Photo Gallery: The New 2009 Buell 1125CR
Hot on the heels of the just-unveiled 2009 Harley-Davidson CVO lineup, Buell has released details on its new 2009 1125CR.
In the words of Erik Buell, the bike is "Part superbike and part streetfighter... my vision of a 21st century café racer." The visually trimmed down 1125R variant exposes more of the 1,125cc 146 horsepower engine, and features an 8% lower final drive ratio for improved acceleration. It also wears a tapered aluminum clubman-style handlebar and a streamlined headlight and flyscreen (which remind me of the buffed out Suzuki B-King.) Improvements to both the 1125R and 1125CR include targeted fuel injectors, relocated O2 sensors, and updated engine spark and mapping for improved fuel economy and smoother acceleration below 6,000 rpm, which answers one of the few gripes expressed in my 2008 Buell 1125R Review.
The 2009 Buell 1125CR will start production August, 2008, and will be available in red and black. For more angles on this latest addition to the Buell lineup, check out our 2009 Buell 1125CR Photo Gallery.
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Photo © Buell
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Photo Gallery: Introducing the 2009 Harley-Davidson CVO Models
2009 marks the tenth anniversary of Harley-Davidson's Custom Vehicles Operations program, which plucks bikes from Harley's lineup and builds limited edition variations replete with a long list of custom, hand-crafted touches. CVO bikes tend to be visually (as well as literally) loud, and this year's selection is no exception.
For 2009, Harley will build CVO versions of their Dyna Fat Bob ($25,299), Softail Springer ($26,999), Road Glide ($30,999), and Ultra Classic Electra Glide ($35,499). With production limited to anywhere between 2,450 and 4,200 units per model, each of the four bikes will be available in three uniquely audacious paint schemes.
Each CVO features the largest stock engine Harley builds-- the Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110-- which is finished in graphite powdercoat with chrome covers, and mated to a 6-Speed Cruise Drive transmission. Other CVO touches include everything from unique components to dropped suspensions and chrome in places you couldn't imagine.
Riding impressions will be revealed in upcoming reviews, but in the meantime learn more about these pricey and exclusive bikes in our 2009 Harley-Davidson CVO Photo Gallery.
Related items:
- 2008 Harley-Davidson Buyer's Guide
- 2008 Harley-Davidson Cross Bones Review
- 2008 Harley-Davidson Fat Bob Review
- 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Nightster Review
Photos © Tom Riles
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Rossi Steals Win from Stoner at Red Bull USGP
After experiencing MotoGP racing firsthand in Mugello, Italy, I was bummed I couldn't make it up to Laguna Seca for the Red Bull USGP... and after a riveting race, I really wish I could have be there!
Hopes were high for American Nicky Hayden who qualified third, but he ultimately managed a fifth place finish behind Dovizioso, Vermeulen, Stoner, and Rossi. Casey Stoner's pace was so blistering that Valentino Rossi said of the blurry Australian, "To stop Stoner, you'd have to shoot him," but in spite of Stoner's record-setting pole position start, Rossi surpassed him to the top spot.
Rossi, who raced in his native Italy with a cheeky helmet graphic, was upstaged-- at least visually-- by Colin Edwards' Stars & Stripes livery (seen here; click to enlarge). Edwards' bike was emblazoned with a Statue of Liberty graphic recognizing the connection to the French Tech 3 Yamaha team.
Valentino Rossi is committed to Yamaha through 2010, and is one of many racers who deserve credit for making this an exciting MotoGP season.
Related reading:
Top Photo © Bryn Lennon/Staff/Getty Images Sport (from Assen GP) - Click to enlarge
Bottom Photo © Yamaha - Click to enlarge
A Photo Gallery of Batman's Other Motorcycle, the MV Agusta F4 RR 1078 312
Between being purchased by Harley-Davidson and landing a spot in the much-hyped Batman flick The Dark Knight, MV Agusta's gotten more than their share of exposure in the past few weeks.
Though not quite as wild as the industrially futuristic Batpod, Bruce Wayne's civilian ride is an MV Agusta F4, a sort of poor man's version of the stunning and pricey F4CC. I just tested the 190 horsepower F4 RR 1078 312 (say that three times fast!) and posted some photos of the bike, and will be writing up a review soon. So take a look at the shots, and if you're inspired check out MV Agusta and Hershey's online contest, which will give away a $35,000 Dark Knight-themed F4.
Photo © Basem Wasef
Harley-Davidson's Better-Than-Expected Earnings: Foreign Markets Offer Silver Lining
Harley-Davidson's just-released second quarter sales figures reflect a 23% profit drop (to $222.8 million compared to last year's comparable quarter), and a 2.9% drop in sales to $1.57 billion, according to Reuters. Though the numbers look dire, they're not as bad as expected. "The key there was shipments," according to Robin Diedrich, an Edward Jones analyst cited in the article.
Last year was a brutal one for Harley, with one stock falter leading to another. While the entire motorcycle industry was down, Harley's premium products were especially susceptible to high gas prices, a troubled housing market, and a weak economy-- especially after a grim first quarter which led to slashed production. The heavyweight bike market actually grew domestically in the second quarter of 2008 while Harley's market share slipped, but that news was buoyed by 8.7% higher sales in Canada, 9% increases in Europe, and a 7.3% bump in the Asia-Pacific region.
Unless American buyers drastically change their purchasing habits, it's looking like the bright spot will continue to be foreign markets-- which sheds light on why the acquisition of MV Agusta and the not-available-in-the-U.S. XR1200 actually make sense for the Motor Company.
Graph © BigCharts.com
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...and Yet, There's No Substitute for Cubic Inches
As maneuverable and zippy as lightweight motorcycles can be, I still manage to occasionally find myself attracted to the sheer excess of mass. Whether it's exercises in abject torque(like the Triumph Rocket III Touring), explorations of wholly unreasonable volumetrics (like the V8-powered Boss Hoss), or simply absolute, unbridled ridiculousness (like the 410 cubic inch Gunbus* pictured here-- and yes, that's a normal-sized female aboard the behemoth), sometimes there's no substitute for cubic inches.
Don't get me wrong; I'll always enjoy thrashing lightweight bikes like the Ninjette, but occasionally I'm also struck by an unmistakeable hunger for hugely imposing, thundering V-twins that roll down the road with the authority of a steamroller.
Do you share my affliction?
* Thanks to bustakneecap for linking to this ginormous bike in our Forum
Photo © Gunbus, babe not included
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The Lure of Lightweight Motorcycles
Thanks to my job I'm lucky enough to see quite a few motorcycles pass through my garage, and every once in a while an interesting group of bikes gets me thinking. Last week, while the ginormous Triumph Rocket III touring graced the garage of guest reviewer Jason Fogelson, I was looking at the Kawasaki Ninja 250R (333 lbs dry), Ducati Monster 696 (359 lbs dry), and the Yamaha R6 (366 lbs dry.) Their common thread? Their featherweight footprints.
While there's a time and place for everything (like the 787 lb Suzuki C109R or virtually any Harley), the latest array reminds me of how great it feels to throw around a compact little whisp of a bike. I'm sure a few of you disagree…
Photo © Basem Wasef
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Red Bull's Ronnie Renner Sets World Record for Quarterpipe Air
Red Bull is so intent on pushing the limits of man and machine that they've dedicated a series of stunts to the art of breaking unusual world records. The Red Bull Experiment began with Robbie Maddison's football field-long motorcycle jump, and continued with last month's BMX leap by Kevin Robinson. So expectations were high when 20,000 pairs of eyes watched freestyle motocross rider Ronnie Renner launch himself and his KTM off a 25-foot high quarterpipe at California's Santa Monica pier.
The time lapse photo seen here (click to enlarge) reveals the arc of his path, and his sixth attempt (which measured 59 feet, 2 inches) was submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records. Though some might argue the relevance of performing a stunt for the sheer purpose of doing it (like Sir Edmund Hillary's inexplicable motivation for climbing Mount Everest), it's refreshing to see a corporation as interested in adrenaline as they are in their bottom line.
Photo © Garth Milan / Red Bull
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It's Official: Harley-Davidson to Acquire MV Agusta!
Just over a month ago, rumors swirled around the possibility that Harley-Davidson, the 105 year-old motorcycling icon, might acquire MV Agusta, the ailing Italian sportbike manufacturer. For those of you who declared the possibility impossible, it's time to swallow your words.
Early this morning, Harley announced "the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase the Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta Group. Under the agreement, Harley-Davidson will acquire 100 percent of MV Agusta Group shares for total consideration of approximately 70 million euros ($109 million), which includes the satisfaction of existing bank debt for approximately 45 million euros ($70 million)." The statement also mentions that MV's Claudio Castiglioni will retain his title of Chairman, and Design Chief Massimo Tamburini will keep leading the design studio.
The announcement mentions that Harley CEO Jim Ziemer "envisions the acquisition is intended primarily to expand Harley-Davidson, Inc’s presence and footprint in Europe, complementing the Harley-Davidson and Buell motorcycle families." After testing MV Agusta's six-figure flagship and sampling much of the Harley-Davidson lineup, I imagine this union could offer some intriguing possibilities for Italian-American motorcycles... what do you think?
Logo © Harley-Davidson
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Jason's Full Review of the 2008 Honda Silver Wing Scooter
Fuel economy and environmentalism seem to be the topics du jour these days, and few internal combustion vehicles are more efficient than tiny-engined scooters. But bucking the trend of those well-intentioned but underpowered rides are so-called maxi scooters (or power scooters, if you seek a more masculine term.) Bad boys like the Suzuki Burgman 650, the Aprilia Scarabeo 500, and the Honda Silver Wing boast a combination of motorcycle-like power and enough civility to keep your duds (relatively) unruffled.
SUV expert Jason Fogelson has logged some miles on the Honda Silver Wing maxi... er, power scooter, and tells all with his 2008 Honda Silver Wing Full Review. Check it out, browse his photo gallery, and feel free to post your opinion of this burgeoning form of two-wheeled transportation.
Photo © Jason Fogelson
Click photo for 2008 Honda Silver Wing Full Review