Latest Posts:
Asphalt & Rubber
Tag

Popular

Browsing
MotoGP

Yamaha Punished for an Illegal MotoGP Engine Spec at Jerez

By 15 Comments

Yamaha has been punished for an infringement of the MotoGP technical rules at the opening race of the 2020 MotoGP season at Jerez, and at the same time, their riders have dodged a bullet.

After the infringement was finally uncovered, the FIM Stewards decided to deduct points from Yamaha in the manufacturers championship, and the Monster Energy Yamaha and Petronas Yamaha SRT teams have had points taken away in the teams championship.

But crucially for the 2020 MotoGP riders championship, no penalty was given to Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Viñales, or Franco Morbidelli. That means that the standings in what everyone regards as the most important championship, the riders championship, are unchanged.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

Pricing on the Ducati Multistrada V4 Starts at $20,000*

By 10 Comments

The big news yesterday in the motorcycle industry was the debut of the 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4, but one key piece of information was missing when we got to see it: the price.

Well, we have that answer today, as Ducati North America has provided to us the MSRP for the various trims levels of the Multistrada V4 – for both Canada and the United States.

And normally, this would be a straight-forward story to report, but as we understand Ducati’s moves for the Multistrada V4 in 2021, the pricing is anything but just a couple of numbers.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

The Ducati Multistrada V4 Debuts as One Bike to Rule Them All

By 42 Comments

After much anticipation, the next-generation of the Ducati Multistrada motorcycle has debuted, and as was expected, the machine features a V4 engine. Accordingly, say hello to the 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4.

As is Ducati’s custom, the Ducati Multistrada V4 will really only come in two trim levels, with the Ducati Multistrada V4 S featuring more up-spec components over the base model bike.

Both bikes though have a new monocoque chassis, a double-sided swingarm, and a 19″ front wheel (with a 17″ wheel in the rear), and a robust electronics package.

With these choices, the Italian’s are clearly pitching the Ducati Multistrada V4 as the bike to have, if you can only have one motorcycle in your garage.

Keep Reading
By
Rumors

Is a Suped-Up KTM 1290 Super Duke RR Coming Soon?

By 17 Comments

The folks at Motociclismo.it are reporting that a KTM 1290 Super Duke RR is going to drop in the coming days – news that our own Bothan Spies are giving good vibrations about as well.

The concept behind the KTM 1290 Super Duke RR is pretty simple: it will be a version of the current streetfighter, complete with a bevy of farkles and go-fast parts from the Austrian brand to make it even more of a hooligan machine on the street and track.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

Triumph Trident 660 Arrives with 80hp and a $7,995 Price Tag

By 17 Comments

After a teaser campaign that left little to the imagination, the Triumph Trident 660 is finally here, and we we like what we see.

For those not in the know, the Trident 660 is a budget-focused middleweight from Triumph, with an emphasis on value – and we like what we see.

As the name implies, the bike features an 660cc three-cylinder engine (loosely based on the old 675cc triple, with over 60 new parts) that makes 80hp (60 kW) and 47 lbs•ft (64 Nm) of torque.

Boasting true linear power, 90% of that torque is available starting at 3,000 rpm, mind you. The Triumph Trident 660 also has a slip-assist clutch installed.

Keep Reading
By
News

Harley-Davidson Sales Bleed Another 8% in Q3 2020

By 13 Comments

Harley-Davidson continues to hemorrhage motorcycle unit sales in 2020, with the Bar & Shield brand reporting an 8% loss worldwide on its third-quarter numbers.

This Q3 result means that Harley-Davidson is down 18% for the first nine months of the year, compared to the same point in time as last year.

The news isn’t all bad however, as Harley-Davidson is also reporting that the net income for the third-quarter was up 39% for a total of $120 million – the company’s highest Q3 income since 2015.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

A Brand New Yamaha MT-09 Debuts for 2021

By 24 Comments

If you had to draw up a list of motorcycles that provide excellent bang for the buck, the Yamaha MT-09 would have to rank high on that list, as the tuning fork brand has put together a potent motorcycle for the price with this three-cylinder machine.

Now for the 2021 model year, the Yamaha MT-09 is getting a massive overhaul, with virtually every piece of the bike changed for next year. This means more power, less weight, and certainly more features.

Keep Reading
By
Reviews

What It’s Like Riding the Aprilia RS 660, A Review

By 21 Comments

Almost two-and-a-half years ago, Asphalt & Rubber broke the story that Aprilia was working on a twin-cylinder sport bike, which would be a more affordable and approachable option than the company’s flagship RSV4 superbike offering.

After teasing us at EICMA with the prototype in 2018, and then with the production model a year later, we were set for the Aprilia RS 660 to debut as a 2020 model…but then, the coronavirus outbreak changed all that.

With Italy no longer under lockdown, this bike is finally ready to take the stage, and of course the 2021 Aprilia RS 660 is headed stateside, with the first examples of it landing at dealerships in time for Christmas (and what a present that would be under the tree).

It has been a long wait for this eagerly anticipated motorcycle, and last week the American motorcycle press got their first miles on this middleweight-twin.

Riding the canyon roads near Santa Barbara, we put the Aprilia RS 660 through its paces on some of the best roads California has to offer (in this author’s opinion, at least), to see how this unique creation from Noale stacked up.

Would it live up to the hype? Is this the new twins class killer? Does Aprilia have another opus on its hands? That is what we aim to explain to you in this review.

Keep Reading
By
Reviews

Gone Riding: Aprilia RS 660

By 26 Comments

Another bike on our list of “must-rides” for 2020, we are about to swing a leg over the Aprilia RS 660. This middleweight-twin has been a long time coming, especially in its full-fairing aesthetic.

On the spec sheet, the Aprilia RS 660 looks set to upend the segment, but of course the proof is in the pudding on how this parallel-twin motor runs, how its twin-spar aluminum chassis handles, and how refined its APRC electronics package truly is on the open road.

Today’s test takes us to the curvy pavement near Santa Barbara, California, where our 200-mile route through canyons and highways promises to give us a glimpse at this bike’s potential.

Keep Reading
By