Honda XRE300 is smallest ABS Honda motorcycle

Honda is releasing its smallest capacity ABS-equipped motorcycle – the XRE300 trail bike – but only in Brazil.

The new Honda XRE300 is powered by a 25bhp air-cooled 291cc DOHC four-valve single-cylinder engine making 20lb-ft of torque, which is shared with the CB600F Hornet 600-alike CB300R, which was introduced recently.

It’s a relatively heavy machine weighing in at 144kg There’s also an ABS-equipped version with a three-piston caliper which adds 7kg of weight as well as bulky ABS components under the left hand rear side panel.

Astonishingly, it costs £5378 in Brazil – more than a Honda CBF600N costs here!

Even the standard-braked XRE300 costs £4500 – around the same as you can pick up a Suzuki Gladius 650 for in the UK.

There are no plans to import it in to the UK at the moment.

Source: www.motorcyclenews.com/

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New Skidmarx bodywork for Kawasaki ZX-10R

Best known for their racing screens, British firm Skidmarx has just released bodywork for the Kawasaki ZX-10R ... Scroll down for the full story

Best known for their racing screens, as used by the championship winners in the British Superbike, Superstock and Supersport series in 2009, Skidmarx also produces a range of race-ready bodywork. Its new kit for the Kawasaki ZX-10R has been developed for Bournemouth Kawasaki to use in the 2010 British Superstock series. Both the fairing and seat unit are manufactured in the UK and are designed to directly replace the original body parts, so they will be useful for track days as well as full competition use.

Produced from lightweight 450gm CSM material that is backed up with woven cloth, the fairing and single seat unit are pre-drilled to fit onto existing mounting points and the kit is supplied with quick-release Dzus fasteners. Unlike the road fairing, the race version has no headlight aperture or indicator mounting points, and instead has an enclosed belly pan with a catch tray to comply with ACU rules. Skidmarx produce their race bodywork in plain white, ready to be painted in team colours; the Race Fairing sells for £260.00 and the single seat unit (with integrated undertray) costs £110.00 (including VAT). A matching front guard is available too, priced at £47.00.

Completing the package is the Skidmarx race screen for the ZX-10R. Manufactured from 2mm acrylic for enhanced optical clarity, it is thinner and lighter than the road version. Standard race screens retail for £39.95 and double bubble version is £49.95.

Souece: http://www.superbike.co.uk/news/New_Skidmarx_race_and_track_bodywork_for_Kawasaki_ZX10R_motorcycle_news_292427.html

David Knight returns to KTM

Two-time WEC and GNCC Champ on factory-backed team for 2010

Former World Enduro and Grand National Cross Country Champion David Knight will race for a factory-supported KTM team in 2010.

Knight will race for the Farioli KTM team in the World Enduro Championship in the E3 class. The signing reunites Knight with the manufacturer with whom he earned the 2005-2006 WEC E3 titles and the 2007-2008 GNCC championships. Though Knight will not be a member of the KTM factory team, he will receive KTM’s backing.

“I’m extremely happy to be riding for the Farioli KTM team next year,” says Knight. “Knowing I will receive full factory KTM equipment, and be a part of what is a great team that I know well, means I'm really looking forward to the start of the new season. With the Farioli KTM team and support from my personal sponsors, I know I can re-establish myself at the top of the Enduro 3 World Championship. 2009 was a difficult year for me but I learned a lot and I’m even more determined than ever to win more WEC titles.”

David Knight had the most success in his career while riding KTM motorcycles.

In Nov. 2008, Knight was one of several high-profile signings by BMW’s factory WEC team. Mid-way through the 2009 season however, BMW and Knight parted ways after several poor results.

The Isle of Man native returned to the U.S. to compete in the Snowshoe, W. Va., GNCC round, winning the XC1 Pro class, riding a Kawasaki machine. Knight also returned to the WEC series, winning the Enduro 2 class at the Sept. 12-13 season finale in France. Though he is returning to KTM machinery, Knight thanked Kawasaki for supporting him through the second half of 2009.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Kawasaki that has supported me during the second half of '09, especially everyone at the Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team,” says Knight. “Claiming victory in the Enduro 2 class at the final round of the ’09 World Enduro Championship for Kawasaki is something that I am extremely proud of. I’d like to wish Kawasaki every success in 2010. During the coming weeks and months I’m going to be training hard during the winter both in the UK and in the States. I can’t wait for the start of the ’10 WEC series.”

Source: http://www.motorcycle.com/news/david-knight-returns-to-ktm-88993.html

TTXGP disappointed with FIM

Competing series splits electric racing efforts

TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain says he is disappointed by the International Motorcycling Federation’s decision to launch its own electric racing series.

“We are disappointed that, despite our best efforts over many months to establish a truly inclusive world series, the FIM has decided to launch one independently of TTXGP,” says Hussain. “We would like to reassure all those involved with TTXGP that our 2010 racing calendar remains unaffected and many of our leading championship teams and manufacturers have already confirmed they will race exclusively in TTXGP.”

The FIM had previously endorsed the TTXGP, supporting the series’ debut at the Isle of Man on June 12. The FIM’s endorsement gave the race credibility, and a few weeks after the Isle of Man race, the FIM announced it would create a new series led by Hussain for 2010.

“I am very happy to welcome this new Series, the future of the sport depends on our capacity as well as that of the manufacturers to innovate quickly,” said FIM President Vito Ippolito in June. “We are convinced that very shortly the motorcycle World Championships will be accessible to non-polluting engines as far as gas and sound emissions are concerned. Now that this important decision is taken, we have to work on rules and calendar to be ready to compete in 2010.”

The FIM has formed its own electric racing series despite initially planning a series with TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain.

TTXGP organizers began preparing for the 2010 Isle of Man races as well as a pair of four-round series in the U.S.A. and the U.K. On Nov. 18 however, the FIM announced the creation of the e-Power International Championship, completely separate from the TTXGP.

Electric motorcycle racing is still a relatively new sport, and Hussain says the FIM’s decision creates a split in the fledgling electric motorcycle industry.

“TTXGP's culture is to work in partnership with those with knowledge and experience in motorsports and technology to ensure that the very best of innovation and consumer technology drives our sport forward,” says Hussain. “FIM's unilateral decision means that our energies are divided and the force diluted. The real victim will be the consumer and the industry which demands change to embrace a valuable opportunity. FIM appears to have no vision which will assist its own industry.”

The FIM has announced four rounds in its e-Power championship, each taking place at FIM-sanctioned endurance racing events such as the Le Mans 24Hours and the Bol d’Or, with further rounds to be announced.

The TTXGP has four rounds scheduled for its U.K. series while the American series has one round scheduled to coincide with the AMA round at the Infineon Raceway round in Sonoma, Calif., and three rounds to be announced. The TTXGP also has support from several manufacturers and teams while the FIM has yet to announce any participants in its series.

Related Reading
FIM announces electric racing series (Now)
FIM announces electric racing series (Then)

Source: www.motorcycle.com/news/ttxgp-disappointed-with-fim-88986.html

Record BMW collection sells for $1.57M

1924 BMW 493cc R32 sells for $165,000

The world’s largest private collection of BMW motorcycles sold for a total of over 1 million euros.

The entire collection was sold for a total of 1,038,400 euros (US$1.57 million), well over the pre-auction estimate of 590,000-780,000 euros. The collection was put up for auction by Neutken’s estate after the former BMW dealer died in 2008. The entire collection was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest motorcycle collection of a single make.

All 94 lots of the Willy Neutkens BMW Motorcycle Collection were sold in the Nov. 28 auction. Over 1,000 people attended the auction at the BMW Museum in Munich, Germany, with over 320 bids registered.

Selling for US$165,000, the 1924 BMW R32 was one of the first motorcycles to be sold under the BMW name.

The highest-selling motorcycle was a 1924 BMW 493cc R32. Launched in 1923, the R32 was the first motorcycle to be sold with the BMW name (the manufacturer had produced two prior models, sold as the Frink and Helios). Powered by BMW’s M2B15 493cc engine, the R32 began the manufacturer’s legacy with the Flat Twin engine design. BMW built 1,500 R32 units in 1924. The R32 in the auction was the target of five bidders, eventually selling for 109,250 euros (US$165,000), nearly triple its initial estimate.

The BMW Museum which hosted the auction came out the winner for lot 76, a 1953 R67/2 used in the International Six Days Trial by the West German team of Georg Meier, Hans Roth and Walter Zeller. The team placed third in the 1953 ISDT with Meier and Roth earning gold medals. The ex-works 1953 BMW R67/2 sold for 26,450 euros (US$40,000).

“I was delighted with the outcome of today’s sale, it was a pleasure for my company to work closely with Bonhams. They presented a first class auction,” says Fred Jakobs, the museum’s motorcycle archivist. “We too were delighted to have acquired the Ex-Works, ISDT, 1953 BMW R67/2 for our collection. It has come home and will be on display here at the museum next year. It is the grandfather of our Enduro bikes”

A BMW R67/2 used in the 1953 ISDT will have a new home in the BMW Museum in Munich.

The most sentimental winning bid came from the original owner of a 1982 BMW 649cc R65LS. The woman who won the bid purchased that exact motorcycle when it was new and proceeded to ride over 105,000 miles on the R65LS over 14 years. The woman was reunited with the bike after a bid of 2,530 euros (US$3,800).

Related Reading
Neutkens BMW collection for sale

Source: http://ttp://www.motorcycle.com/news/record-bmw-collection-sells-for-157m-88992.html