Autoblog

Alfa Romeo introduces us to the art of "undertaking"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Safety, Videos, Hatchback, Alfa Romeo, UK

As the official safety car of the World Superbike motorcycle racing series, it's a little odd that Alfa Romeo decided to publicize its Mito SBK by performing what appears to be a rather dangerous stunt. Odd... but awesome.

Officially known as the limited edition Alfa MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde SBK, the four-wheeler was driven by professional stunt driver Paul Swift at the Silverstone Circuit in Britain. Joining Swift was Chris "The Stalker" Walker on his Kawasaki Ninja, the two-wheeler that normally sees duty in the British Superbike class.

Despite being an even two minutes long, the entire video really only consists of this single stunt. At least it's one really good stunt. See for yourself by watching the video down below.

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Alfa Romeo introduces us to the art of "undertaking" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear revisits Deadly 720, this time on two wheels

Zach Bowman — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Motorcycle, UK, Celebrities

The crew from Top Gear has just ridden off with its latest entry in the Guinness Book of World Records by being the first to complete a double loop on a motorcycle in front of a live audience without practicing. As you may recall, the show recently pulled off the same stunt with a four-wheeled buggy in South Africa. This time around, a stunt rider Gary Hoptrough tackled the double loop on a KTM dirt bike. Even more impressive, the show went off without bloodshed or bodily harm.

The video below shows just how well the stunt went, though it looks as if Hoptrough required a bit of a course correction after the second loop. With commentary from Ken Block and Jeremy Clarkson, the clip is well worth a look. Check it out.

Continue reading Top Gear revisits Deadly 720, this time on two wheels

Top Gear revisits Deadly 720, this time on two wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch French motorcyclist Julien Dupont stunt his way through Rio de Janeiro

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Motorcycle, South America

There are literally thousands of videos on YouTube highlighting riders performing all manners of mind-bending stunts on motorcycles. Most of them merit a passing glance and little more. The video you'll see after the break, featuring French trials rider Julien Dupont, is an exception. You really should watch this video from start to finish.

Brought to us by the energetic group from Redbull, Dupont's antics through city streets and their many obstacles - stairs, poles, walls and cars - are impressive. Coupled with incredible views of Rio de Janeiro and the awestruck looks on the faces of local residents is icing on the proverbial cake. See for yourself by watching the video that we've pasted below.

Continue reading Watch French motorcyclist Julien Dupont stunt his way through Rio de Janeiro

Watch French motorcyclist Julien Dupont stunt his way through Rio de Janeiro originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch as a motorcycle rides on top of the world

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Motorcycle, Off-Road

It takes guts to ride a motocross bike. Tuned practically to the point of blowing themselves to bits, every pound stripped away so that only the bare necessities are left and sitting on top of a foot-plus of suspension travel, it takes a deft hand to tame these race machines.

Which makes the feat you'll see in the video after the break all the more amazing. It's one thing to strap on your gear and head out to the relatively safe confines of an off-road track. It's something completely else to ride a singletrack trail at the top of a mountain ridgeline.

Judging from the perspective of the rider, which is where the camera has been thoughtfully mounted, a single mistake could send this daredevil plummeting to the ground, where serious injury or even death seem inevitable. And yet there seems to be no tension whatsoever from the rider. We've got to say, we're impressed. See what we're talking about after the break.

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Jorian Ponomareff shows off insane motorcycle drifting skills

Zach Bowman — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Motorcycle

Welcome to lessons in vehicle control with Jorian Ponomareff. The motorcycle stunt rider has made a name for himself as a guy who's capable of pulling off incredible feats of riding, including getting tail-happy with precise, controlled drifts. Ponomareff has released a new video of his talents demonstrating just how well the guy knows his bike, and the clip provides plenty of lessons in two-wheeled manipulation while riffing off of the famous Ken Block gymkhana series. The whole clip is well shot with a soundtrack to match, and we're completely in awe of Ponomareff's mountain of skill.

We couldn't help but laugh at the rider's dissertation on target fixation, as captured above. We won't spoil the moment for you, but let's just say that no one's perfect. Hit the jump to check out the action for yourself.

Continue reading Jorian Ponomareff shows off insane motorcycle drifting skills

Jorian Ponomareff shows off insane motorcycle drifting skills originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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India asks director to rewrite illegal James Bond movie scene

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities, India

Daniel Craig will be returning to the big screen as James Bond in the as-yet-unnamed 23rd film in the series. Production has taken the crew to India, where a scene involving Bond, a motorcycle and a train reportedly has to be rewritten.

Originally, the scene called for Bond to jump a motorcycle onto the roof of a moving train, which was packed with folks riding the rails illegally. India is working hard to stop this practice, and the local government asked the production team to remove the roof riders from the film (don't tell the boys from Slumdog Millionaire...).

The crew has obliged, and passengers will sit safely inside the train while Bond roars over their heads on his bike. Either way, we know for sure that Bond will wind up killing a lot of bad folks and bedding a lot of hot women. We call that a win-win-win situation.

India asks director to rewrite illegal James Bond movie scene originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Brave Pathan of Karachi shows off his stunting skills

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Motorcycle, Humor

Before you ask any questions, here's our answer to all of them: We have no idea.

We don't know who this man is, other than the fact that the vid refers to him as The Brave Pathan of Karachi, which means he's likely from Pakistan. We don't know for sure what he is riding, but it sounds like it may be a single-cylinder Honda (or one of its many clones).

Why is he shooting off his gun? Dunno. We can't say for sure what language the men are speaking, either, which means we have no idea what they are saying. We imagine they are congratulating Mr. Brave for his amazing stunting skills.

Well, there is one thing we do know: This video is awesome, and for all the wrong reasons. Revel in all that is unknown in the video after the break.

Continue reading The Brave Pathan of Karachi shows off his stunting skills

The Brave Pathan of Karachi shows off his stunting skills originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mark Monea's new Carry On front flip will warp your mind

Zach Bowman — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Australia, Motorcycle

Mark Monea pulls off the Carry On - Click above to watch video after the jump

We typically file motocross tricks somewhere between complete insanity and diabolical madness in the Dewey Decimal system that rules our minds, but we're going to need to work up an all-new category for Mark Monea's new stunt. The Australian has been working on a variation of the motorcycle front flip called the Carry On, and after four weeks of plopping himself bike-and-all into the foam pit, he finally took the trick to terra firma.

While ridiculously-skilled individuals have been pulling off front flips on bikes for the better part of two years now, Monea decided that going topsy-turvy face first was child's play. So, he added a little bit of spice to the equation by throwing in a 360-degree flat spin in on top of the front flip.

If you're having trouble wrapping your mind around the mechanics of such a feat, join the club. Fortunately, Monea and his crew were kind enough to record the whole shindig for prosperity and our twisted enjoyment. Hit the jump to check it out.

[Source: Hell For Leather]

Continue reading Video: Mark Monea's new Carry On front flip will warp your mind

Video: Mark Monea's new Carry On front flip will warp your mind originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Packing a new trick: Eric Hoenshell shuts the gate on Jason Britton [w/video]

Devon Brozek — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Motorcycle, Celebrities, Humor

Witness the Hoenshell Shutter - Click above to watch the video after the break

Packing up from a good riding session or track day is never fun, and if you're anything like us, the task may suffer from a bad case of the monotonous blues. If you're looking for a way to put a new spin on the old routine, motorcycle stunt rider Eric Hoenshell has you covered.

During a film session for Speed Channel's new motorcycle series Stealth Rider, the cameras caught Hoenshell as he shut the tailgate in host of Super Bikes and all around stunt superstar Jason Britton's face. Britton and fellow stuntman Tony Carbajal were pumped to witness the invention of the new trick bearing Eric's namesake, the Hoenshell Shutter. This is where we should give the don't try this at home speech, but who are we to put the brakes on creativity? Hit the break for the full video, just don't break your neck spicing up your routine. Thanks for the tip, Allan!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Packing a new trick: Eric Hoenshell shuts the gate on Jason Britton [w/video]

Packing a new trick: Eric Hoenshell shuts the gate on Jason Britton [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS asks gov't to mandate ABS on motorcycles

Devon Brozek — Sun, 09 May 2010 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Police/Emergency, Motorcycle, Rumormill

How far is too far? In a recent press release, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety made a plea to the federal government to require anti-lock braking systems on all motorcycles sold in the U.S. The group cites a newly-released study showing 22 percent fewer damage claims are made on motorcycles with ABS compared to non-equipped models, in part, as justification for the law.

Although we cannot agree more with Institute president Adrian Lund when he says, "the best motorcycle accident is the one that never happens," we also can't help but notice the possibility of selfish motives on the part of the insurance industry. If you're a lifelong gearhead, you might agree that a good "insurance agent" can be a great asset, however, would you want them effectively telling you what you can and cannot do on your motorcycle?

Are we saying that motorcycle ABS is a bad thing? No way. In fact, with each new ABS-equipped bike we ride, braking performance seems to improve dramatically. However, one of life's greatest pleasures can come at the precise moment tap your brake to initiate a sliding entrance into that sharp left-hander, just before powering out with a pasted-on grin. Dangerous? Of course, but that's why we buy good insurance, right? Check out the IIHS's complete press release after the jump, and let us know what you think of the proposal.

[Source: Washington Post]

Continue reading IIHS asks gov't to mandate ABS on motorcycles

IIHS asks gov't to mandate ABS on motorcycles originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 May 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Pushing the limits with Robbie Maddison, 311 feet above the Corinth Canal

Devon Brozek — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Motorcycle

Look closely for the flying Aussie - Click above to view the Corinth Canal jump video after the jump

Determination is been defined as to do or achieve something with a firmness of purpose. We can't think of a more fitting description of Australian ~~daredevil~~ freestyle motocrosser Robbie Maddison's high flying motorcycle stunts over the last few years.

This determination was fully exemplified last Thursday in Greece, as Maddo and his custom-built Honda CR 500 two-stroke (no, they are not dead yet) became the first man and motorcycle pair to cross the Corinth Canal... that is, in flight. Covering the gap required navigating a run that, to put it mildly, was less than Ideal. Maddison threaded his way by a pool, across a soccer field and past a chicken coop while traveling on surfaces ranging from concrete and wood to grass and eventually carpet on his way to just under 80 miles per hour before taking flight.

However, soaring 279 feet through the air was not Maddison's longest leap. If you remember New Years Eve 2007, during the Red Bull "New Years, No Limits" series, Robbie flew 322 feet to set the Guinness Wold Record for distance jumped on a motorcycle. That being said, the Corinth Canal jump was more of a technical achievement that placed Maddison 311 feet in the air mid-flight.

Athletes like Maddison keep pushing the limits ever further with companies like Red Bull footing the bill to go bigger and badder year after year. We can't help but wonder if those limits will be found, or if progression of equipment and stunts can go on at their current frenetic rate. Click past the break to watch the video and to hear what Maddison had to say about this latest stunt. Thanks for the tip Brandon!

[Source: ESPN]

Continue reading Video: Pushing the limits with Robbie Maddison, 311 feet above the Corinth Canal

Video: Pushing the limits with Robbie Maddison, 311 feet above the Corinth Canal originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Lifestyle, Motorcycle, UK, Celebrities

Click above to watch the video after the break

Robbie Maddison 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.

[Source: BBC News via Top Gear]

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

VIDEO: Robbie Maddison does the backwards flip with no-hands thing over the Thames originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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