Ducati Announces Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Team with Carlin Dunne & Greg Tracy

Ducati has announced its factory team for the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), and the Italian company has secured the services of last-year’s winner and Rookie of the Year Carlin Dunne as well as six-time PPIHC winner Greg Tracy. Ducati has also partnered with the Spider Grips team, who will help prepare the teams Ducati Multistrada 1200 for the “Race to the Clouds” on July 8th. For 2012, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be fully-paved to the top of the mountain, which will surely see the speeds of competitors increase, and lap times drop on the 12.42 mile long course that ends at 14,110 feet.

Cutaway Photos of the Ducati Superquadro Engine

I was flipping through some photos from the 2011 EICMA show, and found these shots of the Ducati 1199 Panigale’s Superquadro engine. Unfortunately at the show, Ducati had its 1199cc v-twin motor behind a Lexan case, which created a bit of a glare, reflections, and of course had smudges from the touchy-feely Italian crowd. But still, the photos give a good idea of what’s going on in Ducati’s most-advanced production engine to date, and are better than just looking at the CAD renders. If you look at the shots very closely, you can almost see where the 195hp and 98 lbs•ft of torque is lurking inside.

AGV, Please Make This Helmet!

In addition to testing the factory Ducati Desmosedici GP12 “Phoenix” this week at Sepang, Valentino Rossi is also trying out a new lid from AGV. Aside from the carbon fiber goodness, and of course the Rossi stickers (which add 5hp & $200), AGV’s prototype helmet sports a noticably pronounced rear spoiler. Tucked in behind the windscreen, it is obvious why the Italian helmet manufacturer designed such a large protrusion off the back of the prototype helmet, as it looks to be clearly helping the flow off the back of the helmet, across the rider’s hump, and down his backside.

2012 Honda RC213V Debuts in Malaysia

While Ducati Corse is busy playing hide-the-Desmosedici at Sepang, HRC is all business in Malaysia this week, and has debuted its 2012 Honda RC213V MotoGP-contender. Honda isn’t saying too much about the RC213V, simply stating that the race bike is all new, but is also a continuation of the company’s design with the 800cc Honda RC212V. Testing the Honda RC213V over the course of last season, reigning-World Champion Casey rode the new 1,000cc machine three times in 2011, while teammate Dani Pedrosa swung a leg over the RC213V twice (missing one test because of injury).

No, This is the “90%” New Ducati Desmosedici GP12

You may have been misled by some eager journalists today and yesterday, if you saw a Ducati Corse livery-clad Ducati Desmosedici GP12 that some sites were passing off as the first shots of the “90% new” GP12. With the alleged new GP12 looking surprisingly similar to the aluminum-framed “GP0″ that was tested at Valencia, Valentino Rossi’s mechanic has now Alex Briggs confirmed that the photos taken were not of the all new “GP12 Phoenix” that the factory team will race this season. While the Ducati lords can taketh away, they can also giveth, and Valentino Rossi himself has posted the first photo of the factory Desmosedici GP12, and the bike is clearly different.

Zero Motorcycles Commences 2012 Model Line Production

Zero Motorcycles has announced the full-commencement of production for its 2012 model line, which is expected to hit dealers in February & March of this year. First off the line was the 2012 Zero DS back in December, though the electric motorcycle company has recently started building the Zero S, Zero XU, Zero X, and Zero MX at its Scotts Valley facility as well. A story we broke back in November, Zero Motorcycles debuted its important 2012 electric motorcycle line up at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan, with the 2012 range being a substantial improvement upon the company’s previous offerings.

The Dainese D-Air Racing Airbag Suit Comes to America

Getting a look at Dainese & AGV’s 2012 collection, Asphalt & Rubber was down in Orange County earlier this week to see the highly anticipated Dainese D-Air Racing leather suit, which has a four liter airbag system that helps reduce the risk of injury during a motorcycle crash. Dainese has been working on the D-Air Racing system for 10 years now, and after soft-launching the airbag suit in Europe, the Italian company is ready to bring the game-changing technology to American soil.

I Love the Nightlife. I’ve Come to Boogie.

Us Danes, we’re a strange breed. From the culture that taught you how to rape and pillage, Scandinavia is making yet another contribution to the motorcycling world with this latest video. Featuring Danish Supermoto Champion Andreas Mikkelsen, we get a RoToR camera-esque perspective (this rig is actually home made) on the Dane’s practice session at the Als Supermotard Club in Denmark. It’s videos like this that are slowly eroding my will-power to resist getting into supermotard riding. Also, I don’t know who was in charge of the music selection on this thing, but my hat is off to him/her. I love the nightlife. I’ve come to boogie.

Confirmed: KTM 350 Duke in 2013 – Moto3 Inspired 350cc Sport Bike in 2014

Our friends over at IndianCarsBikes.in were in attendance at the KTM 200 Duke launch in India this week, as the Austrian brand launched its somewhat bigger-displacement version of the popular KTM Duke 125. During the press event, KTM talked about the future of the mini-Duke line and its product roadmap for the emerging country, as well as abroad. With the Austrian brand confirming/clarifying that KTM would release a KTM 350 Duke for India in 2013, zie Austrians also confirmed that the KTM 350 Duke would be built locally in India by Bajaj, but would be exported worldwide — allaying fears that the KTM 350 Duke would be an India-only model.

Why Today is the Most Important Day for Ducati…Ever

Now that the first Ducati 1199 Panigale has rolled out of the door in Bologna, the die is cast, the chips are in play, and our course is set to see if Ducati has created a “massive breach of brand trust and honesty.” The realization of course should be that Ducati’s brand was never in danger with bikes like the Hypermotard, Multistrada 1200, or Diavel. Instead, the danger of serious brand dilution has always rested on how Ducati handled its Superbike line. A failure to produce a two-wheeled machine that is both as striking visually as it is kinetically, could permanently alienate a loyal fan base that has endured a great deal in the past half-decade.

A&R Rubbies: The Best Custom Motorcycles of 2009

Mon, December 28th, 2009 @ 6:34 am, by Jenny Gun4 COMMENTS
Home » News » A&R Rubbies: The Best Custom Motorcycles of 2009

An integral part of motorcycling is the desire for riders to personalize their motorcycle to express their individual tastes. For some motorcyclists that means bolting-on an exhuast system, and spraying on some paint, but for others that means a completely custom or one-off build. Celebrating that tradition, we bring you three unique motorcycles that stood-out from the pack as we flipped through our coverage of 2009.

Best Custom Motorcycle of 2009: NCR Corse Millona One Shot

If you ask the question who makes the most gorgeous, unique, and highest performing motorycles in the world, one name will consistently come-up: NCR. Taking donor Ducati motorcycles and turning them into works of art, which true to form also perform on the racetrack, NCR Corse takes everything Ducati stands for, and takes it to the next-next level.

The NCR Corse Millona One Shot takes the Ducati two-valve air-cooled motor, and wraps a light-weight (8.5lbs) frame around it. In total, the Millona puts out 121 hp, with only 275lbs of bulk, and looks good doing it. The price might make you gasp, but if you want to own an Italian sportbike that will make even Ducati owners look twice, then this is the bike for you.

First Runner-up: SE Service Harrier

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: We don’t know what it is about BMW boxer motors, but builders love making radical customs featuring the unique motor. Stellan Egeland’s SE Harrier is no exception. The only thing that’s “BMW” about this bike is the motor, because edgy styling, and unique performance characteristics make this bike very different from your standard German sport-tourer. It’s not for everyone, but it’s the sort of thing that makes us smile here at A&R.

Second Runner-up: Scorpion Performance Cagiva Mito

What began life as an unassuming Cagiva Mito, with its 125cc 15hp motor, probably had no idea that one day it would become a nitrous breathing 90hp street menace. While completely over-the-top and unnecessary, the Scorpian Performance Cagiva Mito tickles us in the notion that it boasts a power-to-weight ratio that could rival a Ducati Desmosedici…for a fraction of the cost. With sinister looks and a bevy of aftermarket parts, this pint-sized sportbike will more than likely embarrass your typical canyon carver, and turn heads at your local bike night.

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Comment:

Electric Moto Guide says:
December 28, 2009 at 7:24 AM
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Asphalt_Rubber says:
December 28, 2009 at 2:35 PM
A&R Rubbies: The Best Custom Motorcycles of 2009 – http://bit.ly/5mlXkE #motorcycle
Jack Brown says:
December 28, 2009 at 5:59 PM
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Lenny George says:
December 28, 2009 at 6:47 PM
A&R Rubbies: The Best Custom Motorcycles of 2009 http://bit.ly/8yZmNu