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February 2010

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Chinese Motorcycle Powerhouse Zongshen Eyes Mission Motors for Strategic Partnership

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Chongqing Zongshen Power Machinery Co. announced today that it has signed a memo of cooperation with Mission Motors, which could see the Chinese company link up with the San Francisco firm to develop electric drive systems for the emerging market and in other markets throughout the world.

In the memo, Zongshen outlines its intent to become a major shareholder in Mission Motors, and to also inject capital into the small startup after it presents a three year plan to the Chinese company. For Mission Motors the move would be valuable strategic partnership to gain a foothold in China, which already has a booming two-wheeled market and need for reduced CO2 emissions.

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News

Watch the Honda VFR1200F Be Built Every 90 Seconds at Kumamoto Factory

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Honda’s factory in Kumamoto is a high-tech enviormentally friendly facility that might just be as innovative as the new VFR1200F. Churning out a new VFR every 90 seconds, Kumamoto’s wrenches are all digitally linked, and store build information for each individual motorcycle. Did worker X have a habit of over-tightening the connecting rods? If so Honda can track exactly which bikes were affected by his/her mistake, pinpointing the problem. That’s pretty cool in our book.

Check out the video after the jump for more information about the Kumamota plant and watch the VFR1200F get put together.

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Recall

Faulty Connecting Rods Recall Aprilia RSV4 Fleet

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Per an announcement by the NHTSA, it’s now been confirmed that the RSV4’s connecting rods were to blame for Aprilia having to recall 335 RSV4 Factory and RSV4 R motorcycles. The rods, which are supplied by an outside supplier, were straightened using a method that compromised their strength and reliability, and were apparently responsible for not only sidelining an RSV4 track event with the press, but also requiring almost all the RSV4’s sold to-date to be brought in for servicing via this recall.

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Racing

Garry McCoy Confirmed with FB Corse

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This weekend Garry McCoy signed a two-year deal with FB Corse that sees the Australian rider making a return to premiere GP racing. The move comes just days after McCoy was dropped by one of Triumph’s Factory WSS team, BE1 Racing, and FB Corse got the official “peace out” from John Hopkins. With McCoy likely to find only teams in Moto2 looking for riders, the timing for both parties couldn’t have been better. Details after the jump.

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Bikes

Volkswagen Motorcycle Concept

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It’s been almost two months since Volkswagen bought a 20% stake in Suzuki Motor Corporation, but that hasn’t stopped German designer Nils Poschwatta from imagining what the peoples’ motorcycle would look like. Much fervor was made with the announcement of the two companies joining forces, with many motorcycle fans wishing thinking that VW branded motorcycles were on their way. Like this concept, that notion is a work of pure fantacy, as the two companies have made it clear the partial acquisition is to help both brands enter into emerging car markets more effectively. Still, it’s a nice drawing.

Source: Nils Poschwatta via MotorFreaks

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Racing

Lambretta Returns to 125GP Racing for 2010

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After a 60 year hiatus, Lambretta is finally returning back to the 125GP racing stage. Entering as Lambretta Reparto Corse, the team has already confirmed Marco Ravaioli as one of their two riders. The move seems to be primarily to help get the iconic Italian brand back into the public limelight as Lambretta is set to start production of its first new range of scooters since the 1970’s.

According to Lambretta, the team will hold a racing department in Bologna at the workshops of Engines Engineering, despite Lambretta being based out of Milan. Nicola Casadei will serve as the team’s Sporting Director, while Giancarlo Cecchini will develop the bike’s rotary valve engine, which is expected to show up in new Lambretta designs.

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