Ducati and BMW raid their archives to create special editions of their most legendary bikes. Plus a Freddie Spencer tribute Honda, and a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Lego kit (yes, really).
Honda Hornet 600 by Vintage Addiction and Octopus Soul Bikes ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer is a legend in Honda circles: he gave the Japanese company its first AMA Superbike victory in 1980, and rode his CB750F Super Sport to second place in the Championships the following year.
Two Spanish shops have just joined forces to create a tribute to Mr Spencer, based on the Hornet 600—which, thanks to more modern tech and 97 hp, is actually a faster machine than Freddie’s original CB750F.
To get the right look, a CB750F fuel tank has been grafted onto the frame, along with a matching repro tail unit. There’s also a custom fabricated seat pan, plus new side panels and a belly pan made from aluminium. Custom headers and an 80s-style muffler keep the vibe period-correct.
The stance has been tweaked via suspension mods, and wider bars give the rider more leverage. And after you’ve enjoyed the ride, you can jump off the bike and pore over the classic Honda two-tone blue and silver paint, complete with period decals. Just perfect. [More]
Ducati Panigale V4 25° Anniversario 916 It’s hard to believe the Ducati 916 was launched 25 years ago. It’s probably the most iconic Ducati ever made, and certainly one of the most beautiful. So it’s pleasing to see the Borgo Panigale factory acknowledge its history and release this special edition.
The Panigale V4 Anniversario was revealed at the recent Laguna Seca WorldSBK round with Carl Fogerty in attendence, and just 500 will be made. It’s more than just a paint job too: upgrades over the stock V4 S include an Akrapovič exhaust, the front frame from a Panigale V4 R, Marchesini magnesium wheels, and most interestingly, a dry clutch conversion.
Ducati has also raided its Performance catalog for a smattering of more cosmetic pieces, and the result is truly desirable. To put this exotic Italian in your garage will cost €41,900 if you live in Europe, and $42,500 for USA buyers. Steep, yes—but in a few years, we reckon the 25° Anniversario 916 will be worth even more. [More]
Special Edition: The BMW R nineT /5 BMW has been thumbing through the archives too, and has just released a homage to the slash-5, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. (It’s also the 50th anniversary of production at BMW’s Spandau plant in Berlin.)
The R nineT /5 is a mostly cosmetic job, but none the worse for that. The obvious visual cues are the spoked wheels and the Lupine Blue paint with a smoke effect and pinstriping—but you also get old-school knee pads, and a chrome finish on the mirrors, exhaust manifold and rear silencer.
The seat mimics the style of the original /5 series with cross-embossing on the cover, grab straps, and white piping. There are gaiters on the forks, and the powertrain, fork slider tubes and wheel hubs are coated in classic Aluminium Silver. The frame and the propeller shaft casing are finished in a contrasting black.
If the other R nineT models look a little too contemporary for you, this is the one to get. [More]
Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 by Gwenael Barthélémy Tuono owners may be thin on the ground, but they always seem to love their bikes. And many magazine testers reckon the Aprilia is the best ‘naked’ out there, with blistering performance, superb handling on both road and track, and oodles of Italian character.
Swiss builder Gwenael Barthélémy is a convert, and wanted to turn his V4 1100 Factory bike into the kind of machine you’d see racing up Pikes Peak.
The stock motor already pumps out a hefty 175 hp, and major mods are illegal in Switzerland—so Gwenael has focused his attention on the bodywork, and given it an appealing tracker vibe.
There’s a new aluminum gas tank, based on a Tamburini SBK tank base and with styling reminiscent of Harley sportster flat track tanks. And Gwenael has designed not one but three seat/tail units: one waspish ‘sport’ unit and two flat track setups, including an arrangement with side number plates as a one-piece unit. Very tasty. [More]
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy by Lego We know that Harley-Davidson is trying to appeal to younger riders, but we didn’t see this one coming. Milwaukee has hitched up with Lego to release a kit based on the the Fat Boy, with input from Harley styling boss Brad Richards.
The kit is more suitable for grown-ups than littlies, because it contains over a thousand pieces and will be priced just short of $100 when it goes on sale at the start of August.
The kit is a mix of standard and more complex ‘Technic’ elements, and there’s a 156-page instruction book inside the pack. There are moving pistons inside the Milwaukee-Eight engine, a working chain drive to the back wheel, and a functioning kickstand.
The finished Fat Boy works well as a display piece, being a foot (33 cm) long and around seven inches (20 cm) high. And according to the experts, it’s a great example of a Lego moto kit. Perfect for younger fans of the Bar and Shield—or those who haven’t quite got the cash yet for the full-size model. [More]