New Harley-Davidson touring chassis for 2009

An all-new chassis underpins Harley-Davidson’s popular Touring models for 2009. Redesigned from the tires up for a responsive ride and enhanced capacity and comfort, the Motor Company claims that the seven 2009 Touring models ride like new motorcycles, while preserving the firm’s iconic styling.

“Under the skin, our 2009 Touring models are essentially new motorcycles,” said Bill Davidson, Harley-Davidson vice president of core customer marketing. “There is likely no profile on the American road more distinctive than that of a Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycle, and we were able to retain the character of each model while significantly improving the riding experience in many ways.”

Forming the core of the 2009 Touring chassis is a new frame with a single-spar, rigid backbone designed to sustain the demands of long-haul touring riders and today’s powerful engines. The new frame provides a strong foundation that supports a 70-pound increase in carrying capacity.

A separate bolt-on tail section isolates the main frame from the tail frame, improving the fit-and-finish of the rear area of the motorcycle through more-precise alignment of the rear fender over the rear wheel.

Front wheel diameter on all models except the Road King is increased to 17 inches from 16 inches, while the width of the 16-inch rear wheel is increased to five inches from three inches.

The wider rear wheel accommodates a new 180/65-16 rear tire that is wider and has a lower aspect ratio than the tire it replaces. The new front tire, a 130/80-17, also has a lower aspect ratio for a more modern look and improved handling response.

All 2009 Touring models will be equipped with new Dunlop D407 multi-tread rear tires designed specifically for the new touring chassis, which the Motor Company claims deliver up to 25 percent more rear-tire tread life than previous tires.

New Harley-Davidson touring chassis for 2009

Bajaj to launch 5 new bikes in 2009

Bajaj auto today announced slew of incentives. The measures include an intense new product initiatives. Through this measure, Bajaj will launch a new motorcycle each month for 6 months beginning January 2009.

Bajaj to launch 5 new bikes in 2009

New Honda CB 1000 RA

This is the replacement for my trusty Honda 919. Honda makes great bikes. Did I hear anyone say Suzuki B-King?

New Honda CB 1000 RA

BMW to make it's mark in motorsport

The revelation that BMW is set to enter the World Superbike Championship in 2009 – as revealed in MCN this week – perhaps shouldn’t be such a surprise, since the firm has been gradually revamping its image for the last five years.

While the firm has long been involved in four-wheeled motorsport, and has competed on two wheels in events like the Paris Dakar rally, its recent entry in the Le Mans 24 hour race was the first time in 50 years the firm ran its own works road racing team.

But the build-up to that has been a long time coming. For several years BMW has run the Boxer Cup championship for R1100S machines, and the PowerCup for the K1200R, as well as providing significant sponsorship to the MotoGP championship.
And the increased motorsport activity has been reflected in its production model range. The K1200S, K1200R and the new R1200S all show a new, sportier face to a firm who’s products were once considered the two wheeled equivalent to a comfy pair of slippers.

And it’s not just road racing that BMW has shown an interest in. Its 450cc enduro prototype hinted at a greater involvement in off-road competition, and just last week BMW signed a deal to buy the Husqvarna marque in its entirety from previous owner Claudio Castiglioni. That gives it a ready-made range of off-road machines, ready to race – although the bikes will retain Husqvarna branding rather than gaining BMW badges.

The decision to enter WSB might come after a behind the scenes flirtation with the idea of a MotoGP bike – albeit a brief affair that came to nothing – but the production-based championship is arguably a more fitting slot for the firm’s image. Where treks like the Long Way Round publicise the abilities of its off-road R1200GS, racing in WSB will give a marketing push to its more road-based bikes.

It’s not the first time BMW has considered the WSB championship. Back in 1992 it developed a boxer twin superbike with the intention of taking on the all-conquering Ducatis in WSB. Called the R1 – long before Yamaha owned that name – the BMW prototype used an all-new 1000cc, DOHC, water-cooled boxer twin, with around 160bhp. Not much by today’s standards, but enough to be competitive back then.
Late in the bike’s development, BWM decided the design wouldn’t be competitive enough to guarantee the success needed to make the investment worthwhile, and backed away from the idea of racing.

Now it’s back. The new project, which uses a four-cylinder engine, promises to be truly competitive. Codenamed 190/190 inside the factory, the bike is targeting 190bhp at the crankshaft and a 190kg wet weight in road-going trim. If it hit that, race versions should have no problem meeting the 210bhp-plus needed to be competitive in WSB, and slimming down to the 162kg minimum weight limit for the series.

BMW isn’t commenting on the project officially, but an insider told MCN that there would be an announcement about its race plans later this year. He also hinted that we were in for a big surprise at one of this year’s major bike shows, suggesting a prototype of the new machine could appear.

Even if it does reveal the bike this year, BMW won’t be racing in WSB until 2009 – but showing a prototype will allow it the luxury of testing relatively publicly for a year, on the tracks used by the WSB series, without having to try to hide the bike. Production versions of the 190/190 could also go on sale before its race debut, as BMW will need to meet the production targets set by the WSB series to homologate the machine.

BMW to make it's mark in motorsport

Harley Davidson unveils its 2009 motorcycles

Harley Davidson has launched a new V-Rod and updated its whole range.
Harley Davidson has unveiled its 2009 range of motorcycles with a brand new V-Rod, three-wheel Electra Glide and almost every bike getting an update.

Harley Davidson unveils its 2009 motorcycles

2009 KTM Models shown at EICMA Milan motorcycle show

The newly developed 1190 RC8 R, as the sports-oriented variation of the 1190 RC8, the first ever KTM Superbike presented just 12 months ago, is the spearhead of the latest model generation and represents spectacular benchmark data, the most elegant fittings and design right down to the last detail. With 1195 ccm displacement, an increased top performance of 165 hp as well as the enormous maximum torque of 123 nm, the ultramodern two-cylinder construction is best suited for sporting activities on closed racing circuits. An optional sport kit is available that lifts the engine performance to 180 hp to produce the most powerful KTM series model of all times.

High quality equipment like forged light alloy wheels and suspension components especially developed for motorsports use compress the weight and sharpen the lap time potential of the 1190 RC8 R. The Superbike, with the characteristic orange-coloured tubular steel frame, will be available from the spring of 2009 and therefore just in time for the new motor racing season.

2009 KTM Models shown at EICMA Milan motorcycle show

The new Ducati Streetfighter

It has the bells and whistles for sure, hydraulic clutch, radial brakes and all. No doubt it’s an awesome machine.

The new Ducati Streetfighter

2009 BMW S1000RR Prototype

2009 BMW S1000RR Prototype

2009 Terminator Bike - “Terminator Salvation”

The motorcycle of a new series of films “Terminator: Salvation.”
Bike a bit like one of the projects of American company Orange County Chopper.

2009 Terminator Bike - “Terminator Salvation”

2009 Victory Motorcycles

The motorcycle on a highway in Southern California feel right at home. But as soon as possible, we leave the valley and the coast of Borrego Springs, 250mm to start climbing the mountain from the weight of the tire is clear. Hammer is in a lot of effort, but from the inside wheel of the bike in order to maintain the arc in turn requires a certain pressure. In the end, as before, and a combination of popular movements, in general, in an upright position while studying in Thai motorcycle that likes to say about 669 pounds of dry weight. This victory in the 2008 model, the weight of 11 pounds of garbage dadeumeun reality. Most of them can get a new Stingray, thanks to the wheels. Units and 15 September in the hollow of the wheels, but shaving 8.5 pounds - in various myasistym Giuliani backside.Traveling north of Hwy 79 inches 18 inches and the front group - Traffic up, and began to curve more. Hammer easy class. 42 on the hard drive before I bite their dual 300mm front brake, 4 - piston calipers handful turns Dashboard capture. On the line, I pedal on the back zatornogo. 2 - piston calipers, 300mm disc at the rear of the block more than expected, and my black rubber baemdugoitda of fishtail. In this case, the road again to play with confidence in his presence to check the brakes are not few in the back.

2009 Victory Motorcycles