Something for the motorcycle enthusiasts

[Jschmus]

In the tradition of keeping things interesting, I decided to share these.  As some of you know, I work the night shift in a hotel.  Last night I checked in a couple who mentioned in passing that they had a motorcycle on a trailer.  They had asked if I could keep an eye on it.  I told them it was no problem, but I was kind of busy last night, and I didn't get to eyeball it until about 0400.  As soon as I did, I made a mental note to come back after sunrise to get a few snaps for my scrapbook.

I know feck-all about motorcycles, but I can appreciate the lines of some of them.  When they told me they had a motorcyle, I was thinking "Harley", or maybe one of the Japanese makes.  I wasn't anticipating a Ducati 749s.   



It's very sleek.



Very futuristic from the front...



...and the back.



Can anyone tell me what "Testastretta" means?



I now return you to your regularly-scheduled aviation-themed programming.

[Jschmus]

For some reason, that front pic won't rotate, so it looks sideways.

[kitnut617]

VERY Nice

[Captain Canada]

Sweet ! Great pics, Jay. Ducs are very sexy motorcycles.....love all that carbon fiber as well, and you can't beat the sond of a racing v-twin !

[Patrick H]

Nice pics Jay, one of the finest motorcycle around.

[Jschmus]

People keep parking beautiful motorcycles outside the hotel.  This morning it was a BMW R1200.

[Captain Canada]

In motorcycle news...anybosy hear that Scott Dunlop ( joey's brother, who also died in a race ) was killed last week at the Northwest 200 ? They thought about cancelling the whole week, but didn't. His 18 y.o. son ended up winning, but now sez he might retire !

PS-funky Beemer, Jay !

[SimonR]

Can anyone tell me what "Testastretta" means?

It means "narrow head" and is used to decribe Ducati's latest generation of V-twins that were introduced in the 2001 998 model superceding the old Desmoquattro motor. The Testaretta motors are easier to service and have better head access, sealed bearing, better ports and are generally smaller and lighter than the old DQ motors.

I had a 2002 model 999s that looked very much like the bike in the pictures; it was probably the most performance focussed bike I've ever had. And I've had a few. I was almost relieved when it was stolen before it killed me.

[Jschmus]

Two weeks ago, my hotel was briefly host to some members of a motorcycle club.  After a couple of nights spent futilely trying to get decent shots, I waited until near dawn to get the following.  I like how the lights turned out.

A Honda cruiser.


Two more cruisers.


A lone Yamaha crotch-rocket.