Latest Posts:
Asphalt & Rubber
Tag

production

Browsing
Bikes

Ducati Multistrada V4 Heads into Production, With Radar

By 4 Comments

Ducati is currently in the midst of a teaser campaign for the V4 engine that will power the new Multistrada V4 adventure bike, so it is a bit interesting to see them today promoting the new machine outside of that marketing campaign.

The news from Bologna tells us that the 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 is currently being produced on the Borgo Panigale factory floor, and that when it goes on sale, it will be the first motorcycle with rider aids that uses a front and rear radar system.

In that announcement, Ducati does let slip a few more details about this eagerly anticipated 170hp motorcycle, namely that its new V4 configuration will allow for much longer service intervals, and that its motor (which is presumed to be 1,158cc) will produce silky smooth power.

Perhaps the biggest news is that the Ducati Multistrada V4 will officially debut on November 4th, though the motor powering this machine is expected to have a full announcement on October 15th.

Keep Reading
By
Rumors

Husqvarna Norden 901 Spotted in Its Final Form

By 13 Comments

The Husqvarna Norden 901 was one of the highlights of the 2019 EICMA show, with the Swedish brand showing its 890cc interpretation of the KTM 790 Adventure.

The bike displayed at the trade show was only a concept though, which left at least some doubt as to what the final production-ready machine would look like – not that Husqvarna strays too far from concept to conception, mind you.

Now spotted in a Pierer Mobility investor presentation (where all the best KTM/Husqvarna stories come from), we have caught a pixelated glimpse of the 2021 Husqvarna Norden 901.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

Honda CBR1000RR-R SP US Arrival Delayed Until September

By No Comments
Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP

More delays are coming to the Honda CBR1000RR-R superbike, this time for the SP models that are coming to the US market.

While Europeans will have to wait a couple weeks longer because of a con-rod recall affecting the new Fireblade in their markets, would-be owners in the United States will have to show some patience as well, as deliveries to the United States have been pushed back by over one month.

Keep Reading
By
News

Back in the Swing of Things, MV Agusta Rush 1000 Delivering in June

By 10 Comments

Perhaps the most lurid motorcycle we saw at the 2019 EICMA show, the MV Agusta Rush 1000 is truly a bike that stands out from the crowd. Designed with what MV Agusta calls a “drag racing” aesthetic, the Rush 1000 takes the already gorgeous Brutale 1000 RR streetfighter, and dials it up to 11.

On the technical side, MV Agusta hasn’t distinguished the Rush 1000 too much from the Brutale 1000 – they both share a 205hp inline-four engine (209hp with the kit exhaust, which surely one would install for the full “Rush” effect), which is pulled straight out of the MV Agusta F4 RC superbike.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

After High-Speed Testing at the Nardò Ring, The Ducati Superleggera V4 Is Headed into Production

By 7 Comments

After months of shutdown, Italy is finally letting its citizens out of their houses, to start their march back to the new normal of daily life. We can only imagine the great relief this means to millions of Italians, after they endured some of the worst effects of COVID-19 in the world.

For our own selfish two-wheeled pursuits, this news also means the return of operations for Italian motorcycle manufacturers, which have seen their factories motionless while larger issues were addressed. Of course, this too leads us to the news that life is returning to the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale.

Accordingly, we get word (from a tweet from Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali, no less) that the Ducati Superleggera V4 is nearing the start of its production, but not before the carbon fiber superbike heads to the Nardò for some high-speed testing.

Keep Reading
By
Dirt

Husqvarna Norden 901 Gets the Green Light for Production

By No Comments

If the Husqvarna Norden 901 was one of your top picks from the 2019 EICMA show, then we have some good news for you, as the adventure-touring bike has been given the green light for production by the Swedish brand.

The news shouldn’t come as a surprise to astute ADV fans, as spy shots of the new Husky have already been spotted in the wild, and Husqvarna has a strong track record of bringing its EICMA concepts to reality.

What will be interesting though is where Husqvarna lands on the feature list, and more importantly, how the Husqvarna Norden 901 is going to be priced against its competition.

Keep Reading
By
News

Harley-Davidson Halts LiveWire Production Over Charging Concerns

By No Comments

The Wall Street Journal is reporting tough news for the Harley-Davidson LiveWire, as the American motorcycle brand is halting production of its first electric motorcycle because of issues with the bike’s charging system.

With bikes just now arriving at dealers, the announcement is poorly timed, and the issue seems to stem from the onboard Level 1 charger on the Harley-Davidson LiveWire, as owners are being told only to use the DC fast-charging system on the bike.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

Yes! MV Agusta Superveloce 800 Going into Production

By No Comments

The message from MV Agsuta was short and sweet on social media, “We feed your desire. The MV Agusta Superveloce. Coming 2020.” Three terse sentences, and with that we have confirmation that the MV Agusta Superveloce 800 will be a 2020 model year bike for the Italian brand.

It makes sense, though, as the Superveloce got a huge response on its debut last year at EICMA – almost eclipsing the company’s new production model, the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro, which we have heard very little about since the Italian trade show, and still doesn’t show up on the brand’s website.

Back to the Superveloce 800 though, the machine is a neo-retro take on the MV Agusta F3 800 sport bike, which it shares a platform with. This makes the MV Agusta Superveloce 800 mostly a styling exercise…but it is quite the design, if we do say so.

Keep Reading
By
News

Suzuki Motor of America Confirms Hayabusa Production Continues

By No Comments

There has been much conjecture regarding the Suzuki Hayabusa in recent days, especially after the company’s Japanese website listed the Busa’s production as terminated.

This created a fervor on European publications, and because of the internet, it grew from there. We tried to talk some reason into the situation the other day, and now Suzuki Motor of America has made a press release on the matter.

Keep Reading
By
News

Here’s Why Suzuki’s New Factory Is Such a Big Deal

By No Comments

One of the more overlooked announcements this week is perhaps one of the bigger ones we have seen in a while, as Suzuki Motor Corp has announced the creation of a new manufacturing plant in Hamamatsu, Japan.

The new factory combines engineering, development, engine production, and vehicle assembly into one location, which will streamline operations, increase efficiency, and reduce production costs on Suzuki’s Japanese-made motorcycle models.

Over 40 acres in size, the new factory is massive, and it sits in the Miyakoda district of Hamamatsu. Part of a five-year consolidation plan, the new factory replaces an engineering and development facility in Ryuyo; an engine production plant in Takatsuka; and a motorcycle assembly line in Toyokawa.

Keep Reading
By
MotoGP

How To Make a Kalex Moto2 Chassis

By No Comments

If you want to go racing in the Moto2 World Championship, then you better grab yourself a chassis from the German engineering brand. This is because the “Kalex Cup” – as some have come to call it – sees a grid replete with Kalex-framed machines each racing Sunday.

Some of this is a nod to the fine work that Kalex produces, I have yet to see anyone with a wholly negative view of the company’s work. But, a portion of the brand’s dominance is surely due to the conservative nature of motorcycle racing teams.

That is to say that while the Kalex chassis is certainly very good, that does not mean that other worthy alternative do not exist. Racing doesn’t always improve the breed, you see. We digress.

Still, making a racing chassis is no small undertaking, and Kalex is one of the best in the business. Certainly a large part of it is science, but there is a certain art to the process as well.

Thankfully, Kalex has put together a short video showing how they make their Moto2 chassis. It’s pretty interesting to watch.

Keep Reading
By