Sharing canyons with fighter jets in Wales
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
Sharing canyons with fighter jets in Wales
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
Young Australian’s 2019 MX2 World Championship plans finalised.
North Queenslander Mitch Evans’ move to Team Honda 114 Motorsports has been made official, set to contest the 2019 MX2 World Championship full-time.
Evans, 20, confirmed in November that he had secured a deal to race in Europe as rumours mounted that he had landed a ride in place of US-bound countryman Hunter Lawrence.
“I am grateful for the opportunity that Honda 114 Motorsports has presented me,” Evans commented. “Racing in the FIM Motocross World Championship has been a goal of mine since I competed in the world junior championship in 2010. There is a lot for me to learn and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I am excited to be racing with the best in the world.”
It was initially thought that Evans had re-signed with Raceline KTM to remain in Australia, however the pair split prior to last year’s AUS-X Open Sydney when it’s understood Evans’ opportunity with Team Honda 114 Motorsports surfaced.
Evans starred last year by finishing second in the MX Nationals MX1 standings behind Dean Ferris, prior to delivering a glowing performance as part of Team Australia at RedBud’s Motocross of Nations. Alongside Lawrence and Kirk Gibbs, the trio placed fourth overall.
Team Honda 114 Motorsports will field Evans and Zachary Pichon – son of multiple world champion Mickael Pichon – in MX2 this season, set to debut when to season commences in Argentina on 2-3 March.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
The KTM 690 SMC R returns in 2019 and promises to bring the KTM Ready to Race approach to the street. A lightweight, agile, punchy single-cylinder, with premium chassis components, backed up by new performance-enhancing electronics and a lot more grunt that is now delivered via a much smoother power delivery. That’s what KTM are claiming their 690 SMC R will bring to the table when it lands in Australian showrooms from March.
2019 KTM 690 SMC R Features |
Powering the KTM 690 SMC R is a new generation LC4 engine, with the single-cylinder engine now dishing up 74 hp and 73.5 Nm of torque – and KTM boasting a smoother and more sophisticated power delivery than ever.
Along with improved power, torque and consumption from the updated engine, the fun now goes further with the new KTM 690 SMC R thanks to a fuel tank capacity increased by 1.5 litres to 13.5L total. The completely redesigned fuel tank also acts as a load bearing part of the chassis; stiffer in construction to help provide optimal feel and handling.
Fresh bodywork is sharper and slimmer than the previous model, developed alongside the latest generation of KTM offroad motorcycles to aid with easier handling. Adjustable levers feature on the rubber-mounted, lightweight tapered handlebars that can be placed in four different positions.
The new ergonomics continue with an improved seat that KTM claim increases comfort while aiding control and grip in extreme riding situations. To make the Supermoto more accessible than ever, a 40 mm seat height reduction is also possible via the official KTM PowerParts low chassis kit (standard seat height 890 mm). All this has been done while maintaining extreme lean levels with handlebar-scraping cornering ability, if the rider is up to the challenge!
The suspension was specially developed by WP and KTM for the 690 SMC R. Up front are fully adjustable WP APEX 48 USD forks, sprung in both legs but with separated damping in each tube; rebound handled on the right and compression on the left, with 30 clicks of adjustment available for each. The forks are mounted in forged triple clamps with an offset of 35 mm, adjustable to 33 mm.
Helping to put the torque on the tarmac is a fully adjustable WP APEX shock absorber connected to the single-piece cast swingarm via a linkage.
On the braking side of the equation a high quality Brembo four-piston radial caliper bites a 320 mm disc up front and helping to push the Bridgestone S21 rear tyre into opposite-lock corner entries is a Brembo two-piston caliper working hard on a 240 mm rear disc.
Getting the most from the KTM 690 SMC R’s performance in all situations is assisted by a suite of rider assistance systems. Two ride modes – Street and Sport – are joined by cornering ABS, lean angle-sensitive motorcycle traction control, motor slip regulation (MSR) and Quickshifter+ (up & down), with the familiar Supermoto ABS mode aiding rear slides backed up by front-end confidence.
KTM 690 SMC R | |
ENGINE | |
ENGINE TYPE | Single-cylinder, 4-stroke |
DISPLACEMENT | 690 cc |
BORE / STROKE | 105 / 80 mm |
poer / TORQUE | 74 hp @ 8000 rpm / 73.5 Nm @ 6,500 rpm |
COMPRESSION RATIO | 12.7:1 |
STARTER / BATTERY | E-starter / Lithium Ion 12V 8.6Ah |
TRANSMISSION | 6 gears |
FUEL SYSTEM | Keihin EFI (throttle body 50 mm) |
CONTROL | 4 V / OHC |
LUBRICATION | Pressure lubrication with 2 oil pumps |
PRIMARY DRIVE | 36:79 |
FINAL DRIVE | 16:40 |
COOLING | Liquid cooling |
CLUTCH | PASC™ slipper clutch, hydraulically operated |
IGNITION / EMS | Keihin EMS with RBW, double ignition |
TRACTION CONTROL | MTC (2-mode, disengageable) |
CHASSIS | |
FRAME | Chromium-molybdenum-steel trellis frame, powder coated |
SUBFRAME | Self-supporting plastic tank |
HANDLEBAR | Aluminum, tapered, Ø 28 / 22 mm |
FRONT SUSPENSION | WP USD APEX 48 mm |
REAR SUSPENSION | WP shock absorber with Pro-Lever linkage |
SUSPENSION TRAVEL FR. / RE. | 215 / 240 mm |
BRAKE FRONT | Brembo four piston, radially mounted caliper, brake disc Ø 320 mm |
BRAKE REAR | Brembo single piston floating caliper, brake disc Ø 240 mm |
ABS | Bosch 9.1 MP (incl. Cornering ABS and supermoto mode, disengageable) |
WHEELS FRONT / REAR | Spoked wheels with aluminum tubeless rims 3.50 × 17″; 5.00 × 17″ |
TIRES FRONT / REAR | 120/70 ZR 17; 160/60 ZR 17 |
CHAIN | X-Ring 5/8 × 1/4″ |
SILENCER | Stainless steel primary and secondary silencer |
STEERING HEAD ANGLE | 63.6° |
TRAIL | 107.7 mm |
WHEEL BASE | 1,470 mm |
GROUND CLEARANCE | 238 mm |
SEAT HEIGHT | 890 mm |
FUEL TANK CAPACITY | approx. 13.5 liters |
DRY WEIGHT | approx. 147 kg (without fuel) |
Source: MCNews.com.au
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