DAB Motors lets you completely customise your new bike from enduro to motard to scrambler even before taking delivery, with the promise it’s street legal.
Meet the LM-S developed by engineer Simon Dabadie who established his company in the Basque region in 2017.
Henry Ford once said of his Model T Ford: “Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.”.
Those days are now gone with this new motorcycle.
Customers can change everything except the steel double-cradle frame, eight-litre tank and Husqvarna 500cc DOHC single-cylinder engine.
Strangely the exhaust — one of the most popular parts to customise — can’t be changed as it has to meet European emissions regulations.
That means customers can select handlebars, suspension (Kayaba or Ohlins), subframe, seat, wheels, tyres and even the braking system.
You can also select the colour scheme which can vary between subframe, bodywork, tank, rims, spokes, etc.
DAB says each customised motorcycle will look different yet they will all roll out of their factory homologated for legal European road use, so the coppers can’t harass you.
Although we notice there is no headlight! Seems to be a glaring omission.
DAB hand at customising
Maserati and Bentley allow similar personalisation which can lead to some interesting results that show that wealth doesn’t necessarily mean good taste.
For example, the Queen has her seats covered in her family tartan weave while one Italian family chose different coloured leather seats for each seat in their Quattroporte. Yuk!
DAB makes things easy for their customers with a configurator on their website so you can select items and see how they look on the finished motorcycle.
Here’s one we prepared earlier.
And here’s another.
Pricing
The DAB LM-S is quite expensive starting at around $A27,250.
The configurator will tally up how much your bike will cost as you make your selections.
Customers will have to wait about three months from order before taking delivery.
We all get tired of tackling the same old city routes on our motorcycles. City streets are boring and they don’t challenge the capabilities of the machines we ride. Unleashing their potential requires challenging routes that will trigger our primal instincts and get our adrenaline pumping.
If you are an adrenaline junkie or a travel addict, then you may want to challenge yourself with the world’s most dangerous routes. Narrow passes, sand and hairpin turns will test your physical and mental abilities to the limit. All these routes are only for seasoned riders. However, once you have conquered them, you can consider yourself a truly experienced traveller and upload your photos to all social media, your travel landing page template or frame them and put them on the wall. It is really something to be proud of.
Brace yourself, here are the most dangerous routes for motorcycles in the world.
1.Bolivia – North Yunguas Road
If you are up for a roller-coaster ride without much in the way of safety, then North Yunguas Road is for you.Also known as Bolivia’s death road, this place is extremely dangerous due to high cliffs that drop hundreds of metres at every turn. Nearly 300 motorists and cyclist were killed almost every year on this road until 1994. You should be extra cautious if you are afraid of heights.
2.China – Guoliang Tunnel Road
How about riding through a mountain? Sounds fun, but it’s also hazardous. The Guoliang Tunnel Road was opened to traffic in 1977. It’s only 1.2km long and 4m wide. The road was built through the Taihang Mountains heading towards the village of Guoliang and it’s now a big tourist attraction with lots of traffic to negotiate.
However, don’t be fooled by all the fuss, the road is still a dangerous place to ride. You need to be 100% focused on the road and you need to be experienced.
3.Australia – Canning Stock Route
The Canning Stock Route in Western Australia is regarded as the most remote road in the world. The road is 1850km long with sand and bulldust to challenge riders. There are no fuel or water stops along the way so you have to carry your own which makes it particularly difficult for motorcyclists.
4.Sichuan – Tibet Highway
This road is an excellent chance to explore Tibet with your motorcycle. It’s also considered one of be the world’s most risky roads because of its rugged nature, extreme weather and altitude. The 2142km road runs from Chengdu in Sichuan to Lhasa in Tibet.
You would need approximately 14 to 15 days to complete this road. However, the ride is an incredible adventure as you will be passing 14 mountains with heights ranging between 4000m and 5000m.
5.Pakistan and China – Karakoram Highway
This road has an amazing history as it was once a part of the famous Silk Road network of trading routes.It’s 1200km long, has altitudes over 4000m and is a great way to explore the amazing mountains of both countries.
Andrea Dovizioso: “It was a bit strange, I’ve never come to the race on a bike! And on the really nice Multistrada. The weather wasn’t so great for us, but it was a really nice experience, and to be here in Mugello already the day before and with the other Italian riders. Normally I come the day after.”
The Italian then spoke about a milestone he hits this weekend – 300 Grands Prix.
“300 is a big number! I’m really happy to be in Mugello at this moment in the Championship because it’s for sure our good track, and we need a good result. I think after a good result in Le Mans with three Ducatis, we can be really competitive here to fight with Marc. For sure he’ll really want to win here in Mugello but I think we have every chance to fight with him and all the other riders.”
Danilo Petrucci: “It’s always very nice, every year I arrive at Mugello in a different way! Last year in a Lamborghini, this year on the Multistrada. It was very nice, I’d never tried the bike and we went on a great road coming here, had a very good lunch and I’m really looking forward to see what’s going on on Friday.
“It’s always nice for an Italian rider to ride in Mugello, especially with the Ducati and for me it’s the first year with factory colours. It’s always a good race for us and we want to have a good weekend, we arrive from Le Mans and a really good race for us. But we want to get on the top step. It’ll be very difficult but we’re at home.”
“I’m glad it’s time for Mugello, it‘s a special weekend and a special race for all the Italian riders,” said Rossi, as he prepares to try cut the 23 points separating himself and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in the World Championship. “It has a fantastic atmosphere, but it’s also a bit tricky to manage with all the fans, but it‘s really great.
Quartararo has been a sensation so far on board his YZR-M1 and if it wasn’t for a slice of serious bad luck in Jerez when running second, slight inexperience on the grid in Qatar and a mistake in the opening exchanges in France, where he was running the pace of race winner Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), his 25-point tally would be looking a lot healthier.
Selection concluded, it’s then time for the Global Series and action changes from online to on-site as gamers compete face to face on Lenovo Legion™ PCs. 12 riders, three events, six races and only one crown mean it’s everything to play for. The first event sees competitors head to Misano during the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, where they’ll contest the first two races around Mugello and Aragon. The next on-site event is yet to be revealed, but the season finale will, as ever, take place at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana alongside the final MotoGP™ event of the year, and it’s the stunning Phillip Island and Jerez the competitors will have to master in their bids for the crown. What’s more, it’s double points for a finale with a bang.
Repsol Honda Team manager, Alberto Puig, came out after the French GP to back Lorenzo by stating he still believes in the 32-year-old’s “potential, history and five World titles” – support that he is hoping to repay them for: “The Repsol Honda Team has been working very hard and I am sure soon I will be able to achieve some results to thank them.”
2019 Isle of Man TT Tuesday Qualifying Report / Results
After rain prevented play on Monday TT competitors were raring to go on a fine Tuesday evening to further fine tune themselves and their mounts ahead of race week which kicks off this Saturday, June 1st.
Superbikes were out first and it was Dean Harrison, continuing his form from Sunday’s Supersport session, quickest on the night with a speed of 129.53mph while Conor Cummins and James Hillier also figured highly in the Superbike class.
Harrison also topped the Superstock leaderboard but it was a night that saw a number of the other front runners hit trouble including Peter Hickman, who was forced to stop twice on his Smiths Racing BMW Superbike. Hickman did though top the Supersport session after swapping to his 675cc Triumph.
Peter Hickman
16 time TT Race winner Ian Hutchinson was another rider to be experiencing problems and the Yorkshire rider came off his bike at the 11th Milestone although fortunately was reported to be unhurt.
South Australia’s David Johnson was second quickest in Superstock on Tuesday evening and seventh in Superbike.
Aussie sidecar duo Mick Alton and Steve Bonney were 18th in the sidecar session while compatriots Darryl Rayner and Wendy Campbell did not complete a full lap.
Tuesday’s sessions might prove even more important than normal as the weather forecast for the next few days on the Isle of Man is far from favourable.
TT 2019 Superbike Tuesday Qualifying Results
Dean Harrison – 129.53 mph
Conor Cummins – 128.09 mph
James Hillier – 128.07 mph
Michael Dunlop – 126.93 mph
Michael Rutter – 126.48 mph
Jamie Coward – 126.39 mph
David Johnson – 126.19 mph
Philip Crowe – 125.52 mph
Ian Hutchinson – 125.39 mph
Daley Mathison – 125.17 mph
Stefano Bonetti – 124.49 mph
Derek McGee – 124.40 mph
Davey Todd – 124.29 mph
Brian McCormack – 124.18 mph
John McGuinness – 123.73 mph
TT 2019 Superstock Tuesday Qualifying Results
Dean Harrison 129.34 mph
David Johnson 126.63 mph
Sam West 124.89 mph
Lee Johnson 124.49 mph
Michael Dunlop 124.11 mph
Daley Mathison 124.09 mph
Peter Hickman 123.08 mph
Derek Sheils 122.78 mph
Michael Rutter 122.42 mph
Davey Todd 122.19 mph
James Hiller 121.11 mph
Horst Saiger 120.08 mph
Charles Hardisty 118 mph
Gary Johnson 117.96 mph
TT 2019 Supersport Tuesday Qualifying Results
Peter Hickman 123.92 mph
Derek McGee 122.04 mph
Lee Johnson 121.38 mph
John McGuinness 119.93 mph
Paul Jordan 118.88 mph
Dominic Herbertson 118.35 mph
Mike Browne 118.29 mph
Daniel Cooper 117.73 mph
Barry Evans 117.71 mph
James Chawke 117.58 mph
TT 2019 Sidecar Tuesday Qualifying Results
John Holden 114.99 mph
Peter Founds 114.40 mph
Alan Founds 112.35 mph
Tim Reeves 112.29 mph
Lewis Blackstock 111.80 mph
Ben Birchall 111.55 mpg
Ryan Crowe 109.76 mph
Conrad Harrison 108.95 mph
Gary Bryan 108.54 mph
Estelle Leblond 108.38 mph
Tuesday Qualifying Report
The island was blessed with sunshine throughout Tuesday but there were strong winds all round the 37.73-mile circuit again although riders were informed that they would reduce as the evening wore on. After a slight delay, the session got underway at 6.31pm. Harrison’s Silicone Engineering Kawasaki was at the front of the pack on the grid but lost power before he had even set off and the Bradford rider eventually got away mid-pack on his second Superbike.
Michael Rutter (Bathams Racing Honda) and James Hillier (Quattro Plant Wicked Coatings Kawasaki) were first to head down Glencruchery Road – the pair both on Superbikes – followed by Honda Racing teammates Hutchinson and David Johnson, the latter on his Superstock Fireblade.
James Hillier
Gary Johnson (RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki) and Michael Dunlop (Tyco BMW) were next to go with Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) and Lee Johnston (Ashcourt Racing BMW) on their Superstock mounts. However, outright lap record holder Hickman was soon in trouble and, after pulling off the circuit at Quarter Bridge, he immediately returned to the pits where he went back out on his Triumph Supersport machine.
Lee Johnston
Conor Cummins was the early pace setter, posting the best sector times on the opening lap while John McGuinness stopped at Sulby to make adjustments on his opening lap. Dunlop was the first to complete a lap with 126.65mph but then came into the pits to check tyres and gearing. Hutchinson lapped at 125.39mph with Rutter at 124.22mph but Cummins went quickest on the opening lap on the Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles Honda with a speed of 128.09mph.
Conor Cummins
Both Dunlop and Hutchinson pulled straight into the pits at the end of lap 1 while Derek McGee was posting the quickest Supersport lap at 122.04mph. Gary Johnson was another leading rider to have problems on the first lap with his speed of 112.55mph slightly slower than McGuinness’ lap of 113.50mph.
The second lap saw Cummins increase his pace and he looked to be on course for a 129mph+ lap before crossing the line at a leisurely 104.96mph after being black flagged out on course at Brandywell with the Honda reported to be smoking. Gary Johnson another be stopped, due to a loose camera.
Conor Cummins
Rutter and David Johnson set the pace on lap two, at 126.48mph and 126.63mph respectively, but Harrison topped that with a speed of 126.68mph on his ZX-10RR Superstock machine. Hickman put in two laps on the Supersport bike, the second of which was 123.92mph which made him the quickest 600cc machine on the night ahead of McGee.
Hickman went back out on the Superbike but again hit trouble and pulled off the course for a second time, this time at Douglas Road Corner at Kirk Michael which signalled the end of his night.
On the fourth lap, Harrison went quickest in the Superstock class with a lap of 129.34mph with Hillier the third rider to break the 128mph barrier with a speed of 128.07mph on his Superbike. McGuinness went out on the Padgetts Supersport machine before returning to the action on the Norton where he lapped at 123.73mph.
Harrison continued to make the headlines though and he put in a lap right at the end of the session to move to the top of the Superbike leaderboard with Cummins and Hillier ending the evening in second and third. Harrison remained on top of the Superstock times as well with David Johnson in second and Sam West lapping at just under 125mph to slot into third.
David Johnson
Strong winds were clearly keeping speeds down but there were impressive performances from Jamie Coward (126.39), Stefano Bonetti (124.48) and Brian McCormack (124.03) while Kiwi rider Jay Lawrence also again went well on the Buildbase Suzuki with a lap of 122.56mph.
There were three incidents in the Supersport class. Paul Williams came off at Governors but was reported to be unhurt while Jason Corcoran (Glen Helen) and Emmett Burke (Gooseneck) were taken to Nobles hospital with reported neck and leg injuries respectively.
TT 2019 Sidecar Qualifying
Sidecar racers got their first outing on the TT Mountain Course this year on Tuesday night after a rain interrupted schedule prevented their earlier sessions from going ahead.
The Formula Two Sidecars went out just after 2000 and there was little to choose between Ben and Tom Birchall and John Holden/Lee Cain in the early sectors on the opening lap but the latter set the best opening lap with a speed of 114.99mph.
John Holden/Lee Cain
The Birchalls slowed towards the end of the lap and finished with 111.55mph which put them fifth quickest with Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley (112.90), Alan Founds/Jake Lowther (111.89) and Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney (111.80mph) all slotting in ahead of them.
Two of the front runners had problems though with Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes stopping to make adjustments with Dave Molyneux/Harry Payne retiring at Laurel Bank but arguably the biggest story came from newcomers Ryan and Callum Crowe, the sons of former five-time TT Race winner Nick Crowe lapping at a stunning 109.76mph on their 675cc Triumph.
Second time around and Founds/Walmsley upped their pace to 114.40mph, which was only 2.2 seconds off their best ever lap of the Mountain Course, whilst brother Alan went slightly quicker with a speed of 112.35mph. Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes also clocked a 112+mph lap (112.291) at the end of the session on their second lap.
Estelle Leblond/Frank Claeys and Gary Bryan/Phil Hyde both lapped in excess of 108mph with the returning Allan Schofield, with Steve Thomas in the chair, also going well at 107.88mph. Maria Costello/Julie Canipa enjoyed a couple of laps with their best (99.369) just shy of the 100mph mark on Maria’s first full laps as a sidecar competitor.
New South Welshman to pilot BMW S 1000 RR in Queensland.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Maxima BMW has drafted in Aaron Morris for Morgan Park’s fourth round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), scheduled for 5-7 July in Queensland.
Morris tested with the Next Gen Motorsports-operated outfit at Morgan park earlier this month aboard the BMW S 1000 RR, earning himself a spot on the team in what is understood to be a one-off appearance alongside regulars Glenn Allerton – should he recover in time from injury – and Ted Collins.
“I’m extremely grateful that both Wayne [Hepburn] and Shane [Kinderis] have decided to give me a go for round four,” said Morris. “I’m not really setting any goals, as such. Of course, I want to win – everyone wants to win.
“However, I simply go out there and do the best possible job I can. If you can win, you can, if you can’t, you can’t. I’ll just go out there and give it 110 percent and we’ll see how things pan out.”
“I know I’m racing a very competitive motorcycle and of course on the best tyres, being Pirelli. So, it will all be down to what I can do on track. I’m just so excited to get the round underway.”
Team manager Wayne Hepburn added: “It goes without saying that Aaron impressed both Shane and I with how he performed a few weeks ago. We always knew he was going to be fast, but it was his attitude and his way he gave feedback about the bike is which impressed us the most.
“It was a no brainer to offer him a one-off ride for round four of the ASBK to see what he can do under race conditions. At this stage, Aaron will only do round four of the championship. We’ll see how he goes and then make up our minds for what happens for the remaining three rounds of the championship.”
Morris has only completed one round in the premier class domestically, contesting the opening stop of the 2018 ASBK at Phillip Island, lodging a 6-10-10 scorecard for ninth overall.
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