Joining the High-Ball in Victory’s expanding stable of models is the 2012 Hard-Ball. The black-as-night iteration of the High-Ball’s ape-hanger profile brings a touch of touring convenience with the addition of saddlebags.

In addition to the black and pinstriped luggage are obvious additions such as the two-person seat, crashbars, floorboards, lower fairing and split exhaust. Not as immediately apparent are some of the changes Victory incorporated into the Hard-Ball to better suit its longer-mileage persona.

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AMA Pro Racing released its full 2012 Road Racing schedule featuring 11 rounds including three new additions. The three new rounds, all in the southeast, are promoted by M1 Powersports and will be branded as Big Kahuna Nationals.

“M1 PowerSports is extremely excited to return to full time event promotion in 2012,” says Cameron Gray, president of M1 PowerSports. “The Big Kahuna Nationals have a long and rich history in AMA Pro Racing and we are excited about our new relationship with the series. Promoting motorcycle road racing events is our passion and what we do best. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship putting on some of the most thrilling racing events in the country.”

The three additions include returns to Road Atlanta and Homestead Miami Speedway, while the new NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans will be on the schedule for the first time.

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Honda is issuing a recall for the 2001-2010 and 2012 Gold Wing due to a problem with the combined braking system. The recall campaign affects 126,000 units sold in the U.S. over the past decade.

According to Honda, the Gold Wing may experience rear brake drag even after the rider releases the brake. The problem is caused by secondary master cylinder of the combined braking system.

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Loyal fans of Suzuki’s iconic Hayabusa have something to be seriously worried about. Kawasaki has overhauled its fast and smooth ZX-14, adding a bigger and more powerful engine that promises to outgun the venerable ’Busa.

I just spent a day hammering the new ZX-14R In Las Vegas, beginning with a blast through the desert and ending with several runs down the quarter-mile dragstrip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Even though atmospheric conditions were unfavorable, calculating to a 3000-foot altitude, the 14R posted a blazing 9.77-second run!

Think about this: Here’s a completely stock and EPA-legal production streetbike that can from a dead stop accelerate to nearly 150 mph in just 1320 feet!

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The 2011 Tokyo Motor Show has produced a number of new concepts but there is at least one new production model. Honda premiered a new dual-sport powered by a 249cc engine reportedly based on the CBR250R’s power plant.

The 2012 Honda CRF250L is a step up from the CRF230L and its carbureted air-cooled 223cc SOHC engine. The new CRF250L is powered by a fuel-injected liquid-cooled DOHC four-valve Single Honda claims delivers “satisfying” torque at low revs and smooth acceleration at high rpms. Honda hasn’t revealed any specifics but if the engine is indeed the same as that of the CBR250R (and considering the R&D invested into that engine, it should be!), power output should be about 22hp.

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MV Agusta is returning to Isle of Man TT competition with the World Performance Racing team entering an F4 and an F3.

The Italian brand has a storied history in the Isle of Man TT, with the legendary Giacomo Agostini winning 10 times under the MV Agusta banner. Overall, MV Agusta claims 34 TT race victories and 61 podiums at the Isle of Man.

Most of that history came in the period between 1952 and 1972 however, with Agostini leading a boycott of the Isle of Man TT following the death of his friend Gilberto Parlotti in the 1972 TT.

Since then, MV Agusta’s presence at the Isle of Man TT has been rather muted, with the last high-profile entrant coming in 2007 with the late Irish racer Martin Finnegan riding an MV Agusta F4.

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Suzuki announced the European version of its GW250 “Baby B-King” entry-level naked where it will be sold as the Inazuma 250.

Unveiled at the NEC Show in the U.K., the 2012 Suzuki Inazuma 250 brings back the name Suzuki used for its GSX naked models. Like the larger displacement GSXs however, the new, littlest Inazuma does not appear to be coming to North America.

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The two-wheeled orgasm that is EICMA is over, and now comes the waiting for the sexy new machines on display to arrive. You’ve seen our EICMA 2011 coverage (and if you haven’t yet, tsk, tsk!), read the juicy details and gazed longingly at the photographs. But how do these new models look in motion?

While we still have a little while to wait before seeing these new motorcycles (and scooters!) up close, the manufacturers have released some promotional videos to show off their new models. We’ve compiled a number of these videos and created a top 10 list of new bikes from EICMA 2011. Continue Reading »

MV Agusta has released U.S. pricing information for its new F3 675 supersport and limited edition Serie Oro variant, but those looking for the Brutale 675 naked version may be disappointed.

The 2012 MV Agusta F3 675 will be available at American dealerships for $13,498 while the Serie Oro version will be more than twice the price at $27,900. The extra$14,402 gets you golden frame plates, swingarm, air intakes, wheels  and chain, minimalist graphics, as well as radially-mounted Brembo monobloc calipers, fully-adjustable Ohlins suspension and steering damper and lighter carbon fiber components. MV Agusta will only produce 200 units of the F3 Serie Oro.

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Moto Guzzi unveiled two new models from its V7 line, joining the already released (and recently reviewed right here on Motorcycle.com) V7 Racer. The new Moto Guzzi V7 and the V7 Scrambler will make their public debuts Nov. 8 at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan.

The Moto Guzzi V7 range will all use a new 750cc 90 degree V-Twin engine, mounted longitudinally in true Guzzi style. Detailed specs haven’t been released but Moto Guzzi claims improvements in power (with a 10% improvement), torque and fuel economy and fewer emissions compared to the previous V7 engine.

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