Some Recent Articles Written by Yours Truly

My services will no longer be needed by All About Bikes as they have hired a new full-time writer in order to save money (which is odd when you consider how little I was compensated, but what do I know?). Hopefully, I will find a position somewhere else so that I can continue this passion.

First on this list is a piece about Moto Morini rising from the ashes: http://tinyurl.com/3s9q6bw

One of my favorite engine stories, the Moto Guzzi V8 Grand Prix: http://tinyurl.com/3slbawa

And, final for now, BMW and their constant evolution: http://tinyurl.com/3z7v8zu

There are several more which have yet to be posted here, so I will be getting back on them soon. Bit by bit...

Thank you!

Rumor: Ducati and Piaggio May Merge!

With the economy still in the toilet, Ducati and Piaggio both are still feeling the sting of lower sales of both bikes and licensed accessories - few people have enough money to buy anything. Add that to the rumors of a possible sale of the Piaggio Group of motorcycle and scooter manufacturers and you get this rumor: Ducati and Piaggio to merge. It is nowhere near confirmed, but it could mark a point where the Italian motorcycle industry can grow and may actually be able to compete with the Japanese (and British and American) on their terms. So, stay tuned and we will see if this comes to fruition or is forgotten by history.

http://tinyurl.com/ylaa5lv

http://tinyurl.com/yfc6oho

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 Moto News - 214MPG Motorcycle, Coppa Acerbo & Biodiesel

Yep, you too can have a motorcycle which sips fuel at around 214 mpg (91 km/liter). Dutch designer/builder Allert Jacobs has built a streamlined machine which achieves that incredible fuel efficiency - though, he did miss his goal, so far, of 235 mpg (100 km/liter). He used a Honda Innova ANF125i, a 125c.c. motorcycle out of Asia, and turned it into a recumbent motorcycle, but made very few changes to the engine itself. Check it out!

http://tinyurl.com/yeartxd

Filippo Barbacane is at it again. This time it's a custom Moto Guzzi V11 and he has tarted it up a bit and renamed it Coppa Acerbo. That name comes from a race which was held in Pescara, Italy, from 1924 to 1961, which was then renamed (Circuito di Pescara) for Giacomo Acerbo, the creator of the race. He has done some amazing work on this machine, as he always does, and it is worth a look.

http://tinyurl.com/yktlyvn

The Metalback is a V-4 biodiesel-powered motorcycle which is made from recycled aluminum - and no paint. It is an environmental tour de force and is the brainchild of Jordan Meadows, a former auto designer. The bike is designed to run on just about any biodiesel you can find, and it is incredibly fuel-efficient. Have a look and you will see why these machines are getting so much press.

http://tinyurl.com/yeplsne

Tuesday Afternoon Moto News - Bill Werner and a Comparo

Legendary flat track tuner Bill Werner has turned his talents on a Kawasaki Ninja 650 and turned it into a competitive in the AMA Grand National Twins class. And, to add to it all, Werner managed to hire former Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew member Bryan Smith to tackle this challenge. The idea is to make it affordable again to race in the series. As it is, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, who dominate the series, are incredibly expensive to run for a full season and many amateurs simply cannot afford to keep up the maintenance on the race machine.

http://tinyurl.com/ycjm2dy

Now I will direct your attention to a shootout between sub-US$8K cruisers. They put the H-D 883 Iron, Moto Guzzi V7 Classic, Yamaha / Star V-Star 950, and the Triumph Bonneville through the paces to see which one of them is the best at what they do and the best value. See which one wins...I'll give you a hint, it's not the American one.

http://tinyurl.com/yb9ypbc

Some Wednesday Evening Moto News - Tom Houseworth and Moto Guzzi

We are being graced with an interview of Tom Houseworth, crew chief for the Yamaha World Superbike factory team and Ben Spies. Houseworth will be going with Spies to MotoGP in 2010, and it is expected that they will continue to work very well together. So, how does he feel about Spies winning the WSBK title in 2009 and their imminent move to the premier racing series? Well, take the link and find out.


http://tinyurl.com/ykjbeeb


Also, we have news that Spanish Ducati specialists Radical Ducati have taken a turn on a Moto Guzzi. They have modified a 2003 California 1100 to look and ride like a dirt track machine. It sure looks 'different' and a bit odd, but it works for me!


http://tinyurl.com/yf59d87

Rumors, Financials, New Models - More Moto News from Europe and Beyond

This is the standard "Euro Gossip" column from MotorcycleUSA and we see a round up from the end of 2009 within this article. It really seems to be an almost year-end-review, but there is plenty of news about the future as well. MV Agusta, KTM, Derbi, Moto Guzzi and many more are talked about here, so don't miss this as any of the stories here may well not make the normal moto news cycle.

http://tinyurl.com/y9vqodz

More Wednesday Moto News from Just About Everywhere

This one will be at least two parts as I am sure to run out of room here...

The MCN Motorcycle Show in London is adding even more manufacturers to the list of attendees. There is one story here, but there are many others if you look. As more come in, I will update the list of links.

Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Derbi: http://tinyurl.com/y9gk6gm

This is surely a rare motorcycle! The Lloyd Brothers-prepared Aprilia RSV Mille Flat Track Race Bike is for sale on eBay in California. This is the same machine which Larry Pegram made the main at the historic Springfield Mile. The machine, so far, is going for less than US$3K, believe it or not. It's funny, but when I first saw this machine a while back, I wanted it! Too bad I cannot afford it now...

http://tinyurl.com/ydf8yf5

We also have some good news, we all hope! The Wheatcroft family, who are the owners of Donington Park, have said that they will re-open the circuit as soon as possible. That is wonderful news as this historic track should not be relegated to the dustbin of history.

http://tinyurl.com/y9v7ajd

Monday Evening Moto News - Moto Guzzi and Some Entertainment

From Italy comes the Sport Monza 1000 kit for Moto Guzzi V11 Sport. It is designed by Ghezzi-Brian, who is also responsible for the enigmatic Moto Guzzi MGS-01 race machine. This is a kit to change your V11 into something much more sport-oriented and much sleeker in appearance. The entire kit will set you back quite a bit - even the aesthetic kit (just for the outside of the bike, but it includes some serious parts) sells for €5240 (US$7,600) - but what price perfection? Have a look...

http://tinyurl.com/yatjfgw

The 2009 Portugal ISDE DVD has also just released - a little late for Christmas, but not too bad considering the event was only held a few months ago. It is a two-disc set and is comprised of the Team USA assault on the trophy. It also includes the Junior and Women's teams as well. It's worth watching every minute!

http://tinyurl.com/ycwkpjd

Of Course - The Moto Guzzi 500 V8 Grand Prix Racer

You should know this one (it is also doing the rounds on the Internet presently), it is the historic Moto Guzzi V8 500c.c. motorcycle made for grand prix racing back in 1955-57. It is a work of art, and a technical tour-de-force, so be careful...

http://tinyurl.com/yddpf78

Naza Group to Become Sole Malaysian Importer for Piaggio

Naza Group is a well-established motorcycle company in Malaysia - and, Piaggio Group is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Europe. So, this is a big deal for the Asian nation. They will have full access to Piaggio's entire line of motorcycles: Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Gilera, Derbi and Vespa.

http://tinyurl.com/ylzp34a

First Look: 2010 Moto Guzzi Griso 8V SE

Another lovely machine from the Italian masters at Moto Guzzi. This Griso 8V SE is a limited edition version which Moto Guzzi will make available in 2010. However, I did not see how many they will produce. The attention to detail on the Griso is second to none - look at how well they hid the wires, cables and hoses - not all of them are gone, but what you see is mostly braided cables. I cannot wait to get a chance to try her out...

http://tinyurl.com/yard2fe

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

Bad Economy Bites into International Motorcycle Show at Long Beach

It's true, there will be 9% fewer exhibitors due to the sour global economy. Piaggio group will not be there; Kymco, KTM and Buell (obvious) will also not show up for the event. Unfortunately, most of these companies are working to help their dealers and other connected companies to weather this recession, so there is little money to throw at a trade show presently. All understandable, but I hope that next year will be much, much better!

http://tinyurl.com/yh8avts

Jay Leno Livens Up Piaggio Group North American Dealer Meeting

That's right, Jay Leno was at the Piaggio dealer meeting this past October in Carlsbad, CA. Apparently, he kept the audience laughing while the 2010 model line was introduced. Of course, the real star of the show was the 2010 RSV-4 Factory and its little sister, the RSV-4R. Must have been a great event to attend...

http://tinyurl.com/yepq3ym

First Ride: 2010 Moto Guzzi Stelvio ABS

Moto Guzzi has created another great motorcycle, the 2010 Stelvio ABS is certain to hold a position among their most flexible designs. This is, as the article says, a bike which Guzzi should have built when they released the original Stelvio - a solid and (possible) real contender for the BMW R1200GS. It is priced right, handles wonderfully and has similar horsepower, but less weight, to the GS. A solid and well-rounded bike which could very well find its way into my garage.

http://tinyurl.com/ya8gohg

eBay Find: 1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport from Combined Design

This is a lovely Italian beauty. The 1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport may not exactly top the list of coveted motorcycles, but it is usually on the list somewhere due to its own heritage and how well it is generally loved. The team at Combined Design breathed on this model a great deal. It now looks like something which has no time and can transcend genres a little. That color is enough to make it sweet - they call it Cherry O.

http://tinyurl.com/yfge7zl

More Great Customs From Britain's Got Biking Talent - Moto Guzzi

OK, so the title would suggest that I have more than one to show here. I do not, but the linked article could help you find more on that website - after all, I am merely trying to direct you to news you may not have normally found. So, this Moto Guzzi LeMans Cafe Racer was built/customized by Frazer Yule, 35 years of age, from Lochmaben, Dumfrieshire, U.K. An incredibly richly detailed machine with a nice attitude and modern tech. That usually is a nice combination; this is no exception, this is very pretty.

http://tinyurl.com/yzgh97o

Motorcycle Book: The Grand Prix Motorcycle by Kevin Cameron of Cycle World

Cycle World's Kevin Cameron is a very well-known motorcycle nerd (not unlike myself) and he knows what he is writing about (not like me) - everything about a motorcycle. His knowledge is deep and he even admits when he is wrong - and manages to teach us something at the same time. His "The Grand Prix Motorcycle" covers every 500c.c./MotoGP Motorcycle Grand Prix era since 1949 up to 2008 - and, he details several championship winning grand prix motorcycles. It is a good read, but having a pen and paper to work out equations which he bandies about is a good idea...

http://tinyurl.com/yclkc8z

Goodwood Announces Festival of Speed Theme for 2010

So far, scheduled for 2 - 4 July 2010, the Goodwood Festival of Speed will have the theme - "Viva Veloce!" or Passion for Speed. It will feature the Italian love for anything with a motor to be FAST. Every Italian marque will be represented - both motorcycle and automobile. So, first thing's first, get your tickets! It will no doubt be an amazing weekend at an amazing place which will be filled with amazing motorcycles and cars and have plenty of famous Italian racers, designers, engineers, and more! That is probably a bit understated, actually. Go ahead and take the link to read more.

http://tinyurl.com/yjkozfb