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.
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.
Apart from the single sided swinger and paint job have changed anything else….lol
Hmmmm…That’s not going to get me to trade in my Sprint ST.
Might get me to trade in my 07 Tiger… Looks neat, and who doesn’t want more power?
Sixty7, the only thing holding back the old version was the ridiculously soft forks. They’ve solved that, added power, dropped weight, sweetened the look, sharpened handling, and improved stability. It’s a Multistrada 1200 but without the cost, gadgets or ugly. I’m stoked to see them finally put some attention back into a bike that should have been huge if not for some eensy flaws.
Seems to me they’re slowly bringing back the Sprint ST one step at a time. Probably their biggest mistake was eliminating their best all around bike.
@Marc F
I’ve got a 1050 tiger and I sorted my own forks out (a lot cheaper than buying a brand new bike) also got more power than that bike also have considered fitting the SS but the stock arm is light so my bike is lighter, the seat unit looks slightly lower but apart from that nothing new….sorry I’d rather have mine…and save a heep of cash and go on holiday…
Its basically a Sprint with higher handlebars.I wonder what the seat height will be?
Dear God…………………….Triumph & THOSE MUFFLERS.
It looks like a sligthly slimmer copy of the one on the Xplorer but still frigging HUGE.
This thing is basically A ROAD BIKE 100% and i love THAT about it. SO, why not give it A FULL underbelly cat/muffler with a VERY short low mount exit ? or even better, incorporate the exit in the muffler’s body.
Then u can have Luggage than doesn’t look like it belong on the bike that some blind designer tacked it on like some aftertought and hanging in the wind UP THERE (specially now that it got bigger and can carry the kitchen’s sink).
Plus a lower, ligther subframe (even lower than now !), maybe a one piece flatter seat (REMENBER THOSE ?), while at the same time moving all that bobweight/mass lower.
Im no engineer or wear a white lab coat…just using some common sense…lol.
I miss my old PANZER (1982 GS1100G).
Other than my petty nitpicks i think it is an AWESOME bike.
Video of the unveiling of the bike and some close-ups @ Brussels motorshow: http://youtu.be/3sALbsEVEp8
Does a single sided swingarm actually DO anything better than a double? The one on my Benelli is a double in steel and always draws favourable comments even when parked next to others with single sided ones. While aluminium may be lighter than steel, it also has about 1/3 the modulus of steel so it takes 3 times as much visual mass to do the same job. This makes for a bulky, heavy look – in our world visual cues mean so much. The exhaust layout is horrid and Nissin Brakes on a Euro bike is abomination. Go find a TreK or Amazonas and compare. You will be surprised.
Steps made in the right direction, I like it. It at least appears less bulky and top heavy. Just waiting for specs.
I hope they don’t bring the Sprint ST back. I rode one across the US and back, front end was vague to say the least. Yeah, it was a reasonable compromise for what I was doing but in reality it was a meh bike. I also owned a (’09) Daytona 675 at the time and the difference in character between the two triple motors was night and day. I couldn’t believe that they were both from the same manufacturer. The 675 motor is fun, engaging and very exciting. The 1050 in the Sprint (it was an ’08 for the record) was boring and had no character at all.
I now own a Multistrada 1200 S Touring, even comparing it to the Sprint does the Multi a disservice. I would like to see Triumph apply the same ideas from the Trophy to the Sprint and produce a bike that can compete. This is clearly not it. Hopefully this update to the motor has given it the characteristics it so sorely deserves.
I’ve heard a couple of rumors that the Tiger Sport is a bit of a stop-gap and that there’s something very new in the works. I hope that means a return to a true sport-tourer with the emphasis on “sport.”
Disclaimer: Only rumors right now, nothing is gospel.
As for this bike, it’s likely very good and I think a significant update to the Tiger 1050. I hope it stays around for a while for those who want a tall-’rounder. I’ll be waiting for the successor to the Sprint ST with an engine based on the one of new-generation triples.
Daniel Croft, The design principles of the Sprint and 675 are totally different and is unfair to expect both to perform the same. I too have ridden my Sprint across the U.S., and found it to be more than up to the trip. The problem you seem to have with the vague front is totally a matter of the tire brand/type.
I like it. It’s a Speed Triple for touring. Like others have said though, the muffler and Nissin brakes were a poor choice.
What’s wrong with Nissan brakes? I’ve had them on three bikes and they’ve been fantastic. The units on my D675 have performed brilliantly. And it’s been said several times that the Brembos on the 675R really aren’t much better than the Nissins.
If you’re worried about Japanese parts somehow tainting European bikes, you’ll have to change a lot of parts on models from many Euro-brands.
@Anvil:
There was a “complaint” one time[too much lever travel and sponginess, no matter how many times u bled it] about the caliper’s of choice when the 3rd Gen SpeedTriple came out.
I think the Master Cylinder was Brembo paired with NISSIN Calipers.
Nothing bad was said about the M/C, supposedly the calipers were at fault (too much clearance piston to bore and “gummy” seals)…been a while now and i red it from the web(super reliable source, LMAO), so take this with lots of salt.
Maybe that’s what Jake’s talking about ? Maybe he just wished for Brembos.
NISSIN, TOKICOS, SUMITOMOS, BREMBOS……….we are all entitled to fuck up from time to time, right ? (o_~)
Personally, the 2 Piece 4 Piston TOKICOS on my 03 SV1000N have been super good and reliable + plenty of power…then again i haven’t tried the Panigale’s M50, so……LOL.
Oh, Anvil…………….i do hope this thing was only refreshed/rehashed to finally lay waste and use ANY AND ALL THE REMAINING 1050′s on the UK Factory so they can finally bury it and move on with the rest of world, FOR GOOD…if a whole new Tiger comes out of the process. i’m ok with it too.
That 1050 LUMP has to go…i don’t care how good it is…hopefully Yamaha will put some pressure on Triumph when they start to pump Triples to the streets and maybe our good friends at the EPA too, lol.
Its the bunny face they needed to update…
@Johndo:
What a thing to say…LMAO.
What I’m the only one seeing a bunny face when looking at the bike from the front? hehe
Hi Sixty7,
yes much has changed read on McDuff;
Triumph has given the Tiger an upgrade so comprehensive for 2013, it not only has a new sporting edge, it gets a new name: Tiger Sport.
The rear half of the bike is completely new, and so is most of the front with almost every visible component renewed and an additional 10hp coming from the 1050cc, three-cylinder engine.
Triumph is describing the Tiger Sport as “an adventure-style street bike for the purist who prefers to concentrate on the core values of motorcycle fun: a strong and seductive engine, taut handling, and a riding position to suit different road types”.
The changes over the outgoing Tiger 1050 have been extensive:
New bodywork — the tail unit, side panels and screen are new. There’s also a new belly pan as standard.
More power — the new exhaust and revisions to the intake system have helped Triumph’s engineers release an additional 10hp and 6Nm peak power and torque while boosting the engine’s output across its rev range. A one-tooth larger rear sprocket has also improved acceleration. Output is now 125hp (92kW) and 104Nm.
Fuel Consumption – careful reworking of the fuel injection calibration have resulted in an improvement of fuel economy in addition to the performance gains. The Tiger Sport rider will go about seven per cent further on each tank of fuel.
Single-sided swingarm — this is specially designed for the Tiger Sport to give it a sportier look and improve packaging at the rear end of the bike, allowing more space for the new exhaust and larger panniers.
New headlights — four reflector-type headlights replace the previous projector units, reducing weight, changing the look of the bike and substantially improving the lighting performance.
Enhanced ergonomics — the rider’s seat is 5mm lower (830mm), and narrower at the front, substantially improving reach to the ground and opening up access to the Tiger Sport to a wider range of riders. The seat is also longer to create more space for taller riders. The handlebars are lower and closer to the rider to suit its sportier nature by providing a more direct feel, while the new screen offers better wind protection. The rear seat is also lower, sitting the passenger more fully behind the rider for better wind protection and making it easier to get on the bike. Improved grab handles are fitted as standard.
Greater luggage capacity — the new rear subframe not only lowers the passenger seat, it’s stronger and has allowed the fitment of larger optional panniers, capable of storing a full face helmet, with double the payload of the previous ones at 10kg each. Triumph’s Dynamic Luggage System uses an inter-connecting cable between the cases to isolate turbulence-induced movement from the chassis.
New switchgear — the left-hand switch cube now enables all dash functions to be operated with the left hand, without having to let go of the bar and reach forward to the instrument panel.
Revised geometry — a half degree steeper steering angle and slightly longer wheelbase improve precision, feedback and stability.
New suspension — the fully adjustable suspension has been completely redeveloped with new springing and revalved damping to give the Tiger Sport its sharper feel with the reserves to handle its additional load capacity.
New ABS — the Tiger Sport’s radial brakes are backed up by the latest system with a new modulator for better extreme braking performance and improved feel.
Cast aluminium wheels are unique to the Tiger Sport and come fitted with Pirelli Angel GT tyres.
The Tiger Sport is available in Crystal White and Diablo Red,