Submitted by David Emmett on
Compare and contrast: Suzuki's chassis provides outstanding handling and turning
Honda's super stiff 2015 RC213V. Incredible braking and turning
Michele Pirro's Ducati GP14: Stiff, excellent stability in braking, but turning, not so much...
The NGM Forward team tested Kayaba suspension ...
... Stefan Bradl was not at all impressed, and told reporters he did not want to waste any more time testing it ...
... in the end, it will come down to money. Will Forward take money from Kayaba, or pay for Ohlins?
The Forward Yamaha top yoke and Magneti Marelli spec dashboard
A young Australian rider with Cristian Gabarrini? How do you think that will turn out?
More power for Nicky Hayden from the RC213V-RS, but he'd still take even more
The Aprilia is stunning. Slow, but stunning
Spot the exhaust. Yamaha tested a new slash-cut pipe at Valencia
Ah, there it is. It was straight through and LOUD. Meant to help with engine response
Every racing series should have a rider called Maverick
The biggest visible difference between the 2014 and 2015 RC213V is in the air intake
The 2014 bike is an oval basking shark-style opening
The 2015 bike has a pinch in the middle, making it more of a lip formation
Put lipstick on that and I would definitely kiss it
For comparison, meet the Suzuki's unkissable mouth
Best thing about testing? Getting up close and personal with the most amazing motorcycles in the world
The 2015 RC213V
Dashboard, complete with blinkenlights. The analog rev counter means this is Pedrosa's bike
Attention to detail: Movistar TV Carles Perez pointed out to me that even the TV camera is beautifully integrated on the bike
Two Honda Open bikes: Laverty's RCV1000R...
... and Nicky Hayden's RC213V-RS
Scott Redding's main focus was finding his position on the bike. That meant playing with lots of foam and tank pads
If you'd like to have desktop-sized versions of these photos, or more likely Scott's fantastic photos from this and other events, you can become a site supporter and take out a subscription. If you'd like a print of one of the shots you see on the site, then send Scott an email and he'll be happy to help.
Comments
I love that Pedrosa still
I love that Pedrosa still uses an analogue tach (and that the font has been the same for decades).
Great photos.
Great stuff
Does that mean Marquez uses a different dash?
Soft core
Lovely centerfolds!
With them not ridden and fairings on they are Sears undergarment ad to Playboy, but thanks for those two 'Penthouse' caliber photos.
When can I get a 'naked bike' just post-apex and lower thigh, upper elbow, and almost-shoulder down on the curbing? I would rush to get some uninterrupted personal time immediately.
Hah!
Have you noticed the Italians are much more open to sharing their stuff than the Japanese? I remember enjoying wine and "hams" in the Ducati garage, then looking over webbing and poles at their counterparts. 'Whatchagot underthem fairings darlin?'
Kissable mouth? Kissing is not necessary when you can hop right out there on the super-soft tire...they are ready to hit the pace!
Thanks for more off season dry spell porn, keep it coming!
;)
Any idea why the foil tape is
Any idea why the foil tape is on the Ducati swingarm? And is that carbon wrapped aluminum or are they back to a carbon swingarm?
High temperature resistant thermal insulation tape is my guess
As for the swingarm, looks carbon. Why would anyone in racing bother with carbon wrapped aluminium? I thought that was just for cheesy low-cost crap that wants to look carbon? Or does it have functionally useful applications?
It's a useful technique for
It's a useful technique for complex parts that would normally be difficult to lay up and create the tooling for. A lightweight aluminum 'core' can be wrapped in carbon to achieve a greater strength to weight ratio than plain aluminum while also allowing you to vacuum bag the part instead of having to use a female mould and inflatable inner mould. When Formula 1 started migrating to plastic suspension it was not uncommon for the smaller teams to wrap steel or aluminum as a stop gap and money saving measure. It would also allow the axle blocks, pivot point and shock mount to be machined into the aluminum core rather than cast or bonded into a purely carbon swingarm. Another benefit is that it's relatively easy to CNC a new swingarm core and wrap it whereas new tooling for even a small change in a fully carbon part can take weeks, something that you may recall from the Stoner and Rossi days at Ducati when changes were much needed and requested but always very slow to make their way down the pipeline.
This still leaves you with the difficult properties of carbon in a application where tuned flex is key, something that Ducati grappled with for years in both frames and swingarms and that other teams seem to be avoiding altogether, at least publicly anyway. I was just curious to know if Ducati had finally found a carbon solution that they were happy with.
something to do with that
something to do with that cable/wire thing
another chassis from A
http://www.gpone.com/en/2014111215482/Aprilia-avanti-adagio-quasi-indiet...
Wow x2
Wow, they actually CUT an existing frame to change the flex. Then WOW #2 welded it back in and gave it to Marco? Wild.
Thanks for the picture. I love these centerfolds. Anyone else keep realizing how much engine and how little else comprises these bikes? A 250 horsepower engine with thin metal straps around it to hook wheels, handlebars and foot rests on.
LOVE IT
Top Gun...
Hollywood: Gutsiest move I ever saw, Mav.
Wow wow again
Thanks for the years effort and your support in the future.
I guess Bradl will pay for
I guess Bradl will pay for his own Ohlins like Dovi had done at Tech3.
Tech photos!
These pictures are MUCH better than Scott's action photos.
What is that odd little link joining the swingarm pivot area to the gearbox, on the Forward Yamaha?
I am also a little puzzled by the dual speed sensors on the front wheel of the Forward bike. Redundancy? Two totally separate processes that each need the speed data?