Jensen Beeler, Author at Asphalt & Rubber

MotoGP

Paddock Pass Podcast #142 – The 2015 MotoGP Season, Part 1

By Jensen Beeler 04/30/2020 1 Comment

Episode 142 of the Paddock Pass Podcast is out, and this one takes us on another trip down memory lane, as we look at the 2015 MotoGP Championship. With so much happening in the grand prix paddock in 2015, our look back will come in two parts, the first of which is this episode.

A special year for us, 2015 was the first year that all three of our Paddock Pass Podcast hosts were in the GP paddock at the same time. It was also the first year of the Paddock Pass Podcast itself.

As such, this show sees David Emmett, Steve English and, Neil Morrison on the microphones talking about this epic season.

Keep Reading

News

Harley-Davidson Sales Down 17.7% Worldwide in Q1 2020

By Jensen Beeler 04/29/2020 11 Comments

Everyone knew that the coronavirus outbreak was going to be hard on sales for the motorcycle industry, but no one was certain on how big of an impact the global lockdown would be…until now.

The first shoe to drop, Harley-Davidson has released its first quarter report for 2020, and the numbers are not good.

The report shows that Harley-Davidson motorcycle unit sales in the USA are down 15.5% (22,732 units sold) compared to this time last year, with international sales taking an even bigger hit, to the tune of a 20.7% drop (16,707 units sold).

This means a total unit sales decline of 17.7% for Harley-Davidson worldwide, with 40,439 units sold around the world in the first three months of 2020, down from the 49,151 units sold last year during the same time period.

Keep Reading

Podcast

Brap Talk Podcast #35 – Contact Tracing

By Jensen Beeler 04/29/2020 3 Comments

Episode 35 of the Brap Talk podcast is now out for your two-wheeled audio pleasure, and is packed full of motorcycle discussion for your open-road loving hearts.

In it, we talk a bit more about the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S, as Shahin got to spend a weekend with this impressive machine.

The bulk of the show, however, is about how the coronavirus outbreak is shaping the motorcycle industry – specifically on what it can mean for motorcycle dealerships.

Keep Reading

Bikes

The One Thing About the KTM 890 Duke R that Has Us Disappointed [UPDATED]

By Jensen Beeler 04/28/2020 11 Comments

The KTM 890 Duke R didn’t get the press launch it deserved, thanks to the coronavirus outbreak, but this bike remains high on our list of machines that debuted for the 2020 model year.

In case you don’t know, the 890cc machine is the more burly sibling to the KTM 790 Duke, for only $1000 more out of your wallet. For that price, you get an obvious bump up in displacement, which is good for a 17hp increase (120hp for the KTM 890 Duke).

But, the 2020 KTM 890 Duke R also brings with it a bevy of upgraded pieces, namely brakes and suspension…but not as good of an upgrade as we were led to believe initially.

Keep Reading

Live Chat

Come Join Us for a Live Chat with MotoGP Test Rider Sylvain Guintoli

By Jensen Beeler 04/28/2020 10 Comments

Got big plans for the coming weekend? Of course you don’t, you’re probably stuck inside like the rest of us. But, we can help with that and ease your motorcycle cravings at the same time.

On Saturday, May 2nd at 8am PDT / 5pm CEST, Asphalt & Rubber will be sitting down with former WorldSBK champion and current MotoGP test rider Sylvain Guintoli, for a live chat on YouTube.

We will be talking a bit about Sylvain’s racing career, as well as his new efforts on YouTube, which have seen him making great videos that provide motorcycle riding advice to the masses.

Keep Reading

News

Ducati Returns to Production in Borgo Panigale, With Changes

By Jensen Beeler 04/28/2020 2 Comments

Starting this week, the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale will once again rev to life, as the Italian brand returns to production work in Bologna, Italy.

While the production lines will continue, Ducati will not be continuing with business as usual. This is because the Italian motorcycle maker will only be recalling the minimal number of employees to restart the production and research operations.

Working together with the union (RSU), Ducati has created a new safety protocol, which includes everyone wearing masks, regardless of distancing.

Keep Reading

News

The Suzuka 8-Hours Has Been Moved to November 1st

By Jensen Beeler 04/27/2020 2 Comments

The Suzuka 8-Hours is traditionally a summer race, held in the sweltering heat of Japan – it is part of what makes Suzuka, Suzuka.

That won’t be the case this year though, thanks to the coronavirus outbreak, but there is good news as the iconic endurance race will remain as the season finale for the FIM Endurance World Championship, just with a slight reshuffling of the racing calendar.

Accordingly, the new date for the 2020 Suzuka 8-Hours will be Sunday, November 1st – moved from the originally planned July 19th schedule.

Keep Reading

Racing

Sylvain Guintoli Explains How to Use the Rear Brake on the Track

By Jensen Beeler 04/27/2020 4 Comments

Sylvain Guintoli continues to make YouTube gold during the coronavirus lockdown, producing some great informational videos to help you when you get back on the race track.

Today’s edition sees the Frenchman breaking down how to use the rear brake on the race track.

Unlike Guintoli’s last installment, which was geared more towards beginning track riders, today Guinters tackles a pretty high-level topic for experienced track riders and racers, though we think riders of all skill levels will benefit from hearing it.

Keep Reading

Bikes

Dear Ducati, Can You Please Make A V4 Version of the MH900e?

By Jensen Beeler 04/25/2020 11 Comments

The Ducati MH900e is a special bike in the brand’s history. It is a model that this author lusts over often, with its unique modern take of the old classic aesthetic.

The bike was ahead of its time, in many ways, and we can see now brands imitating in 2020 what Ducati made two decades ago.

The Ducati MH900e might be the best thing that Pierre Terblanche ever penned, and if you can find one in good shape these days, be prepared to spend some coin if you want it in your garage.

Keep Reading

MotoGP

Valentino Rossi Plans to Continue Racing in MotoGP in 2021

By Jensen Beeler 04/25/2020 4 Comments

Ever since the factory Monster Yamaha MotoGP team signed Fabio Quartararo at the beginning of this year, there has been much discussion about the future of Valentino Rossi, who would then be losing his seat in the factory team to the young Frenchman.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, the expectation was that Rossi would take the first third of the 2020 season to decide his future in MotoGP. If The Doctor felt he could be competitive and wanted to continue racing, then a factory-backed bike in the Petronas Yamaha satellite team was promised to him for 2021 and onward.

Of course, with no racing so far this year, Rossi’s plan to assess his retirement has gone out the window. Talking today with MotoGP’s Matthew Birt however, Rossi explained that his new plan is not to retire at the end of this season, and instead to race in 2021.

Keep Reading

News

Come Join Us for a Live Chat with MV Agusta CEO Timur Sardarov

By Jensen Beeler 04/24/2020 10 Comments

Got big plans for the weekend? Of course you don’t, you’re stuck inside like the rest of us. But, we can help with that and ease your motorcycle cravings at the same time.

On Saturday, April 25th at 11am PST / 8pm CEST, Asphalt & Rubber will be sitting down with MV Agusta CEO Timur Sardarov for a live chat on YouTube, and you can join us.

I have some questions of my own for Timur, but we want to make the show interactive, so we will be taking questions from the audience as well.

Keep Reading