Ducati Hypermotard Help Destory Mankind

Did you know those killer motorcycles in the new Terminator Salvation movie (out on May 21, 2009) are Ducati Hypermotard bikes? I guess the Ducati designers around the time of judgment day decided they should go for a more scary and human-destroying look.

Or the Italian Ducati designers were killed by Italian terminators, and then the machines took over designing the new bike… I don’t think I’m a fan of their creative concept.

Ducati Motor Holding have just uploaded a video on Youtube tooting their own horns, proud that these life destroying vehicles are really Ducati’s at heart

the MINI E Scooter Concept

MINI has just officially revealed not one, but two of its MINI Scooter E Concepts that will officially debut at the Paris Auto Show next week. Created to bring together a youth-oriented lifestyle element and sustainable mobility, the scooters take significant design cues from the MINI lineup of cars while using a lithium-ion battery pack to deliver guilt-free mobility.

Making the MINI E Scooter Concept almost excessively hip is its smartphone integration, where the owner’s iPod or similar device acts as the actual key for the scooter, clicking into a central docking station between the handlebars. When in motion, the smartphone can even be used as a navigation system, music system or as a telephone thanks to an integrated wireless Bluetooth interface.

As for the style, both models shown are undeniable MINI, with chrome accents and both lights and mirrors designed directly from the MINI lineup of cars. Plus, there’s the large central speedometer where the smartphone docks.

As mentioned, two models will be shown in Paris, the first being a two-seater yellow model designed to showcase the features of the scooter, while the second model is a single-seater designed to show-off the sportier lifestyle side of the vehicle with British Racing Green paint and distressed brown leather – how very British.

For more on the MINI Scooter E Concept, check out more pictures and the full press release below the jump

Custom Art Deco-era Henderson Motorcycle

When we saw pictures of this recently restored art-deco custom built back in 1936, we felt we needed to share them with you.

A 1930 KJ Henderson provides the platform for the sculpted design originally built by O. Ray Courtney, and it’s powered by an air-cooled inline four-cylinder engine. It has a sister bike built on a 1930s Indian.

Courtney’s Henderson was resurrected by its current owner, Frank Westfall from Syracuse, NY, who showed it at the Rhinebeck Grand National Meet last June. Not just a museum piece, the bike was ridden around the meet’s grounds over the weekend by its enthusiastic owner.

More photos after the jump.

While it’s obviously not a practical machine, its curvaceous art-deco-era bodywork is absolutely stunning

Kawasaki Ninja 250R

Recently here on Motorcycle.com, we’ve been bringing you reviews of a handful of Honda scoots that are available to our neighbors (or is that neighbours?) to the North in Canada, yet remain forbidden fruit for American consumers.

Reviewer Costa Mouzouris gave us a look at the naked CB1000R that Honda Canada is considering importing, the already-available half-faired CBF1000, and the entry-level CBR125R.

Meanwhile, Honda’s competitors have also announced some new products for Canada that have yet to be made available in the U.S. Yamaha Motor Canada is importing the new Fazer 8 and FZ8, while Kawasaki Canada announced it will offer the new Ninja 400R.

But before you start thinking of Canada as the land of milk and honey and “$#!+ we ain’t getting”, Honda brings some sobering news about the Canadian motorcycle industry, especially when it comes to the Japanese manufacturers.

Warren Milner, Honda Canada’s senior marketing manager spoke recently with Canadian journos at a presentation in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and his message was blunt.

“As far as we’re concerned, the motorcycle business (in Canada) is bankrupt,” Milner says. “We’ve hit rock bottom, so now we’re going to rebuild.”

How bad has it been? The global economic downturn hasn’t hit Canada as hard as it has the U.S., but that doesn’t mean it’s been smooth sailing. To survive the recession, Honda Canada has been offering throat-cutting promotions on previous model years to clear out back inventory. Meanwhile, 2010 models haven’t been selling, despite Honda lowering the prices to narrow the gap between Canadian and U.S. pricing.

Honda’s efforts have put it back on top of the sales charts, but it low prices haven’t helped with profits. Even worse, according to Milner, the price slashing has lowered the value of the brand. After-sales support has also taken a hit as there isn’t enough money to provide it.

By contrast, European manufacturers such as BMW, Ducati and Triumph, have been able to keep up with sales without hurting the bottom line. The difference, according to Milner, is those companies have been selling the lifestyle and image of their brands, and in so doing, the value.

What will Honda Canada do now? No more discounts, for one thing. Customers will see dealers stick close to MSRP in 2011. They may also see some new models. The CB1000R, for one, is almost sure to arrive in Canada. There are other holes in Honda’s product lineup that could be filled.

Right now, Honda Canada’s best selling model is the CBR125R, which trails the Kawasaki Ninja 250R on Canada’s top sellers list. Both entry-level models have been doing a good job bringing in new riders, and Kawasaki’s new Ninja 400R (pictured above) will give those new riders an option to upgrade. But Honda doesn’t yet offer anything similar in that bracket. Its VTR250 naked V-Twin roadster sold in other markets would be a ready-made bridge from the CBR125 to the CBR600RR.

The Canadian motorcycle industry is much different than it is in the States, of course. With a smaller population, shorter riding season, not to mention different government regulations, Canada presents a different set of challenges for manufacturers. Still, there are lessons that can be applied to the U.S. market.

Honda was previously famous for bringing in new riders to the sport, but there are precious few small bikes in American Honda’s street lineup. After the 234cc Rebel cruiser ($3,999) and supermoto-styled CRF230M ($5,399), AHM’s non-dual-sport street lineup has a big hole until the 745cc Shadows ($6,999) and CBR600RR supersport ($11,199)

the Monster 1100 EVO

Fransesco Rapisarda, Gabriele del Torchio and Diego Sgerbati introduced us into Ducati’s financial and marketing status before Claudio Domenicale entered the stage and introduced all the news starting with the Superbike family we already know from Intermot that I have already tested at Imola. Then Domenicale continued with the EICMA news starting of with the Monster family where the Monster 1100 EVO is new. The 1100 EVO gets the Hypermotard 100hp engine, new exhaust with new tubing at the front similar to what’s on the Diavel. It also gets traction control.

Then it was time for the big one everybody had been waiting for – the Diavel. After showing several new videos showing the Diavel in action the stage exploded in light and smoke as a female rider rode the Diavel on to the stage. After some banter about the rider having to move off the bike so that we could appreciate the Diavel without any eye candy two more Diavels entered the stage. One white/aluminum colored and one in all black. The Red/black version is called Diavel Carbon and as the name implies it gets lots of carbon fiber bits.

Ducati revealed that the 1200cc engine is a devil indeed with figures claiming 162hp @ and 128Nm @ 8,000rpm. The Diavel gets DTC and ABS slightly modified from the items on the Multistrada 1200. New is also an extra display on the fuel tank dealing with the rider aids. The LCD panel is made from pretty much the same goodies as modern smart phones.

Interestingly Ducati has developed the bike to feature an all new rear tire size with Pirelli. The new Pirelli Diablo Rosso II in 240/45-ZR17 has an extremely low profile that makes the bike look menacing from the back coupled with an equally wide tail section. The front end is dominated by a huge round headlight flanked by what look like air intakes. The seat height is very low at 30.3 in. and the seat is well padded and looks comfy. ABS on Brembo monoblock brakes will be interesting to test. The bike is very long and it looks like the front would be pushed a bit with those powerful brakes and long wheelbase

EcoFriendly Honda Cub

New innovation from Honda to respond the Global Warming issue. Unlike other motorcycles, this Honda Cub come with a new concept by using Hydrogen fuel as it power source. So, no more gasoline.
This model is currently still in the concept, the design is based on a very popular model of Honda motorcycle in use today, the Honda Cub.

The “Seraphim” chopper

The Swedish designer Mikael Lugnegard renowned for his whimsical concept designs ranging from extreme vehicles to anything that catches this designer’s fancy, has designed a muscle bike for the rich boys. The “Seraphim” gold plated chopper is inspired by luxury timepieces, and it features hand-made Western saddles with engraved patterns for a vintage look.

Check out the gallery for his other works.

Also, check out the Seraphim variants inspired by the post-apocalyptic theme, including his other fantasy creations

chopper motorcycle 230

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American Chopper

So, how much do you love bikes? I can bet not more than a uber-rich British motorcycle enthusiast who has bought a collection of motorcycles, which are made famous by the hit TV show American Chopper. The aficionado has spent £500,000 (US $1,017,832) on the featured choppers. Alan Hardcastle, director of international bike firm LIA Imports, marked out over £500,000 bikes shown on Discovery Channel’s American Chopper series. The American Choppers is a cult series that tracks the daily tension, tirades and triumphs of a father and son team, as they run a business creating custom motorbike masterpieces in their Orange County workshop. The bike fanatic wants to ride them all alone. What’s your obsession?

Motorcycles and Chopper Bikes

Custom Harley Softail Sportster and Thitima

This bike was built by V-Motors in Begium. Using a softail frame by SCS and a Sportster motor, this bike makes a first class custom for a reasonable cost. The wheels and forks are Harley-Davidson and the Chopper gas tank is by Parker Fabrication in Bournemouth, England. The design is simple and the quality of build is high.

copper motorcycle