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Harley-Davidson fans have something new to get excited about as the company’s upcoming CVO Street Glide 121 has been unveiled in new certification filings in Australia. 

  • The 2024 CVO Street Glide to feature extensive styling.
  • The new generation motorcycle is powered by a new 121 cubic inches powertrain. 

The bike features a substantially reworked batwing fairing with a squared-off LED headlight and a more modern, aerodynamic look.

Other changes include a new front-fender design with innovative wheels, floating brake discs, and larger side cases topped with speakers. 

The CVO Street Glide’s main draw is likely to be its engine, with “121” badges denoting its capacity in cubic inches, and the anticipated employment of the variable valve timing system for better emissions. 

While still largely air-cooled, the bike has a big cooler sitting in a blacked-out piece of bodywork just ahead of the motor. 

Meanwhile, Harley-Davidson is also expected to launch a similarly updated CVO Road Glide later this year.

(source: Cycle World)

Italy’s two-wheeled market has reported a significant upswing in Q1 2023, with March alone recording impressive sales figures for both scooters and motorcycles. 

  • Italian motorcycle market recorded a surge in sales for the month of March 2023. 
  • BMW R 1250 GS, Honda Africa Twin and Benelli TRK 502 continue to dominate the market. 

According to the National Association of Cycle Motorcycle Accessories (Confindustria ANCMA), the country’s two-wheeled market posted a 26.7-percent spike in March, translating to growth of 27.6 percent in Q1 2023.

In March, scooter sales amounted to 17,777 units sold, representing a 31.5-percent increase, while motorcycles recorded 18,221 new registrations, reflecting a 25.8-percent boost. The surge in sales has been welcomed by dealers, who are looking to build on the growth gained at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023.

The Confindustria ANCMA has also broken down the top-selling motorbikes in Italy for March 2023. Moto Morini’s X-Cape 650 adventure bike made it into the top ten list with 283 units sold, followed by Honda’s NC750X with 303 units moved.

Meanwhile, Yamaha’s Tracer 7, Moto Guzzi’s V7, and Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 round out the top ten, with Honda’s new CB750 Hornet cracking the top five with 401 units sold.

The top three places go to the Honda Africa Twin, BMW R 1250 GS, and Benelli TRK 502, respectively, with Italian consumers registering 674 Africa Twins, 621 R 1250 GSs, and 600 TRK 502s throughout March 2023.

Harley-Davidson has made headlines once again with the launch of its new X 500 roadster, just weeks after unveiling the X 350 and “leaked” spy shots of the Hero MotoCorp-developed 4XX.

  • The X500 is the result of a partnership between Harley-Davidson and Chinese brand QJ Motor.
  • The motorcycle is based on the Benelli Leoncino 500.

Sharing many components with the Leoncino, the X500 boasts a 500cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine, producing 47hp and 46Nm, as well as a steel tube frame, 50mm USD fork, offset monoshock, and 17-inch alloy wheels. However, the X500 sets itself apart visually with its neoteric styling, taking cues from the Harley-Davidson XR1200X.

The bike’s features are minimal, including a monopod semi-digital instrument console with a digital inset and dual-channel ABS as the only electronic aid.

The only notable departure from the classic Harley-Davidson aesthetic is the integration of rear indicators with the tail lights.

With a kerb weight of 208kg, the X500 is a heavy machine that promises to deliver the signature Harley-Davidson riding experience while appealing to a wider global audience.

Honda all-new lightweight naked motorcycle, the CB750 Hornet is now officially available in Thailand. 

  • The 2023 Honda Hornet 750 features an all-new engine.
  • Equipped with ride-by-wire and Honda Selectable Torque Control. 

According to reports, the Honda Hornet CB750 is priced at THB319,000 (RM41.2k) and is available in two colour options; Graphite Black and Pear Glare White. 

Powering the Hornet is a 755cc parallel-twin engine producing 92hp and 75Nm. The engine features a 270-degree crank that allows the engine to provide a feel similar to a V-Twin configuration. 

In addition, the two cylinders is coated with nickel-silicon carbide, a feature inherited from the firm’s CBR1000RR-R while the Unicam system is similar to the CRF450R motocross machine.

Meanwhile, the engine is wrapped around an all-new steel diamond frame which Honda claimed to weighs only 16.6kg which is 2kg lighter than the frame on Honda’s CB650R.  According to Honda, the Hornet 750 is equipped with a 15.1L fuel tank and with a fuel consumption rate at 23km/l, this means that the bike could go up to 340km. 

The Hornet also gets Honda’s patented ‘Vortex Flow Ducts’ designed to evenly distribute air into the airbox. According to Honda, the air ducts boost the bike’s throttle response.

Electronically, the Honda Hornet 750 gets ride-by-wire, which offers three pre-mapped riding modes; Rain, Standard and Sport. However the fourth mode, is fully customisable by the rider.

The motorcycle is suspended by Showa’s SFF-BP 41mm USD forks with 130mm travel at the front and a preload-adjustable shock absorber with Pro-Link swingarm at the rear. Other notable features include auto-cancelling indicators, 5-inch TFT display, Honda Smartphone Voice Control System (available for Android and iOS). 

The Triumph-Bajaj partnership has been progressing steadily over recent months, and it seems that a new bike is on the horizon. A recent video posted on YouTube by The Fat Biker has given us the clearest look yet at a Triumph Bajaj test mule being tested on roads in India.

  • The test mule is seen with alloy wheels instead of wire-spoked wheels shown last year. 
  • Reports suggest the all-new motorcycle is likely to break cover towards the end of 2023. 

The bike is believed to be a 400cc machine, with a neutral and upright seating position and mid-mounted foot pegs. It features cast wheels (19-inch up front and a 17-inch in the rear), high-mounted fenders front and rear, and an underslung exhaust with a dual-tipped canister mounted low on the right side. LED lighting is present throughout the bike, and the speedometer is analog.

While it’s not yet clear when the new Triumph-Bajaj bike will be formally revealed, bike press in India believes it will happen later in 2023. 

The upcoming bike is expected to directly compete with other scramblers like the Royal Enfield Scram 411, the Yezdi Scrambler, and the Honda CB350RS.

With eight months to go until the formal reveal, enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting more information about this exciting new offering from the Triumph-Bajaj partnership. Stay tuned for more updates on this upcoming model.

In 2021, KTM made waves with the debut of the 890 Adventure and 890 Adventure R, effectively rendering the existing 790 Adventure lineup obsolete.

  • KTM and CFMoto teamed up to bring the up-spec KTM 790 Adventure R. 
  • The KTM 790 Adventure R to feature new chassis and styling.

However, the Austrian OEM has since revived the base model 790 Adventure in 2023 as a budget-conscious alternative to its big-bore cousin. Now, KTM and CFMoto are partnering on a project to bring back the up-spec 790 Adventure R.

According to type-approval documents filed in China, the KTM and CFMoto partnership plans to revive the 790 Adventure R with new chassis and styling accommodations. The prototype image included in the documents confirms that the off-road-biased variant will sport robust 48mm WP XPLOR suspension, a high-mounted front fender, and aggressive semi-knobby tires.

While the filings don’t indicate the model’s performance figures, we anticipate the R trim to retain the standard model’s 94 horsepower and 87Nm of torque. However, without its windshield and a KTMR2R sticker plastered to its front panel, the project looks very much in progress.

As such, KTM and CFMoto could still make changes before the 790 Adventure R returns to the market.

The 790 Adventure R is expected to set itself apart from the base model 790 Adventure and the 890 Adventure R with its off-road-biased features. Given previous iterations of the 790 Adventure R and the existing 890 Adventure R, adventure riders can expect a capable and rugged machine.

KTM’s decision to partner with CFMoto for production could also make the resurrected ADV more affordable for adventure riders. The Chinese manufacturer’s experience in production and cost-effective processes could help keep the price competitive.

Overall, the 790 Adventure R’s return is exciting news for adventure riders looking for a more budget-friendly, off-road-capable bike. While we await an official unveiling from KTM, the type-approval documents provide a tantalizing glimpse into what riders can expect from the revived model.

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