Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

Suzuki Wins LeMans 24hr Endurance Season Finale

The defending champion Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) have had a rough season this year, with exactly zero victories to its name. However, at the season finale LeMans 24-hour race, the team turned their fortunes around. As an added bonus, the Suzuki Junior Team also won the championship in its class. Read the full press release below for details.

Honda Powersports Online Store Now Open

If you’re looking for Honda-branded merchandise like shirts, caps, or accessories, read the full press release below to find out more. Leading e-commerce solutions developer, Powertex Group, is pleased to announce the launch of a Honda Powersports online store and new Honda Powersports branded merchandise.  Powertex Group will manufacture and sell newly designed branded apparel, headwear, and accessories, such as OGIO and Oakley backpacks, drinkware, pens and picture frames, as well as provide existing Honda Powersports licensees with the opportunity to sell their merchandise.   This strategy will not only increase visibility for licensed products already in market, but offer a one-stop shop where both Powersports dealers and retail customers can purchase a large assortment of Honda branded merchandise.

Dainese Announces 2014 North American Made To Measure Tour Dates

In the market for a custom-fitted Dainese suit? This is your chance to get your measurements taken. Don’t miss out.

American Motorcyclist Association To EPA: Don’t Raise Proposed Ethanol Mandate

This just in from the American Motorcyclist Association regarding ethanol fuel blends. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must stick to its proposed Renewable Fuel Standard for 2014, protecting motorcyclists from the detrimental effects of fuel blends with ethanol content above 10 percent, Wayne Allard, vice president of government relations for the American Motorcyclist Association said today in a meeting with the White House Office of Management and Budget.

2015 KTM Freeride E-SX and E-XC Announced for Europe

After a lengthy testing period, the KTM Freeride E electric off-road motorcycle is finally heading to market, with KTM announcing two versions for 2015. First revealed at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan, the Freeride E has undergone a lot of testing at off-road parks around Europe. From this prolonged development period, KTM will now bring to market the Freeride E-SX motocrosser and the street-legal E-XC enduro.

The Early History Of The Yamaha Champions Riding School

This just in from the Yamaha Champions Riding School. And if you believe it, we have some snake oil to sell you… The Yamaha Champions Riding School didn’t just spring from the tarmac like a jack-in-the-box with light rebound damping. No.

Yamaha Focusing on Developing Model Platforms

Following the success of its MT platform, Yamaha says it will continue to develop new models based on shared platforms, allowing for a choice of multiple models while reducing overall costs. Speaking in a presentation on the company’s business operation, Yamaha Motor President Hiroyuki Yanagi reiterated the strategy of developing multiple models sharing the same engine and frame. Honda has followed a similar strategy with its NC models, seeing the platform evolve to include the CTX700 and NM4.

1000 Miles In 24 Hours, Condensed To 6 Minutes + Video

Yesterday, we reported on Terry Hershner completing over 1000 miles in under 24 hours, on his way to earning an Iron Butt Award. An impressive feat in itself, it’s even more historic because Hershner is the first person to complete the challenge aboard an electric motorcycle, his heavily modified 2012 Zero S, complete with streamlined fairing and numerous on-board chargers. Luckily for us, Hershner was kind enough to record his epic trip on camera, condensing 24 hours into six minutes.

Kawasaki Ninja H2 Teaser Video 7

In this, Kawasaki’s seventh teaser video for its much-hyped Ninja H2, we get a short (really short) history of Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ history and experience building industrial gas turbines. Why does this matter? Because it’s this extensive background that went in to designing and building the centrifugal supercharger for the H2.

Terry Hershner First To Win Iron Butt Award Aboard Electric Motorcycle

EV enthusiasts should be well aware of the name Terry Hershner by now. Aboard his 2012 Zero S, Hershner has traveled from coast to coast (twice), through Canada, and racked up over 66,000 electric miles. Now we can add one more accomplishment to his growing list: Iron Butt Award winner.

InvisibleVin: Chemical Anti-Theft Technology

InvisibleVin, by Passkey, is a covert identification mark. The product chemically brands an alpha numeric code by passing through the clear coat, paint, and primer to permanently embed the information onto the frame or body part of choice. Invisible under normal light, the phosphorescent mark is clearly seen when exposed to UV light.

Sabertooth Motorcycles Announces Wicked WildCat Trikes

Since 2005, Sabertooth Motorcycles has been creating tricked out V8-powered motorcycles and trikes ranging from 850 cc to 427 cu. in. Well, the expanding line of WildCat motorcycle models will gain two WildCat Trike siblings in the near future: the WildCat e andWildCat m.

Suzuki Prepares For Season Finale LeMans 24hr Endurance Race

The Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, or SERT, has had a rough 2014 endurance season. The defending champions haven’t scored a single victory this year, but are hoping its fortunes turn for them during this weekend’s season finale: the grueling 24 hours of LeMans. Yes, motorcycles participate in this classic race, but the course configuration is entirely different from what the car guys use. See the full press release below and the conditions SERT needs to claim its 14th title.

Josh Hayes Wins Fourth AMA Superbike Title

Say what you will about the depleted state of the American roadracing scene, it shouldn’t diminish the fact Hayes put in the effort and beat some formidable challengers to the title. Here, the AMA congratulates Josh Hayes on his accomplishment. Monster Energy Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes entered the 2013 AMA Pro SuperBike season on the heels of the most dominant campaign in the history of the series and with his primary threat no longer in the paddock.

Get A Harley-Davidson Demo Ride At American International Motorcycle Expo

From a press release issued by AIMExpo: The American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) announced today that the Harley-Davidson Demo Fleet will be featured at the 2014 event, offering test rides of the legendary company’s 2015 models. Additionally, Orlando Harley-Davidson becomes the newest exhibitor to join AIMExpo, which will host nearly 500 powersports companies from around the world October 16-19 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). The presence of the Harley-Davidson brand at AIMExpo for the first time adds to the growing excitement surrounding the 2014 event, now less than a month away.

New Heated Grips From Heat Demon

Riding with cold hands sucks. These new products from Heat Demon helps cure that. The first product is geared towards UTV owners, while the second is for ATVs.

Cory West Having Some Fun on an EBR 1190SX + Video

When Cory West isn’t piloting his EBR 1190RX Superbike around the racetrack, he’s helping the EBR boys develop its the roadgoing version of the RX, along with the 1190SX “Superfighter.” Thankfully, West doesn’t always take his job too seriously. Watch in this video, as West shows off for the camera and gives you a glimpse of what he does on his day off.

The Vapor Jacket, New From Rev’It

New from Rev’It is its latest sport-touring jacket, the Vapor. Built with a Hydratex liner for full waterproof protection while still retaining its VCS aquadefence system for optimum and direct ventilation, the Vapor definitely leans more on the sporty side rather than touring. Adjustment straps on the arms and waist ensure a snug, tailored fit, with or without the liner. Rev’It says the Vapor is appropriate for four-season riding (depending on your location, of course). The Vapor is equipped with CE-rated ProLife armor, and is upgradeable to a Seesoft CE-level 2 back protector.

Scott Produces Limited Run Of Goggles For Breast Cancer Awareness

Scott Sports believes in saving the tatas and it’s doing so with this limited run of goggles. Read the full press release below. Scott Sports is pleased to introduce a limited edition breast cancer awareness goggle, which will be available during the month of October.

Volume Six Of The Ninja H2 Video Series

In Kawasaki’s latest H2 video teaser the company is associating the forthcoming H2 with its predecessor from the early ’70s. The original H2 Mach IV was a 750cc, two-stroke, inline-Triple. The original H2 was renowned in its day for its incredibly quick acceleration.

Arai Gives Four-Time AMA Superbike Champ Josh Hayes Celebratory Helmet

Last weekend, Monster Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes cemented his fourth AMA Superbike title by winning both Superbike races at New Jersey Motorsports Park. To honor his achievement, Arai presented Hayes with a special, one-off edition of itsCorsair-V RC. In its normal trim, the Corsair-V RC is a pricy lid, retailing for $3,995.95 with just clear coat over its carbon fiber shell.

New BMC Air Filters For KTM 1290 SuperDuke, Yamaha FZ-09, Honda CBR250/CBR300R

BMC has just released air filters for the 2014 KTM 1290 SuperDuke, 2014 Yamaha FZ-09 and 2011-2013 Honda CBR250 – which also fit the 2015 Honda CBR300R. These filters are distributed to the U.S. and Canada through SpeedMob Inc.

Alvaro Bautista goes Aprilia in MotoGP

Just hours after it announced it would return to MotoGP one year ahead of schedule, Aprilia announced it has signed current MotoGP Gresini Honda rider Alvaro Bautista to a two-year contract. Bautista won the 125 World Championship for Aprilia back in 2006 and started out on the Italian company’s 125s. Now in his fifth year in MotoGP, the 29-year-old Spaniard has three third-place finishes and one pole to show for his efforts.

Racer Valerie Thompson Rides BMW S 1000 RR to 208.81 mph Bonneville Record

Racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats requires more than a little good luck. Weather plays such an important role in the speed of the salt and whether the event is even held at all. This year, Valerie Thompson experienced the full spectrum of Bonneville racing.

CARB Documents Reveal Two Yamaha FJ-09 Models

The California Air Resources Board today released executive orders on two Yamaha models: the FJ09FCGY and FJ09FCR. Both to be based on the current FZ-09 engine and chassis (MT-09 in Europe). In March of this year, MO’s resident sleuth, Dennis Chung, revealed Yamaha filed a trademark application for the FJ09 name.

Keanu Reeves’ Arch KRGT-1 Motorcycle To Debut At $78,000

Keanu Reeves’ Arch Motorcycle Company has released more details regarding its “retro-modern” S&S-powered, 2032cc V-Twin motorcycle, dubbed the KRGT-1. Chief among them is its $78,000 price tag. Other interesting bits include the Ohlins fork and Race Tech shock, BST carbon fiber wheels, dual six-piston, radial-mount calipers, and completely customizable footpeg and bar placement.

Aprilia Officially Entering MotoGP In 2015, One Year Ahead Of Schedule

Aprilia has announced today that it will be re-entering the MotoGP World Championship starting in 2015, one year ahead of schedule. Aprilia has struck a four-year long partnership with Gresini Racing, which currently fields Alvaro Bautista and Scott Redding aboard Honda machinery. With rumors of Gresini’s Go&Fun sponsorship evaporating next year, the deal with Aprilia breathes new life into the team, which can now remain in MotoGP.  The press release is vague as to the machinery Aprilia will use next year, but it’s widely believed the 2015 bike will be a massaged version of the RSV4-based ART machine currently being campaigned by Danilo Petrucci.

Dorna CEO Pledges Support For New MotoAmerica Racing Series

Motorcycle road racing in America is looking up, as the man who heads MotoGP pledges his support for the newly created MotoAmerica series. Full press release below.   MotoAmerica, the new North American roadracing series launched by Wayne Rainey and the KRAVE Group LLC, received an important pledge of support from the CEO of Dorna, Carmelo Ezpeleta.

2014 Lightweight Naked Shootout + Video

Honda CB300F vs. Royal Enfield Continental vs. Suzuki GW250 vs.

Ninja H2 Adorned With Traditional Kawasaki Emblem

Apparent from the latest video teaser in the Ninja H2 miniseries, Kawasaki is reaching into the company’s past and reintroducing the River Mark logo on its forthcoming H2. Vintage bike enthusiasts will recognize the Rivermark emblem from models introduced in the early to mid-sixties era. The River Mark emblem has been associated with various products from Kawasaki Heavy Industries.