Chinese-Swedish car manufacturer Lynk & Co has revealed the company first-ever motorcycle based on Benelli’s TNT 600.
The Geely-owned company made history as the first Chinese manufacturer to claim an FIA world title win at the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) back in 2019.
Unveiled in China, the motorcycle appears to be the same as the TNT 600, but some added Lynk & Co graphics and livery.
While this could signal the firm’s intentions to build its own motorcycle, the company might offer them the same ownership scheme that they applied for Lynk & Co cars in China.
Apart from selling their cars conventionally, the scheme allows customers to own their cars on a monthly basis.
The company expanded into the European market last year and plans to enter the US soon. For example, customers can own the Lynk 01 car for just EUR500 a month, complete with insurance, tax and maintenance costs.
Radar sensor technology is currently the most advanced system ever applied to a motorcycle.
The new technology allows the motorcycle to engage Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Detection, which subsequently increases the safety aspect.
The Bosch-developed system is already available on Ducati’s Multistrada V4 S, BMW’s R 1250 RT and KTM’s 1290 Adventure S, whereas Honda, on the other hand, went to develop their own radar sensor technology.
However, the new system is not easily integrated into the bike’s styling, which looks out of place at the front and rear of the motorcycle.
That is where Honda intend to overcome that aspect by developing their own front and rear radar technology based on a patent unveiled earlier this year involving the Goldwing and Africa Twin.
In the latest development, the Japanese firm’s new patents clearly show that the radar sensor has been cleverly hidden behind the bodywork. This is done by placing two image sensors tucked in beside the front LED bulbs.
The sensors are mounted with internal walls to keep them from being overwhelmed by light from the LED bulbs.
However, it is still too early to judge how well these new Honda-developed sensors would work compared to Bosch-developed radar technology.
What we do know is Honda always pride itself as a technology leader in motorcycles, and the in-house development of radar technology could well be better than the one available in the market today.
After sustaining two broken ribs in the Superpole race of last weekend’s Barcelona round, Chaz Davies has decided to hang up his glove ahead of this weekend’s Jerez round.
The 34-year-old Go Eleven Ducati satellite team will bow out as one of WorldSBK most successful riders, having scored 32 race wins and three runner-ups in 2015, 2017 and 2018 since his debut nine years ago.
The 2021 season has not been easy for Davies, as he suffered a shoulder injury during the third round of the season in Misano.
Despite making a full recovery and returning to racing at Magny-Cours, he was ousted the following round in Barcelona. He was involved in a collision with Puccetti Kawasaki, Lucas Mahias during the early stage Superpole, where Davies was then confirmed to suffered two broken ribs.
Nevertheless, the British rider will remain the seventh most successful rider in WorldSBK history in race wins; 28 of them came on board the Ducati machinery.
We are nearing that time of the year whereby every manufacturer is making a great effort to introduce their new range of motorcycles.
As the biggest motorcycle exhibition globally, EICMA has been the number one choice for every big player to unveil their latest creation.
However, on the other hand, Ducati continues to put their trust in the online platform for the second time around.
Following the success of Ducati World Premier 2021 that witness the global unveiling of the Multistrada V4, new Monster and the SuperSport 950, the Borgo Panigale outfit is proud to present the Ducati World Premier (DWP) 2022.
There will be six episodes of the web series in total comprising of:
Episode 1 | Your everyday wonder (September 30, 2021)
Episode 2 | Mark your roots (October 14, 2021)
Episode 3 | Rule all mountains (October 28, 2021)
Episode 4 | A new Fighter in town (November 11, 2021)
Episode 5 | The evolution of Speed (November 25, 2021)
Ducati is even kind enough to reveal that the sixth and final episode will be the unveiling of the all-new DesertX in a production form. The DesertX was first introduced as a concept back in EICMA 2019.
However, episodes three and four of the DWP 2022 caught our attention due to the not so subtle headline.
Using our intricate analysis, the ‘Rule all mountain’ and ‘A new Fighter in town’ could be referring to the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak edition and the recently spied Streetfighter V2.
The Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak could be the last model that pays homage to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb as the organizers have decided to cancel all two-wheel events due to the tragic passing of Carlin Dunne in June 2019.
Meanwhile, the Streetfighter V2 will attract a larger audience as it is expected to feature a lower price point than its V4 siblings.
Moreover, with 155hp @ 10,750rpm and 104Nm @ 9,000rpm, the V2 could well be one of the most powerful middleweight naked bikes available in the market next year.
But then again, we could be wrong, and it could well be referring to a whole different bike by the time the episode goes live.
Nonetheless, please mark your calendar as Ducati is set to introduce their 2022 model year range.
Ricky Carmichael is perhaps one of the best candidates on planet earth to test out any adventure motorcycle.
In order to push for the best, it is only wise for Triumph Motorcycles to pick Carmichael as the right person to have a go at the upcoming Tiger 1200.
According to the 7-time AMA Motocross 450cc Championship and 5-time AMA Supercross 450 champion, the Tiger 1200 is an incredible machine.
“It’s just amazing. I’m blown away at how it handles. The in-house engine design makes it feel lighter,” said the 41-year-old.
Catch the full video below:
Triumph Motorcycles has been making serious waves in the industry ever since they launched the Tiger 900 range in 2019.
Words of mouth were quick to suggest that the next obvious move is to introduce an all-new Tiger 1200; however, the British marquee decided to focus on the middleweight segment, with the Trident 660.
The wait is finally over as Triumph Motorcycles has provided a clear look into the upcoming Tiger 1200.
Clad in a camo overall, the Tiger 1200 looks more aggressive than its 900 range, especially with a broader front fascia and bigger LED headlamp.
The folks at Hinckley has confirmed that the Tiger 1200 will feature the innovative T-Plane crank like its 900 siblings.
The T-Plane engine provides an uneven firing order, resulting in a more efficient drive at low rpm and extra push at high rpm, making the 900 the best adventure motorcycle you can enjoy on and off-road.
Triumph also confirmed that the new adventure motorcycle is significantly lighter than its closes competition.
We have to wait for its official unveiling for further confirmation, which we think will happen anytime soon.
It took about a year and a half for the Dominar 400 UG to make it to the Malaysian market.
For many months Modenas buyers waited keenly for the introduction of the new sport touring for the entry-level market.
Their anticipation fuelled by all the content on the Dominar UG coming from Indian content makers. And almost all of them had something good to say.
So naturally sales of the previous generation Dominar slowed to a little more than a grind. Modenas had previously committed to ordering a certain amount of Dominars from its business partner – Bajaj Auto Ltd of India.
So this was a lose-all situation – Modenas couldn’t move Dominars fast enough to place an order for the UG model, and the market didn’t want the old Dominar because of all the positive feedback the market was getting from India.
This situation forced Modenas into overdrive, and the much loved Malaysian bike maker introduced offer after offer, even lowering the price to a never before seen price for its segment.
Those that didn’t mind not having the latest toy took the amazing offers, while those that were patient would have their patience rewarded. Something I will get to shortly.
The gamble worked (obviously) and Modenas has introduced the new Dominar 400 UG.
I’m not quite sure if we can still call it new considering that it is in actual fact a 2019 model.
But for the sake of the Malaysian market and this article, let’s just call it new.
And boy have the patient been rewarded, because not only is the Dominar 400 UG more matured compared to the previous model, but at just RM13,997, it is quite easily the deal of the year! If only there was an award for that.
In case you were wondering what could be so different considering both bikes look almost identical. Well, it takes a keen eye and the real difference lays under the skin.
From the outside, the new Dominar offers an updated headlamp.
Doesn’t look like it but the design is actually slightly different and it is brighter too.
Then there is the new radially mounted ByBre callipers grabbing a 320mm disc.
It’s mounted on the left of the bike now, the old had its brake calliper on the right.
The previous callipers were also axial mounted, and because most calliper locks are made for radially mounted callipers, owners of the Dominar were sitting ducks when dealing with calliper thieves. Well, no more.
Rims are of a new design too, and it accentuates the overall sportiness of the Dominar.
The forks are arguably the biggest update to the Dominar 400 UG, replacing the conventional forks in favour of more advanced (and better looking) upside down forks measuring in at an impressive 43mm with 135mm of travel.
The new forks are a good mix of comfort and sportiness, with just the right amount of stiffness in the corners without too much dive under heavy braking.
The front end did feel light at speeds above 160km/h.
The front tyre felt like it was just skimming the road, which is a very unnerving feeling especially in corners.
The old Dominar had an issue with leaking fork seals that made the front feel wobbly if not rectified quickly.
Time will tell how the new forks will fare in the Malaysian climate.
Then there is the new twin meter panel set up, something like that on a Ducati Diavel.
The top meter displays engine related information like rpm, speed and warnings like when the stand is down or when you’re low on fuel.
The bottom meter panel displays a highly anticipated gear position indicator, something that Dominar and Pulsar buyers particularly demand for.
But the real difference in the Dominar 400 UG lay in the way it rides.
Though it is powered by the same 373cc, single-cylinder engine, but it now produces more power, is cleaner and more fuel-efficient.
Unlike before, the engine now features Double Overhead Cams, and this combined with the liquid cooling and fuel injection, helps produce 10PS and 10Nm of torque more than before.
This takes power figures to 40PS @ 8800rpm and torque is rated at 35Nm @ 6500rpm.
This even makes the bike sound angrier during idle, with a heavier bass making the Dominar sound sportier than before despite its single thumper set up.
And it is very willing to rev, more so than before while power delivery is linear with no loss in between.
This gives the Dominar a sportier character than before.
Making it feel more willing to accelerate harder while the ByBre brakes feel more than up to the job of slowing it down.
The new 43mm USD forks too are a good combination of sports and comfort.
During hard braking there is the usual dive, but it feels just right and does not feel like it’s diving more than it should.
On uneven roads the forks take on a different character of absorbing bumps and ruts. Suddenly it is more willing to dive and to soak up unevenness.
Almost feels like they’re electronically adjustable forks, but they’re not.
The rear monoshock is adjustable with a 110mm of travel.
This is probably what made the bike feel like it was floating because I did not adjust it to my weight. But knowing that it is adjustable works for me.
The most amazing thing about the new Dominar is its price – at just RM13,997 without insurance.
At that price, the new Dominar 400 UG is not just a great price, but is a steal.
You will not believe how much sportier it has become until you ride it.
