Velocity Learn begins with a thump this week, because the 659 cc / 85 hp Ducati Superquadro Mono single-cylinder engine breaks cowl. We’ve additionally received a Honda CX650 and Yamaha MT-01 from two totally different Italian {custom} builders, and information of a singular land-speed bike that’s up on the market.
Ducati Superquadro Mono It’s been three many years since Ducati launched the unimaginable Supermono. Designed by the dream group of Pierre Terblanche, Claudio Domenicali, and Massimoa Bordi, it was a light-weight racing bike powered by a 549 cc single-cylinder engine. It was additionally extraordinarily uncommon; solely 65 items have been ever produced.
Ducati took a 30-year break from singles after the Supermono, however that break is now over. Meet the Ducati Superquadro Mono—a brand new engine that heralds the Borgo Panigale agency’s return to single-cylinder supremacy. The 659 cc thumper makes use of Ducati’s Desmodromic valve system which may spin it as much as a screaming 10,250rpm—making it the best revving single-cylinder street engine ever.
If it seems acquainted, it’s as a result of the cylinder and head design come straight from the Panigale 1299. Ducati took the 1,285 cc Superquadro twin, divorced the cylinders, and created the Superquadro Mono from there. The Mono inherits the Panigale’s 116 mm cylinder bore, combustion chamber form, 46.8 mm titanium consumption valves, 38.2 mm metal exhaust valves, and the aforementioned Desmodromic system.
The Mono has a stroke of 62.4 mm, giving it a fairly excessive bore-to-stroke ratio of 1.86. The massive bore dimension permits for the fitment of the large valves, that are crucial to engine efficiency. The compression ratio of 13.1:1 can be an indication that that is going to be fairly a potent machine.
Curiously, the oil change interval is ready at 15,000 km [about 9,320 miles] and the valve verify interval at a whopping 30,000 km [about 18,640 miles]—which is lengthy for a high-revving single. In a racing setup (with a Termignoni exhaust system), the Ducati Superquadro Mono punches out 85 hp at 9,500 rpm and 63 Nm of torque at 8,050 rpm.
With the announcement of the brand new Mono, Ducati has additionally confirmed its intentions to enter the 2024 Italian Motocross Championship with a motorcycle they’ve secretly been engaged on for a while. Ducati has signed the multi-title winner and ex-KTM Manufacturing unit Racing group supervisor, Antonio Cairoli, as its check rider for the undertaking, so that they clearly imply enterprise.
Clearly, the full-fat 659 cc Superquadro Mono received’t be powering an MX bike—however we’re prepared to guess that the off-road DNA will trickle right down to one thing else. Spy photographs from earlier within the yr revealed that Ducati is engaged on a KTM 690-esque supermotard, in order that’s in all probability the place the Ducati Superquadro Mono will make its first look.
Will we see a single-cylinder Ducati enduro bike pop up down the road? We certain hope so. [Source]
Honda CX650 by M-CafeGarage When Massimiliano Satta isn’t flinging his sport bike across the gorgeous Autodromo di Mores on the Italian island of Sardinia, he’s spinning spanners in his workshop, M-CafeGarage, within the capital metropolis of Cagliari. So when a shopper approached him with a disused Honda CX650 in determined want of TLC, Massimiliano couldn’t resist infusing it with some racing DNA.
After some back-and-forth design work, Massimiliano finally satisfied his shopper to go down a extra performance-oriented path with the CX than initially meant. That meant that a lot of the authentic bike was stripped away, leaving solely the engine, body, and swingarm.
With the naked body on his workbench, Massimiliano modified the steering angle on the headstock to sharpen the bike’s dealing with. Then he bolted on a Honda CBR1000RR entrance finish, matched to the spoked wheel from a BMW R nineT. The yokes and brakes additionally got here from the CBR, with new clip-on handlebars and Accosato levers fitted within the cockpit.
The rear wheel was transformed to spokes too, laced to a 17” rim to match the entrance. Wrapped in new Pirelli rubber, the brand new wheels are an enormous visible and efficiency enchancment over the inventory hoops.
A brand new LED headlight sits up entrance, wrapped in a {custom} bikini fairing which hides a tiny Motogadget speedo. The gasoline tank comes from a Honda CX500 (modified to suit), whereas the {custom} chrome steel exhaust system was made particularly for this undertaking by MAD Exhausts.
Transferring to the again, Massimiliano chopped off the subframe and fabricated a brand new one. The airbox was ditched to make room for a brand new electronics field underneath the seat, which is accessed by lifting the entire seat on a bespoke rear hinge. Massimiliano calls it a ‘cabrio saddle’ design and makes use of it on most of his bikes.
The precise tail unit is equal elements basic and trendy, with a Ducati Imola-style hump flanked by trendy winglets, and topped off with two-piece leather-based upholstery. An LED taillight is masterfully built-in into the rear of the unit.
With CX650 café racer nearing completion, Massimiliano had a full HRC-inspired paint scheme laid down. The radiator shroud and body have been completed in a fantastic satin blue, to match the leatherwork on the seat and grips. This actually isn’t your outdated man’s Honda CX650, and we adore it. [Via]
Yamaha MT-01 by Francesco Paura With a 1,670 cc V-twin coronary heart, the Yamaha MT-01 is among the coolest and weirdest energy cruisers ever made. The stonking engine dominates the tightly packaged body, hinting on the 150 Nm of peak torque hiding beneath the rocker covers. Yamaha by no means despatched the MT-01 to the US—which is odd, as a result of it attracts a crowd in each different nation that it was out there in.
Francesco Paura is a giant admirer of the MT-01. Based mostly in Naples, Italy, he’s a {custom} bike designer with a specific penchant for café racers and scramblers. When he was contacted by a buyer from Lecce, a city within the south of Italy, about constructing a {custom} Yamaha V-Max, Francesco gently persuaded him to think about the MT-01 as a substitute.
After a fast journey to Sicily, a battered MT-01 donor was wheeled into the workshop of Angelo ‘Low’ Caliendo, Franceso’s go-to bike builder. With the design signed off by the shopper, Francesco and Angelo set to work.
The very first thing on the agenda was to do away with the MT-01’s comically giant twin muffler system. One other buddy of the store, Fabio Zoppo, was liable for the exhaust work. He did a cracking job, changing the inventory mufflers with a pair of Leo Vince items, and mating them to the manufacturing unit headers through a custom-made Y-pipe.
With the inventory mufflers gone, the construct demanded a brand new seat and subframe. There’s nonetheless sufficient room for a pillion, with a pair of slim fold-out pegs mounted decrease down. The quantity plate was relocated to a custom-made bracket, mounted off the swingarm.
For the headlight, Francesco turned to his buddy Salvatore Mattielo for assist. The distinctive design makes use of a laser-cut housing with LED internals, and takes its inspiration from Japanese manga, of which Francesco is a giant fan.
The OEM gasoline tank stays, but it surely’s flanked by new fiberglass consumption covers. The entrance fender is one other {custom} merchandise. [Francesco Paura]
The ultimate problem was nailing the MT-01’s livery. “I seemed for a shade palette that might match the distinctive blue body of the MT-01,” says Francesco. “I attempted to make it each elegant and aggressive.”
Ultimately, he settled for a metallic root beer brown, which pops properly towards the dusky MT-01 body. The MT-01 not solely seems bonkers now, but it surely weighs 15 kilos [33 lbs] lower than earlier than. It’s under no circumstances light-weight now—however Francesco assures us it could possibly nonetheless pull wheelies in fifth gear.
For Sale: Flying Kiwi sidecar streamliner As a lifelong bike fanatic, Craig Anderson’s love of bikes was so robust, that not even an accident that noticed him lose each of his legs under the knee might cease him. After recovering from the accident he took a visit from the USA to New Zealand to go to some associates, which is when he got here throughout a land velocity streamliner that impressed him to deal with a brand new problem.
Initially constructed by a New Zealand-based firm, it was a record-setting sidecar racing rig referred to as the ‘Flying Kiwi’ with a silver paint job and an open-cockpit design. As soon as Craig noticed it in motion he made a proposal to purchase it—however the group mentioned that they’d have to consider it.
When he received again to the USA although, it was on the market on eBay. So he reached out to the group once more, with extra success this time round.
With the bike transformed to work with hand controls (a mod that Craig had beforehand completed on a BMW sidecar rig), Craig might really pilot the Flying Kiwi. With the Bonneville salt flats in his sights, he fitted a parachute, a hearth suppression system, fireplace bulkheads, and, most significantly, shiny orange paintwork with hand-painted lettering.
Craig’s first time at Bonneville was a blast, however he knew he might go sooner. The following time he ran down the salt flats, he had transformed the bodywork right into a lined cockpit design with a tinted detachable cover. This allowed him to get absolutely the most from the 999 cc Suzuki GSX-R engine that’s bolted to the again of the fuselage.
Plagued with electrical points (as a result of extraordinarily salty surroundings), it wasn’t trying good for Craig—however the group pushed by way of and finally accomplished two runs. The outcome? An AMA Nationwide File of 182.411 mph within the 1000-SCS-AG Class.
The bike’s unimaginable story is a testomony to Craig’s dedication and ingenuity and exhibits off his astounding stage of grit and dedication. The rig is now on the market on Deliver-A-Trailer (for only one extra day) with no reserve. If it have been as much as us, we’d stick this in a museum for everybody to get pleasure from Craig’s story—however we’d additionally take it to retailers every now and then.
