Hypermotard owners rejoice!

Look what we just got in: The Ca-Cycleworks extended capacity fuel tank for the Hypermotard 1100! Now, you can except a range of 200 + miles per tank! Not only does this 6.4 gallon tank make the bike more of a real world machine, but it adds the option to tour. Good stuff!

Check out this link for more info.

Shell oils and fuels and your Ducati

Ever wonder how your Desmodromic engine stays lubricated?

MotoGP: FINAL ROUND OF 2009 THIS WEEKEND

The all-caps title means I'm screaming. I'm screaming about the Valencia, Spain round of MotoGP because I'm excited! Not only is Ducati's Casey Stoner already the pacesetter in the opening practice rounds, but Texan Ben Spies is going to be riding as wildcard this race before he leaves WSBK to join MotoGP next year!

If you haven't watched any MotoGP this year, there's no better race than the final round in Spain to start and get hooked!

Ed Hardy + Ducati + stunters = OMG

OMG is what the kids are saying these days, and since the kids seem to still love Christian Audigier and his popularized revival of the Ed Hardy name, I figure this post can be tagged: For the kids.

Kids who stunt, that is.

2WheelTuner takes the Ed Hardy Ducati Monster out on the PCH for a day of riding.

Got the need for speed? In your stomach?

File this under WTF and AWESOME! The custom black Ducati Streetfighter with the Ohlins fork you see in the above picture is actually... Cake.

Seriously.

The functional (horns, ignition start, lights, etc) cake was made by the Food Network ace of cakes Duff Goldman for GoDaddy.com CEO and lady lover Bob Parsons.

Click here for more pictures and info!

MotoGP: Stoner owns the weekend

If you haven't seen this weekend's MotoGP race, you owe it to yourself to try and watch it! Not only did Malboro Ducati's Casey Stoner comeback from his sickness and win it all, he did it in style! I don't think I've seen a race this year where someone was sliding the bike through the corners like that and still turned in hot times lap after lap! Exciting racing for sure!

You can catch the highlights and if you're a member, the full race on MotoGP.com

Official highlights are also available on MotoGPs YouTube channel.

Action highlights

Stoner Interview after race.

Carl Cox interview at the race (for you house heads!)

Ducati Hypermotard 796 press wrap-up

Apparently, Ducati had a press invite to the early unveiling of the now-not-a-surprise, Hypermotard 796. A direct quote from motorycle-usa.com's Adam Waheed:

“Before riding the bike today, I presumed that this bike would be

nothing more than an entry-level Ducati machine more adept at

posing in the parking lot than ripping around the streets…how wrong

I was.”

Ducati's email in regards to that quote says there is more info to follow on Motorcycle-usa.com's website, but nothing has shown up as of yet. As soon as it does, i'll post it up!

WSBK: Watch the next round of Superbike.. from you desk!

This could be listed under BIG.

Ducati Xerox is teaming up with Ducati.com to bring live streaming of the Imola Superbike weekend to your computer! From the Xerox Ducati Garage!!!

Check out the link for the deets!

Nitro Nori FTW!

Ducati Hypermotard 796

So, on Ducati's Facebook page, they decided to reveal news about the new Hypermotard 796, AHEAD of the EICMA show! It looks to be a lighter, shorter Hypermotard with hopefully a lighter price-point.

The machine comes on new wheels and a black front beak in comparison to the Hypermotard 1100. Check out the link for more info straight from Ducati's website!

EDIT: I don't think we were supposed to jump the gun and let out the price point yet, as the emails from Ducati said it was confidential, but Ducati Seattle just posted it up on their facebook page, so I'm treating it as fair game! Price for the Hypermotard 796? $9995.

Pretty nice eh? The Hyper is definitely my favorite Ducati and I may have to reconsider my vow to never own one because I'd "kill myself and die smiling" on it... Hmmm.

Ducati + Ferrari Meet

It's happening again folks: The Ducati + Ferrari meet is going down via MADOG on Sunday, September 27th. I don't have too many details at the moment, but 7th and Mass St. is the location and more info is available from the MADOG site.

Moto2: The new-new.

This really isn't Ducati or KTM or MV Agusta-related, but if you're a fan of road-racing you may be interested in this..

FIM, the governing body of MotoGP is replacing the 250cc class with an all-new approach called Moto2. The bikes are all Dunlop-equipped, Honda-engined 600cc 150HP machines which should prove to make for exciting racing. With teams on the same tires and engines, it could really be NASCAR on two wheels... But with right-hand turns!

Keep your eyes peeled for Moto2 in 2010!

MotoGP: Indianapolis on Deck!

The 12th stage of the premier international motorcycle racing theatre known as MotoGP is happening this weekend at Indianapolis for it's second time in as many years. Nicky Hayden, home-favorite, former world-champion and Ducati pilot will be wearing a special one-off Make-A-Wish Foundation helmet which will be auctioned off afterwards to benefit.. Well, Make-A-Wish.

Let's hope he doesn't use the helmet before they auction it off!

Mika Kallio, Hayden's temporary team-mate will be at Indy in his first U.S. race with Casey Stoner still recuperating in the wings. Ducati says that they believe Stoner's recovery will have him back in the saddle by the time the Estoril stage arrives.

Personally, I kinda enjoy having the untested Kallio on the field as it brings a level of excitement and mystery (not to mention anxiousness!).

Make sure you wear your Ducati GP Red this weekend, and if you're like us and can't make it to the MotoGP extravaganza, you can buy your Ducati shirts here at Letko and support from home :)

Ducati Cayenne?

Apparently, the new Ducati Multistrada replacement for 2010 has changed names. It's unofficial title was previously the Strada Aperta, but now it is the...

Wait for it!

Ducati Cayenne!

Yeah, I'm not too hot on that one either. (Pun intended) Porsche already has an ugly soft-roader of the same name, and now, so does Ducati. Allegedly.

The offical info release of the Triumph Tiger-esque BMW GS-like do-it-all bike has yet to be released by Bologna Panigale, but there are plenty of spy shots and concept renderings available if you're into Google Images. The only information that seems to be confirmed by those in the know is that the bike will be seeing the 1098 superbike engine instead of the previously rumored 1200 dual spark motor.

155 horsepower in a psuedo dual-sport? Yeah, that is hot!

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo... For Ducati?

It's arguable that Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo is the best of the next-gen riders in the premier class of motorcycle road racing. In fact, if not for the best of the current-gen riders still winning races (Valentino, obviously) Lorenzo would currently be first in the points standings.

Apparently, Malboro and Phillip Morris have noticed this as well and have made Lorenzo a 13 Million pound bumper deal to join the Ducati team if Stoner doesn't regain his fitness. The two-year deal was optioned out this week during the testing in Brno. The 22-year old Spaniard apparently acknowledged the Ducati option, but did not say whether or not he was seriously considering it, despite his issues with Yamaha.

You can read more here.

Wanting a race 848? Look no further than to Larry Pegram Racing!

While tooling around on the Formost Ducati rider Larry Pegram's site this morning, I found some toys that might interest you wannabe racers out there. He has two 848s with race engines in them ready for the track! Features include:

• Race bodywork
• Vortex Sprockets and gas cap
• Sato rearsets
• Ohlins ttx shock
• revalved Ohlins forks
• Adjustable ride height
• Quick-remove cases
• Titanium rods and valves
• High compression Wiseco pistons
• Slipper clutch
• Ported heads
• Lightened flywheel
• close-ratio transmission
• race-kit camshafts

All for $25K. If you want more info (You know you do!), check out Pegram Racing!

Letko Track Day well represented

Yesterday at Heartland Park Topeka, The Letko Crew participated in a special track day. Besides someone whom I won't mention dropping our 848 demo during a corner braking miscalculation, it went pretty smooth. Everyone had plenty of chances to ride and we even let folks ride our demos on the course during the lunch break.

There were a good number of Suzukis, Yamahas, even a few KTMs (!!) but we were all very surprised about the number of Ducatis that showed up to ride the course; we hear a lot of our customers present and future talk about not wanting to damage their bikes by taking it out on the track, but after a number of laps, you realize that the track is what Ducati built bikes for. And because there is no traffic, unknown road conditions, etc. you're more likely to wad up your bike on the street anyway.

I was out on the track quite a bit and didn't get very many pictures, but you can view the ones I did take here.

New Blog, new way to keep you informed!

We've been wanting to do this for a while... Figured it be a good way to keep those who care abreast of what's going on at Letko, especially if those individuals aren't privvy to Facebook or Twitter.

This is the first post; it's kind of a test of sorts. Expect more. Lots more!

-Keith