Tag Archives: kawasaki

AIMExpo 2014 Race Bikes: Sykes, Hayes, and Rossi

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One of the greatest sights at any expo, convention, or race event is the opportunity to see the pure racing machines up close.  The ability to take in every nuance of the machines from any angle you want.  Not just restricted to the views given by TV and print coverage.  Especially the GP prototype bikes that you can’t simply go to a dealership or a track day to see a similar setup.

Though they may not be the machines that are currently being ridden by the associated riders, they are probably a previous year’s model or a very close replica.  Either way, you can still see the same exact parts that are on the track with the current running setups.

Valentino Rossi – Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP

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MotoGP bikes are impressive.  Basically the Formula1 equivalent for motorcycles, they are fast and ultra light.  Also, with prototype parts and electronics, they are also quite expensive (Honda’s RC213V gearbox is a million dollar unit alone!).  I’m always impressed seeing the massive amount of custom carbon fiber bits.  The rear sprockets are so thin that it’s incredible how they can withstand the 250+ horsepower over a race length.  Massive and thick carbon front brakes to bring them down from 210+mph to corner entry speeds.  Exposed dry clutches.  And of course, the best available suspension components from companies like Ohlins, and the Brembo brake calipers that can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars.  Valentino Rossi

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The GP bikes are certainly a sight to behold for any race fan.

Josh Hayes – AMA Pro Superbike Champion – Monster Graves Yamaha YZF-R1

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Being an R1 owner myself, I personally love to see what modifications the teams make and what might be available to install on my own bike.  Unlike MotoGP, Superbike and Supersport series rules generally keep the motorcycles moderately close to the bike you can purchase from the showroom floor.  Of course they have a ton of development and fine tuning, but most components can be bought by anybody for the right price. Josh Hayes is a dominant force in American roadracing, so it’s always great to see what he is riding.

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Tom Sykes – FIM World Superbike Champion – Kawasaki ZX-10R

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Last but certainly not least, the Kawasaki ZX-10R of Tom Sykes, the reigning 2014 World Superbike champion.  World Superbike is the top series that still races homologated motorcycles that are based in the showroom customer models.

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As my favorite race series to watch due to the close and competitive nature of the teams, I was happily surprised to see the ZX-10R race bike on display.  Valentino Rossi is arguably the most popular motorcycle racer in history, so of course his bike is always a crowd pleaser.  And Josh Hayes is the current American series champion, so it is locally relevant.  But World Superbike is not as popular in the United States unfortunately.  Hopefully that will change soon because the races are certainly exciting, plus we have an American race at Laguna Seca in California to see them up close in person.

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Unfortunately that was the extent of the official race machinery at the AIMExpo this year, but it was a great improvement and increase in manufacturers over its inaugural year in 2013.

Whose bike would you like to see up close?  Let us know in the Comments below!

 

It’s A Great Time To Be A New Rider

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It is a great time to be a new rider, at least if sport bikes are your thing. When I started riding, the options were pretty slim.  There was the Ninja 250 and EX500, both of which were very unexciting when compared to the 600 and 1000cc brethren.  A few years later the Ninjas 250R got a pretty decent makeover and seemed much more sporty, but was still noticeably a small starter bike.

Some want the look of the bike to match their passion.  Starting out shouldn’t be penalized with boring and unattractive options.  Kawasaki finally nailed it with the Ninja 300.  At a quick glance, it’s hard to quickly point out the differences between it and the ZX-6R and ZX-10R.  They all share yearly color schemes and the general design shares an aggressive theme.  A new rider no longer needs to be upset at their lack of options.

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Recently Honda took notice and released the CBR250 and has the 300cc update coming soon.  Now Yamaha and KTM are following suit to compete in the entry sportbike market.  And the great news is that all of the bikes look modern and promise to offer great performance for the size.

Heck, even seasoned riders are finding themselves excited by the new small displacement sportbikes.  Not only do they look good, but they’re cheap and easy to handle for a blast at the track.  Plus they offer a great value as a daily commuter getting 60+ MPG easily.

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I recently had the chance to check out the new Yamaha R3 at the AIMExpo in Orlando and it is a great addition to the “R” lineup.  It will soon be overshadowed by the hinted R1 update for 2015, but is still a very exciting prospect for new riders.  It is comfortable and lightweight, and the less aggressive ergonomics should be welcoming to those looking to pick up their first sportbike. Plus, with the R6 and R1 inspired looks, they’ll also be able to blast around on a bike they can be truly proud to own.

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With all the great small displacement options, there’s been no better time to make the jump to two wheels and join in the madness!

Kawasaki H2R: What Is It and Who Is It For?

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You’ve undoubtedly read and seen plenty about the supercharged dream machine from Kawasaki by now.  I won’t go into numbers (OMG 300 horsepower) in this article, but will instead focus on what this bike actually is and who it is meant for.  The numbers and specs are available pretty much everywhere at this point.

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So to recap, the H2R is supercharged and not street legal AND it costs a speculated $50,000+.  Of course it is a technical showcase.  We will be seeing the street-going H2 in the coming weeks which will be a bit more accessible.  Kawasaki launched this bike with multiple teasers on a timed rollout.  It was a marketing gimmick to drum up hype and it sure worked.  And not only is it super-hyped, it’s not even something that most people can or would even want to buy, but it is a harbinger of greater things to come. With an emphasis on emissions and gas mileage today, forced induction is making its way deeper into all motor vehicle markets.  Kawasaki blazed the trail for the 300cc starter sportbike market, followed by Honda and now Yamaha and KTM.  Perhaps they will also create a sweeping change in the superbike market as well with the supercharged literbikes.

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This is about as close to “exotic” or “supercar” as a bike can come at this point.  Sorry to disappoint all those Ducati owners, but Italian doesn’t always mean exotic.  The 1199 Panigale is a great bike, but it’s not a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. It’s a direct competitor of every other bike in the Superbike racing class (ZX-10R, YZF-R1, GSXR1000, CBR1000RR, S1000RR, etc).  The H2R is an exotic.  The market is almost non-existent and it doesn’t care.  Kawasaki didn’t continue the straight-line horsepower train to further duke it out with the Hayabusa.  The H2R has an appropriate wheelbase, a 1000cc engine, 17-inch wheels shod with slicks, and is made to work in the turns. It is built to compete on road courses but breaks all the class rules.  At this time, there simply is no competition.  We’ll have to hold for actual track times, but with all that carbon fiber and aerodynamics enhancements, I’m betting it will set some record laps.

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But who will actually buy the H2R?  The people with enough money to dump on something they can’t even use on the street are generally the people who also want to be seen.  You may see celebrities on the H2, but I’m doubting many will be grabbing the H2R.  It’s not legal in any standard racing class, so even racers with big budgets won’t be taking their chances at the race track.  With all those carbon fiber wings sticking out, you certainly don’t want to drop it (I’m picturing a similar sight to F1 cars exploding into CF shards once they go tumbling). So I can only imagine the answer will be a select few collectors and enthusiasts who have the disposable income to spend, but still have no intention of truly opening the beast up like it was truly meant to be ridden.

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Kudos to Kawasaki though for stepping out of the crowd and bringing innovation back into the sport market.  Most others are plenty happy to fall in line and pump out urban warrior bikes because they’re hot and selling.  The sport market is lagging since the economic downturn and the excitement from the H2R is just what this segment needed to get some interest back.  I can only hope this brings back the glory times of the early 2000s when new generation supersports were being released every two years just to keep up with the demand and competition.

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AIMExpo Weekend Is Almost Here

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The time has come again for the second annual AIMExpo in Orlando.  Last year was an excellent first show with Yamaha and Suzuki showing great support by having gorgeous displays.  In addition, there were countless parts and gear vendors, motorcycle communities, and smaller manufacturers showing their latest innovations.

This year adds Kawasaki to the list of major manufacturers and the likelihood of the public unveiling of the street-legal supercharged H2.  I can’t wait to check it out in person.

The Fall season also brings with it a new unveiling of 2015 gear.  I’ll be checking out all the new helmet designs, jacket styles, and color combinations that everyone will be bringing to the show.

Stay tuned next week for some lists, finds, and news from the show. It is a great event to kickoff this blog with loads of information to sift through and post about.  I’ll be taking many pictures and trying to get a look at everything.

Is there anything you’d like to specifically see?  If so, post in the comments what you’re interested in and we’ll be sure to check it out!