Husaberg may soon be no more, but that hasn’t stopped the Austria-based Swedish brand from unveiling its 2014 lineup of seven models. News broke last week of plans to reunite Husaberg with Husqvarna, to be known as Husqvarna Sportmotorcycle GmbH as of October 2013, making lineup of of seven off-road bikes including both two- and four-stroke models the final traces of the Husaberg as an independent brand.

These 2014 models will also give us some indication of what to expect from the new Husqvarna models. They’ll also share some similarities with the recently announced 2014 off-road lineup from Husaberg’s parent company, KTM. Husqvarna will introduce its new off-road lineup with Husaberg technology in November at the 2013 EICMA show in Milan, Italy.

Ironically, this final year of Husaberg motorcycles also marks the brand’s 25th anniversary. As such, all 2014 Husaberg models will have 25th anniversary graphics. The 2014 Husaberg lineup will consist of the four-stroke FE 250, FE 350, FE 450 and FE 501 and the two-stroke TE 125, TE 250 and TE 300.

All 2014 Husaberg models received updated suspension settings designed to improve traction and offer a more comfortable ride while also making them easy to maintain. The 4CS closed cartridge upside-down forks from WP have been revised, making it easier to bleed the forks of air or change springs. The PDS rear shock has also been updated with simplified seal changing and preload adjustment.

As with the 2014 KTM 250 SX-F, the FE 250′s engine is all new, with a 2.7mm shorter stroke, lighter piston, new cylinder head, new crankshaft, new crankcase, update ECU, a heavier flywheel and a Damped Diaphragm Steel clutch. The FE 250 also gets a new exhaust system with a new header pipe and dual-cone silencer. Husaberg claims the updates increase torque and optimizes power for enduro riding.

The FE 250 and FE 350 also get new frames with thinner-walled down tubes and revised cylinder head braces. According to Husaberg, the new frames are lighter and more able to absorb energy from rear wheel impacts while improving high-speed stability and cornering.

As with KTM’s 2014 lineup, the two-stroke Husabergs have been updated to use Boyesen reeds and updated carburetor settings. The TE 250 and TE 300 also received new cylinder heads, modified ignition mapping, stronger batteries and refined DDS clutches.

[Source: Husaberg]

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The Isle of Man government has launched a new app for the 2013 edition of its famous Tourist Trophy races. Available for free for iOS devices at the Apple App store (and soon to be available for Android on the Google Play store), the Isle of Man TT 2013 app offers racing fans a new way to interact with the world famous event.

The app offers a rolling news feed for the Isle of Man TT and its social media outlets as well as a live audio link to Manx Radio TT’s broadcast of interviews and commentary of qualifying sessions and races for this year’s event.

The Isle of Man TT 2013 app also offers profiles of the leading competitors and an interactive map of the fame Mountain Course with video voiced by a TT rider liason officer and race winner Richard “Milky” Quayle giving his tips on how to approach different sections of the course.

The app itself is free, but for a fee of £1.49 (US$2.25) users can access the live timing service and racers along six sector points on the course.

[Source: IOMTT.com]

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Bombardier Recreational Products announced an initial public opening price of CN$21.50 per share when the company goes public.

At that price ($20.83 in U.S. dollars) for 12,200,000 shares, the IPO would generate proceeds of CN$262.4 million (US$254.8 million) for BRP, the company behind Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Evinrude & Johnson outboard engines, and Can-Am‘s ATVs, side-by-sides and Spyder three-wheeled roadsters.

BRP’s stock will be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “DOO”. The IPO closes May 29. As previously announced, the IPO will offer subordinate voting shares, while the company’s current owners, a consortium of the Bombardier and Beaudoin families, Bain Capital and the Québec government’s public pension plan manager Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, will hold on to 90% of the company’s equity.

At $262.4 million, this would represent the largest IPO in Canada this year. BRP plans to use the proceeds from the IPO to pay down the company’s debt.

The IPO is underwritten by BMO Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets, UBS Securities Canada Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Canada Inc., acting as joint bookrunners, and including Wells Fargo Securities LLC, CIBC World Markets Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., National Bank Financial Inc. and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated.

[Source: BRP]

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A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about KTM‘s 2014 off-road lineup for Europe highlighted by an updated 250 EXC-F and other updates across the model lineup. KTM has now released information about its U.S.-spec models which include the same updates while keeping some differences from the European versions.

For off-road riders in the U.S., KTM is offering the street-legal four-stroke 350 EXC-F and 500 EXC and their solely off-road XCF-W and XC-W, the four-stroke 250 XCF-W and the two-stroke 200, 250, 300 and 450 XC-W models.

American motocross riders will have the choice of the four-stroke 250,  350 and 450 SX-F as well as the two-stroke 125, 150 and 250 SX models. Cross-country riders can opt for the four-stroke 250, 350 and 450 XC-F equivalents as well as the 150, 250 and 300 XC two-strokes. KTM USA will also offer four youth models, the 50 SX Mini and the 50, 65 and 85 SX.

The 2014 KTM 250 XC-F receives revised engines, now sharing many features with the 350 engine including thinner cylinder walls and a balancer shaft that also drives the timing chain and the water pump. The 250 XCF-W also gets a new header pipe and Damped Diaphragm Steel (DDS) clutch. Both the 250 and 350 EXC-F/XCF-W also get a new heavier crankshaft than their respective SX-F motocross versions, a change KTM says increases gyrating mass to provide more uniform power development and improve traction.

All 2014 EXC and XC models get a new frames, front fenders, airbox covers, master cylinders, hand guards, and fuel tank filler caps. The street legal EXCs also get a new headlight design. The two stroke models will also all come with new Boyesan reeds.

On the motocross and cross-country side, the 2014 models get new, lighter chain guides and revised swingarms. The 250 SX-F has a new transmission with five gears instead of six to reduce weight. The 250 and 350 SX-F also get new Brembo master clutch cylinders and and revised wiring harnesses. The U.S.-spec 450 SX-F will continue to use a five-speed transmission while the European versions get a four-speed gearbox.

[Source: KTM]

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If you’ve never seen a sidecar race, you’d be amazed at how different it is from motorcycle racing. Not only do you have some entirely different physics at work with the third wheel, you also have a passenger sprawled over the chassis behind the rider, sticking his body out to either side at lean angles that would make Marc Marquez break a sweat. Check out the video after the jump to see for yourself.

Take a look under the fairing of a sidecar racer and you’ll see how radically different it is from most other forms of motorcycle racing. KTM’s official blog posted a feature on German IDM racers Josef Sattler and Stefan Trautner who are racing the 2013 season in a sidecar powered by a V-Twin engine from a KTM RC8 R. The post offers a rare look at the chassis and engine of their sidecar racer.

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Last season, Sattler and Trautner raced with a Suzuki GSX-R1000 inline-four engine, by far the most popular powerplant in the series, used by more than 70% of the field. This season, the team decided to switch to the RC8 R engine as the lone KTM-powered sidecar team in the series. Upgraded with parts from KTM’s superstock kit, the engine claims an output of 168hp, which KTM says should push the 533-pound sidecar to a top speed of between 155 mph and 168 mph depending on the track and gearing.

The V-Twin engine is mounted in a riveted and bonded aluminum chassis from German firm RSR Sidecars (most other teams use the LCR chassis). Stripped of its fairing, Sattler and Trautner’s racer looks like a cross between a streamliner motorcycle and an open wheel racecar. The thick Formula 3 tires only heighten that impression.

All of the other sidecar teams use inline four engines but Sattler says switching to a Twin wasn’t as difficult as originally thought. One benefit is the broader useable rev range from 4000-17000  rpm compared to 8000-13000 rpm with the GSX-R engine, though the team does lose a bit off the top end.

“Actually, the twin fits even better than a four. The swap was done pretty quickly and we are totally satisfied with the performance,” says Sattler. “The power character of the engine is great and suits us very well; we are enjoying a bit of an advantage with acceleration! Although at the end of very long straights we bite off a bit … then you wish to have 10 to 15hp more.”

Last season, Sattler and Trautner finished fifth in the IDM Sidecar Championship with a single podium in eight races in just their second year of competition. This season, the team is hoping to finish in the top three.

[Source: Official KTM Blog]

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The annual Women’s Sportbike Rally presented by Draggin’ Jeans is returning for the eighth time to the Smoky Mountains the weekend of September 6-8 for fun, friends, riding and raising funds for the fight against Melanoma. The event headquarters and activities also return to the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort at the foot of the famous “Tail of the Dragon.”

In addition to the beautiful riding in the area, there will be plenty of event activities for all attendees and their guests to enjoy. There will be Friday and Saturday evening festivities, the Sportbike Night and the Sportbikegirl Pit Party, which will feature games, raffles, door prizes, entertainment and camaraderie.

The most important reason to attend is to help support the fight against Melanoma. The event donates all net proceeds to The Skin Cancer Foundation in memory of Tiffany Weirbach, the original “Sportbikegirl” who succumbed to the disease in 2001 at the age of 24.

The Womens Sportbike Rally has been fortunate to gain the support of many companies over the years and this year is no different, with Draggin’ Jeans returning as the presenting sponsor. The host of additional sponsors is growing each day, including:

• Sportbikegirl Pit Party Sponsor: NPR Ducati
• Premier Level Sponsors: Bridgestone Tires, Axo, Sena Bluetooth, Joe Rocket, RevGirl.com, Rusty Shutter Photography, CoRRRected Vision Photography
• Affiliate Level Sponsors: Marshmallowhead Designs, HelmetheadCycle.com, Woodcraft Technologies, TechSpec, Spot, Competition Accessories, RK Excel, Olympia Moto Sports, Alpinestars

There are many options for area accommodations and special rates have been arranged with Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort and Fontana Village Resort. Registration will open June 15. Visit www.WomensSportBikeRally.com for more information.

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Fifty years ago Corradino D’Ascanio penned his final design for Vespa, the Vespina (little Vespa) 50. The Vespa 50 was popular among the Italian youth market, spawning future generations of Vespa enthusiasts.

To celebrate the anniversary of this influential scooter, Piaggio Americas is launching a five-week user-generated digital and social campaign highlighting the Vespa 50cc’s influence on the transportation and cultural landscape. Vespa owners and fans are encouraged to share their 50cc stories on Vespa’s digital lifestyle destination lavespavita.com and submit photos via Flickr, Twitter or Instagram by using the hashtag #VESPAVITA.

Each Monday for five weeks, Vespa USA will be sharing exclusive content about the history of the Vespa 50cc, from archived vintage advertisements to rare technical drawings, via the Vespa Americas Facebook and Twitter sites. Every Wednesday Vespa USA will revisit important art, pop culture, fashion, music, and films from each decade, with a uniquely Vespa perspective.

For more information about the 2013 Vespa model lineup visit: www.vespausa.com, www.vespa-canada.ca.

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Transport Canada announced two separate transmission-related recalls for the 2012 and 2013 Triumph Speed Triple. At this time, the recall only affects Speed Triples in Canada though a separate recall should be expected for the U.S. market. The recall also only affects the base model Triumph Speed Triple but it’s not clear if the R version is also affected.

According to Transport Canada, the transmission on some units may have been installed with an incorrect detent spring. As a result, the transmission may inadvertently shift out of gear while the Speed Triple is moving. This recall affects 24 units.

The second recall is for an incorrect washer installed under the neutral switch. The washer may cause the neutral indicator light to remain lit even when a gear is selected. A rider may thus mistakenly believe the motorcycle is in neutral when it in fact is not. If the rider releases the clutch in such a situation, the motorcycle could surge forward unexpectedly. This recall affects 33 units.

Transport Canada did not reveal any VIN numbers included in the recall. Some units may be affected by both recalls, some may be included in one or the other, and some other units may not be affected at all.

Authorized Triumph dealers will contact owners of the recalled units. Depending on which recalls are in effect, dealers will replace the neutral switch washers and gearbox detent springs where required.

As of yet, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not confirmed similar recalls for the U.S. market. Triumph North America however operates in both Canada and the U.S., so a similar recall for either of these two issues should be forthcoming.

[Source: Transport Canada Recall #2013169 and #2013170]

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What had you accomplished by age seven? Most kids this age, myself included, were just getting through the second grade, learning simple math and playing Tee Ball with the other neighborhood kids. Dane Morales, of Aliso Viejo, California, isn’t like most kids. You see, at seven years old Dane already has himself two national championships in two different sports, BMX and motocross.

Dane is the only racer of any age to currently hold national championships with the premier U.S. sanctioning bodies in BMX (USA-BMX) and motocross (AMA). He’s also a 2012 International Cycling Union (UCI) World BMX Champion and holds 13 national BMX titles. In short, the kid’s a stud.

His motorized two-wheeler is a 50cc Cobra minicycle which he campaigns against other kids as young as four years old. Think that’s young? Morales started swimming and doing gymnastics at 10 months, rode a bicycle at two and a half years, and hopped on a minibike by age three.

“I want to be the first kid to get national BMX, motocross and Supercross championships. Oh yeah, and also the first BMX Olympic Gold Medalist,” said the ambitious young’n. Morales’ career is already starting to mimic supercross legend Jeremy McGrath, who scored 72 stadium wins — before Morales was even born — and also started out on BMX bikes.

“I don’t really know much about Jeremy,” Dane said. ”But he’s cool. I know that Christian Craig was also a BMX champion and is now a motocross pro. That’s really cool.”

Morales will begin campaigning to defend his USA-BMX national title on May 31 at the Music City Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee,look to win another UCI world championshipand continue racing minibikes.

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Transport Canada announced a recall for the 2012 Triumph Daytona 675 and 675R because certain units may be missing a throttle cable guide.

Without the guide, the throttle cable may get stuck in the steering stop, preventing the throttle from opening or closing properly. Such a situation could result in a loss of propulsion or, if the throttle is stuck open, could make it difficult to slow or stop the motorcycle.

Triumph dealers will inspected recalled units and if necessary install a throttle cable guide. In some cases, the throttle cables themselves may also be replaced.

According to the Transport Canada, the recall affects 61 units in Canada. No recall has been announced yet for the U.S., but Triumph North America operates in both Canada and the U.S., so a similar recall is expected from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the next few weeks. We will provide an update if and when NHTSA announces a recall.

[Source: Transport Canada]

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