Can you Beliebe it?

I can barely 'beliebe' I'm writing this myself after having received one of the most pointless press releases ever from MVAgusta, telling me that for his 19th birthday, Justin Bieber's dad bought him a 'personalised' MV F3 675, which has a theme dedicted to JB's favourite cartoon super hero Batman.

The power of the cult of personality, eh? Well, we've published the pic, so it obviously works. 

I think for my 19th birthday, I got a packet of 10 Bensons and a faux leather steering wheel cover from the market for my Ford Escort van. Ah, kids today don't know they're born...

Issue 5 to 8 - subscriptions now open!

Well, we've been working our thermal little socks off the last few weeks to get everything put in place, but we're now pleased to say that we are now offering subscriptions for issue 5 to 8 of ITALIAN MOTOR.


It might seem that it had gone all quiet at ITALIAN MOTOR H.Q., but if you regularly check this blog or Facebook page, you'll know that we've never been away - but negotiating the choppy waters of global recession to pick a good time to offer subscriptions for the next four issues of ITALIAN MOTOR magazine, and that time is now. This is bare bones direct-to-reader publishing, and there is certainly no corporate cash cow to pay for the time and dedication that it takes to put an issue together.

Simply put, if each one of our readers that has bought and appreciated Issues 1 to 4 of the magazine also buys a subscription for Issues 5 to 8, ITALIAN MOTOR has a solid and exciting future on which we can build, develop and progress the magazine - and of course get new issues out to you quicker and more regularly. It's simple economics - the more people that subscribe, the more issues of ITALIAN MOTOR we can put together for your delectation and reading pleasure.

More concise words, professional journalism with insight, fantastic photography and clean original design. More hardcore Italian motorcycles from old (1912 Frera) and to the new (latest Guzzi California 1400), and of course, a hand-picked and handsome Italian four-wheeler every issue. More talented and like-minded people who build specials in their sheds and garages. More getting our hands dirty and making pitiful progress on our own Italian bikes and projects. Real stories from Italy from personal friends and hard-earned contacts, built up and nurtured whilst living there for many years - we have family there!

We speak, listen, learn and question in fluent Italian, so there' s nothing lost in translation. Articles and tests are written first-hand by the person you actually see photographed riding and experiencing the motorcycle. Just good, honest independent journalism and stripped-back publishing with passion - not rehashes of history from the well-thumbed reference books you've already got on your shelf, and you've already read 25 times.

ITALIAN MOTOR is authentic as it comes - but it is definitely a case of use it, or lose it.

ISSUE 5 is already printed up and waiting to be mailed out priority to subscribers. It's a one-off single payment for all four issues 5 to 8 which includes all mailing costs - simple - and no stupid and complicated recurring payment profiles (thanks for nothing PayPal..).

We've also upgraded our online store, so if you can't wait any longer, you can subscribe here: ITALIAN MOTOR store - and contact us for any reason here

That's it. Thanks for your support...

900SS Capolavoro Assoluto for Mondo Ducati

It's still exciting after all these years to see my work in print, and this month one of my articles has been published by our friends on the Italian magazine Mondo Ducati, for whom I've been supplying various pieces of work and translation for a while now to pay the bills (what, you think home-publishing a magazine makes money??). The 900SS was an unrestored original, and one motorcycle I would have loved to own, if I had serious cash.

They've put together a really nice clean layout, and used the excellent photos (taken one cold February) by ace snapper Matt C. We'll put the article in ITALIAN MOTOR in a future issue.

If you like Ducatis, try and get a copy of Mondo Ducati which features, as the title suggests, only Ducatis. And you can practice your Italian too...

Would you buy a new bike on the internet?

We're not really sure what is happening with Moto Morini nowadays. It seems that they have a reasonably complete lineup of models including the Rebello 1200, Granpasso 1200, Corsaro Veloce and the Scrambler 1200 - the latest version of which is the 'Military Green'. Buying this bike will also get you a good dsicount off their 'Human and Machine components', which means, er, their range of differemt parts and clothing I think. Which is all very well, but not having seen a road test of any of their bikes on offer anywhere, it's hard to judge what is being offered exactly. Are they the same as the old models? Some of the bikes look great, and Morini's interactive website does a good job of promoting the many options that are available. We were in contact with Morini last year in the hope of going down to the factory to see what is happening, but have heard nothing concrete since.

But seriously, unless you're one of those cash-rich collector types that buy up bikes as investments or furniture, would you spend 10,000 euros plus to buy a bike via a website, and also accept that the manufacturer 'reserves the right to make modifications to technical characteristics, equipment and outfits withput prior notice'? Just reading the small print in the general terms of sale makes my eye hurt, much less my brain.

Or maybe buying motorcycles is going the way of buying CDs, books and much else. Click and buy.
We're all for Morini, which is a historic marque, and respect the people that have paid for the name, and put their cash into the business, which despite producing some excellent machines, didn't work the first time a few years ago. But is it a business model that will work long-term?

Anyone out there bought a 'new' Morini? We'd be fascinated to hear from you...

V7 Scrambler from Portugal

Spotted this on the excellent blog: http://www.theselfcenteredman.com - I think it's beautifully executed and maybe the best use of one of the 'new' V7 bikes I think I've seen so far. Thought it was a V50 at first, because of the older looking rocker covers, but guess they just slot right onto the new heads, anyone know for sure?

Anyway, I'd be happy to own this bike, though I'd stick another disc up front.

Contemplation

I'm still feeling pretty moved, as well as still very sad, about what happened to Kevin Ash. I've been reading around on various forums the many tributes rightly paid to him as a person, and to his work. Some commentators, who know nothing, suggest that motorcycle journalists are bound to have accidents as they are reckless, and speed, and show off. There is a minority like that - maybe the some of the younger ones with little real world riding experience, and who are prepared to leave their common sense behind when they sign the manufacturer's disclaimer. I've ridden in groups on launches where some of the riding has been appalling, and simply dangerous. I tend to sit at the back, let the would-be Valentino Rossis go up front, and concentrate on riding, and learning about the machine I'm sat on. Kevin was quick when he wanted to be but very measured. I liked to sit behind him at times because his riding was smooth and predictable, so though I don't know any details of his accident, he more than anyone knew how to ride safely. A quote I read on advrider.com from another British journalist that was on site for the BMW launch said this, and I know how he feels:

"...I’ve been getting more than a little spooked lately at press intros. Or should I say “the journalist GP”. I’ve been at a point of not wanting to click into the mode needed to run with the pack. It’s been invading my confidence and I’ve spent a lot of days thinking “I don’t want to ride this fast on a public road anymore”. I’ve seen them fall before. Kevin was a great guy. Mild mannered, polite, one of the boys. Good at this job, always with a good word. He will be missed...."

Sometimes though, the unpredictable can happen, quickly. On one launch last year, some big silencers were detaching from their mounting points, and dropping off, while we were riding, fast. We pulled over, and Kevin's had already lost its nut. "That's it, we're not going on," he said, very rightly, and with concern for the rest of us in the group, to the guy leading the group. And then we scrabbled around by the side of the road, in the verges, until we found some wire. "That'll do," he said, and he proceeded to expertly bodge the big silencer back on to the bike, safer than it was before. And then he checked everyone else's too. Good bloke.

In contrast,  I read a post the other day on a one-marque owners' forum by someone who seemed proud that he saved himself a measly 4 quid by sneakily photographing complete articles in bike magazines, then putting it back on the shelf. This person wanted so much to read and gain from the opinion and experience that someone like Kevin Ash would risk his life for to impart, but didn't want to pay for it. And that's just sad.

Kevin Ash

I've just heard that Kevin Ash, motorcycle journalist, has tragically died in an accident on a BMW launch in South Africa. I knew him as a fellow journalist, and had enjoyed his company on several new model launches, especially those for the new Moto Guzzi models - and he had a genuine soft spot for Guzzi. He was an honest, precise and technically excellent motorcycle writer, but also had a great sense of humour too. Being a dad to three girls, he often gave me tips over a glass of wine or two on launch dinners on how to wrangle my toddler daughter, and he always made me laugh.

Our thoughts go out to his family, from everyone involved with the magazine.