Motorcycles of Charlotte (August 31, 2012)

 Rode out to Motorcycles of Charlotte, which is located at Exit 1, off of I-77 near the NC/SC State Line. One of the nicest dealerships I have ever set foot in (and I have set foot in a few), and they sell a number of brands. One of those is Ducati, and this is the Ducati Diavel (which means Devil in Italian) seen at left. It is the Ducati version of a cruiser, though with that 1198cc, 162 hp engine, it will leave about any other cruiser out there in the dust. The dealership had the full line of bikes; including the new 1199, the Multistrada line, and of course a full line of Ducati Monsters.

At left is the Triumph Thunderbird, which is their take on a cruiser. Nice to see something (as with the Ducati) that is not the traditional V-twin (though the Ducati is a v-twin, its hardly traditional). Triumph is one of the oldest manufacturers out there, based in England, and they have a big line of bikes including the famous Speed Triples, the huge Rocket III (with the biggest production motor out there from a major manufacturer), and some old school classic bikes such as the Bonneville and the Triumph America. The company has really been taking off the last few years, and has some remarkable rides.  

 Speaking of taking off, BMW started off making aircraft engines, but is another old motorcycle manufacturer. Their bikes have changed a lot over the last few years. Known for Boxer twins (which are according to rumor going from air to water cooling in 2013) they now have a number of in-line fours (including the class leading S1000 sportbike) some of the best adventure bikes out there, and some remarkable touring bike. As touring bikes go, this might be the best of the best -the BMW K1600. Not only is is 1600cc, but it also in an in-line six. If you want to go across country this might be the best way to get there on two wheels (though the Honda Gold Wing is no slouch either). BMW is another old manufacturer, based in Germany, and their engineering is second to none. If you like a bike with "Bells and Whistles" , and on the cutting edge of technology, this is the brand you are looking for. They are also said to be among the most durable of motorcycles, known for very long life and reliability.

Finally, this is an MV Agusta. It is another in the long line of Italian racing bikes, with a long racing history. Harley-Davidson purchased this brand a few years ago, and then sold it back to the original owners. This is an older model (the legendary F4) but they also sell the newer models from the company. You need some big pockets to buy these bikes, but you will have something that will outperform virtually anything on the road on two wheels or four.
Had a great visit there, saw a number of bikes that are rare on the roads, plus the shop has a really nice lounge and was a fun place to visit. I shall return in the future to check it out again.