Moto blog
Ultimate Trackbike 2: Dunlop's GSX-R1000
Thu, 20 Jan 2011Occasionally, some seriously trick bikes with a decent pedigree come up for sale on eBay. Here's the first in a small series of bikes that we've dug up for sale on eBay now. Queston is, which one would make the ultimate track bike?
Haslam's first WSB win immortalised in paint
Thu, 13 Jan 2011Titled 'Winning Start' this limited edition print illustrates Leon Haslam taking his first ever WSB win. Phillip Island, 2010 will forever be marked as an important race for Haslam, in his first race with Alstare Suzuki the Briton converted a career-first WSB pole position in to his first ever World championship race victory. Only 250 of the prints by Isle of Man artist Alan Perkin are available.
Inside Look at the 2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 [video]
Thu, 23 Dec 2010Suzuki boasts that the GSX-R600 has long been America’s top selling sportbike, so when it undergoes a major overhaul everybody takes notice. For 2011 the GSX-R600 underwent a plethora of big changes, all of which resulted in a weight loss of about 20 pounds. Helping this middleweight supersport shed pounds is a new frame, a 41mm Show Big Piston Fork, radially mounted Brembo monoblock brake calipers, as well as smaller axles and wheel hubs.
Xmas gift for Haslam fans
Mon, 13 Dec 2010A LIMITED-EDITION Leon Haslam print has gone on sale and captures the moment the Alstare Suzuki rider took his first World Superbike Championship race victory – at Phillip Island, Australia on February 28 this year. Winning Start has been painted by Isle of Man artist Alan Perkin and the limited edition run of 250 prints are already selling on the online store of Leon Haslam’s website; www.leonhaslam.com. All of the prints are signed by Haslam and Perkin and are priced at £39.95. “Alan Perkin has produced a really nice painting and we wanted to get something out there in advance of Christmas and at an affordable price,” said Haslam. He continued: “The print has pride of place in my house, Phillip Island was my first pole position, my debut on the Alstare Suzuki and my first race win – a memorable start to a great year.” The print measures 630mm x 490mm and is available from the Leon Haslam website or by calling 01332 882584.
Laguna Seca Superbike race: 1979
Tue, 09 Nov 2010Got to apologise for the mogadon-inspired soundtrack but this 1979 Kawasaki promo vid' is worth watching just for the footage of Freddie Spencer and Wes Cooley. Watch the slo-mo of Cooley's GS1000 Suzuki on the brakes. It's horrendous.
Moto3. Recession racers?
Mon, 08 Nov 2010I've sat through enough manufacturer' presentations recently to know that we're in trouble. Ignoring the still booming Asian markets, the rest of the motorcycle World is in free-fall. Even looking at the figures optimistically we're still only selling half the volumes we were in pre-crash 2006.
Oh yes. You can win this Rizla Suzuki beanie
Thu, 04 Nov 2010I dug this beanie out of the Visordown storage room and it could be yours. It is a one-owner model first registered in 2007, only a few miles on the clock but could do with a service (wash). It'll go the one lucky randomly selected person who reviews their GSX-R in our Motorcycle Reviews section.
GSX-R600 long-termer update
Mon, 18 Oct 2010When MF asks me if I fancy riding the Visordown test GSX-R 600 for a bit, I hesitate for about a millisecond before accepting. Why? ‘Cos my own courier’s favourite Diversion 900 may be heavy and utterly unexciting, but it is also a comfortable and trusty commuter ride that suits the Smoke very nicely, thanks.
Stafford Bric-a-Brac. Misery and Sadness in excess
Sat, 16 Oct 2010Just got back from the Stafford show. It was packed. Largely with groups of silver-haired men.
GSX-R600 and CBR250R the glass is half full
Wed, 13 Oct 2010Suzuki’s GSX-R600 might not look that much different to the outgoing model but I suspect this bike could be very much a dark horse in 2011. I say this because two years ago I was definitely not building my hopes up en route to the K9 GSXR 1000 launch. The leaked pictures suggested the biggest change from the 2007 version would be some fresh graphics but I was so wrong. As it turned out, I was greeted in Almeria with a brand new bike, built from the tarmac up and it proved to be more than a match in every department for the much hyped 2009 Yamaha R1.