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Category: Motorcycles

  3. MOTORCYCLE ICONS SHOWCASED AT SALON PRIVÉ

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    • Rare Ducati trio to be presented together for the first time
    • MV Agusta celebrates its 75th anniversary with Salon Privé debut
    • Official launch for British manufacturer Langen Motorcycles
    Motorcycles play a key role in the Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance ­presented by AXA, and the event attracts owners and enthusiasts from around the world. This year will be no different and is set to include two classes for two-wheeled machinery when the event returns to Blenheim Palace in September.

    Several fantastic motorcycles have already been confirmed for the prestigious concours, including a rare and valuable 1974 Ducati 750SS ‘Green Frame’. One of only 401 produced, all of which were hand-built and overseen by technical boss Fabio Taglioni, this particular example was sourced from Spain by its current owner and returned to the UK for a full restoration. Together with a 1976 750SS by Newton Engineering and 1975 900SS that have also been entered, it completes a full set of iconic round and square-case Ducati v-twin motorcycles. It will be the first time three examples of this kind have been exhibited together in the UK.

    “The Motorcycle display will showcase the best that design and engineering have given us,” said Anthony Godin, who, along with Mike Jackson, is part of the selection committee who will have the difficult task of judging The Exceptional Motorcycles and Exceptional Competition Motorcycles categories, “visitors will get to see the great Café Racers of the 1950s and ’60s, to Choppers from the 1970s and wacky racers from the 1980s.”

    The experts from the International Chief Judge Advisory Group will perform their duties on a ‘virtual’ basis on 23 September, with all bikes being meticulously inspected and class awards decided upon. The class winners and runners-up are selected by the jury, while the top prize, Most Spectacular Motorbike, is chosen by the Duke of Marlborough himself.

    Presided over by Ed Gilbertson (President of the Jury) and Adolfo Orsi (Chief Judge), the jury consists of specialists from different areas of the motorbike world. International restorer and collector Somer Hooker will be joined by Henry Cole – television presenter and CEO of Gladstone Motorbikes. Journalist and concours judge Dennis Frost will also be casting his expert eye over proceedings, and the four-strong panel is completed by commentator and former Grand Prix motorcycle racer Steve Parrish.

    “Salon Privé is always an amazing event in an unbeatable location,” said Parrish. “This year’s line-up promises to be spectacular, and I can’t wait to meet the owners and builders so that we can have a good chat about their exquisite machines.”

    The Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance presented by AXA takes place on Wednesday, and all trophies will be presented at the Motorbike Awards Ceremony on Thursday with judges, owners, press, members of the Salon Privé team and the Duke of Marlborough present. Previous class victors have included motorcycle builder extraordinaire Allen Millyard

    Concours Chairman Andrew Bagley said: “Now in our 15th year, the Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance presented by AXA has an enviable reputation for attracting best-of-breed motorcycles and motorcars. The motorcycle entrants are a particularly enthusiastic bunch who will happily regale the history and provenance of their cherished machines, and we are delighted that they continue to support the event as they do.”

    Elsewhere on the lawns of Blenheim Palace, legendary Italian marque MV Agusta will be making its Salon Privé debut via UK partner Krazy Horse. The latest models will be on display, including the retro-look Superveloce and the Brutale 1000RR – the world’s most powerful ‘naked’ motorcycle. They will be joined by the Dragster SCS and the Rush concept ’bike as the manufacturer celebrates its 75th anniversary. Founded in 1945 by Count Domenico Agusta, it won its first World Championship in 1952 in the 125cc class, and by the time it withdrew from racing in 1976, it had won 270 Grands Prix and 38 World Riders’ Championships with great names such as Giacomo Agostini, John Surtees and Mike Hailwood.

    A brand-new British manufacturer, Langen Motorcycles, is set to officially launch at Salon Privé and will be showing off its beautifully engineered 2 Stroke, which was inspired by the ‘ton up’ Café Racers of the 1950s. Langen will be joined by celebrated Bolton-based manufacturer CCM Motorcycles, which was founded by Alan Clews in 1971 and has gained a reputation for creating the most unique hand-crafted ’bikes in the industry.

    Sales Director David Bagley said: “We’re delighted to welcome Langen and CCM to Blenheim Palace – two British manufacturers that will be showcasing unbelievable feats of engineering. With MV Agusta also attending the event for the first time, motorcycle enthusiasts are assured of a mouth-watering display of machinery. Their focus on quality is something that reflects the ethos of the whole Salon Privé week.”

    MOTORCYCLE ICONS SHOWCASED AT SALON PRIVe

  4. Legendary motorcycles

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    Every boy in his childhood dreamed of a motorcycle. And many adult men realize this dream. After all, a motorcycle is an amazing feeling of speed and freedom.

    Yamaha V-Max: Flying Sledgehammer

    Huge sizes, brutal design and amazing power. Thanks to these qualities, the Yamaha V-Max has become incredibly popular and has received the nickname "Flying Sledgehammer." V-Max was created in 1984, and in 1985 won the title "Motorcycle of the Year." This two-wheeled monster weighed 280 kg, had a capacity of 145 horsepower and accelerated to 100 km / h in 3 seconds. Its maximum speed is 250 km / h. For many years, the V-Max was the fastest production motorcycle in the world.The V-Max is capable of putting serious demands on the tyres.

    Suzuki Hayabusa: Falcon Peregrine Falcon

    This is how the word Hayabusa is translated from Japanese. The name of the model company Suzuki chose not in vain. First, the peregrine falcon is the fastest bird in the world; speed 290–325 km / h. And this motorcycle at the time of creation (1999) was the fastest in the world, accelerating to 312 km / h. In addition, peregrines hunt thrushes. But Suzuki Hayabusa received the title of fastest motorcycle from the Honda Super Blackbird. In this case, the word blackbird is translated as "blackbird". The irony is obvious. Such bird fights in the world of motorcycles.

    Honda Gold Wing: sofa on wheels  Honda Gold Wing

    This is a motorcycle for long trips. He is considered the most comfortable representative of two-wheeled vehicles. For this, Gold Wing is called a "sofa on wheels" or even a "two-wheeled limousine." Comfortable seat, excellent wind protection, reverse gear, music player, spacious wardrobe trunks for things. It is also the only motorcycle in the world equipped with an airbag. 

    BMW GS: on the roads and tracks

    The motorcycle, which for 30 years remains the most popular in the tourist class of enduro. The abbreviation GS stands for Gelände / Straße - Off-Road / Road. Although in fact the BMW GS can not be called a full-fledged SUV, but it copes with bad roads. This is such a versatile tourist. By the way, on the motorcycles of this series, actors Evan McGregor and Charlie Boorman traveled around the world in 2004.

    Harley-Davidson 42WLA: Liberator of Europe

    The most legendary model of the legendary company Harley-Davidson - 42WLA. Moreover, it is famous not so much for technical characteristics as for history. This model was released in 1942-1945. During the war, the company did not create motorcycles for civilians - all cars were given to the needs of the front. They say that at the end of the war, the German border on the west side was first crossed by this particular motorcycle. For this he received the nickname "Liberator."
     
     
     
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  5. Suzuki to rebuild first ever RG500 at Motorcycle Live

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    Suzuki will restore arguably the most important racing motorcycle it ever produced at this year’s Motorcycle Live – which takes place at Birmingham’s NEC 17-25 November – with the rebuild of the G-54, the precursor to the iconic XR14 and RG500 machines that went on to take Suzuki and Barry Sheene to world championship glory.

    Barry Sheene and world championship glory - Suzuki G-54

    The bike will be rebuilt over the first weekend of the show and fired into life on Monday 19 November, before being stripped and rebuilt again over the final weekend ready for a second start up on Sunday 25 November, giving visitors two chances to see the iconic machine being built.

    The restoration will be carried out by former Grand Prix technician Nigel Everett. Everett worked in Grand Prix racing from the early ‘70s through to 1988, when he setup Racing Restorations, working with the likes of Sheene, Mick Grant, Kevin Schwantz, James Whitham, Roger Marshall, and John Reynolds. He also worked with Suzuki in World Superbikes from 1995 to 1997. Also present over both weekends will be legendary Suzuki technician Martyn Ogborne and former Grand Prix ace Paul Smart.

    Suzuki GB’s aftersales co-ordinator, Tim Davies, said, “I think this is the most excited we’ve been for our Motorcycle Live feature build, and that’s saying something as we’ve managed to do some really cool projects in the past, from restoring a Kevin Schwantz RGV500 to building a brand new TL1000S from parts. But this bike – the G-54 – is a really rare and really special thing. It paved the way for Suzuki’s return to Grand Prix racing and spawned the bikes that took Barry Sheene to world championship glory and was raced by some incredible riders in its day. It is probably one of the most important bikes from our history, so to not only be able to restore it using our Vintage Parts Programme but do so with the likes of Martyn Ogborne and Nigel Everett is really special.”

    The G-54 concept was born in May 1973, five years after Suzuki withdrew from Grand Prix racing following regulation changes by the F.I.M. But, after competing in the smaller 50cc, 125cc, and 250cc classes, Suzuki had decided to make a return, this time in the premier 500cc class.

    The bike – where G denoted Grand Prix use only and 54, strangely, stood for 1974 – was designed and built under the stewardship of Makoto Hase and Makoto Suzuki, who had previously been tasked with converting the GT250, GT500, and GT750 machines into the TR250, TR500, and TR750 race bikes. The project pulled in staff that worked on the two and three cylinder 50cc machines, the twin and V4 125cc machines, plus the square-four 250cc machine.

    Barry Sheene got his first taste of the machine in November 1973, but to help keep the weight down the G-54 employed an open cradle chassis with no lower chassis rails beneath the engine. However, despite finishing second in its first ever Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand in April with Sheene aboard, by June the chassis had been replaced with a conventional double cradle design. It was raced by Sheene, Paul Smart, and Jack Findlay that year.

    The bike will be built and displayed on Suzuki’s stand throughout the show, located in Hall 2.

    For more show and ticket information, click here. For information on Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme, click here.