The top snap is a small detail embroidered into the seat of the MV Agusta F4 that was used in the new Transformers flick. The bike is a wild silver and purple job with some sort of character stenciled across it – apparently the character is robot for something. This autobot logo is on the seat back pad.

The second photo is of the small plaque on a lovely 749R that we just added to our pre-owned bikes. Bike magazine (UK) just had an article about the 749R – a fantastic, beautifully made and uncommon bike that looks Italian and is aging very, very well.

The last image – well, y’all will have to stop by the booth at Laguna to see where that one came from – and please do – we’ll be looking for you.

We’ve just uploaded some beautiful Sato Racing rearsets to our online offerings. We also have the Sato Racing brake lever if you need one as well as some Ducati Performance anodized steering nuts in either red or gold.

The steering nuts fit a great deal of Ducatis, but not, apparently, Supersports or Hypermotards. A full list can be found at Ducati.com.

The rearsets fit 1198 and 1098 and 848 Superbikes. Unlike most Sato ‘sets, these do not have any bike designation engraved into ‘em. If you can call these tasty things “plain” then, in at least that aspect, they are plain. Maybe multi-fit is a more accurate, but less poetic, term. If you are in the market for some pegs for your Superbike we also have some high-zoot DP aluminum footpegs and some DP rearsets (at a sale price). Sometimes the Parts Department will have a few other items – maybe only a stock of 1 or so – on hand so it might be worth a minute to call them to make sure you have all options available before laying down some green.

Basem Wasef sez: “If you’re not an aspiring MotoGP star, but still want a motorcycle with serious bite, Ducati’s new Streetfighter aims to scratch that itch for power without leaving you with sore wrists and a hefty chiropractic bill.” The whole review (which we learned about via Hell For Leather)

We’re giving away a cool helmet to the winner of our season long MotoGP contest. There are still plenty of races left to enter, win, and qualify for the final round.

How to play:
Predict a winner for the upcoming MotoGP round.

Send your pick to proitalia.contest@gmail.com, along with your name by 3 PM the day before the race – in this case the race is held on Saturday so the contest deadline is Friday at 3 PM (our time). One guess per person.

Those who picks 5 correct race winners over the course of the season can enter in the final race contest – choosing the entire finishing order of the final 2009 race. Winner of the final contest round wins the helmet of their choice (subject to availability ‘natch).

Enter! There are a total of 10 races left of which you only have to pick 5 correct winners in order to qualify for the end of the season race/grand prize helmet giveaway contest. So even if you are learning about this contest for the first time, there is plenty of time left to qualify.

Service Manager Arvin is offering two specials on service that are in effect until we close for the Independence day weekend (we close Friday the 3rd at 2PM).

Service offer 1: Tires (front and rear) mounted and balanced for $99 (out the door) – this is close to 50% off normal cost. Buy some tires from us or bring your own.

Service offer 2: Oil change, chain serviced, safety check – $99 (out the door), we’ll change your oil, service your chain, check for air in the clutch and brake lines and check the status of your brake pads. $99 flat.

To get you on the road to Laguna, or to parts unknown, we’ll have two technicians working this Sunday and Monday (28th and 29th 10-4PM) to perform our service specials and other basic maintenance and upkeep in order to get you on the road to Laguna or parts unknown over the holiday weekend. Call Arvin at 818 249-5707 to make a reservation. Service offers valid until July 3rd at 2PM.

The sig means that used to be “Wyatt’s” F4.

Happy birthday today to Pierfrancesco ‘Frankie’ Chili who was born on this day in 1964 in Bologna. Nice job on the gift Jakub.

Now available in our shop as well as online are a couple three new Pro Italia t-shirts. First up we’ve got a new Ducati Los Angeles t-shirt in a red on red version, a new, really comfortable World’s Greatest Rides t-shirt (featuring an illustration of our local Angeles Crest Hywy) and lastly a new Pro Italia Motorcycles t with a weathered look.

We’ve got the next suspension tuning clinic, by Randy Acevedo and Alex Markovich from Inhouse Suspension, coming up on Saturday, June 20th. We are currently taking reservations (required) for this event.

The Deal: $40 cash and an advance reservation gets you a spot in either the morning or afternoon session with the specialists. Sessions will start at 9am and wind up at 4:20 with the masters performing 20 minute one-on-one consultations throughout the day.

This is an excellent opportunity to have your motorcycle’s high-quality suspension tailored to fit your body and riding style. Randy and Alex will adjust the front and rear sag, preload, compression and rebound within your bike’s adjustment limits. In addition to checking your settings Inhouse and Pro Italia will be offering complete spring and internal valving services, usually with same day turnaround. What does spring change and valve servicing mean? If a spring located in either the forks or the shock is too stiff for a particular rider you may not be able to dial out the preload enough to achieve proper sag. Conversely, if the spring(s) are to soft you may reach the limits of preload adjustment and still have too much sag. Valving, on the other hand, can change the way the forks or shock react. Oil in the fork or shock chambers can be controlled be changing the size of the valve openings or shim stack. By doing this you can alter compression and rebound settings which changes the way the bike performs in certain cornering situations. Science.

Space is limited. You MUST make a reservation to attend. These suspension clinics always fill up so move now. Contact Rick at Pro Italia at 818 249-5707 or rick@proitalia.com to get a spot in this event.

Photo credit: Ron Jackson

MV Agusta.net held its 2009 Southern California meet-up this last weekend. Fortunately this coincided with the arrival of the brand new MV 1078 RR F4 and Brutale in our showroom. On Friday evening we hosted the MV club for a premiere of these long-awaited motorcycles while on Saturday the meet-up proper began at David Orgell in Beverly Hills (seen above) which was presenting a JeanRicard/MV watch tie-in. They had planned to ride from Beverly Hills to the crest but a freakish June showers had the riders stopping by Pro Italia for an impromptu lunch hosted by us and Larry Ferracci. Rain? Nothing some pizza and super cool Italian motorcycles can’t take care of. There was a great turn out for all the events – the images of all those MV’s lined up in Beverly Hills are beautiful.
Many more of Ron Jackson’s snaps can be seen here. The recap/photo thread from MVAgusta.net is here.

Meanwhile, all weekend long, a Vanson Leathers stitcher was working away in our showroom. Only our Apparel Manager Karen (who worked for Vanson in the past) knew how much good work a serious stitcher can complete. 40 repairs where taken care of in-house with a number of orders now on their way back to Vanson for more extensive work. The proud owners of Vanson gear will have their American made products for years.

Here are a couple of Vanson protected riders with their custom jackets.

Many, many thanks to all the Vanson wearin’, MV enthusing, Italian motorcycle riding folks who made this last weekend so enjoyable and a success.