Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Tag Archives: Motorbike news
Desmo Highlight in Shannons Bike Auction
A limited-edition 2008 Ducati Desmosedici RR Eight is a highlight of eight Ducatis spanning 37 years in the Shannons Spring Timed Online Auction from 11-18 November 2020.
They are part of a collection of 37 classic and collectible motorcycles and scooters in the Australian auction which has a total of 176 lots on offer.
The 200hp RR is a road-going replica of the MotoGP machine ridden to victory by Australia’s Casey Stoner in 2007.
It is powered by a liquid-cooled, D16 989cc V-four engine, with a 13,800rpm redline and 300km/h plus top speed and six-speed gearbox.
It is number 606 of the limited edition of 1500 units built worldwide, with the first reportedly going to Hollywood actor and motorcycle fan Tom Cruise.
Only 120 were allocated to Australian customers at more than $100,000 each.
Yet Shannons expects it will fetch a “bargain” price of $65,000-$75,000.
Another highlight of the eight Ducatis on offer is a 1997 Ducati 916 Senna II which has just 11km on the odometer and is number 92 of 300 built.
The model was released to commemorate Formula 1 World Champion, Ayrton Senna, an avid Ducati enthusiast and owner who endorsed its release shortly before his death in May 1994.
Ducati released three Senna editions in 1995, 1998 and 2001. Net proceeds of their sale were donated to the Instituto Ayrton Senna charity.
It is expected to sell in the $45,000-$55,000 range.
Another collectible Ducati in the online auction is a 1986 Ducati Mike Hailwood 1000cc replica ‘Mille’, from the final year of production, regarded as one of the most collectible of these limited-edition bikes.
Introduced to celebrate the accomplishments of legendary motorcycle and F1 car race ace Mike Hailwood, the V-Twin 973cc MHR (Mike Hailwood Replica) arrived in 1984 as a replacement for the already potent 900 MHR.
The bike being auctioned is in original condition except for factory-optioned Conti mufflers.
Only 1100 Mille models were made in 1986, the final year of production. Shannons expects it to sell for $30,000-$38,000.
A Classic ‘Round Case’ 1974 Ducati 750 Sport Classic is expected to fetch a similar price.
Finished in the marque’s iconic yellow, the Ducati features Dellorto PHF32A carburettors, a steel fuel tank, Conti pipes, Borrani wheels and Brembo front brakes.
Last registered many years ago and stored for some time, the bike starts and runs well, but requires minor recommissioning.
There is also a 1973 classic bevel-drive Ducati 750 GT in original condition that comes to auction from a private collection.
About 823 were sold in Australia.
The 750 GT is expected to fetch $25,000-$30,000.
A potentially-cheaper alternative from the same era finished in period ‘orange’ is a 1978 Ducati 860 GT ‘Café Racer’ being offered with no reserve. It is expected to bring $15,000 – $18,000.
A late production 1988 750 F1 with updated spec is expected to sell for $20,000-$25,000.
Only 1801 of these bikes were produced from 1985-1986, plus 700 of the limited-edition versions.
The final bike in the Ducati lot is an original 1971 Ducati 450 Scrambler that inspired the modern range of Scramblers.
It comes in “excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition” and is expected to sell with no reserve in the $12,000 – $15,000 range.
The Sydney Auction showroom has re-opened under reduced hours of 10am-4pm, Monday – Friday; the Melbourne Auction showroom is closed due to Stage 4 restrictions.
For more details of all Shannons Spring Timed Online Auction lots, visit www.shannons.com.au
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
BMW WorldSBK Team 3D Prints Parts Trackside Instantly
Race Teams Get the Coolest Stuff
The BMW WorldSBK Team is obviously on the cutting edge of motorcycle racing technology, but did you know the team also is on the cutting edge in terms of motorsports manufacturing?
The team is actually using 3D printing right at the trackside. According to a recent press release from BMW, the team has a 3D printer right at the racetrack. This enables fast and efficient production of new prototype components right at the circuit.
This opens up all sorts of possibilities. Obviously, more important parts that are high stress would need to be tested before use, but some smaller, less stressed parts and components don’t have to be tested before they can be put into use.
“This technology allows us to make improvements to the RR quickly and efficiently. The development of a WorldSBK bike is an ongoing process and it is often the minor details that make a motorbike better,” said BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers.
The 3D printers at the track do have limited capabilities. This means that for major adjustments, BMW will take what was created or learned at the track and then use them in its Additive Manufacturing Facility.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Tom Cruise Spotted on a Different BMW GS While Filming
Yet Another GS
A while back we reported on the Tom Cruise stunt that he did while filming the latest installment of the Mission Impossible movies. This new sighting of Tom Cruise on the set of Mission Impossible 7 has him riding a BMW GS motorcycle while looking rather dapper.
RideApart shared an Instagram post from olga_avventura who was spending time in Rome and just happened to see Tom Cruise outside a window of the apartment filming scenes for the new movie.
In the video (included below) you can see Cruise walk over to a GS and get on the bike. In the video, you can see that he looks up at the Instagrammer and says hello and tells her to have a nice day.
The motorcycle he’s riding looks like it’s outfitted with police gear and paint job. You don’t see Cruise ride the bike, it’s more like he’s just positioning the motorcycle for the shot. There’s a film crew behind him up the narrow street.
With all of the motorcycles in the movie, I’ll have to be sure and watch it. This one is far less exciting than the massive jump he recently did, but it’s a good indicator that there will be.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Empowersports: Polaris’ New Riding Council for Women
Representation for Women in Motorsports
In 2018, women accounted for 19% of motorcycle riders in America. Polaris aims to bring this number sky-high with their new Empowersports Women’s Riding Council with hopes to drive more participation and representation of women in the Powersports world.
This new council will be operated by 12 successful women coming from all kinds of different backgrounds in motorsport.
The council will host regular meetings with the Polaris group executives to help uncover new ways for women to enter the powersports sphere – even providing considerations for new products and gear to ensure they are suitable for use by women.
Polaris Chief Customer Engagement and Growth Officer Pam Kermisch stated as follows: “For over 65 years, Polaris has created new ways to connect riders with the outdoors on all terrains, and we are committed to inviting more people to join powersports for work and for play“.
The council includes notable women such as (taken from their official press release):
Michelle Barraza
RZR Racer
Carrie Barton
Klim & Timbersled Brand Ambassador, MX Racer, and Tour of Idaho Finisher
Julie-Ann Chapman
She Shreds Mountain Adventures founder and Professional Snowmobiler
Amy David
Professional Mountain Athlete, Skier, Guide, and Polaris Snowmobile Ambassador
Gevin Fax
Actor, Musician, Educator, and Speakers Bureau Ambassador
Vicki Gray
International Female Ride Day and Motoress.com Founder
Lisa Lockhard
Rodero Champion, Rancher and Polaris Ranger Ambassador
Kristen Matlock
Professional RZR racer and SCORE Baja 1000 Champion
Jody Perefitz
Racer and Sturgis Motorcycle Hall-of-Famer
Porsche Taylor
Black Girls Ride Magazine Founder
Jolene Van Vugt
Stuntwoman, Nitro Circus Athlete, and Canaidan Woman’s National MX Champion
Kelly Yazdi
Wild Gypsy Tour creator, Polaris Adventures Ambassador, Actress and Host
Kristen Matlock, current council member said, “For me, riding is a form of expression and freedom that every woman should get the chance to experience. Women have always been a force within the world of powersports, but we haven’t always been a part of the narrative. This council allows us to tell our stories and provide our perspectives our way.”
For more information about the initiative and council members themselves, feel free to stop by the Empower Sports section of the official Polaris website found here.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
FOR SALE: 1986 Yamaha FZ600
A Classic FZ600 You Can Own Today
The FZ name holds weight in today’s day and age. The Yamaha FZ-07, FZ-09, and FZ-10 (recently changed to MT-0X) have dominated the naked sports bike market and brought large popularity to this section of bikes through providing a comfortable yet sporty alternative to Yamaha’s more traditional full-fairing street bikes.
All amazing vehicles have humble beginnings, and this 1986 FZ600 is the original motorcycle that brought weight to the FZ name.
This near-perfect specimen has just 4000 miles on the odometer (300 of which were put on by the current owner), featuring a 599cc inline-four engine that revs to 10,500 RPM, married to a 6-speed transmission with a clean Arizona title.
The bike also features three-spoke wheels sitting in Michelin Pilot Activ tires, dual disks, conventional fork, and a swingarm with a monoshock.
The seat and paint are in perfect condition aside from a small crack and damage location on the lower left fairing. The paint is a beautiful flat white with classic Yamaha FZ red and blue graphics along the fairings.
The most recent owner purchased the motorcycle in 2010, and it has sat with fuel stabilizer for the last decade in storage until today where it is up for auction on bringatrailer.com with no reserve and 7 days left on the auction.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Aprilia RS 660 Debut at Laguna Seca
The Rs 660 Finally Shows up to the Party
If you’ve you’re a fan of Italian motorcycles but are intimidated or have no use for a literbike, the Aprilia brand has pretty off-limits with producing mid-displacement motorcycles – especially ones with that of a sport-bike form. Sure, you have the Mana 850, Shiver 750 and Dosoduro 750; but all these bikes have one thing in common… None of them feature your typical street-bike (crotch rocket) styling and design.
Yamaha has the smaller R6 to their R1, Honda has the CBR 600RR as a smaller option to their 1000RR etc. Aprilia finally hits the market with their agile 600cc class sportbike and have decided to host the official unveiling on the Westcoast of USA at none other than the legendary Laguna Seca race track.
Aprilia has teamed up with Rennie Scaysbrook to be their official demo rider, an Aussie racer who took the Aprilia Tuono V4 on a victory run at the infamous Hillclimb of Pikes Peak.
The brand unveiled a new colour option for the motorcycle at the event in addition to the full-speed race demo to display the capabilities of the motorcycle.
The new RS 660 is a 4100 pound, two-cylinder, 100HP “full-fairing sport bike with semi-handlebar that exploits the dynamic qualities of perfect chassis architecture“, as their official release states.
Currently paired along with their Europian press launch – as of yesterday – those of you in europian markets are welcomed to prebook online and order the new RS 660 from the official Aprilia website.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Orders for Langen’s Two-Stroke are Now Open
Only 100 Will be Made
We’ve reported on the Langen Two-Stroke machine in previous articles. It’s an impressive machine made by Christofer Ratcliffe, the former Chief Design Engineer at acclaimed CCM Motorcycles. Orders for the machine are now open.
The bike is one of the few street bikes out there to feature a two-stroke V-twin engine. And it’s not just any engine. The motorcycle comes with a 250cc made by from Italian company Vins Motors. The engine makes 77 hp and 33 lb-ft of torque.
In most cases, two-stroke engines make great power. However, they struggle to meet emissions, so most companies have let them go. Still, some folks love two-strokes, myself included.
Langen and Vins Motors have teamed up to produce track bikes or limited-edition machines, which are not governed by the same emissions issues that large production models are.
“Judging by the hugely positive response to the new Langen Two Stroke at Blenheim Palace, included more initial pre-orders than I was expecting, my desire to produce motorcycles with a simplicity and purity of days gone by seems to be shared by countless other bike enthusiasts who really seem to savour the amazing sounds and smells of our new Two Stroke,” said Ratcliffe.
If you’re interested in learning more, head over to Langen Motorcycle’s website to see if you can score one of these. The bike costs £28,000 plus tax, but you can secure yours with a pre-order deposit of £1,000.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Aprilia Is Working on a Sub-300cc Model for India
Piaggio Expanding in India
Aprilia will put out a sub-300cc motorcycle for the Indian market.
This news comes from the mouth of Piaggio India managing director and chairman Diego Graffi. In a recent interview he did with Money Control, he said Aprila wants to get into the 250cc to 300cc segment in India in the next three years.
This is a little different from the things he as said in the past, though not completely. He told the world that Aprilia is working on a 300cc to 400cc motorcycle for the Indian market at the Vespa Racing Sixties launch in India in September.
That was the first major move. Now he says 250cc to 300cc, which is a step down in displacement but makes plenty of sense for the Indian market.
“We are … looking at a higher 250-300cc segment. In the next three years, the Indian market will see a motorcycle under the Aprilia brand. We are taking our time because we want to be coherent with our mission and profile, which is to be different and premium and deliver a performance which is not seen in that segment. All this takes time, but the product will come,” Graffi told Money Control.
It will be interesting to see what comes of this. I doubt the little bike will make it outside of India, but the more money Aprilia is making in the country, the more money it will have to build higher displacement bikes for global sale.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Aprilia Australia Confirmed RS 660 Arrival Date and Price Range
Aprilia’s Middle-Displacement Sportbike Is Almost Here
The Aprilia RS660 is a hotly anticipated motorcycle for just about any market out there. In Australia, Aprilia has now said when the model will arrive and roughly what it will cost.
The motorcycle will get official pricing a little closer to arrival, but when those numbers do come in, they should be between $18,500 and $19,00 AUS. The motorcycle will arrive on Australian shores in March of 2021, so you have a bit of a wait before you need to round up your cash or your financing. The price listed above will be inclusive of GST and on-road costs.
What’s interesting is the fact that after the RS660 arrives, Aprilia will likely be hard at work coming out with other middleweight machines.
According to Motorcycle News Australia, there will be a Tuareg adventure bike and a Streetfighter both based on the RS660 platform that will come soon after. How soon, though, is still up in the air.
I knew about the Taureg adventure bike the but I’d only heard rumors of the Streetfighter bike. The fact that the publication lists it like its a sure thing, gets me excited. Time will tell how long Aprilia will take to get those bikes ready.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com