Etc.

etc.

WINNING TWINS

Aprilia’s 450 and 550cc V-Twins are finally in production, with the supermoto SXV and enduro RXV hitting European roads now. And we do mean roads, because both bikes are street legal (with full lighting) and even meet Euro 2 emissions standards. Unfortunately, 2006 U.S. models, available in July for around $7500, won’t be equipped with lights, although they will be green-sticker legal in California. Cross your fingers, though, as the ’07 models are expected to have DOT approval for road use.

LONG-TERM LETTERS

We need your help with our longterm fleet. Do you own an MV Agusta Brutale, Triumph Daytona 600, Buell XB12S, Suzuki GSXR1000 (2005-06 models) or DRZ400SM? If so, write us a letter describing your experiences with the machine, good and bad. Mail to Long-Term Letters, 1499 Monrovia Ave., Newport Beach, CA 92663, or visit www.cycleworld.com and click on Letters to the Editor.

DUCATI CLUBS R US

Ducati owners’ clubs are everywhere, but now, thanks to a new website-www.ducaticlubs.com-you can find them all in one place. Unveiled this past May, the site is a “virtual clubhouse” dedicated to the Desmo Owners Clubs and provides Ducatisti with information on Ducatirelated events, track days, photos and more.

SUPER SCOOTS!

Among the concept vehicles displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show were a couple of mega scooters from Honda and Yamaha.

Big Red’s E4-01 is powered by a 903cc inline-Four with a fully automatic gearbox. Up front are a sportbike-spec inverted fork and radial brakes, while tires are 120/180-17s! ^mÊk

Yamaha, meanwhile, appears to have built a two-wheeled Cadillac in its Maxam 3000. The “3000” isn’t about the engine, but rather signifies this behemoth’s length in millimeters—that’s almost 10 feet! No word on the powerplant, probably a laydown of some sort, but imagine how cool a push-buttonshift FJR1300 engine would be under that far-out bodywork.