News

As you read this, final preparations are underway for an epic motorcycle ride to be undertaken by intrepid Aussie, Corey Jeal. The ride, which Jeal has dubbed 'Ride for Rangers' will travel through western and southern Africa, all to raise money and awareness for the Thin Green Line Foundation, a charity supporting the families of African park rangers killed while protecting the world's wilderness areas.

Restorations of classic motorcycles are a challenge for any enthusiast, but when Mark Jones decided to purchase and restore a classic 1941 Indian Scout, he had a couple of obstacles in his path. Firstly, the bike was far from complete and had a lot of non-standard and incorrect parts on it. Secondly, Mark is a chippy by trade, and his carpentry skills had limited application to the Indian's metal! Despite this, Mark applied his enthusiasm for building things, patience and the ability to learn to produce a stunning result.

Kawasaki has an enviable range of sport bikes - and super sport models - which range from six learner legal models through to the blistering performance of the 1400GTR ABS and the soon to be released Ninja ZX-14R ABS.

The Insure My Ride 'Le Minz 24 Hour Scooterthon' presented by TGB Scooter and the Australian Motorcycle & Scooter Expo has been run and done for 2011.

Following the departure of multiple champion Jay Marmont earlier this month, CDR Rockstar Yamaha has today announced that Lawson Bopping will be joining the Yamaha squad for the 2012 motocross and supercross season. The 22-year-old from New South Wales will partner Josh Coppins in the two rider line up for the motocross season.

An unofficial list of teams and riders has been released for the 2012 World Superbike and World Supersport championships. The disappointing news from an Aussie perspective is that no Australians are named in the provisional World Superbike entry list.

After joining Team Vodafone in the pits for the recent V8 Supercar season finale, Casey Stoner turned his interest in four wheels into something more tangible by taking Craig Lowndes's Team Vodafone Holden V8 Supercar for a spin in Queensland. According to Lowndes, the current MotoGP champ could be a contender on four wheels, too.

The latest version of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix has been released, with some minor changes over the previous version.

A two wheeler from the very earliest days of motorcycling in the form of a Roper Steam Motorcycle will undoubtedly be the star lot of Auctions America by RM's 'Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction', to be held on January 12 - 14, 2012.

The 2012 Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza (HBBB) is scheduled for April 7-8 of the Easter long weekend. If you've not made plans for next Easter, why not volunteer to be part of the biggest events on the Australian Motorcycle calendar.

Fancy a new Brough Superior? It is possible to get one, with a short waiting list than normal in the US, thanks to exclusive men's outfitters, Bench & Loom. As part of their 'Specialty Shop' collection of motoring-themed items, one Brough Superior SS100 Pendine 'Retro' is on offer, at a price of US$250,000.

Confederate Motors, famous for their distinctively-styled and impressively-engineered "heirloom" motorcycles, recently released the latest version of their 'Hellcat' model in the USA.

Harley-Davidson announced on December 8 that it would be closing its Adelaide wheel-manufacturing plant and moving manufacture to China. While no specific reason has been given, it's speculated that the decision was partly due to the ongoing strength of the Australian dollar against the US dollar.

While the move of current Australian Motocross and Supercross champion, Jay Marmont, to Monster Energy Kawasaki for 2012 has been rumoured for some time, the official announcement was finally made today.

A Le Mans-style running start, pit stops and rider changes made for an exciting weekend's action at the 2011 Insure My Ride Phillip Island 8 Hour event.

On December 1, Bonhams UK held their 'Important Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia' auction at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey, UK. While motorcycle offerings were thin on the ground at this auction, the one bike they did have on offer was special, and had a special story to go with it.

Got a pre-1985 motorcycle and want to ride it with fellow pre-'85 owners and like-minded enthusiasts? This coming April, you'll get your chance, as the Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza (HBBB) is on again, and entry forms are now available.

Most of us would give their right nut for a chance to ride with the great Giacomo Agostini, but thanks to American-based men's outfitters Bench & Loom, a select few will have the chance to do just that.

The Sydney Motorcycle and Scooter Show was a huge success in 2011, with this year's show recording a 25 percent increase in attendance and widespread exhibitor reports of record show sales.

In 2012, KTM will return to MotoGP competition, fielding a three-rider squad in the new 'Moto3' category, the replacement for the 125cc class. The good news for fans of local talent is that one of the three riders is Australian Arthur Sissis, who landed the factory ride after impressing in this year's Red Bull Rookies Cup competition.

Eight-times Isle of Man TT winner Charlie Williams is coming Down Under for the Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza (HBBB) at the State Motorcycle Complex in Broadford at Easter 2012.

Joining the recently-announced Jed Metcher as another late entry for the Insure My Ride 2011 Phillip Island 8 Hour endurance race is 2010 Australian Superbike champion Bryan Staring, who will join Ben Henry and Nicholas Waters on a 'Cube Racing' Suzuki GSX-R1000.

With the 2011 Phillip Island 8 Hour endurance race only days away, the latest rider confirmed for the revamped event is Melbourne's Jed Metcher, fresh from his successful 2011 campaign in the European Superstock 600 class.

Following on from their thirs place finish in the 2010 Phillip Island 6 Hour, Team Suzuki are hoping to go two spots better this year at the revamped 2011 8 Hour event this weekend.