PPIHC: Carlin Dunne Sets Outright Best Motorcycle Time at Pikes Peak Tire Test on a Lightning Motorcycle

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.

Report: Indianapolis “Opting-Out” of 2014 MotoGP Race?

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.

2014 Yamaha FZ-09 – Three Cylinders of Naked

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.

Trackside Tuesday: The Mind-Killer

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.

Video: Still Think Electric Motorcycles Are Slow?

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.

Here’s Your Feel Good Moment of the Week — Now, What’s Your Excuse for Not Riding Today?

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.

Erzberg Rodeo – Red Bull’s S&M Playhouse for Motorcycles

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.

Controlling the Uncontrollable – The Role of Ritual in Racing

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.

Up-Close with the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc

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.

MotoGP: Max Biaggi To Test Ben Spies’s Ducati at Mugello, Michele Pirro To Replace Spies at Barcelona

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.

Moto Corse MV Agusta Brutale 1133 Evo-CA

03/28/2011 @ 1:04 pm, by Jensen Beeler10 COMMENTS

Moto Corse MV Agusta Brutale 1133 Evo CA Moto Corse MV Agusta Brutale 1133 EVO CA 15 635x476

The MV Agusta Brutale 1078RR is a special bike in its own right, featuring another of Massimo Tamburini’s iconic designs in motorcycling. It’s hard to improve upon such a work, which is perhaps why we see MV Agusta currently recycling its aesthetic as it updates its motorcycle line.

This fact hasn’t stopped Moto Corse from trying its hand on improving upon the Tamburini design though, as the company has put together what it calls the MV Agusta Brutale 1133 Evo-CA: a carbontastic work of both visual bling and go-fast parts.

The first thing you’ll notice about Moto Corse’s MV Agusta Brutale 1133 Evo-CA is the all carbon fiber bodywork that’s accented with gold pin striping. That look goes well with the numerous gold-anodized aluminum pieces made by Moto Corse, as well as the Öhlins R/T forks and TTX shock, which has an aluminum/titanium ride height adjuster.

The carbon fiber panels also match the carbon-ceramic brake discs, which are aided in the “slow the f-down” duties by the nickel-plated Brembo monobloc calipers mated to the Öhlins forks.

Perhaps the biggest change on the MV Agusta Brutale 1133 Evo-CA though is its 1,133cc displacement, which comes courtesy of HRT’s big bore kit that noticeably replaces the top-end of the motor. Punching things out to 81mm, a Microtec unit takes care of the engine mapping for this tuned beast.

Power comes in at 168hp, up from the base 154hp, while torque is lifted to 93.7 lbs•ft  from 86.3 lbs•ft. Throw in an exposed dry slipper clutch for good measure and a 370 lbs dry weight, and you’ve got yourself one fine MV Agusta Brutale.

Technical Specifications for the Moto Corse Brutale 1133 EVO-CA:
Engine: DOHC 4-cylinder, 4 stroke 16-valve, liquid cooled
Displacement: 1,133cc
Bore x stroke: 81.0 x 55.0 mm x 4
Compression: 13:1
Power: 125 KW/171CV @ 10500 rpm
Torque: 127Nm-12, 7Kgm-@ 8100 rpm
Power Supply: Electronic injection MICROTEC-HRT, 46 mm
Ignition: Digital
Exhaust: Titanium
Starting: Electric
Clutch: Dry multiplate slipper clutch with clutch-pump Brembo RCS 16/18×18
Transmission: 6-speed extractable
Final drive: 520 Chain
Frame Type: Tubular steel trellis CrMo
Swingarm: Aluminum swingarm
Rake and Trail: 24.5 º and 101.5 mm
Front suspension: USD Öhlins Road & Track 43 mm multi-adjustable
Rear suspension: Progressive multi-adjustable Öhlins TTX
Brakes Front: Dual 320 mm T SICOM drive with carbon-ceramic Brembo P4 32/36CNC block distance 100mm.-pump Brembo RCS 19/20×18
Rear brake: 210 mm Sicom carbon-ceramic disc with 4 piston calipers
Front wheel: Carbon fiber 3.50 × 17
Rear wheel: Carbon fiber 6.00 × 17
Measures tire: 120/70 x 17 “190/50 x 17 ”
Dry weight: 168 kg
Overall length: 2,005 mm
Wheelbase: 1,410 mm
Seat height: 805 mm
Carbon fiber tank: 19 lt.

Source: Racing Café

Top 5 Related Posts:

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  3. Spy Photo: MV Agusta Brutale 675 B3
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Comment:

  1. bemer2six says:
    March 28, 2011 at 1:33 PM

    You seam to have left out just one small detail… How much?? When will it be in the US? Why does MV Agusta dealers look at me as if I was crazy when I ask them about this bike?? lol

  2. Jensen Beeler says:
    March 28, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    Ummm…it’s a one-off by Moto Corse. I’m not sure they sell those bikes as they’re mostly specials done to sell the parts they make and resell. MV dealers will look at you crazy because this isn’t a bike made by MV.

  3. bemer2six says:
    March 28, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    lol my mistake the MVA dealer called me back saying not only no but hell no I cant get you that bike… thanks for the information tho.

  4. fazer6 says:
    March 28, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    “They” DO sell them, them being MotoCorse Japan–You can call them, but if you have to ask how much…

  5. DuxBros says:
    March 28, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Good god, nobody does evil-sexy-mean-and-nasty like the Italians!!! Love the “Feed me, Seymour!” open clutch. That thing looks ready for a Tomb Raider or Blade movie.

  6. hoyt says:
    March 28, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    I realize this example plays off of the gold forks by using other gold parts, but Ohlins really needs to consider making black fork tubes. A tasteful, subtle, gold Ohlins logo can be placed at the bottom so everyone knows they’re special.

  7. spytech says:
    March 28, 2011 at 6:50 PM

    I like the bike, it is not overdone. i especially like the dry clutch, it is a nice touch.

  8. spytech says:
    March 28, 2011 at 6:51 PM

    BTW, that looks like a new ohlins shock, through rod tech??? JB can you confirm?

  9. MikeD says:
    March 28, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    Bonerrific…that been said…meh, another spin-off of the same theme.

  10. tedman says:
    March 29, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    is it me or is there a mix of gen1 Brutale parts and gen2 parts to make this carbotastic dream? I would sell my gentleman area for that clutch

    gen1:
    frame
    swing
    tank/bodywork/rad guards
    gauges
    trees

    gen2
    intake carbon
    headlight