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.
Mmmmm, looks comfy – poor guy looks like Tron on acid. All of us over 5’6″ will prolly struggle with this one! Will look sweet when it’s done though (I just wish I was the same size as Stoner!)
Is that an underslung exhaust?? Hmmmm… I remember an American guy once put exhaust down there and everybody said WTF? Now they all do it. Even the almighty Ducati. Looks good, hope they keep it down there. And look at the ever growing circumference of the rotor too. The closer to the perimeter you get, the bigger Erik’s smile grows…. This one looks promising.
cant exactly claim ‘saw it here first’ when the photo you published is a photocopy from a magazine lol
Test rider is 5’11″ like me. Anyone over 6’0″ is in trouble on this bike!! Don’t buy it. its NOT for you.
it looks like an rsv4 to me
Something is strange about this rider setup, it looks as if the tank has a “launch angle” instead of a “square off” like a race bike and all ducati’s before had. Thats a huge move, seeing as every factory racebike puts a square off or more of one on their tanks even if its not on the production unit trim.
The other thing is I am questioning the height of the tank and if thats part of the camo, it simply looks to damm tall and the rear of the seat looks really high. Look at the clipons and draw a line back it seems in line with the seat, that would be a super aggressive riding position, no bike in stock trim does this OEM at the moment.
The bike is under heavy braking it seems, which again makes me wonder why both shots of 2 different bikes have this in common, to further distort the proportion and geometry I guess. Ether way some things are not as it seems with this bike, I look forward to seeing what they have tricked us with
From this image, I think the silhouette of the bike is quite cool. It reminds me of my 2007 R6 from the tank region back to the tail. I’m 5’9″ and I really enjoyed the ride position on the R6 (albeit hard on the neck on longer trips). I’m quite thrilled so far to say the least. My one fear, as with all Italian bikes, is the price. Hopefully they will go into production alongside a smaller engine formula (like the 1198, 1098 and 848). If there is a 848ish version of this bike that revs higher (say 16 – 17K redline) than its big brother, I’m definitely going to consider trading in my Yamaha.
Cheers.
IXIVI – I don’t see the brake discs getting bigger from the 1098/1198′s. From what I see in these first pics, these are the exactly same 330mm discs. And why should they get bigger? The 1198′s braking capability is almost overkill. OK, the Superquadrata will probably be a bit faster, but then again it will also be lighter, so the circle is closed. Besides, if you *really* need more stopping power, go for carbon front discs and you’re done! As for the exhaust, I really hope it doesn’t stay there (though, sadly, it probably will). The underseat Termignonis *cannot* be replaced.
Shereef – it will still be a V2. It highly unlikely it will rev as high as 16-17.000 rpm. That’s the whole point and character of this engine: constant power delivery from the bottom to the top. If you like to rev your engine to get the power out of it, you should stick with the Japanese inline fours.
@loki
The 20lb weight reduction Ducati keeps claiming is probably a direct result of getting rid of the dual under seat Termignonis. Under slung exhaust can trim a ton of fat.
@Johnathan
I agree and said the same thing: “Looks great, way to freaking small for me!”
Begs the question of how a print magazine beat a blog to this rumored motorcycle, no doubt. Anyway, on with the discussion of specs!
A print (Italian) magazine beat a blog because its a intentional leak not a spy shot
That’s an easy one Doug, spy photos are not accidents.
Looks like this bike is designed for short twerps. Seems Ducati has decided to continue their trend of turning its back on real men (i.e. Anyone over 6′)
The bike looks sweet. Tall riders will be fine on the bike. It will allow a tall rider to get his/her body out of the saddle.
My good friend is 6’6″ and rides a 996 on the street and races an 848. No problem no complaints.
My biggest concern with this bike is that it is modeled after the motoGP bike and they have been having significant issues with front end feel. Both Vale and Hayden have the same complaint and I am concerned that it is a design flaw that can not be adjusted out of the bike. I also hope that not too much torq is sacrificed in an effort to go after lofty HP numbers. The online 4′s are leaky Ducati is supposed to have a more linear power delivery with lots of grunt to drive the bike out of the turns.
Can’t wait to see it in person!
The bike looks sweet. Tall riders will be fine on the bike. It will allow a tall rider to get his/her body out of the saddle.
My good friend is 6’6″ and rides a 996 on the street and races an 848. No problem no complaints.
My biggest concern with this bike is that it is modeled after the motoGP bike and they have been having significant issues with front end feel. Both Vale and Hayden have the same complaint and I am concerned that it is a design flaw that can not be adjusted out of the bike. I also hope that not too much torq is sacrificed in an effort to go after lofty HP numbers. The inline 4′s are peaky Ducati is supposed to have a more linear power delivery with lots of grunt to drive the bike out of the turns.
Can’t wait to see it in person!