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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The thought that a malfunction in the permantely mounted lock would either instantly stop my front wheel or shear off the brake rotor woudl be enough fo rme to want to avoid this accessory. I want my disk lock a long way away from my rotor when I am moving
That is a brilliant piece of industrial design. I doubt the device is spring loaded so the chance of it engaging while in motion is a non-issue. What is cool is that even if you remove the caliper bolts it is still attached to the disk. If it comes in a more discreet black color even better, but then that might defy the point of it getting a thief’s attention right?
Still, very cool..
Perhaps it IS spring loaded, but in the ‘ALWAYS UNLOCK’ position. Locking it would require u to press it in with the keys, but still as RJ says, the chance of it engaging while in motion is a non-issue.
And even if a thief from unbolt the unit from the fork legs, he wouldn’t be able to ride the bike away as the unit will still be locked on the disc.
Why would you make any modifications that would semi-permanently add more unsprung weight to your bike? I’ll pass.
It looks cool, but it also seems that all a thieve would need to remove the lock is an ellen wrench…
That would not be very cool.
Good idea… but in practice it would not be as user friendly as your typical disc lock.
Somehow you would have to move the bike to line up the hole.
And why place it on the right side???
@ Luke.
If a thieve would only remove the allen bolts it would still be attached to the rotor. So that won’t do the strick ;-)
Unsprung weight?!? Jeez, it’s like everybody is a technical guru these days. Like removing that little piece of alluminum is gonna make any sort of difference to what you feel on a motorcycle.Why not remove your turn signals for some unsprung weight? Or your handlebar weights?
Better yet, next time you plan on going for a ride take a nice huge shit first. That should remove some unsprung AND sprung weight. Jerremy Burgess would be proud…. :)
RJ, the fact you say remove indicators or handle bar weights shows that while everybody else is a technical guru you certainly aren’t. Have a read up on what unsprung weight means.
While RJ certainly needs to brush up on the jargon, I DO doubt that most complainers would be able to tell the difference if it was installed or not, even on the track, although you could easily remove it for track days, along with other sprung-weght items like turn signals.
I feel the need to chat about this guy because when I was introduced to it a while ago I thought it was and is a fantastic idea for people who are in the position of needing a lock.
Bruce, the pin is spring loaded and is removable. You push it in, roll the bike forward a few inches and it locks in place. When you’re ready to leave, you use your key to unlock and remove the pin and stow it till next use. That way there is no chance of it going off while you’re riding.
Rob, I think it’s quite a bit easier than a typical disk lock and a HUGE advantage is it’s virtually impossible to move the bike thus keeping those of us who aren’t as smart from riding about a foot then coming to a complete and damaging halt. Plus, since the removable locking pin is spring loaded, you just push it in and move the bike a few inches and you’re locked.
Their site has a quite a bit of useful info although some of the marketing work in their videos is a little silly. I think KTMs got a good idea partnering with these guys. Do wish it was black though.
Unsprung front wheel weight concerns? I would be more concerned on why your worrying about something like that on the street jonny turbo.
As for the “Malfunction” experts, your caliper will be running a much tighter clearance to your rotor so as for something a problem it will be your actual caliper not the locking mount. As stated previously, the pin is removed so there is no chance of it unlocking and instantly locking your front wheel.
Cheers to KTM for bringing accessories that are actually worthy of my money
Very pretty, and a smart idea.
I’d pay 100+ buck for it, maybe 200 if I was feeling flush, but 300+ dollars? Ouch!
Cory, thanks that would resolve my concerns i.e. having that pin in my pocket. Certainly a lot ligher and more compact to carry around than a lock
As someone who has been a very satisfied owner of this product for the past year I feel as though I should point out that virtually every concern being brought up in these comments are in fact not issues at all.
As a couple people have pointed out, you carry the locking pin while you’re riding so there is no way for the lock to engage and send you flying over your handle bars. Also the amount you have to move the bike to engage the lock when parking is often less than an inch… After doing that a couple times it just became habit and I dont even notice anymore. Hardly much effort for knowing my bike isn’t going to move another inch while I’m gone.
Anyone who thinks the lock could be defeated by removing the bolts obviously hasn’t stopped to consider that if a non-thief sitting at a computer could figure it out then how would they even be in business? Geico offers an insurance discount for using this thing… I’m pretty sure if you could beat it with a wrench they probably wouldn’t have that policy
Oh also they do offer it in black… Mine is black. It’s right on their website
All in all an awesome product
thanks Nick.
what about an optional model that would have the caliper mounts as a pin and lock setup too which would allow quick install/removal? The unsprung weight gripe would be addressed as long as you have a place to put it in/on the bike or backpack
Just what I always wanted, more unsprung weight!
Better yet, next time you plan on going for a ride take a nice huge shit first. That should remove some unsprung AND sprung weight. Jerremy Burgess would be proud…. :)
@ RJ:
ROTFL…priceless Dude…priceless.
@Nick and Corey:
Thanks for clearing things up.
for all these worries about un sprung weight, i hope no one on here ever carries anything in one pocket and doesnt compensate for it in the other. the thing weighs less than a pound!! none of you have a clue what your talking about. have it. love it. smartest $ ive spent and lord knows ive spent alot more on ALOT MORE useless junk
@JS and fazer6 : I was poking fun at the previous poster ( Mr. Fox ) not knowing what unsprung weight was. I guess my sarcasm didn’t come through strongly enough. Seeing as the only bit of “unsprung weight” on the bike are the wheels, tires, and brake discs, both of which are not gaining any weight from a disk lock bolted to the fork legs, I therefore made the commentary… It’s all in good fun though people.
But in the interest of informing those that don’t know:
Unsprung Weight simply means any component (in this case, on a motorcycle) whose weight isn’t being directly supported by the suspension system. In the case of the motorcycle it will be the wheels, brake discs, and tires.
Sprung Weight is all the components whose weight IS supported by the suspension system. So, um, everything else then… Including you, the rider!
@RJ: Actually, you’re not quite right. The bottom of the fork leg, brake caliper and anything you bolt to it (which would include the front fender and this new disc lock) are also unsprung weight because it is below the action of the suspension. Anything mounted to the outer fork tubes would be sprung weight because it is above the action of the suspension.
Whether you’d actually feel this bolt-on disc lock is hard to say but it would be added unsprung weight.
But couldn’t one argue that as they are acted upon the suspension in the rebound stroke (opposite direction) they are also sprung in a sense? That’s what I’ve always thought anyways, cause it was the way it was explained to me by an ex-WSBK race mechanic…
I’m always interested in learning more though.
Now thinking about it, then so are the wheels, discs and tires right? Guess I just didn’t fully understand what the guy was telling me…
@RJ, easiest way to look at it is this; Will the motion of the part in question follow the surface of the road or will its motion be altered by the suspension? If it follows the road then it is unsprung, if its motion is affected by the suspension then it is sprung.
Example:
The rotating assembly (wheel, tire, rotor), brake calipers and front fender move up and down with bumps and dips in the road so they are unsprung.
The handlebars, engine and rider however do not follow the road surface perfectly because their motion is affected by the suspension so they are sprung mass.
Also, some people get confused between rotating mass and unsprung mass but they’re not synonyms.
What about the tires independent motion in relation to carcass movement under load? The air pressure acts like a damper between components, right? Seems that all definitions are based on the components working under a strict parameter. Does a half a hardtail cruiser’s frame act as unsprung weight because it’s got no rear suspension? Again, seems the parameters dictate what is actually sprung or unsprung, no?
Wow, we need a basic remedial physics lesson here if folks think stuff in your pockets and GI tract is unsprung, oh dear. Some things should be obvious enough not to need explanation.
Teachers hated you in school didn’t they RJ?
The reason we even have the distinction between sprung and unsprung weight is the because of the difference each type of mass has on your bikes suspension. The reason we want as little unsprung weight as possible is because it is far more detrimental to the motorcycles handling characteristics than sprung weight is.
Don’t ask cause I’m not going to explain the differences between them.
Generally speaking, guys that ride hard-tail motorcycles have very little concern for handling (for obvious reasons) and the distinction is irrelevant.
If you want to know more about suspension and motorcycle physics, read a book.
With regard to unsprung weight – Aprilia test riders didn’t seem to notice.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/11/prweb4726154.htm
Looks like KTM and Aprilia both tested this part on the track…
No teachers didn’t hate me Brian, in fact quite the opposite. I’m asking because you seem to think yourself an expert on the subject, so then your large brain shouldn’t mind answering a few questions, right? I think it’s funny how a sarcastic comment made in good fun always ruffles all the internet geniuses feather’s…
I know that hard-tail cruiser riders don’t bother much which comfort, but that’s not the question I asked you, is it?
It was all just in good discussion though so don’t even worry about it, cause no one is forcing you to answer anything. If I wanted to learn more about the subject I sure as hell wouldn’t rely on a faceless poster on an internet forum. Though may I suggest that if you want to learn how not to be a douche, there are books on that too that you could read up on….
Sorry if you thought I was being rude RJ, I guess I should have winked “;-)” after I joked about teachers hating you?
Whenever I find someone that knows about a subject I’m interested in, I ask them questions too. I am not, nor was I ever mad at you for asking questions.
I suggest reading a book on the subject as I believe this forum is more designed for people to discuss specific topics, i.e. this trick little disc lock from KTM.
As for your question about a hardtail, again, it is irrelevant because there is no suspension for the sprung/unsprung mass to react upon which is the only reason we would distinguish between the two. Since there is no rear suspension in a hardtail it would just be mass rather than sprung or unsprung mass. Hope that makes sense.
I’ve no intention of getting into a name calling match with you here so this will be my last post on the subject. Good luck.
I’m confused. If I take a poop and empty my pockets before going for a ride, then this disk lock won’t get caught in the wheel? Did I read this right?
dp
Two comments:
One, there’s a company that makes this kind of lock for most any bike. They’re expensive–two or three hundred bucks.
Two, locking the front wheel isn’t sensible, anyway. Locking the back is far more effective. Front-locked, two or three guys can pick up the front of the bike and wheel it away on the back tire. Back-locked, it would take more guys and they would have to wheel it with the front wheel cocked, which would be terrifically hard to do.
Mike either way someone can throw any locked wheel onto a dolly or some other rolling device if they want to roll the bike away, but that’s not really the point. Its a successful deterrent to your typical thief, and eliminates the possibility of hurting yourself or your bike if you forget it, and the little pin seems a lot easier to carry around than a big chain or even a regular disc lock. Also just a note it looks like the roadlok website has these for 25% off til the end of the year…