2008-2009 IBOTY: AUTO-BY, Japan World journalists pick the International Bike of the Year 2008-2009.

1. Honda CBR 1000 RR Fireblade Very attractive, individual and unique styling. This bike responds so quickly to a rider’s will, just like water soaks through the sand. Riders feel as if they’ve just improved their supersport skills when they get on this CBR. That is why we nominate the CBR as No. 1. 2. [...]

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Exclusive: The Demise of Buell Motorcycles Cycle World gets the inside story on the closure of America's sportbike maker and rides the Barracuda 2 superbike before it goes to the crusher!

It is safe to say everybody was shocked when the press release went out on October 15, 2009, announcing that Harley-Davidsonhad decided to close down Buell Motorcycles. But nobody looked more shocked than Erik Buell himself in the video address posted that same day on the Buell website. I got the release just after 6 [...]

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Motorcycle Industry Mourns Passing of Don Brown Don Brown, 1929-2010

The motorcycle community was saddened by the news of the passing of legendary industry leader Don Brown on Wednesday, March 24. Brown, 80, passed away at his home in Irvine, California, with his family at his side. He is survived by his wife Teri, sons Scott and Craig, daughter Shari and four grandchildren. Don spent [...]

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Dainese 2010: New Riding Gear, Chest Protection and D-Air Airbag System From Italy, with love...

Dainese wants a bigger slice of the U.S. motorcycle-apparel market. So, when the Italian company unveiled its 2010 Motorbike Collection this past January at the D-Store in Costa Mesa, California, it pulled out all the stops. Arriving from the corporate offices in Vicenza were top staffers from the company’s marketing and product-development departments, as well [...]

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Superbike Extremists Madness in Macau.

Photography by Stephen Davison It’s 7 a.m., and the wind is blowing cold off the Pearl River delta as I huddle behind a black-and-yellow Armco barrier. I am waiting for the start of practice for the 2009 Macau Grand Prix. From the top of Guia Hill, I can hear the bikes screaming as they leave [...]

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Inside Indian A visit to the new Indian factory.

Stephen Julius, known hereafter as The Man Who Would Save Indian, swings into the company parking lot at the new Indian Motorcycle headquarters in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The jet-setting captain of industry, with homes in London and Italy, could easily ensconce himself in the glove-leather seats of a Bentley or Ferrari; instead, he’s at [...]

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Brammo Gains Enertia Oregon bike maker lowers price of all-electric Enertia to $7995.

“Shocking Barack,” last October’s attempt by Brammo product-development director Brian Wismann and ad-agency creative director Dave Schiff to present an Enertia electric motorcycle to President Barack Obama, didn’t end as hoped. They retraced the 700-mile route from Detroit, Michigan, to Washington, D.C., driven earlier by automotive CEOs seeking government loans—allegedly for just $9.34 in total [...]

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Technically Speaking: Yamaha YZR-M1 Yamaha reveals more about Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP-winner.

Design never sits still, especially in racing. Every year at Valencia—the final event of the MotoGP season—Yamaha presents a review of current technical developments. It’s normal to seek more power and a better powerband, and to apply that power more usably through electronic controls. This past year, there was an added complication: a new rule [...]

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Ride for Kids Roland Sands Design Honda CBR1000RR A hooligan Honda built to fight pediatric brain tumors.

Nine years ago, the team from Ride for Kids joined us at the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows to give away a project bike to raise awareness and money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and, hopefully, help find a cure for children suffering from brain tumors. From the start, American Honda and show producer [...]

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The New Mobile Cycle World Download our new iPhone app to have the best of CW at your fingertips!

Thanks for your interest in the Cycle World iPhone app, “Best of Cycle World.” You will have access to the best of print and web stories in one convenient, archivable location. Go to the Apple iPhone “app store” and type in “Best of Cycle World” in the app-store search bar and get ready to ride!

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