Yamaha Stratoliner Motorcycles in Panama City, page #19

Moto blog

The Yamaha FZ-09 Really Can Do It All – Video

Around here, it’s no secret we’re fans of the Yamaha FZ-09 (MT-09 for those reading this outside the U.S.). It’s a great do-it-all motorcycle, and for $7990 it’s a great value, too. Apparently, Mark Toia is well aware of how useful the FZ-09 can be as well.

2014 Yamaha YZF-R125 Announced for Europe

Yamaha has updated its YZF-R125 for the European market, refreshing one of the top-selling 125cc sportbikes on the continent. For 2014, the new R125 receives an upside-down fork, revised fuel-injection system, front air-intake and an R6-inspired fairing design. The engine remains unchanged from the previous version, with a single-cylinder displacing 124.7cc.

Yamaha Reports 2013 Sales Results

Yamaha reported a 1.2% decrease in motorcycle sales in 2013 but managed to increase its net sales revenue by 16.2%, thanks in large part to the depreciation of the Japanese yen. According to the company’s 2013 fiscal report, Yamaha sold 6,014,000 motorcycles last year, down slightly from 6,090,000 sold in 2012. The good news however, is most of the sales decrease was limited to Thailand and Vietnam where the economy worsened in 2013, while Yamaha’s sales increased in nearly all other markets.

Nitron Introduces Adventure Series Shocks

The latest suspension manufacturer to hit the block, Nitron is hitting the ground running. Its latest offering, the Adventure series of shocks, leaves no question as to its intended pursuit. Crafted from aluminum alloy with stainless steel fittings, Nitron Adventure Series of shocks are lighter weight than standard ones, and are built to withstand the harsh environments adventure riders are known to travel.

2014 AMA Supercross – San Diego Results

James Stewart captured his first AMA Supercross win of the season, leading all 20 laps before a crowd of 56,828 fans at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif. The Yoshimura Suzuki rider becomes the fourth different winner of  the season in the 450 class through six rounds. The news was less positive for last week’s winner Chad Reed.

2014 Yamaha Crosser 150 BlueFlex Announced for Brazil

Yamaha revealed a new ethanol-powered dual-sport for the Brazilian market called the XTZ150S Crosser BlueFlex. Designed specifically for Brazil, the Crosser 150 is Yamaha’s latest ethanol fuel model, sharing the same engine as the Fazer 150 BlueFlex. The engine is a 149cc single-cylinder engine with the second-generation version of Yamaha’s BlueFlex system, allowing it to run on gasoline or ethanol.

MotoGP Teams Complete First Sepang Pre-Season Test

Preparations for the 2014 MotoGP Championship are well underway, with the first pre-season test at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit complete. As the first test of the year, we shouldn’t take too much stock into the results, but they do provide a basis for later comparison. Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez was the fastest rider on all three days of the Sepang test.

Mystic Mac's 2014 MotoGP predictions

There is no real off season in Moto GP.  Although we complain about being starved of racing, for those at the sharp end, in little more than two months they have new bikes to assemble, team staff to put in place and sponsors to nail down that will pay for it all.  This time frame is also tight for riders, as it seems more every year go straight under the surgeon’s knife after the last round and spend the short winter recuperating for the season ahead. The 2014 Moto GP championship looks like a cracker as apart from the ten full factory riders we now have at least eight non factory riders with properly competitive machinery.  We also have five Brits on the grid, two with podium potential.  Whatever happens though (providing you have BT Sport) you can just sit back and enjoy watching the incredible Marc Marquez do things that shouldn’t be possible. Speaking of whom, I didn’t believe a Rossi replacement would come this soon.  And when I say replacement, I mean a rider that is the full package.  Although in some ways quite different to Vale, he’s an equally phenomenal talent plus a very likeable character that appeals to the masses and although respectful to his rivals off track, deadly competitive in the heat of battle.  Being young and good looking he’s obviously a dream for sponsors and the sport in general.  Marquez has evolved in his own way but thankfully into a perfect replacement for our sport when the VR steps down.

Dirt First By MotoVentures

MotoVentures, the long-running (since 1998) dirt bike riding instruction company is changing its name from simply MotoVentures to the more descriptive Dirt First by MotoVentures. The new moniker more appropriately describes the company’s training activities and philosophy about the best way to learn how to ride a motorcycle begins in the dirt. “Our Dirt First training curriculum is very practical with no ceiling or limitations,” says MotoVentures President, Gary LaPlante. ”Our highly qualified, well-trained instructors are capable of teaching everyone from kids to adults and beginners to experts.

Custom Motorcycle Inspired By…A Stove?

The custom motorcycle scene is different in Indonesia. Just take this 1968 Yamaha XS650 for example. Built by Barata Dwiputra of Thrive Motorcycles, his inspiration came from a very unsuspecting source: wood-burning stoves.