Autoblog

It's no secret that BMW is open to procuring more brands. With the company's purchase of Italian motorcycle maker Husqvarna, it's apparent that the roundel's expansive mood isn't limited to cars. BMW bikes, notable for their transverse heads, are larger bore bikes, with the smallest being 500cc. Last year the division crossed the 100K sales mark for the first time in its history.

Husqvarna, which was part of the Italian MV Augusta motorcycle group but was actually a Swedish maker from 1903 to 1986, produces mostly single-cylinder off-road bikes from 125cc to 610cc. Husqvarna only sold 12,000 bikes last year, but owning it will give BMW a larger off-road range, and access to younger buyers focused on sports, competition, and supermoto. Instead of rebranding the bikes as BMWs, the German firm will continue to operate it as a separate unit, even keeping it located in Varese, Italy. Neither side revealed how much BMW paid, and the sale still awaits EU approval.

Thanks for the tip, Robert!

[Source: Daily Motorcycle News]

With yet another summer of record gas prices looming just over the horizon, more and more Americans are turning in their wheels... or at least a couple of them. Sales of motorcycles and scooters are up 8 percent over 2005, and according to the American Motorcycle Association, 35 percent of its members intend to ride more this summer because of gas prices.

Of course, it's probably possible to poke a mathematical hole into this rationale with but a few pecks at the ol' calculator, unless one chooses only the most frugal of two-wheeled conveyances (and a look at the best-selling list, full of Harleys, indicates that this is definitely not the case). According to one dealer, "People are looking for reasons to justify that want, and gas prices do that." Not like there's anything wrong with that, of course; we'd just be a lot happier if new riders would get some training before hitting the streets so that the annual death rate reverses its decade-long ugly trend.

[Source: USA Today]

While some people are trading in their SUVs or even large cars for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, others are abandoning four wheels for two. Heritage Harley Davidson owner Toby O’Brien has noted an increase in the number of people coming into his store and purchasing motorcycles after selling off their SUVs. “With a bike you're getting up to 40 miles a gallon so you're saving significantly so a lot of people are taking advantage of that,” says O’Brien.

But he readily admits that new sales means novice riders. Organizations such as the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program and others offer free training courses for newbies.

Would you be willing to switch from four to two-wheels to save gas?

[Source: The Pittsburgh Channel]

Even if you can't afford the new S-class, a Mercedes-Benz vehicle just might fit your budget after all. Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH has announced its 2006 bicycle lineup just in time for a summer filled with lakeside cruises with a loved one and intense cardiovascular workouts alike.

The S-class of the brand's bike offerings is the carbon fiber road bike created in cooperation with Shimano Dura Ace components, coming in at a price of 2990 EUR ($3,669 USD). From there MB moves down to a more leisurely vehicle, complete with automatic "transmission" (aka automatic shifting system) and sensor-controlled lighting system. Pricing for this'un range from 1690 to 1890 EUR ($2,073 to $2,319 USD).

Finally, fitness versions of the brand's offerings come in road bikes and mountain bikes for prices ranging from 1290 to 1790 EUR ($1,583 to $2,196 USD). Happy riding!

[Source: eMercedesBenz]