Motorcycle News - Travis Pastrana Will Pay Tribute to Evel Knievel by Jumping an Indian Scout FTR750
https://ift.tt/2ItDnz7 Indian isn’t just in the business of building motorcycles anymore; the American motorcycle manufacturer is also making history and rewriting the record books, and the Scout FTR750 is leading the way. In its inaugural 2017 American Flat Track season, the FTR750 won 14 of 18 races, accounted for 37 of the available 54 podium spots and won Indian and Jared Mees the Grand National Championship. This year, the FTR has also proven to be dominant, leading the championship so far with complete podium sweeps in the last two rounds. No other bike in its class has been able to touch it. Building upon Indian Motorcycle’s and its FTR750’s success, Indian has teamed up with Nitro Circus and motocross icon and stunt performer Travis Pastran to set yet another record. This time, though, it won’t be on a racetrack. Looking to pay tribute to Evel Knievel, the founding father of motorcycle stunts, Travis will attempt three of Evel’s most famed jumps aboard the FTR, including jumping the length of 52+ crushed cars, 16 Greyhound busses, and the Caesars Palace fountain jump that left Knievel with over 40 broken bones and in a month-long coma. Travis will attempt all three record-setting jumps on Sunday, July 8th, during a three-hour span that will be broadcast live nationwide on the History Channel. Travis is of course no stranger to jumping motorcycles, and has set many of his own world records. However, the lightweight motocross bikes Travis is used to jumping are a lot different from the Indian FTR750 and Harley-Davidson XR750 that Evel rode. The FTR and XR750s were not designed to jump, not like this anyhow… “It was extremely important to use a motorcycle similar to the ones Evel jumped. The Indian Scout FTR750 is just that, a modern-day evolution of the flat track motorcycles of the past,” said Pastrana. “It has the power I need and handles well, but I’m only going to have a few days to get comfortable on it, not to mention I’ve never jumped a V-twin before. I’ve got my work cut out, but we’re used to going big at Nitro Circus, so we’ll make it happen.” Given Travis’ skills and the FTR750’s capabilities, compared to Evel’s and his H-D XR750 of the time, we’re confident Pastrana should be able smash these records on his way into the record books yet again. “We couldn’t be more excited for Travis to be piloting the Scout FTR750 as he looks to make history by recreating three of Evel Knievel’s most historic jumps in a single evening,” said Reid Wilson, Senior Director, Marketing and Product Development for Indian Motorcycle. “Evel Knievel is truly a global icon, and we’re proud to be a part of this incredible event that pays homage to his legacy in such grand fashion.” It’s awesome to see all the ways in which Indian has been working to bring awareness and help grow our sport of motorcycling. This history-making event, called Evel Live, will surely pique the mainstream interests of spectators not just here in America, but in the rest of the world as well. I mean, what’s not to like? Can Travis leave his mark on American motorcycle history as one of our most iconic daredevils alongside Evel Knievel? Tune-in to the History Channel on Sunday, July 8th at 8PM ET/ 5PM PT to find out! The post Travis Pastrana Will Pay Tribute to Evel Knievel by Jumping an Indian Scout FTR750 appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy May 16, 2018 at 07:32PM 5/16/2018 Dunlop Extends Supercross Championship Record to 9 Consecutive 250 450 Sweeps- Motorcycle News
Motorcycle News - Dunlop Extends Supercross Championship Record to 9 Consecutive 250 450 Sweeps
https://ift.tt/2KuQkZW Dunlop tires are the rubber choice for all the top motocross and supercross teams. This year, the 450 championship as well as the 250 East and West championships were won on Dunlops, making it the 9th consecutive year in a row! We also just rode the all-new Dunlop Geomax MX33 tire, so check out our first ride impression below! Dunlop Geomax MX33 First Ride Impression Dunlop: Buffalo, NY – In 2018, Dunlop riders swept every single podium in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450 and 250 East and 250 West classes, and swept all three series championships for an astonishing ninth consecutive year. No other tire company comes close to this record. Heading into the 2018 Motocross season, Dunlop hopes to do the same—extend an unbroken streak of Pro Motocross Championship series titles to nine years. Despite the Supercross championship being an open tire series—teams can choose any tire brand they want to run—Dunlop’s Geomax® tires remain the tire of choice for the majority of riders, including Jason Anderson who won his first 450 title this year, Team Dunlop Elite alumnus Aaron Plessinger who took the 250 West title, and Zach Osborne who once again captured the 250 East championship. During the Supercross season, Dunlop’s off-road support crew has changed more than 15,000 tires for Dunlop-equipped teams at Supercross races alone in the last nine years. Dunlop can expect to change double the amount of tires during typical motocross season. “We have a very hard working crew of fitters under the Dunlop awning at every race,” said Broc Glover, Dunlop’s Off-Road Sr. Manager. “It’s mind-boggling to stop and think about how many tire changes we do during a typical weekend and how that adds up over the course of the many seasons. By the end of the 2018 Pro Motocross Championship series, we will have changed more than 42,000 tires just on race weekends in the last nine years.” Dunlop’s support of professional racing has a direct impact on the products we develop for our customers, such as the all-new Geomax MX33, the most technically advanced off-road tire Dunlop has ever made. To find out more about the MX33, go to www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com/dunlops-all-new-geomax-mx33/ “We want to congratulate all the teams and riders for an exciting championship season, and especially Jason, Aaron and Zach for their accomplishments,” said Mike Buckley, Dunlop Motorcycle’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “I also want to congratulate Broc Glover, Brian Fleck and all of our off-road team for extending Dunlop’s championship record, and for all their hard work and dedication to supporting the Supercross paddock. We’re looking forward to the outdoor nationals, and another great championship battle.” About Dunlop Motorcycle TiresDunlop is the largest supplier and manufacturer of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S.A. For more information, visit www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com. Dunlop Extends Supercross Championship Record to 9 Consecutive 250 & 450 Sweeps appeared first on Motorcycle.com News. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy May 16, 2018 at 06:20PM
Motorcycle News - New Rider: What Motorcycle Gear Do You Need?
https://ift.tt/2ImEcO8 Welcome to motorcycling! Maybe you just bought your first bike or are about to do it. Either way, you’ve probably realized that you’ll need to buy more than just a motorcycle. Motorcycle gear can get really expensive really quickly, but you don’t need to spend a fortune (which you probably don’t have since you just bought your first bike) to keep yourself comfortable while riding or protect yourself in a mishap. While all motorcycle safety gear is important, there is a hierarchy of necessity. Since the assumption of this article is that you’re short on cash, we’ll work our way down the list. DOT-Legal HelmetIf you only buy one piece of motorcycle gear, buy a helmet – even if you live in a state that doesn’t have a helmet law. Nothing does more to protect you in a crash than wearing a helmet. When it comes to buying a helmet, only two factors are absolute: DOT certification and a proper fit. Ascertaining the DOT status of a helmet is easy. It has a sticker saying it qualifies. For fit, you want the helmet to be snug but not so tight that it causes hot spots on your head. Also, consider that helmets break in over time, making its fit get looser. You don’t want a helmet that bobbles around on your head at highway speeds because it is too big after a couple months of riding. Helmets range in price from less than $100 to over $1000. You don’t need to break the bank, but don’t automatically go for the bottom of the barrel either. Pricier helmets will have more features like better ventilation and a quieter interior, though. Here’s a selection of quality helmets for less than $200: 10 Best Motorcycle Helmets Under $200 GlovesYou may be surprised to see gloves second on the list, but when you consider that it is virtually impossible to avoid putting your hands out in a crash and then look at how fragile hands really are, riding with gloves makes a lot of sense. Riding with a pair of $20 leather work gloves is better than nothing, but there are many gloves available for less than $100 that will protect your hands much better. You’ll want to look for some kind of restraint that keeps the gloves from falling off in a tumble. Also, extra layers of leather or other protective material in areas more prone to abrasion is also a good thing. As you climb up the price range, you’ll start to see additional armor for the knuckles and other parts of your hands Take a look at these gloves: 10 Great Motorcycle Gloves For Under $100 Armored JacketWhile tons of old-timers will tell about how they grew up riding in jean jackets or classic leather jackets without armor, you don’t need to suffer like they did. Technology has progressed to the point that you can get tremendous impact protection at your elbows and shoulder – and sometimes even a back protector – for a remarkably low price. In the bargain price range, you’ll most likely be looking at textile jackets instead of leather. However, in recent years the availability and variety of textile riding gear has exploded. While inexpensive jackets usually lack premium features like waterproofing and removable liners, you can get a stylish jacket that will last you several years for just a couple hundred dollars (or less). Warm-Weather Jackets And Pants Buyers Guide Motorcycle BootsYou may wonder why boots are before riding pants since knees are just as vulnerable as elbows. The honest answer is that this is really a toss-up protection-wise, but boots also connect you to the ground when you’re at a stop. Riding in a pair of cowboy boots with leather soles may look cool; however, if you put one down in bit of oil at a gas station, you may find yourself picking up your bike. (Don’t ask me how I know this.) Motorcycle boots typically have grippy soles that help keep your feet in place on both the ground and the bike’s pegs. Additionally, they are much sturdier than sneakers and provide abrasion protection (and often armor) for your vulnerable ankles in a crash. While motorcycle boots that look more like high-top sneakers are gaining in popularity (and are frequently available at attractive prices), the height that the boots rise up your leg protects your shins from the surprisingly common impact from stones out on the highway. Look to these boots for inspiration: Warm-Weather Boot Buyers Guide Riding Pants/JeansBlue jeans and black leather jackets have been the unofficial motorcycle style for generations. While denim does offer a modicum of abrasion resistance, they do absolutely nothing in regards to protecting your knees from impacts. The number of riding jeans – complete with Kevlar abrasion protection and CE-approved armor – has blossomed over the past two or three years, and we motorcyclists can now protect ourselves without looking like we’re wearing a space suit out to dinner with friends. Riding jeans aren’t the only kind of protective pants you can buy. Textile over pants have been around for a long time. Then there’s the racy look of leather pants – though you will look silly stopping by the grocery store in them. The post New Rider: What Motorcycle Gear Do You Need? appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy May 16, 2018 at 05:32PM
Motorcycle News - INNOVV Announces K2 Motorcycle Camera System
https://ift.tt/2rLQZ1v Motorcycle.com has tested INNOVV camera systems in the past, and we’re looking forward to how the INNOVV K2 combines the dual cameras of the K1 and the weatherproofness of the C5. MO Tested: Innovv K1 Motorcycle Camera Review MO Tested: Innovv C5 Motorcycle Camera System Review Begin Press Release: Announcing INNOVV K2 Camera System INNOVV offers motorcyclists around the world a quality video recording system for their commute or adventures. Each INNOVV product is designed and developed with the specific challenges of motorcycling in mind. We carefully study all feedback from our clients. We add to this information the results from our detailed and comprehensive in-house testing. The result is the undeniably stylish yet very functional K2/C5 line. It is a fact that the INNOVV cameras are top-of the line and this fact is anchored in continuous innovation and meticulous manufacturing resulting in a durable, reliable, and tailor-made product. The K2 is a dual-channel set which is an upgrade of the popular K1 model. It features full HD (1080p) recording system, stylishly designed lenses and a DVR. The whole set is waterproof and offers a WiFi connection to a free smart-phone app. The K2 can record both the front and rear of your vehicle simultaneously. This assures a near 360 degree field of view with all of its advantages. Review live recordings & toggle device settings using the INNOVV App (available for iOS and Android). Use the instant playback feature while on the way or when sharing with friends. INNOVV K2 motorcycle camera system (Release planned for July 2018). Should you require more details our door is always open at www.innovv.com INNOVV Announces K2 Motorcycle Camera System appeared first on Motorcycle.com News. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy May 16, 2018 at 03:34PM
Motorcycle News - MotoGP Le Mans Preview 2018
https://ift.tt/2IriHb5 The 30th running of the Grand Prix de France at Le Mans – Round 5, for those of you keeping score at home – arrives at a critical time for the factory Yamaha team. Both Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales have been struggling with the YZR-M1 this year, searching in vain for feeling in the front and grip in the rear. Le Mans has been très Yamaha-friendly of late, M1s having gone three-for-three since 2015. Sunday would be a really good time for a replay. Last year at this time, Rossi and Viñales sat 1-2 in the standings, at 62 and 60 points respectively. (Marc Marquez, who had gotten off to a relatively slow start, was right there at 58 points.) This year, it’s Marquez and his formidable Repsol Honda at the head of the class with 70 points, atop Viñales in third (-20) and Rossi in sixth (-30). With super soph Johann Zarco sitting second on the Tech 3 Yamaha, a surprising Andrea Iannone fourth on the factory Suzuki, and hard luck Andrea Dovizioso fifth on the factory Ducati, it’s crowded at the top of the food chain. Not to mention Cal Crutchlow’s favorite rider, Cal Crutchlow, lurking a mere two points behind Rossi. Marquez’ dominant performance at Jerez pumped some unwanted air into the standings. Heading to Andalucía, the top five riders were separated by a mere eight points. Today it’s 24. With the factory Yamaha team struggling, bitching and moaning, it may be up to Monsieur Zarco to carry the flag for the Hamamatsu brand on Sunday. A win by Marquez here in Yamaha Land would send a chill through the entire paddock. Recent History at Le MansBack in 2015, on an idyllic Gallic afternoon, the Movistar Yamaha team delivered a clear message to Marc Marquez: any Catalan plotting a third consecutive world championship in 2015 would need to first dislodge The Boys in Blue. Jorge Lorenzo, in a replay of his cakewalk in Jerez the previous round, got away early and was never challenged. Rossi, starting on the third row, had to slice his way through several Andreas on Ducatis to secure his ninth podium in a row and 13th out of 14 dating back to 2014. Dovizioso whipped his GP15 to third place. It was a forgettable Sunday for the Repsol Honda team, as Marquez, wrestling the nasty 2015 Honda chassis, crossed the line fourth, while teammate Dani Pedrosa, just back from radical arm pump surgery, hung on to finish 16th. The record books will show that Jorge Lorenzo, who had announced his departure for Ducati at the end of the season, won the 2016 French Grand Prix by 10 seconds over teammate and rival Valentino Rossi. Maverick Viñales, starting to flex his muscles, did what no Suzuki rider since Loris Capirossi in 2009 had done – put a GSX-RR on the podium, thanks to eight riders crashing out in perfect conditions, three of whom probably would have beaten him. Michelin, the new tire supplier for MotoGP, had a miserable day, as the consensus in the paddock was that nobody was in control of their machines on that track with that rubber. Zarco was a debutante here last year, leading the race for the first six laps until Viñales stole his lunch money on Lap 7 and Rossi followed suit on Lap 23. Rossi, looking like his old self, went through on Viñales on Lap 26, but unaccountably laid it down on the last lap, to the dismay of those who still thought he had another championship in him. Rossi’s brain fade promoted Viñales to the win and Zarco to the second step of the podium. At the end of the day, rather than looking like his old self, Rossi simply looked old. With Marquez having gone walky on Lap 17, Dani Pedrosa was there to claim third place. Bits and PiecesIf the Marc VDS team weren’t the sorriest outfit on the grid, more people would be interested in the kerfuffle currently raging between owner Marc van der Straten and team manager Michael Bartholemy. Allegations of financial impropriety, meetings scheduled and cancelled, dueling press releases, etc. News outlets are reporting that interest in the team from Suzuki headquarters has cooled recently, due in part to the ongoing static. And while Honda is reportedly interested in keeping the team in its camp, for whatever reason, Yamaha appears to have the inside track to supply the team beginning in 2019. As an aside, rider Franco Morbidelli began to show signs of life at Jerez, having collected his first premier class top ten finish. Plenty of drama is emanating from the Ducati contingent, as the grossly underpaid Andrea Dovizioso is playing hardball on salary negotiations for 2019-2020. He has them over a barrel. Gigi “Unibrow” Dall’Igna, the Grand Gouda for the Italian factory, can’t wait to unload Jorge Lorenzo and therefore must sign Dovizioso. Dovi knows this, and is holding all the cards. Dall’Igna is quoted as saying the issue will be resolved by the Mugello round, making it sound like they will have a deal by then or it’s no deal. Right. Meanwhile, Dovi is busy wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. Dude’s bank account is gonna get laced. Poor Bradley Smith. Confronting the fact that he’s just not very fast, he seems to be trying to talk his way onto the Tech 3 KTM satellite team for next year. Team principal Herve Poncharal put that idea to rest this past week, pointing out that it makes no sense to put a (mediocre, tapped-out) veteran rider in a developmental role on a satellite team. Look for Bradley in Moto2 or World Superbike next year. If he’s not bagging groceries at your friendly local Piggly Wiggly grocery store. Your Weekend ForecastThe extended weather forecast for the Sarthe river region calls for dry, cool conditions all three days, with the warmest temps of the weekend, on Sunday only reaching the low 70s. We will assert this to be Yamaha weather, as the Hondas like it hot and the Ducatis like it wet. (The Suzuki, KTM and Aprilia riders are not fond of weather period, being averse to any and all conditions. Cool, warm, dry, wet – all present problems. This is patently unfair to the Suzuki team, where Andrea Iannone is resurrecting his career at the same time Alex Rins is demolishing his.) As for the race, we all know that predicting race results is a fool’s errand. Which is why I’m going to predict not one but two Yamahas on the podium. Rooting, as usual, for the championship to come down to a shootout in Valencia, I would enjoy seeing Zarco get his first win at home, followed by a factory Yamaha and Marc Marquez. Dovizioso deserves a good outcome, but I think Pedrosa will have trouble heating his tires. It would also be fun to watch Lorenzo and Crutchlow fighting it out for sixth place; the post-race interviews would be a conditional verb tense food fight. Check back on Sunday afternoon for results and analysis. Feel free to chime in on the DISQUS comments section below to confirm Allen’s Corollary to Newton’s third law – for every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism. The post MotoGP Le Mans Preview 2018 appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy May 16, 2018 at 02:46PM 5/16/2018 Fat Drunk and with a Backfiring Motorcycle is No Way to Go Through Life Son- Motorcycle News
Motorcycle News - Fat, Drunk and with a Backfiring Motorcycle is No Way to Go Through Life, Son
https://ift.tt/2KtvYAh A caller to the Harwich Police Department on Cape Cod, Mass, reported a disturbance involving guns, knives and shots fired last night, and the HPD swung into action, eventually also enlisting the aid of Cape Cod SWAT. Serious trouble indeed. The situation wound up being less dire than at first thought, however, and you can read the full account here at CapeCod.com. Fat, Drunk and with a Backfiring Motorcycle is No Way to Go Through Life, Son appeared first on Motorcycle.com News. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy May 16, 2018 at 12:00PM
Motorcycle News - TWO MUCH. JVB Moto’s BMW RnineT Racer
https://ift.tt/2GoqgNB Written by Marlon Slack Do you own a BMW RnineT Racer and have the orthopaedic bills to prove it? Well, we at Pipeburn know what it’s like to suffer for a bike that you love. But fear not, hunch-backed, broken-wristed readers – JVB-Moto are here to help. The German parts manufacturer have turned their trained eyes to the Racer and managed to make it more comfortable and even better looking. Feast your watering eyes on this, their latest creation they’ve dubbed ‘Two’. It’s been christened the ‘Two’ as it’s the second RnineT Jens Vom Brauck and his team have customised. The first was an ultra clean and simplified Scrambler. But Jens is always on the lookout for more projects and as soon as he spied the new Racer he fell in love – but he also spotted one major flaw with the bike right away. ‘The riding position is very uncomfortable,’ he says, ‘I think an English magazine voted it the most uncomfortable stock bike of all time’. Now that’s quite a claim when considering some crippling Italian race-spec bikes out there but there’s no two ways about it – the Racer has a back-aching, wrist-bending riding position that’s fine for the track, but a painful proposition on the road. Jens took this as an opportunity to sculpt some parts to try to shift the riding position. But while he was there, there were also some cosmetic changes to be made; ‘I liked the NineT Racer as soon as I saw it,’ he explains, ‘I just wanted it to look more clean, minimalist and aggressive’. First in line to cop the JVB treatment were a set of carbon fibre wheel covers. While there’s all sorts of rationale for such a modification – I’ve heard everything from keeping your spokes clean to increasing aerodynamic efficiency – in this case it’s entirely cosmetic. The covers help keep the bike looking unsimplified and give it a solid, grounded appearance. And above the front wheel sits the first of a host of new JVB-Moto parts, a tidy little new front fender. More new components are scattered throughout the bike, but not all of them are from JVB themselves. The ‘Two’ has a front LED light, new handlebars and top triple tree by LSL and tiny little LED indicators at the front and rear, while the engine benefits from a booming Arrow exhaust system. But Jen’s favourite part is their own design – a new airbox cover which is more angular and better matches the lines of the standard BMW fairing and their new seat. And that seat with its integrated tail light is one of the nicest aspects of the bike. It looks like it could be stock but there’s some subtle changes that make it work with the lines of the racer. ‘The design is more or less similar,’ Jens admits, ‘but it has harder edges to match the fairing. Every surface, every angle and every detail was redone to fit the R9T’s racer lines, tail frame and fuel tank.’ And it allows the Racer to be ridden for more than a few hours at a time. ‘It’s not only higher, but it allows you to sit further forward. It makes for a much more comfortable riding position.’ “And that seat with its integrated tail light is one of the nicest aspects of the bike.” Being a parts designer and manufacturer has many challenges for the team at JVB-Moto. ‘Building a one-off custom bike is one thing, but getting parts into production for a kit is another,’ Jens says. ‘It takes a lot more effort to build every part with the idea of making it reproducible and bolt-on. No cutting or welding on the frame and everything has to be super solid and road legal. And in the end you have to find somebody who can build the part and deliver it for a price that makes sense for me and my distribution partner KEDO and the customer…’ But BMW RnineT Racer owners should rejoice. They’ve got an incredible looking seat that’ll go a long way to making the Racer an all-day proposition and a front fender and airbox cover that suit the standard bike much better. A custom that’s not only better looking but is more comfortable than stock is nothing to scoff at. The last twelve months have heralded some big changes for Jens and the JVB-Moto team. After fifteen years they’ve moved to a bigger workshop that, while significantly less cool and ‘rustic’ than their last premises now features heating and actual room to move around. So keep an eye on what rolls out of their workshop in the coming year. What bike do you think they should focus on next? Motorcycles via Pipeburn.com http://www.pipeburn.com May 16, 2018 at 08:27AM
Motorcycle News - MotoAmerica Announces Additional Wells Fargo Manufacturers Cup
https://ift.tt/2jZrC8N MotoAmerica has just announced the Wells Fargo Manufacturers Cup, a championship within a championship, to the 2018 season. Wells Fargo’s involvement with MotoAmerica is part of a bigger agenda to help grow motorcycling from an angle you perhaps wouldn’t expect. Wells Fargo also sponsors the United States Motorcycle Coaching Association (USMCA) in an effort to increase motorcycle interest and awareness. MotoAmerica: A Separate Championship to Showcase the COSTA MESA, CA – May 15, 2018 – MotoAmerica has announced the Wells Fargo Manufacturers Cup, a championship within a championship to distinguish the most successful overall manufacturer in the 2018 MotoAmerica Series. Manufacturers in the series will earn points based on its top finishing position in each class. The points will be added up during the season and at season’s end the manufacturer with the most points will be honored as the Wells Fargo Manufacturers Cup winner at the year-end MotoAmerica banquet. “Wells Fargo CDF is honored to be selected as a premier corporate sponsor of MotoAmerica for 2018,” said Jeremy Jansen, Motorsports President at Wells Fargo CDF. “Our sponsorship of MotoAmerica, along with our recent sponsorship with the United States Motorcycle Coaching Association (USMCA), is a demonstration of Wells Fargo’s commitment to the growth of motorcycling. As an industry, we have the ability to collectively increase interest, visibility and ridership in this exhilarating sport.” The points system used for the Wells Fargo Manufacturers Cup is the same as the points system used for each class championship: 1st – 25 points, 2nd – 20 points, 3rd – 16 points, 4th – 13 points, 5th – 11 points, 6th – 10 points, 7th – 9 points, 8th – 8 points, 9th – 7 points, 10th – 6 points, 11th – 5 points, 12th – 4 points, 13th – 3 points, 14th – 2 points and 15th – 1 point. For example, if Manufacturer A finishes first and third in a Motul Superbike race, they will earn 25 points for the first-place finish. If Manufacturer B finishes fifth and 12th, they will earn 11 points for the fifth-place finish. “The Wells Fargo Manufacturers Cup is another way for a manufacturer to stand out from the rest for their effort and success in the MotoAmerica Series,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “It will be fun to watch it as the year goes forward with an eye toward crowning the manufacturer that stands out when the season ends at Barber Motorsports Park in September.” The Wells Fargo Manufacturers Cup is more heavily weighted on the premier MotoAmerica Motul Superbike Championship by virtue of it having more rounds than the other four classes. After three rounds for Motul Superbike and two rounds for the remaining four classes, the Wells Fargo Manufacturers Cup is currently led by Yamaha with 341 points to 268 points for Suzuki and 147 points for Kawasaki. MotoAmerica Announces Additional Wells Fargo Manufacturers Cup appeared first on Motorcycle.com News. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy May 15, 2018 at 10:52PM
Motorcycle News - Indian Scout FTR750 Secures Second Consecutive AFT Podium Sweep
https://ift.tt/2Imep4v Seven Indian FTR750s qualified for the Main Event at the Arizona Mile, and all of them finished within the top 10, including a second consecutive all-Indian podium sweep. If we didn’t know any better, we’d say the Indian is the machine to beat! Indian Motorcycle: Wrecking Crew Riders Jared Mees, Brad Baker & Indian Motorcycle Privateer Henry Wiles Finish 1-2-3 at Arizona Mile PHOENIX, AZ – May 14, 2018 – Indian Motorcycle Racing continued its dominance in American Flat Track, as Wrecking Crew riders Jared Mees, Brad Baker and Indian Motorcycle privateer Henry Wiles finish 1-2-3, respectively. The Arizona Mile marked consecutive races of an all-Indian Scout FTR750 podium. After edging out Baker in Semi 1, Mees earned the first starting position and selected the outside spot on the front line of the Main. Mees held the first-place position in to turn one and never looked back, lengthening his lead and ultimately lapping through the 11th-place rider. Wiles aligned next to Mees, while Baker strategically selected the outside starting position on the second line. Baker made several passes early to gain control of the second-place spot, while Wiles battled for the final podium position through all 20 laps. “It was a long day on a tough track, so to be leaving the first mile of the season with a win is huge,” said Mees. “I cannot thank my team enough for continuing to have my Indian Scout FTR750 dialed in.” Seven Indian Scout FTR750s made the Main, with all seven finishing in the top 10. Davis Fisher (Double D Performance), Robbie Pearson (R/J Performance), Chad Cose (Indian Motorcycle of OKC) and Jeffrey Carver Jr. (Roof Systems, Indian of Metro Milwaukee) finished sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively. “Our factory and privateer riders continue to perform and compete at a high level,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology & Service for Indian Motorcycle. “As we hit a stretch of Miles, we’re excited for Bryan Smith’s return next week in Sacramento. The ‘mile master’ will surely give the competition a run for their money.” Indian Wrecking Crew rider Bryan Smith, who missed his second consecutive race with a broken left fibula, plans to return at the Sacramento Mile on May 19. Smith has won at Sacramento for the past seven years in a row and hopes to return to the track and extend his win streak to eight. For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, backed by Allstate Insurance, the Indian Wrecking Crew and Scout FTR750, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. For information on purchasing a Scout FTR750, please contact Racing@IndianMotorcycle.com. Indian Scout FTR750 Secures Second Consecutive AFT Podium Sweep appeared first on Motorcycle.com News. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy May 15, 2018 at 10:36PM
Motorcycle News - Dunlop Geomax MX33 First Ride Impression
https://ift.tt/2k1wjzd There comes a point in every motorcyclist’s life when they reach a certain level and realize that tires aren’t all created equal. I’ve owned and ridden on just about every major manufacturer’s off-road offerings, but I never really gave too much thought to tire selection beyond condition type and price point. I always figured, if the knobbies still had a decent edge, I was getting about as much traction as I could get. I just chalked the faster guys up to being better, more skilled riders – which is true of course – but I didn’t realize how much of a difference a particular tire could make until one of my riding buddies, an ex-Factory Honda rider from the late ‘80s/early ‘90s, told me to check out the Dunlop Geomax MX3S. That was three years ago, and I haven’t used a different tire since, in the front anyhow. It was a revelation. All of a sudden, it felt like I had more traction than ever before, and my confidence and speed began to increase almost instantly as a result. I could push the front harder and deeper into a turn, and it would stick better than others in the past. In the rear, I would usually run the 3S as well, or sometimes the MX52 (Dunlop’s intermediate to hard terrain tire) for more durability in the desert, trails or anywhere off the track, but my rears were mostly whatever I could get my hands on. Just when I thought I had all the traction and performance a rider could get, Dunlop releases the Geomax MX33, the successor to the MX3S. To better understand how and why the MX33 was developed, we need to talk about the 3S predecessor a little bit more. Be it Supercross or Outdoor Nationals, the Geomax MX3S has been the tire choice of just about every top amateur or pro rider in the AMA circuit since it was launched in 2014. According to Dunlop, 90-95% of riders that qualified into Supercross main events since the tire’s release were running the 3S. Additionally, 80% of the best amateur riders in the U.S. competing at the 2017 Loretta Lynn Amateur Nationals chose the MX3S, and 36 out of the 36 individual class championships were won on this tire. With these types of statistics, no other tire manufacturer even comes close. Clearly, Dunlop is onto something. So, how does Dunlop improve on arguably the best tire already on the market? “To make a change to something so successful, and to improve on it is definitely a challenge. But we feel like we did that with the 33,” said Broc Glover, Dunlop’s Senior Off-Road Motorcycle Manager. “We have access to every factory team, every factory-supported team and every top team out there. All the way from the Jason Andersons, Marvin Musquins and Eli Tomacs, to the Pro Circuit, Star Racing and Geico Honda Teams, we have all these top teams and engineers – the best riders and smartest minds in our sport. We have access to feedback from them, how the tires do on each brand or size of bike, and data from different conditions over 17 rounds of Supercross and 12 Outdoor Nationals. So, we would be fools not to take advantage of the input from the world’s fastest riders and their technicians.” There were two main areas in which Dunlop wanted to improve upon the MX3S: First and foremost was durability, and second was overall incremental improvements in performance based on all the feedback the company received over the years. The MX3S was designed for use in soft to intermediate terrain, but due to its outstanding performance and popularity, most riders (myself included) have been using it as their go-to all-around tire for all types of riding conditions, including rockier, desert type terrain that often times has lots of sharp edges and rough surfaces that can quickly shred tires. Knowing when to replace the front 3S was easy. As soon as the outer knobbies began to shear away from the carcass (or tear off completely), you knew you were due. Depending on how aggressively you ride, unfortunately, this would often happen before the rest of the middle knobbies showed signs of comparable wear. This was usually a bummer because sometimes the tire was toast before the orange lines wore off completely. But again, this was usually due to the fact that I’d run the 3S in terrain it wasn’t exactly designed for. Can’t we just have it all? To combat this, the MX33 features not only an all-new tread pattern, but more importantly, its patented Progressive Cornering Block Design (more commonly known as Block-In-A-Block technology) as well as tie-bars between the middle to outer knobs. Dunlop has used Block-In-A-Block technology for years now in its rear tires, but the MX33 is the first tire to incorporate it in the front. Not only is the new inner diamond-shaped block larger, which adds more surface area and two additional angles to improve traction, but the tie-bars also provide higher resistance against tearing when ridden on rougher terrain. With these changes, Dunlop created a tire with a greater range of capabilities. Additionally, the MX33 also incorporates a new rubber compound with a higher molecular weight polymer to improve the tire’s durability and a carbon micro-particle to increase its grip. Now we’re talking. The new Geomax MX33 also features what Dunlop calls Multiple Block Distribution, which has altered the knob distribution over the outgoing 3S. In addition to creating an aggressive look, Multiple Block Distribution technology increases the number of knobs on the shoulders and center of the tires, and also varies the height and angles of the knobs within the tread pattern. Dunlop says this translates to more biting edges and more traction, creating superior grip and increased handling performance over the MX3S. While these changes certainly alter the look of the MX33 compared to the MX3S from the outside, Dunlop engineers tweaked the new 33’s internal carcass underneath the tread, using a process they call Advanced Apex Design. The new construction of the front and rear tires incorporates the same sidewall material used in the MX3S, however the MX33’s design features a taller, thinner apex within the sidewall. Dunlop says that, without adding weight, this construction delivers superior shock absorption, more uniform rigidity in the sidewall, and a smoother ride with firmer feel. With this new design, Dunlop optimizes the distribution of tension of the components so the tire absorbs more shock, but flexes when necessary to smooth out ride characteristics, allowing the bike to track in a straighter line. All these improvements sound great on paper, but how do the MX33 tires actually perform when the rubber meets the dirt? We were invited to Zaca Station to find out. Located in the rolling hills of Santa Barbara’s wine country, Zaca is about as close to moto-nirvana as you can get. The dirt there is a combination of a soft, sandy soil on top of a harder, more slippery base, and there’s no easier way to feel like a hero off-road than with a wall of fresh rubber driving you. In the morning, when the track is fresh and lines are yet to get burned in, the track’s top layer can sometimes be tough to navigate depending on how finely or coarsely its been tilled, meaning you can often times get pushed around with a vague feeling in the front until lines get more established. It’s in this type of terrain where I’ve always struggled the most because I’ve never been one to just lay it over and let it rip. I grew up in the Pennsylvania woods riding mostly trails and GNCC type courses with rocks and roots to contend with, so I’ve always considered myself to be more of a technical rider rather than one to just pin it and let it all hang out. I prefer to choose my lines more deliberately, using the terrain’s features to deflect off of and use to my advantage. In this softer stuff, The MX33 front really lets you knife through and steer wherever you want, even with steeper lean angles before any sort of ruts or berms begin to form. Multiple times I found that when I felt the front start to push through a turn, whether it be due to soft or loose terrain, or the application of too much front brake while leaned, the MX33 would dig in and regain its composure (or perhaps more accurately, my composure). This was always something I loved about the MX3S, and I feel like the front tire’s ability to regain traction like this really inspires confidence in the dirt. Though I only have a few hours of seat time on the MX33, my initial feeling is that the 33 is able to bite even harder with its outer knobs due to their Block-In-A-Block construction. It felt like those added raised angles allowed me to push my own limits in the soft stuff a little further than what I’m accustomed to. Once actual lines started to form, I found that the front tracks really well, too, especially when transitioning from the smoother, cut in lines to the fresher, more virgin ones. If I was on an outside line and wanted to cut across to the inside, or vice versa, I was able to do so with very little to no twitchiness whatsoever in traversing the different terrain. Steering from the smoother dirt across and into the untouched stuff, the MX33 kept the bike pointed right where I wanted it, which is pretty awesome and confidence inspiring as a resuly, particularly when passing a slower rider riding in the main line. I also found the front MX33 to be more composed in the hard pack too. I noticed it mostly on drier surfaces like jump faces. I felt way more comfortable and confident carving up the jumps and taking off at an angle as opposed to trying to hit them more squarely before. Additionally, harder braking in firmer conditions is improved over the MX3S as well. As you get on the brakes and the force squishes the front tire down, the tie-bars keep the tire from flattening and folding over as much. Of course, this depends largely on how much pressure you like to run, but Dunlop has actually found that most riders are beginning to prefer to run 13.5 to 14 psi in the front MX33 compared to 12 to 13 psi before. This is largely due to the increased shoulder bite and more consistent and linear tire flex due to the addition of tie-bars. In the rear, I found the MX33 to hook up nicely, too. Straight-line traction is great, which keeps your front end nice and light under hard acceleration, making getting over the bumps and rollers easy, but the biggest advantage I found was on the gas while leaned over. The MX33 rear, to me, felt more planted and it tracked in a straighter, more predictable fashion than the 3S. I don’t know if it necessarily felt stiffer, as the taller, tapered sidewall construction would suggest, but it definitely communicated less skatiness while on the throttle which helped me power harder through a sweeping turn and focus on the next obstacle. I really enjoyed the planted feel the 33 rear delivered, but rear tire choice is more subjective from rider to rider. I know some guys who prefer to slide the rear around more, whether it be brake sliding or simply steering with the gas. Like I mentioned before, I like to be a little more deliberate and smooth with my line choice, so I really dig the way the MX33 bites and hooks up with less fear of it stepping out on me. Dunlop engineers and test riders have found a good balance to keep all riders happy. Dunlop Senior Test Engineer, Clark Stiles sums it up nicely: “Proper grip characteristics are key: too much bite doesn’t allow you to slide or brake slide as needed; too little traction doesn’t return enough control when you want the bike to slide in a predictable manner. The goal was to create a well-adjusted amount of traction, absorbability, handling and slide control without compromising on durability. We were able to do that with the MX33.” All in all, I think Dunlop took a great product, improved upon it and raised the performance bar. Having only one ride on the MX33 tires so far, durability is obviously yet to be tested, but you can expect us to report back on that at a later time. The Geomax MX33 is currently available for purchase through all the major tire retailers and dealerships with a size for every type of bike. Additionally, Dunlop has also introduced a new 120/90-19 size as well (Ken Roczen’s tire of choice), a slightly taller tire than the 120/80-19, which aims to help even more with bump absorption. I’m looking forward to testing the MX33 at different tracks with various types of dirt as well as off-road in the desert and on the trails to see how it holds up and performs. In the meantime, it’s definitely safe to say you won’t be disappointed if you choose to wrap your wheels with some 33s.
Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy May 15, 2018 at 08:13PM |
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