Motorcycle News - The Coolest Things Seen at AIMExpo 2019

https://ift.tt/2nf0wQg

AIMExpo 2019 has come and gone in a blink of the proverbial eye. It seems like it was just days I go I was in Columbus, Ohio pounding the show floor in search for the most unique and innovative products the event had to offer. And while I and maybe others might have wished for even more exhibitors to peruse, the show did have a handful of cool new items entering the marketplace and plenty of other interesting products that we’re already aware of. 

Some of these items you might already be aware of but hopefully there are some that pique your interest as new brands to look into as they hit the marketplace. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the coolest things seen at AIMExpo 2019.

Quin Helmets

Quin Helmets began donning motorcyclists’s head nine months ago in January 2019. The company has since seen substantial demand with the first few runs flying off the shelves. What makes these helmets unique? Integrated crash detection with an SOS beacon that can alert a contact of your choosing or emergency medical response teams. The tech-packed helmets use the company’s IntelliQuin system with Bluetooth 4.0 technology to communicate between sensors in the helmet and user’s phone. This technology also allows user to perform functions such as calling, using music apps, navigation, and the use of personal assistants among other standard Bluetooth features. Once the helmet has detected a crash the user’s phone is alerted via the Quin app and gives riders the chance to cancel out the alert if they are okay within a designated time interval. If the rider is incapacitated or decides they need assistance, the app will notify either the predetermined contact or emergency medical personnel with the user’s pre-registered medical information and GPS location. 

What’s more, the system’s nicely integrated into three stylish helmet models. The line consists of the full-face carbon fiber Ghost, the polycarbonate full-face Spitfire, and the three-quarter McQ. Both full-face helmets are said to accommodate intermediate oval head shapes with the three-quarter McQ listed as round oval. Each of these helmets, and particularly the carbon fiber models, are impressively lightweight considering the amount of integrated technology offered. Quin claims the Ghost weighs in at 1270 grams (2.8 pounds) though the size was not specified. All of the helmets are ECE and DOT rated with the Ghost receiving additional certifications. If all of the aforementioned features weren’t enough, the included sensors can also provide information such as ride duration and lean angles achieved among other non-critical information. There’s a lot more to be said about these helmets and we hope to learn more and perhaps test the functionality in the real world someday. Until then, we wish all the best to Quin and its team. Learn more here. 

V Helmets

You may know them by another name: Vemar. The Italian company, which has roots dating back to 1975, set off on its own in 1992 and has since become one of the world’s largest helmet manufacturers, despite having only a small presence in the US. As I walked the AIMExpo show floor, the quality of the company’s booth and unique helmet graphics caught my eye. One problem, the sign had a symbol I’d never seen and only said helmets underneath it with the Italian flag colors under that. I had to ask Nicola, the Italian fellow manning the booth, what the helmet’s brand name was. Not the kind of question a manufacturer should want to hear. Turns out the company was acquired by International Helmet Company in 2016 and has recently rebranded Vemar as V Helmets, not something that was easily discernible by the never-before-seen logo, but hey, it looks cool, I guess. What is worth noting is the helmets themselves are just as light as ever and feel to be quality lids while boasting a plethora of graphics that are unique and visually stunning unlike anything I’ve seen on the market thus far. We wish the newly rebranded V Helmets the best of luck in the future and hope to pop our heads into one for a more thorough review. Learn more at www.vhelmets.com. 

2020 Honda Africa Twin

Honda’s new Africa Twin, both the standard and the Adventure Sports ES, address nearly every major complaint prospective buyers, owners, and journos alike had about the previous models. Honda had three goals: less weight, more power, and the inclusion of high-level features not before seen on the Africa Twin models. As our man Dennis already touched on in a thorough First Look article, Honda hit it marks on the first two. Although single-digit increases in power and decreases in weight may be less substantial than some might have hoped for, we feel it’s the new high-level features that make the 2020 Africa Twin a great option on the ADV market. Both models are now equipped with cruise control, TFT displays, and IMUs. The Bosch MM7.10 six-axis IMU allows for more improved DCT shifting, traction control, cornering ABS, wheelie control, rear lift control, and for the Adventure Sports ES, electronic suspension and cornering lights.

Honda has also now made a more focused differentiation between the two Africa Twins, with the standard model meant to be for riders looking to push their machine’s limits off-road and the Adventure Sports ES to deliver long-haul performance and comfort when the adventure may include more asphalt. Having the chance to see the bike in person before AIMExpo gave us the opportunity to sit on the bike and thumb through the new touch screen TFT display. I was ecstatic when Honda informed us the Adventure Sports model would no longer carry its lofty 36.2-inch lofty seat height. Both models share the same two-way adjustable seat heights at 34.3 and 33.7 inches and are narrower at the seat making it easier to get to the ground. We look forward to testing the new models just as soon as we’re able. Unfortunately, it’s looking like that won’t be until March 2020. Until then, we’ll just drool at the Adventure Sports ES’ gorgeous paint job. 

Quadro Vehicles Qooder

Pronounced /ˈko͞odər/, the four wheel machine comes from Swiss manufacturer Quadro Vehicles. Quadro Vehicles has been around for nearly 10 years as a small company, though had nearly gone out of business just two years ago when the brand was revived and helmed by former Abarth COO and Piaggio VP, Paolo Gagliardo. The machine uses a bespoke Hydraulic Tilting System (HST) complete with oil-damped shocks to allow the front wheels to tilt, giving the machine handling characteristics of a motorcycle, so I’m told. Both rear wheels are driven via a mechanical differential and belt drive. The Qooder is powered by a 399cc Single four-stroke four valve engine producing a claimed 32.5 hp and 23.4 lb-ft of torque. The four-wheeler carries 3.7 gallons of gas and weighs in at 620 pounds fully fueled. Gagliardo says they hope to have the vehicles in the US by Spring 2020 with a price point of $12,000. 

The Italian CEO also mentioned there will be a Zero-powered eQooder on the horizon with an expected MSRP of $17,000. I’m told the company has sold thousands in Europe, though Gagliardo says there have been issues with licensing the four-wheeled vehicle in the US. You see, here in the good ol’ US of A, four wheels means car, and with that comes a laundry list of regulations and stipulations all held together by red tape. Paolo admits he is cautiously optimistic in his fight to have the Qooder homologated as a motorcycle in the States, but tells us there is another way to enjoy the Qooder even without a license plate: off-road. Gagliardo points to the screen behind me as videos of muddy Qooders blasting down trails play on the big screen at the booth. We’ll remain cautiously optimistic as well for Quadro Vehicles and hope that, like Gagliardo says, “common sense will prevail” in his fight for licensing. Learn more at www.quadrovehicles.com. 

And then there were the e-Bikes…

These two-wheeled mobility solutions can easily be looked at as the gateway drug to motorcycling. What’s more interesting is the customers being targeted for e-bikes are typically non-motorcyclists. Obviously there is some crossover, but if e-bike customers are primarily non-riders, that’s a large potential customer base to possibly move up into motorcycling. E-bikes come in all shapes and sizes these days. Some fall closer to the small electric motorcycle category while others are intently directed at the bicycle market. AIMExpo had its fair share of both. Here’s a sampling of what was found silently scooting around the Columbus Convention Hall. 

UBCO

The concept for UBCO bikes was a 2-wheel drive electric, lightweight, utility vehicle. The production vehicle seen above is the culmination of five years of hard work and determination. The company was founded in New Zealand and has since been focusing on worldwide distribution following increased demand. The UBCO 2×2 (pictured above) is a two-wheel drive electric vehicle with front and rear 1 kW hub-drive motors powered by a 48Ah, 50V battery that sits in the middle of the frame and can easily be pulled out for hot swapping (if you have $1,999 for an extra battery) or ease of charging. Components such as suspension and hydraulic disc brakes are more bike than moto, but they’ll likely get the job done just fine. The machine weighs in just around 144 pounds. Governed top speed is 30 mph and UBCO claims a 75-mile range per charge. The 2×2 has an MSRP of $6,999 and is available at 43 dealers sprinkled throughout the US. 

UBCO also displayed its FRX1 prototype which has pedal assist with a top speed of 50 mph. The mountain bike-style electric has 200 millimeters of travel front and rear with a range of 62 miles. The 115-pound FRX1 is expected to be available for purchase June 2020 for $8,999. Pre-order is currently available at www.ubcobikes.com.

iGo

iGo caught my attention at AIMExpo due to the expansive product line. The company, headquartered in Quebec, has been around since 2006 and has since become one of the largest sellers of e-bikes in Canada. The company’s product range covers everything from commuter and folding bikes to fat tire off-road cycles, and now, high-end road race bikes. Front and center the new Carbon CGV looks that part of a premium road bike while housing a 36V 5.6Ah in-frame lithium battery delivering 200Wh of power with a 62-mile range. The entire package weighs only 27.8 pounds and costs $6,950 (CAD). A model like the HP Carbon Fatbike, pictured on the right, use a 36V 14Ah lithium battery capable of 504Wh of power costing $5,499 (USD). The Elite, not pictured, is more a commuter-friendly ride complete with front and rear racks, fenders, and a step-through design. A 48V 13Ah semi-in-frame lithium battery provides a 37-mile range with a 20 mph top speed and costs only $1,999. Check them out at www.igoelectric.com.

Yamaha e-Bikes

A brand name folks around here are most familiar with, Yamaha’s e-bike line-up includes commuter, road, off-road, and hybrid bicycles ranging in price from $2,399 to 3,499. The entire line-up uses a 500Wh 36V lithium-ion battery delivering a 20mph max speed support with a four-hour charge time. All of the Yamaha e-bikes come with a three-year frame, motor, and battery warranty. Friend of MO, Mark Cernicky, rode the entire 2018 line-up nearly two years ago and gave a thorough review of his findings. We’re hoping to get our hands on one of these models soon to give you our perspective of what it’s like to live with an e-bike day-to-day.

The post The Coolest Things Seen at AIMExpo 2019 appeared first on Motorcycle.com.

Motorcycles

via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO

September 30, 2019 at 08:31PM

Motorcycle News - Riding Gear – Icon 1000 Construct Helmets

https://ift.tt/2oLszHB

Are you obsessed with the inner workings of man-made objects? There’s something intriguing about being able to see how something has been put together. Whether it’s the individual components in an engine or what’s inside your riding gear that makes it safe. The crew at Icon 1000 have figured out how to satisfy your curiosity without having to dismantle anything. Their Construct series of motorcycle helmets lets you peer beneath the helmets surface to discover what usually goes unseen.

Motorcycles

via Return of the Cafe Racers https://www.returnofthecaferacers.com

September 30, 2019 at 06:50PM

Motorcycle News - Kawasaki Supercharged Z Model to be Revealed Oct. 23

https://ift.tt/2nYo2RP

Kawasaki released a second video teasing a supercharged Z model, showing a few glimpses of the naked bike and confirming it will be revealed Oct. 23 during the Tokyo Motor Show.

The few clues offered in the video suggest the new model will indeed be a naked version of the Ninja H2, likely using the same supercharged 998cc Inline-Four engine. When Kawasaki dropped the first teaser, we speculated on the possibility of a different displacement, perhaps in the middleweight range. The second teaser shows a glimpse of the exterior of the supercharger and part of the engine, which looks nearly identical to the H2.

Here’s the Ninja H2 for comparison:

While the engine looks similar, the green trellis frame has a completely different structure from the H2 and even the H2 SX. We suspect the subframe was designed to support passenger seating, which the Ninja H2 does not.

Another clue is the presence of Kawasaki’s rivermark above the headlights. Kawasaki only reserves the symbol for its most significant models like the H2, which supports the theory of another liter-sized bike instead of a middleweight displacement.

Other details confirmed in the video include a new TFT display and turn signal stalks (the H2 has the signals on the mirrors) with the air intakes positioned over them, a change that also makes room for a broader headlight design.

As for the bike’s name, we suspect the new model will be called the “Kawasaki Z2.” The original 746cc Z2 (also known as the Z750) was introduced in Japan in 1973 as a smaller version of the 903cc Z1. Of course, the legendary “Z1” name may also be another potential moniker, but Z2 would better align it beside the Ninja H2.

We’ll find out more in the next couple of weeks, leading up to the Oct. 23 reveal at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The post Kawasaki Supercharged Z Model to be Revealed Oct. 23 appeared first on Motorcycle.com.

Motorcycles

via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO

September 30, 2019 at 05:00PM

Motorcycle News - Kisan Electronics Wants to Keep You (and Your Bike) Safe From Distracted Drivers

https://ift.tt/2nWUh3y

Have you ever wanted to grab an oblivious motorist and scream “CAN YOU SEE ME NOW?” after narrowly avoiding a crash? There’s no doubt that the number-one cause of multi-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles is a car violating a motorcycle’s right of way at an intersection. “I didn’t see him!” is the frequent excuse. “He came out of nowhere!” Sure. “MAYBE IF YOU WEREN’T INSTAGRAMMING YOUR LAUNDRY LIST YOU WOULD HAVE NOTICED ME,” you scream in your fantasy dialogue. What can we do to combat the motorcyclist’s arch-nemesis: the distracted driver?

Luckily, there’s Kisan Electronics in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Since 1993, the company has specialized in plug-and-play electronics that increase safety by making motorcycles more visible to distracted drivers. When it comes to lighting safety, Kisan truly knows their stuff, making high-quality products that are easy to install, engineered to comply with state, local, national and Canadian traffic laws, and designed not just to work, but to work right. It’s all to make good on their commitment to keeping you safe and stress-free so you can enjoy the ride.

LED headlights have gained popularity over the years. They’re brighter, clearer, use less energy, and are more reliable than old-school halogen bulbs; many new motorcycles released today come with custom LED headlight “clusters.” Kisan has been designing the pathBlazer headlight modulator which “winks” or “flashes” during daylight riding. It is like continually flashing your headlights without having to flick the highbeams. It’s a legal way to get noticed while not being impaled by an Impala or crushed by a Corolla.

Let them know you’re there

Kisan is proud to offer the pathBlazer headlight modulator in easy-to-install kits which are programmable for LED and halogen headlamps alike. The simple act of modulating a headlight is actually not that hard – but doing it right is not easy. In order to be done correctly, Kisan has worked hard to program the LED lights to “soft switch,” which is no simple operation. The reason behind the “soft switch” is to make it less taxing on the bulb, which will actually increase the life of the bulb. It’s no small feat, but Kisan has figured out how to back-engineer the program on each model, for each application, by make, model, and manufacturer – while also sourcing plugs to fit the OEM wiring harness so that riders can just plug in the pathBlazer and ride, ride, ride.

Kisan’s plug-and-play pathBlazer headlight modulator is available for a wide range of model-specific applications, from older bikes to this year’s crop of go-fast machines. Installation is quick and easy, requiring no special tools or even knowledge of electronics. It uses a light sensor (which makes sure it only works during daylight hours), and is programmable for light sensitivity. Want to disable modulation? The pathBlazer is connected to your highbeams. Simply switch to low beams and the modulation stops.

Kisan is developing plug-in kits for the latest generation of LED-equipped motorcycles – including the 2018 and newer Honda Goldwing, Honda Africa Twin, 2015 and newer Honda CB500, 2016 and up Honda CB1000 and CB1100, Honda Valkyrie and F6B, Kawasaki Z900RS, LED-equipped Harley models (2012 and newer), the Yamaha FJ-09 and Tracer, even the 2016 and newer CanAm Spyder. You can also get kits for your motorcycle kitted with H4 or H7 conventional and LED conversions.

Keep the cagers off your back

If you subscribe to the theory of “CYA” – cover your ass – Kisan has your back(side) covered too. The tailBlazer brake light modulator is designed to flash your tail light while braking, and most solutions are direct bulb replacement, so it is as simple as pulling out the old bulb and dropping in the tailBlazer. The replacement modulator from Kisan is a smart module with complex circuitry, meaning it was designed with replaceable bulbs that can be dropped in. And not only can you change the bulb, you can also select halogen or LED options. Neither of which require any special accessories to adjust for LED vs. halogen draw issues – meaning no crazy flashing or dim bulbs.

When you’re the one being a knucklehead, Kisan is there to help too

Kisan also recognizes that it’s not always the motorist that’s being inattentive. Most riders at some point in time leave their turn signals on and confuse approaching drivers at intersections – a good way to get hit by a left-turning car and merging traffic. So Kisan planned a step ahead, offering its signalMinder system. Like most Kisan products, the signalMinder is plug-and-play, replacing the stock turn-signal relay. This same signalMinder will – without any additional programming – solve LED fast flash should you decide to upgrade to LED turn signals. When installed, it automatically cancels your turn signal after a programmable length of time.

Naturally, Kisan cannot offer a plug-in option for all motorcycles. In the event they don’t have one for your limited production or older bike, Kisan has splice-in kits (the included quick-connect splicers are extremely easy to use) that can turn your turn signals into running lights and even extra flashing brake lights for the truly safety conscious.

The beauty of having such a specific focus on lighting safety, and of offering just three product lines, means Kisan really knows its products. You can be certain Kisan products are designed to work, easy to install and engineered by riders just like you: informed, educated and concerned about safety.

Kisan products are available through the company’s website at kisantech.com, as well as select dealers and online retailers including Amazon. Have more questions? Pick up the phone and call 888-464-5472 (they’re on Mountain Time) – or you can email [email protected] anytime – for pre-sales questions, installation and order support, or just to chat about lighting safety: they won’t think it’s weird.

The post Kisan Electronics Wants to Keep You (and Your Bike) Safe From Distracted Drivers appeared first on Motorcycle.com.

Motorcycles

via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO

September 30, 2019 at 10:28AM

MotoGP News - Dovizioso: Crashes haven't affected MotoGP title fight with Marquez

https://ift.tt/2n6hrEA

Andrea Dovizioso admits his current MotoGP championship situation would not be different had he avoided crashing at Silverstone and Catalunya, as Ducati hasn't been "close" to Marc Marquez this year



Motogp
Motorcycle Racing News
via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei

September 30, 2019 at 10:19AM

MotoGP News - Controversial rider Fenati gets eighth year in Moto3

https://ift.tt/2nSkBMc

Controversial rider Romano Fenati will join Max Biaggi's squad for his eighth season in Moto3 and his second since his ban from competing was lifted at the end of 2018.



Motogp
Motorcycle Racing News
via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei

September 30, 2019 at 05:49AM

Motorcycle News - PURVEYORS OF STYLE: Triumph Thruxton R by Untitled Motorcycles

https://ift.tt/2maieE2

Written by Martin Hodgson

When purveyors of sophistication and style for more than half a century, GQ Magazine, were looking for someone to build them a bike to match their ethos they knew exactly where to turn. They sent a brand new Thruxton R to Adam Kay of London’s Untitled Motorcycles, a man who has built a plethora of perfectly fashioned customs over the years. It’s little wonder his skills are in such high demand but having built the GQ bike on a serious deadline, Adam is back with another Triumph Thruxton R 1200 for one very lucky client, who was seeking the perfect modern cafe classic.

“Adam gets enquires all the time about new projects customers potentially want to do to their motorcycles. Some are classics and some are modern classics. Andrea had seen a Z750 that had been customised on the net and wanted something similar done to his Z750. After a few emails between Adam and Andrea this idea was dropped after Adam suggested test riding a Thruxton R 1200. Once ridden Andrea was sold on it and a plan was drawn up to make a classic cafe racer,” UMC tells us.

To give Andrea an even better idea of what he’d be getting and to ensure everyone was on the same page, Ian Galvin was emailed with a description of what Adam had come up with and an illustration was drawn up. “The theme of the bike was going to be black, white and gold. A classic combination of colours.” So with a plan laid out, the Thruxton was rolled into UMC HQ and stripped down to the bones so Adam could begin the visual part of the makeover. First, a bunch of parts were removed and sent to powder coat, including the swingarm that went from silver to black.

Andrea was after a particular style of seat and rear hump, different to that offered by the stock Thruxton. “Adam looked at the back of the tank and followed those lines to create the seat hump. Andrea wanted the seat to be easily removable so the original unit was adapted to create the seat. The release key could still be used and another duel seat was also made to allow Andrea to take his girlfriend on sunny day rides.” With the stunning vintage leatherwork taken care of by UMC’s go-to man, Glenn Moger.

The front cowl was also made in house, just like the seat it is the result of one-off plastic moulds, a lot of fibreglass and endless hours of hand finishing. One of the aspects of Adam’s builds that is so impressive is the factory level of fit and finish. But to complete the changes at the front would require some outside help. Modern electrics can be a minefield and with the Thruxton’s brains hidden in the factory instrument cluster removing them disables the bike. Unless of course you have a wizard like Steve Hallam who can hack in and make it all work with outside vendor products.

Just like on the GQ bike the factory top yoke was modified to include an integrated speedo mount to hold one of Motogadget’s beautiful units. Taking care of the machine work was Danny from Fast Tec Racing who customised the yoke and had it anodised black. Beneath, the clip-ons were replaced with racier items and the switchgear changed for 3 button black units. The wiring runs through the bars to motogadget indicators, while out back things have been stripped down and a fabricated mount was made to fit an Alchemy Parts rear tail light with integrated indicators.

The Thruxton R is already one of the most impressive modern classic performers, with its factory equipped Ohlins and Brembos. While the 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin offers up thunderous torque, Euro compliance means it could always sound better. So Adam removed the factory silencers and fabricated a set of drag tubes with slash cuts to direct the hot gases away from the rider. On first showing the Thruxton was a hit at the Bike Shed Show and understandably Andrea is already racking up the miles on his rolled gold UMC special!

[ Untitled Motorcycles London | Instagram | Photography by Mihail Jershov ]

Motorcycles

via Pipeburn.com https://ift.tt/2LY9tnG

September 30, 2019 at 03:57AM

Motorcycle News - Tim Kill Harley Davidson WLA

https://ift.tt/2nLyAUh

Earlier this year Return of the Cafe Racers teamed up with the crew from Fuel Tank to create the SIX ONE custom automotive exhibition. SIX ONE was designed to stir things up in the Australian custom scene. More art exhibition than auto expo its focus was to celebrate the craftsmanship and skill of Australia’s custom builders. The show wasn’t limited to any particular style or genre leaving it open to everyone with a passion for automotive to attend. SIX ONE was a huge success showcasing everything from cafe racers to land speed race bikes and they shared floor space with all manner of four-wheeled customs.

Motorcycles

via Return of the Cafe Racers https://ift.tt/2M9riRb

September 30, 2019 at 01:41AM

F1 News - What happens next? The power struggles that ended in departure

https://ift.tt/2nM6xDS





#F1

via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6

September 29, 2019 at 05:36PM

Motorcycle News - Custom Bikes Of The Week: 29 September, 2019

https://ift.tt/2nB4TVL

A Ducati Panigale 899 with a 1950s sci-fi vibe, a super-stylish Honda CB900 Bol D’Or from Australia, a look at the new Bullit Hero 50 scrambler, and a Tote Gote for sale. Which one would you put in your garage?

Honda CB900 Bol D’Or by Rogue Are we seeing a 1980s revival on the custom scene? There seems to be a discernable trend towards white wheels, white pipewrap and whitewall tires. But if it looks as good as this CB900 from Rogue Motorcycles, we’re all for it.

Rogue are based in Perth, Australia, but the shop is run by Dutch-born Marjin ‘Billy’ Kuijken and his partner Silvie. Over the past five years they’ve developed a great reputation for custom builds, and this Honda has passed through the shop not once, but twice.

Rogue originally built it as a café racer for a local client, but the donor bike was very tired and required more work than the client was prepared to tolerate. So he sold it back to Rogue, who have now fixed all the shortcomings at their own expense and use it as a shop bike.

The CB900 now has forks (and three-spoke wheels) from a 2010 Yamaha XJR1300. There’s a new wiring loom, new LED lighting all round, a modern ‘halo’-type headlight, and DNA intake filters. Biltwell supplied the grips and throttle assembly for the tracker-style bars, and the fresh coat of black paint looks ace against the Shinko whitewall tires. [More]

Ducati Panigale by Ranger Korat One of the most bizarre creations we’ve seen lately is this Panigale 899 from Thailand’s Ranger Korat. The stock fairing has been swapped out for bodywork that looks more like a post-War fighter jet than a 21st century superbike.

There are grilles and intakes galore, and a pale yellow Perspex screen to accentuate the illusion. Ranger has kept the stock tank, but fashioned a waspish new seat and tail unit and removed the fenders.

There’s a Termignoni exhaust system, and the rear wheel is sporting black disc covers to hide the modern-looking spokes.

Information about this bike is scant, but the quality of the metalwork and concept execution is first-rate: it’s straight out of a 1950s science fiction annual. Imagine seeing this machine approaching fast in your rear view mirrors … [Via]

Bullit Hero 50 The British marque Bullit is fast making a name for itself in the UK and Europe for stylish, big-value small capacity motos. They’ve just teased what could be their best model yet—a compact retro scrambler called the Hero 50 that will retail for a mere £2,200 [US$2,700].

Despite the keen price, the Hero 50 has a twin cam engine, upside down forks, monoshock rear suspension and an aluminium frame. And it looks really sharp.

Bullit bikes are designed in Belgium and built in China, but this is no mail order operation. There’s a reasonably big dealer network, and Chinese motorcycle build quality is improving all the time. (Maybe not to iPhone levels, but certainly better than it was a few years ago.)

In the UK the initial pitch for the Hero 50 is towards teenage riders who have just got their licence, but we reckon it’ll also gain fans amongst the older crowd who need a short-distance commuter bike. And the cost of admission is only a little more than a yearly Travelcard ticket on the wider London public transport network. Go figure … [Bullit Motorcycles]

Honda TMX 150 tracker by Revolt Cycles The Philippines is a huge market for motorcycles, and it’s full of bikes we never see in the west. In the 1970s, Honda launched a range called the TMX (for ‘Tricycle Model Xtreme’), a series of air-cooled singles that persisted until five years ago.

The bikes are cheap and reliable, and therefore easy fodder for local custom builders. This tracker-style 150 is one of the best we’ve seen, and comes from Revolt Cycles of Cebu.

Revolt’s client was Australian, and arranged for a brand new TMX 150 to be sent to Revolt from the local Honda dealership. After briefly toying with the idea of a café racer conversion, it was decided that a street tracker was a much better option.

Revolt painted the wheels black, installed Shinko 705 dual sport rubber, and stripped off all the plastic apart from the tank. The custom seat covers a discreet battery box, the electrics are now hooked up to an analog speedo and a compact headlight, and the engine breathes through pod filters and a custom stainless exhaust. Simple, and tight. [More]

A Tote Gote for sale We’ve got a thing for minibikes and Silodrome have a knack for ferreting out obscure examples of the type. This latest oddity is the ‘Tote Gote’ from the mid 1950s, the brainchild of an enthusiastic hunter called Ralph Bonham who wanted a go-anywhere machine to reduce the effort involved in hunting around the Utah mountains.

He came up with a simple steel frame, used tough Briggs & Stratton engines, and even developed a trailer that farmers could use to haul heavier loads.

The Tote Gote never broke any speed records, but it won a small and enthusiastic fan club—and remained in production until the 1970s.

This example has a 5¾ hp engine, is in pretty good nick, and is up for auction at Mecum with no reserve. If you’ve got a bit of land, and want something a little simpler than a Rokon Trail-Breaker, get your bid in now. [Via]

Motorcycles

via Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/2Mf9b0c

September 29, 2019 at 12:32PM