The King Croesus Contempt for Death Trip 2009
Tormod Amlien and Klaus Ulvestad may not be your best friends yet, but sure you could live vicariously through their Norwegian escapades in an attempt to make the round-the-world trip on vintage motorcycles. The new age Vikings started their journey April 1st 2009 in none other but Toten, Norway. From there the fantastic duo will journey through the Baltic countries, up through Siberia, through Mongolia and then to the most easterly point of Asia before sailing or flying to Anchorage, Alaska. Saying that the two have a plan would be using that term very loosely. As described by Amlien and Ulvestad, making plans doesn’t make sense when criss-crossing central and South America, or going through Africa. What are the only definites on the journey? An amazing trip brought to you by two guys riding 70-year-old Danish Nimbus motorcycles equipped with side cars.
Sites: KCCD, KCCD Blog, KCCD Videos
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Carefully Considered & Mac Motorcycles Collaboration
Design geniuses Carefully Considered have put their own touches on Brit newcomers Mac Motorcycles, and the result is a beautiful engineered, aesthetically gorgeous and unique motorcycle. The lightweight, minimalist street cruisers (4 different models in total) were the perfect subject for Carefully Considered’s newest target; the Zenophya-designed Macs are themselves affordable artwork and compliment CC’s styling quite well. The primary idea was to distance the new graphics on the bike from the typical and often garish logos and neon stickers that adorn modern motorcycles; by employing “such production techniques as laser etching, anodized finishes, and and screen printed graphics applied to the gas tanks,” the final product is one that exudes style and class.
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BMW Demonstener D1200R
As we have said in the past, it’s not too often that conceptual projects make it off the drawing board and onto the showroom floor; often times when the transition is successful, the general public is left with a bastardized version of the initial creation that was so riveting in the first place. Enter the Demonstener D1200R, a breathtaking version of BMW’s popular two-wheeler. Creative geniuses Pablo Gonzalez de Chaves and Carlos Beltran Carrión worked tirelessly on the D1200R to make sure the production version was exactly what we expected. Only five will be made, and will be built to the customer’s specifications, down to the rims, materials, paint, and even framework; the bike will also feature BMW’s bulletproof boxer engine and hub-steering. Despite the extremely low production numbers, the bike is available on Ebay; all five failed to meet the ‘Buy It Now’ price of $75,000 and will most assuredly be back up on the auction block shortly.
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Derringer Cycles
Adrian Van Anz’s vision of a commuter bike that embodied elegant and classic design came to fruition when he started up Derringer Cycles – named after the pocket size old pistol. His bikes fuse classic motorcyle design with a standard bicycle. There are some old-fashioned details such as the leather bicycle seat that play up the vintage appeal. The bike features a 4-stroke Honda engine and can achieve speeds up to 40 mph (see specifications after jump). Placed orders take up to a month, and the cost tops $3,000 US for many of their models.
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Wrench Monkees Custom Motorcycles
The triumphant return of the cafe racer continues unabated. From Copenhagen, Denmark, comes a new type of custom motorcycle. Wrench Monkees’ designs aren’t necessary works of art, and don’t seem to use the most high-tech materials, but they are unabashedly unique and are a real melting pot of materials. And, while they look more like something you would build with your father using spare parts from the garage, the Monkees’ creations are surprisingly streamlined and well-engineered. Think you could build one yourself? Then forsake the $20,500 starting price and give it a shot; but we would rather leave this to the professionals.
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Moto Guzzi V7 Clubman Racer
Everyone loves a throwback. Moto Guzzi’s newest under-the-radar creation made its debut at this year’s Milan Motorcycle show. With revamped cafe racers all the rage, the V7 is a recipe for success. Highlights of the bike include a powerful (and longitudinal) v-twin, unique color scheme, and retro fairings. A funky Arrow Racing exhaust, single-seat saddle, and an adjustable suspension from venerable Italian tuning house Bitubo round out the Moto Guzzi’s eccentricities. The V7 is undoubtedly a great alternative to buying an aging cafe racer and putting in the necessary wrench time, especially for those new to two wheels who are looking for a unique bike. Moto Guzzi’s press release describes the bike as “the epitome of [a] snapshot taken more than 30 years ago, and reworked by adopting the technology and quality standard of today’s manufacturing processes.” Well said.
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Triumph Bonneville Heuer Motorcycle
We simply don’t have enough time to tell you how cool Steve McQueen was. Thankfully, Triumph and Tag Heuer will do that for us; they have created a one-of-a-kind motorcycle to pay tribute to the influential actor and race enthusiast. Inspired by the classic McQueen race film Le Mans, the Bonneville Heuer shares the familiar Gulf Oil blue and orange paint scheme with McQueen’s famous Porsche 917. For those of in the know, McQueen also flashed a Heuer Monaco watch several times throughout the movie. With that, and the upcoming anniversaries of 40 and 50 years for the Heuer Monaco and Triumph Bonneville respectively, what better way to collaborate and honor the heritage of two hugely influential designs?
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2010 Vyrus 987 C3 4V Supercharged
Yes, you read the name correctly. Italian specialty tuners Vyrus have added another carbon-fiber laden superbike to their stable. The 987, their newest example, holds the distinction of being the most powerful production motorcycle in the world. The base model uses a Ducati 1198 engine that produces 170bhp; the bike itself weighs only 359lbs. Vyrus will also make available an ‘R’ model, boasting 14 more ponies and shedding 11 pounds (from where, we’re not sure). The cream of the crop, however, appears to be their supercharged version, which is clearly not for the faint of heart. This street-legal monster claims an output of 211 horsepower despite a curb weight of a mere 339lbs. Such numbers put the Vyrus in direct competition with Ducati’s heralded Desmosedici RR. Aesthetically, the Vyrus looks like a carboned and overengineered version of Bimota’s Tesi 3D, which speaks directly of the bike’s lineage. Both the Vyrus and the Bimota can be linked to the famed Massimo Tamburini; they were developed virtually side-by-side and share the ‘wasp’ look, minus the fairings for the Vyrus. Carbon fiber jokes aside, we love the look of the Vyrus; it is brutal and direct, and shows off all of the bike’s options without any pretense. It is a machine built purely for speed and is priced accordingly-the supercharged version tops out at lofy $112,000, nearly double the price of the base model.
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Dahon los XL
A Eurobike IF Gold Award winner, the Dahon los XL is an urban folding bike which the jury described as the “perfect example of a stylish, functionally designed folding bike that meets the demands of urban mobility and flexibility.” Not only is the los XL have the geometry, riding position and handling characteristics of a full-sized bicycle, but it also comes equipped with an integrated phone/GPS charger, integrated air pump and Valo lighting. The perfect fit for urban riders who want a full-size bike but also need the convenience of a compact fold.
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2010 Triumph Rocket III
Despite the current trend in the automotive world to constantly do more with less, Triumph has apparently gone in the opposite direction with their newest cruiser, the Rocket III. Saddled with the distinction of being the worlds “largest capacity bike,” the Rocket III Roadster is powered by a 2.3liter inline three-cylinder engine that generates an astounding 165 lb-ft of twist. Simon Warburton, Triumph’s GM, promises a dynamic riding experience thanks to the engine’s ability to provide “instant drive at any point” coupled with a drastic change in riding position from the previous Rocket III. The footrests have been lowered and moved further back, and the seat has been raised and repositioned to give the rider a sportier experience. Despite the hefty 807 pound curb weight, a retuned suspension should keep the Rocket nimble on both straights and twisties. The use of Triumph’s familiar twin headlights (recognizable from the Speed Triple, a great touch) returns, but the instrument panel changes to improve functionality and encourage a better riding experience. Available only in black (at least you can choose matte or gloss), expect to see Triumph’s newest creation hit dealers early next year.
Continue reading for more images and a video for the 2010 Triumph Rocket III.
