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One of the biggest questions that adventure riders have, particularly when they’re at the early stages of their ADV career is: How do you find a place to ride? You’re in luck—Barry Morris is here to tell you how to push your limits and take your adventure bike off the beaten track. There’s some good stuff to learn here, particularly with regards to Internet scouting. Of course you can often source GPX files and other mapping advice from fellow riders online (ADVrider’s Mapping & Navigation forum is full of help along these lines). But if you can’t find anything helpful, or you just want to do your own thing, then Google Maps can be a very powerful tool. Barry doesn’t mention it, but you can often find other mapping software or websites that can help as well. Hunting-oriented websites or apps are a good way to find public land boundaries in the US, where people need to be very careful about that sort of thing. Or perhaps your state (or province) has an online property boundary website, which shows not just private and public domain, but also public roadways that might not otherwise be obvious and visible from Google Maps. I have certainly benefited from this sort of site in the past. Barry’s points on respect are also especially important to note here. A respectful rider may be able to gain access to private property that might not otherwise be open, while a disrespectful rider may end up getting access to public lands closed to other motorcyclists, for good. Watch your behavior around other motorists as well as pedestrians, farm animals and wildlife when you’re riding. A wrong move, and you may not be allowed to travel that route again… Vezi sursa

Harley-Davidson a anunțat oficial modelele CVO Street Glide și CVO Road Glide, propulsate de noul motor Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121. V-Twin-ul de 1997 cmc încorporează o premieră pentru producătorul din Milwaukee, tehnologia VVT – Variable Valve Timing – aducând mai multă putere și mai mult cuplu față de predecesorul său, Milwaukee-Eight, 117: 115 cai putere la 5.020 rpm și un cuplu de 183 Nm. Sistemul de distribuție variabilă nu este însă singura noutate adusă de noul propulsor. Acesta are chiulasele cu patru supape reproiectate, cu porturi de admisie ovale, iar răcirea este asigurată de un sistem care include noi canale pentru curgerea lichidului, în jurul supapelor de evacuare. Todată, o pompă electrică trimite lichidul de răcire către chiulasa cilindrului posterior, acolo unde temperatura este mai ridicată, apoi către un radiator amplasat în partea inferioară a cadrului controlat de un termostat. Căldura emanată în special la viteze mici de monstruosul propulsor este direcționată dedesubtul motocicletei, pentru confortul celui aflat la ghidonul, dar și al pasagerului. Grație upgrade-ului de care s-a bucurat sistemul de răcire, raportul de compresie a fost crescut la 11.4:1 de la 10.2:1. Astfel, cuplul s-a îmbunătățit la turații joase. Tractul de admisie este și el nou, cu un corp de accelerație mai mare și un airbox, cu un volum cu 50% mai mare decât cel plasat pe varianta anterioară a propulsorului. O altă veste bună pentru fanii Harley, sunetul noului motor este descris ca fiind absolut impresionant și asta grație noii linii de evacuare care include o tobă cu diametru mai mare pentru a se crește debitul dar și tonalităție acustice. Masele celor două motocicle au fost și ele reduse, cu 14 kilograme pentru modelul CVO Street Glide și cu 15.8 kilograme pentru modelul CVO Road Glide. În ce privește suspensiile Showa, cursa suspensiei spate a fost crescută cu 50%, iar sistemul de frânare cu etrieri Brembo cu patru pistonașe oferă toată performanța și siguranța de care cineva ar avea nevoie. În premireră, CVO Street Glide și CVO Road Glide oferă moduri de rulare selectabile – Road, Sport și Rain – care includ câte o combinație specifică de livrare a puterii, frână de motor, sistem de frânare antiblocare în viraje C-ABS și setările sistemului de control al tracțiunii în viraje C-TCS. Atât confortul aerodinamic cât și cel termic sunt influențate de carenele complet noi, cu un design „flotant” al parbrizului și de paletele reglabile de control al fluxului aerului. Testele în tunelul aerodinamic au relevat o reducere cu 60% a zgomotul resimțit de pilot în cască, comparativ cu modelele echivalente din 2022. Modelele CVO Street Glide și CVO Road Glide introduc o suită complet nouă de tehnologie de infotainment susținută de noul sistem de operare Skyline. Un ecran tactil color TFT de 12,3 inchi înlocuiește toate instrumentele analogice și majoritatea comutatoarelor. Acest afișaj premium este personalizabil în trei opțiuni de vizualizare distincte și este compatibil cu dispozitivele Apple și Android. Conectivitatea Wi-Fi permite conectarea fără fir la dispozitivul unui motociclist sau motocicliste, iar un receptor Bluetooth pentru căști fără fir este încorporat în sistem. Sistemul audio premium Harley-Davidson, de înaltă performanță, cu patru difuzoare Rockford Fosgate Stage II, este alimentat de un nou amplificator RMS de 500 de wați. CVO Street Glide și CVO Road Glide vor fi prezentate în Milwaukee, în cadrul festivalului Harley-Davidson Homecoming, 13-16 iulie 2023. Ambele modele vor ajunge la showroom-urile dealerilor autorizați Harley-Davidson la mijlocul lunii iulie.

Germanii de la Sour voiau o nouă furcă pentru bicicleta lor de gravel cu cadru din oțel. Însă nu voiau orice ci ceva mai robust, întrucât turele lor de gravel tindeau să fie cam extreme. Așa că au creeat “The Business”, o furcă robustă din carbon, gândită să treacă până și cele mai severe examene EFBE Tri-Test. Noua Sour The Business este o furcă rigidă din carbon pentru bikepacking, gândită să fie optimă pentru bicicletele de gravel. La exterior furca arată normal, dar Sour ne asigură că deși este foarte robustă, fiind din carbon este și destul de ușoară, permițând astfel viteză mai mare pe traseu. Noua Sour The Business pentru gravel dispune de un steerer de 1,5” conic, ghidare semi-internă pentru conducta de frână și cablul electric pentru dinam, trei montanți pe fiecare parte și spațiu pentru anvelope cu mărime maximă de 700c x 55mm. La șuruburile de prindere, cele de jos trec complet prin piciorul furcii, asta însemnând că pot susține o greutate foarte mare. Sour spune că poți transporta bagaje de până la 7,5 kg pe fiecare parte a furcii. De asemenea, The Business este echipată cu montanți pentru aripă și un insert înlocuibil pentru axul roții de 12 mm. Frâna care poate fi instalată este de tip direct flat mount pentru disc de minim 160 mm. Lungimea furcii axle-to-crown este de 403 mm, cu 45 mm offset. Greutatea anunțată este de 550 g. Prețul anunțat pentru această nouă furcă din carbon este de 450 euro, care va fi disponibilă în curând pe site-ul producătorului. Sursa: Freerider

Hot on the heels of the Oregon BDR comes the Steens Mountain / Alvord Desert Oregon BDR-X, a shorter two-day loop than the full BDR. We’ve known it’s been coming for a while, and a livestream event on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 revealed the latest BDR-X to the world. [embedded content] The livestream included the release of the official Steens Mountain / Alvord Desert Oregon BDR-X film. At the time of writing, BDR hasn’t released this as a separate video, but you can skip to 17:47 in the livestream to see it until they do. The route begins and ends close to Section 1 of the Oregon BDR in the small town of Fields, where lodging and gas are available, as well as excellent milkshakes at Fields Station. (Every great motorcycle ride should include ice cream, right?) The main route starts with easy paved and gravel roads, then turns east on Steens Mountain Loop Road to begin a climb to over 10,000 feet elevation. This road doesn’t open until sometime in June due to snow and impassible muddy conditions when the snow melts. High amounts of precipitation this past winter might mean you’ll need to wait until July. There is a bypass route available if the only time you can make this trip is before the road is open. Once it dries out, expect silt, sand, and rocks. This section passes by numerous overlooks with breathtaking views, as well as places to camp on BLM land or in National Forests if you’re so inclined. You’ll return to civilization in the town of Frenchglen. Although the film talks about the numerous services available here, the store and hotel are currently closed, which is noted on the BDR website. The route then crosses the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge into the Steens Mountains, where the road changes from a wide gravel road to double-track, and then almost disappears from sight. It’ll feel like you’re riding across an open field, so make sure your GPS tracks are up to date and follow them. Screenshot: Backcountry Discovery Routes Speaking of navigation, in addition to Steens Mountain Loop Road, there are two other bypass routes you’ll need to follow if you attempt this BDR-X before August 1. These go around Moon Hill Road, a fun descent toward the town of Narrows where Section 2 begins, as well as the Stonehouse section, which is the ruins of a… well, stone house that some settlers built, then abandoned back in the day. It can be hard for flatlanders (like me) to imagine that snow melt, runoff, and mud will still be problems in the middle of summer, but my visit to the Pacific Northwest last year taught me that even in June I could run into snow-covered roads at 4,000 feet elevation. At more than double that altitude, there’s more snow, colder temperatures, and a much later thaw than we’re used to. That’s why so many of these roads are still closed so late in the year. This BDR-X doesn’t just cover high-altitude mountain passes, though. The descent down Section 2 brings you down a rocky road to Alvord Hot Springs, then across the Alvord Playa itself. It may be a shorter 246-mile loop, but this BDR-X covers more than 5,000 feet of elevation changes and the vastly different climates that come with them. Eastern Oregon is a high desert, not the pine forests we imagine near the coast or in the Bend area. An Oregon BDR-X through this area would not be complete without some genuine desert riding as well. Soon after the Alvord Playa, the route brings you back to Fields, where this adventure began. To get the full experience as BDR intended, take the ride after August 1. If your scheduling doesn’t allow it, you’ll still get much of the experience, but you’ll need to take bypasses around the sections that are closed. Check the BDR website for all the latest updates. Also, be sure to close any gates you encounter behind you. Some of these routes use public access across private land, often ranch land. There are unlocked gates to keep the cattle inside, but you’re allowed to open these gates, pass through, and close them behind you. All the ranchers ask is that you don’t let their cattle wander off through gates carelessly left open. So close gates and clean up behind you, tread lightly, and enjoy some of the best adventure riding that southeast Oregon has to offer. Vezi sursa

If you are a fan of the Harley-Davidson brand or just want to enjoy a music festival, the MoCo has just released the final schedule for its Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival. The celebration will be held in Milwaukee from July 13th to the 16th at venues across the Milwaukee area. Homecoming musical entertainment Headlining the musical entertainment on the waterfront at Veterans Park on July 14th will be the Foo Fighters and Green Day. In addition, other bands will play including Abby Jeanne, KennyHoopla, Phantogram, and The Cult. Then on July 15th, the Homecoming schedule includes Ghost Hounds, White Reaper, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and Cody Jinks. Photo: Harley-Davidson Homecoming Moto entertainment In the moto entertainment realm, Travis Pastrana’s Nitro Circus will perform each day, including their freestyle motocross show and the Ives Brothers Wall of Death and Ball of Steel. The show will also include an Airstream experience where Harley will show off its latest apparel. Finally, there will be food and beverage vendors, “special merchandise,” and more family-oriented entertainment. Other Harley-Davidson® Homecoming™ Festival events will take place at different venues across the Milwaukee area. Happenings will occur at the Harley-Davidson Museum, Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations (where licensed riders may demo new motorcycles), and at local Harley-Davidson dealerships. Motorcycles From Friday, July 13, through Sunday, July 16, the Harley-Davidson Museum grounds will feature food and beverage vendors, a H.O.G.® Member Check-In, and a display of 2023 Harley-Davidson motorcycles. There, you can view the newly announced CVO™ Street Glide® and CVO™ Road Glide® models. There will also be demo ride opportunities on LiveWire®, Stacyc®, and Serial 1 electric vehicles. Photo: Harley-Davidson You can also decide to take in the Division BMX Stunt Show, custom and vintage motorcycle shows, and free evening musical entertainment. Finally, closing out the celebration on Sunday, July 16, is the Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Motorcycle Parade in downtown Milwaukee. Tickets Tickets are now available online. A two-day pass will set you back $232.05. Single-day pricing is $129.10 for admission on Friday and $139.94 for Saturday (Note: Ticket prices include fees.) Vezi sursa

Evenimentul Yamaha MT-Tour revine în 2023, oferindu-ți ocazia de a testa cele mai noi modele din gama Hyper-Naked a producătorului nipon. „Predă-te schemei de culoare cyan-strom și îți vei trezi simțurile”, avertizează Yamaha. Dacă anul trecut, Yamaha MT-Tour a ajuns în București și Timișoara, în acest an, două noi orașe sunt pe listă. Iată calendarul complet al evenimentului: Bucuresti 17-18 iunie – la sediul Motodynamics – Yamaha Romania; Brasov – 20 iunie – la sediul MOTO24; Cluj – 22 iunie, în parcarea stadionului CLUJ ARENA Timisoara – 24 iunie – la sediul PAUL MOTO (MAZZARA) Înscrierile pentru eveniment sunt deschise și pot face aici. Condițiile necesare pentru test-ride: permis valabil și categoria necesară pentru motocicleta dorită( A1, A2 și A) Echipament de protecție omologat pentru strada obligatoriu: cască de protecție, geacă, manuși, încalțăminte adecvată si blugi moto și/sau genunchiere.

Munții Măcin sunt potriviți pentru bicicletă. În jurul lor, chiar și pe sus, peste ei, există o rețea întreagă de poteci și drumuri forestiere. Cele mai evidente trasee pe care le poți face aici cu bicicleta sunt turle scurtă și lungă de la concursul de mtb care are loc în zonă, Măcin Mountain Fun. Însă dacă vrei și altceva, găsești. Eu am ales să explorez puțin și, din păcate, nu am reușit sa documentez întreg traseul pe care mi l-am propus, dar ceva tot a ieșit. Inițial îmi propusesem o tură mai lungă, desenata acasă pe hărțile OSM, dar fiind conștient că la fața locului este posibil să nu pot pedala pe unde am schițat drumul. Și așa a și fost, potecile găsite existând, dar fiind extrem de vechi, neparcurse și invadate de vegetație. Așa că m-am rezumat la tura pe care știam ca o pot face, mai precis traseul punct roșu Valea Cozluk Varful Conaciu. De fapt este traseu de drumeție, dar care poate fi parcurs fără probleme și pe bicicletă. Are doar 12 km, dar, la o adică, îl poți parcurge de mai multe ori în aceeași zi, până îți faci numărul de calorii consumate! Tura începe de la locul de start al concursului Macin Mountain Fun, iar pentru început este pe drum forestier, drum de pământ și iarbă. Ulterior se transformă în potecă. În mare este vorba despre o singură urcare mare și o singură coborâre mare, dar luat la detaliu, mai există o coborâre și urcare mică pe la mijloc. Tura nu este deosebit de grea sau tehnică însă unele urcări este posibil să le faci cu push-bike, nu doar pentru că sunt abrupte, dar sunt și ceva mai tehnice. Coborârea la fel, nimic deosebit de tehnic, însă treaba asta este subiectivă întrucât experiența fiecăruia contează la cât de tehnică ți se pare o coborâre. În total au ieșit 12,5 km cu o diferență de nivel de 310 m. Nu este ceva spectaculos, pentru cei “deosebit” de antrenați, dar este o tură frumoasă, sălbatică, cu drum de țară și poteca, zone tehnice și trail, care poate fi chiar suficientă pentru o jumătate de zi de pedalat. Track-ul gps îl poti downloada de aici. Sursa: Freerider

The Dakar Rally organizers have dumped a load of details for next year’s event. The 2024 Dakar Rally will have some interesting tweaks, including a new bivouac format for some stages, as well as a new alt-energy class and later starting date. 48H Chrono Stages The organizers say this is a new stage format that spreads over two days, just like a marathon stage, with competitors allowed to help each other during the evenings—but you might not end up with the helpers you wanted, since you won’t necessarily all be in the same bivouac. Here’s how the ASO (organizers of the rally) explained it: … the drivers and crews will be spread out over eight different bivouacs. When the clocks strike 4 pm, all vehicles will be required to stop at the next bivouac they come across. With no connection and therefore no visibility of their rivals’ performances, the competitors will camp and set off again at 7 am the following day to complete the remaining section of the route. The tally will be counted after around 600 kilometres of special stage. Sounds chaotic and weird, which describes the Dakar perfectly. We can’t wait to see the F5irehose pick this format apart next year, as it has drastic potential to change the race. Changing things up in the Empty Quarter Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter desert will be the setting for the 48H Chrono stage. Next year, motorcycles and quads will be on a different route than the cars and trucks. The ASO says this will make it harder for them to navigate, since they can’t follow motorcycle tracks. As a result, the cars and trucks will receive bonuses if they open the stage, same as the moto class had last year. Later starting dates For the past few years, the race has usually begun right around New Years Day (the 2023 race actually began in the final days of December 2022). The 2024 Dakar Rally will begin on January 5 and run through the 19th. Once again, it runs entirely in Saudi Arabia, starting in AlUla and ending in Yanbu. Return of the Dakar Classic This retro revival class returns for the 2024 Dakar Rally, featuring vehicles from the 1980s and 1990s. Alas, it’s all four-wheeled stuff at this point, with no motorcycles that we know of. Entry is limited to about 100 crews, says the ASO. Hybrid/Electric/Hydrogen Vehicles There’s also a new side quest at the rally, the Dakar Future Mission 1000. In this category, hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles will contest a shorter course each day (around 100 km) that isn’t the same as the main route, but similar. The ASO says this will eventually become a competitive Dakar category, but for now, it’s entirely experimental, with no winners or losers. The idea is to assess the performance of alt-energy. The organizers expect roughly 10 vehicles to participate, including motorcycles, cars and trucks. Vezi sursa

Harley-Davidson has released some more information on the new CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide models, although the bikes won’t be in dealerships for another month. The biggest news? The bikes come with a new Milwaukee Eight V-twin engine with variable valve timing and liquid-cooled heads. We had our first official look at the new CVO models in April of 2023, although earlier leaks had confirmed the bikes’ existence, and even tipped the variable valve timing system, which advances or retards camshaft timing to optimize engine performance across the rev range. Harley-Davidson says the new Milwaukee Eight 121 engine makes more horsepower and torque than the previous 117 V-twin, as you’d think it should. We expect about 115 horsepower at 4,500 rpm and 139 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm, and Harley-Davidson says the VVT system also improves fuel economy. No doubt we’ll also see a reduction in tailpipe emissions, too. Compression rises from 10:2:1 to 11:4:1, and the intake system is redesigned to also reduce emissions and intake noise. As for the liquid cooling system, it pumps coolant through the rear four-valve head first, then the front head, then through the rad, which is situated low on the front of the bike’s frame. All in all, this engine should be a big upgrade to the CVO series, and we do expect this tech to eventually trickle down to the standard models in the H-D lineup. 2024 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide. Photo: Harley-Davidson 2024 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide. Photo: Harley-Davidson Other tweaks While these machines are obviously similar to their progenitors, the CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide are both much-updated this year. There’s a new set of trick spoked wheels. The new fairing and bodywork are major visual changes, and Harley-Davidson says new in-fairing vents provide more cooling comfort for the rider as well as reducing helmet buffeting. Of course there’s a massive new sound system, and Showa suspension and Brembo brakes are standard. The LED lighting comes with integrated signals, there’s a new 6-gal fuel tank on both models, and the machines both went on a weight loss program. Still, they’re big and beefy. The CVO Street Glide is a whopping 838 lb ready-to-ride. The CVO Road Glide is even chunkier, at 862 lb. That’s the price you pay, when you want to buy a massive V-twin tourer with what amounts to a home theater system built-in. The price tag for these factory custom motorcycles? Both machines’ MSRP starts at $42,999 in the US. In Canada, the CVO Street Glide starts at $53,299 and the CVO Road Glide starts at $54,299. More details at Harley-Davidson.com. Vezi sursa

There never really was any doubt, but in case you were worried about the Kawasaki KLX300, have no fear—it’s back for 2024. There are some very minor changes, but generally speaking, it seems to be much the same machine that we’ve grown to appreciate ever since its big-bore treatment in 2021. Right up front, you’ll see the bike gets new bodywork. Kawi says the rad shrouds are slimmer, shaped more like something you’d see on a KX. Same goes for the rear fenders. There are new two-piece sidecovers that make it easier to move around on the bike and also make the machine more comfortable. There’s also a new LED headlight, with the low beam at the top and high beam at bottom, supposedly working together to improve visibility. The cowling is trimmed down, too. And, the seat gets a two-tone cover. The KLX300SM is pretty much the same thing, with a set of 17-inch wheels and some adjustments to suspension. Photo: Kawasaki Most of this won’t be terribly noticeable from the cockpit, though. Mechanically speaking, things are more-or-less unchanged. The engine is not updated, so you can expect liquid-cooled single-cylinder to make about 29 horsepower, same as the old one did (see our review of the 2021 model here). The dual sport KLX300 still rolls on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, while the supermoto SM variant has 17-inch rims front and rear—and both bikes have tubed tires, as you’d expect in this price range. The gauge cluster uses an LCD screen—again, as you’d expect at this price point. Both models have adjustable fork and shock, which makes them a popular choice for riders who want to push a bit harder than you can on other quarter-liter machines with cheaper suspension. Asking price is a starting MSRP of $6,199 for the KLX300 in the US, or $6,599 for the KLX300SM. In Canada, it’s $6,999 and $7,3999 respectively. Vezi sursa

http://www.frm.ro/wp-content/uploads/337300958_755579752712954_1878323060377862591_n-300x199.jpgEtapele III si IV din Campionatele European BMU Road Racing și National de Viteza se vor disputa la sfarsitul acestei saptamani in Grecia pe circuitul din Serres. Organizator este clubul Lupo Racing Timișoara. Vor concura clasele: SSP600 cc, SBK 1000 cc, 300cc, Stock 600, Stock 1000 Debutanti 600 cc; Debutanti 1000 cc. Se anunță un weekend incendiar la Serres, cu foarte mulți sportivi din Romănia, Bulgaria, Turcia, Grecia, Bosnia & Hertegovina și Macedonia. Din România participă următorii sportivi: TEODORESCU Adrian, TRIFAN Iulian Ciprian, HRISTOV Hristian, PIVNICERU Marian, ZELCA Adrian, PASCOTA Ionel, BAR Alexandru Vlad, BRAESCU MURESAN Denis, PASCOTA Ionel Patrick, VOINEA Mihai Alexandru, TEODORESCU Razvan, PUCHIU Matei, ȚONE Dragoș Ciprian, VOINEA Mihai Alexandru, CAZACU Andrei, ALEXANDRES CU Eduard, POP Sorin Ilie, VALEAN Ioan, ȘOLDAN Iulian Adrian, PAHOME Alex, ȚONE Dragoș Ciprian, CREȘNEAC Șerban, POPOVICIU Lucian, SARAC Cristian, DOANA Florin, MARIN Virgil si BELEIU Alexandru. Regulament Particular Campionatul European BMU Road Racing – Et. 3 & 4 – Serres, GR 09-11.06.2023 Program si RP CNIR Viteza Etapele 3 si 4 Serres 09-,11.06.2023

http://www.frm.ro/wp-content/uploads/WhatsApp-Image-2023-06-07-at-16.07.06-300x199.jpegPrima etapa din Campionatul National de Supermoto 2023 a avut loc duminica trecuta in paralel etapele naționale din Campionatul Ungariei și al Slovaciei pe circuitul din Visonta. Au concurat clasele: SM65, SM85, SM Open, si SM Amatori și Veterani. Clasele juniorilor de la SM65 și SM85 au alergat împreună, sportivii români concurând alături de cei din Ungaria cu rezultate foarte bune (aceștia ocupând în final locurile 2,3,4 și 5). La clasa SM85 câștigător este BALINTONI Andreas, urmat de Mark Ioviță și Dărăban Teodor. Szabo Mark a concurat la clasa SM65. http://www.frm.ro/wp-content/uploads/WhatsApp-Image-2023-06-07-at-16.07.06-1-300x199.jpegFazakas Zoltan este cel mai bun Veteran, urmat pe podium de către BAROTHI Zoltan-Csaba. FERECZ-CZIBI Erik-Justi se impune la clasa Amatori. Este urmat pe podium de către SZAKACS Vladut-Constantin și ROSZKOS Stefan-Alexandru. La clasa SM Open au luat startul doi sportivi români. . Câștigător al primei etape este PATRASCOIU Alexandru. Pe locul doi s-a clasat BRAESCU MURESAN Denis. Etapele 2 și 3 naționale se vor disputa împreună cu cele europene și balcanice pe circuitul din Prejmer (Brașov), între 19 și 20 august. Profităm de această ocazie să invităm sportivii români să vină în număr cât mai mare la această competiție care va avea un nivel foarte ridicat. Mai mult, copiii care vin acum pentru prima dată în Campionatul Național și vor lua startul la clasele SM65 sau SM85 vor avea discount de 100%. Ne vedem pe cartodromul din Prejmer!

Slovenii de la Musguard au venit cu o idee cel puțin interesantă pentru transportul bagejelor în turele de bikepacking. În general gențile dedicate bikepacking-ului vin cu ham integrat, însă acest nou design este universal. Pe ghidon prinzi doar acest ham, iar în el transporți ce vrei. Mai mult, poate fi folosit și în oraș, la transportul cumpărăturilor, iar când nu îl folosești, acest ham este practic pliabil, putând fi rulat și făcut mic pentru a nu te încurca. Când ai ceva de transportat, hamul nu susține neapărat întreaga greutate ci totul se bazează pe sistemul de chingi ancorate de ghidon. Întreg hamul cântărește doar 148 grame. Împreuna cu el nu primești și o geantă dedicata, însă hamul cu dimensiunile de 350×400 mm poate acomoda genți din material textil impermeabil sau din polipropilenă, și mai impermeabile, specifice sporturilor nautice. Dar poți transporta aici și multe altele, cum ar fi cortul sau lemne pentru focul de tabără de seară. Diametrul maxim pe care îl poți transporta în acest ham este de aproximativ 25 cm. Hamul Musguard Handlebar Harness este produs în Slovenia și are prețul de 49 euro. Pentru livrare în România se mai adaugă taxa de 5,90 euro. Prețul include hamul din plastic, patru distanțiere din spumă EVA, chinga de 1,73 m lungime și două bucle din silicon. Sursa: Freerider

http://www.frm.ro/wp-content/uploads/AFISE-sponsori-ENDURO-CROSS_page-0001-300x212.jpgClubul Motorsport Race Management Bucuresti organizeaza sambata pentru prima data un concurs de Endurocross în județul Iași. Cupa MADRAS se va disputa pe 10 iunie și va fi organizată în parteneriat cu clubul Adventure 4X4 Iasi. Vor concura clasele: MOTO-A, B, C, VET ; QUAD-A și C; ATV-A și C; si Veterani. Înscrierea concurenților și verificarea tehnica se vor face la secretariatul din incinta parcului tehnic de pe Platou 4×4 Păun (N47°07’56’’/E27°41’27’’). Program: orele: 8:00-10:00 – înscrierea concurenților, verificarea tehnica MOTO ora: 10:00 – sedinta MOTO ora : 10:30 – start MOTO A profi ora : 10:40 – start MOTO B,C și veterani orele: 12:00-14:00 – înscrierea concurenților, verificarea tehnica ATV ora : 14:00 – sedinta ATV ora : 14:30 – start ATV A pro ora : 14:40 – start ATV C și veterani Ora 18:00 preconizata închiderea concursului și premierea. Competiția va fi de tip circuit de 15km pe o perioada de 1,5 ore + o tura. Regulament Particular CR Endurocross EST Et. I – Iasi 10.06.2023

30 YEARS OF KINI AND DAKAR The Dakar Rally needs no introduction. It’s an incredible annual race of a million stories, and one that perhaps was ‘the making’ of KTM as we know it today. It is singly the most difficult and long, yet spectacular races you can take part in on a motorcycle, and one we all relish in following every January. The Legends of The Dakar Exhibition is now open PC @FullGasCreative But when did it all start for KTM? Roll back to the 1990s when an Austrian Motocross World Champion, Heinz Kinigadner, had discovered the world of rally despite his pre-conceptions about the discipline, as his competitive motocross career came to a close. ‘Kini’, as he’s affectionately known, convinced Stefan Pierer (KTM CEO) to have an official entry to build a team to compete at one of the toughest races on the planet. And we’re so glad he did. Heinz Kinigadner was the mastermind behind KTM going rally racing PC @FullGasCreative Since then, adventures have been a-many, thousands of stories created, and numerous legends have been made. KTM boasts 19 Dakar victories, with nine different winners and three continents raced as the event moved from Africa to South America to Saudi Arabia. 30 years on from Kini’s first official KTM entry and we are now celebrating ‘The Legends Of The Dakar’ in a new special exhibition in the KTM Motohall, Mattighofen – the home of KTM – and what a spectacle it is. In preparation for the exhibition there was a lot of talk of which bikes should be on display; there was only space for so many – but with hundreds of stories from so many Dakar races there was a big choice to choose from – Kini’s 1995 Dakar bike, the LC4 that took the first victory with Fabrizio Meoni in 2001, that enormous twin-cyclinder LC8 in 2002, Richard Sainct’s Gauloises bike, Nani Roma’s Repsol colors in 2004, Cyril Despres’ bikes, Marc Coma’s bikes, the first 450 in the 690 chassis, the first 450 of the new era and so on and so on. It was a tricky choice, and that is testament to the sheer history of the race that KTM holds with both hands. Cyril Despres is reunited with his 2005 Dakar winning bike PC @FullGasCreative One of the factors that was paramount to the success of the exhibition content was the explanation of this unique race – its history and its future – as well as finding untold stories that really bring visitors into the midst of the desert and mindset of a Dakar racer. In the end, with hours and hours of interview recorded, it was difficult to select the stories that would make the cut, but what an occasion it has been to talk to these super-human athletes that have endured experiences few will ever be able to understand. We asked them to dig deep as they reflected on years gone by and give us an insight into those times in the race where they really reached the human limit. All of the athletes could remember so many special moments, and perhaps now they reflect differently than they did when they’d first taken their victories and the feeling was ‘new’. There’s lots of interactive videos and artefacts in the exhibition PC @FullGasCreative Kinigadner competed at the Dakar seven times. His vision to race at an event when very little racing was happening globally, and one that had international appeal, became quite fundamental to the success of the Adventure bike models as KTM’s fortunes as a company began to change. His gear was minimalistic, as was the set-up back then, and tales of gearboxes in the sand, getting lost in some of the world’s untouched landscape, sleeping in the wilderness in a tent and the endurance required both mechanically and physically to complete the race were almost inconceivable – and actually, Kini could have talked for quite a few days to tell his story. Memories of the likes of Fabrizio and Richard reminded us of Dakar years past, and those athletes who hold an important place in the record books that maybe are becoming a little lost in time. It was an important occasion. “In my time the Dakar was the biggest adventure you could have. Unbelievable landscapes, away from home, there was no telephone, you were really alone with your bike. This was wonderful,” said Kinigadner. “Being part of this rally idea and rally activities really makes me a bit proud and happy. I’m thankful that I was allowed to be there for all of these stories – it would be easy to write a book! In January there is no other motorsport and everyone is watching this race. You show pictures at home from a landscape that every motorcyclist is dreaming of and this is what makes the Dakar so special,” continued the Austrian racer. Kevin Benavides, the 2023 Dakar Champion, visits the exhibition PC @SebasRomero While the Dakar of today enjoys so much more global communication directly from the event with the technology that can project imagery around the world much faster than previously, the mystery of the race still remains. As we interviewed the likes of Cyril Despres and Marc Coma, both five-time Dakar winners who can now reflect on their fierce rivalry with a little more ease than perhaps 10 or so years ago, the stories of their time in Africa and South America were absolutely mesmerising. We built a picture of an era of the past, of serious competition, danger, and extremes that, from the warmth and calm of the interview studio, were hard to comprehend. Just finishing a Dakar is no mean feat, to win one, two or five is difficult to appreciate, as are the lengths they would go to ensure they were ‘the best’. Behind the scenes with Matthias Walkner telling his Dakar stories PC @FullGasCreative Heading towards the more modern era, which has been even better-documented globally than previously, and with thanks to the support of Red Bull, the stories are of no less intensity. Matthias Walkner talks of how special it was to be an Austrian rider, on an Austrian bike with an Austrian sponsor, Sam Sunderland explains the emotion after recovering from a serious injury to take his victory in 2017, and Toby Price won a race with a broken scaphoid. They reel off the days and the riding with ease, but imagine it, getting on an Enduro bike, adding some weight, going to the desert, reading directions via some little icons (the roadbook) you’ve never seen before and riding your motorcycle for hundreds of kilometers at speed for around 14 days consecutively in extreme conditions you wouldn’t sunbathe in/go skiing in. It’s the ultimate test. Five-time Dakar winner Marc Coma signs his 2009 winning bike in the exhibition PC @SebasRomero Arguably the vision of Kini some 30 years ago paved the way for a READY TO RACE mentality instilled within KTM and once the Austrian firm found its winning ways, there really was no stopping the orange team. There are so many variables within a Dakar that to win 19 times is incredible, especially with 18 consecutive wins from 2001-2019. The most recent victory, perhaps perfectly achieved for the 30-year celebration, was in January 2023 with Kevin Benavides. The Argentinian took the win from teammate Toby Price, although by the smallest of margins. 30 years ago the Dakar was so much the same as it is today, and yet so different. 15 Dakar wins in one photo at the opening night of the exhibition PC @FullGasCreative Find out more about the special ‘Legends Of The Dakar Exhibition’ by clicking here or visit the KTM Motohall in Mattighofen, Austria.

Horia Nițu, cunoscut și ca Han, este un ciclist amator cunoscut multor iubitori de pedalat din București și nu numai. Artist plastic, el se ocupă nu doar de pictură ci și de fotografie și restaurări de cadre de bicicletă, o parte din realizările sale le găsiți pe pagina sa personală. În același timp, este și un ciclist pasionat care a călătorit mult, iar Franța este o zonă care i-a rămas mereu în suflet, în zona Alpe d’Huez am fost și eu împreună cu el să descoperim cățărările montane celebre din Turul Franței și nu numai. Cu sprijinul Uniunii Artiștilor Plastici și împreună cu Muzeul Național George Enescu el organizează expoziția Memoria timpului: ”Route Napoléon” în corespondența lui George Enescu care va fi deschisă între 8-16 iunie la Galeria Căminul Artei – Centrul Artelor Vizuale, din București, str. Biserica Enei nr. 16, sector 1. Vernisajul expoziției va avea loc în data de 8 iunie de la ora 18. Toți iubitorii de ciclism sunt așteptați cu drag Iată descrierea evenimentului: Memoria Timpului -”Route Napoléon” în corespondența lui George Enescu Un drum istoric În 1913, în Franța, H. Foulhioux parcurgea pe bicicletă un traseu, cunoscut din secolul 19 ca ”Route Napoléon”: un drum de 325 de km din S spre N, de la Riviera franceză până în Alpi pe care l-a parcurs inițial Napoleon Bonaparte în martie 1815, întorcându-se din exilul de la Elba, la Paris. O călătorie de 100 de zile pe care aproximativ100 de ani mai târziu a reiterat-o un ciclist oarecare și despre a cărui aventură aflăm azi, după mai bine de 100 de ani, din întâmplare, grație memoriei timpului. Între anonimat și celebritate ”Route Napoléon” a devenit, în timp, unul dintre cele mai cunoscute trasee din Franța, un drum istoric a cărui notorietate atrage ca un magnet vizitatori din întreaga lume, pe 4 sau 2 roți. Acest traseu pitoresc a fost parcurs în trecut de un ciclist, iar impresiile sale – transmise de pe drum prin intermediul câtorva cărți poștale, lui George Enescu, la Paris. Astfel, corespondența muzicianului devine un instrument care operează memoria timpului (scoțând la iveală întâmplări vechi de 110 ani) și element generator al proiectului. Ideea proiectului Mai mult, coincidența face, probabil, ca artistul Horia Nițu să fi parcurs la rândul său, ”Route Napoléon” pe bicicletă, asemenea expeditorului îndrăzneț din secolul trecut. Și tot datorată coincidenței, consultarea corespondenței lui George Enescu și un travaliu grafic asupra acesteia i-a scos în cale amintirile ciclistului H. Foulhioux. Documentele de arhivă fac legătura între trecut și prezent, între experiențe similare trăite de personaje aparținând unor secole diferite. Dar nu H. Foulhioux și Horia Nițu sunt personajele principale ale acestui proiect, ci memoria, locurile, bicicleta. Exponate Imaginile expoziției constau în reproducerea digitală a ilustrațiilor cărților poștale datate 1913 și amintirilor dezvăluite prin mesajul lor, precum și cadre fotografice – peisaje realizate de Horia Nițu în anii 2000 în Alpi. Bicicleta constituie în mod evident, un mijloc comun de parcurgere a drumului respectiv, fiind totodată regina proiectului, obiect ce trădează pasiunea artistului nu doar pentru sport, ci și pentru o cauză actuală. Mijloc ecologic de deplasare, un partener de contemplare, un antrenor fidel al corpului și spiritului, ea dezvăluie respectul artistului față de natură. Mai mult, lui îi aparține ideea inedită de a o introduce în sfera preocupărilor sale artistice. Pictura, grafica, fotografia – au, la Horia Nițu, în prim-plan, bicicleta. Ea înlocuiește hârtia tradițională – caz în care materialul din care e construită – carbon, aluminiu, oțel, formele speciale pe care le presupune – cilindri, suprafețe plate, ondulate sau mufe neregulate devin atât ”șevalet”, cât și ”pânză” pentru Horia Nițu. Concluzie Artistul realizează o expoziție aparte; el sondează memoria timpului prin procesarea și alăturarea unor elemente diverse, distanțate de secole, provenind din domenii de activitate precum artă, istorie, muzică, sport. Toate sunt conectate însă de un obiect particular, bicicleta, pe care H. Nițu o ridică la rang artistic, etalând rolul central pe care îl are în cariera sa. Mulțumiri speciale Muzeului Național ”George Enescu” din București, partener al proiectului, care a pus la dispoziția artistului un fond ducumentar important. Sursa: Freerider

http://www.frm.ro/wp-content/uploads/347433730_162402976657291_1213606576514195761_n-300x151.jpgACS SIM13 Motorsport Brasov va organiza o noua editie a cupei Baja Satu Mare la sfarsitul acestei saptamani. Concursul de Rally Raid se va disputa între 09 și 10 iunie. Vor concura clasele: Pro și Adventure. Secretariatul general al concursului este la Castelul Karoly din localitatea Carei. Regulamentul particular al competitiei poate fi consultat aici. Programul detaliat al Cupei Baja Satu Mare este disponibil aici. Rezultatele generale vor fi publicate în timp real aici: SPORTITY www.nsmmotorsport.ro/baja-satu-mare-2023/

Cube AMS este o bicicletă de XC racing pe care am scos-o din cutie și pe care am montat-o, însă nu foarte rapid. Procesul este de durată datorită faptului că adițional, va trebui să prinzi cele două cabluri de Lock-out de furcă și de amortizor (și să treci o cămașă prin cadru), ceea ce necesită timp și ceva răbdare. În filmul de mai jos, poți vedea întreg procesul: [embedded content] Sursa: Freerider

Prototipul M 1000 XR este avanpremiera a ceea ce bavarezi văd ca fiind motocicleta sport omnipotentă. Se la drumuri de țară, la ture lungi și uz pe circuit, M 1000 XR este proiectat și construit să le facă pe toate cu același aplomb, la un nivel de performanţă necunoscut anterior în acest segment. „Cu prototipul M 1000 XR, oferim o prim contact cu al treilea model M la BMW Motorrad, în anul nostru aniversar. Am dezvoltat M 1000 XR, M XR pe scurt, bazat pe actualele S 1000 XR, S 1000 RR și M 1000 RR, ca o motocicletă pentru distanțe lungi, cu dinamică super-sport pentru șosea, dar și pentru pista de curse”, spune Dominik Blass, manager de produs. M 1000 XR folosește motorul cu patru cilindri al BMW S 1000 RR, dotat cu tehnologie ShiftCam pentru modificarea timpului de deschidere al supapelor de admisie. Cu o putere de peste 200 de cai, o greutate de numai 223 kg, cu plinul făcut, noul M XR deschide o nouă dimensiune în segmentul motocicletelor crossover. O reducere suplimentară a greutății și chiar o dinamică mai extremă a pilotajului pot fi obținute cu Pachetul M Competition, care este disponibil ca opțiune. Viteza maximă a prototipului M XR este de aproximativ 280 km/h, iar poziția de pilotaj este una care încarcă roata față, pentru un control mai bun. Aici bavarezii se dau puțin de gol în ce privește modurile de pilotaj, menționând modul „supersport”, în care această poziție este tocmai potrivită. Grație wingleturilor M, motocicleta este mai stabilă, are tendință mai mică de wheelie și poate fi accelerată mai devreme datorită efectului de apăsare la sol creat de acestea. Deși sunt deocamdată zgârciți cu detaliile, cei de la BMW spun că suspensiile inteligente și sistemele electronice au un rol cheie în comportamentul viitorului model, insistându-se pe ideea de prototip. Dar, este clar că ne putem aștepta la riding modes, funcția Brake Slide Assist și la o variantă a suspensiei active DDC prezentă pe M 1000 R. Bavarezii menționează însă Frâna M cu pompă radială, dezvoltată pe baza experienței dobândită de echipa de uzină BMW Motorrad în Campionatul Mondial de Superbike. Totodată, etrierii sunt anodizati albastru, purtând faimosul logo „M”. Un prototip pilotat de Peter Hickman a fost observat zilele trecute la Isle of Man, făcând senzație. Lăsat „întâmplător” în paddock, acesta a atras privirile și grație roților din carbon, dar și a mai multor elemente de carenaj din același materiale, ceea ce indică faptul că motocicleta era echipată cu pachetul de competiție M. BMW Motorrad spune că va reveni cu detalii în a doua jumătate a anului, modelul de serie fiind așteptat să devină disponibil din 2024.

Hearing protection is something most experienced motorcyclists will recommend—most of them have learned of its necessity the hard way. Now, here’s an option to get a set of high-end earplugs for free, with a Motorcycle.com giveaway. Read on for a chance to win a set of EarPeace MotoPro earplugs. We here at Motorcycle.com are huge fans of our hearing. We wear earplugs any time we ride, and Boss-man Evans has gone to the extreme of testing multiple different kinds of earplugs. He swears it’s for science. The rest of us think he likes taking pictures of his ears (fortunately for you, dear reader, we’ve blocked him from actually posting those pictures all but one time). Our earplugs of choice? The Moto Pro earplugs by EarPeace. And now we’ve partnered up with EarPeace to offer 10 lucky winners the opportunity to wear our favorite earplugs in their own ears! All that we ask in return is a little bit of information and that you not share pics of your ears in the comments section. Also, after you win EarPeace requests that you (not Evans) post pictures of your ears with their earplugs on social media, tagging them with @earpeaceearplugs. That’s fair, right? What makes the Moto Pro earplugs so cool, in our opinion, is their oval shape, unlike the round shape used by so many others. This lets the Moto Pro fill your ear canal more comfortably as it is a better representation of the shape of your ear. Also, the Moto Pro has 24db filters so you can still hear the stuff you want to hear and tune out the things you don’t. For more info, check out MO’s giveaway here. Note that this is only available to motorcyclists living in the lower 48 states. Vezi sursa

Ducati North America is recalling certain 2020 through 2023 Panigale V2 motorcycles for a software issue. The defective software could cause the motorcycle’s headlight to change from low beam to daylight running light mode automatically. Ducati’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report to NHTSA Ducati’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says about 3,315 motorcycles, or about five percent of these US Ducati models, may be affected. In its report, Ducati says: “Following some reports from customers of malfunctions in the automatic light mode of the front headlight, at the end of February 2023, Ducati carried out an analysis of the warranty claim data which showed some dashboard replacements due to this defect; after this analysis Ducati requested the return of the dashboards replaced for this defect, to conduct quality analysis on the components.” “Ducati started and internal investigation with the supplier’s support. The investigation’s found an incorrect calibration of the photodiode in the software revision in the motorcycle dashboard. The new dashboard software revision includes different calibration parameters of the photodiode.” “From May 24, 2023, all the motorcycles produced have installed the new dashboard software revision .” In other words. the bike’s dashboard software may deactivate the bike’s low beam headlamp and change it to DRL mode without input from the rider. Then, describing the safety risk, Ducati says: “If the dashboard activates incorrectly the headlight daylight position lamp (DRL) during night motorcycle riding, in automatic setting mode, the rider could find a situation in which the front headlight passes automatically from headlight low beam to headlight daylight position lamp (DRL). Therefore in a situation where the headlight does not generate enough light to illuminate the road, increasing the risk of crash or injury.” The motorcycles affected by this recall are as follows: MAKE MODEL MODEL YEAR DUCATI Panigale V2 2020 – 2023 VIN Range Begin: ZDMHAATW0LB000230 End: ZDMHAATWXPB012777 (not sequential) Recall Schedule Planned dealer notification: May 30 through June 6, 2023 Planned customer notification: June 20 through June 27, 2023 Remedy Dealers will update the dashboard software revision free of charge to the customer. Contacts Owners may contact Ducati at 1-650-933-9800 and cite Ducati’s recall number SRV-RCL-23-003, with any questions. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) and cite NHTSA Recall Number 23V-377, or they may go to www.nhtsa.gov. Vezi sursa

Kawasaki’s big-bore dirt bike hasn’t been updated since… 2019! In the world of off-road motorcycles, that is a very. long. time. But Team Green has made up for it by giving its flagship a big overhaul. The 2024 Kawasaki KX450 and the KX450X (the cross-country version of the machine) see major changes to engine, chassis and electronics. Starting with the single-cylinder engine, Kawasaki moved the exhaust port towards the middle of the head to improve efficiency, and also straightened out the intake port to help the engine breathe easier. These changes also allow Kawi to shift the exhaust inboard, improving mass centralization and slimming down the bike, and we expect a cleaner emissions profile as well. Will the 449cc four-stroke also have more power? Kawasaki doesn’t give away many details there. However, we do see that Kawasaki also added a new button to the left handlebar which controls both a two-level engine mode system (standard power, and a softer delivery mode) as well as a traction control system. At this point, it’s only three-level TC, but it’s a big update for the four-fiddy. Kawasaki allowed smartphone integration to this motorcycle via the Rideology app, so users can tweak engine mapping without having to mess with the complicated cable systems of previous machines. There’s also a new launch control mode, to help riders bag a holeshot. 2024 Kawasaki KX450. Photo: Kawasaki On to the chassis! There’s a new Brembo front brake, although the Nissin rear brake of the previous model returns. Of course, Kawasaki matched the overhauled engine with a new frame, an aluminum perimeter arrangement. There’s a new bodywork set as well, which is supposed to offer improved ergonomics and the ability to move around on the machine more easily. Kawasaki also updated the sidepanel to allow quick, tool-less access to the air filter. Kawasaki still seems to be sorting details of the new KX450 and KX450X out, as we are still waiting on some details on the bikes. We do know that Kawasaki says they’ll be in North American markets by October. Pricing will start at $10,399 for US customers then, or $12,049 for Canadians. Vezi sursa

Kawasaki has officially confirmed its new lightweight cruiser for both the US and Canadian markets. The Kawasaki Eliminator should be here in coming weeks, with a design very much influenced by Team Green’s sportbikes. Starting with the engine, this liquid-cooled parallel twin powerplant is based on the Ninja 400. With 451cc capacity, we do expect a bit more power, but it’s worth noting Kawasaki’s press release emphasizes the machine’s torque. Perhaps the 44ish hp of the Ninja 400 is roughly the same on this bike, but the 27 lb-ft of torque is probably increased on the Eliminator. Of course, a six-speed gearbox and slipper/assist clutch is standard, same as the 400 twins. The Eliminator will compete directly with the Rebel 500 cruiser from Honda. Photo: Kawasaki There’s an 18-inch front wheel, and 16-inch rear. Seat height is a low 28.9 inches. There is only a single front brake disc (310mm) and a single rear disc as well, of course (240mm). Taking all that into consideration, Kawasaki says the trellis frame draws influence from the Ninja’s chassis, but we wouldn’t expect sportbike handling, even with the swingarm bolted directly to the engine case like a modern superbike. Curb weight is 388 pounds, though, so it should steer nicely enough, especially with that wide handlebar. To help things along, Kawi designed the bike with a fairly upright riding position, with mid-mount pegs. There are low and high accessory seats available, to help you dial in the fit better. Taking a look at Kawi’s diagram below, you can see the seating position isn’t far off the Z400, although you can expect the suspension performance (dual rear shocks, telescopic fork) to be much reduced. And, remember that even a slight change in your body’s balance points can make a big difference in comfort, particularly on a bad road. Image: Kawasaki LED headlight and taillight come standard, and an all-digital LCD dash. Riders can connect to that dash via the Rideology app, from Kawasaki, to get updates on maintenance schedules, display incoming call details or other info. In the US, the Eliminator is available without ABS in white or gray for $6,649. With ABS, your choice is white paint or black, for $6,949. The Eliminator SE, with headlight cowling, USB power socket and other upgrades costs $7,249, coming in orange/black. In Canada, riders only have a choice of ABS model in white or black, at $8,199 MSRP. Another $300 CAD will get you the SE model. ADV application? Nobody is buying this to do the same things that most people do with a KLX300. The Kawasaki Eliminator will offer a bumpy ride on back roads. It’s a cruiser, not a dual sport or adventure bike. And yet, this bike will most certainly launch thousands of riders down a career that leads them to adventures, many of them on adventure bikes. It will offer the same gateway drug experience that the old small-cc cruisers of the 1980s gave us. And for riders doing fly-and-buys in overseas markets? I expect to see these Eliminators showing up in Ride Reports from other continents pretty soon. You can ride around the world on paved roads, and this machine could be a pretty fun way to see Southeast Asia. Vezi sursa

We’re about to get our first M-series adventure bike from BMW—kind of—but it won’t be a GS. Instead, BMW confirmed it’s working on an M1000 XR. Of course, the M1000 XR is based on the S1000 XR, same as the other models in the performance-oriented M1000 series are based on the S1000 platform. That means it’s powered by an inline four engine, not a flat twin, and it’s an adventure sports model, not a hardcore off-roader. No doubt some riders are taking their XR models off-pavement, but most are happy to stick to paved roads with that 17-inch front wheel and cast rims fore and aft. We’d expect a similar chassis for the M-series machine, with an emphasis on horsepower over dirt capability. BMW does say the suspension is up-spec’d for the XR model. With that in mind, a self-regulating electronic-adjustable DDC suspension seems likely. Winglets and knobbies. Yep, this is for pavement, not gravel. Photo: BMW BMW will also likely give the machine a stiff coating of bodywork and other components built of carbon-fiber. Public road racer Peter Hickman was spotted flogging a prototype around the Isle of Man (the TT is running right now), and that bike had a set of aerodynamic winglets. Later, BMW issued a press release confirming the machine would come with winglets to give it stability at speed, discouraging wheelies through aerodynamic downforce. The engine will use BMW’s ShiftCam top end, with variable valve timing. BMW claims output of more than 200 horsepower and a fully-fueled weight of 223 kg (491 lb). That’s obviously much more than the latest Euro superbikes, but this machine is also expected to be much more capable than a track-only machine. BMW says it comes with “chassis technology, aerodynamics and control electronics designed equally for high-performance road use, long-distance riding and fast laps on the racetrack,” and “the new M XR opens up dynamic riding dimensions as a crossover bike in the sports motorbike segment previously reserved for purebred superbikes.” Top speed is around 280 km/h, supposedly (174 mph). Just the thing for long-distance travel on bad roads in bad weather. Photo: BMW Again, this will not be an adventure bike in the classic sense, but it is where a lot of ADV riders are heading. The adventure sports category has seen some growth the past few years, particularly from Euro manufacturers, and this could prove to be the halo bike of the category when it debuts. We don’t know when that debut will come; BMW calls the machine seen at the IOMTT a “prototype.” It seems unlikely, though, that they’d be so careless about op-sec if this really was a project bike that was far from completion. Vezi sursa

The rest of the moto world has basically abandoned the four-cylinder 600 segment, preferring to focus on parallel twins in the 700cc+ category. But Kawasaki brings the ZX-6R back for 2024 with some upgrades, showing it’s still serious about supersports. Right away, most sportbike keeners will notice the bodywork looks a lot like the ZX-10R—more edgy and mean, and there’s even a set of winglets up front. They don’t look like they’d offer much downforce, but Kawasaki says they do help keep the bike stable at speed, so we’ll take their word on that for now. The windscreen has some perforations that are supposed to reduce the turbulence behind it, when you’re on the gas. These things are important for racers, but for most of us on the street, it’s likely the benefits won’t be noticeable. It does, however, show that Kawi is indeed looking for little ways to make its sportbike better. [embedded content] That theme continues to the engine. The four-cylinder itself isn’t much changed, but the exhaust and intake systems are revised to give riders better low-range and mid-range performance, as well as reducing tailpipe emissions. Kawasaki also updated the electronics system to now offer four ride modes (Sport, Road, Rain, Rider), which offer varying power profiles and traction control settings. Owners can tweak the settings of the Rider mode through their phone, which connects to the bike via the Rideology app. Of course, LED lights are standard and there is a TFT screen. Showa’s split-function fork returns, same as the previous model, and so does the Showa shock and the aluminum perimeter frame. The ZX-6R does get new, round 310mm front brake discs with dual radial-mount four-piston monobloc calipers. US customers can opt for ABS ($12,299) or go without ($11,299). Canadian customers can also opt for ABS ($14,099) or go without the safety system for a thousand bucks less. The big question now is: When Kawasaki brings its new bike to the racetrack, who is even left to compete against? The rest of the Big Four have backed out of the 600 category, which was once the strongest-selling segment of bikes in the US. Vezi sursa