Etc.
etc.
BLOWN SUPERMONO?
Rumors persist that Ducati will introduce a supercharged version of its early 1990s Supermono roadracer. The carbon-fiber and magnesium Doppia Bielletta sported double connecting rods, resulting in a Single with the perfect primary balance of a 90-degree V-Twin. Also alleged is a Testastrettaheaded update of the racing-only 748R. Set to debut at the Munich Show in September, the so-called 749R could produce as much as 115 horsepower at the crankshaft, a 9 bhp increase over the current model.
MEGA-BUCK MILLES
Italian bike-maker Aprilia has unveiled two new limited-edition 2003 models, both of which are based on the current RSV Mille R. First seen at last fall’s Milan Show, the semi-faired, carbon-fiber-bod-
ied Tuono Limited wears an Öhlins fork and shock, four-pad-per-caliper Brembo front brakes and forged-aluminum O.Z. wheels. It will retail for $17,299. The $18,999 Haga Replica (shown) gets those same upgrades, plus an Akropovic dual-muffler exhaust, Öhlins steering damper and a blue-anodized triple-clamp emblazoned with factory World Superbike rider Noriyuki Haga’s signature. Only 50 Tuonos and 60 Hagas will be imported into the U.S.
TEAM POMPONE WANTS YOU!
Italy-based Motoclub Pompone is looking for a few good foreigners. Already well established with 2000 members throughout Europe, the club is inviting American owners of Italian motorcycles to join in the fun, which includes numerous rides, tours, track days, etc. Membership costs 30 Euros (about $30) per year from Motoclub Pompone, Valle San Liberale 8,31010 Paderno del Grappa (Treviso) Italy, or www.pompone.com.
JAPAN’S PIANO MAN DIES
Genichi Kawakami, the man who made Yamaha a household name, died this past May at age 90. In 1950, Kawakami took over his father’s musical instrument company and developed it into the world’s largest maker of pianos. The unlikely leap to motorcycle production came in the 1950s when machinery originally designed to produce wooden airplane propellers was adapted to make the seminal two-stroke YA-1.
HALL OF FAME
Twelve new members will be inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame on October 19 during ceremonies at the museum, which is located on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio. Among the inductees are motocross pioneer Russ Darnell, world speed record-setter Marty Dickerson, dealer and racer Ed Fisher, ISDT/ISDE gold-medal winners Jeff Fredette and Lars Larsson, racing photographer Walt Mahony, hill-climb legend Freddie Marsh, three-time AMA Superbike champ Reg Pridmore, two-time Daytona 200 winner Dale “The Flying Pig Farmer” Singleton, dirt-tracker Will Davis, Doug “The Wheelie King” Domokos and motocrosser Donnie Schmidt. “Preserving the heritage of American motorcycling means more than displaying a collection of classic machines,” said Don Emde, chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which runs the museum. “It means keeping alive the memory of those who built that heritage.”
GENERATION SUPER X
Prior to filing for bankruptcy, Excelsior-Henderson produced nearly 2000 Super X V-Twins. Now, a new webs\\e-www. superxowners. comprovides a source of information for the owners of those machines. Content includes a “Bike of the Week,” classifieds, company history, service, troubleshooting and a weekly column from Bobby “X-Man” Baldwin.
