Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128315
~ Happenings In Mo t o " . c lln , Schwantz battle!!i Ve!!irah Dakota Online? Dakota Motorcycles U.S.A. Inc. is prou d to announce the arrival of its first motorcycle. The bike features the only current production in-line air-cooled four-cylinder engine , displacing a total of 1845cc or 113 cubic inches. This is the only production motorcycle in existence w ith this e ngine arrangement, which heralds back to the days of Henderson, Ace, and the or iginal Indian motorcycle companies . The motorcycle is available in three different models with two additional models in the wo rks. The mod els will be the "Classic" with an MSRP of $29 ,600 , the "Highway" w ith an MSRPof $30,974 and the "4s-i" Injection w ith an M5RP of $35 ,760. The motorcycle will meet all 0.0:r. and E.PA. requirements and will also meet California's stringent C.A.R.B. emiss ions standards, making it 50-state legal. For more information go to www.dakotamotorcycles.com . or call 1-888-45 1-30 IO. In between stints of watc hing slow journa lists circulate Suzuki's Ryuyo Proving Ground test facility in Hamamatsu, Japan, Kevin Schwantz and the WERA National Endurance Champions Vesrah Suzuki got to take to the track for some fun of their own. Tray Batey, Mark Junge and John Jacobi of Team Vesrah Suzuki joined Schwantz on the track for IS-minutes of fun in between test sessions for journalists attending the launch of the 2004 Suzuki G5X-R750. All four ride rs had been invited to attend the 2003 Suzuki Champions Day (see Inside li ne issue #9), where awards were handed out for their accomplishments over the past year - Schwantz was the Grand Marshal. The four went at it on GSX-R750s pilfered from the journalists, fre ight-training along and generally screwing arou nd. Batey however, stole the show with his stand -up-tucked-in wheelies down the back straight, whic h must have been at we ll over 150 mph , much to the amusement of many Suzuki technicians and designers on hand . As for Schwantz, he still has it , if you're wondering. Not only does number 34 stay sharp by riding at Road Atlanta during his Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School (www.schwantzsehool.com) sessions, but his participation in the AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship hasn't hurt a bit e ither. Schwantz frequently tested at the Ryuyo Proving Ground when he was racing for Suzuki in the late '80s and early '90s, doing development on the 500cc RGV500 Grand Prix bikes. Acco rding to Schwantz, the track hasn't changed that much since he tested there on a regu lar basis, exce pt for the elimination of the chicanes on the front and back straights. Rumor has it that the first time Schwantz ever visited the facility. the engineers drove him around in a car and pointed out all of the places that their test riders had died at on the concrete-wall lined track. How come the journalists weren't told this story before they took to the track? Maybe it was be tter that way. Schwann, Jacobi, Junge and Batey tell outrageous lies after their brief track session . 116 MARCH 17,2004 • CYCLE NE WS 40th Anniversary