The BMW C1-E’s electric motor was designed specifically for city riding. It is powered via a Lithium-Ion Battery. It has more then enough power to handle city riding the company says. They say it could also run off a Low Emission Internal Combustion Engine as well.

All the bikes safety features were taken from the BMW C1. They were enhanced specifically for the C1-E. Regarded as a milestone in two-wheel bikes for the simple fact it is the onlye single-track vehicle to be exempt from mandatory helmet wearing in most European Countries.

There are many advantages to two-wheel transportation. The main advantage is the improvement in the flow of traffic in city locations.

The C-1’s lines are dynamically stretched and flow horizontally with a low visual center of gravity. The fairing with its windscreen, the luggage space behind the rider and the side stand for effortless parking ensure high suitability for everyday riding combined with a high degree of wind and weather protection.

Source: BMW

The Duacati’s Desmodue L-Twins produce an impressive 81hp of power and 55.7lb-ft or torque which conforms to the Euro 3 regulations. For stop start and aggressive down-shifting the 796 offers an APTC ‘wet’ clutch which gives it slipper type action. This is said to prevent destabilization of the rear end.

Beginning this December the Hypermotard 796 will be available at authorized Ducati showrooms with a choose of colors like red, matte black and matte white.

To be more specific on the colors it will come in urban style dark finish with matte black tank and beak section along with a black frame and black wheels. You can also choose matte white tank with contrasting black beak along with black frame and black wheels. A red tank with a matching beak section and red frame and black wheels are also available on the 796 to give the look alike appearance of the Ducati 1100.

Source: Ducati

Here is a picture of the crew that ran the bike at the salt flats and set the new record for fasted electric motorcycle.

Mission Motors feels they can make the electric motorcycle go even faster. North says that the power train is around 90% of its efficiency from the battery pack to the road surface. This includes the loss in the electronics, motor and drive train. North also states they have not reached the limit based on today’s technology.

Recently Mission Motors competed in its first electric superbike race at the Isle of Man. During the race the bike reached top speeds of 100.6 mph.

Mission Motors engineers say they were able to extract 50% more peak power from the motor through changes they made to the motor controller and software.

Source: Mission Motors and the The Los Angeles Times

It is official we are officially live today the 18th of September. We have been online since 2005 but down for the last year as we made improvements to our site. The site is now faster and easier to use. It was designed you you our buyers and sellers in mind. So start listing and start buying today. Don’t forget basic listings are always free and at sale time the commissions are very low.

CycleBids.com motorcycle auction site is set to relaunch on September 18th 2009. We have been online since 2005 and usually average around 250,000+ live auctions. For the last year the site has been down as we have been working hard on redoing the site to make it a better overall user friendly site. We offer Free listing and low commissions. Here you can sell your new or used motorcycle parts and accessories along with motorcycles.

CycleBids.com is back up and running

so come check us out.

American motorcycles in India is a long time coming. Finally the long wait is over as Harley Davidson strikes a deal. The Mango-Motorcycle-Swap is how they did it. The United States agreed to allow Indian mangoes to be imported in return for the export of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles.

Harley Davidson says they plane or importing motorcycles and riding gear along with motorcycle accessories.  They are still evaluating how to approach the market in India.

Harley-Davidson is now looking for Indian dealers so it can roll out its first bikes in the first half of 2010. With India being the second largest motorcycle industry in the world dominated by cheaper motorcycles used for transportation it is now time to look at India’s every growing economy and the need for leisure motorcycles amongst the middle class.

Harley says they will target the affluent. The plan to sell 12 models in India and the starting price will be about $14,000 which is currently twice the American starting price.