Mission Motors tweeted out something interesting just a moment ago, a link to a new website for Mission Motorcycles. Teasing there a photo of the Mission R, it would seem that the electric superbike that does competitive AMA Supersport lap times at Laguna Seca, is finally set to come to production. It seems we won’t know everything about the new Mission Motorcycles project until June 3rd, though we can speculate pretty accurately on what the A&R Bothan spy network has been telling us. Expect to see the Mission R electric superbike in street legal trim, honed even further than when we rode the machine back in August last year.
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.
Man, they’re really pushing the yellow version aren’t they… It feels like it’s more because it’s novel than the fact that people actually want it.
I’m all about the Matte Black version. I’d say the Classic Red would be a close second.
Am I crazy here or do you guys like the Yellow as much as Ducati seems to think?
pic 5 shows a guy popping a nice lil wheelie on a black bike with the red trellis frame. Now that is the colour combo that makes me juicy – however I don’t see that combo anywhere else – swapped the panels maybe?
I agree with Max, the yellow is meh, black, then red then a different bike :)
Hey @Luke, I think that’s the Streetfighter S version that comes in a Titanium Gray with red frame… Aaaamazing color scheme as well, right?
I think you have me convinced to pick up a Black SF848… only question is, does that beat my Red Monster 1100. Definitely on horsepower, but not on l0w-end torque… so I’m torn!
I still don’t like it, not her, not her bigger sister…maybe if i rode one i would change my opinion……..but based on looks, nouuh, still can’t swallow these ones.
But what do i know about looks and style, this is the same guy that thinks the SuperTen and Versys 1000 look OK and would ride either one on public with no bag covering his face…LOL.
Nice pix, butt-ugly bike.
I must be old; too many bikes look like Transformer toys. Anyone else miss rounded edges?
@irksome: Nope!
Love how modern bikes look more aggressive, meaner, and edgier.
@irksome:
I don’t really miss “round edges”(TL-S,TL-R,CBR900RR,RC51,Early Aprilia RSV 1000)as much as i have learned & come to apreciate it now a days with all these ANOREXIC body shapes and styles.
Personally, i like the Origami/slate sides/stealth figther look of theeee….KTM RC8R or BMW K1300GT ? (i think these fit into the transformers gender too ?)
Generally…….i usually like them all xcept for 1 or 2 really WEIRD ones…comes to mind quick the Duc Street Fighter and Triumph Tiger 1050…and then if given to me i still would ride them.
OH…and each and every other Cafe Racer, Factory or Custom…I HATE THOSE with A PASSION.
Xcept the Benelli one. That pretty Transform-ish looking…im cool with it.
http://www.bikewalls.com/pictures/Benelli_Cafe_1130_Racer_2006_02_1024x768.jpg
MikeD, if it makes you feel any better, I hated the Streetfighter when I first saw its photos. Seeing it in person though changed that perception. Now there’s one on permanent display in my garage. Go fig.
Hands down the best looking contemp. naked out. The mechanical eye candy on it is impressive, and not a small or anorexic bike by any means when it comes to nakeds.
Like the SF 1098, an amazing looking machine!! I own a SF1098, and it won’t leave this garage without me on it, period. I think the new yellow color scheme is unique looking on this bike, as well. Matte black, c’mon, does everything have to look matte black these days. So tiring!
I have not ridden the SF848, but have thrown a leg over it. Significantly different seat/handlebar/peg positioning than the SF1098. Not as comfortable. I swapped back and forth between SF848 and SF1098 models at the NY Show and felt uncomfortable on the SF848. Perhaps it’s ’cause I swapped out the factory handlebars for Rizoma handlebars.
Bottom line… if you’re considering a SF848, compare it to a SF1098 to see if you agree.
@Jensen
Same thing here. I never bought into the look of the SF, until I went to a local dealer and swung a leg over (no test rides unfortunately!) and I really liked the look and set up.
@MikeD
I am with you on the RC8R. Bike is such a departure from the norm, yet comes across awesome in person. Plus the ergos are great for a superbike.
MikeD, thanks for the thumbs up on the Benelli. I am 54 and grew up with Standard Style bikes. My first effort to customize was a 400 triple two stroke-clubman bars, rearsets, port and polish with a stock(crap) frame. The Cafe Racer type screamed performance. Over the years, bikes got bigger and better. Factories have always tried to capitalize on racing success and our “Modern” sportbikes are the proof. I see the Streetfighter as the old CR theme in modern clothes. Stripped down, raw and edgy. Some, like the new Honda, miss the mark. Others, like the Benelli, hits squarly between the eyes. I have the Guzzi Sport 1100 with the rounded shapes and the Benelli Cafe Racer with it’s angular style. Both are georgeous in different ways. The new Ducati looks a bit high in the arse to me but still desireable. I’ll have one in black, please. It would fit nicely next to the Commando.
I just cant get into that headlight…i think the italians are spending too much time in japan.
It is the most amazing bike I have ever ridden (SF 1098). Feels little strange seeing nothing over the handlebars,just an empty space. Hey,guys – can you post some new photos – thes have been on Ducati site for the last 6 months…
I love that Ducati makes the matte black bikes, I bought a 749 dark because I loved the look. I still have the bike and love it still. I am happy Ducati for now is keeping the trellis frame on these models, well all of them other then the 1199. but blacking out the beautiful frame is a shame it should be a showcase on the bike and displayed not hidden in the endless black.
I will take one in “Yellow” and put it next to my “Yellow” 748S
I think the yellow is super hot, but that headlight is ridiculously ugly. I’d consider one though, especially if there was a high quality way to swap out the headlight for a round one. I hate the bug eye look of the newer triumphs too, and loved the dual roundies.
Round headlight does not make sense with the design – sharp, angular body has to have light like this.
DID YOU SAY WET CLUTCH?? I’m getting warmer, uh oh, that’s usually expensive.
Thanks for the GREAT pics. I’ve loved pearl yellow ever since the V-Max of ’94 was it?
But then each of those fab pix was flawed by the shield of the “Heartbreak of America”, I almost expected it to leak oil like their stupid cars do… quick get the driveway cleaner!!!
Ready for some sacrilege?? I’d do the frame in nickel, polish out the wheel lips, do the spokes in yellow and get a nice cibie round light for it.. sort of techno- meets- retro-chic.
Whew, good thing I cant hear you kids hollerin ;-)
@Jamesy:
Big deal, that’s just making it look “right” if anything a bit different in “some” areas. LOL.
I’m down with your sugestion.
@Jamesy:
I guess it comes down to each individual and his/her priorities….BUT….what wrong with a WET clutch ? Ducati Sacrilege ? LMAO.
I haven’t had any personal xperience with a DRY Setups…only hear gossip about it, like :
They burnt rather easy if u beat on it unlike a wet set up.
Last shorter (Finicky ?)
Rattle (i have seen it working, noisy fuc%*$#) , Down to personal preferences.
Smooth like an ON/OFF Switch ?
Something POSITIVE that does come to mind is not having all that clutch material floating on my oil ALL THE TIME eating slowly but surely at my engine’s internals…the filter can only do so much.
Able to use really slick oil with super fancy friction reduction additives ? (No more worries about if the clutch will slip) = more engine protection = longer engine life ?
Sorry for the hijack, guys.
I guess I wasnt that clear on the clutch issue. Wet = good imho. I DO have dry clutch experience, they heat up and start to grab and change adjustment. Noisy! Wear fast! Suck!