Voxan Hear its Death Toll

The 29th of January marked a sad day in the history of French motorcycles and leaves us with possibly the last notable death of 2009. Voxan motorcycles, the last hope and stronghold of the French motorcycle industry recieved the final nail in its coffin when the Clermont-Ferrand Court of Commerce rulled for the liquidation of the company.


Having not received the financial guarantees it was looking for to secure the financial turnaround of Voxan from its possible buyer Fil of Luxemburg, the court decided that liquidation was the only option. The future of Voxans employees as such, leaves nothing but an uncertain future.

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Belgium Road Security Looks to Others

Here's a great idea for any countries road security gurus...instead of shooting from the hip and just making up policy to try and lower accident rates and the resulting injuries and deaths, how about taking a look around the world at other systems to see what works and what doesn't and take that into account when implementing you own securtiy. That exactly what Belgium has decided to do recently. The country sent of "scouts" om reconnassance missions to their neighboring countrys to find the good prevention ideas currently being used with the intention of importing them back home. Their goal is a center of knowledge and expertise on traffic circulation to be created by the police as early as 2010. The centers would among other benefits work towards improving personnel training directly linked to road inferstructure and would be composed of lawyers and strategic analysts.


Belgium has set an objective to become one of the three countries with the lowest roadway mortality rate by the year 2015. Seems they may have developed the perfect idea to reach that goal. Hopefully it keeps on track and works towards everyones benefits. Maybe other countries will jump on board with the same idea.


Source: Caradisiac

TTXGP partners with UEM...

...announces eGrandPrix European Championship at Albacete

MC24 has broken news that the 2010 eGrandPrix race season will now culminate with a championship race organized by the European Motorcycle Union at Spain's Albacete circuit. The date has yet to be announced, but the addition of this championship gives the fledgling electric motorcycle racing organization not only four-race national series in the UK and Italy and three races in North America, but also a headline event at the Isle of Man TT and now an officially sanctioned European Championship event. That makes the FIM and its e-Power series look a little silly. After splitting with TTXGP and stealing its rules, the FIM is left with something it calls a "World Championship," but no participating teams and only a handful of tentative dates.

UEM was quick to support TTXGP, and particularly Silvio Manicardi (President of Marketing, Promotion & Industry Commission) has from the beginning been one of TTXGP its main backers. Manicardi is also a mechanical engineer, and has a very nice review of the situation for electric bikes in the UEM-magazine from earlier this year.

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Continental Circus: The Movie

I recently got a chance to view Continental Circus, an incredible documentary showing the sport before the intrusion of big business and big money. The racing careers and exploits of two contrasting characters are explored in this French documentary about grand prix motorcycle racing. No actors in the flic, only real people.  No tricks, the races are true races; footage includes Isle of Man and Spa among other circuits. One is the Australian Jack Findlay, a non-corporate sponsored ridre, who manages to stay in the game through sheer spunk, the help of his French wife and many friends. Throughout the course of the season he has a number accidents and sometimes must borrow even the machines he races with. You really get a feeling for what it was like to be a private motorcycle racer at this time. Giacomo Agostini, on the other hand, seems to be singularly blessed. As the reigning champion (in 1971) and a noteworthy playboy, he has all the sponsorship he could ask for, and wins his races without injuries or spills. He appears as a prefiguration of what we see today in most professional sports including motorsports. Great music performed by Gong is also heard throughout the film.

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Merry Christmas from Paris

The Former Paris Tuning Show

The edition 2010 of PTS is changing its tune. Formerly the Paris Tuning Show, one of the larger and certainly most accessible event in France, has rechristened itself the Salon of Personalization, Technology and Sport. Taking place at Paris Le Bourget Parc des Expos the 19, 20 and 21 of March, the event is being host by a new group, Option Organization. Changes will in include a more innovative formula, a denser schedule (3 days instead of 5) and a higher focus on motorcycles.

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Motorcycling History in Norway

It's not a country you tend to think has a lot going on when it comes to motorcycling but Rolf Ivar Jordbruen felt there was enough meat to make the subject worth treating. Unfortunately, as of yet there is no english version.

The idea of this book, On Two Wheels - Cubic Nostalgia was to show some of the history and versatility the motorcycle has had and stills has in the country. The author, who began motorcycling on the private road leading to his home at the age of thirteen in the 1980's, hoped to create a book that would evoke memories for older motorcyclists and interest among young people.

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Decision on Voxan Turnaround Postponed

It seems there will only be one option left for troubled French motorcycle manufacturer Voxan. I just learned that SODEMO, the original developers of the Voxan powerplant have pulled out the proposal for a takeover. That leaves only the Luxembourg based real estate holding company FIL left to pick up the cards. Their completed file was presented court in Clermont-Ferrand on Friday.  After reviewing the propose, the court will offer its final decision on the bid on December 29.  Between now and then, FIL will have to secure all its financial guarantees in expectation of making its initial payment of 10 million Euros, 1 mil of which will be for the buyback of stock and the remained addressed at relaunching the marque.

Here hoping for a Very Happy New Year 2010 for Voxan!

Source: Vadimof

Karl Lagerfeld Chanel Motorcycle Film...

...well yes and no. The bike was built by Momo Bikes to be used as a prop during Paris Fashion Week 2009. Now it can actually be seen motoring through Paris under power in a bizarre short film aimed at presenting the Chanel Spring/Summer 2010 Pre-Collection.

 

Hyde Harrier Jubilee Ready for Liftoff

You may have seen the prototype a few years ago when Triumph specialist Norman Hyde and Harris Performance first presented the Hyde Harrier Jubilee in early 2008. Testing has now been completed and kits are available to transform a modern Triumph Bonneville into the ultimate modern British cafe racer. The bike was originally conceived to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the original Hyde Harrier and the 50th anniversary of the Triumph Bonneville.

The basic Harrier kit, requiring a donor vehicle consisting of a 2000+ model year Triumph Bonneville (pre-EFI), includes new frame & swingarm, fuel tank, seat unit, rearsets, rear fender and kickstand, plus other necessary bits. As such, the donor bike contributes its headlight, instrumentation, forks, wheels, engine and exhaust system. Retails for is a reasonable £3995 +VAT, which might not sound so friendly for readers in the US given the current exchange rates, but certainly will offer a unique ride. Given that Bonnies are reasonable priced on the used market, the means needed to realize an exclusive modern day British café racer are not beyond the reach of the everyday Joe.

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