This 1956 Ariel Square 4 features a matching Garrard sidecar (stocked with Champagne!). If you take a quick glance at this Ariel, you might notice something doesn’t quite look right. This is because tt the heart of the Ariel is a 997cc square-four engine, or “Squariel”, which was designed in 1936 by the unemployed engine designer Edward Turner.
Motoclismo must have a permanent seat at the hot test tracks in Italy, because they’ve caught Moto Morini’s contender to the Strada Aperta taking laps at the Adria circuit. Essentially a motard version of the Granpasso, the new bike has an ugly interesting head-on profile, but looks the business from the rear and sides.
The BSA w32-6 was built mainly for use with a side car, and has a 499cc side-valve motor. BSA’s were so popular in Britain during the 1930’s that one in four motorcycles was built by “Beeza”. This 1932 BSA W32-6 Sidecar was sold as a complete unit, during the height of sidecar popularity in the UK.
This 1913 Premier 3 1/2hp 3 speed motorcycle was the oldest example of British two-wheeled freedom at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
We’re happy to be the first to report that after much adieu, Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha Motor Company have finally signed a one-year extension to Lorenzo’s current rider agreement, meaning the Spanish rider will ride next year again as Rossi’s teammate for Fiat-Yamaha.
In 1922, Triumph needed an update to its motors in order to be competitve in the developing sportbike market. As such, it hired gas flow special Harry Ricardo to improve the performance of the Triumph machinery, and this 1922 Triumph Model R “Ricardo” was one such lucky recipient.
Based on the streetbike version, this 1953 Matchless G45 was an “over-the-counter” race bike that was made available to select British racers. It has a 500cc parallel twin motor from a G9, and in the right hands, was quite successful at winning national races.
It’s a rare day that we something that makes us verbally go “whoa!”, but today is that day, and apparently we weren’t alone. The Kalex Engineering AV1 is a German purpose-built track bike. Angular and boxy, the AV1 reminds us of the KTM RC8 and the Ilmor Engineering GP bike, except hotter (we didn’t know that was possible). Underneath the show and glow, is a bike with all the right numbers.
In an effort to reduce production costs, Kawasaki is about to become the first Japanese motorcycle manufacturer to have its motorcycles built in a developing country. Starting in 2010, Kawasaki will transfer the production of its medium and large-sized motorcycles from Japan to Thailand.
According to financial experts at Bloomberg, Kawasaki’s motives are based on reducing costs by taking advantage of the cheap labor found in Thailand. Rumor has it that Honda is also considering moving its production to Thailand, presumably for similar reasons.
Source: Bloomberg
Visordown is reporting today that Ducati has named their road-going, enduro-ish, BMW GS killer, the Ducati Cayenne…yes, as in the spicy hot pepper. One thing is for sure about the name: we’re finding it a little hard to swallow.
First off, it just doesn’t sound very “Ducati”. With bikes named “Superbike”, “Sport Classic”, and “Streetfigher” we’ve become accustomed to Ducati naming its motorcycles with very obvious and descriptive names. Even, the Multistrada, which the new bike is to replace, had a fairly intuitive name for its purpose (we’re ignoring the Monster on purpose here).
Our other eyebrow is raised because we just can’t see why the Bologna brand would name a vehicle after a German SUV. The last thing we need in this world is to be sitting in our favorite yuppie coffee shop and overhear someone talking about their brand new Cayenne, leaving us to wonder if they’re talking about their overpriced kid-hauler, or their over-priced dirt bike.
Our doubt about this report is a shame, because Visordown goes on to report some tech specs on the bike we haven’t heard before.
UPDATE: According to MCN sources inside Ducati have denied that the Strada Aperta will be renamed Cayenne
The preferred ride in 350cc racing after World War II, the 1949 Velocette Mk. VIII wasn’t the fastest bike on the grid, making only “average” power, but made up this deficincy by utilizing its superior steering and suspension.