Parts Market

Casey Stoner celebrated his 26^th Birthday and his 2^nd MotoGP world title at Phillip Island on Sunday. The win marked his fifth successive triumph at the Phillip Island circuit.

The race was a relatively lonely one as Stoner disappeared quickly from pole position and pulled out a 1 second lead by the end of the first lap. He stayed aboard his Repsol Honda and survived a brief shower towards the end of the race, eventually finishing over 2.2 seconds in front of Marco Simoncelli. Andrea Dovizioso took 3^rd place on his Repsol Honda, firmly cementing Honda’s Constructor’s Championship.

Casey’s only real rival in this series (Jorge Lorenzo) was unable to race after a crash in final practice that has apparently claimed part of his finger.

While he expressed his concern for Lorenzo’s wellbeing and his disappointment that he claimed the title under such circumstances, there is no doubt that Stoner would have done the job (needing to finish better than 6^th place) considering he has finished on the podium in all but one race this season.

Next year is sure to be another cracker for Stoner and the Honda team with the development of their 1000cc machine well underway and all reports being very positive.

News just in! Ducati has finally released official photos of the much speculated 848 Streetfighter. Details at this stage are limited, with Ducati only announcing the following on their website:

Ok so finally Husqvarna’s latest streetbike has been revealed. Interestingly named, the Nuda 900 is a sort of crossover/naked streetbike with sporting intentions.

The design seems to be polarising, but the specs speak for themselves. An 898cc parallel twin powers the Nuda 900 and 900 R models. This powerplant is based on BMW’s F800 798cc engine but produces 105 ponies (vs the BMW’s 86HP). Also taken from the BMW, is the steel trellis frame which has been shortened and stiffened.

An underseat fuel tank stores 13 litres of juice but the company promises above average consumption figures. Bumps are soaked up by a preload adjustable Sachs fork up front and fully adjustable Sachs monoshock at the rear. The R model gains a fully adjustable front fork and Ohlins goodies at the rear.

Braking is handled by 4 piston twin 320mm Brembos at the front and a 2 piston 240mm rotor at the rear.

If you like the look of this bike, you’d better be tall as the seat height is quoted as 860mm for the standard Nuda and 875mm for the up-spec R.

Perhaps we can invent some height producing hormones by late 2011 when it’s due to arrive.

The Ducati Monster has long been the definition of naked motorcycling and pure Italian passion. The Monster lineup has never disappointed the Ducati fanbase and now there is yet another evolution of this iconic motorcycle – The Monster 1100 EVO.

Just one look at this machine tells you that it means business. From its sharp lines and low profile rear end, to the 10 spoke wheels and aggressive stripe across it’s spine, this new Monster certainly looks the business. However, looks alone are not enough to satisfy the discerning motorcycle enthusiast.

Good thing then, that this Monster is powered by the 1078cc Desmodue Evoluzione – the most powerful Ducati 2 valve engine ever. This powerplant pushes 100 horsepower, providing monstrous performance when you consider this work of art weighs only 169kg dry.

All your tarmac carving needs are satisfied by the fully adjustable Marzochhi forks up front and Sachs shock at the rear, which coupled with the light weight rims shod in Pirelli Diablo Rosso II’s, will ensure you’re truly at one with the road.

Any overestimation of your talents can (hopefully!) be kept in check by the 320mm dual discs up front and 245mm disc at the rear – with a full ABS system of course. If that’s not enough, the kind folk at Ducati have fitted this bike with a hi-tech 4 stage traction control system which can be controlled via the digital dash.

This latest evolution of the “Duc” Monster comes in typical Ducati Red (with a white stripe) or Diamond Black (with a grey stripe).

For more information, contact your local Ducati dealer or visit the Ducati website

Suzuki’s new streetfigher is finally available down under and the gloves are well and truly off. If looks are anything to go by, this machine is pure Japanese aggression. From the futuristic front fender and headlight, to the angular sculpted bodywork, this new Suzuki is sure to satisfy those that want to stand out from the ever increasing herd of naked streetbikes.

Street cred is definitely not lacking as the GSR750 is based on the much revered (and highly feared) GSX-R750 749cc powerplant but tuned towards more low to mid range grunt to tackle the urban jungle.

Braking force is provided by twin 310mm discs up front and a 240mm disc at the rear. Inverted KYB front forks add to the package and a redesigned instrument cluster make it easier to navigate the streets from the futuristic cockpit.

The GSR750 is available in a black/red combination as well as white.

For more information, visit your nearest Suzuki dealer or the Suzuki Motorcycles website.

Welcome to April, and welcome to Triumph’s latest incarnation of the infamous Street Triple. While not much has actually changed, one glaringly obvious feature is the bug-eyed headlights that it has inherited from it’s big brother – the latest Speed Triple.

Love them or hate them, these lights are taking Triumph into the future. As for the rest of the bike, it retains the sublime 675cc from the current model and carries through the same suspension and braking components. The bike has also been dechromed, opting for brushed metal finishes for a tougher look.

In the cockpit, the dashboard now includes a lap timer and a programmable shift light for all you trackday junkies. Furthermore, the standard model inherits the aluminium bars from the current “R” version.

As they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – The new Street has some nice minor updates but retains it’s winning hooligan formula. This is a bike that is sure to continue it’s success, especially with some new colours and decals. Crystal White, Phantom Black, Diablo Red and a bold new Imperial Pearl are the available guises and pricing is expected to remain the same.

For further details, contact your local Triumph dealer or visit the Triumph Australia website. The usual genuine goodies will also be available so you can kit out your Trumpy like this:

Casey Stoner completed a dream debut with the Repsol Honda team in Qatar over the weekend by first nabbing pole position and then giving Honda their first MotoGP opening round win in 8 years.

Stoner claimed his 24th MotoGP win by finishing 3.44 seconds ahead of second placed Jorge Lorenzo. Danny Pedrosa managed third place, ensuring Repsol Honda colours dominated the podium.

The race between these three superstars was certainly not boring. Pedrosa took the lead off the line before Lorenzo managed to take it from him, resulting in a fierce three way battle until the Repsols decided to get on the gas. Stoner and Pedrosa then tussled for the lead on multiple occasions before Stoner decided to leave everyone in his dust. Lorenzo managed to get one up on Pedrosa and cross the line in second place.

Andrea Dovizioso pulled up in fourth place after battling Marco Simoncelli and the much anticipated all-Italian combination of Valentino Rossi on the Ducati machine failed to keep Ben Spies’ Yamaha at bay, subsequently giving up sixth place.

Final Results:

1 Casey STONER AUS Repsol Honda Team
2 Jorge LORENZO SPA Yamaha Factory Racing +3.440
3 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team +5.051
4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team +5.942
5 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini +7.358
6 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing +10.468
7 Valentino ROSSI ITA Ducati Team +16.431
8 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +26.293
9 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Team +27.416
10 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini +28.920
11 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +34.539
12 Hector BARBERA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP +34.829
13 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing +37.957
Not Classified
Toni ELIAS SPA LCR Honda MotoGP 4 Laps
Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Pramac Racing Team 21 Laps
Randy DE PUNIET FRA Pramac Racing Team 0 Lap

All up a competitive start to the season, with Round 2 sure to be another epic contest at Jerez.

The new Triumph Thunderbird Storm is due to hit showrooms soon so we thought we’d provide you with a quick overview of this punked up cruiser.

Essentially, the Storm is a standard Thunderbird that has been bored out to 1699cc (as opposed to the standard mill’s 1597cc). It rolls on the same framework as the standard Thunderbird but componentry has been “blacked out” to toughen it up. In addition, it has a straighter drag bar and it’s inherited the bug eyes from the Rocket III to make it stand out just that little bit more on the streetrod scene.

The 339kg T-Bird Storm is pulled up to a stop by twin 310mm floating discs up front (with fixed Nissin 4 piston calipers) and a single 310mm fixed disc at the rear (with a 2 piston Brembo floating caliper).

We think the Matt Black paint scheme is sure to look as tough as it sounds, with the 98hp parallel twin thumping as it rolls past.

For more information, see the Triumph Australia website.

So things are changing in this year’s MotoGP lineup…Rossi has left Yamaha, but has he taken their race winning magic with him? Time will tell.

The new M1 looks a little plain to be honest, but we’ll let you be the judge of that:

Obviously, being a MotoGP machine, the specs are pretty radical:

Engine: Liquid-cooled crossplane-crankshaft inline-four
Power: 200bhp+
Top speed: In excess of 320km/h
Transmission: Six-speed cassette-type gearbox, with alternative gear ratios available
Chassis: Aluminium twin tube delta box, multi-adjustable steering geometry/wheelbase/ride height, aluminium swingarm
Suspension: Ohlins upside-down front forks and Ohlins rear shock, all adjustable for preload, high- and low-speed compression and rebound damping. Alternative rear suspension links available
Wheels: MFR forged Magnesium, 16.5-inches front and rear
Tyres: Bridgestone, 16.5-inches front and rear, available as slick, intermediate, wet and hand-cut
Brakes: Brembo, two 320mm carbon discs at front, two four-piston callipers, and single 220mm stainless steel disc at the back, with twin-piston calliper
Weight: 150kg, in accordance with FIM regulations

Welcome to 2011, where the world of motorcycling is sure to see some excitement with an array of new models and some much anticipated racing scheduled!

One of the things contributing to our excitement here at Parts Market is Aprilia’s 2011 Tuono V4 R. While there has been much talk of this machine for some time, it will be great to finally see one in the flesh down under. Obviously based on the RSV4 superbike, the new Tuono will be slightly undressed to satisfy the naked minimalists out there.

The Tuono promises to be a real beast with 162 ponies and 110Nm of torque from the 65 degree V4 engine. To make it more street friendly, the transmission has been reconfigured for closer spacing between 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

If acronyms count for performance, the Aprilia is sure to trump the best of its competitors. Here’s a quick glossary to simplify the madness:
APRC – Aprilia Performance Ride Control – This utilises 2 gyrometers and 2 accelerometers to determine the state of the motorcycle (lean angle, throttle position etc) to modulate power delivery for greatest control and performance.
ATC – Aprilia Traction Control – Coupled with the above, there are 8 selectable modes to maximise your chances of staying rubber side down when powering out of corners.
AWC – Aprilia Wheelie Control – For those of us that don’t appreciate the front wheel constantly pointing to the sky, this system aims to gradually lower the front end and ensure flipping is not an option!
AQS – Aprilia Quick Shift – This allows the rider to conduct clutchless upshifts while on the throttle.
ALC – Aprilia Launch Control – Flipping the bike from a hard start would dramatically reduce your racing cred, so this system will be a welcome addition for all the WSBK wannabes.

So, with the fancy acronyms out of the way, here is a summary of the specs:

Engine type: Aprilia longitudinal 65° V-4 cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid cooling system, double overhead camshafts (DOHC), four valves per cylinder
Bore and stroke: 78 x 52.3 mm
Total engine capacity: 999.6 cc
Compression ratio: 13:1
Maximum power at crankshaft: 162 hp (119 kW) at 11,000 rpm
Maximum torque at crankshaft: 110 Nm at 9,000 rpm
Fuel system : Airbox with front dynamic air intakes.
4 Weber-Marelli 48-mm throttle bodies with 4 injectors and latest generation Ride-by-Wire engine management.
Choice of three different engine maps selectable by the rider with bike in motion: T (Track), S (Sport), R (Road)
Ignition: Magneti Marelli digital electronic ignition system integrated in engine control system, with one spark plug per cylinder and “stick-coil” type coils
Exhaust system: 4 into 2 into 1 layout, single oxygen sensor, lateral single silencer with engine management system controlled butterfly valve and integrated trivalent catalytic converter (already meets future Euro4 regulations)
Alternator: Flywheel mounted 420W alternator with rare earth magnets
Lubrication: Wet sump lubrication system with oil radiator and two oil pumps (lubrication and cooling)
Gearbox: 6-speed cassette type gearbox
1st: 39/15 (2.600)
2nd: 33/16 (2.063)
3rd: 34/20 (1.700)
4th: 32/22 (1,455)
5th: 34/26 (1,308)
6th: 33/27 (1,222)
Gear lever with Aprilia Quick Shift electronic system (AQS)
Clutch: Multiplate wet clutch with mechanical slipper system
Primary drive: Straight cut gears and integrated flexible coupling, drive ratio: 73/44 (1,659)
Secondary drive: Chain Drive ratio: 42/16 (2.625)
Traction management: APRC System (Aprilia Performance Ride Control), which includes Traction Control (ATC), Wheelie Control (AWC), Launch Control (ALC), all of which can be configured and deactivated independently.
Frame: Aluminium dual beam chassis with pressed and cast sheet elements.
Sachs steering damper.
Front suspension: Sachs upside down front fork with Æ 43 mm stanchions. Low profile forged aluminium calliper mountings for radial callipers. Completely adjustable spring preload and hydraulic compression and rebound damping. Wheel travel: 120 mm
Rear suspension: Double braced aluminium swingarm; mixed low thickness and sheet casting technology.
Sachs piggy back monoshock with completely adjustable: spring preload and hydraulic compression and rebound damping. APS progressive linkage. Wheel travel: 130 mm
Brakes Front: Dual 320 mm floating stainless steel discs with lightweight stainless steel rotor with 6 studs. Brembo radial callipers with 4 Æ horizontally opposed 32 mm pistons. Sintered pads. Axial pump master cylinder and metal braided brake hoses.
Brakes Rear: 220-mm diameter disc; Brembo floating calliper with two Æ 32 mm isolated pistons. Pump with integrated tank and metal braided hose
Wheel rims: Aprilia cast aluminium wheels with 3 split spoke design.
Front:3.5″X17″
Rear: 6″X17″
Tyres: Radial tubeless.
Front: 120/70 ZR 17
Rear: 190/55 ZR 17

We’ll let you decide for yourselves if the Tuono has been hit with the ugly stick, or if it’s a badass naked!