Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

Akrapovic full system for Triumph Daytona 675

From Akrapovic is a new full system for the Triumph 675 Daytona: After extensive research and development with the Smiths (Gloucester) Racing team, Akrapovic have now launched a full system for the popular 675 Daytona. Although the bike has been available since 2006 Akrapovic have only ever offered a slip-on silencer option, electing not to develop a full racing system for this bike. However, after unprecedented demand from the WSS and BSS paddock for racing products the decision was made to develop a full racing system in a modular format that allows the headers to be added to existing customer’s slip-on kits.

Ducati Multistrada Sets Pikes Peak Record

Carlin Dunne set a new course record for motorcycles in Ducati’s second consecutive Pikes Peak International Hill Climb victory. Riding the Ducati Multistrada 1200, Dunne completed the 12.42 mile course in 11:11.32 for the win in the 1205 class for 900cc and larger Twin cylinder machines. Dunne’s time was also 34 seconds faster than the winning time set by Greg Tracy on the Ducati Multistrada in the 2010 race.

Ride to Work Day: let's make it better

Did you ride to work last Monday? Good for you if did. You might not have even known it was Ride to Work Day, it could just be what you do every day.

Kawasaki Giving Away 820 Vehicles in Good Times Sales Event Promotion

Kawasaki is giving away a free 2011 Ninja 250R or Bayou 250 ATV at each of 820 participating dealerships across the U.S. as part of its “Good Times Sales Event” promotion. The contest also features a number of instant win prizes ranging from discounts on accessories and service to Green Day music downloads to one of four 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaqurero cruisers.

US House Subcommittee Hears Testimony Supporting Opening Land for Off-Highway Riding

Representatives from off-highway riding groups testified before a congressional subcommittee in support of a bill that would open 43 million acres for recreational riding. The groups support H.R. 1581, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011, which would free land deemed not suitable for wilderness designation, opening them up for off-highway riding.

Back in the day, the All Japan 500cc Championship at Tsukuba

This ‘you tube’ gem sent to me recently brought back some funny memories from the scary but incredibly exciting days of 500cc two stroke racing. This particular race was the final round of the All Japan 500cc Championship at Tsukuba Circuit where I enjoyed a head to head battle with national hero Tadahiko Taira. Yamaha’s favourite son at the time, ‘tie wrap’ as we liked to call him, was taller and better looking than most Japanese riders (maybe a war baby?) and went on to win nearly everything in Japan during his career.

2012 Suzuki Motocross Lineup Revealed

Suzuki announced its 2012 motocross lineup consisting of the RM-Z450, RM-Z250, RM-85 and RM-85L. All four models return unchanged save for graphic updates. The 2012 Suzuki RM-Z450 and RM-Z250 (pictured above) are fuel injected and equipped with fully-adjustable Showa forks, twin-spar aluminum chassis and swingarm and five-speed transmissions.

BMW Scooter News Imminent?

BMW previously announced it will unveil two new scooter models at this fall’s EICMA Show in Milan, but the German manufacturer may have some news for us even sooner. BMW‘s global media site has a new section set up for scooter news. The section is empty at the moment, except for a subsection titled “Scooter Technology”.

Suzuki Forecasts 9% Increase in North American Sales in 2011-2012 Fiscal Year

Suzuki Motor Corporation released its forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2012, predicting a 9.4% increase in worldwide motorcycle unit sales including a 9.0% increase in the North American market. The fiscal forecast, delayed from Suzuki’s previous quarterly report in May because of the uncertainty caused by the March 11 earthquake, paints a positive picture for the current fiscal year. Suzuki forecasts sales of about 55,000 units in North America, an increase from about 50,000 units sold the previous fiscal year.

Guy Martin: do you remember this pic?

Do you remember the first time you heard about Guy Martin? For me, it was when I saw this pic of him at the Scarborough Gold Cup in 2004. It's a magical picture of the then 23-year old by renowned road-racing photographer Stephen Davidson.

Husqvarna Cuts $2000 off MSRP for 2011 SMS630 and TE630

Husqvarna North America has reduced the price of its 2011 SMS630 supermoto and TE630 dual-sport by $2000. Husky’s largest models (at least, until the 900 finally breaks cover), the SMS630 and TE630 were all new models introduced last year as early 2011 models. After the discount, the 2011 Husqvarna SMS630 is priced at $5,999 while the TE630 is priced at $6,499.

Aprilia SR Max Touring Scooter Unveiled

Aprilia has unveiled a new touring scooter, the Aprilia SR Max, available in 125cc and 300cc configurations. Okay, perhaps “new” isn’t the right word for it, as the SR Max is a rebadged version of the Nexus from Aprilia’s Piaggo Group stablemate, Gilera. It’s also not clear if Aprilia will import the SR Max to North America, but the scooter is more likely to pop up here, where Aprilia already offers the SR 50 scooter, with its new name, than it would as a Gilera.

2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE vs. 2010 Nissan GT-R [Video]

Italian motorcycle manufacturer, Aprilia, has posted a YouTube video showing a battle between the company’s flagship sportbike, the RSV4 Factory APRC SE, and a Nissan sportscar, the GT-R. We’ve seen a number of these bike vs. car videos before, but they always strike me as a little suspect, as you never know if the pilot of either vehicle is really trying their best, or not, to win the race.

Proof: Change chain, gain power

Point six of a BHP may not sound like much but, in my book, any gain is a good gain, especially when it’s as simple as changing a chain and sprockets. After all, you're going to have to do it sooner or later when your old chain and sprockets die their death. I’ve always been interested in what gains are available in the drive train.

Played: SBK 2011

The nerves are rising as I sit upon a factory Ducati on the grid at the final round of the WSB championship lined-up against the best riders in the World, the lights are about go out to decide winner… The reality however, is I've been working on my arse groove in the couch, in a darkened room with the remnants of last nights takeaway playing on SBK 2011. SBK 2011 is the next extension in the bike racing game series. The two major modes in the game are the standard career and the SBK Tour.

2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 Leaked

Official photographs and details of the updated 2012 Suzuki V-Strom have emerged as the Japanese manufacturer continues its prolonged teaser campaign to hype its “New Middle-Class Motorcycle”. Indeed, the latest teaser is expected later today but images and specifications on the updated Wee-Strom have emerged from Suzuki’s global site. The 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 will again be powered by a SV650-derived 90-degree V-Twin engine with a displacement of 645cc.

Allstate Releases iPhone App for Motorcyclists

Allstate Insurance Company has released a new iPhone app for motorcycle riders. Available for free on the iTunes App store, the GoodRide by Allstate app can plan and log rides, keeping track of routes, time and mileage. The app can also be integrated with Facebook and Twitter so users can share information about their trip, including photographs and comments with their social network.

New Stuff: Held Lennox leather jacket

Held are one of the biggest brands of motorcycle clothing in Germany and if you live in Europe you will know that they produce high quality and 'fashionably' styled textile and leather bike kit. They are also pioneers of the much talked about d30 body armour. That’s the stuff that is soft to touch and moulds to your body shape but when subjected to an impact gets hard and spreads the impact across the whole of its surface, clever stuff.

Husqvarna Launches New Site for 900cc Streetbike

Husqvarna has launched a new website for its upcoming 900cc debut in the streetbike market segment. At the moment, the site, www.husqvarna900.com, is sparse on the details but that will change fairly quickly. Technical specs are expected on June 25 with the first official images to be revealed July 1.

Female Rider to Race Moto2 at Assen

The Mapfre Aspar Moto2 team has named Elena Rosell the replacement rider for the injured Julian Simon in the June 25 Moto2 race at Assen. Rosell will become the first woman to ever race in the Moto2 class and the first in any Grand Prix road racing class since Katja Poensgen competed in the 250cc class during the 2003 season. Rosell regularly races Stock Extreme class of Spain’s CEV championship, currently sitting 11th in the standings.

Rossi to Race on Updated Ducati Desmosedici GP11.1

With the 2011 MotoGP season not going as successfully as hoped, Ducati is introducing a number of significant updates to its Desmosedici racebike including features originally intended for the 2012 version. Valentino Rossi, whose much heralded union with Ducati has produced just a single podium finish in six races, will be the first to race on the updated Desmosedici, dubbed the GP11.1. Rossi will ride the GP11.1 at the upcoming Assen.

New 2012 Harley-Davidson Models Named in CARB Documents

Documents released by the California Air Resources Board reveal two new models from Harley-Davidson’s 2012 lineup: a 10th anniversary edition V-Rod and a new member of the Dyna family. The CARB documents list motorcycles that have received approval for the state of California. The Motor Company has received approval for several 2012 models including the 2012 Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special Anniversary and the 2012 Harley-Davidson Switchback.

2011-2012 International Motorcycle Shows Tour Dates Announced

The Progressive International Motorcycle Shows has released its 12-stop 2011-2012 tour calender. The country’s largest touring motorcycle show, the IMS usually features several new models making their debuts in the United States. The 2011-2012 tour kicks off Nov.

40-Day Motorcycle Ride for Breast Cancer Groups

Charlotte, N.C., writer and motorcycle adventurer Tamela Rich is heading out on a cross-country ride to raise money for breast cancer causes. Along her tour, Rich will meet with breast cancer survivors and interview them for her upcoming book, “Live Full Throttle: What You Can Learn About Life From Women Who’ve Faced Cancer”. This will be Rich’s second tour across the country.

Reminder: Monday is Ride to Work Day

We wanted to take a moment to remind everyone that Monday, June 20, is Ride to Work Day 2011. Held each year on the third Monday of June, Ride to Work Day encourages riders to commute on their motorcycles to demonstrate the benefits of two-wheeled transportation. The organizers of Ride to Work Day want everyone to help spread the word to their fellow riders.

New Stuff: Maxxis Supermaxx Diamond

Never before have a pair of tyres generated such interest as they did in the P&H Motorcycles workshop yesterday. If you’re into mountain biking then you’ll be well acquainted with the name Maxxis, generally speaking they make the best pushbike tyres money can buy. But they also make motorbike tyres and in recent months they have been thinking ‘out of the box’ and behold the Supermaxx Diamonds are born.

Tested: Bridgestone BT-016 Pro's

Two months ago I had a set of Bridgestone BT-016 Pro’s fitted to my Triumph Speed Triple. Before setting out on the new tyres, the Speed had covered 4000 miles. Now with just over 7000 on the clock the rear tyre is on the limit markers.

Triumph’s 500,000th Production Motorcycle Headed to Auction on July 1st

It was less than a month ago that Triumph’s 500,000th production motorcycle, a special Speed Triple with commemorative paint job, rolled off the line. World-famous auction house, Bonhams, has recently announced that it will put the special Trumpet on the auction block on July 1, 2011, during the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Comedian Ross Noble has completed his Sit Down Tour of Great Britain with the milestone Triumph, and now the bike is ready to raise money for Riders for Health charity.

A Closer Look a the New 900cc Husqvarna Streetbike

Husqvarna will enter the twin-cylinder market in 2012 with a variation of the F800 powertrain from Husky’s parent company BMW, enlarged to around 900cc. This supermoto-styled version will undoubtedly be accompanied by a more dirt-worthy adventure-touring model. The test mule seen in these photos appears to use several components from the BMW F800R, including its swingarm and wheels.

2011 Benelli TNT R160

After a slight delay, Benelli has released its 2011 TNT R160 streetfighter. First unveiled at the 2010 EICMA Show, the 2011 Benelli TNT R160 is powered by an 1131cc three-cylinder engine paired to a six-speed transmission with a dry slipper clutch. Benelli claims 155.6 hp at 10,200 rpm and 88.5 ft-lb.