Q&A: Yukio Kagayama Talks About the Upcoming Suzuka 8-Hour with Kevin Schwantz & Noriyuki Haga

In case you missed the story last week, Kevin Schwantz is preparing to race in this year’s Suzuka 8-Hour endurance race. For the race, Schwantz will be riding on a team formed by Yukio Kagayama, who in addition to having raced in the MotoGP, World Superbike, and British Superbike Championships, is also a previous Suzuka 8-Hour winner with the Suzuki Endurance Race Team (also joining the three-rider team Noriyuki “Nitro” Haga). Releasing a Q&A about his team’s Suzuka 8-Hour entry, Kagayama-san walks us through how the team came together, what equipment the riders will use, and his outlook on the team’s competitiveness.

KTM RC4 Concept by Luca Bar Design

A single-cylinder hooligan-maker, the KTM 690 Duke is 330 lbs (curbside without fuel) and 67hp of two-wheeled fun, and we hope that the Austrians bring the KTM 690 Duke R our way as well. While we are on the topic of things missing from KTM’s American line-up, a decent supersport is painfully obvious, yet we can’t see the folks at KTM following the paths of other brands. That’s where our friend Luca Bar comes to mind with his latest concept: the KTM RC4. Using the KTM 690 Duke platform and its LC4 engine, Bar has designed a super-single full-fairing sport bike that takes the Austrian company’s “Ready to Race” DNA and applies it to an idea that is not all that disimilar to the Ducati Supermono.

Q&A: Claudio Domenicali Talks Frameless Chassis, Sacred Cows, & The Future for Ducati

When I sat down with Claudio Domenicali at the Ducati 1199 Panigale R launch, the now-CEO of Ducati Motor Holding was still just the General Manager of the Italian motorcycle company. Four weeks after our interview though, Gabriele del Torchio would leave Ducati for Alitalia; and Domenicali, a 21-year veteran of both the racing and production departments of Ducati, would take his place at the top of Italy’s most prestigious motorcycle brand. After reading our interview from Austin, Texas after the jump, I think you will agree too.

Is Yamaha Using A Seamless Gearbox? The Data Says No

That Yamaha is working on a seamless gearbox is no secret, with Yamaha’s test riders currently racking up the kilometers around tracks in Japan. Recently, however, Spanish magazine SoloMoto published an article suggesting that Yamaha has already been using its new seamless gearbox since the beginning of the season. My own enquiries to check whether Yamaha was using a seamless gearbox or not always received the same answer: no, Yamaha is not using the seamless gearbox. To test this denial, I went out to the side of the track on Friday morning at Jerez to record the bikes as they went by.

OCC Coming Back to TV? — Universe Collapses in on Self

After a very public father/son break-up between Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr., a steroid-ring scandal involving Paul Sr., and finally a bankruptcy proceeding, it appears that Orange County Choppers is the impossible to kill multi-headed hydra of doom that we all knew it was, as the custom chopper shop is once again headed to the small screen and recruiting some talent, on and off the show. Looking for “someone who will work alongside Paul Senior, running the shop and helping build some of the best custom motorcycles in the world,” OCC says it will be back on television with a new show later this month. Please for the love of god, will someone give this man the attention he craves so dearly??! Or, just shoot us in the face.

Alstare Superbike Concept by Team Alstare

We love us some concept bikes here at Asphalt & Rubber, and we have featured more than a few pieces of stunning design and imagination on our pages. Though, we can’t remember the last time one of these works of art were brought to us by a legitimate racing team, but that is what we have here with the Team Alstare Superbike Concept. A nod to the former Suzuki team’s return to the World Superbike Championship as the Ducati factory squad with Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini, Alstare has enlisted the help of designer Serge Rusak of Rusak Kreaktive Designworks to ink the shape of its futuristic Superbike concept, while Tryptik Studios handled the 3D modeling prowess.

Transcript: The Gay Question at Jerez

If you didn’t watch Thursday’s pre-event press conference for MotoGP at Jerez, it is worth a viewing right to the end (assuming you have a MotoGP.com account). Building off the news about the NBA’s Jason Collins coming out as gay in a self-written feature in Sport Illustrated, my good colleague David Emmett had the courage to inquire about the culture and acceptance of the MotoGP paddock for homosexual riders. For the sake of accuracy, after the jump is a full transcript of David’s question, as put to riders Cal Crutchlow, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez, Andrea Dovizioso, Stefan Bradl, and Scott Redding, as well as those riders’ responses to David’s inquiry.

2014 Suzuki GSV-R Spotted Again

News that Suzuki plans on returning to the MotoGP Championship in 2014 should be old information for dedicated Asphalt & Rubber readers, and the Japanese company’s inline-four race bike was already spotted doing test laps last year by the eager eyes at Cycle World. Well the American print-mag has another set of eyebrow-raising high-quality photos of the 2014 Suzuki GSV-R to mull over from the Motegi race track, along with some technical insights provided by the venerable Kevin Cameron.

BMW F800GS Adventure – Germany’s Middleweight ADV

A surprise addition to BMW Motorrad’s 2013 model line-up, zie Germans have announced a new middleweight adventure-tourer, the 2013 BMW F800GS Adventure. Like its larger predecessor, the BMW F800GS Adventure is a more travel-ready and off-road capable build of the recently updated BMW F800GS motorcycle. Featuring a larger windscreen, panniers, and a bigger fuel tank capacity (2.1 gallons larger, for a total of 6.3 gallons of fuel), the BMW F800GS Adventure keeps the same 85 hp, liquid-cooled, 798cc, parallel-twin engine found on the F800GS, as well as the same chassis configuration. Pricing in the US will be $13,550 for the base model BWM F800GS Adventure.

Kevin Schwantz Returns to Motorcycle Racing – Enters the Suzuka 8-Hours with Team Kagayama

Former 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz has certainly been in the news a bit these past few months, mostly for his involvement and falling out with the Circuit of the Americas and the Americas GP, but also more recently for his comments regarding Dani Pedrosa — we also sat down with Mr. Schwantz in Austin, and the Texan gave us some sobering insight into the future of American road racing. As if all that wasn’t enough, Schwantz is making a return to two-wheeled racing, and has entered the prestigious Suzuka 8-Hours endurance race with Team Kagayama racing alongside Noriyuki Haga and team owner Yukio Kagayama.

Officially Official: 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200

11/01/2010 @ 9:48 pm, by Jensen Beeler4 COMMENTS

Officially Official: 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 side 635x459

After first making the 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200′s owner’s manual available to Aprilia owners, then showing a photo of the Dorsoduro 1200 during Piaggio’s HQ launch in Milan, along with a subsequent video, Aprilia is now ready to officially tell us about its 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200. Available with Aprilia Traction Control (ATC) and anti-lock brakes (ABS) as an option, the Dorsoduro 1200 makes 130hp and 83 lbs•ft of torque with its 492lbs curb weight (a figure Aprilia conveniently leaves out of its press release). The maximoto to the Shiver’s street-naked, the Aprilia’s 1197cc liquid-cooled platform is under-powered and over-weight when compared to the other bikes in the 1200cc category.

While Aprilia positions the Dorsoduro as a maximotard, we’re not sure how the lack of umpf and extra heft will go over with the sporty crowd. With rumors of a Shiver 1200 still circling about, and an early glimpse of the Tuono V4R already showing a 162hp machine, we’re still not sure how this 1200cc street-only motard fits into Aprilia’s model line-up, and how it will differentiate itself to potential buyers.

At the heart of the 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 is Aprilia’s new 1197cc 90° v-twin motor. With ride-by-wire and a three-way user-selectable engine mapping, the Dorsoduro 1200 is a highly over-square power plant with its 106mm x 67.8mm bore and stroke. Dual-throttle bodies get the fuel into the cylinder, while a dual spark plug configuration ignites the hotness. Like its 750cc predecessor, the 1200′s motor has two intake and two exhaust valves.

The Dorsoduro 1200′s Sachs 43mm forks feature 6.3″ of fork travel, and both the forks and Sachs rear shock come standard with adjustable pre-load, compression, and rebound settings. Braking comes courtesy from the obligatory Brembo radial calipers up front, with a single-piston caliper in the rear. The optional ABS can be adjusted and turned off by the rider, with a dual-channel configuration allowing for the rear and front tires to be independently set. Along with the ABS comes the ATC system, which has three levels:

  • Level 1: for an extreme riding experience and maximum fun and adrenaline, when curbing the incredible power of the engine is the last thing on your mind.
  • Level 2: for total control in all terrain conditions and maximum thrill factor.
  • Level 3: ideal for tackling challenging conditions, such as slippery roads where grip is poor.

The 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 will come in either black or white paint schemes, pricing and availability hasn’t been announced yet.

2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 Technical Specifications:

Engine type: Aprilia four-stroke longitudinal 90° V-twin, liquid cooled, double overhead camshafts with mixed gear/chain timing system and four valves per cylinder.

Fuel: Unleaded petrol

Bore and stroke: 106 x 67.8mm

Total engine capacity: 1197 cc

Compression ratio: 12.0 ± 0.5: 1

Maximum power at crankshaft: 130 hp (96 kW) at 8,700 rpm

Maximum torque at crankshaft: 83 lbs.-ft. (115 Nm) at 7,200 rpm

Fuel system: Integrated engine management system. Injection system with triple map Ride by Wire throttle management: Sport (S), Touring (T), Rain (R)

Ignition: Digital electronic ignition integrated with injection system

Starter: Electric

Exhaust system: 100% stainless steel 2-into-2 exhaust system with dual catalytic converters and oxygen sensor

Alternator: 450 W/6000 rpm

Lubrication: Wet sump

Gearbox 6 speeds, drive ratio: 14/36, 17/32, 20/30, 22/28, 23/26, 24/25

Clutch: Multiplate wet clutch, hydraulically operated

Primary drive: Straight cut gears, drive ratio: 40/69

Secondary drive: Chain. Drive ratio: 16/40

Chassis: Modular tubular steel frame fastened to aluminium side plates by high strength bolts. Removable rear aluminium subframe

Front suspension: 43 mm Sachs upside-down front fork with fully adjustable compression and rebound damping and spring preload. Wheel travel 160 mm.

Rear suspension: Aluminium alloy swingarm - Piggy-back design Sachs hydraulic shock absorber with fully adjustable compression and rebound damping and spring preload. Wheel travel 155 mm.

Brakes Front: Dual 320 mm stainless steel floating discs. Brembo four-piston radial callipers. Metal braided brake hose.

Brakes rear : 240 mm stainless steel disc. Single piston Brembo calliper. Metal braided brake hose. Two channel Continental ABS with Aprilia Traction Control (ATC) (specific version)

Wheel rims: Aluminium alloy

Front: 3.50 X 17″ Rear: 6.00 x 17″

Tires: Radial tubeless tyres; front: 120/70 ZR 17; rear: 180/55 ZR 17

Dimensions: Max. length 2248 mm

Max. width: 925 mm (at outer edges of hand guards)

Max. height: 1205 mm (at instrument panel brow)

Saddle height: 870 mm

Wheelbase: 1528 mm

Trail: 118 mm

Steering angle: 27.3°

Tank: 15 liter (including 3.5 liter reserve)

Source: Aprilia

Comment:

  1. bikepilot says:

    This is the bike they should have made from the start. I hope its not too late to salvage the attempt. I would have liked to have seen a bit more fuel capacity. Lets hope the weight is competitive.

  2. Gorgeous, overweight and confused: Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 http://bit.ly/a1paHX

  3. Faster1 says:

    “lack of umph? that’s crazy!
    With 99 out of 100 people buying this bike for daily street fun, 130HP is more than enough for a few giggles. I’m sure that it will power wheelie it’s way into many hearts. Looks like a great bike and a viable alternative to the Ducati.

  4. MikeD says:

    One cool looking and fun to ride motard for sure…(^_^ ), Another nice replacement if something “BAD” where to suddenly happen to my beloved K3 SV1000N.