Defiled Monster

I saw this over at Autoblog and thought you guys might be as offended as I am. Wow, apparently there is no accounting for taste- especially from a high end clothing designer. Tacky doesn’t do this justice. In fact, there is no justice for something like this. Maybe someone will buy it and repaint it red. Like God intended all Ducati’s to be! More pics over at Autoblog if you can stand them.

With the push to make everything green and efficient, it should be expected that an electric powered bike racing series would happen- and it has. Autoblog has the details of the FIM series to launch in 2010. While some of it is really cool, I just wonder if people will watch a series that is missing one of the most visceral elements of racing- the sound of the engine. Certain sounds just excite me, and the sound of a racebike at 15,000 rpm is one of them. I’m not sure that I will want to watch a race that is basically silent. Time will tell.

Following up on the success of the world’s first zero-emissions motorcycle race at the Isle of Man earlier this month, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has announced plans to launch a new electric motorcycle racing series in 2010. As part of the Road Racing Grand Prix Commission, the project will be led by Azhar Hussain, organizer and founder of the TTXGP. Says FIM President Vito Ippolito:

I am very happy to with this new Series, the future of the sport depends on our capacity as well as that of the manufacturers to innovate quickly. We are convinced that very shortly the motorcycle World Championships will be accessible to non-polluting engines as far as gas and sound emissions are concerned. Now that this important decision is taken, we have to work on rules and calendar to be ready to compete in 2010.

It came out far better than I had envisioned. Most people are raving about it, so I guess they like it too. Painting the rear hugger and headlight really gives it a retro-custom look. Anyways, here are a few pictures of the finished product.

FZ6 Side

FZ6 Side close-up

FZ6 Seat View

FZ6 Tail

FZ6 tank

FZ6 side

FZ6 fender and headlight

For those of you who like standard style naked bikes, you might be interested in my latest project- a FZ6 converted to naked bike and painted in the classic RZ350 yellow and black with strobe stripes. I worked with Rob at Tapeworks to develop the graphics and he will be offering a kit with these stripes for the FZ6. Here area couple of teaser photos in basecoat with the graphics installed… after the clear dries and I get it reassembled, I’ll post pictures of the completed bike.

Alright, as someone who has high-sided in a race, I know how hard it is to do anything once it happens. It is usually over in a second and you are on the ground wondering what happened. So when you see a save like this, it really is just amazing… Thanks to Autoblog for the link!

This is really a sign of the times- Piaggio group is giving people a full year of riding their scooters to decide if they want to keep them. With the economy in shambles, people are simply not committing to big new purchases so like some of the auto makers, they are pulling out all the stops. This seems like a good way to lose a lot of money since quite a few people will undoubtedly get tired of the scooter scene or simply decide they are not the right form of transportation for them. But, the precedent that is being set is somewhat frightening since you can not survive in an industry like this by taking your product back a few months later. Harley is doing this and it is called repossession- and they are losing money hand over fist. In essence, this is a 12 month lease and Piaggio is betting that the scooters will still be worth what is owed on the last 2 years. Details on the Piaggio website

Piaggio fly50

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NEW YORK, June 1, 2009 – Piaggio Group Americas, Inc., the importer of Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi scooters and motorcycles, has an offer that you just can’t refuse.  If you’ve been tempted to join America’s rapidly growing scooter community but your plans have been on idle because you’re not sure whether you were born to ride, the time to discover your inner scooteristi is right now.  Effective today, Piaggio invites consumers on a risk-free 12 Month Test Ride, an industry-first program that offers qualified buyers the opportunity to experience all the fun, savings and environmental benefits of select Piaggio, Aprilia and Vespa scooters without a long-term commitment. The 12 Month Test Ride offer includes the option to return the scooter to participating dealers after 365 days of ownership if the buyer decides that the two-wheel lifestyle just isn’t right for them after all.
…The 12 Month Test Ride is open to buyers who qualify for a 36-month closed-end finance term, exclusively offered through Piaggio Group America’s partner Sheffield Financial.  To take advantage of the offer, the purchase must be completed by July 31, 2009.  The risk-free return guarantee requires the completion of 12 scheduled loan payments and excludes upfront license, vehicle preparation, freight and tax fees as well as a 10% down payment based on the vehicle’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

Mac Peashooter

There are already a plethora of boutique bike companies and some of them make some very nice stuff. But the new kids on the block are a British company called Mac and they seem aimed at a very, very limited audience. Since they will be using the 500cc Buell Blast single, making a lowly 34 HP (although a 50 HP version is also mentioned), I think they will find that the demographic is pretty small- at least in the US market, which presumably they will enter at some point. But their design parameters are really pretty cool and they might gain some traction if the bike can offer decent performance with the Buell motor. Here is what they are trying to accomplish-

The Brief:

• Simple to maintain.
• Nothing surplus-to-requirements.
• Chopper and bobber references/details.
• The lines of a rigid frame but with suspension.
• Use a Buell ‘Blast’ motor and exploit its shape.
• Harley posture, flat-tracker manners, Ducati handling.
• Exploit the power-to-weight ratio of a 500cc single in a lightweight chassis.
• A return to the spirit of motorcycling - the journey is the experience / story.

The bikes really do have some nice classic lines, but then again, there is the big problem of price… One website mentioned a price range of $10-16,000.00 which will be a very hard sell since you can buy a Harley XR1200 for about 11,000.00. That is some tough competition…

Ducati

This excellent slideshow of the Riding Into History bike show was linked over at one of the 2 Stroke forums. Well worth your time to take a look at some great vintage show bikes. Some of these bikes are extremely rare and most of them are in amazing condition. Check it out- (Thanks Jerry!)

1975 RD350

Well, I’m really trying to decide if I’m going to step into the vintage bike scene with a 75 Yamaha RD350 that I can get for a decent price. I have a friend who is very much into vintage Japanese bikes, and he thinks it is a good bike to get my feet wet with since they are easy to get parts for and stuff is cheap. So, I’ll have to make up my mind in the next few days, but a cool old 2 stroke would be a lot of fun. Here is a good article about them at Motorcyclist.

Return with us now to the blissful ignorance of pre-politically correct, mid-’70s America. Before we had any clue about the myriad dangers of triple cheeseburgers, saturated fat, unburned hydrocarbons and street-going two-strokes, there was the RD350. Dirty, foul-mouthed, deliciously quick and relatively affordable, it was (is?) a Giant Killer for the ages.

From the first ‘73 RD350 to the last 1975 RD350B, Yamaha’s overachieving pocket rocket humiliated triples and fours packing over twice its 347ccs on racetracks and backroads all over the planet. Back when bell-bottoms were cool and Harley’s weren’t, most anybody’s big-bore multi roasted the RD in a straight line. Horsepower was cheap, and any fool could twist a throttle.

BMW R 1000 SS side view

BMW R 1000 SS front

Check out these specs from the BMW press release-

Introducing the new BMW S 1000 RR on the legendary Monza Racing Circuit,
BMW Motorrad is for the first time launching an absolutely innovative supersports
with a straight-four power unit.
With this world debut, BMW Motorrad is indeed establishing a true milestone in
the world of sports machines, combining engine output of 142 kW (193 hp) with
overall weight of just 204 kg (450 lb) including fuel (183 kg/403.5 lb dry weight,
206.5 kg/455.3 lb overall with Race ABS).
Specifications of this calibre make this supersports machine not only an absolute
highlight in terms of its power-to-weight ratio and performance, but also,
equipped with Race ABS and DTC Dynamic Traction Control, a new benchmark
in terms of riding dynamics, safety and innovation.

With a rumored price of about $15,000.00, it will undercut some of Ducati’s offerings by a fair amount and be just slightly higher than the Japanese big 4. The S 1000 RR could end up being the liter bike bargain!

Photo from Speed

I guess dominant is not too strong a word for AMA Superbike star Matt Mladin. In fact in might not be strong enough. At Barber Motorsports Park yesterday, he totally dominated the race and would have won by 5 or 6 seconds if it hadn’t been for a caution due to the wreck of his teammate. At any rate, congrats to Mladin and Suzuki.

On a side note, it is interesting to see that the new “long Bang” Yamaha R1 is still no match for the Suzuki’s. While the magazines are claiming it is the best thing since sliced bread- at least the street version, it is still beat rather handily by the Suzuki’s on the track. Speed has more coverage here.

Well, if you are Jay Leno. Hey Suzuki, What about the rest of us! Quit giving bikes to people who can buy your whole company and give them to the average guy. That will really get you some press. On a serious note, Leno is a great spokesman for motorcycles, riding and motorsports in general, so good for him! Make sure you visit his Garage for lots of cool video clips of his cars and bikes- he has some really nice stuff.

From Suzuki’s Press Release-

American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) announced today that the company presented “Tonight Show” host and long-time motorcycle enthusiast Jay Leno with one of the first 2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000 models off the production line. The presentation was held on Friday, April 10, 2009, at Leno’s famed Big Dog Garage in Burbank, Calif.

According to ASMC, the presentation is intended as a “thank you” to Leno, for his years of supporting the motorcycle industry and for bringing mainstream awareness to the motorcycle industry.

“Wow, what can I say to a new Suzuki but ‘thanks,’ ” said Leno, who is retiring from the “Tonight Show” this year. “Not only will this bike make a great addition to my already extensive Suzuki motorcycle collection, it’ll give me something to do with the free time I’m about to have on my hands. I’ve been a motorcycle enthusiast for years and I really appreciate Suzuki’s sentiment in presenting me with this motorcycle.”

The Suzuki GSX-R1000 is the flagship sportbike for ASMC. For 2009, the Suzuki GSX-R1000 was completely redesigned for ‘09. The new model boasts a brand-new frame, powerful and compact engine, and more aggressive and aerodynamic bodywork. The Suzuki GSX-R1000 has won the last six AMA Superbike Championships, it won every AMA Superbike race in 2008 and it’s won the last 51 consecutive AMA Superbike races. The Suzuki GSX-R1000 truly does own the racetrack.

Sounds crazy, but the press release says it all. I suspect that Ducati is very happy about getting their name and bikes in front of the cameras. But, I really don’t know if the Teutul’s are really “Ducatista” material. Time will tell.

PRESS RELEASE:

PREMIUM CUSTOM CHOPPER BRAND ‘ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS’ TO BUILD UPON SUCCESS WITH NEW DUCATI DEALERSHIP IN NEW YORK

Custom Ducati Monster 1100 to be Unveiled at 10th Anniversary Celebration April 23

Cupertino, Calif. (22 April 2009) – Ducati North America announced today that the leaders of cutting-edge custom choppers, the famed Orange County Choppers and stars of TLC’s “American Chopper”, will debut a single-branded Ducati dealership, officially called ‘Ducati Hudson Valley’ at its Newburgh, New York location.

Marking 10 successful years in the custom-chopper business, OCC’s Paul Teutul Sr. felt the need to expand the dealership to include more of what is hot in the two-wheeled marketplace by incorporating Ducati’s motorcycles, apparel and destination dealership-feel.

As part of the anniversary celebration, OCC will debut a highly anticipated custom Monster 1100 to coincide with the dealership launch activities. The bike will not be a chopper but will definitely appeal to their audience. Motorcycle fans can see the full Monster 1100 unveil later this season on an episode of TLC’s “American Chopper” (Thursday, 9 PM ET/PT).

“Ducati Hudson Valley will no doubt prove to be a stepping stone in boosting sales and reinforcing Ducati’s presence in the Northeast,” said Michael Lock, CEO Ducati North America. “Ducati is known for innovative brand tie-ins and we are challenging dogma by exploring creative partnerships like this one with Orange County Choppers. We really looking forward to seeing what they do with the Monster 1100.”

Ducati Hudson Valley’s showroom will be the very first of Ducati’s Retail Design Projects to highlight new elements from Ducati’s visual corporate identity, which include custom-made ‘bike stands’ incorporating graphics tailored to specific motorcycles such as an 848 on a race track or riding a Monster 1100 through curvy mountain roads. Also new to Ducati Hudson Valley is a service area that will feature Ducati’s signature red-and-white paint scheme inspired by Ducati’s MotoGP replica bike, the Desmosedici.

“We prefer to partner with brands that are class leaders so naturally when we were looking to expand beyond choppers, we saw Ducati as a perfect fit,” said Paul Teutul Sr. “Ducati’s global reputation in the Superbike world along with the brand’s style and design elements really make this an unique opportunity for us.”

I posted something about this a while back, but I really wanted to keep it front and center until congress does something about this absurd ban on motorcycles for kids. It is so ridiculous that only the government could have done it…

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) has effectively banned the sale of youth off-highway vehicles (OHVs) as of Feb. 10, 2009. The AMA is calling for action now to help reverse the potentially devastating effect this could have on the sport of OHV recreation.

Honda Superbike Classic

The next round of the AMA Superbike Series is at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL May 1-3. Barber is one of the really nice tracks for spectators and the facilities are top notch. I plan on being there to bring you some pictures and updates, but if you can make it, you will not be disappointed. I was there for the Superbike races last year as well as the excellent Vintage Days. Great time. If you want to schedule demo rides with the manufacturers, do it early since they always run out of time slots.

While you are there, make sure you check out the Museum- it is world class and worth a whole day all by itself!