motorsports

Launch of Honda CB750 & Dick Mann at AMA Daytona 200-Mile Race

General Posts / By

by Todd Halterman from https://www.autoevolution.com On Twitter by Honda Powersports: Monday’s passing of Dick “Bugsy” Mann, American Honda sends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans. Mann’s 1970 Daytona 200 win aboard the CR750 (the racing version of the CB750 four-cylinder) was momentous in Honda’s history Thank you, Dick, and godspeed. The Honda CB750 Changed the Way Motorcycles Were Made, Raced and Sold Though now highly prized for their potential as re-imagined cafe racer machines, the venerable Honda CB750 was – back in its infancy – the bike that changed the game. So how did it happen that the Japanese took over the worldwide motorcycle manufacturing industry? To a large extent, it came down to the creation of a single model. With five consecutive championship titles under their belts, Honda decided to withdraw from the World GP circuit in 1967 with a plan to develop high-performance consumer motorcycles at the forefront of their vision. While Honda exported more than half of their output back in the mid-’60s, they didn’t make a large-displacement sport bike model which would appeal to the hardcore rider in the U.S. And it’s not like the honchos at Honda failed to notice that glaring deficiency. Sales of Honda motorcycles in America were flagging in 1966, and the company knew a brand-new worldview was in order. While the company had created the Dream CB450 in 1965, they were still being outgunned by big bikes from other makers. The CB450 sold well, but for the vast majority of American riders, it just didn’t have the requisite zing and bottom-end torque they craved. What really drove Yoshiro Harada, the head of Honda product development at the time, was hearing the news that Britain’s Triumph was deep in the development process of a high-performance, 3-cylinder 750 cc engine. […]

Launch of Honda CB750 & Dick Mann at AMA Daytona 200-Mile Race Read More »

Champions Strut at the XDA Season Finale

General Posts / By

Champions Strut at the XDA Season Finale XDA’s fourth season has been another success with the 29th annual DME Racing Fall Nationals, crowning twelve champions at Maryland International Raceway (MDIR).  The season featured top-tier motorcycle drag racing action that can’t be seen anywhere else. And while the on-track action was hot, the racers’ payouts were hotter, with over $560,000 for the year and $131,000 in contingency offerings. The 2021 season also saw records broken and performance barriers pushed to new levels. And because of the loyal XDA racers and fans, the series continued to grow and thrive during a time that is unpredictable month to month. XDA is looking forward to another successful season next year with their racing family. The 2022 XDA season will begin where 2021 ended, at the world-renown Maryland International Raceway on April 22-24 for the Platinum Fleet Repair Spring Nationals. Mark your 2022 calendars now to race with the quickest and fastest sanction in the country! April 22-24 / PFR Spring Nationals / MDIR May 20-22 / MTC Engineering Summer Nationals / VMP June 17-19 / FuelTech Superbike Showdown / MDIR July 22-24 / WPGC Bike Fest / MDIR August 26-28 / Bike Bash / VMP September 23-25 / DME Racing Fall Nationals / MDIR Orient Express Racing Pro Street Winner – Rodney Williford / Runner-up – Jordan Haase Champion – Rodney Williford The Orient Express Pro Street class is the most exciting class to watch in all of motorcycle drag racing. With no wheelie bars, these 6-second, 230+mph motorcycles are launching like missiles as their riders fight to keep them straight through the quarter mile. This past weekend delivered numerous personal improvements among the class. Rodney Williford came into the DME Racing Fall Nationals with the championship title already locked down. He went right

Champions Strut at the XDA Season Finale Read More »

Political Agendas on Electrical Vehicles Charge Up Emotions

General Posts / By

by Colby Martin from SEMA Action Network (SAN) at https://www.semasan.com GROUNDING THE “EV” BUZZ Political Agendas Surrounding Automobiles Charge Up Strong Emotions The impending arrival of electric cars and trucks has caused quite a stir. Sure, everyone shares the well-intentioned notion of a healthier environment. But constant announcements about the potential phasing out of new gas-powered vehicles have enthusiasts worried about the future of the hobby. Thanks in part to a 24-hour news-cycle, the automotive-minded are forced to ponder this great unknown with greater frequency. With the topic weighing heavier on many minds, the question arises: what’s to become of the tailpipe—and when? Clearly there are crossed wires needing to be untangled. Acronym Soup First, we must understand the common lingo used in automotive discussions. The gasoline-sipping internal combustion engine (ICE) has long been the motivator of choice. However, the low- and zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) categories have emerged and made significant improvements in recent years. There are several different models of these cars and trucks such as electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids, and those running on hydrogen fuel-cells. With such competition, it may seem like traditional rides could have a tougher existence in a yet-uncertain future of alternative powerplants. Government Directives The latest update in the automotive world came from the nation’s top office: the Biden Administration. President Joe Biden signed the “Executive Order on Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks” in August. In short, the measure calls for 50% of all sales of new cars and light trucks in the US be ZEV by the year 2030. “It is the policy of my Administration to advance these objectives in order to improve our economy and public health, boost energy security, secure consumer savings, advance environmental justice, and address the climate crisis,” said President Biden. Biden’s action was

Political Agendas on Electrical Vehicles Charge Up Emotions Read More »

Fossil Fuel Bikernet Weekly News for October 14th, 2021

General Posts / By

It’s All Good and Packed with Info We are living in the absolute best of times. Let’s ride free forever. Never a dull moment, but it’s all a positive adventure. Even fixing stupid shit, is a positive endeavor and keeping me from thinking about building another motorcycle. There’s always something going on in Deadwood. If it has to do with whiskey, I’m in. Let’s hit it. –Bandit Click Here to Read the Weekly News only on Bikernet.com Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

Fossil Fuel Bikernet Weekly News for October 14th, 2021 Read More »

Rare Suzuki at Bonhams Auction to fetch £35,000

General Posts / By

by Rob Hull from https://www.dailymail.co.uk A 34-year-old motorcycle with just TWO ‘Push Miles’ on the clock: Rare Suzuki road bike that’s never been ridden is tipped to sell for £35,000 The Suzuki RG500 Gamma is an ultra-rare two-stroke road bike from the 1980s It’s based on the factory 500cc Grand Prix racers of the era that won two titles This example has never been ridden with its two recorded miles accrued while being manoeuvred during storage Bonhams will sell it at auction this weekend with an estimate of £30k to £35k A late eighties Suzuki RG500 motorcycle is set to go under the hammer this weekend with an astonishingly low number of miles clocked in its 34 years – and none of them came from it being driven. The two-stroke road-going replica of the factory Grand Prix race machines of the era is already a hugely collectible motorbike today – but this particular example stands out for having just two miles on the clock. Bonhams, which is offering the bike at its 9 October sale at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show in Stafford, says these are ‘push miles’ only, accrued by owners moving the bike around by hand – meaning it’s never actually been ridden. The auction house has estimated that the motorcycle could sell for between £30,000 and £35,000 – though its like-new condition and lack of use could see it easily eclipse that valuation when bidding commences on Saturday. Bonhams says it represents ‘a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire an unused and unregistered example of this iconic Suzuki model’. The RG500 ‘Gamma’ was only produced by the Japanese motorcycle brand for two years between 1985 and 1987 and was heavily based on the racing machine used by its factory team. And it was a title-winning package, with Italians

Rare Suzuki at Bonhams Auction to fetch £35,000 Read More »

The Flying Wrens: Sisterhood of Motorcycling Heroes

General Posts / By

All-Female British dispatch riders of WW-II Originally, the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) was formed in 1917, during WW-I. Riding on narrow British roads in all weather conditions can be a dangerous enough occupation. Doing so around the clock during WW-II with the German Blitz going on around you required steel nerves. The bikes used were mostly small, single-cylinder affairs, built specifically for military use. Click Here to Read this Feature Article & Historic Photos on Bikernet.com Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

The Flying Wrens: Sisterhood of Motorcycling Heroes Read More »

Vance & Hines Launches Exhaust for BMW R1250 GS Motorcycles

General Posts / By

Vance & Hines Launches Exhaust for BMW R1250 GS Motorcycles and Announces New Proving Grounds Facility in Mojave Desert Santa Fe Springs CA – October 1, 2021 – Vance & Hines, America’s premier manufacturer of motorcycle performance equipment, today introduced its first exhaust product for BMW R 1250 GS and GS Adventure motorcycles. In addition, the company announced the opening of a new Off-Road Proving Grounds in the Mojave Desert. The exhaust for BMW adventure touring motorcycles (ADV) is the company’s second product in this category, following the recent announcement of an exhaust designed for the new Harley-Davidson Pan America. The Vance & Hines Hi-Output Adventure 500 is the largest capacity exhaust ever made by Vance & Hines, manufactured with a 5-inch diameter, high-grade, 304 stainless steel tube. The system features a brushed, works-style finish, a CNC-machined, billet aluminum endcap, black heat shield, stainless mid-pipe, spring clip assembly, and Vance & Hines new adventure badging, while having a lower weight than the stock exhaust. The stepped exhaust delivers smooth tractable torque throughout the powerband. The glass-wrapped, perforated baffle core design delivers a rich, smooth rumble while still meeting SAE J2825 sound level standards. In addition, the system is 50-state emissions compliant. The Hi-Output Adventure 500 will be shown to riders at the BMW Motorad GS Trophy Qualifier USA West this week. The challenge is one of two US qualifying events to select riders to compete in the International GS Trophy 2022, the ultimate adventure riding skills competition in Albania next year. Vance & Hines staff will help support the event which is at RawHyde Adventures in Castaic, California. “BMW riders are the core of the ADV bike world and we know they will love this new Vance & Hines exhaust,” said Mike Kennedy, president of Vance & Hines. “More performance,

Vance & Hines Launches Exhaust for BMW R1250 GS Motorcycles Read More »

Vance & Hines Adventure Hi-Output 450 Exhaust for H-D Pan America

General Posts / By

by Silvian Secara from https://www.autoevolution.com It certainly looks great on a technical level, but just wait ‘til you hear the way it sounds. With its drool-worthy design and brutal power output figures, the Harley-Davidson Pan America is an absolute legend straight out of the box. Its 1,252cc Revolution Max V-twin is capable of producing as much as 150 hp at 9,000 spins per minute, along with 94 pound-feet (128 Nm) of feral twist lower down the rpm range. Needless to say, Milwaukee’s mighty adventure bike isn’t messing around, alright? However, riders will always be looking for ways to improve their beloved machines, regardless of how sensational the stock motorcycle might be. For instance, replacing a two-wheeler’s standard exhaust system with a high-grade aftermarket alternative is not only going to extract some additional oomph from its engine, but it will also make your two-wheeler sound even more thrilling. If you happen to be the happy owner of a Pan America, you’ll definitely want to hear about the latest plumbing solution from Vance & Hines! To be more specific, we’re talking about the Adventure Hi-Output 450 – a complete stainless-steel exhaust that’s six pounds (2.7 kg) lighter than Harley’s original module. When equipped with the Hi-Output setup, the bike’s liquid-cooled V-twin engine will go about delivering an additional 5 hp at the rear wheel, along with 5 pound-feet (6.8 Nm) of extra torque. Vance & Hines’ premium pipes are compliant with emission standards in all 50 states, as well as SAE’s J2825 noise regulations. The muffler – which sports a CNC-machined billet aluminum end cap – is also compatible with Harley-Davidson’s factory center stand and saddlebags, while the exhaust headers improve boot clearance for the rider. Finally, the aptly named Adventure Hi-Output 450 is priced at $599.99, and it can be ordered

Vance & Hines Adventure Hi-Output 450 Exhaust for H-D Pan America Read More »

Behind the Scenes with Triumph Motorcycles in latest James Bond Adventure

General Posts / By

by Todd Halterman from https://www.autoevolution.com As the only motorcycle partner in the latest Bond film, No Time to Die, Triumph got their Tiger 900 and Scrambler 1200 motorcycles featured in key stunt scenes of the motion picture. Now you can take a closer look at the bikes and how those epic stunts were filmed in this exclusive behind-the-scenes video from Triumph. While the novelty of the Bond films may be wearing off slightly, they always manage to come up with something fresh and over the top. This time around Triumph Motorcycles took on some amazing terrain and situations while stunt riders pushed their Triumph Tiger 900 and Scrambler 1200 to their absolute. Over the years a wide range of Triumph motorcycles has been used by the Bond stunt teams to perform all sorts of daring and outrageous moves. This time around, the British bike maker – long a player in the iconic movie franchise – supplied Tiger 900s and Scrambler 1200s. Triumph recently announced that the launch of the Tiger 900 Bond Edition, would be limited to just 250 units and go on sale at an undisclosed date. These models feature Matt Sapphire Black paint, special Bond graphics and feature a billet machined handlebar clamp to display a unique limited edition number. All five 900 models shared core changes for 2020 including those to the engine, chassis, suspension, brakes, and electronics. The DOHC, 4-valve-per-cylinder, Euro 5-spec in-line triple, has been bored out and features a new “T-plane” triple crankshaft – a first in engine design – and a new firing order that bestows the triple with V-twin-like character down low while maintaining top-end power. The Tiger 1200 Scrambler features the 1,215cc Tiger triple engine which represents the most powerful shaft-driven engine in its class. This time-tested powerplant cranks out 139hp

Behind the Scenes with Triumph Motorcycles in latest James Bond Adventure Read More »

Scroll to Top