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News

Metric Motorcycle Sales Still Slipping

By Jensen Beeler 08/05/2009 2 Comments

It’s doom and gloom today. The motorcycle industry continues to be slogged on the nose like a near-sighted proctologist, as exports from metric manufacturers declined by 65% this June from 2008’s figures. This drop comes after May only showed a 58% loss over last year’s numbers, showing an escalation of the problems for the motorcycle industry, instead of the beginnings of an abatement. For those who aren’t keeping score, 2009 so far has sold 25% less units than 2008, with the crunch hitting the hardest as sales normally would pick up during the summer.

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News

Honda to Debut Electric Two-Wheeler in 2010…Again

By Jensen Beeler 08/03/2009 2 Comments

Visordown is reporting today that Honda has announced that the company will have a battery-powered two-wheeler (notice the absence of the word motorcycle) available to corporate customers in 2010. However, if you’re a loyal A&R reader (as you damn well better be), you of course know that this announcement isn’t anything new. What is interesting though, is how Honda plans to stick their toe into the electric waters.

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Rumors

Lorenzo to Telefonica Honda for 2010?

By Jensen Beeler 07/10/2009 7 Comments

With Jorge Lorenzo’s contract up at the end of this season, rumors are beginning to make their way through the MotoGP paddock about where the Spaniard will be racing next season. While Lorenzo has stated he would prefer to stay at Yamaha, he has also stated that he “knows what he’s worth.” For anyone playing MotoGP silly season, that’s an open invitation to assume that offers from Honda could have potential of becoming true.

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Bikes

VFR1200 Breaks Cover Ahead of Schedule

By Jensen Beeler 06/24/2009 9 Comments

It would appear we do not need to wait until Fall to see the new VFR in its final, or near final form. MCN lead this morning with an article showing what they reputed to be leaked photos of the 2010 VFR1200 from Honda.

We, like many others, we skeptical of this news, both in part because of the source, but also because the reputed final version so closely matched mock-ups of the new bike that we’ve seen for months now.

Our skeptism may be unfounded this time, as auto news site Left Lane News has simultaneously released spy shots of the VFR testing in the California desert that would appear to rain on MCN’s parade of having “the scoop of the year”.

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Bikes

New Honda VFR Confirmed for Spring 2010 Delivery, Fall 2009 Unveiling

By Jensen Beeler 06/20/2009 52 Comments

UPDATE: You can see the new 2010 Honda VFR1200F here.

We’ve got an update on Honda’s hotly-anticipated new V4-powered bike. It has been confirmed by Honda’s Senior Managing Director, Shigeru Takagi, that the new VFR will be seen in its finished form sometime this Fall, and will be in dealer showrooms next Spring.

The VFR1200, as you might have guessed from its name, will be a 1200cc version of the VFR model line. With the added displacement, the new V4 will take on the likes of the Hayabusa and ZX-14R, while Honda phases out the 800cc VFR and CBR1100xx.

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News

Red Bull to Enter MotoGP with Honda? Repsol to Sponsor Yamaha?

By Jensen Beeler 06/17/2009 8 Comments

If that title didn’t illicit a “huh?” from you, then let us be the first to say the MotoGP rumormill has kicked it up a notch now that we’re about a third of the way through the 2009 season. The first rumor up to bat is the talk that Red Bull, the maker of the energy drink with wings, is looking to sponsor a MotoGP team. Early speculation places Red Bull flying into premiere motorcycle racing with the factory Honda team, which is currently Repsol Honda.

That brings us to our next rumor in this double-header, Repsol is rumored to be considering a move to Yamaha next year. Displeased with the performance Honda has given them in bringing a Spanish MotoGP Champion into fruition, the Spanish Oil company is looking for new tune at the Piano making company. More bizzaro after the jump.

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Bikes

Honda EVO 6 Supernaked Concept is a Go

By Jensen Beeler 06/13/2009 4 Comments

According to the Spanish news site Solomoto, Honda is about to launch a bike based off their EVO 6 concept. The EVO 6 debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007 as Hondas stab at making a hypermotard built off the Goldwing 1800cc motor.

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News

Honda Motorcycle/ATV/PWC Sales Fell 52% Last Quarter

By Jensen Beeler 05/15/2009 1 Comment

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

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News

Moto2 Spec Motor to be Heavily Modified CBR 600

By Jensen Beeler 05/05/2009 3 Comments

At Jerez this weekend, the Permanent Bureau (FIM & Dorna) was light on the details when it . However after the announcement, Shuhei Nakamoto, VP of HRC, revealed more information about the engine that will be used in Moto2.

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Bikes

The New Honda VFR 1000 Continues to Taunt the Interweb

By Jensen Beeler 05/04/2009 3 Comments

News surrounding the new VFR have been swirling around the internet, with various concept drawing and CG renders making the course. Fueling the fire, Honda has been keeping their cards close to their chest when it comes to the new VFR, which is rumored to come out in 2010.

Now we have the latest image to hit the net, done by Vanjey Design. The render looks clean, and influenced with Honda’s current design progression with the 1000cc CBR. There is speculation that the new VFR will see a bump in displacement to 1000cc, up from its current 782cc. However, there has been no indication so far from Honda that this might be true. As always, time will tell.

Source: Visordown

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News

Honda to Power Moto2 – Sole Motor Supplier

By Jensen Beeler 05/03/2009 2 Comments

A lot of talk has gone on about who will be providing the single spec motor to the new Moto2 series. First, it was rumored that (read, not Kawasaki). And now, all this talk can finally be put to rest as the GP Commission has announced that Honda will provide the motors for the Moto2 season, which is slated to start in 2010, and replace the 250cc GP class.

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