The 2020 Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance is on, running September 23 through 26. The event is held on the grounds of Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site about 65 miles northwest of London. Presented by AXA, the Salon Privé appeals to motoring enthusiasts of the two- and four-wheel persuasions, motorcycle take center stage on the first and second days.Salon Privé is a competitive endeavor, with three classes—Exceptional Motorcycles, Exceptional Competition Motorcycles, and Ducati Icons. Let’s take a look at some of the tastiest morsels that will be on show at the 15th running of Salon Privé. The class winners and runners-up are decided by a jury (including motorcycle TV personality Henry Cole), with Most Spectacular Motorcycle award chosen by the Duke of Marlborough.Eisenberg Racing V8
Eisenberg Racing V8. For the motorcyclist who believes too much is never enough, the Eisenberg Racing V8 uses a purpose-built 3.0-liter motor that revs to 11,000 rpm and puts out 480 horsepower. Top speed is claimed to be 250 mph.
1974 Ducati 750 SS Green Frame. Only 401 examples of this hand-built Ducati were built, with Fabio Taglioni supervising the process, and it will appear at Salon Privé. It is supplemented by the ’75 900 SS and ’76 750 SS models. According to a Salon Privé spokesman, the three motorcycles are “a full set of iconic round- and square-case Ducati V-twin motorcycles. It will be the first time three examples of this kind have been exhibited together in the UK.”
1948 Norton 500 Jack Moore Prototype. Thought lost until 2014, one of the two Jack Moore prototype Norton motors was discovered an auctioned off. Subsequently, the other prototype powerplant was found and fell into the hands of the same owner. It took until 2018 for enough parts to be collected for the restoration to being. Now, after falling fallow for 72 years, the 1948 Norton 500 Jack Moore prototype is back in action and at the Salon Privé.
1971 Ducati 450 Desmo Desert Racer. Built by Jeff Cole in California, this C&J-framed Ducati 450 single was a street rod in the 1970s. Eventually wrecked, it was saved from the junkyard in 2017. Period accessories and cleaned up original parts were used in the rebuild.
Langen Motorcycles Debut. Langen Motorcycle is offering something truly different—a café racer with a 90-degree V-twin displacing 250cc. Oh, and did we mention that it is a fuel-injected two-stroke with a counter-rotating crankshaft? Also, it puts out 80 horsepower at 11,800 rpm. That wild powerplant sits in a handmade aluminum frame, with carbon-fiber bodywork. The claimed weight of the motorcycle is 247 pounds. Langen says it will be making just 250 examples.
Additionally, MV Agusta will the at Salon Privé to celebrate the marque’s 75th anniversary, with loads of 2020 models on display. British boutique motorcycle manufacturers CCM Motorcycles will also be showing its highly unique machines.As is the custom in 2020, Salon Privé will have a wide variety of safety protocols, so the event meets the government’s COVID-19 Secure guidelines.
Associate Editor Teejay Adams recently attended the Yamaha Champions Riding School in Las Vegas, and she took with her the Yamaha XSR900 that she’s been riding for a while. This is the retro-style version of the MT-09, and Teejay gives us her impressions of the bike, including her thoughts versus the XSR700 that she rode previously.
The guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.
In our second segment, Teejay chats with Cait Maher, a contributing journalist at motorcycle.com and owner of a Yamaha TW200. The two ladies met at the recent launch of Kawasaki’s dual sport KLX230s. Teejay is a total novice off-road. Cait however, although quite experienced in the dirt including her recent venture on the District 37 Barstow to Las Vegas dual-sport ride, still doesn’t consider herself an expert. Both of these girls have a positive, upbeat attitude, and their fun, energetic outlook shines through. Cait is definitely a give-it-a-go type of personality. Her take on the various challenges, experiences and adventures that she’s had make for fun listening.
