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More Photos of that Sexy Carbon Fiber Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R

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Last week, we brought you photos of a carbon fiber clad Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R race bike that was put together by the Japanese brand to help promote the model’s launch, and to give an idea of what to expect from their upcoming spec-series for the quarter-liter screamer.

You liked it. We liked it. The motorcycling internet liked it. And let’s be honest, what isn’t their to like about this new motorcycle when its dripping in go-fast parts and ready to do the thing on any race track you point it at?

Feeling the need for an encore, Kawasaki has released some more photos of its carbon fiber ZX-25R, and naturally we feel obliged to share them with you.

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Bikes

The Vyrus Alyen Is an Outbreak from Another World

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Vyrus Alyen

With all the headlines about the coronavirus that inundate our social stream, I don’t think it’s a big stretch to assume that you would like to talk about anything but a virus on the pages of Asphalt & Rubber.

Let us talk then about a different kind of viral outbreak, the Vyrus Alyen. The latest creation from the boutique Italian house of two-wheels, Vyrus has taken the 1,285cc Ducati Superquadro v-twin engine, wedged it into their hub-center steering chassis, and well…the bodywork is unlike anything on the market.

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Bikes

The BMW R18 Cruiser Is Finally, Finally Here

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Alas, the long wait is over, as BMW Motorrad has finally shown us the production version of its much-hyped cruiser model, the BMW R18.

Featuring the largest boxer engine ever produced by the German brand, the BMW R18 boasts an 1,802cc displacement for its two horizontally opposed cylinders.

As was teased, peak power is a paltry 90hp (67 kW), but the real attention-getter is the torque curve: 116 lbs•ft (158 Nm).

That peak torque figure hits at just a mere 3,000 rpm, but the BMW R18 churns out at least 110 lbs•ft (150 Nm) all the way from 2,000 rpm to 4,000 rpm, making for a nice broad power band to play with on the open road.

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Bikes

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R Looks Really Good in Carbon Fiber

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Today is a twofer for the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R, as we get word from Southeast Asia that the bike’s debut this week has been postponed because of worries about spreading the coronavirus, which means we have to wait just a little longer to find out everything about this 250cc four-cylinder wonder.

On the bright side though, Team Green has posted up this unique carbon fiber creation, which it calls the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R Racer Custom model. As the name implies, it is a carbon-fiber-everything version of the ZX-25R, that is track-only.

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Bikes

A Few More Photos and Details of the Honda Trial 125

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Honda’s miniMOTO lineup has been a big hit for the Japanese brand, and now the lineup of pint-sized 125cc motorcycles is about to see the inclusion of its next machine, the Honda Trail 125 (the Honda Hunter Cub 125 in non-US markets).

Though still not a confirmed model for the USA and Europe, all signs point to the “Hunter Cub” (in at least one of its various names) coming to both markets.

We don’t have to wait for the bike’s arrival though to know what we’re getting though, as the new model is already on Honda Japan’s website, under the Honda CT125 name.

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Bikes

Honda CB-F Concept Debuts with Retro-Modern Flare

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The Tokyo Motorcycle Show and Osaka Motorcycle Show have had to scratch this year because of coronavirus concerns in Japan, but some motorcycle brands that would have been attending are taking a more “virtual” approach to their exhibits. 

That is bad news for our Japanese readers, who were hoping to go to these shows for a super dosage of two-wheeled goodness, but for us here in the United States, it means that more of the shows will be accessible from across the Pacific.

First on the docket comes to us from Big Red, which just launched its own virtual expo website, and first on the list is this Honda CB-F concept, which just dropped with its retro lines and modern chassis and engine.

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Bikes

Cleveland Cyclewerks Releases an Electric Falcon

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Cleveland Cyclewerks is known better for its low-cost small-displacement gas motorcycles, but now they have something a bit more electrifying in their lineup.

Say hello the Falcon, an electric motorcycle that continues the Cleveland Cyclewerks focus, but in a new way.

The electric Cleveland Cyclewerks Falcon has a futuristic look to match its modern drivetrain, but it still fills that small-displacement role that the American brand has carved out for itself.

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Dirt

Cake Kalk INK – The Future Just Got a Little Bit More Affordable

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Cake Kalk INK, Cake Kalk INK, Cake Kalk INK…say that three times fast. This Beetlejuice of electric motorcycles is the epitome of the growing “not a motorcycle” segment of the motorcycle industry, which is straddling the divide that sees bicycles on the other side of it.

This is of course nothing new for the Swedish company Cake, which has been working on its e-mopeds since 2016. Now, we have the latest iteration of the Kalk series, the Cake Kalk INK, which tackles perhaps the biggest criticism of the Kalk line: its price tag.

Coming with a price of $9,500 MSRP, the Cake Kalk INK still isn’t as cheap as many would like, but it does fit in the pricing scheme of being just above high-end e-bikes and just under pricing of potent electric dirt bikes.

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Bikes

Come Watch the KTM 1290 Super Duke R Shred Some Tires

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Here’s another break from the doom and gloom that is coming with the coronavirus, and this time we thank the good folks at the “Ready to Race” brand for making a tire-shredding video with the KTM 1290 Super Duke R.

Revised for the 2020 model year, the venerable “Beast” comes with an all-new chassis, and many improvements over the outgoing model.

While the top power figure of 177hp (132 kW) remains, coupled to a whopping 103 lbs•ft (140 Nm) of torque, the KTM 1290 Super Duke R gets a weight reduction for the 2020 model year, with the Austrians claiming 416 lbs (189kg) when dry.

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Bikes

Mega Gallery: Ducati Panigale V4 S Circa 2020 at Bahrain

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Is there too much coronavirus in your motorcycle inbox?  Have you shot a complete stranger a dirty look because they sneezed in public? Are you doing that ridiculous foot greeting thing instead of shaking hands?

Let’s take a break from what will surely become the zombie apocalypse, and allow us this two-wheeled distraction designed to get your pulse racing in a way that won’t land you in quarantine zone.

Accordingly, we have over 100 high-resolution photos of the 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 to drool over, straight from the bike’s launch at the Bahrain International Circuit.

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MotoGP

Aprilia’s MotoGP Team Launch Perfectly Tells Their Story Right Now

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The last of the factory teams to unveil their 2020 team and livery, Aprilia Racing is showing off an early iteration of its 2020 Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP race bike.

Unlike some other debuts, Aprilia (like KTM) is showing us some of the actual changes we will see for next season, most notably the RS-GP’s revised intake and aerodynamics package.

Of note is the lengthy amount of work gone into streamlining the front wheel area of the Aprilia RS-GP, and we can see that the tail section sports a salad box configuration, similar to what Ducati pioneered.

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