2005 is getting set to be the hottest year ever in the two

2005 is getting set to be the hottest year ever in the twowheeled world, so I picked 14 of the wildest, fastest, most
outrageous asphalt burners available for this feature. While I
didn’t get to ride them all, I did get to thrash the new Yamaha
R1 around the Eastern Creek racetrack in Sydney, Australia,
and prowl the midnight streets of New Orleans on the incredible
Confederate Hellcat. Doing time on the track with the latest
600cc supersport missiles, I found them even faster, lighter and
better behaved than ever. Looking for something a little more
comfortable and civilized? There are two new sport tourers from
Germany to put some adrenaline in your next weekend getaway
and I managed some quality track time with the MZ as well.
Addicted to the track? Pick up a hand built Poggipolini Ducati Millona
and instantly become the guy to beat, or go big with super celeb
Billy Lane’s mind bending hubless Camel Bike, Money Shot. There
are two new smoking hot Latin V-twin superbikes from the top Italian
bike manufacturers to seduce you, and the coolest factory custom
to shake the boulevard from the Motor Company.
Having spent a day shredding the rear tire and spitting asphalt on
the new Rocket III power cruiser, I can tell you not even the most
jaded power junkie is going to be disappointed with this beast. The
Victory Hammer features more power and the phatest rear tire ever
on a production cruiser, while Canada’s own Miguel Duhamel will be
back to do battle, racing the mega fast Honda CBR1000 Superbike
again next season. So grab your gear and let’s get ready to ride,
there has never been a better time.
BILLY’S MONEY SHOT
CAMEL HUBLESS BIKE IS
AN ABSOLUTE ONE OF A
KIND AND IS UP FOR SALE
FOR A COOL US$200,000
Billy Lane’s
Money shot.
APRILIA FACTORY MILLE
The other Italian, the new Factory Mille from Aprilia is
even hotter than ever. Wrapped in all new bodywork,
powered by a quicker revving, more powerful version
of their signature 60-degree V-twin power plant,
the Factory gets plenty of bling from the top shelf
Ohlins’ suspension. World class brakes, race inspired
chassis and knock out looks, only 200 of these Italian
beauties are coming to North America. US$17,899
BILLY LANE’S
MONEY SHOT
HARLEY DAVIDSON CVO
(OPPOSITE PAGE)
The Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) crew has infused the new 2005 limited
edition FLSTFSE Screamin’ Eagle Fat Boy with rowdy performance and a lean, urban custom
profile. Based on the popular FLSTFI Fat Boy, the Screamin’ Eagle Fat Boy features a Screamin’
Eagle 103 Stroker Twin Cam engine tuned to crank out more than 100 ft. lbs. of torque, special
custom colors with metal grind accents, and a new steel seat. A totally hot custom straight off
the press. US$52,000
With his crazy, wild dreadlocks,
film star looks and his ‘My way
or fuck it’ attitude, bike builder
Billy Lane beats, bends and
grinds lumps of raw metal into
some of the coolest looking
choppers on the planet.
Featuring the trickiest looking
rear wheel ever built, Billy’s
Money Shot Camel hubless
bike is an absolute one of a
kind and is up for sale for a
cool US$200,000.
CONFEDERATE HELLCAT
A hand crafted mix of American muscle and British street fighter rolling on
sportbike suspension and wheels, the Confederate Hellcat doesn’t just cross
the lines of motorcycle hierarchy and design, it erases them. Pumping out
over 130 rear wheel horsepower, while employing a civilized riding position
and ergonomics, the Hellcat could be the world’s most unique and functional
motorcycle. US$60,000
KAWASAKI ZX-6R
With a redesigned 636cc
motor making significantly
more power, and a chassis
and suspension package
designed to win races,
Kawasaki has produced
the ultimate six hundred
supersport weapon this year.
With all-new, smoother, more
aerodynamic bodywork,
upside down forks, radial
brakes and under tail
exhaust the new Kawasaki
ZX-6R is in a class of its own.
US$8,599
TIME TO RIDE
POGGIPOLINI
NCR DUCATI 1000
MILLONA
The ultimate track day tool for
the well heeled speed freak.
Hand made from titanium,
magnesium and carbon fiber,
the Millona tips the scales at
an impossibly light 260 pounds.
Pumping 90 wild stallions
through the massive, gummy
rear Dunlop slick, and using
Moto GP inspired Brembo brakes
to scrub speed when needed,
most other bikes on the track
are going to be little more than
targets in the cross hairs. US
$35,000 as tested.
SUZUKI GSXR600
Suzuki’s latest middleweight screamer spins to
15,5000 rpm in fifth and rips past 245 kmph
down the long back straight at the Misano
racetrack in Italy. Featuring radial brakes, upside
down forks, and more than 120 horsepower
packed into a slimmer, more agile package, the
hot new GSXR600 is here to help you own the
racetrack. US$8,199
YAMAHA R1
Yamaha’s feral, fire spitting
one liter beast gets some
sleek new styling and a sexy
under-tail exhaust this year.
Packing more power into
a lighter package, twisting
the throttle in anger will
have your adrenaline glands
pumping harder than when
your high school girlfriend’s
parents come home
unnanounced. Catch one if
you can. US.$10,999
MZ1000S
A new supersport tourer enters the mix from
Germany. Featuring a unique parallel twin engine and
euro-look tubular frame, the MZ1000S is a fast road
burner with occasional track missions in mind. Top
quality components are used, from the lightweight
wheels to the Nissin brakes. Coming to North America
in limited numbers, you are guaranteed to be the only
one on the block with this baby. US$11,999
TRIUMPH
ROCKET III
Cut the fringes off
your jacket, Ethel, and
staple your arse to
the seat, Bob’s gone
and gotta Rocket
III. With gargantuan
amounts horsepower
and Herculean torque
numbers, Triumph has
just blown the mirrors off
all the production V-twin
cruisers with its unique
three-cylinder 2300cc
monster. This ain’t your
Granddaddy’s cruiser.
US$15,990
VICTORY HAMMER
A new take on the American
motorcycle, the all-new Victory
Hammer is a balance of power,
handling and comfort in a sharply
focused Cruiser package. With the
industry’s first 6-speed gearbox
and ultra wide 250mm rear tire,
the tough leading-edge look is
unlike anything else on the road.
US$16,499
TIME TO RIDE
BMW K1200S
Introducing Herr Hayabusa beater. Built for strafing autobahns
at triple nickel speeds, the latest sport bike from the traditionally
conservative German manufacturer comes packing a massive
167 horsepower punch. Featuring a quantum leap in suspension
technology, and the first electronically adjustable suspension on
a production motorcycle, the K1200S is BMW’s first serious power
house sport bike to go head to head with the best from Japan.
US$ NA
HONDA CBR 1000
Coming with a slightly softer road going focus than the other four
cylinder liter bikes from Japan, big Red’s open class weapon is still
for the serious rider only. Laying down more than 150 horsepower,
with a chassis and suspension package capable of winning
Superbike races, the CBR1000 plays track day hero or city slicker
with equal aplomb. US$10,999
DUCATI 999R
Dripping with sex appeal from every sensuous
curve, the Ducati Fila replica has been built
in limited numbers to celebrate Ducati lifting
the coveted World Superbike crown for the
fourteenth time. Producing a booming 146
horsepower from its short stroke Testastretta
desmodromic V-twin engine, and using race
inspired chassis and suspension components,
this is as close as you can get to a racewinning Superbike for the street. US$24,995