Cutaway Photos of the Ducati Superquadro Engine

I was flipping through some photos from the 2011 EICMA show, and found these shots of the Ducati 1199 Panigale’s Superquadro engine. Unfortunately at the show, Ducati had its 1199cc v-twin motor behind a Lexan case, which created a bit of a glare, reflections, and of course had smudges from the touchy-feely Italian crowd. But still, the photos give a good idea of what’s going on in Ducati’s most-advanced production engine to date, and are better than just looking at the CAD renders. If you look at the shots very closely, you can almost see where the 195hp and 98 lbs•ft of torque is lurking inside.

AGV, Please Make This Helmet!

In addition to testing the factory Ducati Desmosedici GP12 “Phoenix” this week at Sepang, Valentino Rossi is also trying out a new lid from AGV. Aside from the carbon fiber goodness, and of course the Rossi stickers (which add 5hp & $200), AGV’s prototype helmet sports a noticably pronounced rear spoiler. Tucked in behind the windscreen, it is obvious why the Italian helmet manufacturer designed such a large protrusion off the back of the prototype helmet, as it looks to be clearly helping the flow off the back of the helmet, across the rider’s hump, and down his backside.

2012 Honda RC213V Debuts in Malaysia

While Ducati Corse is busy playing hide-the-Desmosedici at Sepang, HRC is all business in Malaysia this week, and has debuted its 2012 Honda RC213V MotoGP-contender. Honda isn’t saying too much about the RC213V, simply stating that the race bike is all new, but is also a continuation of the company’s design with the 800cc Honda RC212V. Testing the Honda RC213V over the course of last season, reigning-World Champion Casey rode the new 1,000cc machine three times in 2011, while teammate Dani Pedrosa swung a leg over the RC213V twice (missing one test because of injury).

No, This is the “90%” New Ducati Desmosedici GP12

You may have been misled by some eager journalists today and yesterday, if you saw a Ducati Corse livery-clad Ducati Desmosedici GP12 that some sites were passing off as the first shots of the “90% new” GP12. With the alleged new GP12 looking surprisingly similar to the aluminum-framed “GP0″ that was tested at Valencia, Valentino Rossi’s mechanic has now Alex Briggs confirmed that the photos taken were not of the all new “GP12 Phoenix” that the factory team will race this season. While the Ducati lords can taketh away, they can also giveth, and Valentino Rossi himself has posted the first photo of the factory Desmosedici GP12, and the bike is clearly different.

Zero Motorcycles Commences 2012 Model Line Production

Zero Motorcycles has announced the full-commencement of production for its 2012 model line, which is expected to hit dealers in February & March of this year. First off the line was the 2012 Zero DS back in December, though the electric motorcycle company has recently started building the Zero S, Zero XU, Zero X, and Zero MX at its Scotts Valley facility as well. A story we broke back in November, Zero Motorcycles debuted its important 2012 electric motorcycle line up at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan, with the 2012 range being a substantial improvement upon the company’s previous offerings.

The Dainese D-Air Racing Airbag Suit Comes to America

Getting a look at Dainese & AGV’s 2012 collection, Asphalt & Rubber was down in Orange County earlier this week to see the highly anticipated Dainese D-Air Racing leather suit, which has a four liter airbag system that helps reduce the risk of injury during a motorcycle crash. Dainese has been working on the D-Air Racing system for 10 years now, and after soft-launching the airbag suit in Europe, the Italian company is ready to bring the game-changing technology to American soil.

I Love the Nightlife. I’ve Come to Boogie.

Us Danes, we’re a strange breed. From the culture that taught you how to rape and pillage, Scandinavia is making yet another contribution to the motorcycling world with this latest video. Featuring Danish Supermoto Champion Andreas Mikkelsen, we get a RoToR camera-esque perspective (this rig is actually home made) on the Dane’s practice session at the Als Supermotard Club in Denmark. It’s videos like this that are slowly eroding my will-power to resist getting into supermotard riding. Also, I don’t know who was in charge of the music selection on this thing, but my hat is off to him/her. I love the nightlife. I’ve come to boogie.

Confirmed: KTM 350 Duke in 2013 – Moto3 Inspired 350cc Sport Bike in 2014

Our friends over at IndianCarsBikes.in were in attendance at the KTM 200 Duke launch in India this week, as the Austrian brand launched its somewhat bigger-displacement version of the popular KTM Duke 125. During the press event, KTM talked about the future of the mini-Duke line and its product roadmap for the emerging country, as well as abroad. With the Austrian brand confirming/clarifying that KTM would release a KTM 350 Duke for India in 2013, zie Austrians also confirmed that the KTM 350 Duke would be built locally in India by Bajaj, but would be exported worldwide — allaying fears that the KTM 350 Duke would be an India-only model.

Why Today is the Most Important Day for Ducati…Ever

Now that the first Ducati 1199 Panigale has rolled out of the door in Bologna, the die is cast, the chips are in play, and our course is set to see if Ducati has created a “massive breach of brand trust and honesty.” The realization of course should be that Ducati’s brand was never in danger with bikes like the Hypermotard, Multistrada 1200, or Diavel. Instead, the danger of serious brand dilution has always rested on how Ducati handled its Superbike line. A failure to produce a two-wheeled machine that is both as striking visually as it is kinetically, could permanently alienate a loyal fan base that has endured a great deal in the past half-decade.

Video: Community + Motorcycles = Motomethod

There is a lot that can be said about why dealerships fail or succeed (we’ve already seen an interesting insight on the subject of shops being open on Sundays), and one aspect on how to be a successful dealership that will surely rise to the top is one of community. Here, Vancouver-based Motomethod is all about the community, as the do-it-yourself community garden style repair shop has become a place for British Columbian riders not to work on their motorcycles, but also to congregate together with a shared love of riding on two wheels. Not exactly a new concept business-wise, but still a fresh perspective in an otherwise unwilling to change industry. More on this thought process to be published in the coming weeks. Enjoy.

Federal Stimulus Makes Motorcycle Purchases Tax Deductible

Thu, February 19th, 2009 @ 8:48 am, by Jenny Gun3 COMMENTS
Home » News » Federal Stimulus Makes Motorcycle Purchases Tax Deductible

Federal Stimulus Makes Motorcycle Purchases Tax Deductible motorcycle showroom 560x359

The Federal stimulus package signed into law yesterday is laddened with initiatives designed to help boost our nation’s economy. None of these provisions, however, will affect the die-hard motorcyclist more than the provision, which allows motorcycle buyers to deduct the sales and excise taxes on their 2009 tax return. Yeah, you really just read that. If you buy a motorcycle under $49,500 and subject to certain restrictions, you can take the tax portion of the OTD price and subtract it from your tax statement next April 15th. How much a buyer benefits will depend on the taxes paid and their personal tax situation, but it the case of your typical sportbike, that’s still nearly a grand off your taxes.

Motorcycle dealers counting on a big boost will not find it here and would be far better served by concentrating on building their business and delivering excellent customer service.

Quick summary:

– The deduction is available to non-itemizers.

– The taxes deducted only apply up to the portion of a vehicle’s purchase price of $49,500.
– There is an income limitation of $125K for single taxpayers or $250K for couples.

Specific text from the stimulus bill:
Digging through the actual stimulus bill (yes I did, so you don’t have to!) the text that applies is below:
SEC. 1008. ADDITIONAL DEDUCTION FOR STATE SALES TAX AND EXCISE TAX ON THE PURCHASE OF CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 164 is amended by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph:
‘‘(6) Qualified motor vehicle taxes.’’.
(b) QUALIFIED MOTOR VEHICLE TAXES.—Subsection (b) of section 164 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(6) QUALIFIED MOTOR VEHICLE TAXES.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘qualified motor vehicle taxes’ means any State or local sales or excise tax imposed on the purchase of a qualified motor vehicle.
‘‘(B) LIMITATION BASED ON VEHICLE PRICE.—
The amount of any State or local sales or excise tax imposed on the purchase of a qualified motor vehicle taken into account under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed the portion of such tax attributable to so much of the purchase price as does not exceed $49,500.
‘‘(C) INCOME LIMITATION.—The amount otherwise taken into account under subparagraph (A) (after the application of subparagraph (B)) for any taxable year shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount which is so treated as— ‘‘(i) the excess (if any) of— ‘‘(I) the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year, over ‘‘(II) $125,000 ($250,000 in the case of a joint return), bears to For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term ‘modified adjusted gross income’ means the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for the taxable
year (determined without regard to sections 911, 931, and 933).
‘‘(D) QUALIFIED MOTOR VEHICLE.—For purposes of this paragraph—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘qualified motor vehicle’ means—
‘‘(I) a passenger automobile or light truck which is treated as a motor vehicle for purposes of title II of the Clean Air Act, the gross vehicle weight rating of which is not more than 8,500 pounds, and the original use of which commences with the taxpayer,
‘‘(II) a motorcycle the gross vehicle weight rating of which is not more than 8,500 pounds and the original use of which commences with the taxpayer, and
‘‘(III) a motor home the original use of which commences with the taxpayer.
‘‘(ii) OTHER TERMS.—The terms ‘motorcycle’ and ‘motor home’ have the meanings given such terms under section 571.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this paragraph).
(c) DEDUCTION ALLOWED TO NONITEMIZERS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) of section 63(c) is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting ‘‘, and’’, and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ‘‘(E) the motor vehicle sales tax deduction.’’. (2) DEFINITION.—Section 63(c) is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph: ‘‘(9) MOTOR VEHICLE SALES TAX DEDUCTION.— For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘motor vehicle sales tax deduction’ means the amount allowable as a deduction under section 164(a)(6). Such term shall not include any amount taken into account under section 62(a).’’.
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to purchases on or after the date of the enactment of this Act in taxable years ending after such date.

Source: The Kneedragger

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Tagged under: 2009, deductible, exempt, Federal Stimulus, Motorcycle, purchases, taxes

Comment:

Ryan says:
June 23, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Just learned I can deduct the taxes paid on my motorcycle on this years tax return!!!11 http://is.gd/1aXNL WIN
Mitch Smith says:
August 5, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Anyone know more about the federal stimulus that makes motorcycle purchases tax deductible http://bit.ly/4okMg
Bob says:
November 16, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Unfortunately, the 2009 tax forms I just downloaded from IRS.gov don’t agree with what is said in this article about deducting sales tax on a motorcycle. Yes, the law says that you should be able to get the additional deduction for sales tax, but good luck actually getting it —
The 2009 IRS forms require you to file Schedule L to calculate the amount of the deduction to take on Form 1040 line 40a. If you bought a Buell 1125R for $6,000 and your state’s sales tax rate was 5%, then your sales tax amount would be $300.00. So far so good…
If you run through the numbers on IRS Schedule L, you will be disappointed. Form 1040 Schedule L is used to calculate the amount by which your standard deduction should be INCREASED by the amount of sales tax paid on your new vehicle purchase. Instead, this form has a mistake in it — the calculations on Sch Line 20 actually tell you to REPLACE your standard deduction with the calculated tax credit amount, when it should tell you to INCREASE your standard deduction by the calcualted tax credit amount.
For a single (or married filing separately) person, the amount of the standard deduction is $5700. Adding $300 for sales taxes paid should bring your standard deduction up to $6000, but it doesn’t. Instead of ADDING the $300 figure to the $5700 standard deduction, the official IRS forms tell you to REPLACE the $5700 standard deduction with an amount of $300. The way the fax forms are written right now, taking this deduction will cause you pay tax on an additional $5400 in “income”; you lose $5700 – $300 = $5400 in deductions, and your taxable income increases accordingly.
It looks like the IRS instructions for Schedule L have a pretty significant mistake in them. Its too bad that the IRS makes it next to impossible to report this kind of error.