Earlier, we looked back at some of the most notable motorcycle news stories of 2012, ten tales that helped define the motorcycle industry this past year.
It’s probably safe to say that none of the items in this top ten list will do that. This is a compilation of some of the strangest, dumbest, and funniest oddball stories we’ve seen this year.
Here’s to a great 2012. We can only hope 2013 will be just as entertaining.
Back in September, Yamaha revealed a special “Race Blu” livery for a the YZF-R1, YZF-R6 and the YZF-R125 for the European market. Yamaha promoted the new color scheme with Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies sporting the colors on their leathers and M1 race bikes at the Misano and Aragon MotoGP rounds.
North American consumers were left out, however, getting a Team Yamaha Blue and White version instead for the R1 and R6 (the R125 isn’t offered here either). Not that there’s anything wrong with the Team Yamaha versions. They do however lack the Race Blu’s darker blue hue and the matching wheels. Yamaha later added a Race Blu option for the XJ6, XJ6 Diversion, FZ8 and Fazer8 for Europe.
Of those models, only the FZ8 is offered in the U.S., but only in black, meaning the Race Blu color is still not offered for the American market. That isn’t the case north of the border. Continue Reading »
Yamaha announced it is developing a new three-cylinder engine using a crossplane crankshaft inherited from the company’s YZR-M1 MotoGP bike and its YZF-R1 sportbike. Yamaha says the new Triple will play an important role in the company’s future.
The Japanese manufacturer unveiled a concept sculpture with the new three-cylinder engine at the 2012 Intermot show in Cologne, Germany. The sculpture is abstract, showing little beyond the engine, wheels and front fork, but the tires and wheels would suggest the first model to use the new engine will be a streetbike.
Yamaha trumpets the benefits of its crossplane crankshaft which has been used in bikes that have won championships in MotoGP, World Superbike and AMA Superbike. Yamaha claims the engine offers linear driving power and more efficient torque output. Yamaha hopes the crossplane crankshaft can work additional wonders as a platform for a new generation of models. Continue Reading »
Monster Energy Graves Yamaha‘s Josh Hayes has clinched his third consecutive AMA Superbike title with his record 14th win of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The win in the second race of the Miami round was the 31st of Hayes’ career. It followed a rare misstep in Race One which saw Hayes crashing after clipping a curb on the third lap. Hayes settled for a 12th-place finish, ending his record winning streak at 10 victories.
Hayes responded for Race 2 with a come-from-behind effort, erasing a 15-second deficit to take the win ahead of Attack Performance Kawasaki‘s Steve Rapp and Jordan Suzuki‘s Ben Bostrom. Continue Reading »
We reported earlier today Yamaha Motor USA unveiled new colors and graphics for its 2013 YZF-R1 and YZF-R6. Mechanically unchanged from last year’s models, Yamaha‘s two sportbikes each get three color options including a “Team Yamaha” blue and white model.
What Yamaha isn’t offering to its U.S. customers is a new “Race-Blu” livery, introduced today at Misano for the upcoming MotoGP round. Yamaha factory racers Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies will race this weekend wearing the Race-Blu livery on their leathers and on their YZR-M1 racebikes.
The Aldo Drudi-designed two-tone blue and matte gray color will also be offered on European versions of the R1, the R6 and the entry-level YZF-R125. These three models are just the beginning however. Yamaha says the Race-Blu series will be an integral part of Yamaha’s lineup for future model years as well. Continue Reading »
Yamaha announced new 2013 colors and graphics for its flagship sportbike, the YZF-R1. Beside the three color options, the 2013 Yamaha R1 returns unchanged, after getting a new seven-level traction control system in 2012.
The three color options for 2013 are Matte Gray, Rapid Red and Raven, and the Team Yamaha Blue and White.
Powering the R1 is the 998cc liquid-cooled engine with a crossplane crankshaft derived from Yamaha’s MotoGP program. Continue Reading »
The Vancouver Sun is reporting on its website today that the Yamaha R1 made famous in a YouTube video featuring the rider speeding along the Trans-Canada Highway was sold recently for $4,651 in an online auction.
According to the Sun the auction was conducted by B.C.’s Civil Forfeiture Office, which can seize property believed to have been used for unlawful activity. The winning bidder, 4x4albert, beat more than 70 bids to claim the 2006 R1. The above photo displays an R1 of the same model year as the one sold in the auction.
Remember that video on YouTube about the rider going 185 mph on a highway in Canada? The video went viral and eventually led to the seizure of a Yamaha R1 and $1,449 (Canadian) in traffic tickets issued to its owner.
In April, police in Saanich, British Columbia believed they had enough evidence to seize the R1 and issued tickets to the registered owner for speeding, operating without due care and attention, and operating without insurance. Police were not able to lay more serious charges against the rider because there wasn’t enough evidence to identify the individual, believed to be the son of the registered owner.
After several months, police have now issued a warrant for Randy George Scott, a 25-year-old who allegedly rode the Yamaha sportbike in the video. According to Saanich police Sgt. Dean Jantzen, investigators proceeded with charges of dangerous driving after receiving information from witnesses. Continue Reading »
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
With the first round of AMA Pro Road Racing at Daytona now in the books, it’s clear to see this season is going to be exciting in all classes. Entries were healthy in all classes at Daytona, with the prediction that this trend will continue throughout the season. Of course, with more riders comes the need for more protection. Head protection in this case. For 2012, Bell is stepping up to the challenge and sponsoring five riders. Continue Reading »
Yamaha released a video looking back at Josh Hayes’ 2011 AMA Superbike season culminating with his second consecutive championship.
The video takes a round-by-round look back at the season as Hayes and his Yamaha R1 duked it out with essentially a phalanx of Suzuki GSX-R1000 riders led by seven-race winner Blake Young.
Highlights include the hard-fought duel between Hayes and Young at Mid-Ohio, Hayes and Tommy Hayden swapping the lead on the final lap at Laguna Seca and the title-clinching finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Continue Reading »
