Sunday 31st January, 2010
When I first stumbled across this odd scooter, I thought it was one of those concepts that would never see the light of day. And yes, the Maxam CP250 did start life as a concept—way back in 2005. But then Yamaha put it into production. It’s billed as a ‘tandem cruiser’, and it’s on sale [...]
Thursday 28th January, 2010
There’s an intriguing story behind this super-stylish motocyclette. Despite appearances, it’s not a vintage machine: it’s an accurate recreation of a 1950s GIMA, and costs just €4,290 (US$6,000). GIMA was a short-lived French manufacturer that made small but stylish bikes from 1947 to 1956, and would have slipped into obscurity were it not for [...]
Wednesday 27th January, 2010
A new enduro model from Spanish manufacturer Gas Gas is attracting interest, with a curious absence of information fanning the flames of curiosity. Details are remarkably scarce on this striking-looking machine; after a brief appearance on Gas Gas’ US website, was it was quietly removed. From piecing together information from sources scattered around the interwebs, [...]
Saturday 23rd January, 2010
When I hit my twenties, the BMW K1 was impossibly glamorous. It was the poster bike for motorcycling. As a casual observer, I didn’t realise it was BMW’s attempt to appeal to younger riders, seduced by Japanese sportsbikes such as the Suzuki GSX-R1100. And I didn’t know that BMW’s engineering and quality control—for once—was deeply [...]
Friday 22nd January, 2010
It’s very rare that we feature a factory-fresh machine, but Bimota’s HB4 is a worthy exception. This compact, sharply-styled racebike is Bimota’s first Honda-powered bike since the CB1100-engined HB3 of the mid-80s. The boutique Rimini-based manufacturer has stuck with its signature trellis frame, but this time it’s a steel and magnesium hybrid, and it’s cradling [...]
Wednesday 30th December, 2009
By guest writer Diesel of Visual Gratification. There are quite a few off-the-shelf retro bikes, combining old world charm with the modern amenities that make motorcycling a pleasure. But what if you want a 50s bike just as it was, 50 years ago? With all the original parts? Well, there actually is such a bike—the [...]
Monday 7th December, 2009
I’ve always had a slightly geeky fascination with trials bikes. They’re like a nerd version of motocross: beautifully engineered, delicate machines piloted by riders of dizzying skill. And without the usual MX-style machismo and histrionics. So I pricked up my ears when reader Jorge Lopes da Silva emailed us about the reappearance of the iconic [...]
Thursday 3rd December, 2009
I so desperately wanted to like Norton’s new 961 range. After all, the Commandos of the past are among the most desirable vintage motorcycles in the world: sleek and sexy, and with some of the best frame engineering of all time. The specs of the new 961 are impeccable, with Öhlins suspension, a top of [...]
Thursday 19th November, 2009
Reader Greg Rathe is lucky enough to own one of these machines, and we’re jealous. Ducati only produced 200 Montjuichs, and just 20 were exported to North America. It was the first of three limited edition models of the F1 to be homologated for racing; many were campaigned by privateer racers seeking an extra turn [...]
