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We've got Yamaha with the V-Max, Suzuki with the new Busa, Kawasaki with the ZX-14, and Honda with whatever they're replacing the CBR1100 with.

What I want to see is Italy's V-twin answer to this and England's 3-cyl.

Or is this pipe dreaming?

No answer?

That makes me a sad panda...

I don't think the Italians will do it. First of all their products are already too expensive for mainstream (aka pretty much everyone you hate) and they've almost always been apart from other manufacturers in terms of engineering and design.

For Example Ducati will be releasing a limited number of the Desmosedici (16-valve v-4) version of their 220+ horsepower race bike to the public. But it's going to cost around 50,000 Euro (about $60,000)

Triumph has released it's big triple - the RocketIII. The 600 series gives another indication of these manufacturers intentions - Triumph w/ it's 675 triple and ducati w. its 750 twin both go their own way.

Yeah, but the top of the line Rocket III is 2300cc's...don't tell me that's not a "for show' number.

I thought the Desmosedici was going to cost more like $100,000. Course, I heard that quite a while ago. When is it coming out (so I can buy 2 or 3 )

Yeah, I wasn't clear about that - I think the RocketIII IS Triumph's answer to the whole "mine is bigger than yours" thing.

Seen in a Japanese mag that this years 999 will be 1098cc for next year. But couldnt read the article. I just look at the pretty pictures.

Triumph is a UK model.

For the Italians:
* Ducati bumped-up the 620 Monster to 700.
* Moto Guzzi bumped-up the 1100 engine to 1200 for the Norge.
* Moto Guzzi will also be offering that 1200 in a sport-bike.
* Aprilia is still using Rotax engines.

Italians displacement wars:
* Piaggio/Gilera will be offering an 850cc scooter using the lightweight V-Twin they have been showing off since 2002. When released, it will be the largest displacement scooter on the market (but perhaps not the highest horsepower).

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crazy5dave wrote:Seen in a Japanese mag that this years 999 will be 1098cc for next year. But couldnt read the article. I just look at the pretty pictures.

Unless both the AMA and WSBK have changed their rules there is no flipping way this is true. Stupid hype...they're trying to be cool by putting out false info and getting people riled up...(or maybe that's just what you're doing...I dunno).

Ducati is a race winning company, why make a change that would make it impossible to use their bikes in these races (since the new Desmosedici isn't made in large enough quantities to compete).

*edit* reread your statements. Unless you mean that there's an entirely new 999 coming out or a new sub 1000cc bike being released then maybe that's possible, but I still don't buy it whatsoever...why scrap the bike that is currently dominating the WSBK championship? Ducati isn't going to leak out their secrets 5 months ahead of schedule.

JUst saw 1100cc ducks for 2007. Besides who cares about racing when it comes to production motorcycles. Ever looked at Kawasakis line up. 636 for the street, 600 6RR for the track. Racing rules mean nothing.
Most US magizines have a three-four month lead time. ever notice you are reading about Bike week in early summer? some japanese and european mags are less that a month.

kabob983 wrote:

crazy5dave wrote:Seen in a Japanese mag that this years 999 will be 1098cc for next year. But couldnt read the article. I just look at the pretty pictures.

Unless both the AMA and WSBK have changed their rules there is no flipping way this is true. Stupid hype...they're trying to be cool by putting out false info and getting people riled up...(or maybe that's just what you're doing...I dunno).

Ducati is a race winning company, why make a change that would make it impossible to use their bikes in these races (since the new Desmosedici isn't made in large enough quantities to compete).

*edit* reread your statements. Unless you mean that there's an entirely new 999 coming out or a new sub 1000cc bike being released then maybe that's possible, but I still don't buy it whatsoever...why scrap the bike that is currently dominating the WSBK championship? Ducati isn't going to leak out their secrets 5 months ahead of schedule.

Ducati dropped the AMA for this coming year.

They are re-doing a lot of product lines. The supersports have been dropped, the 749 + 999 probably wont be for sale. It is rumored that there will be 1098 and 1200cc replacements.

They are taking a year off of racing for a chance to redesign. There seems to be mixed response to the 749 and the 999 line. It sounded like they wanted to get back more to their classic lines.