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Moto blog

Hayes, Beaubier On 2014 Yamaha AMA Superbike, Herrin To Moto2

The 2013 AMA Pro Superbike has just wrapped up its season this past weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with Josh Hayes dominating the race and his teammate, Josh Herrin, finishing second to clinch his first AMA Superbike championship. Not long after the checkered flag waved did Yamaha announce some big changes for the upcoming 2014 season. First and foremost, Herrin will be departing for Moto2 next year, fulfilling his desire to compete on the world stage.

2011 Yamaha Vino Classic Recalled for Drum Brake Issue

Yamaha is recalling 2011 Vino Classic scooters because of a problem with its brakes. More specifically, the brake shoe linings may separate from the shoe due to a lack of proper adhesion, reducing brake performance and increasing the risk of a crash. The problem can affect both the front and rear drum brakes.

AIMExpo Outdoors! Space to Host Demo Rides, Off-Road Experience

The inaugural American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) is just weeks away and promoter Marketplace Events Motorcycle Group today announced the details of AIMExpo Outdoors! The nearly 400,000 square-foot outdoor interactive and experiential space located on the grounds of Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) will feature a variety of activities throughout the five-day event geared towards trade, media and consumers. The centerpiece of AIMExpo Outdoors! is the exclusive demo areas designated for testing the newest models.

Used: Alpinestars Joey Canvas shoes review

The brief I gave to my girlfriend before packing for our little California road-trip was simple: “No hair straighteners, no high-heels and no hand bags!” So, I had to honour the whole ‘packing light’ thing too ...or risk a week of abuse. I picked up these shoes as I thought they’d double as decent riding gear for the Yamaha XVS650 and Ducati Diavel we had lined up but they also looked perfect for wearing with jeans when we’d dumped the bike and were heading out to explore the sights. They don’t feature any ‘real’ armour but they are made from a tough yet flexible canvas and they feature additional protection around the ankle.

Kenny Roberts Joins Inaugural American International Motorcycle Expo

We’ve posted several articles over the past few months about the inaugural American International Motorcycle Expo (AIME) because the motorcycling public is invited to attend what looks like an industry/trade show. And we’re not the only ones excited to check it out. Kenny Roberts, perhaps the best-known American motorcycle racer of all time, has signed on to the AIME show as “American International Motorcycle Champion.” In this role, Roberts will serve as the proverbial face of AIMExpo, joining in the celebration of the inaugural show with the entire powersports marketplace – industry, trade, media and consumers.

I can die happy!

As an eighteen year old Kenny Roberts was my bike racing God.  I loved Barry Sheene but as a Yamaha FS1E rider I always wanted the little American to win simply because his bike resembled mine.  The coverage of Grand Prix in the late seventies was sketchy but I clearly remember watching the epic Sheene/Roberts battle unfold at the Silverstone GP on my council estate telly.  The Dutchman, Wil Hartog was hanging in there for a while but as the laps unfolded it became a two way battle with Sheene looking favourite to win.  Sheene lost the most time as the pair lapped a certain George Fogarty so my hero Roberts eventually won by just three hundredths of a second.  I’m not sure what happened next but being a Sunday we would no doubt be skidding around later in the day at the Pines chippie pretending to be Roberts and Sheene.  Fast forward thirty four years and a boyhood fantasy came true as I headed out on Chris Wilson’s 1980 Roberts machine for the Barry Sheene tribute laps at last weekend’s Moto GP.  It crackled into life instantly and felt as sharp as any of the more modern 500s I used to race.  The temperature gauge had a maximum marker on 60 degrees so to begin with I was nervous as it didn’t move but being a hot day (although still keeping my hand on the clutch) I convinced myself it wasn’t working.    The bike felt tiny, not helped by the fact I only just squeezed into my 1989 Marlboro Yamaha leathers.  It still felt rapid though as I played out the 1979 classic in my head while getting tucked in down the Hanger straight.  Steve Parrish was also out there on one of Barry’s 500cc Heron Suzukis so we did our best to copy the famous last lap at Woodcote Corner where Sheene came so close to winning his home GP. As a lad I would have said the chances of me riding round Silverstone on a GP winning Kenny Roberts machine were zero, but in the words of Gabrielle, dreams can come true!

WSBK 2013: Nurburgring Race Report

Tom Sykes has taken over the lead in the 2013 World Superbike Championship standings after splitting race victories with Chaz Davies at Germany’s Nurburgring circuit. Both races ended prematurely however with red flags during the final laps. Pata Honda‘s Jonathan Rea and FIXI Crescent Suzuki‘s Leon Camier both crashed on the 18th lap of Race One after running into oil spilled on the track from Pedercini Kawasaki racer Federico Sandi‘s ZX-10R.

2014 Yamaha YZF-R1 and YZF-R6 Race Blu Unveiled

With the MotoGP world championship in Donington Park this weekend, Yamaha took the opportunity to reveal the 2014 version of its M1-inspired Race Blu liveries along with the 2014 YZF-R1, YZF-R6 and other sportbikes. Before you read any farther, here’s the bad news. First, it does not appear as though either the R1 or the R6 received any other updates for 2014.

Last Year’s Surprise Podium Finisher Katsuyuki Nakasuga to Wild Card at Japanese GP

Katsuyuki Nakasuga, the surprise podium finisher at last year’s MotoGP finale in Valencia, will have the chance to catch lightning in a bottle once again, after being granted a wild card entry to the 2013 Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. Nakasuga shocked the racing world with a second-place finish at the Valencian Grand Prix last November as an injury replacement for then-Yamaha factory rider Ben Spies. Nakasuga made the cagey decision to run slick tires in the wet race.

AIMExpo Celebrates Its 300th Vendor

With the signing of B&W Trailer Hitches the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) has committed 300 exhibitors to its inaugural event this October in Orlando, Fla. “To think that just three weeks ago we were announcing our 250th exhibitor and to now be at a point where 50 more brands have committed to the expo is absolutely remarkable,” says Larry Little, VP and GM of the Marketplace Events Motorcycle Group. B&W Trailer Hitches, an American company, produces a variety of hitches and truck accessories, all aimed at making the process of loading, unloading, and transporting motorcycles as easy and safe as possible.