Here’s a look at the Moto Guzzi, or Millepercento bike design seen at the EICMA, although neither Moto Guzzi nor Millepercento itself has released much detail about these bikes. Millepercento was once a dealership and repair shop back in the 60’s and 70’s for Moto Guzzi bikes, but also Moto Morini, Benelli and MV Agusta. Owned by the Valli family, throughout the years it saw some tough times but also had the expertise of a dedicated few, including Bruno Scola in the 90’s, from Moto Guzzi’s racing department.

The Millepercento brand today was founded in 2005 by a young Stefano, eventually taking over the Scola name. He believed in Italian motorcycles and saw new innovation and products emerging from Moto Guzzi. The company now occupies itself in parts and accessories for Moto Guzzi and other brands, along with a racing department and trial equipment for the bikes, functioning as a kind of racing tuner for Guzzi bikes.

The bikes that have been used for racing include the Moto Guzzi MGS-01 and the BB1, seen in 2007 as the first Millepercento branded bike. This year at EICMA, Millepercento displayed its sports prototype Alba model, based on the Moto Guzzi twin-cylinder, four-valve, 1200 engine. Alongside it was the Millepercento Motard One, designed by Filippo Barbacane and equipped with the Big Bore 1420 cc engine.

It was the engine of the BB1, originally based on the Moto Guzzi Griso, and is housed in a trellis frame where the overall chassis and bike should not exceed 180 kg in weight. This Motard One will most likely be sold as a one-off piece, as an exercise in style and design (and not necessarily comfort!). Barbacane is becoming known almost as a guru in Moto Guzzi bikes, as he also produced the Diamante concept seen a while ago.

Continue reading: Millepercento bikes and design: Alba and Motard One from Barbacane Diamante fame

Here is the Ossa TR-i 280 prototype, which we first mentioned in October with news of the Ossa brand relaunch. The Spanish company was mostly active in the off-road and trial segments from the 1960’s to the 1980’s, and here is its TR280i trial model ready to roll off the production line before June next year.

The TR280i is a 280cc, two-stroke with electronic ignition, and a focus on weight distribution and correct engine cooling. The motor is compact, thanks to the monobloc carter, and the cooling unit is angled slightly backwards, using concepts from both enduro and trial models. Given this new placement and compactness, modifications to the motor can be achieved easily and economically. The fuel tank has a capacity of three litres and sits in front of the motor.

The radiator, however, is situated towards the back of the tank, and in front of the air box, which lowers the centre of gravity of the bike, but which also requires a fan cooling system as no air arrives from the front of the bike. For more details on the history of Ossa, and past models, see ossamoto.es. More official TR280i pics after the jump.

Continue reading: Ossa TR280i trial prototype

Spanish motorcycle brand Ossa is coming back, appearing at this year’s EICMA show with a niche range of trial motorcycles. Ossa originally made its name back in the 70’s with a range of enduro and trial bikes, and the occasional appearance in the road bike sector, too.

Ossa will present its first revolutionary prototype at EICMA, called the TR-i 280. We only have the name at this stage, and no pics, but they’ve certainly gained our attention and we’ll be interested to see what the bike is like.

The new Ossa prototype will also launch the brand back into the world of competition and should prove to be a highly innovative bike. We’ll be bringing you more details from EICMA.

Continue reading: EICMA Ossa relaunch with new prototype

The Honda U3-X looks just like the kind of contraption I could fall off without too much effort. It’s an intriguing concept however, half segway, half….electric motorcycle? The U3-X seems to work via the sitting weight transfer of the passenger, and can travel at 6 km/hr. It weighs 10 kilos and looks like other pedestrian vehicles for getting around town more quickly. The U3-X will be presented at the next Tokyo motor show. What I really want to know is whether it will do my abs and love handles, or should I just stick to walking…?

Continue reading: Honda U3-X video: future city transport

Anyone who loves Japanese Manga design is sure to appreciate these 3D computer graphics from Yutaka Igarashi

In 2008 Yutaka created two unique concept bikes: a cafè racer and an electric riderless racing bike. We’ve already showed you the robot bike and its simple but innovative design. In this further gallery you can also see other Yutaka Igarashi concepts.

The aim for the robot bike of beating a MotoGP lap time is always going to be a challenging task, but never say never! These prototypes have some impressive technical solutions, that while original now, might one day appear on our own road motorcycles.

Continue reading: Yutaka Igarashi concept bikes gallery

Two American engineering students have created a hydrogen bike prototype, comparing the efficiency of three different types of engines: an internal combustion engine, a fuel cell electric engine and the hydrogen engine.

Alex Bell and Andres Pacheco developed their project at the Swarthmore College, using a Buell Cyclone motorcycle with a modified chassis and rear suspension that would have been originally fitted to the twin cylinder engine.

The combustion cell is a Ballard, 1.2 Kw (1.6hp) and the electric engine was built in Italy by CFR in Modena. The hydrogen is stored chemically in two cylinders called Ergenics, and is released via a heating process.

Continue reading: Hydrogen prototype: a new look Buell

In these pics you can see the hybrid, three-wheel scooter presented by Peugeot at the Eicma show. Models such as these could become a new alternative in urban, ecological vehicles.

The main characteristic of this scooter is the all-wheel drive on three wheels. The thermal 125cc engine has Satelis Compressor and produces 15kw (20hp) from the rear wheel.

There are two 3kw electric engines situated near the front wheels, which are equipped with lithium ion batteries that are rechargeable in deceleration. The cooperation between the two engines is electronically controlled by the “By Wire” system.

Continue reading: Eicma 2008: Peugeot hybrid scooter prototype, Hymotion 3