New Bedford, MA—May 18, 2012— Vectrix (www.vectrix.com), maker of two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles, motorcycles, and scooters, announces the partnership with their new U.S. Distributor, Georgia-based Peirspeed.

Through their extensive nationwide network of dealers, Peirspeed will be showcasing three Vectrix clean energy, all-electric scooters in 2012—the Vectrix VX-1 Li/Li+, VX-2, and VX-3 Li+. The clean energy Vectrix VX-1 Li/Li+ maxi-scooter was just named European “e-Scooter of the Year” for the second consecutive year and the 50-cc equivalent electric Vectrix VX-2, was named European “e-Scooter of the Year” for 2011.

The revolutionary three-wheeled lithium-powered Vectrix VX-3 Li+ maxi-scooter is the only electric scooter with the patented Vectrix fully-articulating front suspension. “Vectrix is proud to join forces with U.S. powersports leader, Peirspeed. Their professionalism, market reach, and creative approach to the American two-wheeled marketplace is an ideal fit for Vectrix,” said Brian Buccella, Vectrix Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Since 2006, Vectrix core technology has set the standard for electric scooters and motorcycles. Peirspeed customers across America will be able to experience three different styles of zero gas, zero emission riding options—the VX-1 Li/Li+, VX-2, and VX-3 Li+.”

“We are very excited to team up with Vectrix to distribute the industry’s best electric scooters,” said Bill Peirce, President of Cobra Powersports which owns the Peirspeed brand. “Electric vehicles have evolved into a viable, daily form of cost-effective transportation and Vectrix has led that progression from the beginning. As we like to say, ‘once you’ve ridden a Vectrix, no other electric bike compares.’”

About Peirspeed: Peirspeed (www.peirspeed.com) is owned by Cobra Powersports of Kennesaw, GA. Cobra Powersports has a long history of providing top quality scooters and small displacement motorcycles. Products

include Vectrix electric Scooters, Sachs Bikes, and Peirspeed Scooters. Peirspeed was founded in 1998 by Bill Peirce to sell custom auto wheels and tires.

About Vectrix™: VECTRIX™ (www.vectrix.com) was formed to develop and commercialize zero emission vehicle platform technologies and to set the global standard for electric vehicles. The singular focus of VECTRIX™ has been to provide clean, efficient, reliable, and affordable urban transportation for law enforcement/security, parcel/cargo delivery, and consumer markets. VECTRIX™ now offers professional and private customers a growing range of clean energy vehicles including the VX-1 Li/Li+, VX-2, and VX-3 Li+. In 2011, the VECTRIX™ VX-1 Li/Li+ and VX-2 were named European “e-Scooter of the Year” by CleanWeek 2020 at Belgium’s prestigious Circuit Zolder. In 2012, the VECTRIX™ VX-1 Li/Li+ won European “e-Scooter of the Year” for a second consecutive time at CleanWeek. VECTRIX™ has facilities in New Bedford, MA and Wroclaw, Poland. For more information, please visit www.vectrix.com.

Spy photos have emerged of what appears to be a new liquid-cooled Ducati model As you can tell from the utilitarian-looking exhaust, it’s still a prototype, but the production version could be ready for this fall’s EICMA show. It’s not clear at this point whether this new model will be a new Hypermotard or possibly a new mid-sized Multistrada.

At first glance, the front “beak” fender and hand guards evokes the existing Ducati Hypermotards, but existing Hypermotard 796 and 1100EVO are both air-cooled and this model is liquid-cooled.

The Multistrada 1200 is liquid-cooled and also sports a side-mounted exhaust while the Hypermotards use twin underseat exhausts.The Multistrada has been far more successful than the Ducati’s Hypermotard line, and it seems odd to add a new liquid-cooled model to the air-cooled Hyper line. A new, smaller Multistrada slotted under the Ducati Multistrada 1200 makes more sense than another Hypermotard.

Based on Ducati’s usual pattern of repurposing engines from its sportbikes to its other product lines, along with the recent introduction of the 848 Streetfighter, the logical assumption would be this new model will use the same 849cc Testastretta V-Twin engine as the 848.

[Source: Il Ducatista, Ducati.ms]

India’s 13-million-unit-per-year motorcycle market is comprised of mostly small-displacement models, so it sounds odd at first when manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson and Triumph enter the market with their larger-displacment models. The question quickly arises as to whether they will stick with their existing big-bore models or introduce an all-new, small-capacity model for the Indian market.

Manufacturers like the Big Four from Japan already produce smaller models for other markets so it’s a relatively easy task for them to introduce new models such as Honda‘s recently launched 109cc Dream Yuga. Harley-Davidson and Triumph may be better served going after the 350-500cc segment and face off against competitors such as Royal Enfield.

Triumph is rumored to be developing a small, single-cylinder model for its impending Indian launch but don’t expect something similar from The Motor Company.

In an interview with India’s Business Standard, Harley-Davidson India Managing Director Anoop Prakash says the Motor Company will not be developing new models smaller than its 883 Sportsters.

“We can not go below 800cc. We cannot have an India-specific product,” says Prakash. “All our products are for global markets.”

Prakash tells Business Standard Harley-Davidson is selling about 1,000 units a year in India. Harley-Davidson has a plant in India to assemble Complete Knockdown Kits for five models while 11 models are imported as completely assembled. CKD units are exempt from certain tariffs, reducing costs which translates into lower prices.

Tariffs on both CKD and fully assembled units still make Harley-Davidon’s models more expensive than Royal Enfield’s smaller and locally manufactured models, but Prakash says the Indian manufacturer is not viewed as a direct competitor.

“I think it is a great compliment for us, rather than a competition. Most of our customers are upgrading from Royal Enfield,” Prakash tells Business Standard. “For me, competition is if somebody is doing something else on a Sunday morning because I want him to experience Harley Davidson during that time.”

[Source: Business Standard]

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New Delhi Auto Expo 2012 – Motorcycle Manufacturers Draw Battle Lines for World’s Second Largest Market

Louisiana state lawmakers have approved a bill that would change the maximum height of motorcycle handlebars.

Current state law restricts handlebar height to no more than 15 inches above the seat, a somewhat arbitrary level, but a common choice with 17 other states. The House has voted 87-0 in favor of Senate Bill 582 to change the maximum height to the rider’s shoulder level, as measured while sitting on the seat. SB 582 was introduced by Democrat senators Rick Gallot and Gary Smith.

The shoulder-level limit is used by 12 other states, with Louisiana joining their ranks upon the approval of Governor Bobby Jindal. The new law makes the limit relative to the rider’s body whereas the existing limit affected all riders regardless of body size.

For the most part, the law affects aftermarket ape hanger handlebars which place the rider’s hands higher than conventional handlebars or clip-ons. Higher bars tend to reduce a motorcycle’s handling, but some like the aesthetics. Some manufacturers produce motorcycles with high ape hangers or mini-apes.

In the picture above, Motorcycle.com‘s own Tom Roderick illustrates the height of the 2012 Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two‘s mini-ape hangers. T-Rod stands six-feet tall and the Seventy-Two puts his hands at below shoulder level. A shorter rider however may find the Seventy-Two’s handlebars to be at a higher angle.

Victory’s High Ball also uses tall handlebars which are adjustable, though combined with its low seat, may not make it legal in some jurisdictions.

Here’s a breakdown of various handlebar height limits from the AMA’s state-by-state motorcycle law database:

15″ above seat:
Alabama
Alaska
Connecticut
Delaware
Distric of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Indiana
Maryland
Michigan
Missouri
Ohio
Rhode Island
Texas
Vermont
West Virginia

Shoulder-level:
Arizona
Illinois
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
Wyoming

10″ above fasten point:
Mississippi

15″ above fasten point:
Nebraska

Eye level:
Oklahoma

6″ above shoulder:
California

30″ above seat
Washington
Wisconsin

No limit
Arkansas
Colorado
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Minnesota
Montana
New Mexico
North Carolina
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia

[Source: AMA, Louisiana State Legislature]

Guzzis aren’t for everyone, and Guzzisti are quite okay with that fact. While Moto Guzzi recognizes the dedication of Guzzi devotees, it also recognizes that it needs to grow the brand.

Moto Guzzi USA, the North American importer of the Moto Guzzi brand, has announced a new “micro” site for Guzzis. The site, www.motoguzzioriginals.com, is part eye candy (actually, it’s very eye candy), part history, part marketing tool.

The new site is a one-stop-shop for Guzzi fans old and new alike. Loads of images of Guzzi bikes from the company’s heyday to plenty of stylish pics of modern Guzzis adorn a big portion of the main page. And it’s the images that make the site most appealing.

The V7 Racer: a modern Moto Guzzi with the timeless Guzzi look. MotoGuzziOriginals.com celebrates Moto Guzzi’s small-ish but enduring place in motorcycling.

But the site isn’t all show and no go. Guzzisti can upload their own images, browse the current Guzzi lineup, watch videos, connect to MG’s social media and even take in some of Moto Guzzi’s 90-year history.

To immerse yourself in Moto Guzzi visit: www.motoguzzioriginals.com

Two-time MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner has announced he will retire following the end of the 2012 season.

Rumors of Stoner’s impending retirement plans have been floating around for weeks with the 26-year-old Repsol Honda racer saying he will continue racing until he no longer enjoyed it. That seems to be the case now as the 2007 and 2011 MotoGP Champion announced he will retire at a press conference ahead of this weekend’s French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

“After a long time thinking, a lot of time talking with my family and my wife, this has been coming for a couple of years now but at the end of this 2012 season I will be not racing in the 2013 Championship,”  Stoner said at the press conference. “I will be finishing my career at the end of this season in MotoGP, and go forward in different things in my life.”

Those “different things” likely include his new baby  girl and his wife Adriana.

“After so many years of doing this sport which I love, and which myself and my family made so many sacrifices for, after so many years of trying to get to where we have gotten to at this point, this sport has changed a lot and it has changed to the point where I am not enjoying it,” says Stoner. “I don’t have the passion for it and so at this time it’s better if I retire now.”

Stoner says he is disappointed with the direction the sport is heading.

“There are a lot of things that have disappointed me, and also a lot of things I have loved about this sport, but unfortunately the balance has gone in the wrong direction,” says Stoner. “And so, basically, we won’t be continuing any more. It would be nice if I could say I would stay one more year, but then where does it stop? So we decided to finish everything as we are now.”

Stoner is leading the 2012 MotoGP championship chase heading into the Le Mans round by a single point over Yamaha‘s Jorge Lorenzo. Stoner won the 2011 championship with Repsol Honda and the 2007 championship with Ducati Marlboro.

Heading into France, Stoner has 35 MotoGP wins and 62 podium appearances in 103 races. Stoner also has five wins and 10 podiums in 31 250cc Grand Prix races and two wins and 10 podiums in 30 125cc Grand Prix races.

[Source: MotoGP, photo by GEPA Pictures]

KTM revealed its 2013 motocross model lineup featuring a new 250 four-stroke engine and updates to the 350 powerplant.

The 2013 KTM 250 SX-F gets a new powerplant said to be lighter than the previous engine thanks to a new high-strength aluminum alloy. The new engine has a 78mm bore and a 52.3 mm stroke, compared to the previous model’s 76mm bore and 54.8mm stroke.

According to KTM, the forged piston is lighter in weight despite a larger diameter, allowing for higher engine speeds. To counter the increased vibrations from higher revs, the 250 SX-F engine receives a new laterally-positioned balancer shaft which also drives the timing chain and water pump.

The 2013 KTM 350 SX-F also receives some updates including a 500 g weight reduction from a new die-cast housing. Strengthened valve heads and valve seats and updated valve springs allowed for lightweight titanium valves at the new higher rev limit of 13,400 rpm. The production model also inherits a new crankshaft from the factory race machines, featuring a new plain bearing in the lower connecting rod eye. The stiffer crankshaft not only allows for the higher rev limit, it also has a higher service interval than the previous component.

The 450 is based on the 2012 special edition Ryan Dungey KTM 450 SX-F announced in January.

All SX-F models receive new frames and triple clamps to improve rigidity, as well as updated suspension settings and new graphics.

The two-stroke SX models all received updated suspension, black anodized Renthal fat bars and graphics.

[Source: KTM, photos by Barbanti A, Freeman G., Schedl R. and Mitterbauer H.]

Genki Hagata is one lucky roadracer.

With a freshly minted AMA Pro Road Racing license, Hagata was working toward debuting as a pro during the third round of the 2012 AMA Pro Road Racing series, held May 4 – 6 at Infineon Raceway in Sonomoa, Calif.

However, as Hagata explains on his race team blog, a series of misfortunes lead to what could have been a genuine disaster. And of course he had his GoPro recording the entire time.

According to Hagata’s blog entry it was the lack of opportunity to properly setup his race bike with new, and unfamiliar tires that caused him to experience the dreaded high side crash. Well, almost crash.

As you’ll see in this short vid that’s sure to reach the heights of Awesome Internet Video, Hagata pulled off a minor miracle.

Enjoy.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

www.hagataracing.com

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.

These upgrades suggest Triumph may be trying to clear out stock of the current Daytona 675 before introducing a bigger model update for 2013.

The 2012 Triumph Speed Triple is also getting the same sulfur yellow paint scheme, but not the other upgrades. It retains the 8999 British pound (US$14,400) price of the other color variants.

The Bonneville SE is also getting a new Imperial Purple and white paint option. The new color variant also gets revised engine cooling fins and a Triumph badge in place of the regular tank logo decal. Triumph also gave the Thruxton a new Brooklands Green color while the Scrambler will also be available in Matt Graphite.

Triumph’s cruiser line also gets new color options starting with a new Caspian Blue/Phantom Black and Marble Red Haze versions of the Thunderbird. All two-tone Thunderbirds will also receive matching two-tone front fenders. The Thunderbird Storm also gets a new Matt Graphite paint job.

The Speedmaster and America cruisers also get new colors, as well as revised engine cooling fins. The 2012 Triumph Speedmaster gets two new options, Matt Black and Sapphire Blue/Jet Black. Triumph is dropping the previously-announced Caribbean Blue/White version of the America and replacing it with a Sapphire Blue/White color.

“Our design team is constantly listening to customer feedback and watching trends to assess and re-evaluate the color schemes across our range to reflect what today’s riders want,” says Guy Master, general manager of Triumph UK. “The new designs for 2012 will feed into our dealer network from May onwards and we really hope they will inspire riders to get out there and enjoy a great summer of riding.”

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.

According to published specs, the Dream Yuga is powered by a 109cc air-cooled, 2-valve Single, which is good for a claimed 8.5 bhp at 7500 rpm. The engine inhales from a CV carburetor, has a 4-speed gearbox, carries 8.0 liters (2.1 gals.) of fuel, and employs a simple kickstart ignition system. Drum brakes front and rear reel in the claimed 108kg (238 lbs) motorcycle.

Various reports around the web, including some from reputable publications, quote Keita Muramatsu, president and CEO of Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI), as saying the Yuga is the least expensive new Honda motorcycle the world over. However, as we reported in September, 2011, Honda launched the Ace CB125 for the Nigerian market at 100,000 Nigerian naira, which coverts roughly to $630 U.S.

Muramatsu, as quoted on www.livemint.com, carefully acknowledges that Honda makes a bike that’s even less costly than the Dream Yuga, but at the same time attempts to qualify the new Yuga as better suited for the Indian market than would be the Ace CB125:

“Honda is developing a low-cost motorcycle for the African market. But the product is not suited for introduction in India as customers here look for added features in motorcycles. We are working on introducing another product in the mass segment.”

Keita Muramatsu, left, HMSI president and CEO, unveils the Dream Yuga in India. Popular Bollywood actor, Akshay Kumar, right, has been tapped to help promote the Yuga.

The Dream Yuga is Honda’s first crack at a mass-market machine in India following the end of Honda’s relationship in 2010 with Hero Motor Corp. With this latest bike Honda is looking for big growth numbers.

HMSI has a 13% market share in India which it hopes to increase to 30% by 2020 according to Muramatsu. Hero currently holds 45% of the market.

According to the NationalPost.com, “commuter bikes” make up 70% of the two-wheelers in India, with 10 million units sold, making India second only to China.

With the new Yuga Muramatsu says Honda’s scooter-to-motorcycle production ratio will reach 50:50.

[Source: NationalPost.com, www.livemint.com]

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2012 Honda Ace CB125 – $627 Motorcycle for African Market

Yamaha Building New Factory in India

Honda Splits from Indian Partner