Video: 2011 AFM Banquet Film – Death to Second Place

The oldest racing organization in the country dedicated soley to motorcycle road racing, the AFM is a Northern Californian non-profit racing organization that has helped hone the skills of riders like Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, and Steve Rapp — not mention a weekend warrior or two. Each year the racing league comes together for a banquet, and lately the tradition has been to include a highlight film of the year’s racing. I’m not sure what films in the past have been like, but if the latest AFM banquet video doesn’t give you goosebumps, you might want to check your pulse. Bonus points for the including the Versus “Second Place” monologue — it’s very apropos.

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2011 – The Ducati Story

Grab some popcorn, because this video from Ducati North America is over 14 minutes long. Telling the story of Ducati at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), DNA has put together a great video that really captures how special the racing is at Pikes Peak, and how gorgeous the scenery is of the Colorado Mountains. With Santa Barbara Ducati’s Carlin Dunne winning the overall motorcycle category on his dealership’s Multistrada 1200 demo model, Alexander Smith from the Spider Grips Ducati Team made it a double podium for Ducati in the 1205cc class. If you’re new to racing at Pikes Peak, or wanted a quick re-cap of last year’s race, Ducati’s video pretty accurately sums up racing on the mountain and the anxiety around last year’s race.

Ducati Announces Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Team with Carlin Dunne & Greg Tracy

Ducati has announced its factory team for the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), and the Italian company has secured the services of last-year’s winner and Rookie of the Year Carlin Dunne as well as six-time PPIHC winner Greg Tracy. Ducati has also partnered with the Spider Grips team, who will help prepare the teams Ducati Multistrada 1200 for the “Race to the Clouds” on July 8th. For 2012, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be fully-paved to the top of the mountain, which will surely see the speeds of competitors increase, and lap times drop on the 12.42 mile long course that ends at 14,110 feet.

Cutaway Photos of the Ducati Superquadro Engine

I was flipping through some photos from the 2011 EICMA show, and found these shots of the Ducati 1199 Panigale’s Superquadro engine. Unfortunately at the show, Ducati had its 1199cc v-twin motor behind a Lexan case, which created a bit of a glare, reflections, and of course had smudges from the touchy-feely Italian crowd. But still, the photos give a good idea of what’s going on in Ducati’s most-advanced production engine to date, and are better than just looking at the CAD renders. If you look at the shots very closely, you can almost see where the 195hp and 98 lbs•ft of torque is lurking inside.

AGV, Please Make This Helmet!

In addition to testing the factory Ducati Desmosedici GP12 “Phoenix” this week at Sepang, Valentino Rossi is also trying out a new lid from AGV. Aside from the carbon fiber goodness, and of course the Rossi stickers (which add 5hp & $200), AGV’s prototype helmet sports a noticably pronounced rear spoiler. Tucked in behind the windscreen, it is obvious why the Italian helmet manufacturer designed such a large protrusion off the back of the prototype helmet, as it looks to be clearly helping the flow off the back of the helmet, across the rider’s hump, and down his backside.

2012 Honda RC213V Debuts in Malaysia

While Ducati Corse is busy playing hide-the-Desmosedici at Sepang, HRC is all business in Malaysia this week, and has debuted its 2012 Honda RC213V MotoGP-contender. Honda isn’t saying too much about the RC213V, simply stating that the race bike is all new, but is also a continuation of the company’s design with the 800cc Honda RC212V. Testing the Honda RC213V over the course of last season, reigning-World Champion Casey rode the new 1,000cc machine three times in 2011, while teammate Dani Pedrosa swung a leg over the RC213V twice (missing one test because of injury).

No, This is the “90%” New Ducati Desmosedici GP12

You may have been misled by some eager journalists today and yesterday, if you saw a Ducati Corse livery-clad Ducati Desmosedici GP12 that some sites were passing off as the first shots of the “90% new” GP12. With the alleged new GP12 looking surprisingly similar to the aluminum-framed “GP0″ that was tested at Valencia, Valentino Rossi’s mechanic has now Alex Briggs confirmed that the photos taken were not of the all new “GP12 Phoenix” that the factory team will race this season. While the Ducati lords can taketh away, they can also giveth, and Valentino Rossi himself has posted the first photo of the factory Desmosedici GP12, and the bike is clearly different.

Zero Motorcycles Commences 2012 Model Line Production

Zero Motorcycles has announced the full-commencement of production for its 2012 model line, which is expected to hit dealers in February & March of this year. First off the line was the 2012 Zero DS back in December, though the electric motorcycle company has recently started building the Zero S, Zero XU, Zero X, and Zero MX at its Scotts Valley facility as well. A story we broke back in November, Zero Motorcycles debuted its important 2012 electric motorcycle line up at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan, with the 2012 range being a substantial improvement upon the company’s previous offerings.

The Dainese D-Air Racing Airbag Suit Comes to America

Getting a look at Dainese & AGV’s 2012 collection, Asphalt & Rubber was down in Orange County earlier this week to see the highly anticipated Dainese D-Air Racing leather suit, which has a four liter airbag system that helps reduce the risk of injury during a motorcycle crash. Dainese has been working on the D-Air Racing system for 10 years now, and after soft-launching the airbag suit in Europe, the Italian company is ready to bring the game-changing technology to American soil.

I Love the Nightlife. I’ve Come to Boogie.

Us Danes, we’re a strange breed. From the culture that taught you how to rape and pillage, Scandinavia is making yet another contribution to the motorcycling world with this latest video. Featuring Danish Supermoto Champion Andreas Mikkelsen, we get a RoToR camera-esque perspective (this rig is actually home made) on the Dane’s practice session at the Als Supermotard Club in Denmark. It’s videos like this that are slowly eroding my will-power to resist getting into supermotard riding. Also, I don’t know who was in charge of the music selection on this thing, but my hat is off to him/her. I love the nightlife. I’ve come to boogie.

2010 Buell 1125 Adds Battery Tender Plug – Finally Acknowledges Bikes Will Sit on Showroom Floor

Mon, July 27th, 2009 @ 12:37 pm, by Jenny Gun19 COMMENTS
Home » News » 2010 Buell 1125 Adds Battery Tender Plug – Finally Acknowledges Bikes Will Sit on Showroom Floor

2010 Buell 1125 Adds Battery Tender Plug   Finally Acknowledges Bikes Will Sit on Showroom Floor 2010 Buell 1125CR 560x350

The big news for Monday is that Buell has updated its model line-up for 2010. While we could probably make this an at length post, detailing everything new and great about the true American Sportbike brand, in reality it boils down to just marginal increases in the products look, feel, and general performance.

However, there are a couple points of interest we would like to point out. The 1125CR now has the color white (which does look rather good), and an integrated battery tender plug.

We’re not quite sure if this is because the bikes sit at the dealership for so long waiting to be sold, or if they get relegated to the back of the garage while their owners ride something else. Either way, Buell clearly seems to expect their bikes to sit around and do nothing for a while.

Most of Buell’s other changes consist of either, adding new colors (we heard they recently discovered the color yellow), marginal performance increases, and parts, such as O2 sensors, updated calipers, and oil level windows. If you’re a 1125R owner, you can also purchase the 1125RR fairing for your bike, which will add to that Superbike look that you’ve been looking for. Just be sure to find some R6′s to race when you get it.

You can stop by your local Buell dealer later this year, and compare and contrast the changes between this year’s models, and next year’s. They should have plenty of both available.

Source: Buell

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  3. The Buell 1125CR That Never Was…
  4. Buell Swingarm Exhaust: Still Owned by Harley-Davidson

Comment:

  1. Dan says:

    A little sarcasm and negativity noted in this post. Have you ridden the 1125R or the 1125CR? I have, and they’re both great bikes. The 1125 engine is fantastic.

    BTW You don’t have to have a bike sit (for long) to benefit from having a battery tender. It’s an extremely common upgrade here in Canada where our bikes are garaged all winter. Plugging your battery in all the time it’s not in use protects it from sulfation if you have a proper tender.

    Typo in the sentence in your post too – “Either way, Buell clearly seems to expect their bikes to sit around and doing nothing for a while”

    - Doing should be ‘do.’ I disagree that adding a tender hookup suggests that they’ve acknowledged their bikes will sit on the showroom floor like your Twitter post says.

  2. skadamo says:

    Should I feel strange for loving that bike? :D I have battery tender plugs stuffed into all my bikes so I like that feature. Actually I just like plugs on bikes in general :-O

  3. 2010 Buell 1125 Adds Battery Tender Plug – Finally Acknowledges Bikes Will Sit on Showroom Floor – http://bit.ly/Lrh5a #motorcycle

  4. VintageWrencher says:

    *gag* I didnt think Buell could make the 1125 any uglier but I guess I underestimated them.

  5. CPT Hoolie says:

    What snarkiness. Well done. (golf clap)

    The sitting on the floor problem is a Harley dealership issue IMO. Too many times the Buells are relegated to a corner of the store by moronic sales managers who don’t do anything at all to try to sell or support them. The dealership near me has actively stopped trying to sell Buells, preferring to market Big Dogs instead.

  6. Jenny Gun says:

    CPT Hoolie, the research would suggest you might be right.

    This might interest you: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/motorcycle-shops-sell-motorcycles/

  7. Ron Fabretti says:

    If the instant mpg meter is accurate then excellent fuel mileage is icing on an already sweet cake. Unique in many technically competant ways, the upgrades to the 2010 Buell1125CR are a nice fine tune. Today’s test ride on an 1125R left me giddy and all smiles. I like the way Buell does it. And then it seems there is all the rest. And yea, somebody is cranked THEIR favorite manufacturer didn’t standardize battery tender connections. My last Suzuki sure needed one. I hope my wife lets me order a 1125CR. Us 60 years olds can have fun too. But here is a bike I could enjoy just by studying it. Then I’d need that tender!

  8. ZigZag says:

    Why would anyone so uniformed write for A & R? I own a 2008 1125R and it came with a battery tender plug, so this is not news or newsworthy. I did enjoy the childish sarcasm. This bike is not for everyone, and you have let your feelings be known. I love mine and have never had to use the tender even after sitting for a week or two.

  9. 9Hnum says:

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  10. Trackrider54 says:

    As an 1125CR owner, I feel compelled to chime in.

    I’ve owned Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW, and Ducati….and Buell is by far the best motorcycle I’ve ever owned from a fun factor standpoint (with Ducati being a close second). I’ve got a Ulysses too, so I’m familiar with both the air-cooled XB motor, and the 1125 Rotax mill.

    People who put down Buell for not being a 1000cc race replica just don’t get it. They are either trying to win bench races with their spec sheets, or they are professional racers who can actually use the potential of a liter race replica (or even a 600).

    Buells weren’t designed to race. They were designed to be wonderful, fun, entertaining street motorcycles. And that’s exactly what they are. Very easy to ride, power that’s easy to use and very linear. Handling that’s light and confidence inspiring. Very low center of gravity.

    If you’ve not ridden one, you owe it to yourself to do so. If you’ve been riding inline 4 race replica bikes, a Buell will feel different. It might not suit you, but to me, nothing is as wonderful as a big V-twin.

  11. John says:

    I own an 1125R and ride the hell out of it. Buells might sell better if there wasn’t as much negative press about them.

  12. thad says:

    Wow the guy who wrote this should be fired! being a reporter is about giving the facts we don’t want or need your opinions or you sarcasm’s

  13. wheelingxb says:

    Yes, this guy is a real IDIOT !

  14. Zany says:

    Although this article only expresses a few items about the 1125R & 1125CR, there is more that was not said than was posted here. Aftermaket folks swarm all over newer bikes and anyone who owns a bike for any period of time knows how imporant a Battery tender is. Sight glass on the engine is not new, look at Duck’s, Aprillia, and BMW’s, this is the class of bikes an American company was cracking open. WIDE open by the way, The Helicon / Rotex engine was just getting tweaked in and a hole new following of riders are proud to own one of these Buells. Europeans love them more than we do, wake up and get ahold of some real coffee, take a real look at a bike that will not make it to 2010. It’s Harley Davidson’s mistake right now, not yours, this bike will never get it’s chance to find out how great it could have been, but out of the box it did win the US Daytona Super Bike Championship. What could have come, no one can say now.

  15. Jenny Gun says:

    AMA Daytona Superbike? You mean the series where they raced against bikes with half the displacement?

    So what great advancement was 2010 going to bring? They’d race against 750cc machines next?

    …I’m really just fanning the fires at this point

  16. Zany says:

    I’m intreged to write a comment or two when ideas clash, or thoughts are opposed. But, when all facts are not put forth it leaves readers wondering why or for what reason. Compare all you can, the 1125 serice bikes, make fun of there lack of what you think they should be but they are gone except for the leftovers hidden away in small dealerships. Owners took a long time before deciding that a American made Sport Bike was there choose, V-Twin over inline 4, water cooled over oil cooled, high horse power vs high torque, it’s the same old shell game. Each writer just has to deside where they are on this and put forth something good, detailed info and riding experiance on the bike. Good luck with your style of reporting, I feel you can do much better. I have read some of your other articles and though they where good, great coverage than this 1125CR got, I wonder Why? Happy Holidays!!!!

  17. Rasmus Christensen says:

    Damn you sound childish (reportor)
    You don’t even know how well liked this bike is here in europe.
    The only thing wrong with the 1125cr is that it is sold by harley davidson
    got nothing against harley though, but their marketing SUCK!!! . Should have been better published , if so the buell motorcykle brand would still be in buisness …

    Just bought one a couple of weeks ago

  18. Zany says:

    Again, I say to you all, I own a 1125CR and will keep it till it falls apart or I smash it up in a corner. I like this bike, and feel poorly when people make comments about a bike they never have fully understood or have ever ridden. I agree Harley did a poor job selling this bike, they really didn’t try there best. And after three years of working with Rotex and all the makers of parts for this bike, they let them go like it was nothing. Wowwwooo! As far as, not knowing what people in Europe think about this bike, I have family there, and I was stationed there for many years. When I brought my 1996 S1 to Germany, the local riders treated me well and showed me many locations for the best rides, guest house to stayt, restruants galour, winery’s, and beer halls. Many of the regulars asked about my bike and when I left would I sell it to them, and I did! The write-ups I have seen from your own magazines praise the 1125 model. So, it’s kinda a wild statement on your part unless you just want to get all pissy about it. I would rather ride and enjoy the day, let the world fall to the way side and cruise into the evening sun! Laters……..Zany out…….

  19. wheelingCR now says:

    My 2010 1125 CR #00082 ? I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!