
These 4 bikes show that efficiency is available in all sizes and styles. There’s a uncommon 1997 Ducati 916 SPS on the market in New York, a Seventies Kawasaki KZ1000 restomod from the legendary AC Sanctuary, and a Honda CB1000 custom-made by a racing fanatic. We finish off with a sneak peek at Triumph’s upcoming motocross race bike.
On the market: 1997 Ducati 916 SPS The Ducati 916 was Massimo Tamburini’s biggest present to motorcycling. And that’s saying one thing, since he additionally penned the MV Agusta F4 and Brutale, the Bimota DB1, and a slew of different masterpieces.
Launched in 1997, The Ducati 916 SPS was a particular version of the 916, constructed to homologate the brand new 996 cc engine for Superbike competitors. The SPS model was in-built restricted numbers, so it demanded a premium value.
It included a brand new set of camshafts, and an upgraded gas injection and ECU setup. This, together with an 11.5:1 compression ratio, lightened crankshaft, and bigger combustion chambers with greater heads, meant that the engine punched out extra horses; 123, to be precise.
This explicit Ducati 916 SPS is being provided by Peter Boggia of Moto Borgotaro in Brooklyn, New York. Peter has a present for sourcing unique and fascinating European machines, so we preserve his web site bookmarked to feed our goals.
Numbered ’59,’ this 916 SPS was initially bought to the present proprietor by the Ducati supplier Quick by Ferraci, in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. It’s solely been ridden 7,500 miles since then so it’s barely damaged in, and it has a dyno sheet quoting 115.2 hp on the rear wheel.
The fast-release bodywork remains to be in tip-top form, displaying the attractive Ducati 916 Desmoquattro within the gold ‘Varese’ logotype. It has completely different wheels and some additional carbon fiber equipment, however the authentic components are included with the bike, together with an extra fairing.
The bike is presently situated in Moto Borgotaro, the place it’s on sale for $45,000. Given the wonder and rarity of the bike, we wouldn’t be stunned if that value rises over time. [More]
Kawasaki KZ1000 by AC Sanctuary There’s no denying that AC Sanctuary builds a few of the greatest restomods on the planet. They’re most recognized for his or her early Kawasaki Z- and KZ-series builds. And when you suppose donors are getting tougher to return by, you’d be proper—which is why store boss Hiroyuki Nakamura has a behavior of stockpiling good examples for future initiatives.
On this challenge although, Nakamura-san was comfortable to make use of his buyer’s private bike—a Kawasaki KZ1000 that had been by means of the ringer. The bike was a sufferer of some shoddy ‘customized’ work, arriving at AC Sanctuary’s store a bit of worse for put on. Sick of his sick motorbike, the client requested for the complete AC Sanctuary remedy.
The store tore the bike all the way down to its bones, then put it again collectively like solely they’ll. To these well-versed within the mythos of basic Kawasaki Zeds, the obvious change is the bodywork.
To these well-versed at nighttime arts of the Kawasaki Z-series, the obvious change is the bodywork. The boxy KZ tank, tail unit, and facet covers have been all changed with the bodywork from the older 900 cc Zed. However the KZ wanted intensive groundwork to get the brand new tins fitted.
AC Sanctuary first set the body up in a jig to be cleaned up and strengthened. The Kawasaki rolls on beautiful 17” OZ Racing wheels, with Öhlins forks and Brembo brakes up entrance. An alloy swingarm from Sculpture sits on the again, hooked as much as a pair of Öhlins shocks.
AC Sanctuary isn’t recognized for leaving engines alongside. The KZ1000 now sports activities flowed heads, Kent ST high-lift cams, and the complete gamut of race-style valve prepare modifications. It’s additionally housing a brand new crank with cast pistons, taking it as much as 1,166 cc.
A brace of Mikuni TMR MJN twin stack 38 carbs was bolted on, complementing the elevated movement price. The hand-built titanium exhaust is a murals in itself, terminating in a Nitro Racing muffler. The ultimate shade scheme is all-black with out a lick of chrome, making this appear to be a completely fashionable machine.
Given AC Sanctuary’s popularity, we’re positive it can preserve tempo with fashionable liquid-cooled bikes with ease too. The place will we signal? [Via]
Honda CB1000 by Cus’Tom Motorbike Tom Boissel grew up in rural France, and spent his weekends on a bike chasing his father alongside slender, winding roads, or racing on the observe. They might spend evenings collectively pouring over the long-lasting Joe Bar Workforce comics, which is the place he first skilled the Honda CB1000 Large One Tremendous 4. Ridden by Edouard Bracame, one of many Joe Bar comedian characters, the massive CB firmly imprinted on younger Tom.
Tom has at all times held onto the motorcycling dream—even after a giant crash on the Dunlop Curve on the Le Mans circuit racing, and after the passing of his father. So when a chance to purchase a Honda CB1000 introduced itself, Tom jumped on the alternative. He’s been tinkering with bikes from a really younger age and already has just a few customized builds beneath his belt beneath the moniker of Cus’Tom Motorbike, so there was no means that the Large One would keep inventory.
As a veteran racer, Tom is aware of the significance of fine suspension—so the inventory entrance finish was changed with one from an Aprilia RSV4 manufacturing unit superbike, upgraded with Öhlins internals. Full with twin radial-mounted Brembo calipers, it’s a giant improve. Modified Ducati fork yokes grip the forks, whereas a spherical headlight with aluminum brackets provides the entrance finish a retro-naked look.
A Ducati 996 wheel was bolted onto the entrance, with a Honda CBR900RR hoop out again. A Brembo caliper was added to the rear finish by way of a customized bracket, with Öhlins shocks finishing the setup. The carbs have been handled to a re-jet, whereas a chunky carbon fiber muffler added a dose of 90s fashion.
Tom reworked the OEM seat unit by slicing it down and remixing it, as he wished to maintain the unique ducktail. Crimson Alcantara provides a bit of racing fashion, and enhances the Ayrton Senna Marlboro McLaren F1-inspired livery.
Tom’s Honda CB1000 Large One Tremendous 4 is pure perfection. And judging by the melted rubber on these slick tires, it seems to be a powerful runner too. [Via]
Triumph teases their 250 cc motocrosser Motorbike gross sales figures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have been obscene. All segments noticed big progress in these years—however we needed to identify a transparent winner, it could be the off-road section.
So it’s little marvel that Triumph are after a chunk of that pie. Again in 2022, the British marque introduced that it had teamed up with legendary motocross star Ricky Carmichael with a view to producing a motocross bike.
Triumph has racing expertise in Moto2, and their journey bikes are broadly lauded. However a devoted motocross bike is a wholly completely different beast; it in all probability would have been simpler to design a jet ski. Nonetheless, they’ve cast forward, and now we’re lastly getting glimpses of what Triumph’s upcoming 250 cc motocross contender will appear to be.
Constructed from the bottom up, the bike’s four-stoke engine was unveiled just a few weeks in the past. Now Triumph has set the bike unfastened on a motocross observe, drawing reward from Carmichael and beginner motocross racer, Evan Ferry.
Certain, all dust bikes mainly look the identical—however we’re nonetheless excited to see the completed product in all its soiled glory. [Triumph Motorcycles]