19 minute read
THE PRESS ROOM
THE PRESS ROOM INDUSTRY NEWS
REPSOL CBR1000RRS AUCTIONED FOR CHARITY
Advertisement
HONDA IS DONATING THREE ZERO-MILE REPSOL CBR1000RRS TO BE AUCTIONED BY ICONIC MOTORBIKES, BENEFITING THE PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION’S RIDE FOR KIDS.
Iconic Motorbikes will facilitate the auction of three Honda Repsol CBR1000RRs on behalf of American Honda. Honda, celebrating its 30th year as the presenting sponsor of the Ride for Kids, is donating the trio of Fireblades from its private collection to benefit the charity.
The three Repsol CBR1000RRs are model years 2005, 2007 and 2009.
Here are a few quick notes about the Honda CBR1000RR: • The CBR1000RR was initially offered in 2004, replacing the CBR954RR, and the inaugural special-edition Repsol version arrived in 2005. • The 2007 Repsol Honda CBR1000RR came just after Nicky Hayden’s 2006 MotoGP title. • The 2009 special edition of the CBR1000RR is the only second-generation version, following the model’s 2008 overhaul.
The auction is scheduled for September 3 through 10. All three bikes have zero miles and are being auctioned off individually.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s Ride for Kids is an annual event and on September 12, riders across the nation will join forces on a single day to support the 28,000 children and teens living in the United States with a brain tumor or central nervous system tumor. The ride is the longest-running charitable motorcycle ride in the U.S. For more information and to register to participate, visit www.rideforkids.org.
COREY ALEXANDER RELEASES LIMITED EDITION WINE MOTODOFF TINTO VENTITRE IS A LIMITED EDITION RED WINE, A PRODUCT OF A COLLABORATION BETWEEN COREY ALEXANDER AND DOFFO WINERY.
HONOS HVMC Racing Superbike racer Corey Alexander has teamed up with the Temecula, California-based Doffo Winery to offer a limited edition red wine blend simply titled, "Tinto Ventitre". Tinto Ventitre is Italian for "dyed 23", 23 being Corey Alexander's race number.
The collaboration is part of Doffo's motorcycleinspired MotoDoffo wine collection. The bottle label is spotlighted by unique artwork, designed by Art For Petrolheads, that features Corey Alexander in action on his #23 HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
"The first time I visited Doffo Winery I thought maybe I was in heaven. The wine was obviously amazing, but being amongst fellow motorcycle enthusiasts and beautiful bikes makes it a surreal setting! After getting to know Damian (Damian Doffo, CEO and Winemaker) more personally, we share a lot of similarities. I was born and raised in a motorcycle dealership and love wine. He was born and raised on a winery and loves motorcycles! I'm so excited to bring the two together through this collaboration and I hope everyone else enjoys it too". - Corey Alexander.
MotoDoffo Tinto Ventitre is available for purchase in person at the winery or online. Enjoy responsibly.
KTM RC 8C - KTM'S TRACK WEAPON
MAKE NO MISTAKE. THE LIMITED-EDITION 309-POUND KTM RC 8C WAS ENGINEERED FOR AND IS DEDICATED TO TRACK PERFORMANCE, FROM NOSE TO TAIL AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
Make no mistake. The limited-edition 309-pound KTM RC 8C was engineered for and is dedicated to track performance, from nose to tail and everything in between.
Powered by the LC8 engine from the 890 DUKE R, the KTM RC 8C is a limited edition race prototype machine. Employing rich performance components, the RC 8C is being offered to the public, granting an opportunity to own a motorcycle that is as pretty damn close to a factory MotoGP bike, as possible,
without selling both of your kidneys.
Inside the RC 8C's kevlar reinforced GRP bodywork is a hand-built steel tubular frame that houses the 128 hp, 889 cc LC8c, DOHC, 8 valve, parallel-twin engine.
At the front end of the RC 8C, the suspension consists of a pair of 43 mm WP APEX PRO 7543 closed cartridge forks, assembled in the same manner as the KTM RC16 GP machine. At the rear, you'll find a WP APEX PRO 7746 shock with preload adjustability.
Brake duty falls upon Brembo race-spec Stylema front calipers with 290mm fully floating discs with aluminum rotors and titanium screws. The front setup is accompanied by a Brembo 19RCS CORSA CORTA radial master cylinder. The back brake setup consists of a Brembo two-piston caliper with a 230mm floating disc.
For data acquisition, the KTM RC 8C offers the services of the AIM MXS 1.2 RACE dashboard and data logger with an integrated GPS function. Data is displayed via a 5 inch TFT read-out.
Tipping the scales at 309 pounds, the RC 8C is outfitted with an Akrapovic titanium exhaust and aluminum Dymag wheels.
Production is limited to only 100 units, worldwide, with an MSRP of $38,999. Pre-order sales go live at 16:00 CEST on July 22.
To sweeten the offering, 25 customers that purchase the new KTM RC 8C will be offered a chance to join the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team at a special KTM RC 8C race track experience at Circuito de Jerez.
Customers that opt-in for the KTM RC 8C race track experience will also receive the KTM RC 8C race track package that includes: an additional set of Dymag wheels (front and rear), extra front and rear brake discs, paddock stands, tire warmers and a KTM race carpet.
2022 CB300R FROM HONDA HONDA POWERSPORTS RELEASES THE 2022 VERSION OF THE CB300R, ITS ENTRYLEVEL CAFE-STYLED, SPORT-NAKED BIKE EQUIPPED WITH ABS.
Harley-The Honda CB300R is returning for the 2022 model year. Engineered as an entrylevel ride, the 31.5-inch seat height and the 317-pound wet weight makes the CB300R very manageable to new riders.
The CB300R employs a 286 cc liquid-cooled, 20-degree single-cylinder four-stroke engine. The suspension consists of a pair of 41 mm telescopic front forks that offer 5.1 inches of travel. In the rear, a single Pro-Link single shock offers 4.2 inches of travel.
A single front 296 mm front disc and single rear 220 mm disc with hydraulic actuation make up the ABS (with IMU) brake system of the 2022 Honda CB300R.
The 2022 Honda CB300R, equipped with ABS will be available in a Matte Pearl Blue color option and have an MSRP of $4,949.00.
THE PAN AMERICA 1250 SPECIAL SNATCHES THE #1 SPOT
HARLEY-DAVIDSON'S PAN AMERICA 1250 SPECIAL IS THE #1 ADV BIKE IN NORTH AMERICA. Sales for the Harley-Davidson Pan America have been impressive since the motorcycle was launched in February of 2021. The Milwaukee outfit is reporting that it's Pan America 1250 Special is the number one selling adventure touring motorcycle in North America.
“Taking inspiration from our heritage, we wanted to create a motorcycle that redefined the adventure touring category and most importantly was designed and built in America. With the Pan America Special now the #1 selling ADV motorcycle model in North America, we targeted a selective expansion into adventure touring as part of the Hardwire Strategy with the goal to reach new and existing Harley-Davidson customers. Pan America is squarely built on our mission to deliver a timeless pursuit of adventure for our riders. Those who now own or have tested one of our Pan America’s absolutely love this bike - having sold out of our 2021 allocation, we are excited about what the future has in store for Pan America and for the Adventure Touring category at Harley-Davidson.” - Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, CEO and President, HarleyDavidson.
20 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | AUGUST 2021
OTHER AVAILABLE COLORS
MSRP@ $244.99 SIZES: SM THRU 3XL
TO FIND YOUR LOCAL DEALER VISIT:
WHERE R WORLD MEETS YOURS.
2021 RWORLD LOGO
2022 YZF® -R7
A new generation Supersport for the next generation of rider. The all-new YZF-R7 combines Yamaha’s legendary styling with an ultra-thin and lightweight chassis and an advanced CP2 engine that provides torquey performance on both the track and the street.
YamahaMotorsports.com
TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE1200
AT 177 HP, AND 436.5 POUNDS, THE NEW TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1200 RS HAS A VERY SPORTY DESIGN AND IS EQUIPPED WITH HIGH-QUALITY COMPONENTS. WITH THE NEW SPEED TRIPLE, TRIUMPH IS CATCHING UP WITH THE CURRENT HYPER-NAKED BIKE FIELD. BUT HOW DOES IT PERFORM IN EVERYDAY RIDING AND TOURING?
1200RS
WORDS: JULIANE EGER IMAGES: TRIUMPH
WHEN YOU FIRST sit on the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS, you immediately notice how light and narrow this totally redesigned bike has become. It almost feels like a Street Triple. And compared to its predecessor, the Speed Triple 1050, it weighs 22 pounds less and looks significantly more compact. The handlebars are 0.5 inches wider, and the footpeg position has moved inwards. The new footpeg positioning lessens the tendency to drag your pegs during corning, a problem that plagued the old model. The design language of the new Speed Triple draws definite parallels with its little sister the Street Triple.
On your way through the city, the new Hypernaked can be ridden comfortably and quietly, but at low speeds, you'll notice that the on/off throttle transition isn't so smooth, which can cause harsh transitions between acceleration and deceleration. Once you arrive on country roads, the fun really begins. The engine pulls well from down below and doesn't stop pushing you forward until you hit the rev limiter at 11,150 rpm. An absolute pleasure in every speed range, She is good-natured and predictable, and faithfully follows the line that you desire. All while being serenaded by the awesome sound of the big threecylinder engine.
The large triple engine was already a dream to ride in its original 1050 form. Now it has been redeveloped from the ground up and has been given a bump in displacement, more power and more torque: 1,160 cc, 180 PS / 177.5 bhp at 10,750 rpm and 92 lb-ft / 125 Nm at 9,000 rpm. The engine alone weighs 15 pounds less than the previous iteration
while simultaneously being more compact. With so much power and a curb weight of only 437 pounds, you may not notice the more subtle design changes the engineers worked into the 1200 Speed Triple. The center of gravity was shifted downwards and further forwards, while the swingarm was lengthened to increase traction and balance.
The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS comes with a comprehensive electronics package. It uses the Continental MIB-EVO ABS modular, with an integrated 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) that enables Cornering ABS, Cornering Traction Control and Wheelie Control. These features can also be individually adapted in the five different riding modes: Road, Sport and Rain Mode (Rain being limited to 100 hp) can be selected while riding, while Track and User Mode can only be selected through the menu while stopped. Only the most important information is shown in the 5-inch display. It looks very tidy and is easy to read despite the unit being placed quite far forwards. The menu with all further information and gadgets, such as phone connectivity and GoPro control, opens at the push of a button by moving the tachometer.
The Keyless Ride system, which comes standard, can be supremely convenient. I personally prefer a conventional key though, as there are no embarrassing moments in which the key is not recognized immediately - which happened to me twice in one day - and your riding buddies ride away without you. Also, the tactile feel of the key clicking into the “On” position always gets my heart beating a little faster.
A TRUE “ALL IN ONE” STYLE BIKE, THAT YOU’LL WANT TO TAKE OUT OF YOUR GARAGE EVERY CHANCE YOU GET.
A Quickshifter (up and down) is also installed as standard, which works great even under partial load. This feature makes spirited riding on the road even more fun. When arriving at the switchbacks, you may again notice the issue with the bike’s reaction load changes at low speeds, regardless of which mapping you have selected. The response behavior is quite harsh at low speeds and there is a jolt when rolling on or off the gas. This issue becomes less prevalent as you move from narrow serpentines to longer faster sweepers.
The high-quality Öhlins chassis has a very tight basic setup. The NIX30 upside-down fork and the TTX36 twin tube monoshock are obviously designed for hard braking and aggressive acceleration maneuvers like those that take place on the racetrack. Both the front and rear can be adjusted in preload, compression and rebound. On sections of the road with bad asphalt, I can clearly feel the bumps due to the stiff setting, but the impacts are not so bad as to shake your whole body. Some time spent playing with damping settings could see this issue fully resolved.
If necessary, the velocity of the Speed Triple can be radically decelerated with the noble brake hardware at the front and rear, from Brembo. When applying the front brake, the rear is also automatically actuated as well by the intelligent linked braking system. This was easily noticed on our test machine as it had a slightly squeaky rear brake When pulling only the front brake lever, you could hear the rear brake squeaking as the linked braking system applied pressure to the rear as well.
THE LARGE TRIPLE ENGINE WAS ALREADY A DREAM TO RIDE IN ITS ORIGINAL 1050 FORM. NOW IT HAS BEEN REDEVELOPED FROM THE GROUND UP AND HAS BEEN GIVEN A BUMP IN DISPLACEMENT, MORE POWER AND MORE TORQUE:
The Metzeler Racetec RR tires, that come stock on the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS, are known to meet super sporty demands. This tire has a positive effect on handling and certainly sticks like chewing gum on the racetrack and at high temperatures. Even in the cooler morning temperatures, you’ll be surprised at the level of grip achieved at road temps of around 50° F.
If you want to ride longer tours with the new Speedy, you can look forward to the standard cruise control and the very comfortable seat. In general, the seating position is sporty but less radical than other Hyper-Naked bikes. The knee angle is comfortable for myself and at 5’6’’ I can reach the ground with the balls of my feet, so when maneuvering I am happy about the low weight of the vehicle. The Speed Triple 1200 RS is available in the US from $18,300. In contrast to the Street Triple, there is no slimmed-down and cheaper version. Only the RS with the noble equipment and in two color variants: Sapphire Black with red and silver elements, and Matt Silver Ice with black, silver and yellow details. 35 accessories are available from the factory, including a flyscreen, tire pressure monitor, bags and much more. No other exhaust is available from Triumph.
The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS is easy to handle in everyday life, a strong and sporty fun machine on the country road exit, a sporty, comfortable naked bike on the longer tour and certainly a rocket on the racetrack. A true “all in one” style bike, that you’ll want to take out of your garage every chance you get.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER S
WORDS: PETER JACKSON IMAGES: BRIAN J. NELSON, KEVIN WING
THE 2021 MODEL year will go down as one of if not the most important years in Harley-Davidson's history. Not only has the Bar and Shield delivered their first-ever adventure motorcycle in the Pan America, they’ve also given their most sacred name a proper going over in the all-new Sportster S.
Both the Sportster and the Pan Am share Harley’s brilliant Revolution Max 1250T 60 degree V-twin, although in Sportster-guise the torque has been moved further down the rev range and peak power is about 30 hp less. Sporting double overhead cams, variable valve timing, dual counterbalancers and a 30 degree crank pin offset, this is not your average Harley-Davidson motor. A claimed 121 hp and 94 lb-ft of torque is on offer, with the motor now a fully stressed member of the chassis to dramatically increase chassis stiffness and cornering prowess.
There’s next to nothing carried over from previous models on the 2021 Sportster S. You’re graced with fully adjustable Showa suspension up front and a fully adjustable shock out the back; a full suite of rider aids including traction control, antiwheelie, ABS, engine brake and cruise control; a mammoth 160/70TR17 front tire and a (sadly) single disc front brake set-up that includes a Brembo monobloc caliper that provides adequate — although not impressive — braking power.
I had the chance to test out the 2021 Harley-Davidson Sportster S at the national launch in Los Angeles and came away impressed in some areas, but not others. First, the good stuff.
Harley-Davidson should be congratulated for building the Revolution Max 1250T motor. The Motor Company has a truly great power unit on its hands here — the performance is miles ahead of even recent Harley’s with a lovely smooth throttle response and excellent mid-range punch. Playing between 3000 - 7000 rpm is great fun as you’re always met with enough forward momentum to either get you out of trouble or push you into the next straight, although the gearbox action isn’t as good as the motor in the shifts still are not as smooth as I’d have liked for a $14,999 MSRP machine.
The performance of the motor naturally gives off a bit of heat, which is compounded by the fact the exhaust runs right under your leg. The catalytic convertor sits just below the rear cylinder head and unless you’ve got plenty of airflow happening, you’re going to get a very toasty leg by the end of the ride. This design cue is a tradeoff from Harley’s flat track racing program. The exhaust (in my opinion) looks great, but the tradeoff in heat for me is not worth it. I’d have preferred a lower exiting pipe just for a bit of slow speed comfort.
Much talk has been splattered across internet forums of late regarding the two inches of rear suspension travel you get on the Sportster S. It’s not a lot and, I can assure you, it doesn’t feel like much when you’re riding, either. Sharp
edged bumps are met with your anus hitting your tailbone as you take the full whack of suspension compression, making inner city rides over crappy road surfaces rather unpleasant.
Shift your attention to fast, smooth backroads, however, and the Sportster S makes a lot more sense. Long, low and uberstable, the Sportster S will get down and boogie in the canyons in a way that belies its stature. You’ve got 34 degrees of lean angle here — not much — but learn to hang off the bike and keep it upright more and it’s surprising how hard you can hustle the machine along.
The forward-mount controls are not my favorite as they stop the rider from getting in the attack position for sports riding, which is a little odd to say considering it’s called a “Sportster”. They also make it hard to get your butt off the seat for the
impeding potholes. Harley makes mid-mount controls as part of their aftermarket range and after 10 miles of trying them out, I was convinced they were the right way to go despite making the ride position a little more cramped.
I’ve got to be honest and say I feel the Sportster S is a bit onedimensional for my tastes. This is a machine that will appeal to a very certain type of rider, and if that’s you, you’ll have a great time on it. It’s a fun machine when put in the right situations like in canyons at Angeles Crest in Los Angeles, but those times don’t happen as often as a general commute through the city.
Regardless, the cultural shift is firmly in swing at HarleyDavidson. Under the guise of new CEO, Jochen Zeitz of Germany, the Motor Company is pushing full steam ahead with a bunch of new products we’ll see in the next few years. Hopefully, there’s a naked bike in that near future bearing this Revolution Max 125T motor.
Harley-Davidson’s here and ready to party in 2021. It’ll be a wild ride to see where we go.
