The 1980s were a crazy-good time for motorcycling. Every major manufacturer was exploring the boundaries of what was possible. Everyone was in search of the silver bullet for performance; be it at the racetrack or the showroom. This was a heady era for Honda, as they pumped out new motorcycle variants seemingly every year. From…
Commemorating Omobono Tenni, a Guzzi racer who gave the factory many victories in the 1933-48 era ( and died in a crash during GP practice ), the Le Mans Tenni is a brilliant and subtle styling exercise using the recent V11 base. This Tenni is badged number 114 of 170, and has been preserved with…
In the 1980’s, Michael Krauser was a leading manufacturer of motorcycle luggage and accessories, and ventured out on the slippery slope of motorcycle manufacture. Replacing the big-tube backbone frame of an R100RS with a Ph.D.-designed trellis saved 6 kg. and subsequently adding four-valve heads to the classic boxer liberated 12 hp. The result rode like…
In the early days of motorcycle design, there were a variety of alternatives to the telescopic forks that have become the standard in an industry evolving towards efficiency but, unfortunately also towards homogeny. Even the S1000RR that followed today’s HP2 Sport as BMW’s flagship sportbike is evidence of this: that striking asymmetrical bodywork is wrapped…
After a 20-year break since the R100/S, BMW’s re-entrance to the more sporting side was thoughtfully considered, with lots of new engineering, and as they approach classic status, a great success. This nicely-updated R1100S looks excellent and fans of the brand would say, just broken in with 22,000 miles. 2004 BMW R1100S for sale on…
Most factory racing efforts are intended to raise the company profile and sell more bikes, or are used to develop and test new technology that filters down to and improves road-bike performance. But the early road-legal efforts of Ferrari and MV Agusta were basically afterthoughts, and sales of these vehicles were simply intended to help…
With apologies to the Who, this cheesecake of a sportbike is one of Guzzi’s greatest hits. The design was based on the Daytona and shown in fall 1993 as a 1994 model. One of the last carburetted Guzzis, the 1996 model had fully adjustable suspension front and rear, and the company’s torquey 2-valve L-twin. This…
Not feathering the throttle in the twilight of the flat twin engine’s development, BMW made a great re-design for their 4-valve boxer sport. The R1200S was more sport and less touring, and this mint example has done very little of either. 2007 BMW R1200S for sale on eBay For 2007 BMW went more mainstream, shelving…
