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Motorcycle News, News

Dakar 2019: Just Another Day in the Dunes

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WestX1000 provides us with stage one updates from Dakar 2019.

Begin Press Release: 

Just Another Day in the Dunes

A Promising Stage One at the Dakar Rally Gives the United States Hope

Even the best racers and biggest trucks could be swallowed whole by the mountains of sand making up the Ica region surrounding Pisco.

dakar 2019

In a battle between man, machine and Mother Nature, it seemed that yesterday man and his machine have prevailed – this time around. Special Stage One was a relatively short and fast-paced race. The route, 70-percent of which were dunes, sifted out the top competitors who, as it turns out, includes the Americans.

“Although it was a short stage today, it was a very large learning curve for me. The computer equipment on the bike is tricky to pick up right away. Because I didn’t know how to work it, I made some errors, which made me a little frustrated with my results. But ultimately, I was happy with how I was able to move up in the overall position from my starting point. I had to remind myself that I’m in Peru living my dream and not to let anything break my spirit.” – Skyler Howes #73, Garrett Off-Road Racing team

Ricky Brabec (#15) broke into the top three, nabbing the third seat in bikes leaving everyone but Joan Barreda (#5) and Pablo Quintanilla (#6) in his dust. Andrew Short (#29) made great time landing himself at 13 in the ranks. And Garrett Poucher (#71), Skyler Howes (#73) and Nathan Rafferty (#104) fought hard for better starting positions come Second Stage Two, which took off a little later this morning. A relief for riders needing to catch up on some Zzz’s. Poucher and Skyler will begin at the 45th and 46th positions while Rafferty will set off at 97th.

Household name, Robby Gordon, experienced some minor setbacks which had forced him to miss his originally scheduled scrutineering date. But it all worked out in the end, as Gordon and teammate Kellon Walch (#316) drove formidably, finishing 21st in the car rankings. Driver Blade Hildebrand, his co-pilot Bill Conger (#367) and teammates Cole Potts and Max Eddy (#346) also did well for themselves leaving the start line this morning 34th and 43rd in line. Last of the Americans, but certainly not least, Casey Currie (#343), a friend and protégé’ of Robby Gordon’s, promised to make a name for himself at Dakar, in the new Side-by-Side (SxS) class. With a rise in popularity, we’re seeing these leisure utility vehicles pop up in more and more off-road events. And Currie plans to battle his way to the podium in his, earning 6th in class by the time he reached the end of his road book.

Altogether, the first special stage seemed to go off without a hitch. The day produced only a single recorded withdrawal and one non-critical medical situation when a car barrel rolled, so there’s still a lot of folks with skin in the game. And racers aren’t giving in yet! Some delays at the beginning could be expected, but just about everyone reached the proverbial checkered flag unscathed. Tuesday January 8th will offer challengers less dunes but many more kilometers with over 200 for the liaison to San Juan de Marcona in addition to the special stage. Is this where we’ll see competitors begin do drop off, as they so famously do at Dakar? Will the lack of sand be a help or a hindrance? Will the American’s keep up their pace? There’s only one way to find out…

Key points:

Ø Rankings of Americans

BIKE

3. Ricky Brabec #15 – 01h 00’ 28” Bike

13. Andrew Short #29 – 01h 04’ 29” Bike

45. Garrett Poucher #71 – 01h 16’ 58” Bike

46. Skyler Howes #73 – 01h 17’ 04” Bike

97. Nathan Rafferty #104 – 01h 38’ 39” Bike

CAR

21. Robby Gordon, Kellon Walch #316 – 01h 10’ 49”

34. Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 – 01h 16’ 11”

43. Cole Potts, Max Eddy #346 – 01h 22’ 03”

SIDE-BY-SIDE

6. Casey Currie #343 – 01h 16’ 08”

Ø Top Three Motorcycles

1. Joan Barreda #5 – 57’36”

2. Pablo Quintanilla #6 – 58’10”

3. Ricky Brabec #15 – 01h 00’ 28”

Ø Sara Garcia #98 fell into 111th place overall but shouldn’t be deterred. There’s so much more Dakar left!

Ø 17 women are racing in the 2019 Dakar Rally.

The post Dakar 2019: Just Another Day in the Dunes appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

Motorcycle News, News

Dakar 2019: The Green Flag Waves in Peru

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Our friends from WestX1000 are on the ground in Peru for Dakar 2019. 

Begin Press Release: 

The Green Flag Waves in Peru

With the Dakar Rally Opening Its 41st Year to a Roaring Crowd 

Monday, January 7th marked the beginning of the 2019 iteration of the world’s most infamous off-road race: the Dakar Rally. But the party really started the previous day at the beach… 
“What can I say but ‘wow!’ Crossing the Dakar podium for the first time was an incredible experience. The energy from the fans was off the charts. This has been something I have dreamed of doing since I was a little kid, and it has become a reality.” – Garrett Poucher #71, Garrett Off-Road Racing, USA
Sunday is a time for family in Lima, which was evident as hordes of adults, children and the elderly alike packed themselves against barricades, outside the fences or lining the tall cliffs which overlook Dakar Village just to catch a glimpse of their favorite Motorsports heroes. The word floating around most of the day was “mayhem.” But as always, the ASO organization kept their cool and sent the 541 challengers (334 vehicles) up and over the bayside podium in swift fashion. Each met by excited cheers which would burst out as each team approached and exited the stage, warming the spotlight for the next.
“Up until this point the process has been pretty easy-going, but today going up and over the podium, the magnitude of this event really set in. The amount of people there to watch the ceremony was unreal, and we were packed right in there with them getting snagged for selfies left and right.
Going up over the podium was brief but still a huge moment for me, putting that check mark next to my #1 dream and goal in life.” – Skyler Howes #73, Garrett Off-Road Racing, USA
The following day was an early one, as motorbikes departed Peru’s capital at about half-past 5a.m. local time for the event’s first Special Stage – enroute to the Pisco bivouac. What obstacles could riders and drivers face? Where will we find the 12 Americans (Ricky Brabec #15, Andrew Short #29, Garrett Poucher #71, Skyler Howes #73, Nathan Rafferty #104 on bikes; Robby Gordon and Kellon Walch #316, Cole Potts and Max Eddy #346, Blade Hildebrand and Bill Conger #367 in cars; and Casey Currie #343 in a Side-by-Side) in the starting order for Special Stage Two? Until the final competitor reaches the end of his or her road book today, we’re yet to know. Stay tuned…
Key points:

Ø 541 competitors and 334 vehicles —137 motorbikes, 26 quads, 130 cars (including 30 SxS) and 41 trucks— were cleared to start the 41st edition of the Dakar at the end of the technical and administrative scrutineering.

Ø This year the roster of women racers continues to grow, including the rally’s first-ever female Malle Moto contestant, Sara Garcia #98 of Spain.

Ø Before the start of the race, the drivers, riders and crews will get a big send-off from the fans during the podium ceremony in Lima. The celebration will take place on Magdalena beach, where over 100,000 visitors flocked to enjoy a wide range of activities in the Feria Dakar over the last three days.

Ø The first round comes with a sand-packed 84 km course in the Pisco region.

The post Dakar 2019: The Green Flag Waves in Peru appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

News

Original Grip Buddies Smartskin Lite Comfort Grips | Gear Review

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Original Grip Buddies
Smartskins Lite Technology is thinner than original Smartskins (3.2mm vs. 4.7mm).

Original Grip Buddies neoprene motorcycle comfort grips with Smartskin Technology add cushion to hard rubber OEM grips and provide a grippy, tactile feel through gloved hands. Because they fit over OEM grips, they add slightly to grip circumference. Many riders like that added grip thickness, but for riders who don’t, there’s now a thinner alternative.

Original Grip Buddies has added a Lite version to its Smartskin Comfort Grip product line for riders with smaller hands or anyone who wants the comfort and grip benefits with less bulk. Smartskin Lite comfort grips are made from the same rubber-rich neoprene as the originals, they’re just thinner: 3.2mm for Lite vs. 4.7mm for the original.

Smartskin grips are different from the foam tubes that slide over OEM grips. Made by hand in upstate New York in sizes to fit specific bike models, these rectangles of textured neoprene wrap around the bike’s handgrip. Installation is quick and easy. Just clean the grip with alcohol wipes (included in the kit), stick the adhesive strip along the length of the bike’s grip, then wrap the Smartskin grip around it. The sewn-in strip of hook-and-loop fastener holds it securely in place, and with a little fine-tuning you’ll have it all lined up. There is a seam, but align it where the crotch of your thumb is positioned on the handgrip and you won’t notice it.

If you want that same cushion, grip and appearance of Smartskin grips to extend all the way down onto your bar ends, Original Grip Buddies offers Bar End Buddies. Depending on the shape and width of your bike’s bar ends, both straight and tapered versions are available.

Original Grip Buddies
Smartskins Lite grips installed on the author’s Kawasaki Versys.

I’ve used Smartskin grips for years on my Honda ST1300, BMW R 1200 RT and Kawasaki Versys, and I like the improvement in hand comfort and control they provide compared to hard rubber OEM grips, especially over long distances. I put a set of the new Lite version on the Versys. The texture and tactile feel is the same as the originals and I found I prefer the less bulky version. I also noticed that the aftermarket grip heaters on my Versys heat up noticeably faster with the thinner Smartskin Lites compared to the originals I had before.

So why did I replace the originals? I’ve come to appreciate that what makes Smartskin grips work so well also makes them a wear item. Just as rubber tires interact with the road surface and gradually get used up, Smartskin grips interact with your gloved hands and over time they gradually get used up. Fortunately, at $24.95 it’s not expensive to wrap on a fresh set (in my case after three seasons). Just like a fresh set of tires, a fresh set of Smartskin grips feels great. 

For more information, call (518) 461-3003 or visit originalgripbuddies.com.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

News

Yamaha best off-road seller in 2018 as Honda tops overall sales

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Australian motorcycle market records 8.7 percent decline in sales.

Image: Greg Smith (iKapture).

Honda Motorcycles Australia has topped overall sales for 2018 according to the latest Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) report, which has indicated a 8.7 percent decline in overall sales for the industry from 2017.

The Japanese manufacturer rounded out the year with 22,735 motorcycles sold, edging out Yamaha Motor Australia’s 21,145 units and Kawasaki Motors’ 9376 sales.

The off-road market saw Yamaha emerge as the best seller after 11,105 units were sold, followed by Honda’s 9807 sales and KTM Australia’s 5900.

Mini bikes proved to be the most popular in 2018 as the Honda CRF50F topped the off-road segment with 2159 sales, being joined in the top three by the Yamaha PW50 (1953 units sold) and Yamaha TTR50E (1715 units sold).

Yamaha reigned supreme in the motocross division with its ever-popular YZ250F (797 units sold) topping the class along with the all-new YZ450F (768 units sold), as the Honda CRF450R (736 units sold) ended the year third on the sales charts.

The enduro category was also taken out by Yamaha with its WR450F (1136), followed by KTM’s 300 EXC (1052 units sold) and 500 EXC (746 units sold). Other best sellers included the CRF50F in the fun bike market, Honda CRF230F (1095 units sold) in the trail bike class and Honda XR190 (659 units sold) in the farm bike category.

Detailed Top 10 Report

Detailed Comparison Report


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

News

Are more red light cameras welcome?

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While many riders hate covert speed cameras that are turning us into a nation of speedo gazers, they should welcome more red light traffic cameras.

Lane filtering now puts us at the front of the traffic light queue, so when the light changes to green we have a duty to get away quickly to avoid holding up traffic.

However, this puts us in danger of being cleaned up by motorists running yellow and/or red lights.

More red light cameras with good signage might just prevent motorists from running lights and putting us in danger.

Queensland has just added eight more intersections to its list of locations with new combined red light and speed cameras.

They not only detect motorists who disobey the red traffic light, but also those who speed through the intersection.

Statistics reveal that 11% of all serious casualties on Queensland roads occur at intersections with traffic lights.

Accidents involving motorists running red lights are usually t-bone crashes which are the most lethal, especially for riders.

During the past five years, 42 people have been killed and more than 3000 hospitalised in crashes at signalised intersections in Queensland.

Triggering traffic lightsred light cameras

The only problem we can see if if the lights fail don’t change for motorcycles.

Many small motorbikes don’t trigger the inductor loop in the ground.

red light cameras
Tell-tale cut marks in the road

Click here to find out how to make them trigger and what you can do if they don’t work.

Riders who give up waiting for the lights to change and ride through the red light can expect to cop a fine!

If these cameras are being installed at more intersections, it is vital that the authorities ensure lights detect motorcycles or install more roadside buttons like these to trigger the lights.Red-light traffic light red light cameras

Speed and red light cameras

The new combined red light and speed cameras are fixed and operate 24 hours a day.

They are at the following intersections in Queensland:

  • Glenlyon Street, Gladstone Central at intersection with Tank Street;
  • Anzac Avenue Road, Kippa-Ring at intersection with Boardman Road;
  • Morayfield Road, Morayfield (intersection of Caboolture River Road);
  • Lutwyche Road,  Lutwyche  (intersection of Norman Avenue);
  • Lutwyche Road, Kedron (intersection of Kedron Park Road);
  • Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo (intersection of Cavendish Road);
  • Smith Street, Southport (intersection of Kumbari Avenue); and
  • Bermuda Street, Burleigh Waters (intersection of Christine Avenue).

The combined red light and speed camera systems have advisory signs installed prior to the intersection advising motorists that a combined red light and speed camera system is operating.

For the complete list of combined speed and red light cameras in Queensland, click here.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Honda tops overall motorcycle sales in 2018

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Australian motorcycle market records 8.7 percent decline in sales.

australian motorcycle sales

Image: Supplied.

Honda Motorcycles Australia has topped overall sales for 2018 according to the latest Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) report, which has indicated a 8.7 percent decline in overall sales for the industry from 2017.

The Japanese manufacturer rounded out the year with 22,735 motorcycles sold, edging out Yamaha Motor Australia’s 21,145 units and Kawasaki Motors’ 9376 sales.

Honda tied on road bike sales with Harley-Davidson, the duo each securing 7019 sales in the division, while Yamaha was third with 5702 motorcycles sold.

The best selling motorcycle of 2018 was Honda’s CB125E, posting a 58.8 increase in popularity with a total of 1113 rolling out of dealerships around the country, followed by Kawasaki’s all-new Ninja 400 (1089 units) and the Yamaha MT-07L (1002 units).

The adventure touring market was taken out by Suzuki DR650SE (574 units), as the naked bike sector was topped by the previously listed CB125E. Harley-Davidson’s Street 500 rolled in first in the cruiser category with 944 purchases, while the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special took top honours in the touring division 272 units.

Yamaha’s popular YZF-R3A sits atop the sports touring charts with 712 sales, with the final super sport sector was taken out by the Ninja 400.

Detailed Top 10 Report

Detailed Comparison Report

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

News

Shoei updates GT-Air touring helmet

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Shoei has updated its GT-Air touring helmet with a longer internal sun visor, better venting and more aerodynamics to make it quieter.

The GT-Air II will be available in April. Australian pricing is not yet available, but in the USA it will cost $US599 (about $A840) for single colours and $US699 (about $A980) for graphics.

Perhaps to make way for the new model, current GT-Air helmets are on sale in Australia from $790 to $883 depending on graphics.

GT-Air a polular tourerShoei GT-Air II touring helmet

Shoei is the most trusted helmet brand in Australia and the GT-Air has long been popular among tourers who ride all day and into the night.

The GT-Air II model should improve on that status.

Aussie riders will appreciate that the internal sun visor is now 5mm longer for improved glare protection. 

Shoei has also redesigned the main visor so it has a “first position” opening for better venting and to prevent fogging. However, it also comes with a Pinlock EVO anti-fog insert.

Tourers often fit bluetooth intercom units to their helmet and the GT-Air II now has a special recess on the base to fit the new Sena SRL2 unit.

Another new addition is a micro-ratcheting buckle instead of the conventional double-D ring.Shoei GT-Air II touring helmet

While racers use double D for security, the quick-release buckle is more convenient for tourers who often stop for fuel, coffee or a toilet break. It makes it easier to fasten, remove and adjust.

StreamliningShoei GT-Air II touring helmet

Shoei has streamlined the new shell in a wind tunnel so it is more compact and more aerodynamic which reduce the amount of fatiguing wind noise inside.

While most helmets have a couple of intake vents and one exhaust vent, the GT-Air II has three intakes and five exhausts, so it should be a lot cooler in the summer.

It comes with the 3-D Max Dry System that is removable, washable, replaceable and adjustable.Shoei GT-Air II touring helmet

They claim it absorbs sweat twice as fast as nylon and is shaped to match a rider’s head. But if you’ve got a weird head shape, you can buy thicker and thinner pieces to ensure an optimum fit.

Like the GT-Air, the new model has the Emergency Quick Release System (EQRS) that allows first responders to remove the helmet from an injured rider’s head without further injuring their neck.

It will come in a range of sizes from XS to XXL and colours.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Competition, News

Consistency key for Roczen in ‘tough’ A1 mudder

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Factory Honda ace on target at Anaheim’s season-opener.

Image: Supplied.

Ken Roczen has attributed consistency as the key to finishing runner-up at Saturday night’s opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in what eventuated as a rain-soaked encounter.

The Honda HRC talent, who’s overcome significant arm injuries in the last two seasons of supercross, put on a stellar display in the deteriorating conditions, negotiating his way into second by the conclusion of the 20-lap affair.

It’s a strong start for the German ace as he endeavours to secure his first premier class title in the discipline, and with a heat race win also to his name, he’s departing round one with strengthened confidence.

“It’s good to get out of here healthy and with a solid podium,” Roczen explained. “The conditions were tough – they can obviously play in your favour but they can also bite you bad. For about half of the main, we were still jumping the big doubles in the middle but it was definitely sloppy and sketchy out there.

“It was really all about consistency. There were ruts everywhere so you had to try not to make any mistakes. Once we got into the lappers that’s when it got really bad. I got held up a couple times, which cost me time. I’m pumped though – I’m leaving with a heat race win and second in the main, so I couldn’t have asked for a better first race.”

Anaheim served up a number surprises in the 450SX category, with Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha) capturing his first main event victory since 2013. Round two of the series will visit Glendale in Arizona this weekend.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au