Industry Reports

Triumph Bonneville Icons Tour

Triumph Bonneville Icons Tour   Triumph North America has been busy this winter, offering press releases and first looks of their new 2019 Bonnevilles, set to hit dealerships soon. The company has set a precedent of touring their “Bonneys” across America every winter since the complete remodel of the line for 2016, and now other motor companies have begun doing the same thing, Ducati being the most notable. Dubbed the “Bonneville Icons Tour” this year, Triumph has been giving up-close and personal encounters with their all-new Speed Twin models, their new Scrambler XE and XC, the Speedmaster cruiser, and the…
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American Motorcyclist Association-sanctioned Supercross Futures is new advancement platform for Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship

American Motorcyclist Association-sanctioned Supercross Futures is new advancement platform for Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship New amateur national championship kicked off Jan. 13 PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The inaugural season of Supercross Futures, an AMA National Championship, got underway Jan. 13, the day after the second round of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The eight 2019 Supercross Futures events and the Supercross Futures AMA National Championship event replace the AMSOIL AMA Arenacross Series as the official advancement platform of Monster Energy AMA Supercross. "The AMA has…
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DUCATI LAUNCHES 2019 “READY FOR RED” CROSS-COUNTRY TOUR

DUCATI LAUNCHES 2019 “READY FOR RED” CROSS-COUNTRY TOUR 17-City Tour to Bring World’s Most Powerful Production Motorcycle Along With New 2019 Ducati Lineup to U.S. Cities From Coast to Coast Mountain View, Calif. (January 16, 2019) – Beginning this Friday, January 18, Ducati North America will be hitting the road with a distinctive selection of their 2019 models, including the world’s most powerful production motorcycle, the Panigale V4 R. The “Ready For Red” tour will share the Italian brand’s technological and performance innovation with audiences across the United States with 17 stops in major metropolitan areas throughout the nation. The…
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New Study Shows Cell Phone Laws Save Motorcyclist’s Lives

New Study Shows Cell Phone Laws Save Motorcyclist’s Lives   A recent study in Florida showed states with stricter “cell phone use while driving” laws have seen reduced fatalities among motorcyclists. Gulcin Gumus of Florida Atlantic University and Michael T. French of the University of Miami looked at government stats over an 11-year period, from 2005 through 2015, to determine whether or not such laws were making a difference pertaining to riders. We motorcyclists make up only 0.6% of vehicle miles traveled on American roads, but make up an alarming 14% of U.S. traffic fatalities. Other recent studies have asserted…
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Bonnier Corporation to Discontinue Hot Bike Print Publication

Bonnier Corporation to Discontinue Hot Bike Print Publication Hot Bike Social Media, Special-Interest Publications and Hot Bike Tour to Continue IRVINE, Calif. – (January 10, 2019) Bonnier Corporation announced today it is ceasing publication of Hot Bike magazine, effective immediately. Issue 6 of 2018, on newsstands now, is the brand's last. "We can’t thank Editor-in-Chief Jordan Mastagni and his team enough for making a great magazine," said Bonnier Motorcycle Group Editorial Director Mark Hoyer. “But as media and ad spending continue to change, particularly in the V-twin space, we have shifted our focus and efforts to our larger, more general…
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Messy Opening Round of Supercross 2019

Messy Opening Round of Supercross 2019 With the beginning of a year, a new season of motorcycle racing kicked off over the weekend with the 2019 Monster Energy Supercross Series, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. And what a crazy kickoff it was.     Southern California is prone to early January rains, and true to form, the sky opened up over the city and stadium, dumping hours and inches of rainfall on the track and riders. This made an already technical course a slough of muck and mire.     Opening heats and qualifiers on Friday in both the…
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Triumph Revamps the Rocket III for 2019

Triumph Revamps the Rocket III for 2019 Triumph Motorcycles appears to be developing and delivering an all-new Rocket III beast in 2019, lining up Ducati’s new Diavel in it’s crosshairs. An official design sketch was revealed at the annual Triumph dealers conference back in the fall, with a brief glimpse of a “test mule” ridden across the stage to corroborate the artwork mock-up. That was it- no further info was offered at the time. Now some spec details are emerging, and the upgraded bike looks to be a muscular marvel indeed. Triumph asserts the new Rocket III will make in…
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2019 Scrambler Ducati Models Arrive in Dealerships Just in Time for Holidays

2019 Scrambler Models including Desert Sled, Café Racer, Full Throttle and Icon in Stores Now Mountain View, Calif. (December 13, 2018) – Riders wishing to unwrap a new Scrambler Ducati 800 this holiday season will have the opportunity starting this week, as the 2019 Scrambler family has arrived early to U.S. dealerships just in time for the holidays. The updated motorcycles offer a variety of design, safety, performance and convenience enhancements to the massively successful Scrambler lineup so that riders can enjoy more than ever the safe, simple fun of two wheels. “The new versions of the Scrambler Ducati family…
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THE SKY RACING TEAM VR46 AT THE POPULAR TALENT SHOW X FACTOR FOR THE UNVEIL OF THE NEW LIVERIES FOR THE NEXT SEASON

LUCA MARINI AND NICOLO BULEGA IN MOTO2 WITH KALEX. DENNIS FOGGIA AND CELESTINO VIETTI RAMUS IN MOTO3 WITH KTM. PABLO NIETO AT THE HEAD OF THE TEAM OF THE YOUNG ITALIAN TALENTS FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. AFTER THE WORLD TITLE IN MOTO2, IN 2019 FRANCESCO BAGNAIA WILL DEBUT IN MOTOGP. Milan, December 13, 2018. As every year, the last stop before the Christmas holidays for the riders of the Sky Racing Team VR46 is the final of the popular musical talent show X Factor. For the occasion, Luca Marini, Nicolò Bulega, Dennis Foggia and Celestino Vietti Ramus, together with the…
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Suzuki Ceases Production of the Legendary Hayabusa

Suzuki Ceases Production of the Legendary Hayabusa Suzuki Motorcycles has announced the cessation of production on their legendary GSX1300R Hayabusa sportbike, after a 20-year model run. The announcement came as a surprise to some (author included), amid speculation that Suzuki would actually soon debut an upgraded model. This is truly the end of an era in the world of +1000cc Superbikes, or as one writer called them, “Hyperbikes.” Since its premiere back in 1999, the Suzuki Hayabusa has been a dominating force of a street bike, leaving other manufacturers chasing shadow and exhaust for years. With an initially unrestricted top…
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American Flat Track Comes to NHMS, New Facility Opens Spring 2019

American Flat Track Motorcycle Racing Series Inks Deal to Race at New 'Flat Track.' LOUDON, N.H. – It is known simply as ‘The Flat Track,’ but when the green flag drops at New Hampshire Motor Speedway next spring, ‘America’s Original Extreme Sport’ - American Flat Track - will make its first appearance in New Hampshire, giving race fans a new reason to enjoy the thrill of racing in Loudon. Construction crews are already hard at work on a brand-new racing surface, and in just a few weeks, the dirt and clay will be transformed into an exciting racing venue. “Each…
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Number of Women Riders is Growing

Number of Women Riders is Growing Recent Survey Shows Shift in Rider Demographics   Irvine, CA (PR Newswire) - According to a recent survey, nearly 1 in 5 motorcycle owners in America is now female, compared with 1 in 10 less than a decade ago, based on data accumulated by the Motorcycle Industry Council. In fact, the data suggest that women may soon comprise ¼ of total motorcycle ownership in the U.S., a major shift in motorcycling demographics. Among all age groups surveyed, women riders now make up fully 19% of American motorcycle owners. The survey showed the greatest growth…
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Genuine Scooters Launches First Motorcycle, The G400C

Genuine Scooters Launches First Motorcycle, The G400C • The Genuine G400C offers distinctive classic looks with numerous accessorization options • Perfect sizing to appeal to large demographic of two-wheel enthusiasts, including first-time motorcycle buyers • Industry-leading warranty CHICAGO, November 14, 2018 – Genuine Scooters today announced their entrance into the motorcycle arena in grand style with the release of their G400C motorcycle. “Genuine Scooters has built its reputation selling high-quality scooters that are both affordable and fun to ride,” said Dorothy Hanley, President of Genuine Scooters. “We’re hoping to achieve that same reputation as we enter a new two-wheeled segment…
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EICMA 2018 Unveilings

EICMA 2018 Unveilings The 76th EICMA motorcycle show was held in Milan, Italy this past weekend. The Esposizione Internazionale del Ciclo, Motociclo, Accessori (loose translation: International Expo of Cycles, Motorcycles, Accessories) is the world’s largest moto show, and every year witnesses the unveiling of many upcoming models and technologies from the various brands around the world. This year’s show was no different. This year’s show showcased horsepower. Three European marquees displayed 2019 models that all make over 200hp, a level of power for years only known to professional superbike racers. Aprilia announced their 217hp RSV4 1100 Factory before the show,…
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HARLEY-DAVIDSON SCREAMIN’ EAGLE/VANCE & HINES TEAM CLOSES ANOTHER SEASON OF DRAG-RACING EXCELLENCE

Krawiec Defends His NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Title to the Final Round    POMONA, Calif. (November 11, 2018) – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines riders Ed Krawiec and Andrew Hines capped another successful season on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with a strong run in Pro Stock Motorcycle final eliminations at the 2018 Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.   Winners of nine of the last 16 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle drag racing world championships, the Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines team scored four wins in 11 final-round appearances during the 2018 season racing Harley-Davidson® Street Rod™ competition motorcycles. Both factory riders qualified for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.   In one of…
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Harley-Davidson Releases Further Details on 2019 LiveWire at EICMA Show

Harley-Davidson Releases Further Details on 2019 LiveWire at EICMA Show   MILWAUKEE (November 6, 2018) Today the all-new electric Harley-Davidson® LiveWire™ made its European debut at the Milan press conference of the EICMA show. Today’s announcement reveals eagerly-awaited specification and details about LiveWire, which was unveiled in Milwaukee during the company’s 115th Anniversary this past Labor Day weekend. Due for release in 2019 and being shown at the event as a production-ready motorcycle, LiveWire was first confirmed during the announcement of the company’s “More Roads to Harley-Davidson.” On July 30, 2018, Harley-Davidson shared plans to accelerate its strategy to build the…
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