MotoGP News - Change to MotoGP's Qatar Grand Prix start time ruled out for now

https://ift.tt/2EjwCit

The weekend schedule for the MotoGP 2019 season-opening Qatar Grand Prix will remain unchanged for now despite safety concerns



Motogp
Motorcycle Racing News
via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei

February 28, 2019 at 01:44PM

F1 News - Ferrari's Leclerc impresses as Red Bull's Gasly crashes in testing

https://ift.tt/2tJGe0V





#F1

via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6

February 28, 2019 at 11:48AM

Motorcycle News - Soichiro’s finest: the Honda RC30

https://ift.tt/2H7HWkG

Motorcyclists are a well-read bunch. Despite the well-publicized travails of some mainstream magazine publishers, the niche market is booming. Every country with a reasonably large population seems to have an independent magazine devoted to custom or ‘alt.moto’ culture.

The latest entrant to this pleasingly busy market is Retro-RR from England. It’s a high-quality quarterly with 132 pages, celebrating bikes that were ridden or raced in the 80s and 90s.

We were so impressed with the launch edition, we asked if we could reproduce an abridged version of our favorite article—covering the mighty Honda RC30. Enjoy.

In an age of prosperity, huge tobacco sponsorship and an impending inaugural World Superbike championship, building a winner was the only thing that mattered to the mighty Honda Racing Corporation.

In the late eighties the VFR750R—better known as the RC30—was a dream for engineers and designers. With all emphasis on creating a race-winning production machine with very little regard for the budget, the bike that spawned the term ‘homologation special’ was generously bestowed with magnesium and titanium.

Honda’s engineers already knew how to make a reliable V4 motor and, externally at least, the RC30 motor closely resembled the unit used in the road-going VFR750F. But now they had the opportunity to refine it further, make it lighter and increase the power — to produce the ultimate four-stroke racing engine.

Based on the RVF endurance racer (not to be confused with the later RVF750 RC45) the RC30 used titanium con rods and forged two-ring pistons with skirts so short they weren’t allowed to leave the house.

The firing order was changed to a big-bang configuration with a totally new crank; new, hardened valves were used; the lubrication system was uprated and the gear-drive for the camshafts was revised.

Casings were machined differently for the new oil galleries and the rev ceiling was raised from 11,000 to 12,500rpm. It even had a slipper clutch, long before they became the norm. Only the V4 architecture truly remained.

Each of the 3,000 RC30s produced were hand-built in the racing division of the Hamamatsu plant alongside the factory racers. The geometry was sharp and short and the twin-spar aluminum frame was pared down to save weight but was still stiff where it mattered.

Fully adjustable Showa suspension graced both ends with the front forks designed for speedy front wheel changes. The single-sided swinging arm made for similarly rapid rear wheel swaps; this was a bike that had all the ingredients, both mechanically and aesthetically.

While super-exotic, on paper the numbers didn’t really stack up. In unrestricted form, the bike was claimed to produce 118bhp and 51ft-lb of torque. Hardly staggering performance figures, even with a best-in-class dry weight of 180kg.

But on the racetrack that sublime chassis and motor with its flat, almost totally linear, torque curve added up to a fast lap time. It was easy on the tyres and more importantly, easy on the rider. Never before had the term ‘racer on the road’ been more apt.

The RC30 soon proved to be the bike to be on. The insanely talented Fred Merkel took the inaugural World Superbike title in 1988 and the American confirmed it was no fluke by repeating the feat the following year.

It won domestic championships the world over and tamed the toughest racetrack of them all, the Mountain Course on the Isle of Man. Legendary riders such as Steve Hislop, Joey Dunlop, Phillip McCallen and Nick Jefferies all took TT victories aboard the RC30. It wasn’t long before pretty much every privateer racer wanted one.

More than 30 years on, finding a mint example of one of Soichiro Honda’s most memorable motorcycles before his passing in 1991 isn’t easy. Most have been either raced or crashed. Or both.

But every once in a while, an opportunity presents itself. This is exactly what happened to our friend, Alessio Barbanti [below]. He’s one of the most respected photographers in motorcycling and a thoroughly Italian man who knows style when he sees it.

“I wanted an RC30 for a very long time,” says Alessio. “It was always the dream bike, the one on top of my list. To find one in good condition is very hard.”

“About two years ago a friend called me and said to come over for coffee. Nothing unusual about that, so I strolled over to his workshop and there it was, my dream machine.”

“It belonged to an old Italian guy who’d been living in the USA for about 30 years and had retired to his homeland. The bike was an American-spec bike but not restricted — I spent so much time researching to make sure it was full power and that it wasn’t going to give me problems.”

“I was very lucky. You might say ‘in the right place at the right time’. The bike is in almost perfect condition, everything is genuine Honda and I have the original exhaust too.”

“The one is fitted with the HRC race kit exhaust, which I’ve since found out is incredibly rare. It runs perfectly too. I think the former owner really loved this bike which explains why he was so emotional when he sold it.”

We’re still waiting for an invite to the Italian Alps to find out for ourselves just how good Alessio’s bike is. Though I have a feeling we might be waiting some time.

Retro-RR | Facebook | Instagram | Original words: Rob Hoyles | Images: Matteo Cavadini, Alessio Barbanti

Motorcycles

via Bike EXIF http://www.bikeexif.com

February 28, 2019 at 11:18AM

Motorcycle News - TRÈS BM. Sur Les Chapeaux de Roue’s Sweet BMW R850R Roadster

https://ift.tt/2GPt23e

Written by Martin Hodgson

The French make it easy to think fondly of their countryside; it’s here that green fields of grapes roll down to small villages producing exquisite champagne and the smell of warm baguettes is accompanied by the finest of cheeses. Sure it’s not all Dom Perignon and Lingerie, but there is an artisan approach to almost everything they do. It’s this exact philosophy that Sur Les Chapeaux De Roues take to building bikes, more watchmaker meets sculptor than simply mechanic. And from the beautiful department of Finistère they deliver their latest gift, a melt in your mouth BMW R850R.

This is by no means the first SLCDR bike we’ve covered, and whether they’re building a drag machine for Sultans of Sprint or a weekend warrior for a client, each and every build is like no other. Over the last year, head honcho, Manuel Jouan has spent considerable time and money outfitting the workshop with the latest tools and machinery so that everything can be done in-house. The factory trained mechanic can do it all and with such an artisan approach, start to finish under one roof makes a hell of a lot of sense.

While working away one day the familiar sound of a BMW boxer engine could be heard coming up the drive. The bike, a 1996 R850R, had been purchased new by the owner, still in totally factory spec and showing a mere 32000 km on the clock. That’s just getting a BMW warmed up and with the bodywork showing its age the proud owner was keen to hear what Manuel could do to customise his steed. The builders first impression was polite, but to the point. “Ugly, with this telelever front end,” Manuel smiles.

But as he pondered things more, he realised it was a challenge he wanted to take on. And not only build the R850R but to keep that unusual suspension setup and make it look better than it ever has before. So the deal was done and the Boxer would be reborn at SLCDR with the goal of giving the bimmer the form to match its exceptional functionality. Before the build started the very first task was to rip off the hideous 3 spoke mag wheels and replace them with new spoked GS items wrapped in Avon rubber.

Up on the bench and Manuel tore in, ripping off the seat, the ugly plastic rear end and all the accessories that obscured his vision of the barebones. Immediately he knew what had to be done, the spindly front end needed some brawn. To shield the forks he designed in his head a cover like approach that would give a single piece look. But in reality it was much more difficult to construct, “It’s 20 pieces of steel all handmade and welded by myself,” he smiles.

What makes the work even more brilliant is the way it seamlessly incorporates the engines oil-cooler into the structure for a muscular grille like effect. The headlight too is integrated flawlessly into the design and the whole piece moves as one with the stroke of the suspension. There is also a tyre hugging hand-made front guard in place and to improve the performance the factory single coil over shock has been upgraded to a fully adjustable part from YSS.

With the front end complete the entire rear subframe was cut off and an all new piece fabricated; the redesign transforming the dorky BMW styling into something sleek and sophisticated. The beautifully upholstered seat perfectly hugs each contour and the integrated LED lighting provides the ultimate in clean finishes. Under the seat the electronics are perfectly hidden behind aluminium covers and lattice steel. While another YSS shock gets the gig out back and rebuilt brakes complete the roller.

From the factory the four valve 850cc engine was never known for making huge amounts of power, but torque it delivers in spades. So, much of Manuel’s efforts on the mechanicals have been focused on unleashing some extra ponies. The airbox has been removed to save weight and a pair of quality BMC filters fitted. While the exhaust is a brilliant 2 into 1 system that delivers an epic sound from the high-end Spark muffler while revealing the open side of the rear wheel.

To finish it all off Manuel was joined by friend and painter David, who split the task of laying down the colour. With David focusing on the tins and brilliantly ghosting in the graphics and logos using subtle changes of hue for a million dollar finish. The controls are completed with a host of Motogadget parts to match the overall quality of the build, and from bland as butter BMW to custom sculpted masterpiece the transformation is complete. So the wine and cheese will have to wait, as this precision German utility has been given a French craftsman’s makeover that’s impossible to resist!

[ SLCDR – Instagram  | Photos by Charles Seguy ]

Motorcycles

via Pipeburn.com https://ift.tt/2LY9tnG

February 28, 2019 at 04:59AM

F1 News - Sebastian Vettel crashes Ferrari on day two of Barcelona test

https://ift.tt/2XtOb87





#F1

via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6

February 27, 2019 at 11:48AM

Motorcycle News - November Customs’ Ducati Scrambler 350 Restomod

https://ift.tt/2XoH9Sl

Most custom shops have a bike or two quietly lurking in the corner. They’re usually personal projects that only get attention during gaps between ‘real’ jobs. And that’s the story of this charming 1974 Ducati Scrambler 350.

Paul and Linda—the husband and wife team at November Customs—first spotted the Ducati when a nearby shop imported it from Spain. They literally bought it as it was being off-loaded, with the intention of giving it a light sprucing. But once they had it road legal and registered in the UK, it got relegated to the corner.

“It sat in the back of the shed for a couple of years waiting to be worked on,” says Paul. “Well—when I say shed, I mean the either the living room or the dining room as well as the shed. We don’t have much space for our bikes, so we have to move them around depending on needs!”

Paul’s not exaggerating—November Customs is run out of a cramped wooden shed in their backyard, in a small town in the northeast of England. But that didn’t stop them from blowing us away with their Zephyr 750 a few weeks back.

When they finally found time to turn screws on the Ducati, it only took a few months to complete. It was supposed to be a simple resto, but it morphed into something more—and we’re glad it did.

To start, Paul and Linda altered the rear of the frame to straighten out the Scrambler’s kicked up tail. Then they modified the original rear mudguard to sit lower in the frame and fit the rear wheel better.

The stock seat pan was too rusted to be useful, so the duo made a new one, capping it off with black leather upholstery. Then they raised the fuel tank’s rear mounts a touch, so that everything would sit nice and level.

Off came the air box, along with any unneeded frame tabs. November then fabricated up an aluminum bell mouth for the carb to breathe through, covering it with mesh to keep debris out. The exhaust system consists of the original headers, cleaned up and wrapped, with an aftermarket muffler.

As you can tell, the motor was treated to a supreme cleanup too. Paul and Linda stripped it, aqua-blasted the cases, and then rebuilt it with a coat of satin black paint. (They originally tried polishing them, but the look wasn’t working.)

Knowing that they weren’t planning to use a rev counter, the couple realized they could mess with the bevel drive casing without any side effects. So they took it off, bored out the center on a lathe, and turned up an aluminum ring for it. With the addition of a Perspex insert, they now had a window for their bevel drive.

It’s not just the motor that looks brand new—November also went to the trouble of updating the suspension. The rear shocks are from Tec, and were originally intended for another project. And the front forks are a set of WPs from either a KTM 125 or 390 Duke (Paul’s not sure which).

Fitting the forks was a serendipitous process. First, the Ducati steering stem could be fitted to the KTM yokes with just a few mods. Then, it turned out that the steering stops on the frame still worked perfectly with the new front end.

Things got even better when Paul was mocking up the front wheel, and discovered that the diameter of the Ducati’s front axle matched the KTM forks perfectly. So he simply trimmed its length to match.

That also meant running the Scrambler’s original drum brake up front, so November shaved off the radial brake mounts on the forks, then refurbished them with new fluids and seals. A brace was made to lock the drum brakes, and to hold a small, custom-made fender.

For the rest of the project, Paul and Linda mixed restored original parts, with carefully selected upgrades. Both the taillight and headlight are original, but they were refreshed with NOS lenses. The taillight also had its plate mount trimmed off before being powder coated, and the front light was repainted and mounted on new brackets.

The cockpit consists of Renthal bars, replica Triumph levers and new cables. The speedo’s a new old style unit from Smiths. To keep things tidy, the switches were relocated to just below the seat, on the right side.

November also sourced and installed new footrest rubbers with Ducati logos molded into them. The tires are Firestone copies: “I know this will get haters saying stuff about them,” admits Paul, “but we like them, and after all we build bikes for ourselves first. We do actually have some enduro tires we can put on though, should we feel that way.”

The frame, swing arm and wheels were all powder-coated gloss black. And the bodywork was painted in an old Jaguar burgundy, complemented by some off-white panels, and original Ducati badges.

November Customs have struck a balance between customizing the Ducati, and still staying in touch with its origins. And that makes this one of the neatest restomods we’ve seen.

November Customs | Instagram | Images by Tony Jacobs

Motorcycles

via Bike EXIF http://www.bikeexif.com

February 27, 2019 at 11:15AM

MotoGP News - Pramac Ducati reveals revamped MotoGP livery, with Lamborghini help

https://ift.tt/2BY5x46

The Pramac Ducati team has revealed a tweaked colour scheme ahead of the 2019 MotoGP season



Motogp
Motorcycle Racing News
via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei

February 27, 2019 at 10:07AM

MotoGP News - MotoGP's Qatar Grand Prix start time may change amid rider worries

https://ift.tt/2IOZULw

The start time of MotoGP's 2019 season-opening Qatar Grand Prix could be changed after riders voiced safety concerns in testing



Motogp
Motorcycle Racing News
via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei

February 27, 2019 at 10:07AM

Motorcycle News - Why This is the Best Way to Experience Croatias Stunning Beauty by Motorcycle

https://ift.tt/2XtQ3xB

“Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul.”
—Anonymous

If you’re reading this, you know the best way to travel, to experience a country, its sights, its food, culture and people, is by motorcycle. And there might not be a better part of the world to experience by motorcycle than Croatia, the most amazing moto-destination you’ve (maybe) never heard of. A small nation nestled up to the Adriatic Sea (and close to Italy), it’s packed with amazing geography: white sand beaches; stunning cliffs and mountains; warm, sunny islands, and of course, thousands of miles of winding, well-maintained roads. Croatia presents an affordable – and unforgettable – moto-vacation opportunity, and Moto Tours Croatia wants to take you there.

Moto Tours Croatia’s “Feel Croatia” tour is the best way to experience this amazing country. It’s a 1,700-mile, 13-day odyssey where almost everything you need– from motorcycle to meals – is included. Wherever the route takes you, be it through one of Croatia’s eight national parks, along the sea, through the mountainous hinterlands, or cobblestone streets of historic cities like Zadar and Dubrovnik, you will feel the charm, history, warmth and hospitality of Croatia. Your guides will meet you at the airport provide you with the latest and best in adventure-touring rides, like the BMW F850GS, R1200GS and KTM 1090 Adventure, all equipped with locking hard luggage.

Ride to eat and eat to ride, right? Moto Tours Croatia founder Robert Vrabec agrees. He and his wife Andrea have 20 years of motorcycle touring experience and practice the art of what they call “autochthonous gastronomy.” Croatians love good food and hospitality, and Moto Tours Croatia has carefully curated its trips, allowing you to enjoy some of the best dining and wine Europe has to offer. Dinner and breakfast are all included in the Feel Croatia tour (also on rest days); you are free to explore and discover lunch on your own. Accommodations are also carefully selected to give you the best balance between comfort and experiencing local culture, with four-star hotels and apartments.

Eating and sleeping are great, but you want to ride, and so do your guides. They will take you on some of the most fun, challenging and scenic roads you’ve ever ridden, roads that the World Economic Forum on Competitiveness has ranked 19 out of 137 countries. From the deep canyons of Paklenica to the lush forests of the Plitvice Lakes, the routes will give you the ride of your life: the Moto Tours Croatia motto is “take the route – meet the road – feel Croatia.” “Our goal is for you to enjoy the ride,” writes Robert. “But we want you to feel it like a friend or family would.”

Want to experience something different, off the beaten path, but with world-class roads, food and accommodation, and the personal touch of an experienced family-run business that’s obsessive about making sure every last detail has been taken care of? The Moto Tours Croatia, Feel Croatia tour may be your opportunity of a lifetime.

All Moto Tours Croatia guided tours include:

BMW & KTM latest model motorcycles with lockable hard luggage and tank bags, plus a third-party liability insurance and comprehensive vehicle insurance

Experienced guide on a motorcycle. Support van for luggage and 1 or 2 passengers

All nights’ accommodation in high quality, mostly four-star hotels and apartments

All buffet breakfasts in hotels or apartments

All dinners, mostly in traditional local restaurants (also on rest days)

All ferry rides and tolls (according to tour program)

All gasoline during the tour

All entrance fees for national parks and museums (according to tour program)

Airport transfers on arrival day or one day before and on departure day

All maps with marked routes for the region being toured

Extensive tour booklet

GPS with all the routes uploaded

The post Why This is the Best Way to Experience Croatia’s Stunning Beauty by Motorcycle appeared first on Motorcycle.com.

Motorcycles

via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO

February 27, 2019 at 08:32AM

Motorcycle News - GLAMOUR HAMMER. Wrench Kings’ ‘Anvil’ Honda CB750 Cafe Racer

https://ift.tt/2XkHBki

Written by Andrew Jones

Honda‘s CB750 is nothing if not consistent. For almost 40 years, the bike soldiered on to the point where more than half a million examples had rolled of the end of what must have been a very tired production line. The 90s CBs offer a kind of golden opportunity for customisers. For a precious few years, we had bikes that retained the essence of those 70s and 80s classics while being (even more) reliable and cheap as stale peanuts to buy. And now that those very same 70s and 80s bikes are becoming rarer than a eunuchs’ whiskers, it makes double the sense. It’s exactly what Dutch Maestros the Wrench Kings have done with this here Honda ‘96 CB750 cafe racer they call ‘Anvil’.

While you might think that custom bikes are all beers, bikes and drill bits, Take from the Wrench Kings is quick to point out that if you want to feed the kids, you sometimes have to do some boring business stuff. “Lately we’ve been busy with some fresh branding and a new shop website. Please tell the Pipeburn readers to check it out.” You heard the man. The link’s down below. “We’ve also renovated our shop, too. Apart from that, we’re busy collaborating with some big brands such as Royal Enfield, so stay tuned.”

Being the nice young lads that they are, a bike-less customer was lucky enough to have the shop lend their considerable experience and well-trained eyes to the donor bike’s purchase. “We bought the bike for the customer since he didn’t have one yet. We found this one at our friend’s shop and the base was actually pretty good. As we always say, ‘Shit in, shit out’. You can’t make a pretty bike if the base isn’t solid. This one had low mileage, was in good condition and came with a full maintenance history.” Specifically, Take tells us that it was an end-of-the-line CB750F2 from 1996.

“Like many customisers, we have a big crush on the 70’s Honda’s, however we also do like to take a corner now and then and brake when necessary. We all know how those old timers are with handling and safety. Lucas, the owner agreed.” So it was decided; the modern Honda would be made to look more classic in a kind of reverse restomod process. The look they were going for was a rough, bare metal feel. “This would add to the bike’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ vibe,” says Take. “Cornering like a boss, braking like a howling wolf and with state-of-the-art electrics, all in a package that looked like it was made in the Seventies.”

Soon that pristine donor was torn down and the Wrench King’s team got to work. “First we removed all the unnecessary parts until we only had a frame on wheels with the engine in it.” It’s here the magic starts to happen; with the factory detritus gone, keen peepers can start shaping the lines of the finished bike. “By lowering the front forks and cutting off the old rear frame, the bike immediately starts to look better and we can make sure that the old ’70s CB tank we sourced fits well on the frame.”

Meanwhile, Joost – Take’s partner in crime – had already started with plans for the rear end. “At first I was really having trouble designing the rear. But as soon as we had the tank in place, we both knew how it had to look. All the lines in the tank needed to be resolved in the rear end. That’s where the mission started and the days got longer and longer.”

“After we’d finished the tank and the rear end we broke down the bike again and started grinding everything until the frame was as smooth as a baby’s face. All the steel parts were sent to the powder coater and then we focused on the power plant. It was fully serviced and restored before we repainted it. As soon as we had all the parts back in, we started with building up the bike one last time. Our friend from Miller seats provided us with the beautiful, slim seat you see here.

With the end in sight, the electrical were commenced. Mounting the obligatory Motogadget M-unit Blue along with a GPS tracker and some all-new wiring to get them playing nice together. Next came the paint job. ‘What paint,’ we hear you ask? “As you can see on the picture it all looks pretty rough and old-school but it wasn’t like that at all. We sanded the raw tank and rear end, giving it some horizontal scratches. We then covered them up with a black layer of paint and sanded it off again so it was only filling up the scratches. Finally, we gave it a matt clear coat.” It always amazes us how much hard work it takes to make something look old and neglected.

The finishing touches included a Domino throttle and clutch lever, a Brembo master cylinder, even more Motogadget gear in the form of bar-end indicators and a speedo, a custom stainless exhaust system, upgraded YSS rear shocks and 2-into-1 K&N air filters to make sure those good ol‘ 90s cylinders don’t inject any more grunge than they already had to. And the end result? We’re guessing that somewhere in the Netherlands there’s a very happy Honda owner who’s now got the retro looks he was craving without those infuriating 40-year-old bugbears to go with them. Enjoy the ride, Lucas.

[ Wrenchkings – Facebook – Instagram | Photos by Bas Duijs ]

Motorcycles

via Pipeburn.com https://ift.tt/2LY9tnG

February 27, 2019 at 06:24AM