A new marketing campaign from Aprilia USA is intended to “connect riders with the brand’s heart, soul and racing DNA” via a new multi-media strategy that includes videos, online trivia with user rewards, an infographic featuring company firsts and its race achievements, plus news about its test-ride tour for the incredible Tuono V4 APRC we fell in love with in our European Literbike Streetfighter shootout. Continue Reading »
Lehman Trikes has suspended all operations after failing to find investors for its motorcycle trike conversion kit business.
The Spearfish, S.D., company says it needs an injection of capital in order to continue producing trikes. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Lehman Trikes laid off some workers late in 2011 while the company sought new investors. That search was unsuccessful, leading the company to shut down operations while it seeks other avenues for new capital.
While the search for new funding continues, the company says there is no guarantee it will find enough to re-open operations. Continue Reading »
Brim’s Imports is a vintage motorcycle shop disguised as a used car dealership, and chances are you’ve never heard of the place or its proprietor, Tom Brim. If you’re in the market for a rare vintage motorcycle, however, it may behoove you to give Tom or his brother, Ralph, an old fashion phone call. A website does exist, brimsimport.com, but its for searching the inventory of late model car and truck parts — the cash flow supporting Tom’s motorcycle obsession.
Brim’s is located in Kenton, Ohio (population: 8,021), and its motorcycle inventory is spread throughout three locations along West Franklin St. Within these buildings is stashed an eclectic collection of restored and original condition Ducatis, Excelsior Hendersons, Harleys, Hondas, Indians, Nortons, Triumphs, etc. Moto Guzzi Airone, got it, Triumph Hurricane, yep, Indian board tracker, check… Oh yeah, the Harley XR Evel Knievel jumped in Wembley Stadium, uh-huh, he’s got that too!
Ural, the funky motorcycle sidecar manufacturer from Russia, is boasting a 39% increase in unit sales for 2011. Considering the company’s total expected output for last year was approximately 1,100 models, you won’t notice an influx of sidehacks dominating your local roadways, but this is really good news for the small manufacturer of eclectic two-wheelers, especially in the midst of a deficient economy.
There it is, folks. That’s Spanish roadracing and supermoto ace Dani Ribalta goofing around for the camera and getting his elbow on the ground. In case you’re wondering, no, he didn’t crash. Continue Reading »
It’s been about a year since Bombardier Recreational Products announced it was developing a hybrid version of the Can-Am Spyder Roadster. Developed in partnership with the Advanced Technology Center at Sherbrooke University in Quebec and with funding from the Government of Canada, the hybrid Spyder is an ambitious project for BRP.
We met up with Scott MacWilliam from BRP at the Toronto Motorcycle Show to take a look at a working prototype of the Can-Am’s hybrid three-wheeler. The Can-Am Spyder Hybrid project is still early in its development, just a year into the projected four-year program, but MacWilliam says BRP is on track of its performance goals.
Chinese manufacturer CFMOTO is recalling 6,405 motorcycles because the rear brakes controls do not comply with federal requirements.
The rear brakes on 2005-2009 CFMOTO CF250T V3 and CF250T V5 models are controlled by a hand lever on the left handlebar instead of a right foot control. The CF250T V3 and V5 use automatic continuously variable transmissions and thus do not have a clutch that would be operated by a left hand lever like on conventional motorcycles. Instead, they are set up like scooters which can have both front and brakes controlled by hand levers.
In fact, the manufacturer classified the V3 (pictured above) and the V5 (which has a cruiser-like fender and headlight design instead of the V3′s fairing) as scooters. The CF250T V3 was included in our 2009 250cc Street Bike Shootout and Pete Brissette describes it as a “scootercycle”.
“Just like a scooter, both front and rear brakes are operated by hand levers, so be warned if you’re looking to stomp your right foot down on the brake pedal, ’cause it ain’t there!” Pete commented.
Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines rider Ed Krawiec is the 2011 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion. Krawiec clinched the title with a second-round win at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway that eliminated Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Jr., the only rider in the field with a chance to overtake Krawiec for the championship. Krawiec advanced to the final round and lost to his Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines teammate Andrew Hines, who finished the season third in points.
Auctions America hopes an 1894 Roper Steam Motorcycle will set a new record as the most expensive motorcycle sold at auction when it goes on the block during the Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction in January 12 – 14, 2012. The auction house believes the rarity of the Roper — one of only two built by Sylvester Roper of Roxbury, Massachusetts, according to Auctions America – could drive bids beyond the $520,000 price set in 2008 by a 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer OHC.
The Harley-Davidson Museum has pulled the covers off discarded prototypes of a leaning three-wheeled motorcycle developed by The Motor Company.
Harley-Davidson commissioned automobile hot rodding legend John Buttera to build the original prototype (pictured above) in 1998. Codenamed the “Penster”, the Trike looks like it could have been an earlier version of the Can-Am Spyder, but it had a tilting front end similar to the Piaggio MP3.
According to The Kneeslider, Harley-Davidson filed a patent for the leaning front end which uses hydraulic actuators to tilt the trike and return it to a vertical position.
