More Afternoon Moto News - Benelli 2 TechnoTracker & Avon Tires

A new concept motorcycle from the mind of Oberdan Bezzi has come to light. He has designed a Benelli flat-track motorcycle which he calls the Benelli 2 TechnoTracker. It is based on the as yet unreleased Benelli 2ue 756 naked streetbike, and Bezzi expects his design would be competitive in the AMA flat track racing events. We have to get the new bike out of Benelli first, but it sure looks good to me!

http://tinyurl.com/yz5g8f4

The US side of the Avon Tyres company has released a new website. It offers company news, technical details and more! It will also have information on motorcycle events, featured builders, contests and testimonials from Avon users. The website is most useful for researching Avon products, as you might expect, and has some of the best technical details of any tire website on the Internet! Check it out for yourself.

http://tinyurl.com/yk8unxh

MORE Afternoon Moto News - Oberdan Bezzi & Dirico Motorcycles

Designer Oberdan Bezzi has worked with the great motorcycle marques - Ducati, Cagiva, Aprilia, Benelli and Moto Guzzi - during his time. And, it is very likely that you have seen some of his sketches on various motorcycle websites and in many magazines. He is a very creative and makes some designs which demonstrate perfectly the passion he has for motorcycles - just look through them! For a quick interview, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yaw3lgz

Dirico Motorcycles has teamed up with Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler to create three Aerosmith 'Dream On' Pro-Street custom motorcycles for the Ohio Lottery. Each will be emblazoned with Aerosmith logos and the signatures of the entire band. They will be given away in a special scratch-and-win lottery game in Ohio. For all the details, please take the link and get your tickets when they are available!

http://tinyurl.com/y8brvz5

More Afternoon Moto News - Benelli, Billy Joel and Kawasaki WSS

Benelli, now owned by Chinese company Qian Jiang, has opened their first store in Beijing, China. This puts them in a prime space to improve their sales. Beijing is full of newly affluent people who look at such exotic vehicles as a way to show off their new wealth. So, Benelli might find itself selling motorcycles better on the other side of the world than they do in Europe. A great move for them!

http://tinyurl.com/y8o5wuq

Deus Ex Machina has released information on the custom motorcycle they built for Billy Joel. It is based on the now discontinued Kawasaki W650. It looks awesome and is a take on an old-school bobber; he did not want to have a repli-chopper, he wanted something with style, and he got it!

http://tinyurl.com/y8shype

Joan Lascorz and Katsuaki Fujiwara, of the Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com team, were in Almeria testing their World Supersport machinery in preparation for the Portugal test happening this weekend. It does seem that they had a good test and it all went well, so they expect an even better test at Portimao.

http://tinyurl.com/yb4kun5

Riding Impression: 2010 Benelli TRE899K

Well, you certainly do not see many of them on the streets around the US, but they are ever popular on the streets of Europe - and for good reason. It's that Italian passion which goes into the manufacture of every machine which rolls out of their factory. Plus, this Benelli Tre899K is one hell of a great middle-weight sport tourer and you should do whatever you can to get your hands on one!

http://tinyurl.com/ye38pm9

P.S. There is another post on this beauty, but it is not as in depth as this article.

Incredible List of Italian Motorcycle Museums (in Italy)

Some of the collections are only available to view via appointment, so check the details to be sure. This list is quite inclusive and includes some of the rarest and most beautiful machines on the planet. The only problem...all of them are in Italy. But, that is a good reason for a vacation!

http://tinyurl.com/yfa4mlp

2010 Ducati Streetfighter versus 2008 Benelli TnT 1130

Ducati versus Benelli - a huge company up against what is essentially a boutique bike maker - and the Streetfighter comes out on top. We could all expect that outcome, but the Benelli offers plenty that the Ducati cannot offer. But, with large production facilities come lower overall prices on components, so Ducati can produce a motorcycle which is cheaper and better equipped than the small Benelli concern can possibly match. The TnT 1130 does shine rather well when it is up against something back as strongly as the Ducati.

http://tinyurl.com/yhl7626

Australian Ivan Casson Has an Impressive Collection of Historic Motorcycles

Casson lives in Australia and has a very nice, reinforced and secure garage in the back of his house there. Inside the garage is an enviable collection of some very fine motorcycles. A jaw-droppingly well-maintained 1933 Matchless Silver Hawk, and bikes from BSA, Brough Superior, Vincent, Ariel, Sunbeam and four Triumphs, a Speed Twin, Tiger, 3T and Thunderbird - all are in his garage, but that is not all. From the modern age, a mint-condition 1982 Honda CB1100R, a Benelli Sei six-cylinder and a BMW R100RT. Check out the story after the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y9ukmoz

First Look: 2010 Benelli TnT 1130 R160

Not much here, but there are some important differences - all the carbon fiber is one! This TnT R160 is a hyped-up version of the original TnT 1130 base model - though, I am not sure you can call any Benelli 'base'. All Benelli's are works of pure passion. Another beautiful machine from Italy! Someday...

http://tinyurl.com/ye5qlnz

Another close look: http://tinyurl.com/yj52wzf

A Trip Back in Time to the Glorious Six-Cylinder Superbikes

We all know about them - at least one of them, anyway - and you may see one or two riding down the road if you are lucky. I tend to see most of them at shows, though. The bikes were produced in the late 70's and early 80's, and three models are covered in this: the Honda CBX, the Benelli 900 Sei, and the Kawasaki KZ1300. The most popular of these is the CBX, but you really should take a look at this article and learn about the other two...

http://tinyurl.com/yjtpzm6

First Ride: 2009 Benelli Tre-K 899

An adventure bike from an upscale manufacturer, the Benelli Tre-K is actually a very good ride. It is said that the smaller engine, an 899c.c. triple, is much smoother than its bigger brother the 1130. The power is tractable, geared for low-to-mid-range power, which is perfect for a bike of this type, and flexible. Adding to all of this is that lovely Italian styling...doesn't it look almost too beautiful to get dirty???

http://tinyurl.com/yhgsz3l

A Tribute to the Classic Chopper - the Fallout Motorcycle Concept

William Woods took a Benelli frame and went crazy from there. It does seem like we have seen some concept bikes which are similar, but take a look at that engine - it's NOT a V-twin for a change. It takes motorcycle design in a good - and slightly different - direction. Have a look as there are more images after the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yg9khfq

17th Annual Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance Features Historic Motorcycles

A Ferrari motorcycle stands as testament to the fact that it is name which more than one family shares. It is a beautiful piece, though, and certainly qualifies in the realm of Italian moto design. To the left you see an example of a simply stunning 1961 Ducati 175 Sport! So many lovely machines in one place. Plus, after the link, they have some incredible hi-res photos. Oh, and there were some cars there too...

http://tinyurl.com/nf2p2c

I am very sorry to have missed this...

Heading to Australia and Need to Rent a Motorcycle?

If you are going to be in NSW - just north of Sydney - you can rent from Central Coast Motorcycles in West Gosford. They will rent you any bike you desire as long as you want a MV Agusta, Benelli, Moto Morini or a Suzuki. Give them a call...

http://www.centralcoastmotorcyclesandscooters.com/