Motorsports Racing News & Blog Articles

Looking out over the Pacific Ocean, six months into a ride across the Americas, I found myself attending The Cold Start, an off-road riding clinic in Ensenada, Mexico. This may seem like an odd way to spend finite travel funds, but the rewards for this type of investment are surprisingly numerous.

I hate to pass up an opportunity to learn, and when I heard that The Cold Start aligned perfectly with my route and time frame, there was no way I was missing it. Why would anyone who has been riding adventure bikes for several years, all across the United States in sand, mud, rocks, and more decide to pause in the midst of a journey to go back to the basics? Besides a nice break from the constant moving of an overland moto trip, there are actually quite a few reasons why any experienced rider should still enjoy clinics and workshops. Firstly, no one is infallible on a motorcycle, not you, not me, not even a Dakar Champ. Secondly, dedicated practice time is invaluable and too often put on the back burner by a lot of us. Thirdly, a outside perspective is one of the best tools out there for improving body positioning. Finally, but most importantly, what better way to meet other riders? The Cold Start not only checked all of these boxes for me but helped me adjust to riding in a new country, all while feeling like I was on vacation the entire time.

Cold Start Off-Road Riding Clinic & Culinary Experience Set To Kick Off Feb. 2022

No One Is Above Learning

If you ever meet someone whose ego is so large that they no longer need to learn anything new on a motorcycle, run away. Even riding daily does not mean there is nothing left to learn, and these skills are perishable, like any other. Many folks go into hibernation during the cold months and could benefit from re-learning a few things. A flexible two-day clinic seems to be just the trick. Morning drills to reinforce clutch control, practicing full lock turns and braking, followed by an afternoon ride with a competent instructor will have most people close to their peak riding in no time.

Here at modern MO, we probably wouldn’t publish a road test of a new Honda without a few photos of the thing in action. Twenty years ago, though, there was probably a perfectly reasonable-sounding excuse: My dog ate the film, a bear ate the photographer… Most probably, somebody slud the shiny new Honda 919 down the road on the way to the shoot, and the show had to go on. Who knows? They shouldn’t have called the color “Asphalt.” In any case, this CBR900RR-based naked has become something of a cult classic, well loved by people who love Hondas. Enjoy the tiny studio photos and full spec chart.

BMW has released an exclusive anniversary edition of its road-going superbike, the M 1000 RR, to celebrate nearly a century of motorcycle production, but more specifically, to celebrate 50 years of BMW M vehicles. 

The most striking and distinctive feature of the 50th-anniversary edition M 1000 RR is the color – Sao Paulo Yellow. It’s the only color option available, so you better like it if you want one. Other exclusive additions to the 50 Years M package include:

If you really can’t stand the Sao Paulo Yellow and don’t care about the anniversary badging, you can also order the M 1000 RR in the standard M Motorsport colors.  

Harley-Davidson announced it is pausing assembly and shipments of all motorcycles for a two-week period due to a problem with a component from a third-party supplier. Production halted as of May 18, the day after Harley-Davidson was notified about the problem by the supplier.

The official statement was brief, and offered very little in the way of detail. It reads:

Statement from Harley-Davidson

MILWAUKEE, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Yesterday, Harley-Davidson, Inc. (“Harley-Davidson”) (NYSE:HOG) took the decision to suspend all vehicle assembly and shipments (excluding LiveWire) for a two-week period. This decision, taken out of an abundance of caution, is based on information provided by a third-party supplier to Harley-Davidson late on Tuesday (5/17) concerning a regulatory compliance matter relating to the supplier’s component part.

There are a few details we can deduce from Harley-Davidson’s statement. Harley-Davidson says vehicle assembly is suspended, which suggests it will mainly affect its facility in York, PA. There is no indication that its powertrain operations in Menomonee Falls, Wisc., is affected, though there will likely be some trickle-down affect from the backlog. This suggests that the suspect component isn’t part of the powertrain.

LiveWire production will continue at the York facility, so we can assume the affected part isn’t used on the electric motorcycle. And yet, the suspect component must be common to a large number of models for it to affect production at this scale.

This is going to be awkward. You see, you’re about to read a piece about Ducati’s most focused Streetfighter V4 yet. You’re going to expect it to be a highly refined and special machine, worthy of the Sport Production suffix. And you know what – you’re right. It’s good. It’s very good. 

Here’s the thing: they’re all sold out. Gone. Snatched up. In fact, within a week of Ducati announcing the 2022 Streetfighter V4 SP they were all spoken for. Nonetheless, you deserve to know what’s so special about it, what’s different about it over the Streetfighter V4 S, and ultimately, how it is to ride. You know, in case you’re one of the lucky ones who got one. 

Editor Score: 91.5%

Ducati Resurgence

Wouldn’t you know it, 2021 proved to be Ducati’s best sales year ever, despite a global pandemic. I guess a couple years being locked down forced people to save up some money, while simultaneously inspiring those people to live for today, since who knows what might end the world tomorrow. With this newfound piggy bank and inspiration, more people flocked to the Ducati Panigale V4S than ever before (Ducati’s single best-selling model that year). 

Kawasaki has dropped teasers for its first electric two-wheeler, with an announcement date of June 7. The 15-second teasers released on social media channels show images of a young rider and a dirt course, ending with the tag line: “The Good Times are electric.”

The Good Times are Electric Stay tuned for June 7th. Sign up to learn more at: https://t.co/sNf6sioczE#GoodTimes #Kawasaki pic.twitter.com/T0qP6qmqJG

— Kawasaki USA (@KawasakiUSA) May 18, 2022

The two-wheeler will be part of a larger launch event that will include several side-by-sides and ATVs, some of which may also be electric. Last October, Kawasaki announced plans to release 10 electric or hybrid motorcycles by 2035 plus five four-wheelers by 2025. The June 7 announcement may be the beginning of Team Green’s electric push.

The teaser doesn’t reveal much, with the only glimpse of the new bike appearing in the reflection of the rider’s goggles. All we can tell is that it will be green and white, which isn’t exactly surprising news from Kawasaki.

We’ve been waiting for news of a model from Zero called the DSR/X for nearly two years now. Despite trademark filings and vehicle identification filings, however, there’s been no indication from the Santa Cruz electric motorcycle brand about the mysterious model.

Regular readers know we love getting to the bottom of a good mystery here at MO. Thanks to some new VIN decoder documents from Zero, we have an idea of what to expect from the DSR/X.

What do we know about the Zero DSR/X?

Zero first filed a trademark application for “DSR/X” in August 2020 alongside another application for “FXE“. In May 2021, Zero filed a VIN decoder information with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration listing the DSR/X and FXE along with a new SR.

The FXE made its debut two months later, and in November, Zero introduced the new SR, along with a Cypher III+ operating system and on-demand upgrades. There was nary a peep, however, about the DSR/X.

Before the end of the year, however, Zero submitted a new VIN decoder guide. The new decoder lists a DSR/X for “23MY+”, and adds further clues about the new model.

Look back at any review of a Harley-Davidson touring model (and any other model than the Pan America), and there’s a good chance you’ll find a sentence or two about Harley’s weird choices when it comes to suspension. Specifically, the rear shock(s). It seems as though, in order to bring the seat height as low as possible, Harley has sacrificed ride quality in the back by putting on a shock with hardly any suspension travel. Sure it works, but it doesn’t do the human spine any favors.

Fortunately, the aftermarket is littered with shock options to dramatically improve the ride back there. The aftermarket also has several different fork improvements, but that’s a topic for another time. Depending on your budget we’ve got options here from mild to wild, with basic damping improvements, to full adjustability to suit your exact style.

I guess manufacturers know that you’re going to swap on aftermarket parts from the get go, but it doesn’t make it any less annoying that machines like KTM’s 500 EXC-F, which retails for $12,549, don’t come with even the most basic engine protection. In the rocky terrain I find myself riding in the western U.S., a skid plate is an essential worker. But that’s not the only bit of protection I like to get my machines outfitted with before hitting the trail. We already mentioned the purchase price of a new pumpkin, so spending a few more dollars to protect components before they have the chance to get smashed seems like a worthwhile investment.

For me, and the type of riding I like to do with a dual-sport bike (almost no pavement with plenty of technical riding), a skid plate, rear disc guard, wrap-around handguards, and radiator guards pretty much sets up a new bike for withstanding some serious abuse. Thankfully, there is a company making all of that here in the States that I’ve relied on to protect my dirt bikes for years now: Enduro Engineering. 

Based in a small Michigan city with a population less than 10,000, Enduro Engineering has been headed up by owner Alan Randt since the late 80’s. Alan’s name may sound familiar to those in off-road racing circles, not only because of his own accomplishments in racing, but also because he now heads up the NEPG-AMA National Enduro series. Randt bought the fledgling Enduro Engineering in 1984 and kept it going while continuing to race and run a dealership. In the 90’s things ramped up significantly for Enduro Engineering as it began making products for the likes of Moose Racing and MSR while doubling down in development and production of its own products as well.  

Today, Enduro Engineering offers a myriad of components for protecting enduro riders’ machines, parts to make them work better, a carefully curated selection of parts from other brands, and even suspension services for those looking to have their setup refined. EE offers something for everyone, from the casual trail rider, to sponsoring the Factory Beta USA team and supporting hundreds of other racers throughout the years.

Motorcyclists come in all shapes, sizes and tribes, but if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that we hate paying a lot for motorcycle insurance. Sure, we grudgingly accept that it’s important to be properly insured, but the less we have to pay, the better.

Traditional insurance plans charge a flat fee that covers you for a year, which is good if you ride a lot. Weekend riders, or those who live somewhere with shorter riding seasons get less value out of it, as they pay about as much as someone who rides much more frequently.

In 2021, a new InsurTech company called VOOM introduced a new alternative, with a usage-based insurance offering that bases motorcycle insurance costs on how much customers ride their bikes. Instead of an annual flat fee, VOOM charges a low monthly base rate, plus a few cents for every mile ridden.

Who would benefit from VOOM’s pay-per-mile rates?

Since VOOM’s costs vary based on mileage, those who don’t ride a lot, or those who live in areas with a lot of bad weather. If a motorcycle sits parked in the garage for the winter, VOOM charges only the minimum base rate while still providing coverage for theft or damage.

At the moment, VOOM only offers motorcycle insurance in six states: Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Riders in Green Bay will probably see more of a benefit than someone living in Phoenix and rides year-round.

By now, regular readers of Motorcycle.com should be familiar with Racer Gloves. All four MO editorial staffers have tested gloves manufactured by the Austrian manufacturer. If you take a look at any of our seven previous reviews, you’ll find a common theme: Racer Gloves feel like they are broken in from the first moment you put a pair on your hands. The Racer Multitop Short Gloves I’m reviewing here are no different. 

MO Tested: Racer Hi-Per Gloves Review

MO Tested: Racer Multitop 2 Review

MO Tested: Racer High Racer Glove Review

MO Tested: Racer Sprint Gloves

LiveWire officially revealed its new S2 Del Mar, the brand’s second electric motorcycle and the first to use its new S2 Arrow architecture. Pre-orders for the Launch Edition model are now open, with an MSRP of $17,699 with deliveries to begin in Spring 2023. A full production run will also begin in 2023, with LiveWire targeting an MSRP of $15,000. (UPDATE: Reservations for all 100 units of the Launch Edition got scooped up within 18 minutes of the pre-order window opening.)

“The S2 Del Mar model represents the next step in the evolution of the LiveWire brand,” says Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson. “The Arrow architecture underpinning the Del Mar, developed in-house at LiveWire Labs, demonstrates our ambition to lead in the EV space and establish LiveWire as the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world.”

The proprietary Arrow architecture combines the battery pack, electronics systems, and motor into one single component that will also serve as the chassis for the Del Mar and future LiveWire models. The design is modular, allowing LiveWire to adapt the platform for a range of models. The modular design also makes it easier to assemble, with LiveWire claiming the Del Mar takes 44% less build time than the LiveWire One.

The battery pack uses 21700 cells, a popular format adopted by the likes of Tesla and Samsung. The inverter, onboard charger, and vehicle controller form the power electronics unit. The S2 Del Mar makes use of both L1 and L2 charging, however LiveWire hasn’t provided any charge time estimates as yet. The unit is integrated into the architecture, keeping all high-voltage connections internal. The motor is direct drive, with no secondary gear reduction to maximize efficiency and torque delivery, and reduce noise.

Last week, we wrote about trademark filings that suggest Honda was working on a CL500 scrambler and an NX500 dual sport/adventure bike. We’ve now uncovered design filings that may offer a hint at what the NX500 may look like.

However, the design itself isn’t for the NX500, which we expect to be powered by the same liquid-cooled 471cc Parallel-Twin used on multiple other models in Honda’s lineup. Instead, the design appears to be for a dual sport with a smaller, air-cooled Single. The design was filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 17, 2021.

Looking across Honda’s international product lineup, we find a model offered in India with a similar-looking engine called the CB200X.

In 1997, Harley-Davidson owned 49% of Buell Motorcycles and a lien on Erik Buell’s house; outwardly, the relationship appeared to be somewhat symbiotic. The M2 Cyclone was almost the last of the tube-framed Buells, while the first turbocharged XB fuel-in-aluminum-frame bike was on the drawing board. It was close, but sadly, none of it quite went according to plan…