There must be something about November and transportation tradeshows. Behold the Toyota Tundra/Ducati Transporter. Now, I own a Toyota, and it hauls my bike to the track just fine. But this concept would make me look WAY cooler, not to mention it would be a far more effective setup. With a motorized loading ramp, integrated tool system, storage space spares, and solar panels mounted on the bed rails to provide auxiliary power (goodbye super loud generators). More after the jump.
We knew it was coming, an “R” version of the RC8. Picture yourself as an Austrian motorcycle company. You’re sitting at a strandbar in Vienna, falling in love with a blonde girl named Theresea, and it hits you! No, its not love. At least not the love between a man and a woman. No, this is the love of a man and a motorcycle dream. The need to take the throbbing v-twin heart the resides in only a few select riders, and inject it with even that much more lust of an already wicked set of sex on wheels.
The DB7, in typical Bimota fashion, is a work of art built around a solid power plant. So how does a small boutique firm improve upon the design? They make the bike completely out of carbon fiber. That’s how, more after the break.
BMW has released its LoRider concept today at the EICMA show in Milan. Billing it as the expression of freedom, independence, and a move away from the everyday routine, BMW is hoping to capitalize on the emotion of standing out from the crowd by owning a motorcycle…and then owning a motorcycle unlike those around you.
Along with the line of 2009 motorcycles presented at EICMA, Ducati CEO, Gabriele Del Torchio gave the world a glimpse of the new company logo.
It is an evolution of the historic brand name, which now includes a new red shield featuring a graphic symbol alongside the classic Ducati script, making this motorcycling logo even more eye-catching and unique and communicating passion, competition and performance.
To accompany the launch of this new logo, Ducati has produced a video to highlight its distinguishing features – including the fun and passion that have always been part of the Ducati spirit.
Source: Ducati
What’s Italian for “Holy Crap! It looks like we know what we’re doing!”?
UPDATE: Info on the Troy Bayliss Limited Edition
But wait! There’s more! There’s a reason that the Streetfighter will get the Superbike’s 1098 mills…it is because the Superbike line no longer needs them! Ducati will be bumping the rest of the Superbike line (the 1098R has already made the engine displacement jump) to the newly decided upon 1198cc displacement for the World Superbike regulations. More after the jump.
Well it is in the wild now, Ducati has finally cast a light on the dark corner of their factory in Bologna where they have taken the prized Ducati 1098 Superbike, and made it anew in streetfighter form. The result? A 1099cc 155hp v-twin motorcycle capable of urban doom. There will be two models, a standard Streetfighter and the Streetfighter S. Sharing the same motor, the Streetfighter S will boast Marchesini 5-spoke rims, traction control (as seen on the 1098R Superbike), a data acquisition unit, and Öhlins rear shock and forks. More after the jump.
Ducati will be presenting its new streetfighter the at EICMA show in Milan this coming Monday. Rumors surround the bike, but many expect it have a depowered (neutered) 1098 motor, with a smaller intake and airbox. We would also expect to see the common parts bin raided for major structural entities, and the bike’s market position to be similar to, and replace, the Monster S4R. This would mean the streetfighter 1098 would become Ducati’s premium level naked bike, once again placing the Monster brand in a more affordable pricing structure.
Placing the bike in this position would seem to single that Ducati is looking to compete more directly with the likes of the Benelli TnT, MV Agusta Brutale (and ), and possibly strike a defensive position against what will likely be a Tuono V4 later in 2009.
Source: twowheelsblog
This author’s propensity to purchase a Monster 1100 just went up that much further.
Going 250 miles per hour, I can only imagine, must feel like an eternity. But for Korry Hogan, it is only 5.95 seconds and a quarter mile long. Hogan just passed the 245.36 mph record speed set by Larry McBride, while racing AMA Dragbike Fall Nationals in Denver two weeks ago. While the speed for The Guiness Book of World Records it shows not only the state-of-art currently being done at the Top Fuel drag bike level, and that rainbows are better than unicorns. Ok, well at least the first part is true. A belated but well deserved congratulations Korry.
Source: Drag Race Central via Visordown
We apologize to any unicorns in the blogsphere for tarnishing your good name.
In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle. In California, it is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale. In Florida, if an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle. In Texas, it is illegal to drive without windshield wipers. You don’t need a windshield, but you must have the wipers.
Yes, America has some stupid laws, but not nearly as this one just passed in Vietnam where it is now illegal for anyone with a chest size of less than 28 inches to operate a motorcycle. Not to make stereotypes, but we don’t know that many barrel chested Vietnamese bikers, and the averages would seem to back us up on the generalization that Vietnam leans more to the petit side of things (the average woman weighs 102lbs and the average man 121lbs…whereas the average American weighs the combined weight of both a Vietnamese man AND woman).
For those who haven’t been to Vietnam, nearly everyone rides a motorcycle/scooter on the city streets. The Vietnamese government cites safety being the reason for the law, so…I guess having millions of people walking around while the 10 remaining “fatsos” of Vietnamese jet-rocket down what should be barren city streets is safe. Ok Universe, You win.
I’m pretty sure Kate Moss would still be allowed to ride a motorcycle in Vietnam…but only pretty sure.
What do you do with an $18,000 motorcycle that already stands apart from the streetfighter crowd as pure sex being masqueraded around town in two-wheel form? You buy another $7770 kit to make it drip that much more unadulterated lurid appeal, of course.
And, that’s exactly what Yacouba Galle, a french artisan and powersports enthusiast did back in 2007. Well, when MV passed on putting the Bestiale into production, Galle took it upon himself to offer a bolt-on kit for Brutale owners. Follow the jump for more hyperbole, video, and pictures…in that order.
