| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Its called irony I think  I'm well aware that my typing skills are somewhat disconnected from what my brain wants to say ...... | ||
| Classax |
I don't know where you read that, but it ain't true. The Sportsbike market (both 600 and 1000cc) is in free fall and in dire straits still. Actually, here in the US, motorcycle sales for 600 and 1000cc bikes are up from where they were in 2011 and 2010. No where close to where they were in 2008 or the peak of 2005, but sportbike sales seem to have found a bottom. It appears to me based on the figures I've seen so far, that Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha liter bike sales continue to stall, while Kawi, Ducati, KTM and BMW made up market share. I suspect that is more to do with product offering than market climate with exception of KTM. Overall the market in the US appears to be bouncing off the bottom, but the demographics that are able to afford the cost(purchase AND insurance) of modern liter bikes(sportbikes in general) appear to be migrating away from that segment. Would Jarez be anywhere near Jerez in Spain? Yea, that's the place. If you Europeans would learn how to spell things the way they are pronounced we wouldn't be separated by our common language.  That might be "too" much for me "to" ask, but I'm sure there are at least "two" of you willing "to" correct me. | ||
| Jaimec |
You guys had me thinking there was going to be a WSBK round in Juarez, Mexico... | ||
| Norcal_blast |
some decent photos of the Hastur: http://indianautosblog.com/2014/02/hero-hastur-116 240# 80 hp and 352 lbs wet weight | ||
| Fast1075 |
Much better pictures. I like it, except for the funky things on the cylinder head. | ||
| Ljm |
At the risk of stating the obvious, there are some familiar looking parts on that. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
The more I look at it the more I want. Rocket in England | ||
| Blake |
Something different for sure. Very artful. I'm not a big admirer of the headlight eyes look that seems so popular these days. The SV650 and Kawasaki 650 twin may be in for some serious competition. That front no hub wheel/brake assembly appears to be very light. Best of both worlds for ZTL and conventional? Calipers face forward, so enjoy better air cooling of pads and pistons areas. No torque carried by wheel hub, so lots of mass is saved there. No separate brake disk carriers, so simpler and lighter yet. Nice. | ||
| Classax |
Looks like Bimota will not be on the grid in the Land Down Under for the season opener. Perhaps they were unable to meet the homologation requirements? | ||
| Trojan |
No surprise there. It would have been highly improbable for Bimota to produce half enoughbikes to meet current homologation rules this year. I am still excpecting the rules to be 'bent' at some stage in the near future to allow their inclsion in the European rounds after the long gap that follows the first round. Unless Bimota have a secret stack of bikes under a sheet somewhere the rules will have to be bent to breaking point for them. | ||
| Classax |
This http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/honda-vs-ya maha-handling-horsepower-motogp/was a really interesting article on riding style strategies based on design strategies in MotoGP that got me wondering about the race strategy and riding style to be used with EBR in WSBK. The geometry of the RX (Rake 22.4*, Trail 3.8", wheelbase 55.5") suggest the bike is designed to handle exceptionally well. The closest to it would be the Hondas. Yet with all that torque it should accelerate like a bullet even if down on top end power and outright speed. So is the race strategy of the EBR's to carry more corner speed in a flowing style and make up time in the corners alah Lorenzo(my favorite) or out brake and out accelerate like (Sykes) or a mix of both, because I don't think they'll have the top end to compete down the straights against the I4s. | ||
| Stevel |
I think it would be a mistake to assume the RX, as it will be campaigned, will have less power than the I4s. I'm relatively certain they will match or exceed the power of Ducati. The problem as I see it, is the lack of testing. It is unreasonable to expect more than mid field results this year because of it. There will be a multitude of problems with everything, but over time, they'll be sorted out. Remember, statistically on any given circuit, WOT is used less than 10% of the time, so engine power will be the least of EBR's concerns. | ||
| Classax |
lack of testing. It is unreasonable to expect more than mid field results this year because of it. Yes I agree that this is a developmental/track/team building year for team EBR. What I was driving at was how the article asserts the idea that various design elements of the machines compliment/demand different riding styles even among open class machines. For example on 250's I avoid the brakes as much as possible and try to tip in with as much entry speed as possible, to maintain it through exit as there won't be much power to get any significant drive. On the liter bike I tend to concentrate more on getting slowed and don't mind if I scrub off too much speed for the corner knowing I can get it back at exit. On the 600's it depends on the corner. I tend to be much smoother and flowing on the smaller bikes, because I have to be, they demand I be, where as on the liter I probably could be as smooth and flowing but point and shoot simply feels more expedient. Knowing that the twins typically don't have the sheer top speed of the I4's, the question is will they (RX) be more suited to make up time on the brakes, carrying more corner speed, or using their torque to gain drive on exits? RX's geometry suggest its a corner carver, but its got the engine to be an acceleration junkie, so both styles theoretically work. (In theory everything works the same in practice, but in practice hardly in thing works the same as in theory). | ||
| Trojan |
I'm relatively certain they will match or exceed the power of Ducati. Sorry, based on exactly what information? Ducati haven't published their WSBK power figures as far as I know, and are hardly likely to. Philip Island may actually be the best chance for the twins to shine in the early season as the flowing nature of the track suits twins more than IL4 bikes. With no testing and arriving at PI cold I think it will be asking a lot of EBR just to get into the top ten, but it is an opportunity that they could grab if they are switched on. As for making up time on the brakes, I am looking foward to seeing if that is actually possible in the comparison between state of the art Brembos used by 90% of the field and the ZTL2 used by EBR. The days of twin cylinde rmachines using superior torque to out accelerate the 4 cylinder machines are pretty much over unfortunately. Modern electronics have meant that the 4 cylinder guys have ideal drive out of every type of corner and superior power to exploit that. The days when you used to see Ducatis grab a 5 yeard gap out of corners only to be caught on the straights is over. Every bike needs to be good at everything these days, and any weakness in any area of performance will be ruthlessly hammered by the opposition (just ask Ducati or Honda after last year). There are some unknown qualtities this year in WSb in addition to EBR. We don't know the true potential of MV or of the top EVo bikes yet. However I would be willing to bet that the usual suspects (Sykes,Melandri,Baz,Guintoli, Laverty) will be at or near the front when the racing stops. | ||
| Simond |
I was about to say that you can't make up ground through higher corner speed if there is another more powerful bike parked on the racing line in front of you........... just ask Johnny Rea..... or at least the poor buggers he tried to overtake  . | ||
| Classax |
"...you can't make up ground through higher corner speed if there is another more powerful bike parked on the racing line in front of you." ain't that the truth! (Message edited by Classax on February 14, 2014) | ||
| Jaimec |
In the MotoGP world, Lorenzo complains about this... but it still didn't stop him from taking more race wins last year than anyone else on the grid (including Marquez). If he didn't have to race injured (and, in fact, miss a race) he'd probably still be the world champion. | ||
| Simond |
....but he did it by qualifying on the front row and blitzing everyone on the first few laps so that he had no one in his way. Much as I'd love to see the EBRs do the same........ | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
....but he did it by qualifying on the front row and blitzing everyone on the first few laps so that he had no one in his way. +1 Rocket in England | ||
| M1combat |
Extra corner speed, when held back by a "slower" bike, is converted to reduced tire wear. Through the race the advantage in corner speed grows as the advantage in reduced tire wear grows. (Message edited by M1Combat on February 14, 2014) | ||
| 46champ |
But you still have to get around them. This reminds me of I think Tyrell in Formula I after qualifing they would lower the angle of attack of the wing giving more speed in the straight. Reason being they couldn't pass them in the corners so you make sure they can't pass them in the straight. | ||
| 46champ |
I know this isn't a bike but I just thought it was cool enough to be here . Wish I knew how to inbed a photo. http://medford.craigslist.org/ctd/4323812044.html | ||
| M1combat |
"But you still have to get around them. This reminds me of I think Tyrell in Formula I after qualifing they would lower the angle of attack of the wing giving more speed in the straight. Reason being they couldn't pass them in the corners so you make sure they can't pass them in the straight." Right but that's where race craft comes in. Once you have the corner speed advantage you hang back at corner entry (even if you get on the brakes earlier) so you can maximize exit speed to get around coming out. Unless it's a long straight of course... Then you pass them going in (or try) in an effort to botch their exit speed. I was just making the point that high corner speed pays off in more ways than just corner speed. | ||
| Elvis |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FRE_HZnI9c | ||
| Trojan |
Right but that's where race craft comes in. Once you have the corner speed advantage you hang back at corner entry (even if you get on the brakes earlier) so you can maximize exit speed to get around coming out. trouble is, as Lorenzo found out last year, if a fast bike (Honda) gets in front of you into a corner you have to slow down and lose all your corner speed advanatge. You then lose more when the corner straightens out. Unless you are in front (and that means having to ride harder and take risks early in a race when tyres are cold) corner speed isn't that much good to you. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Posted to Geoff May's Facebook this week- apparently he just made it to Australia a few hours ago. He says testing begins tomorrow. Geoff was stuck in Georgia earlier in the week due to flight cancellations from the snow and ice in the southeast. Aaron apparently got out of Georgia before the bad weather and has been in Australia all week. | ||
| Jaimec |
 | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
It's 2.30am here in the UK. Lunch is over. It's 1.30pm Monday in Sydney. Where's our Australian BadWeBers with the hot press?? Pah, it ain't like the old days round 'ere Rocket in England | ||
| Amafan |
WSBK is testing right now in Phillip Island,and EBR is 8 seconds off the pace after 2 hours of testing.Not looking good at all,riders never had a chance to test before today,because lack of parts,team seems ill prepared for move to WSBK. | ||
| Classax |
Calm down, 2 hours in on a new track on brand new machines on brand new tires. That's not even enough time to get one's bearings on the racing line, let alone get accustomed to a new tire profile. Let's let them get at least a day into it before we call for the lowering of the life boats. |
