we wrote about last year, is a tour around Lake Superior. Ride Lake Superior is now giving you a chance to win a trip around the world’s largest freshwater lake for free!

To enter for a chance to win, all you have to do is like Ride Lake Superior on Facebook.

The tour will take you around Lake Superior and through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. If you are lucky enough to win, the prize package includes accommodations for two at eight locations on the Lake Superior Circle Tour, dinner vouchers for each night, gift cards, entrance to the route’s major attractions and more. Continue Reading »

Victory Hard-Ball we outfitted with a host of accessories from the Victory catalog, including a wind-blocking batwing fairing. We’ll have a four-part series on our project, the long ride to Sturgis and the event itself in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can enjoy this photo essay of some of the things we’ve seen in Sturgis.

The Durango and Silverton line heats up for another ride.

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In a live broadcast from San Diego, Calif., ESPN celebrated the New Year by televising the first-ever simultaneous world-record breaking distance jumps as Levi LaVallee and Robbie Maddison launched across more than 300 feet of water in San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park. The world-record feats set by LaVallee at 412 feet, 6 inches and Maddison at 378 feet, 9 inches were witnessed by thousands of fans in attendance as the fog cleared over the marina.

Both Maddison and LaVallee broke their own records. Maddison’s previous best was 351 feet, 3 inches, while LaVallee previously jumped 361 feet during training for the 2010 Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. Jump.

“It’s a cool feeling to do what I do and have the backing I do,” says Maddison.” I was confident we were going to go a long way tonight and we’re going to come back and go even further.”

“I’m as excited as I think a person can be,” says LaVallee. “I just landed an over 400-foot jump. I’m not sure how the sled’s doing, but I’m okay, so it was good. It’s an amazing feeling. You have no idea how pumped I am.” Continue Reading »

Off-road motorcyclists are no doubt used to fighting for their right to ride and now they face two significant salvos – a potential end of the dedicated funding for recreational trails and a proposal that could block riding on public land in nine states.

We’ll look at the trail funding first. According to the American Motorcyclist Association, the U.S. Senate will vote on a bill that would end the dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which is considered to be one of the most important and beneficial laws for off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders ever passed by Congress.

The RTP, which provides money to states to develop and maintain trails, would lose dedicated funding under provisions in a transportation funding authorization bill — S. 1813, “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century” (MAP-21) — which was approved by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee by an 18-0 vote on Nov. 9. It’s unknown when the full Senate will vote on the measure. Continue Reading »

Honda is set to unveil seven electric-powered concept vehicles at the upcoming 42nd Tokyo Motor Show, including a sportbike that has piqued our interest.

According to Honda, the RC-E concept is a version of a sportbike that “pursues the joy of riding.” Honda says the RC-E will offer a powerful and smooth ride unique to an EV model and features a 250cc-class compact body. We’ll provide more details of the RC-E concept as they become available.

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While Kawasaki unveiled its Versys 1000 at EICMA, don’t expect to see it on American roadways any time soon (edit: but if you live north of the border in Canada you’re in luck, as it will offered for CN$13,999, a bit higher than the Z1000 but the same price as the Ninja 1000):

What will we be missing? A bigger, badder version of the original Kawasaki Versys seems to be the answer.

“Created as the long-awaited big brother of Kawasaki’s mid-size any-road street surfer, the new Versys 1000 is designed to enable the greatest riding enjoyment in the widest variety of street riding situations,” Kawasaki Motors Europe says in a release. “Whether riding solo or two-up, around the corner or around the globe, its unique combination of a highly responsive In-Line Four engine tuned for flexibility, and a nimble chassis fitted with dynamic suspension will have riders grinning in their helmets.”

More details and plenty of photos available below the jump.

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BMW continues its assault on new markets, most recently with its incredible S1000RR literbike. Over the past four years, the German company has nearly doubled its 500cc-plus market share from about 7% to 13%, and the 2011 model year is on pace to set a sales record of more than 103,000 motorcycles.

For 2012, BMW enters the lucrative scooter segment with a pair of twin-cylinder maxi-scoots claimed to combine the agility and comfort of a scooter with the riding qualities of a motorcycle. The C600 Sport is, like its name suggests, is the sportier version. Unlike the implication of its name, the “600” Sport actually uses the same liquid-cooled 647cc parallel-Twin engine as the more luxurious C650GT. Both will be built in BMW’s Berlin factory. Check out our photo gallery of the new BMW scooters here.

The fuel-injected DOHC motor is claimed to produce a relatively awesome 60 horsepower at its 7500-rpm peak and delivers it to the rear wheel via a CVT transmission and an enclosed, oil-bath chain. The twin cylinders are inclined at 70 degrees for a low center of gravity, with a crankpin offset of 90 degrees and a 270-degree firing pattern. Vibration is quelled via twin balance shafts. Continue Reading »

Click here to see photos of each of the new 2012 models.

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2012 Zero S

According to Zero, the 2012 Zero S is the world’s first available mass-produced electric motorcycle capable of exceeding 100 miles on the EPA’s UDDS range test. The entirely revamped Zero S features a completely new powertrain that includes a brushless motor capable of achieving speeds of up to 88 mph, new battery cell technology, regenerative deceleration and a power pack that is designed to last the life of the motorcycle.

Offering customers the ability to select the range they need, the new ZF6 and ZF9 power pack configurations give riders the ability to respectively achieve 76 miles and 114 miles according to the EPA UDDS. Highlighting the new powertrain is new venting and bodywork designed to keep the maintenance free and air cooled system operating at moderate temperatures. As well, Zero says revised frame geometry, new optimized Zero designed rotors and a larger front brake master cylinder give the Zero S better handling and more stopping power than ever before.

The 2012 Zero S is visually distinct from its predecessors with new additions to the bodywork, components and graphics. Built around a black high-end aircraft grade aluminum frame, it is the first and only model to feature Zero’s newly designed and optimized cast wheels. Other changes include a more contemporary headlight.

Prices start at $11,495 for the ZF6 power pack. Add $2,500 for the ZF9.

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Polaris Industries Inc. has announced a minority investment in Brammo, an Ashland, Ore.-based maker of electric motorcycles. By investing in Brammo, Polaris obtains access to its proprietary electric vehicle powertrain technology, as well as exposure to the electric motorcycle market.

“We are excited to advance our electric vehicle capability by establishing Polaris as a business partner and part owner of Brammo, one of the most innovative and aggressive companies we have found in the electric motorcycle space,” says Scott Wine, Polaris CEO. “Our companies share a passion for performance, and we look forward to exploiting the numerous opportunities created by pairing Brammo’s industry-leading electric powertrain technology with Polaris’ vast array of market-leading powersports products. This is a small, but important, investment for Polaris in an electric vehicle market that we feel is poised for significant growth.”

Polaris is hardly new to electric vehicles. The Minnesota-based manufacturer currently produces the Ranger EV off-road vehicle and the Gem and Breeze neighborhood vehicles. Continue Reading »

Germany’s Matthias Himmelmann dominated the FIM e-Power & TTXGP combined event held Sept. 23 at the Le Mans circuit, in opening of the renowned FIM 24 Hours Endurance race.

Not to discount Himmelmann’s win, but the most remarkable thing about the race is how much faster the electric-powered motorcycles lapped the Bugatti circuit this year. Himmelmann completed his fastest lap in 1’54.584 and set a time of 1’52.939 as pole position. In 2010, the fastest lap around the circuit was completed in 2’19 – an incredible 26-second improvement!

After eight laps of racing, Himmelmann’s Münch TTE bike crossed the finish line more than 34 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.

“This was a start to finish with a victory for the team,” says Himmelmann. “I gave it all my power as well as the power of the bike to push for the win and the result for the whole team is excellent. This is a real team effort; the win belongs to all of us. We have worked really hard to further develop this new bike after a disappointing result at Laguna Seca.” Continue Reading »