance between sport and comfort. It makes use of a standard, upright aluminum handlebar that is said to be positioned 4mm forward as compared to its elder sibling. The footpegs have also been positioned down 10mm and back 15mm. Seat height is measured at 32.1 inches off the ground and with a full load of fuel the bike is claimed to weigh 480 pounds. Visually all of the bikes major components are painted black and the engine is hung out in the open without any fairings or plastic body panels covering it. The FZ8 is available in one color, Raven, and will be available in dealers December of this year.

Cycle News Closes

The state of the motorcycle industry has taken a toll as one of the original print giants has fallen victim in to these tough economic times. While certainly not the first publication to fold, Cycle News is without a doubt the most prominent casualty to date. After 45 years of service to the motorcycle industry, sources close to the publication are reporting that Cycle News magazine has closed its doors and will no longer produce its weekly motorcycle magazine. Since 1965 the Clayton family has provided coverage of everything from the Carlsbad US Grand Prix to the Italian MotoGP to the local Hare & Hound series, along with editorial support and an inside look that set the standard for all publications who call themselves a news site. As an alumni of Cycle News myself, it’s with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to one of the few publications who directly influenced the way the industry receives its news and does business. The three years I spent there and nearly 150 issues that I had the pleasure of helping to produce did so much for my career as a moto-journalist that I will forever be thankful. It was a pleasure to work for such a company and it's hard to see them leave our industry in such a manner. The writing has been on the wall for quite some time, as the magazine has grown thinner and thinner over the past couple years with advertising budgets becoming tighter. Cycle News is now history, as they say, but it was a long and impressive history at that. We will bring more details and information as they become available.

2010 BMW S1000RR Review

BMW's motorcycle division hasn't enjoyed the worldwide performance reputation of its automotive sector, but that all changes with the incredible S1000RR, introduced to journalists last week at the equally impressive Portimao race circuit.

BMW Motorrad hits the literbike market hard with its race replica, as the S1000 employs class-leading power, a stout chassis beyond reproach, and a techie electronics package second to none. This bike is the real deal.
We've been teased with details of the bike for well over a year. Our first glimpse came in April of 2008 when I wrote the S1000RR Preview, and then we brought new insight last December in our Closer Look article. Then we finally got to see the bike in the flesh at its U.S. introduction where Pete elaborated on the RR's features and specs.
After all of that, we were already quite up to speed on what the bike consists of. Now all we needed to know is how it performs.

Rolling into the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal, its extreme elevation changes promise an entertaining day, even if we weren't to ride one of the most anticipated sportbikes to come along in years.

The base S1000RR retails in America for $13,800, but the bikes we'd be riding were equipped with BMW's optional electronic rider aids. As with 98% of S1000RR pre-orders, our bikes had the $1,480 traction control and Race ABS option, plus the $450 Gearshift Assistant that allows full-throttle upshifts without backing off the throttle or using the clutch. The only thing missing from a fully optioned RR is the white, red and blue BMW Motorsport color, a $750 option that has been selected in about 50% of pre-orders thus far. The test bikes were flavored in a unique Acid Green Metallic, but other color choices include a classy Mineral Silver Metallic or a sinister Thunder Grey (black) Metallic.

Advanced technology features heavily on the S1000RR. Base models include electronics that influence power and throttle response over four possible modes: Rain, Sport, Race and Slick. It's simple to select while stationary, but they can be changed even while riding. A press of the nicely damped right-side switchgear selects the desired mode, then you have 60 seconds in which to close the throttle and pull in the clutch which triggers the new mode you've chosen.
The Dynamic Traction Control/ABS option (either of which can be disabled if desired) adds to the four riding modes a few other rider aids, including varying ABS settings and a form of wheelie control. Wheel-speed sensors supply info for the ABS and traction control, and a gyro mounted under the seat provides additional data to the bike's ECU to influence throttle response and to provide a measure of wheelie control.

Instrumentation is robust. An analog tach features prominently, with LCD displays for speed, an easily read gear indicator, and an adjustable (for both brightness and frequency) shift light. Lap times can be logged by engaging the high-beam flash trigger or by a trackside beacon and can display last lap time, best lap, number of laps, accelerator position in percentage per lap, time per lap the brakes were applied, minimum and maximum speeds and the number of gearshifts. Whew!

2010 BMW R1200GS and GS Adventure Review

The R1200GS makes BMW Motorrad’s world go around as GS owners go around the world or around the block.
According to Pieter de Waal, vice president of BMW Motorrad USA, the GS/GS Adventure account for almost 30% of BMW Motorrad’s volume of bikes sold worldwide.
With nearly one-third of bike sales coming from the big GS line, BMW needs to feed the beast regularly. That beast is the collective horde of GS and GS Adventure fanatics found in just about every corner of the planet.
With such a foundational role in BMW’s global success, the GS is always at the front of BMW’s mind. The company is endeavoring to keep the GS fresh, never willing to relinquish the lead position in what’s now known as the Adventure Touring category, a segment BMW unwittingly created in 1980 with its first Gelände/Straße motorcycle, the R80G/S.

Although this year’s updates to the GS aren’t specifically tied to its 30th year in production, BMW bestowed a racy update, so-to-speak, upon the GS’s Boxer-Twin.
New cylinder heads that borrow heavily from the HP2 Sport are the key upgrade for the 2010 GS.
The new heads sport dual overhead cams (the previous GS used a single cam-in-head design) along with a radial valve arrangement that includes larger intake and exhaust valves. Furthermore, the exhaust valves are sodium-filled to better control all the heat exhaust valves experience.

Other updates are new intake manifolds, larger throttle manifolds and new pistons to complement the updated and improved combustion chamber created by the new cylinder heads.
Additional improvements related to the Boxer-Twin include a new muffler with revised internals, and a new electronically controlled exhaust flapper valve that, according to BMW, helps the new GS currently meet upcoming Euro emissions standards for 2012.
The switch to the HP2 Sport’s cylinder heads and other updates listed above are good for 110 peak hp at 7750 rpm, an increase of 5 ponies, and a gain of 3 ft-lbs for 88 ft-lbs at 6000 rpm. Redline has also increased from 8000 to 8500 rpm.
But the slight power gain, says BMW, is only part of the story. More significant than the boost in peak power is a large improvement in low- and mid-range power the new flat-Twin provides.
From roughly 2500 to 5500 rpm the 2010 engine is said to open a sizeable gap in torque compared to the previous mill. According to a BMW-provided dyno chart, the gap appears largest in the 5000-rpm range, but prior to that point the new GS still makes considerably more torque.
The new bike’s power then trades places with the previous bike, dipping in the 5500 to 6000-rpm range where the other bike increased torque. However, the new model picks up again shortly thereafter, cleanly outpacing the old engine all the way to redline.

Triumph Street Triple R

Triumph had a good thing going when it unveiled the sweet Street Triple 675, a pared-down streetfighter version of the beloved Daytona 675 sportbike. The Street Triple’s finest feature is its soul-stirring three-cylinder engine that boasts a broad powerband and a symphonic exhaust note. The motor, re-tuned from the Daytona, has a predictable but powerful output that makes it accessible and unintimidating to riders of all skill levels yet is satisfying for even the saltiest veterans. Comfortable ergos – including a reasonably low seat height – and an eminently toss-able nature made it a staff darling, but we were a little disappointed it had some bargain-minded bits to keep the retail figure low.
But like a dream come true, the Street Triple R was introduced just last year, replete with the Daytona’s up-spec fully adjustable suspension and potent radial-mount Nissin brake calipers, alleviating all of our concerns. The result is an invigorating and versatile roadster that stickers for less than $10K. Lofting the front wheel is a snap, and before you know it you’ll be drifting out the back end like an inspired Brit hooligan. And on your favorite twisty back road, its friendly yet potent character is almost unbeatable, proving that no one really needs triple-digit horsepower peaks. Now that Triumph perfected the Street in our eyes, it became the perfect Standard. And it's our favorite motorcycle of 2009.

Arizona Touring Motocycle Ride - Fan Report

I left Tucson, Arizona at 6:30 a.m. on my 2007 ST1300 in a group of eight bikes (2 ST1300s, 1 FJR and 5 Goldwings) and 10 people who were headed to Show Low, AZ for lunch. A fireplug of a retired woman I'll refer to as 'Gee,' who weighs in at 105 lbs and "only" has 95,000 miles on her 2005 S1300T, led the ride. About a mile before the "Elk Crossing Zone" in Tonto National Forest, a bull elk jumped out in front of us. Very stimulating to say the least. I forgot how big those bad boys can get. Of course being in the back of the pack, it was the 4000 brake lights that got my attention. Along the way, I ran over a rather large rattlesnake and 'Gee' had her picture taken with it.

After lunch, we headed into Salt River Canyon. 'Gee,' who is an E-Ticket ride in the twisties, took off. I sat stuck behind three Goldwings, frustrated. Although I could have passed, it is frowned upon to do so without a passing zone when pack riding. Once at the bottom, however, there finally was one. 'Gee' was sitting on the bridge waiting for us. As we approached, she took off and I heard her already shifting into third gear. The little voice in my head said "get her" so I took off.

Headed uphill is always fun and I wasn't disappointed. A hard sweeping right had me leaned all the way over as I closed in on 'Gee.' One of the Wings had started to give chase but quickly gave up. I hit third gear coming out of the sweeper and as I caught up, she decided she did not want to be caught and proceeded to ride away. I was able to stay within 100 yards of her but could get no closer. I had my own line but she kept leaving me, so I used hers. Better, but not good enough. Every time I got close, I could sense her smiling as she pulled away. Several fifth gear sweepers found me with a big grin on my face despite failing in my pursuit. This petite flower can ride! Once out of the canyon, we pulled over to let the pack catch up. I got home 13 hours and 487 miles after I had left that morning. During the trip, I tried my old Polaroid camera mounted to the handlebars to take photos. Out of 47 pictures taken, only 12 came out. Time for a new camera for sure.

Riders Ready for Centopassi Motomarathon

As the Rocky Mountains begin to thaw, the Motomarathon Association is ready to kick off the region’s long-distance motorcycle sport-touring season with the Centopassi Motomarathon, June 25-28. The Motomarathon Association organizes an annual series of four-day rides over the best roads and through the best scenery in the country. Routes remain secret until the night before each day’s ride, and participants must complete a sequence of self-recorded check-points using digital cameras. “This ride will cover some of the state’s most significant mountain passes, scenic canyons and remote plateaus,” said Motomarathon founder John Metzger. “While ‘Centopassi’ means ‘100 passes’ in Italian, we won't actually ride that many, though it might feel like it while averaging 400 miles/day for four days.”

The ride starts and ends at the Peloton Community in Boulder, culminating with the Ducati North America-sponsored Awards Dinner at Basta Pizzeria within the Peloton complex on the evening of Day 4, June 28th. Routes for Day 1 will be handed out at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night (June 24th) at Basta. Subsequent day’s routes will be distributed at 7:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Steamboat Springs (Day 1), the Ouray Chalet (Day 2) and at the Rocky Mountain Inn in Paonia (Day 3). “The Motomarathon format has struck a nerve with today’s sport-touring and long-distance riders, and with our sponsors Ducati North America (bikes), Aerostich (clothing) and Wolfman (luggage),” said Metzger.

“The new Ducati Multistrada 1200 is a perfect fit for these events,” said Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North America. “We’re proud to support the Motomarathon, and we’re very excited to work with the promoters to elevate the highest form of sport-touring.”

BRP Recalls 1200 Can-Am Spyders

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) has issued a recall for its popular Can-Am Spyder Roadster. The issue affects 1200 models of the semi-automatic transmission SE5 Roadsters. The problem pertains to the clutch, which may stall at stop and cause the bike to not restart and become immobilized. The recall, issued on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations website summarizes the problem as follows: “BRP is recalling certain model year 2010 Spyder RS SE5 2nd Series and RT SE5 Roadsters. When bringing a vehicle equipped with the SE5 semi-automatic transmission to a full stop, the clutch may remain engaged stalling the engine. Once the engine is stalled, it could be impossible to re-start and the rear wheel could be blocked.” The consequences of the above scenario are further described in the NHTSA announcement: “…The vehicle may not be able to be pushed off the roadway increasing the risk of a crash.” The NHTSA reports that BRP will notify affected owners, with dealers repairing the bikes free of charge. BRP has not provided the NHTSA with a notification schedule.

STM, Behind the Scenes at the Thundersprint

I don’t intend turning STM into an extended blog about the Thundersprint but this year’s event was a cracker in so many ways. For someone who sat on his Mum’s knee at Creg Ny Baa, and watched the immortal Mike Hailwood take the last ever TT win by a Manx Norton, seeing Chris Walker in action on the new Norton 961 was a really emotional experience. It is difficult to convey how incredibly special it felt to have Norton race their all new bike at OUR event - rather than anywhere else in the world - and when Chris won no-one cheered louder than Carol and I. It was great! The crowds were even bigger than ever this year. We’re always very careful never to claim an attendance at the Thundersprint because, as a free event, we can never provide an audited figure. But here’s a bit of informal data for the Math experts amongst you to consider:

At lunchtime, we have a Cavalcade of all the race bikes, plus a few road machines, around the town of Northwich. We are led by the very helpful Cheshire Police and we keep to a steady 30mph which is great for the riders and spectators alike. The route is 2.1-miles long and was lined on both sides by spectators. To state the obvious, that’s 4.2 miles of cheering fans. At the busiest points, the crowds are maybe six deep on the sidewalk. Added to this are the thousands of spectators who prefer to remain in the center of the show. Can any Math major come up with a decent estimate? So that’s the public face of the Thundersprint but the purpose of this column is to give you a backstage view of some of the special moments from this year’s event.

2010 World Ducati Week Saturday Part 1

The seaside Italian towns near the Misano racing circuit have been invaded by an enthusiastic army of Ducati motorcycle enthusiasts. Riders from all over the planet have been steadily funneling into the area, taking over the streets with the fantastic sound of Desmovalve-equipped L-Twin engines for the sixth edition of World Ducati Week. The fun began yesterday when I rode a 2011 Ducati Monster 796 from Ducati's HQ in Bologna. At first glance I dismissed the new Monster as being a 'girls bike' but after logging a fair amount of kilometers it actually is a fun bike and especially well suited for the mixed urban/country confines of this area.

Last night we hit downtown Rimini which can be best described as the Italian version of Daytona Beach, but way, way, WAY cooler. As opposed to Daytona, the bike community here is far more enthusiastic in regards to the kind of machines they pilot (99.98% Ducatis). Its also cool to see how friendly and outgoing people Italians are not to mention how lax the law enforcement is with them turning a blind eye to typical street bike hi-jinks which is outlawed in America. It's funny too, for as many laws I saw broken last night I didn't see so much as one tip over or accident and the roads out here are without doubt WAY more sketchy than at home in Southern Cal.

I ended up meeting up with my pal, Kevin Allen, an fellow American who works for Pirelli tires. He relocated to its headquarters in Milan and made the trek down on his 998, which still wears a Georgia license plate! It was actually funny how we met up. I was just cruising down the main drag and all of a sudden I somehow hear my name over the sound of the engine. I look over and there he is gobbling up a scoop of gelato. I pulled over we start chatting and all of a sudden this pudgy biker gang from Sicily rides by, probably about 12 of them, all with their motors pinned to the rev-limiter. WAA-WAA-WAA-WAA.

There were a pack of pretty girls getting ready to attack the club and the pack immediately pulled over and started hollering at them-- it was a hilarious site and something you definitely don't see everyday at home. A few moments later we met up with another group of Italian riders (some of them girls) and hit the streets in a pack of about 25 riders. So there we were cruising the block and all of sudden it comes stop with a bunch of hammered drunk dudes in the middle of the street. Of course I was obligated to make those guys night by doing a huge burnout which they loved and all of a sudden I was now part of the playful mob heckling other bikers from the side of the road--it was hilarious. We ended up riding until around 3:00 a.m. It was fun and brought me back about 10 years when I use to ride/live like that seven days a week.

Saturday marked the biggest day of WDW celebrations inside Misano and it is literally insane how many people showed up. No joke, there had to be in excess of 15,000 riders and almost all of them were riding Ducatis. I've never seen as many Ducati's in one area in my entire life. Literally, I think I saw every single Ducati motorcycle ever made-- from ones built back in the day with a manual kick start lever to about 100 or so Desmosedicis. My head is still ringing with the sound of thousands of clutch plates ratting around from the dry clutch-equipped bikes. All day long riders kept on flooding through the gates and while it was pretty congested inside it was cool being able to kick it with a bunch of other die-hard Ducati enthusiasts.

It's surprising how many activities there are and how much there is actually to see inside the track. Everywhere you look there are different set-ups which allow fans to get to experience the Ducati brand in different ways. They have had one cool area devoted to the Monster brand of motorcycles in which people customized their bikes with different paint jobs and color schemes. They even had two artists on staff that were painting helmets and other body panels for your bike if so desired. But the highlight by far is just roaming around and partying with the thousands of other riders. Given the track's close proximity to the beach and network of twisty back roads there is a constant stream of people coming in and out of the track.

And hitting the beach for a reprieve from the heat was definitely needed. At the track the air temperature had to be almost 100 degrees with 80-plus degrees of humidity. To compensate they had one small section of the paddock set for a "sexy bike wash". As you guessed there Italian super babes would wash down you and your bike--yes you read correctly. They would actually strip you down and sponge you down--PG-13-style of course. Meanwhile a DJ would be pumping out a weird mish-mash of disco-tech type music that sounded like something you'd hear down in Mexico. Italians sure know how to party I guess.

One of the many highlights without a doubt was when the World Superbike and MotoGP team had a question and answer session with fans that managed to get inside the small air-conditioned meeting room. Inside retired World Supers Champ Troy Bayliss told everyone that he would not be returning to competition either this year or next. The Australian mentioned that he had so much fun during his recent test at Mugello that he contemplated returning but after some more thought he understands that it would be a difficult task to get back to that level and in the end is something that he and his family don't want to do. It was also quite obvious that Noriyuki Haga isn't too happy with the way his season has gone thus far with the guy pouting most of the day and looking like someone had just run over his dog...

Okay, that's it for now, there's plenty more to talk about but for now I gotta run err, ride!

Triumph Joins Vintage Motorcycle Days

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce that Triumph Motorcycles will bring a wide range of machines for attendees to demo at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this July 9-11 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

Included in the demo lineup will be a full range of 2010 models: the America, Speedmaster, Scrambler, Bonneville, Bonneville SE, Bonneville T100, Thruxton, Daytona 675, Street Triple, Street Triple R, Speed Triple SE, Rocket III Roadster, Rocket III Touring, Thunderbird, Thunderbird SE and Tiger SE.

"Each year the Triumph staff looks forward to working AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days," said Triumph Marketing Manager Jim Callahan. "As lifelong motorcyclists, our team has more fun at this particular venue than any other national event. The enthusiasts who attend AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days are an amazing group of motorcyclists who value tradition, competition and individual style -- three characteristics that have made Triumph a success for more than a hundred years. VMD has become a cornerstone of our annual event schedule, and Triumph will be on location with the entire 2010 range of models in full regalia."

Held at the world-class Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features vintage and post-vintage competition in motocross, trials, hare scrambles, roadracing and dirt track. In addition to demo rides of current production bikes, the event includes North America's largest motorcycle swap meet, educational seminars, bike shows, the Federal Companies/Allied Used Bike Corral, motorcycling seminars, the new product Manufacturers' Midway, and club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs.

Husqvarna is the 2010 Marque of the Year at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, with off-road racing legend Malcolm Smith serving as grand marshal.

Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The goal of the Hall of Fame, located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, is to honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have played a vital role in shaping the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling.

Test Ride a Can-Am Spyder Roadster

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce that a fleet of Can Am Spyder roadsters, the unique three-wheeled vehicle offered by Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), will be available for demo rides at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this July 9-11 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. These Can-Am Spyder demo vehicles will include both the Spyder RS and the Spyder RT. The Spyder RT is the company's new touring model for 2010.

"We enjoy getting out and seeing as many riders as possible across the United States with our demo tour," said BRP's Chaz Rice, manager, media and public relations, Can-Am. "AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is a great way to do that, as well as celebrate motorcycling history. Our Can-Am products helped write some of U.S. off-road racing history in the 1970s and early 1980s, and its exciting to not only reacquaint ourselves to that past but introduce attendees to the future of Can-Am: the Can-Am Spyder roadster."

Held at the world-class Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features vintage and post-vintage competition in motocross, trials, hare scrambles, roadracing and dirt track. In addition to demo rides of current production bikes, the event includes North America's largest motorcycle swap meet, educational seminars, bike shows, the Federal Companies/Allied Used Bike Corral, motorcycling seminars, the new product Manufacturers' Midway, and club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs. Husqvarna is the 2010 Marque of the Year at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, with off-road racing legend Malcolm Smith serving as grand marshal. Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The goal of the Hall of Fame, located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, is to honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have played a vital role in shaping the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling.

2010 World Ducati Week Part 2

After watching Haga pout and Bayliss nearly cry after admitting that he won't be making a World Superbike comeback, it was the MotoGP squad's turn to speak in front of fans. Both Casey Stoner and Nick Hayden spoke candidly and appeared excited to be a part of this unique motorcycling event. Even though Stoner attended the last WDW edition, he was still surprised by just how many people showed up Saturday (tens of thousands). Equally wowed was Nick Hayden, who was making his first appearance. Hayden was also accompanied by a new lady friend who happens to be a friends, sisters, friend. Funny huh? During the press conference both riders laughed and joked around but when asked about the remaining part of the season they were all business stating that they still have a lot of work to do in order to make up some points against the series leaders. It's also interesting to see how well both riders interact with their new team manager Vito Guareschi, a former test rider and road racer. Afterwards the boys conducted a virtual track walk in which they gave some insight as to how to get around Misano's 11-turn course.

With temperatures hovering in the mid-90s paired extreme Miami-style humidity a ride to the beach was the ideal way to cool off. And one of the craziest things about riding a motorcycle around Misano is just how slippery parts of the road way are, especially roundabouts and intersections. Perhaps its the combination of the salty ocean air and fluids left behind by the swarms of motorcycles and 2-stroke scooters? Even with the modest power output of the Monster 796 it was ridiculously easy to kick the back of the bike out and leave long skinny darkies during aggressive acceleration in first and sometimes second gear. I've literally never experienced this sort of condition on any other pavement surface and it was a total blast! It made me think that perhaps this is the reason why such a high amount of top-level road racers come out of this region considering that Valentino Rossi, Marco Simoncelli, Marco Melandri, and Alex de Angelis all hail from this part of Italy. After cooling off seaside it was time to head back to the track for the Streetfighter Drag Race. As the name implies the World Super and MotoGP riders drag raced down Misano’s front straight at the controls of a Ducati Streetfighter. Each of the riders was allowed a couple practice runs before facing off head-to-head.

It was actually really entertaining to watch these guys try to launch a motorcycle. Considering all the electronic doo-dads and launch control rider aids, none of them have to manually launch a bike anymore. And you could definitely tell with virtually every one of them getting horrible starts during the practice runs. Some wheelied, some just spun the rear tire, and a couple almost stalled the bike. It also did not help that the Streetfighters had the Ducati Traction Control setting cranked up to the max as you could hear the engine's struggle to gain revs as they accelerated away. The riders did however catch on quick and after a few practice runs they were nailing nearly perfect starts.

As the riders would return to the starting lane via pit lane some of them were pulling wheelies, rolling burnouts and even an endos. After each pass they were getting more and more daring and as soon as Haga had aced everyone in the final drag race they put on a full-on impromptu stunt show. It's impressive how much bike control and raw stunting ability all of the riders have which just proves that extreme bike control is shared between stunting and racing worlds. As the sun set the paddock was filled with the aroma of grilled food. But before everyone ate, all eyes went toward the main stage where the riders and head Ducati execs took to the stage for a few words before the fans. Bayliss gave one of the more notable speech's. He began speaking Italian, but was so overwhelmed with emotion that he stumbled his words and finished speaking in English not wanting to mess anything up in translation. He profusely thanked his fans for their support over the years and was happy to such an integral part of the Ducati family. Off all the riders on stage, Bayliss without a doubt received the most applause proving that he remains the fan favorite even though he's no longer racing.

Afterward the real partying began when various musicians took to the stage and began rocking the crowd. Perhaps the craziest part was that even after the sunset there were still tens of thousands hanging out inside the track. If you weren't feeling the concert vibe you could mosey toward a pop-tent that hosted a mini-rave. Inside the tent, there were kids not even 10 years old dancing around with their parents. If all the noise and commotion wasn't your style they also had a places for families to hang out and eat, drink, and socialize. The track was jam packed until almost midnight before folks finally started to clear out, not doubt to ride or party elsewhere around town. I assumed that Sunday would attract even more riders but strangely enough the track was far quieter as compared to Saturday. Apparently in Italian culture Sunday is basically the day you are supposed spend with mother at home. And this made it easier to float around the paddock without having to feel like you were going to get run over by a mom riding a piped-out Desmosedici (yes, I actually saw this). As opposed to Saturday's jam packed schedule, Sunday was more laid back. In the morning riders who signed up for track time got to bomb around Misano's 2.5-mile, 11-turn road course before the afternoon's Desmo Challenge (spec Ducati class) races got underway. After the races concluded at 5:00 p.m. the World Superbike team took to the track for a official two-hour testing session in preparation for the World Superbike races the weekend after next.

So there you have it I survived my first WDW adventure. Next to the riding, camaraderie, and 48-hours of relentless socializing, the one thing that I'm taking back home with me is just how passionate Ducati riders are. Having spent a fair amount of time in the saddle of its creations I've known that the bikes are more soulful than almost anything else on the road, but what I didn't realize is that the people who ride this brand of motorcycles are equally if not more charismatic. And that's what makes the Ducati brand so awesome and unlike anything else in the world and the reason why I can't wait for the next World Ducati Week celebration.

30 Years of GS at BMW Motorrad Days

Friends of the brand BMW Motorrad celebrate the 30th anniversary of the GS models and BMW Motorrad celebrates the GS riders: at the "BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, guests' BMW GS models will be rated and awarded prizes in different categories.

BMW Motorrad's competition "30 Years GS" is organised in three classes: the oldest GS, the machine with the highest mileage and the most impressive GS creation. Key criteria are the chassis number in the first class and in the second class evidence of the highest mileage up to the time of pre-selection on July 3rd. With the customised machines, the jury - made up of well-known names from GS history such as Jutta Kleinschmidt, Hubert Auriol and Charley Boorman, will be looking at the creativity of visual or technical changes.

The prizes for the three first places will be caps and vouchers for BMW Motorrad rider´s equipment. The value of these will be as follows: for the first places 500 EUR each, for the second places 250 EUR each and for the third places 100 EUR each. What is more, all participants placed fifth or higher will receive a cap and keyring from the BMW Motorrad "30 YEARS GS"Collection as well as the special magazine “BMW Classic live. Special edition 30 Years GS”, signed by the jury. All owners of BMW GS machines can enter with their bike, except for BMW employees. In order to sign up and register it is sufficient simply to come with your motorcycle and the necessary documentary evidence to the signposted parking spaces by the ice rink on the BMW Motorrad Days ground between 9 am and 11 am on July 3rd. Here you can enter your motorcycle in one of the three categories. BMW Motorrad specialists will make a pre-selection at this time of five machines to go through to the final of each category. These favourites will be presented in the Freestyle Area from around 12.30 pm, the winners will then be decided and prizes awarded. For further information on the competition "30 Years GS" please see www.bmw-motorrad.com/motorraddays from the middle of June. The award ceremony will be one of the highlights to mark the 30th anniversary of the BMW GS. In a special exhibition, BMW Classic will be presenting milestones from three decades of GS to illustrate the remarkable success story which this big travel enduro concept gave rise to - especially considering that it was completely new at the time. The BMW Classic Special Edition magazine provides 62 pages of detailed information on the background and development of this pioneering motorcycle. It will be available in German and English at the "BMW Motorrad Days" and costs five EUR.

The "BMW Motorrad Days" is a meeting place for tradition and innovation. For this reason, there will be a new tent focusing entirely on the important issue of safety. Under the heading "ConnectedRide", BMW Motorrad researchers and engineers are developing various assistance systems such as the cross traffic assistant based on communication between vehicles, which aims to increase safety in future. Visitors can experience at first hand the current state of development of BMW motorcycles. Training sessions are offered on BMW GS models, and BMW G 450 X and Husqvarna models will also be provided for test rides. Of course virtually all other BMW Motorrad models can also be loaned for extensive test rides.

For beginners without a license, BMW Motorrad offers try-outs in a cordoned-off area. With a little luck, the dream of owning a brand new BMW motorcycle could come true, too: on Friday evening there will be a draw for the special models BMW F 800 GS "30 Years GS" and on Saturday evening for the BMW R 1200 Gs "30 Years GS". The breathtaking stunts performed by four-times world stunt-riding champion Chris Pfeiffer in the Freestyle Area are not recommended for imitation. On the x-track, off-road specialities can be seen performed by world-famous enduro riders and mountain bikers. Another highlight is the Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport which once again enters the World Superbike Championship in 2010 with the racing version of the S1000RR. Regular features of the BMW Motorrad Days are the Classic Convoy, which will be held on Friday this year, as well as the Grand Motorcycle Convoy on Saturday. The support program includes 60 international exhibitors displaying their goods and services - from tuning to accessories and travel and featuring off-road, on-road and race track training. In cooperation with Metzeler BMW Motorrad offers a tyre service. The parties on the Friday and Saturday featuring live bands and DJs have already achieved legendary status. For the first time in 2010, the ladies band WILDCATS will be performing live at the BMW Motorrad Days. On Friday evening, the acts Gerry & Gary, Dreirad, Byron and DJ Moorat will also be providing entertainment. The acts lined up for Saturday are Blechblos’n, Tommy and the Moondogs, Byron and DJ Robert .

Immediately adjacent to the event grounds there is a 15,000 square metre camping area with bathroom facilities.

On Saturday 3rd July at 10:30 am there will be a press conference for journalists on the subject of "30 Years GS" in the "30 Years GS" tent on the BMW Motorrad Days grounds. Several key personalities from GS history will be there, including Jutta Kleinschmidt, Hubert Auriol and Charley Boorman. Kleinschmidt achieved numerous rallye success on the BMW R 100 GS, Auriol won the Dakar Rally in 1981 and 1983 on a BMW GS. Boorman undertook his impressive motorcycle trips with Ewan McGregor described in "Long Way Round" on the BMW R 1150 GS, and "Long Way Down" on the BMW R 1200 GS.

Barn Find Vincent to Head Bonhams Auction

Bonhams celebrated its second motorcycle auction at Quail Lodge in Carmel this past month demonstrating the market’s strong interest in early machines with a total of 77 lots selling for more than $600,000. Bonhams is no stranger to the two-wheeled market and sells, on average, more than $8 million worth of motorcycles annually around the globe. Its list of successful sales and world-record prices is renowned and includes motorbike-specific auctions such as Quail Lodge, the über-popular Stafford Show in England, the BMW Museum in Germany, and the former Legend of the Motorcycle in Half Moon Bay, not to mention mixed car/bike sales such as the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles. Building on this vast experience and strength, Bonhams is now launching a new motorcycle-exclusive auction in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas. The “Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction” will take place the afternoon of Thursday, January 6th, 2011 at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino in the heart of the strip. Leading the list of entries is a stunningly original 1952 Vincent Rapide in Chinese Red that has been untouched for nearly half a century. Discovered in Fresno, California – where it had been sold new by the local Fresno Indian dealer – the time capsule machine has 8500 original miles, matching numbers and California black license plate. Its auction estimate is $85,000-$100,000. Over 200 classic motorbikes representing every era will be featured in the Las Vegas auction.

2010 Spa Francorchamps Bikers Classics

This year’s Bikers Classics confirmed the event as the most star studded in the classic motorcycling calendar. The iconic Spa Francorchamps paddock was packed solid with motorcycling superstars ranging from 15 times World Champion, Giacomo Agostini, to New Zealand ace Hugh Anderson, who took four World Championships for Suzuki in the lightweight classes. Hugh was making a rare visit to Europe and wanted to be re-united with the Spa track which had given him so much success. Californian World Champion, Steve Baker, kept the American flag flying whilst re-living the great Yamaha battles of the past with Christian Sarron and Eric Saul. But this year, it was the sidecars who were the stars. From 1950’s Norton “sitter” outfits all the way to the LCR “worm” ridden by the world’s most successful sidecar driver, Steve Webster, the sidecars dominated the three days of track action. Steve had an incredible 62 wins, 37 second places and 27 third places as well as 82 pole positions - and showed that he had lost none of his flair - even in the pouring rain which came down hard during Saturday’s high speed track demonstrations. Just as welcome was 83-year-old English sidecar veteran Stan Dibden who was swapping stories with the great sidecar crews from the Golden Age of GP racing including Max Deubel, Rolf Steinhausen, and Ralf Engelhardt, as well as the legendary tuner Dieter Busch.

But for many the highlight of the weekend was hearing the motorcycling music which always sets hearts racing: the flat, determined and relentless drone of a BMW flat twin racing engine working at its limit as the sidecars slid through the 4.35 miles of one the world’s greatest racing circuits.

Ride to Work Day June 21

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is encouraging all motorcyclists to help demonstrate the tangible benefits of commuting to work on a motorcycle on Monday, June 21, in celebration of national Ride to Work Day, and to be safe while doing it.

"Ride to Work Day is a great way to show that motorcycles are fun to ride as well as an economical way to transport yourself from one point to another," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "With so many more riders on the road at this time of year, it's also a good opportunity to extend a note of caution to riders and motorists alike as part of the I AMAware campaign, which emphasizes safety on the road through enhanced awareness of fellow road users. "I AMAware is a national program that encourages both defensive riding by motorcyclists and alertness by fellow road users," Dingman said. "In most car-motorcycle crashes, the driver claims he or she never saw the motorcyclist. By increasing awareness of motorcyclists on the road, crashes can be avoided, and lives can be saved." Since its inception in 1992 by Aerostich/RiderWearHouse's Andy Goldfine, who also sits on the AMA's Board of Directors, Ride to Work Day has become an international event, with participation in cities around the world and recognition by the U.S. government. In the United States in recent years, both U.S. Reps. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Michael Burgess (R-Texas), co-chairs of the Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus and longtime supporters of motorcyclists' rights, have recognized the day on the floor of the House of Representatives.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 80 million cars and light trucks are used for daily commuting on American roads, and about 200,000 motorcycles and scooters are a regular part of this mix. On Ride To Work Day, the practical side of riding becomes more visible as a larger number of America's motorcycles and scooters are ridden to work.

"Ride to Work Day is one of our best advertisements for the motorcycling lifestyle," said AMA Senior Vice President for Government Relations Ed Moreland. "With more riders on the road during rush hour, these benefits become even clearer. Motorcycles and scooters are a socially responsible form of transportation that reduce fuel consumption and wear and tear on roads, ease congestion, make parking easier and exponentially increase the fun of your commute."

Triumph Touts New Adventure Bikes

Triumph Motorcycles has announced the development of two new “adventure bikes,” with the British manufacturer creating a purpose-built site for the proposed models at www.triumphadventure.com. Triumph has also confirmed the new models on its Facebook page, where it authenticates spy shots of the new rides published by Motorcycle News.

Triumph doesn’t release any hard details about the ride, stating in an email response from its microsite that: “Here at Triumph, we're really busy developing two brand new adventure bikes. It'll be a good few months before they're ready.” Triumph will be rolling out the hype in stages, with scheduled release dates for information regarding the engine (August 4), chassis (September 1) and clothing/accessories (October 6th). These models could be the Tiger Cub, that long-awaited, oft-rumored ride which has made repeated appearances in our monthly Euro Gossip Column. The Cub, or whatever Triumph designates its new machine, is speculated to be a smaller version of the firm’s Tiger adventure-tourer, most likely utilizing a version of the 675 Triple platform that powers the Daytona 675 and Street Triple. If true, the new Triumph would be taking aim at BMW’s F800GS. Another option is Triumph may be re-tooling its existing Tiger to match up again the BMW’s class-defining R1200GS. Such a move would mirror the latest efforts from Ducati and Yamaha with the Multistrada 1200 and Super Tenere. Stay tuned for piecemeal updates on the new rides, as the details sequentially deploy in the runup to its expected debut at the Milan EICMA Bike Show this November.

Thundersprint 2010 to Air on Motors TV

The hour long Thundersprint 2010 TV show will be aired for the first time by Motors TV on Thursday 8 July, at 21.15. The programme is far more a documentary than the normal sports reports shown on specialist TV channels. The show follows Chris Walker as the Norton factory race prepares his 961 Commando. Then, the cameras focus on Chris at the Thundersprint Bike show – and move with him as he enjoys a 6am start at the following day’s racing. Motorcycle racing can be a tough business! Finally, there is some incredible footage of the “Stalker” giving Norton their first ever race win with the all new Commando. Classic superstars Jim Redman and Sammy Miller feature heavily supported by BBC TV’s Steve Parrish and current Grand Prix star, Danny Webb. Trader insights are provided by Eric Warburton of the Thundersprint’s title sponsor, Knutsford Honda, whilst Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Leader, Mike Jones, shows the area’s support for what is by far their biggest tourism event. The programme shows all the skills of top international Director/Producer Rob Hallam - and the huge amount of time, effort and money which was lavished on the show.

Thundersprint 2010 an Ecomomic Success

In 2009, an Economic Evaluation survey undertaken by Visit Chester and Cheshire on behalf of The North-West Development Agency, showed that the Thundersprint brought £4.37 million to the region in the form of participant, trader and visitor expenditure.

This year, a similar survey indicated a rise to £6.4 million Not only did Northwich, and its surrounding districts, benefit from what is now a two night and two day event but Thundersprint visitors were filling hotels throughout the region - and beyond. In fact, visitors are now complaining at the distance they have to stay from Northwich such is the shortage of bed space in the area during the Thundersprint weekend. 84% of participants, and 65% of traders, interviewed at the event indicated that they were staying overnight in the region, their average stay being 2.5 days. Better still, the Thundersprint was given as the main reason for visitors coming to Northwich and fans then stayed on in the area. 68% of respondents said that the Thundersprint was the only reason for them to visit Cheshire. Customer satisfaction with the Thundersprint was incredibly high. 64% of those interviewed had been to the event before and 35% had attended four times or more. The survey reported that: “…the findings indicate a very strong and loyal customer base for the event.”

Cllr. Mike Jones, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “The Thundersprint is one of the region’s success stories both in terms of the amount of revenue it generates but also in the way that it provides an event which the whole community can enjoy. “The Thundersprint is also very important because it puts Northwich on the map and is a key driver for the local economy, being one of the major events in Cheshire West and Chester.” Thundersprint organiser, Frank Melling, was just as enthusiastic: “The Thundersprint is a huge credit to Cheshire West and Chester Council without whose support the event would not happen. For me, the most exciting thing is that with the help of the Council we are able to provide a world class event which has free admission, free parking and free grandstand seating. This means that the whole community can enjoy the Thundersprint instead of being excluded by the high admission fees prevalent at many other events. “The interest in next year’s Thundersprint from riders, traders and the public is already incredible and we are looking forward to making Thundersprint 2011 the best ever.”

BMW Recalls R1200, G650 and F800 Models

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced four separate BMW motorcycle recalls. Listing the manufacturer’s report date as June 15, 2010, the announcements regard select G650X, F800GS and F650GS models, as well as the Bavarian marque’s extensive R1200 Boxer line. The most comprehensive of the recalls is NHTSA campaign 10V276000, which affects the 2007-2009 model years of the R1200GS, GS Adventure, R, RT and ST versions of the Boxer lineup, along with the K1200GT. The problem described by the NHTSA announcement is as follows:

“Due to the current routing of the front brake lines, it is possible that during riding, and therefore associated vibration, the brake lines could be under strain. If the vibration/strain is significant, the brake line could split and start to develop a leak.” The statement continues with possible consequence: “If this strain goes unnoticed, and the brake fluid reservoir runs empty, the front brakes could fail, increasing the risk of a crash.” Owners will be notified by BMW about the problem and dealers will install new brake lines which contain a “sleeve” to remedy the concern. The fix will be free of charge and is expected to begin this July. A second recall involves the R1200GS Adventure, with a bolt on the fuel tank front attachment possibly coming into contact with the fork leg “if the handlebar is turned a significant amount.” The concern is the limited range of the bars could “affect handling and maneuverability of the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.” A third recall affects the G650 lines manufactured from November 2006 through May 2008, including all three models: the Xchallenge, Xcountry and Xmoto. The NHTSA recall describes the defect as: “Over time, the roll gear pin’s mounting attachment could break,” with possible fragments of said attachment becoming “trapped between the drive chain and the rear sprocket” causing the rear wheel to lock up “possibly resulting in a crash.”

A similar reasoning necessitates the fourth recall, which entail the F800 and F650GS models. The affected units were produced from September 2007 through March 2009 and feature drive chains that “may not have been produced to specification.” The concern is that “over time the drive chain could break” and like the G650 models, entangle in the rear wheel.

Bonhams Banbury Run Auction Raises £450,000

Bonhams’ second annual sale of collectors’ motorcycles at our Midlands base in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, on 19th June held in conjunction with the VMCC’s Banbury Run was another resounding success achieving £458,442 and selling 87% by lot. Brough Superior, the Rolls Royce of the motorcycle world, never fails to attract interest. The top lot, a 1929 Overhead 680 example, fetched £98,300 against a pre-sale estimate of £55,000-65,000. Another keenly contested motorcycle was lot 140, a 1962 BSA 650cc Rocket Gold Star which had been in single family ownership since new. After lengthy bidding from several clients, the BSA finally sold for £15,525 (estimate £10,000-12,000). Owned from new by Richard O’Brien, writer and star of the cult musical ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ and presenter of television’s ‘The Crystal Maze’, the 2001 Honda CB50 Dream sold on behalf of The Royal Children’s Hospital, Manchester, and achieved £3,565 against a pre-sale estimate of £2,000 – £2,500. Also popular were restoration projects such as a 1965 Honda 49cc ‘Monkey Bike’, untouched and in a garage for 20 years, which was estimated at £300-500. A fierce bidding war ensued and it finally went for £5,290. A ‘barn find’ c.1916 Sunbeam 3½hp also from single family ownership and offered for careful restoration and preservation, sold for £12,075 (estimate £4,000-6,000).

The Thruxton is one of the most sought after post-war Velocettes and lot 141, a 1966 Velocette 499cc Venom Thruxton, was a very fine example. It was two owners from new and on the day the original owner bought it back for £12,650. The ex-Roy Peplow 1966 ISDT works Triumph Tiger 100 fetched £20,125 (estimate £10,000-15,000). A works rider for the Triumph factory, Roy Peplow was a member of Britain’s Trophy team in the 1966 International Six Days Trial, held that year in Sweden. Peplow won a Gold Medal, helping the British team to finish second overall behind East Germany.

Ben Walker, Head of Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycle Department, commented: “There is clearly a strong demand for historic machines with iron cast provenance as well as those motorcycles that remain in largely untouched and original condition. A number of records were also set for the mid-range machines – a 1953 Ariel 998cc Square Four MkII sold for £12,075 for example. We’re now accepting entries for our forthcoming sales at The Beaulieu Autojumble and The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show so stay tuned for details of future exciting machines we’ll be offering!”