Move Over Ducati

Discovery HD Theater has a series called Twist the Throttle which is about motorcycle manufacturers from around the world and they recently did the Italian company MV Agusta.

I think the Ducati 916 was arguably the most beautiful racing bike in the world, however the follow-on models have kind of left me a bit cold - especially the 999 and 1098, which were not designed by Massimo Tamburini, who did the 916-998.

Well ol' Massimo went to MV Agusta and developed something even more beautiful than the 916 - the F4:



Michele stopped with the Ducati 998S, though Kara pesters him to get a 999 so she can graduate off his old 916. However, Michele won't touch the 999, but I think the F4 Tamburini evo could fit the bill.

Those are beautiful. Excellent lines, and very smooth. I agree that it would fit a connoisseur like Michelle's tastes well.

I'm not sure what it is about superbikes that are so cool to me. I think it's the fact that they're over-performing death machines, lol. Sure you can ride one, but chances are if you take a spill at any fun dangerous speed, you're road paste.

Laine would probably like them, but probably complain they aren't "brash" enough. She's say they're too pretty It's gotta look like something that'll poke your eyes out, even at full stop. She'd take a BMW S1000RR.

often as I claim a failing of sanity, race bikes never appealed to me much... why would you need 120+hp when 33 will move you faster than most sports cars?
...I've seen 250cc Hondas that can pull 0-60mph in under 4 seconds with 1/4 mile times under 11... that kinda speed is thrilling enough in a 2500lb car...

Well if Laine wants brash, there is the €100.000 F4 CC with a 200bhp/147kw engine.

Nice bikes, but lack of a rear fender throws me off.
Since the rear wheel throws up a lot of dirt and grime, it is necessary.

Other than that, the lines are nice though the seats look like they are being kicked up...

Single leg forks also is a beef of mine. They may be strong for everyday riding and all, but I hang out with friends who will do things to a bike most criminals wont do to somebody's mother! That single axle joint onto the single fork is a weak spot. It does not matter what it is rated for, I know people who can exheed that rating with the twist of a throttle.

ElfenMagix wrote:
Single leg forks also is a beef of mine. They may be strong for everyday riding and all, but I hang out with friends who will do things to a bike most criminals wont do to somebody's mother! That single axle joint onto the single fork is a weak spot. It does not matter what it is rated for, I know people who can exheed that rating with the twist of a throttle.

Yeah, I've always been a bit dubious of single forks also. Got a mate who did his fork seals just on his way into work so yeah...

Personally I'm more a vintage bikes fan (ok, so really a car person, but vintage when it comes to bikes), ever since coming into contact with another friend's 1929 Brough Superior (not the exact bike, but similar)



Kinda hot on vintage scooters as well, seriously: born in the wrong decade.

That is a great Bike, Alfisti... I prefer a lot of their vintage stuff myself as well.

Speaking of bikes: I'm not generally a MotoGP type bloke, but this is kinda cool, hooray for advertising stunts for special edition FIAT 500s.

Lifetime motorcyclist here.

I've actually owned a full blown race-replica like the Ducati 916-1198, the MV Agusta F4/F5, and the BMW S1000RR pictured here. While there bikes are spectacular on a racetrack they're damed inconvenient in the real world. The riding position is torture under 160kph, none of them have any cargo room, and the rear seat is insufficient to carry even an 11-year old cyborg for any serious distance.

As an experienced motorcyclist may I suggest a Honda ST1300, a Yamaha FJR1300, a Kawasaki ZZR1400, an Aprillia Futura, or any BMW sport-tourer. All of these are reaonably comfortable yet shockingly fast, and can carry enough cargo to support a cyborg & her handler for a short mission.

Dibs on the Ducati ST4...my hander Elio Alborteo has one of those.

I know we have a few motorcycle-loving OCs, so if you want the ultimate cruising bike, a mere $275,000 will get you one of ten Ecosse Titanium Series RR bicycles :

.

It also comes with a free watch, which puts it one up on the Bugatti Veyron.

Alpha asked to test-drive one before he purchased it full-price and they said, "NO!!!", in the rudest way possible.

Afterward Alpha opened his wallet and pulled out a €500 bill. Then Alpha dabbed his forehead with it before blowing his nose with the same note, then crumpling up the same note and dropping it on the showroom floor.

He then pulls out his cell, dials a Yamaha dealer and speaks loud enough for the Ecosse salesmen to hear as he walks to the door.

Ahh yes, the €500 note: favored denomination of money launderers, drug smugglers...

...and J&M.

Alfisti wrote:Ahh yes, the €500 note: favored denomination of money launderers, drug smugglers...

...and J&M.

Kara likes it because it's the biggest.

(For those not familiar with the currency, Euro notes are different sizes depending on denomination, with larger denominations having larger dimensions).

Kiskaloo wrote:

Alfisti wrote:Ahh yes, the €500 note: favored denomination of money launderers, drug smugglers...

...and J&M.

Kara likes it because it's the biggest.

(For those not familiar with the currency, Euro notes are different sizes depending on denomination, with larger denominations having larger dimensions).

Yeah, Australian currency is the same.

J&M however like the €500 note because, well, for the same reason drug dealers and money launderers like it: it makes it easy to transport large amounts of cash discreetly.

I only JUST realized that Australian bank notes have a size that's directly proportional to their value. And this after living here for four years.

Yeah I wish the US would go there. At least our bills now have different colors for different denominations, so that's at least a step in the right direction.

The other thing I like about Australian notes is that, since they're made of plastic, you can go swimming with them so don't have to leave your wallet lying around on the beach. Instead you can leave it where ever you're staying and just cram a few notes in your pocket for lunch.

American bills are cotton so they take to water well. They also iron nicely for that "crisp bill feel".

Except now they have polyester in them which makes for a more durable banknote, but makes them a pain in the ass to seperate. Anybody who has cleaned out their garage, attic, etc; and found a box of leisure suits from the '70's knows what I mean. The only down side is that there is enough polyester to make them stick, but not to make that strangely aesthetic ripping sound associated with compressed polyester.

Oh jeeze! Polyester Money? What's next, Plastic Coins?!!

*sigh*
This is why I conduct all business transactions in goats, giant stone discs, and native girls captured from the tribes of my enemies.

Still gotta carry cash to tip with though.

Professor Voodoo wrote:*sigh*
This is why I conduct all business transations in goats, giant stone discs, and native girls captured from the tribes of my enemies.

Still gotta carry cash to tip with though.

Yeah, but those are horribly volatile currencies... particularly the native girls. Too much depends on the tastes of who you're conducting the transaction with.

Alfisti wrote: Yeah, but those are horribly volatile currencies... particularly the native girls. Too much depends on the tastes of who you're conducting the transaction with.

Well, I live in south Louisiana, so the goats are usually more popular anyway.

Wasn't this thread supposed to be about bikes? What the hell happened!?

Professor Voodoo wrote:Wasn't this thread supposed to be about bikes? What the hell happened!?

This forum has more tangents than a third year Geometry course.

Okay, okay, I'll make the effort to steer us back to motorcycles. This is even Italian...

Paint it black and I would be expecting Batman and Robin to be running/jumping into the thing and drive away!

ElfenMagix wrote:Paint it black and I would be expecting Batman and Robin to be running/jumping into the thing and drive away!

No matter how dark, gothic and serious they struggle to make the Batman franchise, the '60's version will always be the one & only definitive Batman to me...

Girl Power Alert:

16 year old rookie Elena Myers took her first national level win in the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) 600 Supersport series round today at Sonoma (Infineon Raceway) California.

This makes her the first woman to win an AMA National Roadrace.

Professor Voodoo wrote:

ElfenMagix wrote:Paint it black and I would be expecting Batman and Robin to be running/jumping into the thing and drive away!

No matter how dark, gothic and serious they struggle to make the Batman franchise, the '60's version will always be the one & only definitive Batman to me...

you mean slightly camp ?

Professor Voodoo wrote:Okay, okay, I'll make the effort to steer us back to motorcycles. This is even Italian...

For those a bit more utility oriented... the Ural Patrol-T:






No... they really don't seem to have changed anything since WWII.

Via Cool Hunting

Alfisti wrote: For those a bit more utility oriented... the Ural Patrol-T:

Now I'd love to see Jethro & Monty beating across unbroken country aboard one of these!

they really don't seem to have changed anything since WWII.

Not quite, but close. As Ural's became popular for export the old carburetors (copies of the original BMW R71 units) were replaced with modern Mikuni's. I believe the modern ones also use an ignition sourced from Ducati as well...and take a look at that front disc brake too; that's definately not WWII issue!

Professor Voodoo wrote:

Alfisti wrote: For those a bit more utility oriented... the Ural Patrol-T:

Now I'd love to see Jethro & Monty beating across unbroken country aboard one of these!

There's actually a scene in the Tintin movie that I thought would make a good one for J+M (it did start with a sidecar on it)...



Now, what I originally came here for: Lotus has made a motorbike.


I want one. Badly.

In other news, a Kawasaki that does a frighteningly good impression of an F1 car: