Indian Motorcycles have released their 2019 Scout line-up.
The updates include paint options and accessories.
The Scout, Scout Sixty and Scout Bobber should retain their competitive edge with the updates.
Indian Motorcycles have announced their updated best-selling Indian Scout range for 2019.
First and foremost, ABS (anti-lock braking system) is available for every model apart from the black Scout Sixty, Scout and Scout Bobber. Buyers of the Thunder Black colour version may opt for ABS or non-ABS. The Scout and Scout Bobber will also feature a USB charging port, located next to the speedometer for easy access to smart devices or GPS.
If already own the current version of the Scout, fret not, as Indian Motorcycles provides the USB Charging Port Kit which could be retrofitted to the 2015 to 2018 Scout or Scout Bobber and 2016 – 2019 Scout Sixty.
The 100-bhp, 69 cubic inch (1130cc), liquid-cooled V-Twin will now equip the Scout in Thunder Black, Deep Water Metallic, Metallic Jade, Indian Motorcycle Red over Thunder Black, and Willow Green over Ivory Cream colour options.
The 60 cubic inch (983cc), liquid-cooled V-Twin is blacked-out and will equip the Scout Sixty in Thunder Black, White Smoke, Ruby Metallic and Star Silver of Thunderblack colours.
Indian Motorcycles also offers a comprehensive accessories line-up. In the Scout touring accessories side, there are bags, passenger seats, windscreens. For upgrading the Scout’s performance, there are Fox Shocks, Stage 1 slip-on exhaust and air intake. There are also accessories to customize the Scout to reflect the rider’s personality such as seats, handlebars, foot controls and so forth.
The 2019 Indian Scouts will be released first in the US before making their way to the rest of the world.
The Vespa Elettrica still maintains the iconic “wasp” design, ensuring that the bike will continue for many years to come.
Vespa claims the electric motor produces 4 kW (5.36 hp) of peak and 2 kW (2.68 hp) of continuous power. The manufacturer also added that the Elettrica has the least range of 96.5 km (60 miles). There is an onboard charger hidden in the fuel filler cap so you can charge the bike where you stop, say at work.
Vespa will also be producing a hybrid “X” model alongside the fully electric variant. The hybrid will have a gas generator which recharges the batteries, extending the bike’s range to 193 km (120 miles).
Breaking it down, the smaller battery in the hybrid version has a range of 48 km (30 miles) on its own, while the extra 144.8 km (90 miles) is available with the gas generator switched on. The battery is smaller as space is needed to accommodate the generator.
Vespa also says that the Elettrica’s performance should be similar to a 50cc scooter, but there are two power modes: “power” and “eco.” Additionally, the Elettrica features a reverse mode.
Last but not least, the new bike will also include a TFT instrument display and Bluetooth connectivity in line with the latest contemporary motorcycles.
No prices have been released at this moment. Sales will start in Europe, before moving to the States and Asia. Piaggio hopes the Vespa Elettrica will be available worldwide by November 2018.
MV Agusta Reparto Corse’s Moto2 project has confirmed Romano Fenati as one of their riders for the 2019 season.
Fenati had done well in Moto3 in 2017 but currently struggling in Moto2.
As with the 2019 Moto2 regulations, MV Agusta will build the bike around the new Triumph engine.
We reported earlier that the famed Italian marque, MV Agusta will be joining the Moto2 grid from 2019, but the manufacturer did not announce the rider at the time. MV Agusta had finally announced that Romano Fenati will pilot the bike alongside a stablemate.
Do note that all Moto2 bikes will use the new Triumph 765cc Triple engine next year, despite the bike is branded as MV Agusta. Triumph supplies the engine while builders such as Kalex, Speed Up, KTM and MV Agusta complete the rest of the bike.
The signing of Fenati is seen as something of great interest among fans. He was unceremoniously sacked from Valentino Rossi-backed Sky VR46 team in 2016 after being abusive to members of the team. Since then he had to carry the reputation of being hard to work with.
Romano Fenati – Courtesy of MotoGP.com
Marinelli Honda contracted him for the 2017 Moto3 season where he finished 2nd overall. Fenati made the jump to the Moto2 class for 2018 but he has been experiencing a horrid season and is currently in 19th position with just 14 points.
While MV Agusta has stated that their Moto2 involvement is for the long-term, signing Fenati on as rider could be a risk to them. But Fenati does have real talent and speed.
“I am very happy and honoured to take part in this prestigious project and to join such a cohesive and competent group as the Forward Racing Team is,” the fiery Italian said. “Driving the F2 will be a source of great pride for me and will be an important responsibility, so I will give all my contribution and my experience to achieve excellent results.”
Suzuki has unveiled the very limited edition Buildbase Suzuki GSX-R1000R where only 50 units will be made available.
The bike is based on the ones used by Bradley Ray, Richard Cooper, and Billy McConnell in the British Superbikes (BSB) series.
The Buildbase Suzuki GSX-R1000R is available in the UK at £19,999 (around RM105,610).
There is no doubt that theSuzuki GSX-R1000R is one of the biggest names out there in the world of top superbikes. Suzuki is also one of only a few manufacturers who enjoys releasing special limited editions of their fine superbike and their latest one sits somewhere at the very top when it comes to looks. (more…)
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are now planning The Long Way Up for 2019.
There was no doubt that The Long Way Around and The Long Way Down popularized long-distance motorcycle touring.
The duo plans to ride from Ushuaia to Alaska for the new show.
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are planning a new series called The Long Way Up, after the documentary series The Long Way Around and The Long Way Down certainly opened the eyes of many – both riders and non-riders alike – to motorcycle travel and adventure.
To refresh our memories, the pair travelled from London to New York through Europe, Asia, flew to Alaska and subsequently rode to New York in, covering some 31,000 kilometres for The Long Way Around. The program was aired in 2004.
Next came The Long Way Down 2007 which documented the duo’s travels from Scotland through Europe and the African continent, and ending at Cape Town, South Africa.
The Long Way Down – Courtesy of BBC
Now, they are re-teaming with producer Russ Malkin with plans to ride from Ushuaia, Argentina (considered the southernmost city in the world) to Alaska. They will ride through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, North America and arrive at Barrow, Alaska (North America’s northernmost city) in 2019. Boorman reckons the trip will take “a few months.”
“We are very much in the early planning stages at the moment,” Boorman told MCN. “It will definitely take a few months, (as) South America is a beautiful continent to ride through so we don’t want to rush it.”
Charley Boorman – Courtesy of MCN
The Long Way Around was also famous for another aspect. McGregor had a liking for BMW motorcycles, while Boorman advocated that they rode KTMs. But when the producers approached KTM to sponsor the motorcycles, they were turned down by the Austrian manufacturer as the latter feared the team may fail. BMW stepped in by contributing three R 1150 GS complete with onboard navigation. As such, it could be argued that it was this very show which popularized the BMW R 1150 GS and its successor, the R 1200 GS Adventure which was used in The Long Way Down.
However, Boorman has since been made ambassador for Triumph Motorcycles and it will be great to see them on the new Triumph Tiger 1200 or Tiger 800. But, with the BMW R 1250 GS coming to fruition next year, it will be interesting to see which bike will be picked for the show.
The British GP was cancelled due to poor drainage and the new asphalt on the Silverstone circuit.
The smaller Moto3 and Moto2 classes were due to follow after MotoGP and were hence cancelled also.
This was the first race cancellation in 38 years.
You would probably be looking around for the MotoGP results from the British GP yesterday and find nothing but the headlines “British MotoGP Cancelled.” Despite what any party would have said, it’s the drainage and newly laid asphalt at the Silverstone circuit to blame.
It was the first race cancellation since the Austrian GP in 1980.
For MotoGP fans who spent agonizing hours in the rain and cold at the track, the only action they ever saw were the Safety Cars and sweeper vehicles going around and around, in a desperate attempt to find a respite to get the race going.
MotoGP Safety Car – Courtesy of Fox Sports
Sure, wet races had been held in the past at this circuit, but yesterday’s track was visibly different. Silverstone’s management had made a great effort to resurface the track to provide a consistent racing surface, but it somehow caused the track to be even bumpier. There was a slow-mo video sequence of Marc Marquez’s bike heaving up and down through a turn during practice which had never occurred anywhere else.
Then there was the incessant rain. It wasn’t the heaviest we’ve ever seen in MotoGP’s history – try Malaysia’s at the Sepang International Circuit. But the rainwater had nowhere to go and started to accumulate on the Silverstone track due to poor drainage
The race had been moved to 11.30am (local time), 90 minutes earlier but rain had started to fall midway through the Moto3 practice. It was then hoped to begin at 2pm but was again postpone. Unfortunately, at 4pm before Dorna, IRTA and riders decided to cancel the race. There was just too much standing water.
As the Moto2 and Moto3 classes were set to follow after MotoGP, both smaller classes were cancelled, too.
Now before anyone criticise the riders of being sissies, do consider that the riders had complained of aquaplaning (tyre floating on a film of water) with as little as 15% throttle. Sure enough, the conditions have sent Tito Rabat to hospital in the medical helicopter with broken femur, tibia and fibula in his right leg after being clouted by his teammate Franco Morbidelli’s Marc VDS Honda, while the rest into the gravel trap.
Yes, riders in the early years have ridden in the rain without traction control, they had no airbag suits, their bikes had wobbly frames and slinky tyres, but look at the cost. So many had been maimed and killed. Crashes are entertaining to spectators, but we should never be at the cost of human lives.
Earlier, there was talk of postponing the race to Monday (today) but MotoGP soon twitted that it was out of the question. First, news surfaced that some team managers were of the opinion that should’ve have been done, but now, there’s news that Dorna blames the team managers for shooting down the idea of postponing the race.
Repsol Hondas under rain cover – Courtesy of Asphalt & Rubber
There’s also a press conference in which Silverstone’s CEO blamed the entire matter of being taken out of his hands, and that they had done all they could to provide a great venue. On the other hand, the FIM’s safety officer, Franco Uncini and MotoGP technical director Mike Webb both pointed their fingers are the track’s bumps and standing water. A formal investigation will be launched.
We hope that the investigation will bring on a solution to the future British GP and avoid such an embarrassing show which cost many parties the loss of millions.
