The competitors for the 91st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb have just concluded a two-day tire test at the Colorado road course, and it should perhaps come as no surprise that our boy Carlin Dunne has posted the outright fastest lap for a motorcycle during the tire test (the Santa Barbara native set the outright two-wheeled course record last year on his Ducati Multistrada 1200 S). What is surprising about Carlin’s result at the tire test is that he was on the Lightning Motorcycles electric superbike. That’s right, the fastest bike so far for 2013′s Race to the Clouds is a 200+ hp electric superbike that is refueled with solar energy. Petrol heads, eat your heart out.
Talking to the Indy Star, Mark Miles (CEO of Hulman & Co, the parent company to Indianapolis Motor Speedway) has put some doubt into the historic venue’s commitment to host the MotoGP Championship. Having a contract to run the race through the 2014 season, Miles said that IMS might opt-out of the final year in its agreement with Dorna (IMS apparently has this option for a brief window after the 2013 Indianapolis GP). However while the news has focused so far on IMS’s ability to opt-out, both Dorna and Indianapolis Motor Speedway have options in their contract to go through with the 2014 round, and with a bevy of variables in the air, we may or may not see three American GP rounds next year.
Surprise! America will be getting a 847cc three-cylinder naked bike for the 2014 model year, the 2014 Yamaha FZ-09. Replacing the Yamaha FZ8 in the Japanese company’s line-up, the FZ-09 is the first motorcycle from the tuning fork brand to sport the Yamaha’s new line of three-cylinder engines. The Yamaha FZ-09 comes about as the MIC is reporting its second-consecutive year of growth in the 751+cc sport bike segment, as well as increase in commuter riding over short-distance sport riding. With those trends in mind, Yamaha has punched out the displacement on its middleweight naked bike, and focused on giving riders a comfortable, yet stout, motorcycle. Priced at $7,990 MSRP, we think Yamaha hit the nail pretty much on the head with this one.
In the past few years I’ve come to believe that, while superior physical differences (their reflexes and fine motor skills) are significant, it’s the mental differences that are the most interesting. I suppose anyone who has ridden a motorcycle even a bit beyond one’s comfort zone can appreciate some part of the physical aspect of riding a racing bike. For most of us, even the speed of racers in local events is impressive compared to our street riding. While the skills with throttle, brakes, and balance are on a level similar to the best athletes in other sports, I think that what really sets motorcycle racers apart is their ability to overcome fear.
The progress in the last five years on electric motorcycles has been astounding. Taking their first laps around the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, a 87.434 mph pace was the best an electric motorcycle could do at the prestigious road race in 2009 — a pace that was on par with the 50cc record set in 1971. In just five years after the first laps were taken by electric motorcycles at Snaefell, these machines have grown their average lap speeds by over 20 mph at the TT Zero race, setting a new record of 109.675 mph in 2013, and boasting a rate of improvement of roughly 5 mph each year since 2009. If hitting 142.2 mph down the Sulby Straight speed trap wasn’t further proof of the speeds these bikes are achieving, maybe some visual evidence will help support the notion.
Darius Glover is a dirt bike racer. Like you and me, he lives to ride, and when he is on two-wheels he feels the freedom that only other motorcyclists can truly understand. The thing is though, Darius is paralyzed from the waist down. Where others would give up their dreams and this sport, Darius at the age of 15 instead pushed onward. No pity parties, no excuses, just simply a daily example of where there is a will, there is a way, and a reminder that you can achieve anything that you put your mind to. It’s hard not to get a bit choked up listening to Darius tell his story, but you walk away feeling uplifted after feeling his attitude come across the screen.
Any race where 1,500 riders start, 500 qualify, and only 14 finish, has got to be an epic competition, and considering the fact that the Erzberg Rodeo starts in the excavation pit of an Austrian mine…well, it takes a special rider to be enticed by such an event. One such special rider is Graham Jarvis, who was the first of the fourteen men to reach the 20th and final checkpoint. Taking 2 hours and 52 seconds to complete the course, Jarvis made the 2013 Erzberg Rodeo look downright easy. However, with one look at the race-day conditions from this past weekend, we know it was anything but.
While normally, MotoGP fans never get enough of seeing Valentino Rossi on TV, there is one shot they would (for the most part) gladly be spared. As he leaves the pits, Rossi stands on the footpegs, and pulls his leathers from between his buttocks, before sitting back down again and leaving. These rituals – part useful limbering up, part invocation of Lady Luck – are something many riders perform, in their attempt to exert control over themselves, and over their environment. In a fascinating press release – by far the most interesting we have received in many months – the Aspar team today provided a discussion and explanation of what riders are trying to achieve through the use of these rituals.
Hoping to make it four wins in a row, it goes without saying that the MotoCzysz crew is working hard to close the gap to the John McGuinness and the Mugen team. However, having Team Principal Michael Czysz stuck back in the US, undergoing cancer treatments, must certainly add another level of motivation for the on-island MotoCzysz crew. Making time in their busy schedule, Asphalt & Rubber got to take some up-close photos of the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc. The most obvious changes made to the MotoCzysz E1pc for the 2013 TT Zero race are the use conventional suspension pieces. Of course, it’s not a completely standard suspension setup, as MotoCzysz has developed its own adjustable triple clamp that incorporates tunable lateral flex parameters.
Max Biaggi is to make a surprise return to riding a MotoGP machine. The former 250 and World Superbike champion will take a seat on Ben Spies’ Ignite Pramac Ducati as part of a one-day test at Mugello, as part of Ducati’s testing program, according to Italian site GPOne. Spies was scheduled to stay on at Mugello to take part in a two-day test, but after the first day of practice at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, it was clear to both Spies and Ducati that his shoulder was still too weak to ride a MotoGP machine. With work continuing on the Desmosedici, it was important for Ducati to get as much data as possible on their bike, and so Biaggi was offered the chance to ride the machine.
Boy if this isn’t the truth…..
haha pretty good spoof. I would challenge the reliability dig, tho. I have yet to see a crotch rocket w/ 100k+ on it…
diff bikes for diff purposes…
100K is childs play. Try a 93′ CBR900 with 240K and still running. Or an SV with 110K and climbing. I personally have seen several sport bikes with well in excess of 85K with zero maintenance and repair work besides forks and tires.
Sport bikes owned by responsible people, that do not abuse them, run forever but bikes owned by idiots and children will be destroyed in months, wheelies and crashes claim most of the sport bikes I’ve seen.
reality is setting in at HD, there comes a time when a push rod air cooled engine bike for $30k just wont cut it anymore, that reality is NOW, HD has lost its ENTIRE 25-35 yr old following, not many 25yr olds i know want to ride a 883 skirtster which is about all they can afford at that age, now a 146hp 1125r/cr, THATS what they ride!! not just my opinion, look at the last 3 quarter HD sales reports!! they are in the crapper!!! sucks to be HD
That’s funny as hell.
“This is the most reliable bike on our show room floor” Priceless, and oh-so-true.
F*#k H-D. Buell FTW.
Spoof: The Last Honest Harley-Davidson Ad – http://aspha.lt/11f #motorcycle
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Spoof: The Last Honest Harley-Davidson Ad – http://aspha.lt/11f #motorcycle
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Spoof: The Last Honest Harley-Davidson Ad – http://aspha.lt/11f #motorcycle
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Spoof: The Last Honest Harley-Davidson Ad http://aspha.lt/11f
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Spoof: The Last Honest Harley-Davidson Ad http://aspha.lt/11f (via @ScooterDiva) hahahaa
RT @Asphalt_Rubber Spoof: The Last Honest Harley-Davidson Ad – http://aspha.lt/11f #motorcycle
MY FIRST BIKE WAS A 1937 HD knucklehead 61cu.in. PAID $675.00 FOR IT IN 1969. RODE THAT BIKE FOR 20 YEARS, 4SPEED TANK SHIFT, HARDTAIL! PUT OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT, AND ONE DAY A GENTLEMAN OFFERED ME $16,000 FOR IT, AND I SOLD IT, WITH REGRETS. SINCE THEN I’VE OWNED 14 MORE HARLEYS, HAVE BEEN RIDING FOR 41 YEARS NOW. SURE I HAD MY BREAKDOWNS, BUT THEY WERE FIXED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, IT DIDN’T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO GET ME BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN, AND MOST OF THE TIME, THE FIX WAS CHEAP! , AND PEOPLE HELPED FOR FREE! GOING ON A TRIP WAS AN ADVENTURE, NOT A BORING HUMMMMMM, WE’LL BE THERE SOON. I’M A MOTORCYCLE ENTHUIAST, NEVER BAD MOUTHED IMPORT BIKE RIDERS, ” AND I AM BEING POLITE”, BUT THEY ALWAYS BAD MOUTHED THE HARLEYS, WHY IS THAT? IS IT BECAUSE AFTER 20 YEARS OF OWNING A IMPORT BIKE YOU WERE LUCKY IF YOU GOT $400.00 FOR IT , IF IT STILL RAN? MY 37 HD IS STILL RUNNING, AND TODAY IT IS WORTH AROUND $25 TO $35,000 DOLLARS! YOU WILL NEVER SEE THAT IN IMPORT BIKES, IN YOUR LIFETIME. YOU SEE THERE ARE BIKERS, AND THEN THERE ARE REAL BIKERS, YOU ARE PROBABLY TOO YOUNG TO KNOW THE REAL DIFFERENCE, AND I REALLY DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO EDUCATE YOU. PLUS I AM PROUD TO BUY AN AMERICAN MACHINE, MADE BY FELLOW AMERICAN WORKERS, AND SUPPORT THEM AND OUR COUNTRYS ECONOMY, NOT SENDING MY MONEY TO SUPPORT A FOREIGN COUNTRY, AND THEIR WORKERS, WHILE OUR OWN ECONOMY IS AT STAKE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE AMERICANS, AND THEN THERE ARE REAL AMERICANS, ANOTHER THING I DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO EDUCATE YOU ABOUT. EVEN IF THOSE IMPORTS WERE BETTER, I WOULD STILL SUPPORT MY COUNTRY AND IT’S WORKERS, AND I ALWAYS WILL, YOU WERE PROBABLY BUSY PLAYING PAC- MAN , WHEN IT WAS TIME TO LEARN ABOUT ” AMERICA “, AND ” UNITED WE STAND “. THANKS TO ALL YOU IMPORT BUYERS, YOU HAVE HELPED SELL OUT YOUR OWN COUNTRY, AMERICAN WORKERS AND JOBS AND INDUSTRY HERE. HOPE YOU FEEL REAL PROUD DRIVING THAT IMPORT , AFTER ALL ,I AM SURE IT GETS YOU ALOT OF ATTENTION, MAKES ONE HELL OF LOUD GROUND SHAKING RUMBLE, HAS GREAT LOOKING BABES WANTING TO GO FOR A RIDE ON IT, AND EVEN THE OLD, OLD, OLD, OLD, PEOPLE COME UP TO YOU AN ADMIRE YOUR MACHINE, AND START TELLING YOU ABOUT THERE RIDING TRIPS AND MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES IN THEIR YOUNGER DAYS, WOW, SOUNDS JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME WHEN I RIDE MY OLD HARLEY……
Dude,
Try inserting some paragraphs, line breaks, or some other way to break up that wall of text.
Holy smokes Sam! Whew. Where to start? Well, first with caps lock, yours is on. Here is a great link for capitalization rules http://www.libraryonline.com/default.asp?pID=48 I’m not touching the rest of it, I’ll just say therapy is a good option for you, lots of it. Then maybe another (maybe a 1st?) trip through high school to brush up on your writing skills. Then, maybe you should check the prices on vintage imports. Many of those Ducs, Hondas, BMW, MV Agustas, etc. go for many, many times what they went for new. Have you seen those ’70′s Honda CBs and what they get for those? A bit more than your average ’70′s AMF Harley, if you can find one running.
Urgh. formatting aside, I’d settle for just turning the caps lock off. It’s kinda funny, the caps lock personifies the obnoxiously loud personality that apparently comes packaged with a Harley Davidson purchase. It started off well, but quickly deteriorated to traditional mix of “Buy American”, “I bought a Harley for attention”, and “I bought it to be part of a clicke”. The memories he holds dear can be had on any bike, it doesn’t need a Harley Davidson logo and price tag. Riding is about the journey, not bragging rights and recognition. Harley has absolutley no bikes targeted at the entry level buyers. They don’t care about spreading the joy of riding to new riders, they’re simply banking on the exclusivity of their little club, which ironically is only exclusive in terms of money, not skill or passion. This cannot be any more evident than in the R&D department, if they even have one. If they cared about riders, they’d make improvements to their design to enhance the ride.
His paragraph starts off claiming he respects all riders, then quickly deteriorates to how he is exclusive and superior to the import riders. I’m happy that his bike is now worth $30k, but that’s not why I chose my bike. I chose my bike based upon power, handling, reliability, looks, comfort, and most importantly, price. I don’t view it as an investment, it’s meant to be enjoyed. I simply wouldn’t enjoy something that is rated lowest in every category yet highest in price. I thought the joy of riding, was riding? As such, I cannot choose a bike based upon recognition and exclusivity alone, and call myself a rider in the mirror. There’s no recognition riding a Buell, as you won’t even see me. I’m not cruising down mainstreet, I’m taking the twisties.
Nothing against Harley riders, but they need to learn how to respect the Jap and Euro bikes (and maybe Buells). I’m tired of not getting the wave when I pass one, because I didn’t buy his brand. Different tastes, still riders. They really can’t throw stones claiming we don’t love the road, because on paper we’re the true riders.
Ride safe everyone. May all your bikes reach the ripe age of 70. All the Gear, All the Time in case they don’t.
Fuggin' HYSTERICAL (and a touch sad). Got to love some Harley ribbing: http://bit.ly/97rvDr
Real good take on Harley Davidson. Harley needs to spend some money on R&D and not a new line of belt buckles and t shirts. I laugh every time I see some sucker riding his new out of date Harley. Even if I was interested in buying a Harley I sure would not buy a new one. The newspapers are full of used Harley’s selling at low prices. All of them are “low miles”. It seems the seller found out what he bought and now he wants to get rid of it at any price. A Harley is your basic “show off” bike. Take the muffler off, dress up like a pirate and ride around town making a lot of noise on your slow Harley trying to impress people. Actually, when people see those morons on Harleys with no mufflers they are thinking or saying “what a stupid moron”.
Hey Sam Fonte, couple of years ago I was itching to get a new bike. “Well” I thought, “should I get this cool looking and RED Ducati Hypermotard, or maybe support my country and its workers?” Well, like you mentioned, I went ahead and supported the American brand. Yep, got myself a Buell Ulysses and love it to death. What does Harley go and do? They stab Erik in the back, the dumb cowards. Buells were (are) the best bikes Harley ever produced. I just don’t understand their decision and have vowed to NEVER again set foot in a Harley shop, much less spend one cent of my money there. However, if and when Erik builds more Buells for the public I will be excited as hell to support American workers again. Hell, I might even apply for a job. Harley (and willi g.) can kiss my Hispanic ass!!!!!! Oh, and I’m getting one of those new CD’s of Erik and the Thunderbolts to support American made music.
Lol, that’s great! A certain irony that it was posted by Buell riders;)
I wish Harley would take their V Rod engine and use it on the whole fleet. keep a couple retro models for the die hard’s, but just move on.
Update and expand their line up, to include technology. wouldn’t hurt to come out with a couple new models for the entry level bikers either.
Please Harley, the whole country is begging!
Sam had 1 bike for 20 years, and a different bike on average every 18 months since..lol
and they broke down on him, holy taco’s!!!
Mr Fonte I have 10 bikes all 1000cc&up . & different brands including Harelys best Jims 131ci engine with roller rockers cams ect ect best of the best . Also Buells 1125 the the cyclone and again a XB12 firebolt with the best available parts . …BUT.. even then the european and Japanese products will outlast any harley product hands down . The Metalurgy might be the same qualityas the Jap/euro products but being 1950s technology beating itself to death with recipricating mass fighting itself internally with every rotation of the crank, the Harley engine will never hold up as well as the smooth running machines the competition has to offer. A person doesnt have to have an engineering degree to figure this out just not be in denial that harley is what it is.. an old tech behind the times dinosaur that has charm but not the longevity of all the other brands on the market .
I wish that was played in the board room at harley davidson,my be then they would wake up to the fact it’s not 1950.(PS)They for got about the druggy 2000 tail bone crusher bike that harley davidson has.
Yeah, that’s good
I own a 1996 S2T Buell and it has been the best all around bike I have ridden to date. I also have a 2006 VRSCR Streetrod. Harley should slam this motor in a touring machine and go watercooled. Traditionalists will catch on to the new model when it blows by their aircooled V twin. I would never buy a traditional V twin from Harley and neither should you. There are so many other great bikes out there now!