superbike

Harley Davidson x Bell & Ross Bespoke Superbike

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Bell & Ross watches and the UK's leading Harley-Davidson customizer have teamed up on a bespoke superbike inspired by Bell & Ross' beautiful timepieces. The Nascafe Racer modified by Shaw Harley-Davidson applies Bell & Ross' principles of impeccable performance, precision and engineering. The way that the master watchmakers develop and assemble their timepieces was reflected by the Shaw Harley-Davidson master technicians when building the bike, which is based on the "long, low and naked" Harley-Davidson FXSTB Softail Nightrain.

To begin with the motorcycle was totally stripped down to every last nut and bolt. The Shaw Speed and Custom team then mounted a Bell & Ross BR 01 Carbon timepiece in a handcrafted center console using a machined section of aluminum. A combination of anodized blue, carbon and stealth-like matte black custom paint was then used on the bike to reflect the watch's design, along with Bell & Ross logo detailing. The compelling creation was unveiled at the London International Custom Bike Show.

[TimeZone via LuxuryLaunches]

Tags: Bell Ross, Bell and Ross, bell+and+ross+harley, bellandrossharley, custom motorcyles, harley+davidson, Harley-Davidson, harleydavidson, motorbike, motorcycle, superbike, timepieces, UK, watches

Ducatis and Nudes Make for High-Octane Art

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Art

Ducatis and Nudes Make for High-Octane Art

Superbikes meet supermodels sans clothes in Ducati's new high-octane art project. The famed Italian motorcycle firm commissioned photographer Elizabeth Raab to create images of eye-popping nude female forms astride their meanest machines. Dubbed "Desmo" the collection presents 16 unique photographs in which "the artist has approached and juxtaposed the abstract qualities of the organic and mechanical forms, highlighting both the complexity in design and the emotion of iconic Ducati motorcycles", including the Desmosedici (above) and the Monster.

The sexy shots "explore the multiple relationships between the designed and the natural – the lines of the mechanical body reflecting the lines of the organic form it was designed after." Just in case you thought it was merely an excuse to ogle the world's finest flesh and metal, that is. Numbered, limited edition fine art prints are available to order exclusively from www.ducatiart.com in various sizes; the largest version of the one above will run you about $550. The project was produced under the auspices of the Ducati Official Art Collection, an artistic venture between Ducati and lifestyle art brand Cultwork.

Gallery: "Desmo" by Elizabeth Raab for Ducati

Tags: art, Ducati, Ducati Monster, Italy, motorcycle, nude, photographs, photography, superbike, supermodels

Icon Sheene, World's Most Expensive & Powerful Motorbike

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

At the UK's Goodwood Festival of Speed Andrew Morris just debuted the Icon Sheene, the world's most expensive and powerful production motorcycle designed to leave Ducatis in the dust. More than a superbike, the $160,000 machine is an "ultrabike" according to Morris, who designed it in homage to the late Barry Sheene, the British Grand Prix motorcycle world champion. Only 52 examples will be built for collectors worldwide, and each model will be hand-painted with a different playing card done by Mike Fairholme, the artist who decorated Sheene's helmets. Each bike will also be tailored to the purchaser's individual requirements and there will be "fittings" prior to delivery in the style of a bespoke suit. The 250 hp, turbocharged 1400cc Icon Sheene took five years to develop and is capable of a neck-snapping 200 mph.

Tags: Icon Sheene, motorcycle, superbike, UK

F1 Champ Fernando Alonso Gets a Free Custom Ducati

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping

Two-time world champion Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso is stocking up on high-end Italian toys now that he's in pole position for Ferrari. Back in March we reported that he'd splashed out on a new Maserati GranCabrio from Ferrari's sister marque, selecting a dark gray model with a two-tone beige and bordeaux interior with matching bordeaux roof. Now another iconic Italian brand known for its superfast machines – Ducati – has gifted the champ with a wicked custom Desmosedici RR (above). The $60,000 superbike is painted in a combination of Ducati MotoGP and Ferrari F1 graphics, matching Alonso's race livery. Now that he has a Ducati, observers are looking for Alonso to make good on his challenge to 9-times Grand Prix World Championship motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi. We'll see.

[via Motorbiker.org]

Tags: Ducati, F1, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Formula 1, Maserati, racing, superbike

Ducati Desmosedici RR2 Supercar Concept

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

From time to time we've brought you news of efforts to make a Ferrari superbike; now Ducati is turning the tables with a supercar concept. The vision of young designer Anthony Collard, the Desmosedici RR²concept is a carbon fiber-bodied two-seater made mostly from motorcycle parts. A spyder which can be converted into a coupe via a removable polycarbonate roof, it's designed to be powered by a V8 based on two Ducati L4 Desmosedici engines kicking out about 420 hp. Collard's goal is to deliver a driving experience as similar as possible to actually piloting a superbike, with style to spare befitting a vehicle bearing the famed Ducati name. Some of the mechanical parts are left visible to enhance the effect, with a narrow front and open back to display the Italian-made Marchesini superbike wheels. The engine is situated in a central front position just behind the front wheel axis, similar to that of the Mercedes SLR McLaren. We think it definitely has potential.

[via JamesList]

Tags: carbon fiber, concept car, Ducati, Ferrari, motorcycle, superbike, supercar

Lamborghini "Lamborbiker" Motorcycle Concept

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Last fall we wrote about a brilliant Ferrari V4 motorcycle concept based on the Enzo. Now designer Flavio Adriani has come up with a wicked Lamborghini superbikebike concept. The Lamborbiker (above) was inspired by famed Italian automotive architect Marcello Gandini, formerly chief designer for Bertone and creator of several stunning Lamborghinis including the Countach, and employs the Osmos, a revolutionary hubless orbital wheel. Like the V4, the Lamborbiker is pretty fantastical but aesthetically captivating.

[via Tuvie]

Tags: Bertone, concept car, concept vehicle, ConceptCar, ConceptVehicle, Ferrari, Flavio Adriani, FlavioAdriani, Italian design, ItalianDesign, Lamborghini, Marcello Gandini, MarcelloGandini, motorcycle, superbike

$120K Italian Superbike Comes With Swiss Watch

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Luxury Italian motorcycle brand MV Agusta is presenting its limited edition $120,000 superbike, the F4CC, in London as part of its new Brutale On Tour event. Only 100 of the handbuilt titanium and carbon fiber bikes (above) are being produced, and each ones comes with an exclusive Girard-Perregaux Swiss watch and a luxurious leather motorcycle jacket by Italian fashion house Trussardi. The F4CC, named for MV Agusta director Claudio Castiglioni, is the world's most expensive and exclusive production sport bike. Its 1078 cc engine produces 200 hp and a top speed of 195 mph, and with a weight of 412 lbs. it costs twice as much per pound as a Ferrari.

Tags: Girard-Perregaux, motorcycle, MV Agusta, MvAgusta, superbike, Trussardi