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Jensen Beeler

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Attention owners of the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 and Svartpilen 701, your bikes are being recalled for a fuel leak that may occur from the fuel level sensor and fuel pump mounting area.

Obviously, a leaking fuel situation could be a potential safety hazard, as the leaking fuel could ignite and cause a fire.

Accordingly, The recall affects 1,500 units (812 Vitpilens, and 688 Svartpilens) from the 2018, 2019, and 2020 model years.

Today is a twofer for the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R, as we get word from Southeast Asia that the bike’s debut this week has been postponed because of worries about spreading the coronavirus, which means we have to wait just a little longer to find out everything about this 250cc four-cylinder wonder.

On the bright side though, Team Green has posted up this unique carbon fiber creation, which it calls the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R Racer Custom model. As the name implies, it is a carbon-fiber-everything version of the ZX-25R, that is track-only.

One of several press launches that has been canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak, we won’t get to ride the KTM 890 Duke R before it hits US soil in limited numbers this year, but the Austrians are trying to do the next best thing.

This means that we will see another motorcycle manufacturer hosting a “virtual press launch” of a motorcycle this month, with KTM set to take the wraps off the new Duke at 8am Pacific Time.

A form of motorcycle racing that doesn’t really ever get its proper time in the limelight, the hyper-niche of drag racing motorcycles is often overlooked in the two-wheeled world.

This means that in many cases, motorcycle drag racers have had to make do with what’s available to them, and for those who race in a Pro Street Bike class that requires a DOT tire, that has meant a world of compromises.

Dunlop hopes that is about to change though, as the tire-maker has just released its first purpose-built DOT drag racing tire for motorcycles, the Dunlop Dragmax.

Honda’s miniMOTO lineup has been a big hit for the Japanese brand, and now the lineup of pint-sized 125cc motorcycles is about to see the inclusion of its next machine, the Honda Trail 125 (the Honda Hunter Cub 125 in non-US markets).

Though still not a confirmed model for the USA and Europe, all signs point to the “Hunter Cub” (in at least one of its various names) coming to both markets.

We don’t have to wait for the bike’s arrival though to know what we’re getting though, as the new model is already on Honda Japan’s website, under the Honda CT125 name.

If you are looking for a reason to survive the coronavirus outbreak (not that by any means you should giving up hope at this point) then let it be to see whether this rumor pans out to be true or not, as internet chatter is pointing to a Honda CBR600RR-R model for the 2021 model year.

The rumor comes from Japan’s Young Machine magazine, which posted the news on the cover of its latest print issue.

Young Machine says that Honda will debut the so-called “CBR600RR-R” at the end of this year (though, one has to wonder if the coronavirus outbreak could have already scuppered those possible plans).

Young Machine goes on to say that the CBR600RR-R will visually look similar to the CBR1000RR-R that just debuted for the 2020 model year, complete with aerodynamic winglets.

Want some good news to start your weekend? Thank your favorite Austrian motorcycle brand, because the KTM 890 Duke R is not only coming to America, but it will be here (in limited numbers) very, very soon.

This is because KTM North America has been able to import a small number of KTM 890 Duke R motorcycles into the United States, which will be ready for purchase in Spring 2020, instead of Fall 2020 (as 2021 model year bikes) as was originally planned.

The Tokyo Motorcycle Show and Osaka Motorcycle Show have had to scratch this year because of coronavirus concerns in Japan, but some motorcycle brands that would have been attending are taking a more “virtual” approach to their exhibits. 

That is bad news for our Japanese readers, who were hoping to go to these shows for a super dosage of two-wheeled goodness, but for us here in the United States, it means that more of the shows will be accessible from across the Pacific.

First on the docket comes to us from Big Red, which just launched its own virtual expo website, and first on the list is this Honda CB-F concept, which just dropped with its retro lines and modern chassis and engine.