UPDATE: The 2010 Yamaha Fazer8 ABS has officially been released.
It would seem that Yamaha Motor Europe is getting a little particular about what people call their new 800cc naked street bike. Dubbed the “Fazer8” by the tuning fork brand, Europeans seem to be more comfortable calling the new Fazer by the previously agreed upon naming method: the FZ8 Fazer. “Whoa, wait, slow down there padre!” says Yamaha.
The announcement of the 2010 Yamaha FZ8 left many Americans confused as to why the Japanese company would release a 800cc version of it FZ1 naked streetbike. While Yamaha hasn’t confirmed the FZ8 will be coming to the US in 2010 (all the information to-date has come from Yamaha EU), abroad the battle in the 800cc middleweight slot has become increasingly contentious, and more importantly Yamaha’s presence there surprisingly non-existent.
Nothing beats the winter months off-season than planning your summer motorcycling adventures, so let us propose a summer excursion: head to Eastern Europe and ride the Slovakiaring. Located just outside of Bratislava, the new track facility promises to have something for everyone with its 6 different circuits, and top-notch facilities. Video after the jump.
Take a good look at the Honda CB1000R, because you won’t see it here stateside. That’s right, its de-tuned CBR1000RR motor, single-side swingarm, and streetfighter looks will be staying on the other side of the pond, and we think we’re the lesser for it.
Honda might be the lesser for it as well. With no fairing-less sportbike in its arsenal, we have to wonder what the folks in Japan were thinking on not making the CB available in the US. The only conclusion we can come to is that they just don’t like being competitve in the largest motorcycle market in the world worried that the CB would cannibalize on VFR sales.
But, seeing as how we all know the Interceptor as we know it won’t exist in 2010 (and is slated to fill a different hole in Honda’s line-up), we still have a hard time wrapping our heads around this strategy. Apparently at Honda, sportbikes must still have fairings in order to his US soil. We guess us American riders will have to somehow manage with the Tuono, Streetfighter, Z1000, FZ1, & B-King’s available to us…or move to Europe.
As a part of Europe-wide police crackdown, more than 20 Hells Angels members were arrested in Italy today. Members of the motorcycle gang were picked up in the cities of: Verona, Vicenza, Padova, Treviso, Roma, Milano, Torino, Trieste, Cuneo, La Spezia, Pordenone, Lucca, Pavia, and Massa Carrara, with similar operations taking place in Germany and France.
At the arrests, weapons were seized from the bikers, and charges included robbery and extortion. Although, we have a feeling that list will grow after these detainees have been interviewed by police interrogators.
Italian to the core, the Hells Angels of Italy are headquartered in the picturesque and fair town of Verona, although today Verona may seem less funny to the gang members than William Shakespeare thought it to be. Reportedly, more than 140 Hell’s Angels members have been staked out at the hideout, with full guards at the door. Various weapons have been confiscated and more news is awaited on the results of the European wide arrests.
Source: