New Limited Edition Vespa 946 Snake Launches

Having started a 12-year collection of scooters to celebrate the Lunar Calendar back in 2023, now the new limited edition Vespa 946 Snake launches for 2025. It follows the Rabbit and Dragon models, and just 888 numbered models will be produced.

Once again, the base model used is the 946, which gets an iridescent blue livery apparently inspired by icy landscapes and the ‘ethereal beauty of winter’. Which seems a bit of an odd choice for snakes, but a few species can exist in colder climates, and the paint does look quite cool (if you can forgive the pun).

New Limited Edition Vespa 946 Snake Launches
The Vespa 946 Snake fuel cap
The Vespa 946 Snake front mudguard

As with previous bikes, there’s also a range of clothing and accessories, including a helmet in iriidesent blue with a 3D chrome snake, a long puffer coat and a bomber jacket.

The Vespa 946 itself was first announced back in 2013, and is only used for the various limited or special editions produced each year since. It features a single cylinder four stroke, three valve, 125cc engine with electronic ignition putting out around 11.7hp. You also get an 8 litre fuel tank, dual channel ABS brakes, and a single hydraulic rear shock featuring five adjustable preload settings.

No price has been announced for the Snake model, but the 2024 Dragon cost £12,115 on the road. By comparison, a standard Vespa Sprint 125 S has a list price of £4,995, and the 125cc GTS scooters are between £5,665 and £5,915. And it’ll be particularly expensive if you plan on collecting the set of all 12.

Check out our other Vespa news and coverage, including previous special editions, here. And there’s always a huge range of modern and classic Vespas to browse on eBay if you have a hankering for a scooter. Including new and used Vespa 946 models starting from around £5,699.

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MotoGP And WSB Ducatis Go Up For Auction

Some iconic racing motorcycles will be open for bids at the Iconic Sale at the Silverstone Festival 2024 as MotoGP and WSB Ducatis go up for auction. It’s organised by Iconic Auctioneers, and takes place on Sunday 25th August, with viewing days from Firday 23rd at the Northamptonshire circuit.

The lots include everything from a 1929 AJS M7 349cc race bike with a guide price of £12,000 to £14,000 to a 2022 MV Agusta Supeveloce 800 Ago LE, signed by Giacomo Agostini and with just four push miles on the clock, for £35,000 to £40,000. But it’s dominated by various rare Ducatis, including two Superleggeras, two 996 SPS, a Panigale Anniversario, and three very special race bikes from the Italian manufacturer.

MotoGP And WSB Ducatis go up for auction at the Silverstone Festival 2024The 2007 Ducati Desmosedici GP7 799cc
The 2007 Ducati Desmosedici GP7 799cc

It has a guide price of £380,000 to £400,000, and has recently been rebuilt by Ducati specialist David Allenby. The 220bhp desmodromic V4 engine puts out more than 220bhp, and combined with a weight of just 148kg, it will happily top 190mph. It comes with the fitted 17″ rims, and the original 16.5″ wheels, the carbon fibre front discs for display purposes, and can be used and maintained without factory support if you really want to show off at a track day, or use it for parades and events.

The 2003 Ducati Desmosedici GP3 989cc

Another important year in Ducati MotoGP history was their return to top level racing in 2003, and this particular bike was used by Loris Capirossi during that season, with Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes, and over 220bhp from the 989cc engine. It also has a later Marelli ignition system with traction control, making it potentially a little easier to actually use.

The 2003 Ducati Desmosedici GP3 989cc
The 2003 Ducati Desmosedici GP3 989cc

The earlier Ducati MotoGP bike has a slightly lower guide price of £180,000 to £200,000, and is again in good running order.

In 2003 Capirossi and team-mate Troy Bayliss made an immediate impact on the series, finishing fourth and sixth overall in the championship, with Capirossi winning the Catalunya round, and the Italian manufacturer finishing second in the Constructors’ standings.

The 2018 Michael Ruben Rinaldi Ducati Panigale R WSBK

If you’re more of a World Superbikes fan, then you may be interested in this 2018 Ducati Panigale R, which was raced by Michael Ruben Rinaldi as the sole rider in the Aruba-it Racing Junior Team that season. The Italian rider competed in 16 races from the 26 on the season calendar, with multiple top ten finishes.

The 2018 Michael Ruben Rinaldi Ducati Panigale R WSBK
The 2018 Michael Ruben Rinaldi Ducati Panigale R WSBK

The Panigale V4 R is ready to use in original and restored condition, with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Paulo Ciabatti of Ducati Corsa. To comply with WSBK rules, the bike has a 998cc engine rather than the larger road version, and comes with a guide price of £100,000 to £140,000.

If you have the funds to consider picking up one of the trio of racing Ducatis, then you can bid in the room, by phone, online or via comission, and you can register to potentially buy a bike via the Iconic Aucioneers website.

As mentioned above, there are a variety of bikes and even scooters for sale, from a 2009 Piaggio Vespa GTS 300iE Super 278cc with a guide price of £500-£1000 to classic Hondas, and the Ducati race bikes featured above. Personally, if I had the money available, I’d be bidding on the 1988 Honda NSR250R SP MC18 that’s listed with a guide of £6,000 to £8,000.

Keep up with all our latest coverage new, classic and secondhand Ducati motorcycles, here. Along with everything related to motorcycle sport across all championships and series, here.

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The New Aluminium Pyramid BMW R1300GS Engine Guard

Worried about damaging your sump, engine casing or exhaust headers? You can now get some extra protection with the new aluminium Pyramid BMW R1300GS Engine Guard.

Designed for 2023 models onwards, it uses AW 5083 aluminium, which is apparently a specialist grade known for performing well in exteme environments, and having resistance to seawater and chemicals. Which sounds like it should do the job of protecting the bottom of your BMW engine pretty well, with matte black powder-coating and gloss silver inserts fitting in with the original design of your bike.

The Pyramid BMW R1300GS Engine Guard uses the same bolt holes as the original standard undertray supplied with the bike, and comes with everything you need to secure it.

It’s not cheap at £174.99, but that’s less expensive than new exhausts, or finding yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere after smashing the bottom of your bike on an off-road obstacle.

The New Aluminium Pyramid BMW R1300GS Engine Guard
The new aluminium Pyramid BMW R1300GS Engine Guard

If you’re worried about the front of your engine block, then you can also pair it with the £39.99 Pyramid Front Engine Cover, which also uses the existing mounting points and again uses the same Matte Black powder coasted aluminium.

Both parts are designed, developed and made in the UK, and you can find the Engine Guard on the Pyramid website here, and the Front Engine Cover, here. If you need the BMW R1300GS to go with the parts, you might find your next bike on eBay. And as always, you can find everything we’ve done that’s related to BMW motorcycles, here.

Other bikes which can use Pyramid engine guards include the BMW F900R and XR, the Honda MSX125 Grom, the Moto Gussy V100 Mandello, the Triumph Tiger 1200 GT and Rally, the Yamaha MT09, SP, Tracer 9 and GT, and the XSR900.

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Francesco Bagnaia Wins The Third Lenovo Race Of Champions

Taking a break from competing for his third MotoGP title, Ducati Lenovo rider Francesco Bagnaia wins the third Lenovo Race of Champions, held during World Ducati Week at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

A total of 15 Ducati riders took part, riding the new Ducati Panigale V4 S this year. They includes MotoGP riders Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Enea Bastianini, Franco Morbidelli, Jorge Martin, and Alex Martin, alongside World Superbike riders Andrea Iannone, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Alvaro Bautista, Danilo Petrucci and Nicolo Bulega, test rider Michele Pirro, and British Superbike rider Glenn Irwin.

Francesco Bagnaia Wins The Third Lenovo Race Of Champions

The 2024 Ducati Lenovo Race of Champions

Bagnaia also won the 2022 event, ahead of Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi. Due to the disruption of the global panedemic, the first Ducati race of champions was actually held in 2018, won by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro ahead of Tito Rabat and Xavi Fores.

It’s not often you get to see MotoGP, World Superbike and other riders compete on the same machinery, even if some might have a bit more knowledge of the Misano circuit that others. The bikes had track modifications include the fairing and racing bellypan, Brembo GP4-MotoGP brake calipers and Z04 pads, and a billet top triple clamp personalised with the rider’s name.

World Ducati Week 2024 also broke attendance records, with more than 94,000 people visiting the 12th annual event.

Keep up with all the latest Ducati bikes, customs, classics and more, here. Along with upcoming motorcycle events in the UK and around the world, here. In the past, the Race of Champions bikes have been auctioned after the event, but if you can’t quite afford that, check out the secondhand Panigale V4S examples currently being offered secondhand on eBay.

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New Pyramid Handguards For The Yamaha MT-09 and MT-09 SP

If you’ve ever been hit on the fingers by a stone or various other bits of debris launched at you by the wheels of a vehicle in front, then you’ll appreciate why the new Pyramid Handguards for the Yamaha MT09 and MT-09 SP might be worth the investment.

Produced in the UK, they’re made from tough and durable ABS plastic, designed to suit the angular styling of the SP, and look like they might have been fitted as original equipment. And along with lowering the chance of being injured by flying rubbish, you’ll also be shielded from the wind, rain and insects. Which can make a difference if you struggle when your hands get cold and wet.

New Pyramid Handguards For The Yamaha MT-09 and MT-09 SPPyramid website, along with the other add-ons designed for the Yamaha MT09, included an Extenda Fenda, a Spray Guard and a Tail Tidy.

Originally launched in 2013, find our previous coverage of the Yamaha MT-09 and any relevant products, here. And the Yamaha MT-09 SP followed later in 2018. So if you fancy any older version, you can find plenty of examples for sale on sites including eBay.

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