Harley-Davidson’s first small capacity motorcycle has been in the pipeline for almost three years.
The 353cc motorcycle is built in partnership with a Chinese firm, Qianjiang Motorcycle.
While some suggest that the plan is scrapped after Harley’s latest Hardwire strategy, the latest reports by Motorcycle.com reveals the opposite.
According to the new update, the bike will be called the Harley-Davidson 338R and is inching closer to launch thanks to a unique vehicle identification number (VIN) decoder information that Qianjiang submitted to the U.S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The VIN decoder information revealed that the bike would carry a 353cc parallel-twin, fuel-injected and liquid-cooled engine.
There will be two models available – both to be produced in China by Qianjiang – with one a base model and the other equipped with ABS, as reported by Motorcycle.com.
While the submitted documents prove that Harley’s is planning to embark on a new adventure in the small capacity motorcycle segment very soon, it is still impossible to say when we might see the finished product.
However, it remains true that the Harley-Davidson 338R is edging closer to production soon.
(Source: Motorcycle.com)
Although socioeconomics around the globe was affected heavily due to the pandemic, the world of two wheels continues to evolve rapidly.
Italian motorcycle company Ducati closes in 2021 with the best revenue and operating profit ever recorded.
The Borgo Panigale factory delivered a record figure of 59, 447 motorcycles across the globe in 2021, an increase of 24 per cent over 2020 (48,042) and a 12 per cent rise over 2019 (53,183).
Ducati also marked a new record in revenues, landing EUR878 million with the growth of 30 per cent over 2020 (UER676 million) and 23 per cent over 2019 (EUR716 million).
Meanwhile, the Bologna-based company recorded a remarkable operating profit of EUR61 million, thus growing by 154 per cent over 2020 (EUR24 million) and 18 per cent increased over 2019 (EUR52 million).
The numbers genuinely mark team red’s significant achievement despite the world being hampered by supply crisis and components shortage.
Nevertheless, Ducati opened 84 new dealerships in key locations to keep up with the demands, making it 790 dealerships in over 90 countries, including Malaysia.
Despite a fantastic sales figure for 2021, Ducati is pushing to outperform those numbers by unveiling an all-new range of bikes, including the 2022 DesertX and the updated Panigale V4 SP2.
Michelin is expanding its road tyre range for the 2022 season with the new Road 6.
Michelin also updated the new Road 6 with Amplified Density Technology that provides a highly dense and rigid compound.
Now available at all authorized MICHELIN tyre dealers in Malaysia, the new MICHELIN Road 6 tyre is available in six front and eight rear sizes.
Meanwhile the MICHELIN Road 6 GT tyre range is available in one frontand three rear sizes and provides fitments from small roadsters such as the KTM 390, through sports bikes and trail bikes, up to GT machines such as the BMW K1600 GT/GTL.
The introduction of the 790 Duke back in 2017 was a success with over 29,000 units sold within a short period.
However, new emission standard threatened the model’s future which prompted KTM to introduced the 890 Duke R in 2020 before subsequently replaced the 790 with the base 890 Duke a year later.
In a latest update, KTM has decided it is the right time to bring back the original Scalpel right where it left off for 2022.
While the 790 Duke retains the LC8 parallel-twin engine, the house of Mattighofen has upgraded the mill to meet Euro 5 emission regulations.
Despite the udpdate, the 2022 790 Duke now makes 105hp and 87Nm but restricted to just 93hp for the European market.
Nonetheless, the 2022MY gets premium components which includes the WP APEX suspension.
Moving on to electronics, the 790 Duke features:
According to Team Orange, the 2022 Scalpel will return to Europe in June with a starting price of EUR8,999 (RM41k).
Although the 890 Duke remains avaialble, KTM believed that 790 Duke represents as a brige between the 390 Duke and 890 Duke.
