Pulsejet Powered Bicycle

Feeling depressed because you can't afford a turbine motorcycle? Don't despair, you can have a pulsejet bicycle instead. It may not be quite as impressive but if you tell folks you have a jet bike without giving them too many details, they'll think you're a real rocketman.

Robert Maddox builds pulsejet engines. Pulsejets, for those of you not up on your aviation history, were the power used by the infamous German V1 buzzbombs in WWII. The buzzbomb got its name from the buzzing sound of the pulsejet engine and the engines Bob builds, true to form, sound exactly like you would expect.

He's selling the engines and the photo here shows one attached to a bicycle, though he's attached them to go karts and all sorts of other things. This version puts out 50 to 60 pounds of thrust, enough for 75 mph or so on the bike but he builds bigger ones, too, up to 1000 pounds of thrust, for your larger projects.

He has some videos and it's very cool how they glow red when running, you might want some heat protection on your pant legs but there's a pretty high cool factor here. Experiment at your own risk.

Roehr 1250sc – 180 HP Supercharged V-Twin

The Roehr 1250sc pre production prototype has been completed and plans are to begin production late this year. The bike is powered by a 180 hp supercharged Harley Davidson Revolution engine. This should be one extremely interesting motorcycle. I like the looks and I really like the blown Revolution engine. Final price has not been set.

Let's see, a 180 hp supercharged American made V-Twin sportbike. Yep, I like it!

Press release:

06 May 2008, Gurnee, IL. USA. Roehr Motorcycles LLC is pleased to announce the completion of the pre-production Roehr 1250sc. The company is now working towards production commencing this Fall.

The 1250sc is powered by a specially developed 180hp, supercharged version of the Harley-Davidson* Revolution* engine, making the Roehr 1250sc the fastest and most powerful sport bike built in America.

European flair and American muscle are combined with the highest quality cycle components from world class companies such as Ohlins, Marchesini, Brembo, Akropovic and Pirelli. These components combined with the unique Roehr Bi-Metal composite beam frame contribute to the machines outstanding handling manners, offering quick precise steering response with confidence inspiring stability and rider feedback.

The Roehr 1250sc is proudly hand crafted in the USA and will be available in limited numbers. Final pricing to be announced when determined. Roehr Motorcycles is now accepting orders to reserve this exclusive machine as well as offering dealership opportunities.

Buell Conversion Kit From Fusion Motorcycles

Remember "The Machine" from Fusion Motorcycles? Well, Will Thibeault has been hard at work on something a lot of you may find interesting, he's designed a conversion kit that will transform your donor Buell into a custom with killer looks.

Will's kit uses a billet T6 aluminum bolt together frame with a built in oil tank, a 60 inch wheelbase and 33 degrees of rake. The Buell Thunderstorm motor, Buell forks, Buell six piston caliper and Buell rear caliper, all come from the donor bike.

The bike shown in these photos is for a customer with a lot of custom touches, a hard carbon fiber seat (customer request, Will prefers padded), Piaa head lights..same as he used on The Machine, Will's own stainless pipes and Fusion Motorcycles billet 18" wheels, 240 on the rear and 130 up front. Rear turn signals are LED.

According to Will:

The future bikes will have front and rear carbon fenders, and will be totally road legal. The Frame kits will include: frame, seat, rear shock, swing arm, oil tank, and gas tank for $4,500. For less than $10,000 a person can build their own w/ the purchase of a donor Buell. We will build the complete bike "road legal" for $19,500 and there are always the options of whatever you could think of i.e. carbon wheel, S&S motors, front ends and Ti frames

There are quite a few guys building choppers and all sorts of bikes from Buell parts and pieces but, in my opinion, this kit has just the right look. There seems to be a Confederate Hellcat influence, which is a good thing since I like the Hellcat, but overall, for the money, I don't see how you could go wrong here. Anyone with a Buell who is thinking about getting another bike, might want to consider this kit first, you get a completely different look and you already own half of the necessary parts. I like this, a lot. I have to think a lot of guys are going to start looking for a good used Buell and making a bit of work room in their garage. Nice work, Will!

UPDATE: Will Thibeault has added a few comments below about his kit

UPDATE 2: Will just let me know that the kit will not be ready until sometime in 2009. He is redesigning some parts and he is going to thoroughly test everything before offering the kits for sale.

Honda 50 Powered Vintage Bicycle Project

Here's an interesting project that takes little money, isn't too hard to do and actually has a practical side, it's a Huffy bicycle found at a flea market, a couple of vintage looking pieces found on eBay, a new Honda 50cc engine and a few other modifications to make it look like an early grey Harley Davidson.

According to the builder it gets about 120 mpg and cruises at a comfortable 25 to 30 mph with a top speed approaching 40 mph.

Looks like a cool project to get the kids involved in a little "hands on" activity or something to get your own hands into the building process. Neat.

TSS RS500 2 Cylinder 2 Stroke

While most everyone else has moved on to the land of 4 strokes, there's a group of intrepid engineers and builders in Australia devoted to the idea of building a 500cc 2 cylinder 2 stroke motorcycle, starting with the Aprilia RS250 chassis and installing their own highly engineered 2 stroke powerplant.

Grand Prix Engineer Wayne "Wobbly" Wright who has a 30 year career building GP engines and pipes went to work on the engine and the finished piece puts out 112 horsepower and 60 foot pounds of torque. Mounted in a bike weighing 286 pounds total and having the power delivery you would expect from a 2 stroke gives you a bike that one might call entertaining.

The idea here is to bring 2 stroke technology up to the best that can be built right now and place it in a modern frame and suspension package, a combination you can't buy in your neighborhood showroom.

The company the group formed is called the Two Stroke Shop, and besides many other parts for the 2 stroke fanatic, they offer not only complete RS 500 motorcycles but also the engines alone or kits to adapt your own RS250 to accept their engine.

There are no prices on the site, expensive I'm sure, but what they offer seems somewhat unique. It's an extremely interesting setup and just the thing to surprise the heck out of your average GSX-R pilot. I like it.

D1200R – BMW Based Concept Motorcycle

Every now and then, one of the many emails we receive from designers and builders stands out from the crowd, and this project, the BMW D1200R by Pablo Gonzalez de Chaves and Carlos Beltran, is one of the best to come along in quite some time.

Pablo started with the idea of improving and transforming the BMW R1200R into a new motorcycle, with a new front suspension, a new chassis, essentially a whole new design. His design work is first rate and if he stopped at that point, it would be considered well done, but he didn't stop there, the project continued with the creation of hard parts and assembly into the actual motorcycle he envisioned on the computer screen. There's nothing like testing your skills by making the actual pieces fit together and perform in the real world.

The year long project began with a BMW R1200R fitted with sensors and taken to the track where a great deal of performance data was gathered. Then the motorcycle was disassembled, extensive measurements were taken, entered into the computer and the redesign began.

The design started with pencil sketches, progressed to Photoshop and finally took shape in CAD and 3D modeling software. The design data was then used for the machining necessary to create the parts. Assembly surprises were limited due to the careful design work and after the motorcycle was complete, it was taken back to the track where the initial data was gathered and performance was compared with favorable results. Some areas for improvement were noted and some revisions will be incorporated as work continues.

The chassis for the D1200R is made from milled aluminum and sharp eyed readers may notice the front brake is from a Buell XB12. Lights are LEDs. The front suspension, similar to designs by Foale and Parker, was purposely left exposed for aesthetic reasons and I have to agree, it looks good that way, showing off the extensive redesign. Pablo's website visually documents the whole process to give you an idea of the work involved.

Pablo has considerable training in the field of motorcycle design, holds a MSc in Motorsport Engineering and has work experience with Lamborghini, among others. He has 2 earlier designs on his site, one a 600cc inline 4 cylinder streetfighter and the other an electric scooter. It looks like the he's putting his skills to good use. Excellent work!

UPDATE: Pablo wanted to add that Carlos Beltran also played a very large part in the mechanical design portion of this project and I have added his name above. Nice work, Carlos! (I should have noted his name earlier but I was relying on translations of the pages and it was a little confusing.)

Oldsmobile Quad 4 Motorcycle Project

Chris Fairbrother has an idea for an all new sportbike, something very fast and easy to maintain, that doesn't have to rev high to produce major power; hence large displacement (2300cc).

Oldsmobile, with assistance from Jim Feuling, developed an engine in 1988, the 2.3 liter, iron-block, four-valve DOHC aluminum-head Quad 4, putting out about 180 horsepower and tunable for much more. It was a popular race engine in the early 1990s and AJ Foyt had one up to 266 mph. Chris thought, hmm ... sounds like a Quad 4 might do it.

Actually, Chris has plans to build his own engine, too, but the Quad 4 seems like a nice proof of concept before going off in that direction. He took a Quad 4, replaced the fuel injection and reversed the engine so the four 50mm flat slide carbs face forward (ram air). With raised compression, worked heads and race cams it will produce approximately 300hp. The bike itself is very small. Wheelbase 57.5", seat height 30", fork rake 26 degrees, weight approximately 360lbs, lean angle 55 degrees.

One of the biggest problems with the prototype was to build a frame that was very light and very strong. I opted for a backbone type frame, and used both the engine and gearbox as stressed members. The torque produced by the Quad 4 is substantial and I wanted to come up with a steering head capable of taking the forces, plus a stirrup unit that would hold the rear swingarm tight and prevent shearing. A mechanical engineer friend of mine modeled my frame on a computer and determined that, if anything, it was overbuilt.

What you see in these photos is the prototype, wooden forms show the shape of the tank and fairings which will be fiberglass and aluminum.

I knew from day one that I would have to design my own engine (which I have done) to use for production purposes, the Quad 4 application was simply a way of testing. My engine is an in-line four, four valve per cylinder, oval port, twin overhead cam, 1900cc with 30 degree valve banks, straight induction (between the cam banks) with studs anchored in the cylinder head passing through the block and oil pan, (ie. nuts torqued from below). This changes the usual approach somewhat, but adds rigidity to the whole motor. Assembling and disassembling is also simpler.

Looks like we have a modern Munch Mammut in sportbike form, though the engine size is hardly out of bounds in today's ever growing motorcycle engine displacement race. I like Chris' idea. He's currently lining up financing to complete the project and take it to the next level but he's already done quite a lot. I'll be interested in following this as it progresses. Very cool project.

Carberry Enfield Double Barrel V-Twin

The Royal Enfield as currently produced is a throwback to the mid 1950s, same style and engineering as the original with very little change until just this past year. The 500cc thumper is a very basic machine with British bloodlines and pretty much the performance you would expect from a mid 50s half liter single, which is to say, it could use a boost. Paul Carberry, down in Australia, had the idea of adding another cylinder and creating a V-Twin out of the basic engine, doubling displacement, giving it a satisfying sound and getting a nice performance increase at the same time.

Paul enlisted the aid of Ian Drysdale, a fellow Aussie, who you may remember builds the Drysdale V8, and together they took the concept and turned it into the machine you see here. The "Double Barrel" as it's called, is a 55 degree V-Twin with 50 horsepower running through a 5 speed transmission. Hydraulic lifters run above the cams eliminating the need to modify the barrels. The 55 degree angle was chosen over anything tighter to provide clearance for the carbs and also for style and balance. They also retained as many standard Royal Enfield parts as possible to keep maintenance costs down.

This engine looks right at home in the bike without any cobbled together appearance whatsoever, it looks to be very well engineered. Although it doesn't have massive horsepower, it's an appreciable boost over stock and delivers decent performance for someone who wants the look of a classic British V-Twin and everyday reliability.

The Double Barrel requires a stock Royal Enfield Bullet as a base, then:Essentially the Petrol tank is modified, the frame is modified (the front half of the frame is modified by us and it is a much stronger design with twin backbones , twin down tubes and also has front and back cylinder head mounts and includes the engine within the strucure). The motor is modified with a new crankcase and internals and an extra barrel and head is needed! The seat is also modified. In each case if no disc is present one is ftted.

Cost of modifying your donor Bullet is $A13,000, which currently is $8,892 in US dollars. Paul can also supply the donor bike and simply sell you the complete machine when he's done.

I mentioned this engine project over 4 years ago!, and though I checked in from time to time, things didn't seem to be going anywhere. Then I got a tip from Mark (Thanks!) that it looked like it was going into production. I followed up with Paul Carberry and indeed, he's ready to build one for you right now.

The prototype has been exhaustively tested and Alan Cathcart (shown below) has put some miles on it, too. This seems to be a well done build with a little bit of a Vincent look to it. The short video on Paul's website gives you a taste of the sound. Very classic, very nice. I like it.

Ducati V-One – Twin to Supercharged Single Conversion

Some guys come up with really interesting engine modifications and Bart Crauwels is one of those guys. Bart is currently working on a project that converts a Ducati 1000 DS, a 2 valve air cooled twin, into a supercharged single, using the rear cylinder as the blower. The 498cc single has 15 HP more than the original twin putting out 102 HP at the rear wheel, torque is increased and it runs fine to 10,000 rpm, 2500 rpm over stock. It's about 30 HP more than the well known Ducati Supermono. The Ducati V-One, as he calls it, is for racetrack use only and when things get sorted out he plans to build 40 of them for customers.

In recent years there have been some custom builders, Roger Goldammer comes to mind, who have replaced the rear cylinder on a V-Twin with a supercharger. Since the cylinder is already an air pump, Bart just used what was already there. Of course, the first question before doing this is whether the blown single will have more power than the twin it's derived from and the answer, in this case, is yes.

Another cool feature is the air tank under the seat, limited to 40 bars, which is good for a 10 second burst of compressed air when acceleration begins after which the blower's output kicks in. On deceleration, the tank is recharged. It's hard to see everything that Bart has done by looking at the photos, I notice an intercooler in the plumbing, too, but overall, I like this a lot.

Royal Enfield Musket – Update

Some of you may have missed the new video Aniket made of his Royal Enfield Musket V-Twin, ... he added pipes. The little shorties worked during the shakedown runs but you really need to hear the sound of this twin with the long pipes to believe it. Sweet! They look good, too. Have I mentioned how much I like this project?

UPDATE: Aniket sent in photos with the new exhaust and twin mufflers installed. He tried a 2 into 1 but couldn't get the right look so he opted for the 2 into 2.

World’s Fastest Production Electric Motorcycle – 2010 Mission One from Mission Motors

Just unveiled at the TED2009 conference, the Mission One from Mission Motors, a hi-tech California startup company, building what is about to be the world's fastest production electric motorcycle. How fast? 150 mph. Range? 150 miles. Torque? 100 foot pounds, instantly available whether you're standing still or cruising at 60 mph, no gears, just roll it on ... I think the game just changed.

Mission Motors, working under the radar as Hum Cycles, has been quietly developing their motorcycle for 2 years. Last year, a Ducati converted to electric power began showing up on the back roads of California. This was their prototype, undergoing extensive testing and a few lucky riders got a chance to sample the performance of the bike coming back amazed by what they had just experienced.

Forrest North, co-founder of Mission Motors, began dreaming of building an electric motorcycle when leading the Solar car Team at Stanford University. The dream continued, even as he joined Tesla Motors to help engineer the company’s cutting-edge battery pack. In 2007, Forrest launched Mission Motors with the help of Edward West and Mason Cabot. Their mission: Build an electric motorcycle that could finally compete with gasoline.

They've assembled a top notch team: Dan Kaplan - CFO at Ducati North America from 2003 - 2006, Jeremy Cleland - AFM Racer & Product Mgr at Ducati NA, graduates from Cal Tech, Stanford, Virginia, Dartmouth, and MIT plus Engineers from Ford, Tesla, Google, IDEO, Intel, and Agilent.

The Mission One is the closest thing yet to a no compromise electric motorcycle. Excellent performance, excellent range, zero emissions and quiet.

The throttle can be programmed by the rider for the most suitable response, how far it must turn for a given level of acceleration and how much regenerative braking on roll off. The production bikes will have what the engineers believe to be a best initial setting but owners will most likely tweak it as their experience increases.

I spoke to Forrest North about the Mission One and asked about the materials used in construction. The frame is aluminum but, while I expected carbon fiber for the body, Forrest said it doesn't fit especially well with their mission due to the environmental impact of its manufacturing process. The final decision about what specific materials will be used for the fairing and body work is yet to be made. Likewise, when I asked about weight, he stated it will be about 30 to 40 pounds heavier than a normal sportbike but the number will depend on a few final material choices so an exact weight is not yet specified.

The question some of you might have is how long to recharge? Electric motorcycles have 3 criteria of interest for many of you: performance, range and recharge time. Recharge is about 2 hours at 240 volts, 8 hours from a standard 120 volt outlet. With 240 volts, you can get roughly an 80% charge in 1 hour. As Forrest said, once you have the range, recharge is less of an issue, though 150 miles may not be touring bike territory, it certainly covers a large percentage of daily riding requirements and plugging in when you get home, the bike will be ready to go the next day or in a couple of hours if you want to head back out. Yes, it's still a trade off, but, nowhere near what we've come to expect with electric motorcycles.

Forrest also mentioned the most noticeable characteristic when switching back and forth between the Mission One and a standard bike is the total lack of vibration. The electric drive is completely smooth, something that quickly spoils the riders who have had the opportunity to ride it.

Specifications:

Powertrain
Battery Pack:	High Energy Lithium-Ion w/ Integrated Thermal Management System
Motor:	Liquid-cooled, 3-phase AC Induction
Torque:	100 lb-ft @ 0 to 6,500 rpm
Transmission:	Single speed
Chassis
Suspension/Front:	Ohlins 43mm inverted fork; fully adjustable, 4.5-in travel
Suspension/Rear:	Ohlins Single shock w/piggyback reservoir; fully adjustable, 4.5-in travel
Brakes/Front:	Dual Brembo 310mm disc; Brembo radial-mount forged 4-piston calipers
Brakes/Rear:	Brembo 220mm disc; single-piston caliper
Wheels/Tires/Front:	Marchesini forged aluminum 3.5" x 17", 120/70ZR17 - race Compound
Wheels/Tires/Rear:	Marchesini forged aluminum 6.0"x17", 190/55ZR17 - race Compound
Target Performance
Top Speed:	150mph
Range:	150 miles per charge (est. EPA drive cycle)
Recharge Time:	Under 2 Hours @ 240V (8 Hours @ 120V)
Interactive Feature:	Adjustable regenerative rear wheel braking
Interactive Feature:	Intuitive / adjustable data acquisition system

Racing:
Mission Motorsports, their green racing team, figures a little track time is a good thing, too. They will test the Mission One when they take on the world in the TTXGP on June 12, the first zero-emissions motorcycle race on the Isle of Mann.

First deliveries and Pricing:
The first Mission One motorcycles will be delivered early in 2010, First year production will be 300 units. The first 50 units will be offered as the Premier Limited Edition version at a price of $68,995. Yes, a bit pricey for the average rider but I will be surprised if these don't sell out.

If Mission Motors holds to their schedule and the bikes roll out on time with the stated specifications, they may change the way many people think about electric motorcycles. This is very, very cool. I like it, ... A LOT!

Mission Motors press release:

LONG BEACH, CA - February 4, 2009 –Today, Mission Motors unveils a revolutionary vehicle, the Mission One, the world’s fastest production all-electric motorcycle, at TED2009. Mission Motors CEO, Forrest North, along with lead designer Yves Béhar, founder of fuseproject, will present the vehicle in development onstage to the TED audience on February 4. Mission Motors will exhibit the vehicle throughout the conference at the Kohler LivingHome at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, and will be on hand to discuss the company’s vision for a radically new brand of motorcycles. The company will also provide attendees the opportunity to see inside the product development process through the installation of a motorcycle design studio inside the Kohler LivingHome.

“The Great Unveiling,” the TED2009 theme, makes a fitting platform for the launch of Mission Motors’ first vehicle, the Mission One. It is the first production electric sportbike that features uncompromised performance and an iconic new design created by world-renowned designers Yves Béhar and fuseproject. With a top speed of 150 MPH and an estimated range of 150 miles, the Mission One rivals gasoline sportbikes while dwarfing the performance of any other electric motorcycle on the market. The electric drivetrain creates a riding experience unlike anything currently available on a production vehicle. The electric motor’s linear torque curve provides peak torque at zero rpm, a feature gasoline engines cannot match. The motor delivers faster acceleration than most gasoline sportbikes without ever having to shift gears.

The announcement formally debuts Mission Motors, a San Francisco-based company geared to redefine the world of performance motorcycles, which was founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs Forrest North (CEO), Edward West (President), and Mason Cabot (VP of Engineering).

Building on their backgrounds in engineering, a desire to develop clean vehicles, and a passion for motorcycles, the Mission Motors founders developed a proprietary high energy lithium ion battery pack that could provide both the range and acceleration needed for a high performance sportbike. The company (named Hum Cycles at the time) placed second in the transportation category of the 2007 California Cleantech Open, the largest cleantech business plan competition on the West Coast.

“As a motorcycle enthusiast and engineer I knew I could combine my passion for motorcycles with my passion for innovation and create a motorcycle that truly sets a new standard in the perception of electric vehicles,” said Forrest North, Founder and CEO, Mission Motors. “With the Mission One, we’re writing the next chapter in motorcycle design, delivering a new riding experience without sacrificing performance or design in a zero emissions vehicle.”

With core engineering underway and an attractive business model, North and his co-founders turned to Yves Béhar’s fuseproject to create Mission’s unique brand and creative direction, as well as an iconic industrial design for the first product. The engineering team at Mission Motors and the design team at fuseproject worked in close collaboration to design the Mission One from the ground up, creating a machine that makes a bold statement about performance, technology, sustainability and design.

”This project was a dream come true: a statement about how design can make performance and sustainability come together without compromise,” said Yves Béhar. “I believe Mission is an icon for a new era of efficient and exciting vehicles. Designed to express speed and efficiency in it’s overall sharp lines, the Mission bike is also highly detailed with special attention to a riders needs, bringing a high level of product design and ergonomics to a new generation of performance transportation.”

About Mission Motors:
Mission Motors is building the fastest production electric motorcycle in the world. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company combines innovative technology, iconic design, and superb performance with the freedom of a zero emissions riding experience. Mission's elite team of engineers is creating the first motorcycle company built on the innovative spirit of the Silicon Valley. The concept is simple: Redefine the world of performance motorcycles.

Royal Enfield V-Twin – The Musket

What you see here is a 700cc Royal Enfield V-Twin constructed using two 350cc top ends. The whole bike appears to have come from the factory, or maybe the "special vehicle operations" section, instead of the mind and work of a creative and determined owner. Aniket Vardhan, the builder, still wants to come up with a better exhaust arrangement, than short open pipes, but already, the bike looks fantastic. Aniket calls the 700cc Enfield V twin, "The Musket", to keep the vintage gun (ala Bullet) reference alive. This is very impressive work. I have to admit, when I watched the videos at the end of this post, I just started smiling and kept smiling all the way through. I really like this bike!

When you read the story of the build, take note of the process, ... he had an idea and over many years kept at it, continued learning, continued working, he just kept going until the idea became real and he was riding this bike down the road. Far too many people hardly finish the idea stage before stopping, the work never begins. Aniket is a "doer," and you know what i say about doers.

What normally happens when I get a tip like this, is follow up with the owner or builder for a few details so I can put together a story, but when I received Aniket's response, I found he had already written the post and there was no need for me to add anything. So, I'll just turn the keyboard over to Aniket and let him fill in the details of "The Musket."

From Aniket Vardhan:

I was born in and lived in Delhi, India till 1999 when I came to the USA - ostensibly for a Masters in Industrial Design, but here's the dirty truth- I came because of the sound of a Harley Davidson. Saw one once in Delhi, long ago, belonged to some filthy rich type, heard it start up and rumble away, wet myself publicly and resolved that one day, I would visit their homeland.

That didn't seem likely at the time I was studying architecture in Delhi so the next best thing was to see what I could do with my Bullet, dearly loved as the only real motorcycle available in India back then (and perhaps even now). Thats when the idea was sort of baked into my brain, in the heat of 115 degree Delhi summers, over cigarettes, the smell of steaming cow dung and chats with biking buddies in the college cafeteria. I would build a V twin Enfield- it should feel right,

with its long stroke, heavy flywheel, beautiful cylinder and head. Looked for any and every book I could find on vintage motorcycles, V twins, engine design, metal casting, machining- all of it. Bought an old enfield engine to use as reference.

Jump ahead to 2002. I did in fact find myself in the USA, now an industrial design faculty member at an art and design college. On a trip to Delhi in 03, I picked up my old engine and brought it back Began to work on the idea on weekends, sketching, 3d computer modeling, measuring all internal parts, figuring out how to make the whole thing work using only standard enfield parts. You guessed it - came across the Norcroft V twin Enfield online, sort of destroyed me for a week. Then I figured, this is sort of fun anyway, so lets keep at it. I guess a couple more years passed, about 18 developments of my CAD model later, I was ready to start building patterns, and then, what do you know, the Carberry comes to my attention! By now, I was beginning to suspect that my next door neighbors were working on an Enfield V twin as well. As you'd expect, after a month of depressed moping, it was back to the basement again and I also noticed that my approach was rather different anyway, so why not put forward the way I thought made sense to me? Here is my rationale:

1. Keep it as ridiculously simple as the original Bullet engine. Therefore, no modern updates to major engine internals, so it still has the stock tappets, no hydraulics, and the stock piston oil pumps. Vintage bike lovers really like to tinker and tappet adjustment is almost a religous ritual for many.
2. Improve the oil filter - I machined a new filter housing which uses a standard modern cartridge type filter available at Advance. This is not a screw on car type filter - that doesn't look right, so I have a finned aluminum housing I made.
3. Aesthetically, and this was very important to me being an industrial designer- keep the "vintage" and "Enfield" cues strong. I thought I would pick up from the last Enfield big twin- the

Interceptor. The rounded profile of the front of the crankcase and pleasingly smooth and gently radiused forms of the castings and the cooling fins on the side of the wet sump. A wet sump simplifies matters and also ties in with the last Enfield big twin- the Interceptor Mark 2, which also had a wet sump.
4. I love the external copper oil pipes that are such beautiful visual elements on vintage engines, so I decided to incorporate that as well. This also helps to keep the oil cool as it travels through them, exposed to the air.
5. Keep the frame mods to a minimum and again keep the "vintage" feel going by keeping the single down tube- the Enfield big twins of yore had single down tube frames and handled well. The look of the "vintage V twin" I think is the very simple and elegantly "cradled" engine between two tubes- front sloping forward and rear sloping back.

I ended up quitting my teaching job last year, was getting the feeling that my heart was in projects like this. Since I wasn't a machinist, I had to learn that too. This is where the stars lined up - a student's family business is a machine shop close to my home, and his dad, Mr. Boggs was sufficiently amused by the project and my excitement to allow me to come in and start working on my project, early last year.

Well, it took about a year for the machining to get done, I learned everything as I went along and here we are. I have skipped all the "oh darn!" moments but there weren't too many, just one huge one, when the first foundry I went to pretty much destroyed my patterns built over 3 years by leaving them near an open window in the rain...still get stressed out when I think of that- had to cut away and repair the whole thing after a couple of months of very evil thoughts.

But...the holy rider in the sky must have smiled upon me because from the very first firing, it runs like it WANTS to! It starts first kick every time! It isn't quite as explosive as my 750 Triumph Bonny, but it has the very mild Bullet cams and stock 7:1 compression and small carbs, so a healthy increase in output can be expected with the usual mods. But, the torque is really lovely- cleanly pulls top gear at around 20 mph (!!) and accelerates from there without any snatching! I'm keen to try the new 5 speed gearbox the new Enfields have - my old one has 1-2-3 really low and a huge gap to top. My final ratio is 4.22 to 1 right now and she feels like she could pull even taller.

The amazing part is that its SMOOTH! It shakes much less than my Triumph and I think less than my old 350 single engine! That second piston is really helping to cut the vibes.

XJ500T Jaybuilt Kawasaki 500 Bellytank Triple

Builders of incredible homebuilt machines keep popping up and here's another example of a very impressive motorcycle designed for the purpose of handling the twisty roads of California's canyons. This bike consists of a Kawasaki 500cc 2 stroke triple engine, front and rear suspension from a ZX9 and everything else "Jaybuilt." Total weight is 310 pounds!The whole project was really well thought out. His intention was a minimal part count and easy maintenance, engine swaps are under 30 minutes. He built an engine stand that holds the engine with 1 bolt and slides under the bike. Remove a few bolts, disconnect a few wires and hoses and slide bike away, the engine is on the stand. The entire bike can be disassembled with about 20 bolts in under an hour. The fuel is carried in the foam filled bellytank, the area over the engine encloses the expansion chambers. He says heatwrap and directed airflow keeps everything cool.Performance, as you might expect, gets your attention. He geared the bike for a top speed of only 120, he figures he wouldn't be riding anywhere at 160 so why not keep the power where you can use it. There's a lot of interest in 2 strokes among builders of back road specials. I can only imagine what this bike is like to ride, lots of grins for sure. The readers over at the Bay Area Riders Forum, where the builder talks about it, all seem to like it, a lot, and I have to agree with them, this is one superb build.

Moto Guzzi Makeovers

Italian motorcycles are often recognized for their beautiful styling, but one brand (Ducati) tends to overshadow all of the other smaller marques. When you step outside of the Ducati world and look at the other bikes, there's much to appreciate. Recently, I've been noticing more and more really nice examples of the Moto Guzzi lineup, both current and classic, so I thought I would take a closer look at a few.

Bill Johnson, over at DucCutters, was pointing out another bike on his site, a Ducati of course, but while I was there I spotted this Moto Guzzi, the Marrano 1160 and it just struck me as a beautiful piece of work. It's the blue bike shown above and built by Das Mototec of Germany. It's a really clean makeover.

Moto Guzzi's longitudinal crank V-Twin engine has a unique look. If the styling focuses your attention on the drivetrain, like the one shown above, the bikes look great.

After seeing that I dropped over to Ghezzi Brain, the well known Guzzi aftermarket company, to check out their latest work and they have a couple of kits for modifying your bike, this one is the Sport Monza 1100 for your V11. You can add the parts and pieces in stages, body pieces first, suspension components next and finally, engine parts. It looks lighter and tighter than the stock bike and, as any Guzzi should, it shows off the engine to advantage.

One custom shop in Japan that I've mentioned before, Ritmo Sereno, does a variety of bikes, but some of their Moto Guzzis are especially impressive. Browsing their custom Guzzis should give anyone a lot of good ideas for starting their own modifications.Some are quick to point out that these customs can look good because they don't need to meet the restrictions the manufacturer has to consider and it's a valid point but it takes nothing away from what these builders have done. Also, except for the Ghezzi Brian example, the others are modifications to older models no longer produced.

Moto Guzzi has had a number of interesting models over the years and some that don't get the attention they deserve. The Daytona, originally developed by Moto Guzzi working closely with Dr. John Wittner of Pennsylvania, who campaigned a Guzzi in the USA, the 4 valve sportbike looks good and performs very well, maybe not to the standard of Japanese bikes of early 1990s, but definitely a notch up from any standard Guzzi. Another model, only produced for a few years, the Centauro, which actually evolved from the Daytona, looks good to me and works well as a high performance sport touring machine or an all around ride. Buy one of these and you'll stand out from the crowd on bike night, because there just aren't many around and they have an impressive stance. Occasionally, you'll see one or the other come up for sale, and I think, if you like Guzzis at all, you would be smart to keep your eye out for a well maintained used example. They'll probably appreciate over the years and you'll get a lot of enjoyable riding in the meantime.

Of course, some enthusiasts don't care for Moto Guzzis at all, it's really a matter of personal preference, but to my eye, the engine really makes it. The V-Twin was designed with visual appearance in mind, with cooling fins on the cylinders and ribs cast into the cases, it's a nice piece of mechanical eye candy. The longitudinal mounting allows perfectly symmetrical dual exhausts without any extra curves and bends necessary to get equal length pipes and the shaft drive doesn't require an extra 90 degree turn to get to the rear wheel. Nothing extraordinary in these features but they're a nice little extra compared to conventional V-Twin positioning.

If you're really looking for entertainment, Koehler even makes supercharges for the Moto Guzzi V-twin which look like a natural fit but they do seem to take up a lot of space so you would need quite a bit of room to install one.

With the new V7 Classic, a retro model bringing back the appeal of the earlier models, a lot of people may get the chance to see why Moto Guzzis are so popular with some owners. I haven't seen any makeovers of this new model yet and some might see no need for it, but there's always room for a little original thinking so we'll have to see what shows up.

If you think a Moto Guzzi might look good in your garage, if you don't already own one, check out the Moto Guzzi for sale page. If you've never really thought about owning one, they're worth considering, a V-Twin that looks better than some, (especially if you're a motorhead that looks at the engine first) sounds good and not on the road everywhere you look, it's a nice combination.

Snaefell Laverda Sidecar Project

François Knorreck, a French motorcyclist with a passion for building things to suit his own vision, bought a Laverda in 1976 and turned it into a nicely modified sportbike. He rode the bike perfectly satisfied until 1993 when he began to conceive the idea of a new project and got the urge to build again, ideas turned to design and led to lots and lots of labor, the result, more than 10 years later, is the Snaefell, a Laverda based sidecar outfit that demonstrates some phenomenal skills in both design and building.

The Snaefell is a completely hand crafted vehicle, the frame, the wiring harness and, of course, the amazing body, which itself used 63 molds for the parts made of polyester or carbon fiber. Some parts were sourced from Renault, Citroen, BMW, VW and Audi. The entire 10,000 hour project comes in around 15,000 Euros, which, at today's rates, is about $21,000.

Power is from the original 1000cc Laverda triple which gets a matching triple exhaust out the back of the bodywork. The interior, complete with seatbelts, looks like a factory build. The door opens up Lamborghini style. Just stunning work.

Complex projects like these, where the builder does so many things so well, in his spare time, just continue to amaze me every time I see them. Superb work all around.

Harley Davidson Sportster Off Road Conversions

When Doug wrote the other day about what Harley might develop to attract some younger riders, he thought a few Sportster based model variations would be a good place to start. In one of the comments, Todd pointed to some off road machines with Sportster power, sort of a "Dual-Sportster," probably not what most of us were thinking, but, do they look like fun? You betcha. Sometimes the best ideas are a little outside the box.There's also this Baja harley built a few years ago by Jim Stanton. Using a custom frame and YZ 400 forks, some pieces from an ATK and a Sportster V-Twin. It certainly looks the part and reports from Jim say it's a keeper.A couple of years ago I wrote about the Sportrack LB12, a Supermotard with 1200 Sportster power and it looks interesting, tooHarley Davidson hasn't been in the off road or dual sport market for quite a while and some guys might look at these Sportster derivatives and think how easy they could blow them away with the latest Honda or Kawasaki. Maybe so, but that's not what these are all about, these are a fun way to do something different, a creative way to exercise a little engineering skill and a sure way not to get lost in a sea of Japanese MX bikes. I like them, how about you?

Triumph Millenium 900 by Vicente Design

Most of you are familiar with the Triumph Hurricane X75 designed by Craig Vetter. It's a classic with 3 upswept pipes and red orange bodywork. Jean François Vicente, who we saw before when we highlighted some of his classic cafe work, did a custom he calls the Millenium 900. A customer wanted him to build a modern version of the Hurricane using a Triumph 900 Adventurer as the starting point and what you see is the result, a beautifull recreation of the Craig Vetter design, updated with modern hardware and technology.

The composite body looks very much like the original, he made custom stainless pipes in the original style, the forks are from a Honda Valkyrie, the headlight from a Yamaha Fazer 600, Yamaha MT01 handlebars and custom aluminum housings for the stock gauges top it off. The whole project is really well done.

Jean has moved to a new website and now works designing a wide range of projects for his clients. He sent me a note a few weeks ago to let me know he has a lot more more photos of his work online and while looking through them this one really jumped out. I noticed, too, that luca bar pointed to his Sportster Scrambler in a comment on a recent post, it's another nice bit of work.

Jean's site is definitely worth checking out, his Sportster cafe in the Egli Vincent style is another beauty and breaks away from the more common Sportster customs. I could link to many more of his bikes, but it's probably easier if you look over the site on your own. I think you'll like what you see.

Kickboxer – Subaru WRX Powered Motorcycle Concept

Suppose you had an engine from a Subaru WRX and suppose further, you wanted to build a motorcycle, what would it look like? Ian McElroy was thinking about just that and started putting his ideas into Solidworks to see what he could do. One minor problem, though, Ian didn't know how to use Solidworks, so he set about the task of learning the software as he went, taking his ideas and putting them into the computer. What you see here is the result and he thought we might like to take a look.It's radical, to be sure, but no more so than, say, building a motorcycle around a radial engine or any of the other motorcycle and engine combinations we've seen here. But, beyond the concept itself, I really like the fact that Ian decided to jump in and learn the software so he could show everyone what was on his mind and clarify his ideas to see if they would work. It's so easy to say, "I don't know how" and leave it at that, Ian decided to learn it and forge ahead. Nice work!

Victory Vision V-Twin Touring Bikes

Anyone who regularly reads motorcycle magazines has already seen numerous sketches of these not very secret motorcycles from Victory. Now, in conjunction with the New York International Motorcycle Show, Victory has formally unveiled the Victory Vision Tour and the Victory Vision Street, two brand new luxury touring bikes with a completely new style. They will be available from dealers this fall.

When you visit the Victory website you're greeted with this not too subtle comment, "We're not rewriting American history, we're writing its future." Hmm ... I wonder what other American manufacturer they're hinting at? Victory has definitely staked out new territory in the V-Twin touring market with this aerodynamic design which they say offers superb weather protection and from the appearance of the bike I would have no reason to doubt it. Features include six speeds, six gallon forward positioned gas tank, optional electrically adjustable windshield, adjustable rear suspension and all put together in what is a distinctly American style. This is no Gold Wing or BMW.

The Victory Vision comes in two flavors, Tour, with 6750 cubic inches of storage space and Street with 3370 cubic inches of capacity. Seat height is a low 26.5 inches and the seating position is relaxed with a lot of room to move around thanks to integrated floorboards.

Interesting is the lack of specifics on engine displacement, with some time left before it shows up on the showroom floor, it may be a decision that is not yet final.

Overall, this looks like a very clean and new design. It remains to be seen which potential customers will be won over to the Victory Vision, ... Harley or Honda? Or both?

Polaris press release follows:

In a highly anticipated world unveiling, Victory Motorcycles, a division of Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:PII), today launched its new Victory Vision™ family of luxury touring motorcycles at the International Motorcycle Show in New York City. The new bikes, the Victory Vision Street™ and Victory Vision Tour,™ boast Victory’s own thunderous V-Twin engine, unmatched comfort and breakthrough styling - redefining what it means to be an American touring bike.

“We spent nearly six years researching and developing this bike, and more than 28,000 miles riding with customers and are confident that the Victory Vision will fulfill the dreams of people looking to tour on an American Luxury touring bike,” said Mark Blackwell, vice president of Victory Motorcycles and International Operations. “The Victory Vision is perhaps the most pure example of what riders have been asking for: a modern, American V-Twin touring bike.”

A powerful combination of style and comfort, the Victory Vision bikes have four inches of cushion in their seats, a relaxed, feet-forward riding position, the best aerodynamic wind protection and airflow management for all weather riding, ample storage space with modern American styling. The new bikes will be available to riders across the country beginning in fall 2007.

“This is a proud day for Polaris and Victory Motorcycles as we launch a family of motorcycles that 30 years from now people will look back and say, ‘Those bikes fundamentally changed the design of American motorcycles,” said Tom Tiller, CEO, Polaris Industries. “We launched Victory Motorcycles in 1998 with the belief that an American company could design and build the best motorcycles in the world – while not the biggest, we are confident based on feedback from our buyers Victory is the best.”

Ducati rentals and luxury motorcycle tours in the South of France

Columbus International organises luxury motorcycle holidays and offers the largest selection of Ducati rental motorbikes in France. The holidays are made for people, who have a passion for motorcycles, but do not want to neglect the other fine pleasures of life.

There is something for everyone, with tours for gourmet food and wine lovers, sports and culture fans and motor enthusiasts. If you prefer, you can hire a Ducati without a holiday package. The treasures of the South of France are waiting to be explored at your own pace. On the way, you will ride some of Europe's best roads - the famous Route Napoleon, the twisting Col de Turini and breathtaking coastal routes around Monaco and St. Tropez to mention a few.

Their huge choice of rental Ducatis include the Streetfighter, Supersport 848, Hypermotard 1100, Monster 696 and Monster S2R 1000. All motorcycles are less than one year old, insured fully comprehensive as standard and can be delivered to your hotel or residence within 100km of Cannes. In addition, they can provide you with safety gear and helmet cameras to film a unique holiday reminder.

Columbus International also organises day and weekend trips to discover the sights and delights of the Côte d'Azur. A bilingual guide will lead the tour on a separate Ducati and ensure road loads of smiles per miles. If you prefer to travel the region solo, a TomTom sat-nav with pre-loaded routes can be fitted to your chosen Ducati.

Ducati targeting sales of 100 bikes in India over next one year.

Ducati Motors is targeting a sale of around 100 bikes in the Indian next one year, a top company official said.

“We anticipate (selling) around 100 units from India. However, as the Indian market develops faster than any one expects, we are optimistic and hope to do more than that,” Ducati Motor Holding’s Vice President (Sales), Christiano Silie, told PTI here today.

The company also opened its first showroom in India in Mumbai and has plans to set up similar showrooms in the major matros in the next calender year, Silie said.

The showroom in Mumbai has been set up in association with Precision Motor India Private Limited.

$120K Italian Superbike Comes With Swiss Watch

Luxury Italian motorcycle brand MV Agusta is presenting its limited edition $120,000 superbike, the F4CC, in London as part of its new Brutale On Tour event. Only 100 of the handbuilt titanium and carbon fiber bikes (above) are being produced, and each ones comes with an exclusive Girard-Perragaux Swiss watch and a luxurious leather motorcycle jacket by Italian fashion house trussardi. The F4CC, named for MV Agusta director Claudio Castiglioni, is the world's most expensive and exclusive production sport bike. Its 1078 cc engine produces 200 hp and a top speed of 195 mph, and with a weight of 412 lbs. it costs twice as much per pound as a Ferrari.

Lamborghini "Lamborbiker" Motorcycle Concept

Last fall we wrote about a brilliant ferrari V4 motorcycle concept based on the Enzo. Now designer Flavio Adriani has come up with a wicked lamborghini superbikebike concept. The Lamborbiker (above) was inspired by famed Italian automotive architect marcello gandini, formerly chief designer for Bertone and creator of several stunning Lamborghinis including the Countach, and employs the Osmos, a revolutionary hubless orbital wheel. Like the V4, the Lamborbiker is pretty fantastical but aesthetically captivating.

Evo to Debut Electric Superbike

In June UK-based Evo Design will debut its high-performance electric superbike, the EV-0 RR (above), at the TTXGP zero-emissions grand prix on the Isle of man. Evo collaborated with motorcycle design house Xenophya on the motorcycle, which features a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque chassis, forkless single-sided front suspension and twin electric battery-powered engines from Green Motorsport that will deliver serious speed. So far Evo is keeping performance specs under wraps and has not revealed production plans, but TTXGP race rules require that competing bikes be offered for sale at its conclusion for no more than $30,000.

P120 Fighter Combat

The Fighter clarifies opaqueness and nullifies hype with straight-forward true to concept certitude. At the source is a classic right triangle. Proportion is classically derived. Scale is middle way. Bearing exudes structural permanence. Human integration deploys yang energy, vitality, and power in the most simple, pure and direct form. Geometry is optimized for the medium and/or long disciplined journey of sensory heightened motion. Torque to weight is maximized. Engine, suspension and ergonomic luxury and ease of use is optimized. Materials utilization is the finest. Individual piece and component specification is highest and best.

Craft preparation and specification is uncompromised. The aesthetic is fresh, industrial, sculptural, holistic and honest. The saddle of the Fighter is your place for those outings which require extended time, geography, meditation and distance. Personal liberation will result!
ENGINE: Radial twin / 120 cubic inches
POWER: Rear wheel torque - 135 ft lbs | Rear wheel horse power - 160
DIMENSIONS: Wheel Base: 64 inches; Seat Height: 27 inches; Rake: 30 degrees; Trail: 4 inche; Weight: 460 lbs; Fuel: 4 gallons; Oil: 4.5 quarts
CHASSIS: CM design triple load path 6061 aircraft grade aluminum monocoque backbone, bulkhead, fuselage side plate construction; oil/fuel in frame
SWINGARM: CM design 6061 aircraft grade aluminum
FRONT END: CM design double wishbone machined from 6061 aircraft grade aluminum linked to aerodynamic dual lightweight tubular wing blades
PRIMARY: CM design; machined from 6061 aircraft grade aluminum; belt drive
TRANSMISSION: CM design vertical close ratio 5 speed
SUSPENSION: Race tech; low/high speed compression and rebound adjustable
BRAKES: Brembo high output race derived 4 piston technology; radial pumps; carbon, ceramic, aluminum matrix lightweight discs
WHEELS: CM design carbon fiber; Front: 19” x 3” Rear: 18” x 8”
GAUGES: Precision integrated analogue meter; warning, speed, RPM
IDENTIFICATION: Limited edition; each example is one of 120; fuselage, bulkhead, engine VIN

Bajaj to Launch New Bajaj Discover 125cc Bike

Bajaj auto is all set to launch the 125cc variant of its popular model 'Bajaj Discover' in India. Currently it sells Bajaj Discover 135cc variant in India and the model was refreshed last year.

Bajaj has revamped the entire Bajaj Pulsar family and is currently contemplating on doing the same with Bajaj Discover. Bajaj XCD 125cc could not make a huge impact on the market and its sales did not hit off too well either.

In a bid to maintain healthy sales figure in the two wheeler market segment, Bajaj is all set to launch the revamped version of Bajaj Discover in its 125cc model. Bajaj will manufacture the bike in its Pantnagar facility in Uttrakhand and the model is likely to be in the market between September and November 2009. Besides, Bajaj is contemplating a luxury bike namely the Kawasaki Ninja in the super-bikes luxury models segment. The new super bike is anticipated in the Indian market by end 2009.

Blog: Jay On The KTM RC8 Launch

KTM haven't been doing road bike launches for very long, but their shit is tight! The RC8 was the third KTM launch I've been on, and it was as slick and impressive as ever. Check out the line of bikes that greeted us at the luxury Ascari track resort.

The second pic is up in the surrounding mountains. There was some much more dramatic scenery than that, but I was too busy enjoying the RC8 to stop and take a pic.

As for the bike, well you'll have to buy the new issue that's now on sale. A full seven pages await you, with some of the horniest launch pics we've ever had. Big up to Saunders for making the most of them in the design too. All I'm giving away for now is that the RC8 is brilliant. Buy the mag to find out just how good...

Victory Vision V-Twin Touring Bikes

Anyone who regularly reads motorcycle magazines has already seen numerous sketches of these not very secret motorcycles from Victory. Now, in conjunction with the New York International Motorcycle Show, Victory has formally unveiled the Victory Vision Tour and the Victory Vision Street, two brand new luxury touring bikes with a completely new style. They will be available from dealers this fall.

When you visit the Victory website you're greeted with this not too subtle comment, "We're not rewriting American history, we're writing its future." Hmm ... I wonder what other American manufacturer they're hinting at? Victory has definitely staked out new territory in the V-Twin touring market with this aerodynamic design which they say offers superb weather protection and from the appearance of the bike I would have no reason to doubt it. Features include six speeds, six gallon forward positioned gas tank, optional electrically adjustable windshield, adjustable rear suspension and all put together in what is a distinctly American style. This is no Gold Wing or BMW.

The Victory Vision comes in two flavors, Tour, with 6750 cubic inches of storage space and Street with 3370 cubic inches of capacity. Seat height is a low 26.5 inches and the seating position is relaxed with a lot of room to move around thanks to integrated floorboards.

Interesting is the lack of specifics on engine displacement, with some time left before it shows up on the showroom floor, it may be a decision that is not yet final.

Overall, this looks like a very clean and new design. It remains to be seen which potential customers will be won over to the Victory Vision, ... Harley or Honda? Or both?

Cosmos 4RWF and 2RWF V8 Muscle luxury bikes coming in 2010

All Luxury Bikes are like luxury cars model with every spec it tweaked to max. And if they have four wheels like the Cosmos 4RWF 2010 V8 Muscle Bike then it provides you the same bigger bragging right which come from having a Ferrari car.

BMW G 650 Xcountry

BMW G 650 Xcountry, Eat a Road.



The most versatile member of BMW Motorrad's fresh new G series line up, the BMW G 650 Xcountry is the classic scrambler concept topped off with a few modern features unique to BMW, like a zippy 53 hp single cylinder engine, and a high performance lightweight design. With a round head lamp, round side panels and black, anodized wheels, the look of the Xcountry is edgy and totally striking. Add Marzocchi telescopic forks and Magura aluminum handlebars and you can attack any road you want, from dusty gravel tracks to asphalt sweepers. On-road or off-road, theBMW Xcountry is one scrambler that's will have your heart revving as fast as your tachometer.MSRP: $8,200

HYPERMOTARD 1100 S

HYPERMOTARD 1100 S: WHEN TOO MUCH IS NOT ENOUGH

The 1100 S is the ultimate in extreme performance. The “S” takes Hypermotard thrills to an even higher level using Marzocchi 50 mm forks with trick, low friction, titanium nitride (TiN) coating on the sliders and a race-spec Öhlins fully adjustable shock at the rear for fantastic road holding. The incredible stopping force of Brembo Monobloc calipers and lightweight machine finished forged-aluminum wheels complete the awesome chassis set-up, while carbon fiber fork protectors, timing belt covers, rear tail section and front fender show-off its “S” status. Model Hypermotard 1100 S (2008)

Italian super-bikes

Italian super-bikes maker, Ducati Motor Holding has tied up with Precision Motor India (PMI) to sell its range of premium motorcycles in India.

During the launch event in New Delhi on 7 May, Ducati showcased five motorcycles, priced between Rs15 - 50 lakh, for the Indian market.

DucatiThe company plans to introduce its entire range of luxury bike in the booming Indian economy and will bring in another 10 bikes by the end of this year. Ducati aims to sell around 50 units in 2008, which will be imported from Italy as complete built units.

2007 Bimota Tesi 3D

The hub-centre steered Bimota Tesi is back. This is the third generation Bimota Tesi: the 3D. It costs £19,600 and is powered by the Ducati Multistrada 1100 engine. Although the Bimota Tesi is beautifully made, it’s a very cramped motorcycle and the quirky front end doesn’t have anywhere near the feel of a well set-up pair of forks. The cheaper DB5 and DB6 Delerio are leagues ahead in terms of handling, performance and fun-factor.

Engine

There’s a fine line between Ducati’s air-cooled, twin spark 1072cc V-twin motor being fun or disappointing depending on what motorcycle it’s slotted into. In the lightweight DB6 Delirio or Ducati Hypermotard it’s a little gem and you’re left never wanting more. In the heavier Multistrada, DB5 and this Bimota Tesi 3D it just hasn’t got the oomph to make you smile. The Bimota Tesi 3D desperately needs a more powerful motor.

Hwavy bike

Since the floor plan is so open at the Barber, I spotted the machine even before I could get near it. And as I got closer and closer, it was almost certainly glowing. I swear I heard a few angels echoing in the background. With floors so clean you could lick them, the bike looked right at home.

General information
Model:Â Â Â Bimota Tesi 3D
Year:Â Â Â 2007
Category:Â Â Â Sport
Rating:Â Â Â 56.3 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes
Engine and transmission
Displacement:Â Â Â 1079.00 ccm (65.84 cubic inches)
Engine type:Â Â Â Twin
Stroke:Â Â Â 4
Compression:Â Â Â 10.5:1
Bore x stroke:Â Â Â 98.0 x 71.5 mm (3.9 x 2.8 inches)
Gearbox:Â Â Â 6-speed
Transmission type
final drive:Â Â Â Chain
Physical measures
Dry weight:Â Â Â 168.0 kg (370.4 pounds)
Seat height:Â Â Â 800 mm (31.5 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Wheelbase:Â Â Â 1,390 mm (54.7 inches)
Chassis and dimensions
Front suspension travel:Â Â Â 130 mm (5.1 inches)
Front tyre dimensions:Â Â Â 120/70-17
Rear tyre dimensions:Â Â Â 180/55-17
Front brakes:Â Â Â Double disc
Front brakes diameter:Â Â Â 320 mm (12.6 inches)
Rear brakes:Â Â Â Single disc
Rear brakes diameter:Â Â Â 220 mm (8.7 inches)
Exhaust system:Â Â Â Katalysator
Speed and acceleration
Other specifications
Fuel capacity:Â Â Â 11.00 litres (2.91 gallons)
Reserve fuel capacity:Â Â Â 5.00 litres (1.32 gallons)

2007 MV Augusta Brutale 910R Italia

MV Agusta has unveiled Brutale 910R “Italia� first picts, a limited edition created by the italian manufacturer to celebrate the Italian victory in FIFA World Cup. As promised by Claudio Castiglioni, MV Agusta S.p.A President, all Italian Team players and coach will receive one of this exclusively motorcycle.

This Brutale 910R “Italia” will be produced in a limited edition of 100 motorcycles available to MV Agusta collectors and enthusiasts. The 910R “Italia” will feature a colour scheme based on the Italian flag and the team T-shirts. The colour scheme will feature light blue bodywork and the word “Italiaâ€� in the gold shade that adorned the team T-shirts during the recent World Cup. The words “Campioni del Mondo 2006â€� will be featured on the fuel tank below a copy of the cup presented to the winners.

BMW planning to re-introduce its luxury bikes in India

BMW is planning to introduce its high-end Motorrad motorcycles in the country. Peter Kronschnabl, President of BMW India, said that the company is currently analysing the market situation and will take a decision depending on whether or not it is a viable option to bring its luxury bikes to India. Motorrad bikes will be priced at over Rs 10 lakh. At present, the premium bike market in the country is limited to 500 units, but there is a good chance that it will grow in the future. Superbike models that already have a presence in India include the Suzuki Hayabusa, Honda’s 1000RR Fireblade and CBR 1000R and Yamaha’s MT01 and R1.

Honda,Bajaj don’t want to be left out in the Superbike Race

Keeping with that trend, Honda and Bajaj don’t want to be left behind. Honda now intends to provide some competition to the Yamaha R1and the Suzuki Hayabusa by launching the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in india, in the first quarter of this year, and following will be a naked version of the bike (pictured below).

Honda also plans to launch the Honda CB1000R in India alongside it. Both bikes are expected to be priced at around Rs 9.5-10.5 lakhs, making them slightly cheaper alternatives to the R1 and the Hayabusa.