Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

I'm on a Goodwood Revival comedown

I'm on a massive comedown after a great weekend at Goodwood Revival. The Revival relives the glory days of the 50s and 60s and that's not just marketing hype, almost everyone is dressed in perios clothing, the cars are all from 1948 to 1966 and the effort that goes into setting Goodwood up is incredible, even the burger vans are retro Citroens, the staff are dressed in period clothing and about the only thing not retro was the price of a bacon sarnie; £6.50, ouch! I only planned to go down on Friday, but I had such a good time I headed back on Sunday too.

James May: WTF?

TOP GEAR presenter and motorcycle enthusiast James May has built a Lego-cladded house in the middle of a Surrey vineyard. It's reported May, who owns a string of classic motorcycles, has covered the house inside-and-out with over 816 million bricks - obviously not by himself. We love the whole thing but can't help wondering: 'How much are the BBC paying this bloke if he can afford stunts on this scale?'  

CIMA Motor Show

Update: 2009 Chinese Motorcycle Show: Part 1 In our recent tests of the Chinese-manufactured Johnny Pag Motorcycles, we wrote: “If you turned around the appliances in your kitchen, you’d see several “Made in China” stickers.  Inevitably, the stuff in garages across North America will one day be displaying a similar country of origin.” With the impending onslaught of Chinese bikes on its way to our shores, we figured it would be interesting to delve deeper into the Sino-moto industry. That’s why I’m here in Chongqing, China, for the CIMA Motor Show. Although many North Americans probably haven’t heard of Chongqing (pronounced Chong-ching), the burgeoning industrial city is the center of motorcycle production in China.

Who Says the Spyder isn’t a Motorcycle?

After I posted the preview for the new Spyders, the forum board got me fired up again. Every time I write about something eccentric, the progeny of Merriam Webster like to write in and remind me that Spyders aren’t motorcycles. I would disagree, but no one will remember this next time no matter what I say, I’d put money on that.

Perry or Jolie? Mmmmm: difficult one

IN A RECENT poll by motorcycle insurance specialist Devitt, Suzi Perry was voted as the No.1 fantasy pillion passenger, over and above Hollywood stunner Angelina Jolie, Aussie temptress Kylie Minogue and supersexy starlet Megan Fox. Now is it just us or has the world gone completely bloody bonkers? The 2009 Devitt Dream Pillion Passenger 1.

Now Your Kid Can Ride Like Rossi!

Eight-time world motorcycle champion Valentino Rossi has created a new line of two-wheel funsters – except these bikes have no motors. Rossi teamed up with Italian company Cicli Adriatica to develop a line of children’s bicycles – the VR46 bike collection. With this line of children’s two-wheelers, you can now blame your child’s skinned knee of the famed Fiat Yamaha rider!

Calling all Moto Guzzi owners...

LEGENDARY ITALIAN motorcycle manufacturer Moto Guzzi have announced a mass European ride-out, named 'Where Eagles Fly'. Convoys of Moto Guzzi enthusiasts and their bikes will set off from six European cities to meet in Milan on November 10th for the opening of the EICMA 2009 motorcycle show. On November 8th, the British Guzzisti participating in the first Where Eagles Fly tour will set off from London (other convoys will also be setting off from Madrid, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Vienna and Naples).

Corbin Bleu Rides to Promote Free Style

If you’ve got a tween girl in your life you’re probably aware that High School Musical star Corbin Bleu has a new motocross-inspired movie “Free Style” coming out on October 9. Bleu and some of his co-stars were on hand at a Kawasaki event at Piru Motocross Park in Piru, California to promote the film and the actor/singer took to the track. Bleu got geared up and took a KLX110 and a KLX140 around the track to have a little fun.

Ben Spies replica lid just landed

This gorgeous looking HJC FG-15 Ben Spies replica lid has just arrvied in the office. And first impressions are good; it's light, very light thanks to new technology and materials used in the shell. The visor is reassuringly thick and sturdy with a clip to the left to lock it into place.

Yamaha Sketches out the Features on the New 2010 YZ450F [Video]

You’ll realize how cheesy that headline is after watching the pretty rad video that Yamaha has released. Yamaha’s new motocross bike has taken a radical new approach.  The engine is backwards. Yamaha’s reason for doing this is to shift the heavy end of the motor more to the center of the motorcycle to make it more agile and responsive.  Slanting the cylinder also made for a straighter pathway for the air intake at the front of the bike.

Harley-Davidson’s New Tattoo Inspired Clothing Line

Not everyone can pull off a tattoo, I know I can’t.  Or maybe I’m just too scared to ink up my entire arm for the rest of my life, sporting a faded and stretched color blotch when I’m 75 with my grand kids trying to guess what it once was. Well Harley-Davidson has a solution for me (and maybe you!) Fake it! Harley-Davidson’s new clothing line has been designed by “Tattoo Masters” to give you that authentic tattoo look, but on a shirt.

New Green High Performance air filters

I just got this press release through from Green Bike Air Filters and thought it was interesting: Green High Performance Air Filters Green High Performance Air Filters are uniquely designed to take full advantage of cottons capabilities. Manufactured to the Highest Standards in Europe with over 900 Motorcycle and ATV Applications. EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE TO THE UK THROUGH www.greenbikefilters.co.uk SAVE MONEY ON THE COST OF REPLACEMENT AIR FILTERS: The Green High Performance Air Filter comes with a 100,000km Guarantee and you can expect to never replace the air filter again on your vehicle.

Calling die-hard Ducati fans

Do you don your Ducati jacket on a Sunday morning, grab your Ducati lid and then roll out of your drive on your Ducati? If this sounds like you then we've got a must-have laptop for you; the new Toshiba Ducati U500. It features a couple of Ducati logos, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 graphics card, a Core 2 Duo 8700 processor and 4GB of RAM.

QLINK Responds to Motorcycle.com’s XF200 Review

QLINK have published a post on their blog to respond to the QLINK XF200 bike review that was published on motorcycle.com.  After reading the review, QLINK felt there were some issues that were raised in the article that needed more explanation and clarity. Hit the jump to read what they had to say. 2009 QLINK XF200 Review Motorcycle.com just released the product review for 2009 QLINK XF200 Supermoto on its website.

"They don't pay me enough to ride that thing"

KING KENNY Roberts thrilled modern MotoGP riders including Hayden and Rossi with some amazingly spirited demonstration laps of his fearsome 700 two-stroke dirt-tracker at Saturday night’s Indianapolis Mile oval-track. “I said then: They don’t pay me enough to ride this thing,” he said. “That’s still true.”

If you go down to Rossi's home town today...

WE ALL KNOW how passionate the Italians are about their racing heros. So it may come as little surprise to find out that Valentino Rossi's home town of Tavullia is preparing for the Grand Prix of San Marino at Misano circuit in their own unique way. Life-size cardboard cut-outs of the eight-time motorcycle world champion adorn street corners, balconies and shop windows all around the sleepy Italian village.

Yoshimura Photo Contest

If you have a Yoshimura exhaust on your bike you are eligible to enter their photo contest in order win some free Yoshimura apparel.  Yoshimura will choose a winner every month, go to their site for all the details, good luck! Hit the jump and check out some of the submissions so far. Enter here!

Fila-Ducati Monster Shoe Concept

The above shoe rendering was created by Industrial Designer, Oliver Henrichot, who is based in Portland, OR, the concept was inspired by the Ducati Monster.  There is no word if it will ever make it into production but its still an amazing design. Hit the jump to see Henrichot’s Buell Scoop concept.

BMW S1000RR at Nürburgring [video]

BMW’s new S1000RR is one of the mostly highly anticipated sportbikes to come along in years. Its four-cylinder motor has a larger bore than anything else in its 1000cc class, plus all the latest racetrack goodies like a slipper clutch, variable-height intake manifolds and traction control. We’re still a few months away from testing it for ourselves, but we can across this great video that will give you a little insight into how this Beemer howls at top speed.

Ring-a-ding-a-ding-ding goes Schwantz's RGV500

LISTEN IN as veteran Suzuki GP mechanics warm-up Kevin Schwantz's title-winning RGV500, prior to his demonstration ride at Indianapolis Raceway last weekend. The former 500cc Champion lapped the Grand Prix circuit, while waving to the crowd. He even popped the odd wheelie.

Harley-Davidson Free Country

Harley-Davidson is giving you a platform to express yourself and state what you love about living and riding in the land of the free.  Head on over to their free country web page, find your favorite 2010 model, make your statement on riding and living free in America and share it with the rest of the world! Screw it. Lets Ride!

Sachsenring, Donington Park, Automotodrom Brno, Indianapolis: Track Facts

This week is catchup time for Track Facts. Four tracks of the Moto GP 2009 Season will be covered in this installment. Sachsenring, Donington Park, Automotodrom Brno and Indianapolis.

2010 Yamaha YZ450F Rumors [video]

In the world of motocross, this year’s most highly anticipated machine is Yamaha’s all-new YZ450F. All kinds of crazy rumors about the bike have spread across the internet, and there’s some real doozies out there. In this video from Yamaha, multi-time motocross and supercross champ James Stewart debunks some of the crazier rumors, with special guest appearances by Valentino Rossi, Ben Spies, Colin Edwards, James Toseland, Jorge Lorenzo and TV personality Erin Bates.

Used Review: Racer High Racer gloves

If there’s one item of race-wear I’m particularly fussy about, it’s gloves. Gloves dictate how much feel and control you have and can even be the difference between winning and getting debilitating arm pump. These gloves from Racer are the best I’ve ever worn, period.

Used Review: Arai RX-7 Corsair Edwards helmet

I've worn my Corsair near enough every day for the past two and half years and the fit is fantastic, perfectly snug but comfortable enough for long days in the saddle. It wasn’t always thus – the first few days were a little tight across the forehead but the helmet soon gave. The side pods and vents still function perfectly with the exception of the chin vent, which, since I sadly dropped the lid, no longer stays shut.

Used Review: Alpinestars Eclipse waterproof over jacket

Waterproof overjackets are the kind of thing you dont want to have to take out with you, especially when the weather is as good as it has been. But for the sake of cramming it into a daysack or under the seat, the Eclipse jacket is hard to justify leaving behind. It’s been pretty much everywhere I have and always gets an outing.

Honda CBR900RR Go Kart [video]

J&D Fabrications located in South Florida has created a go kart with a Honda CBR900RR engine.  With all that power behind it, I would say the go kart is doing a lot of drifting rather then driving but its fun to watch.  Don’t be jealous Mario… Check it out after the jump. See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Completing the Journey of United Flight 93

Motorcyclists are a charitable bunch and this is another great example. The “Ride with the Forty” has been organized to remember and honor the forty women and men who were killed when their plane crashed near Shanksville, PA on September 11, 2001. Another goal is to raise $250,000 for the Flight 93 National Memorial, 100% of all donations will go directly to building the memorial.

Travis Pastrana record attempt teaser

LOOK, it's a Friday so what better time to show you this... a new teaser trailer for Travis Pastrana about his next World Record attempt. It's a beautiful bit of film clearly underlining the American's modern rivalry with Aussie star Robbie Maddison.

Katt Williams and His Motorcycle – Rated R [video]

Taken from Katt Williams Pimpin’ and Pimpin’ Tour, this hilarious video talks about his motorcycle experience after he finally fulfilled his dream of purchasing and riding a bike for the first time.  Warning: explicit language is used early and often and is not suitable for the young. When your ready hit the jump to check it out. Katt william motorcycle by bigben1018