Desmosedici RR: For the love of Ducati!

Watch this video and you'll love the Ducati Desmosedici RR more than ever before. And for more of that Desmosedici RR lady, see here
Video: Tag Team Racing

And here's Jay Leno's take on the Desmosedici RR

Riding Impression: MV Agusta Brutale 989R

The 2008 MV Agusta Brutale 989R. We want one, of course...

Pics: Motociclismo

‘The new MV Agusta Brutale 989R is a brutal earthquake that cracks the asphalt. It’s a lightning storm that illuminates the city. It is a force of nature, its power and beauty unsurpassed,’ say the guys at Motociclismo, who recently got to ride the bike, and who’re obviously quite happy with it. Here are some excerpts from their riding impression of the Brutale 989R:

For 2008, the MV Agusta Brutale is available in two versions – the 989R and the 1078RR, with the latter due to be launched soon. Speaking of the 989R, its new 982cc engine, which makes 142bhp and 9.8kgm of torque, is much stronger than the earlier 909cc unit. The 989R, with a claimed dry weight of 185kg, accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and hits a top speed of 253km/h. In fact, it’s so good, we can’t imagine what the 1078RR would be like!

With every twist of the throttle, the 989R catapults you to infinity. And yet, the fuel injection is better than ever before – power delivery has been smoothened out, and unlike the previous bike, the new one doesn’t threaten to spit you off at lower speeds with sudden acceleration. Fuel consumption, at about 11km/l, isn’t too bad either.

The 989R’s chassis is the same chrome- molybdenum trellis frame with single-sided swingarm as found on earlier MV Brutale bikes, and works very well. The gearbox is a six-speed unit, front brakes get radial-mount four-piston calipers, and the suspension – 50mm USD forks and rear monoshock – is multi-adjustable and very effective. The ride can be made comfortable by softening the suspension settings, and when firmed up, it’s ideal for hard-core sporting use.

The MV Agusta Brutale 989R’s build quality is impeccable, all components are top-spec and everything feels like it’s been designed with great care – all the parts work together in perfect harmony. Even at 16,500 euros (about US$25,500) the legendary Brutale is a good buy…

Also see:
What it's like to ride a MotoGP bike... ...again!
70-year-olds set off on 5,440km trip. On scooters!
Honda test new ABS system for sportsbikes...
Get ready to say goodbye to MZ...
Face-off: KTM RC8 vs Ducati 1098...
Bimota DB7 first ride...

External links:
Elisabetta Canalis (Valentino Rossi's ex-girlfriend...) picture gallery!
Got US$25,500 to spare? The Storz XR1200 Sportster is for sale...
Are you giving your pillion rider, something to hold on to?
Forget Casey Stoner, THIS is the Aussie we want to meet...!

The fitter you are, the harder, faster you can ride your bike. So here we go...

Video: JvB-moto Scrambler riding impression

Here's a riding impression of the JvB-moto Scrambler, which we first wrote about here

Also see:
The MotoMorphic JaFM#1...
Officially licensed NASCAR chopper...
Honda Fireblade-powered trike...
The fastest 50cc bike in the world...
The amazing GG Quadster...
Big CC Racing's B-King Turbo...
A Triumph that runs on apple juice...
A bunch of Ducati drag racers...!

External links:
Troy Bayliss, the hard man of motorcycle racing...
The most AWESOME Kawasaki ever...

Battle of the Brits: Carl Fogarty takes on James Toseland

Mr Fogarty has his head right up his own arse as usual, while Toseland probably can't figure out why Foggy is getting into all of this anyway...

Voted by BIKE magazine readers as one of the biggest idiots in motorcycling, Carl Fogarty is at it again – this time, the WSBK ex-world champ has taken on James Toseland, saying that Toseland needs to start winning before he runs out of time.

‘James is already twenty-seven. When you're a two-time World Superbike champion like him, and have already earned lots of money and fame, it can be difficult for that person to be hungry and motivated,’ says Mr Fogarty, according to a report on The Sun newspaper. ‘The likes of Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner are a lot younger than James and want it more than anyone else. They are already winning races, while James is coming sixth, seventh and eighth,’ he adds.

‘Only James knows how bad he wants it. He's got the equipment under him to do it but I'm not sure. As long as his team's good enough and the bike is fast enough, which to me it looks like it is, then he has no excuses,’ says Fogarty. ‘I can understand him struggling at tracks he doesn't know [but] if he goes to Donington and doesn't get on the podium, I'll be worried, because he knows that track like the back of his hand.’

Sure, Carl was a great rider in his time, but now he should just learn to shut the f*** up

What we don’t understand is, why does Carl Fogarty need to butt in at all? Sure, he was a great rider in his time and won all those world championships aboard his Ducati 916, but what has Fogarty done over the last few years? Where is he coming from, and why is he getting involved in any of this? The man’s been a complete failure at everything he’s tried in recent years, so why the sudden attack on James Toseland?!?

On his part, Toseland says, ‘I can't wait to get to Donington. I’ve had five tracks in a row that have been completely new and it’s tough work learning the ropes as well as trying to be competitive.’

‘I'm going to be pushing so hard, I really want that podium place now. I know Donington well and the one after that is Assen, where I’ve also won before. So hopefully I’ll be a lot more competitive in the next two races and show people what I am capable of,’ says Toseland.

‘I get on well with Carl, but I don’t think he really knows me. If he did, he’d never question my desire. Maybe he said it because he didn’t get the opportunity I’ve had to step up to MotoGP,’ says Toseland, who obviously isn’t very happy with Mr Carl ‘Big Mouth’ Fogarty.

‘I want this more than anything. It isn’t just a pay day for me. It would have been much easier to stay in World Superbikes but I achieved all my goals there, and it was time to take on a new challenge,’ concludes Toseland.

Also see:
2008 MotoGP race results and hi-res wallpaper
Colin Edwards talks about Valentino Rossi...
Sete Gibernau comes back to MotoGP... ...as a test rider for Ducati!
Valentino Rossi: 30 years, 7 world titles and some regret...
John Surtees speaks out against traction control in racing...
James Toseland is rich...
Memorable: The Moriwaki Dream Fighter MotoGP machine...

Gilera Nexus 300 and GP800 pics. Full image gallery on Motoblog

MotoMorphic JaFM#1: Built to be a bit different…

The MotoMorphic JaFM#1. Looks totally cool, eh?
Pics: MotoMorphic

This is MotoMorphic's first prototype motorcycle, the JaFM#1, which we found on Oliepeil. MotoMorphic founder, Jim Davis wanted to make bikes that were a bit special, and it looks like the JaFM#1 fits the bill.

Details on the bike are scant, but it seems the MotoMorphic JaFM#1 is based on an Aprilia Falco. With, of course, extensive modifications. The chassis is made of 6061-T6 tubing and CNC machined billet 6061, the swingarm is custom-made, the front fork is an Ohlins item, the rear shock is Penske and the brakes are Brembo units.

We think the bike looks pretty interesting. Will post more pics and details as they become available.

We don't know how the bike will steer with that front tyre, but at least there should be no lack of grip at the front...

Also see:
The wildest two-wheeler that Peugeot (n)ever made...
Millyard V12: The maddest Kawasaki ever...
EZ Tuning: School of cool...
The Freddie: Retro SBK’s Freddie Spencer tribute...
Fight Machines: The gloves are off!
Marcus Walz: ‘Building bikes gives me satisfaction, not riding them!’
An Alfa Romeo motorcycle...!
The 455bhp, Hayabusa-powered SR8LM...
From Belgium: The Krugger Goodwood...
TwinTrax: A Harley-powered dragster for the street...

Faster: 4-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition

Faster: Now bigger and faster than ever before. Go...!!!

Faster, the movie that provided the original – and the best – 200mph DVD experience ever, is now reborn. MotoGP fans can now buy the four-disc Faster: Ultimate Collector’s Edition set, which includes Faster, Faster and Faster and The Doctor, The Tornado & The Kentucky Kid movies. We can’t think of a better way to spend forty bucks…

For more details, and to order the DVD set, go here

A fast clip from Faster

Also see:
Killboy: Celebrating Sundays...
70-year-olds on 5,440km trip. On scooters...
Honda's next-gen ABS for sportsbikes...
MZ goes bust. Again
Kawasaki: The future is bright orange...
Suzuki: Preparing for the post-GSX-R era...
Yamaha: Mr Max makes a comeback!
Deus Ex Machina: Now you can wear your motorcycle...

Sete Gibernau: What it’s like to ride a MotoGP bike… again!

Sete Gibernau, back in 2006, when he was riding for the Ducati MotoGP team...

Sete Gibernau, along with regular Ducati test rider Vittoriano Guareschi, recently completed a three-day testing session at Mugello. Gibernau completed twenty laps of the circuit on the Desmosedici GP9, recording a best time of 1:53.7 before the session was interrupted by rain.

‘It's like jumping back in time almost two years – as if the months that have gone by since the last time I was on track never even existed. Racing motorcycles was my whole life for so many years and now I've rediscovered that feeling. I feel really good, like I'm home again. The instinct for riding came back straight away, even though I obviously need to get back into the habit of going fast,’ said an elated Gibernau, who last raced in MotoGP in 2006.

‘I've realised how tiring it is to grab the brakes and move the bike around where I want it but I'm sure that's just the rust from not riding for so long. I managed twenty laps on the GP9 before it started to rain and the feeling was good. It is a Ducati in every way – precise but demanding, it requires a physical riding style and it instantly reminded me of the GP7 I tested at Motegi towards the end of 2006,’ said Gibernau, who won nine MotoGP races in his career, and finished runner-up to Rossi in 2003 and 2004.

‘As well as getting my confidence to ride back, today we did a little bit of work on the electronics, in particular the engine braking, because I prefer a different calibration to Vittoriano,’ said Gibernau. ‘I want to say a huge thank you to Ducati for this wonderful gift. For now I'm just going to enjoy the next two days of testing, hope it doesn't rain, and then we'll decide together whether there'll be another opportunity to ride their bike.’

Hmm… we hope Sete does get another shot at riding Ducati’s MotoGP bikes. And if not, well, we’re sure he has enough money to be able to buy a Desmosedici RR…

230bhp bikes, 115bhp women - no wonder Gibernau misses his MotoGP days...

Also see:
2008 MotoGP race reports and hi-res wallpaper...
Kevin Schwantz interviews Valentino Rossi...
The one MotoGP-replica that we think is cooler than a Desmosedici RR...
Stephanie McLean: Remembering Barry Sheene...
Riding fast: Ron Haslam's masterclass...

External links:
Go-faster tips from Kevin Schwantz!

Pictures from the MV Agusta 'Privilege Day' riding course

The MV Agusta F4 CC. Words are just not adequate for this bike...

Back in May this year, we had told you about the MV Agusta Privilege Day, and now here are some pictures from that event. All we can say is, we love that F4 CC...

Also see:
The Bestiale Project: A more radical MV Agusta Brutale...
1974 MV Agusta 500 GP racer vs Ducati GP7 MotoGP machine!
In pictures: 2008 MV Agusta Brutale 1078RR, 989R and F4 RR 312
The amazing MV Agusta F4 CC...
MV Agusta Brutale 1078RR declared most beautiful bike at EICMA...
Awesome: The MV Agusta F4 Veltro Pista...
Noré Sébastien: Airbrush magician for your MV...

External links:
Bol d’Or Classic 2008 picture gallery...
Roland Brown's take on the Bimota DB7...
An interview with KTM's Technical Director, Harald Bartol
2008 Honda VFR800 Interceptor riding impression...
Scooterin' in the USA...

Killboy: The Sunday Celebration...

For us here at Faster and Faster, Sunday mornings are best spent aboard a GSX-R1000, riding through endless twisties. Broad, smooth and grippy road surface. Perfect weather. Sparse traffic. And a long, leisurely breakfast with motorcyclist friends at the end of that ride.

But it doesn’t always happen that way, does it? Well, such is life. Which is why we are thankful that there’s Killboy, a site full of such absolutely brilliant motorcycling pictures. On Sundays when we can’t go out and ride, we’d settle for looking at these pics and fantasizing about our next ride. On a brand-new GSX-R1000, R1, ZX-10R or Fireblade. Soon, soon… but in the meanwhile, let’s just enjoy these pictures...!

Pics: Killboy
(Thank you, Killboy, for adding a load of life and colour to this Sunday morning!)

Here's what Sunday mornings were made for:
Pottering down to the local coffee shop...
Firing up that Italian stallion in the garage...
Digging out those old bike mags and looking at pics of Kevin Schwantz...
Building your own MotoGP-replica...
Scanning the classifieds to see if you can find a cheap RC45...
Dreaming about setting off on that around-the-world roadtrip...
And if the bike is in the workshop...

External links:
Or you could just get this DVD...
...and visit this Cagiva Mito picture gallery!

Finally, they say you need to be fit to ride sportsbikes. So, well, we thought this workout video just might motivate you to get some exercise...

Yamaha R1 vs Porsche 911 Turbo vs Tornado fighter jet!

The Yamaha R1 gets off the line first, but what happens after that...?