Motorcycle News

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Your First Motorcycle

November 15, 2009

The new Suzuki Gladius

If you've just recently decided to take the plunge and purchase a motorcycle, congratulations. You're about to start enjoying what is, subjectively, the best motor-sport on offer.

"But wait," you say, pleadingly. "I've looked on the internet, and there are hundreds of motorcycles. Which one should I get? What's the best first bike?"

And, of course, the answer is not simple. There are a huge variety of motorcycles that would make wonderful beginner bikes, and in the end, it comes down to a combination of cost, style, availability and comfort.

The first thing you should think about is what type of motorcycle did you envision yourself riding when you decided you wanted one? Did you picture yourself on a Harley, 1800 CC's of American muscle between your legs, chaps and leather vest on as you cruised down the highway? Did you see yourself in full leathers, dragging knee through the corners on a track while the riders behind you stared enviously at your back as you rocketed off into the distance? Did you see yourself out on some dirt road in the middle of nowhere, your tent and sleeping bag lashed to your bike, along with food and supplies for a week outdoors? Or did you see yourself paying under $10 a fill up at the pump, and getting over 50 mpg on your way to and from work every day?

The first category would mean you are looking for a cruiser. Cruisers, be they Harley or one of their Japanese counterparts, are defined by their long wheelbase, feet-forward riding position and low seat height. They tend to be very comfortable, but not very maneuverable. They make great commuter bikes, and are also good for rolling up to bars and coffee shops on.

Article Continued Here: (Interesting Suggestions)


Your First Motorcycle

[rickaren]

Mon, Nov. 16, 2009

Taliban on motorcycles prove no match for U.S. Apache helicopters

The Taliban had set a trap for the tiny company of Afghan soldiers here, its handful of U.S. mentors and the American helicopters that they expected would rush in help.

Firing mortars to lure the Americans and Afghans out of their mud-straw base, the motorcycle-borne Taliban headed toward a nearby ravine. Dozens of insurgents with light machine guns, a recoilless rifle and four trucks bearing three anti-aircraft guns and a heavy machine gun were set up in a classic ambush from high ground.

U.S. and Afghan troops didn't take the bait, however, and instead waited in a village near the base for air cover. It arrived more quickly than the Taliban expected. Firing Hellfire missiles and 30 mm cannons, the pilots of two Apache helicopters made so many passes that they lost track and nearly ran out of ammunition. Afghan and U.S. ground troops then moved in to kill more.

At least 17 Taliban died in the fight Nov. 7, possibly as many as 20, according to pilots and Afghan soldiers, who think the Taliban took the other bodies. The Americans and Afghans suffered no losses.

The base where the battle occurred is in eastern Zabul province, in a location so remote that U.S. soldiers there dubbed it "F.O.B. Nowhere." On Saturday, the U.S. Army had the two Apache pilots travel to the base to meet the Afghan and American soldiers on the ground, who'd prepared a celebratory feast of rice and goat. It was a rare chance for soldiers who see the fighting from different vantage points to share their experiences of the same battle.

The Afghan brigade commander, Maj. Gen. Jamall din Sayad, flew to give his congratulations Afghan-style, handing out cash rewards to the Afghan soldiers who'd distinguished themselves in the mop-up fight. Nearby sat a 25-foot table loaded with weapons and bomb-making parts captured in the battle. Beside it were two of the 8-foot-long anti-aircraft guns and a dozen Honda motorcycles that the Taliban fighters had been using.

The pilots, Capt. Kyle Maki, 25, of Memphis, Tenn., and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Keith Matz, 37, of Slippery Rock, Pa., mugged for pictures in the seats of the anti-aircraft guns, then checked out the austere fort, which was made of a mixture of mud and straw, was the size of a suburban yard and looked like a child's vision of the Alamo.

Everything, from food and water to people and fuel, has to be brought in by air, and without any senior officers around, hair gets a little long and some soldiers go for weeks without baths.

As Matz fired up a fat cigar, an Afghan sergeant dashed up to Maki and embraced him.

"Boom, boom, boom!" he shouted. "Shooting Taliban, it's very good!"

Then the pilots, who are members of the Fort Bragg, N.C.-based 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, climbed a ladder to the Alamo-like ramparts and described the 6-foot flames that had been coming out of one of the anti-aircraft guns as it fired at them. The surprise to all was how professional the gunners seemed. One leapt down when his truck was hit, then jumped back onto the seat of the gun to fire more. It was the same for the surviving Taliban fighters.

Maki told McClatchy Newspapers that usually when the Apaches attack, insurgents fire a few shots, throw down their guns and run. This time, they simply moved when he fired at them, took new positions and began firing again.

"They actually held their ground," he said. "It looked like they came looking for a fight."

"There were so many, it was like you had hit an ant nest," Matz added. "You'd see them scurry and reposition."

Second Lt. Christopher Goeke, 23, the commander of the U.S. trainers at the fort, who are members of the Army's Fort Bragg-based 82nd Airborne Division, said the Afghan soldiers had pushed forward eagerly for the fight, maybe too eagerly.

"I'm not sure we would have done what they did, but they aren't as well-trained as we are," said Goeke, who's from Apple Valley, Minn. "They were brave, though."

One of the dead insurgents appeared to be from a former Soviet bloc country, which would mean that the ambush included hard-core, experienced Taliban fighters.

"And they had more fire power than we'd ever seen before," Goeke said.

The Afghan soldiers pounced on the Taliban's bodies, checking pockets for a more immediate kind of cash reward for their work, several soldiers said, prompting the Afghans to laugh and jokingly pretend to check their own pockets.

One of them recovered a video camera, Goeke said, with tape in it that yielded some valuable intelligence. One segment, he said, showed what appeared to be the ambush group working itself into a frenzy for the battle. The men were clearly on drugs, he said.

The Taliban have intimidated villagers who live near the base to the point that they won't do anything to help the Afghan and U.S. soldiers, Goeke said, in one case even turning down a reconstruction project.

The Afghan army unit and an even smaller national police station next door - also mentored by the Americans - are the only real representatives of the U.S.-supported national government for miles in any direction. If they'd been beaten, locals would have grown even more skeptical that they could offer protection from the insurgents.

Instead, though, word of a Taliban defeat spread in the villages and among the insurgents.

"We know from detainees that this loss is already well-known among the Taliban," said Lt. Col. David Oclander, 42, of Chicago, the battalion commander for the U.S. mentors at the base and one of the visiting officers.

"It's premature to say there's any sort of irreversible momentum, but with more victories like this, there's the chance to move toward that point where there is," he said. "This will send a huge message throughout the area. It will give the (Afghan soldiers) more confidence and give the people more confidence in them, and it also will undermine the confidence of the Taliban."

LINK: Taliban on motorcycles prove no match for U.S. Apache helicopters - World AP - MiamiHerald.com

[rickaren]

Date: November 15, 2009



Ducati Superbikes are race bikes, pure and simple. Their striking aerodynamic shapes create a natural riding position, confirmed by our development and factory team riders as the optimum for speed and agility. Performance is first and foremost in every detail. Trademark Ducati features like the high tail section and compact front end combine with twin under-seat silencers and single-sided swingarm to express the sheer engineering beauty of aerodynamics and agility. Add the Testastretta Evoluzione engines as the hearts of the machines and the result is all-out performance Ducati Superbikes that look fast even when parked.


Ducati Superbikes are the most advanced, most powerful twin-cylinder motorcycles ever built. They are the product of a team of designers and engineers who have combined their Ducati MotoGP and World Superbike technologies to create the finest sportbikes in the world. From race-level engine specifications to World Championship-winning traction control, the results are pure excellence. The Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system further underlines our technology flow from racing to production and demonstrates how solutions developed for the track can be applied to enhance safer performance on the road.

Article Continued Here:

Moto: 2010 Ducati 1198 R Corse | The Paddock Report

[rickaren]

From a press release issued by American Beta...



PASO ROBLES, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2009) - American Beta is proud to present its seven-bike, 2010 lineup of Italy's finest off-road, dual-sport Supermoto motorcycles, which is scheduled to arrive in dealer showrooms in December.

Taking things to the next level, Beta is delivering all-new competition-ready enduro motorcycles featuring engines designed and built in-house, bolted into all-new chassis. In addition, the company's 50-state-legal dual-sport models have also been updated.

Every Beta motorcycle is hand-built with time-honed Italian craftsmanship and outfitted with high-quality parts and accessories from top-level Italian suppliers. Examples of these components can be seen from the bikes' Pirelli knobbies to the tips of their Arrow exhaust. Between the front tire and muffler are hard parts from other well-known Italian brands such as Braking, Domino, Marzocchi, Regina and Supersprox.

Also new for 2010 is Beta's Build Your Own Beta (B.Y.O.B) program that gives buyers the option of customizing their bikes with a choice of 60 aftermarket products. Each one-of-a-kind Beta will then be delivered to the dealer with the owner's name on a stainless-steel nameplate. On this ground-breaking program, American Beta founder Tim Pilg said: "Off-road and dual-sport riders are unique. Therefore, their bikes should be built for them, not the masses. With more than 60 accessories available in our exclusive B.Y.O.B. program, Beta is listening to rider's needs."

Founded in 1904, Beta is one of the world's oldest family-run motorcycle businesses. Based near Florence, Italy, the company holds seven FIM World Trials championships and six Indoor World Trials titles in international competition. It employs 111 people and produces 17,000 vehicles annually. Beta's 40-model domestic lineup covers the motorcycling universe with everything from 50cc trials bikes and scooters to 525cc Supermoto racers.

In the United States, American Beta is the exclusive U.S. distributor of Beta's off-road bikes and dual-sport motorcycles. For more information, log on to AmericanBeta.com.

2010 Beta RR Enduro Models--400, 450 & 520
An extremely important step forward for 2010 is the introduction of Beta's all-new RR Enduro models, which have 400, 450, and 520cc engines designed and built in-house.

Beta's major goals for these new-from-the-ground-up, enduro-ready bikes was to bestow them with smaller overall dimensions than their predessors, realize a 10 lb. weight reduction and make them easier to maintain. The new motor was designed with enduro riders in mind and produces an almost electric powerband, house in a smaller, lighter, more nimble chassis.

Engine Features Include:
-Dual-overhead-cam, 4-valve cylinder head with finger-type followers (as used in MotoGP)
-Lightweight magnesium engine covers
-Wide-ratio 6-speed transmission
-Forged piston
-Hydraulic clutch
-Double-weight counterbalancer to reduce vibration
-Separate oil cavities for top end and clutch/gearbox
-Electric starter with kick-start backup

Chassis Features Include:
-All-new chrome-moly frame
-Cast aluminum swingarm
-Revised ergonomics for improved handling
-Lower center of gravity and seat height for better control
-All new Marzocchi Shiver front fork with upgraded pistons and stronger sliders
-New Sachs shock with improved oil flow and spring settings
-Revised rear suspension linkage
-Simple, push-button seat removal
-Side-panel air filter access
-Innovative, polamide rear subframe with built-in grab handles
-Oversize Braking Wave rotors with Nissin master cylinders and calipers
-Standard equipment includes skid plate, headlight and tail light
-New bodywork and seat design for a light, slim feel

Specifications: 2010 Beta 400, 450 & 520 RR Enduro Models
(Differences between models are noted in bold for 400 / 450 / 520, respectively)

Engine
Type: liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, 4-valve single
Bore x Stroke: 95 x 57.4mm / 95 x 63.4mm / 100 x 63.4mm
Displacement: 398cc / 449cc / 498cc
Compression Ratio: 12.4:1 / 11.95:1 / 12:1
Ignition: Kokusan DC CDI with variable ignition timing.
Spark Plug: NGK LKAR8A-9
Lubrication: Twin oil pumps, cartridge oil filter. Separate oil for engine and clutch; .8 liter each
Carburetor: 39mmKeihin FCR
Clutch: Wet, multi-disc with hydraulic actuation
Primary Gear Ratio: 31:73
Transmission speeds: 6
Final Drive: Regina O-ring chain
Starting: Electric, with kick-start backup

Chassis
Wheelbase: 58.1 in.
Seat Height: 36.5 in.
Ground Clearance: 12.6 in.
Footpeg Height: 16.25 in.
Dry Weight: 242 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 2.1 gal.
Front Suspension: 45mm Marzocchi Shiver, adjustable compression and rebound
Rear Suspension: Sachs w/adjustable rebound and hi/low speed compression
Front Wheel Travel: 11.4 in.
Rear Wheel Travel: 11.4 in.
Final Gearing: 14/50
Front Brake: 255mm floating Braking Wave rotor with dual-piston caliper
Rear Brake: 240mm Braking Wave rotor with single-piston caliper
Wheel sizes: 21 in.(Front) / 18 in.(Rear)
Front/Rear Tire: Pirelli MX Extra
Color: Red/White
Warranty: 6-month limited warranty
*specifications subject to change without notice.

Retail Prices
$8399 / $8499 / $8599

2010 Beta 450 & 525 Dual-Sport and Supermoto Models
Beta is continuing to invest in the dual-sport and Supermoto markets by offering a duo of 450 and 525cc RS models that are street-legal in all 50 states. For 2010, the RS and RS-Supermoto bikes feature proven powerplants, lower seat heights, plusher suspension and the availability of more than 60 accessories for hard-core, long-distance dual-sporters and Supermoto riders.

Engine Features Include:
-4-valve, single-cam design
-6-speed wide-ratio transmission
-Hydraulic clutch
-Forged piston
-Electric starter with kick-start backup

Chassis Features Include:
-36.5" seat height
-Engine skid plate
-Oversize Braking Wave rotors with Nissin master cylinders and calipers
-254 lb. dry weight

Specifications: 2010 Beta 450 & 525 RS Dual-Sport Models
(Differences are noted in bold for 450 / 525, respectively)

Engine
Type: liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, 4-valve single
Bore x Stroke: 89 x 72mm / 95 x 72mm
Displacement: 448cc / 510cc
Compression Ratio: 11:1
Ignition: Kokusan DC CDI with variable ignition timing.
Spark Plug: NGK DCPR8E
Lubrication: Twin oil pumps, cartridge oil filters
Carburetor: 39mmKeihin FCR
Clutch: Wet, multi-disc with hydraulic actuation
Primary Gear Ratio: 33:76
Transmission speeds: 6
Final Drive: Regina O-ring chain
Starting: Electric, with kick-start backup

Chassis
Wheelbase: 58.6 in.
Seat Height: 36.5 in.
Ground Clearance: 12.6 in.
Footpeg Height: 15.94 in.
Dry Weight: 254 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 2.24 gal.
Front Suspension: 45mm Marzocchi, adjustable compression and rebound
Rear Suspension: Sachs w/adjustable rebound and hi/low speed compression
Front Wheel Travel: 11.4 in.
Rear Wheel Travel: 11.8 in.
Final Gearing: 15/45
Front Brake: 255mm floating Braking Wave rotor with dual-piston caliper
Rear Brake: 240mm Braking Wave rotor with single-piston caliper
Wheel sizes: 21 in.(Front) / 18 in.(Rear)
Front/Rear Tire: Pirelli MT21
Color: Red/White
Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
*specifications subject to change without notice.

Retail Prices
$8899 / $8999

Specifications: 2010 Beta 450 & 525 RS Supermoto Models
(Differences are noted in bold for 450 / 525, respectively)

Engine
Type: liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, 4-valve single
Bore x Stroke: 89 x 72mm / 95 x 72mm
Displacement: 448cc / 510cc
Compression Ratio: 11:1
Ignition: Kokusan DC CDI with variable ignition timing.
Spark Plug: NGK DCPR8E
Lubrication: Twin oil pumps, cartridge oil filters
Carburetor: 39mmKeihin FCR
Clutch: Wet, multi-disc with hydraulic actuation
Primary Gear Ratio: 33:76
Transmission speeds: 6
Final Drive: Regina O-ring chain
Starting: Electric, with kick-start backup

Chassis
Wheelbase: 58.6 in.
Seat Height: 35.0 in.
Ground Clearance: 11.2 in.
Footpeg Height: 14.8 in.
Dry Weight: 254 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 2.24 gal.
Front Suspension: 45mm Marzocchi, adjustable compression and rebound
Rear Suspension: Sachs w/adjustable rebound and hi/low speed compression
Front Wheel Travel: 11.4 in.
Rear Wheel Travel: 11.8 in.
Final Gearing: 15/45
Front Brake: 255mm floating Braking Wave rotor with dual-piston caliper
Rear Brake: 240mm Braking Wave rotor with single-piston caliper
Front Tire: 120/70x17 Pirelli Diablo
Rear Tire: 150/60x17 Pirelli Diablo
Color: Red/White
Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
*specifications subject to change without notice.

Retail Prices
$9299 / $9399

MORE PICTURES LINK:
Beta rolls out 2010 off-road, dual-sport and supermoto lineups

[rickaren]

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Arizona asks EPA to exempt motorcycles from emissions tests

The state of Arizona is asking the federal government to lift emissions testing requirements for motorcycles in the Phoenix metro area.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality on Wednesday petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to exempt motorcycles from such testing.

The ADEQ said Wednesday motorcycles make up only 3.5 percent of vehicles tested in the Valley and not only are emissions failure rates among motorcycles down, repairs to put them in compliance do not substantially help air quality.

The state said Phoenix is the only major metro area in the U.S. where motorcycles are required to be tested for emissions.

The EPA requires metro areas and regions of the U.S. with air pollution and air quality problems to test cars, trucks and other vehicles for emissions. Vehicles with excessive emission are required by the government to be repaired. EPA would need to approve an exemption before next July for it to take effect.


LINK: Arizona asks EPA to exempt motorcycles from emissions tests - Phoenix Business Journal:

[rickaren]

How Nicolas Cage Spent His Way To The Poorhouse

Nicolas Cage is a big movie star with an even bigger name.

A member of the famous Coppola family, Cage spent lavishly over the years, accumulating 9 Rolls Royces, 30 motorcycles, exotic pets, multiple luxury vehicles, a castle, and homes throughout the world. It's no wonder he's now being hunted by the IRS for tax evasion - he's broke!

Currently, Cage owes $6.5 million in back taxes and is being sued by former business manager Samuel Levin.

Check out these 12 pictures! LINK:


How Nicolas Cage Spent His Way To The Poorhouse

[rickaren]

Harley hires Italian firm to help sell MV Agusta


Nov. 19, 2009

Harley-Davidson Inc. said Thursday it has selected the investment banker BNP Paribas of Milan, Italy, to assist it in the sale of the Italian motorcycle company it bought last year.

The Milwaukee motorcycle manufacturer announced plans to sell MV Agusta last month as part of a strategy to refocus all of its efforts on the global expansion of its core Harley-Davidson brand. The sale of MV Agusta was announced at the same time that the company said it would discontinue the Buell motorcycle brand.

Harley-Davidson said it's currently identifying potential buyers for MV Agusta. In July 2008, Harley acquired MV Agusta for about $109 million. The Italian company produces a line of premium sport motorcycles under its brand and a line of lightweight bikes under the Cagiva brand.

The Italian firm produced about 5,800 bikes last year, compared with 330,619 that Harley shipped to its dealers.

But more than 80% of MV Agusta's sales are in Europe, an important and largely untapped market for Harley as it seeks to become more of a global company and less dependent on U.S. motorcycle sales.

Through September, MV Agusta posted sales of $42.9 million and a loss of $52.6 million. The loss includes an $18.9 million goodwill impairment charge linked to the fact that the value of the business has dropped with the European economic downturn and its impact on the sport bike market, company chief financial officer John Olin said an investor conference call last month.

LINK: Harley hires Italian firm to help sell MV Agusta - JSOnline

[rickaren]

27-11-09

While the 2010 Suzuki GSX-R1000 may not have any major changes over the 2009 model, it is still capable of scaring the pants off anyone this side of a Superbike racer.

And it’s those Superbike racers that have been doing the business for Suzuki since the GSX-R100 was released in it’s current guise. Victories on debut in American and British Superbikes, while winning on debut in the Australian Superbike Championship at Eastern Creek in July also added to the GSX-R1000 trophy cabinet. It’s fair to assume then, that the fundamental package is sound.

The GSXR range is renown for it’s engines and the engine in the 1000cc model is typically a monster. Utilising a 999cc, four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine, featuring the Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) fuel-injection system the unit will give more than anyone could need on the road (if we are law abiding…) and most circuits. Other features are iridium spark plugs for a stronger spark and better combustion, 12-hole fuel injectors resulting in a reduction of fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, enlarged titanium valves, forged pistons, shot-peened conrods and Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material (SCEM)-plated cylinders integrated into the crankcase.

The two large-volume, MotoGP-inspired titanium mufflers are not to most peoples taste but they do the job and keep the emissions in check, at least until the next it of EU regulations come into effect. A back-torque-limiting clutch and Suzuki’s original Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) add to the rideability of the big Suzuki.

For 2010 the twin-spar cradle frame, made from just five cast aluminium-alloy sections, gets a splash of colour. Which colour depends on which colour fairing you opt for.

Developed in conjunction with Showa, Big Piston Frontforks (BPF) with an endurance-race-proven design are said to deliver all the right levels of feedback and responsiveness while the rear does the usual job of adjustable rebound damping, spring preload, and both high-speed and low-speed compression damping.

Up front the brakes are fully floating 310mm discs and rigid, lightweight race-proven monoblock forged radial-mount calipers to help counter the rapid forward progression expected of the bike.

Ergonomically the GSX-R100 features adjustable footpegs while the instruments include a silver-ringed analog tachometer with LCD speedometer. LCD readouts include odometer, dual trip meters, reserve trip meter, clock, coolant temperature/oil pressure warning indicator, gear position indicator, lap timer/stopwatch, S-DMS setting indicator and bar-graph indicating the instrument lighting level or brightness.

Article Continued HERE:

2010 Suzuki GSX-R1000 preview | Dailybike.com - Mark Bracksy Bracks presents, bike reviews, news, MotoGP, features and more

[rickaren]

Ticket to Ride: The Best Beginner Motorcycles


* November 24, 2009


Get your feet in the wind and start exploring the back roads with these good-looking but easy-to-ride starter bikes.

Step away from the Hayabusa, hotshot. While most would-be motorcyclists are lured over to the two-wheeled dream by bikes from the MotoGP circuit, Easy Rider or the pages of Motorcyclist, reality must intervene. Piloting those beasts will take some experience. We would no sooner advise a novice rider to hop on a CBR1000RR than we would advise a teenage driver to hop in a Ferrari. But nobody wants to look like a dork tooling around on a decrepit moped, either (unless you live in a contrarian hipster universe where that’s cool). With that in mind, here are four sure-fire beginner bikes that will get you started riding without looking you just started riding.

A practical note: Since new riders are doomed – with almost certainty – to dump their bikes at low speed, we highly recommend buying used. And a beginner’s RiderCourse from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation will pay for itself over and over in bikes unwrecked, bones unbroken, and flesh unscathed.
Kawasaki Ninja 250R $4,299

The go-to bike for aspiring sport riders has a long list of features that keep it permanently glued to every list of starter bikes: affordable sticker price, reliability, good looks, and a comfortable riding position are just the beginning. The humble 250cc may not shred rubber like the larger Ninjas, but an 11,000 RPM redline keeps thing interesting when it’s time to roll on the power. And with 61 mpg fuel economy, you can ride all day long for a couple bucks. Just beware: The price on those shiny plastic fairings can add up when you lay it down.




Buell Blast $4795 (discontinued)

Harley-Davidson tragically killed the Buell brand in October, but that only means these single-cylinder thumpers make an even better deal for new riders. Low seat height and upright controls make it a cinch for even small riders to handle, and belt drive keeps maintenance lower, too (even if its reputation for overall reliability isn’t exactly stellar). The single-cylinder 500cc engine puts out less power than four-cylinder engines with the same displacement, but provides a predictable power band, too. Would-be Harley riders will also appreciate the relative thud of the engine compared to the buzz of many other small bikes.



Article Continued HERE:

Ticket to Ride: The Best Beginner Motorcycles

[rickaren]

Electric motorcycle racing – now that’s where it’s at


November 24, 2009


We might be seeing the start of a new form of motorsport. Electric motorcycles have really been at the cutting edge of development recently, and it’s going to be really interesting to see exactly what happens.

In fact, the governing body of the MotoGP series is in the process of organizing some races. There are already four on the calendar, with more expected. While no official rules are yet available, it does go without saying that this will draw all kinds of attention to the electric vehicle scene.

And while electric motorcycles are certainly exciting, perhaps you’d prefer something more sedate. Turns out that Rolls-Royce is also jumping onto the green bandwagon with a electric powered Phantom. It’ll be released next year, but don’t expect your bank to finance it for you. It’s going to sell for half a million.

LINK: Electric motorcycle racing – now that’s where it’s at