Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

Electric Bike GP Coming to U.S.

On November 4, the same day that the Mavizen TTX02, the world’s first production electric superbike, was unveiled at the 2009 SEMA event in Las Vegas, TTXGP (Time Trial eXtreme Grand Prix) and Infineon Raceway of Sonoma, CA, announced a joint plan to run the “first-ever zero carbon motorcycle race in the United States.” According to Infineon Raceway’s site, the TTXGP U.S. Championships will be held May 14-16, 2010, as part of the raceway’s AMA Motorcycle Sonoma Showdown weekend. The first-ever electric race bike grand prix was held in conjunction with this year’s Isle of Man TT, and organized by TTXGP.

2010 Kawasaki Z1000 Euro Video Preview

News of the 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 is, in the ‘Net age, kind of old news already. Yet we’ve not even seen it close up and I’m now more eager than ever to ride this nutter! During the U.S.

Where to ride at the weekend?

Ever wonder where to ride at the weekend? You might want to check out www.sundayrideout.net. With routes for many counties in the UK, you get a disk with sample clips of the routes so you can see what the roads are like, as well as points of interest along the way.

Can-Am Spyder RT-5 Highlight Video

In September, Fonzie brought us a report on the 2010 Spyder RT direct from the Can-Am beehive in Valcourt, Quebec, Canada. With more carrying capacity than ANY motorcycle on the market — even some automobiles —- Can-Am sent touring guru and friend-of-MO, Fred Rau, on a tour of Canada and the United States to promote the new 5-speed luxury touring roadster. For those of you not following Fred’s blog @ SpyderFred.com, here’s a little taste of the scenes and opinions he encountered on his great many miles.

Deadline Looming for OCC Mobil 1 Motorcycle Contest

The sweepstakes deadline for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind Mobil 1 bagger-style custom motorcycle designed and built by Orange County Choppers and a trip to Daytona Bike Week 2010 is fast approaching. The sweepstakes will end on November 30, 2009. Click here to enter the contest.

Xmas list: Motoscalextric MotoGP race game

WITH CHRISTMAS just around the corner, what better for little Johnny than an awesome bit of... actually, sod little Johnny, we want one of these Motoscalextric kits for ouselves.You can choose to be either Valentino Rossi or Jorge Lorenzo against either Casey Stoner or Nicky Hayden (or any combination), it features what the company calls an Interactive Slot System, which as far as we can tell means that the bikes lean over in corners.Dear Santa...

Electric Superbike Unveiled at SEMA [video]

Though it’s generally recognized as a car tuner’s paradise, this year’s SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show in Las Vegas is not without two-wheel appeal. The world’s first production electric superbike, the Mavizen TTX02, was unveiled on Tuesday. The bike has been nicknamed a ‘laptop on wheels’ and is being produced by TTXGP (Time Trial Xtreme Grand Prix) founder Azhar Hussain.

Rossi 'Donkey' lid swings into production

AGV IS TO release a road-going version of the Valentino Rossi 'The Donkey' helmet in January 2010 for a price of Euro 745.The lid design, which the nine-times world champion came up with as a self-deprecating comment on his own race craft after crashing out of the Indianapolis MotoGP race,  is based on the new, top-of-the-range AGV GP-Tech.

Yoshimura to do a final early GSX-R1100 exhaust run

Well, this is it. Yoshimura have announced that they will be making a final production run of their "Daytona Special" performance full systems for early GSX-R750/1100s. After nearly 25 years of use, the jigs and dies have worn down to a point where Yoshimura can only confidently make one last batch.

Used Review: Rev’it Silica one-piece suit

This suit appears to have some kind of Welsh homing device built into it, maybe it’s the colour, because every journey I’ve done wearing it seems to end up in Wales! As predominantly a road rider who does the very occasional trackday I found the Silica really comfortable and surprisingly warm to wear. It doesn’t have the huge amount of perforations that some race suits come with, so while it might get a touch sweaty on a mid-summer track session, for road use it’s much more practical.

Used Review: Kriega R35 rucksack

Being a bit of a two-wheeled pikey just lately, this has been everywhere with me. With a whopping 35 litres of capacity, the appropriately named R35 is far more capacious than it looks. The main section will hold enough clothing for a whole week away while the clever pockets built into the front of the comfortable, load-spreading, harness will take wallet, passport, iPod and keys with room to spare.

Used Review: BMW Trailguard jacket and trousers

Ride a  BMW, wear the official gear. The Trailguard is one of their top-range textile two-piecers. Fitting brochure is mind-bogglingly complicated, I went into Vines of Guildford and got them to measure me up instead.

New: Shark S700 helmet

The S700 is a new model sitting in the mid-low end of the shark range. There are many of the features included on more expensive helmets, such as integrated air flow ducts, rear air extractors and hydrostatic treatments on the liner designed to make the S700 comfortable to wear for long periods. Looking at this helmet, it’d take a keen eye to notice where Shark have cut corners on quality to keep the price down.

New: Scorpion EXO-1000 helmet

Scorpion aren’t well known here in the UK, but they have a huge customer base in the US and France and if they keep making quality helmets like the EXO-1000 it’s only a matter of time before they get recognised here. This is their top of the range helmet in the Apollo design, and it has a classy and understated look about it. It’s chock full of features, including a drop down internal sun visor, a myriad of vents, aerodynamic spoiler and a visor that doesn’t need a pinlock as it’s specifically designed to never fog up.

2010 Kawasaki Concours 14 Traction Control [video]

With the new Concours, Kawi created its first traction control system. Unlike the ABS, the rider can disable or enable KTRC, and can do so on the fly. The new TC system isn’t level selectable, like, say, Ducati’s DTC, and it isn’t intended to allow a rider to go faster on their Connie.

Life Size Motorcycle Cake – Go Daddy! [video]

Bob Parsons, GoDaddy.com CEO & Founder married Renee LaBelle on Saturday, October 24th at Keswick Hall, VA. Bob loves motorcycles and rides every day (he did a 5,200 mile trip before his bachelors party). He likes to go BIG (like his Super Bowl commercials), he likes to be edgy, so why not commission a life-size Ducati Groom’s Cake?!

Hornee Jeans now in the UK

These new jeans are made of high-quality denim, with a new-patent kevlar lining that is said to be over 250% stronger than other manufacturers. The new weave is much lighter and thinner, making them ultra comfortable whether you're riding or parked up at your local. They will be availiable in boot cut and relaxed fit in a variety of colours, they also have a full line of ladies styles as well.

Edible Ducati Streetfighter

CEO Bob Parsons, owner and founder of GoDaddy.com threw an all out bash at his wedding this weekend. By far the coolest part was the fully edible, full size replica Ducati Streetfighter, designed by celebrity cake maker, Duff Goldman. Complete with working lights and smoking exhaust, this 400lb cake took 8 men to lift into place and is by far the coolest wedding cake we've ever seen.

Ducati Welcomes Sex Pistols Guitarist Steve Jones into the Family

Ducati North America announced today that avid motorcyclist, Sex Pistols guitarist, and host of LA radio’s beloved “Jonesey’s Jukebox” Steve Jones, has taken delivery of a new customized Hypermotard S at Ducati headquarters. Known for his genre defining music and straight talk, Jones recently expanded his bike collection to include the rambunctious Ducati Hypermotard S due to its aggressive styling and exceptional fun factor. Steve had been eying the model since first riding one at Ducati North America headquarters earlier this Spring.

2010 Aprilia RSV4R Engine Failure Delays Press Launch [video]

Aprilia cut short its launch event for the new RSV4R at Italy’s Mugello circuit as not one, not two, not three, not even four but FIVE pre-production models suffered engine failure. Motorcycle.com contributor Tor Sagen was at Mugello in Tuscany and was scheduled to do a few laps on the world-class circuit on the RSV4R, a lower-spec version of the Aprilia RSV4 Factory. Tor reports the engine problems were being attributed to the conrods from the first batch of 50 pre-production engines.

Ben's Pies heads for the MotoGP paddock

Ben's Pies, the award-winning catering van that supplies the paddock with meat-based pies for breakfast lunch and dinner, has switched off the gas-burner in the World Superbike paddock for the last time, as they pack up and head for MotoGP. Ben's Pies need to up their game in the MotoGP paddock, as they face some tough new competition, including Niccolo's Canapés and Valentino's Rostis.

Monsters Of Motocross

Join the legends of motocross as they pay tribute to Tony DiStefano. Hosted by Bob “Hurricane” Hannah and attended by David Bailey, Mark “The Bomber” Barnett, Rick Johnson, Gary & Dwayne Jones, “Bad” Brad Lackey, John “The Flyin Hawaiian” DeSoto, Danny LaPorte, Warren Reid, Malcolm Smith, Steve Stackable, “Rocket” Rex Staten, Chuck Sun, Larry “Supermouth” Huffman and a host of others who will howl at the moon… and each other! The legends tell tall tales and other horror stories about life on the motocross circuit.

Easy Rider 40th Anniversary

Peter Fonda, who played Wyatt in the 1969 cult classic, Easy Rider, was in Glendale, CA on Friday to help promote the Blu-Ray release of the film which marks the 40th anniversary.  The movie was scheduled to be shown at the Love Ride event that was canceled this year, instead the film screened at a local Harley-Davidson dealer. One of the film’s main objective was to expose violence and racism in the U.S. in a negative light but instead it seems that it was taken the wrong way with most, glorifying the lifestyle that was portrayed in the film.

Corser to unveil S1000RR at SBW Motorrad Hertfordshire

DOUBLE World Superbike champion Troy Corser will unveil the all-new production version of the BMW S 1000 RR on 5 November. Fancy joining him?Fresh from the final round in Portugal, Troy will join Hertford BMW dealer SBW Motorrad to take the wraps off the road-going superbike Corser has been campaigning in this year’s World Superbike Championship.SBW Motorrad boss, Stephen Crowder: “We are really excited that former world champion Troy Corser will headline our special event.”  The night: Tickets cost £15 per head and all proceeds from the night will go to charities Riders for Health, Hertfordshire Air Ambulance and BBC Children in Need. When: 7.30pm on Thursday 5 NovemberWhere: Panshanger Aerodrome near Welwyn Garden CityFor tickets: call SBW Motorrad on 01992 583135

Are these the coolest aftermarket Ducati Streetfighter pipes?

Visordown brings you the first images of the new Streetfighter exhaust by Chain Reaction Moto. CRM consists of a man in a shed and and a very understanding woman who have a reputation in the US for really well designed and functional exhausts. Taking on the Streetfighter was no small challenge, but we reckon he's done a fantastic job with the underseat style.

Knox get into gloves

Knox have just teased us by releasing some very non-specific pictures of their new glove lines. Looks to us that there's a ratchet-type system for wrist security, lots of armour to go around and good looks to go with it. The new products should be out at the NEC for you to give a try.

Honda VFR1200F – First Impressions

Honda’s new VFR1200F in action at Sugo in Japan. UPDATE: 2010 Honda VFR1200F Review -  First Ride Article I’m here at the Sugo Sportsland racetrack in Japan, an odd place for what seems to be a sport-touring machine like the new VFR1200F. But my time at Sugo today was one of the most incredible riding experiences of my career.

The Vespa Chair by Bel & Bel

Created out of the front shield and other spare parts from classic Vespa scooters, these handmade leather chairs look great but also a unique way of recycling.  The design studio out of Spain, Bel & Bel, are the creators and the chairs come in many different colors. Hit the jump to see some more product shots.

Best Helmet Designs from the 2009 MotoGP Season

Unlike with most athletes, motorcycle racers’ faces remain hidden during competition. Except for promotional events or pre- and post-race interviews, the faces of our racing heroes are shielded under protective helmets with tinted visors. You don’t see the same human emotion in their faces like you can when soccer players score a goal or baseball players hit a home run.

2009 Tokyo Motor Show [video]

Here is a collection of videos from the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.  Based on this year’s show, it’s inevitable that we’ll see a continued emphasis on clean and green two-wheelers as time marches on, to read the full report from Kevin Duke, visit motorcycle.com for all the details. Get the Flash Player to see this player. Get the Flash Player to see this player.