XL Moto

FAST3R Blidgets

2008-04-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

XL Moto has not gotten an update in a very long time. One of the reasons is that I have been working on a motorcycle news website called FAST3R. Here's the scoop.

FAST3R is Motorcycles. FAST3R aggregates, reads, organizes and publishes the best news, editorial and blog content related to Motorcycles from hundreds of sources across the web. On a single page you can find out the latest, best news about Racing, Events, new Motorcycles and much more.

You can include our top headlines in your blog or website by grabbing the FAST3R widget.

Byrne officially on KTM

2005-04-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

Former British Superbike champion Shane Byrne will get his second bite at the MotoGP cherry this season, after signing an eleventh hour contract to ride a Team Roberts run Proton KR-KTM in the 2005 world championship. Crash.net

Virgin 'Big-Bang' secrets revealed!

2005-03-18T14:16:00.000-08:00

Crash.net has a very interesting article about 'Big-Bang' motors in the British Superbike series. Crash.net

Ugly Fast

2005-03-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

The French Motorcycle Grand Prix on May 13-15 will mark the opening round of the new BMW Motorrad PowerCup series - the replacement for the popular BoxerCup - which features race bikes based on the German marque's new K1200 R. Crash.net

Thunder Star 1200 Diesel

2005-03-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

The Kneeslider

Found on Flickr

2005-02-23T08:25:00.000-08:00

BSA Motorbike Engine
Original photo by Leo L30.

KTM 950 Adventure Review

2005-02-18T14:12:00.000-08:00

One Wheel Drive

Moto Guzzi NATO

2005-02-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

Moto Guzzi NATO
Original photo by astrovine.

Flickr

2005-02-10T22:43:00.000-08:00

Original photo by tikaro.

The picture above was created by a gentlement that calls himself tikaro. I do not know him, but a new online photo sharing service called Flickr allows him to share his images with family, friends or the whole world. Flickr is a great place to find all kinds of cool photos. Check it out. My username is richardnixon. Flickr

Byrne close to KR-KTM deal.

2005-02-09T10:57:00.000-08:00

"To be honest I don't know much about (Byrne) as a rider," confessed Harald Bartol, the KTM motorsports manager. "We were expecting to take Jeremy McWilliams, which I was very happy with for development purposes, but that situation changed for reasons out of our control. Now we're looking forward to getting to know Shane." Crash.net

Radical SR8

2005-02-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

This post is only tangentially about motorcycles. There is a new trend afoot in the world of high-performance track day cars. Low volume manufacturers like Radical are using motorcycle powerplants as the basis for purpose-built race engines, for cars. "Radical's engine specialist, Powertec, has grafted a pair of Suzuki Hayabusa top ends on to a common crankcase to make a 2.6-litre V8. Without any mods to the Suzuki pistons, rods, cams valvegear or heads, it puts out 383bhp at about 10,000rpm." Auto Express

The fundamentals...

2005-02-07T15:26:00.000-08:00

Crash.net published a short and straightforward article about the key equation in motorsport engineering. F = m x a Crash.net

Byrne on verge of KR-KTM deal.

2005-02-04T13:55:00.000-08:00

Crash.net

But will it be orange?

2005-02-01T08:18:00.000-08:00

Kenny Roberts' fast Frankenstein of a racing motorcycle is still unconfirmed for the 2005 MotoGP season. The newest rumors place Shakey Byrne on the hybrid KR/KTM with Michelin rubber. Toby Hirst reports the details at Superbike Planet

BBC Reports Jeremy McWilliams to Ride BSB

2005-01-31T14:06:00.000-08:00

McWilliams had been contracted to ride for Kenny Roberts' Proton team in MotoGP in 2005 but that deal is believed to have fallen through. BBC Sport

Rally world mourns for Meoni.

2005-01-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

Crash.net

The Multi-multi-multi-talented Jeff Ward

2005-01-06T16:56:00.000-08:00

The Daytona experience was the first time he’d been on a road race bike on any track and the first time he’d worn a full face helmet on a motorcycle. He owned Kawasaki street bikes back in his motocross days, but rarely rode them. The speed he has comes from a career of winning, first in motocross/Supercross, then Indy car, and now Supermoto. Cycle News

Blata V6 'making great progress'.

2004-12-17T08:09:00.000-08:00

Crash.net

KR-KTM Fast at Jerez

2004-11-28T23:33:00.000-08:00

It seems like about time that the KR team had some good news to report. The mating of the KTM engine with the KR chassis has produced what seems to be a promising combination. Superbike Planet

Byrne returns, McWilliams rides KR-KTM

2004-11-23T21:59:00.000-08:00

Shane Byrne returned to MotoGP action today at Jerez, when he threw his leg over an RS Cube for the first time since making a premature return from injury in September's Japanese Grand Prix. Crash.net

Ducati confirms Bridgestone switch.

2004-11-15T08:38:00.000-08:00

The Ducati Marlboro Team has today officially confirmed that they will switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres for the 2005 MotoGP world championship. Crash.net

F1 News - Ferrari door 'always open' to Rossi.

2004-11-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

Formula One world champion Ferrari has said that it will continue its courtship of MotoGP king Valentino Rossi, despite the Italian apparently committing himself to two wheels for the foreseeable future. Crash.net

Picture: Biaggi's team grid cleaning?

2004-10-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

This picture appears to show a member of Max Biaggi's Camel Honda team cleaning the Roman's grid slot late on Friday night, in preparation for Saturday's Qatar Grand Prix. Crash.Net

Xaus thrives in new Desert adventure.

2004-09-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

Ruben Xaus took the first ever provisional MotoGP pole position in Qatar - and the first of his career - in an unpredictable first qualifying practice at the Losail International Circuit this afternoon. Crash.Net

Yamaha to fund Laguna changes.

2004-09-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

Yamaha has announced that it will fund the track safety improvements required by the FIM to homologate the Laguna Seca circuit, and so allow the US Grand Prix to take its place on the 2005 MotoGP world championship calendar. Crash.Net

Paris-Dakar star dies

2004-09-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

Three-time Paris-Dakar rally winner Richard Sainct has died in a crash during the Pharaohs Rally in Egypt. BBC Sport

Qatar's new bike track is hot stuff

2004-09-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

Reuters

The Bad Man

2004-09-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

My ex-wife used to refer to Loris Capirossi as "The Bad Man". She was very upset when he knocked Tetsuya Harada off in the final 250 race of 1998. Capirossi's determination to compete and win has led to some extremely questionable acts of racing aggression. Here are a few of Capirossi's "Greatest Hits".

Hopkins: Don't ban Capirossi. - Crash.Net

Biaggi hits Capirossi. - Crash.Net

Case of Loris Capirossi - 6 November 1998 FIM

KR: We can't fix this engine.

2004-09-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

Proton KR team principal Kenny Roberts has stated that there is now no hope for the current version of the KR V5 engine, and that only a full redesign in time for next season will solve their powerplant woes. Crash.Net

2004-09-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

Bayliss: Better to crash from fifth...Troy Bayliss put on a determined display of hard-riding in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, helping the Australian rise from sixteenth on the grid to within sight of Kawasaki's Shinya Nakano and a podium finish – only to fall with five laps to go. Crash.net

Boston Globe Review of MotoGP Movie "Faster"

2004-09-17T17:56:00.000-07:00

Faster as cinema raises more questions than it answers. It's certainly thrilling, but one is not left with a real sense of drama or depth. The Boston Globe's review makes the deficiencies of the film clear. What the reviewer fails to elucidate is that for motorcycle racing enthusiasts it's like candy. When so much of our experience of MotoGP is dominated by commentary and short sound bites having actual interviews with the riders, doctors and mechanics is a real treat.

Read the review here

Naked Surprise from BMW

2004-09-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

BMW has provided a sneak preview of what could quickly become the motorcycle world's most powerful production "naked" bike. The K1200R is based on the K1200S Supersport Tourer. Pictures and descriptions are available at Bikes in the Fast Lane

New KTM Motorcycles at the Intermot

2004-09-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

How many ways can KTM package their new V-twin? Current answer is five. KTM's 2005 Intermot display shows an very ambitious set of concept motorcycles from the Austrian manufacturer. These bike feature aggressive, angular styling coupled with technical innovation. It must be the mountain air. Bikes in the Fast Lane has put together a mini-feature on 2005 KTM.

990 SUPERDUKE (SERIES MODEL)
Lighter, more agile and aggressive than everything else being on two wheels ever before. The KTM 990 Superduke is not less than a radical advance in building motorcycles and a redefinition of the category "naked bike". The 990 Superduke is a motorcycle without compromise, defined through extremely agile handling, innovative technology and an independent, brand-characteristic design. Primarily she is the absolute and offensively demonstrated commitment to the passion motorcycle.

950 SUPERMOTO (PRE-SERIES MODEL)
As the first manufacturer of motorcycles KTM launches a large-displacement 2-cylinder Supermoto. Therewith KTM demonstrates its leading position in the Supermoto segment. This is one bike that's on my shopping list.... must be great to ride in Paris traffic.

990 RC8 (DEVELOPMENT LEVEL P1)
For the RC8, KTM brought their riders to the design table as well as the best technicians and designers. KTM's aim: The ultimate weapon for ambitious street-fighters. That means: A radical concentration of its mass around the compact 75° V2. Innovative details are everywhere: The seat is the tank, keeping fuel at the machine’s center of gravity. Dry sump lubrication allows the entire exhaust system to sit precisely where it has the least influence on dynamics. Directly under the engine. The fairing is designed to produce the least possible crosswind drag. The result: No crosswind oscillation, spell-binding agility, and aggressive steering ability.
(Planned start of production 2007)

990 RC8 VENOM (CONCEPT BIKE)
The RC8 Venom is a study based on the revolutionary concept of the RC8. She is definitely and clearly designed as a naked bike and thus a specific interpretation of the RC8 form language, whereas also technically widely based on the RC8.

MotoGP Silly Season

2004-09-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining. Fall is just around the corner. You know what that means. SILLY SEASON! SuperBike Planet has it's first listing of the who, what and where speculation for MotoGP 2005. SuperBike Planet

Team KR admits secret KTM test.

2004-09-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

Crash.net

U.S. Dakar Team Selected

2004-08-31T10:54:00.000-07:00

U.S. Dakar Team Selected Cycle News

Magazine Report - MCN August 25, 2004

2004-08-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

Ducati 749R Racing Plus Kit
Page 8 - Ducati has released an upgrade kit for the already ultra-trick 749R. The Racing Plus Kit includes

1. Ported and polished cylinder heads
2. A complete 57mm titanium exhaust system
3. New camshafts
4. Titanium Termignoni silencer
5. Racing ECU
6. Reprofiled carbon fibre airscoops
7. Carbon-fibre exhaust heat shield
8. Racing air filters

The resulting performance boost is claimed to be 19hp for a total of 136hp. All of this can be yours for only £5500 ($9845) or about $518 per hp.

Advanced motorcycle clothing
page 18-19 - MCN has a very interesting article about coming advances in motorcycle clothing. The article mostly highlights advances in materials.
Keeping you cool - Gore cool system
Keeping you cozy - Gore Airvantage
Regulate your bady heat - Schoeller phase change material
Toughest ever leather - Pittards Armortan
Saving your brain - Phillips headprotection system
Keeping you safe - Merhav airbag system
Keeping you dry and comfy - Gore-Tex Waterproof membranes
Super strong fabrics - Gore-Tex Armacor

Ducati Multistrada Long Term Test
Page 28 - Phil West loves the Multistrada. Here's what he has to say. "It’s a wonderfully unique machine which I love to bits. Its quirky mix and match design delivers a rich cocktail of experiences which nothing else on two wheels can beat." This week's article focuses on the upgrades Phil has added to the bike. MX style hand guards, Ducati Performance red chain, Ducati Performance alloy filler cap, Termignoni exhaust. If you have question for Phil about his experience with the Mulitstrada here is his email address. phil.west@emap.com

Centopassi
Page 28 - The second annual 1500km Centopassi was a five-day road-based rally taking in tight mountain roads, magnificent views and sweeping open valley roads, integrated with a touring concept – in other words all the elements which make up the Multistrada’s DNA.

Silly Season
Page 45 - Carlos Checa has admitted that Ducati has expressed an interest in him riding in its factory team in 2005. Checa’s Yamaha deal expires at the end of 2004. He said: “I have had a good relationship with Ducati and I know there is some interest”. Whoa! This is not good. Checa is not the rider that Ducati needs to turn the Desmosedeici into a race winner. Prior to Rossi's arrival he was unable to make any headway with the Yamaha M1. Every teammate that has shared a garage with Checa has dominated him. Please, please, please Ducati there has to be someone else. Anyone else. My mother maybe?

WCM + Blata = Fiasco
Page 48 - Current MotoGP privateer WCM has announced that they will be partnering with Czech firm Blata to field a V6 engined racer for the 2005 MotoGP Championship. Never heard of Blata? Blata is one of the world's leading manufacturers of pocketbikes. This has all the trappings of an incredible fiasco.

Parriott Second In BMW BoxerCup Race At Brno

2004-08-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

Roadracing World

'I couldn't resist it' Xaus falls for team.

2004-08-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

Ruben Xaus is one of my favorite motorcycle racers. He's not graceful. He's not smooth. If winning were about force of will Ruben would already be a world champion.

Ruben Xaus was one of a number of fallers in today's final qualifying session for the Czech Grand Prix, but while most others complained of unpredictable grip loss, the Catalan's explanation was refreshingly different; he simply pushed too hard while trying to please his D'Antin Ducati team. Crash.Net

BMW MotoGP?

2004-08-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

Many magazines, blogs and newsgroups have been buzzing off and on for a couple years about BMW possibly entering MotoGP. BMW's recent release of the K1200S has only further fueled the fire. A factory BMW MotoGP entry would certainly add another dimension to the BMW Motorcycle brand.

Dirck Edge has posted another speculative article on the subject on Motorcycle Daily.

Laguna Seca Selling US MotoGP Tickets

2004-08-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

The track hasn't passed an FIM homologation and the event is based on an agreement "in principle" but that hasn't stopped people from getting into the USGP spirit. Laguna Seca started selling tickets for the 2005 USGP yesterday. SuperBike Planet

Gibernau beats weather for Brno pole.

2004-08-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

The tempestuous Czech weather continued to torment the MotoGP field this afternoon at Brno, with rain returning just before the final qualifying session began – and playing into the hands of rain master Sete Gibernau. Crash.net

Final qualifying times - Brno.

2004-08-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

Full MotoGP final qualifying times for the Czech Republic Grand Prix, at Brno, round ten of the 2004 world championship. Crash.net

Magazine Report - Ride September 2004

2004-08-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

Ducati 999R
Page 14 - I spoke to several journalists the day of the launch event at Laguna Seca. Everyone of them raved about the new 999R. Smooth. Powerful. Based on Eric Bostrom's AMA Superbike the 2005 Ducati 999R is a significant update to the 2004 999R. The appearance of the bike has been cleaned up and simplified. The top fairing vents are gone. The fairing is slightly wider. The windscreen is taller. The rumor is that Pierre Terreblanche did not participate in the re-styling exercise.

Ducati + Aprilia merger news
Page 14 - By now this is an old and irrelevant story. The curse of print.

BMW K1200S
Page 20-22 - The new BMW K1200R is everywhere. At long last BMW has taken the plunge and produced a real sporting motorcycle. The big stories here are power and suspension. The inline-4 (gasp) is said to produce 165hp. BMW's Telelever susupension has evolved into Duolever. The new K is the first motorcycle to feature on the go suspension adjustments. Just press a button and small electric motors change the suspension settings while you ride. BMW calls the feature ESA. I can't wait to ride it.

Steering damper test
Page 62-66 - Ride does great product evaluations. This month Ride tests 8 different dampers. The Arrow product received the only Ride Best Buy rating.

Triumph Rocket III
Page 90 - 94 - Another bike that has been all over the press for the last couple months. This motorcycle is huge in every way. Power. Weight. The journalists seem to be quite smitten. The reports are that the bike is easy to ride, comfortable, powerful. It certainly has physical presence. Sitting on the new Rocket III I felt dwarfed.

Daytona Winner Boots
Page 108 - Frey Daytona makes great boots. Ride has a review of the Winner model in this month's issue. I have a couple pairs. They are easily the best boots I have ever owned. Link

Magazine Report - MCN August 18, 2004

2004-08-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

KTM tests v-twin supermoto
Page 6 - Light and powerful the 942cc supermoto should be unveiled in Munich next month.

Ducati 999 engine upgrades
Page 8 - The 2005 999 will be getting an upgraded motor donated from this year's 136hp 999S. The 999S will receive a new 140hp motor derived from the new 999R.

Bimotoa DB5
Page 8-9 - Bimota is back from the grave. In addition to a new Tesi the Rimini firm has released plans to manufacture a new version of their famous DB range. The new DB5 will utilize the 992cc air-cooled Ducati v-twin currently used in the Ducati Multistrada. Bimota estimate the new DB5 will weigh in at a featherweight 160 kg (352 lbs)

MonsterMob considering switching from Ducati to Honda.
Page 46 - ‘I could run a two-man team on four cylinder bikes for the money I’ve spent this year’ PAUL BIRD, MONSTERMOB DUC

2005 MotoGP provisional calendar

2004-08-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

SuperBike Planet Link

MotoGP: First qualifying at Brno

2004-08-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

Crash.net Link

Lanzi faster at VIR

2004-08-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

Ducati World Supersport star Lorenzo Lanzi lapped faster than Ducati Austin's Eric Bostrom at a recent test at VIR.

Read more at SuperBikePlanet.

Impressive Hardware

2004-08-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

Pro Italia's Cafe Desmo saw a tremendous turnout of vintage bikes last night. It was an incredible display of hardware. Check out the photos.

MotoGP returns to Laguna Seca

2004-08-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

Today's Monterey Herald features an article about the return of MotoGP to Laguna. The event will be officially named the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix and is tentatively scheduled for July 8-10, 2005.

Pro Italia Los Angeles]

More power for KR, and KTM engine test.

2004-08-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

The end of Grand Prix racing's summer break takes Proton Team KR out of the workshop and back to the race-tracks, for this Sunday's Czech Republic GP at Brno.
[Crash.Net MOTOGP Newsfeed]

Ducati confident that new engine will succeed.

2004-08-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

Ducati confident that new engine will succeed.Speaking to the official MotoGP website, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali admitted that this seasons results of the new Ducati have been dissappointing. However he claimed that the team are still on course for their long term objectives.
[Crash.Net MOTOGP Newsfeed]

XL Moto

FAST3R Blidgets

Byrne officially on KTM

Virgin 'Big-Bang' secrets revealed!

Ugly Fast

Thunder Star 1200 Diesel

Found on Flickr

KTM 950 Adventure Review

Moto Guzzi NATO

Flickr

Byrne close to KR-KTM deal.

Radical SR8

The fundamentals...

Byrne on verge of KR-KTM deal.

But will it be orange?

BBC Reports Jeremy McWilliams to Ride BSB

Rally world mourns for Meoni.

The Multi-multi-multi-talented Jeff Ward

Blata V6 'making great progress'.

KR-KTM Fast at Jerez

Byrne returns, McWilliams rides KR-KTM

Ducati confirms Bridgestone switch.

F1 News - Ferrari door 'always open' to Rossi.

Picture: Biaggi's team grid cleaning?

Xaus thrives in new Desert adventure.

Yamaha to fund Laguna changes.

Paris-Dakar star dies

Qatar's new bike track is hot stuff

The Bad Man

KR: We can't fix this engine.

Boston Globe Review of MotoGP Movie "Faster"

Naked Surprise from BMW

New KTM Motorcycles at the Intermot

MotoGP Silly Season

Team KR admits secret KTM test.

U.S. Dakar Team Selected

Magazine Report - MCN August 25, 2004

Parriott Second In BMW BoxerCup Race At Brno

'I couldn't resist it'  Xaus falls for team.

BMW MotoGP?

Laguna Seca Selling US MotoGP Tickets

Gibernau beats weather for Brno pole.

Final qualifying times - Brno.

Magazine Report - Ride September 2004

Magazine Report - MCN August 18, 2004

2005 MotoGP provisional calendar

MotoGP: First qualifying at Brno

Lanzi faster at VIR

Impressive Hardware

MotoGP returns to Laguna Seca

More power for KR, and KTM engine test.

Ducati confident that new engine will succeed.

'I couldn't resist it' Xaus falls for team.