Etc.
etc.
DUCATI DOUBLES UP
Last year at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, Ducati announced that it would join the MotoGP fray sometime in the future. Naturally, everyone expected the nine-time World Superbike Champion to do so with one of its trademark desmodromic V-Twins. And, in fact, the Italian manufacturer’s race department stated that the target for its “Ultimate Twin” was 240 horsepower at 17,000 rpm. That’s a lot to ask from a normally aspirated V-Twin, which is why the new engine is suspected to be a V-Four! The basic design is said to duplicate Ducati’s traditional 90-degree layout, with each pair of pistons firing in unison to mimic the current 998 Superbike’s exhaust note. Reportedly, work on the new GP racer is proceeding as scheduled, with the desmo valvetrain already having survived sustained 18,000-rpm running.
BIMOTA SOAP OPERA
Might Bimota finally be on the road to rebirth? Last December, a new company called Alternativa Moto agreed to pay $2 million for the rights to the Bimota name, plus the defunct manufacturer’s leftover bikes, parts and tooling. Based in Padua, Italy, Alternativa Moto is headed up by CEO Guiseppe Della Pietra, Bimota’s former sales manager. But according to Bob Smith of U.S. Bimota importer Moto Point, Della Pietra is in fact employed by none other than Francesco Tognon, the very man in charge at Bimota-and before that, Laverda-at the time of its demise. Since Bimota went bankrupt in the summer of 2000, Smith and his associates have been trying to buy the company, and still have hopes of doing so. “This other group has made a bid accompanied by a 10 percent deposit, and they have 90 days to come up with the balance,” Smith said. “Will they? I don’t know. Let’s just say we’re staying at the window.”
CALIFORNIA IN CONTROL?
If the EPA has its way, all U.S. streetbikes will soon be required to meet California emissions, which are the strictest in the nation. The first tier of the proposed standards would go into effect in 2004, with a second, even tougher phase scheduled for 2008. The EPA is also finalizing new emissions standards for dirtbikes and ATVs.
ARAI GOES DEALER-ONLY
Japanese helmet-maker Arai has mandated its products will no longer be available via mail order, over the telephone or online. “A helmet’s job isn’t to be a pretty paint carrier,” said Roger Weston, president of Arai Helmets Americas Ltd. “By the simple nature of the way they do business, mail order and Internet operations have less capability to address the individual rider’s issues of fit, comfort and noise.” Arai plans to further develop and expand its retail dealer network to guarantee “proper one-on-one sizing.”
NEW ELECTRIC AVENUE?
How will motorcycle manufacturers meet ever-tightening emissions regulations while still producing exciting products? Canadian industrial designers Phil Hallahan and Robert O’Brien think they have a possible answer with this two-wheel hybrid, dubbed the Amplifier. Like Honda's hybrid car, the Insight, the Amplifier relies on internal combustion (a purpose-built 660cc Single) and electric power for motivation. While the Canadian duo admires the technology of the four-wheel hybrids, they felt the styling left a lot to be desired. “Instead of being apologetic for the bike being a ‘green machine,’ we made it ‘in your face,’” Hallahan said. Lightweight materials and a small frontal area are part of the design brief to help keep performance on par with the target market segment-600cc sportbikes. The Kawasaki Canada-backed project isn’t a functional prototype, but rather a conceptual expression of how things might turn out.
