factory Articles
The fastest dirt bike in the world?
Racing homologation births some pretty epic motorcycles. RC30, OW01, various “R” model Ducatis and now this 2012 KTM 450 SX-F Factory. Just 400 units will be sold in America in 2012, the minimum required to allow Ryan Dungey to campaign a similar machine in Supercross. Like any good homologation special, it’s lighter, faster and specialer than standard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjOjl...
Dailies
Aprilia Performance Ride Control explained
For the first time in two-wheeled history, motorcycle performance is no longer being measured merely in power and weight, but also in how closely a rider can come to exploiting the bike’s full potential. New technology is enabling riders to approach or even exceed the limits of motorcycles that are faster than ever before. That’s a reflection of what’s happening on race tracks. Max Biaggi di...
Dailies
Spy Photo: Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory
A Motoblog.it reader captured a blurry image of what appears to be an Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory undergoing validation testing near the factory in Noale. In keeping with the Factory tradition, this bike appears to gain Ohlins suspension and ugly colors over the Aprilia Tuono V4R. Unveiled at EICMA last year, the new Tuono has received rave reviews from most outlets, including us and all ready comes...
Dailies
Honda suspends motorcycle production
Effective immediately, production has been halted at Honda’s Hamamatsu motorcycle factory. Tomorrow, the production facility in Kumamoto will be closed as well. The move is part of a wave of post-earthquake measures that will see Honda’s other Japanese facilities closed, including the R&D facility in Tochigi where one employee was killed in last week’s 8.9 magnitude quake. Update: Suzuki is...
Derbi leaving Spain
In its annual report released today, Piaggio states that it plans to close Derbi’s historic factory in Barcelona, transferring production to Piaggio’s Italian operations. The move comes just two months after Yamaha closed its Spanish factory too. All this is very bad news for the Spanish motorcycle industry and Spanish workers. The country currently has 21 percent unemployment and suppliers li...
2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE: can electronics = performance?
The 2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE isn’t the first superbike with traction control, but it is the first production superbike with the full complement of SBK electronics: traction control, sure, but also wheelie control, launch control and quickshift. Kevin Ash went to Jerez to find out if a mouthful of acronyms can really translate to improved performance and to see if a tiny European motorcy...
A carbon-bodied RSV4 Factory and Aprilia Performance Ride Control explained
Take an impressive list of performance-boosting electronic widgets: adjustable traction control capable of self-adjusting to different types of tires, launch control, a quick shifter with bar-mounted buttons and wheelie control, then add all-carbon bodywork and a full Akropovic race system to that package. What do you have? Surely the most technologically advanced and desirable superbike currently...
Dailies
Ben Spies goes big time
After a single season in MotoGP, Ben Spies is going to the big time, hiring on to the factory Yamaha team for 2011, filling the seat left vacant by Rossi's move to Ducati. In his rookie season, the 26-year old has already finished on the podium and is currently seventh in the rider's championship, three places ahead of veteran teammate and fellow texan, Colin Edwards. The move was likely prompted ...
Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica: 200bhp doesn't equal homologation special
Making 200bhp and 92lb/ft of torque (+20bhp and 7.4lb/ft) you might think the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica is an homologation special intended to legalize Max's gear-driven cams, underseat fuel tank and trick swingarm. It isn't, rather it benefits from certain SBK-spec components and electronics to create the ultimate privateer or track day Aprilia. Update: According to Aprilia, the Biaggi rep will... The Aprilia RSV4 could have gone disastrously wrong
This is the Aprilia RSV4 that could have been. Could have been if the original third-party prototype had continued through to production unaltered that is. When Aprilia first gave the RSV4 project the go ahead in 2005, they turned to Robbiano Design to turn their ideas into something physical. Robbiano conceived a two-part magnesium/aluminum frame with a matching swingarm and horrendously awful st...
Dailies
