The Motorcycle Industry Council has developed a new protocol for determining the range of electric motorcycles. The MIC’ had previously established protocol for measuring range in city riding, but the new protocol adds a range test for freeway riding.

The “Highway Commuting Range” test is for electric motorcycles capable of a top speed of at least 26 mph and measures how far a motorcycle can travel before it suffers a “significant degradation in performance”. The purpose is to provide a realistic range expectation so consumers can make informed decisions when shopping for electric motorcycles.

“The electric vehicle segment of the motorcycle market is at a crucial point,” says Paul Vitrano, MIC general counsel. “As an organization that promotes the prosperity of the motorcycle industry, we have a rare opportunity to provide support to this fledgling segment of the market. This new MIC protocol for determining range for electric motorcycles is a step in the right direction toward providing consumers with reliable information they need to make purchasing decisions.” Continue Reading »

New spy photos have emerged giving the clearest look yet at the upcoming 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale.

Uploaded by a user on the Ducati.ms forum, the photographs show the Ducati 1199 Panigale still with some camouflaging but the clarity of the images offer a good idea of the overall fairing design as well as a look at the underslung Termignoni exhaust. Continue Reading »

Are motorcycles more environmentally friendly than cars? Ask most people that question and their initial response would probably be “yes” because motorcycles are more fuel efficient, and they release less CO2.  But is that the whole story?

MythBusters‘ Jamie Hynerman and Adam Savage are going to find out on the Emmy-nominated show’s fall season premiere, Sept. 28 on the Discovery Channel. With the help of Kent Johnson, an emissions expert from the University of California, Hynerman and Savage will analyze the emissions of three cars and three motorcycles representing the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, to find out which mode of transportation is greener.

The show will be interesting to watch because MythBusters does a good job of making science entertaining, but we’re afraid the results won’t fall in favor of motorcycles.

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