(With help of correspondent H. Roesler for info and pictures)
Intermot, the largest European Motorcycle Fair held in Cologne, Germany closed its doors yesterday with organizers claiming 219,000 visitors, 4% more exhibitors and 5% more motorcycles exhibited on the floor. Unfortunately, it is reported to me that very few young people could be seen on the floor. Let’s start this short report with the big rumor floating in the air during the last 4 days of the show: BMW would have a big interest in buying Italian manufacturer MV Agusta…Deal done?
Back to what I know for sure. Winner of the Intermot AMD Affiliate Show is this red custom built S&S/Flathead Power old school style bike pictured above built by Bike Farm Germany. It means that you will see this motorcycle competing in Sturgis in 2011 for the title of World Champion.
Is this machine on the left an e-bike or e-motorcycle? The facts sheet of BlackTrail indicates that this retro looking machine has a top speed of 65 mph (about 100km/h) and a total weight (batteries included) of only 44 lbs (about 20 kg). It is completely manufactured from carbon fiber, titanium, magnesium and aluminum. Production is limited to 667 units, which might be sell out faster than what you may think, given the price of – hold your breath – (€ 59.500). More questions? Visit PG-Bikes
Horex, a classic 50’s & 60’s brand name (Imperator and Regina models) was present with a prototype motorcycle featuring the unique 6-cylinder/3 camshafts engine shown above left. Equipped with a turbo charger performance will be optimized for a torque well above the 200 mark! RIP Dennis Hopper! The legendary actor and filmmaker has now been immortalized in a sculpture made from of engine-parts, nuts & bolts. It’s the work of a company called Alien Predator specialized in building those sculptures from scrap metal. Of course, each one is unique and supposedly offered at a reasonable price.
Parts Unlimited / Drag Specialties had an important presence to introduce both brands in Europe. President Fred Fox is now in Konz, Germany to visit the company new distribution warehouse, probably one of the most technologically advanced of any kind in the world.
Very few people know, especially in the US, that German Custom Builder Marcus Walz is also customizing since 2008 Ducati and other brands sport bikes with breathtaking performance in a sister company called Walzwerk. One of his machines was present in the show and Custom Chrome General Manager Andreas Scholz climbed on one of his bikes just to get a feel while standing still…
BMW released a new “limo on 2 wheels” named 1600 GTL, an inline 6-cylinder engine of 1649 cm3. This touring motorcycle includes everything you can need while riding long distance and features directional lights. This new model is upped to directly compete with the Honda 1800 Goldwing.
Triumph launched the 1050 Speed Triple, a 3-cylinder of 1050 cm3 available in March 2011.
Let’s start this short report with the big rumor floating in the air during the last 4 days of the show: BMW would have a big interest in buying Italian manufacturer MV Agusta…Deal done?
This was a rumor many months aago when HD owned MV. Flip a coin.
Thnx Cyril: It’s always interesting to see what is happening on the other side of the Big Water.
Some very cool machines are produced on the Continent.
Great events we can see Brands like Yamaha,BMW,Honda etc. and bike builders all together, and this is good for all of us.