Asphalt & Rubber

The BMW S1000RR Does the Tablecloth Trick

Remember when Mr. Wizard explained Newton’s First Law of Motion by setting a table and whipping the tablecloth out from underneath all the cups, plates, and utensils? We won’t spoil the outcome for you, but here’s a hint: that Newton fellow was onto something. Applying some physics of the their own, BMW has a video which takes the tablecloth trick to its next logical motorcycling related progression. Check it out after the jump.

AMA Pro Racing Adds AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Spec Racing Series

You may remember that six month’s ago we published a rumor that AMA Pro Racing was considering the idea of adding a Harley-Davidson XR1200 spec racing class. Today, that rumor became reality as AMA Pro Racing announced at the Daytona Bike Week that it would be adding the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series to its calendar. The painful press release and our colorful commentary after the jump.

Video: Women Riders of the FIM

Usually when you see a video of lovely lady standing next to a motorcycle at an FIM sanctioned event, she’s holding an umbrella. Well the FIM is hoping to change that perception a bit, and is serving up this video with its resident ladies of motorcycling talking about what they do best. Featuring Leslie Porterfield (FIM World LSR Holder), Livia Lancelot (FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion) and Laia Sanz (FIM Women’s Trial World Champion), the video is a part of the new FIM campaign called “Women Ride” that hopes to encourage more femme fatal in our two-wheeled sport.

Brit Brothers Chicane Saddle: A Roller Seat Design That Dampens a High-Side

When was the last time you saw someone seriously rethink how a motorcycle seat functions and operates? To our knowledge this design from Brit Brothers is the first real attempt to rethink what our butts have known all along. With its eye catching design, and roller-style seat, Brit Bros says their seat has numerous benefits over your standard foam wrapped in vinyl garden variety seat, including the ability to help tame a high-side crash.

Ducati Desmosedici RR Trike Concept

Nicolas Petit, a 25 year old Frenchman who lives just outside of Paris, is a motorcycle mechanic by day, and motorcycle sketcher by night. With already an impressive resume of motorcycle design sketches and renders to his name, we think Nicolas can add one more stunning example to the list: the Ducati Desmosedici RR Trike concept. We’re not huge fans of trikes here at A&R, but when you base your concept off one of the most powerful streetbikes ever created, it certainly catches our attention.

Hands on with the MotoCzysz Battery Packs

By now you’ve surely read about MotoCzysz’s new eDD and it’s “suitcase” chassis design. Recently Asphalt & Rubber got a chance to take a peak into the Portland, Oregon based company’s service bay and take a closer look at the 2009 E1pc D1g1tal Superbike, with a specific interest in its quick-release swappable batteries and unique chassis design. We’ll be covering these innovations in a two-part series, starting today with a never before seen look at the MotoCzysz battery packs. More and photos from Peter Lombardi Kustom Photography after the jump.

Video: When Multistradas Meet Piano Bars

Ever wonder what great action footage of the 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 would be like if you set it to the music commonly found in a piano bar? Well never fear, Ducati has the answer for you. Watch the Multistrada 1200 take on four different riding situations without missing a beat. Beat! Get it! Uggh…we don’t get paid enough for this. Video after the jump.

MotoCzysz Electric D1g1tal Dr1ve: More Than Just a Glimpse into the 2010 E1pc Superbike

Today MotoCzysz is announcing its Electric D1g1tal Dr1ve (eDD), better known to us as “the suitcase”, which is essentially the housing for the E1pc’s proprietary controller, motor, and batteries. MotoCzysz will be using the eDD on their 2010 E1pc D1g1tal Superbike, and intends on letting other teams use the suitcase as well, helping fill the grid at electric motorcycle races.

This announcement is important on a variety of levels, and most electric motorcycling enthusiasts will be interested to get their first glimpse at technology beind Michael Czysz’s 2010 E1pc D1g1tal Superbike, which will for sure be at the TT Zero race at the Isle of Man this year. The suitcase contains MotoCzysz proprietary battery, motor, and controller designs, which are setting the bar higher in electric motorcycle racing.

Erik Buell Racing 1190RR: 185hp AMA/WSBK Spec’d

Erik Buell Racing has just updated its website, and releasd the first real clear shot of what the EBR 1190RR will look like it in its racing form. With 185hp being made at the rear-wheel (according to the optimistic DynoJet dynamometer), the EBR 1190RR sits at the top of the Buell totem poll.

Based off the 1125R chassis, the 1190RR is virtually anorexic, dropping 30lbs off the AMA Daytona Superbike racing machine, while still bumping up displacement by 65cc’s. With 93lb•ft of torque on hand at 9,500 RPM, the EBR 1190RR is sure to sling your eye balls into the back of your head…if you can find a racing series to race it in.

MotoCzysz C1 Makes More Than A Cameo in “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”

“Greed, for lack of a better word…is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms: greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge, has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save motorcycling, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.”

SEMA: Mavizen TTX02 Unveiled – KTM RC8 Sourced Chassis, 130 MPH Top Speed, & Built-in Web Server with WiFi Connection [UPDATED]

Tue 11/03/2009 @ 8:49 pm, by Jenny Gun

Home » Bikes » SEMA: Mavizen TTX02 Unveiled – KTM RC8 Sourced Chassis, 130 MPH Top Speed, & Built-in Web Server with WiFi Connection [UPDATED]

SEMA: Mavizen TTX02 Unveiled   KTM RC8 Sourced Chassis, 130 MPH Top Speed, & Built in Web Server with WiFi Connection [UPDATED] Mavizen TTX02 KTM RC8 electric motorcycle 560x374

Mavizen has unveiled their TTX02 electric race bike today at SEMA, and as we suspected surrounding the Agni powerplant is a sourced KTM RC8 chassis.

Over-shadowing the 130mph top speed, is the fact that each TTX02 comes with dedicated IP access, on-board web server, and connectivity to a wifi network. A such, each TTX02 can be connected to via a wifi enabled laptop. More on that and videos after the jump.

Mavizen is calling the TTX02 a “laptop on wheels”, signaling their approach to electric motorcycles via a consumer electronics perspective. According to Azhar Hussain, TTXGP founder and entrepreneur, the consumer electronics perspective comes from the notion that “we are living in a click culture and connectivity is the key, across the board. Our approach was to find how we could make a laptop go racing. We think electric vehicles have more in common with consumer electronics than traditional automotive.”

The consumer electronic notion isn’t exactly a new concept, as Brammo and other manufacturers have taken the same stance in their business plans, but the TTX02 is interesting because it is the first electric motorcycle we’ve seen that incorporates wifi connectivity and an on-board web interface. As Hussain explains, ”by building on the open standards of the internet and the PC, we unlock the creativity and lower the costs of innovation for teams, enthusiasts and riders. TTX02 is a development platform that invites the potential for success previously seen in electronic hardware and software, into the automotive industry. We need to pick up the pace of innovation and make it real fast; TTX02 is a key marker in that journey.”

Again, the idea of motorcycles as a platform isn’t something new to this budding industry, but if nothing else it shows validity in the concept. The TTX02 comes with some other added street-cred, as it is based off the TTXGP winning bike: the Agni X01.

Mavizen, which is the TTXGP’s manufacturing arm, is being provided a set of RC8 chassis by KTM (editor’s note: although, in their press release Mavizen is very careful not to mention the words KTM and RC8, which leads to some interesting conclusions). Mavizen plans on offering a limited number of TTX02’s to potential EV racing participants, which will give them a bike that they can develop into a competitive and unique machine. As Hussain explains:

“The limited production bike, the Mavizen TTX02, gives potential participants a chance to acquire a bike that they can develop themselves to make it competitive and unique to them. Racing is brutal but at least with the Mavizen TTX02, the racers can start with a proven platform. Mavizen is about growing the grid by being an enabler by those who want to take part.”

The Mavizen TTX02 uses the rolling chassis of an FIM homologated and road legal bike. A world class manufacturer is supporting Mavizen by supplying direct from the factory, frames ready to be worked over by the Mavizen engineers.

Every owner will have the option to apply to their national vehicle licensing agency under various single vehicle type approval regimes. The Mavizen TTX02 will be available for delivery in Q1 of 2010, with a limited production of 50 units. Target price for complete bike with a Circuit Pack is £25,000. This will be a complete platform to take part in any national or FIM championship (editor’s note: *cough* TTXGP *cough*). Interested parties can express their interest at mavizen.com.

Comment:

  1. tagger says:

    Uhg, wifi, laptop? who cares?
    The idea that eM/C’s are consumer electronics needs to have a power cord wrapped around its neck and drug around the entire isle of man.
    I mean, I get it, the tech isn’t quite able to wow yet. Hanging shiny baubles on it isn’t going to change that. I am pretty sure, with some duct tape and bailing wire, I could attach a laptop to my BMW, with wifi!

    “Yeah, that last turn a pop-up hit me, and I missed the exit”

    They took a $12k bike with 150hp+(?) and made it cost 4 times as much with 1/3 the power. There is nothing wrong with that(there might be something wrong with that), but don’t tell me I need an active laptop on a motorcycle.
    I don’t, no one does. Flying an airplane 150 miles off corse, because of laptop fiddling is sort of amusing. Flying a motorcycle off corse, because of laptop fiddling, is just plain broken spine, no amusing about it.

  2. Jim Goodlett says:

    Another all electro manufacturer bringing smart design to markets (w/partners!!) – Check more on Mavizen Motorcycles–> http://bit.ly/klGLw

  3. This motorcycle has wifi and a a webserver built-in. And goes 130MPH. http://bit.ly/WyfnD

  4. Luy T. says:

    With an SSD drive hopefully: RT @routerguy: This motorcycle has wifi and a a webserver built-in. And goes 130MPH. http://bit.ly/WyfnD

  5. dusting says:

    RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Help A&R out, and Digg this up! – http://bit.ly/22WIJS #digg #mavizen #ev #motorcycles test http://twitpic.com/okmkb

  6. RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Help A&R out, and Digg this up! – http://bit.ly/22WIJS #digg #mavizen #ev #motorcycles test.. http://bit.ly/1M4z8P

  7. John Arundel says:

    Worried that your web server isn't fast enough? This one does 130mph (via @routerguy) http://bit.ly/WyfnD

  8. Sponsor wanted…(41.300$)…http://tinyurl.com/yz4m3aq

  9. arix chen says:

    真正的移動平台,有獨立IP、WiFi連線、USB、web server、由Linux驅動、時速達130MPH的電動摩托車 TTX02 http://bit.ly/2cf6Zp

  10. キム兄 says:

    RT @Asphalt_Rubber SEMA: Mavizen TTX02 Unveiled – KTM RC8 Sourced Chassis & 130 MPH Top Speed http://bit.ly/22WIJS

  11. "Mavizen TTX02 electric motorcycle – 130 MPH Top Speed, Built-in Web Server w/ WiFi" (http://twitthis.com/w7moas)

  12. Phenix_Rider says:

    I would bet that “laptop fiddling” is more akin to tuning a Power Commander in the garage- not surfing the internet on the road. Still, all I need a motorcycle to do is run, turn, lean, and brake- well (and look good). Things are getting way too smart for my taste.

  13. Speedzter says:

    This is fantastic. How do I get a dealership? I love the whole concept. I can hardly wait to get one…..but not at $40,000 +! The price is going to have to be reasonable.

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