When we first caught a glimpse of the Honda CRF300L Rally last year, we speculated that the machine could be making its way to the United States for the 2021 model year.
That educated guess is coming true now, as not only will the United States get the Honda CRF300L Rally, but also the Honda CRF300L for the current model year.
When it comes to motorcycle brands that are based in the Lombardy region of Italy, the thought of MV Agusta immediately comes to mind.
However, an even smaller boutique marque exists in this beautiful region of the boot-shaped country: Magni Motorcycles.
The name Magni should be a familiar one with students of the industry, as the company’s namesake, Arturo Magni, is one of Italy’s more important figures in the motorcycle industry.
And this, the Magni Italia 01/01, is an homage to Arturo’s legacy.
The Yamaha MT-09 isn’t considered one of the more beautiful motorcycles on the market, but thankfully the three-cylinder street bike is offered in a more palpable café racer version, the Yamaha XSR900.
This is where we begin today’s story too, thanks to Yamaha’s Yard Built program, which encourages tuners and designers to take their hands to these affordable machines, and restyle them into something new and beautiful.
With that, we see the work of David Sánchez from Bottpower with his XR9 Carbona build, which will also be available as a body kit for those who are looking to spice up the looks of the Yamaha XSR900 sitting in their garage.
When the Moto Guzzi V85 TT debuted, we speculated that the new 850cc engine could show up in other models. Now, it seems that day has finally come as we get word that the Moto Guzzi V7 is getting a hefty update for the 2021 model year.
Using a variation of the transverse v-twin engine found on the V85 TT, the 2021 Moto Guzzi V7 makes 65hp (up from 52hp), with 54 lbs•ft (73 Nm), in this street-bike friendly tune.
The BMW M1000RR was one of the surprise new bike announcements this year, as it takes the BMW S1000RR superbike package, and cranks it to 11.
This winged homologation special will be the platform that Tom Sykes and Michael van der Mark will use on the factory BMW squad next year (along with Jonas Folger and Eugene Laverty, who will appear on two separate satellite teams).
The wait is over, and now we see what has been cooking in Varese, as MV Agusta has partnered with French automotive brand Alpine to create another Italian beauty.
The second automotive collaboration done by the Italian motorcycle brand, this one sees the MV Agusta Superveloce 800 getting the Alpine treatment, with the company’s traditional blue and white livery.
As one would expect, the partnership is mostly a design exercise, with only 110 machines being made in this limited edition run (a nod to the Alpine A110 sports car), though it is worth looking more than skin deep to see the changes this bike heralds for the 2021 model year.
BMW Motorrad is already playing around with the idea of its electric future, teasing us with electric scooters and fancy futuristic concepts that practically ride themselves, but what if the company’s future actually rested in its past?
Take for instance this electric sidecar concept by Spanish transportation design student Iago Valiño. Drawing off-road inspiration from the El Solitario troupe, the concept is a nod to BMW’s sidecars from the WWII era, but with an obviously modern flare.
I am always a bit envious of designers who can look past the lines of a rather bland motorcycle, and see something new and stunning. That vision is a rare gift.
Yamaha’s three-cylinder budget platform, the Yamaha MT-09, is surely one of those bland motorcycles, and even in its XSR900 form, it can be hard to see how the bones of this machine can be something bigger and better.
The eyes at Diamond Atelier saw the potential in the MT-09 platform though, taking a Yamaha XSR900 and turning it into a creation they call “Æon”.
Our friends across the pond got a surprise today, as the Honda CRF300L Rally broke cover for the European market.
Rumors of the bike coming for the 2021 model year have been pretty rife the past few months, so perhaps “surprise” is the wrong word to use here, and of course the Euro5 regulations have pushed for a number of “new” bikes to debut in Europe.
Still, the bump from the 250cc machine to the 2021 Honda CRF300L Rally is a welcomed sight for this small-displacement machine.
Our next weekly installment of new Ducati motorcycles sees us with an inter-office collaboration, as Ducati has teamed up with Lamborghini to create the Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini motorcycle.
The effort is mostly a styling exercise, but we would call the collaboration a success between the two brands.
Where there is an updated ZX-10R, so too is there an updated ZX-10RR, and the 2021 model year from Kawasaki does not break away from this tradition.
As such, say hello to the 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR which gets some subtle changes for its $28,999 price tag and a 500-unit exclusivity.