BMW Releases S1000RR European Pricing

BMW Motorrad released today that the base MSRP of the S1000RR will cost €15,800, expect the US pricing to be below that (we’re guessing $14,500-ish).
In typical BMW fashion the real fun features will cost more. The BMW Race ABS system will cost €950, while the Race ABS with Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) will cost a [...]

VFR1200 Breaks Cover Ahead of Schedule

It would appear we do not need to wait until Fall to see the new VFR in its final, or near final form. MCN lead this morning with an article showing what they reputed to be leaked photos of the 2010 VFR1200 from Honda.
We, like many others, we skeptical of this news, both in part [...]

NCR Corse Millona One Shot: Air-Cooled Desmo Fun

Based off the air-cooled Ducati 1100cc motor, NCR Corse has made a track bike worthy of multiple droolings. Named the Millona, the bike tips the scales at 275lbs, and puts out 121hp in its 1200cc form (at 1100cc the bike makes 116hp).

New Honda VFR Confirmed for Spring 2010 Delivery, Fall 2009 Unveiling

We’ve got an update on Honda’s hotly-anticipated new V4-powered bike. It has been confirmed by Honda’s Senior Managing Director, Shigeru Takagi, that the new VFR will be seen in its finished form sometime this Fall, and will be in dealer showrooms next Spring.
The VFR1200, as you might have guessed from its name, will be a 1200cc [...]

Rumor: James Toseland back to World Superbike?

Silly season continues here at Asphalt & Rubber. Next up on the rumormill is James Toseland, who is rumored to be looking at a return to World Superbike, possibly with the Alstare Suzuki team.

Last Two Laps of MotoGP at Catalunya on Video

WARNING: Spoilers ahead if you click play.
Source: Rumblestrip.net

MotoGP: Epic Racing in Catalunya

With a tenth of a second separating Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi in yesterday’s qualifying, the Catalan GP was shaping up to be a MotoGP race worth watching. Adding to the intrigue was a course that is especially demanding on tires, and a heat wave that was sure to make the rubber selection ever more [...]

Honda EVO 6 Supernaked Concept is a Go

According to the Spanish news site Solomoto, Honda is about to launch a bike based off their EVO 6 concept. The EVO 6 debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007 as Hondas stab at making a hypermotard built off the Goldwing 1800cc motor.

Norton Rotary a No Show at IoM TT – Parades Instead

The 2009 Isle of Man TT was to be the return of Norton motorcycles to the island and its Mountain Course. It has been 16 years since the British manufacturer raced the city streets of the Isle, and we eagerly awaited their return to the TT, and the showing of their rotary motor powered NRV [...]

MotoCzysz Pulls the Old Switcheroo on Race Day?

We should begin this article with a preface. The following information is comprised of facts, and in some cases, where noted ,substantiated rumor. However, the inferences drawn, when looking at all these instances as being correlated events, are purely our own here at A&R, and should therefore be taken as fanciful speculation on our parts, but none-the-less [...]

The 4 Million Dollar Ducati Track Day

Posted Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 @ 7:49 pm, by Jenny GunADD COMMENTS

The 4 Million Dollar Ducati Track Day ducati desmosedici rr 560x420

Donington Park recently played host to 45 Ducati Desmosedici RR owners, as they spent an exclusive track day courtesy of Ducati UK. The video of the bikes starting their session is after the jump, but we’re trying to decide what’s more impressive: the sound the bikes make as they leave, or the fact there’s nearly $4 million of machinery going by without an umbrella girl in sight.

Rossi: 100 Wins by the Numbers

Posted Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 @ 9:37 am, by Jenny GunADD COMMENTS

Rossi: 100 Wins by the Numbers Valentino Rossi Assen 100 wins 560x401

If you didn’t know it by now, let us spoil the surprise from this last weekend’s Dutch GP for you: Rossi has claimed his 100th victory. With a century of wins under his belt, Rossi is only the second rider to achieve such a feat, and along that journey, an impressive array of statistics can be compiled.

Dorna Sports has compiled a list of Valentino’s accomplishments, which really showcases what a monumental rider the Italian is, and begs the question, will a rider every be able to fill the shoes he’ll leave behind? Continue reading for a comprehensive breakdown.

Laguna Seca a No Show for Two Riders Already Mika Kallio Pramac Ducati 560x401

The Red Bull Grand Prix at Laguna Seca is set to go this July 4th weekend, but already the race is two racers short, despite the fact that not a single GP bike has taken to the track yet. Two resident MotoGP rookies, Mika Kallio and Yuki Takahashi, will both miss the US GP, due to medical related issues.

90hp Supercharged/NOS Cagiva Mito to Rival the Desmosedici RR big scorpionperformance03 560x372

In its stock form, the Cagiva Mito is not the most outlandish motorcycle every created. It boasts only a tiny 125cc motor, that makes barely 15hp. But when Simone Barbagallo got his on an unsuspecting Mito, the result was something quite the opposite of ordinary.

Barbagallo has increased the little elephants peak power to 90hp by adding a supercharger and NOS system to the donor bike. Not willing to call it quits, he then proceeded to bore out the motor 200cc’s. With almost no stock part left to be replaced, the result is what Simone calls, the Scorpion Performance, and he’d be willing to part with it for $55,000.

KTM Offers Factory Race Tuning to Regular Joes

Posted Monday, June 29th, 2009 @ 5:54 pm, by Jenny GunADD COMMENTS

KTM Offers Factory Race Tuning to Regular Joes KTM XC woods race 560x420

While not exactly “street bike” news, we thought the A&R readership would find this latest press release from KTM interesting nonetheless.

KTM owners of current  SX, XC, XC-W, and EXC model dirt bikes can now have their motorcycles tuned by KTM factory technicians to the exact same specifications as the KTM factory supported race bikes.

Shop ToBeFast.com

Dunlop to be Single Tire Supplier for Moto2

Posted Monday, June 29th, 2009 @ 3:56 am, by Jenny Gun1 COMMENT

Dunlop to be Single Tire Supplier for Moto2 Moto2 lap Assen MotoGP 560x401

The Gran Prix Commission, which consists of the FIM, Dorna Sports, the IRTA (satellite teams), and MSMA (bike manufacturers), met while in Assen this weekend and have announced several new rules to the MotoGP and Moto2 series for 2010.

Most notably is the the single-tire rule that will be adopted for the inaugural Moto2 season, and that Dunlop will be the provider for all the tires in that series.

WSBK: Race 2 at Donington Park Ends with a Nearly Fractured Vertebrae Ben Spies WSBK Race 2 Donington Park 560x332

If the close racing of Race 1 wasn’t enough drama for the fans at Donington Park, Race 2 provided it in full. Another breakaway start, and a couple key crashes, lead to a shake up in the finishing results, and one rider was rushed off to the hospital for a suspected fractured vertabrae that might change the course of the season. Continue reading for spoilers.

WSBK: Race 1 at Donington Park Decided by Fuel Spies Biaggi WSBK Donington Park 560x299

World Superbike came to Donington Park this weekend, and in Race 1 three riders broke away from the pack at blistering speed. With only two riders capable of pushing further, it looked like the race victory would be decided on the very last lap. Coming into the last few corners, a fuel issue upset what could have been a great finish. Continue reading for the spoilers.

Triumph Daytona 1200 in Legos

Posted Sunday, June 28th, 2009 @ 9:47 am, by Jenny GunADD COMMENTS

Triumph Daytona 1200 in Legos Triumph Daytona 1200 Legos 560x349

We love Legos here at A&R. We also happen to love motorcycles (if you haven’t noticed). Full-size motorcycles made out of legos? My mind just blew up, the detail on this bike is amazing. Video after the jump.

WSBK: Superpole Come Back at Donington Park Max Biaggi WSBK Superpole Donington Park 560x371

Don’t call it a come back, but Ben Spies resumes his Superpole dominance with his 8th Superpole victory out of 9 races so far this season. Showing himself to be a master of timing, Spies finished his final run right before a light rain began to fall on the track, which prevented the other riders from answer back on his time.