Tour de France bikes

Looks to me like the bikes identified in the photos as 'drink' bikes - those that have the Coke and Nestlé signage aren't ZRX1200's as claimed, but rather GTR1000/Concours models.

Note the headlight with the vent above, turn signals, mirrors and the level-to-the-ground mufflers.

I wonder what else the author got wrong?

I work with the info I receive from the organizers. And since I don't know the individual models from Kawa, I write what I get.

Also, could there we model difference between Kawa NA and Europe ???

Tour de France´s Motorcycles

How do I become a tour motorcyclist. That would be an interesting post. I am sure I could operate the camera vehicle. I mean, my wife shifts around more than any cameraman could.

LOL. Think the problem will be more riding through a couple of 100's of mad bicyclists going 100 km per hour downhill in the Alpes....

Tour de France´s Motorcycles

I spent a few years riding moto-escort for the bicycle races. I think it was 1993 that I crossed the finish line with Lance Armstrong at the Core State Classic in Philadelphia. Very hairy riding!!! And our lttle team all thought we were just so good at it and just too cool and full of ouraselves, then for a circut race in Trenton NJ the promoter brought in two French professionals. On wet cobblestones they breezed thru turns we were white knuckling and the pilot was turning around and talking with the photog! Oh, it was mostly BMW scoots.

Tour de France´s Motorcycles

The other thing he missed is that most of the BMWs are K-bikes. The white camera bikes are K1100LTs and there are a lot of K75s too. The last picture shows a GS followed by two K-bikes and the one before it shows one of the many K1100LT camera bikes.

Tour de France´s Motorcycles

Hank,

My GS gets serviced at the same dealer where the Europa2 bikes (the radio station for the TdF), France2 (TV) and one of the news agencies. Every bike, except one, are 1150RTs.

Tour de France´s Motorcycles

Anyone know what the open face helmets worn by the blue ag2 riders are?

Looks like a Nolan helmet.

Tour de France´s Motorcycles

What a poor report by the 'author'. It's factually incorrect, even the photos used back this up - Kawa GTR1000's, ZXR1200's etc. Not to mention the countless Beemers.

Useless.

Tour de France´s Motorcycles

Anybody know what the blue ag2r bike is in the 2nd to last pic?

Tour de France´s Motorcycles

Does anyone know anything about the funky horns I hear as the MC's are passing the cyclists? It is a two tone sound that warbles between the high and low tones. Very catchy and unique.

Thanks

Tour de France’s Motorcycles

Well since the tour has just started today, those pictures are at least from last year. It's possible that Kawa made a deal this year to supply all of the bikes. However I think it is more of a mixed brand than what he has listed. Those are, I'm sure, just the official tour bikes, where as the TV and radio stations might use different bikes if they are not required to use tour bikes.

re: Tour de France’s Motorcycles

Chris, yes, the date is from last year. And yes, the bikes are the official motorcycles.

Tour de France’s Motorcycles

Why do the blue Ag2 bikes look like Suzuki V-Stroms? The pipes,headlights and plastic all look like Strom's.

Tour de France’s Motorcycles

What rude people. The official bikes are Kawasakis. Nothing else. Ring Kawasaki France and ask them! The other bikes are from different organisations - news, minor sponsors etc. They aren't obliged to use Kawasakis. Think you can do this job. I suggest you start with the Paris-Roubaix in the rain - cobbles, mud, not known as the Hell of the North for nothing. However you'd probably better start with something easy before you start falling off in front of riders and 20 or 30 French police bikes (BMW's).

Next.... Kawasakis look like V-stroms because thats exactly what they are, just a few stickers and badges different.

Tour de France’s Motorcycles

In Vietnam we have only one choice: Classic Russian dirt bike called Minsk. It's 125cc and I hope after this May we can have better bikes as the government will lift 175cc limit. We are dreaming of all your bikes. Ride safe!