2011 will be a very special year for Italian manufacturer Benelli. Founded in 1911, Benelli is celebrating its 100th year anniversary with special edition motorcycles. The first one is the Tornado Naked Tre (TnT) 1130 Century Racer which will be displayed in Milan next week. For 2011, the TnT features Marzocchi forks, Sachs shock and Brembo brakes. The Italian engineers reprogrammed the ECU but it’s still unknown if this will increase the bike’s performances. The Cafe Racer version gets new seat and color options for the 2011 model year. Read the full article »

Ahead of EICMA, BMW released information on the 2011 R 1200 R and R 1200 R Classic naked machines. Generating perceptibly higher torques, the new boxer engine provides an extra boost to temperament. Derived from the BMW HP2 Sport, their new boxer with 1170 cc and DOHC valve gear corresponds to the engines already installed in the BMW R 1200 GS and BMW R 1200 RT. The basic R 1200 R has a sporty character with new cast light alloy wheels, the R 1200 R Classic presents wire spoke wheels for a deliberate touch of refined nostalgia. Read the full article »

Austrian off-road motorcycle specialist will present a 990 Adventure special edition next week at EICMA show in Milan. Mike Werner of Motorbiker.org got his hands on this photo of the motorcycle which seems to be a tweaked version of the 990 Adventure. The special edition version features new blue and orange livery, classic Dakar logo and the 30th edition wording to remind everyone of it’s rally origins. The motorcycle got anti-lock brakes and KTM aftermarket kit. The company didn’t release the technical data yet. Read the full article »

Honda will present the new CBR250R at the EICMA show in Milan next week, but the manufacturer already took the wraps off the model. The much anticipated bike got the design cues of the VFR1200F sports tourer and the CBR1000RR sports bike. The entry-leves CBR is powered by a 4-stroke, 4-valve single-cylinder DOHC engine which delivers 26 hp and 23 Nm of torque. The engine, which meets the Euro-3 emission standards, is a little less powerful than the two-cylinder Kawasaki Ninja 250, but the Honda has more torque. Read the full article »

The EICMA show starts on Monday in Milan, but the japanese manufacturer already released a full design sketch of its mid-range capacity crossover model. The bike combines the CB1000R’s design cues with a smaller version of Honda’s V4 engine. Rumours suggest the machine will use a 800cc engine, along with traction control and engine mapping. Honda says, "This mid-range machine is an exciting new approach – a crossover machine that represents the best aspects of two separate biking genres. Read the full article »

The market of compact electric motorcycles is growing fast. The newest member of this segment is the Volta EC-1, a small two-wheeler designed for environmental city riding. The bike features an agressive design and uses one electric engine. The EV-1 will be available in two versions: the smaller one delivers 11 kW (15hp), while the bigger one provides 30hp. The company didn’t release the specifications, but they say the bike has a range of 70km (43 miles) and the recharge is possible with a 220V household socket. Read the full article »

These are the first picture of the XTZ 250 Ténéré, a miniaturized copy of the big European adventurer, the XT1200Z Super Ténéré. The mini-adventure bike takes its styling from her sister, but its 250cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine produces a modest 23hp at 8,000rpm. The bike features a tubular steel chassis, cheap suspension and low-spec twin piston brakes. The 16-liter tank allows long rides without worrying about the refuel. The little Ténéré will carry a price tag of €5,400 in Brazil. Read the full article »

Kawasaki recently introduced the successor of its popular W650, the W800. We have a new video now of the machine which shows us the bike in detail. The machine features a parallel 2-cylinder 800cc engine with fuel injection that replaces the old carburetor system. The engine delivers around 70hp and plenty of torque at low revs. The power is transmitted to the wheels via a 5-speed gearbox. The classic-style bike uses a lightweight double-crade frame, telescopic fork at the front and dual shock absorbers with adjustable preload. Read the full article »

Yamaha Motor India has now announced the launch of the FZ and Fazer Midnight Special Edition. The 150cc FZ and Fazer Series was introduced in 2008 in India, and the models gained immense popularity amongst youngsters. The manufacturer decided now to come up with a limited edition series, the Midnight Special. As the tag suggests, the bikes will be available in all black color concept with golden alloy wheel highlighting the exclusive looks of the FZ range. Read the full article »

These are the first pictures of the 2011 Daytona 675R – a high-spec version of Triumph’s supersport bike. The new machine will be the first Triumph equipped with Öhlins suspension. The bike features high-spec Brembo brakes, carbon mudguards, white/black paint scheme, new Triumph logos, and red subrfame. The British marque didn’t release the technical specifications yet, but it is believed the engine is unchanged and the chassis is also unaltered. Rumours suggest the bike get quick-shifter though. Read the full article »