Yamaha XVS650 V-Star Classic Motorcycles, page #64

Moto blog

Learn on track with Mackenzie and Whitham at Focused Events

Focused Events Rider Development Days at Silverstone offer a new, intense tuition-based experience on a selection of new Supersport machines, hosted by high-level instructors including Niall Mackenzie, Jamie Whitham and Steve Plater.The courses will be situated at Stowe circuit, Silverstone and will be aimed at Novice and Intermediate riders. Dates for the events have been confirmed as 14th May and 2nd September.Pupils will not only be taught by World class instructors, the machinery available for use will be high-end Supersport machines from Ducati, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. Total cost for the day is £339 including bike hire with a £50 premium for use of the exotic Ducati 848.Chief Instructor and Visordown Road Test Editor Niall Mackenzie explained, “A track day can be an intimidating place to learn circuit and road skills, especially for less experienced riders.

See Britain's land speed record hopeful at Race Retro 2010

SEE THE MACHINE that could propel Britain to a new motorcycle land speed world record at The Race Retro 2010 show, held at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry from 12th to 14th March. Almost a year has passed since Visordown broke the news of the planned UK assault on the land speed record - this coming August the Angelic Bulldog team travels to Bonneville, where it is hoping to smash the 400mph barrier and bring the motorcycle Land Speed Record back to the UK for the first time since 1937. The current record stands at 360.913mph over a kilometre.

1974: Onboard an MV racer with Phil Read

ANOTHER CRACKING BIT of vintage racing footage, this time featuring multiple motorcycle world champion Phil Read on the awesome-sounding MV Agusta 500-4.The footage is from the 1974 movie 'The Iron Horse' made by Frenchman Pierre-William Glenn.Read’s 1974 500cc World Championship victory was the last year a four-stroke won the world title before the advent of the MotoGP class in 2002. Giacomo Agostini won the crown from Yamaha in 1975, followed by Suzuki-mounted Barry Sheene in '76 and '77. The footage is bloody good, considering the camera technology of the day.

Quiz Toseland via Facebook

THE YAMAHA WSB squad have opened an online Q+A session through social networking website Facebook, where fans can put questions to former two-time World Superbike Champion James Toseland. So now's your chance to get in there and quiz JT over anything you like - within reason. You've until Thursday 11th Feb to register you questions online.

Removable baffle exhaust for latest Yamaha R1

GRAND PRIX Evolutions has released a series of handmade exhaust silencers for the latest Yamaha R1. Each silencer has a circlip retained db reducer and a removable in line baffle. This unique set up gives more versatility than any other exhaust brand on the market.

Hilarious Lorenzo sidecar spoof

CHECK OUT this cracking bit of video starring Spanish MotoGP sensation Jorge Lorenzo out and about on his scooter outfit on the streets of Barcelona. Watch as the Fiat Yamaha man negotiates rush-hour traffic, suffers numerous breakdowns and gets pulled over by the Spanish cops. Great to know these lads can have a laugh too, eh?

Top Motorcycle News of 2009

The year is coming to a close so let’s take a look back at the top stories of 2009 in the world of motorcycles after the jump. Buell Motorcycles Shut Down Harley-Davidson made the shocking announcement Oct. 15 it would discontinue Buell Motorcycles.

Kenny Roberts Return to the Indy Mile [video]

In a year that saw Yamaha riders James Stewart, Valentino Rossi, and Ben Spies capture the perfect “trifecta” of World Championships, perhaps one of the most memorable moments for race fans around the world, was “King” Kenny Roberts’ return ride at the infamous Indy Mile in late August. As a year end surprise, Yamaha is pleased to offer race fans around the world a video of this monumental occasion. The video features both archival footage from Kenny’s victory in 1975 as well as the events surrounding this recent monumental motorcycling event.

Fiat Yamaha Team Interviews [video]

Fiat has released a series of interviews with Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and other members of the World Champion Fiat Yamaha MotoGP team. The interviews were conducted after the post-season testing in November but the interviews were recently released with English subtitles. Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Custom R1 for Riders for Health

This R1 will be auctioned in 2010 to raise money for Riders for Health. The bike was donated by Yamaha and the paintjob was designed by Aldo Drudi - the guy behind Rossi's helmet designs. See the similarity?!