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Triumph updates Street Triple R

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Triumph’s updated Street Triple R with new styling and a cleaner, more responsive 765cc engine will hit Australia in the second quarter.

Pricing will be released close to the release but as an indication the previous R model cost $15,950 (plus on-road costs), while the S is $14,100 and RS is $17,650.

Like the S and RS, the new R gets the updated styling.

Street Triple R stylingTriumph Street Triple R

  • Twin LED headlights;
  • New sporty bodywork;
  • Compact muffler;
  • Restyled mirrors with more adjustability;
  • New paint and graphics schemes with red rear sub-frame.

Like before, there is a low version with a 780mm seat height.

Engine updatesTriumph Street Triple R

The engine is now Europe 5 compliant with 88kW of power and 77NM of torque.

Triumph claims it has a more responsive feel, thanks to 7% reduced rotational inertia.

They also claim it improves low and midrange usable torque.

It comes now comes with three riding modes (Road, Rain and Sport)

There is also a new Triumph Shift Assist up and down quickshifter with slip and assist clutch.

It also features Brembo calipers, hi-spec fully adjustable Showa suspension and Pirelli Rosso III tyres.

Accessories include:Triumph Street Triple R

  • Scrolling LED indicators
  • Water resistant luggage with quick release mount;
  • Colour-coordinated belly pan and seat cowl;
  • Fly screen visor;
  • Machined mirrors and reservoirs;
  • Arrow slip-on silencer;
  • Tail tidy;
  • Internally wired heated grips; and
  • Paddock stand bobbins.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Is Ducati the master of motorbike design?

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Ducati has featured its new Scrambler 1100 Pro models at the renowned ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, in yet another example of how the Italian company is a master in motorcycle design.

Don’t believe me? Think your Harley, BMW, MV Agusta, Yamaha or Honda is prettier?

Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

However, Ducati really does have the runs on the board in design.

Design awards

Ducati EICMA Streetfighter V4 voteDucati Streetfighter V4 wins most beautiful bike at EICMA

Last November Ducati’s Streetfighter V4 took out the award as the most beautiful bike at last week’s EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.

Ok, it was voted by visitors to the show who are mainly Italian, so there is a lot of patriotic fervour behind the vote.

However, Ducati has scored five wins in the past seven years, or 10 in 14 years.

Ducati has also scored three “Best” wins in the Red Dot Awards for the 1199 Panigale in 2013, the XDiavel S in 2016 and the Diavel 1260 S in 2019.

They are the most prestigious industrial design awards in the world, presented by the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

And then there’s Massimo Tamburini’s famous 916 which many rightfully regard as the world’s most beautiful bike.

anniversaryDucati 9161994 Ducati 916

Ugly stick

However, Ducati doesn’t always get it right.

Remember the slab-sided Paso models from the eighties — not a good decade for fashion or design!

Revzilla said: “It looks like a 1987 Honda Hurricane smashed into a Suzuki RF900.”

Ducati Paso is no design masterDucati Paso is no design master

And the original 2003 Multistrada was widely referred to as the “Uglystrada”. The front headlight and fairing assembly looked more like a Dyson vacuum cleaner than a motorcycle.

Thankfully Ducati totally redeemed the Multistrada with a complete redesign in 2010 into one of the prettiest of the brutish adventure bike category.

Scrambler design

No matter what you think of the modern “scramblers” and whether they are true scramblers, Ducati really has scored an ace with the design.

When the Scrambler family was introduced in 2015, they immediately became the company’s top seller.

That’s not to say they are not without their design quirks.

The most obvious is the looping cables which are reminiscent of original scramblers.

Ducati Scrambler Hashtag onlineLoopy cabling

When Ducati unveiled its Pro models recently the cabling had been tidied up and tucked away.

Hopefully that will flow through to the rest of the range.

And the long trailing fender has been replaced with the remote fender from the Icon.

Ducati debut Scrambler 1100 Pros2020 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Pro

Design master

Despite its design credentials, the object of the ArtCenter lecture by Scrambler designer Jeremy Faraud was to get the students to help design the Scrambler of the future.

Students will submit their designs to Ducati who will recruit one lucky student for an internship at the Ducati Design Centre.

Ducati master of designJeremy talks with ArtCenter students (Image: James Lipman / jameslipman.com)

The Pasadena event will also be followed in Bologna, where a second training and meeting event is scheduled for March, involving the most important Italian design institutes.

Tapping into millennials for design guidance is a smart move that should see Ducati sitting atop the motorcycle design throne for years to come.

Which motorcycle company do you think is the leader in design? Leave your comments below.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Is Royal Enfield axing the 500cc models?

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Tougher emissions rules in India are putting an end to the Royal Enfield 500cc engine which could eventually spell the end for the longest-running model around the world.

The 350cc models make up about 80% of RE sales with the new 650cc twins and the Himalayan now even overtaking sales fo 500cc models.

Now, with the 500cc engine failing tougher BS-6 emissions regulations in India, RE has decided it is not worth the investment to upgrade the single-cylinder engine.

So they will cease domestic sales of the Bullet 500, the world’s longest-running model, and the Thunderbird 500 at the end of March with the Classic 500 to follow.

There is no word from RE about whether production for the rest of the world will also cease.

Australian importers UMI says the “500 is continuing for export markets”.

However, it stands to reason that tougher Euro and California emissions rules could also see their eventual demise. It’s likely a matter of when, not if.

Classic 500cc Tribute BlackRoyal Enfield Classic 500 Tribute Black

Meanwhile, the company is saying goodbye in India with a limited-edition Tribute Black Classic 500 limited to local customers.

As the name suggests, it will be all-black, including the engine.

There will also be some gold touches, comfy quilted-leather touring seats and a commemorative “end of build” plate. Royal Enfield Classic 500 Tribute Black

The company has not said how many will be built, but they will be made to order so we presume they will see how many orders they get.

Indian customers will have to register online on the dedicated Royal Enfield website which only takes Indian addresses, excluding overseas buyers unless you have a friend or relative in India who can buy for you!

Customers will receive a unique code which they can use in an online flash sale on Monday  (10 February, 2020).Royal Enfield Classic 500 Tribute Black

Sliding sales

The booming Indian motorcycle market is the world’s largest but it started to decline last year as the wealthy middle class moved from bikes to cars.

While sales were down by nearly 3 million, they still sold 19.1 million motorcycles which is their third all-time highest level.

The decline in local sales has impacted heavily on Royal Enfield which was down 20% in the first nine months of the year. Full-year totals are not yet available.

It’s not all bad news for RE as their exports were up by about the same percentage although a lot fewer units.

Meanwhile, Royal Enfield has applied for the trademarks of Sherpa and Hunter which we expect could be applied to the upcoming smaller and bigger Himalayan adventure models.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

MV Agusta joins exclusive online garage

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MV Agusta has produced yet another in a long line of limited-edition models, but this time it will be sold through the exclusive TheAresenal online store.

The store calls itself “the most insane garage in the world” and includes cars, jets, boats, bicycles and some insane custom motorcycles such as a Honda monkey bike costing $US30,000 ($A44,500) and a $US50,000 ($A74,000) Yamaha XS650.

Exclusive Dragsterexclusive limited-edition Dragster 800 RR

The Italian company has now added an exclusive limited-edition Dragster 800 RR with “price on demand”.

If you have to ask the price, you simply can’t afford it.

In fact, we expect you will also be up for the delivery cost from Italy.

However, the limited-edition Lewis Hamilton Dragster 800 RR already costs $A36,880, so price should be similar.

There is no word on how exclusive the limited-edition run is.

As far as we can see, the Dragster only has special black and orange paintwork plus the same level of equipment and exotic parts as the Hamilton RR.

It is powered by the same inline three-cylinder 798cc engine with 104kW of power, eight-level traction control and an electronic up/down gearbox with hydraulic slipper clutch.

Limited-edition models

MV Agusta has been promising a whole new batch of motorcycles for a couple of years now, but all we’ve seen is limited-edition models or restyled versions of their current models.

Recently, new boss Timur Sardarov upped the ante saying they would produce more than 20 new models in the next five years.

They are expected to include an adventure range and 350-500cc bikes built in collaboration with Chinese Loncin Motor.

Apart from limited-edition models, MV has also produced some amazing one-off models in recent years.

Last July they produced a one-off gold-painted Dragster 800 RC and in 2016, MV made a one-off F4Z for a Japanese businessman in a joint collaboration with car designer Zagato.

MV Agusta will officially celebrate its 75th anniversary on 20-21 June 2020 at its factory on the shores of the beautiful Lake Varese in northern Italy.

We expect that may be the date they finally release the first all-new model in almost a decade.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide unveiled

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Harley-Davidson will return the Road Glide to its 2020 CVO range with a special Harley-branded Sena 30K Bluetooth unit that pairs to the BOOM! audio system.

The 2020 CVO Road Glide will cost $A55,995 ($NZ57,495) ride away which is $1000 more than the CVO Street Glide. It was last in the CVO Lineup in 2016 as a Road Glide Ultra with top box.

Harley-Davidson Australia says the Sena 30K Bluetooth unit will be included in the price.

The mid-year model announcement comes as Harley has also unveiled a 30th anniversary Fat Boy.

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 30th anniversary birtdhay2020 Fat Boy 30th anniversary (Photography: Capture)

The new CVO Road Glide comes as the new Indian Challenger arrives with a 1770cc (108 cubic inch) liquid-cooled Powerplus engine.

Indian’s Challenger will cost $A39,595-$A39,995, depending on colour, compared with the Harley Road Glide Special with 114-cube (1868cc) engine at $39,250.

2020 CVO Road Glide new features2020 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide

  • Reflex Defensive Rider Systems (read more here); 
  • Kahuna Collection heated hand grips, shifter pegs, brake pedal cover, muffler end caps, rider and pillion boards;
  • Low-profile two-piece fuel tank console with lighted CVO logo;
  • Sand Dune monotone finish with pearl topcoat and subtle graphics highlighted by Smoked Satin Chrome, Gloss Black and Black Onyx finishes;
  • Screamin’ Eagle Heavy Breather air cleaner in Gloss Black; and
  • Wheels finished in Gloss Black/Smoked Satin.

Sena Bluetooth

MY20.5 Location Photogaphy CaptureHarley-branded Sena 30K

The CVO Road Glide comes with a single Sena 30K Bluetooth helmet headset that pairs to the Boom! Box GTS infotainment system.

It features Sena’s Mesh Intercom Network that automatically connects to a “near-limitless number” of riders in “public mode” to eliminate lost connections when someone rides out of range.

The headset can also connect with up to 16 riders in private mode up to 8km.

It not only allows intercom, phone calls, navigation prompts, radio and audio, all with voice commands, but also includes Apple Carplay if the phone is plugged into the bike’s charger.

A Quick Charge feature can provide up to five hours of additional talk time with a 20-minute charge.

CVO 117`MY20.5 Location Photogaphy Capture

Like all 2020 CVOs, it is powered by Harley’s largest-displacement factory-installed engine, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine (1923cc) with 169Nm of torque.

Harley also now make the Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee Eight 131 Crate Engine which can be fitted to current CVO models.

131 Screamin' Eagle c rate motor131 Screamin’ Eagle crate motor

It features the same 114mm (4.5”) stroke as the 114 Milwaukee Eight, but has been bored out from 101mm (4”) to 109mm (4.31”).

Harley claims it makes 90kW (121hp) of power and 177Nm (131ft-lb) of torque when matched to the Screamin’ Eagle Street Cannon mufflers. It also requires an ECM calibration and Screamin’ Eagle Pro Street Tuner.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Harley-Davidson marks Fat Boy 30th birthday

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Harley-Davidson is celebrating the 30th birthday of one of its most famous models, the Fat Boy, with a special 114-cube limited-edition model.

The Fat Boy 30th Anniversary Limited Edition will sell for $A35,995 ($NZ38,495) ride away which compares with the current Fat Boy S with 114 cube at $33,995.

This model also includes special bronze and black paint, satin black Lakester wheels, blacked-out engine and special logos.

It is limited to 2500 bikes, each serialised with a number plate on the tank console.

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 30th anniversary birtdhay(Photography Capture)

We are waiting on advice from Harley-Davidson Australia about how many we will be assigned or whether they are only available on order.

The mid-year model release comes as Harley has also announced a Road Glide will be added to the 2020 CVO range.

2020 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide2020 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide

Fat Boy birthday

The Fat Birthday Boy is one of the most iconic models in Harley’s long list of bikes.

It was actually introduced in 1989 as a 1990 model and designed by legendary Harley stylists Willie G. Davidson and Louie Netz.

In 1991, it was ridden by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgement Day which featured a chase scene in which the bike performed a spectacular jump in the LA sewers. Read more about that famous jump here.

Terminator 2 Harley-davidson Fat Boy ridden by Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnie’s Fat Boy

In 2018, one of the film’s Fat Boys ridden by Arnie sold at auction for $US480,000 (about $A631,500).

Last year Lego even honoured the model with a special scale-model toy standing 20cm high, 18cm wide and 33cm long and made of 1023 pieces.

Lego Harley-Davidson Fat Boy scale modelLego and real-life Fat Boy

Harley styling boss Brad Richards says the Fat Boy was a modernised version of the 1949 Hydra-Glide.

“For this 30th Anniversary Limited Edition model we wanted to create something very special, so we leaned into the popularity of darker finishes and a limited run/serialised strategy to make the bike truly unique and exclusive.”

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 30th anniversary birthday(Photography Capture)

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Ducati launches Project 1708 (Superleggera)

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Ducati launches Project 1708 which is code for the V4 Superleggera on Thursday (6 February 2020).

It is expected to be one of the world’s most powerful street-legal super bikes with 167kW (224hp) at 15,250 revs.

Throw on the optional Akrapovic full racing exhaust system and power is boosted to 174kW (234bhp), even beating the supercharged Kawasaki H2 at 171kW (230hp).

That compares with the Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory at 162kW (217hp) and new Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade with 160kW (212hp).

CEO Claudio Domenicali gushed about the project in this invitation:

All the bikes we produce are a declaration of our desire for perfection. But nothing is comparable with the Project 1708 is a true statement of intent, it is thew monument in which we draw a line between trying and doing. Iy is out most pioneering creature.

Super lightDucati V4 Superleggera super power

As we can see from the top image plus this leaked photo (above), it will feature a lot of lightweight carbon-fibre bike.

So the bike will weigh just 152kg which is 20kg less than the V4R, hence the term superleggera (super light).

The Superleggera’s Desmosedici Stradale R V4 engine is a big jump up from the “standard” V4 with (155kW/208hp, 124Nm) and V4S/R (top of page) with 159kW (214hp).

However, it is expected to have a super cost as well at $US100,000 (about $A145,000).

Superleggera will be produced in a limited edition of 500. We expect they will only be available here on order.

It will also feature MotoGP livery, exotic components (top-shelf Brembo brakes and Ohlins suspension) with all-LED lighting.

Ducati is expected to start production in April 2020 with deliveries the following month.

Like the V4R, it will have bi-place wings plus extra winglets to increase downforce at 270km/h from 30kg to 50kg.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Cagiva online to return as electric

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Since 2018, MV Agusta has been working on reviving the Cagiva name, but with an electric motor, and now new boss Timur Sardarov (pictured above) confirms it is still part of their plan.

“Cagiva production will resume next year, at the latest in early 2021, and will be dedicated to electric urban mobility,” he told Italian site Motociclismo.

The interview is unclear about what the electric vehicle will be: scooter, motorcycle, e-bike?

“But we will not make scooters, they will be motorcycles,” says Timur who took over from Giovanni Castiglioni last year.

Cagiva Raptor Customised BMW R nineTCagiva V-Raptor

Then he seems to contradict himself.

“Easy to drive and below 4kW, because at the moment no-one who produces beyond this threshold can generate profits.

“In six or seven years, it will probably be possible to reach the profit with vehicles equivalent to 350cc.”

Cagiva return

MV Agusta boss Giovanni Castiglioni classicGiovanni when he was still boss in 2018

When I met with MV Agusta boss Giovanni Castiglioni in July 2018, he talked about the electric Cagiva project and said he believed in the potential of electric bikes.

“There is a market for high-performing light bikes and that’s how the Cagiva electric bike project started,” he told me.

“From my pure personal experience, the torque, power and throttle response is great. You can have fun and you don’t scare the cows and the deers. It’s actually enjoyable.”

He said Cagiva electric bikes would start with 80km of range and reach 320km in the next five years with a range of bikes from commuters to off-road.

But he also said MV would not go into electric bikes because there is no market for high-performing electric street bikes.

John Kocinski's Cagiva V594 grand prixJohn Kocinski’s Cagiva V594

“People think the electric bike is for losers and the reality is it is not.

“But at the moment, its potential is in cities for short-range commuting from home to the office or for short trips.

“We don’t yet live in a world where you can live with an electric car. I would like to buy a Tesla, but only for driving from home to the office. I travel a lot by car and I can’t start my journey by doing a flight plan like in a plane.

“The charging infrastructure needs to improve first.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Honda patent suggests electric Fireblade

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The latest patent application drawings from Honda seem to indicate the Japanese company is planning an electric Fireblade.

But don’t get too excited or outraged yet!

Most traditional motorcycle manufacturers have toyed with the idea of electric motorcycles for years.

Some have produced electric scooters, mobility scooters, trials bikes and trail bikes.

However, none has yet come to the market with a full-sized electric motorcycle, except for Harley’s LiveWire.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycleHarley LiveWire

Honda also filed has an extraordinary number of patent applications in the past couple of years.

None of these has yet come to the market either.

Honda patent blitz

Honda Goldwing GL1800 airbag radicalsHonda’s scooter airbag

Electric Fireblade

We wouldn’t bet on an electric Fireblade, unless they are planning on taking over the supply of race bikes from Energica for the FIM Moto-e World Cup.

Honda’s electric plans seem more tailored to scooters, mobility scooters and small commuter bikes.

Also, the use of the Fireblade outline in the drawings could simply be artist expediency as several other patent application drawings have included Fireblade outlines.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Ducati debut Scrambler 1100 Pros

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As tipped last week, Ducati has debuted two new Scrambler 1100 Pros that finally dispense with the ugly looping brake cable.

There are two models, the Sport having fully adjustable Öhlins suspension. (Full tech specs at the end of the article.)

Here they are in action in Miami. (We’re a bit concerned the female’s ride doesn’t have the Öhlins setup!)

New Pros

The neater cabling on the Pros is a welcome addition as is the Icon-style short rear fender and remote mudguard/plate holder.

Flagship 2018 Ducati Scrambler 1100Current 1100 Scrambler with looping cable

That looping cable was originally designed to be reminiscent of their original 1970s Scrambler 450 with high and wide off-road bars.

1972 Ducati Scrambler 450 museum1972 Ducati Scrambler 450

Now, the bars are black, narrower and shorter, with the Sport edition getting low-slung flat bars and Café Racer-style bar-end mirrors.

The other major change is the twin-stacked right-side mufflers. We can see the Sport edition up close and it looks great with a brushed titanium-look finish.

Ducati debut Scrambler 1100 ProsSport cans

We don’t get a close-up look at the 1100 Pro cans which seem to have an aluminium finish.

Scrambler 1100 Pro comes in two-tone “Ocean Drive” (silver with an orange pinstripe) and black steel trellis frame and rear aluminium subframe.

Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro features matt black paint with black gloss “1100” on the tank.Ducati debut Scrambler 1100 Pros

LCD instruments and other details, dimensions and tech secs seem to be the same as the current 1100 models.

The bikes will be available at the end of March in most markets and “very late in the year” in Australia with pricing released closer to the date.

Current 1100 Scrambler prices range from $19,790 to $22,990 for the Sport edition with Öhlins suspension.

Ducati Scrambler 1100 Pro and Sport ProDucati debut Scrambler 1100 Pros

Engine: Engine: 1079cc, L-Twin, Desmodromic distribution, 2 valves per cylinder, air cooled
Bore x stroke: 98 x 71 mm
Compression: 11:01
Power: 63kW (86hp) @ 7500rpm
Torque: 88Nm (65lb ft) @ 4750rpm
Economy: 5.2 l/100km
Emissions: CO2 120g/km
Transmission: 6-speed, wet clutch
Sport suspension: Öhlins fully adjustable 48mm USD fork; Öhlins monoshock, pre-load and rebound adjustable
Standard suspension: Marzocchi fully adjustable 45mm USD fork; Kayaba mono shock preload and rebound adjustable
Wheels: 10-spoke alloy, 3.50″ x 18”; 5.50″ x 17”
Brakes: 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc M4.32 callipers, 4-piston, axial pump; 245mm disc, 1-piston floating calliper; Bosch Cornering ABS
Wheelbase: 1514mm (59.6in)
Rake/trail: 24°.5/111mm (4.4in)
Total steering lock: 33°
Fuel: 15 litres (3.96 US gal)
Dry weight: 189kg (417lb)
Wet weight: 206kg (454lb)
Seat: 810mm (31.9”)
Length: 2190mm (86”)
Height: 1330mm (52.4”)
Width: 895mm (35.2”)
Wheelbase: 1514mm (59.6”)
Standard equipment: Riding Modes, Power Mode, Ducati Safety Pack (Cornering ABS + DTC), RbW, LED light-guide, LED rear light with diffusion-light, LCD instruments with gear and fuel level indications, Steel tank with interchangeable aluminium side panels, Machine-finished aluminium belt covers, Under-seat storage compartment with USB socket
Warranty: 24 months unlimited mileage
Service and valve check: 12,000km (7500mi)/12 months

Ducati debut Scrambler 1100 Pros

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com