Motorcycle Parts for Quad, Road, Motocross and Off Road Bikes

Derek visits the British Motorcycle Museum

Derek — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:13:11 +0000

I’ve been spending a ton of time in the UK recently and I must have passed this place at least ten times. It’s at the main Birmingham airport roundabout – couldn’t be easier to find – the British Motorcycle Museum.

Mmmmmm, motorbikes...

I’m not normally a fan of old bikes but curiosity has been getting the better of me recently. It’s amazing to see where the bikes have come from, especially in recent years. What is really great about the oldies is the range of approaches people took to developing the bikes. Today most brands are very same-samey – alloy twin spar frames, overhead cams, monoshock, telescopic forks, almost all four stroke, everything is SO similar.

Well it wasn’t like that 50 years ago, that’s for sure.

The museum is a must see if you’ve any appreciation for engineering. It’s like a walk back through time with bikes displayed in chronological order back as early as 1902 (I think)……they even have leather link belts instead of chains! Some of the ideas and inventions you see are bonkers but it was a time of discovery. It makes me realise that there’s very little discovery these days – mostly refinement……….jeeeeess I just re-read this piece and I sound like a Granda’.

Right that’s enough of my rubbish – here’s the pics.

Derek

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How to make a motorcycle from a lighter!

amaher — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:49:15 +0000

50 Years of Racing – Get on with riding or get on with dying.

Derek — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:21:47 +0000

I stumbled across this a while ago and have been meaning to post it for a while.

I think I found my new life motto to post on the office wall: “Get on with riding or get on with dying” – classic!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

What’s new in MotoGP 2012?

Dave — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:26:21 +0000

Guest Blogger - Dave Humphreys from 50to70.com

Now heading towards Round 3, MotoGP 2012 is a changed landscape. So far the new regulation changes that have been introduced have gone some way towards making the racing slightly more exciting for its viewers.

Dwindling grid numbers over the last few years combined with near total dominance by just a couple of teams was steering the sport towards a rather dull existence. Fans, and more importantly for DORNA, viewers demanded change.

So for 2012 the Grand Prix Commission (MotoGP’s rule making group) decided to introduce a raft of changes aimed at increasing not just numbers on the grid but also some excitement.

MotoGP 2012 engine size increase to 1000cc

Increase in engine capacity from 800 to 1,000cc and engines no greater than four cylinder. Originally engine sizes were decreased to 800cc in an attempt to slow the bikes down – yet in pre-season testing that year the bikes were already as fast as the bigger bikes they were to replace.

Most think that the increase in capacity this year will see even higher top speeds being hit, particularly at traditional fast circuits like Mugello. At the front of the grid a horsepower race will no doubt develop throughout the season, but this will leads to bigger gaps further down the field – I’ll come back to that in a bit.

Introduction of Claiming Rule Teams (CRT’s)

The second main change to the 2012 regulations has been the controversial introduction of Claiming Rule Teams (CRT).

Basically this new rule allows smaller independent teams to get onto the MotoGP grid on a substantially lower budget. A CRT operates under a slightly different set of rules;

CRTs each get twelve engines which must last the season (factory MotoGP teams only get six).
a CRT bike can carry more fuel as they are given a maximum capacity of 24 litres (3 more than the factory bikes).
CRTs must buy in their engines, gearboxes and transmissions. In this respect they must adhere to strict budget controls; €20,000 for the complete package or €15,000 for just the engine. The big advantage for these teams is that they don’t incur any of the sometimes huge development costs.

The big question though is: how this two tier system will play out over the course of the season?

Aprillia's CRT offering has the superbike(esque) motor wrapped in a chassis that looks quite familiar!

Essentially the CRT bikes are a crossbreed of a GP and WSBK. Pre-season, most CRT bikes were well behind the pace leading to several riders in GP teams suggesting that they shouldn’t be racing together. And perhaps they’re right. Should MotoGP – deemed to be the pinnacle of prototype motorcycle racing – be diluted with a mix of what are essentially just slightly more advanced superbikes? Put it another way. Would Formula One benefit from suddenly allowing GP2 cars to compete in the same races? Unlikely.

Why have they introduced CRTs into MotoGP 2012?

Governing bodies, be they the FIM or FIA, are keen to be seen to try to reduce budgets in these sports yet the whole ethos of having the ‘ultimate’ racing prototypes require big budgets. Ask anyone in motorsport – the fastest way to go faster is money. If you can hire the best people and get the best technology you have to buy it.

Including another dozen bikes to a grid that are seconds slower doesn’t increase the spectacle, it merely creates two races in one – the GP race and the CRT race.

Throughout the season the big factory teams will continue to spend millions developing their bikes to eek out every single ounce of performance. After Round 1 the gap is already clear – Edwards (best of the CRT finishers) crossed the line 58 seconds behind first place Lorenzo.

It is doubtful that we will see a CRT bike challenging the like of Honda or Yamaha for a win this year, even if we get a very wet race. I don’t think we’ll get to see a surprise result like when Elias nipped past Rossi to win in Estoril in 2006.

The biggest potential role that I think a CRT bike can play in influencing a result this year will be as they are lapped by the frontrunners in the MotoGP class.

I don’t think its right for the sport, but lets just see how it all plays out.

Was the rule change intended to open the door?

And gone is the 125cc

Now gone is the 125cc category – replaced this year with Moto3.

All teams must now run a 250cc naturally aspirated four stroke single cylinder engine.
All of these engines will be controlled by a standard ECU that will see their redlines set at14,000rpm – for a single cylinder!
Most electronics are not permitted, so no fly by wire throttles and no fancy gearbox systems – only standard gearboxes are allowed.

This is the 250f motor that the Austrian men in KTM have developed for their own team AND for customer bikes. Although given their track record in MX the factory internals will remain 'factory'.

These rules help this entry level class as it creates a relatively level playing field which helps young rides shine through even if they may not be on the very best bike on the grid. So far what we’ve seen from this new class is excellent and close racing from a pretty significantly sized grid – similar in many ways to what was achieved by the setting up of the Moto2 class.

The Honda Moto3 offering - stunning.

One thing can be said of this year, there will be closer racing – I’m just not sure that it will be in the top class.

Dave Humphreys

PS I’d love to hear your opinion on the rule changes, just post your opinion in the comments box below.

Dave Humphreys is a Dublin based automotive writing and covers a number of different aspects on both two and four wheels. Check out his own website – http://www.50to70.com or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Allmoto Racing – Eric Mullin Rider Interview

Derek — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:13:41 +0000

So Eric, tell us a bit about yourself:

My name is Eric Mullin. Im 21 and have been riding motocross since I was 15. I began to ride competitively at 17. My first bike was a Yam YZ85 and since then I’ve been hooked.

How did you get into motocross?

I remember watching the Paris Bercy supercross race on Eurosport and thinking that I’d love to give that a go. After this I started looking into getting a bike for myself. I had little or no experience of bikes but a few of my mates already had bikes and they pointed me in the right direction. I got the YZ85 and started going down to the bog with the lads and it has all progressed since this.

Eric also did a few seasons Supermoto before turning his full attention to MX.

How did you get on racing in 2011?

In 2011 I was riding a 2010 CRF 250 and to be honest it was the best racing that Ive done to date. I was riding the S/C clubman cahmpionship and consistently finished in the top three throughout the season. Overall I finished up in 2nd. I also took part in the under 21′s championship to try bring up my pace riding with quicker riders. I surprised myself that I finished 1st in every round of the clubman class with the exception of one DNF which cost me the championship.

Eric on the 439 last season.

What are you riding this year?

This year I will be riding 2012 Kawasaki KXF 250.

Erics white KX250F after the treatment!

What have you been doing to prepare for 2012?

After the great season that I had last year I realised that there was alot more to riding the bike then just jumping on and twisting the throttle. I needed to get my fitness sorted and focus on some more accurate riding techniques. I have been going to the gym since the season ended in October. In the gym I mainly concentrate on a cardio workout so as to improve on my stamina. I found last year that I would be getting very tired towards the end of races so I’m hoping to overcome this. I have also tried to improve on my diet, cutting out junk foods and eating the more healthy stuff. I try to get out most weekends on the bike too.

Where do you practice on the bike?

Really anywhere that I can. Mainly I’ve been using a friends home practice track. I have also been out to gormanston a couple of times since the start of the year.

What championships are you riding in for 2012?

I hope to take part in the Irish, S/C grade B championships and the grasstrack championship.

You’ll catch Eric waving the Allmoto flag at the races in 2012. If you spot him at the races pop over, say hello, and I’ll leave a ton of Allmoto graphics in his van if you want any – just ask him!

He’ll also have some spares boxes in his van if you get stuck at any of the practice events you see him at.

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Allmoto Racing – Eric Mullins 2012 KXF250

Derek — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:31:45 +0000

We’re helping out a local guy this year called Eric Mullin. I’ll be posting a rider bio soon so keep an eye on the site over the next few days.

It’s unusual for a Kawasaki but what do you guys think of the white KX250F? Comments below

Derek.

The ‘Pratson’ SX150 for the two stroke championships.

Derek — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:45:28 +0000

For the first time there is to be a two stroke championship in Ireland so we’ve got behind the ‘Pratson’ (John Pritchard and Robin Watson) effort and pimped up the SX150 for 2012.

Let me know what you think below.

Derek.

Neil Lyons Roadracing 2012

Derek — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:34:39 +0000

Neil Lyons is an Irish roadracer local to our shop, quiet man, loves the roads and general all round nice-guy. I actually got to know Neil by meeting him in Blanchardstown hospital when we were both a bit broken – the physio center in the hospital was like the biker social club at the time!

A few fans are running a fundraiser Poker Run on April 21st to help is racing efforts in 2012. You can catch all the details on the Facebook event page HERE.

I got a chance to catch up with him recently and here’s what he had to say:

So Neil, it’s great to hear that you’re having another go at the road racing for 2012. What have you been doing over the winter months to prepare for this season?

I’ve mostly been cycling to build up strenght in my legs. I’ve also been riding some MX to get my eye back into the game.

What bikes and classes are you riding in 2012?

I am riding the Dunshaughlin and District RRC Suzuki GSXR750 this year and also my own Suauki SV650 which i bought during the winter.

Neil getting setup in Mondello for the roads in 2012.

What sort of work do you do to prepare the bikes?

The Suzuki (750) has had head work done over the winter. I’ve installed hi lift cams, gas flowed the inlets and a full Akrapovic race system.

Chassis wise, it has Ohlins internals in the front forks and race rear shock. It also has a quick shifter, Power Commander and Brembo brakes.

The SV650 has standard motor, Power Commander, upside-down gsxr front end and thats about it.

Neil's SV650 ready for 2012

Who’s helping this year?

DDRRC (Dunshaughlin & District Road Racing Supporters Club) supply the GSXR750 and some running equipment.

Eoin Gorman Crash Repairs and Tony Fairbrother panel beating have the bikes looking great for the season.

Without those guys I would be very difficult so I’d like to give them a big thanks.

What races will you be riding at?

I will be doing all of the National Road Race meetings and some selected short circuit meetings in between.

Oh, how are the injuries you received in 2008?

Bad times in 2008.

Well, I’m as good as I’ll get really. I trying to build leg muscle as much as possible. I have restricted movement in ankle and knee so I’ve put the gear selector on the right hand sider of both bikes

I did 5 or 6 meetings last year and am happy with my fittness for this year and I feel that I’ve have made good progress since then.

I have a thumb brake on the GSXR750 and I’m planning to get away with just a foot brake for the 650 as the rear isn’t used much on it.

Thanks Neil and I’ll talk to you soon.

A few fans are running a fundraiser Poker Run on April 21st to help is racing efforts in 2012. You can catch all the details on the Facebook event page HERE.

Allmoto will be sponsoring a few t-shirts and spot prizes so be sure to check out the action if you’re in the area. Things on the day include:

Poker Run to raise money for Neil Lyons racing 2012
on 21 april
band organised for after the run
bar organised after the run
b+b organised for after the run
100 riders estimate
10 euro per head
raffle at the band night with TONS of prizes
random prizes on the day (eg cleanest bike, Bike of the day, Best classic bike, Best looking pillion, Most modified, Longest distance travelled)etc)

How NOT to load a bike!

Derek — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:20:12 +0000

I’m not exactly sure what this guy was thinking but it makes for good entertainment:)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Mechanic Tips – How To Fit Your Motorcycle Rear Sprocket

Derek — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:53:03 +0000

This in one tip that I constantly see people getting wrong.

5 tips for installing a rear motorcycle sprocket

use a dab of Loctite on the threads
hole the sprocket bolt with an allen key
tighten with the spanner, ratchet spanners are really handy for this job
cross tighten the bolts evenly
check the sprocket bolts regularly as they do work loose

If you need new sprocket bolts you can find them HERE.

Click here to view the embedded video.