YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LIFE ON TWO WHEELS January 2020 Issue 32
On Two Wheels
Learners
Commuters
Buying
Riding
LOCK ‘EM UP Motorcycle theft is a big problem – but to help you protect your pride and joy we’ve teamed up with Milenco to give you the inside scoop on its newest range of motorcycle security
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IN THIS ISSUE
ADVENTURE
TUBBY TYRE
The Basic One – a cool commuter
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oto Lexmo Tempe est 125
Cut-price commuter with serio ous scramblerr styling
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CFMoto 300NK
Lean, mean (street) fighting machine for under £3500
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WINTER WARMERS
You don’t have to stop riding when the weather takes a turn for the worse. To help you stay warm on two wheels, here’s a look at a range of heated clothing from Keis
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KTM’s entry-level dual-purpose motorcycle is a highly significant development
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INSIDE: NEWS IN BRIEF ● EVENTS ● SHOP WINDOW ● E-BIKE NEWS ● PRODUCT REVIEWS ● TIPS & ADVICE ● BULLIT BRAND FOCUS ● LEGAL ADVICE ● MIB GARAGE ● PLUS MUCH MORE
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NEWS
www.o2w.co.uk 3 Want to share your latest news with our readers? Email pictures and details to editor@o2w.co.uk
Mahindra acquires 100% of Peugeot Motocycles
It’s just been announced that Mahindra Two Wheelers has taken full control of Peugeot Motocycles. The Indian-based Mahindra Two Wheelers group has held a 51% stake in the French manufacturer since 2015 – but it’s just been revealed that it’s taking full control. Moving forward, the plan is to strengthen the presence of the brand in Europe, while at the same time expanding reach into new markets – with the introduction of seven new machines over the next two years. Despite the sale, it’s worth noting that Peugeot Motocycles’ HQ will be staying in Mandeure in France, with the existing staff continuing to look after the running of the company. Speaking about the acquisition, Rajesh Jejurikar, President, FES & Two Wheelers and Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, said: “We’re seeing positive momentum at Peugeot Motocycles. Kisbee becoming the largest-selling 50cc vehicle in Europe,
Peugeot Metropolis getting stronger in Europe and China, and the positive market response to the new launch of the Urban GT connected Pulsion are all cases in point. We fully support PMTC’s Performance 2020 and look forward to the future with enhanced optimism.” Jean-Philippe Imparato, Peugeot Brand CEO, added: “This decision by the shareholders will ensure that Peugeot Motocycles benefits from the expertise of a significant global player in the two wheelers industry. We at Peugeot will maintain our commitment through our utilisation of the Peugeot brand and extend our support to design and technological innovations.” Mahindra’s been busy over the last few years – and Peugeot’s a great addition to its stable, alongside its acquisition of the rights to sell BSA, Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles in the Indian market through its subsidiary Classic Legends.
Car licence Tricity 300 revealed
Yamaha has just taken the next step in its ‘Leaning Multi Wheel’ line-up – confirming that the Tricity 300 is coming for 2020. Aside from the LMW technology, the big news for the newest urban commuter from the Japanese factory is that it can be ridden without owning a motorcycle licence. You’ll need a full car licence instead – which means the Tricity 300 will be accessible to an even wider audience, as it goes up against the likes of Peugeot’s Metropolis and Piaggio’s MP3.
On Two Wheels
On2Wheels, The Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529529 Email: editor@o2w.co.uk Editor: Mau Spencer On2Wheels is published by Mortons Media Group Ltd and printed by Mortons Print
Powered by a ‘BLUE CORE’ engine, the Tricity comes with a modelspecific Leaning Multi Wheel steering linkage to help the 300’s leaning front wheels offer natural cornering with high levels of traction (even on wet or slippery surfaces). At this stage, that’s about as much as we know about Yamaha’s new three wheel machine. Thankfully we’re not going to have to wait too much longer to find out, with pricing and availability sure to be confirmed sooner rather than later.
Publishing Director: Dan Savage Publisher: Tim Hartley Staff writer: Ross Mowbray Contributors: Alan Cathcart, Gary Chapman, Mech It Better (John Hanson & Ciarán Baker), Andrew ‘Chef’ Prendergast, John Sharratt, Jonathan Schofield. Apologies to anyone we’ve forgotten Editorial design: Fran Lovely Picture desk: Paul Fincham and Jonathan Schofield Production Editor: Michael Cowton Group Advertising Manager: Sue Keily Divisional Advertising Manager: Zoe Thurling Advertising: Emma Buxton-Rockley ebuxton-rockley@mortons.co.uk | 01507 529410 Marketing Manager: Charlotte Park Commercial Director: Nigel Hole Customer Services number: 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm
German Parliament to lower moped licence age After the Federal Cabinet and the Federal Council, the Bundestag has now approved of the initiative of the Minister of Transport of a general lowering of the entry age of 16 to 15 for the moped licence. Primarily it’s aimed at helping younger residents of structurally weak regions (without extensive bus and rail networks) to make their way to schools or apprenticeships. Back in 2013, an experiment was set in motion which allowed young people in Germany’s eastern federal states to obtain an AM driving licence for scooters and mopeds up to 50cc from the age of 15. Running until 2020, the Bundestag and the Ministry of Transport have already approved the law for a nationwide rollout. But it’s going to be left up to the individual states to decide whether to implement the new law or not. By the sound of it, it is fairly likely that the eastern states will choose to permanently reduce the age threshold following its seven-year
trial – and according to news reports, North Rhine-Westphalia has confirmed it’s going to roll out the new law, too. We’re seriously impressed with the German authorities’ decision to make it
Fancy a 50cc scrambler that’s this cool? This Bullit Hero Fifty is a 50cc motorcycle – but it looks like a proper bit of kit. Since when have 50cc motorbikes been this cool? And from the looks alone this is going to be on the wish list of many newbie riders in the coming years. We’ve already seen the pre-production version of this bike, but this version looks even better. It isn’t lacking in the tech department, either – it’s got a double overhead camshaft with 4-valves; it’s air-cooled; has a 5-speed gearbox; and an electric starter. The snazzy small capacity motorcycle also gets upside-down forks, single rear shock with a 17" rear wheel and an 18" front. The long aluminium swing arm looks great and the whole bike comes in the colour scheme you can see here. Price-wise, it’s on a bit of a winner, too. To get your hands on this very lovely looking thing will set you back €2,499 (which is just over a couple of grand).
easier for young people to get on two wheels. What do you think? Should the British government be making the same commitment, and letting 15-yearolds loose on two wheels?
NEWS
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New colours for the Himalayan
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HONDA’S
new Rebel Royal Enfield has revealed three new dual tone colour options for its hugely successful, stripped-back Himalayan. There’s Black and Red, Blue and White, and Grey and Black (not shown). And they look great. Ok, so at this stage, there’s no guarantee that the new colour options for the Himalayan will make it to market, but we’re keeping our fingers firmly crossed that they’ll make it into British dealers for 2020.
RANGE UPGRADE
Royal Enfield is also currently working on upgrading its entire
range, ahead of the new Euro 5 emission regulations coming into play. It’s rumoured that the Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 will be updated first, followed by the rest of its range (including the Himalayan). And while there were no new official production bikes unveiled by Royal Enfield at the recent bike shows, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to see something new from the Indian factory for 2020. And we’re hoping that one of them will be the larger capacity Himalayan 650. Only time will tell.
Royal Enfield has just released a series of videos which break down basic maintenance tasks for its Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650. It’s not always easy to work on modern motorcycles, but with the increasing popularity of Royal Enfield’s retro-style machines and a return to comparative simplicity, the Indian factory has released a series of videos to help you look after your 650 twin. The DIY maintenance videos aim to help owners perform a range of basic tasks to keep their pride and joy running in tip-top condition. If you’re replacing a blown bulb, removing the front wheel to fix a puncture, cleaning and lubricating the chain, troubleshooting,
adjusting the throttle cable, cleaning or replacing the spark plug, removing the rear wheel, inspecting the oil or adjusting the clutch cable, Royal Enfield has got you covered. In addition to explaining the process, the videos also detail the tools you’d need to carry out the maintenance job. We think it’s a brilliant idea from the Anglo-Indian brand, which has undergone a bit of resurgence over the past few years with its range of stripped back, retrostyled motorcycles. And instead of making a grab for cash and sending punters running to a dealer when a bit of work needs doing, it’s equipping RE riders with the skills to look after their own bike. Credit to them.
The next generation A2 licence cruiser motorcycle has been revealed by Honda – the new Euro 5 compliant A2 licence-friendly 471cc Rebel. Honda’s learner-friendly cruiser has been updated for 2020 to be brought in line with Euro 5 emissions regulations. But there are a handful of other changes too, including revised suspension, full LED lighting, a new gear position indicator, a slipper clutch and a more comfortable seat. Powered by the same 471cc 8-valve, liquid-cooled parallel twin-cylinder engine as the CBR500R, the Rebel comes with revised PGM-FI fuel injection mapping and different valve and ignition timings to shift its character away from high rpmfocused performance to torque-heavy bottom-end output. It kicks out a maximum torque of 43.3Nm at 6,000rpm and peak power of 45hbp at 8,500rpm. The Rebel comes with a 45mm diameter tubular steel swing-arm,
No news on pricing availability or ju but we’re e st yet, xpecting Honda to re ve informatio al more n pretty soon.
which works together with twin shock absorbers (that come with 5-step preload settings). The shocks are now nitrogen-charged, with revised spring rate and reshaped damper rubbers for firmer, more consistent damping. It also comes with revised fork spring rates and oil quantities to help offer more compliant damping for a smoother ride. The 16-inch cast aluminium wheels are clad with a set of fat Dunlop tyres, and there’s a 296mm front disc with a twin-piston caliper at the front and a single-piston caliper at the rear looking after the braking. The new Rebel is available in Matte Jeans Blue Metallic, Graphite Black, Matte Axis Grey Metallic or Millennium Red, but if you fancy making it your own, there are a range of accessories available direct from Honda. And the pillion pad and rear footpegs are easily removable, so there’s a lot of flexibility depending on what you want to create.
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SHOW NEWS
As O2W discovered, this year’s bike shows were dominated by visions of the past.
Italjet Dragster Super Soco continue their electric dominance
Another retro classic – Honda’s new Cub
Incredibly, the early Italjet Dragsters now qualify for classic status, but that doesn’t mean it’s a name consigned to the past. One of the most eagerly awaited launches at this year’s show was the new Dragster and who better to hear about the specification from than Jorge Barbosa, the man tasked with leading the Dragster’s rebirth. “The Dragster is an important part of our company heritage,” began Jorge, “and it was vital that we retained its unique elements. The lattice frame is now reinforced with aluminium fillets to ensure a balance of strength and weight, whilst the forkless front suspension offers superb rider feedback by separating steering and damping actions. Handling is sharp, thanks to the tank being located between the foot platforms, which lowers the centre of gravity. We have also fitted a 12” wheel to the front and 13” to the rear, which forces weight forwards, enhancing the rider experience.” Two-stroke fans will be disappointed that the new Dragster achieves emission compliance by using water-cooled four-stroke
Jorge Barbosa – the man behind the Dragster Aprilia-derived engines. However, with 15 and 20bhp being generated by the 125 and 200cc options, there’s still plenty of scope for fun. It’s promised that the machine will be built in Italy and the list of component suppliers includes Bitubo, Brembo and Magneti Marelli. Launch prices have been quoted at €5,000 for the 125 and €5,500 for the 200cc version. A special edition of 499 first production machines has been
Energica Ego – 150mph of battery-powered fun
It’s back! announced, but prospective buyers need to move quickly as a quarter of those sold within four hours of the site going live. Deliveries are expected to start in the second quarter of 2020, with the majority of sales heading towards the Asian market. Marketed as the ‘Urban Super Bike’, the new Dragster exudes quality and excitement whilst offering little in terms of practicality. In summary, it’s a worthy successor to the original!
Italian brands ooze quality
Lambretta goes large
Blast from the past
It’s only two years since Royal Alloy first launched their model range, but the company continues to build on a rapidly rising reputation. This year saw it launch the ‘Tigara Grande’ (TG), a machine that unashamedly draws inspiration from the early 1960s Series 2 Lambretta. Far from being a re-clothing of their existing models, the TG has been the subject of an extensive design process. The result is convincing; even the rear indicators masquerade as the original’s side panel handles. Both attention to detail and finish are excellent with the only substantial plastic being found in the front mudguard and toolbox. Although TG deliveries aren’t expected until 2020, the 300cc engine
STAR OF THE SHOWS
Royal Alloy – Back to the Future option is already available in the brand’s Grand Prix range. Trade sources confirm that this is a revised version of the old Piaggio unit that’s being manufactured in the Far East.
The trend for resurrecting brands from the past continues apace and having relaunched two years ago, Lambretta chose Milan to unveil its flagship ‘G325’. Although there’s a strong family resemblance to its smaller sibling the ‘Urban’ V Special, the 325cc’s design is completely new. Gone is the stubby rear end, which more resembled its historic rival, the Vespa. This has been replaced by a sleeker look, whilst the front end becomes more muscular in appearance. If the display model is anything to go by its build quality looks good with an excellent paint finish. The model is aimed at the premium market and the design team promises minimal use of plastics with construction being mainly of steel and alloy. Given the design sells itself
on an increased engine size, it was surprising to hear that no power plant had been confirmed. Although the British market has been somewhat apathetic to the V Special, the design seems popular in Asia and it’s in New Delhi that the electric version will soon be launched.
Lambretta’s new G325 scooter has Vespa’s GTS in its sights
Piaggio's progress One company looking to the future was Piaggio, whose stand featured a number of new models and special editions. Notable amongst these was the Medley, which gains not only a facelift, but also the latest generation of i-Get engines. The Beverly has also been updated and a high-specification 350cc Tourer is added to the range.
Yamaha’s new Tricity 300
These Peugeot concept models have both café racers and commuters in their sights
SYM’s range continues to grow
Sixties Racers for 2020
Honda’s XBR lump lives on in the Mash range
Keeway – affordable style
As the Vespa GTS was only relaunched last year it’s not entirely unsurprising that revisions are restricted to new paint schemes. These scooters have now been launched as the ‘Sixties Racers’, and feature bold graphics inspired by the legendary Gulf schemes.
Wotherspoon Vespa – love it or hate it
In an effort to attract the attention of younger riders, a collaboration with artist Sean Wotherspoon was also unveiled. If the significance of that needs to be explained, then you’re probably not hip enough to own one...
02WEVENTS
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ARE YOU HOLDING A MOTORCYCLERELATED EVENT?
Send details (plus images) to editor@o2w.co.uk and we will publish it here. (E&OE – please check with organisers before travelling.)
Brush off those winter blues!
If you want to shake off the after-effects of Christmas and experience some New Year joy, then you need to head to Newark Showground over the weekend of January 11-12, 2020, for the Carole Nash sponsored Winter Classic event. The Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic (to give it its full name) goes from strength to strength every year and for the 2020 event, the star guest has been confirmed as WSB and GP hero Frankie Chili. The show promises to provide something for everyone whatever your interest is in two wheels. This is reflected over in the Scooter World/ Retro Halls where the organisers are planning a special display of their own. Here the Dave Dickinson Kustom (DDK) stand will take centre stage and will be displaying a stunning selection of top-quality custom scooters and motorcycles from around the UK. What will be on display at the show will just be a small example of the quality of the work carried out by DDK, as all the bikes displayed have won trophies or featured in various scooter and motorcycle magazines.
Be in it to win it
Sticking with what’s going on in the Retro Halls, the plans are already moving forward and include the expansion of the Scooter World Custom Show with the provision of a wider range of trophies, each with a monetary prize attached to them. All scooter club and private scooter entries are eligible for judging, but
ENTER YOUR SCOOTER & GET A FREE PIN BADGE!
some will only fall into certain classes; monetary prize values are shown in brackets: BEST SCOOTER IN SHOW (plus £100) BEST SCOOTER DISPLAY (plus £100) BEST NEW BUILD CUSTOM (plus £50) This will be a recently built custom scooter that has not won any show trophies. BEST OLD SKOOL CUSTOM (plus £50) This will be a custom scooter that has previously won show trophies. BEST LAMBRETTA (plus £50)
BEST VESPA (plus £50) BEST SCOOTER STREET RACER (plus £50) BEST ORIGINAL-LOOKING (plus £50) BEST ENGINEERED (plus £50) BEST MOD-STYLE (plus £50) BEST RAT/RUSTO (plus £50) SCOOTER WORLD SPECIAL AWARD (plus £50) Anything catching the judges' attention). 10 ‘Highly Commended’ rosettes also to be awarded.
All private scooter entrants and scooter club members will receive a free specially designed pin badge (not applicable to trade stalls displaying scooters). So if you want to enter, now is the time to do it. An online entry form can be found at the following links: Private: www.newarkclassicbikeshow.com/ private-booking Clubs: www.newarkclassicbikeshow. com/club-booking/ ● Get your entry in now!
The Carole Nash sponsored Classic Bike Guide ‘Winter Classic’ event takes place at Newark County Showground NG24 2NY, where the Scooter World Retro Halls now form a major part of the show.
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PRODUCT SHOP WINDOW Furygan Fury Airbag System
RST Tech X Technical Top
RRP: Airbag vest - £379.99 | Airbag inflatoor - £89.99
RRP: £32.99
RST’s Tech X top has been created from CP-U fabric to keep you comfortable no matter the conditions – whether its soaking up sweat in the scorching sunshine or keeping you warm when the temperature takes a turn for the worse. It’s a clever bit of kit that’s available with either long or short sleeves. • Info: www.moto-direct.com
Clarke COB10C Work Light RRP: £21.59
Are you planning to whittle away the winter months in the workshop, tinkering with your pride and joy, or fettling a new project? Clarke’s 800 lumen COB10C LED Work Light could be just what you need to keep working when the light draws in. It comes bundled with a floor stand and carry handle – and has a 20,000-hour life expectancy. • Info: www.machinemart.co.uk
Premier X-Trail Helmet RRP: from £199.95
Looking for a new lid that’s as happy touring as it is on the trails? Premier Helmets X-Trail lid could be what you’re looking for. With a dual-sport design, a peeak and removable visor, you’d be forgivven for thinking it’s been created exclu usively for off-road adventures. But it also comes with a flip front mechan nism built in too. Constructed from thermoplasstic, it features a range of vents and exx hausts for airflow, comes with a removvable and washable interior lining, an n anti-scratch clear visor, a Pinlock anti-fog insert, a dark smoke drop-down internal sun visor and a quick-release micrometric chin strap. What more could you need? • Info: www.thekeycollection.co.uk
Furygan has partnered with In&Motion to introduce the Fury Airbag System – an airbag vest which zips inside a range of compatible Furygan jackets. Designed to protect the neck, back, ches chest and abdomen areas, the Fury Airbaag protects areas often left vuln nerable in the event of a crash or im mpact. Thee vest’s ‘brain’ is an In&Motion unit, which measures the position of thee user 1000 times per second and w works with an algorithm that’s alwaays improving with the more data it’s given. If the algorithm belieeves that you are in an accident, it dep ploys and the bag is inflated in 60 m milliseconds. The airbag stays infl flated to prevent any resulting injury and to protect the user om any further injuries after fro he accident. th The system (which takes three hours to fully charge) will offer h up u to 25 hours of active riding and a 15 days on Auto standby mode, and once connected with Wi-Fi or mobile data, will automatically look for updates. There are different modes for road and track, too. • Info: Inf www.nevis.uk.com
Shiny Sauce and DMC Motorcycles help bikers go green RRP: £8.99 for a bottle | £6 for a refill
Eco-friendly motorcycle cleaner Shiny Sauce has launched its new refillable bottles. The latest addition to its product line-up allows bikers to visit their local Shiny Sauce stockist and replenish their empties from a 200-litre metal drum in store. Shiny Sauce is an all-in-one green alternative to traditional bike cleaners. It’s biodegradable, water-based and pHneutral, which can clean off the toughest of ingrained dirt, no matter the surface. • Info: www.shinysauce.com
Klim K5 Koroyd Adventure Helmet
RRP: £499
Richa Ladies Catwalk Leather Trousers RRP: £249.99
One of the most common complaints made by female riders or pillions is that bike clothing is rarely made to fit women so they have to rely on smaller men's sizes, which are obviously not cut for the female form. Enter Richa's new Catwalk leather trousers. The trousers have D30 Level 1 CE-approved armour in the knees and Kevlar stretch panels all the way up the backs of the legs and in the waist band for both flexibility and a tight fit. They have a mesh lining to make them easy to slip on and off and to help keep you cool, and there are two unzipped pockets at the front. The Catwalks also come with a short zip on the back so they can be attached to various leather or textile jackets. • Info: www.nevis.uk.com
Klim has recently released its F5 Koroyd Adventure Helmet. And it’s the first motorcycle helmet to replace sections of the internal absorption liner with Koroyd tubes, which the American brand claim are safer, more robust and better ventilated than EPS. Building on its existing F5 adventure helmet, Klim’s added a Koroyd lining. Koroyd is made up of hundreds of tiny tubes, which are m d from made f short h t sections ti off a plastic l ti p polymer.
Vespa 300HPE ABS Pulsar Ring RRP: £26.99
The tubes are then stuckk together to form a honeycom mb, which is cut into sheets and d placed inside the helmet. On n impact, the Koroyd weelded tubes buckle – deceleraating energy and protectingg the wearer in much the same way as an EPS liner. In low impact sittuations the Koroyd tubes are able to bounce back. Clever. • Info: www. adventure-spec. com
PM Tuning has developed a new performance ABS pulsar ring (PM9409) for the Vespa GTS 300HPE. This corrects the issue of the standard ring causing the ECU/rev limiter activating early, thus reducing the top end due to the road speed being reported incorrectly. PM has corrected the algorithmic spacing so that the speed is accurately calculated and the correct data is sent to the ECU/rev limiter. The kit comes complete with full fitting and recalibration instructions. • Info: www.pmtuning.co.uk/ pm9709
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NEWS Customised Zero 10 www.o2w.co.uk
motorcycles
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E-Racer Motorcycles has just released two funky electric bikes built from the bones of a Zero SR/F and Zero FXS.
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We’re seriously impressed with the E-Racer Edge. Blending modern technology with classic design, the Italian manufacturer has used a Zero SR/F as a base to create a seriously special, stripped-back bit of kit. The Edge (pics marked A) gets a small LED headlamp, a new seat (made in-house), new brake components, new spring elements, and some superbike-spec bars from
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LSL. That’s not all. For safety, E-Racer has developed a sound system to make the Edge audible. If you’re interested in kitting out your own Zero SR/F, you’ll be looking at spending €6,000 (just over £5,000) for all the necessary bits and pieces . When you consider that the bike costs €17,990 in its standard form, it’s an expensive proposition. But who cares, it looks great.
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The second bike, the E-Racer Rugged (pics marked B), was first shown at EICMA 2018 in prototype form. Built around a Zero FXS Special, the slimmed-down scrambler gets LED lights, an underseat USB port, handguards, upgraded suspension, an additional sub frame and some serious off-road rubber. And it looks ready to tackle anything. The standard Zero FXS ‘Special’ has been used by the military, and the
The Cake Ösa Make sure you’re sitting down when you read the price of this thing. Following the release of its Kalk dirt-bike style electric machine, Swedish bike builders Cake has released details of its newest project: the Ösa. This one’s a little bit left field. It’s certainly not a looker, but with a claimed 1000 possible configurations, there’s no denying it’s a clever bit of kit that could help get more people on two wheels. Described by Cake as 'a clean and efficient utility vehicle, with propulsion included and the ability to drive through the countryside', the Ösa is essentially an electric modular motorcycle available with either a 1.5kWh or 2.6 kWh battery. The bigger unit should be able to return up to 100km (62 miles), and help the bike get up to a top speed of 100kph (a fairly respectable 62mph). But can you imagine going 60mph on this thing? Punters can also choose from a range of options to create a Cake Ösa that best suits their needs, adding luggage, racks, clamps and a second seat. The battery will also serve as a
Rugged looks to take that resilience one step further. Again, the parts for the Rugged will cost around €6,000 (about £5,000), with the standard machine priced at just shy of €11,000. The first five models of the Edge and Rugged will be delivered in spring 2020, so if you’re interested in getting your hands on one as soon as possible, you had better move fast. • More info: www.e-racer.it/
SEAT’s e-Scooter concept
generator, so if you need to power tools or gadgets, you can plug them straight into the bike. And once it’s flat, it’ll recharge in just three hours from a normal domestic plug. It’s not cheap though, with prices starting from €4,500 for the base model Ösa Lite without any bolt-on
bits. The Ösa + is priced at €6,500 for the base model, but you can spend well over €10,000 for a kitted-out machine with a big battery. They’re not available in dealers just yet, though. The first models are expected to roll out in March 2020. • More info: www.ridecake.com
What do you think to this then? It’s got 240Nm of torque on tap! The pretty funky e-Scooter concept by car giant SEAT has hit the ground running with a good-looking plug-in version of a modern commuter scoot. Coming from the SEAT Urban Mobility company (which is managing everything for the company’s eponymous range) the e-Scooter concept has a 7kW motor, which develops 14.8bhp, making it a 125cc petrol-powered equivalent. SEAT says that the run-around can get from 0 to 31mph in 3.8 seconds and has a huge 240Nm of torque. Wheelie-central then. The battery can be removed and charged off the bike, or it can be kept in situ and charged using the built-in charger. According to SEAT, the
e-Scooter can do 62 miles of travel for €0.7. Whilst the e-Scooter has only been shown as a concept at the moment, expect to see this arrive in finished production form at some point in 2020.
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FIRST RIDE
AM LICENCE Tubby Tyre Scooter Company’s
‘The Basic One’ Are you after a cool commuter to cut through traffic and save time and money on your daily commute? Over the last few years we’ve been increasingly impressed with the ever-growing range of electric bikes making it into the market – and we’ve tested a lot of them. From futuristic commuters through to lightweight dirt bikes (and everything in between), we thought we’d seen it all. But there’s a new player in the game – the Tubby Tyre Scooter Company – and they’re doing things a little differently. There are three models in their line-up, and two of them – the ‘Basic One’ and the ‘One Everyone Wants’ – are completely road legal. You’ll have to complete your CBT to ride one, but for around £100 you can book yourself on a course and within a day be ready to ride on the Tarmac. There’s also a ‘No-Road One’ which, as you’ve probably worked out, is intended for use on private land away from the road. SPECIFICATION
Tubby Tyres – ‘Basic One’ MOTOR: 1000W BATTERY: 60v 12Ah TOP SPEED: 28mph MAX TORQUE: 95Nm CLAIMED RANGE: Up to 30 miles CHARGE TIME: 6-8 hours TYRES: 18” x 9” tubby tyres BRAKES: Hydraulic disc front/rear WEIGHT: 65kg SEAT HEIGHT: 700mm WARRANTY: 12 months PRICE: £1,250 CONTACT: www.tubby-tyre-scooter-company.co.uk O2W RATING:
★★★★★★★★★★
We spent a couple of weeks with the ‘Basic One’ putting it through its paces on the daily commute, whizzing around town and splicing through traffic to see how well it stacks up against the current crop of cut-price electric commuters.
No frills, but plenty of thrills
As the e-scooter’s name suggests, it’s basic, but that’s no bad thing. Settling into its single seat for the first time, it’s a thoroughly unintimidating place to be; simple and straightforward. And for its intended market that makes a lot of sense. Away from the running gear and chassis, it comes with a speedometer, a battery status monitor, indicators, lights and a horn. That’s about it, but then again, what more do you need? It’s powered by a 1kW rear hub motor- with the battery hidden away in the scooter's footboard. It’s a surprisingly punchy little unit, helping deliver quick acceleration up to its 28mph top speed. It’s no rocket ship, but it’s quick enough to get the jump on traffic at the lights and pull out of junctions with a twist of the throttle – and even as a seasoned motorcyclist, its initial burst of power was enough to put a smile on my face. Its hydraulic disc brakes are up to the job, too. They’re not particularly sophisticated, but then again they don’t need to be. They stopped me quickly and safely with no trouble, even when I tried my best to catch them out. It’s worth noting that using the brakes kills the rear motor. It’s a
sensible safety feature, but as a biker I often lightly drag the rear brake to tighten my turns and on the Tubby Tyre Scooter Company’s machine I couldn’t. It’s not unique to this scooter in particular though, as every other electric commuter I’ve ridden works the same. I’ll admit, as a daily motorcycle rider I did find that the scooter’s handling took a little bit of getting used to. With the ‘tubby’ steep walled tyres, it’s actually quite difficult to get much of a lean on, but with a little adjustment to my riding style and a fraction more steering than I’m used to, I soon found a groove and was hustling the little scooter with no hassle. There’s no suspension as standard on the ‘Basic One’, and as a result I was expecting the ride to be a little rough. But it wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong, barrelling over speed bumps and potholes isn’t great, but the flex from the frame that the seat sits atop helps to offer a surprisingly comfortable ride. It’s claimed that the battery will last for around 30 miles, which in theory is more than enough for a short daily commute, a quick blast on a Sunday afternoon or to nip down the shops. I didn’t quite manage the 30 miles, and the scooter and I ended up limping home after around 15 miles, but then again, I was riding it flat out at every opportunity. It’ll take between six and eight hours to charge from flat using a standard UK socket. It is worth noting that you have to charge the battery in situ by attaching a cable to the underside of the scooter.
Converted to cool
With its ‘tubby’ tyres, stripped-back frame and simplistic design, the Tubby Tyre Scooter Company’s machines aren’t going to be for everyone. But after two weeks together, I’m converted. It’s as cheap, if not cheaper than the vast majority of its most obvious competition, and it definitely stands out from the crowd. It’s a funky looking fella; easy to ride, cheap to run, quick enough to keep up with traffic in town, and light enough and compact enough to be stuck in the back of your car, caravan or camper if you were heading on holiday. I had a blast bombing around on the ‘Basic One’ – and I reckon you might, too.
Words: Ross Images: Gary Chapman
Accessories There’s a range of optional accessories for the Tubby Tyre Scooter Company’s ‘The Basic One’, which you can add when you order your scooter. Alarm: £40 Bluetooth: £30 Front Suspension: £95 Rear Suspension: £95 2000W motor with 20Ah battery: £250 Double seat with seat back: £45
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PRE-PRODUCTION PROTOTYPE RIDE
Accessible Adventurer KTM's entry-level dual-purpose 390 Adventure touring model is a highly significant development. Alan Cathcart was the first outsider to ride it prior to its EICMA launch, revealing it to be a genuine multi-purpose motorcycle.
Since production began in 2011 of KTM’s 125/200 Dukes, followed by the 390 Duke and various RC sportsbike siblings, 515,000 KTMs have been built at its Bajaj partner’s Indian factory. According to company President/CEO, Stefan Pierer, volume has gradually built. In 2018 alone, over 100,000 bikes left the production lines, around half bound for India and Indonesia; the rest went around the world from Australia to America. None of those Indian-built KTMs were descended from the dualpurpose on-/off-road bikes that made KTM so successful in the marketplace (an absence attributed to Bajaj boss, Rajiv Bajaj’s lack of conviction that demand existed for such machines in his company’s massive home market. One can only conject that the advent of the 411cc Royal Enfield Himalayan and Indian-built BMW G310 GS may have helped change his mind – that, and Stefan Pierer’s talents for persuasion. That absence is now being addressed, with the recent EICMA Milan show launch of the first small-capacity KTM go-anywhere bike, the 390 Adventure, due to hit dealer showrooms in March 2020. Primarily developed in KTM’s R&D Centre in Mattighofen, it will be manufactured in India. While using the 390 Duke as a platform, its distinctive design is derived from the company’s dominant rally bikes, which have won the iconic Dakar race 18 years in a row. KTM's Senior Product Manager for Off-Road, Joachim Sauer, said: “There was so much demand for a smaller Adventure that we developed a concept bike we were prepared to put
into production ourselves with engines sourced from India, even if the price would inevitably be higher. In the end we convinced Bajaj to make an affordable all-rounder with a smaller engine based on the 390 Duke. It offers all the major attributes of its siblings, including electronic rider aids, while providing easier rideability due to its lower weight and less demanding engine characteristics.” Sauer wouldn’t disclose what price the new bike will be, but he’s also responsible for overseeing the development of an even smaller capacity KTM 250 Adventure model for later in 2020, using the same platform as the new 390 model, but built to a lower spec with non-adjustable suspension damping, etc. To create the 390 Adventure, KTM has essentially employed the same broad platform as the 390 Duke, especially its mechanical package, but with its chassis modified for dual-purpose potential. “We’ve used the 390 engine to make a proper small displacement Enduro for the entry-level segment, that’s a full-size motorcycle,” says 390 Duke Project Leader Michael Landsiedl. “Our objective was to make an affordable all-rounder with
A2 LICENCE
versatile performance on and off road. It had to be made for everyday riding with proper passenger space, but also had to have genuine off-road capability.” The liquid-cooled 373cc four-valve motor delivers the same 44bhp/32kW as the 390 Duke. Maximum torque is delivered at 7,000 revs in a bike weighing 158kg dry, or 172kg with a full fuel load that offers a range of 400km/250 miles despite the twin catalytic converters in the stainless steel exhaust. The cooling system is all-new, with a curved radiator and dual fans. The six-speed transmission with cable-operated oil-bath slipper clutch from the Duke is retained. The Quickshifter plus two-way powershifter fitted to my test bike is only available as a KTM Powersports option.
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The Bosch ECU offers ride-by-wire control of the 38mm Dell’Orto throttle body, whose airbox is mounted under the seat, thus delivering a lower seat height and compact packaging; it’s been remapped for more versatile on-/ off-road use, albeit with a single riding mode. Switchable lean angle sensitive traction control is standard, with Bosch’s 9.1MP Cornering ABS switchable to off-road mode if needed. The engine is installed in a tubular steel trellis frame with detachable sub-frame derived from KTM’s 450 Rally, though its wet sump means it sits higher relative to the wheel axles. This makes the frame design closer to the updated 2017 390 Duke chassis, but with a 15mm longer cast aluminium swing-arm, providing space for deeper section off-road tyres. Continental’s TKC 70 tubeless dual-purpose rubber is standard fitting to the extra-robust 19infront/17in-rear cast aluminium wheels. The 320mm single front brake disc with four-piston radial caliper speaks clearly to the bike’s dualpurpose nature, with a 230mm rear with twin-piston floating caliper; these are street brakes produced by Brembo’s ByBre Indian subsidiary.
Upwardly mobile
The specially developed WP APEX suspension is pretty upmarket; the direct-action cantilever rear shock is adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping delivering 177mm wheel travel. Up front, the 43mm upside-down fork with 98mm trail, giving 170mm travel, is fitted with compression damping only on the left and rebound on the right, each adjusted via a dial on the top of the leg. This overall package delivers an 855mm seat height, although there’s an optional suspension lowering kit including a shorter side stand (no centre stand) to reduce that by 25mm; two seat options lift it either 10mm or 20mm higher. The standard seat comes in two parts for extra passenger space, with a small storage compartment. This entry-level model also features LED lights front, rear and for all direction signals, with the headlight incorporated in KTM’s distinctive ‘mask’ styling for the bike’s front pod.
This incorporates a two-position adjustable screen (screwdriver needed). The 390 Adventure is also equipped with a readable colour five-inch TFT dash, which automatically adapts to light condition variations. The menu switch on the left of the taper-section aluminium handlebar lets you change ABS or TC settings and scroll through screen info, while you can connect your smartphone via the optional KTM MY RIDE system, as well as select turn-to-turn navigation via the app. At present this makes the 390 Adventure probably the bestequipped entry level dual-purpose motorcycle.
On two wheels
My chance to find out how well it performed came following two-time European Enduro champion and ISDE Vase winner Joachim Sauer on a 120km/75mi tour of the upper Austrian countryside. I’m 1.80m/5’10” tall and the bike felt uber-comfortable once I’d stood on the left footrest to hoist myself aboard and finding that taper-section handlebar had been pulled back ideally for a supercontrollable stance. The seat narrows nicely where it meets the fuel tank, making you feel at one with the bike, and although seat padding is pretty firm, for my short tarmac ride I had no complaints from my posterior. The 390 Adventure is a proper full-size motorcycle which feels substantial and spacious, thanks also to the lower mounted footrests, which aren’t low enough to become a ground-clearance issue. Paradoxically, it also feels light of steering and easy to ride off-road, especially on high-speed gravel tracks, where switching to off-road ABS helped give a sense of real control. This bike is more than merely
safe to ride in the dirt – it’s also fun! Transferring to tarmac proved it to be a true dual-purpose model, both stable in fast, sweeping turns despite the skinny 100/90-19 front tyre, yet agile and eager to change direction. The Korean-made Continental tyres gave heaps of confidence with their smoothly graduated profiles delivering a sense of predictability when changing direction, while in tighter turns I became increasingly more impressed with the level of grip. I could trail brake into hillside hairpins without the ABS cutting in too obviously, then power out of them in a quite unexpected way. That’s because the lean angle sensitive TC’s chosen setting and the amount of grip from the chunky block-tread rear tyre let me get hard on the throttle while still leaned over. The harder I rode, the stickier the tyre became and the better the grip without any tyre squirming. I was equally impressed with the WP suspension package, which offered a welcome degree of suppleness allied with control over lumpy, bumpy, frost-ravaged mountain roads. That big front brake didn’t grab, even when
using it less gingerly on gravel, before I realised fully how well the off-road ABS is set up, while on tarmac it delivered benchmark braking by entry-level standards. That great engine is a key ingredient and it whirrs instantly into life on start-up before delivering punchy acceleration through the gears. With 30Nm of torque already on tap, you don’t need to use the smoothshifting six-speed gearbox too hard, though this has a light, progressiveaction clutch that feeds out controllably in city use. The optional two-way power-shifter was perfectly set up with just the right amount of pressure needed to operate it. Revs mount steadily, but above 6,000rpm acceleration is even more zestful, and there’s a good sense of flywheel effect, with a long-legged feel to performance. Roll-on response in higher gears is good and immediate, without needing to hook down and rev hard. This super-flexible, eager-revving engine’s performance makes the bike invigorating to ride, with it pulling off its 1,300rpm idle speed without excessive use of the light-action clutch. It’s pretty forgiving as well as torquey, with a totally linear acceleration through the rev band, with that extra little kick above 6,000rpm when revs start to pick up faster. It’s a surprisingly fast 373cc motorcycle, tracking dead straight
SPECIFICATION
2020 KTM 390 Adventure ENGINE: 373cc single cylinder 4-stroke FRAME: Steel trellis frame, powder coated FRONT SUSPENSION: Adjustable compression/
rebound
REAR SUSPENSION: Monoshock, adjustable rebound and spring preload FRONT BRAKE: 320mm disc REAR BRAKE: 230mm disc WHEELS: Cast aluminium, 2.50 x 19 (f), 3.50 x 17 (r) TYRES: 100/90 x 19 (f), 130/80 x 17 (r) FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 14.5 litres SEAT HEIGHT: 855mm PRICE: £TBC CONTACT: https://www.ktm.com/gb/ O2W RATING:
★★★★★★★★★★ with no undue vibration and with pretty good protection from the windscreen. KTM and Bajaj have produced a very significant motorcycle; a small(er) capacity full-size motorcycle which punches above its weight and brings adventure touring to a new audience. This is the modern-day version of the Yamaha Ténéré XT600Z, which essentially invented adventure biking. It’s that significant a model – just wait until you ride it, before telling me I’m wrong…
Words: Alan Cathcart Images: Heiko Mand
16 www.o2w.co.uk Due to space constraints, this is an abridged version of a much longer interview and our extract focuses mainly on the emerging electric bike market with a little interjection on other aspects of KTM’s future.
KTM'S STEFAN PIERER SPEAKS
Europe’s No.1 and World No.4 goes green Alan Cathcart interviews KTM Supremo, Stefan Pierer, about what the future holds for KTM.
KTM President/CEO, Stefan Pierer, remains the most significant person in European motorcycling. With an 11.7% share of the European motorcycle market and booming sales worldwide, the Austrian company (in which Bajaj Auto, India’s second largest manufacturer, holds a 48% equity slice) is a global player in practically every model sector, both on- and off-road. The chance to meet Stefan Pierer for a one-to-one in-depth interview uncovered his plans for the future.
SP: Yes. I’m convinced that in the next few years Trials will be the first off-road segment adopting electric almost 100%. The electric motor is the perfect fit for that and we want to be environmentally friendly.
AC: Stefan, KTM consolidated its position as No.1 in Europe when you sold over 250,000 motorcycles in 2018. Are you satisfied with the way the company has grown? SP: Since we now have a second on-road brand in Husqvarna, it’s clear we can accelerate our speed of growth via them. Right now I’m very satisfied, even more so if I look at what’s coming next.
AC: Will any future GasGas models be made in India? SP: So far that’s a big question mark, but as the main title in all the famous James Bond movies goes, never say never!
AC: I remember you saying that Rajiv Bajaj originally didn’t want to be involved with Husqvarnas, because he didn’t think he could sell them in India. SP: There’s a difference in culture between India and Europe. Patience is India’s strength and the opposite is Europe’s strength! If you can combine both, I think that’s the best. But it’s clear the Royal Enfield brand is growing fast and small displacement Husqvarnas are perfect for countering that by targeting the premium end of the market, which is very big in India. AC: Will the future growth of Husqvarna be mainly on-road rather than off-road? SP: In off-road we have a huge market share, and this market will remain more or less stable. So the big growth will come from on-road. AC: There’s been mention of a third brand for KTM. Can you reveal what this is? SP: We’re acquiring a controlling interest in GasGas in Spain, where we’ve set up a new company. We’re still missing the last product in the off-road world – a Trials bike – and GasGas has been a leading brand in that sector for many years. We’ll use KTM’s platforms to create a new GasGas Enduro range and we’ll also enter Motocross with GasGas in all classes. AC: Will these bikes have KTM engines? SP: The engine platform will be KTM with small modifications. AC: Will you keep production of GasGas in Spain, or will you transfer it to KTM in Austria like Husqvarna? SP: We’ll keep it in Spain; it’s a real joint venture, not a takeover, and Spain is a very important motorcycle market. We already have an R&D hub in Barcelona, which we plan to enlarge to 100 strong. The GasGas factory isn’t that far away, so it’s a perfect fit. AC: Barcelona is Spain’s No.1 motorcycle city, but it’s also very electro-centric. Will you continue production of GasGas electric bikes under their Torrot parent company’s brand?
AC: Will there also be electric GasGas street bikes as well as Trials bikes? SP: Not yet. For the next three years I’m going to focus on GasGas as a Spanish-origin brand in off-road competition from Trials to Motocross.
AC: How many KTMs have been built in India so far? SP: We’ve built 515,000 bikes up to the end of 2018. It’s a very successful cooperation and Rajiv [Bajaj] and I each found the right partner! AC: Bajaj has only made singlecylinder KTM products. Is there a capacity ceiling for such bikes, and will you only ever have singles made in India, or could there be twins, too? SP: No, because we’re jointly working on a 500cc twin 100% developed at the Bajaj R&D centre in Pune, but which is supported by our R&D guys. It’s a parallel-twin, similar to the format we have on the 790, but only 500cc because that’s the future in emerging markets, as well as being an A2 licence bike. AC: What’s the position of KTM’s electric motorcycle programme? You started out with a range of e-motorcycles, but it hasn’t gone any further. You have electric bicycles, but what’s happening with Bajaj, which is under significant pressure to develop a range of e-bikes because of the very fierce emissions regulations introduced by the Modi Government? SP: Perhaps that’s the outside view; internally we’re at the leading edge of electro-mobility. KTM slowed down for two reasons. First of all, integrating Husqvarna and doing so profitably. We also wanted a good profit margin in delivering E-bikes to the market; at the beginning of electro-mobility, high-voltage concepts weren’t profitable. If you look back at the past 10 years, Vectrix, which came first, was also the first bankruptcy. We intend to focus on low voltage models with 48-volt motors, which don’t impose big safety requirements in terms of logistics and the dealer network; this means you can cover a performance range from the e-bicycle up to the A1 motorcycle class (around 10kW) with 48-volt motors. So in the next two years you’ll see a huge variety of E-products from our brands – KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas, Bajaj, whatever. Together with Bajaj, we’ve developed a range of engine platforms between 3kW and 10kW, which are air-cooled or water-cooled depending on the concept; these will be industrialised in India and they’ll be the powertrain for a huge variety of products.
Alan Cathcart (left) interviews KTM Supremo, Stefan Pierer. Inset: KTM’s Indian partner, Rajiv Bajaj. AC: Motorcycles and scooters? SP: Both. In the beginning everybody thought it’s very easy to have an electric product. We developed a kids’ bike (a difficult task) partnered with a highly skilled Swiss company, but the motor was not what I expected. That led us to the decision to do our own with Bajaj, industrialising it in India because there’s a huge pressure on electro-mobility since Modi told everyone we have to go electric in 2020 – the pressure is really there. AC: Will you ship Bajaj-produced electric products to China for CFMoto to assemble and sell? SP: Not in the next couple of years, because we’re focusing on the developing e-markets. China is a huge e-vehicle market, but in the beginning we want to serve India, and I think the developed markets are ready to create serious margins so that you can finally earn money from e-bikes. AC: Will you be going to the USA with this, which of course is a huge developing e-market? SP: We already stepped in last year with electric bicycles under the Husqvarna and Raymon brands as part of a joint venture, and this year we’re already selling 65,000 units in Europe.
Pierer Mobility AG, because we have KTM, but also have Husqvarna motorcycles, Husqvarna bicycles, Raymon, WP, and now GasGas, so it’s more helpful to keep the KTM brand away from any sharp positions. AC: What’s you 10-year projection for KTM? SP: I’m already publically listed in Switzerland. I moved from Vienna to Switzerland two years ago because the Zurich stock exchange is the second largest in Europe. It has huge liquidity and you can find serious long-term investors there. So 38% of KTM equity is in the market, and 62% is still owned by my family company. AC: KTM is still growing. How many people do you now have working for you? SP: We have 3,625 people locally around Mattighofen and in total something like 4,300 worldwide.
AC: Where are these assembled? SP: Partly in Bulgaria, partly in the Far East, but the distribution centre and main hub is in Germany. It’s a joint venture with a local family with long-standing experience in the bicycle business.
AC: With your forthcoming electro-mobility products, will this have to increase? SP: Yes, but the production will take place in India, because one of the bottlenecks in Central Europe is recruiting workers. What we need are digitalisation technicians, engineers, laboratory workers and such-like, but they’re rare and not easy to recruit. We have almost 150 blue collar lease workers from Ukraine, Moldova and so on, because we can’t get people in Austria. The capacity they have in India is a big help, leaving us to focus on R&D, racing, marketing, sales and such-like.
AC: How interesting. That’s not widely known! SP: Because our holding company is publicly listed in Switzerland, I have to do risky things carefully, and quietly. Usually you start outside of the balance sheet and as soon you’re sure it works nicely, then you integrate it. We use the former KTM Industries company, which has been renamed
AC: Will you establish a manufacturing operation America, one of your biggest markets? SP: We can do it overnight if forced to do so. We already have six off-shore assembly facilities in Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, China, Malaysia and the Philippines, plus our Indian manufacturing base – so we have a blueprint, which makes each one just a
logistical issue. America is our biggest market and the specific market segment we’re in has grown continuously for the last few years. Sales continue to grow, both off-road and on-road. We sold 100,000 off-road bikes last year and 160,000 street. AC: Has off-road topped out? SP: It has a certain ceiling. That’s the reason it’s important to step into the electro-mobility market with sporty products, because the e-mountain bike is effectively a twist-n-go off-road Enduro motorcycle and our younger customers from that area won’t touch combustion-engined bikes any more. AC: So, to summarise for the future, keep on keeping on! SP: Absolutely, we have a very bright future caused by several factors. One is traffic congestion in urban areas; it’s also money-wise, because the middle class is drying out of cash. You’re quicker on a bike, you take up less space, it’s cheaper to run, and electric is perceived as cool whilst you save the world! Big cities are now thinking about how to improve the infrastructure for powered twowheelers; to make separate roads like in the Netherlands. It’s turning around, and we are part of it, offering specific transportation solutions over short distances. The future’s bright for motorcycling, specifically for all our brands, right now!
Photo credit: KTM/Emanuel Tschann KTM headquarters in Mattighofen