Monthly Archives: November 2009

Starting from the idea that everyone loves Vespas – including Harley-Davidson riders – this commercial shows such a rider getting up close and personal with the gorgeous ET4 model, which makes the subject of the video ad.

This is the kind of humor that we like to see in motorcycle/scooter commercials and the fact that this one shows both does the trick big time.

Video: Vespa commercial makes Harley-Davidson rider look bad originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 12:08 EST.

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Basically a stripped down Stratoliner, Star’s 2010 Roadliner S qualifies as the ultimate boulevard cruiser not only because of the massive engine powering it, but also thanks to the glamorous styling and unique riding feel. Cumulating these incontestable qualities, this model has everybody going “yes, it’s a Star” and who are we to disagree?

Only the Roadliner S carries on to 2010 (the Roadliner Midnight remains a 2009 model year) and this cruiser is set to find the sweet spot of riders who prefer short and non-windy rides, but also that of those who feel like buying a base motorcycle and accessorize it as their hearts demand.

Star Roadliner originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 11:21 EST.

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Yamaha’s 2010 European range will feature a FZ8 model instead of the FZ6, which was having troubles competing with other middleweight models such as the Kawasaki Z750 or the Aprilia Shiver 750 as a result of its R6 engine being designed for horsepower rather than torque. Although we have no official information about the all-new 2010 Yamaha FZ8, it seems that the new model will come to fix that, hopefully, by making use of a V-twin engine.

All that Yamaha has revealed so far is the future FZ8’s pretty face, but we can’t help wondering if it’s ever gonna make it to the United States. More information as we have it.

Teaser shot: 2010 Yamaha FZ8 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 15:48 EST.

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In 2010, Suzuki will celebrate 25 years of producing the GSX-R series and have created a limited edition GSX-R1000 for the occasion. Called the Suzuki GSX-R1000Z, the anniversary edition will only feature cosmetic differences compared to a standard GSX-R1000 K9 or K10 model (there’s no mechanical difference between the two model years anyway).

Only 1000 such bikes will be made and feature a gold or beige frame, swingarm and parts of the fairing combined with the dominant pearl white color on the fairing. Also, the Gixxer will feature 25th anniversary graphics on the fairing, mufflers, wheel rims and ignition key, as well as a serial number plate.

Suzuki plans to take the wraps off the GSX-R1000Z 25th anniversary edition this week at the NEC Show in Birmingham.

Suzuki GSX-R1000 "25th Anniversary Edition" originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 15:12 EST.

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We all thought the Buell brand was dead and gone, but it seems we haven’t seen the end of it yet as a recently issued announcement says the name will be associated with motorcycle racing in the near future. This is the result of Erik Buell leaving the Motor Company and establishing Erik Buell Racing with support from Harley-Davidson Motor Company.

Erik Buell Racing will be based at the Buell factory in East Troy, Wisconsin and supply the Buell 1125R to racing teams. This means meeting racing regulations and keeping part of the workforce previously engaged in producing American sportsbike. But most importantly, we’ll be hearing from Buell in the future when, hopefully, they’ll be winning races.

Press release is attached after the jump.

Erik Buell Racing – the rebirth of American sportbikes originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 14:23 EST.

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Star Motorcycles really overpass themselves with the 2009 Stratoliner models as these were not only impressively powerful and offered great road behavior – like all other model years before them –, but also stood out in the style chapter. Truly unique motorcycles not only in their manufacturer’s lineup, but among all other big displacement cruisers available on the market today, with each year that passed by, the Stratoliners only demanded some new color schemes and they were good to go. For 2010, things are different as Star launched the all-new Stratoliner Deluxe and carries on producing the Stratoliner S without any upgrades, while the standard Stratoliner will only sell as a 2009 model year.

Whether that’s good or bad, we cannot yet say, but we can say a thing or two about these 2010 models that caught our attention.

Star Stratoliner originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 12:47 EST.

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It takes a single look at the GP racing concept bikes designed by Art Center College of Design student Jeremy D’Ambrosio to know that they’re in for some serious controversy. To begin with, they all feature leading arm front suspension and tubular aluminum cradle frames in their creator’s attempt to get rid of the patterns.

But wait to hear the interesting part: Jeremy has thought at a 250cc, four-cylinder, vertically opposed engine or even at a two-stroke class. Hit the jumps to read the designer’s statement on the 250GP concept bikes.

250GP concept bikes look awkward but interesting originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 20 November 2009 14:32 EST.

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Australia-based tuner Deus Ex Machina has turned the Harley-Davidson Nightster into a café racer that they call the Deus Special. The original 1200cc V-Twin motor was kept, but the bike now offers a completely different riding experience and the muscular looks are sure to indicate that from the very first glance.

Deus told hell for leather magazine they’ve used modified Yammy SR400 tank, quick release strap, new taps etc.
custom fender’ectomy….warren got handy with the drill bits
custom 2 into 1, retuned fuel maps to suit
single saddle conversion
kept the belt drive, chains look nicer but the customer wanted his pants to stay up.

What’s not to like about this custom motorcycle?

Harley-Davidson Nightster café racer by Deus originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 November 2009 15:45 EST.

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Because the world that we live in spins around money, we have serious doubts that any vehicle prototype powered by an engine that runs on AIR will ever see the next stage (at least not as long as there’s still oil around and Bin Ladens to chase), but we do find Edwin Conan’s Green Speed motorcycle quite fascinating precisely because, as real as it might look and be (note that this is not just a concept, but an actual prototype), we know that we won’t get the change to see such thing on the streets.

While the bike was designed by Edwin together with a team of student designers and their teacher, the air-powered rotary engine was invented by Melbourne engineer Angelo Di Pietro. They worked together to come up with this air-powered motorcycle prototype that originally started live as a Suzuki GP100 back in the 1970s and even managed to give it a nice racy look to back up the innovations that stand at its base. We have attached the official details after the jump, so check this article out for more.

Green Speed Air Powered Motorcycle Prototype originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 November 2009 14:31 EST.

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HD’s 2010 model range offers 10 new ways to “save yourself,” just as the song in their latest video suggests. Among these, the Electra Glide Ultra Limited, Dyna Wide Glide, Fat Boy Special, XR1200X and the Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) models are the ones we like best. For more information, click here.

Save yourself with the 2010 Harley-Davidson model range originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 19 November 2009 12:32 EST.

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