Sure motorcycles look cool, but most aren’t really that interesting unless they have a deadly amount of power shoved into them, or they’re on fire. This one on the other hand is pretty special; it’s the only bike ever to be badged as a Ferrari.
You may ask yourself, how did a Ferrari motorbike come to be? Well, out of pure generosity of Piero Ferrari. In a letter to Mr. Ferrari Jr., David Kay of David Kay Engineering wanted to build a Ferrari badged one-of-a-kind bike as a memorial piece to his late father. After a read over the undoubtedly touching letter, Piero Ferrari granted permission in the form of his signature to David Kay to build the memorable two-wheeler.
Four years later and 3,000 man hours, the built from scratch 900cc Ferrari motorcycle was born. The entire body was shaped from aluminum and molded to what David thought a Ferrari factory motorcycle would look like. Although the bike didn’t get much use, as it was seen as more of a personal expression of art rather than a road-going bike, it came with 105-hp and an estimated top speed of 164 mph.
So where is this one and only now? Well after some not so successful sales, and price tags of over £250K, the bike finally made its way to the auction block in May 2012 where it sold at a price of £85,000 ($166,000) to some lucky Brit.
Before the Ducati 175 broke into the scene, the Ducati 125 Sport was the quintessential early Ducati single. Fast forward to today’s time, and the now classic bike has become the perfect machine for vintage events anywhere, including the Motogiro d’Italia.
But back then, the Ducati 125 Sport was in a league of its own, weighing only 221 pounds and featuring a 124 cc SOHC single engine that produces 10 horsepower and mated to a four-speed transmission. The 125 Sport was capable of hitting a top speed in excess of 70 mph, and when combined with a design that’s as streamlined as any Ducati bike ever built, it was the perfect on-the-road companion for all those merry joy rides.
This particular 1955 Ducati 125 Sport - CN: DM125S/7564 - comes with a two-tone red and white paint finish complete with a distinctive scalloped fuel tank, signature clip-on handlebars, and fully restored chrome finishes.
Expected auction price at the RM Auction sin Monaco was around €3,500 - €4,500, which is around $4,500 - $5,800 based on current exchange rates. Actual selling price was $4,545.
If you want to talk about a true one-of-a-kind classic Ducati, it doesn’t get any better than the Ducati 860 GT Polizia. On the same vein that the American police rode Harley-Davidsons for years, its European counterpart used Ducatis.
This particular 860 GT Polizia, which was put on auction at the 2012 RM Auctions in Monaco, was built on a 750GT frame, with 750 tanks and side covers. In addition, it carried a powerful 864 cc SOHC V-twin engine that was mated to a five-speed transmission.
As a 1981 model, this 860 GT Polizia - CN: DM750S/755495 - was used by the Bologna Police Department and came with a windshield, leg shields, and side panniers, as well as a black paint and chrome finish.
Its condition is still impeccable even after all these years, and is highlighted by a relatively low mileage considering its age and the purpose it was used for (patrolling the mean streets of Bologna, Italy back in the 80’s).
Expected bid price for this 1981 Ducati 860 GT Polizia was pegged at around €4,000 - €6,000, which is about $5,200 - $7,800 based on current exchange rates. Actual selling price was $10,606.
It’s hard to imagine that Ducati has been building bikes for as long as they have. But for all those years in production, you’re bound to get a number of models that have become classics in their own right.
Take the 1973 Ducati 450 Desmo Scrambler for example.
With the anticipation of Ducati’s desmodromic valve gear back in the late 60’s, coupled with the success and popularity of the Ducati Scrambler, it figured that the two would somehow be tied-up together to create a completely new bike. That’s when the Ducati 450 Desmo Scrambler was born.
With the technology being fitted into the bike, the 450 Desmo Scrambler became a must-have purchase for Ducati enthusiasts back in the day, in large part because of the bike’s impressive performance credentials, highlighted by a 16.6-second time through the quarter-mile. On top of its performance characteristics, the 450 Desmo Scrambler was also fitted with an individual speedometer and Veglia tachometer rather than the headlight-mounted unit sometimes seen on 250-cc and 350-cc models.
The model that was auctioned off at the 2012 RM Auctions in Monaco carries the chassis number DM450S/466142. It’s an unrestored model in good condition with a two-tone, black-and-yellow finish with a 436 cc Desmo single engine mated to a five-speed transmission.
Bidding price for the bike was expected to hit €8,000-€10,000, which is around $10,400 - $13,000 based on current exchange rates. Actual selling price was $12,121.
The TVS Scooty Wego will go where you go. Play on words notwithstanding, TVS’ latest scooter matic is set to launch in the Indian market with the hopes of competing against heavyweights, Honda and Yamaha.
So does the TVS Scooty Wego have what it takes to be a contender in the market? To answer that, you need to understand what this scooter has to offer.
In terms of styling, the Scooty Wego offers the kind of look that makes it a worthy contender to the joint title of Honda and Yamaha. It comes with a Balance Technology Body that not only offers unique styling, but also makes for better riding, handling, and maneuverability. The lighting configuration of the Wego features a multi-reflector halogen headlamp and an LED set-up on the rear. Moreover, aluminum materials were also used on the engine while the Wego’s 12" velg matches up well with its Japanese rivals, which uses 14-16" velg.
At the heart of the Scotty Wego is a 100cc, one-cylinder OHC engine that produces a respectable 8 horsepower at 8,000 RPM and 8Nm of peak torque at 5,500 RPM. This engine is mated to a Vmatic transmission.
For all intents and purposes, the TVS Scooty Wego will not have the same recognition as its counterparts from Honda and Yamaha. But when it comes to straight up value, the Indian scooter is as good an option as you can have.
Find out more about the TVS Scooty Wego after the jump
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The Ducati 900 S2 was built on the joint platform of the 900 Darmah SS and the 600SL Pantah, with the latter supplying the body work of the bike.
The reason for doing so centered on Ducati’s decision to rationalize its production lines at that time. To their credit, though, they still managed to make a bike that not only looked good, but performed up to the standards of its predecessors.
The Ducati 900 S2 is powered by an 864 cc SOHC Desmo V-twin engine that’s mated to a five-speed transmission. It was also offered with either electric or kick-start options, as well as being fitted with 40-mm Dell’Orto carburetors.
Aesthetically speaking, the 900 S2 was also the picture of attraction - the bike was given a bevy of color options, including bronze with yellow, orange and red stripes, or red and black.
The Ducati 900 S2 that was present at the 2012 RM Auctions is an original model, one that was once displayed in a museum. Expected bidding price for the bikes go for around €5,000 - €7,000, which is about $6,400 - $9,000 based on current exchange rates. Actual selling price was $5,303.
The Ducati 450 Mark 3 was born when the wide-case engine was first introduced in 1968. Not only did this new technology pave the way for bikes like the Scramblers and the Mark 3 Sports to become legendary bikes, but it also gave Ducati plenty of options on where to use this new engine.
In the case of the 450 Mark 3, its arrival in the market in 1969 provided customers an opportunity to enjoy the wide-case engine, not just with the 450 cc, but in either 250 or 350 cc displacements altogether.
But this is all about the 450 Mark 3, which not only came with the aforementioned engine, but also carried an extra gusset along the top tube like Spaggiari’s racer, which featured a wider chain and sprocket and slightly longer Marzocchi forks. On top of that, the bike also featured a new type of Dell’Orto square-slide VHB 29 carburetor while the bullet silencer was replaced by the cut-off Silentium type. In the end, the Ducati 450 Mark 3 became a bike that not only looked the part of a true hardcore cafe bike, but also performed like one too.
The model that was offered at the 2012 RM Auctions in Monaco is an original - CN: DM450M3/700368 - with a Rosso Rubino paint and some splashes of patina, which shows its age. The expected bid price was around €3,000 - €4,000, which is around $3,900 - $5,200 based on current exchange rates. Actual selling price was $6,818.
TVS has a certain panache for building some very interesting bikes and it’s no more evident than their new Jive sports bike.
The styling of Jive is pretty impressive and it certainly belongs to the current generation bikes out on the market. The sleek, aerodynamic look adds some attitude to its profile while the added graphics, the dual stitch cover, and the black alloy wheels all make for a saucy road runner.
More than just its looks, the TVS Jive is also the embodiment of a people-friendly bike. Its simple controls allow even novice riders to enjoy it. The Jive is also powered by an impressive 110cc engine that comes with an innovative T-Matic technology and an automatic clutch that allows for easy drivability.
The most distinguishable feature of the Jive is the absence of the clutch lever, which gives a hands free gear shift experience. This motorbike can be ridden by almost all people who have a sense of balance since there is no need for manual clutch-gear coordination while they are shifting.
All told, the TVS Jive’s combination of looks, reasonable power, and drivability makes for a perfect recipe to satisfy its owners.
Find out more about the TVS Jive after the jump.
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Go back to the 60’s in Italy and ask what kind of motorcycle was in vogue back then. Chances are, a majority of the people you ask will say "Scramblers."
As one of the most popular wide-case single bikes at the time, the Ducati 450 Scrambler was, for all intents and purposes, a true road warrior on two wheels. It wasn’t intended to be used for off-road competition and in addition to the 450 version, it also came in 250 cc and 350 cc trims. The only reason why the 450 Scrambler didn’t carry a 500 cc engine was because the crank throw wouldn’t clear the gearbox.
Nevertheless, the 450 Scrambler still packed plenty of punch to go along with an impressive frame that included an extra gusset along the top tube like Bruno Spaggiari’s racer, a wider chain and sprocket, slightly longer Marzocchi forks, and a silencer that was changed in 1969 to the cut-off Silentium type.
The Ducati 450 Scrambler - CN: DM450S/467407 - that was auctioned off at the 2012 MTM auctions in Monaco remained in unrestored condition, complete with its original yellow painted body and alloy wheel rims. Expected bidding price for the bike ranged from €3,000-€4,000, which is around $3,900 - $5,200 based on current exchange rates. Actual selling price was $7,955. Well done!
When the controversy between Bajaj and TVS came to an end with the new judgment and the agreement from the Madras high court for allowing the re-launch of the TVS Flame DS 125, it marked the first step in bringing the bike out on the Indian roads.
The TVS Flame DS 125 comes with a similar design and look of its predecessor with some modifications in the form of a new elegant black theme. But with its own styling cue, the TVS Flame DS 125 still carries a few features similar to its elder brother, the Apachi, including the design of the headlamp, fender, rear view mirrors, body colored shock absorber springs, and the special engine cowl.
Despite all that, the TVS Flame DS 125 is still as unique a bike as you can get on the Indian market, particularly because it’s the first motorbike in India that comes powered with a 3 valve CC VTi (controlled combustion variable timing intelligent) engine.
Other features of the TVS Flame DS 125 include a 240mm front disc brake, which is complemented with a unique triangular delta edge exhaust that delivers the smoothest sounds, lowest emissions, and also the most excellent performance. The TVS Flame DS 125 also supported by neatly – lockable storage, a water-bottled-sized storage in front of the tank, which will be useful for a rider’s everyday use.
Find out more about the TVS Flame DS 125 after the jump.
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