DUCATI SUPERBIKE UNVEILEDDucati has unveiled the stunning 1098 Superbike at the EICMA 64th Annual International Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy this week.
Evoking sumptuous Italian style and sleek good looks, the 1098 will turn heads.
"Ducati have really hit the mark with this model, it is the best looking, best handling, best sounding and the fastest bike they have produced," according to manager of Ducati Dublin, Kim Farrelly.
Drawing on Ducati's success and experience from developing bikes for the Moto GP and Superbikes, the 1098 is an 1100cc v-twin machine with 173 horsepower, a lot of torque and revs up to 12,000 rpm. "This bike is going to be astonishing to drive," says Kim.
Weighing in at a super slim and lightweight 173 kg, the 1098 is, "the lightest of any production twin out there," he adds.
The model is a replacement for the Ducati 999 and draws heavily on the original stunningly beautiful 916.
The Ducati 999 weighed in at a mere 198kg. "At 173kg the 1098 is saving 26 kilos, making it go a lot faster and stop and accelerate better.
Ducati Dublin has already taken 15 confirmed orders. It is priced at €17,995.
HIGH WHEEL MAXI AT MILAN
Also unveiled at the Milan Motorcycle Show was Yamaha's new high wheel Maxi-Scooter, X-City. The 250cc single cylinder four-stroke scooter was made for commuting around large congested cities. "The X-City is pitched firmly at the daily commuter with its big wheels offering agile handling, providing powerful performance and punchy acceleration," according to a spokesperson for Yamaha and will be available in Yamaha dealers from April 2007.
STEVE'S INDIAN SPORT GOES UNDER THE HAMMER
Some of movie star Steve McQueen's vintage collection of motorcycles went under the hammer at auction at The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles last Saturday.
Included in the lot was one of the "King of Cool's" favourite bikes, the 1934 Indian Sport Scout motorcycle. According to Mark Osborne, vice-president of Bonhams and Butterfields, who managed the McQueen memorabilia, "the Indian was Steve's favourite marque."
The classic Sport Scout had an estimated value of around €15,000 but the bidding war drove it up to a whopping $155,000 (€121,000). A 1937 Crocker motorcycle was also sold for a record $276,000 (€215,000).