The Honda U3-X looks just like the kind of contraption I could fall off without too much effort. It’s an intriguing concept however, half segway, half….electric motorcycle? The U3-X seems to work via the sitting weight transfer of the passenger, and can travel at 6 km/hr. It weighs 10 kilos and looks like other pedestrian vehicles for getting around town more quickly. The U3-X will be presented at the next Tokyo motor show. What I really want to know is whether it will do my abs and love handles, or should I just stick to walking…?

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The fact that the 8 times World Champion, Valentino Rossi is a virtual gold mine when it comes to endorsements is a well known, besides all his VR46 tagged merchandise that includes T-shirt, caps, cell phone covers and lately even children bedroom furniture with the Berloni company, that will be launched in October, the Italian has now designed and endorsed a range of bicycles for Cicli Adriatica, a national and global manufacturer of bicycles since 1946 and based in Pesaro.

The collection is naturally called VR46 and includes three models specifically for children and has Rossi’s racing symbols, including his favourite colors, the moon and sun that adorn his helmets and leathers and his iconic racing number. The brand VR46 will also be signing a racing bike and a mountain bike.

The new line VR46 will be presented in Milan during EICMA that will start on 18th until 21st September 2009, and you can see the VR46 at Stand M43, Hall 9.

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Chicco Toys has come up with this Ducati Race Track that features two mini remote controlled Ducati 999 Superbikes, that can be driven around the curves and bumps of a Grand Prix race track with an infra red handle bar control. The toy features accessories like a start line, pit stop, crash barriers, lap counter, sponsors advertising boards and has real Gran Prix sound effects.

This looks like a great gift idea for kids, and it’s recommended for children ages 2+ but knowing the attention span of pre-school children, it’ll probably be used and enjoyed more by their daddies.

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The Kawasaki 1400GTR is already a high-tech bike, but in 2010 it could become even more avantgarde, equipped with night vision. This kind of technology has so far only been seen on luxury automobiles, but Gizmag reports we could soon see it on the 1400GTR.

The infrared night vision, developed by Kawasaki itself, could appear as an option or as an aftermarket upgrade. The technology would function from the rear view mirrors of the bike, and information would be transmitted to the computer, which would judge how far away objects are and whether any obstacles lie outside the range of the headlights.

The technology therefore also functions as an anti-collision tool, but given it’s based on heat-sensor lights, it would only work for animals or people, and not anything that is no warmer than the general background. The technology is currently being used on top-of-the-range BMW and Mercedes cars.

The anti-collision feature would either appear on an LCD display, or even send an audio warning via Bluetooth to the rider’s helmet. It all sounds a bit sci-fi, but the technology could appear as early as next year, and even be presented at the Paris show this autumn.

Source | Gizmag

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Italian company Givi has released this motorcycle accessory to carry bags and parcels, which is specifically designed for Monokey Side bags.

The new V35 Monokey Side bag needs to be attached to a motorcycle via a series of tubular supports called PLX. The Givi frame enables the bag to be securely attached to the motorcycle in a design which doesn’t interfere with the look or style of the bike.

For more information, see the Givi site.

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Did this guy get freebies from Musco Lighting? They could have used him as a backup when the lights went off at Daytona.

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Could this be the future of MotoGP? It’s already got onboard cameras.

Check out the second video.

Source | solomoto

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For most of us the idea of riding a motorcycle with the accelerator on the left hand side would be a strange and uncoordinated feeling, but Triumph is helping out left-handed motorcyclists with a kit that will make things more natural for the lefties of the two-wheel world.

Plenty of gadgets and widgets are now available for left-handed motorcyclists, and in this photo you can see Triumph’s kit that inverts the controls on the handle of a motorcycle, placing them on the left.

It will soon be available in all official dealerships, but only after a set process to equip a motorcycle. The rider must present a medical certificate attesting to left-handedness (can’t wait to ask for that from the doctor) and after a trial run with the dealer, the kit will be assembled for free on any Triumph model.

Source | Panorama

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Even champions like to play sometimes, and they often have the right means for a bit of time off every so often. Valentino Rossi is especially known for his extra-curiccula pursuits off the track, and here is playing with a remote control race car from the guys at AS Hobby Racing.

Rossi is racing the remote control Serpent 960 on the Road Race track at Riccione. And from all reports, he enjoyed himself, living out a day of fun that many boys in men’s clothing would be envious of.

Source | Hobbymedia (Thanks to Frankie for the tip)

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This wooden tricycle-style Vespa toy is cute, but not of Italian production. Instead, the Moulin Roty, found on Baroque Babies blog, comes from France and is a Vespa toy for children.

The wooden Vespa also comes with a story of two little rabbits, Mila and Malo, who are on their way to the seaside for Sunday picnic. It costs 97 euros and while it doesn’t have the excitement that we know from Vespa, getting the children started early is no bad thing. Good things come to those who wait and I only wish I was a kid again…

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