Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

£4 part (almost) stops play

When I dropped off my trashed 848 to George White, along with a box of parts, I didn't realise how much work would be involved in preparing the bike for the 848 Challenge. If I did, I probably wouldn't have had the front to show up, point to a date on the calendar two weeks ahead, make everyone a cup of tea and then clear off. Truth be told, it's taken a huge effort to get the bike to a place where it's got everything it needs to go racing and I wouldn't be heading to Assen without the effort of Paul Sands (Sandzee) and Mike Collis at George White who worked all sorts of hours to get it sorted.

Pedrosa: most wins, least successful

Should Dani Pedrosa win at Le Mans this coming weekend he will become the most successful rider In the premier-class not to win the coveted title. After his triumph in Estoril the Repsol Honda rider currently finds himself on 13 wins and in joint first and a win, at a circuit that sees him rank as one of riders with the most victories in all classes, would make him a clear leader. Joining Pedrosa at the top of the ranking is Max Biaggi and Randy Mamola, two riders who became associated with the number two.

It started with a good clean...

"So when's your first race" says Paul Sands, George White main mechanic. "In 10 days' time" says I, wincing in anticipation of his response. To his credit, he didn't flinch.

Got the van all stickered up

Will an 848 fit in a Bedford Rascal? Yes. Am I going to try?

Goodbye RM85 Suzuki

An old friend dropped in this weekend, on his way back from an arse-killing 4,500 mile ride to Estoril and back to watch the MotoGP race. He has only ever ridden Harley chops and old stuff with the exception of his vague nod at practicality and modernity - an ancient, very, very high mileage R1100GS BMW. I made him a brew and some pasta arrabiatta then made him ride my 2011 Fireblade.

What is it about Mulholland Highway?

Americans can ride bikes, but there's something about the ones that head to Mulholland Highway that would make you think otherwise. I don't know a stretch of road in the UK that suffers as many crashes. Do as many bikers fall off on Snake Pass or the Cat 'n Fiddle?

Bargain HJC CS-12 Lotus, just £25

I was in George White, Slough at the weekend and they're selling the HJC CS-12 Lotus for just £25. Bargain! If you're in the market for a spare helmet, then this will fit the bill perfectly.

Coyote speed camera alert system

You might not have heared of Coyote, it's a speed camera alert system. They're popular in mainland Europe but they've only recently come to the UK. The whole system is community driven to keep the information as up to date as possible.

Maybe the Evo class is the future for WSB?

Did we see the future of World Superbike racing last weekend at the BSB event? Possibly, but only if everyone is on Evo spec machines in 2012. By setting the 2nd fastest lap in race one and running second for a while in race two, the brilliant Alex Lowes proved that with a good grid position an Evo spec machine can be competitive for part race distance at least.

Do you remember Honda's EVO Blade?

I can remember exactly where I was when I first saw Honda's TT100 Evolution Fireblade: at the dinner table, reading MCN as a 16-year old lad and being told to put the paper down and get on with my dinner! I'm sure you appreciate why the lamb chops had to wait.. It was created by Honda to celebrate their 100th TT victory, however I'm pretty sure Honda had another agenda: to homologate it so they could put it up against the mighty new Yamaha R1 at the TT.

XENA XX15 alarm disc lock

New disc-lock from XENA, here's what they have to say about it: As the world’s leading manufacturer of alarmed lock technology, XENA Security has developed an unrivalled understanding of how extraordinarily strong locks can be combined with intelligent alarm systems. Their latest XX15 stainless-steel disc-lock alarm features an out-sized 60mm disc-slot and chunky 14mm locking pin, making the XX15 a better fit for larger brake discs. All XENA disc-locks are a highly visible theft deterrent and come equipped with a loud 120dB warning siren powered by a single CR2 3volt Lithium battery.

Roland Sands glamour shoot video

Remember Jamie Robinson? Factory 250 Suzuki GP rider? Professional Yorkshireman?

Tapout Themed Yamaha R1 Unveiled at UFC 129 Fan Expo

The Ultimate Fighting Championships recently held the largest event in its history in Toronto and the folks at Tapout decided to use the occasion to unveil a 2011 Yamaha R1 project bike. The bike was designed Toronto’s Flat Out Industries. As you may expect, it prominently features Tapout logos all over the bike, including on the wheels, along with a pretty sweet red, black and white color scheme.

I don't need it, but I had to have it..

I knew racing would be expensive, but I never really knew just HOW expensive it was, until I drew up a list of wants and needs for my 848 Challenge bike and started calling people for parts. As a result, my bank account is dryer than a camel's arse. And I haven't even raced yet.

The world's best ZX-10R?

I'm taking inspiration from the Paul Bird Kawasaki squad and I'm making a few subtle mods to my 10R to make it look a little more like the WSB machine. I've started by ordering a Leo Vince exhaust. Not sure I can afford those Brembo calipers though...

How datalogging used to work...

OK, so it's not a bike, but this image from Ford's archive is a fantastic illustration of just how far the idea of datalogging has come over a few short decades. Taken in the mid 70s, the picture shows how the firm used to do it. The Escort in front is being datalogged, the Cortina estate behind carries the datalogger.

Win a Ducati Diavel with Rizoma

Purveyors of motorcycle art Rizoma have put up the new Ducati Diavel as a prize in a unique art competition. 'Unlock Your Ideas' gives you a blank canvas to turn the range of Rizoma products into an inspired piece of artwork. Creativity is rewarded with the latest piece of Ducati art, the Diavel.

Morocco by bike

If you've never been to Morocco, you have missed out, big time. If you were going to go to Morocco on a bike, we'd suggest going along with a living legend like Mick Extance, a five time finisher of the Dakar rally. Maybe the video will whet your appetite.

Nuggets from Estoril

 HRC Executive Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto and Ducati General Director Filippo Preziosi attracted some major media attention as they enjoyed a lengthy but very public chat in the Estoril paddock. Some speculated they were chewing the fat over Stoner’s brilliance now that even Rossi is struggling to get close to the podium on the D800cc Ducati. Others had no doubt it was the rule change for Moto GP machines moving to 1000cc in 2012 that was being debated.

George White & Visordown: 848 Challenge

I've never met a motorcycle dealer who isn't flat-out 24/7 and Steve Gannicott, the big cheese at George White Motorcycles, is no exception. George White's have 7 dealerships across the country and 6 outlet stores - a lot to keep on top of so Steve probably didn't need me pestering him all day but that's exactly what he got. When I managed to get hold of Steve, he was really supportive of my entry to the 848 Challenge and wanted to get behind it because George White now has a Ducati dealership.

Bargain jet washer from Halfords

This Halfords jet washer has been one of the best things I've picked up all year, I wish I bought it much earlier than I did. Or should that be much later? Let me explain: Tight is my middle name and every time I walked into Halfords I told myself I'd buy one, but instead I opted to keep my cash in my pocket and use a bit more elbow grease instead.

May Day Run: Toy Story 3 Street Triple

Every year on the first Bank holiday in May more than 25,000 bikers take to the A21 and ride to Hastings for what is Kent’s biggest bike meet. The official route starts at Locksbottom in London and follows the A21 all the way to the coastal town of Hastings. We picked up the 50 mile spectator-clad route about half way down and in our group of 5 took a casual poodle down.

If you thought the license test was hard in America…

I’ll be the first to admit that the procedure to get a motorcycle endorsement (and a car license for that matter) in this country is incredibly easy. If you’re smart, you sit in a classroom for a few hours, answer some basic questions, learn all the controls, perform a simple riding test, and you’re off to the races.  Look at what the Japanese have to do to get their certification! Check out the video after the jump.

The ultimate commuter weapon

Road-going warfare is the possible solution to the frustration of the daily commute to the big city. The answer? A Vespa 150 with a mounted cannon.

I wonder what happened to Spider and Fat Frank?

Check out this cutting from The Milwaukee Journal, 1967. You can click the picture to make it open larger. As strange stories go, it's up there with the best of them.

A short film about Zen

This beautifully shot short film alludes to a phrase by Robert M Pirsig, the author of Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance: "If the machine produces tranquility it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed".  But is any Triumph single ever capable of producing a sensation of tranquility, even when it is 'right'? I suspect not...

Motus MST Track Testing [Video]

Get the Flash Player to see this player. Motus has released a video of its new V4 gasoline direct injected Motus MST sport tourer undergoing testing at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. The video shows two prototypes of the American-made and designed motorcycle.

Stats ahead of Estoril MotoGP round

The MotoGP circus moves into it's tenth appearance at the Estoril circuit, with the Portugease circuit playing host to a Grand Prix event in each of the previous nine years since the introduction of the four-stroke MotoGP formula at in 2002. Below is a reminder of the highlights of the previous nine MotoGP races held at Estoril: 2002 – Having won the last 500cc GP race at Estoril in 2001, Valentino Rossi (Honda) won the first of the MotoGP races held at the circuit. This was a race that was run in very wet conditions and Sete Gibernau had led for most of the race only to crash out with four laps to go.

Many hands make light work...

This was the sorry looking JHP Ducati after Darren Fry crashed it in qualifying on Sunday before the first race of the championship. Fry broke his coccyx in the crash but, fortunately for Fry, it took around 10 people just over 3 hours to get the bike ready to race, as can be seen in the picture below. Hats off to Darren Fry for racing the bike over the rest of the weekend.

The moment Gilbertson crashed out

At the 848 Challenge season opener, newcomer to the series Kenny Gilbertson had an impressive showing in race one, finishing in 3rd place. However, in race two Gilbertson took the lead from race one winner Leon Morris and put 0.3 seconds on him in a lap but Gilbertson asked too much of his 848 EVO and crashed at the exit of Graham Hill bend. Luckily Gilbertson's ok and his bike wasn't too badly damaged either.