The Suzuki Inazuma is coming to Canada, according to multiple reports. The entry-level motorcycle was displayed at a recent dealer meeting in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, though it appears Canadians may have to wait as bit longer for the Inazuma to arrive in showrooms.

According to Canadian sites CMGOnline and MotorcycleMojo, Suzuki is in the initial stages of introducing the 248cc streetbike to Canada, so a 2014 launch may be more likely than 2013 availability. As yet, there is no word of American Suzuki also deciding to import the Inazuma to the U.S.

Twin-cylinder motorcycle was first introduced in China last October as the GW250 and will be arriving in European showrooms this November as the Inazuma. It is powered by a fuel-injected 248cc SOHC parallel Twin engine. According to Suzuki, the European-spec Inazuma claims 24 hp and 29.5 ft-lb. at the crank. Even accounting for some losses through the powertrain, it should be an improvement on the 15.4 hp and 11.6 ft-lb. from the air-cooled Suzuki TU250 we dyno’ed for our 2009 250cc Shootout. Continue Reading »

As we expected, Honda announced it will bring its retro-styled CB1100 to Europe at the 2012 Intermot show in Cologne, Germany. Previously only available in Japan and Australia, the CB1100 will be available in Europe for 2013, though there is still no sign it will ever be offered in North America.

Though it sounds close in name to Honda‘s CB1000R, the two naked standards reflect two differing philosophies. While the CB1000R has an aggressive, modern look, the CB1100 reaches back into the past, taking influences from the 1969 CB750 which harkened the rise of the Inline-Four engine configuration.

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Ducati marked the 20th anniversary of its air-cooled naked Monster line at the Intermot show in Cologne, Germany, the exact site where the M900 was first unveiled back in 1992. For 2013, Ducati is offering an anniversary edition version with bronze-colored highlights reminiscent of the original M900.

Available for the Monster 696, 796 and 1100 EVO, the 20th Anniversary Edition adds a steel trellis bronze frame, gold brake components, champagne front forks, gray swignarm, engine outer casings and lower triple clamp and chrome headlamp support. Other features include ’90s-styled mirrors and seat fabric and retro font on the tanks and seat covers. The Monster lineup is otherwise unchanged from 2012, except for new color options. Continue Reading »

As expected, Kawasaki unveiled a new mid-sized model to its Z lineup at the  2012 Intermot show in Cologne, Germany. The new 2013 Z800 slots into Kawasaki’s European lineup replacing the Z750 below the Z1000. The Z800 also arrives as Kawasaki celebrates the 40th anniversary of the original Z1.

The Kawasaki Z800 is powered by a 806cc liquid-cooled Inline-Four engine. Kawasaki claims a maximum power output of 111 hp at 10,200 rpm and 61 ft-lb. at 8000 rpm. The engine is framed by a tubular backbone chassis and subframe.

Suspension is provided by a 41mm KYB upside-down fork with adjustable rebound damping and preload. The rear suspension system uses a KYB shock with a piggyback reservoir also offering rebound damping and preload adjustability. Continue Reading »

Zero Motorcycles made a big splash at the 2012 Intermot show in Cologne, Germany, announcing a host of impressive updates. We’ll have a more in-depth look for you tomorrow, for now, here are the highlights:

• A higher-voltage Z-Force power pack;
• An average power increase of 99% across the entire lineup;
• A claimed range of 137 city miles for the Zero S;
• A quick charge to 95% of battery capacity in under an hour using CHADeMO charge stations;
• iPhone and Android phone integration via Bluetooth;
• All new frames;
• New bodywork on the Zero S and Zero DS;
• The Zero MX gets upsized, while the Zero X gets replaced by:
• The new Zero FX claiming 44 hp, 70 ft-lb. of torque and a weight of just 275 pounds;

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Piaggio announced it will bring its newly-updated V7 models to North America with sales to begin in mid-October.

We’ve written about the Moto Guzzi V7 Stone, V7 Special and V7 Racer when they were first announced by Piaggio in March, and we already have a review of the V7 line up from our European correspondent Tor Sagen. As we predicted at the time the three 750cc models will be sold in North America as 2013 models.

All three V7 models are powered by a 750cc V-Twin mounted longitudinally in Moto Guzzi’s signature style. The engine has been completely revamped from the previous V7 engine, over 200 individual parts getting redesigned. Continue Reading »

Husqvarna has announced U.S. prices for its new TR650 streetbikes. The 2013 Husqvarna TR650 Terra dual-sport will be available for$6,999 while its more street-going sibling the Strada will be priced at $7,499.

At those prices, the TR650 are actually priced lower than Husqvarna‘s current TE series dual sports line. For 2013, Husqvarna has priced  the TE310R at $8,399, the TE449 at $8,599 and the TE511 at $8,999, making the TR650 models significantly cheaper despite having a displacement advantage of at least 174cc.

The difference of course is the TR650 Strada and Terra are designed primarily to be street bikes whereas the TE models are off-road bikes converted to be street legal. EiC Kevin Duke has tested both TR650 models at their press launch and we should have a full review available shortly. Continue Reading »

Bloomingdale‘s has partnered with BMW with a new campaign promoting its motorcycle-inspired autumn fashion line.

A BMW R1200R Classic is prominently featured in Bloomingdale’s fall men’s catalog and in stores including the store windows of the department store’s flagship location on 59th St. in New York City.

Bloomindale’s will also hold a draw on Sept. 17 to give away one of the BMW roadsters.

As for Bloomingdale’s fall collection, the men’s line follows the theme “On The Road” featuring a lot of denim, leather and boots and a heavy emphasis on black and other dark  colors. The women’s line also features a moto-inspired boot and jacket. Continue Reading »

Husqvarna announced two new street bike models based on the Concept Strada unveiled last November at the Salon de la Moto show in Paris, France.  The new TR 650 Terra and the TR 650 Strada expand Husqvarna‘s suddenly burgeoning street bike lineup alongside the Nuda 900 and Nuda 900R. Unlike the Nuda models however, the Strada and Terra are coming to the U.S.

The Terra model is a dual sport equipped for light off-roading while the Strada is better suited for paved roads. Both models are powered by a fuel-injected double-overhead cam single-cylinder 652cc engine inherited from the BMW G650GS. According to Husqvarna, the engine produces 58 hp at 7250 rpm and 44 ft-lb. at 5750 rpm compared to the BMW G650GS’ claimed figures of 50 hp at 6500 rpm and 44 ft-lb. at 5000 rpm. Power is delivered to the rear wheel through a constant-mesh five-speed transmission.

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Suzuki announced the 2012 edition of its GSR750 naked middleweight will get ABS as an optional add-on. What it still doesn’t have? U.S. homologation.

Introduced to Europe in 2011, the Suzuki GSR750 is the naked GSX-R750, using the 2010 edition of the Gixxer’s inline-Four engine re-tuned for low- and mid-range power. According to Suzuki, the GSR750 has been a popular model in Europe and the U.K., winning awards from MCN and Zoo Magazine.

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