No. 58, September 9, 2000

1800 Wing spotted

   Our thanks to Mike Larson for sending this and some other shots of Honda's new GoldWing, said to be running an 1800cc version of the current boxer six powewrplant. The USA-developed bike was being shot for a promotional video - we suspect in Utah - and appears to have undergone a complete restyle with the front end possibly boasting gas discharge headlights.
Website: http://www.honda.com

According to UK Motorcycle News, Suzuki refuses to recall the Hayabusa, despite the potential danger of the problem it has with rear subframes that are cracking. In that country, the factory's 'solutution' is to charge hapless owners 170 quid for a stronger steel substitute.

Reader Martin English has put us on to this site: http://news.motorcycle.com/968185504/index_htm which links to info on a new Ducati-sponsored set of handlebar controls for playstation bike games. Apparently they offer realistic steering throttle and brake controls, along with some feedback to the 'rider'. Weird...

There are now two vacant seats in the the once all-conquering Repsol Honda GP team for 2001. Long-serving rider Okada, who has had over 100 GP starts, is departing the team and seems unlikely to get a ride elsewhere. Meanwhile Sete Gibernau is departing to accept a ride with the Suzuki team alongside Kenny Roberts - a move which will no doubt please the Spanish Movistar sponsors.

  A little something for the trivia buffs: Gibernau is the grandson of Don Francisco Bulto, the founder of the Bultaco marque.

At right is one of the official pics of Aprilia's new sports tourer, the RST1000, or Futura. The one-litre twin is being run in the same state of tune as in the Falco, claiming 113 horses. It's one of the many bikes expected to debut at next week's Munich show.

Bikescape - the Sydney tour and bike hire mob, is making the most of the upcoming olympics by extending its fleet with seven new bikes and opening seven days a week. You can reach them on (02) 9699 4722.

Dilbert quote for the day: I can only please one person today. Today is not your day and tomorrow isn't looking good either.

Yamaha is having a busy time of it - it's on the verge of launching two new bike bikes: An FJ1300 sports tourer remiscent of the old FJs though with more angular styling; And a Fazer 1000, using a detuned version of the R1 powerplant.

Buell is toying with the idea of building an adventure tourer-style machine with its 500cc single-cylinder powerplant - curently fitted to the Blast.

Euro firm Sachs has launched its 800cc naked bike, based on a Suzuki VZ800 powerplant.