Remember when Mr. Wizard explained Newton’s First Law of Motion by setting a table and whipping the tablecloth out from underneath all the cups, plates, and utensils? We won’t spoil the outcome for you, but here’s a hint: that Newton fellow was onto something. Applying some physics of the their own, BMW has a video which takes the tablecloth trick to its next logical motorcycling related progression. Check it out after the jump.
You may remember that six month’s ago we published a rumor that AMA Pro Racing was considering the idea of adding a Harley-Davidson XR1200 spec racing class. Today, that rumor became reality as AMA Pro Racing announced at the Daytona Bike Week that it would be adding the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series to its calendar. The painful press release and our colorful commentary after the jump.
Usually when you see a video of lovely lady standing next to a motorcycle at an FIM sanctioned event, she’s holding an umbrella. Well the FIM is hoping to change that perception a bit, and is serving up this video with its resident ladies of motorcycling talking about what they do best. Featuring Leslie Porterfield (FIM World LSR Holder), Livia Lancelot (FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion) and Laia Sanz (FIM Women’s Trial World Champion), the video is a part of the new FIM campaign called “Women Ride” that hopes to encourage more femme fatal in our two-wheeled sport.
When was the last time you saw someone seriously rethink how a motorcycle seat functions and operates? To our knowledge this design from Brit Brothers is the first real attempt to rethink what our butts have known all along. With its eye catching design, and roller-style seat, Brit Bros says their seat has numerous benefits over your standard foam wrapped in vinyl garden variety seat, including the ability to help tame a high-side crash.
Nicolas Petit, a 25 year old Frenchman who lives just outside of Paris, is a motorcycle mechanic by day, and motorcycle sketcher by night. With already an impressive resume of motorcycle design sketches and renders to his name, we think Nicolas can add one more stunning example to the list: the Ducati Desmosedici RR Trike concept. We’re not huge fans of trikes here at A&R, but when you base your concept off one of the most powerful streetbikes ever created, it certainly catches our attention.
By now you’ve surely read about MotoCzysz’s new eDD and it’s “suitcase” chassis design. Recently Asphalt & Rubber got a chance to take a peak into the Portland, Oregon based company’s service bay and take a closer look at the 2009 E1pc D1g1tal Superbike, with a specific interest in its quick-release swappable batteries and unique chassis design. We’ll be covering these innovations in a two-part series, starting today with a never before seen look at the MotoCzysz battery packs. More and photos from Peter Lombardi Kustom Photography after the jump.
Ever wonder what great action footage of the 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 would be like if you set it to the music commonly found in a piano bar? Well never fear, Ducati has the answer for you. Watch the Multistrada 1200 take on four different riding situations without missing a beat. Beat! Get it! Uggh…we don’t get paid enough for this. Video after the jump.
Today MotoCzysz is announcing its Electric D1g1tal Dr1ve (eDD), better known to us as “the suitcase”, which is essentially the housing for the E1pc’s proprietary controller, motor, and batteries. MotoCzysz will be using the eDD on their 2010 E1pc D1g1tal Superbike, and intends on letting other teams use the suitcase as well, helping fill the grid at electric motorcycle races.
This announcement is important on a variety of levels, and most electric motorcycling enthusiasts will be interested to get their first glimpse at technology beind Michael Czysz’s 2010 E1pc D1g1tal Superbike, which will for sure be at the TT Zero race at the Isle of Man this year. The suitcase contains MotoCzysz proprietary battery, motor, and controller designs, which are setting the bar higher in electric motorcycle racing.
Erik Buell Racing has just updated its website, and releasd the first real clear shot of what the EBR 1190RR will look like it in its racing form. With 185hp being made at the rear-wheel (according to the optimistic DynoJet dynamometer), the EBR 1190RR sits at the top of the Buell totem poll.
Based off the 1125R chassis, the 1190RR is virtually anorexic, dropping 30lbs off the AMA Daytona Superbike racing machine, while still bumping up displacement by 65cc’s. With 93lb•ft of torque on hand at 9,500 RPM, the EBR 1190RR is sure to sling your eye balls into the back of your head…if you can find a racing series to race it in.
“Greed, for lack of a better word…is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms: greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge, has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save motorcycling, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.”
I hope this passes! I’m planning to move to Austin in the future (from California) and I can’t imagine riding without lane splitting. I know that riders will lane split on MoPac when it is stopped and I would probably do so but I’d feel a lot better about doing it if it were legal.
Most other countries in the world except and EXPECT lane splitting and their roads are often considerably tighter than ours. It’s time the US (the people even more so than the government) realizes that active support of any form of transportation that lessens pollution, congestion, etc, is important.
RT @Asphalt_Rubber #motorcycle “Texas Considering Allowing Lane-Splitting” – http://tinyurl.com/bojvch
Join the Facebook cause trying to get this legal everywhere! http://apps.facebook.com/causes/113221?m=91e6b129
Done!
If my moto friends aren’t total butt heads, the group should hit 1000 in the next few days. I invited about 50 people (I never send out invites except for Scrabble) and they should bring in the remaining.
I agree. Lane splitting should be legal. Not just here but everywhere. I havn’t ridden a motorcycle in over 25 years so have no current vested interest. But I totally understand the desire.
Motorcycle engines are hot and need air flow to keep the bike and the biker cool. Sitting in traffic does not make sense if there is room to move between cars. Lane splitting helps keep traffic flowing. This makes it better for everyone.
A bike is quick and agile and can quickly give a car much more room by just getting up and out of the way.
Bikers are safer between two lanes of cars than when in front / behind. They are less likely to get rear-ended sitting in the middle of two lanes.
It did not pass according to the Department of Public Safety.
I’ve been riding on the steet in the DFW area for many years – I can tell you that the mind set of people driving here IS NOT condusive to safe lane splitting. Strangely, the females are very aggresive with blocking , cutting off, etc…against bikes. I can’t imagine how they would respond if a bike passes their door 9″ away! This ain’t California boys!
Helmets? check. Not more than 5mph than rest of traffic? Hmmm… ok. trafic can not be going at more than 20mph. Right.