Pretty bike and the engine has a character all its own. Check it out at the Moto Guzzi website-
From their Press Release-

This newest addition to the Moto Guzzi line, the Griso 1200 8V has been designed  to flourish in the realm of two-wheel beauty and performance; a bold and brash machine that combines old world bloodlines with modern engineering. A harmonious marriage of chrome and satin finished metal, the Griso perpetuates the revered lineage of gorgeous motorcycles that have formed the Guzzi family for more than 85 years.

A striking amalgamation of minimal bodywork, mechanical innovation, and rider comfort, the new Griso  is right at home in the land that gave birth to  da Vinci, bathed in the same eternally sensual magic that has been the stamp of Italy for centuries. It represents the next generation of motorcycles to emerge from the Moto Guzzi Factory, taking an evolutionary step in engineering while retaining the essence of the brand’s time-honored soul.

Streamlined Design
The Griso possesses a muscular, handsome persona, a sleek design that carries from the wide tubular handlebar at the front to the narrow tail section at the back in one uninterrupted flow of minimal bodywork.  The gas tank is slightly recessed into the stiff tubular chassis and seamlessly mates to the finely upholstered seat, a stylish design cue that extends through to the compact, aerodynamic tail section that houses the high-intensity LED tail light.

As a naked machine, the Griso’s mechanical components are on full display in a boldly sporting presence. Once astride the Griso the rider is rewarded with practical ergonomics that allows excellent control while placing the greatest importance on comfort.  Attention to detail is reinforced in every aspect of the machine from design to final assembly of all components. Moto Guzzi made sure to imbue the Griso with nothing but the finest, a trait that has made it one of Italy’s most treasured exports.

We have a month for everything, and this month is Women’s Motorcycle Month. To celebrate that, the AMA Museum has put up a display with several women featured. Some of these women are amazing because of the distance traveled. But I’m amazed by the era they did it in. Bikes were not too reliable back then and women were supposed to be at home taking care of the kids. So helmets off to all the women who do amazing stuff like this.

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council’s most recent research, the number of women motorcycle riders increased 34 percent between 1998 and 2003.  Today, major manufacturers report annual increases in sales to women and actively court female riders.  The Motorcycle Safety Foundation says women make up nearly 30% of students in its learn-to-ride Basic RiderCoursesSM across the United States.

Many remarkable women have blazed a path on two wheels. Here, Nationwide salutes four who have been named to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

*    Adeline and Augusta Van Buren: In 1916, Adeline and Augusta rode
to coast to coast on Indian motorcycles – the first women to make the transcontinental journey solo on two motorcycles. The sisters rode to convince the military that women were capable of serving as dispatch riders. Although they were unsuccessful in that mission, they were able shatter many of the early twentieth century’s stereotypes about women.

*    Bessie Stringfield: In the 1930s and 1940s, Bessie – a female,
African-American motorcyclist - broke down barriers by completing eight solo cross-country tours and serving as a U.S. Army motorcycle dispatch rider. During these tours, she rode fearlessly through the deep South when racial prejudice was a tangible threat. Bessie rode her first motorcycle, an Indian, at the age of 16 and went on to own 27 Harley-Davidsons.

*    Dot Robinson: In the mid-twentieth century, Dot paved the way
for women motorcyclists. In 1939, she and fellow motorcyclist, Linda Dugeau, began Motor Maids of America. Today, Motor Maids is thriving and is the oldest motorcycling organization for women in North America. Dot also opened doors for women in motorcycle competition. An enduro racer, in 1940, Dot became the first woman to win in AMA national competition.

“These women are inspiring to all riders,” said Mark Mederski, executive director of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. “And, the Hall of Fame encourages motorcyclists to nominate more remarkable women for inclusion.”

Museums are cool and there are a few really good motorcycle museums- like Barber’s in Birmingham, AL and now the new Harley museum in Milwaukee. It really is amazing how far we have come in 100 years. The museum has the very first Harley- basically a moped, and everything else representative of their 100 year history. With 20 acres and 3 buildings- including a dining room, there should be enough to look at so the trip is worthwhile. With gas at +4/gal, they only way we can afford to go will be on a bike! From MSNBC

“In many ways Harley-Davidson’s story mirrors the story of America,” said company spokeswoman Rebecca Bortner. “The company is 105 years old, has weathered recessions, depressions, wars, and ups and downs and highs and lows … I think that’s one reason people have a lot of pride in Harley-Davidson.”

The largest U.S. motorcycle maker is now a Fortune 500 company with nearly $6 billion annual revenue and a connection to its owners that is unrivaled in any industry. About half the motorcycles sold in the U.S. are Harleys, known for their sleek curves and roar. The company boasts more than 1 million members in its Harley Owners Group, or HOG.

…The company had about 90 percent of the items in its archives — few have been seen by the public before — but had to go to private owners to buy some items, Schiesl said. Those included some of the hill climbing bikes, board track racing bikes and early police bikes.

With the price of gas here in Atlanta at about 4.10/gal, people are trying to figure out ways of getting around that they can afford. Atlanta is a big, very spread out city with a lot of people living in the suburbs and commuting to the city for work. When you couple the distance with the fact that most people have big cars, trucks and SUV’s, the cost is really hurting a lot of people. Since I’m in the bike business, I have seen a lot of interest in motorcycles for commuting. That’s not surprising since the rest of the world has been doing it for years. Scooters are becoming popular as well because they are cheap and use almost no gas. But, in a lot of situations, they are very dangerous. Yesterday as I was driving down a busy 2 lane hwy, traffic came to a crawl and the reason was someone was riding a small scooter at about 30mph on a 55mph hwy. People were frustrated and eventually started blowing their horns at him but he never pulled over. While the scooter was legal, it should have been limited to roads that it can at least do the speed limit.

So here’s the deal, encourage people to buy something that is safe for the conditions they ride in. Scooters are OK for urban downtown areas or in a neighborhood where traffic moves slowly. But the small ones are simply not safe on open roads or highways. I have a feeling we are going to see some ugly accidents if common sense doesn’t prevail. Saving money on gas doesn’t matter if you are dead or in the hospital!

Consumer Reports did an survey to see what people are doing or plan to do in light of 4-5.00/gal gasoline and all of the things on the list are predictable except one. Here’s the list-

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

• 79 percent of car shoppers intend to buy a vehicle with better fuel economy.

• 80 percent of car shoppers are considering a diesel, flex-fuel, or hybrid vehicle.

• 54 percent would pay more for a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

• 74 percent are driving less due to fuel costs.

• $4.32 is the median tipping point when drivers will further drastically curtail driving.

• 26 percent have considered two-wheel transportation, such as a motorcycle or motor scooter.

• 0 percent are looking for a model that is much larger.

Did you pick the same one as me? I was very surprised to see that 26% of the people questioned are considering a motorcycle or scooter. No doubt they are the best alternative for a lot of people, but it still surprised me. That said, I do have to admit the bike business is very good right now- especially cheaper used bikes and scooters. My pick for the best all around commuter bike? The Suzuki SV650. 50+ mpg and a lot of fun to ride. Plenty of power to play and great handling. The VFR next to it is also a great sport/commuter bike. What’s your pick?

Check this out- this guy gutted an old motorcycle and installed some car batteries and an electric motor. Don’t have too many details, but he says it will go 50mph and last about 20 miles between charges. Cost equivalent of about 300 mpg. He only uses it for quick trips around town- bank, post office, etc where it is most effecient. No doubt, a company like Honda or any of the big 4 could really do something cool with this. Completely green and as close to free as you can get. But heck, a SV650 or similar bike will get 50 MPG+ and be way more fun. I guess it really depends on what you are going to use it for. I’d love to see the specs for the motor and controller. Using some good lithium-ion batteries would extend the range and the speed.

How bad would gas prices have to get before you would be caught on one of these? Autoblog Green has the details, but the pedal/electric bike made by erocit is capable of 50mph and when you pedal you recharge the battery (a little). In addition, you can always get home even if the batteries are dead! Still, if you lived in a downtown area and needed a scooter type bike, it might be viable. It’s just so ugly. Maybe the aftermarket can come up with some decent styling…

He has a reputation for being somewhat wild and his new helmet upholds that rep. Very funny! It is actually hard to miss on the track

A quick little video over at the MotoGP site with Nicky doing a lap at the Indy 500 as a promo for the motoGP series. Thanks Jerry…

We all know about the really famous celeb riders like Jay Leno but there are many more who don’t have their own TV show that enjoy and support motorcycling. Heck, motorcycling has literally created celebrities in the past few years like the OCC crew and Jesse James to name a couple. But there are lots more out there and the Motorcycle Museum in Pickerington, OH is running a display on them, their lives and their passion for riding. Check it out-

PICKERINGTON, OHIO – “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles,” the new exhibit opening at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum on June 28, 2008, continues to add motorcycle enthusiasts from music, screen and industry.  Keith Urban is the latest rider to contribute an exclusive machine and personal memorabilia.  The multi-platinum selling artist is loaning his custom Vengeance Drifter, a signature Fender Telecaster guitar named “Clarence” and a special collection of personal photos to “MotoStars,” allowing exhibit visitors an in-depth look at his passion for motorcycling.

 

Urban is one of the country’s leading performers, consistently selling out arenas worldwide.  His first solo album in the U.S., 1999’s self-titled effort, went platinum.  Urban’s most recent albums, 2004’s “Be Here” and 2007’s “Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing,” both debuted at number one on Billboard’s Country Chart.  When not touring or in the studio, Urban often can be found out on a ride, clearing his head on one of his motorcycles.  A longtime enthusiast, Urban bought the Vengeance “7” Drifter to be displayed in the “MotoStars” exhibit on impulse at the legendary Sturgis Rally in 2006.

 

Urban will join a group of more than 100 prominent personalities contributing motorcycles and memorabilia to the “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” exhibit.  Notable actors, artists, athletes, musicians, CEOs, and bike builders have provided priceless machines and exclusive ephemera for the milestone exhibit.  Motorcycle manufacturers, notably Victory Motorcycles, have also given the exhibit significant support.

Check out this video of the last lap at the Oulton Park Supersport race in Britain. Yamaha vs Triumph. Great racing and just plain fun to watch. (Thanks Matt)

Today’s press release from BMW announced the availability of their new Boxer twin sport bike in the US. I don’t know about you, but for 25,000.00 there are a lot of options out there. In terms of sportbikes, you could buy a GSXR1000, 600 and a lot of upgrades for that kind of money. Or you could buy a Ducati 1098S and still have a few grand leftover for upgrades… No doubt the BMW will have a following, but it is hard to imagine it competing on the showroom floor at that price.

The Latest Sportiest Boxer Arrives at U.S. BMW Motorrad Retailers
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - May 9, 2008… Thrill seekers rejoice! The BMW HP2 Sport has arrived at U.S. BMW Motorrad retailers. The same high-performance sport bike that Richard Cooper and Brian Parriott rode to fifth and sixth place finishes in last month’s Daytona 200 is now available in limited supplies for serious motorcycle enthusiasts. The high-performance (HP) two (2)-cylinder Boxer — customized to meet the requirements of the ambitious sport rider — has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $25,375 (excluding taxes, license, options, and handling charge).

The sportiest, most powerful and lightest Boxer ever manufactured, the HP2 Sport features numerous exclusive details, previously restricted to racing, that were never before seen in series production vehicles. Technology such as the self-supporting and aerodynamically optimized fairings made completely of carbon fiber, the quick shifter, a dashboard similar to that used in the MotoGP, the forged aluminum wheels and brakes with radially bolted calipers make the HP2 unmistakably athletic on both country roads or the racing circuit.

The most striking difference between the BMW HP2 Sport from the earlier endurance racing Boxer is the brand new cylinder heads: each of the double overhead camshafts (DOHC) uses a drag lever to actuate the valves that are larger than those on the BMW R 1200 S. Further modifications, such as the flow-optimized intake and outlet, new forged pistons and adapted connecting rod, help the engine to achieve the necessary higher output compared to the basic engine. A new stainless steel exhaust system is placed below the engine for the first time, keeping the lower area of the motorcycle extremely slim for greater freedom of movement for a “hanging off” riding position. Although designed for racing prowess, the BMW HP2 Sport does not forego the safety benefits of ABS. A sophisticated anti-blocking system, specially adapted to the HP2 Sport, is available as an option and is configured so that it can be deactivated for the racetrack.

Following the BMW Motorrad Motorsport design, the HP2 Sport features white lacquering on the windshield, rear, mudguard and side cover. The engine spoiler carries the two-tone “HP2″ lettering; and the lattice frame and wheels are lacquered in the BMW Motorrad color of Motorsport Blue.

If you have ever wanted to see a classic high side crash in slow motion, check out the video of Jorge Lorenzo crashing in the China MotoGP race. That hurts just watching. Thanks Jerry!

Sounds crazy, but Gary Eagan is planning on doing it. He got the invite and chose a Ducati 1098S as the means of conveyance. Personally, I think I would have chosen something a little more comfortable (actually, I would have said NO!), but the 1098 has had a bunch of mods to enhance comfort as well as extend its range. With only one rider, the biggest challenge will be the 35+ hours required to make the cross country trip with no sleep. Doable, but surely a dangerous undertaking. OneWheelDrive.net has the whole article and it is worth the time to read it. (Thanks Jerry!)

Here’s the tricky part.  All the cars would have at least two drivers and loads of extra fuel, while as a moto jockey, I’d be a solo act with obvious limits on how much gasoline could be carried.

It took me at least a couple of seconds to swallow that hook. The table was set for fun ‘n games.

I ran the invitation past Steve Hicks, Ducati’s Canadian Service and Events Manager, and Jim McKenna, Ducati’s Sales and Marketing Manager for Canada. They looked at each other for a few seconds, and Hicks simply said; “This’ll be great. But you’re doing it on a 1098.”  McKenna grinned in agreement.

Hicks is a master mechanic, and knows only one way to do things…with perfection. At the Toronto Motorcycle Show, and Hicks walked over to a Multistrada, took off the saddlebags, then held them along side our show-display black 1098 S, adding; “This is what we’re going to do. I’ve actually been thinking about doing this for a while now.”

Fitting the make over into his brutal work schedule was difficult, but in March Steve e-mailed me a picture, introducing me to what he called the “1098 Bagger.” He’d welded the bag mounts from the Multistrada to the sub frame, and when he mounted the bags it looked more like a factory-designed machine than a one-off tossed together in a garage. At least to my eye, it was a masterpiece.

Next step was increasing the fuel capacity, so I contacted Fuel Safe near Bend, Oregon, a company specializing in making custom fuel bladders for NASCAR, F 1 machines and airplanes. I sent them the Multistrada bags, Hicks gave them the green light to cook up a workable solution, and a month later they sent back another masterpiece. Semi-rigid fuel bladders for each bag, exactly fitting the interior shape of the Multi’s bags, and each holding about five gallons of fuel. They designed and installed beautiful billet filler nozzles protruding through the top of the bags and quick-release caps, allowing quick refilling without opening the bags.

Well, I was driving around Buckhead in Atlanta this afternoon and I saw a red 848 pulling out into traffic. Such a pretty bike… I am really torn between the red and white bikes. Both look awesome.  So here is the 848 press launch for your viewing enjoyment. It is 9 min long, so go get some popcorn.