Most WINDING ROAD readers will remember the video we posted recently showing Formula One’s Nick Heidfeld piloting an F1 car, somewhat unsuccessfully, as a demonstration outside of the BMW works in Munich.During that same trip to Germany it seems as though Heidfeld had a bit of time to fall for one of BMW’s newest motorcycles, the lightweight HP2 Megamoto.
The HP2 is the latest bike to carry on the proud BMW tradition of flat-twin engines. In this trim the motor makes 113 horsepower at 7,500 rpm, more than enough to power the 437 pound bike to stellar performance.
Heidfeld seemed quite taken with the motorcycle saying, “I really want to subject this bike to more intensive testing.” Just keep it away from the walls Nick.
(Click on the thumbnails below to check out some images of the HP2 Megamoto or through the jump to read the BMW release.)
Detroit’s own D Business magazine featured a recent interview and photo session with Cadillac boss Jim Taylor, in which the executive talks about the CTS Coupe that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show this year, as well as a pair of very interesting theme motorcycles.
A motorcycle enthusiast himself, Taylor commissioned the Cadillac chopper in the photo above from Great American Chopper of Clawson, Michigan. More interesting still is a second bike that’s still in the works, which will feature a hybrid engine capable of running on ethanol or in a pure electric mode.
The hybrid Cadillac bike is being built by V20 Consulting of New York City, and has been tasked with displaying “GM’s strength in science and technology.” The bike is purported to be capable of a 0 to 60 sprint of 4.5 seconds, and should be unveiled for the public at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
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A young Canadian inventor named Ben Gulak has created an innovative new electric motorbike that takes some of the lessons learned from the Segway device, but implements them in a much cooler package.
The bike, called the Uno, looks from its profile like a strange powered unicycle but actually employs two wheels side-by-side. Riders lean forward to accelerate; a feature famously used by the Segway, and can hit a top speed of 25 mph in its current configuration. The Uno also makes use of a set of gyros to enhance ease of balance, and the wheels are independently operated making turning much more precise.
(Click through the jump to read on or on the thumbnails below to launch a gallery of Uno images.)
With the ink barely dry on the deal to acquire Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors is reportedly looking at the possible investment in another European manufacturer.
This time the target is said to be Italian motorcycle company MV Agusta, with several Indian and Italian sources reporting that Ratan Tata is currently in talks with MV’s Claudio Castiglioni about purchasing a stake in the company. The Tata Motors chairman has already proven that he has expensive tastes, previously expressing interest in acquiring a portion of Ferrari, and could be a good fit for the automaker’s portfolio.
MV has developed some impressive products, even on the smallish budget the company currently operates under, and could be even more of a player with an influx of Indian cash. Have a look at one of the newer MVs, the super bad Brutale 910R, in our gallery below.
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This YouTube video has all the makings of a classic; unspecified origins, jangling raucous soundtrack, and a monkey riding a motorcycle. Yes, the talented simian is on a leash, but come on…look at that monkey go!
(We’re not sure if it’s monkey-safe, but motorcycle fans are bound to love the new BMW S 1000 RR in our gallery below.)
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The 2009 S 1000 RR will be BMW’s first Supersport bike and helps to mark the company’s entry into the Superbike World Championship. Essentially a racing bike for the road, the S 1000 RR is powered by a 1.0-liter inline-four of as yet unspecified output. The company tells us that the powerplant will meet the power, performance, weight, and package requirements for a superbike in “typical BMW style,” which we take to mean that it’s quite fast.
BMW plans on building 1,000 examples of the bike in the first production run, which will be available for purchase by next year. Enjoy a browse through our S 1000 RR gallery below, or click through the jump to read von Kuenheim’s speech officially announcing the new sports bike.
Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech controls a company that builds a wide swath of vehicle types, but there is one that the chairman still believes is missing…the motorcycle.
In a recent interview by German magazine Stern, Piech said that he would still like “a small, valuable motorcycle manufacturer.” The VW boss seems to be suffering from a long-term case of regret over missing an opportunity to purchase Italian motorcycle builder Ducati during some financial struggles in 1985.
“I myself drive a Ducati,” said a longing Piech, “180 horses and more power per kilogram weight than a 1,001-hp Bugatti.”
Perhaps the longing to get into the motorbike business will prompt Piech to jump start the abandoned and supremely cool GX3 three-wheeler project of a few years ago.
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Vinnie Barbarino delivering mail on the back of a motorcycle as a way of shilling for Honda…I’m so confused? “Good things” may indeed happen on a Honda, but we’re not so sure we by Travolta in this role as a very unofficial mailman. Nice bike though.
Check out a slightly newer Honda model, the rip-snorting CBR1000RR, in our gallery below.
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The scene: Venice Beach, California. The showdown: Hardcore BMX trick riding takes on nerdcore Segway stunting. If we didn’t know any better we might have guessed that this was a cut from Zoolander that didn’t make the movie. Enjoy.
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In spite of the heavy cloud cover I pulled on a helmet and set off down hwy 101 to check out the annual gathering of folks infatuated with old English motorcycles at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds in San Jose, California. Fortunately the clouds did no more than threaten. The purists claimed the weather added to the authenticity of the event, but with global warming, maybe the famous “British Mists” are a thing of the past.
Some years after Japanese technology convincingly blew the Brit bikes out of the American market, the BSA Owners’ Club of Northern California organized what has become one of the most comprehensive British bike shows in North America. Along side the collection of well over 100 show machines are the piles of parts laid out for inspection and purchase. Just about everything to build or fix your ‘60s Triumph, Norton, BSA, Greeves, Velocette or HRD is either spread out on the floor or somebody here knows where to get it.
(Click on the thumbnails below to take a look at some images from the show or on the jump to read on.)
Popularized by Michel Gondry’s recent film Be Kind Rewind, “sweding” is the process of amateur filmmakers remaking movie classics. The technique can lead to results that range from the painful to the sublime, and in cases like this Tron redux by French filmmaker Freres-Hueon; they may even surpass the original. The stop-motion version of the eighties sci-fi hit is pretty unbelievable, and stacks up favorably to the relatively dated special effects in the real thing.
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Further proof, should one need it, that the love for Harley-Davidson extends across the globe, can be found emphatically in this brilliant wicker bike.
We know absolutely nothing in the way of details about the bike, as the website the images were found on seems to be entirely in Russian. It’s easy to see that the bike was created by a craftsperson of the first order though, as it doesn’t seem to be lacking in two-wheel detail. Have a closer look at the bike in our gallery below and then tell us how it strikes you in comments.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
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