Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2015 i Cycle World

Unfathomably, Erik Buell had to gather his 120-plus workers this past April and tell them to go home. “It was the second time I was at an all-company meeting that ended in tears,” a former employee said. And so closed the doors at Erik Buell Racing’s East Troy, Wisconsin, factory. The reborn American sportbike manufacturer had clawed back after Harley-Davidson’s 2009 closure of Buell Motorcycles in the same facility EBR occupies today. Initial funding for the founding of EBR was procured domestically, alongside Erik Buell’s own investment, but the biggest boost came when India’s Hero MotoCorp bought 49.2 percent of the company for $25 million in July 2013. With Hero’s funding, EBR made exceptional progress on the 1190RX superbike with limited time, resources, and personnel, speeding the bike into production…

One cool accessory that deserves mention is the V4-Multimedia Platform (V4-MP), which allows you to link your smartphone to the RSV4. It can display realtime telemetry and allows you to change the settings of the APRC controls from your phone, making V4-MP a great way to enhance your riding experience. On track, your phone’s GPS can tell the bike exactly where you are, which allows you to see what the bike is doing in every corner and even make ATC/AWC suggestions to improve your lap times. You can even fine-tune the ATC and AWC corner by corner by selecting from a growing list of preprogrammed race circuits around the world.…

1 ELECTRIC SHOCK Many bikes can benefit from better suspension, even the 2013 and newer BMW F800GS with ESA. Touratech has created the Plug & Travel ESA Upgrade ($1,695) GS shock. Touratech says this high-performance damper integrates with the stock computer. Besides superior damping, it is completely serviceable and fully compatible with ESA. (800) 491-2926 touratech-usa.com 2 RAMP IT UP If you’ve ever had your ramp slip of the tailgate while loading a bike, you know how damaging it can be to you and your vehicles. Shark Kage’s 24 x 92-inch ramp ($299) attaches to your tailgate via a mounted plate, creating a stable loading platform. The aluminum ramp, with a 750-pound capacity, can also function as a bed extender or workbench. (702) 982-1400 sharkkage.com 3 LIGHT HEADED Looking for…

Shakespeare asked, “What’s in a name?” But in business, an established brand with emotional resonance is pure gold. It takes time to build a good reputation, so instead, would-be manufacturers have gone name-shopping in the graveyard. They’re busting up the crypts of old motorcycle companies, ones we buried decades ago with cries of lamentation and tales of better days. The new grave robbers are suit-wearing copyright lawyers with shovels in hand, but they don’t want bones—they’re negotiating fees to legally chisel business names from the family crypt. Once in hand, they’re pasted onto a brand-new machine, which bears no family resemblance for the simple reason they aren’t family at all. They’re zombies and clones. Dead motorcycle brands sleep under our soil—thousands of them since the late 1890s, from every corner…

BLAKE CONNER SENIOR EDITOR Bikes like Yamaha’s R1 are becoming so technical that thoroughly testing them is challenging. With so many electronic variables, the possible settings are virtually endless. Thankfully, the R1 is so good out of the box that there is no question it is class leading. But just in case, I’ve decided to keep our R1 for the year as a long-termer, for “further evaluation.” I’ve already got the Circuit ECU and spare wheels to mount up slicks. Trackdays! DON CANET ROAD TEST EDITOR The R1 has one of the most exhilarating power deliveries of any liter-class sportbike I’ve ridden. Rolling the throttle open at low revs offers crisp response and linear output perfectly suited to casual riding. Pin the throttle, however, and you best brace yourself for…

“I bought my FZ-09 about a year ago and have roughly 6,500 miles on it. Yamaha fixed the fuel map and the jerky throttle response, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I don’t know how I could have made a better choice for a bike to ride back and forth to work.” Jim Cheatwood Denver, CO “After 6,880 miles this season, including a four-day, 1,250-mile trip, this bike always keeps a smile on my face. My orange FZ-09 is what a motorcycle is all about. Almost any superlative that you can think of that defines joy on two wheels fits this one.” John Miller via Facebook “Just rolled 16,000 miles on mine in less than a year. Have been to three trackdays, four states, and done 500-mile days on this…

YEARS SOLD: 2004–2007 MSRP NEW: $10,999 (’04) to $11,499 (’07) BLUE BOOK RETAIL VALUE: $4750 (’04) to $6270 (’07) BASIC SPECS: Introduced in 2004, the CBR1000RR was the all-new successor to Honda’s CBR954RR. Its 998cc inline–four features ECU-controlled ram air and dual-stage fuel injection and an undertail exhaust. This model’s cassette-style stacked six-speed gearbox and shallower 28-degree cylinder slant made for a compact engine design that allowed a longer swingarm and shifted the weight bias forward. The chassis features a die-cast alloy frame with an inverted fork, Unit Pro-Link rear suspension, and radial-mounted front brake calipers. Another innovative feature, the Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD), automatically varies damping force based on speed and rate of acceleration. WHY IT’S DESIRABLE: The CBR1000RR applied technology and design traits born out of HRC’s…

There’s a lot going on with the Sena 20S Bluetooth headset, but somehow The Knob, which I got to know well on the previousflagship SMH10, makes it all easier to interact with. Still, this Bluetooth 4.0, eightway-intercom-capable, two-deviceconnecting communicator takes a fair bit of use to master. The unit pairs with two devices so it’s possible to run two phones or a phone and GPS. Pairing was simple and connecting after that nearly instant. But we found it impossible to get music to play from two connected phones, the 20S accepting music only from the primary. Settings allow for music to drop in volume—instead of shutting off completely—for incoming calls or GPS instruction. Sound quality and sheer volume without distortion are true highlights of this unit. Even the FM radio,…

It’s fascinating to see the common technologies that run through all machines. Yet quite often, specific solutions have more to do with how much time or money can be spent on them. Harley, in the original Evolution engine, chose to retain the heads and barrels with long studs rather than to provide the cylinder with a base flange, bolt that to the crankcase, and then bolt the head to the top of the barrel. Velocette, in developing its 350cc KTT racing single, had cylinder base flange breakages as a result of the very high compression ratios some customers were using with alcohol fuel. Instead of switching to long, slender studs as Harley would in the future, Velocette just made its cylinder’s base flange thicker. A thicker flange doesn’t always work.…

Being the first new-for-2015 liter-class sport bike to undergo Cycle World performance testing, we were curious to learn how the latest YZF-R1 stacks up against not only its peers but the previous-generation R1 as well. It will be another month before we can assemble all class-of-’15 contenders together for a heads-up comparison. However, the following chart depicts the most recent test data available from our test archive. Stay tuned for the outcome of our upcoming superbike shootout, as class hierarchy is likely to shuffle as a result of back-to-back testing under common climatic conditions. DRY WEIGHT 2014 DUCATI PANIGALE 405 lb. 2013 HONDA CBR1000RR SP 422 lb. 2013 BMW S1000RR 435 lb. 2012 YAMAHA YZF-R1 448 lb. 2012 KAWASAKI ZX-10R 417 lb. 2015 YAMAHA YZF-R1 414 lb. 2012 SUZUKI GSX-R1000…

SPENSER ROBERT Overall, the FZ-09 is exceptional for long-distance touring. The engine is great on the road, the aftermarket seat was comfortable, and the gearing was ideal. My only complaint was the limited range from the 3.7-gallon fuel tank. The FJ-09 made our bike a little redundant, but it also proves Yamaha is working off a pretty good platform. ANDREW BORNHOP I like the riding position quite a bit, but after riding the FJ-09, I’m even happier with that. Actually, at 6-foot-4, I’m generally happier with the roominess of the FJ-09, and its kinder, gentler overall setup suits me more. What I really want to know, though, is when this triple will go into a true adventure bike. BLAKE CONNER After more than a year, I hop on the FZ-09…

Q: Why doesn’t every modern street motorcycle come with hydraulic valve lifters? Cheaper maintenance, engine always in tune, and no more praying that the tech knows what he’s doing. LARRY NEWTON CYCLEWORLD.COM A: If there was substantial demand for this feature, motorcycle makers might make automatic clearance adjusters capable of operating at the 16,000 rpm of higher-revving 600cc sportbikes. It’s no problem using them in the pushrod valve trains of relatively low-revving engines, as they can be built into the tappets just as they are in automobile engines. In some engines, Honda has pivoted one end of each rocker arm on a hydraulic clearance adjuster. In one variation, the rocker pivots on a rotatable eccentric spindle that is rotated toward the zeroclearance position by an assist spring plus a hydraulic…

BY THE NUMBERS 4 MANUFACTURER TITLES: Won in the World Superbike Championship since the RSV4’s debut in 2009. fifty-four WORLD TITLES: Earned by Aprilia, with 20 in 125cc Grand Prix, 18 in 250 Grand Prix, seven in Superbike, seven in supermoto, and two in trials. Add to that 294 wins in Grand Prix competition. Since Aprilia introduced its RSV4 in 2009, the little company from Noale, Italy, has won four manufacturer and three rider titles in World Superbike competition. The RSV4 has been a great platform, and the 2016 RF top-of-the-line version represents another crucial step in ongoing development. For 2016, the RSV4 comes in two designations—the RR and the limitededition RF that we rode, of which only 500 will be made. The new V-4-powered superbike is not that dissimilar…

“Loud what saves lives? What? I can’t hear you. I’ve got 10 speakers blasting 200 watts of sound at me from each end of the Victory Magnum X-1 sound machine. I’m the meat center in a music sandwich. Huh?” We tested the magnum X-1 during Daytona Bike Week, which isn’t a quiet place to begin with. We made it less quiet. “What? Yes, it is ‘Spirit in the Sky’ but as performed by The Upsidedown.” The Magnum X-1 is a showroom-available modified Magnum, beefed up with custom black billet wheels, featuring a 21-incher up front, black bodywork with detailed red pinstriping, an LED headlight claimed to be 74 percent brighter than the one on the Cross Country, and a musicmaker boom box of serious note. The speakers also look great,…

CW 25 YEARS AGO Proof that standard bikes never go out of style but do get renamed (nakeds, anyone?), our main story touted at cover center featured a list of 10 great fairingless bikes. A couple of high points (in price and cool factor) were the $4,298 Honda CB-1 399cc inline-four and $4,198 Hawk 650 GT V-twin. Price kept the bikes from ever being big sellers, as they headed up against the $4,599 Suzuki VX800 and $3,699 Yamaha Radian. The conclusion after riding all 10 bikes? Every rider picked a different machine, so we said to read the story and pick your own “Very red, very expensive and very, very good,” read the subhead for the 1990 Honda VFR750F test. A check for $6,998 got you a bike with fantastic,…

Sometimes it pays to sit on the sidelines, watch the competition, learn from their methods and mistakes, and then pounce with a better mousetrap. Just ask Mark Zuckerberg. That is exactly what Yamaha has done with its electronic aids. Yes, it was late to the electronic revolution, but it is Yamaha that appears to be currently at the top. Here is a quick look at the R1’s electronic rider aids and what specifically they do. • MODE: Four settings that incorporate all of the other rider aids, all of which can be customized in each. • PWR: Four available power settings. On the Cycle World Dynojet dyno, PWR 1 delivered a 167.4-hp run, while PWR 2 made around 7 hp less, PWR 3 another 3 hp less, and PWR 4…

Tom White supports the High Hopes Head Injury Program for a very dear reason: In 1997, his 18-year-old son Brad crashed a small motorcycle into a horizontally suspended chain being used as a gate, crushing his larynx and causing a severe brain injury that left him unable to eat, talk, see, or control his body. But Brad came home from the hospital 94 days later and continues to attend the High Hopes Head Injury Program, which is dedicated to helping individuals recover from traumatic brain injuries and sometimes even walk, talk, and take care of themselves again. Tom has even found a fun way that he and Brad can share their mutual passion for motorcycling: They cruise the roads of Villa Park together in a Ural sidecar fitted with a…

DOT 5 BRAKE FLUID? OR NOT? Q: What do you think about my using DOT 5 brake fluid in a completely cleaned and rebuilt brake system in a 1979 Yamaha? I used new caliper kits, NOS Yamaha master cylinder kits, and Goodridge hoses. Everything was washed in brake cleaner. I will rarely ride the bike. Any thoughts? STEVE HAIGH CYCLEWORLD.COM A:I have been mightily tempted to put silicone-based DOT 5 fluid in some bikes, since it doesn’t hurt paint or absorb moisture over time, but I chickened out and didn’t. The various pitfalls are scary. If you go ahead with silicone fluid, be aware that silicone can and will seep out of the smallest of imperfections, so sliding surfaces (especially the master bore) need to be flawless. Silicone, if it…