Showing posts with label from. Show all posts
Showing posts with label from. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The SCURA R from Moto Guzzi

If you like the Moto Guzzi V11 Cafe Sport , then you may just be lucky enough to get its Limited Edition Scura R. Moto Guzzi is launching a limited numbers of the V11 Scura R in a black/red version, which is a "Sportier" model of the famed V11. Being a Guzzi, price will definitely be a high, but so thus the biker know that Guzzi stands for reliability, tradition and elegance personified.
The R model is of course a higher spec version of the SCURA, which was launched in 2002.
Priced at £8,579 OTR, the same price as the V11 Café Sport, it will be very rare, so rare that only four of the Scura Rs are for the UK market and probably none will leave the West European region. Looking at it, its difficult to say that its NOT a new model what with its high quality finish, sportier looks and the MG elegance in full glow, but a detailed look will bring the smile in your face for its every inch a Guzzi and of course the family lines are very much of those of the V11 Cafe Sports with some subtle changes like the gold coloured fork legs and front brake caliper finished in bronze or the carbon components like the front mudguard, starter motor cover and side panels which reflect the latest technology, designed for safe high performance riding. And with the dark carbon-fiber panelling and mufflers giving the bike a rather dark edgy look and chisseled to go with the mood, the bike is aptly named SCURA, meaning dark. The bikini fairing has the word SCURA written on it. And the R version is of course LE, Limited Edition that is.
That a Guzzi is one of the best road mannered bikes is a foregone conclusion, but the sportier V11 will make you forget all that. This fascinating Café styling could easily make you forget the exceptional road qualities of the V11 family with the natural, relaxed, high-bar riding position which will make city riding and touring both a pleasure and not to mention with the support of the Öhlins suspensions, which also provides the effective steering damper. The Cantilever swinging arm with Öhlins monoshock is adjustable in compression, rebound and spring preload. The engine is the evolved form of the classic 90° V twin. An inter-collector balancer pipe guarantees perfect power matching between the two cylinders and more muscle at midrange output. With a compression ratio of 9.8:1, expect more low & mid-range rev torque.
A little historian would tell you that Guzzi was among the first companies in the world to use professional designers, way back in the 60s. This company based in Mandello was taken over by Aprilia in 2001 and as such somethings do carry over especially the fork up front is actually titanium nitride coated , similar to the Aprilia RSV Mille R. The first Moto Guzzi V11 was launched in 1999 in the Moto Guzzi’s traditional and characteristic boxer 1100 V-twin shaft mated to a raft of top spec cycle parts. Since 2001 when Aprilia has taken over, there has been quite a few variants of the V11. and the Scura R is the latest to be launched in 2007.
Timeline-
1999: Moto Guzzi launches the V11 Sport.
2001: Takeover by Aprilia, launches Moto Guzzi V11 Naked, Moto Guzzi V11 Rosso Mandello and faired Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans.
2002: Rosso Mandello discontinued. Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans Tenni (Limited edition high spec version of Le Mans) and Moto Guzzi V11 Sport Scura (Limited edition high spec version of Sport with Ohlins suspension and carbon fibre) launched.
2003: Moto Guzzi V11 Sport Ballabio (high bars and headlamp fairing), Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans Rosso Corsa (as Le Mans with Ohlins suspension) and Moto Guzzi V11 Café Sport (as Sport with Ohlins suspension, high bars and bikini fairing) launched.
Sport Scura, Naked and Tenni discontinued.
2004: Sport and Le Mans discontinued.
2005: Ballabio, Rosso Corsa and Café Sport discontinued.
2007: Moto Guzzi SCURA R launched
Source: Motorcycling News
Technical Specifications
Engine - Air cooled, four stroke, transverse 90° V-twin cylinder, OHC, 2 valve per cylinder. Capacity / Bore x Stroke - 1064 / 92 x 80 mm
Compression Ratio - 9.5:1
Induction - Magneti Marelli fuel injection, 2x 45mm nozzle holders Ignition / Starting Magneti Marelli electronic digital / electric
Max Power / Torque - 91 hp 66.3 kW @ 7800 rpm / 94 Nm @ 6000 rpm
Transmission / Drive - 6 Speed / shaft
Front Suspension - 40mm Marzocchi upside-down forks, adjustable compression, 120mm wheel travel.
Rear Suspension - Cantilever swingarm, Sachs Boge mono shock, adjustable compression and rebound damping, 128mm wheel travel.
Front / Rear Brakes - 2x 320mm discs 4 piston calipers / Single 282mm disc 2 piston caliper Front // Rear Tyre 120/70-17 // 180/55-17
Dry Weight - 221 kg
Fuel Capacity - 22 Litres
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Sunday, May 5, 2013

MOTO GUZZI from Firestarters Garage

What you see is a ROSSOPURO valued at 20.000 euro. Yes it is! And you know what? The Italians do it better!

Well thats what Mr. Filippo Barbacane thinks and he has a darn good resume to show. Fillipo is a designer, bike designer, to be precise. And like the last post where we met Mr. Martini who customizes only Triumph bikes, Mr. Barbacane designs only Moto Guzzi. His company Firestarter Garage was inagurated in 14th June 1998 in Pescara, Italy.

NEMESIS (2007) valued at 20.000 euro with a V11 Ballabio stock

According to his website "It has been the first business of this kind in Abruzzo, being a workshop as well as a shop selling accessorises and clothing for Custom bikes only."
Mr. Filippo started his passion for customizing bikes in 1992. The name Firestarter according to his website means "the principle from where the first spark sets off the fire, while Garage is to remind me where I come from",

The Nibbio

Although his first love was the Hog, his first customization was on a Honda VT600 which he named “Eat My Shorts” which was shown in Padua in 1998. Then he worked on a Kwack Z1000 (80 model) named it EKA where he used a modified frame with the body being completely hand made by him which won him a 3rd prize in Streetmachine category in an Italian Customizers event. From there, he promised himself to make it to Padua every year with a new design.

The ZERO (2007) valued at 25.000 euro & The V11 Racer (2004) valued at 10.000 euro

According to him, his greatest design or the bike that gave him the greatest satisfaction was the CICLOPE based on the Moto Guzzi V11 Sport which he designed in 2000. Of course, that it was a Guzzi added a lot of value to it and moreover there were rumours that Guzzi might close down added to its value. Such was the recognization for this bike, that Filippo concentrated only on Guzzi bikes. This particular model was featured on various mags. Click here to see the mags which featured his many bikes.
In 2002 following a few more success stories, he decided to enlarge the shop and the workshop but stayed in the same location of Pescara.

The Anima (2005) valued at 20.000 euro & The Ciclope (2000) valued at 17.000 euro

In 2003, one of his creations, the FSG004 based on a Furia 1100 by Ghezzi & Brian won second place in the category for sport bikes in the International Bike Expo’ in Padua.
He joined hands with his friend Mr. Paolo DAlcini to set up a store for Guzzi accessories named Rossopuroitalai which ultimately gave him the idea to make a new bike that he named ROSSOPURO. In 2004 the bike won him the first prize in the 10th Edition of Bike Expo in Padua and their shop was a hit too.

The FSG 004 (2004) valued at 18.000 euro & The S3 R

By now, success has become a middle name for Mr. Filippo Barbacane. In 2005 he won the International Bike Expò with a new motorcycle ANIMA, based on a Ghezzi frame. Then again in 2007 another model named ZERO based on the Moto Guzzi Griso 1100 won the Bike Expò of Padova in The Best of Sport Motorcycle category. Remember his name! Very soon you will see him out of Italy (hopefully) and giving every designer a hard time.

The Pungilione (2003) valued at 12.000 euro with a Honda engine, The EKA (1999) valued at 10.000 euro with a Kawasaki engine and The EightBallBoy (2004) valued at 10.000 euro with a Yamaha engine.

Visit his website Firestarter Garage for loads of photos of all the bikes and even more designer bikes.

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Thursday, May 2, 2013

New Photos of HONDA CB 1100 from MCN

Source of New Pictures - MCN
For details on the bike, read the original thread - HONDA CB 1100 - Then & Now
The first 3 pics are from the CB 1000F while the latter 4 are from the CB 1100R
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