It’s only when you delve into history like this that you realise what a shame it is that a company like Moto Morini is closing. This photo of the Morini Deltabox (which looks like it’s scanned from a magazine, but we can’t be sure) from Motoblog.it, shows the V-Twin engine which was designed by Italy’s famous motorcycle engineer, Franco Lambertini.

While other Italian motorcycle companies are also credited with the innovation and use of the V-Twin engine, it is generally considered that Lambertini is the father of the design. During his career, he worked at Moto Morini, and when the company was under Cagiva ownership it is said the new owners actually put aside his original drawing for a v-twin.

Lambertini then moved on to Piaggio Group for a while, before going back to Morini and working on projects for Benelli and other development of new Morini models. Curiously, Lambertini has a background in automobiles and first worked for Ferrari which makes quite a list of Italian industrial design in general. See more on Lambertini in an interview with the Morini Club.

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We had to share this lovely pic of a Triumph Street Triple R parked at the top of the Furka Pass in Switzerland after a motorcycle tour through the area. The pass has an elevation of 2,436 metres and is part of a three-pass trip that travellers often take. Apparently a steam train runs the pass and it was also used as a location in the James Bond film Goldfinger, but otherwise seeing this photo, we think it’s a great place for a spot of summer motorcycling.

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

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What do you say to a tour of Italy’s lakes by motorcycle? For the lucky Italians, they can actually do that every weekend if they want. These pics from Sergio show two Ducati Multistrada bikes touring, taking in a stop by the lake. Not that we’re envious or anything as we sit in the office on a Thursday.

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

Ducati Multistrada lake pics

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We’ve seen motorcyle sculptures made with ice, sand or anything that can be molded into shape, but this has to be a first, Valentino Rossi’s Ducati made with artichokes.

These photos were taken by Salvatore during the 61st Romanesco Artichoke Festival held at Ladispoli and evidently the Rossi-Ducati pairing captures Italian imaginations far beyond racing fans, despite his so far under performance on the red machine.

Source | motoblog.it

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We love it when the Italians get all patriotic about their motorcycles and let’s face it, there’s a lot to be patriotic about. In this photo from our guys at Motoblog.it, we see the 2011 MMW or Moto Morini Weekend. It featured 30 motorcycles, including 17 Morini’s of the Granpasso, Corsaro, 9 e mezzo (9 and-a-half) and Scrambler varieties. Days like these will unfortunately become vintage meets if nothing can be done for the future of the Moto Morini brand.

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We’re not sure of the Dukes of Hazzard would have chosen a KTM as their bike of choice, but here is the two-wheeled version of the 1969 Dodge Charger: the KTM 640 General Lee. It’s not a bad take on the livery, as seen here, although it’s weird to think that this bike is cruising around Italy - the pics come from our guys on Motoblog.it.

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

KTM 640 SM General Lee Dukes of Hazzard bike

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There is debate about to the exact year of these vintage Beta motorcycles, but we understand them to be Beta 74 and Beta 75 models from about 1979. If someone can help us out with that in the comments, we’d be happy to clear it up! The pics come from the guys at Motopiù (and Motoblog.it) who have a dealership in Italy specialising in Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Beta and Garelli bikes, especially their offroad models.

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

Continue reading: Vintage Beta pics

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There is some beautiful countryside to be seen around the parts of Slovenia and Croatia, with hilly landscapes finally giving way in Croatia to beautiful seaside views. These guys went for a motorcycle tour from Italy through Slovenia to Croatia, with 22 km of soft, offroad riding. The bikes in the picture are a BMW F800 GS, a Ducati Multistrada 1200 and a 1995 Aprilia Pegaso.

Send your personal funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

Motorcycle tour Croatia and Slovenia

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This motorcycle pic comes from the guys at Motoblog.it and shows a Ducati Multistrada 1100 parked beside hay fields in Germany on a summer European motorcycle tour. With spring already here and some great weather coming with it, bike fans are dusting off their beloved ones and polishing them up for some summer riding. Welcome back summer!

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

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Anton Malyshev aka Korncholio is a Russian photographer who sent us this magnificent photo, telling us about the Russian Ice Racing motorcycle championship final that took place on the 8th and 9th of January at Ufa, where 30 riders battled it, with a high prize at stake, to qualify and compete in the 2011 World title championship.

If you don’t follow ice racing Nikolai Krasnikov is the Valentino Rossi of the speciality, last year he won his sixth straight world title in FIM Ice Racing World championship.

During the two day competition, each heat was competed by four riders and only 4 laps chose the winner in less than a minute. The main struggle for podium was between Nikolai Krasnikov (Ufa) and Dmitri Homitsevich (Togliatti). By the end of second day Dimitri got ahead of Nikolai, but even a second place let Krasnikov get his qualification to the World Ice Racing Championship.

Next stage of FIM Ice Racing championship will be held February 5th and 6th at Krasnogorsk near Moscow.

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