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Ducati releases Multistrada Enduro promo video

Ducati has released the first out of of six promo videos which Ducati hopes will show how capable the Multistrada 1200 Enduro on any kind of terrain.

The first video, called ‘Enjoying off-road adventures’, is part of ‘The wild side of Ducati’ series which will also promote other models.

From what we can see, the promo video shows the Multistrada Enduro tackling motocross tracks and enduro trails at high speed in some exciting locations.

With five more videos to go, Ducati said that each promo will be released once in every two weeks.

Ducati said, “Each of the three-minute episodes is emotion-packed and features highly spectacular images which recount the real essence of the Multistrada 1200 Enduro: a bike conceived to travel and be unstoppable on any kind of terrain.”

Alpinestars vs Dainese: Dainese responds officially

The Alpinestars vs Dainese legal saga over their respective airbag technologies continues further now with Dainese speaking out about the situation. Though Alpinestars’ response did clear up a few things, this new response from the devil-horn brand has shed even more light into the situation.

In its response, Dainese insists that legal action was taken in Germany, resulting in a Munich court granting an injunction on Alpinestars selling its Tech Air-equipped product in the German market. Dainese further highlighted that legal action is presently being processed in Italy.

This counters Alpinestars’ initial response where it stated that no legal action was taken against it in Germany. However, it appears that the clarification about the patent infringement lawsuit being centred on the physical material used to produce the inflatable airbags in both the Alpinestars Tech Air and Dainese D-Air Armor remains true.

Either way, the outcome of the Alpinestars vs Dainese saga will have global repercussions on several levels indeed. Lets not forget that both brands have top-level riders in both MotoGP and WSBK donning their products, and the outcome of this battle may lead to just one side winning the rights to produce airbag-equipped riding apparels.

You can read Dainese’s response here to get where the devil horn brand is coming from in this entire affair.

Source: Asphaltandrubber

Honda Concept CB could replace the CB1100

First seen at the 2015 Tokyo Auto show, rumour has it that the Honda Concept CB is destined to make it to the production line as an updated CB1100 in the near future.

The concept, which was Honda’s only concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, is expected to take the retro-bike fight to machines like Triumph’s new Bonneville in the future.

Featuring a heavily sculpted fuel tank, new aluminium-effect side panels, new air-box covers with chrome flashes, a new seat and different castings for the foot-peg hangers, the Honda CB concept also comes with generous dose of chrome on the instruments and headlight, and the rails under the pillion seat are changed from aluminium castings to chrome tubes, too.

Under all that, the frame and engine are same as the CB1100 EX, where the motor is already Euro4-compliant, despite all other air-cooled four-cylinder engines having long since been abandoned by their makers thanks to difficulties meeting emissions rules.

Honda’s official line on the Concept CB is that it’s a ‘customised concept model’ intended to show what could be achieved by modifying an existing bike, but the components used look much more like production parts than anything a customiser would be likely to opt for.

Source: www.visordown.com

PART III: The Great Ocean Road

Hadi Hussein woke up early to ready himself for his next destination, Port Campbell. (Check out Part 1 and Part 2 here). His attempts to take as many pictures and videos of beautiful sceneries were let down as it was a cloudy day and temperature was around 10 Celsius, making it difficult to get clear shots. (more…)

Triumph profitable again in 2015

Famed British motorcycles manufacturer Triumph is ending the 2015 business year (which ended on 30 June 2015) on a high note after recording increased profitability compared to its performance in 2014.

Despite the challenging market climate, the British marque raised £10.3 million with its efforts, of which it recorded a £2.3 million in profits alone. This is a healthy recovery following a dismal 2014 performance where it recorded a loss £8 million. Reinforcing this is the fact that the brand also recorded healthy growth in 2015 in areas beyond its finances.

Firstly, the brand set out to enlarge its global footprint this year, and spearheading this was the revised Triumph Tiger 800 model that features six variants altogether. Also fuelling the growth was the introduction of four special edition versions of the outgoing air-cooled Triumph Bonneville classic bike.

The firm also released other special editions this year for models such as the Street Triple, Speed Triple and Speed Triple R, followed by the Thunderbird and the anniversary edition of the Rocket X. It is also worth noting that like the Bonneville, the Speed Triple series is being replaced with the updated new Speed Triple S and Speed Triple R models for 2016.

Beyond its model range expansion, Triumph also recorded a growth in several of its networks overseas such as India and Brazil. Presently, Triumph boasts a healthy India-based dealer network across 12 cities, resulting in the brand’s 13% market share growth there as well, followed by a 10% market share rise in Brazil too. Adding to this was the commencement of its sales and distribution in Thailand starting April this year, further cementing the Triumph brand’s overseas market presence too.

With a sleuth of new models set for market release in 2016, Triumph is expected to perform even better in the new year too. Leading this charge are several core models starting with new liquid-cooled Bonneville family, followed by the revised Speed Triple duo, not forgetting the updated iteration of its flagship Tiger Explorer range as well.

Source: MCN

Indian Springfield confirmed for 2016

Not long after the announcement and release of the Indian Dark Horse, the American Environmental Protection Agency’s documents have revealed yet another interesting name of a bike that is due to be sold in 2016. It is none other than the Indian Springfield.

While the Indian Dark Horse was discovered in the same way through EPA’s list and was officially announced soon after, we expect the Indian Springfield to be officially announced only next year.

As of now, the only information we have about the Indian Springfield is that it will use the same 1,811 cc V-Twin engine as used on the Chieftain, Roadmaster and Dark Horse. Like the Dark Horse, it’s quite possible the Springfield will be a single seat model as it was when it was last on sale around mid-2000.

The Springfield name references the location of the first Indian factory in Springfield, Massachusetts where it produced motorcycles from 1901 to 1953.