BMW introduced a new “Adventure Sport” concept model at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este previewing a new mid-sized sport-touring model. The eventual production version of the BMW Concept 9Cento would, essentially, be a smaller version of the S1000XR with the frame and engine of the F850GS.

Bombardier Recreational Products has filed for patent designs for what appears to be a new Can-Am Spyder. The patents, at least five in all, show various aspects of the vehicle’s bodywork. They were filed on March 20 with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, but only published and fully registered today.

We always hear from marketing and PR departments and even journalists about motorcycle industry execs being riders, that they care, and are enthusiasts themselves. That’s normally true in this industry. Ducati CEO, Claudio Domenicali is a fantastic rider, and the head of Two-Wheel Global for Bosch shared plenty of stories about his off-road excursions in Australia. These guys ride. That’s the truth. Now let’s take a look at Ural. 

It seems like the Skully saga is getting a bit old at this point, what with broken promises, angry (potential) customers, and resurrection via new ownership. At this point, moto-technophiles who geek out over the Fenix AR helmet’s futuristic options like a head’s up display, rear-view camera, and smartphone integration (which enables GPS navigation) just want to see the thing get in their hands. That said, Skully – or more accurately, Skully Technologies, its new name after the change in ownership – hears the criticism and has stated its hopes to make helmets available come the summer, which, if you’re paying attention, is right around the corner. Of course, tech like this won’t come cheap, and the Skully Fenix AR is set to retail for a staggering $1,899.

Over in the car world, the Formula E series has gained massive interest from manufacturers. The all-electric racing series is the pinnacle of electric sport on four wheels, and while the early days of the sport were laughable – the cars were slow and there was a mandatory car switch at mid race for range purposes (the next generation Formula E cars are reported to be able to last a whole 50-minute race) – there’s no avoiding the fact that almost every major car maker is embracing electric propulsion as part of their model range, whether its standalone electric cars, or as part of a hybrid system. And just as it’s been true about internal combustion engines, there’s no better way to improve the electric breed than by going racing.

It’s a question we get all the time at Motorcycle.com: What should I get as a first bike? Well, there isn’t just one answer to this question, as different people have different wants, needs, and desires in their first motorcycle. We’re lucky to live in a time where, no matter what kind of riding you’re into, there’s a lightweight, beginner-friendly machine just for you. Here, we’ll give you our take on the 10 best beginner motorcycles available today.

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times: nine times out of 10 Moto3 racing provides the most excitement of the three world championship classes (however, our own Bruce Allen does a great job breaking down the MotoGP race). The riders are full of youth and enthusiasm, they race close, and sometimes they practice their motocross skills in the middle of a race!

Indian isn’t just in the business of building motorcycles anymore; the American motorcycle manufacturer is also making history and rewriting the record books, and the Scout FTR750 is leading the way. In its inaugural 2017 American Flat Track season, the FTR750 won 14 of 18 races, accounted for 37 of the available 54 podium spots and won Indian and Jared Mees the Grand National Championship. This year, the FTR has also proven to be dominant, leading the championship so far with complete podium sweeps in the last two rounds. No other bike in its class has been able to touch it.

Many of us often dream about leaving our boring desk jobs and taking off on two wheels to pursue some hidden desire buried deep down in our soul. Some seek the exploration of two-wheeled travel, while others take their soul searching inward and reflect on what they really want to do in life. Efraon Triana Lopez is one of those people. At age 38, after starting his own graphic design company in Spain, he decided to leave it all and reinvent himself and his understandings of making a living.

Kids say the darndest things, don’t they? They also ask some great questions, often when you least expect it. That’s just what happens here, when factory Yamaha MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales are interviewed by 12 year-old fan Hayes Edwards. Wait, Edwards? As in Colin Edwards? Yep, we’re talking about the offspring of the Texas Tornado, having a sit down with two of the fastest riders in the world – and honestly, we’re impressed with his questions and composure!

Belgian motocross racer Eric Geboers, the first man to win World MX titles in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc divisions has died in a tragic accident, drowning while trying to rescue his dog. Geboers was 55.

Marc Marquez currently leads the 2018 MotoGP championship but it was only a month ago in Argentina that the Repsol Honda rider had arguably his worst race in the premier class. While much of the post-race talk was about Marquez’s role in Valentino Rossi and Aleix Espargaro crashing out in two separate incidents, what happened to Marquez on the starting grid was somewhat overlooked. Here’s a reminder of what happened:

In Owensboro, Kentucky, the Hayden family are considered royalty, and its shining star was Nicky Hayden. The town, and the world at large, was devastated by Nicky’s passing a year ago, and in his honor the city of Owensboro will unveil a sculpture dedicated to him. The unveiling will take place June 8, at 5:30pm and will be led by Mayor Tom Watson. There, Watson will also declare June 9th as Nicky Hayden Day, in honor of The Kentucky Kid’s racing number 69.

We say it over and over again, but you really do need to pay attention while riding a motorcycle. Often, we as motorcyclists are on the constant lookout for cars trying to kill us on the highway or on our favorite twisty road, only to let our guard down once we start cruising down familiar side streets traveled several times before.

Privateers lead a different life from factory riders – and it’s not just the disparity in the paycheck, either. From van driver to mechanic to team manager, these committed riders have to wear many hats besides their helmets on race weekend. This year in American Flat Track, fans have witnessed a big change in the field of motorcycles competing in the events. The same Indian FTR750 that the factory guys are riding is available for privateers, too. The result has been some exciting racing and different names at the top of the standings.

As if Valentino Rossi hasn’t already accomplished enough during his grand prix career, The Doctor is on track to record another remarkable milestone: If he completes the 15th lap of the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend at the Circuito de Jerez Àngel Nieto, Rossi will have completed 8,730 laps. An amazing number on its own, the achievement will equate to having ridden 40,075 kilometers, or just over 24,901 miles – the equivalent of a lap around the world!

As motorcyclists, many of us can relate to riding BMX as a kid. Back then, the lifestyle was about grabbing your bike and using whatever’s around to its full potential. Ledges or benches were perfect for grinding, staircases are opportunities to jump down, walls were meant for riding, and gaps were meant for clearing. Introduce an empty swimming pool and the possibilities are nearly endless.

Ducati is performing two separate worldwide recall on all 2018 Panigale V4 models (include the S and Speciale variants) related to potential fuel leaks. Though both recalls seem related, they are for two different problems, one that may cause fuel to leak from an internal breathing valve and one that may cause fuel to spray out when the tank cap is opened. The recall affects 692 motorcycles in the U.S.

To Melissa Paris, racing motorcycles is a genderless activity. The motorcycle doesn’t care if you’re male or female – what matters is beating the person in front of you. She’s carried this mindset throughout her racing career. She hadn’t even ridden a motorcycle until the old (in motorcycle terms) age of 20, but she took to it like a fish to water and rose through the ranks quickly, eventually becoming a regular fixture at AMA, then MotoAmerica competition – beating plenty of men along the way.

The laws of physics haven’t changed, but its application to motorcycling can be hard to understand at times. To help educate local high school students, Ducati created the Fisica in Moto at the company headquarters in Bologna. Among its many features, the physics laboratory includes several interactive and hands-on displays to help understand the inner workings of Ducati motorcycles. Now the Fisica in Moto is open not just to students, but to the general public.

A couple months back, we published a spy photo of what looked to be a new BMW F850GS Adventure. We can now confirm the F850GS Adventure has been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a 2019 model.

We’ve seen some pretty crazy looking patents, but this one probably tops them all. Ford has filed a patent for a car with a motorcycle built into it that can be deployed as a separate vehicle. It’s kind of like the Batpod that shoots out of the Batmobile in Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, but with a Ford C-Max.

Indian Motorcycle saw a small growth in sales and market share during the first quarter of 2018, according to Polaris Industries’ quarterly financial report. The modest increase was enough to offset a decrease in Slingshot sales and increase Polaris’ motorcycle sales by 9.3% to $131.6 million.

Aprilia took advantage of the third round of MotoGP, making its sole appearance on North American soil to introduce a very exclusive machine. At the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, key members of Aprilia’s MotoGP staff, including Aprilia Racing team manager Romano Albesiano and team riders Aleix Espargaro and Scott Redding, took the covers off the latest evolution of the company’s flagship production sportbike, the RSV4.

Following the success of the Grom, Honda has decided to bring the Monkey back to the European market, combining bike’s iconic look with modern technology. The iconic Honda Monkey has remained in serial production for more than 50 years now, but for the last few decades, was mainly offered in Japan. For 2018, the Honda Monkey is coming back to Europe, but unfortunately, minibike fans in North America will have to be left out. For now, at least.

Ducati announced plans to introduce a front and rear radar system for motorcycles and to make cornering ABS available across its entire model range. The two initiatives are part of Ducati’s overall “Safety Road Map 2025” plan, the company’s strategy for motorcycle safety technologies.

Motorcycles are outlawed. Gasoline is $20 per gallon. Self-driving cars are becoming dominant. Silicon Valley tech firms and the U.S. Government have collaborated to push society toward a fully-autonomous transportation system and motorcycles are an easy first target in the campaign to ban human-operated vehicles. This is the plot basis for the first season of The Last Motorcycle On Earth, a new and dramatic fictional three-part series (so far) that takes a look into the future and the new world of technology that threatens to destroy a motorcyclist’s passion and way of life.

Us motorcyclists, we’re an interesting breed, you know? We’re all connected by our love of riding motorcycles, yet often times we butt heads and disagree on things – kind of like one big dysfunctional family, I suppose. Well, Sunday June 3rd, is an opportunity for all of us to set our differences aside and come together in unison by hitting the streets, trails and tracks to do what we love and raise money for those in need. Ride Sunday is a one-day charity event for all motorcyclists across the globe to unite as one, for a greater cause.

This smooth criminal from Basking Ridge is being forced to part with his KTM 450 EXC Supermoto. Do yourself a favor and give this bad boy a read. Careful though, you may end up with a new bike followed by a whole slew of problems unrelated to the motorcycle. 

Icon has become known for producing over-the-top videos highlighting super-human stunt riders and equally impressive custom motorcycles. The newest addition to its video line-up is the Moto Vlogger Takedown Challenge. A video which parodies the current social media landscape and vloggersphere trending on YouTube and across other social media channels.

Building and customizing motorcycles is an art form with freedom of expression like any other, but there’s one catch: More than just something to look at, these rolling works of art have to function properly, too. Indian Motorcycles has created a totally unique custom build-off competition that celebrates undiscovered, small-time builders with big-time skills – The Wrench: Scout Bobber Build Off.

Haojue, Suzuki‘s Chinese partner, has filed a design patent for a new naked motorcycle to be called the “HJ300“. Considering the fact Haojue manufactures the GW250, GSX-250R and V-Strom 250 for Suzuki, the HJ300 may provide a preview of what a potential GSX-S300 may look like.

It’s been about six weeks since the departure of MO‘s former Editor-in-Chief, Kevin Duke, who has been toiling at his new gig at The Brand Amp, a SoCal-based PR agency. As a production manager for the agency’s content department, Duke has primarily been working on behalf of Indian Motorcycles to produce video content used across Indian’s various channels. All the while, making us jealous of his close contact with the Indian FTR750. 

It took a while longer than we had hoped, but American Honda has finally announced the new Neo-Sports Café-inspired CB300R is coming to the United States as a 2019 model. At $4,649 for the base model and $4,949 with ABS, the 2019 Honda CB300R is priced $300 higher than the 2018 CB300F which it will replace.

Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, best known for his worldwide hit song Despacito, recently set out to find a fun and flashy way to get around town while in Miami, so he called his friend Alex Vega. Vega owns The Auto Firm, a shop which specializes in custom builds of everything from Bentleys and Rolls Royces, to Jeeps and well, Slingshots.

Plans for a garden to commemorate Nicky Hayden have been approved by Misano officials, as was reported by Italian news source Rimini Today. The garden will be paid for by a group of Hayden’s friends, including Denis Pazzaglini, who became friends with the 2006 MotoGP champion during their time together at Repsol Honda.

Kawasaki has been spotted testing a new KX450F race bike in Japan, suggesting big changes are on the way for 2019. The updates include new bodywork, electric start and, most notably, a brand new engine.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past two decades, the name Valentino Rossi should be a household name to motorcyclists worldwide. So beloved is “The Doctor” that the joke is Valentino is the hometown favorite at every race on the calendar. The truth is Rossi hails from a small town in Italy called Tavullia – a stone’s throw away from the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Rossi has single-handedly put Tavullia on the map and still calls the place home. If ever someone could be labeled a hometown hero, Rossi is it. In this video, we get a taste of just what the nine-time champion means to Tavullia and how much the locals cherish him.

Yamaha officially introduced the TY-E electric trial bike, announcing an official factory effort in the 2018 FIM Trial-E Cup. The announcement, made at the 2018 Tokyo Motorcycle Show, confirms what we suspected when we first reported on Yamaha’s trademark filing for the TY-E name. Unfortunately, Yamaha did not announce any plans to sell the TY-E, instead Yamaha will be racing it, with All Japan Trial Championship factory rider Kenichi Kuroyama set to compete with it in the 2018 FIM Trial-E Cup.

Kymco announced a new swappable battery system and electric charging architecture that will be used for ten electric scooters to be launched over the next three years.

One of our favorite bikes is getting an update, as spy photographers have snapped images of a new KTM Super Duke R undergoing testing with some significant changes.

Ducati superbikes have long been known for running fairly warm. The rear cylinder’s header pipe connects to the engine just under the seat on some of the latest Ducati sportbikes and tends to create an often uncomfortable amount of heat for riders on warm summer days.

What kind of riding do you do? It’s easy to look at polls online as click-bait, or a trojan horse of somesort but sometimes, it really is just to help us get to know our readers better. Sure, we have posted plenty of silly polls over the years that don’t have any real interest to us other than engaging our readers and gauging general interest in a type of product or motorcycle or maybe which of two motorcycles one might prefer, but in the end, it’s a helpful way for us to better understand our audience.

Yamaha has filed a trademark application for “TY-E,” which we suspect will be used for a new electric trial bike.

The 2018 MotoGP season had just began this weekend at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, but series organizers are already looking ahead to 2019, as the first 11 teams for the inaugural FIM Enel MotoE MotoE World Cup electric racing championship were announced.

Today marks the start of the 2018 American Flat Track season in Daytona Beach with the famed DAYTONA TT. The off-season has been a busy one for anyone involved with the sport and this year is sure to provide some of the closest, most exciting, edge-of-your-seat racing ever seen. Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles are obviously the two biggest heavyweights competing for not only race wins, but bragging rights too.

Triumph was recently spotted testing two new Scrambler prototypes equipped with what looks to be the 1200cc Bonneville engine. Besides having a larger engine, the new 2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 looks to be more off-road capable than the 900cc Street Scrambler (which also explains why Triumph added “Street” to the bike’s name).

From four motorcycles in a garage in 1992 to a long-term alliance with Harley-Davidson with branches projected in over 100 dealerships by May 2018, EagleRider has come a long way from humble beginnings.  Founded by Chris McIntyre and Jeff Brown, EagleRider came about as the result of McIntyre’s and Brown’s desire to rent Harleys for a cross-country tour. When they discovered that there was no company offering the service, the seed was planted. Now, 26 years later, the company bills itself as the world’s largest motorcycle rental and travel company, and it has its sights set on making further inroads into the travel industry.

The dormant Italian brand Cagiva is coming back with electric off-road bikes, with the first prototypes expected to come this fall at EICMA. The news was announced by Giovanni Castiglioni, chief executive officer of the Cagiva brand’s rights holder, MV Agusta, during the press launch for the 2018 Brutale 800RR (look for that review shortly).

Hopefully, you watched the video above to get you in the mood to learn more about the 2019 Yamaha Niken. Back in October 2017, we got our first look at Yamaha’s three-wheeler via the Tokyo Motor Show.

Honda has revised its Forza 300 scooter for Europe, introducing traction control, a redesigned chassis and a 26-pound weight reduction. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the 2018 Honda Forza 300 is coming to the U.S., where it was last offered in 2016.

Remember when Lamborghini tried to make motorcycles? No, we’re not talking about Ducati, which is technically owned by Audi through its subsidiary Lamborghini (with Volkswagen hovering over the entire family tree). Through most of the ’80s, Lamborghini was under the ownership of French businessman (and later, contemporary artist) Patrick Mimran. Under Mimran’s guidance, Lamborghini saw a period of resurgence including a brief expansion into non-automotive products.

(Update: We’ve received some clarification from Harley-Davidson: the product of Project LiveWire is on track for 2019, but the arrangement with Alta Motors is for new electric models beyond the LiveWire. This story has been updated to reflect this information.)

Pretty much all of us have looked back at things we did in our youth, shaken our heads, and wondered how we survived. Few of us ever came as close as Hammy Dawg does here.

Being the Canada-based staffer of a primarily U.S.-targeted site like Motorcycle.com, it’s hard not to feel jealous of my American colleagues sometimes. In between minding the three-hour time difference between me and the other MO editors, and remembering to omit the “u” in words like “color” and “rumor”, I get to read about their exploits in sunny California from my desk in grey gray Toronto.

One of MotoGP‘s longstanding partnerships is coming to an end, as Tech3 announced it will stop being Yamaha‘s satellite racing team at the end of the 2018 season.

As we expected, Harley-Davidson is expanding its Sportster lineup with the introduction of the new Iron 1200 and Forty-Eight Special. The two models join the Forty-Eight, 1200 Custom and Roadster in using Harley-Davidson’s 1202cc Evolution V-Twin Sportster engine.

There’s a lot of old and barbaric punishments for certain crimes that most people in our ever-softening current society would consider to be too cruel or unjust by today’s standards. One such practice is cutting off a thief’s hand(s), which I think can be quite appropriate depending on what was stolen.

Harley-Davidson has filed a trademark application to use the name “H-D Revelation” for its upcoming electric motorcycle technology. The trademark was filed with the U.S. Patent Trademark Office for use on batteries and chargers as well as powertrains, specifically motors, transmissions and electric drives, but not for as a model name for a whole motorcycle.

Alpinestars has released its Spring 2018 collection, which emphasizes lightweight and breathable gear as well as technical apparel. We are also now beginning to see more Tech-Air compatible garments for the street with a focus on touring jackets for use in all weather conditions.