jihem

there's "Harley Davidson" written by a true genious called Serge Gainsbourg for the once splendid 1960's sex icon Brigitte Bardot (she has turned into a very sour extreme right-winger, and her beauty, both inside and outside, is definitively in the past) Je n'ai besoin de personn' En Harley Davidson Je n'reconnais plus personn En Harley Davidson J'appuie sur le starter, Et voici que je quitte la terre, J'irai p't'être au Paradis, Mais dans un train d'enfer. ( i need no one when riding my HD I recognize no one when riding my HD I push on the starter and i'm off from this earth I might go to heaven, but that'll be at a great pace) Je n'ai besoin de personn' En Harley Davidson Je n'reconnais plus personn' En Harley Davidson Et si je meurs demain C'est que tel était mon destin Je tiens bien moins à la vie Qu'à mon terrible engin. (..and if i die tomorrow that would have been my destiny i care more about my bike than for my life) Je n'ai besoin de personn' En Harley Davidson Je n'reconnais plus personn' En Harley Davidson Quand je sens en chemin Les trépidations de ma machine, Il me monte des désirs Dans le creux de mes reins (...when riding i feel the vibrations of my machine, and desires arise in my back) Je n'ai besoin de personn' En Harley Davidson Je n'reconnais plus personn' En Harley Davidson Je vais à plus de cent, Et je me sens à feu et à sang, Que m'importe de mourir Les cheveux dans le vent ! Que m'importe de mourir Les cheveux dans le vent ! (...I'm going more than 100 and i feel scorched and alive, I don't care about dying if it's with the hair in the wind) translation done in a hurry. I translated Keith Code's Twist Of The Wrist in french, but it's easier to explain an apex than decoding a song and Keith doesn't make rhymes

1/ well, now that there's a new 4v engine. 2/ now that they know where all the casts for the new engine are 3/now that it has very probably being done with the EC regulations in mind (and the other territories too i guess) that's 3 excuses less they'll use everytime someone asks for a road going MGS

merci jm ok, now that the new engine does exists, and that it has been ok'ed for EC norms, let's hope someone at Piaggio sees the opportunity to do an MGS02...

well, it's the Anima PR which comes up with a CV quote: > La prima novità è una nuova versione della Griso, equipaggiata col nuovo motore 1200 cc 4 valvole aste e bilancieri. Valori dichiarati: 110 cv a 9500 giri. as for weight, my Ghezzi is about 195 kgs all liquids in. So, it's possible... but, as you say, i seat here and wait for 15h00

funny feeling. I love the Griso, but if this is truly a 4 V, what a waste of a great engine (110 CV and 200 kgs max is what the road going MGS 01 needs) as the Griso line is already filled in and fine as it is.

he's a terrible singer but hey, he's the one laughing all the way to the bank... i think the record company's excuse is pitiful: if Brad Pitt can ride an MV and isn't forbid by Hollywood of the insurance company to do so, why would Blunt be ? i mean, other singers or actors, or show business 's big money makers, have great italian bikes and they don't part with it. look at Ewan Mc Gregor, or Simon Le Bon*(he's a ducati addict), or Eric Bana...

i don't know if you guys read the leaked Ducati company memo on the net last year ? it was an analysis of the company made very frankly and with no gloves...anyway, the point is that even tho Mostros are the best sellers, the real money is made on the expensive machines: it's the limited editions, the top of the bill bikes that are really very profitable. so, personally, looking at Guzzi i don't buy it: brevas and norges might sell ok and assume their part in the company's cash flow but that's forgetting a significant part of the MG crowd ready to buy even a watered down version of the MGS01 or any sporty 2 valves type. And that's also money and not as hard to grab as they think. (i would like to add that if the 8 valves griso is true, it's just plain down stupid not to armour it around a sport bike package ...What is Piaggo thinking ?) MG should look at Bologna and learn a few things from them: Minoli's blog is a clever and inexpensive device to test the fans. It wouldn't be a stupid move to officialize a bit more the still going sales of the race going MGS01, it wouldn't cost much to make a road going and EC approved version of it, especially if, like ducatis, you install a pre payment...I should know, a friend of mine just put a pre payment on a 60.000 Euros Ducati RR and there are at least 500 other guys like him queuing round the block... In a market that shrinks, the bolder ones wins.

hey, this is not right : i'm not used of italian motorbikes companies NOT leaking infos before the machine is actually on the show

did i just read 8 valves or are my eyes playing tricks on me ? that would be awesome as there would be a donor engine for the road going MGS

does that to me too: the front is very kawasaki like, the belly is typical ZX9, and there's a hint of 675 and MV here and there. i think it's butt ugly, but i wait to see it live... interestingly enough, the 1098 seems to have the approval of much of the japanese bikes buyers...I don't recall seeing as much criticism as when the 999 came out and actually i do read a lot of 'wow, i want one' coming from those crowds. i thought i would never write this: BRING TERREBLANCHE BACK

i actually can update this as there's a brand new Ghezzi STW 2005 in Holland so GB seems to be going...

i'm not sure it's still available as Bruno has considerably lower his involvement in selling motorbikes or motorbikes parts, unfortunately. if available, great: GB won the 1996 Italian Supertwin Championship so i'm sure they know what to do to make them go even faster !

i'm amazed at how many different versions of the F4 there are...And they're all limited edition

two of these bikes were imported in Belgium.

no, no, good choice

from Wikipedia, hardly a 100% secure source, sure, but still a good take on things once in a while: A champion (identical to the French, from the late Latin campio) is one who has repeatedly come out first among contestants in challenges (especially the winner of a tournament or other competition) or other test, one who is outstandingly skilled in their field. that MotoGP news article is funny, and has a few interesting facts like the one about Bayliss having lead more laps (30) in one race than Hayden all year long (29)...

you didn't hear me cos it hurts when i think about it... it's pretty obvious the ducati is now head to head with the other factories, the aggravating factor being Bridgestone who hasn't been totally consistent. So much that there has been talks between Michelin and Ducati late this year. Capirex was getting to the core of it and the ducati was starting to be good at nearly every circuit. Will it be the same with the 800 ? Loris seems to think the 800 is going very well already...

i think nicky is a fast racer, yes, he rode very well, yes, and he's world champion cos he has more points than the others, yes, but is he THE world champion: the best rider of them all ? don't you think he knows he's not the best one out there ? last time someone won a world championship with so few victories was 1952 and that man won his two podiums on 8 races, not 17 like nicky. nicky only won his two national tracks and he got assen cos colin did an "amateur" mistake. i say great for nicky, and i'm happy for the man and his joy was great to see but a true world class champion ? no way. but i wait for him to show off how great he really is next year, i have no prejudice absolutely. It's amazing that while the V4, ooops sorry ducati maketing just called me and ask me to write L4, is more powerful and weights less than the road derived 999, it looks like the ride is smoother. We're so used to watch Bayliss fighting it like if it was a bull, and in valencia it seemed a much more controlled ride.

yeah, great ride from both ducatis I'm pretty sure some ppl at Ducati must wonder how that's possible for Bayliss (well, maybe not; put a great champ' without any pression on him, give him a great bike, a great team and a few things he wants to settle with some ppl at Corse and there you go ) shame Rossi fell, it kinda threw away the battle everybody wanted to see, but that fall is pretty typical of this crazy season in a way: crazy. here's one to Nicky !

from the saturday morning practice time with race tyres, i would say that it looks very good for Rossi, Edwards, Capirex and...BAYLISS Nicky seems to have troubles staying in the low 33" while the others are fine in that zone. Rossi did about 12 laps with low 33" as it was for joking... But we all know it changes once in the actual race...

great pics ! thanx ! i had the pleasure to ride one of those for a week end. Really strange engine, great handling. The engine sounds like an old two stroke car from an ex-Iron Curtain country, and there's lots of smoke coming out the exhausts. It has no torque per se, and zilch brake engine effect. It's like a bicycle with an engine such is the handling neutral. Sound is quite wild, it goes like a turbine, higher and higher. Power was very decent, it would go like a jap' 600cc. Loved it.

now, if these could walk we would have a hit on our hands

i don't wanna brag, and i don't speak italian so i miss most of the article, but the Bimota and the NCR are two valvers...They are extremely light, sure (i mean the NCR is supposely below 150kgs ...) but the two extra valves per cylinders, in racing, is a total plus... this said, I'm happy the MGS won

i like casey, he has panache and talent. I'm just afraid he'll spend more time falling off than riding the bike with the two wheels on the ground. Who is his chaperon ? Xaus ?

i dunno, some ppl go crazy to have any kind of high...