Longest Motorcycle Ride by a team

On the 20th of May 1999, Chris and Erin Ratay from New York City in the US set off for a planned motorcycle journey of 15 months from Morocco in North Africa. It turned into a 4 year, 163,061 km (101,322 mile), 51 month journey over 6 continents. They returned home on the 6th of August 2003. On their journey around the world, they crossed 86 borders and covered 50 countries. Truly an impressive achievement. Personally I wouldn't mind doing a similar trip one day. It sounds like a very interesting way to see the world. Chris and Erin Ratay hold the Guinness World Record for the longest motorcycle ride by a team. I'm sure that someone could probably improve on this record one day. Maybe I'll look in the classifieds for a motorcycle and do my solo trip around the world on it, who knows.

Related Link:
Ultimate Journey - Chris & Erin Ratay's website

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

The 69th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally took place in Sturgis, South Dakota in the United States between the 3rd and 9th of August. The first rally was held on 14 August 1938, by the Jackpine Gypsies motorcycle club, who still operate who still own and operate the tracks, hillclimb, and field areas where the rally is centered. The Sturgis Rally has been held every year, with exceptions during the 2nd World War. In 1942, the event was not held because gasoline was rationed. The Sturgis Rally is not for the weak at heart or young children. Drinking in public and public nudity are an occasional problem for the Sturgis Police Department. Official figures may be released later in this week for this year's rally. In 2008 over 400,000 people attended the rally. It was down from the 2000 (60th) record rally attendance of +/- 633,000. Only 3 rally related deaths were reported in 2008. Over 500 tons of garbage was hauled in Sturgis for the duration of the rally in 2008. 437 offenders were jailed for criminal offenses during the duration of the rally in 2008. 188 parking tickets were issued in 2008 as well. Sounds like a very rough place but I'm sure that there are bikers in the United States that look for "hogs" or bikes in the classifieds in order to make it to the rally. I must admit that just be too much people in one place for me.

Related Link
Sturgis Rally - Official Website

World's Most Expensive Motorcycle

The Ecosse Moto Works Limited Edition Titanium is the world's most expensive motorcycle. This bike is handmade of titanium with a clear coated carbon fiber bodywork and hand painted. The bike is equipped with a fuel injected, supercharged and intercooled 2,150cc billet motor capable of generating 200 hp. Production has been limited to 10 units. This price for this motorcycle is a whopping wallet-crunching $275,000. This bike is sold with a free watch. The Ecosse Moto Works’ Limited Edition Titanium has an adjustable riding position and also comes with a gel seat. This bike is the brainchild of Donald Atchison from Colorado in the United States. This bike is way out of my price range. Guess I'll have to look around in the classifieds for a 2nd hand bike instead. In my opinion the Ecosse Moto Works Limited Edition Titanium is way too expensive, although it's a very nice bike to look at.

Related Link
Ecosse Moto Works website.

Motorcycles in the Movies: Ducati 996

Some of you might wonder which motorcycle Trinity was riding the 2003 movie, The Matrix: Reloaded in the infamous highway chase scene. I was doing some research the other day and I found out that this was the Ducati 996, an Italian manufactured motorcycle. The Ducati 996 was the successor to the Ducati 916. It was produced by Ducati between 1999 and 2002. 3 different models of the motorcycle were released in this period. The bike has a top speed of 259 km/h (161 mph). The bike is just over 2 metres (75 inches) long and weighs 198 kg (437 lbs). It might not be as fast as some of the other motorcycles in the market, but it's still fast. Ducati is a well-established company and one can find their motorcycles in classifieds publications around the world. Just a warning, superbikes / fast motorcycles are not for the faint at heart or first time motorcyclists.

Related Link:
Ducati - Official Website