2003 Honda Xr 50 Dirt Bike / Pit Bike on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Capirossi Announces Retirement at Conclusion of 2011 Season

Loris Capirossi announced he will retire at the end of the 2011 MotoGP season, closing off a quarter century of racing including 22 years at the Grand Prix level and three World Championships. “It’s an important moment in my career, and the decision I made has come about after a lot of reflection,” says Capriossi. “I’m happy that after 25 years, of which 22 were in the world championship, I’m at a point where I can still have a smile on my lips as I part ways, even if it’s difficult to think that I won’t be riding a bike next year.” The announcement was made during a press conference at Misano for the upcoming San Marino Grand Prix, the final Italian stop of the 2011 season.

Honda Announces CBR400R, CB400F and 400X for Japan

Honda confirmed it will produce a 399cc version of its new 500-series motorcycles for the Japanese market. The Honda CBR400R, CB400F and 400X will be offered in Japan instead of their respective 500 versions, as they are a better fit to the country’s tiered licensing system than the CBR500R, CB500F and CB500X. The new 400 models should come as no surprise after Honda announced in February it would produce a smaller version of the 471cc engine used in the 500 series.

2013 AIMExpo: Skidbike

One of the most inventive devices seen at this week’s AIMExpo is the Skidbike, a novel creation that helps teach riders the skills to balance and to master threshold braking. It’s a Swedish/American invention originally designed to educate riders how to sufficiently apply brakes to avoid an accident without the danger of tipping over and causing injuries. It uses an electrically operated hydraulic ram built on a hinged dolly to reduce front-tire grip, which drastically reduces speeds when traction is lost so riders can learn how to use the brakes effectively.