2013 Paris Bonhams Motorcycle Auction

Two single-owner collections will headline the motorcycle section of the Bonhams sale at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, in early February 2

2012 King of Bercy Supercross Results

By far the largest European Supercross event, the SX of Paris Bercy presents many challenges for the grid over three days of racing.

Electric Motorcycles

The global private investment firm Invus, LP, has invested $26 million in Zero Motorcycles, one of the top manufacturers in the electric motorcycle industry. Zero said the money will help with US-based production, and also expand the company’s global sales footprint.

2011 Le Touquet

After finishing second at the 2011 Dakar, Cyril Despres didn’t take much time off from the racing scene. He did a few interviews, and then traveled to Paris for the Le Touquet enduro. In the following text, Cyril Despres discusses his "off season."

Bonhams Motorcycle Auction

Headlining the motorcycles consigned to Bonhams first sale at the Grand Palais, Paris is a rare, radial-engined Megola.

Powered by a 640cc five-cylinder engine built into the front wheel, the Megola was described by motorcycling historian Erwin Tragatsch as "probably the most unorthodox motorcycle ever made on a commercial basis."

2011 Dakar Interview

The 2011 Dakar Rally was launched on Saturday in the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires, including KTM factory rider Cyril Despres.

The Frenchman, who is the reigning Dakar champ with his KTM teammate Marc Coma, will be looking to give KTM its 10th title in one of the world’s most prestigious races; Despres will be competing on the KTM 450 Rally.

Meanwhile at the halfway mark in the 2010 Dakar, race organizers released the following updates on injured competitors:

#31: Luca Manca is still under observation at the Clinica de la Mutual of Santiago. His condition is stable and he should have another scan on Monday.

#53: André Lenoble, victim of a tibia fracture, was taken back to Rennes.

#253: Hubert Deltrieu, victim of a thoracic trauma and a spinal trauma without a neurological risk, left the hospital of La Rioja to go to Cordoba. He will be taken to Buenos Aires and should return to Paris on Monday, January 11.

Yamaha conquered an eventful weekend of Supercross at Bercy, Paris to stand atop the podium for the second year in succession. San Manuel Yamaha rider James Stewart had won Friday and Saturday evenings of the three night affair in the French capital but withdrew from Sunday’s final showdown after complaining of sickness and dizzy spells.

30,000 km, 24 Countries

In February 2010, French-born Australians Stephane Etienne and Jean-Marc Siron will set out on a 30,000km motorcycle ride from Sydney, Australia to Paris, France to raise funds for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), commencing the first trans-continental journey of the WorldRiderZ.

The echoes of two spectacular races at Imola’s Enzo & Dino Ferrari circuit last Sunday in front of 67,000 spectators are still ringing in the ears of spectators worldwide, but the countdown is now beginning towards what will surely be a two-way dash towards the 2009 title. It gets underway this weekend at the Magny-Cours circuit in central France, around 300 kms from Paris, which hosts World Superbike for the eighth time. The tricky 4.411 km Magny-Cours track alternates a number of fast sections with slow hairpin-like turns.

Custom Motorcycle Couture

“I never look at other motorcycles for inspiration,” says Cyril Huze. “I spend my time in museums and art galleries, and traveling. For me, designing custom motorcycles is like haute couture. I create a unique, wearable art object that is the client’s personification in kinetic metal.”

It’s where Harley, Gucci and Marc Jacobs walk hand-in-hand. For one week every summer Laconia Bike Week turns the Lakes Region of New Hampshire into the fashion capital of the world.

The runways of Los Angeles and Paris have been directly influenced by the styles of leather motorcycle jackets that have appeared at motorcycle rallies for generations.

Top designers from around the globe are consistently featuring variations of the original leather motorcycle jacket in their collections:

Italian MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi enjoyed a brief visit to Paris on Thursday afternoon, stopping off in the French capital en route to Le Mans to meet fans and attend a press briefing.

Fresh from a scintillating battle at Jerez de la Frontera, where the eight-time World Champion celebrated his first victory of the 2009 campaign, Rossi arrived for his media appointment on board his special-edition Monster Energy Yamaha R1.

Reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi goes from Le Monster to Le Mans this week, attending a Paris press conference set up by his new energy drink sponsor before the weekend’s Grand Prix de France.

Rossi will ride through the streets of the French capital onboard a Yamaha R1 street bike on Thursday at midday, before pulling off the Parisian walkways and into the Pullman Hotel to address the gathered media.

As is customary for visitors to the famous city, Rossi will also pose for photos in front of the Eiffel Tower landmark.

Indian Motorcycle continues to grow dealerships and demo rides.

Indian Motorcycle opened eleven dealerships and selected its first international distributor in Paris, France, since retailing its first motorcycle earlier this year. Production of the 2009 Indian Chief Standard, Deluxe, Roadmaster, and Vintage began last fall and delivery of the first models to Indian Motorcycle dealerships was in January. Since then, dealerships across the nation have scheduled grand opening celebrations and demo ride events.