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Jensen Beeler

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2010 Yamaha YZF-R6: More Mid-Range Power

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For 2010, Yamaha has made some minor tweaks to the YZF-R6 that help bolster its midrange performance. By adding a 100mm longer exhaust pipe, remapping the the R6’s ECU, tweaking the variable length intake stacks, and revising the airbox, Yamaha has allegedly found more grunt down low, although the company hasn’t released exactly how much grunt they found with these improvement.

Continue reading to see the rest of the changes to the R6 for 2010, but to warn you in advance, you won’t see a cross-plane crankshaft listed after the jump.

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Banter

Double Take: 2010 Honda CBR600RR Leyla Scheme

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When Honda showed off its new “Leyla” paint scheme for the new middle weight CBR600RR, the name had us a little confused, but the sometimes clever folks at MCN have spotted what many in the industry (including us) missed. That black & white camo-eque paint job is in fact a woman…moaning in delight…we think her name is Leyla. Take a second look, and you’ll see it.

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News

2010 VFR1200 Dual-Clutch Transmission Details

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As we edged closer to the official unveiling of the 2010 Honda VFR1200F, more details about the bike are starting to emerge. This latest detail confirms the rumor that the new VFR would be fitted with a dual-clutch transmission, making it the first motorcycle to incorporate such a gearbox design.

Similar to the DSG clutches found on Audi and Volkswagon cars, the Honda dual-clutch transmission will incorporate two clutches that alternate what gears they actuate, making for rapid shift times. Click past the break for pictures, video, and more on the VFR1200 transmission.

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Banter

VIDEO: Uncovering the Secrets of Ben Spies

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Now that Ben Spies has taken the points lead in the World Superbike Championship, Yamaha feels comfortable releasing the secrets behind “Elbowz’s” success on tracks he’s never seen before.

Walking us through his process, this is a rare insight into the mind of a motorcycle legend in the making. Check the video after the jump for the interview with Spies, and comments from his fellow Yamaha riders from the MotoGP series.

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Racing

BUB: Norton Racing NRV588 Hits 173 MPH at the Bonneville Salt Flats During Bub Week

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Norton Racing let it all hang out that last few days of Bub Week’s motorcycle speed trials at Bonneville this past week, and we know this for two reasons: One, check out the lad on the far left of the above photo, he’s not sucking in that gut, that’s just pure British sexiness at its finest. Secondly, the Norton Racing team is coming back from the salt flats with a recorded speed of 173 mph.

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News

MV Agusta and Citroën Team Up to Make the C2 Brutale for Aquila Earthquake Charity Auction

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To help raise money for the student housing that was toppled by the Aquila earthquake, MV Agusta Corse and Citroën have teamed up and created a special edition of the C2 that will be auctioned off on eBay. Dubbed the Citroën C2 Brutale, the C2 will sport styling cues similar to those found on the MV Agusta Brutale 1078 RR. To help facilitate that task, the design folks of MV Agusta came in, and gave the Citroën its fit and finish.

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News

SoCal: Angeles Crest Highway Closed Indefinitely

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Los Angeles County riders may be sad to hear that the famed Angeles Crest Highway will be closed for an unforeseeable duration because of recent fire damage to the roadway.

Because of the Station Fire, more than 40 miles of twisty asphalt heaven have been closed indefinitely because of  burned off road stripping, destroyed guard rails, and charred signs, making the road too hazardous to drivers according to Caltrans officials.

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Bikes

The Honda CB1000R You Won’t See in America

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Take a good look at the Honda CB1000R, because you won’t see it here stateside. That’s right, its de-tuned CBR1000RR motor, single-side swingarm, and streetfighter looks will be staying on the other side of the pond, and we think we’re the lesser for it.

Honda might be the lesser for it as well. With no fairing-less sportbike in its arsenal, we have to wonder what the folks in Japan were thinking on not making the CB available in the US. The only conclusion we can come to is that they just don’t like being competitve in the largest motorcycle market in the world worried that the CB would cannibalize on VFR sales.

But, seeing as how we all know the Interceptor as we know it won’t exist in 2010 (and is slated to fill a different hole in Honda’s line-up), we still have a hard time wrapping our heads around this strategy. Apparently at Honda, sportbikes must still have fairings in order to his US soil. We guess us American riders will have to somehow manage with the Tuono, Streetfighter, Z1000, FZ1, & B-King’s available to us…or move to Europe.

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