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.
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.
I only hope this passes. For the sanity of Arizona motorcyclists. I have ridden on California roads most of my life, where lane sharing is not illegal. Most of that time owning only a motorcycle and no car at all. Non-riders are quick to claim how unsafe it is to do it, but they are also the ones who say motorcycling at all is unsafe (while texting). It is very safe, more efficient for traffic congestion, and better for the environment & roads.
The argument by those opposed to Lane-Sharing is pretty ridiculous and includes things like “What if some stops quickly in front of them?” (you mean while the car is switching lanes?!?), or “What if someone opens there door?” (who the hell opens their door while driving down the road?)
for the most part it’s just people who are easily frightened by passing vehicles or simply don’t like being passed while stuck in traffic.
Having spent a good deal of time in Phoenix, and having to pass through the hot city to get to the new Inde Motor Speedway (which just had it’s first trackday) I’ve noticed that Phoenix freeways have two important characteristics;
1) Speed limits around 55mph, that people adhere to.
2) No helmet laws.
The first point bodes in favor of less-risky conditions for lane-splitters. The second, maybe not so much.
Either way, with summer heat being what it is, let them split. I’d be anxious to get to the wonderful A/C of the closest CycleGear as well!
I’m not opposed to lane splitting, but I’m not sure what a speed limit adds to or takes away from the risk…the article states that “Arizona is considering a bill that would allow Arizonian motorcyclists to lane-split when traffic is stopped.”
RT @skadamo RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Lane-Splitting Bill Proposed in Arizona – http://bit.ly/99MMhG #motorcycle
Cage drivers are never happy with lane splitting because they feel cheated when they are stuck and you are not. If they were smart enough to look at the bigger picture they would realize that if you don’t lane split then you add to the traffic delays just like as another car does, so by splitting lanes you are saving yourself time, but you are saving them some time as well.
Bikers put up with a lot of crap cagers don’t – weather, invisibility syndrome, limited passenger and goods capacity, increased risks, increased police scrutiny, outrageous insurance premiums. The least we can do is benefit in traffic, espeically when it actually reduces delays for other drivers too.
Having lived in CA and split lanes for several years I found it was a huge plus and, if done correctly, not any more dangerous than being stuck in traffic and not splitting lanes is. I was reluctant to try it at first, but found it less stressful and actually had less ‘close calls’ splitting lanes than than I did sitting stuck in traffic on an unprotected bike between angry and impatient enclosed vehicles many times my size and weight.
Coming from Australia where Lane Splitting is Illegal full stop I would support that Bill!
The only time I lane split is when all the vehicles are stationary thus reducing risk severly.
Only idiots get hurt lane splitting, I mean seriously what are they doing…splitting two cars on a corner? Speeding? not watching for cars changing lanes?
Lane-Splitting Bill Proposed in Arizona – http://bit.ly/99MMhG #motorcycle
In my state in Australia it is not illegal. done with consideration – being able to make progress rather than push in front a few cars ahead – it works fine.
I do it daily and a few people don’t like it but lots make extra room – I try not to fight or scare anyone and some gain is good but not at any risk.
Remember it is illegal to threaten someone with a vehicle. And it is stupid to take too many risks.
I have been riding here in Iowa for 16 years and I about took out a lane splitter in San Fran this summer. I understand in congested areas where traffic jams are common but this Ass Clown was lane splitting on a curve and we were all driving 60mph. I went to change lanes and he was about a half second away from eating my bumper.
It needs to be written in the laws that if you (the rider) hits another car while lane splitting then you (the rider) is at fault. It should be no different then passing a car on an open highway because if you hit the car then you are at fault. All liability should be placed on the rider and not the driver of the car (unless in extreme cases where the driver of the car is an ass).
@Silvercbr what you’re describing would’ve been the riders fault if the accident happened. it’s called “reckless driving”
what you’re requesting is a blanket clause saying that cars can say they took out a rider because they were lane-splitting regardless of speed or carelessness of who is actually at fault (this would include low-speed accidents & caging)
if you note in the above article – it states that it would only be allowed in stopped, which by your description of the incident, if it occurred in Arizona would be deemed the riders fault.
I spent 3 years commuting by motorcycle 45 miles each way in the San Francisco Bay Area. On days with heavy traffic (at least half), I lane split carefully and considerately. I never even had a close call, let alone an accident. The stats in California support my experience and support legalizing lane splitting throughout the US. It’s good for traffic, the environment and riders.
I lived in Cali and now AZ, I lane split in Cali when IT IS SAFE TO DO SO, other then that I stay stationary if I dont have enough room. Here in AZ its 120+ during summer and I have to wait with the cars while everyone is enjoying their AC. So I cant wait for this to pass. People complain that its Dangerous, well what isnt. And I keep on hearing that California drivers are used to it, ok, so in time Arizona drivers will get used to it ,over time. This will save lives because we dont have to worry about motorcycle riders passing out on the freeways and streets because of heat strokes.
To those concerned about the ‘less cautious’ riders making it look unsafe, the law just states that the lane sharing must be done in a reasonable and prudent manner. So, the 60+mph knuckleheads are violating that and a few other laws, on top of making us all look bad. On the other hand, I do 50+ miles roundtrip through San Diego traffic, and can not imagine not sharing lanes one or twice a week… It rocks!
I think the anti-lane splitting advocates should have their air conditioning taken away when they are stuck in rush hour on a 115 degree day.
Let’s say, we’ll all wear helmets, and in exchange for that concession, we’ll get to lane split.
Motorcyclists, and the industry as a whole, have done a $#!+ job of explaining this simple fact: while when lane splitting we get where we’re going a lot faster, by staying out of the traffic column and thus by _not_ contributing to the “accordion effect” we actually allow everyone else to get where they’re going a little faster, too.
Individual motorcyclists need to learn that it’s possible to lane-split safely and without freaking out car drivers, at about 95% of the speed you’d travel when lane-splitting like a brain-dead, selfish ass. We’d all better give up that 5% to keep the 95%, because while AZ may be considering it, I can guarantee you that if California put it to a ballot measure, it would be voted down in a heartbeat. Most car drivers resent it.
Bummer, it looks like Gov. Brewer vetoed the bill.