Category Archives: Motorcycle News

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Kawasaki KZ1000 S1 Racer

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With Phil Aynsley

I visited the (then) newly opened US Kawasaki HQ in Orange County, California back in 2016 to photograph the KR500 that Eddie Lawson rode in 1982 (Kawasaki KR500 Grand Prix Motorcycles – A Short History – LINK). While I was there I also had the opportunity to shoot another rare green machine – the KZ1000 S1.

Kawasaki's KZ1000 S1 Racer
Kawasaki’s KZ1000 S1 Racer

In 1982 Kawasaki built 30 (or possibly 29) race-only S1s for the KMC Racing Team plus US dealers who wanted to go Superbike racing. It was basically a copy of the bikes Eddie Lawson and Dave Aldana campaigned in ’81-’82.

Kawasaki's KZ1000 S1 Racer
Kawasaki’s KZ1000 S1 Racer

Due to most of the company’s race resources being directed towards the European GPs it was decided that while KHI (Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the parent company) would develop the motor, long time Kawasaki mechanic Randy Hall (based in the US) would develop the chassis. The S1 featured an alloy swingarm of his design.

Kawasaki also released a slightly modified KZ1000 – the ‘Eddie Lawson replica’ for street use. The bike seen here is incorrectly fitted with the side cover badges from the street bike.

Randy Hall and Eddie Lawson pose with the KZ1000 S1 in 2016
Randy Hall and Eddie Lawson pose with the KZ1000 S1 in 2016

The dealer cost for the S1 was US$10,999 with no retail price supplied. An original S1 (with spares kit) sold for USD $107,000 in 2013.

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, News

Touratech Protects KTM Engines

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German adventure and touring motorcycle accessories company Touratech has produced a special skid plate for the engine on big KTM adventure bikes.

Touratech KTM

The KTM Rallye skid plate allows riders to literally skid over hazards such as rocks, logs and other bumps on rough trails without doing any damage to the engine.

Touratech KTM

Unlike some other rigid skid plates that bolt straight into the engine casing and can transfer impact to the engine, this is made of 6.5kg aluminium that flexes and absorbs impacts without breaking.

That weight is kept low in the bike, so it doesn’t affect handling or balance.

Touratech KTM

It also has two parallel recesses to absorb impacts and allow the bike to skid along the object without jamming on it.

Forcite MK1 Helmet

There are also no welds to snag on bushes and sticks.

Touratech KTM

The KTM Rallye skid plate costs $A711.50, but it’s cheap insurance on protecting your engine.

It suits KTM’s 1050 Adventure, 1090 Adventure, 1190 Adventure and 1290 Super Adventure.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Royal Enfield Himalayan Switches Off ABS

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One of the few changes for the 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan adventure motorcycle is the ability to switch off the ABS.

It may not seem like a big deal, but it is to the adventure rider who wants to be able to lock the wheels under braking to dig into the gravel, dirt, loam or sand surface for extra braking effect.

It’s a shame there isn’t the facility to just switch off the rear.

However, they say they have tweaked the rear brake for better feel and effect.

2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan

The other changes are the addition of three new colours — Lake Blue, Rock Red, and Gravel Grey – making a total of six colour choices. The existing colours are Granite Black, Snow White and Sleet Grey.

The Himalayan also now comes with a redesigned side stand and the engine is Euro5 compliant although they don’t say whether this has affected output.

There is no word on when these will arrive in Australia, price or whether all colours will be available.

Levi’s project

MV Agusta Stunt bikes

Meanwhile, Royal Enfield has joined with iconic American jeans manufacturer Levi’s to launch a range of lifestyle and riding gear, available online and in Royal Enfield and Levi’s stores in India.

Levi's & Royal Enfield

They say it is suitable for riding and daily wear and the Cordura denim includes some abrasion protection and pockets for armour inserts.

Levi's & Royal Enfield

The lifestyle collection includes jeans, jackets and graphic t-shirts designed by rider and artist Toria James.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Big 4 Japanese Test Swappable Batteries

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The four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers last year signed an agreement to standardise electric motorcycle developmet, in particular similar batteries so they can be swapped.

Since then, Yamaha and Kawasaki have patented battery swap ideas for electric motorcycles and scooters.

Now the four companies — Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha — are about to start testing these batteries.

The one-year “e-Yan OSAKA” tests will be carried out by staff and students at Osaka University who will use the batteries in supplied electric motorcycles.

Battery-swap stations will be installed on campus and at local stores.

The idea is similar to what Kymco has been doing in Taiwan since 2018.

Battery swap technology is not new. British company Battery Traction Ltd came up with the idea in 1938, but it was sidelined by World War II.

Better Place also suggested the idea in 2008 and went broke in 2013.

Car companies dabbled with the idea, but have largely canned it because their batteries are too big.

However, Tesla has patented a robot that can charge an electric car’s battery in 15 minutes and some small electric city cars can swap batteries in under a minute.

Yamaha Gogoro battery swap electric scooter
Gogoro battery swap vending machine

Electric motorcycles and scooters need smaller batteries than cars, so a quick battery swap system for two-wheelers makes a lot of sense and would solve the problem of hours-long recharging.

However, it requires all manufacturers to get on board with standard sized batteries.

Suzuki Katana is a rider’s delight

Therefore, this move by the four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers is big news for the industry and the future of EVs.

But since battery technology is developing at a rapid pace, especially decreasing in size, a standardised battery size would become obsolete in just a few years.

Kymco uses multiple small batteries weighing about 5kg each to get around the battery size issue.

They are not the first scooter company to suggest battery swap technology.

San Francisco company Scoot has about 700 electric scooters for short-term hire.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

MotoGP™ reaches 30 million fans across social media

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Twitter 
Want news, fast? 2.7 million MotoGP™ fans head to Twitter. Breaking stories, polls, articles, video clips, updates on the comings and goings of race weekends… Twitter is the place. Gone are the days of simple written updates, with Twitter now offering an unrivalled platform for interactive discussion between Championship and fan, and a place for the audience to connect with the sport and each other.

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

The detailed Misano GP tyre allocation

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“Misano is an unusual circuit and you never really know what to expect. It gave lots of grip in 2018 and we broke records and saw fast and consistent laps, but then last year the asphalt behaved as if there was hardly any traction at all, so it was good to have it resurfaced in readiness for this season and because of testing we conducted with various teams and riders, we have the data to choose this year’s compounds, we now have to see how the asphalt performs during a race weekend.

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

The detailed San Marino GP tyre allocation

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“Misano is an unusual circuit and you never really know what to expect. It gave lots of grip in 2018 and we broke records and saw fast and consistent laps, but then last year the asphalt behaved as if there was hardly any traction at all, so it was good to have it resurfaced in readiness for this season and because of testing we conducted with various teams and riders, we have the data to choose this year’s compounds, we now have to see how the asphalt performs during a race weekend.

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

Red Bull KTM Tech3 eager for action

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“For Misano I want to follow the way we found the last two rounds. I like our work inside the garage a lot, I learned, I improved and I finished the last two races with two top 10 results. I know, it’s not always easy and possible to do that, but I’m also sure now, that it is a realistic objective for us.”

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

Moto3™: gloves off for a round on the riviera

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Last time out though, Arenas didn’t get it all his own way and couldn’t quite get on the podium. The man closest behind him in the points did though, and Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) will be aiming for a rinse and repeat on the Riviera di Rimini as he attempt to claw back that gap. Consistent in the truest meaning of the word, the Japanese rider hasn’t put a foot – or wheel – wrong for a long, long time, and keeps racking up those podiums. A first win has evaded him as yet, but it can surely only be a matter of time – and he’ll have to balance scoring and beating Arenas with that last-lap instinct to win at any cost…

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

Hometown heroes: Moto2™ heads for Misano

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The man in third, meanwhile, will feel he has a score to settle. Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) may not be Italian, but he’s on his own mission after crossing the line first in the Styrian GP and then getting demoted to second by a penalty. They were solid points to cement him third overall, but he feels denied a second Moto2™ win in a row after his first intermediate class victory a week before… and to make it even worse, the man he lost out to was fellow sophomore and old Moto3™ rival Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46). Martin will be on a mission, but then so will that same Bezzecchi…

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here