The mid-line RF-1000 model has been Shoei's best-selling helmet since its inception back in '03, and for good reason. When you combine excellent function with superb quality at a reasonable price, the customers will follow. So it was logical to expect that the RF-1000's successor would be a sensible evolution of its solid and refined design. Why mess with success?

Lately there's been quite a stir about electric bikes in the media. Several small-scale manufacturers are offering on- and off-road production models for sale. The Isle of Man hosted the TTXGP, a one-lap race for electric and hybrid motorcycles. And the FIM recently announced the addition of a race series for electric bikes in 2010. Over the past few years, technology for batteries and electric motors has made significant advances, to the point that a setup offering decent performance and range can fit into a motorcycle chassis. The result is often touted as a zero-emissions answer to our escalating transportation and energy woes.inline_mediumwraptextrightElectric bikes like the Brammo Enertia TTR, which finished third in this year's TTXGP at the Isle of Man, show potential but also the need for much further development.25427045/features/146_0912_electric_hybrid_motorcycles146_0912_01_z+stop_watch+electric_motorcycle.jpgTrue

The 600cc sportbikes have always been the biggest sellers for the big four Japanese manufacturers. Not only are they less expensive than the larger displacement bikes, they are also cheaper to insure, maintain and even though they don't have the same horsepower or torque as the 750cc or 1000cc bikes, they are plenty fast. During the '90s, the 600s were cranking out 85-90 horsepower and running very low 11-second quarter mile times. With top speeds in the mid-150 mph range and a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds, the Honda CBR600 was the dominant bike in the middleweight class. It is estimated that Honda sold over 50,000 600cc bikes from 1987-1993, making it the most popular-and arguably the most influential-600cc sportbike ever made.inline_mediumwraptextrightHonda CBR600F231007670/features/146_0912_1991_1998_honda_cbr600_f2_f3146_0912_01_z+great_sportbikes_of_the_past+honda_CBR600F2.jpgTrue

:: Aprilia ::
Biggest news on the Aprilia front is that the vaunted RSV4 literbike finally makes its way to U.S. shores. Our Euro correspondent Alan Cathcart was the only rider to obtain a dry-weather riding impression at the world press launch earlier this year ("Reborn Return", July '09), and if his initial feeling on the Aprilia is any indication, the bike will be worth the wait. The 65-degree, 999.6cc V-four-powered machine has been generating raves on the other side of the pond, with other Euro journalists swooning over the Aprilia's incredibly agile handling and superb power characteristics. As per the usual modus operandi, Aprilia will be importing two versions of the RSV4: the "standard" R model, and the limited production "Factory" edition. The Factory will come equipped with Öhlins suspension front and rear, forged aluminum wheels, carbon fiber fenders, and multi-adjustable chassis setup, including steering head rake angle, swingarm pivot height, and engine mount position (all via replaceable inserts). The standard R version will come minus all the aforementioned premium pieces, and presumably come with the usual Sachs rear shock/Showa front fork suspension componentry. Current MSRP for the standard R model will be $16,499, while the Factory version will only be available in very limited quantities, and retail for $20,999. Aprilia will also be bringing in the Mana 850 GT ABS (basically the Mana 850 with a half-fairing and anti-lock brake system) for $10,599. New '10 models for Moto Guzzi (both Aprilia and Moto Guzzi are owned by the Piaggio Group) include the Stelvio 1200 ABS (an adventure tour machine using the four-valve V-twin engine from the Griso) for $15,990, and the retro-styled V7 Café Classic for $8990.inline_mediumwraptextright26659228/features/146_0912_new_bikes_2010146_0912_01_z+new_bikes_2010+aprilia_RSV4.jpgTrue

Back during my racing days, learning to handle all mechanical tasks on your own motorcycle was a necessity. Unless you were lucky enough to have someone skilled in such tasks who was willing to wake up at early hours, work their knuckles to the bone in often less-than-ideal conditions, all while being immersed in fuels and chemicals that are now on the EPA's banned list and doing it all for peanuts, becoming adept at bike maintenance was obviously crucial to success. Not to mention just making the grid.

Pitpass
The world of business is filled with avid sportsmen, and the world of sports is filled with enthusiastic businessmen, but it's rare to find an individual who embodies the best of both worlds. Terry Vance is one of those people.

In this, the second part to Josh Hayes' Q&A session from the Yamaha Champions Riding School at Miller Motorsports Park, Josh talks about the satisfaction of beating the champ and the competition next year. With seven-time champ Mat Mladin out of the picture, Josh's chances next year seem brighter than ever.

In this first of a two-part series, Yamaha factory superbike racer Josh Hayes fields questions from the Yamaha Champions Riding School students. Through his years of racing experience he's seen it all and has the scars to prove it. So follow along and see what it's like to ride like a pro.

As motorcycle technology advances at a rate previously unheard of, all of us here are always looking for ways to improve our riding (and our writing for that matter). Knowing what we know about modern sportbikes and its evolution, there's one aspect to them that many overlook: the rider. Riding styles have also evolved over time to accommodate ever improving machinery, and while there's certainly more than one method to ride a motorcycle quickly, now there's a school that recognizes and breaks down two-wheeled dynamics and formulates a curriculum to take advantage of what modern machinery can do. Oddly enough, the name behind this school built its reputation on four wheels. That name of course is Skip Barber, and the Skip Barber Superbike School Powered By KTM (www.skipbarbersuperbikeschool.com).

Leaving is always bittersweet. After a few days on the road you always want to get home and see your family. But there's also that twinge of regret that the trip is over.

WHEN I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF MY CONDITION AFTER MY accident and began therapy to deal with the paralysis, the therapist asked what my goal was. "To be independent," I replied. Imagine my frustration, then, when the first task I worked on--rolling side-to-side in bed--seemed impos- sible. "Okay," I thought after a few days of trying, "I'll be completely independent except for the rolling part." The problem is, being able to roll around is integral to many other daily activities: turning in bed, sitting up, getting out of bed and even getting dressed all require a great deal of rolling around. My independence would require an awful lot of work, as I was to find out over the next few months.

Attack Performance make a variety of aftermarket performance parts. Their adjustable triple clamps are quite popular in the AMA paddock, and for good reason. We learn from the master himself, Richard Stanboli, team owner and crew chief, on how a set of adjustable triple clamps can help you set up your bike quickly and easily without screwing anything else up.

"It's as good as Deals Gap," Jim said.

SpeedGreen was on location to capture the emotions as Yamaha celebrated their first World Superbike championship in the hands of rookie Ben Spies. He now becomes another in a line of Americans to win the title, although he's the first American to do so since fellow Texan Colin Edwards in 2002. As 2010 sees Spies make the jump to MotoGP, he talks about the significance of joining the best of the best with the title World Champion on his resume.

SR recently had the opportunity to attend the Yamaha Champions Riding School at Miller Motorsports Park for an upcoming issue of the magazine slated to hit the shelves right around the new year. Check out just a few things Associate Editor Troy Siahaan had to say about the school here and don't forget to stay tuned for the full writeup in the print issue of the magazine.

IT'S BEEN A HELL OF A RUN.
Six AMA Superbike championships, 82 race victories, 61 pole positions, and all those tallies are likely to grow by the end of this year. And he's doing this at age 37, a time when most racers have long hung up their leathers for good, in a sport that (usually) favors the younger and more fearless generation. It's a record that many surely look upon (and will look upon for years to come) with envy.

Officially, it's called the "Honda Collection Hall", but everyone knows it as the Motegi museum.inline_mediumwraptextright26444812/features/146_0910_honda_collection_hall_motegi146_0910_01_z+honda_collection_hall+honda_motorcycles.jpgTrue

In today's world of one-liter superbikes, it may be hard to imagine that a little more than a decade ago, 900cc used to be the engine size that dominated the streets. Kawasaki was the company that started the age of the modern liquid-cooled superbike with the original Ninja 900 (technically known as the ZX900 A1 model) that was first introduced in 1984. Its popularity was such that it even made an appearance in the iconic 1985 movie "Top Gun". But the first big-bore Ninja became the forerunner to a machine that truly cemented that moniker's performance heritage in the Kawasaki history books.

Many of Keith's students start with his books before they decide to take one of his schools. While it isn't mandatory, Keith acknowledges that coming to his school prepared and with prior exposure to his material is definitely going to benefit the student. You can't be over educated with good material. His new film A Twist of the Wrist II DVD is the latest offering in his series of instructional devices and it's available now!

We ask Keith who his new film, A Twist of the Wrist II, is for. With the experienced rider in mind, it surprised him that people with no prior riding experience to top level racers were interested, and could benefit from the lessons taught in the new DVD release.

In part three of our five-part series with the creators of A Twist of the Wrist II DVD, Keith Code and Matthew Roberts, they discuss the use of high-end computer graphics to demonstrate lessons that video just can't convey. Matt also talks about coordinating an all-star Hollywood team to produce the film.

In part two of the series, Keith Code and Matthew Roberts talk about using custom rigged camera bikes to capture just the right angles to bring to life the lessons from his book A Twist of the Wrist II in Keith's new DVD . OTT spoke to the film makers about the challenges they faced during the three week shoot.

In this first of a five-part series, OTT had the privilege of screening Keith Code's new film, A Twist Of The Wrist II, out on DVD now. In it, Dave Williams interviews Keith Code, pioneer of the California Superbike School, and film's producer, Matthew Roberts, about how and why they made the film.

What you see here on these pages is the culmination of BMW's watershed between its long history of creating somewhat more sedate motorcycles for its loyal clientele who are older and more sophisticated (or as some derisively refer to as the "pipe and slippers crowd"), and the company's move toward attracting a younger, more performance-driven customer base that has traditionally been the backbone of the Japanese sportbike market. BMW management realized that its longtime customer base is rapidly aging itself out of the market, and that the real growth segment for the future is the sportbike sector. But the company isn't content to just dabble in the category with a half-hearted attempt and pick up the scraps left behind by the long-dominant Japanese manufacturers.inline_mediumwraptextright24745412/features/146_0909_bmw_s_1000_rr146_0909_01_z+BMW_s_1000_RR+three_quarter_front_view.jpgTrue

Welcome to the first of many video episodes produced by our friends at On The Throttle. As many of you know, suspension continues to be one of the mysteries of sportbiking. In this episode we shed some light on what is called Setting Sag, the purpose of which is to get your suspension in a workable range for your weight. Unless you're an top level AMA pro racer, setting sag is the gateway to the rest of your suspension life. So sit back, pay attention, and take a lot of notes. This information will come in handy one day.