The VUN Evolution Roadstar

The VUN Evolution Roadster is a special that was originally built for a CR&S customer in Germany. Many of the upgraded components are sourced from the racing VUN PPP Evoluziòn (PPP stands for Pronta Per la Pista or track ready).

The PPP Evoluziòn-sourced parts include:

• BST Carbon Fibre wheels,
  
• QD race exhaust system fitted with street muffler,
• Pierobon light alloy “banana” swingarm,
• Large single radiator,
• Race rear shock absorber.
  

The Pierobon swingarm is more rigid than the standard swingarm despite weighing 0.7 KG less. It is necessary to fit this swingarm to allow routing of the extended exhaust system. These are all CR&S-sourced options which are available for any road going VUN.

The front fairing, headlight, tail section and tail light were specially modified by CR&S. Instead of the round café racer style headlight, this bike has been fitted with a small projector lens. The distinctive round taillight has also been replaced by a minimalist LED system.

A chrome-plated frame, special paintwork (naturally), Rizoma indicators and other details complete the picture at a final cost of €26,000.

A second version of the VUN Evolution Roadster was built by CR&S for the Milan International Motorcycle Show (EICMA) in 2008.

Ohh all right just one more photo, in the interests of good taste... I know, you want to see that chrome plated frame from a different angle.

The DUU, a Sneak Peek

It is getting closer to the official launch of the CR&S DUU. Any new motorcycle from CR&S is going to be of interest to VUN owners so this blog will be focusing a little bit on the DUU motorcycle for a while.

Today I received some computer renderings of the DUU that you will not have seen before...

Evident in these images are the beautiful, in house designed and built, wheels and the unique CNC milled alloy mounting plates. The exaggerated large diameter through holes are another unique design feature.

EICMA is Coming

The Milan International Motorcycle show (EICMA) kicks off in just over one month. This is going to be a big event for CR&S. November 10, 2009 at EICMA is the time and place where CR&S unveil their new DUU motorcycle to the public.

The show runs from Tuesday November 10th until Sunday November 15th. However the first two days are for press and trade visitors only.

If you have never seen a VUN in the flesh, then EICMA will be a great place to do it. CR&S will have some beautiful examples on display. Roberto Crepaldi and other expert CR&S staff and dealers will be on hand to answer any question.

Everybody is welcome :-)

I don't have much inside information but I'm fairly sure that there will be a few new things to see for VUN owners. In any case CR&S like to put on a nice show...

Let's hope it's not too cold at this year's show.

EICMA is one huge show, one of the biggest and most important motorcycle shows in the world. For Italian motorcycle manufactures it is definitely the most important show. There will be stands from every manufacturer, for example, Ducati are expected to unveil 10 new bikes for their 2010 lineup. There will be trade stands, prototypes, parts suppliers, specialists, live shows. Like is said, it is huge.

Getting There

The address is:
FIERA MILANO
SS. 33 del Sempione 28
20017 Rho (MI)

The Fiera Milano is not actually in Milan but in the satellite town of Rho, north-west of Milano.


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The EICMA 2009 website offers plenty of instructions on how to get there. It is nestled between two major highways and the Milano Tangenziale (ring road). It is also right next to a main rail line and the last stop of the Milan underground (red line).

There are nearby hotels where you can stay, but if you are traveling to Italy then you really want to stay in central Milan for the full experience. Just be aware that last time I went (in 2007) the police closed central Milan to all car traffic on Sunday (the last day of EICMA). It was only due to the discretion of a rather attractive young police woman that we were able to leave the city that day. They do this kind of thing from time to time and I have no idea when or how you can find out about it.

The best way to get to the showgrounds, from Milan, is probably by Metro (underground). Take the red line, direction RHO Fieramilano and get off at the last stop. This deposits you just outside the east gate of the exhibition grounds.

I probably won't be taking my bike since that would mean an alpine crossing above the snow line but if you are up to some winter riding then parking at the grounds is free for motorcycles.

Getting Around

The Fiera Milano is a huge place, 24 large halls in total. EICMA only occupies six of the large halls (pavilions 2, 4, 6, 10, 14 & 18). Get a map of the exhibition grounds. Last time we spent the whole day there and nearly missed seeing one of the large pavilions, the one exhibiting the Vyrus. It would have sucked to miss that.

Last time we made the mistake of going on Saturday. Despite the size of the place it was extremely crowded and it got worse as the day wore on. I would try going on a week day during working hours. By the way on the Friday entry is free for women (positive discrimination).

Bezzi Imagines the Vòtt

Another fanciful CR&S design penned by Italian motorcycle designer Oberdan Bezzi.

This time it is the "Vòtt", meaning "eight" in Milanese dialect. As you can probably guess, the engine in this concept is a V8. The Vòtt steps in the opposite direction to the simple, single-cylinder VUN. Nevertheless it is a beautiful rendering worth adding to the catalogue of dreams.

The VUN Homepage

I discovered a neat website last night: the VUN Homepage (www.vun.it). This is an interactive Flash web page which, I'm guessing, was developed for CR&S soon after the VUN went into production. It is available in four languages: Italian, Milanese, Spanish, French and English.

Web pages like this one are time consuming (and expensive) to maintain. It looks like the last updates to this site were in 2007, nevertheless this is a fun and informative site to play with.

As you move your mouse around, detailed images and information appear about the area you are pointing at. There is a neat Configurator section that lets you customize the VUN interactively and view the results. There are also hundreds of excellent photos and a detailed history of the formation of CR&S and the VUN motorcycle.

An early (2003) VUN prototype from the VUN homepage.

This site offers an excellent insight into the VUN and the philosophy and concepts that inspired and influenced its creation.

Bezzi's DUU Vision

Back in June, 2006 Italian motorcycle designer, Oberdan Bezzi, penned this vision for a CR&S DUU (two).

Click to enlarge

The concept uses a lightweight 650 twin cylinder engine, titanium tubular frame, and (as you would expect) top quality suspension, brakes and wheels etc, for a target weight of about 130 KG. Nice!

For more beautiful two-wheeled concepts check out Bezzi's Motosketches Blog.

To see the 'real' DUU concept from CR&S click here. The 'real' CR&S DUU will be unveiled to the public at the Milan International Motorcycle show (EICMA) in November.

VUN Ace Café

Urban Motor Gmbh, IWAN-Bikes Gmbh, and CR&S, have colaborated to produce a special edition "Ace Café" VUN for the 2009 Ace Café Reunion in London in September.

I promised to bring you photos of this beautiful new VUN and here they are...

The base color is white with black & white race checkers. This is a style feature of both the Ace Café and CR&S. Ace Café logos, LSL clip ons and bar-end mirrors complete the picture for a lovely interpretation of a modern café racer.

The Ace Café VUN lines up well in front of the Rockers concert stage. This special VUN was a popular attraction among bikers at the Ace Café Reunion meeting.

Photos and information provided by Peter Dannenberg of Urban Motor Gmbh.

Pubblicitá Due - Publicity #2

The last video I posted was nice but I like this one even better (in English & Italian with English Subtitles).

Pubblicitá - Publicity

Here is a nice VUN video I found on YouTube that I hadn't seen before (in Italian)...