doing about 235km/h past a speed camera
hidden away at the southern end of the Takapau
Plains. I can do without that... although if I could
afford to get a 1409 then of course I’d also be
able to afford to hire Manfeild for an afternoon
so such an errant thing could be avoided.
The 1409, when a special titanium exhaust
system is attached, puts out 226 horsepower.
That is serious power... and is 14 ponies more
than the track-kitted MV F4RC puts out.
Put it this way. I would really like one, but the only
way I’ll ever see one in the garage is if six numbers
happen to pop up one Saturday night. However,
I just get the feeling that that’s another thing I’ll
never get... so the list has climbed to four now.
While I was drooling upon the specs for the
1409 I also came across the word “electric” in
the overall article about this Italian marque.
Like BMW, KTM, the Japanese crews and
(yep) Harley-Davidson, there are plans afoot
to introduce an electric motorcycle, as well
as scooters, into the line-up by 2020. Oh, and
Triumph is also apparently planning to unveil a
sub-400cc electric motorcycle at some stage.
The electric thing is growing, no doubt about that
given there are electric fuel-up “bowsers” spread
around the country already as more petrol-less cars
and hybrids emerge. I guess it’s all about hedging
the bets in terms of what the future may deliver. As
far as I’m concerned if it keeps delivering oil we can
make into petrol (and racing fuel) then all is not lost.
Because the idea of something like that amorous
and delectable Panigale V4 1409 one day having
the four barrels removed in favour of some battery
space and generators and lots of cables and plugs
and things is not a happy thought. Oh it would
look just dandy but would sound just insipid.
But hey, Ducati and MV are like Ferrari
and Maserati... it is all about handsome
style and power and... the sound.
So they’ll join the electric landscape of course,
but only in terms, I’m sure, of scooters and
small runabouts. I am confident and sure their
rockets will remain equipped with fuel tanks
and ‘datsa’ good, because if they ever slotted
electric propulsion into such devices then it
would become something I will never get.
Crikey, the list has gone to five now.
Motorcycles
for sale
Workshop
& Parts
Gear &
Accessories
Botany Honda MOTORCYCLES
9 Trugood Dr, East Tamaki, Auckland
(09) 274 2727 // botanyhonda.co.nz
KIWI RIDER 61