2013 Husqvarna TR 650 Terra, TR 650 Strada unveiled

The 2013 Husqvarna TR 650 Strada and TR 650 Terra look like they'd be fun to ride. The day we no longer want a Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, we'd take the 650 Strada...

After the Nuda 900R, which they unveiled last year, Husqvarna have now announced the new TR 650 Strada and TR 650 Terra, both of which are powered by a modified version of the single-cylinder 652cc engine that you’d find on the BMW G650GS range. The TR 650 Strada has been optimized for the street while the Terra is built for dual-purpose use and will take some light off-roading in its stride.

Husqvarna have taken BMW’s 652cc liquid-cooled fuel-injected DOHC single-cylinder engine and reworked it for the TR 650 duo – the engine now produces 58 horsepower and 60Nm of torque, which should be adequate since the TR 650 Strada weighs 168kg dry (166kg dry, for the Terra). For those are interested, modifications to the engine include a retuned fuel-injection system, altered camshafts, new pistons, increased compression ratio and changes to the piston and cylinder head geometries, all of which result in enhanced power delivery. The engine also benefits from an all-new stainless steel exhaust system and is now more fuel efficient and has reduced emissions.

Jay Leno tests the 2012 Campagna V13R

Powered by the 122bhp Harley-Davidson 'Revolution' V-Rod engine, the Campagna V13R roadster trike has the potential to put a big smile on the faces of people who like slightly mad three-wheelers. Jay Leno takes the V13R for a spin

2013 Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja unveiled

The 2013 Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja gets a new speed-sensitive electronic steering damper. And with a claimed 197bhp, the bike remains an exciting, aggressive superbike

Kawasaki have announced the new, 2013 ZX-10R Ninja, which is available with Sport-Kawasaki Traction Control (S-KRTC) and optional ABS. Fitted with Kawasaki’s liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve, 998cc inline-four that produces a claimed 197 horsepower (at the crank, with ram air…?), the big Ninja remains one of the most impressive performers in the litre-class superbike segment.

The Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels shod with 120/70 (front) and 190/55 (rear) ZR-rated tyres and gets adjustable 43mm big piston inverted forks and a gas-charged rear monoshock that is adjustable for high- and low-speed compression damping, rebound damping and preload. There are twin 310mm brake discs at the front with 4-piston radial-mount calipers, and ABS is optional. Kerb weight is 199kg and colour options include green/black and white/black.

The 2013 ZX-10R Ninja also gets a new Öhlins electronic steering damper that is able to react to current speed as well as the rate of acceleration / deceleration, to provide the ideal amount of damping force at all times. Should certainly up the safety factor by a notch or two on the street. The bike is priced at US$15,299.

2013 Kawasaki Ninja 650 unveiled

The 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 650 is now available with anti-lock brakes (ABS) as an option, which has to be a good thing on a beginner-friendly machine like this...

Kawasaki have released the specs and first official pictures of the new, 2013 Ninja 650, which is now available with anti-lock brakes (optional). Powered by a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, DOHC, 649cc parallel-twin that produces 65 horsepower and 61Nm of torque, the Ninja 650 is priced at US$8,099 and is a reliable, low-maintenance, beginner-friendly machine.

With a kerb weight of 209kg, steel tube chassis, 6-speed gearbox, 41mm front forks, single rear shock (adjustable for preload), twin 300mm brake discs with 2-piston calipers at the front, ABS (optional), and 17-inch alloy wheels shod with 120/70 (front) and 160/60 (rear) Dunlop Roadsmart II tyres, the Ninja 650 is all-around capable and ideal for daily commuting duties as well as a bit of two-up sport-touring.

Kawasaki claim an estimated fuel economy figure of 50mpg/21kpl, which is not too bad for a 650cc bike. And the Ninja 650’s adjustable, 3-position windscreen, generous seat and optimized ergonomics should also be handy on longer trips.

John McGuinness: “Everything about the TT has changed…”

John McGuinness can lap the 60km Isle of Man TT circuit at average speeds of 211km/h. Don't know about you, but for us, that makes him the God of motorcycle road racing...

With a very impressive 19 wins at the Isle of Man, 40-year-old John McGuinness is currently at the top of his game. One of the fastest, most talented motorcycle racers in the world, McGuinness – sometimes referred to as the Morecambe Missile – holds the outright lap record at the IoM, averaging 211.75km/h around the 60km TT circuit in 2009. If that doesn’t make him the God of motorcycle racing, we don’t know what would.

We’ve always been huge fans of the Isle of Man TT, even if we do think the risk factor is a bit too high – given the number of fatal accidents that happen there every year, it never ceases to amaze us that the race actually hasn’t yet been legislated out of existence. And, of course, we have nothing but respect and admiration for the talent and sheer bravery of the men who choose to race at the IoM despite all the dangers.

We recently had the opportunity to put some questions to John McGuinness, who’s been racing at the IoM for 17 years now, about what it’s really like to race at the Isle of Man, and here’s what he had to say: