sports

Aprilia Tuono V4 Review

by Geoff Hill from https://www.mirror.co.uk Big bikes don’t come with big scares any more Back in the day, powerful bikes were thrilling and terrifying, but this naked Italian beauty has all the thrills and none of the terror thanks to a brain that works faster than the rider’s. Well, Geoff’s, although that’s not saying much. I started doing bike tests in 1846, before bikes were even invented, so I just sat on a fence making bike noises, then hauled out a quill pen and a sheet of parchment and sent in my review to Velocipede Monthly on a passing donkey. When bikes finally came along, I remember being simultaneously thrilled and terrified by some superbikes, such as the Kawasaki ZX-10R. You got the feeling that at any moment it would fling you over the hedge, leaving you draped over a baffled cow called Gertrude, although it did get less frisky when Kawasaki fitted a steering damper to later models. However, I realised at the launch a while back on the Suzuki Hayabusa that I wasn’t a bit scared. There are several possible explanations for this. Either I’ve taken on board the advice I read from a psychiatrist recently that fear and excitement are just two sides of the same coin in your brain, so when you feel afraid, pretend it’s excitement. I tried it on my first time back flying after lockdown, and it worked. Another alternative is that I have become an astonishingly skilled rider, but since that’s highly unlikely, I suspect the answer is that bikes today such as this one are fitted with so many safety features that you’d need to be a complete idiot to end up draped over Gertrude. I’m talking about cornering ABS, cornering traction control, anti-wheelie control, launch control, adaptive cruise control and […]

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Ducati Panigale V2 Bayliss 1st Championship 20th Anniversary Honors a Legend

by Sebastian Toma from https://www.autoevolution.com Ducati is celebrating 20 years since Troy Bayliss won his first World Superbike championship. A special edition of the Panigale V2 has been made, and it comes with several goodies on top of the regular model. It had to be painted red, and Bayliss’s race number is also on the special edition Panigale, which also features graphics inspired by the 2001 championship-winning bike. The special edition of the Panigale V2 ditches the stock Showa and Sachs suspension system in favor of an Öhlins kit. The front is taken care of with the NX30 fork, while the rear is kept under control with the TTX36. Öhlins’ influence on this bike does not end here, as the Swedes also make the steering damper. Right next to that part, on the triple clamps, one can observe the production number of each bike. For maximum weight reduction, the special-edition Ducati Panigale V2 1st Championship 20th Anniversary comes with a lithium-ion battery, as well as a single-seater configuration. The saddle is sewn with contrasting red stitching, and the craftspeople at Ducati also embroidered Bayliss’ race number, 21, along with the Italian flag. Thanks to the lightweight components, the bike lost about three kilos (6,6 lbs.), adding up to 174.5 kilograms (385 lbs.) Seat height is 835 mm (32,9 inches), which may be tall for some, but being tall enough is just one of the things one must consider before buying a motorcycle in this segment. Ducati fans will also remark a set of sport grips, a titanium and carbon fiber exhaust system, and Troy Bayliss’ autograph on the fuel tank. The latter also reminds us of each of the three years when Bayliss won the championship title. The extras with the special edition of the Panigale V2 end here, but

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Harley-Davidson ‘From Evolution To Revolution’ Global Reveal Event

Virtual Launch Registration Now Open MILWAUKEE, WI (June 21, 2021) – Harley-Davidson announces a new mid-season motorcycle reveal, “From Evolution to Revolution.” This virtual launch experience will be held July 13, 2021, at 10 a.m. CDT. This new model follows the exciting arrival of the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 with its all-new Revolution Max powertrain in dealerships around the world. “Following the successful launch of our first adventure touring motorcycle, the Pan America, we are excited to reveal another all-new motorcycle, built on the Revolution Max platform in the sport segment, showcasing unmatched Harley-Davidson technology, performance and style,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president, and CEO Harley-Davidson. The reveal event will preview details of the new motorcycle model and will include presentations by Harley-Davidson leadership, product experts and the passionate riders who are developing and bringing to market another powerful new motorcycle coming to Harley-Davidson® dealerships in 2021. To take part in the “From Evolution to Revolution” virtual launch experience, register now at www.H-D.com/JulyReveal.

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Ducati Multistrada V4: Zero to 5,000 in just six months

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Germany Becomes Home of the 5,000th Ducati Multistrada V4 Zero to 5,000 in just six months. It is the achievement of Italian bike maker Ducati’s Multistrada V4, which in just half a year managed to convince 5,000 riders it is the right choice for them. Ducati announced the milestone this week, with the 5,000th two-wheeler ever made in the family ordered by a German rider from Ingolstadt. The bike is a fully-loaded V4 S Sport and was accompanied in the rider’s garage by a “sculptural reproduction” of the bike and a “personal letter certifying the motorcycle’s serial number.” The V4 was presented by the Italians in November last year, and it is currently available in three versions, the V4, V4S, and V4 S Sport, all described as the most advanced of their kind ever. The most potent of them all can easily go in the high $20,000s (exact pricing is available upon request at dealers). At the core of the bikes sits the so-called Granturismo engine, a 1,158cc piece of hardware rated at a massive 170 hp at 10,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 125 Nm (92 lb-ft) at 8,750 rpm. The engine is lighter than the one that preceded it and tips the scale at 66.7 kg (147 pounds). But it is not only the engine that makes the bike special. The V4 is presently the first production motorcycle equipped with both a front and a rear radar, working together with the Adaptive Cruise Control (AAC) technology. Only a limited range of colors is available for the bike, going from the Ducati Red of the entry-level to the “particularly aggressive dedicated livery“ of the S Sport. This one also gets an Akrapovic exhaust and carbon front mudguard. The exhaust system is made of

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RPM Act Reintroduced for 2021 – sign a letter to Congress

RPM Act Reintroduced for 2021—Act Now! Save Our Racecars! Our voices have been heard! After receiving more than one million letters from enthusiasts like you, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act) has been reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2021-2022 session of Congress! The RPM Act must be enacted into law to guarantee your right to modify street cars, trucks, and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles, and ensure that industry can offer parts that enable racers to compete. Now is not the time to take our feet off the gas. Even if you’ve previously contacted your lawmakers about the RPM Act, we need your voice once again now that the bill has officially returned for consideration in 2021! Tell your U.S. Representative to do their part to finally save racing from government threat by supporting and passing the RPM Act into law this year. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE LETTER TO CONGRESS.

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Triumph Tiger 850 Sport review

by Kyle Hyatt from https://www.cnet.com 2021 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport review: The Brits take on entry-level adventure Can Triumph’s cheaper, leaner Tiger stand out in a crowded motorcycle class? Middleweight adventure bikes are among my favorite motorcycles. They’re good at everything — comfortable, fun to ride, capable off-road and surprisingly competent on a canyon road. The middleweight Triumph Tiger is a bike I know and love, having owned a 2015 800 XCX. Now there’s a new, lower-cost Tiger 850 Sport. Is the middleweight magic still there? The heart of the bike is its three-cylinder engine. This engine offers the torque of a twin but the increased top end of a four-cylinder, and makes its own unique set of noises. The Tiger 850 Sport’s triple is an 888-cc unit that produces 84 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 60 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 rpm. The engine is basically the same unit you’ll find in the more expensive Tiger 900. In the 850 Sport, the triple is detuned to make it a little more new-rider-friendly and help differentiate it from its sibling. The engine is paired with a six-speed gearbox with a chain final drive and a cable-actuated clutch. The transmission is accurate and direct, but not as slick as I’ve come to expect from other modern Triumphs. The clutch is light, though, and easy to modulate. Off-the-line performance is reasonable if not thrilling, and I doubt that most people will notice the 9-hp deficit between the 850 Sport and the more expensive 900. The transmission’s gearing is well-suited to the triple engine’s power band. While it no longer sounds like the whistly, warbly Triumph triples of old, I still consider it and its derivatives some of the best engines in the business thanks to their smoothness, tractability and overall personality. The

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RiMS: A New Bike Racing Simulation Game

Become more than just a rider in RiMS Racing! RiMS sounds like a really exciting project for all fans of motorcycling sports, boasting a new addition to the simulation genre. RaceWard and Nacon partnering together to deliver a brand new Bike Racing Sim coming out on all gaming platforms this summer. NACON and RaceWard Studio are pleased to unveil a new video for RiMS Racing, a motorcycling video game with a unique concept of combining mechanics and riding. Because the race is not won purely on the track! NACON who has become a key player in racing games publishing over the last few years will make one more announcement in the upcoming days. By making mechanics a central part of the game, RiMS Racing provides a unique simulation experience requiring players to combine both engineering and riding skills. Using an innovative mechanics management system, you can optimize every part of your motorbike down to the smallest component. With RiMS Racing, the Italian studio RaceWard sets a new standard for realism and customization options. Over 500 official spare parts available and more than 200 official items of equipment for the rider are perfectly recreated in the game and realistically simulated even down to how each can wear down, Just like a real rider, you can analyze the status of your motorbike in real time to perfect your set-up. From brake disc temperature and tyre pressure to suspension behaviour and electronics, the ultra-realistic and precise physics of RiMS Racing recreates every hazard of the race. You start your adventure by choosing a motorbike from eight of the most powerful European and Japanese models, recreated with unparalleled accuracy thanks to tight collaboration with each manufacturer. The video features the MV Agusta F4 RC and its precision mechanics. This four-cylinder bike with over 200

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Kaspersky becomes sponsor of Aprilia Racing

from https://www.albawaba.com Kaspersky has become a sponsor of Aprilia Racing – one of the most successful teams in motorcycle racing history, Partners with Piaggio Group Kaspersky has become a sponsor of Aprilia Racing – one of the most successful teams in motorcycle racing history. The cybersecurity company’s logos will be placed on the team’s bikes for the entire 2021 season, starting with the first race in Qatar on March 28. The sponsorship comes as part of Kaspersky’s partnership with Aprilia’s parent company Piaggio Group – Europe’s largest scooter and motorcycle manufacturer. This new sponsorship adds to the cybersecurity vendor’s contribution to motorsport. Kaspersky has been a long-time supporter of talented racers, who the company helps to reach their full potential. The global list of athletes, supported by Kaspersky, includes the first female Emirati racing driver Amna Al Qubaisi, as well as Formula One racer Antonio Giovinazzi. “Kaspersky is committed to securing the technological progress of the mobility industry and to the development of motorsports. Despite working in different sectors to Piaggio Group and Aprilia, we share the same values of constant improvement, innovation and becoming the best at what we do. I’m sure our partnership will be beneficial for the whole mobility, automotive and motorbike community,” says Alexander Moiseev, CBO of Kaspersky. Aprilia Racing is the most advanced technological expression of the Piaggio Group – it has won an astonishing 54 world titles, including 28 since the Noale-based manufacturer joined the Piaggio Group in 2005. From its inception, Aprilia Racing has been an extraordinary breeding ground for new talent. “It is a great honor to have Kaspersky’s name on the Aprilia RS-GP livery this year. Our new partner is a successful name in motorsport and we are sure that MotoGP will represent a wonderful new challenge in this realm. Together,

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Ducati Monsters 2021 Start Crawling Out the Factory Doors, Available From April

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Ducati planned to break the mold with the unveiling of the new Monster motorcycle back in December last year. At least on paper, it succeeded, as the specs for the “lightest, most compact” bike of its family are impressive. All we have to do is see if the real-world numbers match. And there’s no reason to suspect they won’t. Ducati gave birth to the sports naked Monster range all the way back in 1993. Since then, the moniker has grown into a monstrous force, selling no less than 350,000 units, each generation becoming its own market hit. The new one is getting ready to do the same from next month when the first examples are expected to reach dealerships across the world. And there’s no going back now, as the Italian bike maker announced on Thursday, March 4, that production lines for the Monster have begun rolling over in Italy. Weighing in at 166 kg (366 pounds) dry, the new Monster is powered by the new Testastretta 937cc twin-cylinder L-shaped engine, which replaces the 821cc used on the previous incarnation. 2.4 kg (5.2 pounds) lighter than before, the powerplant is rated from the factory at 111 hp at 9,250 rpm. The new Monster was designed in such a way as to be reminiscent of the first one from three decades ago, and it sports elements like the bison-back fuel tank and the circular headlight, among others. Unlike the 1993 version, though, this one is packed with advanced technology, including ABS Cornering, Traction Control, and Wheelie Control. Three riding modes are available for the new Monster, namely Sport, Urban, and Touring, each of them selectable through the handlebar controls and the 4.3-inch TFT screen. For the American market, the Monster sells from $11,895, but that, of

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115-year-old Motorcycle dealer to ride into the sunset

by Warren Scott from https://www.heraldstaronline.com WINTERSVILLE — John and Kim Neidengard said preparing for the Feb. 27 closing of their 115-year-old family business is a bittersweet experience. After selling Harley-Davidson motorcycles and related gear to hundreds of area residents, they are looking forward to spending more time riding together on the road and visiting their adult children and grandchildren. But the couple of 23 years said they will miss seeing their regular customers, working with others to organize poker runs that have raised thousands for charity and carrying on a legacy culminating in the state’s oldest family-owned Harley-Davidson dealership. Kim admitted she became a motorcycle fan after meeting John 28 years ago, noting his love of cycling started at an early age. “I worked here probably since I was 12,” said John, who noted it was common for children in family-run businesses to help out “as soon as you were old enough.” “As soon as I graduated from high school, I went to full time,” he said, adding he never thought of doing anything else. John said in that regard, he was much like his father, John F., who had worked for his father, G.H. Neidengard, a machinist who opened the family’s first motorcycle shop at 137 South Third, Steubenville. John said G.H. was a friend of the first Steubenville man to own a motorcycle and quickly fell in love with them. Early motorcycles were little more than bicycles with motors, noted John, but they offered low-cost transportation at a time before Henry Ford’s Model T made automobiles affordable to most people. They also were a form of entertainment, as motorcycle enthusiasts participated in hillclimbs and races that, in the days before radio and television, drew many spectators. John said the first shop was quite large, with second story apartments

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