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Motorcycle News - Reviews | Photos | MotoGP | Superbike | Motocross | Supercross | Motorcycles         Buffalo Chip: 'Warrior Chopper' Build July 23, 2012 at 7:15 PM   Click the images below for bigger versions: Warrior Chopper Build The Sturgis Buffalo Chip, a longtime supporter of the military is pleased to welcome the Warrior Foundation to the Buffalo Chip during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The Warrior Foundation was founded to assist, honor and support military men and women who have bravely served and sacrificed for our country. The Warrior Foundation display will include the "Warrior Chopper" bike build that is being built by 5 Marines that were wounded in action. The public is invited to the Buffalo Chip Military Tribute Day on Thursday August 9, 2012 to visit the Warrior Foundation display, meet the brave Marines that are building the amazing custom bike and learn more about the Warrior foundation. See more details and information at BuffaloChip.com The Warrior Foundation is the non-profit organization based in Southern California that aids in the rehabilitation of seriously injured or wounded military personnel. The "Warrior Chopper" build was inspired and supervised by 1stSgt. Nick Hamm, USMC while at the Balboa military hospital in San Diego, California as a way to get wounded Marines out of the hospital and doing something that would inspire and motivate them. With support of the Warrior Foundation and a proud group of sponsors the brave Marines whose wounds include amputations, set out to build a one of a kind custom motorcycle from the ground up. The "Warrior Chopper" as well as the wounded Marines who are building it will be at the Warrior Foundation display at the CrossRoads at the Buffalo Chip® from August 4 to 11, 2012. Please visit these brave Marines and celebrate their accomplishment with us. The Warrior Foundation joins many other military themed activities and displays at the Buffalo Chip including the Field of Flags, Vietnam Wall Memorial and the Patriot Guard Riders. Nick Hamm (chopper build member 1stSgt.) says: "Building this chopper has given us the opportunity to do something we never thought possible even before we got wounded in combat. "It's been truly a blessing to be given this chance to build a chopper and work with so many great people in the bike community." Rod Woodruff (Buffalo Chip Owner) says: "The Buffalo Chip has been giving special thanks to the military with our Military Tribute Day for over 30 years. "It is truly an honor to have the Warrior Foundation and their Warrior Chopper at the Chip. I hope all rally goers make it a point to come meet these fine Marines and celebrate with us the contributions of our military." The Warrior Foundation "Warrior Chopper" build was made possible by volunteers and sponsors such as The Navy League, La Mesa RV, U.S. Bank, Big Bear Choppers, Butch Lynch-The Imagineering Shop, Cycle Visions, Danny Gray custom Seats, Quaid Harley-Davidson, Orange Coast H.O.G. Chapter, Loma Linda H.O.G Chapter, Joe Magliato - bigironart.com, Orange County Harley-Davidson, myartistonline.com, Dunham Metal Processing, Rudeminer Designs, Orange County Plating Co., Alberto - oneextreme.com, Standing Tall Together, Decorative Metal Coatings, Jimmy Todorovitch, Allan Chadwick, Jason Hamm, Jose Garcia MCRD auto hobby shop, guerrillacables.com, Trinity Worldwide Reprographics -Trinity3in1.net, Snap-On and hopefully many more. Learn more about and donate to the Warrior Foundation at warriorfoundation.com. The Legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip has been offering campers and rally goers the Authentic Sturgis ExperienceTM for more than 30 years with world-class entertainment and a premium 580 acre camping resort. Make your reservations for campground admission passes and get the bonus of some of the biggest names in music including Eric Church, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Journey, Zac Brown Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sublime with Rome, Sugarland, BOSTON, Candlebox, Buckcherry, Saving Abel, Loverboy, Shinedown, Aaron Lewis, Adelitas Way and many more now at BuffaloChip.com or call 605-347-9000.         Maxi Scooter – A Brief History July 23, 2012 at 5:14 PM   Click the images below for bigger versions: Maxi Scooter Timeline To understand maxi scooters, we have to go all the way back to WWII when Cushman, an American company, produced motor scooters for the US and British armies. The story goes that one of these were dropped by the RAF over Italy for Italian Partisans fighting the German occupation powers and fell into the hands of Enrico Piaggio. Between 1943 and 1945 he produced what would eventually become Vespa in the two prototypes MP5 and MP6 (Moto Piaggio #5 and 6). In 1946 the name Vespa came into use and the Vespa 98 hit the market. They were an instant success, but it wasn't until the 1952 romantic comedy Roman Holiday hit the silver screens that Vespa's really became an international success with the iconic 1949 Vespa 125 seen in the film. Despite the fact that Vespa doesn't make Maxi scooters they were the first scooters to be associated with Grand Touring on a small scale with its 125 and 150cc models. Throughout the 60's and 70's MOD's fought the Rockers on the beaches of Brighton and Vespa's and other makes of scooters were their chosen vehicles. Both Harley-Davidson and Triumph have produced scooters in their history without ever reaching the numbers of Piaggio. When Maxi hit Maxi Small capacity scooters sold like hot cakes and Piaggio and other scooter manufacturers were having very good times until 1999 when the Italian Helmet law was passed (it went into effect in 2000). Until then you could ride around Rome without a crash helmet if your vehicle had less than 125cc. In an April 2000 article in the New York Times, Luca Raetano complained about buying his first helmet since the law went into affect that year: ''I've never worn one before, and I think it is totally unnecessary. It's uncomfortable and hot. Now, summer is coming, and it will be completely unbearable.'' To stop rider's choosing their car's instead of scooters the Maxi Scooter with large underseat storage and good wind protection was launched with Suzuki becoming the first manufacturer to benefit with its 1999 AN400 Burgman. The Maxi and luxury scooter was aimed squarely at the suave young professionals that spin around cities like Rome and Paris in their business suits wanting to save time in heavy traffic. I tested the Suzuki AN400 Burgman for the first time in 2000 in Oslo and found it incredibly practical as I was just such a professional myself at the time. I never could get myself to ride a motorcycle in a business suit so it was liberating to be able to do so without looking like an idiot. After the Burgman Honda, Piaggio and Yamaha followed suit with super sized Silver Wing, X9 and Tmax among others. The Maxi scooter was finally established as a large segment in the motorcycling industry. In my motorcycle career I then concentrated mostly on motorcycles again until 2007 when I tested Honda's and Yamaha's newly launched SH300i and Xmax 250 respectively. Both are big wheeled entry level models to the Maxi Scooter segment with medium sized single cylinder four-stroke engines perfect for city usage. Testing these around London and Manchester I very nearly bought one myself. They are fast enough for the motorway commute and super flexible in town and for picking up a bag of shopping from the supermarket. In 2009 I had the ultimate scootering experience testing the new Piaggio Beverly Touring 300 and Carnaby Cruiser 300 in Rome. Both with enough power from a single cylinder four stroke to both commute from out of town and for ultra fast progress through stale big city traffic. Scooters like these equals more me time if you're a big city dweller. Aprilia also got involved with the motorcycle/scooter hybrid Mana 850GT with a fully automatic engine taken from the 2008 Gilera GP800. This was an attempt to draw customers from the maxi scooter market into motorcycling but it hasn't quite worked out so far and in 2012 Aprilia launched its SRV850 Hayabusa of scooters which it hopes will fare better than both the Mana and the failed Gilera GP800 which it has replaced. The Aprilia SRV850 ABS/ATC is taking scootering to its absolute extremes with motorcycle like performance from a large V-twin engine fitted with traction control. The Piaggio X10 500 Executive have also taken the electronics to extremes with an incredible onboard computer capability using your own iPhone. In 2012, the mighty BMW entered the maxi scooter market with big touring bike comforts such as heated seats and electrically adjustable wind screen and 60+ litre storage space in the C 650 GT with a in-line powerful twin engine. I think it's safe to conclude that Maxi Scootering is in a very healthy state at the moment. Maxi Scooter Timeline: 1936 Cushman Motor Scooter 1944 Vespa MP5 "Paperino" inspired by the Cushman airborne dropped by the RAF for Italian Partisans during WWII 1945 Vespa MP6 the second prototype 1946 Vespa 98, the first Vespa for sale featuring a 98cc two-stroke engine 1952 The 1949 Vespa 125 was used in Roman Holiday featuring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck 1960's and 70's Mod's were seen on Vespa's all over Britain and the RAF Roundel were their chosen symbol. 1986 Honda CN250 Helix 1995 Piaggio Hexagon 250 (the father of the X10 series) 1999 Suzuki AN400 became the first really large displacement scooter and some would argue the first real Maxi scooter or luxury scooter 2001 Honda Silver Wing 600 and Yamaha Tmax 500 2008 Gilera GP800 the first 850cc V-twin scooter 2009 Aprilia Mana850 GT, the world's first Grand Tourer scooter/motorcycle hybrid. Not strictly classified as a scooter though. 2012 Aprilia SRV850 the world's first and largest capacity maxi high speed scooter and BMW enters the Maxi Scooter market with its C 600 Sport and C 650 GT Photography: Milagro, Matteo Cavadini, Daniel Kraus, and Tor Sagen Sources: nytimes.com/2000/03/31/world/helmet-law-leaves-italy-s-motorbikers-hotheaded.html         Brock's Congratulates Land-Speed Record Setters July 23, 2012 at 4:15 PM   Click the images below for bigger versions: Loring Timing Association's Maine Event Brock's Performance proudly congratulates the land-speed racers who used an array of its off-the-shelf products to score 15 records at the Loring Timing Association's Maine Event, which took place July 14 and 15 at Loring Air Force Base, in Limestone, Maine. The meet was highlighted by Bill Warner's 290.295 mph pass on a highly modified Suzuki Hayabusa-based racebike. From a standing start, it charged to the highest top speed ever recorded for a sit-on motorcycle in a one-mile sprint. Making his comeback after a violent wreck nine months ago that would have led mere mortals to retire, Warner quickly got up to speed and broke his previous one-mile record by 12 mph - this time in fifth gear, no less, after missing a shift when trying to engage sixth. The turbocharged, methanol-fueled, 586 lb., 8 ft.-long monster makes 1000 horsepower and rolls on DOT-approved BST carbon-fiber wheels with World Wide bearings that accelerate and decelerate quicker and more efficiently than heavier metal rims. Warner took his home-built machine to an incredible 311 mph last year at Loring. Still undergoing physical therapy for his injuries, this modest Florida fish farmer and marine biologist was admittedly nervous getting back in the saddle: "When I got to the starting line, the bad thoughts began to fade away. Once the clutch lever was halfway out, the racer in me took over. Then, I just enjoyed the ride. I'm happy with 290 mph, but could have gone faster if I didn't make any mistakes." Racheal Johnson had near-perfect runs on her street-legal 2012 Kawasaki ZX-14R, which was outfitted exclusively with Brock's Performance bolt-on parts. She set a class record for her blazing one-mile standing start, joining Loring's exclusive 200 mph club after six years of land speed racing with a 206.528 mph trip across the finish line. On this same pass, Johnson held the throttle to the stops for another half mile, ringing up a terminal velocity of 212.898 mph and engraving her name in the history books once more. Recognized as the world's fastest ZX-14R, her bike doesn't have any major modifications, it's simply fitted with BST wheels with World Wide ceramic bearings, a Brock's CT Megaphone exhaust, low-friction chain, lowering kit, steering stabilizer and clutch mods. What it's like being a woman in what is generally considered a man's sport? "I was a tomboy growing up," said the gas technician from Virginia, "so I don't give it too much thought. I love the sport and am addicted to speed. It's way cool to have the fastest ZX-14R in the world." Speed freak Greg Neal and his TLN Motorsports team set 15 records on the 14,200 ft.-long, 300 ft.-wide runway. Piloting a 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R, Neal put a dozen in the books while competing on both courses using BST carbon-fiber wheel with World Wide ceramic bearings and a Brock's Performance ShortMeg exhaust system. Prior to adding this pipe, the 40-year racing veteran's best top speed was 205 mph. At Loring, he shattered this number by going 208.212 mph on the 1.5-mile course. As if 12 records weren't enough, he piloted a Kawasaki ZX-6 to another three on the short and long courses. "I am overwhelmed by it all. Every run was special," said the retired military man from North Carolina. "We support the Wounded Warrior Project. Our record-breaking success helps us keep this charity in the public eye. The men and women in this program are our heroes. We all owe them so much." Dan Millholland, who works with Kawasaki's Consumer Events team, also got in on the action. His record-breaking run was a 1.5-mile, 207.994 mph pass on his 2009 ZX-14, which uses BST Wheels with World Wide ceramic bearings and a Brock's CT Single exhaust Brock's Performance President Brock Davidson, a license-holding member of land-speed racing's 200 mph club, is ecstatic with these achievements: "From top pros to average Joes, our land-speed racers have been rewriting the record books for years. I'm proud of every one of them. "We have a well-deserved reputation for using the exact same parts on our race bikes that we sell to the general public. These world records weren't set with one-off exotic products, they were pulled from our shelves just like any others, even the highly stressed BST wheels. For two seasons, Bill's 1000-horsepower turbo bike has been using the same 8.5 in. x 18 in. carbon rear rim that most custom sportbikes and V-MAX power cruisers roll on. When world-class racers have such success on the track, it builds tremendous confidence in our street products." For more information on BST wheels and other Brock's Performance parts, go to BrocksPerformance.com. Additional company-related news is available in its Facebook page and Twitter postings.         Marysville Ride for Kids Raises $61K July 23, 2012 at 3:29 PM   Click the images below for bigger versions: 2012 Ride for Kids Riders in Marysville, Ohio, brought hope to kids with brain tumors on July 22 by raising $61,601 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). The 21st annual event attracted over 160 participants in support of local stars Naomi, Jared, Seth, and Caitlin. These brain tumor survivors led the ride through rural Union County, including its seven famous covered bridges. When they returned to the grounds of Scotts Miracle-Gro headquarters, the crowd heard from the stars. "Thanks for all your donations to help cure people like me and all other with brain tumors," said 14-year-old Jared. Added Dr. Randal Olshefski from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, "You touch the children with all you do. You may not meet them all, but you truly touch them all." Riders also paid tribute to someone else who touched lives, PBTF and Ride for Kids® co-founder Dianne Traynor, who passed away on July 20. The event's top fundraisers were: Individuals: Ken and Carol Denman, $10,200 Motorcycle club/chapter: GWRRA OH-D3, $16,622 Motorcycle business: Honda Marysville Motorsports, $19,347 Special organization: Cleveland Police Patrolman Association, $500 Drawing prizes went to Ralph Elliott (Honda motorcycle); Johnnie Wilson (Dunlop tire); Cathi Shafer (AGV helmet); Rick Day (Tourmaster luggage); and Ken Denman (Cardo Scala Rider) Many thanks to the hardworking volunteers who organized the Marysville Ride for Kids. This year's task force leaders were Ken and Carol Denman, Ike and Cathi Shafer, Bobbie Jo Trittschuh, and Dave Cooper. About the PBTF Ride for Kids Ride for Kids supports the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) by funding medical research and family support programs. We thank our presenting sponsor, Honda Riders Club of America, and our national insurance sponsor, GEICO. The next Ride for Kids events are on Sunday, July 29 in Kansas City and Knoxville. Learn more at rideforkids.org or call 800-253-6530.         Supercross' Villopoto Pitches Strike (Video) July 23, 2012 at 3:09 PM   Click the images below for bigger versions: Ryan Villopoto & Miss Supercross at Angels Game The current AMA Supercross Champion, Ryan Villopoto, threw out the first pitch at Angel Stadium Sunday ahead of the Los Angeles Angels taking on the Texas Rangers. The result of the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider's arm? A strike. But Villopoto wasn't alone; joining him on the pitcher's mount was the woman who will be starting her third consecutive season as Miss Supercross - Dianna Dahlgren, who is also starring in a new web series titled "SX ed." The legendary Angel Stadium is a special place for Villopoto, having won four Supercross Class races at the unofficial home of Monster Energy Supercross. En route to his second consecutive Supercross Class Championship, Villopoto swept both races at Angel Stadium last year, including the season opener. During his Supercross Lites Class career at Angel Stadium, he won all three Main Events in 2007. Attached above is video of Villopoto's pitch at Angel Stadium Sunday.         Leno: Grand Marshal at Harley's Love Ride July 23, 2012 at 2:23 PM   Click the images below for bigger versions: 2012 Harley-Davidson Love Ride For the past 28 years, Harley-Davidson's Love Ride - the longest-running motorcycle fundraiser in the world - has raised $24 million for charity. And the event continues this year with the Tonight Show's Jay Leno featured as Grand Marshal at the 29th Anniversary of the Harley-Davidson Love Ride. This year's Love Ride will take place at Castaic Lake, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 21, and benefit the USO and their veterans programs in 160 locations in 27 states. The USO is the preferred veterans charity of many celebrities, including Charlie Sheen who just this week donated $1 million to the USO. And like previous events, many celebrities will be in attendance at the 2012 Love Ride. Some celebrities that have made appearances at past rides include Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, Easy Rider stars Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, Robert Patrick, Lorenzo Lamas, Ann-Margret, Nancy Sinatra, Larry Hagman, Willie G. Davidson, and hundreds of others. Love Ride participants-which have exceeded 20,000 in past years-will sign-up at Harley-Davidson of Glendale before arriving at Castaic Lake for a trade show, bike show, stunt show, food truck fair, and a concert featuring George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Canned Heat, and the Strawberry Alarm Clock. Past performers have included Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, B.B. King, ZZ Top, Sheryl Crow, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Sammy Hagar, and many others. The Love Ride was founded in 1984 by Oliver Shokouh, the owner of Harley-Davidson of Glendale, with 400 motorcyclists who raised $42,000 for charity. Love Ride 29 is supported by the 23-dealership Southern California Harley-Davidson Dealers Association and numerous major sponsors to be announced. The minimum donation for admission is $45 and all motorcycle brands and automobiles are welcome. Advance tickets and limited edition Love Ride 29 merchandise are available at LoveRide.org or Harley-Davidson of Glendale at 3717 San Fernando Road in Glendale, Calif.         Highway to Havasu | 'Ultimate Weekend' Package July 23, 2012 at 1:49 PM   2012 Highway to Havasu Ultimate Weekend Ultimate MotorCycling has teamed up with McGraw Insurance, offering the Highway to Havasu (H2H) "Ultimate Weekend." This "Ultimate Weekend" is a VIP package for visitors to the International Jet Sports Boating Association World Finals (IJSBA) in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Oct. 5 -7. The weekend packages consist of three separate self-guided rides to Lake Havasu leaving from the following locations - the "Beach" ride departing from Santa Monica, Calif.; the "Desert" ride departing from Tempe, Ariz.; or the "Anywhere" ride, leaving from anywhere you chose. Each self-guided ride is $245 per person, and includes a hotel for Friday and Saturday evening, along with VIP access to parties, H2H credentials, and some swag. It's simple - take one of the featured routes, or start from any destination you like. Just get some friends, get on your motorcycles, and get to Havasu. Following are details of each weekend package in the McGraw Powersports' Highway to Havasu "Ultimate Weekend": Beach Ride: Self-Guided: Santa Monica, Calif., to Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Hotel: The Nautical Beachfront Resort (Friday / Saturday night), featuring the largest Infinity pool in Arizona H2H Party: Kokomo Night Club on Friday night; drink specials, giveaways H2H Reception: Heat Hotel on Saturday night, hosted dinner World Finals Jet Ski Races: Saturday and Sunday, VIP access includes ground transportation H2H Credentials and Souvenir Swag: $245 per person based on double occupancy Desert Ride: Self-Guided Trip: Tempe, Ariz. to Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Hotel: The Nautical Beachfront Resort (Friday / Saturday night), featuring the largest Infinity pool in Arizona H2H Party: Kokomo Night Club on Friday night; drink specials, giveaways H2H Reception: Heat Hotel on Saturday night, hosted dinner World Finals Jet Ski Races: Saturday and Sunday, VIP access includes ground transportation H2H Credentials and Souvenir Swag: $245 per person based on double occupancy Anywhere Ride: Self-Guided: Anywhere to Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Hotel: The Nautical Beachfront Resort (Friday / Saturday night), featuring the largest Infinity pool in Arizona H2H Party: Kokomo Night Club on Friday night; drink specials, giveaways H2H Reception: Heat Hotel on Saturday night, hosted dinner World Finals Jet Ski Races: Saturday and Sunday, VIP access includes ground transportation H2H Credentials and Souvenir Swag: $245 per person based on double occupancy For additional information, including booking, log onto Highway to Havasu's "Ultimate Weekend" website. Also, don't forget to enter to win the VIP Lake Havasu Experience from Highway to Havasu. The winner and a a guest will get VIP treatment during IJSBA World Finals in Oct. 5-7. The experience includes a private jet, deluxe hotel and all access to the parties and pleasures of a great jet ski racing weekend. To enter, click here.         Harley's Krawiec Wins Denver NHRA July 23, 2012 at 12:02 PM   Click the images below for bigger versions: 2012 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines rider Ed Krawiec won his fourth Pro Stock Motorcycle event of the season, defeating his teammate, Andrew Hines, in an all-Harley-Davidson final-round at the 33rd annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. The Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines team remains undefeated after seven events in 2012, and Krawiec leads the series in points. Ed Krawiec (Harley-Davidson V-Rod) says: "The Screamin' Eagle team really prides itself on consistency. Andrew and I are both riding really well, and I think we have the best-prepared bikes on race day. Sometimes that's better than having the fastest bike." Both Krawiec and Hines have qualified for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs that begin with the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 14-16. Hines (7.283-second Elapsed Time) and Krawiec (7.298 ET) qualified third and fourth, respectively, behind the Lucas Oil Buell tandem of Hector Arana (7.243 ET) and Hector Arana Jr., the number-one qualifier at 7.238 seconds. Krawiec advanced through the Sunday elimination rounds with wins over Pirana Z Buell rider Shawn Gann, GT Racing Suzuki rider LE Tonglet, and Arana Jr., in the first three rounds. Hines also charged through Sunday eliminations, with wins over Michael Phillips on The Edge Suzuki, Sovereign-Star Racing Buell rider Scott Pollacheck, and Geico Suzuki rider Karen Stoffer. That put two Harley-Davidson V-Rod motorcycles in the final round for the second time this season, and as he did at the season-opener in Gainesville, Fla., Krawiec left the winner. Hines had the better Elapsed Time with a 7.285-second run, but left the starting line 0.002 second early to hand the automatic win to Krawiec, who had a 0.009/7.301 run. Krawiec now has 15 national event wins in his NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle career. Andrew Hines (Harley-Davidson V-Rod) says: "We both knew we were going to have to go for the win at the starting line. The two V-Rods have been evenly matched all weekend. We were probably not favored to be in the final, but once again this team did its job on Sunday. Right now we seem to be making the fewest mistakes in the motorcycle category. That's why we keep winning." Krawiec leads the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle division with 714 points. Hines is in second place with 670 points, followed by Arana Jr. with 574, Arana Sr. with 510, and Stoffer in fifth place with 396 points. The Pro Stock Motorcycles will be in action again on July 27-29 at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.         2012 Yamaha TT-R110E | Review July 23, 2012 at 6:25 AM   Click the images below for bigger versions: Yamaha TT-R110E Motorcycle Test When evaluating youth motorcycles, we have some very specific standards. For the 2012 Yamaha TT-R110E to be a success, it has to be durable, reliable, and easy to use. The subtleties of suspension and handling are important, of course, but this is a motorcycle for young learners, not racers. Liam Fahey, our primary test rider, definitely took care of testing the crash-worthiness of the TT-R110E. Tossing it away on jumps, flipping it over on a hillclimb, banging the skidplate into rocks, or tumbling it to the bottom of a rocky downhill-Liam was relentless (and well-protected with his HJC CL-XY helmet, Axo gear, Scott goggles, and Alpinestars boots-we are happy to report no injuries). The damage was restricted to some scratched up plastic, and not much else. Yamaha builds the TT-R110E to take a beating. At 158 pounds ready-to-ride, it's not light. There is definitely extra metal there to make sure vulnerable controls don't break easily. The gear shifter, especially, came under attack and didn't pretzel. Adults also took the TT-R110E out for a few hard spins. With tallish bars and a bit of space between the 26.4-inch high seat and the grippy folding pegs, knee-to-bar conflicts are minimal. So, the big guys hit jumps, did some sliding, and had fun on some highly technical trails, when Liam wasn't doing the same thing. Nothing bent or drooped after the men rode it. That means the TT-R110E works for a tweener such as Liam, as well as small-to-medium sized adults. For that to work, you do need power. The TT-R110E's long-stroke motor is all about torque. The 110cc mill produces maximum torque at an early 4000 rpm, and peak horsepower at 7500 rpm. This means it pulls adults smartly, and accelerates well for youngsters. Response off idle with the fully automatic centrifugal clutch was excellent, and the 16mm Mikuni VM carburets flawlessly. This is a very mature motor that is seriously under-stressed, and there's a low-maintenance automatic cam tensioner. It should last through a few generations of kids growing up, and the rest of the chassis is equally reliable and simple. Yamaha gives the TT-R110E a key, which we think is a great idea. It discourages youngsters from taking an undocumented spin on the bike, and it makes it more likely you turn the bike completely off, so the battery doesn't run down unexpected (a common problem for us on unkeyed kids bike). Ease of use couldn't be better. Shift down into neutral and push the start button. The choke actuator is easily accessible first thing in the morning, even though it's not on the handlebars. In case the battery dies, there's a back-up kickstarter. This is also a feature sometimes absent from a youth motorcycle, and we like to see it. Operating the four-speed gearbox is as easy as manipulating the shift lever. There's no clutch lever, so just shift and go. When the youngster gets taller and more accomplished, he can trade up to a manual clutch bike and learn that skill with a strong bedrock of abilities. Maintenance is a breeze. Any youngster can learn how to change the oil on the TT-R110E, and he can access the air filter without tools-a nice plus. The nut/bolt drive chain tension adjuster is also very basic and effective. Along with riding, kids should learn bedrock of mechanical knowledge about the bike and learn to do basic tasks themselves (under the supervision of an adult). So, the 2012 Yamaha TT-R110E has proven itself to hit the trifecta- durable, reliable, and easy to use. That makes it a winner, yet it still has more to offer. Liam took the bike out on some pretty tough trails-technical, with lots of rocks-as well as on wide-open dirt roads. The TT-R110E is stable up to its top speed (no speed, of course) in fourth gear. The suspension if fairly stiff, with a generous 4+ inches of suspension at both ends. If your child is bottoming this suspension regularly, consider moving him up to a race bike. Otherwise, he won't notice that it's plush, and it's there to defend him from mistake. The TT-R110E's suspension can take a hard hit and deal with it effectively. The Cheng Shin tires are cheapies. They worked okay, but they seemed to dig more holes than we'd like. If you plan on taking it on tougher trails, there are tire upgrades available from Dunlop, Bridgestone and Maxxis (Cheng Shin's upscale brand). As you'd expect, the 42.5-inch wheelbase makes the TT-R110E easy to maneuver in tight spots, and the 7+ inches of ground clearance is decent. The 14-inch front and 12-inch rear tires are small and susceptible to potholes, so keep this in mind when choosing trails. We were satisfied with the 2012 Yamaha TT-R110E's drum brakes. They have a very soft actuation, so nothing happens quickly on them. Compression braking is good, so the drums don't have all that much to do in the hands of most riders. Yamaha could get away with doing less with the TT-R110E and still have a quality machine. Again, the durability, reliability, and ease of use are top notch, and that's what we look for in a youth motorcycle. The bonus of usability by adults and a good chassis make the 2012 Yamaha TT-R110E an outstanding way to get the right-sized youngster off to a good start in the dirt. 2012 Yamaha TT-R110E Specs: Engine Type: SOHC air-cooled 4-stroke, Displacement: 110cc Bore x Stroke: 51.0 x 54.0mm Compression Ratio: 9.3:1 Fuel Delivery: 16mm Mikuni VM Ignition: CDI Clutch: Automatic centrifugal Transmission: 4-speed (neutral at bottom) Suspension/Front: Telescopic fork, coil spring/oil damper, 4.5" travel Suspension/Rear: Swingarm Monocross, coil spring/gas-oil damper, 4.3" travel Brakes: Drum Front tire: Cheng Shin 2.50 x 14 Rear tire: Cheng Shin 3.00 x 12 L x W x H: 61.6" x 26" x 36.3" Seat Height: 26.4" Wheelbase: 42.5" Ground Clearance: 7.1" Fuel Capacity: 1 gallon Wet Weight: 158 pounds Color: Team Yamaha Blue/White Price: $2199 Riding Style: Helmet: HJC CL-XY Goggles: Scott Sports Jersey and pants: Axo Scatter Gloves: Axo Ride Jr Boots: Alpinestars Tech 3 Photography by Don Williams         MotoGP's Barbera Undergoes Leg Surgery July 23, 2012 at 6:14 AM   Click the images below for bigger versions: 2012 MotoGP Injury While training at home Friday for Laguna Seca MotoGP, Spain's Hector Barbera fractured his left tibia and fibula. And the Pramac Racing Ducati rider underwent successful surgery Sunday, the 25-year old getting a titanium plate and several screws inserted into his left leg. Barbera will be out for the next four to six weeks, likely missing both US MotoGP meets (Laguna Seca, Indy). The operation has carried out by specialist surgeon Doctor Xavier Mir in cooperation with Doctor Eugenio Jimeno, leg surgery chief at the Instituto Universitario USP Dexeus in Barcelona, Spain. Doctor Mir says: ""The surgery had good result. We are confident that Héctor will be able to leave the hospital in 48 hours and can being light physical activity in seven day. "It is difficult to say how long the post surgery rehabilitation will take. We need to evaluate the progress of the patient, but I think that we can reasonably think that he will able to run a race in 4 or 6 weeks, according to his feedback." Hector Barbera –(Pramac Racing Ducati GP12 MotoGP) says: ""Doctor Mir and Doctor Jimeno have done a great job. I'm feeling quite good, still a dizzy from the anaesthesia, but it's normal. Obviously I'm disappointed about the incident. It happened in the worst period possible. I had a great feeling both with my bike and with my crew. In the last three races I was able to enjoy while I was riding and fighting with the Factory riders to achieve the best result possible. I could catch other brilliant results in the next round in Laguna Seca and Indy, but it's the life and now I have to think only about my injury and my rehabilitation.""         Facebook Q&A with Aerostich Founder July 23, 2012 at 5:59 AM   Click the images below for bigger versions: Aerostich RiderWearhouse Thirty years ago, Aerostich RiderWearhouse introduced the world to textile protective riding gear for motorcycles and scooters. Today, they are the leading designer, manufacturer and retailer for the best protective riding gear on the planet. Aerostich RiderWearhouse is pleased to announce a unique opportunity occurring from 11 a.m. to noon CST Thursday, July 26, on the Aerostich Facebook page. Andy Goldfine, Aerostich Founder, Owner and Designer of the legendary Roadcrafter Suits, will be answering questions and responding to comments posted on the Aerostich Facebook Page. If you have a question related to motorcycle safety gear, Ride to Work day, or just anything motorcycle related, please log onto the Aerostich Facebook page on July 26 at 11am CST and post your comment directly to Andy! He will be answering your questions and comments until Noon on Thurs. July 26, 2012. Here is your chance to ask Andy: Where did Mr. Happy get his name? What was the inspiration for the Roadcrafter suit? Who makes up the "fake" products? Where is his favorite stretch of road? Andy is looking forward to everyone's questions; however, if a question cannot be answered on Facebook, we will ask for the person's email and follow up directly.             This email was sent to pramlee99@gmail.com. Delivered by Feed My Inbox PO Box 682532 Franklin, TN 37068 Account Login Unsubscribe Here