Zero Motorcycles has announced plans to open a new factory that will more than double the company’s current production capacity. The new manufacturing facility will be built alongside Zero Motorcycle’s corporate headquarters in Scotts Valley, California. The factory will boost Zero’s production space to 34,000 square feet and reflects an increase in demand around the world for electric motorcycles, the company says. Renovation work on the new plant is scheduled to begin soon. Read the full article »

Orange County Choppers, the business featured in the reality series American Chopper is facing foreclousure, as Long Island Press reports. Two members of the Teutul family, founder Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. have been fighiting over money, specifically Jr’s stake in OCC. Now, OCC is facing foreclousure over major debt. The company has allegedly missed several morgage payments, one for $96,400 and another for $14,000. Read the full article »

The S 1000 RR has won the International Bike of the Year (IBOTY) award for 2010. The 26th edition of the prestigious annual competition awarded top honours to BMW Motorrad’s Superbike, marking yet another significant achievement in its short history in the marketplace. The jury of the International Bike of the Year 10/11 was composed of 14 members representing leading motorcycle magazines from all over the world. Read the full article »

Earlier this month in Las Vegas, a packed auction room of international buyers bid on approximately 200 motorcycles from every era of history, for a total sum exceeding $2.5 million. Six bikes made in excess of $100,000, among them a very rare, factory prepared competition 1939 BMW R 51 RS, which made $130,200 after competitive bidding from US collectors. The 1939 BMW R 51 RS is one of only two known BMW factory racers in private hands and the only unrestored pre-War ‘Rennsport’ in existence. Read the full article »

Following Bonhams' highly successful inaugural motorcycle sale in Las Vegas earlier this month, the world's leading auctioneers of motor vehicles is proud to announce its third annual auction at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering. Hosted on May 14th at Quail Lodge in Carmel, California, Bonhams' sale of "Exceptional Motorcycles & Related Memorabilia" will include what is understood to be the very motorcycle featured on the front cover of the August 1971 issue of Sports Illustrated being ridden by none other than "The King of Cool," Steve McQueen. Read the full article »

Honda Motor Co said Thursday that it sold 17,9 million motorcycles globally, up 19% from the previous year as demand grew 23% in Asia. Honda’s domestic sales grew 8% to 196 000 units, while sales in North America were down 8%. What’s really amazing, is the fast-growing gulf between motorcycle sales in Europe, Africa, Middle & Near East (258 000 units in 2010), North (192,000 units) and South (1,6 million units) America and Japan (196,000 units) when compared to Asia (14,4 million units). Read the full article »

Harley-Davidson Inc. reporded $259.7 million in income in 2010, up from $70.6 million in 2009 thanks to improved results from the company’s financial services division. Operating income from motorcycles and related products was $378.8 million for the full year, including an operating loss of $6.8 million in the fourth quarter. Retail sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the fourth quarter were nearly level with the year-ago period, decreasing 1.0 percent worldwide and 0.2 percent in the U.S. Read the full article »

After introducing a new engine and gearbox in the last couple of years, Royal Enfield is charting a new growth curve with more new models, larger displacement engines and new factory. The Indian manufacturer decided to set up a new facility that would take care of the company’s requirements for the next 10 years. Besides this, Royal Enfield is also planning to ramp up its capacity at the Chennai plant. The company is looking for new export countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia but that’s not the biggest news. Read the full article »

Ducati has issued a second recall notice for the Multistrada 1200. This recall is necessary because of the engine stalling whilst the bike is stationary and the engine idling. To fix the ECU problem, affected owners must take their Multistrada to a Ducati dealership, where the ECU will be re-flashed with a new firmware package. The recall affects 1196 units. This is the second time the new Multistrada 1200 has been recalled by Ducati, the first time being for faulty screws, centerstand, and improper cable routing. Read the full article »

As you probably know, Nuova Garelli has walked away from talks over the future of Moto Morini last summer, which ment the manufacturer closed its doors in December. The Italian Court with Piero Aicardi has informed the media that the factory will be opening up to assemble 45 motorcycles in order to use the proceeds to pay a part of the Casalecchio di Reno company debts. According to the report, 16 Scramblers and 29 Granpassos will be sold without warranties. Read the full article »