Finnish enduro legend and five-time world champion Mika Ahola died because of severe internal injuries on 15 January 2012, at a hospital in Barcelona, just a few weeks after crashing while training in Girona, Spain, and two weeks after the announcement of his retirement from racing because of the injuries sustained on that accident. He was 37 years old. The sudden passing of the reigning champ left the enduro world as well as the whole motorcycle community shaking heads in disbelief, while a few days ago Ahola’s wife confirmed in a statement that the late champion died because of “internal injuries not immediately diagnosed“, following a “troubled hospital course, because of the occurrence of serious complications“.

Announcing his retirement from racing at the very beginning of this year, Ahola said: “I have given everything I’ve got for this sport and although it has taken much, it has given me back more than I could have ever imagined when I started racing“, then adding that “My ambition for this sport has been completely satisfied and I feel like it’s time for me to move on and see what else the world has to offer than racing.”

Here is our little tribute, a couple of photo galleries dedicated to one of the greatest enduro’s riders ever, winner of five consecutive world-championship titles from 2007 to 2011 (in all three classes) and seven International Six Days Enduro with the Finnish national team, being the fastest overall in the competition in three occasions. The funeral will take place in Hämeenlinna, Finland, on February the 4th. May he rest in peace.

View the full Mika Ahola tribute photo gallery
View the full Mika Ahola tribute at the 2012 Motor Bike Expo photo gallery

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A special version of Yamaha’s brand new Super Tenere Worldcrosser - with a never-seen-before “competition white” color scheme - is currently on display at the 2012 Motor Bike Expo, a motorcycle fair taking place in Verona, Italy. The new graphics are obviously inspired by the manufacturer’s historic white-red-black color scheme, that was recently retrieved from memory for Yamaha’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

The model can be considered a more extreme version of the XT1200Z Super Ténéré, sharing the same 1,199 cc inline twin-cylinder engine with its ’standard’ counterpart, This unit has a compression ratio of 11.0 : 1 and produces an output of 110 hp and 114 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. However, what really differentiates the Worldcrosser from the ‘regular’ Super Ténéré are some special parts: carbon side panels, lightweight carbon frame and fork protectors, drive shaft shield and rear brake protector in black anodized aluminum and also an aluminum skid plate. No doubt the Worldcrosser would be up for any sort of off-road adventure.

Here is an official photo gallery of the model with the new livery as well as a few shots taken live at the Yamaha’s stall in Verona by our buddies from Motoblog.it.

View the full Yamaha Super Ténéré Worldcrosser 2012 photo gallery

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If you follow the Dakar rally you know who Cyril Despres is, while Cedric Garcia is a mountain bike rider who has won several MTB championship races and both take to the rocky hills of the Grandvalira in the Andorra mountains with KTM’s Freeride 350.

Debuted at this year’s EICMA show, the KTM Freeride 350 is an entry-level, user-friendly and street-legal enduro that - which also comes in a zero emissions version - and is set to hit the European market in 2012.

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Italian manufacturer Italjet introduced at the EICMA the revamped versions of two historic models that will soon make their comeback on the market: Velocifero and Dragster. The Dragster made a name for itself back in the day thanks to its aggressive look that immediately set it apart from the other scooters around. The new version boasts several aesthetic modifications and will be initially available with a 50 cc engine (that was exposed in Milan) while a 125 cc variation equipped with Piaggio Leader engine will join in at a later time. The model will come with an unusual set of wheels: 11″ on the front and 12″ on the back.

The new Velocifero instead will be an all-electric motorcycle and will come with consistently different aesthetics. The restyling involved many areas - for instance, its signature double head lights have been replaced with a single unit - but it was just necessary in order to host the batteries and the new powertrain. The model will also use aluminum rims, front and rear disc brakes, and double spring at the back. As for now, there are no specific information about its power source.

Italjet also announced that it will soon enter the off-road market too with Enduro and Supermotard models equipped with 50 cc and 125 cc units, which should become available in the showrooms in March. Check them all out in our photo gallery.

View the full Italjet 2012 line-up photo gallery

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Honda released a minute-long promo video featuring the new NC700 range for the year 2012, namely Honda NC700S and NC700X. The two bikes have been recently introduced to the public at the 2011 EICMA and have been developed on the same platform, sharing the same 47 hp in-line 2-cylinder 643cc engine and the 17″ wheels, but each one boasts its own distinct personality.

The NC700S, is basically a small naked commuter, with low seat position and accessible width of the handlebars that ensures passengers’ comfort and security with twin grab handles. Honda NC700X is a crossover model with unique styling, more upright riding position, taller seat height and slightly longer suspension travel.

The same platform that generated these two machines is also shared by Honda Integra maxi-scooter. Both models will be available with a six-speed manual gearbox and an optional dual clutch transmission.

View the full Honda NC700X Live at the 2011 Eicma photo gallery
View the full Honda NC700S Live at the 2011 Eicma photo gallery

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My French is pretty well limited to the usual social amenities, hello, thank-you, where is the bathroom, ect, knowing how to count to one hundred, how to order off a menu and not find some reknowned ‘delicacy’ on my plate and how to haggle over the price of something which I picked up while visiting a couple of former French colonies in North Africa, but these two French videos need very little translation and are quite funny.

The story line revolves around a Suzuki dealer “Luc Motos” at Nanterre and a geeky looking client that wants to test ride a Suzuki GSR 750 and how the test ride goes, while the second video revolves around the request of the same client to test ride Suzuki’s V-Strom 650, with the dealer putting up all sorts of resistance, terrorized of letting the guy also mishandle the sports enduro tourer.

Enjoy.

Continue reading: Suzuki GSR 750 and V-Strom 650 funny test rides (w/video)

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Honda released a new promotional video starring the recently unveiled Crosstourer model. The new enduro bike from the Japanese manufacturer has been one of the most sought-after model at the EICMA and this footage and will surely be one of the strongest competitors in its category in 2012.

Honda Crosstourer is powered by a 1,237cc 16-valve 76° V4 delivering 130 hp at 7,750 rpm and 126 Nm of peak torque at 6,500 rpm. Some of the most important features of the model include aluminum twin-spar frame, long travel suspension (43mm inverted telescopic forks on the front), dual clutch, PGM-FI electronic fuel injection and Honda’s Combined ABS technology.

View the full 2012 Honda Crosstourer photo gallery
View Honda Crosstourer at the 2011 EICMA photo gallery

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Derbi - the Spanish manufacturer controlled by Piaggio - presented at the 2011 SEMA the Senda DRD 50 range, which is composed of two lines: R (Racing enduro) and SM (Supermoto). Moreover, both these DRD 50 lines will offer X-Treme and Racing versions of the model, which will underline Derbi’s sporty attitude.

The two X-Treme machines (Enduro and Supermotard) uses LED rear light technology, multifunctional instrument panel and aluminum double cradle frame. Both model are powered by a 50 cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine with liquid cooling system and 6 speed gearbox and use a 36 mm hydraulic fork on the front (190 mm travel) and a monoshock on the rear (182 mm travel). Same engine for S and RM version of Derbi Senda DRD Racing, but they are equipped with top notch suspension for this category: 40 mm hydraulic fork on the front (195 mm travel) and a monoshock with progressive link system on the rear (182 mm travel)

The whole lot also share the massive - probably oversized -braking system: 260 mm discs on the front and 220 mm on the rear. However, the main difference between the R and SM lines is the type of wheels they use: the R enduro bikes are equipped with 21” on the front and 18” on the rear and fitted with off-road tyres while the SM uses 17″ super light wheels on front and back wearing regular tarmac wheels.

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Spanish manufacturer Ossa chose the 2011 EICMA to unveil two brand new motorcycles: the ‘Exlporer‘ (inspired by an old 1972 Ossa model bearing the same name) and the ‘Enduro‘, both of which are expected to enter the market in 2012. Let’s take a closer look to the two newcomers.

First of all there is the new Explorer, a comfortable and very light bike, designed to enjoy both the mountain and the city: basically it’s a road-legal trial bike. The Explorer uses several innovative features of the TR280i, such as the 252 cc two-stroke injection engine and the tubular Cr-Mo/Aluminium frame. However, the key element for the Explorer is the suspension, which consists of a 40 mm Marzocchi hydraulic fork (adjustable in extension and compression) on the front and an hydraulic monoshock on the rear (extension and spring load adjustable).

Ossa Enduro will be marketed with 250 cc and 300 cc units, and is a classic enduro bike with Cr-Mo two side detachable frame. As for the suspension, Ohlins took care of that: the model will use upside down 48mm TTX on TTX monodamper on the rear. Check them out in our photo gallery.

View the full Ossa Enduro 250i, 300i and Explorer at the 2011 Eicma photo gallery

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Fantic Motor is back. Following the success in the 2 stroke Italian Enduro Championships, the revamped Italian manufacturer now produces 1200 motorcycles per year, 80% of which are sold in the home market and the remainder abroad, especially France, Spain and Japan.

Fantic Motor presents 2 new models at the 2011 EICMA: a 4 stroke model which is light, reliable, performing and with a racing flavour. The name of this bike is the same of the most popular Fantic product of the 80s: it’s Caballero, more precisely Caballero TF 250 ES. Then there’s also a cross bike, the Caballero TZ 125 CS, boasting a 48 mm Marzocchi forkand an interesting linking system on the rear. Check them both out in our photo gallery.

View the full Fantic Motor Caballero 250 4T e 125 Cross 2012 photo gallery

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