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TVS Motor buys iconic brand Norton

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Last week we highlighted the damage that the lockdown is doing in the world’s largest motorcycle market India. Consolidation and mergers are to be expected I wrote then.

This week, news broke that TVS Motor is taking over British motorcycle brand Norton, in a bid to take on Royal Enfield which is one of the dominating brands in the ‘classic’ segment.

TVS’ move to buy Norton is not just a play on the Indian market, but also a move on the EU and UK markets, where larger motorcycles are a big part of total sales. 

TVS disclosed that it bought Norton’s entire holding company for a sum of GBP 16 million (almost U.S. $20M), promising that it would restore the operational continuity for the troubled British bikemaker as soon as possible.

TVS Managing Director Sudarshan Venu said “We are retaining all employees. The brand will continue to hold its distinct identity and we plan to restore Norton’s glory and build upon it,”

The Norton takeover could be a smart move from TVS, which is currently a very active player in the smaller motorcycle segment. The Indian brand looks to use Norton’s technical know-how to make bigger drivetrains to jump into the 251cc to 800cc market which is currently being dominated by Royal Enfield’s Interceptor and Himalayan models.

With Norton, TVS will be aiming at the roughly 1 million Royal Enfield riders, and at a growing segment of the up and coming Indian middle class who’re looking to upgrade their 200cc rides.

TVS Motor’s acquisition isn’t its first foreign venture, the Chennai-based company already has a technical arrangement with BMW Motorrad wherein it makes 310cc bikes branded under BMW and it’s own Apache brands.

Quarantine blues? Take a virtual museum tour

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In my last article I wrote about the challenging environment for motorcycle manufacturers in these times of economic downturn and quarantine. Brands such as Ducati and Brembo have closed the doors of their factories for a couple of days, and that includes the Ducati factory museum too. 

But don’t despair!

Google maps has made it possible to take a virtual peek in its museum. Navigate it as you would walk through your own street on Google Maps.  The Ducati museum can be found here.

If the red motorcycles from Bologna aren’t your thing, Harley Davidson has made an online visit to their museum in Milwaukee possible too.  You can find the museum here

And if museums aren’t your cup of tea… this spectacular 2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 S video should get you itching you to get back on the road again once the lockdown gets lifted.

The worst is yet to come – Motorcycle sales plunge as coronavirus bites

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The first two months of 2020 weren’t that bad for motorcycle salesmen, but all of that changed in March, when the coronavirus panic started to spread from Asia into Europe and the American continent, and what followed was a tremendous slump in vehicle sales.

Consumer Confidence

Vehicle sales are often seen as a very accurate measure of consumer confidence, after all, most people wouldn’t buy an expensive car or motorcycle when they fear that they could get laid off within the next few months.  

While most economic crises have a gradual impact on consumer confidence and the markets, a black swan event such as the coronavirus can be much more devastating for economies and consumer confidence.

The first evidence of plunging sales has become painfully evident in Southern Europe, where the virus has evaporated demand in Italy, Spain and France. In Italy, the lockdown has prevented dealers from selling anything at all, and year-on-year, motorcycle sales could come down 46% according to motorcyclesdata.com. Spanish and French dealerships expect similar results in what looks like the toughest market for two-wheelers since WWII.  In Italy, not just sales are impacted, production has also come down with Ducati and Brembo closing their doors, following an emergency decree from the Italian government.

Northern Europe has seen less of a drop-off in March, but the worst is yet to come as countries such as Germany, The Netherlands and the UK are implementing tighter measures to combat the virus. 

The panic in the U.S. might not have spread as fast as it did in Europe or in Asia, but dealerships are bracing for very poor results in Q1, and that after posting poor numbers for four years in a row. Record unemployment claims in the US are likely to worsen motorcycle sales throughout 2020, and the question remains if 2021 will be a better year for sales.

The worst impact can be expected in growth markets such as India, the Philippines, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia, where light motorcycles are incredibly popular. In India, the biggest motorcycle market in the world, sales are set to fall by almost 25% in 2020,

Several manufacturers such as Bajaj, Royal Enfield, Suzuki and TVS saw a tremendous plunge, while Honda was the only brand to post positive numbers for March.

Image source: Bloomberg Quint

The coronavirus induced slump may have serious consequences for several motorcycle brands, some of which have even struggled to stay afloat during better times (Italian brands are notorious).

Another round of consolidation or cooperation between brands can be expected as the industry aims to reduce costs and increase profitability in times of crisis.

Lockdown & Exercise

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As the coronavirus spreads, more and more countries are restricting activities and movement for their citizens. Jasper, Guido and I managed to squeeze out one last trip before the coronacrisis. Here’s the trip, shared through Scenic’s new ‘share’ feature: https://scenicapp.space/ride/EeAvyZwU

While we’re all dying to go out for a ride, it’s wise to leave the bike home for a bit. Hospitals are quickly filling up with corona patients, and chances are that, in the event of an accident, you may not get attended as promptly.

Riding a motorcycle is generally seen as a low-impact activity, because it seems like the motorcycle is doing most of the work, but professional riders will tell you otherwise. Strength, stamina and flexibility are crucial when riding bikes.

So, stuck at home, what kind of exercise can one do to stay fit for a long ride once the lockdown gets lifted?

Flexibility Exercises for Motorcycling

Starting with flexibility, hip and groin flexibility are important when manoeuvring on a motorcycle. This video gives you some practical tips to avoid and ease hip flexor pain when riding. And here are some exercises to strengthen your hips.

Stamina Exercises for Motorcycling

Sitting at home doing nothing is not a great way to build stamina of course. While the best way to stay fit for longer motorcycle trips is cycling (speed, trail or just casual city cycling), climbing stairs is the next best thing you can do inside. It’s also a great exercise to burn fat; On average, you burn about 0.17 calories for every step you climb and every stair descended burns about 0.05… that’s about twice as fast as running.

Strenght Exercises for Motorcycling

Lastly, strength is an important factor too. Whether you ride a light motorcycle or a heavy Honda Goldwing, a strong core, legs and arms are important, but upper back and shoulders are probably as important to train. Core exercises include: plank, curl-up and bird-dog. I found this video pretty helpful. To train your leg strength, squats and squats and squats. I usually do a few while showering. Upper back and shoulder exercises should include pull-ups and some dumbbell pressing. This article shows you 10 easy to-do exercises.

Stay fit and stay inside!  

KTM 390 Adventure

Posted on by Posted in New Motorcycles

The small/mid motorcycle segments has gotten incredibly popular in recent years, and manufacturers are rapidly capitalizing on trends in mostly emerging markets. 

The Honda CRF250, Kawasaki Versys X-300 and the Suzuki V-strom 250 are popular models, and the BMW G310GS is perhaps even more popular.  The offroad capabilities of this Beemer have spurred KTM to also make an ‘adventure’ version of its 390 model.

The KTM 390 Adventure comes with a 44bhp, 373cc engine which is connected to a six-speed gearbox. It’s also equipped with led lights, just like the 790, 1090 and 1290 and road handling is at least as good as on the 790, which I thought handled very nimble on Mexico-city’s speedways.

Real offroad gurus are probably better off buying a trail bike, or the Husqvarna 701 Enduro which I discussed last time, as the KTM is focusing more on beginning riders. The 390 offers enough power to keep up with bigger adventure bikes in the corners, but will undoubtedly be left behind on long stretches of highway. The riding position is like the other KTM ADV’s: upright and comfortable enough to take it for longer day trips.

The bike comes standard with 43mm upside down forks from WP and the 19-inch front wheel makes a big difference on rocky surfaces. The 390 Adventure also features cornering ABS and a traction control system which is of great help on rainy days. The 14.5 liter tank should give you a range of almost 400 kilometers, which is more than my 23 liter tanks gives me on my 1090 Adventure.

All in all, the smallest member of the KTM adventure family is a very well equipped bike for a reasonable price (US$6,200).

Husqvarna Enduro 701 LR

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With the 701 Enduro LR (Long Range), Husqvarna introduces a motorcycle for serious offroad adventure riders.

If a 250cc, or even 400cc doesn’t do the trick for you in the mud, the 701 Enduro comes into play.  With its 74bhp and a dry weight of just 155 kg, this bike gives the rider plenty of power to conquer hills and traverse muddy sections without staying too far behind on the motorways.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Husqvarna 701 Enduro LR is the extra fuel tank, which also can be purchased separately and fitted to any 701 enduro model.

The extra 12 liter tank is well integrated in the front of the bike, and gives the rider, in combination with the 13 liter rear tank, the opportunity to clock 500 kilometers (310 mi) without having to stop for fuel.  Ideal for the longer adventures (e.g. down here in Mexico 😉).

The Huskie comes standard with a slipper clutch and is outfitted with WP XPLOR forks which have been developed in close collaboration with KTM.  The marriage with KTM also is clearly visible in the frame, for which Husqvarna is using the same type of Chromium-Molybdenum steel trellis frame as many KTMs have nowadays.

So what else does the Huqvarna get you for its price of USD $11,899? Well, the bike comes standard with:

  • Switchable ride modes, giving the rider the possibility to tweak power settings while riding.
  • A Bosch cornering ABS with lean angle braking tech (something my KTM 1090 doesn’t have)
  • Add to this, lean-angle sensitive Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC), which can be switched off on the trail.
  • Lastly, its easy-shifter improves rear wheel traction and helps the rider to smoothly shift gears on tricky trails.

Rally gurus like Lyndon Poskitt might have just found the ideal bike to turn into a rally monster!

2 crazy, highly limited bikes you may never see in your life

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I’m talking about two very futuristic looking motorcycles that are so exclusive that, at best, only a dozen will be made of them. Both are made in France, one boasts a 200hp Yamaha R1 engine and the other is equipped with a 100hp/240NM electric motor that will shoot the bike from 0-100 in under 3 seconds. I’ll start with the petrol one.

The Lazareth LM410

The Lazareth LM410 is not your average two-wheeler. In fact, it’s a four-wheeler.

For its previous creation, Lazareth used a Maserati engine, which makes this R1 equipped motorbike look a bit more like a conventional bike. But make no mistake, the Lazareth LM410 is anything but normal. The bike doesn’t need a side-stand and must have quite an interesting handling if you’re used to taking curves on two wheels. Its hinged axles allow it to lean into a turn, but a locking system keeps it steady at a stop.

The bike is road legal in France and will set you back about EUR 100,000 ($112,000).

The Newron EV-1

The second bike is something that looks like a hipster’s dream come true. Just as the Lazareth, the Newron EV-1 stands out from the crowd, with its wooden panels, futuristic looking engine and sharp lines. The EV-1 is available in 4 different types of wood, just like your IKEA closet.

Newron has equipped its ‘’electric power cruiser’’ with a 75 kW PMAC engine, providing 240 Nm of torque, which is available right from the start. 0-100 goes in less than 3 seconds, and the bike’s top-speed is limited at about 220 km/h, enough to amaze everyone at the traffic light. 

Users can charge the EV-1’s battery for 80% in just about 40 minutes (with a fast-charging plug), which is similar to the Zero SR/S which we reviewed in last week’s MIR. The company claims that the battery will last about 300 km (186mi) in the city, and about 80km less on the highway.

The EV-1 has onboard navigation, WiFi connectivity, and Bluetooth to connect smartphones. It will be quite a bit cheaper than the Lazareth LM410, and comes in at about EUR 60,000 ($65,000).

Drooling hipsters and futurists can now preorder the bike for just EUR 2000. The first ones are set to be delivered somewhere in 2021.

The Zero SR/S

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After having discussed electric motorcycles in detail a few weeks ago, this week we look at the launch of the Zero SR/S.

Zero has teased this motorcycle for a while, giving away almost nothing on specs, design or purpose, but last week, it finally unveiled the newest model in its already impressive lineup, the SR/S.

Source: Zero Motorcycles

This new model is a sportsbike, but does steal quite a bit from the SR/F, the company’s streetfighter model. The SR/S has an improved aerodynamic design, full fairing and offers a more comfortable, upright riding position. The higher handlebars and lower footpegs give away that the bike was designed for city commuters. The SR/S weighs almost 230 kg (505lb), and Zero claims that the improved aerodynamic will lead to a better range (13%), but on paper, the bike’s range specs largely mimic those of the SR/F

For the powertrain, Zero decided to stick with the same ZF 75-10 engine, delivering 82kW (110 hp) and 190 Nm (140 lb-ft) of torque, giving the bike a top speed of 200 kmh (120 mph). The bike also features the same 14.4 kWh battery. The battery can be upgraded with the Power Tank accessory which adds 3.6 kWh of capacity. 

Given the improvements in battery technology, we would’ve liked to have seen improvements in range compared to the SR/F model. After all, it’s the limited range that keeps a lot of people from buying electric motorcycles. With the SR/S, Zero doesn’t manage to fulfill our dreams. The new SR/S sports largely offers the same range specs as its predecessor, with a city range of 259 km (161 mi), a highway range of 132 km (82 mi), and a mixed range of 175 km (109 mi). With the Power Tank, the Zero SR/S is rated for a city range of 323 km (201 mi), a highway range of 166 km (103 mi), and a mixed range of 219 km (136 mi).

Source: Zero Motorcycles

While on paper, the city range doesn’t look too bad, the highway range does look rather limited, and in reality, the 166 km / 103mi, could turn out to be a lot less if you’re going just a bit faster than 100kmh/60mph on the highway.

When it comes to recharging the SR/S, the company offers three different options. Using 1 charger module, the bike charges up to 95% in 4 hours, with 2 charger modules this is reduced to 2 hours, and with 3 charger modules, you can charge the battery in just over 1 hour.  Using the 3 charger modules, the bike becomes a bit more useful for roadtrips, but as we mentioned before, waiting for an hour is not ideal if your friends on gasoline powered bikes are already miles ahead.

Zero is using the Cypher III system as OS, giving you 10 different riding modes and oodles of information on the bike’s performance, including bike location, speed, lean angle, power, torque, state of charge and energy used/regenerated.

The SR/S has a starting price of $18,995, but the premium version (incl. the rapid charge system) with powertank comes in at $24.295. Check out the Zero SR/S site for all the specs and cool videos.

Is Zero the Tesla of Motorcycles?

Posted on by Posted in Background Knowledge, General

The electrification of transportation is picking up with Tesla leading the charge. The U.S. company has seen its share price rocket in recent days as it managed to ramp up electric vehicle deliveries. 

Tesla fans that expect the car-builder to venture out in electric motorcycles have been disappointed by Tesla CEO Musk himself. Musk said that his company will just stick to producing cars, and that his company would never do a two-wheeler.

While many see this as a missed opportunity for Tesla, other companies are jumping into the gap and promise mind-blowing specs for upcoming models.

One of those companies is Zero motorcycles.

The California-based company, started by former NASA engineer Neal Saiki, is about to launch its newest model on the 24th of February. Zero has dropped very little hints about its newest bike, but we can conclude that the SR/S looks like a Urban/Streetfighter bike, and is likely to be faster, more powerful while yielding a better range than the SR/F model that the company launched last year.

It’s perhaps remarkable that Zero decided to develop yet another large motorcycle, as the market for electric motorcycles is mostly focusing on smaller, short-distance city bikes, which are by far the best selling bikes in the world’s largest electric two-wheeler market, China.  Tesla, however, took the same approach: it developed the Roadster, a small sportscar with a, back then, unprecedented range of 245mi (394km), creating a more exclusive and ‘cool’ brand.

Since its inception in 2006, Zero has worked hard to quickly extend its lineup, and has squeezed out, a light city bike, a Supermoto, a dragster, an Enduro and an adventure bike.

Despite the quick advancements in technology and the extensive lineup, the company has so far not managed to capture a large chunk of the U.S. market. A market in which it will have to compete with Harley Davidson, Indian Motorcycles, Lightning Motorcycles and even with bigger brands such as BMW, KTM and Yamaha.

One of the main reasons for the limited success of electric motorcycles is range anxiety.  The company gives some interesting tips to extend the range of the bike, but 112 miles on the highway isn’t going to cut it if you’re making a coast-to-coast roadtrip with your friends on gasoline-powered motorcycles.

For shorter trips, or for drag races within the city, the SR/F and the new SR/S could however be the ideal electric motorcycles. Their limited weight, incredible torque (190 Nm on the SR/F) and good looks sure make them a head-turner at the traffic lights.

Bonus: Watch a Zero SR/F drag race with a Tesla model 3 Performance