Motorcycle Racing and Riding

You heard it here first folks… Unless you didn’t.  Scott Harwood— ASRA National Endurance Champion and AMA Pro Racer— is looking for an ride in the 2010 Isle of Man TT and the 2010 Isle of Man TTXGP (alternative fuels: hydrogen, electric, etc.) He will be eligible for all classes (TT SBK, TT STK, SeniorTT, TTXGP, etc.)

Scott is currently working with AMA Pro / DMG, to obtain an FIM International race license (DMG is the FIM’s representatives in the United States). If you would like to present a sponsorship opportunity, then please go to www.go-scooter-go.com to contact Scott.

We wish Scott all the luck, and hope to be there when he rides the TT!

Don Emde shared this beautiful Isle of Man TT video with us on facebook, and mentioned that he wants to go next year as a spectator. The music is “Now we are free” by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, from the movie Gladiator. It was uploaded by Mirko Guzetta. Thank you Don and Mirko!

Isle of Man Tourist Trophy 2009 Steve Plater Onboard:

Scott Harwood shared this 2009 Isle of Man TT video with us:

Scott also shared a video from this year’s TTX with us:

Danny MacAskill in an amazing bicycle trials rider. If this a motorcyclist’s Web site, so why the bicycle post?

• Mat Mladin, and other motorcycle racers have been sharing Danny MacAskill videos. Anyone that impresses Mat Mladin is worth checking-out.
• Most roadracers incorporate bicycling into their training.
• Sometimes bicycle trials riders approach obstacles much like motorcycle trials riders.

Image owned-by, linked-from, and linked-to www.dannymacaskill.co.uk. Click to go to www.dannymacaskill.co.uk..

There are many Danny MacAskill video on YouTube, but here are two of the most popular ones. Also Danny chose these two for his own Web site.

Inspired Bicycles – Danny MacAskill April 2009

Danny Macaskill Next level street trials

Go here to see Danny MacAskill’s new bicycle trials Web site.
Go here to read my essay about a motorcycle trials event.

I am simply copying Suzuki’s words for this post.  Unlike the Honda post where I actually wrote all but the list of bikes. Please see: a note about “press releases, news releases, and public service announcements”. Thank you.

Go here for the more-complete Honda 2009 Motor Show Article

Exhibition Models

Burgman Fuel-Cell Scooter

Having stunned the motorcycling world with the Crosscage fuel-cell bike at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, Suzuki applied the technologies to a more practical and accessible form of two-wheel transportation: a scooter. The result is the Burgman Fuel-Cell Scooter. The fuel cell is air-cooled and concomitantly light, compact, and structurally simple. A 70MPa hydrogen tank (the highest-pressure tank used on a bike thus far) allows a usable riding range. And the tank is mounted within a robust frame for safety.

Gladius 400 ABS

The Gladius 400 ABS is a stylish naked bike with a 400cm³ V-twin engine. It features a truss frame that combines rigidity with great looks. And its newly designed V-twin engine delivers plenty of power in a rider-friendly way. All told, the Gladius 400 ABS is great way to experience the nimble performance and classic throb of a V-twin machine.

Boulevard 400

Boulevard 400

The Boulevard 400 is a performance cruiser with aggressive bikini-cowled looks and a 400cm³ engine. Low, flowing body lines that give an unmistakable sense of performance are combined with inverted front forks and stylish cast wheels. The engine is a narrow-angle (45°), liquid-cooled V-twin with fuel injection.

Bandit 1250F ABS

The Bandit 1250F ABS is a fully faired tourer. Together with the compact body and torquey performance that make touring so enjoyable on the Bandit series, it has a sharply styled full fairing for heightened comfort.

Other Exhibition Model

Suzuki will also be showing a GSV-R racebike.

Production Models

The Suzuki booth will feature the following production models: Gemma; Skywave 250 Type M; DR-Z50; and Love SNA26.

Ordinary motorcycle brake lights can be difficult to see: especially when they are also functioning as running lights, and it is bright out, and one is trying to pay attention to other vehicles. I suspect that many people rely solely on other visual cues to determine that a motorcyclist is slowing down.

I learned to appreciate flashing brake lights while doing group rides in Arkansas. The intentions of motorcyclists with flashing brake lights were unambiguous. On the other hand, they always say, “I didn’t see him. He came out of nowhere.”, and there is nothing that a small flashing light will do to change that. Feel free to completely ignore that claim from folks that sell the little flashing lights.

Let’s get that first question out of the way: are they legal? Yes. It’s legal to apply your brakes, let up, and then apply them again. That would turn your brake lights on-and-off, and these products turn your brake lights on-and-off. Also, these don’t annoy people; sometimes headlight modulators do.

I have experience with two products, one of which is the Kisan TailBlazer 20W-D plug in bulb.

Pros:

• Relatively inexpensive.
• Just replace the existing brake light bulb with this unit. All of the electronics are in the base, and it just works.

Cons:

• Except when it doesn’t. In my case— a V-Star 650 Classic— the bulb was mounted vertically. The base of the light holds the electronics; that’s the part that twists in. The new bulb has two prongs, and it plugs into the top of the base. There is a little “bowl” on top of the electronics (see image), and the water would collect there. For sure, the lens (the red plastic piece) didn’t have cracks in it. I believe the condensation within the lens was bad enough of a problem though. Most motorcycles mount the bulbs horizontally, and facing backwards. I assume that this system would be more reliable in that case. I kept my original tail light bulb just in case this thing stopped working, and it did.  That original bulb came in handy during this little adventure I tell ya’.
• This simple system doesn’t work for all motorcycles. Kisan does have other brake light flashing products for that case. They also have head light modulators, tire pressure monitors, turn signal cancelling systems, and more.

Image linked-from, and to kisantech.com

The little guy will show up around 2:03. Either skip to there, or watch the whole video. Matt Osman rides really well here: smooth and over 100 km/hr (60 MPH) in some corners. It’s a good video with or without the gecko, so I would vote for “watch the whole video”.

I used to catch geckos and pretend that they were my pets when I was a kid in Florida. They can see quick movements from pretty far away. It’s likely that he is experiencing the movement visually. That said: obviously I have no idea what it actually looks like to a gecko.

Laurel C. Allen, from Road Racer X’s Senior Editor, shared this awesome Italian Police Bike Formation Demonstration Video with us via facebook.

Ernesto Fontana posted the following comment about the video on its boingboing.net page:

Hello Mr Pescovitz,

Thanks for posting those beautiful sequences of sync moto-riding. Only, I would like to be pedantic and point out that at 0:11 you can see some officials looking solemnly on, and the third from the left I believe is Giovanni Leone, at the time presidente della Repubblica. If correct, this would date the video between 1971 and 1978, Mr Leone’s period of office.

I dare say the Corazzieri guards (tall fellows with ornate uniforms, you can see one in the background at 0:11) confirm the presence of a president, and at 0:57 Mr Leone appears again right in the middle of the image, a focus of attention. Not as much as the riders anyway…

Best regards,
Ernesto Fontana (not anonymous-just too lazy to register right now)

Mavizen was created to support electric-vehicle motorcycle racing teams. (I believe that Mavizen is also the name of Azhar Hussain’s iPod accessory company.) Mr. Hussain founded TTXGP: a motorcycle race that took place at the Isle of Man TT in 2009.

Mavizen will be producing the Mavizen TTX02 electric racing motorcycle. The powertrain includes twin Agni motors, and a computer (Linux or Windows). The motorcycle will cost £25,000 (about $41,500 USD) with the Circuit Pack battery pack. Here are the battery pack options:

• Circuit Pack: 6kw/h, 25 miles track use, 38/60 miles hard/gentle road use
• Snaefell Pack: 11kw/h pack, 40 miles road racing, 75/130 miles hard/gentle road use, hot swappable power packs
• Sprint Pack TBA. 3kw/h, 6 miles track use.

Click on the thumbnail images to see larger versions. Click on the larger versions to close them.

This looks like a great project, and we hope for this company’s success. We are suspicious about some of the claims  though:

• The winning bike, the AGNI X01, was produced by Agni Motors.  The AGNI X01 was a converted Suzuki GSX-R 600.  The Mavizen TTX02 is a converted KTM RC8 1190. Claims that the TTX02 is based on the winning-bike are potentially unfair to Suzuki and KTM. Apparently Mr. Hussain is making the claim based on the fact that both bikes have twin Agni motors. (sources: mavizen.com, egrandprix.com, agnimotors.com)
• Mr. Hussain claimed that the bike makes 90 horsepower. Agni Motors claims that the twin-motor AGNI X01 made less-than 50 HP max, and only 12HP-per-motor at peak efficiency  (source: agnimotors.com).
• Top speed is claimed to be 130+MPH. Rob Barber, the TTXGP winner, and an experienced racer, only averaged 85 MPH at the TTXGP. He was clocked at 102MPH at the end of a downhill segment. We have to assume that Mavizen’s 130+MPH claims are based on a very different gearing ratio. EVs are not geared for high speeds, because that would either make them too difficult to control at lower speeds, or make them too inefficient to reach their destination. Speeds over 100MPH could be obtained via a transmission that was designed to keep RPMs relatively low. Modern motorcycle and automotive engines are designed to keep RPMs relatively high. This motorcycle does not have a transmission.

Here are eGrandPrix’s goals for 2010:

• TTXGP UK Championship 2010 (four round goal)
• TTXGP at the Isle of Man TT, May 29 2010 – June 11 2010
• TTXGP USA Championship 2010  (four round goal): May 14-16, 2010 (AMA Pro weekend)

Here is the Mavizen TTX02 Launch Promo:

Here is the eGrandPrix.Tv – TTXGP 2009 DVD trailer. Fun! And the bikes go weeeee:

Here are the Mavizen announcements from SEMA, November 3 2009:

130mph ‘laptop on wheels’ unveiled in Vegas

The much heralded Mavizen TTX02 came out from under the covers today to meet the brave new world

The bike has been nicknamed a ‘laptop on wheels’ and is being produced by TTXGP founder, Azhar Hussain, an entrepreneur with a background in consumer electronics. “We are living in a click culture and connectivity is the key, across the board. Our approach was to find how we could make a laptop go racing. We think electric vehicles have more in common with consumer electronics than traditional automotive.”

TTX02 is the first factory production vehicle to be delivered with a dedicated IP access and connectivity to the network. Each bike can be connected from any browser through an on board web server and WiFi.
Hussain continued, “By building on the open standards of the internet and the PC, we unlock the creativity and lower the costs of innovation for teams, enthusiasts and riders. TTX02 is a development platform that invites the potential for success previously seen in electronic hardware and software, into the automotive industry. We need to pick up the pace of innovation and make it real fast; TTX02 is a key marker in that journey”
Azhar Hussain founded TTXGP, the world’s first zero carbon, zero emission motorcycle race which took place at the Isle of Man TT in June this year. The TTX02 is inspired by the winning bike, the Agni X01. It has been built by TTXGP’s manufacturing arm, Mavizen, on a chassis supplied from the factory of one the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers.

Hussain continued, “The limited production bike, the Mavizen TTX02, gives potential participants a chance to acquire a bike that they can develop themselves to make it competitive and unique to them. Racing is brutal but at least with the Mavizen TTX02, the racers can start with a proven platform. Mavizen is about growing the grid by being an enabler by those who want to take part.”

The Mavizen TTX02 uses the rolling chassis of an FIM homologated and road legal bike. A world class manufacturer is supporting Mavizen by supplying direct from the factory, frames ready to be worked over by the Mavizen engineers.

Every owner will have the option to apply to their national vehicle licensing agency under various single vehicle type approval regimes.
Mavizen TTX02 will be available for delivery in Q1/2010 with a limited production of 50 units. Target price for complete bike with a Circuit Pack is £25,000. This will be a complete platform to take part in any national or FIM championship. To place your deposit and discuss options, please log onto www.mavizen.com.

We like the new Z1000’s looks better than the old Z1000’s looks.  We saw the videos on HellForLeather.com.  The pics videos, and words come from kawasaki.com.

One of the European Z1000s gets a snakeskin seat which is just-as-tacky as our etched dragon windscreen.  We would love to see bikes wear it. We don’t like the exhaust pipes though; they are tacky without irony.

The words-below were copied from various www.kawasaki.com Web pages, and put together here.  We also replaced the word “we” below with the words “Kawasaki” and “riders”, where appropriate. dangerismymiddlename.com is not related to Kawasaki.

2010 KAWASAKI Z1000 Videos

2010 Kawasaki Z1000 Presentation (US Version) Video:

2010 Kawasaki Z1000 Promo (High Quality) Video:

2010 KAWASAKI Z1000 For Italy “Snakeskin” Pic

2010 KAWASAKI Z1000 For USA Pics (Click on images for larger versions)

2010 KAWASAKI Z1000 Words

MSRP $10,499 as of 2009-10-07

Ergonomics

• With its smooth frame, sculpted tank and seat and upright ergoes, the Z1000 is just asking to be ridden hard.
• A dynamically designed steel gas tank, flared on the sides to let you grab it with your knees and trim at the rear for a snug fit, flows gracefully into a seat that’s low and narrow at the front to make ground contact easy, and wide and plush at the rear for a comfortable ride over uncomfortable pavement.

All-New Engine

• Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve 1,043cc inline-four offers greater torque and a stronger top-end rush than previous Z1000 models
• Bore and stroke of 77.0 x 56.0 mm were chosen to achieve the desired engine character —strong in the everyday rpm range most used by naked super bikes
• 38mm downdraft throttle bodies allow intake air to travel to the engine in the shortest possible distance
• Oval sub-throttles help keep the engine slim — a good thing since the throttle bodies are positioned between the rider’s knees
• Soft rev limiter provides good overrev; power doesn’t drop off suddenly at high rpm
• Crankshaft and transmission shafts are arranged in a straight line instead of a triangular layout, to maintain the design from the previous Z1000 — a design that offers the best look for a naked model
• The crankshaft was lowered to allow for a longer stroke without adding engine height
• A secondary balancer, driven off a gear on the sixth web of the crankshaft, eliminates excess vibration

Mass Centralization

• Moving heavy components as close as possible to the motorcycle’s center of mass makes it easier to turn.
• The Z1000’s mufflers, rear suspension, battery and rider are all packaged as near to each other as possible. With its wide handlebar and naturally positioned footpegs, it places the rider in a position of maximum command.

Cool Air Intake System

• The intake system routes cool air to the airbox from ducts above the radiator shrouds, minimizing performance loss due to heated intake air
• Positioning the ducts close to the rider allows the intake sound to be enjoyed by the rider
• A resonator inside the airbox reduces noise at low rpm, and enhances intake sound at high rpm

Exhaust System

• The exhaust system features a 4-into-2-pre-chamber-into-2 layout. Silencer end-caps maintain the quad-style image
• Main and pre-catalyzers ensure emissions are clean
• Thanks to the under-engine pre-chamber, silencer volume could be reduced. The silencers are also lighter. Overall exhaust system weight is about the same, but the new system offers much better mass centralization and contributes to a lower center of gravity
• Kawasaki carried forward the quad-pipe theme from the last Z1000 (and the first Z1), but an under-engine pre-chamber let the engineers use shorter mufflers for great looks, better mass centralization and light, quick handling.

Fuel Pump

• Slim-type fuel pump features an integral fuel gauge
• With revised fuel tank design and the slim-type fuel pump, dead volume inside the tank is minimized; fuel capacity is 4.1 gallons

All-New Over-the-Engine Aluminum Backbone Frame

• An aluminum twin tube frame designed specifically for the Z1000, similar in concept to the ZX™-10R unit, helps make the Z1000 a narrow, compact motorcycle  that is easy to grip with the knees.
• Lightweight and highly rigid, the frame uses the engine as a stressed member, for a firm, planted feel and enhanced stability. The frame is tuned to transmit the ideal level of engine feedback directly to the rider. The frame’s five-piece construction consists of steering stem, left and right main frames, and two cross pieces. The two main frame components have open, C-shaped cross sections. As much as possible, welds were eliminated for simplicity and appearance. The frame beams and swingarm brackets are now single die-cast pieces. The new frame uses four engine mounts; three mounts are rigid, the upper rear crankcase mount is rubber.
• The rear sub-frame is a three-piece aluminum die-casting construction, light, strong and good for mass centralization
• The sub-frame is an example of form and function combined, negating the need for side covers and allowing underseat narrowness for a shorter reach to the ground

Line-beam Headlight

Clean Rear End And LED Taillights

• The sub-frame is a three-piece aluminum die casting, light, smooth and beautiful.
• With its vestigial tail light bracket, spidery passenger peg brackets and smooth tail section, the Z1000 looks totally custom. At the same time, that wide radial tire out back and 5.4 full inches of plush and controlled rear-wheel travel serve up an outstandingly sweet ride.
• Red lights behind a red lens give the Z1000 excellent rear visibility.
• Its smooth, organic frame and plenty of negative space between the rear wheel and tailsection give it a fantastic, exotic bike look too. A fat, 190/50-17 radial tire backs up the take-no-prisoners image.

All-New Horizontal Rear Monoshock

• Visible from the outside, the horizontal monoshock rear suspension contributes to the aggressive appearance of the new Z1000. The Z1000’s new rear suspension positions the shock and linkage above the swingarm, where it’s less exposed to exhaust heat, and contributes to mass centralization. Linkage characteristics are the same as those of a standard UNI-TRAK® rear suspension, with a similar wheel movement to shock stroke ratio. The shock features rebound damping and spring preload adjustability, with overall wheel travel of 5.4 inches.

Inverted 41mm Fully Adjustable Front Fork

• The Z1000’s 41mm inverted fork is adjustable for compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload — and it’s semi-protected from the elements by a cool-looking shroud.
• Calibrated for a mix of sporty backroad performance and excellent comfort on the street, the inverted cartridge fork provides stepless compression and rebound damping adjustment, along with spring preload adjustment. Wheel travel is 4.7 inches.

Tubular Handlebar

• A rigid-mount honest-to-goodness handlebar provides plenty of leverage over the Z1000, contributing greatly to the bike’s sharp, direct handling.
• The bar’s wide, flat bend offers a design similar to those on off-road bikes, for excellent comfort and control. Tapered-type grips, like those used on supersport models, also provide direct feel.

Eccentric Chain Adjuster

• The eccentric axle is how riders adjusted Kawasaki drive chains back in the day, and the rear-caliper torque arm is how Kawasaki fed braking forces back into the frame. On the other hand, the petal rear disc and the fat 190/50-17 radial tire out back are cutting-edge current technology, adding both style and performance.

Brakes

• A radial-pump front brake master cylinder contributes superb control and feel to go with the outright braking power provided by those big discs and calipers. At the rear, a single-piston pin-slide caliper gripping a 250mm petal disc is mounted below the swingarm, where it’s located by a torque rod for a little vintage flair.
• The Z1000’s 300mm front petal brake discs are gripped by opposed four-piston radial-mount calipers. (Caliper piston size is 4×30 mm)
• The rear brake is a single piston, pin-slide caliper gripping a 250mm petal disc. The caliper is mounted below the swingarm, and located by a torque rod

Instruments

• A distinctive tilting instrument panel with multifunction LCD display behind an orange lens covers all systems
• The instrument panel can be angled in three positions to suit rider preference, without tools, using an adjuster knob on the left side. Meter functions include digital speedometer, bar-style digital tachometer, odometer, two trip meters, fuel gauge and clock.

Specifications and pricing are subject to change.

onthethrottle.com and Seamus Taaffe of Yamaha Factory Racing show us how to clean brake calipers.