Walaupun pasaran motosikal global mengalami kelembapan, Royal Enfield (RE) mengejutkan semua orang dengan menjual 21% lebih motosikal dari awal 2024 hingga Oktober berbanding tempoh yang sama tahun lalu. Dari segi angka, itu adalah 565,353 motosikal, di mana 52,624 daripadanya telah dieksport.
Malah, RE menjual 110,574 motosikal pada Oktober 2024 sahaja, iaitu hampir dua kali ganda daripada jualan tahunan Ducati pada 2023. Ia merupakan peningkatan 31% berbanding Oktober tahun lalu.
Peningkatan itu boleh dikesan kepada beberapa model baharu dalam segmen pertengahan, serta peningkatan kemudahan pengeluaran di seluruh dunia.
Walaupun teras kemudahan produksi RE terletak di Oragadam dan Vallam Vadagal berhampiran Chennai, India, mereka juga mempunyai lima kemudahan pemasangan Completely Knocked Down (CKD) di Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Bangladesh dan Nepal dengan kemudahan CKD baharu yang baru dibuka di Thailand, menjadikan jumlah itu menjadi enam.
Kilang Thai baharu Enfield, yang terletak di wilayah Samut Prakan di Bangkok dan mempunyai keupayaan untuk membuat 30,000 motosikal setahun, adalah yang pertama firma itu di rantau ini dan akan memberi mereka akses yang lebih besar kepada pasaran Asia Pasifik yang menguntungkan, yang merupakan sarang untuk motosikal bersaiz sederhana.
“Niat strategik kami adalah untuk mempunyai strategi pengembangan antarabangsa untuk melabur dalam pasaran yang berpotensi besar untuk berkembang. Kilang pemasangan Thailand memenuhi visi ini,” kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif, B. Govindarajan.
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Royal Enfield, B. Govindarajan
Despite a slowdown in the global motorcycle market, Royal Enfield (RE) surprised everyone by selling 21% more motorcycles from the start of 2024 to October compared to the same period last year. In terms of figures, that was 565,353 motorcycles, of which 52,624 were exported.
In fact, RE sold 110,574 motorcycles in October 2024 alone, which was almost double of Ducati’s annual sales in 2023. It marked a 31% increase compared to October last year.
The increase can be traced to the several new models in the middleweight segment, as well the increase in production facilities around the world.
Although the core of RE’s production facilities are located at Oragadam and Vallam Vadagal near Chennai, India, they also have five Completely Knocked Down (CKD) assembly facilities in Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Bangladesh and Nepal with a new CKD facility just opening up in Thailand, bringing the number up to six.
Enfield’s new Thai plant, which is located at Samut Prakan province in Bangkok and has the capability to make 30,000 bikes a year, is the firm’s first in the region and will give them even greater access to the lucrative Asia-Pacific markets, which is a hotbed for the mid-sized bikes Enfield are focused on making.
“Our strategic intent is to have an international expansion strategy of investing in markets with huge potential to grow. Thailand assembly plant caters to this vision,” CEO, B. Govindarajan said.
The Benelli Leoncino Bobber 400 has been launched. It sports a V-Twin engine, and slots in between the single-cylinder Leoncino 125 and parallel-Twin Leoncino 500.
Highlights:
The engine is a 385cc, SOHC, 60° V-Twin which produces 34.5hp at 8,000 RPM, and 36.6Nm at 4,500 RPM. This is what you would expected from a V-Twin cruiser.
Engine power is sent through a six-speed transmission and belt final drive.
Designed by the Centro Stile Benelli in Italy, the maker is trying to instil a powercruiser styling in the Leoncino Bobber 400. Although it looks like a combination of the Fat Boy and XR1200 to us.
16-inch wheels, front and rear. The front has a width of 130mm, the rear is 150mm.
Each wheel has a single disc brake, the front ius 300mm while the rear is 240mm. ABS is standard.
Seat height is just 735mm, curb weight is 180kg.
The tank holds 15 litres of fuel.
Classic style, round TFT screen.
That is all the data that was released and the it is a simple bike, anyway. The price of the Benelli Leoncino Bobber 400 has not been revealed.
The Benelli TRK902 Explorer has been launched as the company’s entry into the rugged middleweight adventure segment.
Although technical details are scant at the moment, we do know that the TRK902 Explorer uses a new engine, based on the old 754cc 4-valve. The stroke and bore have been increased to take it up to 904cc. Benelli claims the engine produces 98.6hp and 90.0Nm of torque. Not bad.
Benelli has adventure bikes prior to this but the TRK902 Explorer is the most rugged TRK thus far. The frame is the usual tubular steel trellis type, with fully-adjustable 50mm upside-down forks. The rear monoshock is adjustable from spring preload and rebound damping. Both ends have 200mm travel, which in turn gives the bike a generous 230mm ground clearance. However, Benelli gives the bike 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels instead of a 21-inch and 18-inch combo.
Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres are standard fitment and the twin 320mm discs are gripped by Brembo four-piston monobloc calipers with an ABS system that has a dedicated off-road mode.
There is no mention of a traction control system or variable power modes, but they are likely to be fitted as it runs a ride-by-wire throttle. Benelli claim a dry weight of 235kg with a seat height of 865mm.
When it comes to practicality, the Benelli TRK902 Xplorer features a 7-inch TFT colour dash with connectivity and a navigation function, two fog lights integrated into its design, tyre pressure monitors, a 22-litre fuel capacity and even an electronically-adjustable screen.
Welcome back to Part 2 of our countdown of the greatest Honda V4 motorcycles. The remaining five are so iconic that we are sure you have heard of them.
5. Honda VFR750/800 (1987-2013)
Among all of Honda’s V4 production motorcycles, the VFR750 and the later VFR800 were the most successful in terms of numbers sold. In fact, they were probably some of the best motorcycles ever made.
Comfort was excellent, great build quality, good handling and equipment, it was the classiest motorcycle you could buy. Honda may have since revived the VFR800 in face-lifted form along with the Crossrunner, both of which are decent, but those ‘80s and ‘90s VFR750s can still claim to being the greatest V4s of all.
4. Honda RVF750R (RC45) (1994-1999)
The RVF750R was launched in 1994 as a long-awaited and much anticipated successor to Honda’s first all-conquering V4 superbike, the VFR750R RC30.
Closely-related to the RC30, it uses a 90º V4 with gear-driven cams housed in an aluminium twin spar frame featuring a single-sided swing arm. However, it was actually all-new and co-developed by Honda’s racing division, HRC, and Honda R&D. Differences included a shorter stroke, more compact design and fuel-injection. In its last racing form, the engine made more peak horsepower than even Mick Doohan’s NSR500 two-stroke GP bike.
Although highly successful at the Isle of Man TT and in world endurance, it won only one WSB crown. While on the road, its road legal 120bhp was nothing special. It was of course supremely expensive at nearly £18,000.
3. Honda VFR400R NC30/RVF400R (1989-1996)
What? A 400cc V4 in the Top 3? Well, why not? The VFR400R and later RVF400R were the little brothers to the RC30 and RVF750R respectively. They were much more affordable and accessible to the man in the street.
Both were produced in parallel to their 750 siblings although, as mass market bikes, had lesser spec, fewer exotic materials and were not hand-built. Both were also the result of a then-prevailing Japanese licensing law that favoured 400cc machines. Several units made it to Malaysia and certainly in Singapore.
The NC30 was definitely among the best: effectively a ‘slightly smaller RC30’ with sublime handling and an impressively flexible V4 producing 59bhp. The RVF400R was said to be even better but unfortunately was short-lived.
2. Honda RC213-V (2015-2016)
Conceived as a road-going replica of the then RC213V MotoGP machine, it is as close to that bike as was possible and practical with little concern given to cost.
Around 250 were built in total, hand-made by small teams of hand-picked engineers. Although road regulations limited performance to 159bhp, its chassis boasted the best of everything including Ohlins TTX25 gas forks, forged magnesium wheels and a slimline full-colour TFT dash while, with the optional Sports Kit fitted, intended for track use which includes a revised ECU and exhaust together unleashing 215bhp, it’s as close to the full works V4 MotoGP experience mere mortals can buy.
Which is as it should be, considering the £137,000 price.
1. Honda VFR750R (RC30) (1987-1990)
The RC30 remains the best Honda V4 ever built. There we have said it.
Timed to promote Honda’s new VFR V4s, it conceived to exploit the new World Superbike and world endurance racing regulations (based on 750cc production machines). As such it was developed with no expense-spared by HRC.
As a homologation special racer it won straight out of the crate – not just in WSB (becoming the first champion in 1988), but in endurance, F1 and at the TT. It also dominated Malaysian superbikes.
Being the world’s largest motorcycle maker would invariably mean you would have produced all sorts of motorcycles and the engines that power them. However, Honda loves the V4 engine in particular hence so many of their iconic motorcycles were V4-powered. -However, regulatory bodies do not share such enthusiasm and the Euro5 emission had put an end to any V4 bike in Honda’s line up. So, here is a fond look at the greatest Honda V4 motorcycles of yesteryears.
10. Honda VF750F Interceptor (1982-1985)
Honda’s V4 ‘project’ began with the ill-fated NR500 GP racer in 1978, but their V4 road bike story began with the VF750S Sabre and VF750F Interceptor in 1983.
The S was a semi-cruiser roadster, while the F had a half-fairing. Both were based on the same 90º V4, with the S being shaft driven and the F via a chain. They were both considered high-tech at the time, being liquid-cooled and 16 valves. The VF750F in particular was an advanced, impressive design with box-section frame, nose fairing, 16-inch front wheel, adjustable suspension and more.
Unfortunately, early versions were blighted by premature cam wear, so much so they became known as the ‘chocolate cam’ V4s. Honda initially ignored the problem, which was caused by inadequate oil flow, then eventually improved the design, eliminating the fault. But, following the folly of the NR racer, it was too late to save the V4 the bikes’ reputation, hence the short model lifespan.
9. Honda VF1000R (1984-1987)
Honda was not content of building just a 750cc V4, they went big the next year by introducing three(!) 1000cc, in addition to a 400cc V4s.
The R was intended to be the ultimate, showcasing all Honda’s latest technology as a successor to the CB1100R. Where the other 1000s (and 750s) had chain-driven cams, the R had a sophisticated gear-driven arrangement.
It also had anti-dive forks, GP-alike Comstar wheels, a box-section frame, twin radiators and race-style bodywork comprising a full-fairing, removable seat hump and twin endurance style headlights, a year before Suzuki’s new GSX-R750.
High compression heads helped produce 122bhp and drive the VF onto 150mph, making it the fastest bike of the day (prior to the Kawasaki GPz900R). Unfortunately, all that tech and gear-driven cams also made the R quite heavy. It was also ridiculously expensive hence there are not many examples these days.
8. Honda VF400F (1983-1987)
Despite Honda’s intends and purposes to dominate the big bike market with the VF750 and VF1000, many enthusiasts say that the best Honda V4 of the era was the VF400F.
The engine had 16 valves and produced 55hp, very close to Yamaha’s RD350 YPVS two-stroke’s 59hp. It also had those iconic inboard disc brakes and bikini fairings.
Honda released the fully-faired VF500F in Europe the next year. It had conventional disc brakes, and 70hp. And it did not have cam issues.
7. Honda VFR1200F (2009-2017)
Wait! Where is the VFR750/VFR800? Do not worry, those are further up the list, as we are counting down based on merit, rather than when they were produced.
In fact, the VFR1200F was the successor to the VFR750/800. However, the bike’s development was fraught with prolonged teases and delays.
The all-new 1237cc V4 engine was actually good: producing 170bhp, lots of midrange torque and power, and featuring shaft-drive. From 2010, it became the platform to debut Honda’s optional, semi-automatic ‘DCT’ gearbox.
Unfortunately, the buying public during the time found it was too heavy; the ‘sports-tourer’ concept was by then outdated; its styling was disliked; its fuel tank was too small and lack of high-spec tech, with an old school dash and no electronic rider aids, compared to its peers.
6. Honda NR750 (1992)
In many ways the NR750 was not only the ultimate Honda V4, it was the most exotic motorcycle of all – ever.
Hand-built, no expense-spared road-going ‘celebration’ bike to mark Honda’s oval-piston V4 racing project, the NR750 could very well be Honda’s most exotic production motorcycle. Ever.
Honda had first proposed the oval piston concept in the NR500 racer in 1978. It was a four-stroke V4 GP bike but with oval pistons with twin con rods and eight valves per cylinder to create the power of a V8. The company wanted to show the world that their four-strokes could take the fight to two-stroke GP bikes of that era. Unfortunately, the project did not yield the success they sought, and Honda went on to create firstly the NS500 three-cylinder two-stroke racer, and finally the world-conquering NSR500 four-cylinder two-stroke GP machines.
Back to the NR750 road bike, it had 125bhp and too much weight. But its gorgeous styling, plus high-end specs such as a carbon fibre single-sided swing arm, titanium con rods, inverted forks, etc. put it above production bikes of the era. Only 200 were built with a new price of £38,000 in 1992.
