2008 - Harley-davidson Screamin Eagle Road King on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Book Release: Who is the Real Hog?

Bob Michel is a motorcycle industry veteran of almost 30 years, and like many career motorcycle folks, he has stories to tell. His credentials include 14 years with Harley-Davidson, culminating with his role as manager of dealer facilities planning. Naturally, when it was time to move on to other adventures, he chose to capitalize on his sales experience by becoming a partner and vice president of a Milwaukee dealership franchise.

When in Rome for Harley’s 110th

In addition to all the other goings-on scheduled for Harley-Davidson’s 110th celebration in Rome, Italy, Pirelli and LowRide magazine are teaming up to bring Italian Motor Company enthusiasts even more. During the June 13-16 celebration Pirelli is setting up shop at Lido di Ostia, transforming the Rome Nautical Club in to the Pirelli Clubhouse for this occasion. Guests at the Pirelli Clubhouse can attend tattooing sessions, where images created by Fashion Tattoo Studio will be imprinted on a range of tires. For those who want to try the thrills of driving a racing car through iconic racetracks around the world, the Formula 1 simulator will be available throughout the four-day celebration. Also on show is the new summer collection of Pzero clothing.  Pirelli technicians will hold product workshops illustrating the importance of tires on custom motorcycles.

Vespa goes back to the future

IT'S been a while coming, but the gorgeous Vespa 946 - EICMA 2012's Best of Show - has finally introduced something to the two-wheeled world that our four-wheeled counterparts have had for a while.  I call this 'reverse retro-futurism' - the art of borrowing lines from models past and imbuing them with a sleek sense of future direction (as opposed to retro-futurism, the pre-1960s design trend of depicting the technology of the future. The term 'decopunk' may come close, but feel free to tell me if there's a more exact term.) It's what the New Mini and the New Beetle (both 1997 and 2012 versions) have done so well, and so successfully: building an all-new model as a tribute to a classic, something that's modern yet already timeless, with a widely-appreciated, inclusive aesthetic (and here we eliminate the Plymouth PT Cruiser from the conversation). The biking world is great at retro, indeed thrives on it, but not so good at adding in a taste of the 21st century.