A round-up of today's bike news in brief
Powerful BB1 from Moto Guzzi
• Moto Guzzi has launched the Millepercento BB1 motorcycle. This new machine is an uprated version of the popular Griso.
It features a bored-out, liquid-cooled, 1420cc version of the air-cooled 1100cc engine used on the Moto Guzzi Griso 1100.
It boasts titanium valves, an all-new fuel-injection system and two spark plugs per cylinder. This powerful 117bhp motorcycle also features Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes.
The BB1 will be available from February 2009 at an estimated price of €19,000.
Design departure for new Honda
• Honda is also set to launch the much anticipated and exciting CB1100F.Rumours have it that this machine could make its first public appearance as a production model at the annual Tokyo Motorcycle Show in March.
A prototype of the CB1100F was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2007. Apparently Honda has now patented the bikes final styling and the actual machine will look very different from the concept.
End for Kawasaki Moto GP team
• Kawasaki has shut down its factory MotoGP team. It leaves riders Marco Melandri and John Hopkins without a ride for 2009 and a low entry list of just 17 bikes in this year's competition.
The current global economic crisis is being cited as the reason Kawasaki has pulled out.