Asphalt & Rubber » Asphalt & Rubber

Photos: Mugen Shinden Caught Naked & Testing

Jensen Beeler — Sun, 27 May 2012 01:41:08 +0000

The 2012 SES TT Zero may not exactly be the talk of the TT paddock right now (Conor Cummins’ broken hand is still all the buzz here at the Isle of Man), but if you casually ask those familiar with one of motorcycling’s finest traditions, the Honda Mugen Shinden is a strong favorite to win this year’s premier electric motorcycle race. You would be hard pressed to find either Mugen or Honda willing to admit Big ...

Honda CBR600F LCR Edition – Stefan Bradl’s Race Replica

Jensen Beeler — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:40:51 +0000

In Germany, and other European markets, the Honda CBR600F is offered alongside the venerable Honda CBR600RR, as a lower-cost and more affordable sport bike alternative to Big Red’s race-bred supersport machine. Zie Germans are a practical lot after all, and they also happen to be quite thrilled that native Stefan Bradl is now racing in the premier class of motorcycle racing, and doing quite well we might add with the LCR Honda squad. Getting their ...

Harley-Davidson Swept Away During Japanese Tsunami is Headed to H-D Museum After Owner Refuses Its Return

Jensen Beeler — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:47:26 +0000

It has been a month since we first reported about the Harley-Davidson motorcycle that washed up on Canadian soil, which was the first major piece of debris to hit North American soil from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Remarkable in its own right, the American-made motorcycle was being stored in the back of box truck before the earthquake, and during the tsunami, the box separated from the vehicle and ended up floating across the Pacific ...

A Prologue to the 2012 Isle of Man TT

Jensen Beeler — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:43:22 +0000

For those who have never attended, the Isle of Man TT is truly a special race. I will concede the point that saying that the TT is merely “a special race” is a bit trite, as there is so much that encompasses the full experience one gets during the TT fortnight, that it becomes hard to explain to someone who has never attended the TT, even veteran motorcycle race journalists, what it is that makes ...

2014 Suzuki GSV-R Spotted – The Inline-Four Cometh?

Jensen Beeler — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:39:28 +0000

The eagle-eyed camera’s over at Cycle World have caught Suzuki conducting tests for its MotoGP project, and the early indications are that the Japanese brand has dropped its V4 motor configuration in favor of a more traditional transverse inline-four cylinder arrangement — at least for this present stage of testing. Cycle World‘s sources say that while the cylinder configuration may be fairly standard, the 2014 Suzuki GSV-R is anything but your typical four-pot. Showing the ...

IOMTT: Kawasaki-Zytek ZX10ev Breaks Cover with 134hp, Six-Speed Gearbox, & Kawasaki Motors UK

Jensen Beeler — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:29:49 +0000

With Honda’s electric motorcycle racing effort thinly disguised as the Mugen Shinden and getting a tremendous amount of attention, the motorcycle racing press missed the very subtle joint-entry by Zytek Automotive and Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing into the 2012 TT Zero. Already incorporating one of the most advanced technology groups in electric and hybrid automotive technology, as well as one of the top Isle of Man TT racing teams, the Kawasaki-Zytek ZX10ev race bike also benefits from another ...

Trackside: How Soon We Forget

Scott Jones — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:37:48 +0000

All last season, and for the first three races of 2012, when I’ve walked past the Ducati garage and looked in at Rossi’s side, watching for an interesting moment to photograph, I’ve seen pretty much the same thing: Immensely talented people looking immensely frustrated. I stand there for a moment and think, I’ve already taken this photo, many times. When are things going to change in there? Things changed this weekend at Le Mans. But ...

Who is the World’s Third Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer?

Jensen Beeler — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:57:05 +0000

Let’s play a game for a minute. Who is the third largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world? One of the Big Four maybe (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, & Yamaha), that is after all what their name implies, right? Maybe you think it is a European manufacturer, like BMW or Triumph? If these were any of your answers, thank you for playing, but please try again. With Japanese manufacturers closing their books on the 2011 fiscal year, ...

2012 Triumph Daytona 675 Sulphur Yellow

Jensen Beeler — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:36:20 +0000

The current generation Triumph Daytona 675 is at the end of its lifecycle, as a new three-cylinder supersport is expected to debut from the British brand later this fall. Accordingly, Triumph is keen on clearing out its inventory of Daytona’s, and has put together the 2012 Triumph Daytona 675 Sulphur Yellow (note the very British -ph spelling). As the name denotes, the bike is a bright yellow (just like the element sulfur, note: the freedom ...

Sunday Summary at Le Mans: Head & Heart

David Emmett — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:01:09 +0000

Funny how things turn out. On a weekend that looked like being overshadowed by one subject – Casey Stoner’s shock retirement announcement and its repercussions – along came the rain and provided spectacle to cheer the hearts of racing fans of every persuasion. Rain offers new opportunities, and such opportunities light a fire in the breasts of racers being kept from running at the front under ordinary circumstances. At the same time, should that fire ...