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.
wow… awesome bike with weird looking mirrors… look like they are functional this time :)
looking at this pic reminded me the first time I saw the 1098, I was really impressed (it was love at first site) but I can’t say the same thing on the 1199
What makes you so sure it’s got ABS? Those wheel speed rings would be used for the traction control (Not saying it doesn’t, there’s just not anything there saying that it does).
@ 2ndclass
U can just make out the abs ring through the wheel………but to honest it’s not much of a looker, like the easy to get to rear shock and I like the rear light.
I can’t weight to see its real whp at the dyno… Its hard to believe that ducati can pull that much power from a stock bike, 195 crank hp should be in the neighborhood of 175-180 whp…
AK…. I agree, those mirrors are fuggly, probably the ugliest I ever seen on sportbike.
I am very curious about the geometry of the rear shock and its effect on the overall geometry of the bike… I think ducati went out of its skin with guts by introducing a lot of new ideas , it looks like it’ll be either HIT or MISS , I hope it HITS this time.
i really like the agressive front and rear lights, but there are many things not very clean IMO…the exhaust loop, the position of the rear shock, the hole in the fairing on the left side, the fuel tank is not ‘attached’ to the fairing, etc etc
all in all not a bad looking bike, but a long way away from an instant classic…the design is just not pure enough, more so, it is actually very cluttered.
surely a fantastic riding bike, and a powerhouse, but the design is deffo not there.
Cluttered is a good descriptor–Too much design by engineers, nothing flows, there’s no overall ‘fit’.
I agree with frod and wreckah.
I own an 848, and remember falling in LOVE with the 1098 the minute I saw it. This, I’m not in love with. There are very cool elements, but on the whole it’s a bit of a mish mash.
Kind of a relief, for my finances! I’ll happily hang on to my 848 without being jealous of the new model. She’s fast enough for me anyway.
Ducati have done it again. It’s hard to be a true-blooded sportbike fan and not be attracted to their machines. Still, I want to see how their new chassis concept fairs in competition first before I make a final judgement call…
I’m really digging the looks though…
You know… it’s hard to tell everything, but I kind of like when bikes step out of the norm and drive a little function over design. I think just years and years of new plastics on the same kind of suspension, frame, etc does nothing for the future. That said, I also don’t want a great handling bike that is super ugly either. If the functions works on this bike, the years ahead will be making it look better IMHO.
As a naked bike fan, I am glad to see things exposed… just saying. Good Job Duc… let’s see if she runs stronger than her apparent looks are catching on…
Some pretty interesting comments made about the looks. I see nothing wrong with some of the bike being exposed and the lines on it such as the tank supposedly being unattached from the fairing. I think the bike is great looking and differentiates itself from anything else (especially Japanese sportbikes) which appeals to owning one. I actually like seeing the exhaust curl up and around, as it adds to the appeal of the bike. Seeing the bike in person will probably sway those that are not fond of it’s looks from these blurred photos alone. It sounds as if the bike should be quite a performer too.
I’m sorry … This just ain’t doing it for me. That friggin tank looks like a RED BLOB of an after-thought WHEN THE REST OF THE BIKE looks “kind-o-SHARP”… and the front for some reason looks HUGE, BMW K1200GT SLATE Fairing HUGE while the rear looks just too minimalistic.
Unbalanced, i think thats the word i was looking for here.
THE WHEELS , THE NASTY CHEESE LOOKING WHEELS , WHATS THIS ?! Are they seriously trying to copy Japan Inc and their NASTY 3 Spokes Staple ?! DUCATI, SERIOUSLY ?!
Maybe i just need to see GOOD PICTURES w/o a bunch of journos ALL OVER gropping and oogling the danm thing… LMAO.
So much that the Black Mules they had been using for testing look 10x better than this.
Im cool with all the “new tech” … I just don’t like the NASTY WRAPPING they used over it.
Ducati has been infected… so much for UNIQUE Italian Design.
Not to be too picky, if only they re-shape that NASTY BLOB of a gas tank the bike would like a gazillion times BETTER.
And to think that people had the nerve to BITCH and MOAN about the 999.
Looks at it now, the 999 is becoming a friggin classic, it has aged beautiflly if i don’t say so myself.
P.S: Sorry about the rant, LOL.
999 a classic…that’s funny.
Meeeh.
“Safe-don’t wanna risk-stuck in 916 headlight theme” AnyBrand superbike.
Tail looks nice though.
999 is way more interesting.
It has a much more utalitarian, generic look than most Ducatis past. I prefer this more “stripped down” appearance – it isn’t beautiful in the conventional sense, but in engineering terms it certainly is. Beauty is a very subjective issue anyway. I’m more interested in a supreme level of function, and the idea that they can make a twin cylinder engine produce that level of performance is enough to sell it to many, even if they can’t aspire to use it. An 800 with similar engine technology would be a realistic prospect to mere mortals such as I.
The front end reminds me of a cross between the Honda Fireblade and Aprilia RSV4…
They definitely need to do something about those mirrors, I’m sure they could have improved on the previous design for those. I like the underneath exhaust, I think it’s choice…
I just want to see how this thing does in WBSK…
From the side, the tail section looks like it belongs on a GSXR. Too bad, looks like Ducati is also entering in the Japanese Manufacture’s race of who can make the ugliest bikes! :(
Wow, sounds like a bunch of girls complaining about the new fall Mervyn’s collection!
Hands down this will be the most awesome sportbike ever produced for the consumer. Sure, there’s a few odd bits about it, but other than the paint, it appears Ducati went with function over fashion and I see that as an awesome indicator that the performance engineers behind this bike got their way and the designers came second.
check out the new videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVKLl-ZBUwg
As an owner of a 996s and 1098s, I’m disappointed. These photos remind me of a Benelli Tornado! (barf)
I hope it looks better in race trim spinning laps in the sunlight. I’m also hoping it grows on me after viewing some proper photos (and some interesting tech specs).
Its making the BMW S1000RR look better though……
@Nobody:
Hey hey hey… listen here, if u don’t care about what motorcycle u wear that’s up to u.
Us “motorcycle fashion nazi police” are always right… (^_^ )… in a few words, SHOOOSH, U Sir don’t know what ur talking about, LMAO.
@Wil:
C’mon Dude, impress us, whats “your classic bike”… some frigging brittle antique ? LOL.
@Weldoid:
HOW DARE U ?!… DO NOT mess with The Tornado, DO NOT. Specially it’s belly busting tank shape…lol.
@MikeD
I guess the tornado would be good to have if you had to cross a body of water; what with the propellors and all lol
I bet George Jetson would (will) dig it.
http://www.motociclismo.it/gallery/moto-scooter/ducati-1199-panigale/Ducati_1199_Superbike_base_S_Tricolore_24?gpage=1&ipage=1
That tank has to die.
I must say, it does look a lot better under way and with a rider on top.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVKLl-ZBUwg&feature=player_embedded
check out the new videos on youtube, that thing is bad ass, too bad i’m not a superbike guy
The front profile looks great, nice lines and I don’t think the tank it too “blobby”.
The rear end, however, kinda looks unfinished. The under slung exhaust almost looks like an afterthought.
I need to see full high rez pictures before I go off on a tangent, but so far I am not sure how I feel.
I can only imagine what that rear cylinder is gonna do to the seat at the rev limiter.
Hahaha sidekick… my exwife twice experienced orgasms just by riding on the rear seat of my zx6r (u know how they seat on the bike and normal engine vibrations ) hahaha thats why ninjas are just unbeateable