The last time we assembled the superbike offerings from the Big Four Japanese manufacturers to determine the alpha male model was 2009. The CBR won that confrontation, but a lot’s changed since then. For 2012 Honda revamped the CBR1000RR, Yamaha added traction control to the R1, the GSX-R1000 lost a muffler and last year Kawasaki introduced an all-new ZX-10R.

We have, of course, reviewed these models and pitted them against various other rivals, (2012 Honda CBR1000RR Review [Video], 2012 Yamaha YZF-R1 vs. 2011 Aprilia RSV4 R APRC [Video], 2010 Literbike Shootout: RSV4 R vs S1000RR vs CBR1000RR vs ZX-10R,) to name a few, but the time is nigh to once again determine the dominant Japanese superbike.

Continue Reading »

Sneakers are not appropriate riding gear. High tops or not, sneakers provide the same protection during a crash a ripped condom does during intercourse. Shorty boots are the perfect blend of comfort and protection for summertime riding and REV’IT!’s Air Blend Boots encapsulate these qualities. Recently worn and tested here at MO, the Air Blends, for $220, are a superior option to sneakers at near to the same price of a pair of Air Jordans.

Continue Reading »

As if expertly performing all manner of wheelies, stoppies, burnouts and what have you stunts on pavement wasn’t difficult enough, it seems the next level is to take streetbike acrobatics to the ice.

Pro motorcycle stunter and gymkhana-style drifter Jorian Ponomareef has moved his two-wheeled antics from the tarmac to a frozen body of water — at least for this one video anyway.

Continue Reading »

There’s a new motorcycle show coming to the States that promises to deliver the excitement and pageantry of Europe’s ultra-cool EICMA and Intermot shows. Scheduled for the fall of 2013, the American International Motorcycle Expo looks to create an annual event where consumers, OEMs, dealers and the aftermarket can converge in a single location for a week-long motorcycle extravaganza. Continue Reading »

Today’s Friday Fun Video comes courtesy of the marketing department at Icon Motorsports. Following the success of their first motorcycle drift video, featuring Nick Brocha on a stretched Kawasaki ZX-10R scorching rubber with Jim Guthrie on a Corvette-powered Mazda RX7, the guys set out to one-up themselves. With this video, I think it’s safe to say “Mission Accomplished.” Continue Reading »

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.

Escaping our EICMA coverage until now is this iridescent stunner, a running model of the Light Cycles seen in the movie, Tron. Constructed of fiberglass, rolling on 32-inch hubless wheels and powered by a 60ah lithium ion battery system and 40,000w motor, Evolve claims the standard Xenon has a top speed of 70mph, a range of 30 miles and a three-hour charge time. For $55,000 you can order a standard Xenon from Evolve or, for $10,000 more, you can get the XR model which increases range up to 100 miles with a 120ah battery pack, which requires one additional hour of charge time. Evolve says turn around from date of order to delivery is approximately 45 days.

Evolve is working on a more realistic two-wheeler, the Lithium concept sportbike. Evolve says they already have a running version of this streetfighteresque motorcycle that they claim will have a 100-mile range, a maximum speed of 100mph and a charge time of 3.5 hours. Look for it to be available in early 2013 at an as of now undetermined price.

The bread and butter of Evolve’s model line-up is its electric scooters: Zinc, Helium, Neon, Titanium. Prices range from $2900 for the Zinc to $5400 for the Titanium or you can upgrade to the XR version of each model for a $1500 price increase. Ranges vary from 40 miles for the base model Zinc to 110 miles for the XR version.

Evolve is a new electric transportation company with handful of dealers located in major metropolitan areas primarily on the East and West coasts. To order a Xenon, find a local dealer or read more about the company’s products contact Evolve directly at www.evolvemotorcycles.com.

For Indian, 2012 represents 110 years since the first motorcycle bearing the namesake rolled off whatever sufficed for production line at the Hendee Co. in 1901. To celebrate, Polaris Industries, owner of the Indian brand since April of this year, is celebrating the occasion with special badging on all 2012 models. The twenty-twelve bikes will be the first produced under the auspice of Polaris.  According to company spokesman, Robert Pandya, the Polaris-built Indians are endowed with minor technical changes and a few new colors.

There are three Indian Chief models for 2012, Vintage, Dark Horse and Classic ranging in price from $26,500 to $36,700. The hand-built Indians are powered by a 105 cu. in., fuel-injected, air-cooled, 45-degree Powerplus V-Twin. Power reaches the rear wheel via a belt drive attached to a six-speed transmission. Hauling the 800-pound machines to a stop is a trio of Brembo braking components.

The $26,500 Indian Chief Classic is available in solid Indian Red with gold script and solid Thunder Black with silver script with a black leather seat, chrome wheels and black wall tires. The $28,000 Dark Horse is painted Thunder Black Smoke with a black leather seat, black wheels tires. The Vintage Chief is available in both solid colors, Thunder Black and Indian Red for $35,600 and two-tone schemes, Indian Red and Ivory Cream, Arizona Turquois and Winter White, and Willow Green and Ivory Cream for $36,900.

Source: Huffington Post