M is for Motorcycle Show
I spent the weekend in Dallas visiting friends, making a ... uh ... business transaction (details to follow in the coming weeks), and attending the International Motorcycle Show in Fort Worth.
Saw a lotta nice new scooters:
BMW's gorgeous K1200S, sporting a new color scheme ... an eventual replacement for my beloved ZZR1200?
I think I'd rather have a ZX-14 (dubbed the ZZR1400 in Europe, which tells you its lineage).
Maybe this beautiful custom ZX-14?
Then there's the all new Hayabusa to consider.
One thing's for sure, I definitely WON'T be looking to replace my 2006 CBR1000RR with a 2008 model. Talk about fuglying up a sexy machine! After seeing photos, I'd hoped these would look better in person ... nope.
A face only a mother could love. I am SO glad I bought a 2006 model this year.
Conversely, the GSXR is looking very nice for 2008. I like this pearl model.
The new BMW X-Challenge. I could see one of these in my garage. It's a stretch to the saddle, though -- definitely taller than my Dakar -- which I wasn't expecting. In fact, it's as tall as KTM's 950R Super Enduro. What, are we only designing such bikes for David Knight now?
And look what Honda's done to my little CRF230F! The new CRF230L is street legal.
But I think I prefer Yamaha's new XT250. Either would make a great entry-level dualsport.
There were race bikes on display, like Casey Stoner's motoGP winning Ducati.
And, of course, there were custom choppers. Motorcycle art. Nice to look at. Good for getting you laid, I suppose.
If I ever did go back to riding something other than sportbikes, dirtbikes, and dualsports, one of these Victory cruisers might top the list. I still feel the riding position is like getting up on the table for a gynecological exam, though...
But they are pretty without approaching the total piss poor handling of a custom chopper.
Winner of the Ugliest Bike in Show Award goes to either the Suzuki B-King (let's just go ahead and rename it the Puke King) or...
... the Victory Vision. Greg loved both of them, though, proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I told him if he ever traded his Wing in for a Vision that the days of traveling with me were over.
Yes, this bike really does make your ass look fat.
I was digging on the Aprilia Tuono ...
... and the new Shiver -- though neither of the Aprilias have the pure unadulterated sex appeal of Ducati's Hypermotard...
... which is now available in black for 2008 ("S" model only). I still prefer the red.
Also on display in the Ducati area was the new 848 sportbike. I think I'd still rather have a 1098, but this pearl 848 was just stop-you-in-your-tracks sexy.
Saw a lotta nice new scooters:
BMW's gorgeous K1200S, sporting a new color scheme ... an eventual replacement for my beloved ZZR1200?
I think I'd rather have a ZX-14 (dubbed the ZZR1400 in Europe, which tells you its lineage).
Maybe this beautiful custom ZX-14?
Then there's the all new Hayabusa to consider.
One thing's for sure, I definitely WON'T be looking to replace my 2006 CBR1000RR with a 2008 model. Talk about fuglying up a sexy machine! After seeing photos, I'd hoped these would look better in person ... nope.
A face only a mother could love. I am SO glad I bought a 2006 model this year.
Conversely, the GSXR is looking very nice for 2008. I like this pearl model.
The new BMW X-Challenge. I could see one of these in my garage. It's a stretch to the saddle, though -- definitely taller than my Dakar -- which I wasn't expecting. In fact, it's as tall as KTM's 950R Super Enduro. What, are we only designing such bikes for David Knight now?
And look what Honda's done to my little CRF230F! The new CRF230L is street legal.
But I think I prefer Yamaha's new XT250. Either would make a great entry-level dualsport.
There were race bikes on display, like Casey Stoner's motoGP winning Ducati.
And, of course, there were custom choppers. Motorcycle art. Nice to look at. Good for getting you laid, I suppose.
If I ever did go back to riding something other than sportbikes, dirtbikes, and dualsports, one of these Victory cruisers might top the list. I still feel the riding position is like getting up on the table for a gynecological exam, though...
But they are pretty without approaching the total piss poor handling of a custom chopper.
Winner of the Ugliest Bike in Show Award goes to either the Suzuki B-King (let's just go ahead and rename it the Puke King) or...
... the Victory Vision. Greg loved both of them, though, proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I told him if he ever traded his Wing in for a Vision that the days of traveling with me were over.
Yes, this bike really does make your ass look fat.
I was digging on the Aprilia Tuono ...
... and the new Shiver -- though neither of the Aprilias have the pure unadulterated sex appeal of Ducati's Hypermotard...
... which is now available in black for 2008 ("S" model only). I still prefer the red.
Also on display in the Ducati area was the new 848 sportbike. I think I'd still rather have a 1098, but this pearl 848 was just stop-you-in-your-tracks sexy.One thing's for sure -- a fact I've mentioned before and the show just drove it home for me once again -- this is an incredible time to be a motorcyclist, with more choices and fantastic machines available than ever before. I am so glad I'm here to see it and capable of riding.
See ya out there on the road somewhere, eh?
See ya out there on the road somewhere, eh?
Labels: alphabet soup, motorcycles
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