The new Piaggio MP3 Hybrid 300ie comes a year after the release of the original 124cc version, which was the worlds first hybrid scooter. Piaggio is also producing a variant called the MP3 Hybrid LT 300ie, which has a wider separation between its front wheels, allowing it to be driven by those with a regular automobile drivers license.

 The Committee on Transportation voted 8-4 in approval of Senate Bill 435 which would require motorcycles built after Jan. 1, 2011 to use exhaust systems that meet sound emission standards. Riders found using 2011 and newer motorcycles without a federal Environmental Protection Agency label certifying sound emission compliance will be issued fix it tickets by law enforcement officers.

After a lengthy investigation, the EPA has voided certificates of conformity for vehicles issued in 2006 and 2007 to the U.S. arms of four Chinese manufacturers: Hensim USA of City of Industry, Calif., Loncin USA of Hayward, Calif., Peace Industry Group of Norcross, Ga., and Seaseng of Ponoma, Calif.

Back in November, BMW introduced its inline-six Concept 6 model at the 2009 EICMA show in Milan, Italy, with the news the engine will power future models in the companys K-series tourers. The future is now closer to becoming the present with the announcement of the upcoming BMW K1600GT and K1600GTL.

In a move designed to attract new, younger consumers, Honda will cut the prices of 45 models over the next three years. Prices are expected to drop from 10 to 30 percent, and will go into effect when each model receives a full or minor update.

The photographs were released as Kawasaki s research and development team prepares for a two-day test of the new ZX-10R at the Suzuka International Race Course in Japan.

According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the left front brake hose on the 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 may come into contact with the brake rotor under hard braking. Such contact may damage the hose, potentially causing a brake fluid leak.

Details are still scarce, though Triumph has released a teaser video and a new website for the two models using the codename Triumph Adventure.  The new models will enter a suddenly competitive segment currently led by BMWs GS models, but with new contenders in the Ducati Multistrada 1200 and Yamaha Super Ténéré.

Fiat Yamaha rider fractured his right shin June 5 during a practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit and was expected to be out action at least until the July 25 U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

Designed by Aldo Drudi, the American Honda Moriwaki M600 prominently features a large Honda wing and elements of the American Flag. Drudi also designed the racing leathers to be worn by the teams rider Roger Hayden.

Outstanding is the best word to describe this years Open House, said J&P Cycles® President John Parham. After last years amazing turnout, we knew we had quite a feat for this year. I think we did that and then some!We cant say enough to our customers who visited us during this event.

Over the first six months of 2010, BMW sold 57,015 motorcycles worldwide, up from the 46,972 sold in the first half of 2009. The first half ended with 11,684 units sold in June, up 23.2% from the 9,402 units sold in 2009. June marked the sixth consecutive month BMW reported an increase in sales.

Rumors of Stoner reaching a deal with Honda began to surface in May but the news is now official. Stoner previously raced for the Honda LCR team in his rookie season in 2006, and in 2011, he will race for the factory team. Stoner will also be reunited with former Ducati team manager Livio Suppo who currently manages Hondas sponsorships.

US Highland President and founder Mats Malmberg, 41, Chief Operating Officer Chase Bales, 51, and Chief Financial Officer Damian Riddoch, 37, were returning to Tulsa July 10 after a business trip in Detroit. The three were en route to Jones Riverside Airport in Tulsa on a fixed-wing multi-engine Cessna.

The Aprilia Alitlalia racer has called Brno his favorite track Biaggi ended a two-year winless streak in Race One in 2009 to earn the Aprilia RSV4 its first WSBK victory and having won four consecutive races, Biaggi was favored to win again at Brno.

Barnes handily won the July 11 race by over a minute before 20,000 fans at Mosport International Raceway near Toronto, Canada. Barnes won the second round of the TTXGPs North American series in Road America and could have been a perfect three-for-three if he didnt have to restart his bike in the season opener at Infineon Raceway.

According to a report in British website Autocar, the German manufacturer will unveil a new electric scooter under the companys Smart brand.

The Tuning Fork Company plans to release three or four electric motorcycles, including business-use models, by the mid-2010s. By 2020, Yamaha aims to become the worldwide market leader in the electric motorcycle segment. Yamahas plans begin with the new EC-03 electric scooter, set to launch in Tokyo in Sept. 1 before expanding across Japan Oct. 1.

Rossi will be at Sachsenring for the German Grand Prix with the rest of the Fiat Yamaha MotoGP team, but his return to action is still pending approval from the events chief medical officer.

Second on the all-time AMA Superbike wins list (with 32 victories, behind only Mat Mladins 72 wins), Duhamel will team with southern California dealer Moto Forza and NovaTac Racing to ride a Ducati 1098R at the July 25 Laguna Seca round. Duhamel hasnt competed in an AMA Road Race since the 2009 Daytona 200.

K Squared Racing rider Kenyon Kluge, also Zeros director of engineering, will ride a modified Zero S. Kluge and K Squared Racing also competed in the first TTXGP race at Infineon Raceway, finishing fifth. The race was won by Shawn Higbee who raced for a joint entry by Zero Motorcycles and Agni Motors.

Located 10 miles northwest of Redding, the Chappie-Shasta OHV Area spans 52,000 acres and offers 200 miles of roads and trails. The land is currently under the control of the federal Bureau of Land Management as well as the U.S. Forest Service. Unanimously passed by the U.S. House on July 13, H.R. 689 would give the BLM full control over the land.

The Medina, Minn., manufacturer is returning as official sponsor for the festival, and for the first time, its bringing the Victory Riders Association which will hold its Sturgis party Aug. 12 at the Buffalo Chip.

The Illinois-based manufacturer announced it was entering the electric motorcycle market at the beginning of the year and provided details and images of a prototype, without the fairing, in May.

The Laguna Seca round will feature 12 entries, which will be larger than the grids of the series first two races combined. The five entries that competed in both the April 16 race at Le Mans in France and the May 22 race at Albacete in Spain will be in Monterey, Calif., to race in the Laguna Seca round. They will be joined by seven new teams.

Michael joined Ducati in 2002 in the UK, and in early 2003 moved to the USA to head up the management team at Ducati North Americas headquarters in Cupertino, CA. Over the next seven years Locks team made many changes to Ducatis organization, distribution, marketing and service operations.

Hayden, already tabbed to ride American Honda s Moto2 wildcard entry at the Indianapolis Grand Prix, will ride the LCR Honda RC212V at Laguna Seca.

Heading to Honda dealerships in October are the updated 2011 CRF450R and CRF250R motocross bikes and the youth model CRF70F and CRF50F. Also announced were several Honda ATVs. The updated models represent the first wave of Hondas 2011 model announcements.

The 2011 Ducati 848EVO runs on an updated Testastretta engine with revised inlet port shapes and larger elliptical throttle bodies. The piston crown and combustion chamber shape have also been updated, increasing the compression ratio to 13.2:1 from 12:1. New camshafts provide higher valve-lift and increased inlet duration.

The Oklahoma-based company has appointed two new directors to its board and management team following the deaths of President and founder Mats Malmberg, Chief Operating Officer Chase Bales and Chief Financial Officer Damian Riddoch in the July 10 plane crash.

The free iPhone application was developed in partnership with Allstate Roadside services and works with the BMW Motorrad USA Roadside Assistance program which comes standard for three years with every new BMW motorcycle purchase.

Hammer Motorsports, which ran the AMA Dragbike series, announced June 24 it was shutting down operations. The announcement came at the midway point of the eight-round 2010 season. Hammer Motorsports President Scott Valetti and vice president Brandi Neithamer stated rising costs and decreasing revenue made it fiscally irresponsible to continue doing business.

Polaris on-road division, which consists primarily of Victory motorcycles, recorded $15.5 million in sales over the second quarter compared to $10.5 million reported during the same period in 2009.

With the support of promoter MX Sports Pro Racing, the Honda CRF150 Cup will be comprised of two races held in conjunction with the final two rounds of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, Sept. 4 at Steel City and Sept. 11 at Pala Raceway.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team unveiled the special livery for its YZR-M1 racebikes for the Laguna Seca round.

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo will ride specially painted Yamaha M1s featuring the faces of 500 fans, and the number 500 painted in stars and stripes. The livery celebrates the launch of the Fiat 500 automobile in the U.S. market.

Hayden will be the first Grand Prix motorcycle racer to use the number 34 since Schwantz retired in 1995. The International Motorcycling Federation retired the number in honor of Schwantz whose 25 career wins puts him second behind Eddie Lawson among all American racers.

The AMA rated federal and gubernatorial candidates from the major political parties to see how closely they align with the AMAs position on motorcycle-related matters. The AMA sent out questionnaires to candidates and those who responded were given a fuel-gauge type rating on their positions on motorcycling. The AMA also gathered voting records of federal incumbents seeking re-election. The results were collected to form the 2010 AMA Voter Guide.

The one-off motorcycle which was displayed at the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show will be part of the Bonhams Classic California Auction, Nov. 13 at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Riders for Health.

The Oklahoma-based company has signed racer Cory Green to ride the US Highland 450MX in the Super Motocross event at the X-Games 16, July 29 Aug. 1.

Harley-Davidson issued a recall on the 2010 FXDF Fat Bob because the front forks may be using the wrong springs. According to documents filed with the NHTSA, the suspension supplier American Showa mistakenly used springs intended for the FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide in fork leg assemblies for the Fat Bob.

Czech racing team Cardion AB has signed a leasing agreement with Ducati to race a Desmosedici GP11 for the 2011 MotoGP season. Cardion AB will enter a single rider, 20-year-old Karel Abraham, swelling the MotoGP grid to 18 with six of the entries riding a Ducati Desmosedici.

According to Honda s first quarter 2010/2011 report, the Japanese manufacturer sold 2.887 million motorcycles, scooters and ATVs, up from the 2.252 million units sold over the same period in 2009. Motorcycles accounted for 320.2 billion yen (US$3.7 billion) in net sales over the quarter, up from the 256.3 billion yen (US$3 billion) reported in the same quarter last year.

The Bazzaz Z-Fi MX Fuel Control Unit differs significantly from what is currently available in the marketplace in a number of ways. Bazzaz has developed an in-line unit that precisely controls fuel delivery to optimize engine performance. It is a plug and play unit that piggy-backs onto the stock ECU. Each unit comes with an application specific harness that utilizes OEM connectors for simple installation, and comes pre-programmed for either the stock exhaust or a slip-on. The Z-Fi also features a USB interface with easy to use software, allowing tuning modifications by the end user that can be done at the bike or because the system can be powered using the USB connection of a PC it can be done off the bike as well. This translates into ease of tuning and significantly better performance on MX applications. The Z-Fi MX can be run and/or tuned using the optional Z-AFM self mapping module.

The invitation was extended after the 16-year-old Myers, the first female to win an AMA Pro Road Racing race, visited the Rizla Suzuki garage at the U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. Myers rides a Suzuki GSX-R600 in the AMA Supersport class, but will get the chance to ride a few laps of Spains Valencia circuit on the Suzuki GSV-R following the end of the 2010 MotoGP season.

The Motor Company has been producing sidecars since 1914 but Harley-Davidson will stop accepting orders for sidecars once it completes its 2011 model year orders.

The Yamaha Sterilgarda rider also won the Superpole and recorded the fastest lap in both races at Silverstone, which lies about an hours journey southeast of his home town of Coventry, England.

The Japanese manufacturer announced net sales of 676.2 billion yen (US$7.8 billion) over the six months ended June 30, 2010. Motorcycles accounted for 476.5 billion yen (US$5.5 billion) in sales, an increase of 16.2% from the same period in 2009.

Rumors linking Rossi to the Italian manufacturer have been circulating for months, especially after Honda announced the signing of current Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner.

Now in its third year of production, the new Indian Motorcycle has established a network of 29 dealers worldwide with another six more expected to open by the end of the year. Year-over-year sales have risen 80%, with retail sales in May 2010 up 214% compared to May 2009.

The first video was released in July, along with the news Triumph is developing two models to slot into its Adventure line alongside the Tiger.

Arlen Ness, Located in Dublin, CA, is well known as the master builders of custom production motorcycles. Additionally, Arlen Ness has been leading the way in the racing world with their revolutionary riding equipment. Attendees of all future TrackTactics events will have the opportunity to rent their exceptional equipment at an inexpensive rate. Erik Steiber, a Director of TrackTactics, states: This will be a key ingredient to getting riders off of the street and onto the track. Rentals will be available online at TrackTactics.org. You can read more about Arlen Ness at http://www.arlenness.com/.

Georgia-based Gas Gas Offroad US will be the exclusive American importer for the Spanish companys enduro models. Gas Gas Offroad US will be led by Clay Stuckey, former North American national sales manager for Husaberg and regional sales manager of KTM, and Ted Stuckey.

Announced at the DAV National Convention in Atlanta, the grant will fund the DAVs Mobile Service Office program over the next four years. The Harley-Davidson Foundation had also previously made a $1 million grant to the DAV in 2006.

Sykes, who races for the Kawasaki factory team, tested the superbike at the manufacturers 2.9-mile home test track. Sykes was accompanied by team engineer and former GP racer Pere Riba.

For the three-month period ending June 30, 2010, Suzuki reported 69.8 billion yen (US$818.7 million) in motorcycle and ATV sales, a drop from the 80.9 billion yen (US$948.9 million) reported for the same period in 2009.