Derbi Mulhacen First Ride Report
January 5th, 2007 5:00 AM
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If you've ever seen a flat-track race live -- and we here at MO highly recommend it -- then you know how exciting it can be to watch these tiny, lightweight and powerful little bikes sliding almost sideways into every corner, sometimes hitting triple-digit speeds on the straights. Some of the greatest names in motorcycle racing, like Nicky Hayden, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Gary Nixon and others started in this gritty, dangerous and fast-paced sport.
So why isn't there a mass-produced, road-legal flat-track replica? Honda will tell you they tried it -- twice -- with their Ascot-named FT500 and VT500 bikes, to mediocre success. If you want a flat-tracker for the street, you have to roll your own.
Unless you live near a Derbi dealer. This Piaggio-owned Spanish factory is known for making fun, lightweight scooters and small motorcycles, and they caused quite a splash when they showed their flat track-styled Mulhacen at the Munich show in 2005. European correspondent and roustabout Yossef Schvetz had a chance to ride a production version recently, and here's what he had to say.
Would you buy one if you could? Piaggio could sell them here if they wanted to; should they want to? Let them know in our reader feedback!
Get Motorcycle.com in your InboxSo why isn't there a mass-produced, road-legal flat-track replica? Honda will tell you they tried it -- twice -- with their Ascot-named FT500 and VT500 bikes, to mediocre success. If you want a flat-tracker for the street, you have to roll your own.
Unless you live near a Derbi dealer. This Piaggio-owned Spanish factory is known for making fun, lightweight scooters and small motorcycles, and they caused quite a splash when they showed their flat track-styled Mulhacen at the Munich show in 2005. European correspondent and roustabout Yossef Schvetz had a chance to ride a production version recently, and here's what he had to say.
Would you buy one if you could? Piaggio could sell them here if they wanted to; should they want to? Let them know in our reader feedback!
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