Q&A: Yukio Kagayama Talks About the Upcoming Suzuka 8-Hour with Kevin Schwantz & Noriyuki Haga

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.

KTM RC4 Concept by Luca Bar Design

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.

Q&A: Claudio Domenicali Talks Frameless Chassis, Sacred Cows, & The Future for Ducati

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.

Is Yamaha Using A Seamless Gearbox? The Data Says No

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.

OCC Coming Back to TV? — Universe Collapses in on Self

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.

Alstare Superbike Concept by Team Alstare

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.

Transcript: The Gay Question at Jerez

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.

2014 Suzuki GSV-R Spotted Again

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.

BMW F800GS Adventure – Germany’s Middleweight ADV

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.

Kevin Schwantz Returns to Motorcycle Racing – Enters the Suzuka 8-Hours with Team Kagayama

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.

2011 Honda CBR250R MSRP Set at $3,999

12/01/2010 @ 2:39 pm, by Jensen Beeler18 COMMENTS

2011 Honda CBR250R MSRP Set at $3,999 2011 honda cbr250r 3 635x373

American Honda announced today the official pricing on the 2011 Honda CBR250R, the company’s 250cc beginner bike. With base pricing on the CBR250R starting at $3,999, the ABS equipped model will cost an additional $500, with an MSRP of $4,499. This price point goes right after the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, which is also sold for $3,999 MSRP. The Honda tips the scales a full 15 lbs lighter than the Kawi, and is equipped with fuel-injection.

We expect Honda’s strategy with the Mini-Me CBR is to offer more performance and features for the same price as the Kawi, which should make things in this part of the market very interesting (Aprilia is trying to play here too with its 125cc Aprilia RS4 125, which will likely cost more than these two bikes). Photos, video, and technical specifications of the new Honda CBR250R after the jump.

2011 Honda CBR250R / CBR250R ABS Technical Specifications:

Engine:
Engine Type: 249.4cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke
Bore and Stroke: 76mm x 55mm
Compression ratio: 10.7:1
Valve Train: DOHC; four valves per cylinder
Induction: PGM-FI, 38mm throttle body
Ignition: Computer-controlled digital transistorized with electronic advance
Transmission: Six-speed

Suspension:
Front: 37mm fork
Rear: Pro-Link single shock with five positions of spring preload adjustability

Brakes:
Front: Single 296mm disc
Rear: Single 220mm disc
Optional ABS

Tires:
Front: 110/70-17 radial
Rear: 140/70-17 radial

Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 53.9 inches
Rake (Caster Angle): 25.0°
Trail: 95mm (3.74 inches)
Seat Height: 30.9 inches
Fuel Capacity: 3.4 gallons
Colors: Metallic Black, Red/Silver
Curb Weight*: 359 pounds / 368 pounds (ABS)

*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride.

Source: Honda America

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Comment:

  1. Tom says:
    December 1, 2010 at 5:19 PM

    If it exists at all, there must be only a razor thin profit margin on this bike as Honda is simply using this bike as a loss-leader to cultivate brand loyalty.

  2. Jensen Beeler says:
    December 1, 2010 at 5:21 PM

    Maybe in the US market, but I don’t think that’s the case abroad.

  3. Westward says:
    December 1, 2010 at 7:05 PM

    You can’t be serious. Autos and Motos are overpriced in general.

  4. Westward says:
    December 1, 2010 at 7:11 PM

    BTW,

    Anyone know who makes the helmet in the commercial?

  5. hero kerala says:
    December 1, 2010 at 8:05 PM

    american bikers lucky to have this with the price…so cheap…in Malaysia, i believe this bike’s price maybe around RM25000(usd 6+++) plus goverment tax etc…very expensive…poor malaysianbikers

  6. Joey Wilson says:
    December 1, 2010 at 11:33 PM

    I really like this CBR, but I would be very slow to embrace a single instead of the twin in the 250 Ninja. But I am thrilled to see Honda step up and get into this segment with something besides a Rebel or Shadow 250. Now if they REALLY wanted to make my day, bring the VTR250, the CB400 SuperFour, and the fabulous new CB1100 ! !

  7. Sean in Oz says:
    December 2, 2010 at 2:24 AM

    Should be called a CB250R. CBRs, including the old CBR250R and CBR250RR, are inline 4s. A single cylinder 250 is a CB.

    Another commuter pretending to be a sports bike like the ‘Ninja’ 250!

  8. ovd says:
    December 2, 2010 at 6:19 AM

    They should make a 800 twin that looks exactly like that. That will sell well.

  9. BikePilot says:
    December 2, 2010 at 6:23 AM

    Nicely done Mr. Honda!

    Ovd, I’ll have mine in 1200cc and minus the bodywork thanks.

  10. MikeD says:
    December 2, 2010 at 6:25 AM

    Looks kinda goofy, like the fairing and headlight don’t fit together… ‘ninja’ 250 looks better. Though I’m happy for Honda to be in the learner market.

  11. MikeD says:
    December 2, 2010 at 9:40 PM

    I would rather HIT a Ninja 250, Suzuki TU250 or Yamaha WR250X(Pricey, I know,sigh ).

  12. MikeD says:
    December 2, 2010 at 9:51 PM

    P.S: 2 MikeD’s. LMAO, SWEET.

  13. Steve Lang says:
    December 3, 2010 at 11:49 PM

    Cute little thing…I think they’ll sell a million of em. Would like to see what it would do down hill on a tight twisty road. Looks lie it would be a lot of fun.

  14. RobG says:
    December 5, 2010 at 6:34 PM

    This is such a GORGEOUS bike… but I’ve heard it running in one of their promo videos and it sounds awful. I would love to have one for a commuter, but I think I will wait til Kawi inevitably refreshes the Ninja 250.

  15. Errol M Dickson says:
    December 16, 2010 at 5:48 AM

    *****A DREAM COME TRUE!…..ONLY$3999 FOR THE 2011 HONDA CBR250R…..THANK YOU HONDA!

  16. Paul Venne says:
    January 25, 2011 at 1:27 AM

    I just saw one here in Bangkok. Absolutely rad and extremely tempting and gorgeous looking to me. Good luck Honda. Thanks, Paul V Bangkok

  17. Mike C says:
    January 25, 2011 at 5:12 AM

    “We expect Honda’s strategy with the Mini-Me CBR is to offer more performance and features for the same price as the Kawi…”

    2 Things wrong with that statement.

    More performance? Sure if you consider being down 7hp more performance. Even with a little less weight and a little more torque, it’s not more powerful.

    Secondly, this thing is a mini VFR, not a mini CBR. Nothing about this bike makes it a CBR.

    That said, good for Honda for at least bringing a 250 to the market. More smaller bikes is a good thing.

  18. Mike C says:
    January 25, 2011 at 5:16 AM

    EDIT ^^^

    Technically it wouldn’t be a VFR either. More like a CB250 as someone else said.