Tag Archives: News

Harley-Davidson’s Fat Boy Cruiser Turns 30

“The Fat Boy took the look, proportions, and silhouette of a 1949 Hydra-Glide motorcycle and completely modernized it for a new generation of riders,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Styling and Design, in a company press release. “Those riders appreciated our post-war design DNA, but also found themselves drawn to the clean simplicity of contemporary industrial design. Each of these elements was captured in the new 2018 version of the Fat Boy model. For this 30th Anniversary model we wanted to create something very special, so we leaned into the popularity of darker finishes and a limited run/serialized strategy to make the bike truly unique and exclusive.”

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com

MXD rookie Larwood working under guidance of Beaton

News 6 Feb 2020

MXD rookie Larwood working under guidance of Beaton

South Australian relocates to Victoria ahead of debut season.

Image: Foremost Media.

WBR Yamaha newcomer Alex Larwood has relocated to Victoria to work under the guidance of renowned rider coach Ross Beaton ahead of his rookie MXD campaign in the MX Nationals.

A number of title contenders have worked with the former professional racer over the years, with MX2 runner-up Kyle Webster (Penrite Honda Racing) and reigning AORC E2 champion Daniel Milner (KTM Enduro Racing Team) currently involved in his program.

South Australian Larwood, who made a surprise pro debut at last year’s AUS-X Open Melbourne, is taking advantage of his highly-experienced training partners in the lead up to round one, where he hopes to immediately establish himself as a championship favourite.

“I’m actually down at Ross Beaton’s in Victoria,” Larwood told MotoOnline.com.au. “I’ve worked on and off with him for the last couple of years, and there’s no point in me being in South Australia because I don’t really have anyone to ride with. Ross always has a bunch of guys here, so it’s better to be down here in Victoria with Ross.

“I’m riding with guys like Kyle Webster, Daniel Milner and Campbell Williams, and just a bunch of other good guys that ride on the daily with him. It’s pretty good – I can gauge myself off Webster and Milner – even though he does enduro, he’s still bloody fast at motocross. I can chase them around the track and with Ross on the pit board, I can really improve.”

The opening round of the MX Nationals is scheduled for 4-5 April at Horsham in Victoria.

Source: MotoOnline.com.au

MotoE World Cup pre-season tests confirmed

News 6 Feb 2020

MotoE World Cup pre-season tests confirmed

Two three-day tests scheduled to take place in Jerez.

Image: Supplied.

A pair of pre-season tests have been confirmed for the 2020 FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, which are both set to be staged at Jerez.

Seven races and five events, including two double headers, will make up the second season of the MotoE World Cup, while both pre-season tests will be three-day events.

As in 2019, the final day of pre-season testing will feature a full-length race simulation. This season, that will therefore take place on the 10th of April, less than a month before the lights go out at Jerez for round one on 1-3 May.

MotoE World Cup pre-season testing calendar:
Test one – 10-12 March – Jerez
Test two – 8-10 April – Jerez

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Roczen cleared of serious injury ahead of San Diego Supercross

News 6 Feb 2020

Roczen cleared of serious injury ahead of San Diego Supercross

Premier class points leader completing therapy in the lead up to round six.

Image: Octopi Media.

Red plate holder Ken Roczen has been cleared of a serious foot injury ahead of San Diego’s sixth round of Monster Energy Supercross this weekend.

The Team Honda HRC rider suffered an impact to his right foot after reigning champion Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) made contact with him at the final turn in Oakland for second position, leaving the German ace hobbling from his CRF450R after crossing the chequered flag.

The number 94 underwent scans earlier this week, where it was determined no serious damage was sustained in the incident despite experiencing ongoing swelling and pain.

“Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen is ready to rock for San Diego,” read a statement for Honda Racing. “He had his right foot checked out on Monday following the Oakland SX and was given the green light that there was no serious damage. He’s been doing therapy throughout the week to alleviate swelling and pain. He rode today and was feeling great.”

Roczen holds down a three-point advantage over Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac.

Source: MotoOnline.com.au

WorldSBK determines rev limits for 2020 season

Image: Supplied.

The Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) has determined the initial rev limits set for 2020 as the all-new Honda Fireblade and updated Yamaha YZF-R1 are rolled out this season.

The performance balancing algorithm has been used to determine the RPM of each of the five manufacturers and their respected models. The performances are based on the final three rounds of the 2019 season.

The 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R (SP) Fireblade with its all-new engine has a limit based on the maximum rpm of the homologated street machine, while the 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1M with its engine incrementally revised for EU4 legislation has a rev limit based on the performance balancing algorithm following the 2019 season.

The championship-winning Kawasaki ZX-10RR has been capped at 14,600rpm, with the Ducati Panigale V4 R coming in at 16,100rpm and the Yamaha YZF-R1 at 14,950rpm. The BMW S 1000 RR is set to 14,950rpm and the new 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R at 15,600rpm.

The opening round of the 2020 WorldSBK season kicks off on 27 February-1 March at Phillip Island.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

2020 Indian Challenger

2020 Indian Challenger left side2020 Indian ChallengerIndian Motorcycle

With the introduction of the 2020 Challenger, Indian has made no bones about its intended target: Harley-Davidson’s Road Glide. The Challenger enters the arena with an all-new 60-degree V-twin, a six-speed transmission, and a suite of electronic rider aids. On the Cycle World dynamometer, the liquid-cooled, solid-mounted PowerPlus 108 engine cranked out more horsepower and torque than a 114ci Road Glide Special. And on the street, the PowerPlus delivers right-now acceleration with less engine heat funneled to the rider. A snout-nosed fixed fairing is perhaps the Challenger’s defining aesthetic feature, with standard touring goodies—adjustable windshield, locking saddlebags, electronic cruise control, three ride modes—going a long way toward sealing the deal.

2020 Indian Challenger Limited right front2020 Indian Challenger LimitedIndian Motorcycle

Three trim levels are available: Challenger, Challenger Dark Horse, and Challenger Limited. The base model ditches navigation but keeps antilock braking. Dark Horse and Limited bring Indian’s “Smart Lean Technology,” which uses a Bosch IMU to enable cornering ABS and traction control as well as Drag Torque Control. “The Challenger strikes an excellent balance between engine performance and chassis precision,” Andrew Cherney wrote after riding the Challenger Limited, “with the added benefit of well-calibrated electronics capped off with pleasing ergonomics.”

2020 Indian Challenger Dark Horse right side2020 Indian Challenger Dark HorseIndian Motorcycle

2020 Indian Challenger Reviews, Comparisons, And Competition

Manufacturer Claimed Specifications

Price $21,999–$27,999
Engine Liquid-cooled SOHC two-cylinder
Displacement 1,768cc
Bore x Stroke 108.0mm x 96.5mm
Horsepower 122.0 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Torque 128.8 lb.-ft. @ 3,800 rpm
Transmission 6-speed
Final Drive Belt
Seat Height 26.5 in.
Rake 25.0°
Trail 5.9 in.
Front Suspension 43mm inverted fork, nonadjustable; 5.1-in. travel
Rear Suspension Preload adjustable; 4.5-in. travel
Front Tire 130/60-19
Rear Tire 180/60-16
Wheelbase 65.7 in.
Fuel Capacity 6.0 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight 831 lb.

Cycle World Tested Specifications

Seat Height 29.0 in.
Wet Weight 839 lb.
Rear-Wheel Horsepower 103.11 hp @ 5,560 rpm
Rear-Wheel Torque 113.08 lb.-ft. @ 3,330 rpm
0–60 mph 4.1 sec.
1/4-mile 12.72 sec. @ 105.51 mph
Braking 30–0 mph 33.4 ft.
Braking 60–0 mph 127.4 ft.

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com

2020 Ducati MotoGP Team Revealed

“Racing is and has always been a fundamental part of our company, even in such a particularly complicated era where technology is drastically changing our surroundings,” explains Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Motor Holding CEO. “In order to succeed in this situation, it is necessary to keep investing in research and development and racing is a crucial part of our commitment to this. If we sum the R&D done for the production line, for racing, and the assets needed to produce new models, the global Ducati R&D is worth more than 10 percent of the revenue.

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com

Mellross feels ‘at home’ after initial laps aboard CDR Yamaha YZ450F

News 5 Feb 2020

Mellross feels ‘at home’ after initial laps aboard CDR Yamaha YZ450F

New South Welshman returns to the track after knee surgery.

Image: Foremost Media.

MX1 title contender Hayden Mellross says he feels at home aboard the YZ450F after completing his initial laps aboard the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy machine this week, marking his first time on the bike since undergoing knee surgery in August 2019.

The New South Welshman is no stranger to the brand, having completed a number of seasons aboard Yamaha equipment in America and in Australia, which brings a sense familiarity in just the early days of his transition from KTM.

Mellross, who signed a two-year deal with the powerhouse CDR squad, commented on the user-friendliness of the YZ450F, which he admits took him by surprise.

“I jumped back on the bike this week and got straight into training,” Mellross told MotoOnline.com.au. “I was really surprised – my initial thought on the bike was how easy the CDR Yamaha is to ride. I was extremely happy about that, and I gelled with it really well.

“I’ve spent a lot of years on Yamaha, majority of the time it was on a 250, although I did spend 12 months on a Yamaha 450. It is a familiar bike to me, so coming back to it – and even though I’m on a factory-backed bike here – it does feel like home. It’s a very comfortable bike that I can gel with.

“On top of that, all of my off the bike training that I’ve been pushing hard with over the last couple of months seems to really be paying off – my base fitness and cardio on the bike seems to be miles ahead of where I thought I was going to be.”

It’s understood the 24-year-old is planning to contest a selection of pre-season races throughout March in the lead-up to Horsham’s opening round of the MX Nationals on 4-5 April.

Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Yamaha characteristics still the same declares Lorenzo

News 5 Feb 2020

Yamaha characteristics still the same declares Lorenzo

Multi-time world champion returns to the brand Sepang shakedown test.

Image: Supplied.

Recently retired Jorge Lorenzo says the Yamaha YZR-M1’s characteristics are still the same after making his return to the manufacturer a the Sepang MotoGP shakedown test, the multi-time world champion admitting he was concerned they would be worse prior to stepping aboard the motorcycle in Malaysia.

The Spaniard, who earned three world titles with Yamaha in the premier class, seemingly adapted quickly to the M1 as he completed 46 laps, setting a time similar to that of his qualifying lap at the venue in 2019 on the Repsol Honda RC213V.

Lorenzo mentioned the initial laps were emotional, although he found comfort in the bike’s characteristics being familiar to what brought him so much success in his decorated career.

“It was a very emotional day, because after three years, I’ve come back to Yamaha as a test rider for the team,” Lorenzo commented. “The Yamaha made me very excited coming here, and the first laps were emotional. Suddenly I could feel the characteristics of the bike didn’t change too much, so this was very positive because I was afraid the characteristics could be worse – the bike is very competitive already. It has a lot of potential, and we already have some ideas for the future.

“My physical condition was okay – I didn’t have pain on the bike, the bike wasn’t physical, so it was a very satisfying day. Obviously, I still need more laps to understand the best way to take the bike.”

It’s not yet clear if Lorenzo will be out on track at the official pre-season test this week in Malaysia.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

MotoGP shakedown test wraps up in Sepang

News 5 Feb 2020

MotoGP shakedown test wraps up in Sepang

Test riders and selection of MotoGP regulars take to the Malaysian circuit.

Image: Supplied.

The three-day MotoGP World Championship shakedown test has finished in Sepang, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol Esparagro topping the unofficial times on the final day.

KTM riders took a clean sweep at the shakedown test, where MotoGP Legend and factory test rider Dani Pedrosa went quickest on the opening two days. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) had a positive day too as he returns to riding following his late 2019 surgery, while Mika Kallio took over testing duties from Pedrosa on the final day.

Stealing headlines was the return of the recently retired Jorge Lorenzo in his new role as a test rider for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, the multi-time world champion completing 46 laps while setting a similar time to his 2019 qualifying lap at the Malaysian circuit aboard the Repsol Honda.

Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro got his first taste of the 2020 RS-GP after test rider Bradley Smith had taken the new model for an initial two-day spin on Sunday and Monday, while factory test riders Michele Pirro (Ducati Team) and Sylvain Guintoli (Team Suzuki Ecstar) completed their third-straight day of testing at Sepang.

Rookies Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) continued their adaptation to the premier class, as Alex Marquez was absent on day three to attend the 2020 Repsol Honda team launch in Indonesia. The full MotoGP grid will hit the Malaysian circuit on 7-9 February for the official pre-season test.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au