Blurred to protect against spoilers, we’ll just leave things simply by saying that World Superbike’s Race 2 at Donington Park is well worth a watching if you haven’t already seen it. Decided right down to the last few turns, race pundits surely will be discussing the race and its outcome over the next week. Unsurprisingly, geography is playing a major a role in how things are being viewed. Though in a race where a number of questionable passes occurred, it is hard to single out this one event from the plethora of others that occurred during the race, but of course this one had the biggest effect on the race outcome. Click past the jump for the he said, she said, and of course for some slightly sharper photos.
More news from Norton, as the British firm has begun track-testing its V4 road race bike, in preparation of the 2012 Isle of Man TT. Focusing on the bike’s handling, Norton has been working hand-in-hand with Öhlins and Dunlop developing the bike’s chassis. The trio has devised the highly sophisticated “165 mph no hands” test, which supposedly checks the stability of the bike, though we imagine Health & Safety would frown upon it. With the bike’s Aprilia RSV4 motor putting out 195hp at the crank, and with the total race package weighing 419 lbs (195 kg) when it is sopping wet, the Spondon-framed Norton may not be exactly what fans of the famous marques were hoping for after seeing the very appealing Norton NRV 588, though it does seem to be a potent package.
Launching in downtown Los Angeles, the 2012 Brammo Empulse R & 2013 Brammo Empulse broke their cover and officially debuted. Right off the bat from the designations, you can see that Brammo intends for the Empulse R to be a 2012 model, with the base model Emuplse coming out next year (more on that further down). As we expected, the Brammo Empulse R got quite the price bump after its 22-month marination, and will be $18,995 MSRP. Meanwhile when the Brammo Empulse becomes available next year, it will have a slightly more palatable $16,995 price tag.
While the EBR 1190RS race bikes were on the track, their $40,000+ street-legal counterparts were on display outside of the Erik Buell Racing garage. Rocking an American flag livery, I naturally took pictures of this show bike. Eye catching to say the least, nothing says “Made in ‘merica” better than a red, white, and blue color scheme, especially when it is laid over carbon fiber. And while I want to love this bike because of its nuances and outside-of-the-box technical design, I don’t.
If there’s one lesson we can take from Sunday’s race at Estoril, it’s this: “I’ve always said we know Casey’s the guy that’s the fastest guy in the world. Maybe over the seasons he hasn’t put the championships together, but by far he’s the best guy in the world.” Cal Crutchlow is not known for mincing his words, and his description of Casey Stoner pulls no punches. But given the fact that Stoner only managed to win the Portuguese round of MotoGP by a second and a bit, is that not a little exaggerated?
Brammo is back for electric motorcycle racing in the North American TTXGP series, as the Ashland-based company is set to defend it’s #1 plate this year with Steve Atlas on board ( Shelina Moreda is slated to join the team later in the season). Gaining a title sponsorship from Icon, Brammo arrived at Sears Point with some edgy graphics on the 2012 Brammo Empulse RR. Dropping roughly 35 lbs in weight, and gaining roughly 50hp over the bike they ran at last year’s season opener, Brammo is making most of those gains in its revised motor and power inverter for the newest Empulse RR.
As you can imagine, the bulk of the commentary, both from readers and from professional journalists, has centered around the absurdity of the claim, with even jokes being offered about how an aged BMW rider should be thanking the German motorcycle brand for saving him money on Viagra, etc. The situation reminds me of the McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit. You know the story, right?. A woman buys a cup of coffee at McDonald’s, spills it on herself while in the car, and sues the bastards for her incompetence. True to litigious American form, the unthinkable happened, and a jury awarded this gold-digging woman millions of dollars. It is repudiating, and it stands for everything that is wrong with the legal system, or so we would be lead to believe — especially by the media.
Never say never, but few are expecting Valentino Rossi to hang up his spurs at the end of the 2012 MotoGP Championship. Going out on a career low-point is certainly not the Italian’s style, especially as it casts a particularly dark shadow on a career that has enjoyed the bright-light superlative of “Greatest of All Time” from some of motorcycling’s most knowledgeable sources. Hoping to cast that phrase with an underlined typeface, and not with an interrogatory question mark, there is sufficient evidence to believe that Rossi will want to end his career in a way that will leave no doubt about the nine-time World Champion’s abilities. The question of course is how those final seasons will play out, and who they will be with.
Just a little over a year later, debris from the Sendai earthquake and its subsequent tsunami is starting to make its way across the Pacific Ocean, with the first bit major piece of fallout to hit Canadian soil just now being reported. Though the effects to the motorcycle industry were only a small portion of the overall devastation, for our purposes it seems fitting that the first sizable item to wash ashore is a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Landing in the Haida Gwaii islands of British Columbia, the Harley-Davidson Softail was discovered by Peter Mark, who was riding his ATV along the coast of the isolated beach.
After a four-hour ride on his motorcycle, one BMW owner realized that he had a problem. Namely, a problem with his erect penis, which after some waiting would not subside. Now while most of us would cheekily reply that such a state is the sign of a good motorcycle ride, this San Francisco Bay Area native is not laughing, and has filed suit in the Superior Court of San Francisco County (CGC-12-520316) against BMW Motorrad North American and Corbin-Pacific. Saying that the motorcycle and its dealer-installed custom motorcycle seat have caused priapism, the man is suing for lost wages, personal injury, medical expenses, product liability, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Yes.
:)
Ok, now make it a reality. PopCorn is being pop’d as i type and my L.A.Z.Y Boy recliner in position.
On a side note, wasn’t the 125cc 4T Mini-RSV4 looking thing suposed to be here too already ? Or was that all just a Bad Dream ?
I hope Aprilia reconsider it’s crazy idea and bump it to 250cc + for the USA Market.
That would be too expensive for low volume manufacture like Aprilia to make a 250 (engine they don’t have right now). I don’t think the 125 was ever confirmed reliably for US market. Canada has had some success with CBR125 and they didn’t get the Aprilia 125 ….
KTM 350 in street legal sport bike trim … my wallet is opening right now. 40ishHP, under 300lbs …. sounds like something many people would love, incl. myself
@MXS:
IMHO squeezing 40hp out of a 350cc single would put un-desirable traits on it for a street bike (not impossible but the periodic maintenance intervals would be Aprilia SXV450/550 SHORT ).
Maybe something along the 30-35hp range ? … again… just gessing by what i have seen/heard.
Yes, i doubt the whole Aprilia thing will ever happen in any form or shape but hey… like the crazy professor from Futurama said:
A man can dream, a man can dream.
I want one… The 350-500 cc range of bikes are seriously under-represented…
If the KTM Moto3 350 bike will be nice and peaky, reminiscent of my old RD400 Daytona Special, sign me up.
Being a Ducati guy, I have naturally been intrigued by the RC8. Hoping to get my hands on one later this year. If the KTM full fairings 350 makes in over here, and I enjoy the RC8 as much as I think I will, you can bet I will be selliing my 800ss to have an RC8 mini me…. LOL
Confirmed: KTM 350 Duke in 2013 – Moto3 Inspired 350cc Sport Bike in 2014 – http://t.co/jrUG3XpY #motorcycle
A fully-faired version of the KTM 350 Duke ? At last my dreams come true.
(if they had one today I would buy one today and I mean that)
MikeD says:
January 25, 2012 at 3:37 PM
IMHO squeezing 40hp out of a 350cc single would put un-desirable traits on it for a street bike.
Hello I’m Italian, here the Duke 200 cc. has just been launched and it developes 26hp., so maybe 40hp for a 350 cc. is possible (26 / 200 * 350 = 45,5).
Duke 200 is not actually on sale but dealers are already accepting orders (at € 4290, just a bit more than the 125 Duke) as it will be available on may 2012. I sat on the 200 at EICMA last november, almost identical to the 125 apart from the sticker on tank.
I came to this forum because I’m regularly scannering the web in search for news about the 350 Duke wich is my definite DREAM BIKE ! Today I’m an happy man.
Now just do the same to the 690 Duke!
I would love a fully faired street legal, 350-500 cc race rep. Can’t really get one in the states. Would have to get an old Yamaha SR500 and make your own, lol.
How cool…….. That’ll be a great alterative to a Kawi 250 or even the Honda… Keep it reallly light, single cylinder, and sexy ass hell!!!!
>>>Hello I’m Italian, here the Duke 200 cc. has just been launched and it developes 26hp
At the crank I suppose.
The Honda CBR 250 R produces 22.6 bhp and the Kawa Ninja 250R does 26.4 at the rear wheel.
BBQdog says: At the crank I suppose.
The Honda CBR 250 R produces 22.6 bhp and the Kawa Ninja 250R does 26.4 at the rear wheel.
Oh yes, at the crank. Official KTM’s 2012 Catalogue in my hands says: “26 hp @ 10.000 rpm”. No figures about torque. An Indian web site seen today has a road test of this tiny beauty launched yesterday on that market (the home market !) and declares a top speed of 135 kmh on the gauge.
Yes CBR an Ninjia are more powerful, but with a bigger displacement and a higher weight (126 kg the Duke 200, w/out fuel) and… much less sex appeal – don’t you think so ? :)
OH YES! Now we are talking. Leave it to a company of enthusiasts like KTM to build the road-going mini GP bike we always wanted…
Hope this revitalizes the small-bore sportbike segment!
My DRZ400 is well under stressed (guys are moding the crap out of it; 45HP with pipe and few other things) and it’s rated I believe at 33HP. So I am usre KTM can do 40ish with their 350. It will be much lighter I hope, so even 35ish would still be fun with reasonable oil changes without compromising reliability. To me anyways.
Enrico says:
Official KTM’s 2012 Catalogue in my hands says: “26 hp @ 10.000 rpm”. No figures about torque. An Indian web site seen today has a road test of this tiny beauty launched yesterday on that market (the home market !) and declares a top speed of 135 kmh on the gauge.
Yes CBR an Ninjia are more powerful, but with a bigger displacement and a higher weight (126 kg the Duke 200, w/out fuel) and… much less sex appeal – don’t you think so ? :)
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26hp ? Not bad. 135km/h(~83mph) on the dream-o-meter ? Not bad either unless ur planning on never getting on the highway… and stick to an urban setting.
But im almost positive we’ll never see this bike on this side of the Atlantic.
Here (USA) in the land of “If it doesn’t have fairings tuff luck selling that” and “Bigger(heavier is better)” i also doubt it would do better than both the Honda and Kawasaki.
I certainly can apreciate it for what it is, a FRUGAL, GOOD LOOKING, LITE motorcycle…i bet it would make a good daily beater but knowing KTM it would cost a MINI-FORTUNE compared to the other 2 bikes i previously mentioned…and to gain what compared to those 2 ?
And im sure geting parts for it takes longer than any of the Nihongo OEMs.
But they try…i’ll give them that much.
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RJ says:
Leave it to a company of enthusiasts like KTM to build the road-going mini GP bike we always wanted…
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Ok…..but at what cost ? Have u seen KTM’s prices even before the economy got in the toilet ? Not cheap exactly. I wouldn’t pay Ninja 650 $$$ for such a bike…wich im sure they will love to make it’s MSRP…HOPE im wrong…besides…there’s no hard evidence yet such delicacy will come to the USA, YET.
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mxs says:
January 26, 2012 at 4:06 PMMy DRZ400 is well under stressed (guys are moding the crap out of it; 45HP with pipe and few other things) and it’s rated I believe at 33HP. So I am usre KTM can do 40ish with their 350. It will be much lighter I hope, so even 35ish would still be fun with reasonable oil changes without compromising reliability. To me anyways.
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Coming from a real world user(you)…i’ll take that with a grain of salt.
Personally i have never owned a single…so my xperience is limited to what i read on forums.
The price stated as introductory price in India is INR 1,17,000 ex-showroom.That
equates to USD 2350.
jithin says: “The price stated as introductory price in India is INR 1,17,000 ex-showroom. That
equates to USD 2350″
I’m afraid there’ll be no way we Europeans and you Americans will get the 350 for that bargain price, unfortunately :(
Let’s do some estimates:
Italian market TODAY: Duke 125cc € 4133; Duke 200cc € 4290 (launch price announced); CBR250cc € 4435; Ninja 250cc € 5230.
Non-exotic 600cc naked are selling at about € 6000/ € 7000: Kawa ER-6N, Yamaha XJ6.
I would imagine (and hope) a price slightly higher than € 5000 for the Duke 350.
Now it’s up to you to convert these figures in US$ and adapt them to your market.
Why would you take it with a grain of salt? LOL …. Singles are great, city or around town kind of a bike. They will do hwy obviously, but you’d be on a wrong bike if that’s where you spend most of the time (I guess you have to, otherwise I cannot imagine why. Unless you live in Florida or something …). Yes they vibrate more than multicylinder bike, but you take the bad with the tons of good … :-)
BTW, posting prices from different regions is close to useless, because there so much more into it than just conversion. Just ask a Canadian how do they like paying anywhere between 15-30% more on bikes and cars when compared to US prices. Be prepared for the outpour of an anger …. we’ve been milked for decades, so prices in India, are just that, prices in India. Prices in Italy are just prices in Italy.
jithin says:
January 27, 2012 at 4:42 AMThe price stated as introductory price in India is INR 1,17,000 ex-showroom.That
equates to USD 2350.
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The rest of the world will see those prices when a cure for AIDS, CANCER is discovered, Muslims treat their women like persons and when world hunger don’t exist.
iN other words…NEVER.
mxs says:
January 27, 2012 at 10:09 AMWhy would you take it with a grain of salt? LOL …. Singles are great, city or around town kind of a bike. They will do hwy obviously, but you’d be on a wrong bike if that’s where you spend most of the time (I guess you have to, otherwise I cannot imagine why. Unless you live in Florida or something …). Yes they vibrate more than multicylinder bike, but you take the bad with the tons of good … :-)
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U nailed it, good old FL(Miami to be precise)…no tight curves, elevation changes…nothing but straight roads, really wide long curves(when u find one), no Canyons or Hills…all that stuff people deem not exciting elsewhere in bikerdom.
And people still wonder why there’s so many ‘Busas around…LOL.
Yup, most of the time is highway for me (at night time, less traffic too), TOO DANGEROUS to drive on the streets…to many IDIOT CAGERS, too much traffic and no one is bike aware…to them ur like a Deer wondering into and IN oncoming traffic. Like some kind of “game animal”.
Heck, here u see on the news pretty often people just ran over cause they where trying to cross the road…on a bike it just makes it more xciting i guess for the killers.