The new Moto Guzzi Bellagio: Cafe Racer / Retro Cruiser/..or?

From Web Bike World:

"Moto Guzzi has announced the addition of the new Bellagio cruiser to its motorcycle lineup for 2007.

Moto Guzzi, in this translated press release, says that the new Bellagio symbolizes the "depth of the relationship between Moto Guzzi and its surrounding territory".

This relationship is so strong that the immense beauty of the Lariano area affects both the ideas and creativity of man and in a sense leads him to create works of natural beauty in all his endeavors.

This empathy between the local environment and human inventiveness can be clearly seen in the new Moto Guzzi Bellagio that identifies a place known the world over for its beauty combined with the free spirit of those that revel in motorcycling. Individuality and sheer style are embodied in a reserved, but sophisticated design that displays highly advanced innovative technological solutions balanced with a trendy image.

Moto Guzzi's CARC (Reactive Shaft Drive System) is an example of this advanced technology. Moto Guzzi claims that the system transforms the new 940 cc engine into silky smooth acceleration making this machine Moto Guzzi’s most powerful naked bike.

Other indicators are seen in the presence of the progressive rear suspension system, in the Brembo floating caliper brake system that acts on twin 320 mm discs, in the rear shock absorber and the fully adjustable forks. These technical high quality solutions favor active safety, set a dynamic equilibrium and provide such riding pleasure that the Bellagio is the new point of reference in the category.

The Bellagio has the temperament of a Naked sports bike beneath the skin of a custom machine. The spoked wheels, drag bar, rear-set saddle and forward positioned foot pegs are just a few examples of the details of a style that concentrates weight on the rear wheel giving the impression of a bike that is fixed to the ground, ready to take off at the twist of the wrist.

The new 940 cc engine is more than capable of making this machine fly. While the engine is docile and vibration-free, it puts out huge power with immense torque from even very low revs. This power can be heard in the legendary engine note emitted from new twin silencers that sing a song called Bellagio."

"With the Bellagio, Moto Guzzi has introduced an innovative style to the custom sector. The style is evident not only in the chrome plating and beauty of the engine but also in the “personality” of the magnificent frame that serves to highlight other design elements.

The most recognizable example is the single-sided rear swingarm embodying the CARC system. This patented reactive shaft drive final drive unit is a clear break from the custom bike tradition and is an innovation compatible with a sense of quality and sophistication.

Although the design draws from the American “power cruiser” style, it has a very European look with detail touches of sophistication that are pure Italian. You cannot but be seduced by the blend of all the components, technical details and style in which Moto Guzzi is the class leader.

Some components such as the large spoked wheels, the retro-style rounded instrumentation and the tank decorations are classic elements from Moto Guzzi’s past heritage incorporated into a modern design. Other allusions to traditional custom design include the pulled back handlebars, the forward positioned foot pegs, the two-up saddle astride the rear mudguard, and the plentiful chrome detailing offset by the coal black color scheme.

Moto Guzzi style abounds on the Bellagio, beginning with the transverse 90° V-twin engine representing the key to the design. Other components include the powerful brakes which, by tradition, are generously sized, and the twin overlapping silencers that make such a fashion statement.

It is items like these that were typical of the skill and attention to detail consistently paid by Moto Guzzi to the design and manufacture of its products since 1921, when the company first created motorbikes that are as unique as they are technically without equal. And indeed, it is also inevitable that they should have been influenced by the splendors of the area surrounding Bellagio – just as this new model certainly is."

A new dress for the Bonnie: Triumph's "Sixty8 "parts range.

Triumph Sixty8 Range

"Inspired by a pretty cool year!
Bikes were anarchy. Revolution was in the air. The Rolling Stones were charting with Jumping Jack Flash. Steve McQueen made Bullitt and Triumph made a classic Bonnie that they still talk about today.

The all new range of sixty8 accessories offer something completely different and contemporary for today's Bonneville rider. The selection of interchangeable tank covers help express your personality with the union flag designs in color and monochrome, tartan and flowers to name a few. Add a stylish leather tank detail or fit a leather headlight cover when you park up in town.

For your modern day needs, the stylish contemporary leather panniers look great on the bike and detach as cool satchel bags for use in your personal or professional life. Combine these with an alternative sprocket cover and coloured cam cover to give your bike a true style statement."

"The Aftermath"

"The Generation"

"The Revolver"

Despite Triumphs romantic P.R. talk, lets not forget that 1968 was not entirely a cool year (A U.S. B-52 Stratofortress crashes in Greenland, discharging 4 nuclear bombs, The Tet Offensive begins in Vietnam, then a month later the My Lai massacre occurs, and in April Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee and riots erupt in major American cities for several days afterward causing American troops kill scores of civilians), but dreary events aside it is still a bunch of kinda-neat stuff to stick on your new Bonnie-despite the somewhat sinister names of the themes...

Still they need to bone up a bit on thier history-or at least hire Advertisement writers older than 25 years old....maybe if it was called the "Sixty9 Range"?...I just had to mention that.

Your moment of zen bike-girl oddness: Salty Rei Rose & her Locomotive Cafe Racer Bike

This bit of amazing Japanese design was brought to my attention from my brother and mutual co-founder of mineklinefabrik. So I simply could not resist to post this lovely anime maid and her locomotive/slash Cafe Racer. Before you ask: I have no idea who Salty-Rei Rose is (even after obsessive googling her name) and why her job as a skimpy dressed maid requires her to get about on such a fab bike.What I do know is that she is petite (about 1/20 scale) Made of PVC and can be had for on sale around 75.00 Euros from the German Oddworld shop.

We she is a maid after all, so maybe she can dust off the shelves at after I buy her...

Sweetie if your going out for a ride at least put on a pair of boots,..hate to see your peticure get ruined.

The art of the Samurai bike: The work of Shinya Kimura and Zero Engineering.

The "Needle"

"The Ratfighter"

"The Fighting Vintage"

"In the year of 1992, I opened (english site here: "ZERO engineering") in Okazaki City, Aichi, Japan. In prior to the foundation of this motorcycle custom shop, I managed a small shop in rural area, which specialized in the restoration of Harley Davidson and other vintage motorcycles such as British, German, and/or even Japanese-made. The old motor, especially for its beautiful figure and the special feeling that I get when running, fascinates me in such a way that I have a solid passion for classic kind. In ZERO engineering, I only work on Harley-Davidson's given that the structure combined with the choice of materials create trust in its durability besides good looks. I also like the fact that a great number of the replacement parts for Harley's are available in the market.

Furthermore, the brand's mystique works its magic on the sound whose vibrant rhythm goes well with the kind of image that I have for motorcycles. At the same time, I am interested in fabricating engines from Triumph and BSA, the ones built before 1960s.

As for the name, Zero engineering, I chose the word "zero". Whereas it can literally mean nothing, I believe the word holds an endless possibility to it. It is, indeed, meant to remind me not to conform to the paradigm and but to always challenge new way of thinking.
I cannot think of anyone in particular who had an influence on my work.

It is rather my Japanese roots, in which the idea of beauty as well as my identity was formed.
As I have always tried to base my work on these elements, so those Harley enthusiasts, who are accustomed to the American style, might find my creation new and different.

At Zero engineering, it is our ultimate goal to flavor our sense of style in customizing Harleys. We are certainly not sticking to particular features like a small gas tank or fork springs, and open to new ideas. Thus, whether our bikes are novel enough to draw people's attention does not matter. For future perspective, I do not have any specific plans for what to design, and we will keep on doing the same things as we have done to put our ideas into shape.

On the other hand....
we strongly believe technical ability is equally important as designing skill, so that we will be actively participating in many races in order to improve our techniques.
I hope Zero engineering and our products will continue to inspire people in some manner.

Thank you and Sincerely,

Shinya Kimura-Zero engineering"

Black is Beautiful: Mototwins Project Cafe Black.

"Here at MotoTwin we have collected together a comprehensive range of quality parts and accessories for the new Triumph twins. Every part in the webshop has been fitted by us to our own bikes, so you can be confident when ordering parts from us.

We have spent the last 8 years making hi-tech prototypes for the automotive industry, working for many large multinational companies, including Triumph motorcycles. Between us we also have over 50 years experience riding motorcycles."

Mototwin project Cafe Black

Gallery: The San Francisco SFMC Mods V'S Rockers run.

All photos by Craig Howell. The event was brilliantly hosted by the SFMC

One of the meeting points at Pier 23 Cafe

A rather amazing BSA Victor cafe

My personal favorite: A street legal sidecar Racer: More about this in an upcoming post.

From the Agata Morio Observer: Another girl on a motorcycle.

The Motorbike Girl / Otobai Shoojo

"The film is an adaptation of the manga "The Motorbike Girl"by Ouji Suzuki, which was originally published in "Gekkan Manga Garo"in 1973. It is the simple and poetic story of a junior high-school girl who goes off to the seaside on a motorbike, and comes back amidst wild cherry blossoms. However, the simplicity enhances the girl's vulnerability, her strength and femininity of which one gets an occasional glimpse. In adapting the original story to film, Hakodate, a town in Hokkaido was chosen as the background for the motorbike trip, and "the girl's search for her father" was hinted at the end of her horizon in order to add depth to the girl's gaze and to her journey. Morio Agata directed the film and also appears in it in the role of the girl's father."

So who is Agata Morio?

"Morio Agata made his debut in 1972 with his now famous love song "Sekishoku Elegy". His trademark long hair, jeans and geta sandals made him one of the symbols of the 'gentle generation' from the early seventies, and a dominant singer/songwriter of the time. Although influenced by contemporary American folk/rock music and the hippy movement, he was not a mere follower, and created a thoroughly original music world which evoked the romantic popular culture of Taisho and Showa era-Japan.

After his debut album Otome no Roman, he zoomed through the seventies and eighties with the release of such works as Aa Mujou (Les Miserables), Zipangu Boy, Eien no Enkoku, all pregnant with the Morio Agata worldview. The release of Bandoneon no Jaguar in 1987 coincided with the Tango boom of the time, and also marks the start of Agata's foray into World Music, resulting in his formation of Raizo in the early nineties."