Tesi evolution

Here's a quick look at the evolution of Bimota's wild Tesi series. The Tesi was the first "production" bike to offer the revolutionary hub stering set-up, and one of the few sport bikes that do not employ tubular forks. Ducati V twins were used to power Bimota's Tesis.

1D 851

1D 9061D 906 SR
1D 906 ES
1D EF
2D
3D

Pictures from Motorcycle Specs

Honda RC51

Few motorcycles have this many names. The Honda RC51, VTR1000 SP1, or RVT1000R just don't call it slow. Th RC51 was a unique departure for Honda, and it has become somewhat of a one hit wonder.

Back in the 1990's Honda's V4 RC30 and RC45 battled in the Superbike World Championship against Ducati's, Yamahas, Suzukis, and Kawasaki's. Honda, apparently, had enough of campaigning their 750cc V4s against Ducati's 1000cc V twins, and decided, "if you can't beat em' join em'." Honda indroduced the RC51 in 2000. The beast sported a 1000cc 90 degree V twin (just like Ducati). On it's first year out the RC51 won the Superbike World Championship with Collin Edwards. The bike would remain competative until 2003, when the rules changed to allow 1000cc four cylinders, and Honda dropped the factory support. The Honda CBR1000RR would go on to fill the spot of RC51.

Motorsport of the month: Dakar Rally

Since 1979 racers have put themselves and their machines to the test in the most inhospitable environment in the world, and they called it the Dakar Rally. Over the past 30 years the race has has started and ended at various points but the race is typically run from Paris France to Dakar in Senegal Africa. The race covers a wide variety of terrain, but it's the Sahara Desert that truely defines this race. Heavilly modified motorcycles race along with buggies and commercial trucks across sand and rocks for days on end.




The race was created by Thierry Sabine, a motorcycle racer, who got lost in the desert. While in the desert Sabine thought it would be a good place to hold a race. The race usually runs from Paris to Dakar, however there have been many different routes, including one from Paris to Cape Town in South Africa, and one from Paris to Dakar and back again. Because of terrorist threats there was no 2008 race, however, the rally will be held in South America for 2009.





One of the most interesting things about the Dakar Rally is types of vehicles that race. There are motorcycles, which are split into two groups; Group 1 Marathon bikes, and Group 2 Super-Production bikes. Marathon bike are 450cc's or less, and are close to production models, Group 2 bikes are more modified and have two classes for below and above 450cc's. There is also a Group 3 for quads.

In addition to motorcycles there is a class for "cars". These usually include specially built rally SUV's like Mitsubishi's Pajero. And there the truck class, for large (over 7,700lbs) commercial trucks. These are really a sight to see.

Bikes that have competed in the Dakar Rally include:
KTM 690 Rally
KTM LC4 660R
KTM LC8 950R
BMW R650RR
Yamaha YZE850T
Cagiva Elephant 900
Honda NXR800V
Honda NXR750V
BMW GS980R
Honda XR550
Yamaha XT500

Ugliest motorcycles

Ok, it's very subjective. But here's Motocyclopedia's list of ugliest motorcycles. This list is primarily for factory bikes (not concepts or small time manufacturers (because A LOT of those are uh... polarizing). Now most of these motorcycles may or may not be good in their own right. I'm not putting any body down, keep in mind I ride an awfully ugly bike, the KLR.

Early Japanese cruisers - The Suzuki Madura (below) is probably the worst though. Stepped seats, tiny gas tanks, square headlights, and mini ape hangers were in style; and all of them UGLY. Suzuki Madura, Honda Magna

Late model BMW's - Ever since motorcycles have been styled, BMW's styling has always been, well, different. BMW R1200CL, R1200ST, and K1200R


Honda CX - The CX isn't a pretty bike, but the turbo is downright ugly. Honda CX turbo

Factory customs - The cruiser boom brought several attempts at creating something "custom" from the manufacturers. Some factory customs work, say a Harley Fatboy, other don't quite work. Personally I kinda like the Rocket, and don't mind the Vision, but many feel these are ugly. Honda Rune, Triumph Rocket, Victory Vision


Motorcycles with car engines - Car engines are generally too big for motorcycles. If you mix the two the outcome is usually pretty awkward. Munch, Amazonas, Boss Hoss

Motorcycles form Mother Russia

After seeing a recent episode of the automotive program Top Gear, I had an idea. The show wanted to find out if the Soviet Union ever made a good car. So I decided to see what the Soviet Union had to offer for motorcycles. The answer... well it's confusing.

First off all Russian motorcycle "companies" have very strange names (for westerners anyway). Names like GMZ, IMZ, MMZ, PMZ, TIZ, TMZ, and so on. Why does every thing have an MZ? I don't know, maybe it's some communist thing. Another thing I discovered was that almost every Soviet motorcycle was simply a copy of some European motorcycle. Mostly copies of BMW's R71 and the German DKW RT175, taken as war reparations. Something could be said of the similarities of China's motorcycle offerings.

The most well known Russian bike (at least in the USA) has to be the IMZ ( Irbitskiy Mototsikletniy Zavod) Ural. In preparation for war with Germany in the 1940's the Russians sought out to create a motorcycle that could survive the demands of Russia's terrain. The Reds got a hold of some BMW R71's and reverse engineered their own version of the built proof design. The motorcycles were to be built in the remote Ural mountains, out of German bombing ranges. In the 1950's the motorcycles were adapted for civilian use. Today Ural's are sold in dozens of countries around the world.

Crocker

Perhaps the most premium performance motorcycle company ever to come out of America, was Crocker. I like to think of Crocker as the American answer to the Brough Superior or the Vincent Black Shadow. Albert Crocker worked at Thor motorcycles before becoming an Indian dealer. He built motorcycles around Indian's 750 Scout engine. The company then moved to building a 500cc single racer. The racers were well developed but were underpowered. After the singles Crocker produced their infamous V twins.

The Crocker V twins featured an overhead valve layout, with hemispherical combustion chambers, in other words it had a "Hemi" (long before Dodge ever did). The 1000cc twin had considerably more power than Harleys and Indians of the day. Displacement was increased to 91cid (about 1500cc's) making it one of the largest production motorcycle engines for decades. The V twins lasted from 1936 to 1942. After World War II Crocker ceased production.

In 1999 a "new" Crocker arrived. A company that began making parts for vintage Crockers. The C4 Concept was introduced in 2007(?).

Supersports part III

As the big four fought over market share only two outside companies ever took supersports seriously. Ducati introduced the 748, basically a lower displacement 916. Rules in the supersport racing class allowed 750cc twins to compete with 600cc fours. The 748 was followed by the 749 neither of which sold in the numbers of the Japanese supersports. After taking a break from this class Ducati recently introduced the 848 hoping that the rules will allow an even greater increase for twins.

Triumph attempted to take the Japanese head on in 199X with the TT600. The TT600, later changed to the Daytona 600, struggled to keep up with the more advanced Japanese 600's. Triumph gave up on competing directly by upping diplacement to 650cc's in 2005?. Then in 200X? Triumph introduced the Daytona 675, which uses a inline three with a 75cc advantage over the Japanese motorycles. Like Ducati, Triumph released the 675 with hopes that it would be allowed to compete in the supersport category.

Supersports part II

The beginning of the new millennium ushered in new levels of performance from the big four's supersports. These machine had grown from entry level sports bikes to razor's edge racers. Kawasaki used a two pronged attack. The basic Ninja used a 636cc engine, that gave it a displacement advantage over the rest of the pack. Because a 636 machine would not be allowed to race, Kawasaki introduced the ZX-6RR, a race track ready version. Honda also introduced a new model. In addition to the CBR600F4, there was the new CBR600RR, a beautifully fast bike and an extremely popular model from Honda. Yamaha changed the game with their now legendary R6. Suzuki continued to refine it's offerings with the GSX-R600.

Kawasaki ZX-6R 95-
Kawasaki ZX-6RR 03-04
Honda CBR600RR 03-
Yamaha YZF-R6 99-
Suzuki GSX-R600 97-

The Kawasaki ZX-6RR didn't last too long. Honda continued on with two models, with the F4 getting fuel injection (to become the F4i). Yamaha contiued to make progress with the R6, creating a reputation of incredably high revs. Once again the Suzuki evolved on.




For 2009 these machines are better than ever. They're faster, easier to ride, and amazing to look at. Nothing comes close when it comes to power, weight, and price. Despite being such a popular type of motorcycle the big four have enjoyed the class almost exclusively. Those days have been coming to an end however. As Triumph has made a serious run on the sport. Rumors of BMW, MV Agusta, and even Benelli following Triumph's lead could make the class even more exciting.


To be Continued...