L'AFFICHE DES 24H 2013 DÉVOILÉE : PRÊT POUR LE GRAND DÉFI ?

Un 90ème anniversaire, ça se fête ! Les 24 Heures du Mans fêteront dignement cet anniversaire en juin prochain avec une édition 2013 qui s'annonce disputée dans toutes les catégories. On avait déjà eu un aperçu de l'affiche officielle lors de la présentation des équipes sélectionnées. L'Agence La Forumi s'est chargée de réaliser le visuel des 24 Heures du Mans 2013 où l'on y trouve un logo spécifique « 90 ans » avec un habillage noir et or. L'Audi R18 e-tron quattro victorieuse en juin 2012 et floquée de son numéro 1 est bien en place avec une Toyota TS030 HYBRID à ses trousses. La Tour de Classement Michelin est elle aussi bien mise en avant. Les inconditionnels auront remarqué que les autos roulent en sens inverse de la réalité. Alors, « Prêt pour le grand défi ? »

by Laurent Mercier(Endurance-Info)

Audi unveils pedal-electric hybrid concept bike.

 

Ducatis aren’t the only two-wheelers under the Audi corporate umbrella these days. The German company recently unveiled its concept Worthersee e-bike, to which Audi applied its vast experience with high-tech composites, electronics and lithium-ion batteries. This innovative machine can operate solely on muscle power through a nine-speed bicycle transmission, rely only on its 2.3-kilowatt electric motor (with a 0.53 kW-h battery pack) or act as a human/electric hybrid.
Weighing a scant 57 pounds, the Worthersee can reach a maximum speed of 50 mph when the motor is aided by people propulsion.

 

 
 

Ana Cheri and the Yamaha YZ450F

MOTO GUZZI V50 BY RNO CYCLES

Think of a custom Moto Guzzi, and it’s invariably built in the ‘classic’ style: Timeless café racer lines, muted colors and bare metal. I’m a fan of that look, but it’s also refreshing to see someone take a completely different approach—and pull it off spectacularly.

This rapier-sharp V50 is called ‘Opal’ and comes from Arno Overweel, founder of Rno Cycles in Culemborg, The Netherlands. The styling is dominated by a bold, rising waistline that shows off the V-twin motor beautifully. The balance of the revised frame is so good that I’m hoping Moto Guzzi’s own designers are taking note.

The bike was commissioned by Goparts, a Dutch motorcycle accessory company, and Overweel designed many of the custom parts using CAD. He started with a 1982 V50 III, a bike that was popular in Europe but little known in the US. It has the small bore 490 cc motor with a five-speed transmission, but Overweel has changed the gearbox housing to the kick start ‘Nato’ type—so the electric starter (and its weight and paraphernalia) is gone.

Carburetion is 28mm Dell’Orto, mated to twin K&N filters, and the custom-fabricated exhaust is stainless steel under the wrapping. The suspension has been upgraded with new fork internals and a custom swing arm, ten centimeters longer than stock, hooked up to an HK Suspension monoshock.

The original 18” Moto Guzzi V50 wheels have held up well aesthetically, so they were refurbished and fitted with semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sporty tires. There’s a sprinkling of Rizoma parts throughout and local company Ben Oud’s Kustom Paints applied the immaculate paint.

I’d rate this as one of the best Moto Guzzi customs I’ve ever seen, in terms of vision, originality and craftsmanship. It’s worth keeping tabs on Arno Overweel’s work via his website and blog.

Images by Floris Velthuis.

from BIKEEXIF