With less that 20 minutes to go in this morning’s MotoGP free practice at Le Mans, Sete Gibernau, of Team Grupo Francisco Hernando, highsided in the Dunlop Chicane. After being taken to Clinca Mobile, it was found that Gibernau had fractured his left collarbone in two places in the crash, and thus will miss this weekend’s GP at Le Mans.
When BMW set out to build the S1000RR, they wanted to challenge the Japanese manufacturers on their home turf and break out of their established mold, with an inline-four 1000cc superbike contender. The result was a 193hp superbike with traction control and ABS brakes, all in an affordable package (allegedly).
Also a part of this “outside of the box” thinking, was some things we could probably do without. The first of which is that asymmetrical head light. Second, and more to the point, the choice in available colors. After teasing us with pictures of a handsome S1000RR in a red/white/blue paint scheme, BMW debuted the bike in lime green livery, and then showed pictures of the bike in brown and black options. That left us a bit miffed. But luckily we have gotten word that the red/white/blue scheme will be available, but at an additional cost.
Our day wouldn’t complete if we didn’t bring you gloom from all four of the Japanese manufacturers; and yes, even Yamaha wasn’t spared the wraith of the global economic slowdown. Yamaha Motor Corporation is reporting double-digit percentage sales drops in its two-wheeled and four-wheeled retail sales.
Yamaha said its U.S. motorcycle retail sales of 21,000 units is a 30% dip from last year’s numbers. Similarly, its U.S. ATV retail sales fell 26% to 17,000 units. This number is at least better than the ATV industry average of a 33% sales decrease. Overall for its worldwide operations, Yamaha reported a sales decline of 35.5% from the year-ago quarter, and a net loss of $189 million for its first quarter, which ended March 31.
Source: PowerSports Business
Kawasaki, not be left out of the metric manufacturer meltdown, is offering a buyout package to 320 workers at its plant in Lincoln, Nebraska, which produces ATVs and personal water craft for Team Green. While, the buyout applies to only about 16% of the plants total 2,000 or so workers, if further costs reductions are not met then deeper cuts will likely be made.
According to Kawasaki, “rapidly declining sales” of recreational and utility products prompted the buyout, and if not enough of the employees excericse the option to have their contracts bought, then Kawasaki will “be forced to terminate some employees.” Workers at the Nebraska plant already have been working short weeks and will continue to do so for the next several months. No further comment from Kawasaki is expected until Friday, May 22.
Source: PowerSports Business
BMW has sold over 500,000 GS motorcycles since the models introduction in 1980. In order to celebrate this milestone, the Bavarian motorcycle company is releasing a limited run of 500 special edition R1200GS models. The anniversary bike will feature a front fender extension, black oil-cooler spoiler, tinted windshield, two-tone seat that’s 20mm higher than standard, black rims, and aluminum cylinder head protectors. The Special Edition bike will also feature the first ever white paint scheme on a GS. In Europe the bike will cost €350 more than the standard GS.
No word on US pricing yet, but we do know it will come without the tinted windshield.
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Suzuki Motor Corporation is reporting its 3rd quarter in a row of sales dropping in its European and North American markets. In North America, the company sold 88,000 units, weighing in at a 34% reduction from last year’s numbers. Suzuki fared better in Europe where it sold 114,000 units, or a a 24% decrease from last year. Yes the bleeding continues, but at least .
Source: PowerSports Business
Honda North America is reporting that its combined motorcycle, ATV, and personal water craft sales fell by 52% last quarter, compared to last year’s numbers. For motorcycles alone, Honda’s North American new unit sales totaled 45,000, or a reduction of about 47% from last year’s marks, whereas the company’s total motorcycle sales totaled 72,000 units, nearly half of the 150,000 units sold last year.
For its entire fiscal year, Honda’s North American motorcycles segment sales totaled 320,000 units, or a drop of 29%. All eyes will on this quarter to see if the company can turn around this death-spiral in what is usually the best time of the season as far as motorcycle sales go.
Source: PowerSports Business
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), KTM North America is voluntarily recalling about 550 model year 2009 off-road motorcycles for possible front fork failure. While this recall specifically affects the orange/black 125SX, 150SX, 250XC-W, 300XC-W dirt bikes, this is the second time in the past few months that . As in the earlier case, the front fork inner tube can crack and separate from the fork axle, posing a risk of injury or death to the operator. No incidents or injuries, however, have been reported.
Source: PowerSports Business
Michael Czysz posted a video of the MotoCzysz Electric Superbike being tested on a dyno in preparation for the upcoming in June. The instantaneous torque of the electric motor makes the bike visibly squirm when the power comes on. The video shows the bikes thin profile and massive swing arm. Many other interesting details of the bike are visible.
Asphalt & Rubber is pleased to announce that John Boyed will now be a regular contributing author to our daily news mix. John will cover general motorcycle news with a focus on the rising electric motorcycle scene. John has been a long time motorcycle enthusiast, and spends “far too much time digging around on the internet.” He has followed the electric motorcycle scene closely, and has a particular interest in the niche markets that occur in our sport. Our kind of guy for sure.
John owns and operates .
Things have been quiet on the Italian front after Harley-Davidson acquired premium sportbike manufacturer MV Agusta last year, with the American company apparently leaving the brand alone for a while after its purchase. The company we love to hate from Milwaukee has finally started to make some changes in the old Italian brand, drawing a clear line between what product lines will focus on a premium road bike experience for the rider, and what products will be developed for track day weaponry for the weekend warrior.