Dude fits a functional rocket launcher to his sportsbike.
December 14th, 2009
Videos
Ben Spies’ unusual methods: how to learn a racetrack
September 9th, 2009
Currently leading the World Superbike championship in his first season, Ben Spies has shown an uncanny ability to be instantly competitive at racetracks he’s never even seen before. I tipped him back before the 2009 season started and he looks like he might go on bring home the silverware. An instant force on the world scene, he’s a dead cert for MotoGP, whether it’s 2010 or 2011, where it’d be awesome to watch him take on the Doctor.
But how does he learn racetracks so damn fast? He’s beating some of the best riders in the world, guys who have raced these tracks often enough to know all their ins and outs. Well, finally we know. He explains all in the video below:
I’ll be taking his advice next time I head to the Island for a trackday. Riding a kitten, eh?
Video: incredible radio control bikers ride better than I do
April 27th, 2009
Huge lean angles, powerslides and impressive power wheelies; these radio controlled motorcycle racers are absolutely stunning to watch as they do battle round what I presume is a go-kart track. Get involved at the British Radio Car Association website if you’re interested.
A look inside the Yamaha V-MAX (cutaway display engine)
April 7th, 2009
Yamaha Australia brought a beautifully made cutaway version of the 2009 V-MAX to the Aussie Motorcycle Expo, and marketing manager Sean Goldhawk was nice enough to talk us through it. Gear porn at its finest! Video by Noel McKeegan.
2009 Yamaha R1: What’s the go with the crossplane crankshaft?
February 1st, 2009
It’s the one big-four superbike that’s capturing everyone’s interest in 2009; the new R1’s unevenly spaced firing order makes it the first roadbike to be able to claim big-bang MotoGP ancestry. More than just sounding totally horn, the new engine should give a slightly more grippy drive out of corners right at the edge of traction, as the longer breaks between power pulses allow tyre rubber to spring back into shape a touch better.
But there’s also the issue of combustion versus inertial torque - and this Yamaha video shows how the crossplane crankshaft and its uneven firing order virtually eliminate inertial torque to allegedly deliver a more intimate connection between the throttle and the engine’s torque output.
Video: Aussie Cam Sinclair becomes the third man to land a double backflip
January 28th, 2009
Back at the turn of the century, the idea of pulling a backflip on a motorcycle seemed impossible - nine years later, it’s now so commonplace that Crusty Demons announcers have to remind the crowd to cheer. Even if the kids have never seen it live before, they’ve seen it all over the web. Travis Pastrana became the first rider ever to land a terrifying double backflip back at the X-Games in 2006, raising the bar to yet another impossible height, and since he showed it was possible, other riders have been scrambling to add the latest holy grail of freestyle tricks to their repertoire.
Last weekend, Aussie freestyler Cam Sinclair became the third person in the world ever to land the double backflip at a freestyle event in New Zealand. Piloting a Yamaha YZ250F, Sinclair was airborne for a huge 55 feet and landed it with no fuss. Click through on our amazing lead photo for a huge desktop-sized download version. Video after the jump. (more…)
All-American cruiser showcases hubless rims at BOTH ends
January 15th, 2009
We’re a bit behind the times with this one (Mike Brown from Amen Motorcycles, Tennessee, built it back in 2004) but a motorcycle with completely hubless rims front and rear looks so deadly cool that we’ll run it anyway. The Hubless Monster is a remarkable engineering achievement, particularly given that the gargantuan 360-section rear tyre it used didn’t even exist during the build phase - Mike had to use plywood and steel mockups.
Mike proudly lists half a dozen world-firsts for this build: (more…)
Hill Climb deemed too easy; outrageous jump added
December 14th, 2008
I don’t know where this is, or what event, but it’s bloody astounding.
Indoor Trials with Dougie Lampkin at Goodwood House
October 28th, 2008
Big houses - I’ve never understood ‘em. I mean, clearly you need somewhere to sleep, a good sized dunny to store your bike mags in, and a big garage, but I always thought anything beyond that was nothing more than wasted space that needed cleaning. How wrong I was.
Human bobsled vs. CB600F down a mountain
October 19th, 2008
Crazy french roller-fiend Jean-Yves Blondeau took to the hills in his human bobsled suit recently to race a Hornet 600 down a mountain road on his belly. While Blondeau appears to win in this Japanese TV clip, he’s welcome to come down and race TheBikerGene anytime and see how he goes against a bike that actually leans over in the corners… 