Daily motorbike news, views & reviews
Our Honda CX500 project bike has gone to a happy new owner and we are now working on our next project, a 2006 Ducati GT1000. I first tested a GT1000 more than a decade ago and fell in love with its torquey engine. However, the suspension was horrible on anything less than a billiard-table surface. …
Radical hub-centre steering, traction control, cornering ABS, electronic suspension, engine modes and a whole new frame are believed to be coming for the 2018 Honda Goldwing. Since the six-cylinder GL1800 was introduced in 2001, it as only received cosmetic updates, an airbag option and the addition of stripped down F6B and F6C models. Many riders …
The iconic Honda monkey bike and many other 50-100cc Honda and Suzuki scooters and bikes are about to face the axe thanks to tough new Japanese pollution regulations. The companies are retiring a host of 50cc scooters and bikes this year, including the monkey bike which ends production this month. They warn small-capacity bikes may …
If Batman bought a production motorcycle instead of building his own, he would no doubt choose a Honda Rune, although he would have trouble finding one. The bike was built in Ohio for the American market and unveiled by Honda in 2004 as a limited-edition model. Only a few were ever sent to Australia. They …
Motorcycle sales appear to be recovering after a very shaky start to the year with Harley-Davidson continuing to lead the road bike category. Sales were down 6.7% in the first quarter but, thanks to a slight recovery in the second quarter, they are now down 4.1% in the first half, according to the VFACTS report …
Motorcycle buyers are the big winners in July which is usually a hot month for winter discounts as companies scramble to sell of stock left over from the previous financial year. The half-yearly motorcycle sales figures are set to be released in the next couple of days and we suspect the market has remained soft …
Honda Australia is promoting its automatic Dual-Clutch Transmission on the new Africa Twin adventure bike by offering the upgrade for free. Apart from scooters, there are few bikes that have a clutchless shift transmission, although many hi-tech sports bikes now have a quick shifter that allows shifts without using the clutch. The standard transmission Africa …
Honda has filed a patent for a V4 sports bike with an under-seat exhaust similar to those popular a couple of decades ago, signalling a possible return of the fashion. Racing bikes began using under-seat exhausts in the 1970s for a number of reasons: to cut drag, improve balance, place the outlet in the bike’s …
The Motorbike Writer 1980 Honda CX500 project bike is up for sale to make way for the next project bike, so make us an offer! (Update: The bike has now been sold. Check out our new project!) We won’t lie. It sometimes jumps out of second or sticks in second. However, that’s about the full …
Dealers in Harley Davidson, Triumph and KTM are the most satisfied with the brands, according to the latest National Motorcycle Dealers Association survey in the UK. The least-valued franchises are Piaggio Group, Honda and Ducati. The biannual survey examines how dealers view the major issues currently affecting them, while also evaluating how these views are …