Honda is serious about showing off the racing prowess of the CBR500R. Sharing much of the same components as its siblings the CB500X and CB500F, it’s easy for critics to question whether the CBR500R is worthy of the CBR designation. The first thing Honda did to try to dispel those worries is to secure the CBR500R as the spec race bike for the 2013 European Junior Cup, a racing series for youths held at select rounds of the World Superbike Championship.

But Honda also wants to show the CBR500R isn’t just for beginners. That’s why Honda factory rider John McGuinness will ride the new Honda CBR500R in the Lightweight TT class at the 2013 Isle of Man TT. McGuinness is second in all-time Isle of Man TT victories with 19, so his involvement gives the 500R instant credibility. Continue Reading »

Italian website Motociclismo.it reports BMW is working on a new 450cc racebike to be used in youth racing series at select rounds other World Superbike Championship and the British Superbike Championship.

According to the report, the new track-only sportbike will use a 450cc single-cylinder engine, likely the Husqvarna-developed version of the engine used in the BMW G450X. The engine will be mounted in an all-new chassis with racing suspension, wheels and carbon fiber fairing.

The new sportbike would be used in a single-spec racing series for young racers from 15-18 years of age, with Motociclismo.it reporting it would be held over six rounds of the WSBK and BSB. This would follow a similar formula to the European Junior Cup which takes place at select WSBK rounds and which, at least for the 2013 season, use the new Honda CBR500R as its racebike. Continue Reading »

The biggest news from KTM at the 2012 EICMA Show was the unveiling of the new 390 Duke and a prototype of the upcoming 1290 Super Duke R. In between these small and large naked bikes, KTM announced a new R-spec version of its middleweight 690 Duke.

The 690 Duke was introduced in 2007 and received a substantial update last year with a 690cc engine claiming 67 hp, leading KTM to call it the world’s most powerful Single in a production model. The 2013 KTM 690 Duke R takes that same engine but adds an Akropovic exhaust KTM claims pushes peak power output to 69 hp at 7500 rpm. Claimed torque remains at 51.6 ft-lb. at 5500 rpm, just like the non-R version.

The 690 Duke R also has a higher chassis and stiffer suspension with more damping, developed during the 2012 European Junior Cup racing series. The new WP fork is 15mm longer than the fork on the regular 690 and offers 150mm of travel compared to 135mm on the 690 Duke. The new fork also separates compression damping and rebound damping between the two fork legs. Continue Reading »

As expected, Honda announced its new CBR500R sportbike will be featured in the 2013 European Junior Cup, a single-spec racing series that competes at European rounds of the World Superbike Championship.

We saw this coming when Honda announced it would supply an all new sportbike for the European Junior Cup, but the news wasn’t official until after Honda unveiled the CBR500R alongside its siblings the CB500F and CB500X at the 2012 EICMA Show. Plus this also gives us an excuse to run a 39-picture gallery of the new CBR500R after the jump.

Racers will ride specially-prepared versions of the CBR500R priced at 19,950 euros (US$25,417), a considerable increase from the $5,999 price tag American Honda is asking for the regular production model. Of course, the hefty price tag also includes the cost of race tires, fuel, race management and servicing. Continue Reading »

Honda announced it is replacing KTM as the spec-bike supplier for the 2013 European Junior Cup. The youth racing series will use an all-new Honda sportbike to be revealed at the 2012 EICMA show in November, expected to be the CBR500 captured in spy photos.

The European Junior Cup is for young racers ages 14-19 and runs at select rounds of the World Superbike Championship. This season, the series used the KTM 690 Duke but when it was first introduced in 2011, the series used the Kawasaki Ninja 250. Ironically, it looks like the series will now use the CBR500 which would be Honda‘s response to the 250′s replacement, the Ninja 300.

The stakes for the 2013 European Junior Cup will be higher than in previous seasons. The winner of the 2013 Cup series will be awarded a spot on a Honda team in the 2014 UEM Superstock 600 European Championship, a stepping stone towards bigger and higher levels of racing. Continue Reading »

The World Superbike Championship‘s European Junior Cup youth racing series will switch to race-prepped KTM 690 Duke motorcycles for 2012 from the Kawasaki Ninja 250R racebikes used in its inaugural 2011 season.

The rebranded KTM European Junior Cup will be open to riders 14-19 and will be held at eight WSBK rounds in 2012. The series was conceived as an entry point for young racers, providing them opportunities to develop their skills before moving up to higher classes such as the World Superstock Championship and beyond.

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