2011 Honda CBR1000RR Sport Bike

With the CBR1000RR, Honda literally rewrote the rules for the sporting literbike class. Rated best by one magazine after another, the revolutionary Honda CBR1000RR has established new standards for light weight, superlative handling, remarkably compact dimensions and exceptional performance. Also available with our high-tech electronically controlled Combined ABS for the ultimate in sophisticated sportbike braking performance, the CBR1000RR remains the yardstick to which all others are compared.

You want performance? You want style? Then you want a Honda CBR1000RR. Designed to be the ultimate streetbike, it’s been refined to perfection on World Superbike tracks across the globe. In addition to its powerful engine and refined chassis the CBR1000RR showcases state-of-the-art features no other sportbike can match, like our electronically controlled Combined ABS and the revolutionary Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD). The result is one of the most awesome literbikes on the planet, but also one that’s so refined it’s a joy to ride. And after all, isn’t that exactly what you’d expect from a Honda?

2011 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero Cruiser Bike

The new 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero bagger is all that – and much more. Kawasaki engineers and designers didn’t just throw custom paint and a blacked-out motif on a Vulcan 1700 and call it done. They digested valuable owner and market research, and scrutinized every system – engine, chassis, features, bodywork and appearance – to ensure that the bike being developed squared nicely with what cruiser buyers wanted.

Speaking of just cruisin’ along; the Vaquero offers true touring-bike convenience in the form of its electronic cruise control system, conveniently operated from the right handlebar and usable at any speed between 30 and 85 mph in any of the top four gears. The cruise system can be disengaged in any of the following ways: usage of the brake lever, clutch lever, rear brake pedal, or manually turning the throttle grip past the “closed” position.

Bravo Lorenzo!

Jorge Lorenzo!  2010 Moto-GP World Champion!

Honda Super Monkey Bike!

Damm... there's some serious bank in this little bike.

Reader Ride! Triumph Trophy 250 from Portland, OR

Andrew Writes in:
Hello Steve,

Just wanted to share some pictures of what was my daily rider this season. It is a back to bone stock 1970 Triumph Trophy 250. Matching numbers with the original paint on the tank. It is actually for sale if you could maybe post it to try to help me out. The wife and I are relocating cross country soon and she said I have to pick one motorcycle to go... darn. 

Great site!

Thanks

Andrew

I don't do a lot of "for sale" post but this is one of my favorites.  Wish I could buy it myself.

Yeowzer! One Killer Katana!

Saw this over on Racefit. Be sure to check em out. Really interesting Blog.

One of my all time favorite small bikes. The Honda Cb400F.

One of the nicest pipes ever put on a factory bike.

Reader Ride. Clean R80

I'd love to find a rider in this condition.  Some folks are a LOT better at general maintenance and cleanup than I'll ever be.  Sweet Ride.

Anthony Writes in:

Hi Steve,

Thought I'd fire you some pics of my daily ride, which is an almost stock 1989 BMW R80.

I had been looking for an old R80 that I could pull apart, and do a Ritmo Sereno style custom job on. While looking, I came across this 20 year old (at the time) machine that was in pristine condition and had only 15,000km (9,320 miles) on the clock. The bike had a full service record, original books and all receipts. Although I was looking for something to customise, I took her for a spin and fell in love.


I guess the special thing about this bike is the fact that it in such original condition, the only mods are Staintune pipes and the BMW clock and voltmeter.

I still want to get my hands on a base bike to build a cafe racer from but at this stage I think it would be sacrilege make any changes to this one.

I've had a bunch of other bikes in the past but this one is by far the best city bike I've owned. After about a year, I'm still in love.


Hopefully it's not too plain and standard for MBPOTD.

Hell No!  Thanks for the Pics!

 

 

A Question/Special Request for info from the MPOD followers!

I have a special request from Matt for a bike for his wife.  I have to admit that I'm a bit stumped on this one.  My wife is 5'0" also and I can't think of a bike that would fit her frame to the specs that Matt is looking for.  Any bike that might work would still have to be lowered quite a bit.  Anyone have any suggestions?  You can either e-mail me (and I'll post it) or put it in the comments! 

Steve,
        My wife is a big fan of motorcycles.  Being 5'0" tall and 100 lbs she's pretty limited in selection, even more limited when you find out she loves sport bikes and isn't very interested in much else.  Cruisers are definitely out, and other categories of bikes typically don't meet her performance and beauty/form requirements.  The biggest bike she's owned is a lowered Kawasaki Ex500.   She's ready for her next ride, Kawasaki redesigned the 250 and dropped the 500.  We're having a lot of trouble finding anything that wouldn't need to be lowered so much that the handling is compromised, but still has more power than the lawnmower.  (no offense to smaller bikes, we love them, handling is unmatched, we're just looking for something specific here)

I'm very much a fan of your blog, and am wondering if you're willing to ask your audience for recommendations on what her options are.  Are there 500cc or greater sport/sporty bikes out there that a little'n like my wife can handle?  Once she gets moving she's a highly skilled rider, but she needs to feel comfortable stopping, walking, and maneuvering the bike with her little frame.  What are we missing?

Thanks a ton!,
         Matt (and Beth, though she doesn't know it yet)
         from Fort Collins, Colorado

Really, I can't say enough how impressed I am with the diversity and craftsmanship of the bikes you post.  It's been a continuous source of inspiration for my own projects.  Thank you.

Update 3: Wicked Little 2-Stroke Yamaha Tracker-Bobber

Moving this to the top for a bit since so many folks had questions about it.

Update 3:  Found the build thread!  An alert reader over on ADV rider found the build thread on this bike. A lot of folks have been asking for more info so here you go!

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=12857.0


From the comments (Thanks SakeRacer).  More info Here: http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2010/9/9/1973-yamaha-rd250-street-tracker.html

Sorry to Pipeburn. I didn't realize it originated on their site. TONS of great stuff over there so check them out often.

My observant commentors make some good points about the classification of this bike. Tracker of Bobber? I see a lot of elements of both styles here and to be honest I'm not crazy about pigeon holing bikes all that much so lets call it a tracker-bobber. Whatever you call it it's still freaking cool!

That's got backroad fun written all over it.

Reader Submittal. Custom built Indian "Chout"

Buck Pinkerton sends in this really cool old Indian! I would love to own something like this.  Damm near one of a kind!   Thanks!

Hi,
This is a friend's Indian Chout. It was built by her father before she was born, ostensibly a 1929 Scout frame holding a 1940 Bonneville Chief engine that he just happened to find in a crate at the southwest airbase where he was stationed. The forks look to be latter day chief. Some time in the 1980s the bike passed through the hands of a "restorer" who added the H-D front fender and odd looking instrument pod. At least he painted it right and stayed out of the engine. The bike is back in the family now, and from stories I've been told it was one fast machine.


Ride safe,
Buck Pilkenton

SR500 Cafe...

Hot Damm!

Reader Ride. Sweet Parilla 250 Work In Progress.

Danilo writes in:


Love your site.  Thought you'd get a kick out of my Parilla 250 project.  Purchased it in Minneapolis last month, hadn't run in years.  Cleaned up the points, new battery and swapped out the VHB Dellorto for the original SS1 with remote bowl that came in the parts box, gave it a couple of kicks and... Nothing.  Took it out in the alley and it bump-started on the third try.

Put 50 miles on it this weekend, including a stop at Acetoberfest in Chicago.  Still bumping it, but as soon as I get new points and condenser that'll be a thing of the past.  When winter hits the frame goes out for checking/bracing, and then I'm going to give it the cosmetic treatment.

 That's a heck of a find!  Perfect starting point!  Thank for the Pics!

What  beautiful engine!

Modern Love.... BMW HP3 Lust.

Man... some folks have great taste in bikes....

Nice Stable Mate...

UPDATE!! Tasty BMW Tracker

Update! From our old friend Stuman! AKA Mike 'Stu' Stuhler.  Check out his blog at http://stusshots.blogspot.com/

http://pwheelie.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html#6072330486351866165

This is one of Ron Woods' projects. Matt Weidman tried to make the mile at Arizona back on 5/1 with this but missed the field. He's supposed to run it again on Saturday 10/9 and try to get it in the National again after Ron got the bugs worked out of it.
Very sweet looking machine! With the rules being 'opened up' in AMA Flat Track this year it has made for some very interesting combinations, as 12 different manufacturers and their respective models are available to race in the Grand National Expert Twins Class. Earlier this year not only did a Ducati 1098 win--at Arizona with Joe Kopp--but Bill Werner, Jay Springsteen and Bryan Smith took a Kawasaki 650 Ninja-based parallel twin to the win here at Indy and at Springfield. Jeremy Higgins put a KTM in the main at Minnesota a couple of weeks ago, and Triumph put together a nice package based on the 865 Bonneville and has made four mains this year.
Very cool stuff, and as always Steve, you have kept things on the cutting edge here man! Keep up the great work!


Awesome!  Thanks for that!



I think I posted something on this bike a long while back but I'm not positive. Really excellent build. Your eyes are not playing tricks. The front shock mount is in fact on the rear of the cylinder. Bold stuff.

Reader Ride. A Portland Oregon Custom Cafe.

Phil Writes in:

Hi,
  My name is Phil G. and i live in Portland Or. I would like to share some pics of my 71 cb750. This has been my project for the last 2 1/2 years. I would like to sit here and tell you that i did it all myself but i have to give credit were credit is due. While the over all concept and design of the bike was all me there are a few very important elements to it that would not have been possible without help from some very talented friends of mine so i have to say thanks to Sam Hill for welding the custom oil tank and the 5" stretch into the fuel tank, and to Sean Smith for laying down the beautiful black paint, Paul Burdette for the stage 3 port job and general engine building help, Ginger Mccabe of New Church Customs for the seat pad, and to Deon Staffelbach for the awesome photography,other than that i pretty much did everything myself.
  here is a list of mods and custom parts
     engine bored out to 850
     stage three ported head
     super flow valves
     webcam 63a grind
     cyclex super rods
     balanced and lightened crank and rotor
     under cut tranny
     all new bearings and chains inside
     cr 29 carbs
     custom aluminum oil tank
     stock fuel tank stretched 5" with knee dents
     custom rear sets (modeled after dunstall rear sets from the 70's)
     custom s.s. muffler
          Anyway, thanks for looking
                  Phil

 My pleasure Phil.  Thanks for sharing!

http://newsportmotorcycle.blogspot.com/

Video. History of the Britten

When I watch this it just makes me feel like such a lazy hack. I'm complaining about finding time to put in to my modest project and guys like this just build revolutionary, Daytona winning machines.... I'm such a freaking slackass.

Reader Ride. Sweet Honda Hawk GT.

Jack Michaud Writes in:

Hi,
My dad turned me on to your blog. Nice stuff! Here's a pic of my 1989 Honda Hawk 650GT. Why Honda gifts this market segment to Suzuki I'll never know!

I couldn't agree more. This bike was years ahead of the SV and they gave just up on it too soon. Damm shame.

Nice BMW R100 I Saw At The Mall Yesterday...

Grabbed a quick cell phone shot of this nice rider. I didn't get to meet the owner.