Stefan Pierer’s acquisition of Husqvarna continues to baffle me. You will note I say Pierer, and not KTM, bought Husqvarna, since the Austrian CEO used Pierer Industrie AG in the transaction as a means to help side-step European antitrust issues. After all, we can’t have Europe’s largest dirt bike manufacturer, nay largest total motorcycle manufacturer, gobbling up even more brands in the two-wheeled world. But, I digress. Developing three road bikes (Husqvarna Nuda 900, Husqvarna Strada 650, & Husqvarna Terra 650), with three more concepts waiting in the wings (Husqvarna Moab, Husqvarna Baja, & Husqvarna E-G0), it is with even more confusion that we learn that Pierer & Co. intend to kill the Husqvarna Nuda project and its other street siblings.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New Ducati Indiana. LAME!
The above Ducati has similar styling cues to the Vun Duu, which is apparently popular in Europe.
“diluting the brand” or whatever some Ducati fans are worried about? I don’t think so if they sell a bunch that helps them develop their core product even better.
An example of diluting a brand would be the Shelby Ford Explorer. (which did not get far, fortunately).
From a company that’s had to compete with the deep pockets of Yamaha and Honda, and as a true Ducatisti, I see nothin’ wrong with branching out from they’re norm. Just as long as they remember why they [Ducati] are here… To race.
I’m all for branching out from the norm, but I’d rather see a street legal supermono. These are just my opinions. The overpriced cruiser market seems to be well covered already, and the Indiana was lame.
@ MonsterAti, Ducati is here to sell bikes and make money for their investors.
Racing has sometimes helped them do that.
You’re deluded if you think otherwise.
Ducati Mega-Monster Spy Shots – http://aspha.lt/14p #motorcycle
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Ducati Mega-Monster Spy Shots – http://aspha.lt/14p #motorcycle
Hey I don’t know if you guys saw it but the under tail has two grooves down the middle. It makes me think that the side exhaust is a disguise and the production bike will really wear an undertail exhaust system.
I sure am glad SOME manufacturers are ‘stretching the envelope’ (ie. Ducati, BMW, even Triumph) rather than hiding out during tough times (can you say ‘Suzuki’ anyone?!!) Just goes to show the Europeans have a grip on reality! The reality being, of course, that the market wansts (and needs) new, exciting, and fresh ideas to keep it humming along!
uhh, yeah. welcome to 200x (whenever the 1098 came out)
DEAR FIM: ducati wishes to race motorcycles that blah blah blah our production bikes. as we are discontinuing our 999cc bike, please let us race our new engine… or maybe one a hundred cc bigger.
flash forvard to tomorrow… ducati launch the new 1300cc plus vyper at the same time the 1200cc bike is considered uncompetitive against the fours. wonder just how hard it will be to fit into a superbike frame? wonder how long it takes management to decide that 2 similar motors is just too expensive when they could easily survive with only half the tooling and inventory? I wonder how many douche-catista’s could live with themselves knowing they only had 1198cc?
jeez… oh well, nobody ever thought less of porsche for the truck and family sedan, right?
…right?
I’m drooling already…
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Ducati Mega-Monster Spy Shots – http://aspha.lt/14p #motorcycle
Now that's a rear tire! RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Ducati Mega-Monster Spy Shots – http://aspha.lt/14p #motorcycle
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Ducati Mega-Monster Spy Shots – http://aspha.lt/14p #motorcycle
I think it is a great idea, this cruiser. I am sure that a lot of the Beemer purists thought that creating a bike like the S1000rr, something that wasn’t ugly, quirky or goofy and that people would actually buy, was a huge mistake for following the Japanese and “getting away from their roots”. Of course, the bike is amazing and is taking the market, and racetrack, by storm.
Even the Multistrada was a deviation from the typical Ducati, back in the day.
This is good, to create something outside the box. The strength of a company is not in their ability to stay focused on the past or status quo, it is in their ability to retain their core, while pushing the envelope and reinventing themselves and still being successful.
This is the equivalent of Ferrari building some pathetic retro styled muscle car to go up against the new Mustangs and Camaros. The redneck hillbillies who are interested in power cruisers didn’t even buy enough of the new VMAX’s to make them a hit, so why are they going to buy a more expensive Italian version?
Sigh…don’t know whether to keep my 848 as a relic of the company before they absolutely lost their minds, or sell it in protest.
Sean -
Yeah, but the V-max SUCKS!! Who in their right mind will spend 20k on a Jap bike (of any kind!)? Having said that, it appears my sentiment is the same as everyone elses – shown by lack of V-max sales. Will I spend 20k on something Italian – you bet, as soon as MY economy improves!!
Haven’t any of you “racing” guys ever wanted the best of both worlds. A cruiser and a crotch rocket. Sure, you can go buy one of each, but this market is just starting to be tapped.
Unfortunately, poor marketing and bad design choices are not helping it.
After 100 years, Harley finally did something right with the VROD, and now that they have introduced the Night Rod Special and Muscle, sales have increased. “Traditional” guys are slooooooowly getting with the program with new and improved technology.
And the VMAX does suck. It’s ugly and overpriced.
The M109, too big and bulky.
The Honda Warrior, a joke.
This Vyper/Mega Monster, I think it looks great.
And for the racing fanatics, are we forgetting about drag racing?
It’s an untapped market for Ducati and you “Traditional” guys need to embrace change and technology to help Ducati grow and stay competitive.
It may not be the fastest ducati and appeal to all ducati supporters, but this bike is a winner in my book.
Does this really surprise anyone? I mean, Ducati is second only to Harley in selling image/”lifestyle” first and bikes second. They are (by a million miles) the second best “brand” in motorcycling. It was only a matter of time before they put two and two together: the biggest group of riding posers (cruiser riders) and the biggest force in sportbike poser marketing (Ducati).
You want proof? Look up a couple post to the person saying they wouldn’t be caught dead spending 20K on a Japanese bike, but would happily do so for a Ducati because it’s Italian. So, what, because a Japanese company wouldn’t be stupid enough to build a bike with a rear brake reservoir 2mm from a hot exhaust pipe (749S), or build a bike that leaks oil past the cam seals (MTS1100), or be about five years late to the party with an automatic fast idle circuit (same 749S), it must build a valuable bike?
The two Ducatis I’ve owned (still own one), if I’m honest, have been more trouble than they’re worth. Both overheat a lot more than zero (my record with Japanese bikes), both stall for no reason a LOT more than zero (ditto), and even when I rode my friend’s brand new 1198 a couple of weekends ago I noticed that Ducati STILL isn’t making a bike that’s fueled worth a damn under 5000rpm and doesn’t radiate center of the sun levels of heat. He bought the bike without even test-riding the Japanese (or German or Austrian) competition. He bought it because he HAD to have a Ducati. Because it’s Italian. And, I mean, he already had the matching shirt, right?
Yup, Ducati’s only mistake here that I see is that they waited so long to take this super logical step into cruiserdom.
I think, Yamaha V Max is better!!
With a tire that wide, who needs a kickstand?
@ aaron If you had any idea of what you were talking about, maybe you wouldn’t come off as the shallow, pathetic, asswipe you seem to be. The Japanese are the ones who cried to the FIM get the rules to favor the boring, dime-a-dozen, in line fours. The twins must run a restrictor plate which effectively chokes the engine. If the restrictor plate rule was gone you would be singing a different tune,
@ GeddyT Obviously, you’re a just a dumbass, Another of the simple minded idiots who buy rcer replica bikes to ride around downtown at 30 mph in bumper to bumper traffic and then whine because it overheats. Go buy a GSXR1000, all the other queers are.