Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ducati finally unveils 2010 Multistrada 1200 at EICMA]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/ducati-finally-unveils-2010-multistrada-1200-at-eicma/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/ducati-finally-unveils-2010-multistrada-1200-at-eicma/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/ducati-finally-unveils-2010-multistrada-1200-at-eicma/#commentsFiled under:

2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 - Click above for high-res image gallery

After months of rumors, grainy spy shots and leaked information, Ducati has finally pulled the wraps off its 2010 Multistrada 1200. As with the original MTS, Ducati wanted to create a machine with sportbike-level performance that could be attained on nearly any kind of surface terrain. This time, though, the Italian manufacturer started with its latest liquid-cooled Testastretta powerplant as used in the top-level 1198 superbike, athough altered with revised valve overlap for smoother power delivery and a 15-percent improvement in fuel consumption and emissions.

Ducati says the new Multistrada 1200 is "four bikes in one," and has thus bestowed its new motorcycle with four distinct Riding Modes that alter power and traction control levels: Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro. Sport mode offers the full 150-horsepower experience with a low amount of traction control and Touring mode is intended for everyday riding. Urban and Enduro modes tone things down several notches to 100 horsepower - and opting for the latter also raises the suspension and sets the traction control to its least-active setting.

Uplevel S models get a new Ducati Electronic Suspension setup that can be tailored to adjust spring pre-load along with rebound and compression damping with options for rider only, rider with luggage, rider and passenger or rider and passenger with luggage. Ducati says that the Multistrada 1200's 417-pound dry weight is the lowest in its class, though a full 5.3-gallon load of fuel (enough for 186 miles between fill-ups) would certainly raise that a bit. Pricing starts at $14,995 before any options are added. Hit the jump for the rest of the details and check out our high-res image gallery below.


Gallery: 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200


[Source: Ducati]

Continue reading Ducati finally unveils 2010 Multistrada 1200 at EICMA

Ducati finally unveils 2010 Multistrada 1200 at EICMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 ducati multistrada 12002010DucatiMultistrada1200cycleducatiducati multistrada 1200DucatiMultistrada1200eicmaeicma 2009Eicma2009motorbikemotorcyclemultistradamultistrada 1200Multistrada1200Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW unleashes 2010 R 1200 GS with DOHC boxer engine]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/bmw-unleashes-2010-r-1200-gs-with-dohc-boxer-engine/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/bmw-unleashes-2010-r-1200-gs-with-dohc-boxer-engine/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/bmw-unleashes-2010-r-1200-gs-with-dohc-boxer-engine/#commentsFiled under: ,

2010 BMW R 1200 GS - Click above for high-res image gallery

Anyone who follows motorcycling would likely tell you that BMW's R 1200 GS sets the standard when it comes to building a proper adventure touring motorcycle - and with good reason. As we found out when we threw a leg over the 2009 edition, BMW's big air-cooled mule can pretty much go anywhere the rider points it, and it'll tackle gnarly off-road conditions with just as much aplomb as it attacks paved back roads and long stretches of superslab.

Still, nothing is perfect (we actually sorta prefer the little brother F 800 GS off the road), and BMW saw fit to update its best-seller for the 2010 model year with a revised boxer engine that now sports dual-overhead cams. That's a major modification and it allowed BMW to locate five-percent more horsepower than the previous mill. Those 110 galloping ponies join 88 lb-ft of torque that BMW says is spread more evenly throughout the rev range than before. We'll take it - more power is always a good thing, right?

As you'd expect, there's also an upgraded R 1200 GS Adventure model for those who truly need the most capable bike they can get their grubby mitts on. Updates over the standard model include spoked (not cast) wheels, greater suspension travel and a monster 8.7-gallon fuel tank. See both new models in all their glory in our image galleries below.


Gallery: 2010 BMW R 1200 GS


Gallery: 2010 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure


[Source: BMW]

BMW unleashes 2010 R 1200 GS with DOHC boxer engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1200cc2010 bmw r 1200 gs2010 bmw r 1200 gs adventure2010BmwR1200Gs2010BmwR1200GsAdventurebmwbmw r 1200 gsBmwR1200Gsmotorbikemotorcycler 1200 gsr 1200 gs adventureR1200GsR1200GsAdventureFri, 06 Nov 2009 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Born to be Bentley: One-off Crewe chopper]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/04/born-to-be-bentley-one-off-crewe-chopper/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/04/born-to-be-bentley-one-off-crewe-chopper/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/04/born-to-be-bentley-one-off-crewe-chopper/#commentsFiled under: ,



As similar as the two industries are, there aren't as many automobile/motorcycle crossovers as you might otherwise think. A handful of carmakers (Honda, Suzuki, Peugeot, BMW, Triumph once upon a time...) also make motorcycles. Ford has their Harley-Davidson edition F-Series pick-up trucks. Some small sports cars use motorcycle engines, and there are some big motorcycles (really big) that use car engines. Fiat sponsors world champion Valentino Rossi's MotoGP Yamaha bike. And, once in a while, we see a custom chopper decked out to look like a particular automobile. We've eyeballed our share of Ferrari-inspired motorbikes, but this is something else entirely: a Bentley chopper.

Of course, there's nothing particularly Bentley about this chopper other than the trim, so don't go expecting a 6.75-liter V8 or a twin-turbo W12 sprung between two wheels. But the fit and finish look rather impressive. The greenish-grey paint finish is complemented by a soft tan leather saddle and capped with a "Flying B" emblem on the gas tank. Pretty sweet ride from the look of things, and even if it is a one-off, it's one more link between between motor vehicles with two wheels and those with four.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Born to be Bentley: One-off Crewe chopper originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley chopperBentleyChopperchoppercustom chopperCustomChoppermotorbikemotorcycleSat, 04 Jul 2009 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorcyclist sues NY State Police over motorbike-only roadblocks]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/motorcyclist-sues-ny-state-police-over-motorbike-only-roadblocks/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/motorcyclist-sues-ny-state-police-over-motorbike-only-roadblocks/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/motorcyclist-sues-ny-state-police-over-motorbike-only-roadblocks/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Upstate New York has earned a reputation as the speeding ticket capital of the country, but even with overeager state troopers patrolling the highways, motorcyclists feel singled out by law enforcement. That's why one rider/attorney is taking the state police, along with county and state officials to court.

According to one Mitchell Proner, the state's institution of roadblocks exclusively for motorcyclists is unconstitutional: the motorcyclist and personal injury lawyer claims that without justifiable cause, the checkpoints infringe on riders' First Amendment rights to freedom of assembly and association and their Fourth Amendment right to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. Last year, the New York State Police conducted twelve such "safety checks" near motorcycle events, including the Americade biker gathering at Lake George, the largest such event in the Northeast - and the NYSP plan on conducting fifteen more this year.

Proner claims to be filing the federal class action suite at the Federal Court for the Northern District of New York on behalf of his fellow riders. Whether he has a wheel to stand on is for the legal system to decide.

[Source: 1st5ive.com | Image: New York State Police]

Motorcyclist sues NY State Police over motorbike-only roadblocks originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bikerbiker checkpointBikerCheckpointmitchell pronerMitchellPronermotorbikemotorbikermotorcyclemotorcycle roadblockMotorcycleRoadblockmotorcyclistnew yorknew york statenew york state policeNewYorkNewYorkStateNewYorkStatePolicepronerThu, 11 Jun 2009 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Prancing Steel Horse: custom Scuderia Ferrari chopper]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/09/prancing-steel-horse-custom-scuderia-ferrari-chopper/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/09/prancing-steel-horse-custom-scuderia-ferrari-chopper/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/09/prancing-steel-horse-custom-scuderia-ferrari-chopper/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There are a lot of superlatives that could be equally applied to Ferraris and to custom choppers by their respective enthusiasts, and we're not going to try to name them all. But that's probably why there have been so many efforts to blend the two, with varied results.

One builder of custom choppers built a red stallion for Michael Schumacher upon his retirement. Another motorcycle craftsman built two one-off sport-bikes: one powered by a Ferrari V12 and another with a V8 out of a Ferrari 308. Even legendary custom bike designer Arlen Ness styled a chopper after the iconic Testarossa.

The latest crossover between the world of the steel stallion and the prancing horse is this custom chopper, powered by the 140-hp engine from the Triumph 955 Triple. The high-gloss red paintjob even comes complete with race livery, but after watching Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, we're surprised the builder didn't include the team's principle sponsor. The bike was recently up for sale on eBay for about fifteen grand.

Watch the video after the jump.

[Source: Motorpasion]

Continue reading Prancing Steel Horse: custom Scuderia Ferrari chopper

Prancing Steel Horse: custom Scuderia Ferrari chopper originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choppercustomferrarimarlboromotorbikemotorcycleschumacherscuderiashellvideovodaphoneFri, 09 Feb 2007 17:03:00 EST