2009 Kawasaki Ex 250 on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Kawasaki Z1R.

These two beautiful Z1R Kawasakis appeared at the annual Mooneyes Yokohama Custom show last weekend. With one sporting a street/strip look (spot the belly-scraping ride height and rigid rear struts) and the other undergoing a sort of modernisation, they both reminded me just how handsome and unique the original slab-sided Z1R was.  Judging by some of the other wild and weird exhibits I made a mental note to myself: must make sure I'm in Japan this time next year.

Isle of Man TT 2014: Bikenation Lightweight TT Results

Dean Harrison won his first Isle of Man TT race, taking the three-lap Bikenation Lightweight TT by 14.6 seconds. Harrison took the lead early, having the fastest time through Glen Helen ahead of last year’s Lightweight TT winner James Hillier by about half a second. Harrison stretched the lead to 9.7 seconds by the end of the first lap.

A Weighty Issue

For as long as I can remember, motorcycle manufacturers have been playing fast and loose with regard to what they claim for the weight of their bikes. The “dry weights” they foisted upon us had little basis in reality. The “dry” part of that claim meant that listed weights on a spec chart were the result of all fluids being MIA from the bike, including necessities like engine oil, coolant and fork fluid (not to mention fuel), but even that didn’t fully explain the overly optimistic specs.