The Bavarian manufacturer unveiled a new motorcycle and car communication system that aims to prevent cars pulling across the path of oncoming bikes. The „Left Turn Assistant” is activated automatically in the BMW 5 Series test vehicle as soon as the car’s sensors detect that it is entering the left-turn lane and the car registers the driver’s wish to turn off. Recognition of the left-turn lane takes place on two levels. The vehicle positioning function of the navigation system allows the location of the car to be fixed to within a metre at intersections. Read the full article »

British manufacturer Triumph has rolled out its 500,000th bike since its rebirth in 1990, which was restarted with the purchase of the firm by John Bloor. The 500,000th bike is a 2011 Speed Triple. To celebrate the special occasion, they are sending the special Speed Triple and UK comic Ross Noble on a 7-day tour of the British Isles, which is to be twitter-broadcasted. The tour starts on the May 24th. Watch the video after the jump. Read the full article »

One of Yamaha Tech3 MotoGP team’s trucks was involved in an accident that has killed a motorcyclist. The 54-year old rider died at the La Ciotat toll booth on the A50 highway in France. The motorcyclist stopped behind a big truck waiting in the queue to pay the toll. The driver of the semi-trailer for some reason backed up at the toll booth and hit the biker, trapping him under the truck and dragging him backwards for over 10 meters. The biker died on the spot. Read the full article »

Are you a motorcycle enthusiast? Do you like the sound of a V-Twin or rather an inline-four? And what about electric bikes? What’s your favourite bike type? Sportsbike, cruiser, touring, or maybe a scooter? Find the bike to suit your needs at Mbike encyclopedia, put it in your garage and compare it to your neighbour’s bike. But that’s not everything! Mbike is one helpful and friendly community. Connect with other motorcycle riders. We have many features on this website to make your experience here more enjoyable. The first step would be [...] Read the full article »

Brammo announced today that they entered a strategic partnership with Italian company SMRE. As a part of this agreement, Brammo has acquired an exclusive international license of SMRE's patented Integrated Electric Transmission (IET). IET enables Brammo to offer its electric motorcycles with a 6 speed transmission. The first application of the new IET will be on the Brammo Engage and Encite which are announced today and which will be unveiled prior to competing in the MiniMotoSX race in Las Vegas on Friday, May 6, 2011. Read the full article »

Harley-Davidson, Inc. generated increased earnings and worldwide dealer new motorcycle sales grew for the first quarter of 2011. The company reported first quarter income from continuing operations of $119.3 million, or $0.51 per share, compared to income from continuing operations of $68.7 million, or $0.29 per share in the year-ago period. Worldwide retail sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles grew 3.5 percent in the first quarter, compared to last year’s first quarter. Read the full article »

Polaris Industries today announced the acquisition of Indian Motorcycle. The business was acquired from Indian Motorcycle Limited, a company advised by Stellican Limited and Novator Partners LLP, U.K. Private Equity firms. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “We are excited to be part of the revitalization of a quintessentially American brand,” said Scott Wine, CEO of Polaris Industries Inc. Read the full article »

BMW Motorrad USA announced today that it will be the first motorcycle manufacturer to offer ABS as standard equipment on its entire range of 2012 model year motorcycles. A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed that motorcycles equipped with antilock brakes are 37 percent less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than models without ABS. BMW was the first motorcycle manufacturer to introduce ABS in 1988 and now offers a sixth generation and numerous ABS options across its product line. Read the full article »

As electric passenger cars become increasingly familiar to consumers around the world, electric motorcycles and scooters are also growing in popularity. E-motorcycles and e-scooters are already used in significant numbers in China and other parts of Asia Pacific, due in large part to urbanization trends, and people in many countries are accustomed to using two-wheel vehicles as a primary mode of transportation. Read the full article »

With gas prices reaching the $4 per gallon mark, more and more drivers are reconsidering the SUV in favor of a smaller vehicle, a hybrid or even a motorcycle. Well, Vespa has some interesting facts for these people, and that’s why they started the Vespanomics website. Vespanomics promotes embracing motor scooters as an alternative form of transportation to reduce oil consumption, pollution and traffic congestion. Read the full article »