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Ducati Multistrada 1200 - 15,000 mile major service intervals announced
Ducati North America is excited to announce a significant milestone in the company’s engineering history: 15,000 mile major service intervals on the 2010 Multistrada 1200.
The Multistrada 1200 is the product of Ducati’s most intensive development program ever. Entering the arena of adventure touring motorcycles, Ducati set its sights on the class benchmarks. With the goal setting a new class standard, Ducati developed revolutionary new features such as the Multistrada’s “4 bikes in 1” adjustability.
The Multistrada 1200’s aggressive development process also encompassed build quality and servicing. Ducati is now excited to announce the fruits of its labor: a 15,000 mile period between major services.
Doubling the mileage between valve clearance inspections has been made possible due to the introduction of a new valve seat material. This material enables the new “Testastretta 11°" powerplant to go the distance- both literally and figuratively. Incorporating improved combustion efficiency and a new temperature management system, the Testastretta 11° engine ushers in a new era of service and reliability. The engine lowers the cost of maintenance, improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions- all while retaining exhilarating performance capabilities.
The game-changing Multistrada 1200 will arrive in North American showrooms this coming April. For more information about this revolutionary new Ducati, please visit www.ducatiusa.com.
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Quebec City Motorcycle and ATV Show starts this Friday
The 2010 Quebec City Motorcycle & ATV show kicks off this Friday at the Centre de Foires de Québec. The exhibitor list is extensive! All the big names are going to be there, so you'd be crazy to miss this show if you can get there.
According to the event website there's going to be lots to see and do, like the following:
Show hours
For more details check out the event website HERE.
According to the event website there's going to be lots to see and do, like the following:
- See the latest models from all the major manufacturers
- Discover all the new technical features
- Get in touch with experts in the field
- Learn about the latest accessories and services
- Plan the next riding season
- Size up all the options
- Pick up your free copy of Moto Show 2010
Show hours
- Friday, February 5: 12 pm to 10 pm
- Saturday, February 6: 10 am to 9 pm
- Sunday, February 7: 10 am to 5 pm
For more details check out the event website HERE.
WEC to distribute "Endurance" - the photo book
Do yourself a favor - if you like motorcycles, and can appreciate an amazing photo do check out this website we've linked to for some higher resolution samples of what you'll see in the book.
My motorcycle bookshelf is pretty packed, but I'd happily make some space for this one!
Press Release:
World Enduro Canada is pleased to announce they have agreed to be the Canadian Distributor for the incredible photo book Endurance by Theresa Ortolani. Theresa is an award winning photo journalist who followed her friend Nate Kanney around the world for 3 years to document his accomplishments in the GNCC and World Enduro Championships.
The book can be ordered online for $39.95 US and there are a limited number of autographed copies available for the first to order. You can order your copy HERE
"Endurance embraces the lifestyle that is off-road racing from the eye of the artist. Hundreds of beautiful photos explore every facet of off-road racing…. The book is really the first of it's kind and blurs the line between a full-blown moto-head book and art-house book." — Matt Ware, Racer X Magazine
"The same experiences we've poured out of our boots and tried in vain to relate to concerned family members come alive on the pages of Endurance, making it like no other moto-photo book I've seen." — Dan Paris, Direct Motocross
"…the best off-road lifestyle photography I've seen. Theresa Ortolani has captured the essence of an off-road racer's pain and glory in a great looking, great reading book." — Jesse Ziegler, Dirt Rider Magazine
"Award-winning photographer, Theresa Ortolani, spent three years covering the often bone-crushing danger and fierce brilliance of off-road motorcycle racing. With more than 150 largely full-page color gravures, Endurance offers an unparalleled glimpse into the sport and the careers of famed racers such as Nathan Kanney, Kailub Russell, David Knight and Anders Eriksson. " — Ernest Hilbert, Bauman Rare Books
Image courtesy Theresa Ortolani
Watch a VFR1200F being built - every 90 seconds
The Kumamoto plant in Japan features state-of-the-art efficiency and the latest production technologies. The plant is the main production facilities for Honda motorcycle operations around the world. On the 130 metre long production line for the Honda VFR1200F, a new bike comes off the line every 90 seconds.
I for one don't care how much bad press the VFR1200F has been getting. I'm really looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. Looking forward even more to taking one for a spin. I do own a VFR 800 though - maybe Honda won't allow it - if you're to believe the Internet.
I for one don't care how much bad press the VFR1200F has been getting. I'm really looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. Looking forward even more to taking one for a spin. I do own a VFR 800 though - maybe Honda won't allow it - if you're to believe the Internet.
BMW Motorrad Canada - sets January sales record
It looks like BMW Motorrad Canada is on a roll again. They did some impressive business in the month of January.
BMW Motorrad Canada retailed 54 motorcycles in the first month of 2010, a best ever January result and increase of 170 per cent over the same period in 2009. Contributing to this success of BMW Motorrad is the new S1000RR Superbike, as its popularity grows among a young demographic.
BMW Motorrad Canada retailed 54 motorcycles in the first month of 2010, a best ever January result and increase of 170 per cent over the same period in 2009. Contributing to this success of BMW Motorrad is the new S1000RR Superbike, as its popularity grows among a young demographic.
BMW Motorrad achieves and Husqvarna motorcycle sales strong - for 2009
Here's a big summary of 2009 from the folks at BMW Motorrad. It's a little long but it's definitely worth a read. It gives an excellent overview of the BMW marquee and compares their sales to their competitors. The BMW Group achieved a global sales volume of over 87,000 motorcycles for the 2009 financial year.
Press Release:
BMW Motorrad can look back on a successful year in 2009 in spite of a very difficult market environment marked by the global financial and economic crisis. Last year 87,306 (previous year: 101,685) BMW motorcycles were delivered to customers which is equivalent to a comparatively moderate drop of 14.1%. BMW Motorrad has thus not only reached the target it set itself, but also achieved the second-lowest decline in sales amongst the competition.
While the world market for motorcycles above 500 cubic centimetres was still approximately 1.5 million vehicles in 2007, it shrank to about 900,000 units in 2009. This corresponds to a market drop of around 40% in two years. In the crisis year of 2009 alone the world market declined by more than 30%.
Despite these downward tendencies in the motorcycle markets, BMW Motorrad was able to grow in the European markets Great Britain and Eastern Europe, in the Asian markets of Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, as well as in the Middle East and Brazil.
Due to its continued powerful product offensive, the white and blue brand performed outstandingly on other export markets, often expanding its market share considerably. In the seven important motorcycle markets of Great Britain, Italy, France, Spain, the USA, Japan and Germany, BMW Motorrad increased its market share throughout.
This was achieved even though market sales dropped by 32% in the segment above 500 cubic centimetres. Compared to the competition, which lost between 20% and almost 50% of its sales, BMW Motorrad sales dropped by only 16%.
In Germany, which is still the biggest market for BMW Motorrad, 15,833 (previous year: 18,112) BMW motorcycles were registered, representing a drop of 12.6%. In spite of this environment BMW Motorrad was able to defend its market leadership in the once again shrinking overall market (-14.5%) as well as in the segment above 500 cc. The BMW share in the overall market was 17.7% in December (previous year: 17.3%). In the segment above 500 cc the market share was 19.0% (previous year: 18.1%).
Italy continues to be the second largest for BMW Motorrad. Here a total of 13,207 BMW motorcycles were registered (previous year: 15,342), a decline of 13.9% (market as a whole: minus 20.0 %). The market share of BMW Motorrad in the segment over 500 cc increased to14.3 % (previous year: 13.0 %).
In the USA, too - BMW Motorrad’s third largest market - the market as a whole decreased by 41.6 %. Here 9,168 (previous year: 11,831) BMW motorcycles were registered, a drop of 22.5 % as compared to the previous year. However, it was possible to increase the market share over 500 cc by 2.0% to 2.6%.
In 2009 once again, the most successful model overall was the large travel enduro BMW R 1200 GS (15,864 units) along with its sibling model, the R 1200 GS Adventure (8,803 units). Outstanding sales figures were also achieved by the F 800 GS (10,974 units) and the F 800 R (5,828 units), where the conquest rate was especially pleasing.
BMW Motorrad in 2010 - a look ahead.
The prospects for 2010 look promising: this is because BMW Motorrad was able to extend its market share across the board and take on market leadership in several instances, thereby creating an excellent basis for future growth.
With the new S 1000 RR, BMW Motorrad has a supersports volume model in its program for a full season for the first time, with some 2,300 orders already having been placed by the time of the market launch on December 6th 2009.
From February 6th 2010 BMW customers will benefit from the model revision of the new BMW 1200 GS / Adventure and BMW R 1200 RT which are to be launched with the new DOHC flat twin engines.
In addition to this, the BMW Motorrad model program is in excellent shape generally for 2010. In the worlds of experience Enduro, Tour, Urban, Sport and HP there are fascinating motorcycles to suit virtually every taste. The model range is supplemented by an extensive program of accessories and innovative BMW Motorrad rider equipment.
Husqvarna Motorcycles puts in a powerful sales performance.
Husqvarna Motorcycles, the second motorcycle brand of the BMW Group, achieved worldwide sales figures of 13,052 units (previous year: 13,511) - a decline of just 3%. And in the seven major motorcycle markets the drop in sales was only 2%.
Sales in Australia, Germany and France developed very positively, with the previous year’s figures being far exceeded in each case. Husqvarna Motorcycles even increased its performance in the heavily declining US market (- 41.6%).
Now that the new model TE 250 has been so well received by the market, a model offensive is planned for 2010: in spite of a difficult market environment, this provides hope of a positive sales development.
Press Release:
BMW Motorrad can look back on a successful year in 2009 in spite of a very difficult market environment marked by the global financial and economic crisis. Last year 87,306 (previous year: 101,685) BMW motorcycles were delivered to customers which is equivalent to a comparatively moderate drop of 14.1%. BMW Motorrad has thus not only reached the target it set itself, but also achieved the second-lowest decline in sales amongst the competition.
While the world market for motorcycles above 500 cubic centimetres was still approximately 1.5 million vehicles in 2007, it shrank to about 900,000 units in 2009. This corresponds to a market drop of around 40% in two years. In the crisis year of 2009 alone the world market declined by more than 30%.Despite these downward tendencies in the motorcycle markets, BMW Motorrad was able to grow in the European markets Great Britain and Eastern Europe, in the Asian markets of Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, as well as in the Middle East and Brazil.
Due to its continued powerful product offensive, the white and blue brand performed outstandingly on other export markets, often expanding its market share considerably. In the seven important motorcycle markets of Great Britain, Italy, France, Spain, the USA, Japan and Germany, BMW Motorrad increased its market share throughout.
This was achieved even though market sales dropped by 32% in the segment above 500 cubic centimetres. Compared to the competition, which lost between 20% and almost 50% of its sales, BMW Motorrad sales dropped by only 16%.
In Germany, which is still the biggest market for BMW Motorrad, 15,833 (previous year: 18,112) BMW motorcycles were registered, representing a drop of 12.6%. In spite of this environment BMW Motorrad was able to defend its market leadership in the once again shrinking overall market (-14.5%) as well as in the segment above 500 cc. The BMW share in the overall market was 17.7% in December (previous year: 17.3%). In the segment above 500 cc the market share was 19.0% (previous year: 18.1%).
Italy continues to be the second largest for BMW Motorrad. Here a total of 13,207 BMW motorcycles were registered (previous year: 15,342), a decline of 13.9% (market as a whole: minus 20.0 %). The market share of BMW Motorrad in the segment over 500 cc increased to14.3 % (previous year: 13.0 %).
In the USA, too - BMW Motorrad’s third largest market - the market as a whole decreased by 41.6 %. Here 9,168 (previous year: 11,831) BMW motorcycles were registered, a drop of 22.5 % as compared to the previous year. However, it was possible to increase the market share over 500 cc by 2.0% to 2.6%.
In 2009 once again, the most successful model overall was the large travel enduro BMW R 1200 GS (15,864 units) along with its sibling model, the R 1200 GS Adventure (8,803 units). Outstanding sales figures were also achieved by the F 800 GS (10,974 units) and the F 800 R (5,828 units), where the conquest rate was especially pleasing.
BMW Motorrad in 2010 - a look ahead.
The prospects for 2010 look promising: this is because BMW Motorrad was able to extend its market share across the board and take on market leadership in several instances, thereby creating an excellent basis for future growth.
With the new S 1000 RR, BMW Motorrad has a supersports volume model in its program for a full season for the first time, with some 2,300 orders already having been placed by the time of the market launch on December 6th 2009.
From February 6th 2010 BMW customers will benefit from the model revision of the new BMW 1200 GS / Adventure and BMW R 1200 RT which are to be launched with the new DOHC flat twin engines.
In addition to this, the BMW Motorrad model program is in excellent shape generally for 2010. In the worlds of experience Enduro, Tour, Urban, Sport and HP there are fascinating motorcycles to suit virtually every taste. The model range is supplemented by an extensive program of accessories and innovative BMW Motorrad rider equipment.
Husqvarna Motorcycles puts in a powerful sales performance.
Husqvarna Motorcycles, the second motorcycle brand of the BMW Group, achieved worldwide sales figures of 13,052 units (previous year: 13,511) - a decline of just 3%. And in the seven major motorcycle markets the drop in sales was only 2%.
Sales in Australia, Germany and France developed very positively, with the previous year’s figures being far exceeded in each case. Husqvarna Motorcycles even increased its performance in the heavily declining US market (- 41.6%).
Now that the new model TE 250 has been so well received by the market, a model offensive is planned for 2010: in spite of a difficult market environment, this provides hope of a positive sales development.