http://www.sub5zero.com/motorcycles/2010-triumph-rocket-iii-roadster-worlds-larg...

Aprilia has just announced its new RSV4 R sport bike, a truly impressive machine that draws heavily from the World Superbike Champion  RSV4 SBK.

The compact superbike packs a major punch with a 180 horsepower, 999cc V-4 engine at its heart, an all aluminum frame for superstructure, and rides on aluminum wheels.  The VR4 R also offers the flexibility of a completely adjustable suspension setup, as well as powerful Brembo brakes with monobloc calipers. In all, Aprilia’s boast of the bike being a racing bike for the road seems well founded.

Have a better look at the RSV4 R in our gallery above, or read Apilia’s press release below.

We Americans might dig our Harleys, but we can’t really hold a candle to much of the rest of the world when it comes to overall motorcycle and moped ownership. According to this curvy representative map by the SASI group, the Asian regions reign supreme for masses of motorcycles, with Malaysia racking up a substantial 238 mopeds and motorcycles owned per 1000 members of the population. Ethiopia ranked in worst place, meanwhile, with less than half a bike per thousand.

Take a closer look at the full data in the second slide of our gallery above.

+ WorldMapper: Mopeds and Motorcycles (via Hell for Leather)
 

Small English motorcycle builder Mac Motorcycles has spent the last year or so getting the word out about its stylishly retro lineup of small power sport bikes. The four café models offered stripped looks, based in part on the elegant air-cooled Buel single-cylinder that they all rocked.

While the Mac silhouette isn’t set to change anytime soon, the powerplant is. Harley-Davidson recently announced that large-scale production of the Buel Blast, along with its 492cc, 34 brake horsepower engine, would be coming to an end. Now Mac will be forced to scramble for a new mill, and it seems as if Yamaha’s liquid-cooled 660cc unit may be the winner. Perhaps not as pure looking as the air-cooled Harley motor, the Yamaha 660 would nonetheless provide a decent boost in power—up to 48 horsepower.

Have a closer look at the Mac line in our gallery above.

+ Hell for Leather: Mac Motorcycles considers switch to Yamaha power

Some seemingly internally leaked images from Suzuki would appear to show the company’s upcoming baby GSX-R, the GSX-R125, long before the bike’s official debut.

The mini Gixer does a great job of aping the styling of it’s hardcore older brothers, with a frame that appears to be extruded aluminum (it’s probably steel, we’re told) just like the big boys.

Not big is the 125cc water-cooled, 15 brake horsepower engine that is powering the thing, nor the guestimated 275 pound dry curb weight, nor the anemic rear tire. Probably just don’t need a lot of rubber to keep that power down.

+ Hell For Leather: Suzuki GSX-R125 official shot leaks

World and European motorcycle stunt-riding champion Chris Pfeiffer has been honored by BMW today, as the Motorrad arm of the German manufacturer has announced an eponymous tribute to the rider—the F800R Chris Pfeiffer.

Pfeiffer has been exploiting the F800R’s nimbleness and ease of handling since BMW launched the bike in 2008, riding a competition version that differs only slightly from the new special edition bike that bears his name.

The Pfeiffer F880R is mostly an appearance package for the bike—save a new muffler from Akrapovic—including the rider’s signature on the gas tank, BMW Motorsport’s signature livery of white, blue, and red, no cockpit fairing, and LED indicators.

BMW notes that the new F800R will be launched in September of this year, but does not go so far as to indicate which world markets will receive the model.

Browse our gallery of images above for a better look at the F800R Chris Pfeiffer, or scroll down for the complete press release.
 

Motorcycle helmet and gear purveyor Icon has just added to its collection of strangely cool modded rides—this time with a seriously re-imagined Yamaha TT500 called Speed Cretin. While peeping the lollipop green supermoto via the cooler-than-thou cycle space Hell For Leather, we stumbled upon the rest of the Icon signature bikes. A lucky find, as Icon’s JDM/hip-hop/punk style of customization is a refreshing change from the usual flamed out Harleys.

Have a closer look at the Bikes of Icon in our gallery above, or click through the link below to read each ride’s full history at the Icon space.

+ RideIcon.com: Bikes of Icon

Ahead of an upcoming feature on Allen Millyard’s latest two-wheeled creation, British motorcycle magazine, MCN, has the a video of the Millyard Viper.

The Millyard Viper is so named because it is powered by a 500-horsepower V-10 Dodge Viper engine. It looks difficult to ride, too, if you ask us. Watch the video here, and let us know what you think of the bike. How does it stack up against the Dodge Tomahawk?

Follow the link below for more info on the upcoming article from MCN, or to watch the video at its source.

+ MCN: Video: 500bhp Millyard Viper V10

Star Motorcycles has announced that its new 2010 VMAX will be on sale beginning today through a priority delivery order program, which allows customers to order their bike today and have it delivered to them in November.

The new VMAX, sold through Yamaha dealers, comes with a five-speed, multi-plate slipper clutch transmission, and a 1679cc V-4 engine. The bike also has a Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I) which switches at once between 150mm and 54mm intake funnels, a Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T), and a fly-by-wire system that helps increase acceleration and create a broader powerband for better performance. The chassis of the new VMAX is a lightweight aluminum frame, fully adjustable forks, Brembo designed brake master cylinders, and wave-type brake rotors.

The 2010 VMAX is limited production and costs $19,500. Owners who purchase their bike through the priority delivery program will receive a two-year warranty.

For more details on the 2010 Star VMAX click on the links below.

+ Ultimate Motorcycling: 2010 Star VMAX

+ Star Motorcycles: 2010 Star VMAX

Harley-Davidson announced its 2010 model line-up this week and it includes nine new motorcycle models. Harley-Davidson’s new models are based on six platforms and have been designed to offer more power, luxury, style, and value.

The Electra Glide Ultra Limited is Harley-Davidson’s newest addition to its touring motorcycle line. The bike comes with a Twin Cam 103 engine and has as standard equipment the extra accessories of previous models.

The new Road-Glide Custom model comes with a slammed suspension, 18-inch front wheel and a new 2-into-1 exhaust system. Priced at $14,499 the Wide-Glide comes as a Dyna model and has been upgraded to the old-school chopper style, with black laced wheels, a chopped rear fender, black "wire" sissy bar, and a 2-1-2 Tommy Gun exhaust, while the Street-Glide Trike is the newest addition to the 2010 Trike models.

To find out more about the new 2010 Harley-Davidson line-up, scroll down and read the press release.