Motorcycle News - 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Video Review
https://ift.tt/394dlj4 A couple of weeks ago, you had the opportunity to read the book. Now, thanks to the tubes of the internet, you can see what the introduction of the 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R looked like in all its HD glory. See the day start in pea soup fog before moving to scenic coastal highways. Later, watch the SDR handle the challenges of the Portimao circuit. Finally, watch Evans tie it all together in the end-of-day briefing in front of a picturesque backdrop. There’s even some talk about this being the film to beat in next year’s Oscar race. 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Review – First Ride Through movie magic, you’ll actually get to see the engine’s internals while Evans describes the impressive weight savings and changes in power output. The engine cases alone lost almost two pounds while the exhaust system, despite gaining a second catalyst, also lost 2.2 lb. While the horsepower peak may not have changed much, the torque comes on earlier and stronger than last year’s model. The stiffened chassis uses the engine as a stressed member while the swingarm pivot has moved closer to the countershaft sprocket. The net result is a bike that turns in easier, behaving more like a proper sportbike than before. Additionally, the new swingarm pivot location combines with the new shock linkage to promote anti squat to assist the Super Duke R in holding its line while exiting a corner hard on the gas. A bespoke Bridgestone S22 rear tire was also developed to deal with the engine’s prodigious output. KTM went so far with its lightening design goal that it tried to reduce the weight every part that changed by 5%. For example, the rear subframe is now a combination of cast aluminum and carbon composite. The SDR’s bodywork is now thinner in the center and thicker on the edges where it needs to be stronger. So, without further ado, we offer, for your awards consideration, the 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R video review. Get the Flash Player to see this player. The post 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Video Review appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO February 26, 2020 at 01:44PM
Motorcycle News - MO Tested: Dunlop Roadsmart III Long Term Review
https://ift.tt/2I1HZO4 If you’re making a tire in the sport-touring category, you probably have one of the most difficult jobs in the entire tire business. Where racers want the grippiest tire they can find, longevity be damned, and the touring set seek high-mileage with modest grip, the sport-touring crowd wants the best of both worlds. Oh, and it better have good wet weather performance, too. No easy feat. With the Dunlop Roadsmart III, Dunlop thinks it has created the holy grail of sport-touring tires. Not only is Dunlop touting the longevity of the tire, but it’s also bragging about the grip and consistency of the Roadsmart III’s performance throughout the life of the tire – an important aspect sometimes overlooked. Our own John Burns got to try a set of the tires when they were introduced in 2017 and came back pleasantly satisfied with the results – even if he only got to ride on the tires for two days. (Click on the link for background and Dunlop’s story about the tires) All the hype was enough to convince me to get a set to replace the worn out rubber hoops on my Kawasaki Versys commuter bike – which I then proceeded to ride for roughly 7,000 miles. The results? Well, not so fast. I will say it’s a truly impressive tire, but first let’s break down the RS3 to better understand Dunlop’s approach. ConstructionMost manufacturers employ a ton of acronyms for their tires to show off their latest technology. The Roadsmart IIIs follow in that trend. We start with HES-JLB, or High Elongation Steel Joint-Less Belt. Basically the steel belts that make up the circumference of a tire, the degree to which they are wound, and the amount a manufacturer uses, goes a long way in defining the carcass of a tire. Compared to the Roadsmart II, the IIIs are wound tighter and there are more of them, closer together. Combined with the tweaked sidewall design, the tire is now more compliant over bumps. The cross-groove design of the tread pattern, Dunlop says, drains more water than before for better grip in wet conditions. In the rear, a new tire profile puts a bigger contact patch on the ground while also adding to the increased mileage Dunlop claims. Using multiple compounds on a tire is one clever way manufacturers are able to achieve the mileage and grip goals they seek, and it’s a trend the Roadsmart IIIs continue with the MT – Multi-Tread – design; a harder center compound and softer compounds on either side. High-Mileage TestingIt’s not often we get to test a tire’s performance over its lifespan. So, when these opportunities come around, we make the most of them. In short, I’m nothing less than amazed at the Roadsmart III’s performance. Somewhat surprisingly, however, even after 7,000 miles I didn’t get to try the tires in the rain. Nonetheless, I’m hugely impressed with its performance over time. Burnsie already commented about the tire’s performance when new – planted, stable, and plenty grippy – and I don’t disagree. On chilly morning commutes (back when I still had one), the tires seemed to get to temperature quickly with hardly any vagueness sometimes apparent in a cold tire. This characteristic is indicative of a tire with high silica content, as it’s the age-old trick to getting a tire to come to temp and provide grip fast. When enduring the boring slog down the freeway, the Roadsmarts tracked right over expansion joints without any nervousness, easily staying true whenever I had to stomp the brakes hard to avoid a distracted driver. Spirited canyon rides on my wee Versys couldn’t get the Roadsmarts to misbehave, with neutral handling from side to side and compliant bump absorption too. The part I’m most amazed about is the consistency of the Roadsmart IIIs over time. The tires have seen about 7,000 miles, and through it all, the performance has barely dropped off. Because straight-line riding is where this thing spends most of its time, the tire has squared off slightly, but not anything like other tires I’ve used in the past. Edge grip has also remained consistent, though I’ve never taken it to the extreme edges because, well, this isn’t a track tire. In case you didn’t get it by now, the Dunlop Roadsmart III is very high on my list when it comes to sport-touring tires. I’m simply blown away by its performance both when new, but especially over time. Somehow Dunlop has found a way to answer the two biggest demands sport-touring riders crave: more mileage and more grip. I don’t know how they did it, but I do know this is going to be a hard one to top. The Dunlop Roadsmart IIIs are available in most popular sport, sporty-bike, and even ADV sizes, meaning 17-, 18-, and even 19-inch hoops. At the time of this writing, online retailers are offering nearly 30% discounts, meaning even the biggest sizes are coming in at under $400 for a complete set. Shop for the Dunlop Roadsmart III tires here We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using the retail links in our product reviews. Learn more about how this works. The post MO Tested: Dunlop Roadsmart III Long Term Review appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO February 26, 2020 at 11:46AM
Motorcycle News - Forza Ducati! The Multistrada reimagined as a cafe racer
https://ift.tt/2PsuGKL
This first-gen Ducati Multistrada illustrates my point wonderfully. The original is anything but cohesive—but somehow Italian shop North East Custom has managed to beat it into shape, producing this fresh take on a contemporary cafe racer.
Why? Because while Pierre Terblanche’s Multistrada design might not have struck a chord with everyone when it came out (read: everyone hated it), riders praised its abilities as a sports tourer. And that fact is not lost on Diego and Riki.
As for the rest, Diego and Riki shed every last ounce of the original design, while blending in a number of subtle touches from elsewhere in Ducati’s back catalog.
Right behind it is a custom tailpiece, hand-shaped from steel and well matched to the 999 tank’s contours. It sits on a new subframe, fabricated by the brothers as a natural extension of the Ducati’s distinctive trellis front frame. There’s an LED taillight embedded in the rear, and a solo leather seat up top.
The original Multistrada wheels weren’t the worst things to come out of the early 2000s, but these new hoops add an extremely modern feel to the build. The tires are the Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2—a ‘dual-sport’ tire that’s actually very road biased.
The guys then built a small dash to cover that gap, with an integrated motoscope pro instrument from Motogadget. The cockpit’s finished off with new risers and bars, a set of Motogadget bar-end turn signals, upgraded levers and a new brake fluid reservoir.
Stainless steel two-into-one headers snake down, and then terminate in a side-exiting muffler, sitting inside a box with a mesh cover. It’s a killer touch, and a great way to take advantage of the Multistrada’s single-sided swingarm setup.
As for the paint, Diego and Riki went with the obvious choice: red, with minimal graphics. It might seem clichéd, but it fits when you consider how tidy and tight this Italian roadster is. Bravo, gentlemen. North East Custom | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Fragment Motorcycles via Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/2Mf9b0c February 26, 2020 at 11:20AM
F1 News - Ferrari will start season behind Mercedes - Binotto
https://ift.tt/3c8FBDb Ferrari will start the season behind rivals Mercedes, team boss Mattia Binotto said as Formula 1's final pre-season test started in Spain. "We believe we are not the fastest car at the moment and we believe in lap times we will behind at the start of the season," Binotto said on Wednesday. Binotto said Mercedes had so far been "very impressive", adding: "They remain the best team so far." The fastest time on Wednesday was set by Alfa Romeo reserve driver Robert Kubica. Headline lap times in pre-season testing are notoriously unreliable indicators of actual form as it is impossible to know the specifications in which teams are running their cars and variables such as fuel loads and engine mapping can make significant differences to speed. Mercedes finished the first day of the three-day test seventh fastest with Lewis Hamilton. Binotto said he had been impressed by the ease with which Mercedes had achieved their lap times in last week's first test and said Ferrari had work to do to catch up. "We know exactly where we want to go and what are our objectives," he said. "We are very focused. Winter testing may not show the right level of performance and it is very early days to judge. The season is very long." Binotto said Ferrari had succeeded in creating more downforce from this year's car, after a lack of aerodynamic grip was a weakness last season, but that the car still had a weakness in slow-speed corners. "The car of this season is faster in the corners and slower on the straights, which was an objective when we designed this car" he said. "Last season we were too slow in the corners so we tried to put as much downforce as we could in the car to be as fast as possible in the corners, but now we are paying off a bit on the straights. "And in terms of overall balance, in slow-speed corners there is something we need to improve." Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel added: "We would like to be in a stronger position now but the season is very long. The car is a step forward and we know we can improve it so time will tell." Vettel and Red Bull's Max Verstappen both had spins without damaging their cars, Vettel at Turn Eight in the morning session and Verstappen at Turn 10 late in the afternoon. Elsewhere, the new Racing Point continued to attract attention from other teams because of its pace - Sergio Perez was third fastest, just behind the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, both on the medium tyre - and its likeness to last year's Mercedes. The team have admitted they have copied last year's Mercedes car, saying that they believed they needed to change their approach because their previous design was not showing sufficient capacity for development. But Renault executive director Marcin Budkowski said he believed they approach was "a slightly concerning evolution for the sport". He added: "It's a trend that started a few seasons ago and it is a new chapter in that trend. "It will be for the FIA to decide whether it's fully compliant or not. Fastest times, second pre-season test, day one: 1 Robert Kubica (Pol) Alfa Romeo 1:16.942 U 2 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:17.347 M 3 Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1:17.428 M 4 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Alpha Tauri 1:17.456 H 5 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpha Tauri 1:17.540 S 6 Alexander Albon (Tha) Red Bull 1:17.550 H 7 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Mercedes 1:17.562 H 8 Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:17.787 M 9 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes 1:18.100 M 10 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:18.113 M 11 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:18.214 H 12 Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:18.221 M 13 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:18.244 M 14 Nicholas Latifi (Can) Williams 1:18.300 S 15 George Russell (GB) Williams 1:18.353 M 16 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas 1:18.670 M 17 Lando Norris (GB) McLaren 1:18.826 H 18 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo 1:19.820 M 19 Esteban Ocon (Fra) Renault 1:21.542 H Key: U = ultra-soft tyre; S = soft tyre; M = medium tyre; H = hard tyre #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 February 26, 2020 at 11:12AM
Motorcycle News - EDGE OF YOUR SEAT: Yamaha XV920 Virago by 485 Designs
https://ift.tt/2TdDc1v Written by Tim Huber. Over the last few years Yamaha’s venerable Virago has become an increasingly popular platform for customization, trumped by the likes of the CX500, CB750, and Dominator. And while it’s difficult to pin-down the first shop to treat the Japanese V-Twin to a bob-job, Colorado’s 485 Designs has undeniably played a pivotal role in demonstrating the merits of the XV. In fact, to say 485 specializes in Virago builds would be one hell of an understatement, with the two-man operation’s portfolio brimming with all manner of stellar bobbed Virago builds including turbocharged examples and specimens sporting single-sided swing-arms, just to name a few. Headed up by 24-year-old Nick Mercer and located just south of Denver, 485 began the project picking up where the client had left off. “The bike was brought to us as a project, rolling chassis, not put together, and pretty much just a box of parts,” Nick tells us. Wanting to bestow the Yamaha with the shop’s signature look that customers have come to expect, while still bringing something new to the table, Nick and Bob — the second half of 485 — began brainstorming possible means of implementing some novel elements into the XV. The brief from the customer had asked for a floating style seat, though beyond that the two mid-20-something builders were otherwise pretty much given carte blanche. The duo’s answer came in the form of a unique subframe; a thick dual-wire arrangement that sees a tractor-style saddle mounted at an inclined angle, holding the rider firmly in place. Despite its leaf-spring-esque appearance, the new subframe is completely rigid. “This style hasn’t really been seen on a Virago like the way we’ve done it here,” relays Mercer. Wanting to bolster the Yamaha’s performance, the 485 boys have called upon the entire inverted front end off of an R1, complete with its dual disc setup and four-pot calipers (which are now linked to steel-braided lines). Out in back, the factory mono-shock has been jettisoned in favor of a modern, fully-adjustable Sachs item, plucked from a late-model MV Agusta. Next, the two turned their attention to the 920cc mill. Initially, a few replacements were in the cards, but upon closer inspection, Nick and Bob began to realise the situation called for more dire measures, ultimately resulting in a very thorough tear-down and rebuild. Once everything had been properly cleaned out and all the new seals and gaskets were in place, the two tacked on a set of custom meshed covers complete with 485 badges, before shifting their focus to the stock respiratory bits. The thing now sucks through a Harley-style aftermarket cleaner that pokes out on the left side of the bike just behind the rear cylinder. Meanwhile, spent fumes are forced out of a fully-bespoke two-into-one system, routing around the right side of the bike and merging into a single pipe before culminating in a slash-cut mounted just beneath the swing-arm — a design that 485 is slated to soon start selling on its website, adding to its existing catalogue of Virago parts. Perched atop the new subframe is a contoured bobber seat, upholstered in leather with a diamond stitch pattern while underneath is an aftermarket brake/tail light with integrated real signals. Out in front an LED headlight rests in a deep bucket that rests on a subtle yet incredibly unique bespoke bracket. The overall riding position is now markedly more aggressive, with the entirety of the stock controls having been binned to make room for a new pair of rear-sets — held in one-off brackets — along with a new set of clip-ons that are now fitted with new grips and Rizoma-style LED bar-end signals. The battery is also hidden away in a one-off battery box. With everything is good-to-go, Nick and Bob began prepping the Virago for paint. Unlike some of their prior XV builds that employed a paint scheme that included brightly-colored or white frames, the Colorado customs outfit instead opted to go with a more traditional black powder-coating for the chassis, as well as on the bike’s five-arm alloy wheels, triple clamps, swing-arm, subframe, and headlight bucket. The build’s lone piece of bodywork — the tank — has been done up in a gloss gray hue before being decorated with NOS Yamaha badges. “We did all of the fabrication on the frame, seat setup, exhaust, front end work, and everything you see. All work done on the bike was 100% done in our shop, including elements that a lot of builders often outsource like painting, welding, powder-coating, and so on,” relays Nick. While at first glance it may resemble yet another bobbed Virago, closer inspection reveals a myriad of fascinating little details. And though the bike has an undoubtedly minimalistic nature to it, a lot of work had to be done to get everything to look so tidy and unencumbered. It might not be the most novel custom we’ve ever seen, but at the very least it reaffirms 485’s status as something of the go-to guys for Virago builds. [ 485 Designs – Instagram – Facebook | Photos by Keller Lofgren ] Motorcycles via Pipeburn.com https://ift.tt/2LY9tnG February 25, 2020 at 11:00PM
Motorcycle News - Untitled MC Zero XP – Interview with the builder
https://ift.tt/2VmdCdb For the past 11 years, Portland has played host to some of the countries best custom builders. Created by See See Motorcycles founder Thor Drake, the ‘One Motorcycle Show’ is a melting pot of all manner of custom motorcycle. With hundreds of modified motorcycles on display this year, there was literally something for everyone, but one bike outshone the rest. San Fransisco based Hugo Eccles of Untitled Motorcycles attended the event with his custom electric motorcycle, the Zero XP. By the end of the weekend, it was one of the most photographed and talked about machines at the show. After the dust had settled we stole a few minutes of Hugo’s time to discuss the development of this unique project. Motorcycles via Return of the Cafe Racers https://ift.tt/2M9riRb February 25, 2020 at 10:09PM
F1 News - Indianapolis 500: Fernando Alonso to drive for McLaren at famous race
https://ift.tt/3a5ogZU Fernando Alonso will race at this year's Indianapolis 500 for McLaren. It will the two-time Formula 1 champion's third attempt at the race as he seeks to secure motorsport's 'triple crown'. The Spaniard, 38, has won the Monaco Grand Prix and Le Mans twice and an Indy 500 win would make him only the second man in history to secure all three, after Graham Hill. Alonso said: "I am a racer and the Indy 500 is the greatest race in the world." He added: "I have maximum respect for the race and everyone who competes in it and all I want is to race against them and give my best." A successful run at Indy for Alonso with McLaren this year would also act as a form of redemption after a poor debut for the company's new Indycar team at the race last year. Alonso failed to qualify as a result of a mismanaged assault on the race by a team that lacked preparation. McLaren have regrouped for 2020 and have joined forces with the Schmidt Peterson team to create a new outfit called Arrow McLaren SP. They are running a two-car team in the entire Indycar series for two young, up-and-coming drivers, Mexican Patricio 'Pato' O'Ward and American Oliver Askew. Alonso's entry in the most high-profile race on the US motorsport calendar will be alongside the two regular drivers. Gil De Ferran, McLaren's sporting director and a two-time Indycar champion who won the Indy in 2001, is one of the bosses of the team. De Ferran and Alonso became close friends when the Brazilian worked as an adviser when Alonso made his debut at Indy with a McLaren-branded car run by the Andretti team in 2017. Then he qualified fifth, led for 24 laps and retired in the closing stages with an engine failure when looking poised to challenge for victory. Alonso won the award for rookie of the year in 2017, and his competitive showing made McLaren's failure last year all the more galling for all involved. Alonso had also been in talks with Andretti about racing the Indy with them this year, but those fell through last month. Alonso said: "It was important for me to explore my options for this race but Arrow McLaren SP has always been at the top. I have a special relationship with McLaren; we've been through a lot together and that creates a bond, a loyalty that is strong. "But more than that, I am impressed with how the new organisation and operation is developing into a strong package with the Chevrolet partnership. The team has experienced, well-qualified people and great resources, and I'm confident we can be competitive." McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown said: "We've always said we're open to running Fernando in a third car for the 500, so we're delighted he's decided to join us. Fernando is one of the greatest drivers in the sport and it's fantastic to have him as part of the team." #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 February 25, 2020 at 01:14PM
MotoGP News - Marquez: Honda made 2020 MotoGP bike breakthrough on last Qatar day
https://ift.tt/2T6sjyo MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez says Honda has "found the way" with its troubled 2020 RC213V, following a pre-season testing phase that "worried" the injured Spaniard Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei February 24, 2020 at 02:06PM
MotoGP News - Rossi fears repeat of MotoGP tyre wear struggles with 2020 Yamaha
https://ift.tt/2wIZCA5 Valentino Rossi admits he is worried about the 2020 Yamaha's race pace ahead of the first race of the new MotoGP season, as he is still 'suffering' with tyre wear... Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei February 24, 2020 at 01:08PM
F1 News - Jamie Chadwick earns super licence points in the Formula 3 Asian Championship
https://ift.tt/32loF7S Britain's Jamie Chadwick earned her first points towards a Formula 1 super licence after she finished fourth overall in the F3 Asian Championship. Chadwick got 10 of the 40 points required over a three-year period to race in F1, with 25 needed to drive in a practice session. In 15 races in Asian F3, Chadwick took three podiums including one race win. Dutchman Joey Alders won the series with Australian Jack Doohan second and Russian Nikita Mazepin third. The five-leg series culminated in three races at Buriram International Circuit in Thailand at the weekend, with Chadwick taking two podiums and one victory. The all-female W Series, now in its second season, will also offer super licence points, with 15 available for the overall series winner. There has not been a woman competing in Formula 1 since 1976, and Chadwick, 21, a Williams development driver and winner of the 2019 W Series, will compete again with the aim of collecting the remaining points required for an F1 practice session. In the W Series, second place will earn 12 points, third place 10, with super licence points available down to seventh place. The first race of the W Series season is in St Petersburg, Russia, in May. #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 February 24, 2020 at 01:15PM |
Categories
All
Archives
November 2020
|
2/26/2020
0 Comments