Anti-lock brake technology has become fairly commonplace for motorcycles now, and it sometimes comes as a bit of a surprise when a major manufacturer does not offer ABS as an option on certain models. The European Parliament making ABS mandatory by 2016 has helped push things along, as manufacturers work to equip their models with the technology ahead of the deadline, not just for the European market but also for other markets including the U.S.

New documents released by the California Air Resources Board reveal Kawasaki will offer an ABS version for its 2014 Vulcan 1700 cruisers and tourers for American consumers. The only current Vulcan 1700 with ABS in Kawasaki’s 2013 U.S. lineup is the Voyager. The ABS-equipped Voyager uses Kawasaki‘s K-ACT (Kawasaki Advanced Coactive-braking Technology) technology which disengages ABS when braking at already low speeds.

For 2014, U.S. consumers will have an ABS option for the rest of Kawasaki’s Vulcan 1700 lineup including the Nomad, the Vaquero and the Classic, in addition to Voyager. The CARB executive orders for the Vulcan 900 lineup however still do not include ABS options. Continue Reading »

Just as it did with its four-cylinder Brutale 1090 lineup, MV Agusta announced it is adding an ABS version of its F4 models to its 2013 offerings.

Available for an extra 1000 euros (US$1,311), the Bosch ABS will be available for the baseline MV Agusta F4, the more upscale F4 R and the top-of-the-line F4 RR. That’ s quite a premium, but with base prices starting at 16,990 euros for the F4 R, 19,920 euros for the F4 R and 24,290 euros for the F4 RR, MV Agusta customers might not mind paying a bit more for ABS.

The ABS offers two modes selectable from a handlebar control: Normal for regular use and Race, which reduces the system’s intervention for track use. The system can also be entirely disengaged by the rider. Continue Reading »

The big news from Honda last week was the introduction of the new CTX700 and CTX700N cruisers. Flying a little under the radar however was a change to American Honda‘s pricing structure for the 2013 NC700X which sees a price increase for the base model but a price cut for combined anti-lock brakes and a dual clutch transmission

Honda introduced the NC700X last year at an impressively low price of $6999 for the base model and $8999 with ABS and DCT. The low price point was one key advantage we awarded the 2012 NC700X over the $7899 Kawasaki Versys in our recent Middleweight Multi-Tool Shootout.

For 2013 however, American Honda is increasing the NC700X’s price to $7499. That’s still less expensive than the 2013 Versys which also saw a price increase to $7999, but the difference is now $500 rather than the $900 gap last year. The NC700X is unchanged from last year, and Honda did not explain the reason for the price increase. One reason might be the addition of the CB500X to the lineup; American Honda has yet to announce a price for the CB500X, but some of the NC700X’s price increase may be to create a bigger price difference between Honda’s two adventure-style models. Continue Reading »

MV Agusta announced it will offer ABS-equipped versions of its four-cylinder Brutale 1090 models. The addition of ABS should come as no surprise, considering the European Union’s recent move to make the technology mandatory for all new models larger than 125cc by 2016.

The 2013 MV Agusta Brutale 1090, 1090 R and 1090 RR will be available with the Bosch 9MP, an ABS that’s becoming popular with a number of manufacturers due to its lightweight and compact packaging. The small size of the unit was particularly helpful given the little amount of space available on the compact Brutales.

The Bosch unit uses data from internal pressure sensors as well as wheel speed sensors to calculate the optimal amount of brake pressure to prevent the wheels from locking. Continue Reading »

Aprilia is producing a special edition RSV4 for the U.S. and Canada to celebrate Max Biaggi‘s World Superbike Championship-winning 2012 season. The special edition model will only be available in North America, though we’d prefer if Piaggio could come up with a less awkward name than the 2013 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC ABS SBK SE.

If you can get over its cumbersome name, the special edition receives the same updates as the 2013 Aprilia RSV4 Factory offered elsewhere around the world announced at Intermot. That includes the addition of a three-mode Bosch ABS and an upgraded engine that now claims 181.5 hp and 86.3 ft-lb. at the crank (compared to 177 hp and 84.8 ft-lb. on the 2012 model).

The 2013 version also has a revised fuel tank derived from Aprilia‘s WSBK program that now offers a capacity of 4.8 gallons compared to 4.5 gallons on the previous version. Bearing the Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC) designation, the special edition RSV4 also gets three selectable engine maps, traction control, wheelie control, launch control and a quickshifter. Continue Reading »

As we count down the days until 2013, it’s time for a look back at the year that was in motorcycles. Here now, is our top ten motorcycle news stories of 2012. Check back for three separate lists, our top off-beat motorcycle news stories of the year, ten news stories to look forward to next year, and the hottest bikes for 2013.

The Piaggio Group announced it has secured a €60 million (US$77.6 million) financing deal with the European Investment Bank to fund the development of new products.

The seven-year loan will fund research and development projects at Piaggio’s Italian facilities. The loan is in addition to investments Piaggio already budgeted for the period from 2013 to 2015 to develop new products. The new research and development projects will focus on three fields: safety, fuel-efficient combustion engines and alternative fuel technologies.

For safety, Piaggio will be working on active, passive and preventative safety measures. This is especially important in light of recent legislation enacted by the European Parliament to make ABS mandatory for motorcycles and scooters with engines larger than 125cc by 2016. Piaggio has already gotten a start toward that goal, gradually adding ABS to models such as the 2013 Aprilia RSV4 R and RSV4 Factory. Continue Reading »

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of new rules that would increase emission standards and make anti-lock braking systems mandatory for all new large motorcycles, scooters and trikes and quads by 2016. The new regulations, which would still need approval from European Union member states, may only directly affect Europe, but they will have a wide-reaching affect on manufacturers’ product development for other markets. BMW, for example, has already made ABS standard for all its motorcycles for 2013.

Approved by a vote of 643 in favor and 16 against with 18 abstentions, the new rules would make ABS required for new street bikes produced in 2016 and beyond with engine displacements larger than 125cc. Smaller motorcycles will be required to have either ABS or a combined braking system. The European Parliament will revisit the issue pending a report on cost-effectiveness for ABS on smaller vehicles, expected for completion by 2019.

The legislation would also extend Euro 4 emission standards to new motorcycles by 2016 and Euro 5 by 2020. Motorcycles currently have to meet Euro 3 restrictions but the Euro 4 standard further tightens standards for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. By 2020, motorcycles will fall under the even stricter Euro 5 standard, meeting even lower nitrogen oxide levels and a new restriction for non-methane hydrocarbons. Continue Reading »

The biggest news from KTM at the 2012 EICMA Show was the unveiling of the new 390 Duke and a prototype of the upcoming 1290 Super Duke R. In between these small and large naked bikes, KTM announced a new R-spec version of its middleweight 690 Duke.

The 690 Duke was introduced in 2007 and received a substantial update last year with a 690cc engine claiming 67 hp, leading KTM to call it the world’s most powerful Single in a production model. The 2013 KTM 690 Duke R takes that same engine but adds an Akropovic exhaust KTM claims pushes peak power output to 69 hp at 7500 rpm. Claimed torque remains at 51.6 ft-lb. at 5500 rpm, just like the non-R version.

The 690 Duke R also has a higher chassis and stiffer suspension with more damping, developed during the 2012 European Junior Cup racing series. The new WP fork is 15mm longer than the fork on the regular 690 and offers 150mm of travel compared to 135mm on the 690 Duke. The new fork also separates compression damping and rebound damping between the two fork legs. Continue Reading »

BMW announced it will mark the 30th anniversary of its K series with a special edition K1300S. The 2013 BMW K1300S “30 Jahre K-Modelle” will be presented at the 2012 EICMA show in Milan, Italy in a couple of weeks’ time.

Though perhaps not as popular as BMW‘s R series boxer models, the K series served as a platform for a number of technologies that were either new for BMW or new for the motorcycle industry.

The K 100 was introduced in 1983 as BMW’s first liquid-cooled Inline-Four motorcycle, following the pattern of the popular Japanese models of the time. To separate it from the Japanese competition, BMW arranged the K100′s 987cc engine longitudinally, with the cylinders lying horizontally. The K100 was also one of the first production motorcycles equipped with electronic fuel injection. Continue Reading »