Defunct Italian suspension brand Marzocchi saved from liquidation by Italian automotive firm VRM SpA. (more…)
The Scrambler Ducati just got even cooler with the revelation of the Scrambler Ducati Italia Independent limited edition version. (more…)
Loyal readers would remember our Alpinestars vs Dainese report we published some time last week. Just to recap, the two Italian riding apparels brands are embroiled in a legal battle of their respective airbag technologies, in which case being the Alpinestars Tech Air and Dainese D-Air Armour.
In light of the battle being reported online by a trusted source, the famed A-star brand has issued an official response to the matter, revealing the true nature of the legal battle in the process as well.
The first thing made clear in Alpinestars’ statement is the fact that the infringement suit it filed for its Tech Air airbag technology patent actual concerns the material of the airbag itself and not the computer algorithm deployment during crash detection as previously reported.
To put it simply, Alpinestars is claiming that Dainese is using a similar physical material for the airbag in the latter’s D-Air suite as the ones used in the former’s rivalling Tech Air system. The consequence of this saw retailers pulling out Tech Air-equipped Alpinestars apparels and products in core markets around Europe such as Germany.
Dainese has not responded to Alpinestars’ allegations, but it is worth noting again that the rivalling devil-horn brand were the most proactive amongst the two at introducing the airbag protection technology into the mass market. In fact, Dainese have even gone to the extent of licensing its D-Air Armor technology to other brands as well.
We’ll have more as soon as the matter evolves over time, to which we expect to last quite some time indeed. In the meantime, you can read the official statement released by Alpinestars below.
Alpinestars Tech-Air Street Airbag system – Statement regarding press coverage of Patent Challenge
With reference to recent articles published about Alpinestars and Dainese being in dispute over airbag technology, Alpinestars is issuing the following statement to clarify the current situation:
Alpinestars has been subjected to an allegation of patent infringement by Dainese on a specific part of its airbag construction used in the Tech-Air Street system.
The Alpinestars’ Tech-Air Street system was launched in November 2014 as the world’s first self-contained street airbag system that independently functions without the need for sensors to be installed on the bike and the subsequent need to link a specific motorcycle to the airbag system used by the rider.
The allegations made by Dainese S.p.A in proceedings launched in Italy against Alpinestars, refer to the assembly of the bag itself, the physical material piece that contains the gas in an inflation and not with any reference to any other parts or Alpinestars’ Tech-Air street system’s use of an algorithm for registering when the airbag deployment should occur.
Dainese instead make claims that the physical construction of the bag in the Tech-Air system infringes upon Dainese’s patents.
In Germany, Dainese did make a direct request to certain retailers, that they cease and desist from offering for sale the Alpinestars Tech-Air Street system, however, no legal action has been taken against Alpinestars and neither has Alpinestars withdrawn any of its products from the German market.
All claims made by Dainese against Alpinestars and/or its retailers are disputed and Alpinestars is taking the appropriate legal measures to ensure that any such unfounded allegations will not prevent distribution and sales of the Tech-Air Street system.
Given Alpinestars’ own research & development has been undertaken through Alpinestars’ in-house Advanced Technology Department since 2001, Alpinestars is contesting the allegations made. The Tech-Air Street system is based on Alpinestars’ technology creation and the physical bag used in the Tech-Air Street system is from known airbag technology, used within the Automotive industry and does not infringe upon third parties’ intellectual property rights.
Alpinestars continues to distribute Tech-Air technology for the benefit of all motorcyclists throughout Europe and the rest of the world and trusts that the allegations made will be proven to have no basis through appropriate legal jurisdiction.
Source: Alpinestars via Asphaltandrubber
It seems that the cash flow injection by new shareholders Mercedes-AMG have done wonders for the MV Agusta brand. MV Agusta looks set to end the year on a high note after it recorded a 30% increase of its sales for 2015.
The firm reportedly sold up to 9,000 units worldwide this year, with much of the brand’s growth recorded outside of its Italian home market. The brand’s performance in its home market remain rather flat with a0.1% decrease this year compared to 2014, but elsewhere, the MV brand is thriving to say the least. One key market for the brand is the UK where it recorded a staggering 140% increase compared to 2014.
The firm states that revenue is up by 30% for 2015, which means it is enjoying larger-than-average contribution margin of 40%. Much of this is contributed by strong sales performance of several premium models, notably the likes of the Tursimo Veloce and Dragster RR.
However, it is worth noting that MV Agusta did not unveil a new-for-2016 model during the recent EICMA 2015 show. Whether the brand is able to retain this momentum next year without a substantially new model remains to be seen.
Sources: Asphaltandrubber and Visordown
Two of motorcycling’s biggest and leading apparels brands are tangled in a legal battle over a groundbreaking piece of safety technology. The two are none other than Alpinestars and Dainese, and the tech in question are their respective Tech Air and D-Air airbag technologies. (more…)
Malaysian automotive conglomerate Naza World Group of Companies marked a major milestone this weekend when it announced the launch of Ducati Cambodia.
Not only a milestone for Ducati as it marks its debut into the Cambodian market, the launch also marks Naza World’s second success with its ASEAN region business expansion after Vietnam. This is also perhaps a follow up to the firm’s previously announced entry into the ASEAN nation with its Naza Bikes brand.
Ducati Cambodia operates out of its newly opened flagship showroom, dubbed Ducati Phnom Penh, located in the heart of Phnom Penh city at No 96, St 110, Russian Boulevard, Sangkat Teok Laak 1, Khan Toul Kork.
Measuring 2,700 square feet, the showroom is fully primed with Ducati’s modern service facilities complete with the brand’s special tools, diagnostic equipments and original spare parts as well. 18 full-time and fully trained employees are tasked at manning the centre, promising the same high standards of sales and after-sales services that the brand is known globally for.
In conjunction with the brand’s entry and new centre launch, Ducati Cambodia also marked the launch of the Scrambler Ducati range as well. All four variants, which being the Scrambler Icon, Scrambler Classic, Scrambler Urban Enduro and the Scrambler Full Throttle, were introduced into the Cambodian market with the launch of the Ducati Cambodia.
Ducati Cambodia can be contacted via phone at +855 23993 933, email via info@ducati.com.kh, or alternatively via its official Facebook pages ( Ducati Cambodia Facebook / Scrambler Ducati Cambodia Facebook ).
For 2016, the Aprilia RSV4 will feature several minor but essential enhancements over the model it replaces.
Firstly, the 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF gains with new ‘Superpole’ graphics to enhance its looks further. Crucially though, the 2016 model now gains with a revised rear suspension setup, which Aprilia claims to be ‘more effective’.
Giving it a better tech edge, Aprilia have also updated the 2016 model’s electronics where it will include its V4-MP system. The new suite is in fact a full-blown telemetry system with smartphone connectivity, with the level of detail available for change covering all the way down to setting individual parameters for each corner or section of a track.
However, should the road-going RSV4 line not tickle your fancy for not being track-focused, then enter the newly introduced Aprilia Factory Works program. Essentially, the program sees Aprilia offering to produce RSV4 R-FWs that are optimized for track performance, or in accordance with the superbike and superstock regulations of race series across the world.
It is open to full time racers and teams, as well as members of the public alike who have race team-like budgets. Factory Works bikes gain with special chassis preparations, electronics packages and engine tunes to suit whatever class they’re competing in, right up to a top-level of tune exceeding 230hp.
Though it was revealed fully in a ‘teaser’ video not too long ago, MV did not release much facts and details surrounding its refreshed naked bike until its official presentation in the show.
Firstly, the newly updated and Euro4-compliant engine now churns out 116hp at 11,500rpm whilst peak torque has risen by 25% as well to 82.6Nm at 7,600rpm. Besides that, the Brutale 800’s slipper clutch has been updated with a new hydraulically-operated unit whilst gearshifts are now handled by MV’s electronic quick-shifter that works in both up- and down-shifts.
The bike still uses MV’s MVICS electronics package that includes a ride-by-wire throttle and eight setting traction control system.
Calling the new Brutale 800 ‘the most beautiful Brutale ever’, MV says it is ‘more muscular and streamlined’ when explaining the naked bike’s lightly refreshed styling. Highlights here include the sculpted tank and seat unit, as well as the restyled plastic panels at the side of the radiator.
Check our more photos of the refreshed MV Agusta Brutale 800 in the gallery we’ve prepared below.
Sources: Asphaltandrubber / Visordown
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