As part of its Brutale On Tour event showcasing latest models, luxe Italian motorcycle brand MV Augusta will display the limited edition $120,000 F4CC superbike in London this weekend. The ultra-luxurious motorcycle, the worlds most expensive and exclusive production sport bike, was sculpted by Massimo Tamburini in titanium and carbon fiber. Only 100 of the hand-built bikes are being produced, and each one comes with a Girard-Perregaux Swiss watch and a limited edition leather jacket by Italian fashion house Trussardi.
The F4CC was conceived by MV Augusta director Claudio Castiglioni himself and bears his initials. "I decided to put my name to this bike as I originally dreamed of it for myself," he says. Castiglioni spared no expense in creating the motorcycle, employing exclusive materials and the latest technology to attain the utmost in performance. 90% of the F4CCs parts are tailor-made by hand. Its 1078 cc engine produces 200 hp and a top speed of 195 mph. And with a kerb weight of 412 lbs., it costs twice as much per pound as a Ferrari.
Friday, March 20, 2009
MV Augusta Motorbike to Appear in London
Friday, March 6, 2009
Ducati Presents 2008 Line
While some might call Ducati the Ferrari of motorcycles, there definitely are others who would counter such corollary is appropriate only if it is Ferrari that would be the Ducati of automobiles. Pedigreed "cycle-trons" scoff at anyone claiming to know spit on bikes without keen awareness of Ducati's legend. It is for the casually knowledgeable types, such as myself, that such reference is offered.
More motor-sports events have been won on Ducati bikes than any other brand of motorcycle. Fourteen Superbike world records have been set on Ducatis. The company's engine designs are precedent setters. The 2008 line of Ducati bikes remains bleeding edge with the introductions of the new 848 model, the Monster 696, and the ultimate racer, the 1098 R.
North America is going to be seeing more Ducati red soon, as the fabled bike maker is pressing forward to increase the company's presence in the USA, according to Ducati's CEO Gabriele Del Torchio.
"Our future plans are clear and precise: Ducati will continue to be the leader in the premium-bike sector, confirming the passion, the Italian style, the unrivaled design, and the superior track-honed performance that make up our DNA."
Del Torchio further added, "The continuous growth that Ducati is experiencing is confirmed by positive economic and financial results. [Our] new products represent the results of the research and technological development that Ducati is offering this new range [of bikes]."
The newest 848 is a light and nimble middleweight sports bike with super-bike technology that can be enjoyed on the streets -- legally no less, too. The engine, which is at a 134 horsepower, is 30-percent more powerful than the previous version of the bike. The Monster 696 is brimming with more muscle than ever with its V-shaped tapered line from tank to seat. The 696's edginess is further enhanced by the bike's large Hybrid Trellis frame.
The Ducati 1098 R is the most powerful and lightest twin-cylinder bike produced by the firm, which was founded in 1926. The bike offers 180 horsepower as-is standard and can be boosted to 186 hp with a racing kit. The price of this two-wheel blur with the racing kit comes in at around $40,000. The approximate price of 848 model is $13,000.
Ducati Motors sells its bikes in more than 60 countries worldwide in five segments of the marketplace for motorbikes.
3-Wheeled Spyder Weaves Web of Interest
Here is one for the alternative personal transportation category. It has a top speed of 115 miles per hour and gets 35 miles per gallon on fuel consumption. From the a subsidiary of the same company that makes Lear Jets, the three-wheel Spyder is manufactured by Bombardier Recreational Products. It's classified as a bike but rides like an ATV, a very fast ATV at that. So, while you are doing your part to conserve fuel, you are also experiencing the ride of a lifetime.
The Spyder's ride is a unique experience that is drawing a diverse mix of buyers, according to recent write-up in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Spyder appeals to veteran and neophyte bikers alike as well as non-bike types too. It is that third wheel that puts it in a groove all its own.
The new Spyder is available this September and is priced around $15,000. The Spyder is coming soon to a theater in your neighborhood as a featured "moving" star in the much-anticipated movie Transformers 2.