MV Agusta is announcing two new color schemes for its much acclaimed neo-retro superbike, the Superveloce 800. The success of the bike, translated into unprecedented requests, marks the restart of production at the Varese historic headquarters after lockdown. It also warranted re-evaluation in terms of aesthetic choices, allowing customers to choose from a variety of eye-catching, stylish liveries. To select the most attractive combinations, MV Agusta designers listened to its biggest critic: MV Agusta’s fans.
Adrian Morton, Design Director at MV Agusta’s Research Center CRC, confirms this customer-oriented approach: “Following the presentation of the Superveloce 800 in Milano, we took on board feedback from both the public and importers and decided to create two color schemes, both with a gold-finish frame, that accentuate the neo-retro theme, highlight the curvaceous styling and align the models to our brand
values.”
The first color variant implies MV Agusta classic corporate colors, Ago Red and Ago Silver, relating to the first racing motorcycles developed by MV Agusta that dominated the Gran Prix racing scene for years. The gold wheels and frame details are inspired by the thoroughbred Italian racing machines from the past to create a rich distinctive, personalized feel far beyond the average production of motorcycle.
The second color variant is Metallic Carbon Black and Dark Metallic Matt Grey with coordinated gold detailing on both the wheels and frame. This combination of colors provides a sophisticated sober feel, synonymous with the Formula1 racing of the 70’s providing a rich yet restrained alternative to the Corporate MV Agusta colors.
As it continues to provide essential services to its loyal customer base and national dealer network, Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is excited to support dealers’ ability to temporarily deliver products to customers’ homes or offices with “Suzuki Direct 2 You”. Suzuki announced this service on April 6, 2020 to its powersports dealers, providing them the opportunity to send Suzuki motorcycles, scooters, and ATVs directly to their customers, all while ensuring the same quality of service as an in-store visit
“We understand the landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging for everyone, and we are working hard to ease that burden with new and innovative ways to continue our commitment to keeping customers and dealers a priority,” said Kerry Graeber, Vice President MC/ATV Sales and Marketing. “With Suzuki Direct 2 You, we feel it’s a great way to follow appropriate guidelines while providing a way for customers to still enjoy the perks of a new Suzuki motorcycle or ATV.”
Customers are relying on Suzuki to help make the buying experience safe, professional, and convenient, especially those unable to visit a dealership. To help facilitate the purchase process, Suzuki encourages its dealers to communicate through electronic means and other methods to minimize contact, where and when appropriate.
“Suzuki Direct 2 You” will be available through June 30, 2020 at participating dealers, subject to local laws and directives.
For more information on “Suzuki Direct 2 You”, please visit SuzukiCycles.com or contact a local Suzuki dealer for availability.
Kirk Gibbs is entering his second season with the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team and now having a full 12 months of racing in both Australia and New Zealand he has the kinks all ironed out on his YZ450F. But for 2020, the Yamaha YZ450F came out with several significant changes and as Kirk is only on board for motocross, he didn’t race the updated bike during the Australian Supercross Championship late last year.
So, as a rider, Gibbs needed to encompass what he liked about last years’ race bike, then go through a range of updated parts on the 2020 bike and find a motor and suspension package that works for him across a wide ranges of tracks and conditions. This is where the experience and knowledge of the rider and team can really shortcut the testing process and make the right changes at the right times.
CDR Yamaha YZ450F
Same Old
One thing that didn’t change on the 2020 YZ450F was the ergo set up. Gibbs retains the standard clamps and even runs the bar mounts in the standard back / forward position. He mounts a set of Renthal 996 handlebars and Renthal diamond pattern grips and instantly feels at home. The standard levers and perches remain.
The only other change to the layout is a slightly higher seat for rider comfort. CDR Yamaha found in testing that some padding in the centre of the seat gave the riders a better position on the bike and combined with a gripper seat cover, he feels more planted on the machine. Add to that some sharpened footpegs and Kirk is dialled in as far as comfort on the bike is concerned.
Motor
It’s a tired old line, but a lot of racers aren’t looking for more outright horsepower in a 450 cc motocross bike. When a standard bike pumps out somewhere around the 58-60 HP at the rear wheel, chasing big dyno figures is pointless if the rider can’t control it or the tracks don’t require it.
For Kirk and the CDR team, its more about enhancing the already impressive motor package on the standard YZ450F. The changes made to the 2020 motor, were to make it more rideable, broaden the power out and allow the rider to run taller gears for longer and not fatigue as fast as shouldn’t need to crawl all over it front to keep it on the ground.
CDR Yamaha YZ450F
This style of power delivery is right up Kirk’s alley as he rides the bike in the torque and not in the high rpm. For those who have been track side when Gibbs rides by, you can hardly hear him as the motor is in a tall gear, the rpm is low and its almost as though he is in stealth mode.
The GTYR motor package – head, cams and piston – are exactly the style of power Kirk likes in his bikes. There is an increase in power but just as importantly, it keeps it in the same delivery as a standard motor. With the GYTR motor package, the power is broadened right across the rev range that allows Kirk to run that higher gear and pull that low rpm now the motor has the grunt and torque to take it.
The use of the Vortex ECU gives the team some adjustability in the power delivery. Using the low, mid and high rpm clicker adjustments, the team can fine tune the power and they can also program maps that increase or decrease the rev limit as Kirk or the conditions require. Many people would think that riders chase as much power as possible and as aggressive as they can make it, but those days are long gone and often teams will reduce the rpm limit and add fuel to give the power give a nice, fat feel and ensure traction is optimised.
The CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team also have a long relationship with Pro Circuit and have been the exhaust of choice for the team for nearly 30 years now. The relationship is so tight that special exhausts can and have been built for the team in the past, but with a motor package that is readily available, the PC exhaust is now an off the shelf unit and one that works perfectly the GYTR motor combination.
CDR Yamaha YZ450F
Chassis and Suspension
“One area we think is important to invest more is in suspension,” Craig Dack has said on several occasions. The Yamaha YZ450F already comes with class leading KYB suspension but the teams’ status allows them access to some special KYB parts to make the best, better.
But the use of high end suspension parts is useless if the basics of the chassis and suspension aren’t right. The CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team put a lot of emphasis ensuring the valving is suited to the rider, the spring rates are right, and the balance and geometry of the bike are right before throwing any parts at it. No part will fix an unbalanced or poorly set up bike.
CDR Yamaha YZ450F
A lot of the parts and coatings used are more aimed at ensuring the action of the suspension remains the same over a 35 minute race and wont fade with heat as the moto wears on. Others allow for better external adjustability for making changes on the go throughout a race day.
As far as the action goes, the overall feel of the bike is undoubtedly firmer than standard to handle the pace of a professional racer, but also keeps a plush feel for rider comfort. Modern suspension can be tuned to be plush at the top yet still have good bottoming resistance and can be hard without being harsh.
The rear shock uses a base line of 102-105mm ride height while the forks can be slid through the clamps to get the front wheel feel Kirk requires. That can range anywhere from flush with the clamps on a whooped out sandy track, to five millimetres through to sharpen up the steering. Kirk rides with a lot of faith in front end taction and you can see how well the CDR Yamaha is set up as he is able to change directions on a hard pack and smooth surface easily and effortlessly.
CDR Yamaha YZ450F
Attention to Detail
It’s the little things that make a good race bike. The lock wiring of nuts and bolts, the protective mesh over the radiators to stop mud and rocks from reducing airflow, the hours put into designing the team look with the graphics kit and not mention the man hours in building, greasing, polishing and then maintaining the bike in as new condition for a full motocross season.
“I raced Yamaha all my junior career and up until 2012, but when I came back in 2019, the bike had changed considerably in so many ways.” Gibbs explained. “But, there was still a familiarity about it and then working with the CDR Yamaha team, it didn’t take long to fine tune everything to my liking and I was comfortable on the bike in a very short period of time.
“The stock bike is so good now that very little really needs to be done. The bike I raced in New Zealand was very close to standard and we were still able to get the job done there. But the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team YZ450F is on another level. The power is limitless yet still so easy to use, the suspension is tailored to my liking and the bike feels brand new every time I sit on it.
“I am really happy with the bike the team has developed and don’t want for anything other than some events to race it at. It’s a shame to see a brand new bike just sitting there and not being raced,” Gibbs ends.
CDR Yamaha YZ450F
Kirk Gibbs Yamaha YZ450FL Technician – Allister Kent
The Honda Gold Wing will soon be getting Android Auto integration. The update, which will be available in mid-June for all current-generation Gold Wing models at no additional cost (a Bluetooth headset will be required however, and must be purchased separately). Android Auto works with phones running Android 5.0 or higher, allowing Google Assistant, music playback, phone calls and messaging.
When it launched in 2017, the Gold Wing was the first motorcycle to come with Apple’s CarPlay system, but those running Android phones instead of iPhones were left out. The new update will now provide Android users similar functionality.
Begin Press Release:
Honda Announces Android Auto Integration for Gold Wing Series
Honda announced that Android Auto will be integrated with the current-model Gold Wing. At no additional cost, customers with Android 5.0 or later smartphones and the Android Auto app will be able to seamlessly enjoy application services such as music, phone calls and messaging. When utilizing it while riding a Gold Wing, connection with a Bluetooth® headset (sold separately) will also be required. App and communication costs may apply. The method to update software is planned to be available in mid-June, 2020.
Since the Gold Wing GL1000 went on sale in North America in 1975, the Gold Wing series has evolved as Honda’s flagship model for over four decades. In October 2017, the all-new Gold Wing was announced in North America, becoming the world’s first motorcycle with Apple CarPlay integration. Navigation features to enhance the ride experience and application-specific services have been well-received by many customers.
Android Auto is a simple way for customers to use a phone on the motorcycle. With simplified interface, and easy-to-use voice actions, it is designed to minimize distraction so riders can stay focused on the road. Android Auto makes it easy to access favorite music, media and messaging apps while on the motorcycle. With Google Assistant on Android Auto, riders can stay focused, connected and entertained, keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the handlebar, while using their voice to help with their day.
With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration coming to more models, Honda plans to bring more comfort and convenience to customers’ motorcycle lifestyles worldwide.
For details on Android Auto, visit the official Android site at the following URL:
http://www.android.com/auto/
Honda has announced that Android Auto will be integrated with the current-model Gold Wing. At no additional cost, customers with Android 5.0 or later smartphones and the Android Auto app will be able to seamlessly enjoy application services such as music, phone calls and messaging. When utilizing it while riding a Gold Wing, connection with a Bluetooth headset (sold separately) will also be required. App and communication costs may apply. The method to update software is planned to be available in mid-June, 2020.
Since the Gold Wing GL1000 went on sale in North America in 1975, the Gold Wing series has evolved as Honda’s flagship model for over four decades. In October 2017, the all-new Gold Wing was announced in North America, becoming the world’s first motorcycle with Apple CarPlay integration. Navigation features to enhance the ride experience and application-specific services have been well-received by many customers.
Android Auto is a simple way for customers to use a phone on the motorcycle. With simplified interface, and easy-to-use voice actions, it is designed to minimize distraction so riders can stay focused on the road. Android Auto makes it easy to access favorite music, media and messaging apps while on the motorcycle. With Google Assistant on Android Auto, riders can stay focused, connected and entertained, keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the handlebar, while using their voice to help with their day.
With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration coming to more models, Honda plans to bring more comfort and convenience to customers’ motorcycle lifestyles worldwide.
According to collected data, the number of coronavirus cases in these countries are relatively low when compared with the West, East, and the Middle East, with 11 cases in Gambia, 141 in Liberia, 36 in Malawi, 1728 in Nigeria and no reported cases in Lesotho. Coleman is convinced the low numbers are due to lack of testing in the area: “There are no reported cases in Lesotho at the moment but they are heading for the winter and it is a very mountainous country, it’s very cold there in the winter, lots of snow and ice and those communities will be in their homes and not going out too much. Those are the conditions people are worried about when the spreading is more severe. The number of cases is around 5000 in South Africa, and despite the fact that there are no reported cases in Lesotho, it is unlikely that there are none there.
MA seeks expressions of interest to promote Australian motocross
Section: Competition
Series open to complete championship or individual round organisers.
Image: Foremost Media.
A new promoter could take over the Australian Motocross Championship from 2021 following the departure of Williams Event Management (WEM), despite initial suggestion that the series would be operated internally by Motorcycling Australia (MA).
An extensive list of requirements will have to be met if a private promoter is to take over the entire championship from 2021, with MA documentation indicating that ‘a detailed budget, race program, promotional plans, media format and platforms, TV/live-streaming plans, series officials management, overview of the logistics management and a strategy around championship development’ must be provided.
If a suitable organisation doesn’t arise in a bid to take on the full championship, MA would almost certainly take it in-house while cooperating with clubs around the country. That structure would be similar to its current arrangements to host the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) and Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) series.
I am generally not one to muse about what may or may not happen in regards to future motorcycle models, instead I try to keep MCNews.com.au the place for Aussie motorcyclists to secure the facts, rather than clickbait conjecture or CGI mock-ups.
But…..recently I found myself mulling about what I would like to see come forth from the loins of the motorcycle manufacturers in 2021 that might get me really excited.
First cab off the rank in this series is KTM.
KTM still persist with two-strokes long after the Japanese brands have discarded them as dirty and inefficient.
KTM completely reinvented their two-stroke engines in 2017 with counter-balanced cranks and fuel-injection. These engines have been further developed in the model years since with another generational change made for model year 2020
The Austrians have now got their two-stroke enduro range to a point where they are remarkably efficient on both fuel and oil usage.
The latest bikes even spin counter-balanced cranks that have done away with the old two-stroke curse of vibration.
Even in extreme lightweight enduro guise they have an oil tank that will last for more than six tanks of fuel. Sure the oil pump needs replacing every 100 hours or so but I am sure they could make an oil pump that lasts forever if they want to.
KTM 300 EXC engine
Likewise, I am sure the engineering smarts to avoid the piston and ring changes that are recommended around the same time are there to extend the service intervals to something much more palatable.
Where am I going with this…?
Two-stroke road bikes is where I am going with this…
Let’s have one last hurrah before the emissions legislation makes this possibility completely untenable.
Give us a sporting mid-capacity two-banger in a sexy set of plastics. Something svelte like the headline image, which actually features KTM’s four-stroke 250 cc road race machine, but could easily hide a ring-dinger behind those plastics instead…
Sure, trying to do this exact same thing 20 years ago sent Bimota to the wall, but there is no question that the knowledge and engineering skill in Mr Pierer’s Mattighofen manufacturing base is there right now to make this a viable reality.
If any CEO would be game to do it in this day and age then it would be KTM boss Pierer. Over to you Stefan…
The special edition LiveWire also has custom paint and carbonfibre accessories including screen, tail and tank trim.
It is being auctioned online at bonhams.com with auction fees waived. The auction ends on Tuesday 26 May 2020 at 4pm (EST).
The custom LiveWire is #500 of 500 “First Strike” edition LiveWires.
These are specially numbered versions created to celebrate the first 500 units produced of Harley-Davidson’s first production electric motorcycle.
“The Harley-Davidson design team created the custom paint and graphics on this motorcycle to accentuate the natural forms of the LiveWire,” Bekefy says.
“It’s a stunning motorcycle that is truly one of a kind.”
While the auction is available for participants from around the world, the motorcycle can only be registered and retained in the US.
The winning bidder and their guest will take part in an exclusive delivery experience and “behind-the-scenes” Harley-Davidson tour.
This private, hosted experience will include a tour of the Willie G. Davidson Product Development Centre and an archival tour of the Harley-Davidson Museum.
Harley-Davidson museum in Milwaukee
United Way to recovery
United Way’s mission is to aid those on the frontlines and those who are affected by this crisis around the world.
Harley spokesman Jon Bekefy says the company is a “longtime partner of the United Way”.
“(We are) inspired by their continued resilience in this crisis,” he says.
“Harley-Davidson is honoured to play a small part in the relief effort to inspire our community around the world about the open road ahead.”
It seems police may be taking a more considered approach to issuing pandemic fines or Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for contravening travel restrictions which is great news for riders.
Victoria Police are the latest to ease up on overzealous policing of the rules.
And so they should: the laws have been hastily drafted, they are confusing, frequently changing, Draconian, inconsistent and even iniquitous, especially for riders.
After all, there is less risk of a rider infecting anyone while wearing a helmet and gloves and socially distancing on their motorcycle than there is standing in the queue at Bunnings or Maccas!
Experts agree that the largest risk is in places where people are in close proximity indoors for extended periods of time, not outdoors were they have plenty of room to move.
MBW exercising social distancing on the Victorian Black Spur
Pandemic fines
There have been very few pandemic fines issued to riders for contravening the travel restrictions which are now easing across the nation.
(That’s not quite true as a 36-year-old Newcastle rider was fined $1000 on April 9 after providing police with “multiple conflicting reasons for not being home before stating he was on his way to help a friend fix a bike”.)
Meanwhile, police in other states seem to have turned a blind eye to riders, according to our local sources.
Now Victoria Police — not known for their restraint — have been issued new regulations on fines for breaching the new Chief Health Officer directions issued on Monday which allow recreational riding.
Firstly, police must use “increased discretion” and seek supervisor approval before a fine is issued.
“Victoria Police recognises there may be some genuine ambiguity from the community and police members alike regarding the interpretation of the new directions,” a VicPol statement says.
“This new process will assist in providing a fair and balanced approach to all breaches and ensure accuracy in offence determination.
“It also ensures a heightened level of discretion is used by police while these changes are being understood by the community.
“Victoria Police will continue to enforce CHO directions.”
However, VicPol have only issued two pandemic fines in the past 24 hours.
The new direction comes after Victorian Police overturned a fine for a young learner whose mum was supervising his driving and have copped criticism for over-zealous policing of the rules.
Meanwhile, it is incumbent on riders to behave and not do anything to attract the attention of police.
Also, remember to maintain social distance when you stop for fuel, food, drinks, toilet break or a rest.
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will be integrated with the current-model Gold Wing. At no additional cost, customers with Android 5.0 or later smartphones and the Android Auto app will be able to seamlessly enjoy application services such as music, phone calls and messaging. When utilizing it while riding a Gold Wing, connection with a Bluetooth® headset (sold separately) will also be required. App and communication costs may apply. The method to update software is planned to be available in mid-June, 2020.
Harley-Davidson museum in Milwaukee
