MV Agusta from the Barber collection, one of 11 classic Italian bikes the museum supplied for a new exhibit in Atlanta, Passione Italiana: Design of the Italian Motorcycle. 

The Museum of Design Atlanta has launched a new exhibit putting the spotlight on classic Italian Motorcycles, Passione Italiana: Design of the Italian Motorcycle. The exhibit, which opened March 20 and runs through June 13, was put together with the help of Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, and features 11 classic Italian motorcycles from the incredible Barber collection, including MV Agusta, Moto Morini and Ducati.

As part of its mission the museum, or MODA, focuses on all things design. Past exhibits have included examinations of bathroom design, Japanese architecture, graphic arts and handbags. MODA says the Passione Italiana exhibit includes interpretative stations to “showcase and discuss the design of Italian motorcycles in the larger context of fashion, industrial and furniture design,” The exhibit aim is to compare vintage Italian motorcycles as a means to gain insight into the passion of both designers and riders for these now classic machines.

Entry to the exhibit is $10, and free for MODA members. MODA is located at 1315 Peachtree St., Atlanta, Ga., 30309. More information at: (404) 979-6455 or on the web at www.museumofdesign.org – Richard Backus 

 
The first Moto Guzzi: 1921 single-cylinder 500cc Normale. 

Moto Guzzi, the famed Italian marque best known in our crowd for its V-twin touring bikes, the Eldorado and Ambassador, and the ground-breaking 1976 LeMans factory café racer, turned 90 on March 15. Of course the most significant Moto Guzzi was the very first one. The “G.P.” prototype (which stood for Guzzi and Parodi) appeared in 1920. Designed by Carlo Guzzi and funded by the Giorgio Parodi family, it featured a 500cc horizontal, single-cylinder engine, along with unit construction gearbox and exposed “bacon-slicer’ flywheel, now a hallmark of early Guzzis.

This architecture would soldier on for another 50 years, demonstrating its inherent design quality and engineering integrity. In fact, the final Falcone, a Nuovo model from 1976, was a direct descendant of this original design. A production version of the G.P. followed in 1921, called the “Normale.” Somewhat down-spec’d to make it more affordable, the prototype’s four-valve cylinder head made way for a more cost-effective two-valve configuration, and redundant, dual-ignition was dispensed with. Although only 17 were produced that first year, over 2,000 more would follow.

 
By 1957, Moto Guzzi had progressed to building the ultimate race bike; a 500cc V8. 

It’s interesting to note that after these first machines were successfully constructed in Mandello del Lario, the Italian lakeside city became the spiritual home for the brand. Production continues there to this day. This is also when the familiar “Eagle” emblem was first applied to a Moto Guzzi, in honor of the Italian Air Corps in which Guzzi and Parodi (along with Ravelli, a third friend who was unfortunately killed) previously served. The “Eagle” is now indelibly linked to the Moto Guzzi marque. Another unique twist of fate is that from the very beginning, the Parodi family owned all the shares of the Moto Guzzi company. Despite his genius and incredible contribution, Carlo Guzzi only received a royalty for each bike built.

Starting today, Moto Guzzi riders and enthusiasts who live and breathe the legend of the great “Italian Eagle” are encouraged to visit www.MotoGuzziHeritage.com and join in on the celebration by submitting photos and sharing stories about their Moto Guzzi motorcycle and connection to the brand. Whether riders own a vintage or modern Moto Guzzi, Moto Guzzi would love to learn more about their motorcycle and what drew them to the brand. Authors of entries featured on the blog will receive a gift bag of Moto Guzzi merchandise.

Riders and enthusiasts are also encouraged to visit the blog every Monday for nine consecutive weeks, starting today, and view the “Nine Decades of Moto Guzzi” photo and caption collection highlighting the most significant bikes from each decade. Each Wednesday, Moto Guzzi will feature a user submitted story and on every Friday for nine consecutive weeks, a “Photo of the Day” will be posted from the Moto Guzzi family, highlighting a memorable moment in Moto Guzzi history.

For more details on submitting a post for consideration, please visit www.MotoGuzziHeritage.com/submit. For more information on the current Moto Guzzi model range please visit www.motoguzzi-us.com 

For an inside look at Moto Guzzi's amazing museum, go here to read Neale Bayly's article, published in Motorcycle Classics.

(Compiled from Moto Guzzi press releases and the Moto Guzzi website) 

Can't make Daytona Bike Week and Bator Auction's 24^th Annual Daytona Classic Bike Auction? Not to worry, because you can still be a part of the action. Bator Auctions will broadcast its March 11 classic bike auction live and online, so you can watch and bid regardless of where you are.

If you’re interested in bidding online you’ll have to register first at Batorauctions.com. If all you want to do is watch the action live, just follow this link to catch the live stream. Air times are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, March 11. Bator will also post an online video of the auction on its home site at the auction’s conclusion. Happy Hunting. – Richard Backus 

Attention Honda Four owners! The online Single Over-Head Cam 4 Forums is organizing one of the coolest rides we’ve heard of in a long time, the 2011 SOHC4.net Relay Rally Across America. Mapped out to hit every state in the Lower 48, plus Canada and maybe even Alaska at the very end, the 187-day relay starts March 12, 2011, at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

We heard about the relay from SOHC4 forum member Jerry Griffin, who’s taken on the job of relay coordinator. From what Jerry’s told us, and from scouring through related posts on the SOHC4 forum, the relay is taking on a life of its own, with SOHC Honda owners across the U.S. and Canada signing on for relay legs.

The route meanders across the U.S. so as to hit every state in the Lower 48, starting in Florida and working west across the southern part of the country to California, then doubling back east across the country’s mid-section before heading up the East Coast, then back west again through the Great Lakes region, into the Upper Midwest, Canada, then the Pacific Northwest and, maybe finally, the western edge of Canada and up into Alaska.

Jerry says they hope to make it to Canada and points northwest by the end of the summer, with each leg of the relay ridden either by a member of the SOHC4 forum or a suitably insane “guest.” Instead of a baton, riders will hand off a Godzilla doll at the end/beginning of each leg, and riders will complete log books detailing their efforts. SOHC Honda owners who aren't already members should log on to the SOHC4 forum, sign up to become a member and get involved in what will surely be one of the great rides of the decade.

We’ve hoping to play a small role in the event, posting blog updates and photos of the rally’s progress as riders work their way across the U.S. We think this is about the coolest, wackiest ride we’ve heard of yet, and can’t wait to see how it all pulls together. We plan on posting our first blog update on March 13, the day after the first leg starts, with regular entries following. Heck, we might even have to give this ride its own blog page! Check back often, this is gonna be one hell of a great ride. – Richard Backus