With currently almost 1.4 million clicks the S 1000 RR Dinner Spot became the most successful BMW film on YouTube ever. In the course of the Spotlight International Advertising Film Festival in Mannheim the film was awarded in the category “Web and Mobile” at the beginning of March.

It is about a well-known magic trick, where a magician pulls the tablecloth from a small table all set up with china without damaging anything.

In “Dinner for RR” the BMW S 1000 RR knows the trade even better: Thanks to its acceleration of 2.9 seconds from 0 to 100 k.p.h. the bike is able to pull the tablecloth even from a huge, impressing banquet leaving all the china and glasses intact.

If you haven’t seen the "Dinner for RR“ clip yet, then check it out:

Just in case you're wondering why Motorcycle Experience isn't on TV today - it's airing on Sunday this week instead.  More details below:

Toyota Truck presents Motorcycle Experience this Sunday morning!

 

Sunday  March 14 at 11:30 AM* on TSN and TSN HD.

 

Join us as we help you “keep your feet on the pegs and your right hand cranked!”

 

• In this episode host Dave Hatch visits Canada’s premiere custom motorcycle builder, Bob McKay
• Former National 600 Sportbike Champion Clint McBain discuses more trailer safety tips
• This week’s guest rider Darryl Dunsby samples Yamaha’s all new middle weight in-line four .. the FZ6R
• Scooter Sense host Bryan Hudgin continues his Almost World Tour stopping in Montebello, Quebec
• Dave and Norm continue their Ultimate Rides tour south of Winslow, Arizona

 

Motorcycle Experience is created with the support of our very good friends at Toyota Canada, Yamaha Motor Canada, Honda Canada, BMW Motorrad, Suzuki Canada, and Motovan.

 

Show host Dave Hatch enthusiastically endorses Joe Rocket riding gear and Shoei helmets. For more info visit www.motorcycleexperience.ca

 

Motorcycle Experience - Episode 2 will also be repeated on TSN and TSN HD;

 

Tuesday March 16 - 02:30 PM*

Thursday March 18 - 01:30 AM*

 

Motorcycle Experience - Episode 2 will also broadcast on TSN 2;

 

Tuesday March 16 - 05:30 PM*

Thursday March 18 - 07:30 AM*

 

A little financial information from BMW Motorrad here if you're interested.  In a nutshell - things looked good overall for the brand in 2010 but motorcycle sales took a bit of a hit. Not as bad a hit as many other manufacturers though.


As a whole - the BMW Group recorded positive earnings for the financial year 2009 as planned despite the ongoing worldwide financial and economic crisis. Profit before tax rose by 17.7% to euro 413 million. But the Motorrad division sales were down moderately compared to the market as a whole.

CONCORD, Ontario (March 9, 2010) ─ Women who want to support a great cause and rock their glam will gather at the second annual Precious Metal Gala to raise funds for Rethink Breast Cancer. 


Combining entertainment with an innovative and interactive way to learn about motorcycling, the Canadian Harley-Davidson hosted event will take place at the Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District on Tuesday, May 11, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.


The Precious Metal Gala marks the closing of a series of successful Garage Party events hosted by over 60 authorized Canadian Harley-Davidson Retailers across Canada, designed to provide women with the confidence to get into the sport of motorcycling. Recent numbers show that 13.4 per cent of Harley-Davidson sales have been to women, supporting the idea that they are as adventurous and adrenaline-seeking as their male counterparts.


The ultimate “girls’ night out” will see an all-female guest list walk the pink carpet, including CEOs, tastemakers, and talent. Karen Davidson, the fashion icon and great-granddaughter of the Company’s co-founder William A. Davidson, will be in attendance at the event. Billie Holiday, morning host at Virgin Radio, will emcee the event and welcome ladies as they enter the stylishly themed venue.


This decadent Biker Chic-themed party will include hair and makeup stations to prepare babes for an action- style biker photo shoot on a new 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a chance to browse the Precious Closet featuring the new Harley-Davidson Pink Label collection, the opportunity to learn about how to get your motorcycle licence, and the very popular motorcycle lift, where women learn the technique of effortlessly picking up a bike from the ground. All of this, plus a silent auction, tasty hors d’œuvres, and drinks, will help in achieving the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada goal of raising $15,000 for Rethink Breast Cancer. 


“Our inspiration for this campaign is to show women they can do anything they set their minds to. Riding a Harley motorcycle is an exhilarating activity that makes women feel strong, confident, and excited,” said Don James, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada. 


“Through the Precious Metal Gala, we are supporting our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends who are fighting breast cancer, as well as introducing women to motorcycling – it’s the perfect combination, as each involves people with great strength and spirit.” 


“At Rethink, we always work to disseminate information about breast cancer in interesting and compelling ways. Partnering with Harley-Davidson in Canada was a perfect fit for us and allows us to reach and inform a group of curious and adventurous women,” said M.J. DeCoteau, Executive Director of Rethink Breast Cancer.

March 9, 2010 – Saint John, NB – After the successful launch of its race program at the Toronto motorcycle show in December, Feeding Performance Inc. and Husqvarna Canada are pleased to announce the addition of two up and coming racers to the FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada team.

Canadian off-road warriors Guy Giroux from Quebec and Marty Halmazna from Alberta will now be joined by young guns Nick and Ryan Graffunder from British Columbia to compete at select events in 2010 including the Canadian Enduro Championship (CEC) rounds and various regional events across Canada. As indicated in December, Halmazna also has his sights set on some of the worlds most extreme races including a return to the infamous Erzberg Hare Scramble in Austria.

“I am really happy to have brothers Nick and Ryan Graffunder as part of this program” says Marc Coffin, Director of Racing for the FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada Team. “We felt that it was important to support some young, rising stars that represent the future of this sport and I really wanted to reward riders who have proven that they have the skills and desire to compete at a top level.”

Both Ryan and Nick have won Regional Championships in Western Canada and more importantly, they contested the new CEC series in 2009 and turned heads with their impressive rides. The brothers both earned top 10 results highlighted with Ryan finishing top 5 overall in the E2 class and also earning the Top Pro Junior Award for riders under 20 years old. Guy Giroux, who in addition to racing for the team, will be the driving force behind its operations and will provide valuable guidance to the rest of the team. “I was able to get to know Nick and Ryan during last year’s CEC series. They are great guys with loads of potential and I am definitely looking forward to working with them this year.”

With the 2010 season just about ready to shift into high gear, the Husqvarna Canada program is shaping up nicely and the team is eager for the racing to get started!

Team sponsors include Motovan, Rekluse, Ogio, Dragon, Throttle Entertainment, Lime Nine and Zip Ty Racing.

BMW Motorrad was voted “Motorcycle of the Year 2010" in the readers' vote of the motorcycle magazine MOTORRAD, with clear victories in all five categories in which BMW motorcycles were represented - the best result ever achieved by a manufacturer in the history of the vote.

“I am very glad to hear of the outstanding success of our motorcycles and would like to thank the readers of MOTORRAD most sincerely for their votes. As I see it, this is a great sign of confidence and reflects the enormous enthusiasm for our products. I am particularly pleased that BMW Motorrad was able to achieve a top ranking in reader popularity so quickly with the S 1000 RR - after all, we have entered new territory with this model," said Hendrik von Kuenheim, Head of BMW Motorrad, commenting on the result of the vote.

With BMW Motorrad represented in the “Sports” category with a 4-cylinder supersports bike for the first time, the new BMW S 1000 RR won this hotly competed class the first time round, thereby underscoring its outstanding technical conception combining top-class 4-cylinder performance with Race ABS and Dynamic Traction Control DTC.

The “Touring bike” category was won by the BMW K 1300 GT, with the BMW R 1200 RT finishing in third place. “This excellent result underpins the outstanding importance of BMW motorcycles when it comes to fast, comfortable and in particular safe motorcycle travel," von Kuenheim went on to say.

The BMW R 1200 GS and R 1200 GS Adventure were able to re-assert their leading position in the market segment in the traditional MOTORRAD readership vote, finishing first in the category "Enduro/Supermoto". 4th position for the R 1200 Megamoto and 5th for the F 800 GS further highlighted the dominance of BMW motorcycles in this category.

Like last year, BMW Motorrad also won first place in the categories “All-rounders” and “Naked bikes”. Here it was the high-action BMW models K 1300 S and R 1200 R which once again impressed readers most.

In addition to individual rankings in the various categories, BMW motorcycles also dominated the relevant brand rankings, which were won in four cases.
 
Parallel to the voting for “Motorcycle of the Year 2010" the annual reader’s voting “Best Brand 2010” took place. In 19 product categories the readers could vote for their most convincing brands in the main categories “Riders and Motorcycle Equipment”. BMW Motorrad Rider’s Equipment won the category “Textile clothes”.

The award ceremony was held at the “Motorräder Dortmund 2010” trade fair on March 4th 2010 at 6 pm in the Restaurant Strobels in Dortmund. No less than 200 candidates in a total of eight categories entered the “Motorcycle of the Year” vote to compete for the coveted titles: held in 2010 for the 12th time, it is regarded as the most important readers’ vote for motorcycles and scooters in the whole of Europe. Over half a million have taken part in the vote since 1999.

Being seen is an important part of safety when you're riding a motorcycle. A motorcycle has far less visual presence as a car, truck, or SUV so riders have to ride safely and consider that they might be invisible to other motorists.

A UK campaign reminds drivers to watch out for motorcyclists. I found it pretty clever and has a catchy little tune too. If only you could be this visible! Hope you enjoy it too.

We came across an interesting products for those days you're out on the road, or you ride you bike to work only to have your bike rained on mercilessly! Now, a bit of rain won't really hurt your bike but what if you could take a lost cost cover with you for those occasions? What if that cover fit in your pocket?  What if it were eco-friendly so once it's worn out you can just toss it?

Enter the "Bike Condom" - yes, that's the name of the company -  and they produce a one size fits all bike cover they've dubbed the bike condom.

They cost $5.99 USD and can apparently can be reused several times. Best part - they fit in your pocket so you can easily find space for one on your bike somewhere. Shipping is supposedly free but there's no indication whether they ship to Canada on their website.  They're looking for distributors and retailers too.

If you're interested in learning more about "Bike Condoms" check out their website HERE.

Get in early if you plan on attending this one. Spots go VERY quickly!

Full details:


The on-line sign up for the Paris to Dacre Dualsport Challenge is this Saturday the 6th.  I would also like to clarify some details that many people are asking, and others may be wondering.

At 12:01 am the on-line entry form will become visible (it is currently not accessible).  One member of the team can pay at one time for all of the riders on the team if required (not everyone is into Paypal).  However, each rider must still send his entry in separately and whomever is paying for all must make sure to enter their Team Members names that they are paying for in the "special instructions to merchant" box while completing the transaction (within Paypal area).  Example:  Hi there, I am paying in full for team "Eat my Dust", with members - Bob Labla, Phil Mein, Lucky Bugger, Doug Sumdirt (real names please).

- Each member must fill in an entry.
- You can pay for your personal entry at that time as well.
- If you prefer, one of the other members of your team can pay on your behalf while they enter themselves.  A comment must explain who the payment is for.
- Make sure you either quote your team name or your members
- No single riders.  You must ride as a team of 3 to 5 max.  If you have 6 people, make 2 teams.  Each person must be registered individually.
- Starting numbers of the teams will be drawn at random, however if you wish to ride near the back of the pack we can accomodate.
- Further P2D newsletters will be released in the coming months, to entrants only, to help with your preparation.

It is a 16hr long day of riding, and it must be taken seriously.  It is attainable, many people have proven this fact.  But, it is not easy.  That's why it is called a Challenge.  You do not need to be a superstar, but you do need the right frame of mind.  The event covers a wide variety to terrain types, so you and your machine must be versatile.  Working as a team adds to the challenge, and will be an advantage if done right.

March 6th is for teams that have at least 1 member who has ridden in this event before.  This is a very important factor, as this person will have an understanding of what it takes to complete the event.
March 20th is for those teams that are new to the event.  The maximum entry size has been expanded this year to encourage new teams.

Remember - the last running of the P2D was sold out in 12 hours.  This year we are reserving a percentage of the entry for new teams.  

image courtesy ADVRider

Toyota Truck presents the season premiere of Motorcycle Experience this Saturday!

When: Saturday  March 06 at 11:30 AM* on TSN and TSN HD.

Join us as we “keep your right hand cranked” for our 21st season of Canadian motorcycle television!

In this episode:

- Host Dave Hatch visits the FAST riding school in Shannonville, Ontario
- Former National 600 Sportbike Champion Clint McBain discuses trailer safety
- This week’s guest rider Tamara Morin samples the all new Suzuki SFV650 Gladius
- Scooter Sense host Bryan Hudgin starts his Almost World Tour in Montreal, Quebec
- Dave and Norm kick off a new Ultimate Rides tour in Phoenix, Arizona

Motorcycle Experience is created with the support of our very good friends at Toyota Canada, Yamaha Motor Canada, Honda Canada, BMW Motorrad, Suzuki Canada, and Motovan.

Show host Dave Hatch enthusiastically endorses Joe Rocket riding gear and Shoei helmets.
For more info visit www.motorcycleexperience.ca

Motorcycle Experience - Episode 1 will also be repeated on TSN and TSN HD at;

Tuesday March 11 - 03:00 AM*
Tuesday March 11 - 12:30 PM*
Saturday March 13 - 00:00 AM*

Motorcycle Experience - Episode 1 will also broadcast on TSN 2 at;

Saturday  March 06 at 14:30 PM*
Sunday March 07 - 06:00 AM*
Thursday March 11 - 15:30 PM*
Saturday March 13 - 03:00 AM*

 (*all times eastern)

Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada Inaugurates Ladies Taking Their First Steps of an Incredible Journey with Motorcycles at Garage Party Events


Starting in March, Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada is promoting a series of Garage Party events across Canada. These events will offer the perfect platform for women throughout Canada who do not have their licence yet, to start out on an incredible journey together; that of experiencing the art of motorcycling.


At Garage Party events, over 60 authorized Canadian Harley-Davidson Retailers will be offering aspiring female riders the opportunity to learn more about how to get a motorcycle licence, to experience the latest Harley-Davidson fashions specifically tailored for women, and to try out motorcycles in a fun and interactive way.

Not only can Garage Party event guests meet other like-minded women on this empowering journey, but a national contest (www.garageparty.ca) also allows entrants to win prizes, including a breath-taking biker-style make-over with a one-on-one image consultation offered by Your Shop Girl, a shopping spree at a Harley-Davidson® Retail Store, a complimentary beginner’s rider training course, as well as VIP access for two to Precious Metal 2010, the most decadent and exclusive Garage Party event of the year, held in Toronto and hosted by Billie from Virgin 99.9. Tickets to this event will be available for purchase by the public for $75 beginning Monday, March 15, at www.garageparty.ca.

This event will be in support of Rethink Breast Cancer as part of a broader initiative with women as its focal point, complemented by the recently launched Canadian Harley-Davidson Pink Label Collection.

Tagged with the motto “Purchase with a Purpose”, the Canadian Pink Label Collection is comprised of 12 of the most popular women’s Harley-Davidson MotorClothes silhouettes – each featuring a tasteful touch of pink – including jackets, pants, eyewear, gloves, helmets, and shirts, which participating Retailers will have on display.

For further information on how you, too, can start out on an incredible journey at your nearest Garage Party event, please refer to www.garageparty.ca.

Great video from Ducati showing the new Multistrada tearing up some tarmac and on some not too tough dirt roads.

I don't know who chose the music though.  Still - it's definitely worth a watch!