BMW Motorrad Concept C - Click above for high-res image gallery

When it comes to proving a point on a motorcycle, there are two good ways to get it done. The first thing to do is keep your mouth shut and let your results speak for themselves. The second is to repeat the process as often as possible! If Ducati was out to prove the point that their all-new Multistrada was capable of taking on the biggest, baddest bikes on the planet, in one of the most respected and feared formats on or off the pavement, than we must say... mission accomplished.

Ducati's freshman effort racing the Multistrada 1200S at "The Peak" in the 1205-or as we like to call it, the Big Boy-class was a great success as not one, but two Multistradas took the high and low position on the podium, locking up fist and third. Of interest was winning pilot Greg Tracy's comments about his victorious factory Ducati: "This is my first year on a factory motorcycle and I'll tell you that bike was box-stock. It had some carbon, and few tweaks and that was it." From what we can see, other than a few bolt-on items, suspension tweaks and special paint, it appears that Mr Tracey is telling the truth.

Although all of this leaves us very impressed, wanting nothing more than to get our hands on a shiny new Muti and head for the nearest fourteener, it must be mentioned that the win comes in a class lacking some of the major competitors who traditionally show up to send a beast up the hill (including BMW). But hey, maybe Ducati will have so much confidence leaving Colorado they can challenge BMW to a head-to-head Mini versus Porsche type shootout? For now, we'll just say congratulations to Ducati, Greg Tracey and Alexander Smith for some fine work. Hit the break to read the full press release straight from the horse's mouth.



[Source:Ducati]

Recently, we reported the scheduled release of an all-new motorcycle hailing from Germany, known to us only as Das Neue Motorrad, the news came with much anticipation, the excitement being twofold. First, the prospect of finally seeing a new motorcycle from the land of Bavaria, a place with such a rich two-wheeled history but very few modern offerings, and second the secrecy leading up to the release, coupled with the companies claims to offer "revolutionary designs" and an engine concept "currently seen nowhere in the industry" which peaked the interest of moto-junkies around the globe.

As the smoke has cleared and rumors ceased, lifting of the veil has exposed Horex as the new motorcycle brand from Germany. So just how do they define revolution? That would be with a supercharged 15-degree monoblock V6, of course. Horex is said to have patented the VR6 configuration for two-wheeled vehicles. The compact design allows for fitment of six rounds in a space traditionally fit with four. For additional 'whee-factor,' a radial supercharger feeds the 1200cc beast,producing a tractable delivery of the claimed output of 198hp and 110 lb-ft of torque, which is routed to the tarmac via belt drive.

The chassis and suspension wrapping that powerplant compete a package that not only looks legit, but should also live up to performance expectations. 50mm forks sort out the bumps and the attached dual-radial-mounted brakes should have no trouble halting the Horex from substantial velocities. From the looks of things, the frame and swing-arm components appear to exhibit top-notch fit and finish. The styling is definitely of a classic nature, minus the ram-air type intake ports on the front of the fuel tank.

The price of admission will be €20,000 ($24,600 USD), and that's only if you are in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, but at least it probably includes taxes. We'll have to wait and see what exchange rates are when the Horex finally makes it to the rest of Europe and the U.S.

The irony in all of this is that Horex is not new at all - it's a reincarnation of the classic brand founded in 1923 which produced motorcycles up until Daimler-Benz purchased the company and ceased bike production in 1960. So make that Germany's newest-old motorcycle company, for the record. Revolutionary?...well, probably not, we just can't wait to hear the exhaust note!



[Source: Horex]

Emerging from behind a veil of secrecy, we were recently introduced to a new motorcycle manufacturer based out of the über cool home of Oktoberfest. With the promise of German engineering galore, this little-known company seems to have an heir of legitimacy behind them thus far. After all, it would seem that the country largely believed responsible for the "birth of the motorcycle" would have more than a single marquee brand in cycles, adding diversity to the current state of Roundel dominance in Bavaria.

Das Neue Motorrad - meaning "the new motorcycle" - is the only name identifying the company at this time, embodying a statement while providing a title in one swoop. The road leading to the bike's official worldwide release has been marked out by breadcrumbs in the form of small bits of information being released in five stages... until finally, on June 15, it will be unleashed on the masses. What little bit we do know is that the project has been years in the making, and was birthed from an unlikely collaboration between riding enthusiasts with a vision for greatness.

The most recent tidbit of news centers on the bike's proposed powerplant. Addressing the speculation of electric motivation, the company says its design is based on "a very efficient combustion platform," even indicating multiple cylinders but leaving the exact number as a mystery for now. Added to this was the promise, "Our engine concept is based on one currently found nowhere in the motorcycle world." We cannot help but be left with an almost giddy anticipation, coupled with the potential to be thoroughly disappointed if this claim is not substantiated. Stay tuned for updates as the countdown progresses and "the new motorcycle" comes to life.



[Source: Das Neue Motorrad via news.motorbiker.org]