Yamaha lean toward three-wheelers

Yamaha has filed yet another patent that shows yet again that they lean toward leaning trikes, this time with a hybrid powertrain.

The Japanese company already has a lean on leaning trikes with their TriCity scooter and Niken motorcycle. They have also filed several patents before for leaning three-wheelers.

Yamaha Niken three-wheeler neowingNiken

They are not alone in pursuing trikes that lean with patents from Honda, Kawasaki and several other companies such as AKO.

AKO leaning electric itrikeAKO leaning electric trike

Yamaha’s patent seems to be a stripped-down or lean version of the MW-Vision concept unveiled last year at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show.

Yamaha has filed yet another patent for yet another leaning trike, this time with a hybrid powertrain. leanMW-Vision concept

There is a lot to be said for the concept of leaning trikes.

They improve front cornering grip and braking and, when it has a locking function at standstill, it means you don’t have to support the weight of the bike.

However, the disadvantages are extra weight and expense.

If those two disadvantages could be offset by making them more economical to run, then it would make them even more attractive to some riders, especially novices.

That could be attained by the use of a hybrid powertrain as suggested in this patent.

However, it’s not a hybrid like a Prius where a combination of an electric motor and internal-combustion engine drive the wheels.

It’s what’s called a series hybrid or range-extender hybrid where an ICE simply charges a battery which powers an electric motor that drives the wheels.

They aren’t the first to trial a series hybrid.

The cheap Chevrolet Volt and expensive Fisker Karma had similar arrangements.

Holden Volt hybrid powerChevrolet Volt

However the Volt has been discontinued and Fisker has gone broke, so it seems to suggest it was not a popular concept.

And Kawasaki recently filed a patent in the Japanese Patent Office for a slightly different take on the range-extender hybrid with a supercharged two-stroke engine to charge the battery.

There are no details about the type of ICE Yamaha plans to use in their series hybrid, but the hybrid leaning trike does show that the industry is starting to think beyond purely electric motorcycles.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Living the Dream: Dunlop riders celebrate their passion

For this reason, Dunlop, the sole tyre supplier of Moto2™ and Moto3™ since their debuts in 2010 and 2012, has launched its Living the Dream campaign, asking a host of star riders from the intermediate and lightweight World Championships to express what it means to ride on the global stage and celebrate Living the Dream.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Attacking Assen: a full guide for Online Challenge 2

It all begins with the run over the start-finish line and the fast approach to turn one. Downshift from fifth to second gear, turning in early and carrying plenty of corner speed through the inside apex. Then accelerate hard through turn two and back to fifth gear before turning in for the long turns three and four, to be taken as one. Try to cut off turn four for the short, sharp squirt into turn five (De Strubben), the first gear left-hand hairpin that leads onto the back straight.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

MotoGP hearings to investigate illegal practices

Practice rules allegedly breached

The FIM MotoGP Stewards have been advised of possible breaches of the FIM Grand Prix Regulations covering practice and testing, specifically Article 1.15.1. c) Rider Training and Track familiarisation, regarding the type of machines permitted for rider training. As of now the commission is being coy as to who the alleged perpetrators are but have put out this bulletin to serve as a warning and reminder to any rider considering such practices.

As a reminder and following the decision of the Grand Prix Commission published on 27 May 2020, riders in Moto3 and Moto2 classes are not permitted to make further private testing in 2020 until further notice, the same applies to MotoGP class riders unless they are riding for Manufacturers that qualify for concessions.

Practice and testing restrictions for all classes are expressly provided for in Article 1.15.1 of the FIM Grand Prix Regulations, including details of what machines are allowed to be used for Rider Training and Track Familiarisation.

Hearings for riders who may have broken the rules should be scheduled to take place at the 2020 Gran Premio Red Bull de España at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, in order to hear from the parties concerned and to allow further time to investigate the details.

At this stage the FIM will not make any further comments on this matter.

Source: MCNews.com.au

Riders to face FIM MotoGP™ Stewards hearings in Jerez

As a reminder and following the decision of the Grand Prix Commission published on 27 May 2020, riders in Moto3™ and Moto2™ classes are not permitted to make further private testing in 2020 until further notice, the same applies to MotoGP™ class riders unless they are riding for Manufacturers that qualify for concessions. Practice and testing restrictions for all classes are expressly provided for in Article 1.15.1 of the FIM Grand Prix Regulations, including details of what machines are allowed to be used for Rider Training and Track Familiarisation.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Quartararo: “I thought, what am I doing here?”

“Yeah it was so quick but also the year was so strange. We changed suspension manufacturer three times, we started in Qatar with Ohlins and it was like starting pre-season again. We were P28 in Argentina, I said “what am I doing here, come on, wake up” and at the end, step by step, I improved myself, the bike, the team and yeah it was a really fun year. Like I said it was from the bottom to the top and actually I had the best teammate ever – I was with Danny (Kent) and every time we weren’t racing we were having fun and it was a really fun year.”

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Michael van der Mark to race BMW in 2021

BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will race with Michael van der Mark in 2021

BMW confirmed the rumours we mentioned earlier this week by stating today that Michael van der Mark will race with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in the 2021 WorldSBK Championship.

The 27-year-old Dutchman, a four-time Suzuka 8 Hour winner, will contest his first season on the BMW S 1000 RR in 2021.

Marc Bongers – BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director

“We are very pleased about our agreement with Michael, who has developed very strongly in the Superbike World Championship in recent years. We are convinced that Michael is an asset to our project, and together, in combination with the strong package we can offer him, we can reach the next level in terms of results. We would like to welcome Michael to the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and look forward to a strong cooperation.”

Michael van der Mark became the first Dutch rider to win the prestigious Suzuka 8-hours race in Japan on the MuSashi Harc-Pro Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade with team-mates Leon Haslam (also a Pata Honda colleague) and Japanese ace Takumi Takahashi in 2013. He repeated the win in 2014Michael van der Mark is the second most successful rider in history at the Suzuka 8 Hour

Van der Mark was crowned Supersport World Champion in 2014. For the 2015 season, he switched to the Superbike World Championship, in which he has been active since and has three victories and 29 podiums on his tally.

Shaun Muir – Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team

“We are delighted to welcome Michael to the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. He brings a wealth of experience and is one of the youngest, most talented riders on the WorldSBK grid. Securing Michaels services emphasis the focus and determination we have to compete for top honours, and we will give Michael every chance to reach that goal.”

WorldSBK Test Jerez Day Michael VanDerMark GeeBeeThis year Michael van der Mark rides for the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK squad

The team said the second rider for the 2021 season will be announced at a later date.

Source: MCNews.com.au

New White Rosso livery for Ducati Panigale V2

Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso

The colour range of the Ducati Panigale V2 is extended with the tasty new White Rosso livery and the new look will be available from Australian Ducati dealerships this September from $23,350 ride away.

Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso

Those that thinkg a Ducati MUST be red will still of course have that option but there are also some red accents that provide an interesting contrast on the new White Rosso model, whose white paintwork is dubbed ‘Star White Silk’ by the boys, and girls, at Borgo Panigale.

Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso

The predominance of white enhances the design of the Panigale V2, highlighting the lines and the purity of the geometrical shapes. At the same time the details in Ducati Red emphasise its sporty character. The Ducati Red colours the rims, the front air intakes and the deflectors of the upper half-fairings.

Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso

These last two red touches ideally accompany the path of the airflows inside the motorcycle, i.e. those that feed the engine and those that pass through the radiator.

Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso

This new livery is completed with an additional touch of sportiness thanks to the positioning on the lower half-fairings of the large Panigale V2 logo, inspired by the graphics of Ducati Corse motorcycles.

Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso

The Panigale V2, presented less than a year ago and capable of immediately conquering an enthusiastic public, is the super-mid of the Ducati sports bikes and represents the entry model to the Panigale family. It is powered by the 955 cc Superquadro twin-cylinder engine (compliant with Euro 5 standard) and has a maximum power of 155 hp at 10,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 104 Nm at 9,000 rpm.

Pecco Bagnaia on the Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso

The delivery of the twin-cylinder is such that more than 70 per cent of the maximum torque is constantly available beyond 5,500 rpm, allowing to get out of the corners quickly, even the slowest ones.

The modern electronics suite is based on the 6-axis inertial platform includes cornering functionality applied to the Bosch ABS, engine braking and wheelie controls. All the controls are integrated into the three Riding Modes (Race, Sport and Street) that can be modified via the 4.3” TFT colour dashboard with graphics and interface designed to make menu navigation and setting adjustments intuitive, as well as the immediate identification of the selected Riding Mode.

Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso

The chassis has fully-adjustable suspension with a Showa Big Piston Fork (BPF) 43 mm in diameter and a Sachs shock absorber set up to make the bike intuitive, agile and fun; in addition, the specific calibration of the hydraulic brakes has been tuned to be more comfortable for road use in comparison to the V4 models.

Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso

The technical equipment is completed by a Sachs steering damper and by a Brembo braking system with M4.32 monobloc callipers activated by a radial brake master cylinder. The discs are 320 mm in diameter at the front with a single 245 mm disc at the rear.

Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso

The Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso livery will be available in Australia from September 2020 at $23,350 ride away.

Ducati Panigale V2 in White Rosso Images

Source: MCNews.com.au

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

MV Agusta, the masters of special editions, have produced another bespoke new naked after transferring the Serie Oro treatment onto the naked Brutale to produce the new Brutale 1000 RR.  Some of these $52,190 machines have already touched down in Australia with the remainder expected to arrive over the following two months.

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

Like the Brutale 1000 Serie Oro, the 1000 RR engine represents the most recent evolution of the in-line, four-cylinder MV Agusta design. This new version stands out for its significant redesign across all areas, and complete review of electronic-management parameters which are claimed to be greatly refined compared to previous versions.

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

With 208 horsepower the Brutale RR matches Ducati’s new Streetfighter V4 for claimed power and almost matches the Ducati for claimed torque despite having a 105 cc deficit to the Ducati, 116.5 Nm for the MV and 123 Nm for the Ducati. The claimed dry weight figure for the MV is 186 kg versus the Ducati’s 180 kg.

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

New dynamic cornering headlights with DRLs adorn the front of the Brutale RR.

Dynamic cornering headlights with DRLs

The fuel tank and tail cowling are also new for the RR and take a look at that pillion seat…

That is some pillion seat right there 🙂

The Serie Oro’s light carbon-fibre wheel rims have been replaced on the 1000 RR with forged aluminium components that feature a special design.

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

The second generation 5” TFT display colour panel, with 800×480 pixel resolution, is the main interface between rider and the many customisable settings on the Brutale 1000 RR. Access to the numerous configuration menus is immediate via handlebar controls.

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

Instrumentation allows Bluetooth connection with your smartphone to manage incoming calls, messages and music.

Cruise control is also included, very handy also on a hyper naked motorcycle like the 1000 RR. The dashboard allows optimal use of the many functions offered by the MV Ride navigation app.

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

In true MV Agusta tradition, the frame on the new Brutale offers a highly evolved “mixed structure” with steel lattice and aluminium side plates. Semi-clip on handlebars reveal the bike’s sporty calling but MV states that they have worked hard to give the rider a comfortable riding position.

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

Aerodynamic wings positioned beside the radiators improve down-force and add load to the front end, limiting lift at high speed. 

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

The chassis dimensions are identical to those of the Serie Oro: compact wheelbase of 1415 mm, with front wheel trail of 97 mm. The Öhlins Nix EC fork, with TIN surface treatment features electronic adjustment for damping while adjustment of the spring preload is manual.

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

The same electronic management is offered by the Öhlins TTX rear shock absorber fixed to the aluminium single-sided swing arm and the Öhlins EC electronic steering damper, that continually adjusts on the basis of the bike’s speed and is fixed by supports specially designed for the new Brutale.

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR

The braking system is the same as the Serie Oro, with the prestigious Brembo Stylema front callipers, radial callipers and 320 mm diameter floating discs. The rear disc is 220 mm and is combined with a dual-piston calliper. Electronic management is assigned to the ABS Bosch 9 Plus system with Race Mode.

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR Specifications

  • Engine – 998cc four-cylinder, DOHC radial valve
  • Bore x Stroke – 79 x 50.9 mm
  • Compression Ratio – 13.4:1
  • Max Power – 208 hp at 13,000 rpm
  • Max Torque – 116.5 Nm at 11,000 rpm
  • Dry weight – 186 kg
  • Gears – Six-speed with up-down quick-shift
  • Fuel capacity – 16 litres
  • Wheelbase – 1415 mm
  • L x W – 2080 x 805 mm
  • Trail – 97 mm
  • Seat height – 845 mm
  • RRP – $52,190 Ride Away

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR Images

Source: MCNews.com.au