Tag Archives: Motorcycle News

MotoAmerica Announces Mini Cup For 2020

“The Road To MotoAmerica” Is Geared Toward Young Racers Aged Six To 14

Begin press release:


MotoAmerica has announced that it will add a youth program to three of its 2020 MotoAmerica events via the MotoAmerica Mini Cup, beginning with the Road America round, May 29-31, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

MotoAmerica Mini Cup races will be held in conjunction with three rounds of the 2020 MotoAmerica Series. The MotoAmerica Mini Cup is geared toward riders aged six to 14.

The MotoAmerica Mini Cup Series will be held on karting tracks in conjunction with three MotoAmerica events: Road America (May 29-31), The Ridge Motorsports Park (June 26-28) and Pittsburgh International Race Complex (August 7-8).

The Mini Cup Series will feature four classes of racing: 110cc (four speed); 160cc; 190cc (racers aged up to 14 years); and 190 Adult (racers over the age of 15). The motorcycles will be based on spec rules centered around the Ohvale GP-0, a mini road racer that is now ready for the U.S. market after proving to be extremely popular in Europe.

The MotoAmerica Mini Cup fills a current void in the series and provides an entry point for riders under the age of 14. The Mini Cup will give young racers a way to bridge the gap to the MotoAmerica Liqui Moly Junior Cup class through the MotoAmerica Mini Cup and “The Road To MotoAmerica.”

“We saw the Ohvales race for the first time at PittRace in 2019 and we came away impressed,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “The bike is basically a miniature GP racer and serves as an ideal platform to get kids and their families on track and racing. We saw the need to provide an avenue for kids who are too young to race in our Liqui Moly Junior Cup to get started and work on their skills before moving up to bigger bikes. We’re excited about this and can’t wait for it to get rolling at Road America at the end of May.”

Lance Bryson, Senior Sponsorship Manager, added: “This is an exciting time for road racing in the U.S. There have been few paths to lead American youth riders to start training for a full-time U.S. or international road racing career. MotoAmerica will now promote a youth feeder system to ensure that more young racers can follow in the footsteps of the Kenny Roberts, the Wayne Raineys and the Cameron Beaubiers of the world.”

“We’ve been hard at work to help bring a solid platform into the U.S. market for youth, and their parents, to get involved in road racing with an affordable and easy to understand platform,” said Brandon Cretu of Rise Moto, the Ohvale GP-O distributor for the U.S. “The Ohvale GP-0 provides tiered engine options to progress with young racers skills and help them rise through the ranks until they’re ready for big bikes on big tracks. It also provides an exciting and affordable way for older riders and professional athletes to gain access to invaluable training time and inexpensive track time and racing. It is an exciting time for our sport and Ohvale is happy to be working with MotoAmerica.”

For more information on Ohvale motorcycles, visit https://www.risemoto.com/

The 2020 AMA MotoAmerica Mini Cup Series

May 29-31 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
June 26-28 – The Ridge Motorsports Park, Sheldon, Washington
August 7-8 – Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania

The post MotoAmerica Announces Mini Cup For 2020 appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

Kawasaki Raises Nearly $100,000 For Charities in 2019

Team Green doing good. 

Begin Press Release: 


Kawasaki Raises Nearly $100,000 For Charities in 2019

Foothill Ranch, Calif. – Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., has proudly supported several local and national charities in raising hundreds and thousands of dollars in 2019, supporting worthy causes with cash and product donations, as well as VIP racing fan experiences at Monster Energy Supercross. The charitable efforts of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. and its employees have nearly exceeded $100,000 in value.

“The charities Kawasaki has chosen to work with are a fundamental part of our community,” said Bill Jenkins, SVP Sales and Operations. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to support charities such as the Boys and Girls Club of South Coast Area, the CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive, Honoring our Wounded Military (HOWM), Orange County Police Canine Association, and The ALS Association – Orange County Chapter. We have supported these organizations with both financial and product donations for their causes to help our community where we can.”

Kawasaki’s efforts helped to raise $45,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of South Coast Area by donating two 2020 Jet Ski® STX®160 personal watercraft and two VIP Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Supercross experience. The items were auctioned off at the Boys and Girls Club of South Coast 2019 Great Futures Gala.

With the holidays fast approaching, Kawasaki employees always make sure to support those in need by providing toys and other gifts for the California Highway Patrol’s ninth annual CHiPs for KIDS toy drive. In 2019, Kawasaki team members stepped up once again to help deliver a happy holiday to families in Southern California.

Amongst the many important charitable causes Kawasaki supports is the Honoring Our Wounded Military Foundation. For 2019, Kawasaki donated a 2019 Jet Ski® Ultra® LX for the Honoring Our Wounded Military live auction, that helped to raise $40,000, which enabled the foundation to achieve more than $195,000 in donations for 2019.

The ALS Association’s Walk To Defeat event became close to the hearts of many Kawasaki employees in 2019, with many participating on Team Tamura in the ALS Association — Orange County Chapter event. Kawasaki helped to raise more than $1,300 for the organization in tribute to former Kawasaki President Yoshi Tamura, helping ALS Association — Orange County Chapter raise more than $283,000 in 2019.

Kawasaki also raised $1,500 for the Orange County Police Canine Association in 2019.

And as 2019 comes to an end the Kawasaki Motors Corp. Charitable Match Contribution Program employees have additionally raised nearly $10,000 for various charities serving an array of causes across the country.

The post Kawasaki Raises Nearly $100,000 For Charities in 2019 appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

New And Updated Naked Motorcycles To Watch For In 2020

2020 Naked Bikes

2020 BMW F 900 R

“BMW’s replacing its F 800 R with a more powerful and better handling version in the 2020 F 900 R as announced at the EICMA motorcycle show…”

2020 Ducati Monster 1200 S

“The Monster 1200 S is capable on the track thanks to the up-spec suspension and brakes, high-horsepower engine, and aggressive ergos…”

2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4

“If you have been waiting for a tire-destroying, knee-dragging, mind-melting riding experience, you may want to consider the brand-new 2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4…”

2020 MV Agusta Rush 1000

2020 Suzuki GSX-S1000 and GSX-S1000F

“The GSX-S1000 combines the best of that generation GSX-R with a comfortable riding position that features Renthal Fatbar, a plush seat, and relaxed rider triangle then adds in as many rider-assist functions as you can shoehorn into an unfaired bike…”

2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

“A new day dawns on Triumph’s Street Triple, with an updated RS model just announced. Note the sharper bodywork, foot control plates, and rear footrest hangers now with black finishes, plus a satin metal finish on the heel guards and silencer…”

2020 Yamaha MT-03

“Yamaha has a new entry-level naked bike in its 2020 US model lineup with the new MT-03. The entry-level option of its Hyper Naked motorcycle lineup was first introduced in 2016, and it has been a hit in every market around the globe…”

2020 Yamaha MT-07

Image: (Pull first image from link below)

“The 2020 Yamaha MT-07 features a peppy 689cc, liquid-cooled, inline twin-cylinder, DOHC engine with fuel injection utilizing the crossplane crank technology to create a unique sound, and plenty of low- to midrange torque…”

2020 Yamaha MT-09

“From start to finish the MT-09 was designed around the rowdy 847cc triple with crossplane crank and a chassis that is very accommodating for riders of all levels. Over the years the MT-09 has evolved into one of the best bang for the buck in the streetfighter or naked bike class…”

2020 Yamaha MT-10

Yamaha is really putting an emphasis on the MT-series these days, and the MT-10 just happens to be the flagship of its Hyper Naked lineup. It’s big, bad, and downright nasty plus it’s a blast to ride…”

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com

Penrite Honda to run Michelin rubber for 2020 ASBK

Successful Michelin-Honda partnership to be rekindled in 2020

The tyre war in Australian Superbike has a long history where the fortunes of the various rubber manufacturers have ebbed and flowed.

Dunlop reigned supreme for a long time, but in recent years Pirelli has been dominant. Dunlop did manage to upset the Italian domination with Bryan Staring and the BCperformance Kawasaki running away with all three races at The Bend in 2019, but in recent times Pirelli has largely dominated at almost every circuit in the country. That could be set to change in 2020 with Michelin coming back to ASBK in a big way. 

It has been a long time between drinks for Michelin to taste ASBK champagne, 15 years in fact. In both 2004 and 2005 Honda and Michelin did the Superbike and Supersport double championships.

ASBK Fergusson
Adam Fergusson did the Superbike / Supersport double in 2004 on Michelin shod Honda

Adam Fergusson the SBK/SS champ in 2004 before Josh Brookes took the double mantle in 2005 on Michelin shod Honda machinery. 

ASBK Brookes
Josh Brookes did the Superbike / Supersport double in 20045 on Michelin shod Honda

MCNews.com.au can confirm that Michelin will be coming back to the ASBK Superbike paddock in 2020 with Penrite Honda. 

The Elite Roads backed Penrite Honda squad and Troy Herfoss will be on the French rubber this season.

Herfoss tested the tyres for the first time at Phillip Island last September and was happy enough with their performance.  They have also tested at Wakefield Park and Tailem Bend.

Another big part of the tyre story is that Penrite Honda’s tyre technician in season 2020 might be none other than Jeremy Burgess… That part of the deal is yet to be fully confirmed but is on the cards…

Valentino Rossi and Jeremy Burgess - 2006 - Image by AJRN
Valentino Rossi and Jeremy Burgess – 2006 – Image by AJRN

We also believe Metzeler will be on the grid in 2020 also which along with Bridgestone will make it five different tyre brands contesting the Australian Superbike Championship. It is believed there is a possibility that we might see a Metzeler shod BMW contesting the Superbike category. 

This diversity could really throw some real surprise results in the mix and adds yet more anticipation to what is looking like an exciting season ahead for ASBK…

Source: MCNews.com.au

2020 Triumph Street Triple RS Review | Motorcycle Tests

Motorcycle Test by Trevor Hedge – Images iKap / Triumph


Only two years after the last significant update Triumph have come out all guns blazing for 2020 with yet another major revamp of the Street Triple RS.

Triumph Street Triple RS
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

A major boost in performance came in 2017 that really pumped the sporting credentials of the Street Triple much higher than we had seen before, and pitched the model to a higher end market than previous generation Street Triple models. The Street Triple RS got its big boost from 675 to 765cc in that last update and now for 2020 that 765 cc engine has undergone major revisions to boast yet more performance.

Triumph Street Triple RS Engine
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

Better manufacturing tolerances within the gearbox have now negated the previous anti-lash gears on the balance shaft and the back of the clutch basket. Shorter first and second gears boost performance off the mark while Triumph’s now well proven slip-assist clutch reduces lever effort and aids positive lock-up on acceleration. An up-down quick-shifter continues the up-spec’ theme and works best when used in anger. When bumbling around town, the use of a little clutch helps smoothen things out.

Triumph Street Triple RS Mid
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

The challenge of meeting Euro5 specification has seen engine development programs across the whole spectrum of motorcycling step up a gear. Euro 5 has also seen Triumph install two smaller and more premium catalytic convertors that replace the previous single unit while a new balance pipe is claimed to smooth out the torque curve. The exhaust cam has changed while the intake ducting has also been revised.

So is this all about emissions and Euro5 or do we get more go?

That we do, and while peak numbers don’t change much, mid-range torque and power are up by a massive nine per cent.

Triumph Street Triple RS Torque
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

The 2020 Street Triple RS generates 121 horsepower at 11,750 rpm with 79 Nm of torque peaking at 9350 rpm. That peak torque is only 2 Nm higher than before, but between 7500 and 9500 rpm are where those much larger increases in torque are realised, and they are really felt on the road.

Triumph Street Triple RS Power
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

Engine inertia has also been reduced by 7 per cent due to improved manufacturing tolerances borne from Triumph’s involvement as the exclusive engine supplier to the Moto2 World Championship. Higher precision machining on the crankshaft and balance shaft are the primary contributors that help the motor to spin up much more eagerly than before.

Triumph Street Triple RS
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS engine spins up so quickly

And wow it really does spin up so effortlessly that it actually takes you a little by surprise just how quickly the engine responds. This led me to staying out of the Sport mode for most riding duties as it was actually a little too frenetic. Even small road bumps that normally would never affect your throttle position were felt, such is the liveliness of this latest generation engine. The lack of inertia combined with the hefty increase in mid-range urge makes the new Street Triple RS feel a bit like an ADD kid fizzing to be let off the leash. General road duties are better undetaken in, funnily enough, Road mode, and the Track mode better left to the track… Triumph claim a seven per cent reduction in rotational inertia, it feels like even more.

Triumph Street Triple RS Trev
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

The original Street Triples of over a decade ago were very playful, and a doddle of a bike to lark about on while pulling monos all over the place or ripping skids. In contrast, these latest Generation Street Triple RS machines are much more serious, things happen much quicker and the outright level of sporting performance is a long way forward from the fun little street-bike that the Street Triple started life as back in 2007. While engine performance has come a long way, particularly in regards to the way it grunts out of the basement in to a very muscular mid-range, the chassis has taken perhaps even larger steps over that time. 

Triumph Street Triple RS Shock
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS – Ohlins TTX40

The RS model of 2017 is improved upon further for 2020 with an STX40 Ohlins shock replacing the TTX36 of the previous model. Triumph claim that it offers much better resistance to fade and runs at significantly cooler operating temperatures. The swing-arm is an interesting design with quite a radical gull-wing lay-out.

Triumph Street Triple RS
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

While I did not have the tools to measure the temperature of the shock I can attest that it remained fade free on bumpy Queensland back roads and also stood up to the rigours of Lakeside Raceway on a very hot December day. It feels like premium suspension should feel with quality damping response that provides great feedback to the rider, while remaining plush enough to not beat you to death on crap road surfaces. 

Triumph Street Triple RS
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

Triumph chose 41 mm Showa big-piston forks for the front of the machine. Their engineers claim that this choice was made purely on performance as their test riders preferred the response of the Showa forks over the comparable spec’ Ohlins kits they evaluated. I found no reason to argue their findings after a busy few days on the bike. Adjusting the compression and rebound on the top of the fork legs is not as easy as I would have liked as they were obviously designed to use on a sports-bike with clip-ons, rather than with the single-piece bars on the Triumph that get in the way of the clickers.

Triumph Street Triple RS Switches
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS – Fork adjustments are not the easiest to access

It is fair to say the kit at both ends is more than good enough in every role and you are going to have to be one very fast and accomplished rider before the suspension is going to be the limiting factor in your own performance. Most, myself included, run out of both talent and balls before the suspension is out of its comfort zone. 

Triumph Street Triple RS
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS alongside Triumph’s Moto2 machine

Still, I certainly don’t think that on a race-track it would prove quicker than Suzuki’s comparably out-dated GSX-R750. Despite its relative age the GSX-R is still quite a weapon of a sports-bike that is very easy to ride fast, thus it is actually somewhat of a testament to the naked Street Triple RS that its outright circuit performance can be even compared to the legendary GSX-R.

Triumph Street Triple RS Trev
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

On a tight and testing back road though, the agility, mid-range punch and more upright stance of the Street Triple RS would win out and make for a more enjoyable back-road fang machine.

Triumph Street Triple RS Brakes
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS – Brembo M50

Brembo M50 four-piston radial stoppers complete with a Brembo MCS ratio and span adjustable brake lever were fault free in both power and response when hauling the 166 kilogram machine to a stop.

Triumph Street Triple RS MC
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS – Brembo RCS master cylinder has adjustable ratio

The bike actually feels even lighter than that 166 kg dry number as the first time I pulled it off the side-stand the bike banged straight into my legs as I had used way more effort than required. It feels more like leveraging a dirt-bike around than a regular road bike.

Triumph Street Triple RS Above
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS is one very light machine

New LED headlights and daytime running lights sharpen the front end look and combine with a more angular silhouette all round that has further modernised the profile of the machine. Despite the minimalist proportions Triumph have managed to fit a 17.4-litre fuel tank in there which should make for an easy 300 kilometre touring range.

Triumph Street Triple RS Lights
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS – New shape LED headlights update the look

Instrumentation has gone full colour TFT and is available with GoPro and Bluetooth functionality to provide turn-by-turn navigation cues on the display via the optional connectivity module. The display can be switched through four different lay-outs and four different colour schemes.

Triumph Street Triple RS Dash
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS – Screen has various different display modes with differing lay-outs

Triumph have added some different layers of film in the display to greatly reduce glare but I found the default colour scheme not all that great in regards to the way each selection is highlighted when out in the sun and switching through the five riding modes or ABS/Traction settings. On the plus side the whole dash is adjustable for angle.

Triumph Street Triple RS Dash
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS – Instrumenation is by way of an angle adjustable 5-inch TFT

The navigation prompts and Bluetooth system with phone/music interoperability was still in the final stages of development and not yet available for us to test during the model launch but we are told the system is now fully functional and available for activation.

Triumph Street Triple RS Seats
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS – Seat is actually quite comfortable and at 825 mm low enough for most

A new seat design and padding makes the perch an appreciably nicer place to spend time and at 825 mm is low enough for just about anyone. Triumph claim that the pillion seat is also more comfortable and boasts more leg-room but to me it still looks a horrendous place to contemplate spending any time.

Triumph Street Triple RS
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

The standard bar end mirrors work well and look good. Heated grips and tyre pressure monitoring are optional extras and Triumph have quick-release tank and tail bags ready to go.

Triumph Street Triple RS
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS – Standard bar end mirrors actually work pretty well

Triumph make no excuses for where they are pitching the Street Triple RS in the market-place and the premium level of kit utilised throughout the machine certainly justify its $18,050 +ORC price point. However, when there are many larger capacity and more powerful offerings already on offer it might be somewhat of a hard sell in what is a currently difficult market. Riders that place prime importance on the light is right mantra, and have a clear desire for high spec’ suspension and braking components should certainly do themselves a favour and sample the Street Triple RS for themselves. In this upper mid-capacity segment it is a performance leader and the most premium offering. 

Triumph Street Triple RS
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

Arriving soon is also a LAMS legal variant dubbed the Street Triple S for new riders with an engine detuned for those requirements along with lower spec’ suspension and braking components. The specifications for both bikes are selectable in the table below. 


Specifications

Source: MCNews.com.au

Around the world with The Bear | Part Ten | Pakistan

Around the world with The Bear – Part Ten

The King of Every Kingdom
Around the world on a very small motorcycle

With J. Peter “The Bear” Thoeming

Last instalment The Bear travelled from India into Pakistan, and now the journey continues, starting with some sound advice. Beware the ice and the hornets – those are among the lessons we were to learn in Pakistan.


Pakistan

There was a dire shortage of pens at the Pakistani border post. All the guards kept borrowing each other’s, which tended to slow things down a bit. I finally donated one of my treasured Nikkos to the bloke who was processing us and we were through in seconds. My second case of bribery, but a cheap one.

The Bear Around The World Part QuoteOn the dusty road to Lahore we noticed the difference in road manners compared to India. Everybody was much more together and aggressive, which made the traffic rather more predictable if also potentially lethal.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
A quick maintenance stop. I think Charlie is tightening something on my bike.

The Australian AA guide book gave us a bum steer to the location of the Pakistan AA guest house. They didn’t even have the right street. As a result it took us hours to find it, and we were sorry when we did.

It wasn’t so much the decaying cars outside or yet the mould on the walls and the broken windows, it was the constant drip of every tap in the place that bothered me. We took it anyway, because it was also dirt cheap. Then we set off to find some food and cheer ourselves up.

The Capri Grill in the Mall provided excellent chicken livers and terrible chips. The Mall itself was well worth a look, with the enormous Zam Zam gun referred to in Kipling’s Kim at one end and the slums discreetly tucked away at the other.

But even so Lahore is quite a leafy and attractive place; its Red Mosque is allegedly the largest in the world. You can go and look at it, too, which makes a change from all the closed houses of worship some religions go in for, which seems a bit self-defeating to me.

The road to Rawalpindi looked like a left-over set from a disaster movie. It was difficult to decide whether it was being repaired or had simply been abandoned. We weren’t clear of the monsoon yet, either, so we rode in a downpour most of the day. My speedometer cable broke, too, but at least the weather was warm.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
Ad hoc engineering is of a remarkably high standard considering the raw materials.

All the cheap hotels in ’Pindi were mysteriously full, and we wondered for a while if we had a disease that the hoteliers could see and we couldn’t. A kindly gentleman explained that the government doesn’t allow cheap hotels to rent rooms to Europeans; whiteys have to go to the expensive ones.

His cousin, however, happened to own the Alia Hotel, which was not too expensive, clean and comfortable and had room for the bikes in the lobby as well as an ensuite bathroom and toilet. This turned out to be just as well…

At dinner across the road, while trying to choose between the usual gristly mutton, athletic chicken and slimy marrow curries, we drank some bottled water with ice in. The ice, as we should have known, was a mistake.

Our reward was a painful case of the Rawalpindi Runs. Both of us featured delicate pale green faces, dizziness, diarrhea and vomiting – for three days. Hence the convenience of the ensuite conveniences. It had actually never occurred to me that, when someone says “I turned green,” they might be speaking literally. As Eccles says, you learn something every day.

Somehow amongst all that we still managed to get out to the Afghani Embassy in nearby Islamabad, Pakistan’s Canberra, to apply for visas. Here they explained that the visa section was at Nigeria House, across the town.

Who said there’s no cooperation among Third World nations? On the way we had to stop several times and remove our wet weather gear. Well the pants anyway. We reached Nigeria House and, yes, we could get visas, for seven days.

Come back tomorrow to collect them. It beats me why you always have to wait for visas, when all they are is a stamp in your passport. It’s just attempted intimidation. But then I wasn’t exactly in the best possible mood.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
That’s a military area of some kind over there. I shouldn’t have taken this photo!

We picked up the visas when we had recovered a little and headed for the border. Within the first couple of miles we were both stung by monster wasps, the side of my face swelling up until I looked like a Dick Tracy character. Bubbleface, perhaps.

Fortunately I got my helmet off before the swelling really got going; otherwise I might have been trapped in it. Apart from that the road north was pretty dull, but enlivened by the marvellously colourful trucks and buses; the paintings on some of them would be the envy of any California customiser.

Peshawar, especially the military cantonment, was pretty and green.

At the gate to the Khyber road, there’s a sign that warns you that once past the gate you’re on your own — the government takes no responsibility for you. During the hours of darkness nobody is allowed in at all. It’s not terribly hard to see why they’re so careful.

All the male locals carry bandoliers and well-used .303 rifles, and they look tough. These are the Pathans of song and story, and they’d make it to president in any bikie patch club I’ve ever seen – without even riding a bike.

The road through the pass is surprisingly good, although infested by cars and pick-up trucks all carrying more passengers than you’d think possible. They take the boot lids off the cars and passengers sit there and on the roof rack while the family of the driver travels inside. Everybody grins and waves, which takes the edge off the universal toughness a bit.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
Getting into the Khyber Pass. It’s every bit as forbidding as it looks.

Up through the pass the cliffs are lined with the badges of British and Indian regiments that fought here. There are a lot of badges. Villages feature high walls and watchtowers.

The border town is called Tor Khan and consists of a number of mud huts collectively defying gravity. One of the more ragged-looking edifices is the Tourist Hotel, which, while it may not have running water, does have cold beer as well as a very entertaining proprietor.

Another form of entertainment in Tor Khan is gun shopping. Every shop – even the soft drink bar – has its display of small arms. These are all locally made, despite the lovingly forged “Smith & Wesson” and “Birmingham Small Arms” badges featured on the guns. Beautiful workmanship, though. I guess it would have to be. A warranty problem could lead to some pretty serious results up here.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
At the market in Tor Khan. There’s no shortage of beans.

Will we find ourselves at gunpoint in the Khyber Pass? No, we’re just forced to buy insurance… Tune in to Part 12 to read the full story.

Source: MCNews.com.au

2020 Polaris Slingshot Teaser

A new Polaris Slingshot on the way was no big secret. Now Polaris teases with a 15-second vid showing an angular nose adorned with daytime running lights and a bright bar of LEDs, along with a quick rev of its new engine.


Last November, Chief Detective Chung uncovered a bunch of information about the new Slingshot after it made an appearance at Polaris’ dealer show – including design drawings of a new DOHC inline four, probably of Polaris’ own manufacture, that looks like it will replace the General Motors 2.4 Ecotec four-banger the Slingshot’s used since its inception.

One thing Polaris has already confirmed is that the new Sling will be available with an automatic transmission for the first time, which will definitely make it even more accessible to the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Polaris says it will release more info shortly.

The post 2020 Polaris Slingshot Teaser appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

Best Used Adventure Motorcycles To Buy

Like the tides, motorcycle model “platforms”—their basic engineering architecture—ebb and flow…or rather, flow and ebb. At launch they’re atop the world, often supported by global marketing or factory racing initiatives and bought by trendy early adopters. That’s the advancing tide, so to speak, of a product’s life span. Then come the peak sales years, upgrades, and improvements, which are akin to high tide. And finally, inevitably and irreversibly, the product becomes outmoded and updates, tweaks, and BNG (bold new graphics) can no longer keep it competitive. You guessed it: That’s low tide. And it’s also where shrewd buyers swoop in, like plovers racing to grab tasty sand crabs exposed by the falling tide.

But which model year to grab? Logically, by the last year of any platform, the kinks are worked out and the product is refined to the best extent possible before the next platform is released—whereupon value sadly plummets. This is tough for the owners of those bikes, but it’s great for buyers. According to this strategy, here is our “Such a Deal!” look at outmoded used (or to use the PC vernacular, “pre-owned”) adventure bikes. Prices shown are courtesy of the online NADA guide, as noted.

2012 BMW R1200GS

BMW invented the “modern” ADV segment in 1980 with the original R80GS, before the globe-trotting boxer began its upward march in displacement to R100GS and R1100GS levels. Next up, the R1200GS represents the last evolution of air-cooled BMW ADVs before the liquid-cooled R1250GS debuted for 2013. If you’re bargain hunting, focus your quest on the R1200GS and leave the “Adventure” model to the purists—they’ll attract a premium on the used market at collectibles.

For literal globe-trotting, there’s nothing like a big air-cooled BMW boxer with shaft drive and a reputation for durability and longevity. But for technical work, experience and finesse rule.
For literal globe-trotting, there’s nothing like a big air-cooled BMW boxer with shaft drive and a reputation for durability and longevity. But for technical work, experience and finesse rule.BMW

2017 Ducati Multistrada 1200

With a Multistrada V4 simmering in Ducati’s own hell’s kitchen, it won’t be long before the long-running V-twin models have potent company. And this bodes well for bargain buyers looking for some Italian adventure-touring glam. The “Multi” first revved up in 992cc form for 2003, then expanded to 1,198cc for 2010, and then 1,262cc for 2018. As such, look for a 2017 Multistrada 1200 and enjoy truly high-tech at a used-bike price.

A superbike with a dirty mind, that’s the Ducati Multistrada. Roughly translated, the bike’s name means “many roads”—and that’s just what the popular “Multi” can do.
A superbike with a dirty mind, that’s the Ducati Multistrada. Roughly translated, the bike’s name means “many roads”—and that’s just what the popular “Multi” can do.Ducati

2003 Honda Africa Twin

Honoring the original Paris-Dakar rally that finished in western Africa from the 1970s to early 2000s, the V-twin Africa Twin has grown from its original 650cc XRV650 form to 750cc XRV750T, and then to the current literbike, the CRF1000L. Following our logic to grab the last of the previous generation bikes, the 2003 XRV750T commands attention with its rally styling with dual headlights, a huge skid plate, and fork and brake guards.

Think you can ride? Work up to this maneuver on a hefty Africa Twin and you’ve got our attention. The image proves that Honda’s ADV can, in fact, enable real adventuring.
Think you can ride? Work up to this maneuver on a hefty Africa Twin and you’ve got our attention. The image proves that Honda’s ADV can, in fact, enable real adventuring.Honda

2016 KTM 1190 Adventure

KTM has been at the V-twin ADV game since 2003, when the original 950 Adventure debuted. A Dakar-style bike for good reason, it followed the Austrian company’s first win in the world-famous race. In rapid-fire order, various 990, 1090, 1190, and 1290 Adventure, Adventure R, and Super Adventure models followed. The 2017 1090 Adventure R was stellar, winning Cycle World’s Best Adventure Bike honors. For a deal though, train your scope on a 2016 1190 Adventure.

Austria’s close to glaciers and fjords and stuff, right—or is that Austin or Australia? We get so confused… Regardless, this image fills the mind with just the kind of trip you can, in fact, take on a KTM ADV.
Austria’s close to glaciers and fjords and stuff, right—or is that Austin or Australia? We get so confused… Regardless, this image fills the mind with just the kind of trip you can, in fact, take on a KTM ADV.KTM

2016 Suzuki V-Strom 650

Following the debut of the big V-Strom 1000 by two years, the V-Strom 650 quickly gained a loyal following due to its lower price point, lighter weight and nimbler handling, lower insurance costs, and better fuel economy. For a lot of riders—including Iron Butt types—it actually became the bike of choice for commuting, touring, and vagabonding. An improved second-gen V-Strom 650 dropped for 2012 and then sunsetted in 2016, making way for the current V-Strom 650 XT. Grab a 2016 model for a song.

Why bother with a bagger or tussle with a tourer when you can do it all aboard a V-Strom 1000? Yes, there’s only slightly more ground clearance than an iguana’s, but aside from that, Suzuki’s grande ’Strom gets it on.
Why bother with a bagger or tussle with a tourer when you can do it all aboard a V-Strom 1000? Yes, there’s only slightly more ground clearance than an iguana’s, but aside from that, Suzuki’s grande ’Strom gets it on.Suzuki

2017 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC

The Tiger nameplate has enjoyed a long run at Triumph—more than 80 years. But most recently, the nomenclature defines the company’s ADV bikes, including the impressive three-cylinder Tiger Explorer XR and XC. Three “generations” define this nameplate: 1) 2011–’15; 2) 2016–’17; and 3) 2018–present. The changes are evolutionary rather than revolutionary. In our humble opinion, explore your way to a 2017 Explorer XC, which features off-pavement features such as spoked wheels.

Ted Simon circled the globe on a Triumph in the 1970s, and then wrote the book Jupiter’s Travels. Forty years later, and the Explorer is Triumph’s prepackaged equivalent ride.Triumph

2013 Yamaha Super Ténéré

A mere 30 years (!) after BMW launched its R80GS globe-trotter, Yamaha finally followed with a big ADV of its own, the Super Ténéré. Featuring an 1,199cc parallel twin instead of a boxer or V-twin layout made it unique, and at 575 pounds it was likewise a bit chunky for dirt work—named though it was for a region of the Sahara. The original Super Ténéré came to America as a 2012 model, and the Super Ténéré ES with electrically adjustable suspension followed for 2014. And so, for a “best deal,” look for a 2013 Super Ténéré—the last year before the upscale ES version arrived.

Yamaha launched the first made-for-America enduro bike, the DT-1, in 1968. Comparatively, the Super Ténéré is like SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft: Strap in and chase the horizon.
Yamaha launched the first made-for-America enduro bike, the DT-1, in 1968. Comparatively, the Super Ténéré is like SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft: Strap in and chase the horizon.Yamaha

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com

Peter Hickman confirms Yamaha for Supersport TT campaign

Hickman to race YZF-R6 in Supersport

Gloucester-based Smiths Racing and Peter Hickman have swapped their Supersport Triumph Peter HickmanDaytona 675 for a Yamaha YZF-R6 in 2020, adding the 600cc machine to their already confirmed plans for the Superbike, Superstock and Lightweight classes where they will campaign BMW S1000RR and Norton Superlight machinery respectively.

The team have enjoyed a long and successful period with the Triumph 675 including winning the British Supersport Championship on two occasions, with Australians Glen Richards and Billy McConnell, as well as taking Isle of Man Supersport TT race victories with Hickman and Gary Johnson. Hickman’s win in the second Supersport TT race of 2019 followed four successive podium finishes around the Mountain Course whilst he also took a hat-trick of wins last year at the Ulster Grand Prix.

IOMTT Supersport R Peter Hickman
Peter Hickman – Supersport TT 2019

However, due to the lack of new parts to update the Triumph compared to the new generation Yamaha, they have decided to switch to Yamaha power in 2020, with the R6 being a much more up-to-date machine as well is being a consistent race winner in both the British Supersport Championship and at the International road races.


Peter Hickman

“We’re all really looking forward to 2020 and having the official BMW support for the first time is a big thing for us as we’re a privately-run, small team so to get that recognition is absolutely fantastic and nothing short of what, I feel, the team deserves – what we’ve achieved over the last three years has been pretty epic! We’re also running the Norton Superlight and carrying out all of the development work on the 650 Superlight which the team have already got in pieces and set to work on to hopefully turn the bike into a race winner at the TT.

“Finally, we’ve made the decision to change from the Triumph to the Yamaha in the Supersport class for the International road races which will obviously be a bit different to the last three years. We’ve had an awesome time with the Triumph and it’s been absolutely brilliant with the win at last year’s TT and all three victories at the Ulster Grand Prix being phenomenal. The little Daytona has done a fantastic job but, unfortunately, it’s a little bit long in the tooth now so to try and move with the times and keep up with what everyone else is doing we’ve decided to move over to the Yamaha. I’ve never actually raced an R6 before so I’m really looking forward to jumping on it to see what we can do.”

Peter Hickman
Peter Hickman on the Triumph at the 2018 Supersport TT

The move completes their assembly of machinery for the 2020 season where they will be the official BMW-supported team for the International road races with Hickman again favourite for race honours in the Superbike and Superstock classes having been victorious at the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix last year.

The team will also contest the Lightweight races with Hickman riding the Norton 650 Superlight which debuted in 2019. Hickman and Smiths Racing took delivery of the bike before Christmas and will now spearhead the development of the machine as they look to build upon the 8th place and 120mph lap recorded at last year’s Isle of Man TT.

IoM TT Hickman ImgRichardSykes
Peter Hickman on the Norton in 2019 – Image by Richard Sykes

Hickman will also line-up for the team in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship where he will campaign the BMW S1000RR for a fourth successive season alongside team-mate Alex Olsen.


Darren Jones – Team Manager

“It wasn’t an easy decision for us to change from Triumph as they have been faultless in aiding us all the way through our roads campaign in 2019 but unfortunately, as the bike is no longer in production, we have been struggling to get the parts we need and feel like we are at the maximum when it comes to development. Therefore, 2020 will see us take on a fresh challenge and we feel that’s what’s needed to give Hicky a fighting chance. A big thanks to Steve at Raceways Yamaha for pulling out all the stops in getting us the R6 before Christmas, the boys have started already!

“That completes our machine line-up for the season ahead and with a year behind us with the BMW S1000RR and factory backing we are much better prepared than in 2019. The Norton project is another fresh challenge in the Lightweight class but our firm aim is to demonstrate the skill and experience of our team to turn this machine into a podium contender.”


Rebecca Smith – Team Principal

“We’ve enjoyed a wonderful journey with Triumph Motorcycles, having won two British Championships and two Isle of Man TTs. The support that they have shown us over the last seven years has been fantastic and for that we are extremely grateful. We now look forward to the new challenge with Yamaha and we are extremely hopeful of adding to our success already achieved in the Supersport division.”


GetRouted Shipping Europe Landscape
Experience Europe in 2021 on your own motorcycle! Contact Get Routed’s Dave Milligan on 03 5625 9080 for more information

Source: MCNews.com.au

Around the world with The Bear | Part Nine | India to Pakistan

Around the world with The Bear – Part Nine

The King of Every Kingdom – Around the world on a very small motorcycle

With J. Peter “The Bear” Thoeming


There was more to discover yet about India, and about XL250s if they’re not treated properly. In this instalment The Bear also heads to Pakistan.


Our stay with Paul’s family in Chandigarh was enjoyable – they were non-orthodox Sikhs, very middle class and very kind. We also had some more maintenance to do.

Charlie’s bike was still showing a slight oil leak at the head gasket and my shift drum stopper bolt had shorn through. A friend of Paul’s got his father to make us a new one out of surgical steel, far better than the old with a small ball bearing, and Paul’s brother JP arranged for me to go to the hospital and have a nasty boil on my arm lanced. You know, housekeeping.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
Share the road! This bloke kindly made room for us.

By the time we left, the local boys had become rather dissatisfied with their bikes. The Yezdis they were riding, locally built Jawas, lagged rather noticeably behind the Hondas in sophistication. We left them trying to devise a way of improving the rear suspensions to XL standards. The Grand Trunk Road swallowed us, on our way to Jammu and Kashmir.

At a truck stop on the main road we finally managed to get a really hot curry. Indians tend to be very solicitous of Europeans—they don’t believe we can eat their curries.

Should you attempt to order one you will usually be served a boiled egg on toast instead. In this case there was no option, they only had one pot. Charlie and I, being experienced curry consumers, amazed this lot by going back for second helpings.

Just before Jammu we found a back road that would cut a few miles off the run to Kashmir, and followed it up into the hills. We also found that Charlie’s engine was covered in oil … he’d done the tappets in Chandigarh and only finger-tightened some of the bolts. Then my clutch started to slip.

We still managed to enjoy the little back road, surrounded by fantastic cliffs carved out of the soft soil by rapid erosion. A bit dangerous, though. I can well imagine entire sections of roadway disappearing downhill in a rainstorm.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
Nuts, nuts and… more nuts at a night market.

Staying at the Green Hotel in Udampur seemed like a good idea at first, until we discovered that there was no water for showers or washing and the room next to ours was being used for a party by a crowd of very drunk Sikhs from a nearby army base.

Sikhs are not allowed to smoke, but boy do they drink… Charlie refused to pay more than half of the bill in the morning and read the riot act to the proprietor in a way I still admire today.

The road to Kashmir is rather like a badly tarred motocross track, and about as much fun, which is to say that we enjoyed it as long as there were no trucks trying to run us off the edge of the road. Sometimes there was a drop of hundreds of metres (I kid you not) straight down from the edge of the road to the river, and no safety barriers.

Some of the mudslides across the road had been here so long they had been given names, on little concrete markers. I suppose it’s easier than doing anything about them…. Just before we got to the 2.5km tunnel that leads to Kashmir we passed a military convoy of well over a hundred trucks.

The tunnel itself is a nightmare with very poor orange lighting, no reflectors and icy drips from the ceiling. Remember we were on XLs, with their notoriously dim headlights.

Kashmir is a beautiful place and it’s easy to see how it gave rise to the legend of Shangri-La, the paradise high in the Himalayas. Everything is green, there are majestic poplars lining the roads and the ground seems to ooze fertility. It has its problems, though, for the visitor. Kashmir is a holiday resort for thousands of people from India and is set up accordingly.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
Outside Aruga the Robber’s shop in Kashmir. We had some clothes made here.

The touts trying to sell you souvenirs, a hotel room, a bed on a houseboat or leather clothing can become very trying. They nearly threw themselves under the wheels of the bikes, business cards clutched in their hands, when they saw us coming. Ignoring them, we stayed in the faded Victorian splendour of Houseboat Golden Rod, our every wish catered for. Well, nearly.

The Mughal gardens and floating palaces are worth seeing and shopping is good. We had some leather clothes made by Aruga The Robber (his shop sign) very cheaply, but alas not very well.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
That’s Aruga the Robber himself, on the left. The clothes weren’t very good.

The road up is also the road down. We played chicken with another military convoy, buzzed through the heavily fortified town of Jammu— it’s near the Pakistani border—and back out onto the plain. A South African bloke we met was travelling on a Dutch passport because South Africans weren’t allowed to enter India.

He had a two-day-old Indian Enfield 350 with which he’d covered 200km. In that distance he had broken the throttle and front brake cables as well as losing the battery cover and the bolt holding the exhaust in place. He didn’t think that was bad, and anyway there were bike repair shops everywhere.

It would have been an understatement to say that we were hot, and we attempted to order a couple of bottles of beer that night to go with our dinner. The waiter waggled his head and indicated that this was in fact a “dry day”. A number of Indian states have various kinds of prohibition, and we were unable to buy beer.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
One of Aruga’s workers. These blokes were a lot more cheerful than he looks.

In at least one state you have to register as an alcoholic to get a drink at all. “Strictly for medicinal purposes…”

I looked the waiter in the eye and said, very slowly and with minimal inflection, ‘I don’t think you heard me. We would like two bottles of beer…’ He folded and sent the eighty-year old ‘boy’ out for the amber nectar. When he returned and placed the bottles on the warm marble tabletop, they were so cold that one exploded. He shrieked and ran and we made do with one bottle.

There was an enormous crowd around when we loaded the bikes up in the morning. In a country of crowds, where foreigners seem to draw them like honey does bees, you get used to them. This one was extraordinary though—commerce ceased all over town as everyone watched us. We had to deliberately tread on people’s toes to get to the bikes. It was scary, even though there wasn’t the slightest feeling of hostility.

A little later, the skies opened and the monsoon proper had begun. Within a few minutes the carriageway was 15 to 20 cm deep in water—muddy water. This meant that not only was the rain obscuring our sight of the way ahead but the potholes were invisible too.

In the Amritsar Youth Hostel we met Jajime, a Japanese chap who’d ridden a Yamaha DT125 from Calcutta to Kayseri in Turkey and was now on his way back. He thought the DT was ‘perhaps a little slow for the long roads’.

While in Amritsar we duly admired the Golden Temple, spiritual home of the Sikhs. One distinguished-looking gentleman took my hand at the entrance to the temple, squeezed it and pushed a Sikh bangle over the hand onto my wrist. He charged me a rupee for it, which I thought was reasonable seeing it’s stainless steel and can be used as a crown seal bottle opener. It is still on my wrist after 40 years.

We then headed for the Pakistani border. On the way, I swerved to miss an elderly gent on a bicycle and fell over. My chain came off and the inevitable crowd gathered while we replaced it.

Around the world with The Bear Peter Thoeming Part
Charlie takes a hit from a water pipe. Just tobacco

Charlie finally lost his temper and hit a young bloke who obstinately kept getting in his way. Not very hard, but I was concerned how the crowd would take it. They fell about laughing.

We crossed the border at the same time as an unbelievably well equipped party of British Army mountaineers. They were Royal Engineers returning after a few months in the Himalayas on full pay.

Could it be that there’s something to be said for the army after all? Indian Customs and immigration processed us politely, though not promptly – they weren’t together enough for that – while they bossed a motley crowd of hippies around rather brusquely. The Border Safari Suit Ploy works again!


Did you know that you can bribe your way through a border with a pen? Find out all about it next instalment.

Source: MCNews.com.au