PPIHC: Carlin Dunne Sets Outright Best Motorcycle Time at Pikes Peak Tire Test on a Lightning Motorcycle

The competitors for the 91st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb have just concluded a two-day tire test at the Colorado road course, and it should perhaps come as no surprise that our boy Carlin Dunne has posted the outright fastest lap for a motorcycle during the tire test (the Santa Barbara native set the outright two-wheeled course record last year on his Ducati Multistrada 1200 S). What is surprising about Carlin’s result at the tire test is that he was on the Lightning Motorcycles electric superbike. That’s right, the fastest bike so far for 2013′s Race to the Clouds is a 200+ hp electric superbike that is refueled with solar energy. Petrol heads, eat your heart out.

Report: Indianapolis “Opting-Out” of 2014 MotoGP Race?

Talking to the Indy Star, Mark Miles (CEO of Hulman & Co, the parent company to Indianapolis Motor Speedway) has put some doubt into the historic venue’s commitment to host the MotoGP Championship. Having a contract to run the race through the 2014 season, Miles said that IMS might opt-out of the final year in its agreement with Dorna (IMS apparently has this option for a brief window after the 2013 Indianapolis GP). However while the news has focused so far on IMS’s ability to opt-out, both Dorna and Indianapolis Motor Speedway have options in their contract to go through with the 2014 round, and with a bevy of variables in the air, we may or may not see three American GP rounds next year.

2014 Yamaha FZ-09 – Three Cylinders of Naked

Surprise! America will be getting a 847cc three-cylinder naked bike for the 2014 model year, the 2014 Yamaha FZ-09. Replacing the Yamaha FZ8 in the Japanese company’s line-up, the FZ-09 is the first motorcycle from the tuning fork brand to sport the Yamaha’s new line of three-cylinder engines. The Yamaha FZ-09 comes about as the MIC is reporting its second-consecutive year of growth in the 751+cc sport bike segment, as well as increase in commuter riding over short-distance sport riding. With those trends in mind, Yamaha has punched out the displacement on its middleweight naked bike, and focused on giving riders a comfortable, yet stout, motorcycle. Priced at $7,990 MSRP, we think Yamaha hit the nail pretty much on the head with this one.

Trackside Tuesday: The Mind-Killer

In the past few years I’ve come to believe that, while superior physical differences (their reflexes and fine motor skills) are significant, it’s the mental differences that are the most interesting. I suppose anyone who has ridden a motorcycle even a bit beyond one’s comfort zone can appreciate some part of the physical aspect of riding a racing bike. For most of us, even the speed of racers in local events is impressive compared to our street riding. While the skills with throttle, brakes, and balance are on a level similar to the best athletes in other sports, I think that what really sets motorcycle racers apart is their ability to overcome fear.

Video: Still Think Electric Motorcycles Are Slow?

The progress in the last five years on electric motorcycles has been astounding. Taking their first laps around the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, a 87.434 mph pace was the best an electric motorcycle could do at the prestigious road race in 2009 — a pace that was on par with the 50cc record set in 1971. In just five years after the first laps were taken by electric motorcycles at Snaefell, these machines have grown their average lap speeds by over 20 mph at the TT Zero race, setting a new record of 109.675 mph in 2013, and boasting a rate of improvement of roughly 5 mph each year since 2009. If hitting 142.2 mph down the Sulby Straight speed trap wasn’t further proof of the speeds these bikes are achieving, maybe some visual evidence will help support the notion.

Here’s Your Feel Good Moment of the Week — Now, What’s Your Excuse for Not Riding Today?

Darius Glover is a dirt bike racer. Like you and me, he lives to ride, and when he is on two-wheels he feels the freedom that only other motorcyclists can truly understand. The thing is though, Darius is paralyzed from the waist down. Where others would give up their dreams and this sport, Darius at the age of 15 instead pushed onward. No pity parties, no excuses, just simply a daily example of where there is a will, there is a way, and a reminder that you can achieve anything that you put your mind to. It’s hard not to get a bit choked up listening to Darius tell his story, but you walk away feeling uplifted after feeling his attitude come across the screen.

Erzberg Rodeo – Red Bull’s S&M Playhouse for Motorcycles

Any race where 1,500 riders start, 500 qualify, and only 14 finish, has got to be an epic competition, and considering the fact that the Erzberg Rodeo starts in the excavation pit of an Austrian mine…well, it takes a special rider to be enticed by such an event. One such special rider is Graham Jarvis, who was the first of the fourteen men to reach the 20th and final checkpoint. Taking 2 hours and 52 seconds to complete the course, Jarvis made the 2013 Erzberg Rodeo look downright easy. However, with one look at the race-day conditions from this past weekend, we know it was anything but.

Controlling the Uncontrollable – The Role of Ritual in Racing

While normally, MotoGP fans never get enough of seeing Valentino Rossi on TV, there is one shot they would (for the most part) gladly be spared. As he leaves the pits, Rossi stands on the footpegs, and pulls his leathers from between his buttocks, before sitting back down again and leaving. These rituals – part useful limbering up, part invocation of Lady Luck – are something many riders perform, in their attempt to exert control over themselves, and over their environment. In a fascinating press release – by far the most interesting we have received in many months – the Aspar team today provided a discussion and explanation of what riders are trying to achieve through the use of these rituals.

Up-Close with the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc

Hoping to make it four wins in a row, it goes without saying that the MotoCzysz crew is working hard to close the gap to the John McGuinness and the Mugen team. However, having Team Principal Michael Czysz stuck back in the US, undergoing cancer treatments, must certainly add another level of motivation for the on-island MotoCzysz crew. Making time in their busy schedule, Asphalt & Rubber got to take some up-close photos of the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc. The most obvious changes made to the MotoCzysz E1pc for the 2013 TT Zero race are the use conventional suspension pieces. Of course, it’s not a completely standard suspension setup, as MotoCzysz has developed its own adjustable triple clamp that incorporates tunable lateral flex parameters.

MotoGP: Max Biaggi To Test Ben Spies’s Ducati at Mugello, Michele Pirro To Replace Spies at Barcelona

Max Biaggi is to make a surprise return to riding a MotoGP machine. The former 250 and World Superbike champion will take a seat on Ben Spies’ Ignite Pramac Ducati as part of a one-day test at Mugello, as part of Ducati’s testing program, according to Italian site GPOne. Spies was scheduled to stay on at Mugello to take part in a two-day test, but after the first day of practice at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, it was clear to both Spies and Ducati that his shoulder was still too weak to ride a MotoGP machine. With work continuing on the Desmosedici, it was important for Ducati to get as much data as possible on their bike, and so Biaggi was offered the chance to ride the machine.

250cc Yamaha Sport Bike in the Works

10/30/2012 @ 4:42 pm, by Jensen Beeler32 COMMENTS

News coming out of India and Southeast Asia (which Cycle World is bizarrely taking credit for starting, despite being months late to the party), is that Yamaha is set to debut a 250cc sport bike for the world market. Said to be visually similar to the Yamaha YZF-R6 (concept sketch above), the quarter-liter four-stroke machine is certainly a response to the recent offerings from Honda and Kawasaki.

Expected to be a 2013 or 2014 model, we will almost certainly get our first glimpse of the bike, or its concept, at the upcoming 2012 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. With details about the “Yamaha YZF-R250″ being scarce, we would wager a 2014 launch date, but as always, time will tell. Expect pricing to be sub-$5,000 though, with optional ABS.

With advent of the Kawasaki Ninja 300 this year, and the Honda CBR250R last year, as well as the news of the KTM 390 Duke for next year, the small-displacement sport bike segment in North America is starting to gain traction with the OEMs. With bikes like the Kawasaki Ninja 250R topping the single-model sales charts in the United States, it is not as if quarter-liter bikes, and their progeny, have struggled in North America, but the small-displacement learners have been handicapped from being marketed as such: small-displacement bikes suitable only for new riders.

With motorcycle OEMs bringing a new level of sophistication to the small-displacement realm, a sort of quarter-liter renaissance may well be upon us, and it could very well become “cool” to ride a motorcycle with less than 600cc in the sport-biking community. This sentiment certainly seems to be the case with the KTM 125 Duke, which debuted in 2010, and has been winning hearts ever since.

Even Suzuki seems to be getting in on the action, with news that the Suzuki GW250 will be coming to Canada next year (and the United States as well?). Reading more like a stop-gap measure until the Japanese brand can offer a more compelling 250cc offering to go against the Honda, Kawasaki, and now Yamaha, Suzuki doesn’t quite seem to understand what all the fuss is about, but is at least getting with the program.

Will we see the same from the other European brands? Or will the misconceptions regarding “brand dilution” prevent the marketing hacks from seeing the potential in this space? Time will tell on this one as well.

Source: Indian Cars Bikes & Visordown

Tagged under: 2013, 2014, 250cc, small-displacement, Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R250, YZF-R250

Comment:

YoooMama says:
October 30, 2012 at 4:51 PM
If it looked like that I would most certainly put one in the stable.
Sixty7 says:
October 30, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Thats boring…..can’t any of these Japanese manufactures produce something with a little bit of character or soul….just looks like a r6 ffs
Sean in Oz says:
October 30, 2012 at 6:17 PM
Lets hope its got more power than the pathetic CBR250R.
I rode it and a Vespa GT300 scooter on the same tight little track and the Vespa was MUCH more fun … and sporting!
Minibull says:
October 30, 2012 at 6:18 PM
“With motorcycle OEMs bringing a new level of sophistication to the small-displacement realm”
Really? I know in the USA you didn’t get any of the late 80′s/early 90′s 250 bikes…a 250cc 4 cylinder CBR with gear driven cams that could spit out 45hp in 1989 is sophistication in my books…plus a twin disc setup and proper sport bike ergos, etc.
Westward says:
October 30, 2012 at 6:47 PM
I am a little bias towards Yamaha when it comes to Japanese bikes, and as much as I like the Ninja 250r and the CBR250r, an entry by Yamaha or Ducati is what I was waiting for. I would love to have one with MotoGP liveries for track days or just toiling around town…
Jim Race says:
October 30, 2012 at 7:39 PM
There have been concept drawings of the Yamaha 250 going all the way back to when Kawasaki re-vamped the 250R in 2008. Translation? I’ll believe it when I see it. If they make it a single, they’re (to put it politely) fooked.
-jim
Mitch says:
October 30, 2012 at 9:28 PM
Dangit, can they start making naked or UJM versions of these bikes instead of poser style race reps? I have a 600 track bike, I don’t want to putt around on the street on something that looks fast but isn’t.
bemer2six says:
October 30, 2012 at 9:45 PM
Why in God’s name would anybody make a 250 sport bike? you could get your self killed on some thing like that
lovard says:
October 30, 2012 at 11:41 PM
I have to agree with minibull, having ridden many of the early to mid 90s 250cc sportsbikes, with 4 cylinder DOHC 16valve engines operating at 18000 RPM, fully adjustable suspension, twin disc brakes etc. These new brred of “sporty” 250s are beyond tame, I’m pretty sure suzuki even had a variable valve timing version in the 250cc bandit. CBR250RR, YZFR2, ZXR250R, even commuter bikes like the suzuki across GSX250F, had similar specs.
Then there were the off-the-wall 400cc sports bikes of the same era, all great small capacity bikes, the trouble is finding a decent one given they were generally thrashed and are now getting up to 20 years old.
Meeting the emissions regulations might the the sticking point I suspect. But the fun factor is huge. I ridden lots of bikes on the track and the most fun I ever had was on a CBR250RR, at 6’2″ it wasn’t the most comfortable I’ve been and maybe I’m just not good enough to really enjoy all the power 1000cc provides?
やまと says:
October 30, 2012 at 11:54 PM
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: 250cc Yamaha Sport Bike in the Works http://t.co/DqrHs7mN　とうとう来たのか!!？　
TexusTim says:
October 31, 2012 at 12:22 AM
well now the mini 250 sprint and endurance racing teams will have another to choose from…nice
守島裕輝 says:
October 31, 2012 at 1:31 AM
ヤマハ、R6似の250ccスポーツバイクを早ければ来年にもリリース予定。詳しいスペックは分からんがシングルかな RT @Asphalt_Rubber: 250cc Yamaha Sport Bike in the Works – http://t.co/JYEK0i1F
JD says:
October 31, 2012 at 2:36 AM
You know what I see?
Is somebody stuffing a R6 engine in that bitch
Damo says:
October 31, 2012 at 5:04 AM
@lovard
“I have to agree with minibull, having ridden many of the early to mid 90s 250cc sportsbikes, with 4 cylinder DOHC 16valve engines operating at 18000 RPM, fully adjustable suspension, twin disc brakes etc. ”
While I totally agree that would be awesome, a 250cc bike like that would have to retail for about $7,000USD with all that kit. At that point I could just buy a Street Triple.
I got a 2011 CBR250 for the wife this year and I often steal it for commuting duty. (My everyday ride is an RC51 SP2)
I love the CBR250, the ergos are spot on and if the weather is a bad (which it often is in New England) I don’t worry about 140 rear wheel horsepower spitting me into a ditch.
As far as NEW bikes go, the CBR250 is about the best thing $4000 can get. If you are in the used market for a good all around bike, just get a second generation SV650.
Minibull says:
October 31, 2012 at 5:45 AM
“While I totally agree that would be awesome, a 250cc bike like that would have to retail for about $7,000USD with all that kit. At that point I could just buy a Street Triple.”
I don’t see it costing that much. Sadly, the reason it was done is that there was a huge market in Japan for small, but sporty and powerful bikes. Something to do with their big bike regulation and restrictions.
Thing is, these engines we’re designed and made 20 years ago…with modern materials and engineering, I’m sure they could easily match the output, and keep costs fairly low. Thing is, would they sell…who knows. I’d be in though, you have no idea how much fun they are XD
I managed to ride my FZR250 back to back with a new Ninja 250… about the only cool thing on the new 250 was a fuel gauge…
Damo says:
October 31, 2012 at 6:51 AM
@minibull
I wish we would have got the old CBR250RR in the States when I was learning to ride. It would have been a better idea for me than going out and buying a 900cc+ sportbike to learn on (which I did and crashed twice)
I agree the new 250cc bikes aren’t terribly exciting, but for city/commuting duty or as a learners bike they are fantastic.
My wife’s first bike was 1995 Triumph Speed Triple, which may be the most top heavy bike ever produced and she had no end of annoyance with it. So sold it and got the CBR250, now she is riding with confidence and ready to upgrade in the spring.
JoeD says:
October 31, 2012 at 9:34 AM
I rode a 70′s vintage Aermacchi 250 last year and it had much better power delivery and handling competence than the so called modern bikes of the same size. Such is progress.
Mitch says:
October 31, 2012 at 1:41 PM
If you made a 250cc bike with all the go fast bits today’s 600s have, and with an engine with the same complexity, you’re going to get the same price. Engine size is not an aspect that affects MSRP, engine output/technical spec is.
Miguel Sousa says:
October 31, 2012 at 4:07 PM
Amei RT @RICKI19: @PokerAlho46 perfect for u RT @Asphalt_Rubber 250cc Yamaha Sport Bike in the Works – http://t.co/hmC1r3N3 #motorcycle
sicoy says:
October 31, 2012 at 5:59 PM
waaahhhh,,, battle of yamaha vs kawasaki vs honda…
MikeD says:
October 31, 2012 at 6:45 PM
POP-CORN ready, LA-Z Boy fully reclined. Let’s see it now.
Im affraid that it will be more like a “rolling chasis” YZF-R125 with a VERY BASIC (SOHC) 250 in it (perhaps a hot rodded version of what comes on the now “EFI’ed for 2012″ XT250 ?)…but that lump is air cooled ! wouldn’t that be a NO NO for this application ?
The one on the WR250X ? Naaahh (that would be just too good[$$$] to be true)…can’t wait to be shown otherwise.
Trane Francks says:
November 1, 2012 at 1:09 AM
“Sadly, the reason it was done is that there was a huge market in Japan for small, but sporty and powerful bikes. Something to do with their big bike regulation and restrictions.”
Two words: Tiered licensing. Most people toodle around on 250s here in Japan, with 400s still being the top-spec bikes. It can be a challenge for somebody to get a big-bore license here, so the Japanese manufacturers have typically offered top-drawer kit in lower displacements. They cost a lot, but back in the day when you had 250cc GP racing on the calendar, spending a bundle for a racy 250 or 400 didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Unlike North America, where unless you’ve got more cubes than pubes, you’re nothin’ at the bar.
Minibull says:
November 1, 2012 at 3:24 AM
Not so much tiered licensing, but IIRC it was massive tax on big bikes or something. Kinda kept alot of people off 750+ bikes, so the manufacturers took advantage of that and made some brilliant small bikes which they sold a lot of.
And don’t worry, I know what you are talking about regarding tiered licenses and all that. I’m from NZ, had 5 years on a 250 ;)
BBQdog says:
November 2, 2012 at 10:51 AM
If it is going to be another 155 kg dry weight ‘sports’ bike like the CBR 250 R and the Ninja 250 forget about it and don’t call it a sports bike.
BBQdog says:
November 2, 2012 at 10:56 AM
>>Will we see the same from the other European brands ?
My hope is focussed on an Aprilia RS4 250 …. because I am afraid all those 250′s build in
India/Taiwan etc. are build to last on bad roads and therefor way too heavy for a 250.
MikeD says:
November 2, 2012 at 1:52 PM
RS4 250 ? Hell, we were suposed to have gotten the 125 like 2 years ago i think…but as logic and common sense would have it…..it never did…not that i was holding my breath anyways.
But….maybe we will see it. With the “- than 500cc” classes starting to come to a boil…it just may happen. Fingers crossed (and NO MORE Thumpers, Please!!!) save those for dirt bikes and go karts…im cool with “sewing machine sound, electric motor power delivery” manners.
Or maybe they should VERY LIGHTLY de-tune the 450-550 twins, add MUCH NEEDED oil capacity a la KTM LC8, xtending oil change intervals to 6000miles and perhaps if is not asking too much 16k miles valve clearance checks ? slap it on a RS4 125 rolling chasis and call it a new model and a day.
Trane Francks says:
November 2, 2012 at 4:54 PM
“de-tune the 450-550 twins”
No, no, no. Make ‘em so that when they come on the cam, up comes the front wheel without clutch-fanning of any kind. Something terribly peaky and temperamental. Something that you can come off a good hard ride and feel like you accomplished something.
Or buy a used 2-stroke and have at it, I suppose.
MikeD says:
November 2, 2012 at 7:22 PM
Trane said:
No, no, no. Make ‘em so that when they come on the cam, up comes the front wheel without clutch-fanning of any kind. Something terribly peaky and temperamental. Something that you can come off a good hard ride and feel like you accomplished something.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would be cool with such madness too if i could get my side of the bargain. LOL.
So many great engines/platforms……..so little time & $$$.
BBQdog says:
November 3, 2012 at 12:06 AM
@MikeD: …. slap it on a RS4 125 rolling chasis and call it a new model and a day.
What about an extra 6th gear and then put it in the rolling chasis of the former RS 250 ??
MikeD says:
November 3, 2012 at 12:40 PM
Not a bad deal too. Reminded me of this:
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2012/11/01/diy-1000cc-v-twin-2-stroke-project/
BBQdog says:
November 4, 2012 at 1:20 AM
I mean something like this:
http://www.mcnews.com.au/Features/2008/Rapid_RSX550/RSX550_RHS_750p.jpg
Rokshan says:
January 21, 2013 at 4:55 AM
wow,,,

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