New & Noteworthy

May 6, 2008 Suzuki’s Balance of Power Arguably the most rideable superbike, the GSX-R750 from Suzuki sometimes gets forgotten as riders move up from their 600cc sport bikes to the ultimate performers: the liter-bike class. But it would be a mistake to underestimate the 750, which falls perfectly between the less powerful 600 and the insanely powerful 1000. Suzuki has persevered with this particular model—even though there’s no longer a suitable displacement racing class—simply because the motorcycle is such a complete machine. It has a lot of power, but not too much. It feels compact, and yet it is somehow comfortable too. The reach to the handlebars is relatively short, and all controls fall easily to hand or foot. But it’s the lithe, precise handling and smooth, seamless motor that really make this motorcycle such a pleasure to ride. The 2008 model has been tweaked for greater mid-range torque—and it’s a noticeable improvement over the 2007 model—and the styling has been updated too. With subtle references that hearken back to its 1980s roots, and yet with the lean, purposeful stance we’ve come to expect from a modern superbike, the GSX-R750 is that perfect balance of power and handling that allows a rider to challenge himself without intimidation. (http://www.suzukicycles.com) ―Arthur Coldwells
March 4, 2008 Legendary Bikes Hit the Auction Block Renowned auction house Bonhams & Butterfields will host an auction of rare and historic motorcycles at the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance on May 3 at Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, which is south of San Francisco. Among the legendary bikes on the block is the famous 1903 Rex Single once owned by Harold Williamson, which won the historic 875-mile Land’s End to John o’Groats Run in Great Britain more than 100 years ago. Last year’s inaugural Bonhams’ auction garnered nearly $1 million in sales―a remarkable sum for a first-time motorcycle sale. “Last year’s results confirmed the obvious, that is there’s a strong demand for an auction of important collector motorcycles and memorabilia at the world’s foremost motorcycle event,” says Mark Osborne, head of Bonhams & Butterfields’ Motoring department. “It also demonstrates the continuing interest and upswing in the market for historic bikes.” (www.LegendoftheMotorcycle.com) ―Arthur Coldwells
February 19, 2008 Arlen Ness Headlines at Motorcycle Event Industry icon Arlen Ness, a master bike builder and pioneer of the custom- motorcycle industry, will share stories from his celebrated career on March 7 at the 20th Annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum fund-raising event, to be held during Daytona Bike Week. Proceeds from the event, which is open to the public for $49 a ticket, will support the preservation and education initiatives of the nonprofit Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The museum includes award-winning exhibits and the country’s sole hall of fame honoring America’s motorcycling legends. A 1992 inductee into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, Ness launched his career in the late 1960s with the customization of a 1947 Harley Knucklehead. He entered the bike in a local motorcycle show and won, drawing the attention of the press―and future customers. Ness’ unique vision resulted in some of the most influential custom bikes of the past decades. His designs have been studied―and copied―by everyone from other bike builders to factory engineers. Two of his most memorable creations, built in the 1990s, are the 1957 Chevy bike, formally known as the “Ness-talgia,” which perfectly recalls the classic car, and the “Smooth-Ness,” a flowing design inspired by a bronze of a Bugatti automobile. (www.motorcyclemuseum.org) ―Arthur Coldwells
February 5, 2008 2008 Bimota DB6R Unveiled Bimota’s newly released DB6R is being hailed as the “more aggressive version of the successful naked Delirio” by the Italian motorcycle company. The DB6R is likely to be even more agile as it’s considerably lighter than its sibling and is propelled by the powerful new 1100 Ducati engine that now features a ‘slipper’ dry clutch. The chassis boasts a plethora of exotic components with an Extreme Tech steering damper to help reduce any front-end nervousness, and liberal use of durable yet lightweight carbon fiber including radiator air scoops, fairing sides, belt-covers, clutch cover, front mudguard, and side covers. The forged alloy wheels also play their part by reducing unsprung weight by an incredible 12 pounds. The full Brembo braking system is composed of two radial calipers up front and a new radial pump at the handlebar. The rear brake now features a floating disk, and these features will combine to give the bike a powerful race-performance braking system. With its claimed dry weight of only 374.8 pounds, the ultralight DB6R weighs 15.5 pounds less than its Delirio sibling, presumably turning this already great performing exotic into a spectacular one. (www.bimotausa.com) ―Arthur Coldwells
January 22, 2008 MotoGP Goes Dark Motor racing at night is not necessarily unusual, but now it arrives at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing—the MotoGP World Championship— for the first time in March. Hosted at the Losail circuit in Doha, Qatar, the race will be the first MotoGP clash to be run in the dark, with the green flag dropping at 11p.m. After a recent test of the flood-lit circuit, five riders unanimously affirmed the decision by Dorna, owners of MotoGP, to go ahead with the actual race. “It’s going to be more exciting to race at night,” says ex-Ducati (now Suzuki) factory rider Loris Capirossi, who concurred the lighting was as a good as daylight. “There are no problems with shadows or reflections.” With the bikes touching well over 200 mph on the front straight and possessing the precision necessary to pilot these machines around the mind-numbingly fast circuit in Qatar, it will be interesting to see how the riders fare in this new experiment. Tune to www.SPEEDTV.com on March 9 to find out! ―Arthur Coldwells
January 8, 2008 The Tamer Touring Beast Honda’s VTX1300 is the lightweight alternative to the massive VTX1800. While there is no reason to complain about the VTX1800’s enormous power and displacement, the sheer mass of the cruiser is a little too much for many riders. The VTX1300’s 50-pound weight difference is distinctly noticeable with the ease of the motorcycle’s handling, and the 1312cc liquid-cooled 52° V-twin keeps the punch packed in to the slightly smaller package. New in 2008, the VTX1300 comes in a touring guise, complete with spacious saddle bags, a large windshield, and a backrest for passenger gratification. Built for those longer rides on the open road, the VTX1300T ($10,999) provides the road warrior with comfort and performance in a manageable size. (www.powersports.honda.com) ―Daniel Curtis
December 18, 2007 A Superbike for the Street Kawasaki’s new Ninja ZX-10R handled the superfast Losail track in Qatar superbly when it was launched there in December. This spectacular motorcycle gives controllable liter-bike horsepower in a 600-size package. With enhanced high-rpm performance, new gear ratios, and an extra tooth on the rear sprocket, the ZX-10R’s performance is in line with Kawasaki’s factory superbikes. The Ninja’s commanding power is balanced with a superb chassis that provides excellent handling. The engineers at Kawasaki lengthened the steering tube, subtly altered the frame to relax stress concentrations, and mounted a slimmer, two-piece sub-frame to the main frame’s cross member. With its sharp aerodynamic styling and precision performance, the Ninja ($11,549) lives up to its namesake. (www.kawasaki.com) —Daniel Curtis
December 4, 2007 Get Your Moto Runnin’ After Moto Guzzi introduced the first Breva 1100 in 2006, customers craved a sportier version of their favorite Guzzi. The 2008 Breva 1200 Sport is a stronger, more aggressive sibling to the 1100, with improved frontal suspension, more horsepower, improved brakes with wave rotors, and better seating position with a lowered set of handlebars. The Breva 1200 is the consummate bike for riders who want to cruise comfortably for hours, while the performance features punch up any ride. Available in Corsa red or Guzzi black, the bike starts at $13,590. (www.motoguzzi-us.com) —Alexandra Foster
November 1, 2007 Born to Be Wild Ducati’s long-awaited and much-hyped Desmosedici D16RR (the road-going version of its MotoGP weapon) is now almost ready for sale. With production delays finally a thing of the past and the assembly line readied at the factory in Borgo Panigale, Italy, Ducati invited us to Miller Motorsports Park in Utah to ride the 200-horsepower V-4. The Desmosedici sports Öhlins gas-charged suspension, custom-made Bridgestone tires, and carbon-fiber and magnesium parts used throughout for expensive weight-savings. As expected, the motorcycle was not just spectacular to look at; it performed commensurately as well. Ducati estimates deliveries of the $75,000 machine to begin in early 2008. Read our full ride review in the December/January issue of Robb Report MotorCycling, on newsstands November 27. (www.ducatiusa.com) —Arthur Coldwells
November 1, 2007 Harley-Davidson Rocks Out With a raked-out front end and big 240mm rear tire, Harley’s new Softail Rocker brings the custom chopper aesthetic to the motor company. Although it looks like a hard tail, the Rocker actually uses Harley’s clever Softail rear end with hidden suspension to make a surprisingly good-handling motorcycle with loads of charisma. The rear fender appears suspended without visible support and a clever flip-out dual seat stays hidden for one-up riding and a super-clean look. The new Rocker is now available at H-D dealers nationwide. (www.harley-davidson.com) —Arthur Coldwells
November 1, 2007 Sport Riders Ready for Concours 14 Kawasaki’s ZX-14 fathered the astonishing new Concours 14 sport tourer. Utilizing the same monster four-cylinder power but adding variable cam timing to help the mid-range power production, Kawasaki has produced a wonderfully versatile motorcycle capable of serious fatigue-free mileage as well. With wind-tunnel-developed fairing and windshield, the Concours offers the sport rider decent protection, and the male-slider forks with radial brakes and a stiff aluminum chassis combine to provide excellent handling and rideability. (www.kawasaki.com) —Arthur Coldwells

May 6, 2008

Suzuki’s Balance of Power

Arguably the most rideable superbike, the GSX-R750 from Suzuki sometimes gets forgotten as riders move up from their 600cc sport bikes to the ultimate performers: the liter-bike class. But it would be a mistake to underestimate the 750, which falls perfectly between the less powerful 600 and the insanely powerful 1000. Suzuki has persevered with this particular model—even though there’s no longer a suitable displacement racing class—simply because the motorcycle is such a complete machine. It has a lot of power, but not too much. It feels compact, and yet it is somehow comfortable too. The reach to the handlebars is relatively short, and all controls fall easily to hand or foot. But it’s the lithe, precise handling and smooth, seamless motor that really make this motorcycle such a pleasure to ride. The 2008 model has been tweaked for greater mid-range torque—and it’s a noticeable improvement over the 2007 model—and the styling has been updated too. With subtle references that hearken back to its 1980s roots, and yet with the lean, purposeful stance we’ve come to expect from a modern superbike, the GSX-R750 is that perfect balance of power and handling that allows a rider to challenge himself without intimidation. (http://www.suzukicycles.com)

―Arthur Coldwells

March 4, 2008

Legendary Bikes Hit the Auction Block

Renowned auction house Bonhams & Butterfields will host an auction of rare and historic motorcycles at the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance on May 3 at Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, which is south of San Francisco. Among the legendary bikes on the block is the famous 1903 Rex Single once owned by Harold Williamson, which won the historic 875-mile Land’s End to John o’Groats Run in Great Britain more than 100 years ago.

Last year’s inaugural Bonhams’ auction garnered nearly $1 million in sales―a remarkable sum for a first-time motorcycle sale. “Last year’s results confirmed the obvious, that is there’s a strong demand for an auction of important collector motorcycles and memorabilia at the world’s foremost motorcycle event,” says Mark Osborne, head of Bonhams & Butterfields’ Motoring department. “It also demonstrates the continuing interest and upswing in the market for historic bikes.” (www.LegendoftheMotorcycle.com)

―Arthur Coldwells

February 19, 2008

Arlen Ness Headlines at Motorcycle Event

Industry icon Arlen Ness, a master bike builder and pioneer of the custom- motorcycle industry, will share stories from his celebrated career on March 7 at the 20th Annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum fund-raising event, to be held during Daytona Bike Week. Proceeds from the event, which is open to the public for $49 a ticket, will support the preservation and education initiatives of the nonprofit Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The museum includes award-winning exhibits and the country’s sole hall of fame honoring America’s motorcycling legends.

A 1992 inductee into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, Ness launched his career in the late 1960s with the customization of a 1947 Harley Knucklehead. He entered the bike in a local motorcycle show and won, drawing the attention of the press―and future customers. Ness’ unique vision resulted in some of the most influential custom bikes of the past decades. His designs have been studied―and copied―by everyone from other bike builders to factory engineers. Two of his most memorable creations, built in the 1990s, are the 1957 Chevy bike, formally known as the “Ness-talgia,” which perfectly recalls the classic car, and the “Smooth-Ness,” a flowing design inspired by a bronze of a Bugatti automobile. (www.motorcyclemuseum.org)

―Arthur Coldwells

February 5, 2008

2008 Bimota DB6R Unveiled

Bimota’s newly released DB6R is being hailed as the “more aggressive version of the successful naked Delirio” by the Italian motorcycle company. The DB6R is likely to be even more agile as it’s considerably lighter than its sibling and is propelled by the powerful new 1100 Ducati engine that now features a ‘slipper’ dry clutch. The chassis boasts a plethora of exotic components with an Extreme Tech steering damper to help reduce any front-end nervousness, and liberal use of durable yet lightweight carbon fiber including radiator air scoops, fairing sides, belt-covers, clutch cover, front mudguard, and side covers. The forged alloy wheels also play their part by reducing unsprung weight by an incredible 12 pounds. The full Brembo braking system is composed of two radial calipers up front and a new radial pump at the handlebar. The rear brake now features a floating disk, and these features will combine to give the bike a powerful race-performance braking system. With its claimed dry weight of only 374.8 pounds, the ultralight DB6R weighs 15.5 pounds less than its Delirio sibling, presumably turning this already great performing exotic into a spectacular one. (www.bimotausa.com)

―Arthur Coldwells

January 22, 2008

MotoGP Goes Dark

Motor racing at night is not necessarily unusual, but now it arrives at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing—the MotoGP World Championship— for the first time in March. Hosted at the Losail circuit in Doha, Qatar, the race will be the first MotoGP clash to be run in the dark, with the green flag dropping at 11p.m. After a recent test of the flood-lit circuit, five riders unanimously affirmed the decision by Dorna, owners of MotoGP, to go ahead with the actual race. “It’s going to be more exciting to race at night,” says ex-Ducati (now Suzuki) factory rider Loris Capirossi, who concurred the lighting was as a good as daylight. “There are no problems with shadows or reflections.” With the bikes touching well over 200 mph on the front straight and possessing the precision necessary to pilot these machines around the mind-numbingly fast circuit in Qatar, it will be interesting to see how the riders fare in this new experiment. Tune to www.SPEEDTV.com on March 9 to find out!

―Arthur Coldwells

January 8, 2008

The Tamer Touring Beast

Honda’s VTX1300 is the lightweight alternative to the massive VTX1800. While there is no reason to complain about the VTX1800’s enormous power and displacement, the sheer mass of the cruiser is a little too much for many riders. The VTX1300’s 50-pound weight difference is distinctly noticeable with the ease of the motorcycle’s handling, and the 1312cc liquid-cooled 52° V-twin keeps the punch packed in to the slightly smaller package. New in 2008, the VTX1300 comes in a touring guise, complete with spacious saddle bags, a large windshield, and a backrest for passenger gratification. Built for those longer rides on the open road, the VTX1300T ($10,999) provides the road warrior with comfort and performance in a manageable size. (www.powersports.honda.com)

―Daniel Curtis

December 18, 2007

A Superbike for the Street

Kawasaki’s new Ninja ZX-10R handled the superfast Losail track in Qatar superbly when it was launched there in December. This spectacular motorcycle gives controllable liter-bike horsepower in a 600-size package. With enhanced high-rpm performance, new gear ratios, and an extra tooth on the rear sprocket, the ZX-10R’s performance is in line with Kawasaki’s factory superbikes. The Ninja’s commanding power is balanced with a superb chassis that provides excellent handling. The engineers at Kawasaki lengthened the steering tube, subtly altered the frame to relax stress concentrations, and mounted a slimmer, two-piece sub-frame to the main frame’s cross member. With its sharp aerodynamic styling and precision performance, the Ninja ($11,549) lives up to its namesake. (www.kawasaki.com)

—Daniel Curtis

December 4, 2007

Get Your Moto Runnin’

After Moto Guzzi introduced the first Breva 1100 in 2006, customers craved a sportier version of their favorite Guzzi. The 2008 Breva 1200 Sport is a stronger, more aggressive sibling to the 1100, with improved frontal suspension, more horsepower, improved brakes with wave rotors, and better seating position with a lowered set of handlebars. The Breva 1200 is the consummate bike for riders who want to cruise comfortably for hours, while the performance features punch up any ride. Available in Corsa red or Guzzi black, the bike starts at $13,590. (www.motoguzzi-us.com)

—Alexandra Foster

November 1, 2007

Born to Be Wild

Ducati’s long-awaited and much-hyped Desmosedici D16RR (the road-going version of its MotoGP weapon) is now almost ready for sale. With production delays finally a thing of the past and the assembly line readied at the factory in Borgo Panigale, Italy, Ducati invited us to Miller Motorsports Park in Utah to ride the 200-horsepower V-4. The Desmosedici sports Öhlins gas-charged suspension, custom-made Bridgestone tires, and carbon-fiber and magnesium parts used throughout for expensive weight-savings. As expected, the motorcycle was not just spectacular to look at; it performed commensurately as well. Ducati estimates deliveries of the $75,000 machine to begin in early 2008. Read our full ride review in the December/January issue of Robb Report MotorCycling, on newsstands November 27. (www.ducatiusa.com)

—Arthur Coldwells

November 1, 2007

Harley-Davidson Rocks Out

With a raked-out front end and big 240mm rear tire, Harley’s new Softail Rocker brings the custom chopper aesthetic to the motor company. Although it looks like a hard tail, the Rocker actually uses Harley’s clever Softail rear end with hidden suspension to make a surprisingly good-handling motorcycle with loads of charisma. The rear fender appears suspended without visible support and a clever flip-out dual seat stays hidden for one-up riding and a super-clean look. The new Rocker is now available at H-D dealers nationwide. (www.harley-davidson.com)

—Arthur Coldwells

November 1, 2007

Sport Riders Ready for Concours 14

Kawasaki’s ZX-14 fathered the astonishing new Concours 14 sport tourer. Utilizing the same monster four-cylinder power but adding variable cam timing to help the mid-range power production, Kawasaki has produced a wonderfully versatile motorcycle capable of serious fatigue-free mileage as well. With wind-tunnel-developed fairing and windshield, the Concours offers the sport rider decent protection, and the male-slider forks with radial brakes and a stiff aluminum chassis combine to provide excellent handling and rideability. (www.kawasaki.com)

—Arthur Coldwells