Top sports bikes
DUCATI SUPERMONO
Designed by Pierre Terblanche the single cylinder Supermono launched in 1993 has to be one of Ducati’s whackies efforts ever. This very hi-tech single-cylinder motorcycle had a 550cc engine, which made about 80bhp at 10,000rpm-enough to propel this lightweight (only 115kg) machine all the way up to 220kmph. Ducati build this purebred racing machine at very high cost. And alan Cathcart himself raced this bike. Only a handful were ever built, and used examples now command prices of up to Rs. 18-20 lakh.
BMW R 1200 ST
For all its touring capabilities this year’s R 1200 ST is one of the ugliest motorcycles we’ve ever seen. From the front the ST looks like something lashed up in somebody’s backyard with whatever parts that happened tp be lying around. The headlamp looks like a bathroom fitting from a low- end, economy hote. We don’t care that the engine makes 110 horsepower could the same company which builds the delightful M3 CSL also build this montrosity?
MORBIDELL i V8 (MK-1)
First shown in the mid1990s the Morbidelli V8 MK-1 designed by Pininfarina, wins the contest for being the ugliest motorcycle ever made. For US/S 55,000 ( no this is not a typo) you could buy this shaft-drive motorcycle with a 32 valve 8-cylinder 850cc engine a single sided swingarm, and get this an instrument panel made of wood. For what it’s worth though, Morbidelli Bikes did win championship from 1975 to 1977. Even more interesting is the fact that Graziano Rossi, Valentino Rossi’s father also rode a Morbidelli 500cc racer fitted with a unique monocoque chassis in 1979.
FOGGY PETRONAS FPI
Cart Fogarty was very cool when he was winning WSB chapionships on Decatis. Carl Fogarty is not at all cool now. When he’s with Petronas, and not winning anything at all. And why anyone should buy an FPI for Rs.20 lakh. When they could buy a top of the line. Decati 999R Fila Replica for Rs. 14 lakh is quite beyond us.
Yamaha YZF-R1 LE
R1 was improved through several changes to frame and suspension. A new sub frame was designed for the 2009 R1 which is magnesium cast in a carbon fiber mold. This new sub frame offers a superior strength to weight ratio, while helping keep mass closer to the center of gravity and subsequently gives the bike greater handling performance. Yamaha has released big part of their 2010 motorcycle lineup, including their unchanged MotoGP-derived YZF-R1 and a Limited Edition YZF-R1 Valentino Rossi replica. The new Yamaha YZF-R1 LE just like the YZF-M1 MotoGP bike, but has come in very limited numbers. The new 2010 Yamaha YZF-R1LE not only gives you much of Valentino Rossi’s championship technology, but also his championship look and style. The R1 is the first ever production motorcycle with a crossplane crankshaft. The Result? Outrageous torque and raw, high-rpm power providing incredibly smooth power delivery out of the corners. While the bold Fiat Yamaha team graphics provide incredibly smooth style.
Kawasaki Z1000
The 2010 Z1000 is the most impressive sports naked ever to roll out of Japan. It has excellent performance, handling and is super-stylish to boot. It’s less intimidating and easier to ride than a fire-breathing European super naked too. For the first time the Z1000 gets a superbike-style aluminium twin spar frame, using the engine as a stressed member. The five-piece die-cast aluminium construction frame is 3-4kg lighter than the old tubular steel/cast ali mix frame, with torsional rigidity increased by 30%. It runs over the top of the engine, ZX-10R-style to keep the Z1000 nice and slim. The old steel subframe makes way for a lightweight aluminium item. The riding position is spacious, comfortable and friendly. Handling is predictable and the Z1000 can be hustled around with the best of them. The bike is equipped with radial brakes, fully adjustable forks, a shock adjustable for preload and rebound damping, sexy ‘quad’ exhaust cans and a three-way tilt-adjustable dash.
Very memorable racing motorcycles
MANX NORTON
With its feather bed frame designed by the McCandless brothers, the early 1950s Manx Norton earned most of its glory at the Isle of Man TT races. Geoff Duke’s riding talent and the Manx Norton’s handling prowess was an unbeatable combination and for years the italians and the Japanese had no answer to the winning ways of t his British machine.
PEPSI SUZUKI RGV 500
In 1989 Lawson was champ Rainey was trying hard and Schwantz was god, for he made the number 34 Pepsi Suzuki do things which we still remember after fifteen years. The RGV has given us enduring images of Kevin on the bike, with the rear wheel going sideways and the front two feet off the deck all at the same time. The best.
CAGIVA 500 GP BIKE
GP bikes don’t need to look beautiful going extremely fast would suffice. The Cagiva 500 raced by the likes of Lawson and Mamola, looked achingly gorgeous anyway it didn’t with too many races ( Lawson gave it its first GP win in 1992 and got a Ferrari from Cagiva for his efforts…) but when you look like this. You’re forgiven anything.
HONDA NS 500
In 1983 the ‘Sultan of Slide’ Freddle Spencer won the 500cc motorcycle GP racing championship on the V3 (three cylinder) NS500, Then in 1985 riding a V4 NS 500 he not only won the 500cc championship, but also picked up the 250cc crown in the same year. Honda released the MVX 250 in celebration of the NS500 and Fast Freddie’s 1985 double-crown feat remains unequalized ever since.
KAWASAKI Z series
KAWASAKI ZXR750 NINJA
So brutal, it hurt. The 1990 model ZXR750 had snorkel-pipe ram-air intakes a memorable lime-green/white/blue paint scheme, the ‘Ninja’ tag 107 horsepower and enough attitude to make Billy Idol look tame in comparison. The suspension was hard (firm’doesn’t begin to describe it) the high strung engine wasn’t suited to in-town riding and refinement was nowhere in the Honda VFR league and yet, when it was time to leave other 750s of its t ime like they were stuck in reverse the ZXR delivered.
KAWASAKI ZRX 1200R
Blatant 1980s superbike styling overtones Nude, chunky and muscular. Stanking engine (just the thing to slap a pair of really loud Muzzy pipes on) and taut handling provided you are prepared to fiddle with suspension settings. Get one in the lime-green/white/blue paint scheme and fitted with a bikkini fairing and the modern day ZRX will let you start playing Eddie Lawson all over again.