July 9th, 2008
It’s fair to say Honda is probably the most conservative of the major manufacturers - technology is introduced very slowly, designs are far from radical and quality and reliability rule the roost. So what the hell is the DN-01 doing in its product lineup? The category-busting cruisy sports maxi-scooter is set to launch August 1 in the UK, at which point we’ll learn if the market’s ready for a bike so outlandish.
The DN-01 is the first bike to feature Honda’s new infinitely variable “Human-Friendly Transmission” (HFT) which is capable of operating in full automatic ‘drive’ mode or a manual shift 6-speed ’sports’ mode that locks the variable transmission to a set of common ratios that mimic the feel of a tiptronic car system. The HFT is expected to show up on a range of future models from Honda. (more…)
Posted in Scooters, cruisers | No Comments »
February 11th, 2008
This is probably the most labour-intensive custom motorcycle I’ve ever seen. Argentina’s Daniel Echeverria has poured more then 2200 hours into transforming his 1979 Kawasaki 1000 LTD into a motorcycle worthy of King Arthur.
The detail is unbelieveable; custom parts have been scavenged from celtic antiques or hand-designed and cast in bronze. The handlebars are twisted swords, the tank and rear guard are draped in chain mail, and the headlight is a dragon’s head with powerful globes for eyes and a remote-controlled fire-breathing mouth. Even the footboards and brake calipers are works of art - Echeverria has spared no effort or expense in Excalibur’s creation, and he’s built and assembled every tiny detail himself. Click to zoom in on the pics, the thumbnails don’t do it justice.
More including videos after the jump. (more…)
Posted in Custom Bikes, cruisers | No Comments »
February 11th, 2008
Can you believe it’s been 23 years since the Yamaha V-MAX first exploded onto the scene? And can you believe that apart from a fairly minor upgrade in 1993, they’re still selling in pretty much the same trim as they did when Wham’s ‘Careless Whisper’ was topping the charts? The famous V-4 muscle cruiser punched its way into a very special corner of our hearts with its obscene power, heart-stopping “V-boost” and widowmaking reputation; 110 horsepower was all well and good for striking fear into the hearts of dragstrip opponents, but the suspension and brakes are still notorious for punishing the unwary.
Such a bike deserves a fine successor, and Yamaha has been steadily toiling away to put together a modern-day V-MAX worthy of the name. If 110 rear wheel horsepower was enough to mortify the mainstream back in the eighties, it just won’t cut it in this day and age. So we understand that Yamaha is going for an eye-watering 200 rear-wheel horsepower from the V-MAX we expect to see on sale late this year or early in 2009. (more…)
Posted in Concept Bikes, cruisers | 1 Comment »
November 30th, 2007
Legends of the Motorcycle International Concours D’Elegance, now in it’s third year, is the first world-class concours d’elegance exclusively for motorcycles.
Held in California on the spectacular lawns of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel overlooking Half Moon Bay, this charity event pays homage to the finest pre-1978 motorcycles from all over the world and hosts special displays of custom, racing and concept bikes as well as memorabilia.
Bonhams’ successful “Legends Auction” at the Concours last May garnered nearly $1-million in sales, which is quite a remarkable sum for a first time motorcycle sale. Already consigned for the 2008 auction is the famous 1903 Rex Single once owned by Harold Williamson that won the historic 875-mile Land’s End to John o’Groats Run in Great Britain over 100 years ago.
“Last year’s results confirmed the obvious and that is there’s a strong demand for an auction of important collector motorcycles and memorabilia at the world’s foremost motorcycle event”, says Bonhams & Butterfields’ Motoring Department Head, Mark Osborne. “It also demonstrates the continuing interest and upswing in the market for historic bikes.”
“With so many enthusiasts and remarkable motorcycles from around the globe already in one place at one time, an auction is not only natural but a perfect addition to the schedule of events,” says Concours co-founder, Brooke Roner.
The annual Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance will take place on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008. For more information on this unique world event, visit LegendoftheMotorcycle.com.
For more information on Bonhams, visit Bonhams.com. Consignments are now being accepted.
Posted in Custom Bikes, Naked Bikes, Racing, Uncategorized, cruisers | 1 Comment »
November 27th, 2007
The iron-chinned giant of American late-night TV has for years been channeling his lucrative Tonight Show pay packet towards a stunning collection of classic cars and fascinating motorcycles with a passion and depth of knowledge that might surprise you if you’ve only ever known him as a talking head.
His 17,000 square foot garage is home to somewhere around 3,000 vehicles, ranging from a steam-powered car built in 1909, through to the amazing three-wheel Can-Am Spyder and the famous 400km/h helicopter jet turbine-powered Y2K Superbike.
The latest addition is an air-cooled performance cruiser from American twin specialists S&S, featuring the company’s brand new X-Wedge engine. It’s an air-cooled, fuel-injected V-twin with pushrod-actuated valves and it meets the upcoming 2008 ARB and 2010 EPA emissions criteria, making it one of the most environmentally-friendly engines of its type.
Produced and presented to Leno in partnership with Exxonmobil, the bike should ride pretty well for a cruiser - in addition to its cool 70s flat-tracker styling, it’s quite light at under 550 pounds, and features radial Brembo brakes and juicy Ohlins suspension.
The bike will be on display at this year’s Sturgis rally - full press release follows after the jump.
(more…)
Posted in cruisers | 1 Comment »