[NEWS ABROAD]: Random abroad News thread

[Samarth 619]

Wrecked Desmosedici RR up for auction

ONE of the 1,500 MotoGP derived Ducati Desmosedici RRs is up for auction, but as a tragic write-off.

Advertised on Insurance Auto Auctions, it is a sorry sight to see the once exclusive road-legal MotoGP machine reduced to scrap. Looking at the now considerably shorter wheelbase and crushed bodywork, this Desmosedici RR came to its demise in a head-on collision with a solid object

The date for the auction is yet to be announched as the Ducati isn't 'ready for sale'. Perhaps a great start for a Desmo rat-bike?






MORE IMAGES AT: Wrecked Desmosedici RR up for auction - Motorcycle news : General news - Visordown

[M.vinay]

USA no.1 market for Ducati

Ducati sell more bikes in the US than in Italy







THE United States has become the number one market for Ducati motorcycles, with more bikes sold in North America than in Italy.

Announcing at a North American Ducati dealer meeting on Monday, the president of Ducati Motor Holding, Gabriele Del Torchio said: “We sell more bikes here in the United States now than we do in our domestic market. Only 20 percent of our bikes are sold in Italy, and 80 percent are exported.”

Del Torchio said that 2011 had been the best ever year for Ducati, as the worldwide market share for Italian manufacturer doubled over the past four years, rising from 4.8% to 10.6% leading to record revenues. A likely offshoot of Nicky Hayden joining the factory Ducati team in MotoGP two years ago and the increased exposure through product placement, that has seen the brand become the second most recognisable behind Apple.

“It’s been a quite positive year for us," Del Torchio continued, "Our registrations through the end of August went up by 18.6 percent despite the fact that the worldwide market was down 4.3 percent. I truly believe that by the end of the year, we will reach 42,000 units, which would be a record in our history for highest volume, even better than our previous best year in 2008"

This year has also seen Ducati open a facility in Thailand, with the assembly plant opening last week and further plans to open a similar factory in Brazil next year.


Source: Visordown

[M.vinay]

Amusing Carlsberg biker ad showing online


This Carlsberg beer advertisement has surfaced online and shows a fly-on-the-wall filmed series of reactions to people walking into a cinema packed almost to capacity with tattooed bikers.

The films show a 150 seat cinema with all but two seats taken by an array of large and tattoed bikers and what happens when innocent couples who are not in on the set-up walk in.

The reaction of the couples is worth a watch as they range from various ends of the spectrum.






Video Link: Carlsberg stunts with bikers in cinema - YouTube

[M.vinay]

Real Electric Tron Lifecycle Can Be Yours


This has to be one of the coolest pieces of green news the Internet can provide: the two-wheeled contraption you see in the adjacent video is a real-life, ridable version of the light cycle from Tron: Legacy, which was created by Parker Brothers Choppers.

The impressive bike is powered by a 96-volt electric motor and it comes with details that try to replicate the ones of the aforementioned movie star - just check out those lights! Do you find this creation interesting? Well, if you do, then you should know that you can make it your own.

Parker Brothers Choppers is inviting you to send a three-minute video that explains why you deserve to be the one that takes the bike home. Just make sure you don’t include anything illegal in your footage.

Oh, and there’s one more thing: remember that you’ll be competing against an army of bike, movie and sci-fi fans. No pressure or anything...






Video Link: New Full Scale Electric Tron Lightcycle Parker Brothers Choppers - YouTube

[M.vinay]

80mph motorway speed limit by 2013


Motorway speed limits could increase to 80mph by 2013.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said there had been "huge advances in safety and motoring technology" since the current 70mph limit was introduced in 1964 and raising it "would generate economic benefits of hundreds of millions of pounds through shorter journey times".

A consultation will be launched this year.

The Department for Transport says the current limit is broken by 49% of motorists.

Mr Hammond said: "Cars are much safer, they have more sophisticated equipment now than they did 40 or so years ago. They are capable of driving safely at higher speeds. There are enormous economic benefits to be had by increasing the speed limit and shortening journey times.

"And the current limit has lost its legitimacy. We all know that many, many motorists who are otherwise law-abiding citizens routinely ignore the 70mph limit."

But the road safety charity Brake claimed it would lead to up to 10% more deaths on fast routes while environmental campaigners said it would increase pollution.


Source: MCN

[M.vinay]

MythBusters claim cars are greener than bikes







THE latest episode of US hit TV series Mythbusters has revealed that while bikes use far less fuel than cars they can't come close to matching them when it comes to exhaust emissions.

The show's hosts, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, tested three bikes and three cars – makes and models unknown – from the 80s, 90s and 2000s to see how they compared for emissions over a 20-mile course. And while the bikes easily won in the economy stakes and inevitably chucked out less CO2 as a result, they failed miserably on other emissions, the worst being carbon monoxide, with even the most modern bike on test pumping out more than 8000 percent more of the stuff than the equivalent car.

The results shouldn't be too surprising. Cars – particularly in America – have been subject to strict smog laws since the 1970s, with catalytic converters, exhaust gas recirculation and endless other devices to meet ever-tighter laws. Bikes, by comparison, have only recently been subjected to any form of emissions control and by comparison they're relatively lax. The most recent bike tested by the show was from the 00s and they're being coy about exactly what year or which model it was so it's not even possible to judge what emissions limits it was designed to comply with (and since the show has yet to be screened outside America, we haven't been able to actually watch it yet to deduce what bike it was). There's a chance that, had a more up-to-date model been used the emissions performance would have been somewhat better.

According to the Discovery Channel, the show marks a first for Mythbusters, as it is the first experiment in the series' history that it's produced publishable scientific results from one of its tests. Normally emissions tests are done while stationary, and this marks the first time such tests have been done on moving bikes in real-world conditions.

With bikes eventually due to meet the same emissions laws as cars in Europe, albeit not for several years yet, and the undisputed fact they're more economical than cars, eventually we may be able to sit back in a smug green glow, but right now it might be an idea to steer clear of arguing that you're saving the planet by riding a bike.


Source: Visordown

[M.vinay]

Insurance co. offer free forensic coding

Tag your motorcycle and deter thieves


MOTORCYCLE insurance firm Carole Nash are offering a free forensic coding kit to anyone taking out or renewing an insurance policy with them.

The kit comprises of a liquid and tamper-proof stickers. The liquid can be applied to all parts of your motorcycle and carries a unique ID which is registered on a database, easily accessed by the police. The tamper-proof stickers act as a visual deterrent to would-be thieves.

Carole Nash covers 300,000 motorcycles – equivalent to around 20 percent of all road licensed machines and they estimate that theft costs the industry some £105m annually and reports that around 40 percent of theft victims actually then go on to leave biking.


Source: Visordown

[M.vinay]

The motorcycle Mythbusters episode in full






Video Link: mythbusters - season 9 - episode 13 full episode - YouTube

[Samarth 619]

Recall Bug bites Harley

HARLEY-DAVIDSON is recalling 308,000 motorcycles to fix a problem that could affect the rear brake light and the rear brake itself.

Documents filed last week by Harley-Davidson with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that brake light switches can be exposed to too much heat from the exhaust system. The heat can cause the brake lights to fail, and the problem also can cause fluid leaks and the loss of the use of the rear brake, the documents said.

The problem affects Touring, CVO Touring and Trike motorcycles from the 2009 through 2012 model years. They were built between June 6, 2008 and Sept. 16, 2011.

Harley says it will notify owners of the recall. Dealers will install a rear brake light switch kit free of charge.



The recall mainly affects the USA, with an estimated 250,000 motorcycles in the U.S. alone, with the balance in other countries.

The company expects the recall will cost it around £6m.

Read more: Harley recall 308,000 motorcycles worldwide - Motorcycle news: Industry - Visordown

[M.vinay]

New advert urges drivers to Think Biker!

Government campaign aims to tackle road deaths




Video Link: Think Bike : Think Biker " Named Riders " - .flv - YouTube


A NEW advertising campaign has launched, urging drivers to Think Bike! Think Biker!

The idea for the campaign was based on survey data that suggests drivers are more likely to notice a motorcycle if they know a biker themselves.

The adverts show bikers riding along with flashing neon signs attached to their motorcycle. The signs show the biker's name and gives you an insight into their life, with words like 'shy retiring type' or 'new dad'.

Road Safety minister Mike Penning said: "As a biker myself I know how great motorcycling can be but as Road Safety Minister I know that the statistics show bikers are tragically over-represented in road casualties and I want to see this number come down."

"The campaign I am launching today aims to get drivers to think again about how they look at bikers when they’re out on the road. I hope this will help to reduce the number of bikers killed and injured in crashes with cars."

The new ‘Named Riders’ TV campaign starts on Friday 2nd March with radio and petrol station advertising running from Saturday 10th March. It is estimated the campaign will be seen by 92% of drivers an average of eight times. The total cost of the campaign is £1.2 million.


Source: New advert urges drivers to Think Biker! - Motorcycle news : General news - Visordown