Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos
Wonder What a Supercharged VR6 Engine Sounds Like? [Video]
Fri, 03 Dec 2010It’s been a while since we heard from Horex. The German manufacturer unveiled its VR6 Roadster back in October at INTERMOT and has since been hard at work getting it ready for production. The Roadster is powered by a supercharged VR6 engine featuring two rows of three cylinders offset in a 15-degree Vee configuration, similar in concept to Volkswagen’s 3.6-liter VR6.
New Triumph Touring Bike Spied!
Fri, 03 Dec 2010The lucrative touring segment will soon get a jolt when Triumph enters the market with a flourish. Spy photos from England’s Motor Cycle News show what looks to be a replacement for the Trophy touring model that bit the dust back in 2003. The bike is much larger than Triumph’s Sprint GT sport-tourer, promising a bigger, more powerful three-cylinder engine.
World of BMW 2011 activity dates
Fri, 03 Dec 2010WORLD OF BMW has announced the companies calendar of events, tours, courses and adventures for 2011.The schedule can be seen in a new 48-page World of BMW 2011 Activity Brochure now available from Carole Nash Motorcycle Live and BMW Motorrad dealerships.BMW Off Road SkillsDakar Rally competitor Simon Pavey and his team of instructors are on hand to deliver courses for those looking to expand their off-road horizons can get their kicks crossing the Welsh wilderness on the Brecon Beacons Adventure, or blasting across the Algarve on the Portuguese Paradise trip. And for 2011, BMW has added the new G 650 GS single-cylinder adventure-sports bike to the fleet. Day in the Dirt and Adventure Maintenance courses are also back on the calendar for 2011.BMW Rider TrainingBMW Rider Training has a purpose-built training area, located on the doorstep of the vast Brecon Beacons National Park and some of the best riding roads in the United Kingdom.
Mettet Superbiker: Nuts
Thu, 02 Dec 2010If you havent heard of the Metter Superbiker, it's an event that takes place every year at the end of season and usually attracts a fair few road-racers to the grid. Anyway, just check out the footage of the race, it's on the edge of your seat stuff! Makes me want to go out and ride a Supermoto.
"Hello, is that Ducati?"
Thu, 02 Dec 2010MOBILE phone manufacturer Videocon has launched a Ducati-branded phone with unique features such as E-Compass, Thermometer, Barometer, Altimeter, Pedometer, Sunrise & Sunset timings, UV Sensor & Global Positioning System.Launched initially onto the Indian market, the V-6200 also features an LED torch and an FM radio.UK price and availabilty has yet to be announced.
Aston Martin V12 motorcycle
Wed, 01 Dec 2010HAVING RIDDEN a few large capacity customs in my time, I can only shudder to think what this Aston Martin V12-engined behemoth must be like on the road. Aesthetically, it's a bit of an eyesore but hats off to anyone mad enough to give this sort of thing a go. Wonder how far the tank range gets him?
Maddison performs world's first indoor motorcycle drop-in
Tue, 30 Nov 2010ROBBIE MADDISON has pulled off another seemingly impossible motorcycle stunt - this time dropping almost 60 feet from a level platform into Sydney's Acer Arena. The Crusty Demons Australian daredevil pulled off the world’s first indoor drop-in on a motorcycle at the Thirst 4 Destruction Tour finale on Saturday November 27.Maddison, who cut off his cast to take part in the Brisbane show last weekend, has been undergoing extensive treatment for a wrist injury, which has prevented him from riding up until now.“I am stoked to be putting my all-time gnarliest stunt into a live show,” Maddison said on Crusty Demon's website.“When I joined the tour I wanted to bring something new to the fold and now I am finally getting to do it in Sydney.“While the drop is scaled down slightly to fit indoors, it is the same odds and I haven’t attempted anything like it since Vegas in 2008.“I will be doing this one full Evel Knievel style - throwing it all on the line and just doing it on the night,” he concluded.
Carole Nash Live and kickin'
Mon, 29 Nov 2010There's a really good buzz around the stands at this year's Carole Nash Live motorcycle show. It's not the biggest show there's ever been but it is properly packed to the rafters with everything from the latest hardware to amazing snake-oil based healing products and quack miracle products. All the manufacturers seem to be happy with this massive influx of eager punters and after one of the doomiest and gloomiest trading periods the industry has ever known, good news couldn't come thick or fast enough. If you're a regular to the site you've already seen all the latest bikes from out Cologne and Milan coverage, so arranged down the right are my NEC show highlights.
Very, very, very fast Honda C90!
Fri, 26 Nov 2010Takegawa are a company based on Osaka, Japan. They make so many hop-up parts for small Honda engines that it's possible to build a brand new, complete engine from their catalogue using no Honda parts at all. Four valve heads, double overhead camshaft kits, stroker cranks, big bore Nikasil barrels, slipper pistons, dry clutches, huge carbs and close ratio gear kits are all available.
20% off AGV helmets
Fri, 26 Nov 2010You've clicked on this blog entry and we'd like to reward your for making the effort and reading our stories by pointing you in the direction of a great 20% off deal on AGV helmets, courtesy of John W Groombridge. Hidden amongst the helmet bargains is a replica of Rossi's Five Continents design on the the five star SHARP ranked GP Tech. Ordinarily costing £499.99 the deal reduces the bill by £100, so that's £399.99 for a helmet fit for a legend.
Want sugar with that?
Fri, 26 Nov 2010THE FOUNDER of a Ducati dealership in America has started selling a Ducati-inspired coffee at his shop.Arun Sharma, of Portland Ducati dealers MotoCorsa, says he went on an exhaustive search for the best coffee producers available: "Wine, bikes, coffee — quality always boils down to the people who crafted the product and the people they made it for." 'CorsaCaffe' is available with or without caffeine.“Even if you are not a coffee drinker, you may want to obtain the coffee as a centerpiece," says Sharma. "Packaging like CorsaCaffe’s has never been seen before.”Sharma also sells a Ducati-inspired wine, CorsaVino, which uses the same style branding.
The original Ducati Diavel?
Fri, 26 Nov 2010Only a select number of people know how long Ducati have been working on the Diavel. Let's guess 3 years. Funny then, that I came across this interesting Ducati custom on t'interweb yesterday.
Kenny Roberts: TZ750 dirt tracker action
Fri, 26 Nov 2010Got to thank Mike from Gloucester for pingin' me a link to this great short film. It's nearly ruined by the cheesy guitar music but it's all saved by an in-line four-cylinder two-stroke on open expansion chambers and a fourth gear powerslide. Legendary bike.
Design a Ducati Season’s Greetings Card
Thu, 25 Nov 2010Nothing says “Happy Non-Denominational Holiday” like an e-card from Ducati and the Italian motorcycle manufacturer is looking for somebody to design one. The Ducati Greetings Contest is looking for contestants to design Ducati’s annual holiday greeting card. The winner will take home a top prize of 1,000 euros and the winning card will be used all over the world.
Tiny Indoor Pitbike Track [video]
Thu, 25 Nov 2010The Service Pavilion (TSP), a motorcycle repair shop and helmet retailer in New Holland, Pa., is hosting an open house that will feature pitbike races around its indoor concrete oval track. Of course, this is no ordinary track – it’s a scant 16 feet from corner to corner! According to organizers, as many as 15 bikes will circle the track at the same time with lap times around four seconds.
V8 Ducati
Thu, 25 Nov 2010Really this sort of thing is Forsyth's thing. Although I'm probably wrong saying that and the old man will berate me for posting pictures of a Ducati with a bastardised engine. That it may be, but it's a serious bit of handywork...
Air time Kenny Roberts-style
Thu, 25 Nov 2010I can’t get enough of pictures that capture a specific, hard to define moment; the successful encapsulation of the absolute balls-to-the-wall, life or death commitment that riding a motorbike as fast as possible involves. We all know. We’ve all been there – even if it’s only a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Maybe (for us mere mortals) it’s that rapidly, yet unexpectedly, tightening left-hand bend with a shitty, mud-covered veneer just at the apex.
V8 Honda motorcycle
Thu, 25 Nov 2010Some of the best things happen in Holland - if you know where to look. For such a small country their can-do attitude has allowed them to conquer a great part of the developing World and most of the developed World with their prudent and er, careful attitude towards money. It's no coincidence that some of the most successful banking conglomerates are Dutch. And then we have people doing this - just because they can - in their sheds.
Macau GP arty farty video. It's good
Thu, 25 Nov 2010Check out this video from this year's Macau GP. It's a homage to the motorcycle riders who competed this year and was directed and edited by Sergio Perez and photography was by Sergio Perez and António Espadinha Soares. The actual race footage is edited by Soares from the Standard Definition broadcast of the race covered by the local TV station.
Top box trauma
Wed, 24 Nov 2010I've struggled with my Honda hard luggage over the past few months, I have to admit. To much office hilarity (and piss taking) I managed to lose the top box just a few miles from the office. I thought the locating mechanism was fastened securely but the first rapid getaway from the first set of traffic lights on Upper Street proved me wrong.It was at least a mile before I noticed that my top box was absent.
Rossi's Smart
Wed, 24 Nov 2010The best piece of 2011 Rossi merchandise so far has to be this Smart car I spotted last week in the Jerez paddock. Maybe Vale himself will have one as it would easily fit into a corner of his humungous new motor home I posted on here a few weeks ago. I was down there with Taylor for the final round of the Spanish Championship (CEV) and just like BSB there was a great end of season atmosphere in the paddock.
Learning Losail on a ZX-10R, the Riba way
Wed, 24 Nov 2010When I go to a new track I don't really have a set way of trying to learn it, do you? Some people study YouTube clips, others dig out the PlayStation. I usually stick to a couple of gears for the first couple of sessions and work on my braking points, taking time to pick out any markers I can use when I get up to speed.
Xmas wishlist: Barbour International 75th Anniversary jacket
Tue, 23 Nov 2010BARBOUR - the company famous for their waxed-cotton jackets - are celebrating 75 years of the iconic Barbour International with two limited edition versions of the model. The company is producing a limited edition run to celebrate the event of the jacket made famous by, among others, the late Steve McQueen. An 'new' version for those wanting to let their jacket mature with age and a pre-distressed finish are available for those wanting the weatheered look.
Rossi to Ducati: The affair begins
Mon, 22 Nov 2010WE'VE STUMBLED across a series of videos posted on YouTube which follow the behind-the-scenes action of Valentino Rossi taking his first spin aboard Ducati's 2011 MotoGP racer. Filmed by an insider and posted on 'Tube by those lovely chaps at 'Assphalt and Rubber', the series of six videos follows the nine-time World Champion, as he's introduced to the 2011 machine for the first time. Rossi ended the two-day session at Valencia in 15th place on the timesheets.
The ultimate off-road experience?
Fri, 19 Nov 2010MOROCCAN-BASED off-road trail riding company Loco4Motos Maroc is to use the new BMW/Husqvarna in its bike range for 2011.Run by Tim Skilton (no, it's not me) the company organises unique adventures in Morocco, with individual off-road itineraries tailored to group requirements.Whether it's mountains, coastline or desert, Loco4Motos Maroc has it covered, for the individual or group adventure rider.From the base in Marrakech featuring accommodation, workshops and leisure facilities you ride out immediately onto Moroccan piste (trails), and your adventure takes shape from just one day's incredible riding, to ten adrenaline packed days of varied terrain.The adventure tours fall into three categories:Day riding: From one to three days out of Marrakech.Free Riding: From one to five days, unsupported tours with guide (for experienced riders only).Fully Supported Tours: From three to ten day tours with full 4x4 support and guide, all inclusive with excellent eclectic accommodation.Loco4Motos is employing the satellite location technology provided by SPOT for 2011.This means that for a small tour premium, any rider is covered for helicopter evacuation and repatriation, as well as being trackable in realtime (every ten minutes).SPOT technology allows riders to alert that there is a problem, call medical services directly to their location or let third parties or loved ones track progress and send OK messages at the end of the riding day. All this forms part of the Loco4Motos security offering, unique in Morocco.Why choose Loco4Motos Maroc?Registered Moroccan CompanyBased in Marrakech at own premises.On the Moroccan pistes ten months out of twelve per year.Best accommodation in each location.SPOT location technology (unique), with two dedicated staff in the office to monitor this at all times.Medical insurance with repatriation included in the SPOT package.Moroccan registered bikes with Moroccan insurance.Moroccan staff.English, French, Spanish and Arabic spoken.All details can be found at www.locoformotos.com
Kids - pay attention...
Fri, 19 Nov 2010Yes, we know it's not December yet but Christmas is lurking just around the corner. Sorry for bringing it up. But how about this for a cool prezzie idea? It's the Malagutti Grizzly RCX12 and it's supplied in a soft state of tune, with twist-and-go transmission, making it easy for youngsters to build their riding skills and confidence.
21 million hits on YouTube not enough?
Fri, 19 Nov 2010SCOTTISH SENSATION Danny MacAskill has released another stunning video promoting the youngster's impressive two-wheel cycling skills. 'Way Back Home' follows MacAskill as he journeys from Edinburgh to his home town on the Isle of Skye and features some cycling stunts that defy belief. His first video 'Inspired Bicycles', which featured on Visordown in 2009, became one of YouTube's biggest ever hits, notching up over 21 million views.
'Gear Up' says Mick Doohan
Fri, 19 Nov 2010FORMER multiple 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan has again been working with the South Australian road safety partnership MAC (Motorcycle Accident Commission), this time to promote the importance of wearing protective clothing while riding a motorcycle. 'Gear Up' is a short but poignant clip about the dangers of riding a motorcycle without decent motorcycle clobber. Last year, Doohan promoted and starred in the award-winning road safety video 'No place to race'.
Ducati Diavel Makes First Appearance in America [video]
Thu, 18 Nov 2010Our sister site, AutoGuide.com is currently at the LA Auto Show covering all of the latest and greatest in the auto industry, managed to catch Nicky Hayden giving the crowd a smokey treat at the Mercedes-Benz booth, officially unveiling the Ducati Diavel for the first time to an American audience. The press conference was setup to also announce Ducati’s partnership with Mercedes-AMG. Hit the jump and check out the video. Get the Flash Player to see this player.
An evening with Parrish and Toseland
Thu, 18 Nov 2010FANCY AN EVENING in the company of World Superbike star James Toseland? BBC MotoGP presenter Steve Parrish is hosting a fun-packed, ticket-only evening at The Queen Adelaide, Croydon Village, Cambridgeshire, on Thursday 16th December. James will be present, no doubt with a few other biking celebrities, along with other musicians invited to perform at the gig.