Luber Custom Stilet trike: Mad Max post-apocalypse styling

When looking for a new motorcycle you want something that looks futuristic as well as cool and new looking. Imagine my shock when I first saw images of the Luber Custom Stilet trike. Just take a look at these images and you will see what I mean, the bike is like it has come straight out of a Mad Max movie.

I would say that the style of these trikes is post-apocalypse, so if you like the rusty metal look then you will love the Luber Custom Stilet trike. Don’t worry that your bike will fall apart once you have purchased it; the rust is just an airbrush finish.

The bike is to be powered by a 5.7 liter V8 and will produce 300 horsepower, looking at how light this vehicle is it will be very fast, maybe too fast.

Read more information at Lubar Customs via Engadget

D-Tec system wearable airbag for motorcyclists ready for sale in 2010

No matter how safe manufactures try to make their motorcycles there is always one week point, the motorcyclists. The thing is when you fall of your bike the only thing that helps to take the impact is your crash helmet and your leathers.

Well D-Tec system has been working for ten years on a protection system, what they have come up with is the wearable airbag. This is basically a fully wearable airbag, however as yet there is no pricing. But whatever the price, serious bikers will pay the premium just to be safe. Expect to see the D-Tec system wearable airbag in stores by 2010.

Source - Web Bike World via boing boing

XO Move Motorcycle is the real Transformers Concept: Do you like it?

Take a look at this cool motorcycle concept which is definitely the real Transformer, and we say this because it does actually transform.

The XO Move Motorcycle is unique especially when it is parked because it can transform into the locked position for security. It will adjust for the riders needs; it can carry one or two persons and has a variable wheel base to make it more stable on the roads. The designers of the XO Move Motorcycle are Josson Thomas, Camile Baron, Damien Grossemy & Kevin Lecoutre.

Hey Megatron you better watch your back mate.

Browse > Home / Archive by category 'Autos / Motorcycles' September 9, 2008 Filed under Convertibles, Hatchback Cars, Motorcycles, Trucks & Pickup

Many of us have been speculating as to when BMW Motorrad will be releasing their new and much anticipated 1000 RR race bike. Well we can now tell you that BMW are to launch the new motorcycle and will hit our streets next year and has committed to build 1,000 units.

When you look closely at the BMW S 1000 RR bike is a little conventional than other bikes in the BMW Motorrad range. The engine used to power this motorcycle is a 1000cc inline-four and has been transversely mounted between the frame rails and its upside-down front fork. As a result the bike is very compact, so should handle very well on the road and on a race track.

As yet we have no performance figures, but we do know a few things and one of those is that the new race bike will use traction control. The bike should also be light as the carbon fiber has been used extensively throughout the design of the bike.

Looking at these couple of pictures of the BMW Motorrad S 1000 RR race bike in action on the road, it looks so cool in black I am reminded of the old TV series StreetHawk, not sure if it will be as fast though.

Cadillac-themed hybrid ethanol chopper coming to LA Auto Show

Jim Taylor who is the chief from Cadillac seems to love his motorcycles, so it comes as no surprise to any of us that he has commissioned a Cadillac-themed chopper and will be bringing it to the LA Auto Show. If you thought that was great then you will be pleased to know that Cadillac has commissioned a second motorcycle from V20 and this will be a hybrid version which will run on ethanol.

How cool will that be a chopper running on corn fuel or pure electrons, and do not think for one moment that it will be slow as the bike will reach 60mph in just 4.5 seconds. This new venture seems to have the whole industry a little baffled as to why a motor company like Cadillac wants to venture into motorcycles and a Hybrid version at that.

For those of you who think that this is just a bit of PR and that it will not actually happen, head on over to the LA Auto Show when it kicks of later this year and you will be able to see the Cadillac-themed hybrid ethanol chopper with your own eyes.

It seems strange to me that Cadillac are working on a hybrid chopper, when they should concentrate more harder on better car and truck hybrids.

Alfa Romeo Motorcycle With A 4-Cylinder Boxer Engine!

From time to time we like crossing over to the wonderful world of two-wheels. Sometimes we’re lucky enough to stumble upon really weird creations like the 3wheeler Mercedes SLK or the Alfa bike you’re seeing here that attempt to mix characteristics from both worlds -cars and motorcycles. Not always with the same success apparently. While there’s no info on the heavily modified bike, it seems to be wearing a 4cylinder Alfa Romeo boxer motor combined with some parts that look to have come from a BMW motorcycle boxer engine. -More pictures after the jump

Via: Autoblog.it

New V-Rod Muscle in 2009 Harley Davidson Line-Up

It looks as though there is a new line-up in the Harley Davidson family, the new 2009 V-Rod Muscle; this is part of the V-Rod family. The look of this bike is a new one; this is a result of the angular bodywork and exhaust pipes which exit from both sides of the Hog.

The engine used is the Revolution; this is an excellent powerplant, and Harley Davidson hope that this will be enough to attract more buyers, as The Motor Company has been having a hard time of late.

Harley Davidson hope that the new 2009 V-Rod Muscle will be able to ride their way onto the Power Cruiser scene, the huge rear tire spinning under a clean, clipped fender, sweeping side-pipe exhaust and gapping air scoops might well be a winning formula this time.

The 1250cc Revolution V-Twin engine is liquid-cooled and has Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection, four-valve heads and dual overhead cams. The engine is mounted to a five-speed transmission. The engine produces 125hp and will rev up to 8250 rpm

Could Harley Davidson finally have hit gold with the new 2009 V-Rod Muscle, only time will tell?

Ultra Motor A2B Electric Bike: Doesn’t pollute the environment

You have to look at this great motorbike, just looking at the pictures makes me want to buy one. I am always up for helping the environment and transportation that doesn’t pollute the environment is definitely a big thumb’s up for me.

Forget all the walking and the hard work peddling on a bicycle because the A2B Electric Bike from Ultra Motor is what you really need, many people will say the motorbike is weird looking, but I beg to dither on that, I really like it.

The Ultra Motor A2B Electric Bike uses mountain bike suspension and includes an oversized seat for that extra comfort for your bottom; it also has a small tray that protrudes out from behind the bike, under the seat.

If the bike runs out of battery juice all you need to do is pedal away to recharge it, also by peddling you can increase the speed of the bike, other than that the pedals are not needed.

The bike will give you around about 20 miles on a full charge thanks to its lithium-ion batteries; the bike will do 20mph.

Source – Ultra Motor via Gadgetoholic

The Kneeslider: Are motorcycles the future of performance?

We feel like we're ahead of the curve on this one, but Paul Crowe over at The Kneeslider has posted an editorial questioning whether or not performance cars are an endangered species. Considering that CAFE rules are becoming ever more stringent, cars like the Corvette are likely to move to smaller, more efficient motors and correspondingly lightweight chassis architecture. Heck, even the Camaro could get a hybrid option in the near future.

The question posed by Crowe is whether or not motorcycles will make up for the lack of high-performance cars. We think the answer is a resounding maybe. A few speed-addicts might make a move towards two wheels, but the market for fast cars is not going to go anywhere. Remember the muscle car? That era ended a long time ago, but the desire for the vehicles has not gone anywhere, in fact they are more desirable now than ever before. What's more, technology is already in place which will allow high performance and high economy. So, just as some people are switching to two wheels for economy, some might switch to two wheels for performance. With motorcycles, though, a few will have their cake and eat it too.

[Source: The Kneeslider

Gunbus motorcycle finished, proves just excessive enough

When it comes to custom motorcycle builders, there's crazy and there's really crazy. Falling into the latter category is one Mr. Clemens F. Leonhardt, who has just finished building what he refers to as "the world's biggest motorcycle." Excluding some other crazy creations, such as the Monster Bike, the guy's got a point. Unlike other two-wheeled behemoths, the Leonhardt Gunbus is actually ready to ride on normal roads and will soon go into series production. That's right... you'll actually be able to buy one of these. Next on the agenda is an equally massive sidecar, which somehow seems just right for this bike.

A quick glance at the pictures shows just how monumental that 410-cubic-inch, air-cooled, pushrod V-Twin really is. Of course, a monster of an engine must require an impressively large bike, and the Gunbus is certainly that, looking bit like a caricature of a bike with the fittingly attractive blonde model sitting on top. Whatever -- we want one.

Gallery: Completed Gunbus Motorcycle

Harley-Davidson rolls out new 2009 V-Rod Muscle

The original V-Rod was described as a muscle bike when it was introduced, competing against such intense machines as the original V Max from Yamaha and the Rocket III from Triumph. This year, The Motor Company has seen fit to actually introduce a new model based on that same VRSC platform that carries the name Muscle. Let's get this out of the way now: we're not fans of the moniker. Despite the odd name, we like what makes this machine different from other models sharing the same platform with its liquid cooled 1250cc V-Twin engine. For instance, that new rear fender with its integrated stoplight looks great, as do the dual exhausts with one pipe on each side. One questionable styling choice could be the airbox extensions, which appear riveted into place.

All VRSC models get optional ABS for their Brembo triple disc brakes, including the new VRSCF. The Muscle shares the same 240 mm rear tire that was on our Night Rod Special test bike, and it looks just as mean in this application as it did there, while that fat rubber surrounds new five spoke cast wheels.

Gallery: 2009 VRSCF V-Rod Muscle

Harley-Davidson launches new 2009 Tri Glide Ultra Classic

Considering the growing popularity of the trike market -- and we don't mean the old VW-based creations made popular in the seventies -- we wonder why it took Harley-Davidson so long to introduce its own three-wheeler. Based on the Electra Glide Touring chassis, the Tri Glide uses a belt final drive to connect a new air-suspended rear differential to the six-speed Cruise Drive transmission common to all Harley Big Twins. At the front, rake and trail have been increased to lend a bit more stability to the package while a steering stabilizer is intended to reduce front-end wobble. For the ultimate in ease of use, consider the optional electric reverse gear for an additional $1,195. Dual 15-inch rear wheels come fitted with P205/65R15 tires.

The same Tour-Pak from the Ultra model works on the Tri Glide along with the normal "bat wing" fairing that Harley-Davidson has made famous over the years. Moving all this mass down the road is a new fuel-injected Twin Cam 103 V-Twin engine that offers up 101 lb.-ft. of torque. A six-gallon fuel tank ought to keep you going about as long as your bladder can handle, and the standard cruise control will get you where you need to go with a minimum of fuss. While we personally prefer to tour on two wheels, we're sure HD will find a few buyers for the new Tri Glide, even at its $30,000 suggested retail price, which is actually a decent deal considering how much a conversion kit runs these days.

[Source: Harley-Davidson]

Triumph introduces new 2010 Thunderbird

We've seen plenty of spy photos circulating the web of Triumph's long-expected parallel twin cruiser, so the introduction of the new 2010 Thunderbird is anything but shocking. We are a bit surprised, though, by how plain-looking the bike is, appearing very much like a modern Bonneville injected with steroids performance enhancing drugs. With its blacked-out liquid cooled parallel engine, the bike bares a passing resemblance to Kawasaki's rather ancient Vulcan 500 model... not good. In any case, we are counting on competitive performance from the rather large 1600cc engine, which should offer somewhat more than a hundred horses. Considering just how massive the shove one gets from Triumph's Rocket III cruiser, we have high hopes for this new cruiser mill.

Rumors indicate that more variations on this basic Thunderbird theme will come out of the woodwork in due time, including the now-expected touring model. All models will likely share the same basic frame, engine and six speed gearbox. ABS is said to be optional. We look forward to seeing more shots of the new Thunderbird, hopefully ones that show the bike in a bit better light.

Gallery: 2010 Triumph Thunderbird

Harley-Davidson launches two new 2009 models

Harley-Davidson, the definitive American motorcycle manufacturer, has released its 2009 models, and there are a few surprises to take note of, including the introductions of two brand new bikes. The VRSCF V-Rod Muscle (above) builds on the same liquid cooled platform of past VR models and adds a new rear fender design, dual side exhaust pipes and revised bodywork to the wide 240 mm rear tire that some models already feature. The second new bike is The Motor Company's first trike, the Tri Glide. Using a brand new rear differential along with air suspension in back, Harley looks to capitalize on the growing three-wheeler trend in the states.

In other news, HD has also revised the frame of all its '09 Touring models, and we recently got the chance to feel the new, more solid-feeling frame ourselves. It's a definite improvement, especially important since the revised Tour-Pak is capable of holding even more gear and weight. Nearly all new Duna and Sportster models feature a new front fender said to more closely follow the contour of the front wheel, improving the appearance of the bikes in the process. Take a closer look at the two completely new models here:

Gallery: 2009 VRSCF V-Rod Muscle

First Ride: 2009 Harley-Davidson CVO models

There is no doubting that Harley-Davidson motorcycles have stood the test of time. Though sales of both mainstream and higher-end models from The Motor Company are down, Harley-Davidson has seen fit to continue its line of factory custom models. Custom Vehicle Operations offers complete models featuring Screaming Eagle parts.

HD has no problems selling its entire allotment of CVO SE bikes each year despite their high cost of entry, so we surmise that folks looking for full custom bikes complete with Harley-Davidson warranties must have fairly deep pockets. Surely then, these machines had better be quite different from their more standard countarparts. Let's take a closer look.

Gallery: First Ride: 2009 HD CVO Fat Bob

10th Anniversary Victory Vision sells out in 7 minutes

The classic touring bike style has seen only minor revisions since the 1940s or so, but that doesn't mean something spicy and different can't shake up the segment from time to time, as proven by the Victory Vision. Introduced last year, the Vision sports futuristic styling that's also very effective at keeping the wind and elements at bay -- exactly what you want from a long-legged steed. That the Vision is equipped with an extremely powerful 106-cubic-inch (over 1,700cc) air-cooled engine with 92 horsepower and 109 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed transmission is icing on the cake. To celebrate its 10th Anniversary, America's other motorcycle manufacturer threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Vision and ended up with a $29,000 two-wheeler bedecked in metallic red, black and chrome. Apparently, riders liked the result enough to snatch up all 100 Anniversary editions in the first seven minutes it was made available for purchase online. With that kind of response, maybe they should make a big deal about the 11th anniversary next year...

Gallery: 10th Anniversary Victory Vision

[Source: Victory Motorcycles]

Honda announces new CBR600RR and CBR1000RR Fireblade for U.K.

Click above for more shots of the 2009 Honda CBR600RR

When it was introduced in 2008, the brand-new Honda CBR1000RR, known as Fireblade across the pond, won accolades from the the press and regular riders alike. Considering its market domination over the last year, we wouldn't be surprised if Honda simply left things pretty much alone for '09. There is one new feature, though, and it's a biggie: optional ABS brakes. This will be the first application of anti-lock brakes in a machine of this caliber, and early reports indicate that people are seeing improved lap times as a result. In addition to the brakes, expect to see some color changes and a Repsol race edition.

Moving on to Honda's smaller-bore machine, the CBR600RR will also get optional C-ABS along with engine changes designed to improve torque right in the middle of the power band, between 8,000 and 12,000 RPM. Along with these changes comes revised styling with flashy colors pulled straight from the mid-'90s. Apparently, neon green and electric blue are back. Why didn't somebody tell us sooner? Update: Title fixed. Thanks!

Gallery: 2009 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

Gallery: 2009 Honda CBR600RR