Etc

etc

GILERA’S OWN TRIPOD

Think of this Gilera Fuoco as an upsized Piaggio MP3. It is the same basic leaning three-wheel scooter concept, but powered by a 500cc Single (replacing the 250cc) and with a larger chassis and stronger suspension. Price in Europe is about $10,300. Next up for Piaggio-owned Gilera will be an 850cc Twin scooter with conventional two-wheel layout, likely on the European market by 2008.

ITALIAN NEWS, PART DUE

It’s hard to keep track of who owns which storied name in the Italian motorcycle industry, but give credit to Moto Morini for making it simple again:

Motori Franco Morini, owned by nephews of company founder Alfonso Morini, has purchased the company and is back in control. Chief engineer Franco Lambertini is now optimistic about growing Morini on the foundation of the Corsaro 1200 naked roadster and 91/2 tourer.

BRACED FOR IMPACT

Alpinestars is a business and, as such, it wants to make money through the sale of boots and gloves and jackets. But the Italian apparel-maker’s greater goal is to protect motorcyclists on both road and track. Hence, the new Alpinestars Cervical Road/Race protection (A-CR), designed to “reduce the incidence and severity of cervical damage resulting from impacts and compressions” without limiting necessary head movement. This past March, the A-CR went “public,” with American Red Bull Rookie rider JD Beach testing the device during practice at the second round of the MotoGP series in Jerez, Spain. Alpinestars continues to refine the product with hopes of launching a commercially available version.

S&S EMITS LESS

Engine builder S&S has made its 96-, 113and 124-cubic-inch VSeries engines available in 49state, EPA-compliantform. The customer must still adhere to regulations regarding exhaust backpressure and gear ratios to pass “emissions registration.” According to S&S, current regs allow an individual one non-compliant bike to be certified in his lifetime, while builders using certed engines such as this can construct up to 2999 bikes without getting their own EPA certification.

V-TWIN ZIN

Okay, all you wine “common sewers,” there’s a new label in town, and it’s geared for “The Harley Lifestyle.” A winery in Santa Rosa, California, called V-Twin Vineyards has introduced V-Twin Zin, a Zinfandel blended for consumption “after you park your Harley-Davidson and unzip your leathers,” according to the press release. The Zin is “bursting with berry aromas and flavors of raspberry and cherry. Barrel aging provides hints of oak and vanilla to the wine leaving a soft, smooth caramel and cocoa finish.” Whatever... Though VTwin Vineyards currently is just a “virtual” winery (meaning it sells online only at www.vtwinwines. com), the company is planning a tasting room in the not-too-distant future, including plenty of out-front bike parking.

Gee, and all this time, we thought the official wine of the Harley-Davidson lifestyle was-you know-beer!