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Piaggio Group Americas has taken swift action by submitting a safety recall report to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on August 10, 2023 pertaining to a selected 2023 Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello motorcycles, spotlighting a potential rear shock absorber flaw that could have severe implications for riders.

  • the safety recall is due to a faulty rear shock absorbers. 
  • a total of 76 units sold to customers in the US are affected by the recall. 

The concern centers around a potential breakage in the rear shock absorbers, capable of causing a loss of control for the rider and elevating the risk of a hazardous crash. This predicament, however, is confined solely to certain units within the V100 Mandello lineup, featuring Kayaba suspension components. It’s noteworthy that the V100 Mandello S, boasting Öhlins suspension components, remains unaffected by this recall.

According to Piaggio Group Americas, an estimated 260 motorcycles in the United States could potentially fall under the recall, constituting a mere one percent of the affected population. Among these, 76 units have already been sold to customers, while 184 are currently in dealer inventories across the nation.

The root cause of this issue can be attributed to non-conforming rear shock absorbers furnished with either one or both bushings missing. Consequently, these flawed components could turn at an irregular angle in their mounting points, ultimately becoming rigid and prone to breakage at the lower shock mount, as specified in the recall report filed by Piaggio.

Reports suggest that Piaggio has been alerted to two instances of this malfunction manifesting in the real world, both emerging in the Italian market. These incidents, reported on July 7 and July 27, 2023, prompted the manufacturer to promptly initiate an update campaign plan on August 4, 2023.

That said, Piaggio has decided to address this concern through a comprehensive safety recall of the affected vehicles. Owners falling within the impacted VIN range will receive instructions to take their motorcycles to authorized Moto Guzzi dealerships. Here, qualified mechanics will conduct thorough inspections of the rear shock absorbers. If any shock absorber is identified to be missing one or both bushings, it will be replaced with a duly outfitted unit, all at no cost to the affected owners.

LiveWire, the electric motorcycle OEM born out of Harley-Davidson, has unveiled the full specifications of its highly anticipated LiveWire S2 Del Mar model.

  • the S2 Del Mar is a stylish electric mobility designed for urban commuters. 
  • the S2 Del mar Launch Edition sold out in less than 20 minutes.

Powering the S2 Del Mar is an electric motor that delivers 84 horsepower and 194 pound-feet of torque. With a top speed of 103 miles per hour and a 0-60 mph time of just 3.0 seconds, the motorcycle offers impressive performance capabilities.

Equipped with a 10.5 kilowatt-hour battery, the LiveWire S2 Del Mar supports J1772 Type 1 charging standards. Riders can charge the bike using a standard 110V household outlet or Level Two charging stations. Charging times range from 8.4 hours for a full charge using an L1 charger, to just 2 hours and 22 minutes using an L2 public charger.

The S2 Del Mar is primarily intended for city riding, boasting a city range of 113 miles on a single charge. Highway range is estimated at 70 miles at a sustained 55 mph speed, and 43 miles at a sustained 70 mph speed. Combined range for mixed city and highway riding is projected to be 86 miles at 55 mph and 62 miles at 70 mph.

The motorcycle features a modular frame constructed from cast aluminum, along with adjustable suspension, Brembo brakes, and 19-inch cast aluminum wheels fitted with Dunlop tires. Five ride modes are available, offering various combinations of power, throttle, regen, traction control, and ABS settings.

Other notable features include a four-inch color TFT display, over-the-air software updates, smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth, and full LED lighting.

With its attractive design, impressive performance, and range, the LiveWire S2 Del Mar is poised to make an impact in the electric motorcycle market.

MV Agusta, known for its love of special editions and nostalgia, has once again delighted motorcycle enthusiasts with its latest creation, the MV Agusta Dragster RR SCS America Special Edition.

  • Unveiled on July 11, 2023, this bike pays homage to the original 750S America introduced by MV Agusta in 1975.
  • the limited edition motorcycle was inspired by the 1975 MV Agusta 750S America. 

 

While the model name draws inspiration from its predecessor, the MV Agusta Dragster RR SCS America Special Edition is a distinct machine that showcases the advancements in motorcycle technology over the past five decades.

Powered by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, 12-valve, 798cc triple engine, it boasts impressive performance figures. With a claimed output of 140hp @ 12,300rpm and 87Nm @ 12,800rpm, this bike offers exhilarating power. The engine is coupled with a six-speed transmission featuring MV’s Smart Clutch System (SCS) 3.0, an innovative hydraulically-actuated automatic clutch.

In terms of suspension, the MV Agusta Dragster RR SCS America Special Edition is equipped with an upside-down Marzocchi fully adjustable front fork with diamond-like coating (DLC) treatment and anodized fork legs.

At the rear, it features a fully adjustable progressive Sachs monoshock unit. Braking power is provided by Brembo components, including a pair of radial four-piston calipers and 320mm floating discs at the front, as well as a single two-piston caliper and 220mm disc at the rear. The bike is equipped with Continental ABS, offering rear wheel lift-up mitigation and cornering functionality.

Sporting 17-inch alloy wheels, the MV Agusta Dragster RR SCS America Special Edition catches the eye with its carbon fiber cover on the rear wheel, adding a touch of style and solidity. The bike’s striking appearance is further enhanced by its red, white, and blue livery, showcasing a patriotic tribute to America.

The dry weight of the MV Agusta Dragster RR SCS America Special Edition is listed at 175kg. For those seeking an even lighter machine, the optional Special Parts full exhaust, intended for track use only, can bring the weight down to 167kg.

With its combination of retro aesthetics and cutting-edge technology, the MV Agusta Dragster RR SCS America Special Edition is set to captivate motorcycle enthusiasts looking for a unique and powerful riding experience.

GALLERY: MV AGUSTA DRAGSTER RR SCS AMERICA

Thanks to the latest displacement bump, the 2024 Honda ADV160 is finally making it’s way to the US. 

The slight bump in displacement from 149.3cc to the latest 156.9cc makes the new generation ADV 160 highway-legal in large part of the states where it wasn’t before. 

Similar to the one available in Malaysia, the ADV 160 features the same 156.9c liquid-cooled 4-stroke, single-cylinder engine that makes 15.8hp and 14.7Nm. Power is delivered by CVT transmission with final belt drive. 

The ADV160 is suspended by Showa suspension with 31mm telescopic front fork and twin shocks at the rear. Brake consist of a single calliper up front paired to a single 240mm disc. However, while the Malaysian market gets a hydraulic single disc at the rear, the US model is equipped with a more conventional drum brake. 

Nonetheless, the US-spec stil features 14-inch wheels at the front and 13-inch at the rear.

Other important update includes Honda Selectable Torque Control, 30L storage space, taller adjustable windscreen and restyled bodywork which include a wider leg shields. The ADV160 also gets a new digital LCD meter. 

According to reports, the 2024 Honda ADV160 will be available in the US sometime in July. 

In a dramatic turn of events at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Alex Rins secured a thrilling victory in the Grand Prix after forcing Francesco Bagnaia into another crash.

  • Alex Rins claims LCR Honda’s 100th podium in MotoGP. 
  • Fabio Quartararo snatching first podium of the season. 

The race started with Bagnaia making a brilliant start and holding off Rins into turn one. However, the factory Ducati team’s luck was short-lived as Jorge Martin and Alex Marquez clashed, resulting in crashes for both riders.

Meanwhile, Jack Miller made a significant move up the order to position himself in third, closing in on Rins and Bagnaia. However, Miller’s charge ultimately ended as he crashed out of the race on lap seven. As the race progressed, Bagnaia continued to lead despite pressure from Rins, with Quartararo in third position.

However, just like in the previous Sprint race, Bagnaia made another crucial error, crashing out of the Grand Prix on lap 14, allowing Rins to take over the lead. Luca Marini then blasted past Quartararo with eight laps remaining, showing the immense speed of his Ducati. But Rins managed to control the gap and secure his victory, just his third race for Honda.

The race witnessed three crashes in short order as Takaaki Nakagami kicked things off before Brad Binder and Joan Mir joined him. Maverick Vinales showed good pace, making overtakes on Binder and Miguel Oliveira to secure a position in the top ten.

The COTA Grand Prix provided fans with plenty of action and drama, with Rins emerging as the ultimate victor. Bagnaia, on the other hand, will need to regroup after another Grand Prix crash.

Harley-Davidson held a huge event just last week to celebrate the firm’s 120th anniversary. 

  • The Chinese-build Harley-Davidson X350 is heading to the US.
  • The X350 is equipped with a parallel-twin 353cc engine similar to the Benelli 302s but with a bigger bore. 

The American motorcycle company took the opportunity to announced it’s 2023 lineup, including the Nightster Special and the Breakout. 

Unfortunately, the highly anticipated Chinese-build X350 and X350RA was not included in the announcement. 

However, latest report suggest that the X350 and X350RA, a product of Harley-Davidson’s partnership with China’s Qianjiang Motors is also heading to the US as confirmed by new VIN information. 

Interestingly, Motorcycle.com managed to obtained o copy of the X350 owner’s manual and an image of the motorcycle.

According to reports by Dennis Chung, the owner’s manual disclosed some of the bike’s information including the powertrain. That said, powering the Harley-Davidson X350 is a 353cc parallel-twin with  eight-valve liquid-cooled mill.

However, while the X350 makes 36hp the X350RA power output is restricted to just 26hp. 

The VIN information also confirms that the X350 is equipped with analog speedometer with small digital display, damping adjustable inverted front fork, ABS and dual-petal disc brakes.

Also, the X350 runs on 17-inch front and rear wheels shod with Pirelli’s Angel CT tires with 120/70-17 up front and 160/60-17 at the rear. However, the X350RA is equipped with slimmer wheels, 110/70-17 at the front and 150/60-17 at the rear. 

The X350 also claims a weight of 199.5kg and 12.8 litres of fuel tank. 

(source: Motorcycle.com)

Harley-Davidson has suspended the shipment of new motorcycles to Russia amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

The decision supports America’s sanctions against Russia’s invasion of its neighbouring country.

2021 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special

Harley-Davidson officially joins various large companies in suspending their business with the country, including General Motors, Ford, BMW, and most recently, Volvo.

Although the Milwaukee-based firm has around ten dealerships in Russia, Chris Hodson, senior analyst at Edgewater Research, stated that the country is not an essential market for the brand.

“Russia is not that significant of a market, to begin with.

“Any units that have been earmarked for Russia can be diverted elsewhere,” he said.

Regardless, Europe still remains the second biggest market for Harley-Davidson, after the United States.

(Source: Reuters)

Victory Motorcycles is being shut down by parent company Polaris Industries following poor market performance.

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Honda Gold Wing becomes first motorcycle affected by global Takata airbag recall in American market.

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American firm Polaris rumoured to be interested in acquiring beleaguered MV Agusta brand.

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American firm Moto8ight says it is nearly ready to offer its new kit bike for enthusiasts.

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Special Ducati 90th anniversary ride around the globe seeks seven brave riders to do the job.

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