For 2009, Aprilia decided to enlarge its success area from supermoto (SXV) and enduro (RXV) to motocross with the new MXV model. Don’t be fooled by the bike’s similar looks as Aprilia has spent a lot of time modifying the platform in order to prove efficient for motocross racing. The frame and fuel tank suffered radical changes while the engine has been worked on from airbox to exhaust.
In order to withstand to racing demands, the frame was strengthened and engineers made sure that it would lose a few kilos on its way to the bike. The fuel tank now found its place well down into the frame and further back, significantly contributing to a lower and centralized gravity center.
Modifications to the frame and gas tank also lead to repositioning the airbox in front of the tank, making it easier for the filer to be changed.
In what concerns the engine, that is used as a stressed member of the chassis, but, at its base, remains the same 77° v-twin which, for 2009, features a kickstarter instead of the starter motor. Lightened and able to rev as high as 12,500rpm, the engine oil is kept separately from the one in the clutch, allowing for extending servicing intervals.
The ECU, housed by the airbox, now features Full and Soft Power engine maps. Full Power means just that, while Soft Power implies a more docile character, perfect for accommodating with the bike in those first runs or during capricious weather.
Engine retuning for more low-to-mid rpm grunt was done through the titanium exhaust system, which, by the way, you will miss if you blink.
A little over 30 years ago, a bright young man was working at a French coast resort town in the North called Le Touquet. In the summer things were very busy, since the beach is the closest beach to Paris (hence the area is dubbed “Paris Plage” - Paris Beach). Lots of things to do, with a big and wide beach full of sunbathing people.
But in the winter things are a bit dead. The young man was a passionate motorcycle rider, and together with some like minded friends, he decided to race on the beach. A couple of dozen of them started a beach race, just for fun. When they finished racing they noticed that they had drawn an immense crowd of people who were watching them.
The young man decided that maybe it was a good opportunity to breath some oxygen in a resort town that was as dead as a door nail during the winter months. So, he organized a beach race during the first weekend of February.
The young man was called Thierry Sabine, and after organizing the “Le Touquet” beach race (now called the EnduroPale), he went on and started another race which has become the most popular and toughest race in the world; the Paris-Dakar!
Both the Le Touquet and the Dakar earned him world fame. Unfortunately, he has not been able to enjoy the fame since he died in a helicopter crash during the Dara race. But both his legacies live on.
The EnduroPale has become “the” race to attend for February. 1100 motorcycle start (at the same time), and must race for the hole shot 7 kilometers away.
Usually, the hole shot winners are bikers with specially prepared motorcycles. KTM 950 and BMW HP2 have been previous winners, but the last year’s winner of the hole shot was a Honda 900 CBT Fireblade, specially prepared for deep sand.
Speeds reach 200 kph, and then the 1100 motorcycles are funneled through a bottle neck. They used to race through the sand dunes, but that got stopped several years ago due to environmental concerns. Now the first bottleneck is a narrow hill.
Of the 1100 motorcycles thundering, stumbling and crashing through deep sand over 15 kilometers, some 20 are professionals, 50-100 are expert riders and the remainder are Sunday riders who want to say they participated in the great race. Many have never raced on sand before.
For three hours, you see the professionals dodging falling motorcycles and crashing riders, jumping over motorcycles littered on the ground with exhausted riders next to them.
Since the spectacle is free, the “show” extracts record crowds. Some years, despite the cold, 500,000 spectators have stood alongside the beach front.
Many nationalities have participated from around the world. Big names like Cyril Despres, David Knight, Potisek brothers, Jean-Claude Mouse and Arnaud Demeester have been present.
There are a lot of prizes for the different categories, and recently, the organizers have even awarded a prize of the top foreigners.
This year the organizers are doing one better. The €242 registration fee will include a DVD of the race, so if you’re participating, you’ll see what you missed.
I am saying that because this video is a remembering of the most notorious motorcycle crashes that took place in 2004 during organized hill climbing competitions. And guess what? Things aren’t any different today.
Would I vote this the most dangerous motorcycle sport? Definitely! Just listen to the guy at the end of the video and you’ll feel the same way too.
Present at a Wisconsin casino on August 16th 2008, Robbie did what a Knievel knows doing best: jumping over stuff. In this case, over four airplanes and a helicopter, but it was enough for the public to go nuts.
Notice that the asphalt was wet, either from rain or to prevent things from catching up fire, so the jump was pretty risky even though it didn’t covered that much distance. We heard the landing was ok too!
Husqvarna keeps us on pins and needles in what concerns the launch of the 2009 TC 250, the bike that it’s suppose to be the lightest motocrosser yet to be produced. There are many chances that it will participate in the 2009 World Motocross Championship, but what we do know for sure is that it weighs 48.5 lbs.
Much of the massive weight reduction is due to the compactness of the four-stroke engine (13 percent smaller than everything else out there) featuring four titanium radial valves. Developed in collaboration with MX3 racer Andrea Bartolini, the new bike is expected to rule on the 2009 motocross scene.
But in order to do that, it will first have to be produced and rumors are that this autumn will bring racers face to face with it. Let’s hope so!
This is one of the funniest commercials I’ve seen in a while. Not about a motorcycle, but about riding gear, it shows up a neard’s idea about motocross. Just look at him go with the name and number painted on its back. That’s crazy!
The smallest, but definitely not weakest motocrosser out there comes from the green team and brings the excitement of racing to an even younger category or riders. Kawasaki introduced the KX65 specifically for those who feel like skipping off-road beginners bikes and get to the real thing as soon as possible. This is the best real thing you’ll get at an early age. >> read
Here’s a video of Ronnie Renner on the Santa Monica Pier setting a new world record. The motocross rider managed to go for the highest motorcycle air off a quarter pipe, establishing a new Guinness World Record.
I very much appreciate people who read my reviews and I know that they often try to learn some new tricks by reading the “Test Drive” section. Because of that, I would like to help them (that is you) to get as much online information as they can before starting to ride.
Because I have recently done some previews (no test drive, that is) as the bikes are 2009 model years and become available this october, I invite you do do your own skill deeloping by attending a profesional riding school.
Rich Lafferty Racing and Riding School is a nice start as you can evolve fast and get to racing. That is the interesting part, isn’ it?
This is the first school that brings immediate enjoyment and the best is that it addresses to both children and adults, so parents, if you feel like being worry-free, this is one good solution.
They also have a “Tips and Tricks” on their section on their website from which you can download free information in order to gather skills faster.
This couple has done a video in which they present the three methods of starting a bike. Gas down, choke up, ignition key on and put it on “run”. Then use the clutch and make sure the bike is in neutral and bang. That’s the first method.
If you don’t have enough strength, use the kickstand, get on the footpegs and use your body weight to start it. That is supposed to come naturally. But the next one if for the ones with a little bit of experience. Do the same things as before only that put the bike in second gear, hold the clutch and run next to it. Suddenly jump on the seat, release the clutch and accelerate.
But even though you’ve understood the procedure, it is recommended that you see it happening on your bike and do it yourself next. For those most experienced of you out there, this video can be inspiring and determine you to do similar thinks. Remember that you’ve also been thought one day and if not, start doing it anyway.
Picture Gallery
Post a comment
RSS -
Webmaster free news |
Remote Linux Managament