Motorcycles auto news

Comic-Con 2009: Tron Legacy gives the classic Light Cycle a high-tech update

At last year's Comic-Con , one of the biggest throwbacks to '80s geekery was the surprise announcement of an update to the classic film (in our minds, at least), Tron. Attendees got a sneak peek of the new film's Light Cycle sequence, with a pair of the bikes dueling, leaving those signature, impossible-to-negotiate light trails in their wake. Mercifully, it the TR2N moniker used at the end of the clip in 2008 has given way to the much more palatable Tron Legacy. Further, while the teaser leaked onto the web briefly during last year's con, Disney's legal army shut it all down pretty quickly.

Now, a year later, that footage has been officially released for all to see at this year's convention. It seems that the Light Cycles have evolved in the intervening decades and are now much faster and more realistic in appearance. Follow the jump to see it all unfold in the the official Comic-Con 2009 teaser trailer for Tron Legacy, and do your best to hold back your inner fanboy. Oh, and one last thing - yes, that's Jeff Bridges reprising his role as Flynn, though with a decidedly darker tone than before.

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Comic-Con 2009: The Batpod makes a field trip

The Batpod at Comic-Con 2009 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The San-Diego Comic Con is now in full swing, and amidst all the panels and personal appearances, there's no shortage of static displays to check out either. Our man Drew Phillips strolled through the halls to see what's what and sent back some photos of the wheeled attractions dotting the floor. First up? The Batpod, natch. As you can see, The Dark Knight's ride is roped off to keep it protected from the rabble, but at the show's conclusion, we think its minder should put those cannons to good use by blasting a hole through the San Diego Convention Center's wall and riding out in style. And he ought to wear these, too.

Gallery: Comic-Con 2009: The Batpod

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

VIDEO: Castrol's Flossie the robot is the ultimate motorcycle tester

Just what the world needed: A real-live Moto-Terminator. Flossie, the robotic motorcycle rider seen above, was created by the engineering boffins at Cyberdyne Systems Castrol as a way to test its synthetic oils in the kinds of harsh conditions difficult to endure for flesh-and-blood test subjects.

According to Castrol, Flossie can adapt to any kind of motorcycle or scooter, learning the proper way to use the clutch, throttle and shifting patterns of its specific testing mount for the day. Best of all, Flossie will replicate any desired testing procedure over and over again with nary a complaint and deliver predictable, consistent results each time.

At this time, Flossie isn't able to balance the bike without assistance, but we'd guess that capability can't be far away. Next stop: Judgement Day. Hit the jump to watch the video. Hat tip to Alex!

Continue reading VIDEO: Castrol's Flossie the robot is the ultimate motorcycle tester

Be the King of Comic-Con: Batman replica motorcycle leathers (Batpod not included)

Universal Designs is developing a set of motorcycle leathers that's an exact replica of the Batsuit donned by Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight. Included in the leather-and-kevlar suit are the jacket, pants, boots and gloves. You even get the ninjatastic arm gauntlets. How cool is that?

You'll need to supply your own cape, cowl and helmet (having a trustworthy butler, billions of dollars, plus an inventor friend and colleague with a healthy sense of discretion will help immeasurably). For maximum impact, you should probably build a fully-functional Batpod in your garage, too. Just think of the entrance you can make in San Diego. Click the image at right for a slightly larger version.

Marotti drops bizarre aero-influenced trike [w/VIDEO]

What's the closest thing you can get to driving a fighter jet on the streets? We've all heard the analogy before and it's usually little more than marketing hyperbole, but a case could probably be made in favor of this reverse-trike from Polish vehicle manufacturer Marotti. Though we're not exactly smitten by its slab-sided appearance, the machine certainly looks the part of an unidentified flying object - complete with an unusual spat of rudders and tail fins. Plus, Marotti's use of a 750cc V-four motorcycle engine from Honda that puts out 100 horsepower is sure to make the machine accelerate like it's been flung off the side of an aircraft carrier due in large part to the trike's low weight of just 970-pounds (440 kg).

Marotti claims its trike is "as dynamic as a motorcycle and, at the same time, as safe and easy to drive as a car." We can't vouch for that assessment, but after watching the videos pasted after the break, we wouldn't turn down the chance to find out for ourselves.

Gallery: Marotti reverse-trike

Continue reading Marotti drops bizarre aero-influenced trike [w/VIDEO]

BMW S 1000 RR now available for pre-order at $13,800

"We intend to take the four Japanese head-on. We did not intend to build a motorcycle like Ducati does or KTM does. We wanted to build a mainstream motorcycle." There were a number who doubted Pieter de Waal, Vice President of BMW Motorrad USA, when he uttered that sentiment back in April regarding the company's new S 1000 RR, but it seems the Bavarian motorcycle manufacturer has come through on its promise of attractive pricing for its latest superbike.

With a base price of $13,800, the new S 1000 RR is within spitting distance of the Yamaha R1, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Kawasaki ZX-10R and Honda CBR1000RR, which is the most expensive of the Japanese literbikes at $12,999 (plus $1,000 for ABS). As a refresher, the new Beemer - which puts out 193 horsepower at 13,000 RPM, 82.5 lb-ft of torque at 9,750 RPM and weighs 455.3 pounds with a full tank of gas - boasts the best power-to-weight ratio of any bike in its class.

Naturally, there are desirable options that can quickly move the bike away from the bargain category, including a package that adds ABS brakes and traction control for $1,480. Click past the break for the complete rundown.

Gallery: 2010 BMW S 1000 RR

Continue reading BMW S 1000 RR now available for pre-order at $13,800

Review: 2009 Ural T sidecar motorcycle isn't as retro as it looks

Despite its obvious link to Thirties-era wartime motorcycles from BMW, the 2009 Ural T sidecar motorcycle can't really be described as "retro." Instead, the three-wheeled machines rolling out of Ural's factory in Russia really are a direct link to the past - a bygone era of motorcycling that's sure to intrigue some and disinterest others. Which camp you belong to depends largely on your expectations for a bike. Many motorcyclists relish the opportunity to zip away from stoplights with telepathic ease, weave through dense urban traffic and slide knees from apex to apex. If those are your intentions, the Ural is most certainly not your mount. If, however, your motorcycling passions tend to favor leisurely strolls through the countryside and you'd like to share the experience with your significant other, we suggest clicking past the jump to read about our time with Ural's latest sidecar motorcycle.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Ural T sidecar motorcycle

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Jeremy Korzeniewski/Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 Ural T sidecar motorcycle isn't as retro as it looks

VIDEO: Robbie Maddison does the backwards flip with no-hands thing over the Thames

Robbie Madison is set to solidify his reputation as the World's Preeminent Daredevil Motorcyclist after performing a no-handed backwards flip over the Thames in London at 2:55 am on July 13th. Using the iconic Tower Bridge as his takeoff and landing points, the Australian rider performed the stunt with the bridge in its raised position about 100 feet above the water.

Maddison hit the jump at about 40 miles per hour and managed a picture-perfect landing on the other side. The 27-year-old rider currently holds the record for the longest ever ramp-to-ramp jump ever at just over 350 feet and the highest ever "step up" to the 96-foot-tall Arc de Triomphe at the Paris hotel in Las Vegas. Click past the break to watch the event unfold on video.

Continue reading VIDEO: Robbie Maddison does the backwards flip with no-hands thing over the Thames

MotoGP: Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix provides plenty of spills and thrills

2009 MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here at Autoblog, we couldn't think of a better way to spend the 4th of July weekend than at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the fifth running of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. There was plenty of excitement during qualifying, with pole-sitter Jorge Lorenzo being unseated from his bike not once but twice. With both Lorenzo and third place qualifier Casey Stoner being treated for injuries, everyone was betting that Valentino Rossi would take the checkered flag. Rossi won the race last year, and had just come off a historic 100th victory last week in Netherlands. There were also high hopes for American Nicky Hayden, who had his best qualifying of the season in the eighth spot. Follow the jump for the full race report, and check out our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: 2009 MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading MotoGP: Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix provides plenty of spills and thrills

MotoGP: Autoblog tours the Yamaha garages

Yamaha MotoGP Garage Tour - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Access to the garage areas of MotoGP teams is limited to say the least, and all but the highest-level passes will leave you trying to get a glimpse from afar while the mechanics diligently work on the bikes throughout the weekend. Good fortune was with us, however. Yamaha was kind enough to give us access to its garage so we could take a closer look at the inner-workings of a MotoGP team.

While we couldn't spend too much time in any of the areas, we were amazed to see just how much goes into simply setting up each garage. Space is at a premium, so everything is extremely well organized. The workstations are incredibly clean, and some sections are even carpeted. Perhaps our favorite part was getting a close look at the motorcycles and their components. Each bike is a beautiful mass of carbon fiber, titanium, and CNC-machined parts. Yamaha allowed us to take photos, so you can check out the two-wheeled rides of Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Colin Edwards for yourselves in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Yamaha MotoGP Garage Tour

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.