Biker Events and News: Bike Reviews

Showing posts with label Bike Reviews. Show all posts

Friday, December 6, 2013

Royal Enfield: Continental GT

Those of you who were teenagers in the 1960's will remember Royal Enfield bikes... but they're better, now. The Continental GT is a sure cure for any masculine mid-life crisisSouth Africa's ironic ranks of thumper-riders have been keenly awaiting the local launch of the Royal Enfield Continental GT, first launched at the Ace Café in London in September 2013 and recently at the 2013 Durban auto show.

Riders of more modern bikes may scoff at Royal Enfield's (RE) advertisements that this motorcycle is their "fastest, lightest, most powerful yet" with "a more streamlined silhouette", but MD of RE South Africa Brice Bizzel touted the company line, saying the Continental GT is "a nod to motorcycling's finest hour" and "the best expression yet of a cultural phenomenon that has simply refused to fade away - the café racer".

FIVE YEARS, GAS SHOCKS

Anyone who remembers that hour would have been a teenager in the 1960's and is right now throwing cash at anything that will bring back those memories of energy and tautness. To be sure, few machines are better-suited to stave of a mid-life crisis than the Royal Enfield's café racer. It has digital electric ignition for normal days but, for those special days when a rider needs to display his virility, a kick-start.

Torque is sufficient at 44Nm at 4000rpm with peak power a sedate 21.4kW at 5100 rpm. Five gears, gas shocks and a pillion seat complete the package. With the single piston steadily thumping away like a 535cc pacemaker, this 184kg bike is strictly for cruising to and parking at a fast-food joint that understands the importance of deep-frying in hot oil.

'WE GET ALL AGES...'

While on the topic of oil, sales manager Gareth Hope-Bailie said all RE's have been re-engineered and no longer mark their territory with a liberal dripping of refined crude. "They now claim everywhere as their territory," he said, fondly patting the saddle seat of a Classic 500.

He shrugged off a question about the GT being a machine for those in a mid-life crisis, saying if it were that simple his marketing job would be easy. "We get all ages, from young people who just commute to the weekend tourers, to one client who just parks the bike in his lounge."

Only 15 Continental GT's have been ordered for South Africa for now. They are priced at around R70 000 though with the number of test rides booked by the thumper ranks already double the national supply and a year-long waiting list in India for any Royal Enfield model, expect that price to rise a tad.

Original post @ http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Royal-Enfield-Raising-the-flag-20131120

Monday, October 7, 2013

Ducati has twins - 899 Panigale

BOLOGNA, Italy - The Ducati 899 Panigale was presented to the news media at the Ducati factory in Bologna, Italy, a few days after its preview at the VW Group Night in Frankfurt, Germany, ahead of the 2013 Frankfurt auto show.

The Italian motorcycle company is part of the Audi Group, of which VW is also a part.

Ducati Motor Holding’s recently appointed CEO Claudio Domenicali explained the new 899 Panigale model in detail and, a year after from the Audi Group acquisition, provided the first official overview of progress achieved by the company despite a challenging and delicate European motorcycle market.

TWO YEARS' RECORD SALES

“Ducati achieved record sales in 2011 and 2012," he said, "with more than 44 000 motorcycles delivered. Despite the current market dip, we have almost equalled those sales for the first six months of 2013 and, with the introduction of new models in the second half of the year, we're expecting positive results.

“The new Hyperstrada became available in showrooms from early June while the 899 Panigale will become available in October 2013. With 90% of our production now being exported, the US has firmly taken over from Italy as our top market, leading us to believe that our growth trend will continue throughout 2014.

"As for racing, we certainly cannot claim to be happy with the current results, but our goal is to bridge the gap that currently separates us from the leaders. We are already working on the new Desmosedici for 2014, when we want to be in a position to fight for podium finishes."

But back to the new 899 Panigale...

'SAFE - AND GREAT FUN!'Domenicali said: “The 899 Panigale is a prime example of the technological excellence of our motorcycles, the reward of what we call ‘performance redefined’, a modern, innovative sports motorcycle which uses ground-breaking technology to ingeniously adjust to everyday use.

"It's user-friendly, safety-enhanced and great fun. A motorcycle as thrilling as only a Ducati can be. This important concept will carry on into our future production and our range expansion plans, focusing on the concept of performance that we intend to extend upwards to create even more sophisticated, race-derived models, and downwards to cater for the market of 'easier' and more accessible models.”"

The 899 Panigale made its first public appearance at the San Marino Republic round of the 2013 MotoGP championship on Sunday September 15.

"The 899 Panigale," Ducati says, "is the start of a new era for Ducati superbikes and intended to provide a new way to access that exclusive world. The Panigale is a 'supermid' version of the award-winning 1199 Panigale, designed to provide the thrill of the new generation flagship with the refined character of an street bike."

DNA IN SILHOUETTE

Its new Superquadro engine has a revised bore/stroke for a broad power/torque delivery of 109kW/98Nm and is a fully stressed member of the innovative Panigale monocoque construction, achieving both an outstanding power-to-weight ratio and ride-enhancing agility with a dry weight of 169kg.

An 1199 silhouette underlines the family DNA and the bikes comes with Ducati Quick Shift and 'ride mode' technologies, three-stage anti-lock brakes and traction control.

"Ducati now offers all-round performance for connoisseurs," the bikemakers says, "an authentic and stylish way to enter the world of high performance. The 899 Panigale will be available from late October in Europein traditional Ducati red with black wheels or a stunning arctic white silk with red wheels.

Original Article and more images can be viewed at: http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels/Ducati-has-twins-899-Panigale-20130915