Etc.

ETC.

CELEBRATING THE HARVEST

Daytona Beach will put its own spin on the traditional German Oktoberfest harvest celebration by staging what it calls Biketoberfest over the October 22-24 weekend. The weekend’s highlight will be the AMA Championship Cup series finale at Daytona International Speedway. Other activities will include a group tour through Daytona Beach and a vintage motorcycle show. For information, call 800/854-1234.

OVAL-PISTON PERFORMANCE?

With production of its limitededition, oval-piston NR750 complete, Honda nevertheless remains interested in demonstrating the performance capabilities of this offbeat Not-a-V-Eight engine design.

To that end, it’s booked the giant Nardo speed bowl in southern Italy for a series of attempts on a variety of world speed records, using company riders on specially prepared NR750s. The results should be interesting. Watch this space....

MOTO GUZZI ON THE BLOCK

Hot on the heels of a report from financially troubled DeTomaso Industries, Inc. indicating that the company recently completed an agreement to sell its 52-percent stake in Maserati to Fiat, comes another interesting bit of information. Moto Guzzi, which DTI also owns, is being offered for sale as part of a solution to DTI’s long-term cashflow problems. Santiago DeTomaso, president of DTI, said of efforts to sell Moto Guzzi, “A financial advisor has been retained to assist management to identify potential investors, joint venturers, and buyers.” Talks either are being held, or have been held, with Cagiva, Piaggio and Aprilia. According to European sources, Cagiva may be the most likely to emerge holding title to the Moto Guzzi name and to its 275,000-square-foot factory.

THE GERMAN-JAPAN ALLIANCE

MZ, the German manufacturer whose very stylish Rotax-powered Skorpion sporting standard made such a hit at England’s Birmingham Motorcycle Show last year (Cycle World, March, 1993) has commissioned the London design firm Seymour Powell to restyle the machine around Yamaha’s XTZ660 engine-a liquid-cooled Single that powers a D-P bike sold in Europe. Use of this engine, pundits say, would make it easier for the bike to pass U.S. noise regulations. Since Yamaha doesn’t build a comparable bike, the deal, if its completed, would seem to be good for all involved.

READER INFORMATION REQUESTED

Just like you, we’re in this for the long haul. For example, the CW long-term test fleet now includes six 1993 motorcycles: a BMW R1100RS, a Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide, a Honda CBR1000F, a Suzuki GSX-R750 and RMX250, and a Yamaha GTS1000. If you own one of these machines, we would like your comments about the bike. Let us know how much you paid, what kind of maintenance costs you’ve incurred, what modifications you’ve made and any problems you have experienced.

Address your remarks to LongTerm Projects, Cycle World, 1499 Monrovia Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92663.

FOR THE RECORD

Regarding our Kawasaki ZX-11 project bike (see CW, August, 1993), the Arai Signet helmet with the J&M HS134-FF intercom system has a suggested retail price of $520, not $480 as we were told and stated in the story. Also, the Dynavox stereo intercom control terminal costs $300 instead of the $180 we listed.