2 Wheels

These are motorcycles I would buy if I had money to throw away, or if I was just less practical. They aren't $125,000 pieces of rolling art. They're production motorcycles, cheaper than most cars, and made to be ridden, not collected and looked at, which is the entire reason for me buying a bike in the first place. In other words, if I were in the market or a little less fiscally responsible, these are the bikes I would be considering. They're just awesome motorcycles. These are in no particular order. Click on the photos; they're worth seeing in larger view.

2008 MV Agusta Brutale 1078RR No price yet, but the smaller 910cc version is $18,000. This one is probably a few grand more. I love naked bikes.






















2008 Triumph Speed Triple. A few grand more in my bank account and I would have bought one of these instead of the Honda 919 that I bought back in 2002. It's a stripped down sportbike with a 1050cc inline triple engine that sounds amazing. At $10,400 it's a fantastic deal.
























2008 KTM SuperDuke 990. More power than the 2006 model that was originally released only for the European market. It's powered by an amazingly compact and light 999cc 75 degree V-twin. It's a little pricey at $14,400, but considering every reviewer has claimed that this is about the most fun to be had on two wheels, I wouldn't mind checking one out.
























2009 Yamaha Vmax. The original Vmax was The Power Cruiser. Arriving in the early 80s, it was the fastest stock motorcycle over the 1/4 mile on the entire planet. Over the ensuing decades, relatively unchanged from year to year, it spawned a global cult following. People bought it, customized and hot-rodded it. Think of the phenomenon of the hot-rodded american muscle car, and you'll get the idea. Enthusiasts have been pleading for a modern version for years and it's finally here. No reviews have been written yet, but the specs of 1699cc 65 degree V-four putting out a peak 197 horsepower and 122 foot-pounds of torque means it may likely again be the fastest production motorcycle over the 1/4 mile. Only 2,500 of them are coming to the U.S. but a quick phone call, and a $1000 deposit guarantee that you're good for the $17,990 cost just may get you one.