KTM CEO Stefan Pierer is still adamant about buying the Ducati brand off the Volkswagen Group and has added Triumph Motorcycles to his list.
He wants to create a “unified European motorcycle brand.”
KTM is currently No. 4 and aims for No. 3.
KTM CEO Stefan Pierer is still adamant about buying the Ducati brand off Volkswagen AG and has added Triumph Motorcycles to his list.
That’s his ultimate view, but there’s a premise to the entire story.
KTM has just surpassed Harley-Davidson as the biggest motorcycle manufacturer outside Asia. The former sold 261,000 motorcycles in 2018, some 35,000 more than the Motor Company did. However, KTM only raked in USD 1.75 billion compared to Harley’s nearly USD 5 billion as the latter’s bikes were much more expensive.
Yet, KTM is still the fourth largest manufacturer in the world behind Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki. Honda sold a whopping 20 million motorcycles last year, making even Yamaha’s 5.4 million look paltry.
KTM CEO Stefan Pierer – PHOTOGRAPHER: MICHAELA HANDREK-REHLE/BLOOMBERG
Pierer knows that the Japanese’s volume is due to the number of different types and models available in different countries. This was the reason why KTM linked up with Bajaj to produce smaller capacity motorcycles.
But the man doesn’t want to stop there and set a target of reaching 400,000 units by 2022 globally. That target ought to demote Kawasaki as the world’s third largest motorcycle manufacturer.
In that sense, he felt that he should buy Ducati and Triumph and uniting the three brands as a triumvirate to form “a united European motorcycle company.” In saying so, he mentioned Ducati and Triumph’s 2018 sales of 53,000 and 61,500, respectively. “We’re saving ourselves in Europe,” he added. He didn’t mention that BMW Motorrad sold 165,566 units, though. Triumph’s not for sale, definitely.
Jefri Adzman Bin Aksan, younger brother to Malaysian celebrity Datuk Afdlin Shauki has passed away today.
It was reported that Jefri was hit by a green Perodua Myvi while riding his Vespa in Kota Damansara.
The crash caused massive brain hemorrhage.
Jefri Adzman Bin Aksan, younger brother to Malaysian celebrity Datuk Afdlin Shauki has passed away today.
The sad news was confirmed by actor, director and producer Afdlin today.
It was reported that a green Perodua Myvi hit Jefri while riding his Vespa at the three-way junction outside the Petronas petrol station in Kota Damansara. Afdlin explained that Jefri had wanted to buy some things from the Petronas station near his home. It’s also believed that the Myvi sideswiped Jefri’s Vespa, causing him to crash. Passersby rushed him to the hospital in Kota Damansara.
The fall caused massive a hemorrhage in his brain. He went through a four-hour operation to remove the blood clot from his brain and was listed as critical. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries today.
It wasn’t clear if the car driver stopped or ran away after the collision. However, Afdlin had appealed for witnesses or anyone with a dashcam recording to come forward through his Instagram Live post.
His message read (translated): I would like to ask for assistance from anyone who recorded in their dashcam or witnessed my brother’s accident with a green Myvi at the location. Please DM (direct message) me if you have more information.
We pray that Datuk Adlin and Jefri’s family stay strong during this difficult moment and convey our deepest condolences to them. Al-fatihah.
Thieves stole two Harleys belonging to Hells Angels MC members.
Their dastardly deed was caught on CCTV.
No one in their right mind would steal from Hells Angels.
What is with some people who seem to vie for the not-so-coveted Darwin Awards? No, the accolade isn’t a rival to the Guinness World Records; instead, it’s a collection of dumb and embarrassing ways people died. There was a guy who used brake fluid as toothache ointment recently, and now these thieves who stole Harleys belonging to Hells Angels MC members.
The UK has a motorcycle theft problem, that’s true. Five thieves in ski masks were caught on CCTV stealing two Harley-Davidsons belonging to… ahem… the tough… Hells Angels.
A member of the UK Motorcycle Theft Protest group tweeted about the crime. According to the post, one bike was a MY2000 Black Harley-Davidson Dyna. The other was a MY2003 Harley-Davidson 100thAnniversary Dyna.
The post also implored the cretins to return the bike to the Hells Angels Tyne & Wear chapter and no further action will be taken. Failure to do so otherwise, will result, “If not we find out who’s (sic) took them… f***in’ standby!!”
Although we may cheer about the prospect of some bike thieves getting their behinds handed to them, we do hope they return the Harleys to the club. Otherwise who knows if we’d see a new entry into the Darwin Awards. Just sayin’.
The Scorpion EXO ADX-1 adventure helmet is the latest addition to the French manufacturer’s line-up.
We tested it in hot and humid weather in Thailand.
The test route included twisty roads, high-speed sections and slow off-road riding.
With the dual-sport/adventure segment growing the fastest now, so is the riding gear to match. And from the French helmet maker, Scorpion, is this Scorpion EXO ADX-1 adventure helmet.
I had wanted to test it during the KTM 790 International Media Launch in Morocco, but it was out of stock. But thankfully, Hodaka Motoworld put out an express order and it arrived just in time for the Moto Guzzi V85TT Asia-Pacific Media Launch in Thailand.
What is it?
The Scorpion EXO ADX-1 is a modular, flip-up adventure helmet. It has a peak as with other adventure helmets but the chinbar can also be flipped up. The peak moves backwards slightly when the chinbar is pushed up.
Other features include:
Speedview retractable sunvisor which is UV400 protection approved with EverClear anti-fog coating. A switch just behind the “sidepods” activates it.
KickFit pockets for eyeglasses.
KwikWick2 comfort lining sheaths the interior padding. It’s pleasant to the touch, making the interior feel luxurious.
Wind tunnel designed thermoplastic resin shell.
Chinbar with EPS protection.
Built-in breath guard to direct breathing away from the visor.
Micrometric chin strap buckle.
3-vent airflow system. One each at the chin, top and rear of the helmet.
Removable peak to turn the helmet into a road flip-up helmet.
ECE 22.05 approved.
Pinlock Maxvision anti-fog insert included.
Fit and comfort
The paddings in the helmet felt like pillows and were certainly very comfortable. However, being a flip-up helmet, the cheekpads squeeze on the cheeks when the chinbar was locked in position. the tightness disappeared over time as the padding adjusts to your facial features. As such, it was easier to slip on and remove the helmet with the chinbar up.
Fit turned out to be surprisingly good, despite the shell taking on a long-oval shape. I have a round oval head profile, thus could only wear certain helmets without getting a splitting headache. If you can wear an Arai, HJC or Shoei comfortably, you ought to find the ADX-1 comfortable, as well.
Further paddings surround the chinstrap, providing extra comfort in to your upper neck.
Riding with the helmet
Rain was forecast during our media ride, but temperatures soared to 36-degrees Celsius with 80%-plus humidity, instead!
The chinbar flipped up smoothly, needing a firm push to lock it in the top-most position. But I truly appreciated how easy it was to flip back down and click into position. It didn’t need a hard slap to lock, hence keeping the helmet in the position you chose without dragging the helmet downwards.
The visor can be opened in steps, but the first step was rather high up. Then again, you’re not supposed to open the visor when it rains to prevent water from dripping down into the Pinlock insert. Slipping open the visor helps during low speeds in hot weather, however.
Regardless, the aperture is wide and afforded great forward view ahead. Peripheral vision was also really good when i turned my head to the sides to view behind.
I always ride with earplugs, regardless of helmet. As speeds increased over 120 km/h, there was a slight rumbling inside, but it was actually quieter than most adventure helmets.
But what surprised me even more was how the helmet stayed stable even at speeds of 160 km/h and above. There was absolutely zero buffeting and lift, no blurred vision and fatigue, even with a GoPro mounted on top. The shell has plenty of strips and “nicks” around it for aerodynamic purposes. They make the helmet look cool, too!
The vents appeared small, but they moved air quickly through the helmet reasonably well. I only flipped up the helmet only once to grab some air when we started pulling out of a parking lot and kept it down even when riding off-road and through a stream at crawling speeds.
Conclusion
The Scorpion EXO ADX-1 passed the test with flying colours. It goes on record as the very first flip-up helmet that I truly liked.
To top it off, the ADX-1 is available at a price of only RM 1,350 (retail), making it a real value buy. Just Google the model and you can see that it’s highly rated in the many countries it’s available in.
This variant is called the Battleflag, but it’s also available in many other interesting graphics and colours.
Check it out at Hodaka Motoworld (official distributor) and their authorized dealers listed below.
The Honda Mean Mower V2 now holds the record for the fastest accelerating sit-in lawn mower.
It averaged 6.285s from 0 to 161 km/h.
And it can still mow the lawn.
Remember we featured the Honda Mean Mower V2 in July last year? It now holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest accelerating lawn mower.
To recap, Honda UK and Team Dynamics (Honda British Touring Car outfit with factory support) stuffed a Honda CBR1000RR SP engine into a Honda HF2622 sit-in lawn mower. The stock engine, transmission, clutch and ECU went in wholesale, supported by a custom frame. The SP engine produces 189 hp and 115 Nm of torque, and sent to the four wheels by chain.
In order to compete for the Guinness World Record as a lawn mower, it must first appear like a lawn mower and be able to still cut grass.
The team concentrated on achieving the fastest 0 – 100 mph (161 km/h) time instead of outright top speed. The mower needs to complete two runs in opposite directions within the hour. The times for both runs are recorded and averaged for the final result.
Jessica Hawkins was chosen to drive the machine. She’s one of the stunt drivers in the Fast & Furious movie franchise and also competes in go-kart and single-seater races.
Her first run was fast, but the second run was fiercer – 3.08s to 60 mph (96.6 km/h) and 6.12s to 100 mph (161 km/h) – for an average of 6.285s to 161 km/h and into the record books.
That’s faster than some supercars, and it still does your lawn, by the way.
Michael Rutter set a new record on the Mugen Shinden Hachi on the way to win the TT Zero category at the Isle of Man TT (IOM TT).
The bike recorded speeds faster than those in the Supersport category.
Electric performance bikes have come a long way.
Michael Rutter set a new record on the Mugen Shinden Hachi on the way to win the TT Zero category at the Isle of Man TT (IOM TT). More importantly, however, was that the Mugen Shinden Hachi recorded speeds faster than those in the Supersport category.
Rutter hammered the bike to 176 mph (283.2 km/h) on the Sulby straight. He also completed the 37.73-mile (60.72km) course with an average speed 121.91 mph (196.20 km/h). It was the fastest record in the TT Zero electric motorcycle class.
Rutter’s teammate and multiple IOM TT Senior class winner, John McGuinness came in second on the other Mugen Shinden Hachi. It was his 47th IOM TT podium.
Ian Lougher completed the podium on the Team Mirai ILR Idaten X RE in a distant three-and-half minutes behind McGuinness.
Mugen’s domination undoubtedly shows how far electric bikes have come (and are still improving). While many riders are still contemplating on the lack of petrol engine exhaust note, charging times and mileage, performance of electric bikes is of no laughing matter.
Another electric performance bike, the Lightning LS-218 has already demonstrated that when it set a new record in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), and a speed record of 218 mph (350.84 km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
