Triumph announced a number of new paint schemes for several of its models. While the new options are for the most part merely cosmetic, the lone exception is the new sulfur yellow 2012 Triumph Daytona 675.

We’re not quite sure it’s good marketing for a color scheme that reminds you of the smell of rotten eggs, but the sulfur yellow Daytona 675 also sports a number of upgrades. In addition to the new paint and matching pin-striped wheels, the sulfur yellow D675 gets new carbon fiber exhaust heat shield, cockpit infills and front fender like those on the Daytona 675R. The sulfur yellow model gets a quickshifter and billet levers.

The best news is the price, at least in the U.K. While the base 2012 Triumph Daytona 675 is priced at 8,599 British pounds (US$13,750), the sulfur yellow version with these upgrades is priced at 8,875 British pounds (US$14,200). A slight increase, but still less than buying those components separately. U.S. pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the MSRP is expected to remain close, if not level, at $10,999. Continue Reading »

Honda, the largest (by volume) motorcycle manufacturer in the world has launched one of its least expensive motorcycles.

Made specifically for the booming two-wheeler market in India, the 109cc Dream Yuga is set to retail for 44,642 Indian rupees. That price wouldn’t translate directly here in the U.S., but a simple currency conversion at today’s monetary values equates the rupee cost to $830.

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Remember the Honda U3-X? Unveiled in 2009, the U3-X was Honda‘s personal mobility device concept, essentially a self-balancing electronic unicycle that can move in any direction by simply leaning. Honda has created an updated version it calls the UNI-CUB.

The UNI-CUB uses the same “Honda Omni Traction Drive System” (or “HOT Drive System”) introduced on the U3-X, using a large ring as its main wheel with several much smaller wheels along its rim. The UNI-CUB adds a second, smaller wheel, mounted perpendicular to the main wheel. This second wheel adds stability while also aiding with turning, either around corners or even on the spot.

Honda also added a new saddle which looks much more comfortable than the fold-away seat found on the U3-X. The saddle is height-adjustable from 29.3 inches to 32.5 inches, placing the rider’s eyes at the same level as other pedestrians while making it easy for the rider’s legs to comfortably reach the ground when needed. Continue Reading »

America is starting to become a hotbed for wild card Claiming Rule Team entries in MotoGP. First there was Attack Performance getting awarded a wild card for the U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca and the Indianapolis Grand Prix at The Brickyard. Indianapolis Motor Speedway will see another U.S.-based wild card, this time it’s Indiana-based GP Tech preparing its own CRT machine.

GP Tech has drawn wild cards at the Indianapolis Grand Prix before, in the Moto2 class. In 2010, GP Tech prepared an FTR chassis for Jason DiSalvo and in 2011, GP Tech prepared another FTR race machine for Jake Gagne. DiSalvo finished ninth in the 2010 race while Gagne (pictured above) was 31st in 2011.

This time, GP Tech is taking advantage of the new CRT classification to compete in the premier MotoGP class. While Attack Performance is mounting a Kawasaki ZX-10R engine in a custom-built frame, GP Tech is teaming up with the Vesrah Suzuki/MCJ Motorsports team to build a race bike powered by a Suzuki GSX-R1000 engine with a billet aluminum frame by BCL Motorsports. Continue Reading »

Yamaha reported a 5.3% decrease in worldwide motorcycle sales over the first quarter of 2012 despite a 25% increase in North American sales.

In the quarter ended March 31, 2012, Yamaha sold 1.599 million motorcycles worldwide, down from 1.689 million motorcycles sold over the same quarter in 2011. Most of the decline was due to Yamaha’s performance in the Asian market. Though net sales increased in Thailand, Vietnam and India, sales declined in Indonesia as Yamaha is starting the transition of introducing fuel-injected models. Yamaha also saw a decline in sales in Brazil, another large motorcycle market.

Sales in the U.S. on the other hand are up to 20,000 units from 16,000 units. Sales in Europe saw a small increase to 45,000 units from 44,000 units, as Yamaha introduced the updated 2012 TMax and the new Xenter scooters. Continue Reading »

BMW earned its first-ever World Superbike race win at the U.K.’s Donington Park, but missed out on sweeping the round after teammates Leon Haslam and Marco Melandri crashed on the final corner while battling for the lead in the second race.

Melandri earned BMW its landmark first win in Race One leading Haslam in a one-two finish. They could have repeated that finish in Race Two but Haslam low-sided after making contact with Honda‘s Jonathon Rea trying to pass on the inside. That sent Haslam skidding into Melandri, ruining the chance for another double-podium.

The Race Two incident could have overshadowed the milestone victory in Race One, but BMW must be relieved its flagship S1000RR superbike finally earned a race win in its fourth year of competition. Continue Reading »

Yamaha has received approval from the government of India to build a new factory in Chennai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Joining an existing factory near New Delhi, the new Chennai plant is expected to increase Yamaha‘s production capabilities in India to 2.8 million units a year by 2018.

The new factory will be built on a 109-acre lot in Vallam Vadagal on the outskirts of Chennai. Set to open in 2014, the Chennai plant will have a production capacity of 1.8 million units by 2018.

The Chennai plant will primarily be used for manufacturing parts and assembling scooters. Yamaha’s facility in Surajpur, outside New Delhi, will focus on producing motorcycles such as the YZF-R15 and the FZ-16. The Surajpur plant currently builds 600,000 units a year but production is expected to increase to a million units a year by 2018. Continue Reading »

British racer Lee Richardson succumbed to injuries suffered after crashing into fencing during a Speedway race in Poland.

Richardson, 33, was competing in Poland’s top-tier Ekstraliga speedway division, racing for the PGE Marma Rzeszów team at a track in Wroclaw, Poland.

Running on the inside on the first lap of a heat race, Richardson’s front wheel clipped the rear of another racer’s, sending the Hastings, England, racer tumbling into the fencing along the back straight. Richardson received a severe blow to the chest, suffering internal injuries and breathing difficulties. Continue Reading »

The American International Motorcycle Expo has selected Orlando, Fla., as host of its inaugural event in 2013. The first AIMExpo show will take place Oct. 16-20, 2013, at the Orange County Convention Center.

Organizers Marketplace Events aspire to make AIMExpo the premier motorcycle show in North America, hoping to match the excitement of major international shows like Italy’s EICMA or Germany’s Intermot.

As such, the choice of host city is important in helping attract OEMs, dealers, aftermarket suppliers, the press and consumers to the show. Continue Reading »

Bell Helmets and Transitions Optical have announced their company’s co-sponsorship of AMA Pro Road Racer Josh Herrin for the 2012 season. The protective ensemble puts the head of one of North America’s premiere racing talents inside one of the world’s most iconic helmet brands featuring the latest in advanced photochromic faceshield technology.

Herrin won the 2010 Daytona 200 wearing a Bell helmet with a Transitions faceshield. Transitions adaptive faceshields automatically self-adjust from clear at night and in low light conditions to dark gray in bright sunlight. The shields eliminate the need for motorcycle riders to carry two shields.

“With so much going through my mind on the racetrack, having equipment that works with me to reduce distractions to an absolute minimum is critical,” said Herrin. “My Bell Star helmet with a Transitions adaptive face shield gives me an edge over the competition.”

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