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:

Originally posted 2009-10-12 00:00:28.

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.

Originally posted 2009-11-10 18:14:46.

Links and images used by permission of Sean de Fraine— Sean is the Web master for www.blarneyquick.com and the Kevin Schwantz School – Official Page facebook page.

Do you want to learn Barber Motorsports Park?   How about getting a tow from Kevin Schwantz?  Sean de Fraine and his friend Keiron Mooney attended the Kevin Schwantz School at Barber and Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year.  What next?  How about the 2009 Red Bull Indianapolis GP?  Yeah, they attended that too as spectators.  Sean came over from the UK, and the guys decided to make the most of it.  Sean wrote up the story and the Kevin Schwantz School published it here. Check out Sean’s story.  It’s a good read.

Sean posts photos, videos, and links to the “Kevin Schantz School – Official Page” facebook.com fan page.  To learn more about the Schwantz School go to www.schwantzschool.com.

You can see the guys riding down below.  That’s Kieron Mooney on the Blarney Quick Racing (BlarneyQuick.com) GSXR750, and Sean de Fraine in the Rizla+  leathers.  Rizla+ sponsors the Suzuki MotoGP team. It’s the series, and manufacturer, that Kevin Schwantz won the championship for in 1993.

For more about Kieron and Sean’s Schwantz School Experience see “Kieron Mooney Met Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Nicky Hayden, Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, and Kevin Schwantz While Attending The IndyGP version of the Kevin Schwantz School”.

Keiron Mooney, Kevin Schwantz, Sean de Fraine

That's Sean de Fraine (in the Rizla+ Leathers) and Kieron Mooney and on the BlarneyQuick.com GSXR750.

Originally posted 2009-09-16 21:36:17.

This one is showing up on all the best Web sites.  Bill Wagner doing Sachsenring supermoto stylee no doubt.

Originally posted 2009-09-21 22:04:22.

Originally published 2009-10-12, edited 2009-12-26, content by Joe Salas and Paul Danger Kile.

Supermoto is a form of racing that combines on-road, and off-road, within the same track. The racers typically ride dirt bikes with road-racing parts added. What if one were to take an SV650 bike to a Supermoto race? It’s too big, right?

Dan Sewell races for CODE4Racing, is sponsored by Twin Works Factory, and teaches for Z2TrackDays. Here is his Web page. Below are images of Dan racing an SV650 in Supermoto. When does anyone do that? This may be the first time!

The photographer, Joe Salas, gave us permission to use the  images here.  Joe photographs track days, and races, and makes the photos available at 4theriders.com.

These quotes are from the official NESBA Web site:

“NESBA offers an Intro group to non-members at no charge. This FREE Intro Group is for the street rider who’s unsure about signing up for a full day of riding. The Intro Group receives the Beginner classroom session and has access to the track for two 15-20 minute Beginner sessions in the morning rotation.”

“There is no bike preparation requirement; however, participants must pass a tech inspection as defined in the Riders’ Manual. The number of riders in the Intro Group is limited, so sign up early! You can sign up for this FREE offer only once.”

Click here to sign-up for your FREE NESBA track Day!

Here are the tracks that NESBA uses.

Go here to learn about demoing a new Yamaha sport bike at a NESBA track day!

Originally posted 2009-05-11 00:00:57.

Vesrah Suzuki is selling ten of their actual racebikes.  You can find the offers on the “Vesrah Susuki Bikes For Sale” page [of all places ].  Seven of them are  GSXR1000s, and three of them are GSXR750s.

Ninja Underground / Kawasaki’s Ninja 25th Anniversary / Videos, Photos, History, Sweepstakes, Models / Elena Myers, Roger Hayden, Jamie Hacking, Ricky Gadson, Kane Friesen, Jason Britton, More:

Most Beautiful Buell Image #1; Free for use on the Web with two conditions. (1) You link the photo to http://dangerismymiddlename.com and (2) you put this caption on the photo.

Please see: a note about “press releases, news releases, and public service announcements”. Thank you.

Eric Buell has announced the discontinuation of Buell Motorcycles this morning.  This is after winning their first AMA Championship, giving even many non-Buell-riders a sense of pride in the company.

“May you ride-with-pride into the future, and may your roads ahead be as adventuresome and rewarding as mine have been for the last 26 years.” Eric Buell

Please read the Press Release and FAQ, and watch Eric Buell’s video, below. Eric Buell’s announcement video is also available here.

BUELL OFFICIALS THANK CUSTOMERS, DEALERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR UNFORGETTABLE RIDE

EAST TROY, Wis. — (Thursday, October 15, 2009) Buell Motorcycle Company officials thanked the company’s customers, employees and dealers for an unforgettable ride, following today’s announcement by Harley-Davidson, Inc. that it will discontinue the Buell® product line as part of Harley-Davidson’s go-forward business strategy. The new long-term strategy aims to drive Company growth through a focus of efforts and resources on the Harley-Davidson® brand.

“I want to personally thank all our past and present Buell employees, dealers and suppliers for their efforts. I also want to thank Buell motorcycle owners for their support and passion for the brand,” said Buell Motorcycle Company President Jon Flickinger.

Flickinger said a limited number of new Buell motorcycles remain available for sale through authorized dealerships and production will wind down by October 30. He also stressed that Harley-Davidson will provide replacement parts and service through dealerships and that warranty coverage will continue as normal for Buell motorcycles.

“I will always be proud of what we have accomplished. It is a testimony to what a small group of passionate and inspired people can do, and with brilliant innovations, we’ve produced some of the best-handling bikes of all time,” said Buell Chairman and Chief Technical Officer Erik Buell. “I personally look forward to exploring how I can continue to work with Harley-Davidson to bring advanced product technology to riders.

“I have also had the great fortune to meet and get to know many Buell riders over the years, and they are an amazing and interesting group of free thinkers,” Buell said. “May you ride with pride into the future. And may your roads ahead be as adventuresome and rewarding as mine have been for the last 26 years.”

A wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc. since 1998, Buell Motorcycle Company was founded in 1983 by Erik Buell and produced more than 135,000 motorcycles. Over the past 26 years, Buell motorcycles won numerous design accolades and awards, and countless races and championships around the world, including the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike championship in 2009.

Copy of the BUELL CUSTOMER FAQ

Why is Harley-Davidson discontinuing Buell after the recent new product introductions, racing success and new brand efforts?
The Company made the decision to discontinue the Buell product line as part of its strategy to focus on growth through the Harley-Davidson brand.

What will happen to the Buell motorcycles currently in dealer inventory?
Buell dealers will sell remaining motorcycle inventories. There will be no more Buell motorcycles produced.

Why should I buy a new Buell when you are discontinuing production?
The innovative features and overall quality of Buell motorcycles provide an outstanding ownership experience. The Company may be discontinuing the production of Buell motorcycles, but they are extremely exciting motorcycles to ride and own. The Company will continue to provide normal warranties on new motorcycles and provide parts and service support. Buell motorcycles offer an overall value proposition that is very compelling.

How good of a deal can I get on a new Buell?
See your local Buell dealer for his remaining available inventory and prices.

Will I be able to get financing for a new Buell?
HDFS will continue to finance Buell motorcycles. Please see your dealer for details.

How will I get my Buell serviced? Will you honor my warranty?
Authorized Buell Service Providers will provide warranty, service and repair work. And Harley-Davidson expects to be providing replacement parts and service for as many years as required market by market. Of course we will honor all of our warranties.

What about Buell racing and privateer Buell race teams? Will there be contingency programs like they have had in the past?
Buell will continue to supply parts to dealers to support racers who want to go racing next season. However, the racing support program and contingency will be discontinued.

Are any of the brand’s models going to be available as Harley-Davidson models?
Harley-Davidson has no plans to produce Buell motorcycles as Harley-Davidson products.

Will Harley-Davidson be using any Buell designs or incorporating Buell technology into the H-D product line?
Buell has introduced many advancements in motorcycle design and technology over the years. Harley-Davidson will continue to benefit from that knowledge going forward and it’s possible that some of this technology will find its way into a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

For other questions related to Harley-Davidson or Buell, please see your local dealer.

Most Beautiful Buell Image #2; Free for use on the Web with two conditions. (1) You link the photo to http://dangerismymiddlename.com and (2) you put this caption on the photo.