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Asphalt & Rubber
KTM’s Stefan Pierer Gobbles Up 25% of MV Agusta
News

KTM’s Stefan Pierer Gobbles Up 25% of MV Agusta

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The BMW M1000RR Superbike Takes Another Step Forward for 2023
Bikes

The BMW M1000RR Superbike Takes Another Step Forward for 2023

By 9 Comments
The BMW S1000RR Gets Wings and Updates for the 2023 Model Year
Bikes

The BMW S1000RR Gets Wings and Updates for the 2023 Model Year

By 8 Comments
Banter

Ronnie Renner Rides the KTM Freeride E Electric Dirt Bike

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KTM continues to be a puzzlement with its electric motorcycle endeavors. On the one hand, we have CEO Stefan Pierer saying that electrics are too early in their development to be viable machines for consumers; but on the other hand, KTM continues to promote the KTM Freeride E electric dirt bike and even recently debuted the KTM E-Speed electric scooter (no, that wasn’t an April Fools story).

Today we have something from that latter camp of confusion, as KTM rider Ronnie Renner has had a chance to swing a leg over the KTM Freeride E, and the freestyle rider seemed more than pleased with what zie Austrians had created.

Watching the video, it seems a shame to think that KTM could be giving up on this project. Hopefully, it is just a ruse, and the Ready to Race brand is already hard at work on its next electric two-wheeler. In other news, can we get Robbie some street-riding gear? ATGATT up buddy!

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Products

AGV Pista GP Helmet Coming to the USA in October 2013

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We can’t remember the last time we were excited about a helmet, but we are counting down the days until the AGV Pista GP comes to the United States. Already available in Europe, the Pista GP is expected to cross the pond officially in October of this year and be a part of AGV’s 2014 collection. However, some eager Americans have already been buying Pista’s online from British helmet houses, and having them shipped over to the US. Considering how banged up our international packages get, it is not something we would recommend. Patience is a virtue.

Racing

Lap COTA with Stefan Bradl on the Honda RC213V

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Ask and yee shall receive, here is some more movie magic from HRC’s private test at the Circuit of the Americas. For this go-around, we feature LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl, as he takes the factory-spec Honda RC213V for a quick lap around the new Texan GP circuit. Having just ridden COTA only a couple weeks ago, I left Texas fairly pleased with my lap times, but no, Mr. Bradl had to go and show me up. Close to 15 seconds quicker on his out-lap than my best hot-lap, I guess we see why he races motorcycles for a living, while I blog from my mother’s basement, wearing nothing but a bathrobe and bunny-shaped slippers. Le sigh.

Racing

Moar MotoGP Movie Magic Please!

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http://vimeo.com/63225895

Oh HRC, how we begin to love thee. I think I am belaboring the point now, but someone at Honda’s MotoGP team has really latched onto this whole online marketing thing, and I like it. With a plethora of videos and interviews building up to this weekend’s season-opening round at Qatar, HRC is really promoting its factory-backed riders: Dani Pedrosa, Marc Marquez, and Stefan Bradl. Just remember though, the only reason this video exists is because HRC paid for a private test week at COTA, and was thus free of Dorna’s media restrictions. Had this been an official MotoGP test, video like this would have never been produced (or worse, thrown behind the MotoGP.com paywall). Makes you wonder, huh?

News

ASMC Dissolved — Long Live Suzuki Motor of America

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Following its decision to leave the car-selling business and finishing its bankruptcy metamorphosis, American Suzuki Motor Corporation is now a defunct company, with Suzuki Motor of America officially taking over as Suzuki Motor Corporations’s wholly owned sole-distributor of Suzuki motorcycles, ATVs, marine engines, and automotive parts in the continental United States. The official transformation took place on March 31st, and the changes have already been apparent, as the American Suzuki Motor Corporation contracts of 98 dealerships were not renewed by Suzuki Motor of America, meaning the new company started with 10% fewer dealerships than its predecessor.

Banter

2013 April Fools Motorcycle Pranks Round-Up

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April 1st is our most-favorite day of the year, as it is the Christmas Day for journalists far and wide — and like Christmas, it is better to give, than it is to receive. The motorcycle industry gives plenty on this day, and we thought we’d share with you the April Foolery that caught our attention this most glorious of days. Here at Asphalt & Rubber, David’s fiction on the upcoming changes to the World Superbike Championship reigned supreme, and the bit about adventure-touring bikes replacing the World Supersport series was especially amusing.