AFRICA ECO RACE: THE RACE IS WELL UNDERWAY

With 8 degrees on the thermometer, the temperature was already much milder on the morning of Thursday January 4 at the start of the Oued Draa bivouac, not far from Mahmid, the Mecca of Rally Raids in Morocco. All the conditions were in place for a great day’s racing.

Alessandro BOTTURI was all smiles at the finish of the 463km special stage between Mahmid and Assa. Riding his Yamaha 700 Ténéré, the two-time winner of the event had won the stage and taken 2nd place overall from Pol TARRES, the second official rider for the blues. It was a great result for the jovial Italian, who beat his team-mate by 00:01:29 in the selective sector and by 00:00:35 in the provisional standings:

“The stage was very beautiful, with some pretty good dunes, but the navigation wasn’t easy. From kilometer 210, we caught up with CERUTTI and rode with him. Yesterday I thought the pace was high and I wondered if I was old enough to compete with the two furious riders at the front. Today was even worse and yet I rode with them without any problems. We’ll see what happens next.

Finishing 3rd today at 00:02:18, Jacopo CERUTTI remains leader of the bike classification aboard his APRILIA Touareg 660 at 00:06:20.

The Italian had managed to hold onto the lead until the halfway point of the race, but was caught out by a small navigation error. It took more than 30 minutes for the first 450s to arrive, including the HONDA of Italian Giovanni GRITTI, the KTM of Swiss rider Alexandre VAUDAN and the HUSQVARNA of Guillaume BORNE. All three, separated by less than two minutes, are entered in the ROOKIE RIDER BY ACERBIS, which rewards the best riders under 35 who have never taken part in a major off-road rally. Last but not least, Italian Andrea GAVA put in a great performance, setting a magnificent 7th fastest time on his BETA from 33rd position.

In the Car/SSV/Truck category, it was once again an APACHE SSV that won this 3rd stage. This time, it was the car of Gautier PAULIN and Remi BOULANGER, ahead of the CAM AM of Heatcliff ZINGRAF and Gregory REVEST for 00:01:17 and the POLARIS of Éric SCHIANO and Camille POURCHIER, who recovered well from their problems at the start of the event.

Overall, the former Motocross champion maintains his lead on four wheels with a lead of just 00:03:35 over ZINGRAF. The battle rages on, with the POLARIS of Frédéric HENRICY and Éric BERSEY trailing behind at 01:17:23.

As for the cars, the TOYOTA of Belgian drivers Pascal FERYN and Kurt KEYSERS finished 9th overall at 01:14:45, ahead of the other 4X4 of the FERYN DAKAR TEAM of Koen WAUTERS and Kris VEN DER STEEN at just under 15 minutes. In the provisional general standings, FEYRIN leads the category ahead of WAUTERS.

In the truck category, the Czech Tomas TOMECEK finished 11th in this 3rd special stage and remains the leader of the desert mamoths.

In the Classic race, after this second stage, Yves LOUBET, the event’s Sporting Director, who was instrumental in the return of this historic category to the AFRICA ECO RACE, commented on the start of the race with his legendary enthusiasm and outspokenness:

“This Classic category in Africa, in the historic footsteps of the original event with a finish at Lac Rose, is a blessing for the discipline. The playing field is fantastic and Alain LOPEZ, who mapped out the route and determined the zones and average speeds imposed, has done an extraordinary job. The participants are in for a treat and the competition is going to be very competitive. The Classic race has all the safety, logistical and media resources that the Rally has to offer. It’s a race that’s just waiting to grow and, in time, it could become the absolute benchmark for the discipline.

Tomorrow, Friday January 5, another big stage awaits the participants, with 467km of selective sector and just 5km of liaison between Oued Draa and Fort Chacal.

And here are the stats on the day’s moto category. Check out Juan Pedrero Garcia’s position, on that Harley-Davidson Pan America!

Pos	pgr	N°	Nat.	Pilotes	Team	Marque	Grp/Pos	Cl/Pos	Scratch	Diff 1er	Péna
1	0	111		CERUTTI Jacopo	APRILIA RACING GCORSE		/	+700M / 1	11:47:19		00h00
2	+1	103		BOTTURI Alessandro	YAMAHA TENERE WORLD RAID TEAM		/	+700M / 2	11:53:39	00:06:20
3	-1	113		TARRES Pol	YAMAHA TENERE WORLD RAID TEAM		/	+700M / 3	11:54:14	00:06:55	00h00
4	+1	193		GRITTI Giovanni	RSMOTO RACING TEAM HONDA OIL		/	450 / 1	13:19:32	01:32:13
5	-1	125		BORNE Guillaume	CASTEU TROPHY		/	450 / 2	13:19:36	01:32:17	00h06
6	0	131		VAUDAN Alexandre	CASTEU TROPHY		/	450 / 3	13:34:00	01:46:41	00h15
7	+3	136		FERT Attilio	FRANCE ROAD BOOK		/	450 / 4	14:16:37	02:29:18
8	+4	122		MONTANARI Francesco	APRILIA RACING GCORSE		/	+700M / 4	14:28:28	02:41:09	00h15
9	-2	124		CHARLIER Nicolas	YAMAHA TENERE WORLD RAID TEAM		/	+700M / 5	14:31:24	02:44:05	00h01
10	+4	144		FONTANA Marco Aurelio	HONDA GENUINE OIL		/	450 / 5	14:38:40	02:51:21
11	+8	114		RUOSO Alessandro	TWINSBIKE RACING TEAM		/	+700M / 6	14:55:45	03:08:26
12	-3	128		QUINTO Nicola	JACQUE DE MOLAY		/	450 / 6	14:56:33	03:09:14	00h15
13	0	171		GUERRINI Massimiliano	SOLARYS RACING		/	450 / 7	15:03:57	03:16:38	00h35
14	-3	181		MENICHINI Marco	SOLARYS RACING		/	450 / 8	15:05:03	03:17:44	00h30
15	-7	105		PEDRERO GARCIA Juan	HARLEY DAVIDSON		/	1000M / 1	15:19:15	03:31:56
16	+2	140		DETOURBET Antoine	ANTOINE DETOURBET		/	450 / 9	15:44:21	03:57:02	00h15
17	0	143		DURAND Kevin	RS MOTO		/	450 / 10	15:48:13	04:00:54
18	+2	107		CHIUSSI Stefano	OFFROAD CREW		/	+450 / 1	15:52:26	04:05:07
19	-3	115		TAZZARI Angelo	TWINSBIKE RACING TEAM		/	+700M / 7	15:54:19	04:07:00	00h15
20	+3	146		ERBACH Jan Hendrik	SOLARYS RACING		/	450 / 11	16:26:11	04:38:52
21	+1	127		STIGLIANO Giovanni	JBRALLY ASD		/	+450 / 2	16:28:17	04:40:58
22	+11	133		GAVA Andrea	NSM RACING TEAM		/	+450 / 3	16:38:34	04:51:15	00h15
23	+2	119		PEILA UGO DOMENICO Pietro	OFFROAD CREW		/	450 / 12	16:48:31	05:01:12	00h22
24	-3	145		SILVA Nuno	OLD FRIENS RALLY TEAM		/	450 / 13	16:52:51	05:05:32	00h46
25	+1	148		CARILLON Patrice	SARL HOTEL DES SOURCES		/	450 / 14	17:00:06	05:12:47
26	+2	134		COSTARD Thierry	LDZ56		/	450 / 15	17:05:43	05:18:24	00h02
27	+4	120		BOTTU Nicolas	UNITED WE TRACE		/	450 / 16	18:06:25	06:19:06	00h47
28	-1	139		SALDANA GONI Ruben	OFFROAD CREW		/	+450 / 4	18:42:33	06:55:14
29	+1	138		VILLARRUBIA GARCIA Julian	OFFROAD CREW		/	+450 / 5	18:42:43	06:55:24
30	-1	137		DUTTO Nicola	OFFROAD CREW		/	+450 / 6	18:43:34	06:56:15
31	+3	163		CAPRIONI Paolo	TEAM KAPRIONY		/	+700M / 8	18:48:41	07:01:22	00h37
32	+5	186		SKARPAAS Richard	A4PLUSS		/	450 / 17	20:26:25	08:39:06	00h15
33	-1	141		RIGONI Alessandro	SOLARYS RACING		/	450 / 18	20:33:59	08:46:40	00h15
34	+4	185		HELLSTEN Joachim	A4PLUSS		/	450 / 19	20:43:22	08:56:03	00h30
35	+4	123		VAN OLST Robert	WOOD BV		/	450 / 20	20:56:31	09:09:12	00h17
36	-1	174		MURATORI Francesco	NSM RACING TEAM		/	450 / 21	21:30:44	09:43:25	00h02
37	+3	157		RUCK Vanessa	THE GIRL ON A BIKE		/	450 / 22	25:16:50	13:29:31	02h00
38	+4	178		SCHMUTZ Gunter	MALE MOTO		/	450 / 23	26:01:33	14:14:14	02h15
39	0	177		TANAKA Ai	AI78		/	+450 / 7	32:13:29	20:26:10	16h30

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SPECIAL DAY AT THE AFRICA ECO RACE

From sunrise, with sub-zero temperatures at the Boudnib bivouac, the day got off to a difficult start for the participants in the AFRICA ECO RACE 2024. The 383km special stage between Boudnib and Mhamid was not going to make it any easier.

While the competitors in the race, the Classic and the participants in the Raid were giving their all on the track, and the organising team was in place to manage the race, the terrible news of René METGE’s death began to spread throughout the race. Suffice to say that the atmosphere was heavy on the Mhamid bivouac at the end of the day and that the performances on this 2nd stage almost took second place.

Whatever happens, the race will continue tomorrow as René, one of the pillars of the AFRICA ECO RACE, would have wanted.

In the Motorcycle category, the top three riders in the standings completed the 383km selective sector in just over 4 hours, averaging 92km/h and nearly an hour ahead of schedule.

Jacopo CERUTTI started first this morning and led the way all day in his APRILIA. Without ever being caught up, the Italian even widened the gap over the two YAMAHAs of Pol TARRES and Alessandro BOTTURI and now has an overall lead of 00:08:53 over the Spaniard and 00:10:17 over his compatriot. He was therefore rather satisfied at the finish:

“I really rode to my maximum today. I feel good on the bike and I have a good feeling with the road book, which is really well done. It’s a long way to Dakar but for the moment I’m having a lot of fun, especially in today’s short stage which I would have preferred to have been longer because I was enjoying myself so much.”

Behind him, Franco-Moroccan Guillaume BORNE confirmed his position, putting his HUSQVARNA in 4th place ahead of the KTM of Swiss rider Alexandre VAUDAN, both on 450s.

On four wheels, for the moment, the SSVs are ruling the roost, in particular the two APACHE T3 Hybrids which took the first two places today. Victory went to Pierre-Louis LOUBET and François BORSOTTO, ahead of Gautier PAULIN and Remi BOULANGER by 00:05:24, while the CAN AM of Heatcliff ZINGRAFF and Gregory REVEST completed the special stage podium at 00:08:26.

In the overall standings, in his first participation in a Cross-Country Rally, Gautier PAULIN is in the lead ahead of Heatcliff ZINGRAFF. The former Motocross Champion and captain of the French team, winner of the Grand Prix des Nations a few months ago, is nonetheless very humble when he talks about his performance:

“The APACHE proto is incredible and great fun to drive. The two- or four-wheel drive mode, which allows either power to be stored or efficiency to be used, is complicated to manage. It’s a real sport to be in the bucket. I did my first laps today in the Merzouga dunes. I clearly wasn’t very good but that’s normal, I need to learn. It was also complicated in the dust because I had to hold off. But I’m satisfied with the first two days all the same”

By finishing 9th today with their TOYOTA, Belgians Pascal FERYN and Kurt KEYSERS take the lead in the Car category and 6th place overall, just over 15 minutes ahead of their team-mates and compatriots Koen WAUTERS and Kris VEN DER STEEN.

In the truck category, the Czech Tomas TOMECEK, alone at the wheel of his TATRA, although 2nd today, retains the lead in the provisional standings ahead of the SCANIA of Dutchmen Aad VAN VELSEN, Michel VAN VELSEN and Marco SIEMONS.

In the Classic category, a regularity race reserved for off-road vehicles built before 2000, after yesterday’s liaison stage, the first five sectors were completed on this 2nd stage to Mhamid. Eric and Tom CLAEYS were the most consistent on their 73 TOYOTA Land Cruiser. The Belgians were ahead of their compatriots René DECLERCQ and John DEMEESTER on their BOMBARDIER Iltis, both great specialists in the discipline. Dutchman Peter BRABECK and Frenchman Jean-Michel GAYTE complete the provisional podium in a MITSUBISHI Pajero.

Tomorrow, the AFRICA ECO RACE caravan will head south to Oued Draa with 522km to cover, including 463km of special stages. It will be an intense day, with the Erg Chegaga sometimes difficult to cross. Manfred KROISS, the event’s Sporting Director, decided to dedicate this stage to René METGE, his mentor and friend.

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For starts, de Seyenes told MCN that despite some attempts by the moto industry to explore hydrogen power, it’s energy-intensive to produce and that makes it “a dream” for now. The OEMs do know how to harness hydrogen as a fuel, even for something as small as a scooter, but de Seynes says it is impractical to use at this point.

What of battery power, then? We already see electric motorcycles and scooters in use in urban centers, and de Seynes says the technology is “manageable” if you’re riding 50 miles a day or less. Since this will work in major population centers, he figures this is where the moto industry will focus its efforts in coming years. Note that Yamaha just announced Enyring, a battery-swap company that will be based in Europe, opening next year.

There are many angles to work out with battery bikes, de Seynes told MCN. And while European leaders (and politicos in many other countries) are bent on cracking down hard on internal combustion engines starting in 2030, with total decarbonization of new vehicles by 2035, de Seynes seems to be hoping for some wiggle room on those dates. For now, he says there is no viable replacement for internal combustion; manufacturers are still looking for a practical “next step,”

Read the whole interview here. If you’re wondering where motorcycling will go in the next decade, you need to know what the big bosses behind these companies have to say!

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Despite the excitement of the start of actual timed racing, things were saddened today by the passing of legendary race driver René Metge, one of the key figures in the founding of the African race (after winning multiple Dakar titles). The Eco Race organizers said “A key figure in Cross-Country Rallies since the discipline’s inception, he was one of the founding pillars of this great African Rally. But beyond that, he was the patriarch of our great AFRICA ECO RACE family. René was 82 years old. This exceptional driver and immense organizer has given his last timing card. He will leave a great void in the world of motor sports and in our hearts. The final gesture of this big-hearted man, for whom friendship was stronger than anything, was to ask to be buried after the finish of the Rally.”

Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of info on the Eco Race, as far as daily finishing stats, so we’ll share what we can with you—the organizers’ official report (below) and YouTube update (above).

A BUSY FIRST DAY FOR THE AFRICA ECO RACE 2024

It was 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2nd 2024, when the first vehicle in the AFRICA ECO RACE caravan touched down on the quayside of the port of Nador in northern Morocco.

Once the administrative formalities had been completed, the first motorcycle set off on the 185 km route to the start line not far from Debdou, almost 1h30 behind schedule.

The program included a rather rolling special stage with frequent changes of direction, and in the end, 173 km swallowed up in 01:54:09 by the APRILIA Touareg 660 of Italian Jacopo CERUTTI. A superb performance for the Italian brand’s return to offroad rallies, ahead of the two YAMAHA Ténéré 700s of Alessandro BOTTURI and Pol TARRES, at 00:01:47, but separated by just 3 seconds.

A particular performance of the French-Moroccan Guillaume BORNE, who placed his HUSQVARNA 450 in 4th position ahead of the HONDA 450 of Italian Giovanni GRITTI, who rounded off the top 5. Behind him, Swiss rider Alexandre VAUDAN also made a name for himself on his KTM, finishing just 12 minutes ahead of Frenchman Attilio FERT, also on an Austrian machine. A bike from a manufacturer unaccustomed to being at the forefront of the discipline finished 8th. It was the HARLEY DAVIDSON 1250 of Spaniard Joan PEDRERO.

Rounding out the day’s top 10 were the BETA of Italian Andrea GAVA and the APRILIA of his compatriot Francesco MONTANARI.

On four wheels, following a technical problem, the timing team, the ERTF team in charge of GPS tracking and race management had to work through the night to define the times of each participant and produce the day’s final rankings.

In the end, Spaniards Carlos VENTO and Carlos RUIZ MORENO won their CAN AM for 00:03:11 ahead of the OLIVEIRA team, Rui and Bernardo. Another CAN AM rounded off the day’s podium with the Franco-German crew of Heatcliff ZINGRAF and Gregory REVEST. We had to drop down to 6th position to find the first car of the Belgians Koen WAUTERS and Kris VEN DER STEEN on a TOYOTA. Czech Tomas TOMECEK won the truck category, finishing 11th overall.

The post 2024 Africa Eco Race, Day 1 appeared first on Adventure Rider.

Here, we see the factory mechanics pulling apart Toby Price’s bike for its end-of-stage spa treatment. And they really do pull it apart; the fork tubes come off, the tank comes off, the rear subframe comes off, the clutch comes out, and so on. Everything is done carefully and quickly, even cleanly. Their workbench is in the middle of the desert, but I bet there’s more dust on my backyard workshop bench than there is on their workspace.

Some stuff gets replaced (exhaust mid-pipe, front rim), brake fluids get a check-up, and check out that massive oil filter. There are some very cool parts on this bike that us hoi-polloi customers shall never see on our own rides (unless we have the money and swing to get ourselves a KTM rally replica).

It all leaves you with mad respect for the mechanics who are good enough to get the invite to go with the factory team, as they must be able to perform at high level in difficult conditions. But even more-so, think of the Malle Moto maniacs who must wrench on their own bike (obviously not at this level, but still a lot of work) and actually get the thing across the finish line, without a team behind them.

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Essentially, Race to Win combines the Dakar Rally with a fantasy football style of game. After registering, players build a team by selecting one vehicle from all of the seven classes: Rally GP, Rally 2, Quad, Ultimate, Challenger, SSV, and Trucks. Each time one of your selected competitors completes a stage, you earn 20 points. If they finish in the top ten, you earn even more points, ranging from 55 for tenth place to 200 for first. Additionally, you can choose one of your team members for a Stage Winner Bonus, which will double your points if they win that stage. All positions will earn double points for stage six, which takes place over two days. Other daily bonus points will be up for grabs as well, such as the Aramco Booster quiz.

Choosing your own Dakar winners is a neat way to get fans involved and keep them interested in the race. It’s also a way to win some prizes if you do particularly well with your choices. The grand prize is an all-expense paid VIP trip to Dakar 2025. Second through tenth-place finishers will win signed memorabilia from the race, while 11th through 20th place will win a copy of the Dakar Desert Rally video game. Given the worldwide audience, chances of actually winning anything are rather low, like the lottery. But unlike the lottery, Race to Win costs nothing to play, so other than giving away a little bit of personal information (what website doesn’t require that these days?) it’s a fun way to get involved and become personally invested in the results. May the odds be ever in your favor.

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Similar to bankruptcy, receivership is brought about by the company’s creditors, not the company itself, in a quest to liquidate the assets of a company (or sell it outright) to pay off debts. Electrek says Sondors and its assets are now for sale.

Electrek.com claims Sondor’s suppliers have gone unpaid for some time and shipment of products, most notably the street-legal Metacycle electric motorcycle, has stopped and both finished and unfinished bikes are apparently sitting in a facility in China. In paperwork filed well before the receivership, Sondors claims it had shipped thousands of bike to customers. Electrek says a review of the receivership documents indicate there may be in excess of 10,000 deposits for Sondors’ Metacycle, representing almost $20 million in cash. What will happen with those deposits is not addressed in the documents.

Sondors made a splash on the electric motorcycle scene during the pandemic with the promised freeway-legal Metacycle, a $5,000 electric motorbike which sported a large hub motor in the back wheel and a removable battery pack. It also featured an unusual “hollow” frame design and futuristic appearance. However, the Metacycle’s weight, features, quality and performance claims came under scrutiny from several quarters when the first Metacycle units were subjected to review in 2022, which included the popular Fortnine YouTube channel hosted by Ryan Kluftinger, better known as RyanF9. Ryan ultimately gave the Metacycle a pass on the merits of price and enjoyment, but also cautioned buyers beware over unmet promises.

Along with the Metacycle, Sondors also sold a selection of e-bikes from between $1,700 and $3,500. The ebikes and Metacycle were constructed in China, and the company apparently had a number of other new products in development. Phone calls to a Sondors customer support phone number with a Los Angeles area code resulted in a busy signal. So far, emails from ADVrider seeking comment have not yet been returned.

Did you order a Metacycle? Did it arrive? Tell us your story in comments.

The post Electric Motorcycle Maker SONDORS In Receivership; What About The Bikes? appeared first on Adventure Rider.

For reasons I dinnae ken, the H-D PR doesn’t actually list the returning machines. However, we are given this following tidbit:

The limited-production 2024 models from Harley-Davidson® Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) and more new Harley-Davidson motorcycle models will be revealed with a special launch film “American Dreamin’” on H-D.com at 10 a.m. CST on January 24.

“The Dawn of a New Era”: Marketing-Speak, or something big coming? We’ve been told it was the second… Photo: Harley-Davidson

So, wait three weeks, and we’ll see new bikes. Hmmmmm. Only a few hours ago, we told you we expected to see a Harley-Davidson Pan America 975 launched in coming days. Could it be as early as the end of this January? Stay tune; we’re ready to have our heart broken again, so to speak (we thought this machine was coming last year).

Digging into the Harley-Davidson website, it is worth noting that H-D has three Trike models returning for 2024 and two electric motorcycles (under the LiveWire brand) while the lineup still only contains a single Adventure Touring model, the Pan America 1250 Special (the base model is gone). If you’ve been paying attention to the new bike releases from last year, you should know that adventure bikes are currently the hottest segment in motorcycling. So why isn’t Harley-Davidson pushing harder here? Is the Pan America’s profit margin too thin? Or are the MoCo faithful just not buying into the ADV scene? Or, should we just be patient? Change does not happen overnight.

Harley-Davidson currently has three Trike models in the lineup, to a single Adventure Touring model. Photo: Harley-Davidson

We should know more in three weeks’ time, but expect to see more cruisers/tourers/baggers/etc. than ADV bikes.

As for the returning 2024 machines, see the Sport models here; the Cruiser models here; the Touring models here; the Adventure Touring segment here; the Trikes here.

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Under the New Rider Programme (please forgive the Brits their spelling), we see riders offered what they need (training, gear and a new bike) for a modest up-front fee, followed by a variable monthly fee, with another chunk of cash required at the end of three years’ time if you want to keep the bike.

The New Rider Programme website lays out the details here. Note that some of these numbers will vary, based on which bike you choose. The site displays a CB750 Hornet at a cost of £7,299 (about $9,200 USD). To participate, the rider must pay £1,643.55 up-front, or about $2,100 USD. From there, they have 36 monthly payments of £89 (about $110 USD). Then, when three years are up, they can pay £3,837.86, or about $4,900 USD, to keep the bike.

Maybe not a screaming deal, but they are sums that most riders can at least imagine themselves managing; of course, the price would drop if you were on a smaller bike.

The New Rider Programme also offers the option of baking training and riding gear into the cost, for £1,400 (roughly $1,800 USD). That requires no additional up-front payment; instead, that cost can be also spread over 36 months at £44.83 a month, or almost $60 USD.

A rider could get outfitted with gear, a reasonably fast bike and training for about $170 a month, then, with payments of of $2,100 to start and $4,900 if they wish to keep their machine at the end. Maybe this would make financial sense for some, and it wouldn’t for others (there is a mileage limit!). However, I will say that whether or not the numbers make sense, I can certainly imagine that many new riders will look at the costs and find them reasonably attractive. Could a new, similar program work, with training and gear included, to boost moto sales in the US? Or do existing payment and training programs (some OEMs already do offer attractive deals to new riders) already cover this?

The post Honda School Of Motorcycling: New Rider Programme appeared first on Adventure Rider.

That means, quick-swap battery stations for ebikes—at least at first. Although Yamaha is a member of the multi-manufacturer Swappable Battery Consortium, this is not aimed at full-sized motorcycles. As per the PR:

With the target of compact urban electric vehicles in the low-speed range (mainly eBikes), ENYRING’s services will rent out batteries available on a subscription basis. These batteries can be easily swapped out at any of the swappable battery stations installed throughout a city at any time, eliminating the hassle of recharging as well as the cost of purchasing a new battery once one reaches the end of its lifecycle. Furthermore, used batteries that are no longer suitable for mobility use are reused as storage batteries, disassembled into cells, recycled, and reused as new batteries.

Yamaha says this business model will help create “a sustainable, recycling-oriented society” that offers affordable and easy mobility while also reducing environmental impact. YMMV, of course.

Enyring will be based in Berlin, and while the company is already officially established, Yamaha does not expect Enyring to begin operations until early 2025 (which is only a year away now, if you’ve been paying attention to the calendar).

Yamaha says this is all part of the company’s plan to reduce waste, use natural resources sustainably and to improve energy efficiency—”all key issues identified in the Yamaha Motor Group Environmental Plan 2050,” as the PR says. However, it is worth noting that unlike Honda’s big-headline EV announcements, or Kawasaki’s introduction of hybrid motorcycles, Yamaha has not yet brought out any EV bikes that look like they can compete with gasoline-powered machines for riding range. They do have the NEOS scooter in their Euro lineup, but that (like the ebikes serviced by Enyring) is for urban use only.

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2017 Honda CB500X: The Rally Raid Experience

And here is rtwPaul’s interview with Rally Raid’s founders, in the By Inmates, For Inmates series:

Rally Raid Products

And now, for the next few weeks, Rally Raid is marking its stuff down considerably. Not the actual cost of the product, but on the shipping. Rally Raid is offering free shipping anywhere in the world until January 31. Here’s some of the info from their UK website:

This January we will be offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders over £350 GBP (or equivalent in chosen currency) to customers across the globe.

Why?

Lets face it, no one wants to pay for shipping. But the reality is sending bulky, fragile or expensive items around the world costs alot. We are using this as an opportunity to gather data to help us work towards long term free shipping for everyone.

When?

Our free shipping offer will begin at 00:00 (GMT) on the 1st of January and the offer will end at 00:00 (GMT) on the 31st of January.

Who

This is the best bit…. it applies to ANYONE worldwide when placing an order over £350 GBP  (exc VAT and and shipping) or the equivalent amount in your chosen currency. The offer will automatically enable when applicable.

Other Info
It is very important that our customers understand this change is to the shipping cost only and the existing import taxes or admin charges are still liable to be paid by the customer on or pre arrival.

If an item is out of stock, and we are expecting stock soon we will allow customer to back order some popular items so they don’t miss out on the offer.

Find more details here.

The post Inmates, Save Some Money: Rally Raid’s January Sale appeared first on Adventure Rider.

That’s because while the Eco Race starts in Europe and runs into Africa, the trucks/cars/ATVs/bikes aren’t actually competing until they get to Morocco. As per the Eco Race’s PR:

The program for this last day of the year included a free transfer between Monaco and Sète, where everyone will board on the GNV ferry. The boat will then head for Nador in northern Morocco for a 36-hour crossing of the Mediterranean Sea. After celebrating New Year’s Eve, the first day of the new year will be devoted to briefings and training on navigation and safety instruments.

The second night on board ends very early on Tuesday, January 2, with disembarkation scheduled for 6:00 am. After customs formalities and a hearty breakfast, the participants will head south to Boudnib, where the AFRICA ECO RACE caravan will take up residence, after 600 kilometers including 175 of special stages.

So, the racing starts tomorrow (January 2). You can see some footage of the opening ceremony below:

Finally, finally, the organizers have gotten around to posting the entry list for the bike category. You can see it here, but here’s the TL/DR: It appears that no Americans are riding this year, or Australians, either. There is one Canadian listed, Michael Gros for the Yamaha Tenere World Raid team.

Otherwise, the list is almost entirely French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and so on. The Eco Race is still very much a Euro-centric event, unlike the Dakar Rally’s global appeal.  There are no Kove 450s at the Eco Race (although niche Euro bikes like AJP are represented).

See the teaser for this year’s race route below:

The post Africa Eco Race Is Underway (But They Aren’t Racing Yet) appeared first on Adventure Rider.

The Eco Race runs from Europe (Monaco) to Dakar, along a very similar route to the old Paris-Dakar Rally. No wonder, then, that it attracts competitors who might otherwise be riding the current iteration of the Dakar Rally, which takes place entirely in Saudi Arabia. Some riders have done both—so why kick off the Eco race just a few days before Dakar starts, basically running them concurrently? We asked that question when the 2023 race was postponed, and we still haven’t made sense of it.

Regardless of the weirdo timing, it seems the Eco race is doing well for itself this year. According to organizers, at least 80 riders are signed up for this year’s race, along with 45 vehicles in the SSV/Auto/Truck categories. Representatives from 30 different countries will compete, with a 550-man caravan at this year’s event. Things are looking up for the race!

Also note that we see some significant growth in the motorcycle category. Aprilia is now fielding its Tuareg 660 in the moto class, with Jacopo Cerutti and Francesco Montanari on the factory team. The Yamaha factory team returns, with Alessandro Botturi and Pol Tarres flogging their T7s across the desert, and a new man in command. Marc Bourgeois, a former racer himself, now heads the team.

Perhaps the most interesting effort will be rally raid veteran Joan Pedrero Garcia behind the handlebars of a Harley-Davidson Pan America. Also, note that Dakar legend David Casteu is at the Africa Eco Race this year with a multi-class team, fielding machines in the SSV and Moto categories.

There’s a lot going on, then! We’ll try to keep you posted on the race’s day-to-day as much as possible, although it’s always a bit challenging at the Eco Race, as it doesn’t get the same coverage as Dakar. There is a thread about the race on ADVrider’s Racing sub-forum (see here), but the inmates there face the same problem that all Eco Race fans face: Limited info from the top down. But we’ll do the best we can!

The post Africa Eco Race Starts This Weekend appeared first on Adventure Rider.

The Zontes 500T appears to be an upsized version of the company’s existing 350T adventure bike, complete with a single-cylinder engine. Wot, no P-twin? While Chinese competitor CFMoto appears ready to introduce a twin-cylinder 450, Zontes is sticking to the thumper formula. The liquid-cooled single is reportedly being imported to Europe under A2 licensing regulations, which means max output in the EU is slightly detuned from the potential of 51 hp at 8,000 rpm and 37 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm.

There isn’t a lot of info floating around about this bike, although it did appear at the EICMA show in Italy last November, as seen above. However, we do know some basic details. The machine comes with a 19-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear, and the rims appear to be a tubeless spoked design. ABS is available, and therefore expect it to be standard in markets that require it. While it’s not clear if all markets get the accessories seen above as standard, they are at least going to be available from the factory—no waiting around for aftermarket support that never comes. That means you should be able to easily add crash bars and panniers; it looks like heated grips and an electrically-adjusted windshield are standard equipment, along with a five-inch TFT gauge (which implies some sort of Bluetooth connectability).

Zontes also gave the bike’s seat and gas tank a remote-unlock feature.

It’s a quite impressive spec sheet for a small-bore Chinese bike, and Euro customers will be able to buy this bike soon. Here in North America? It seems unlikely to arrive here, which is too bad—if it’s reliable, it would be an interesting competitor to the new Himalayan.

The post Zontes 500T: Modern One-Lunger ADV appeared first on Adventure Rider.

Contrary to previous reports that the bike will be a modified Ninja 1000, the H2 name is plainly visible on the back. This cleverly invokes not only the current H2’s reputation for supercharged high performance but also the chemical formula for hydrogen itself. A revised front fairing even includes an H-shaped running light surrounding the headlight to further drive this point home. The Kawasaki hydrogen H2 is a highly modified Ninja H2 SX, complete with a specially made supercharged four-cylinder engine like the original bike. Utilizing the H2’s existing supercharger technology plus direct injection makes sense to provide the much leaner fuel-to-air ratios that hydrogen requires while still producing reasonable amounts of power.

The standard luggage that comes with the SX has been replaced with hydrogen fuel tanks. This eliminates its cargo capability and even a passenger seat, but this is a prototype for testing, not a production bike. Reports vary as to how the bike is refueled. Some sources, including Webike, say there is a fuel inlet between the dual tail lights. Others, like Cycle World, say that rather than traditional refueling, hydrogen will be stored in canisters inside the saddlebags that the rider can swap themselves, rather like a SodaStream’s CO2 canisters. This seems far more likely, both from a safety perspective as well as the extremely low availability of hydrogen refueling stations.

Kawasaki has not revealed any performance numbers. Being a prototype, the bike is still very much under development, so no doubt these numbers are constantly changing. The heart of this bike, its hydrogen-burning engine, will be put to the test next month at the Dakar Rally, of all places, where it will power the Kawasaki X1 side-by-side. The motorcycle itself is expected to begin testing soon afterward.

The post Kawasaki Reveals Hydrogen-Powered H2 appeared first on Adventure Rider.

First off: The choice of rubber compound and tube will most certainly make a difference. Morris says a hard rubber compound will slightly reduce the chance of a puncture, and so will thicker tubes. Thicker tubes come with other drawbacks, as do hard tire compounds, so this is obviously a trade-off scenario. Morris also points out that while the Tubliss system or similar tube-free design doesn’t remove the chance of a puncture, it does make repair a lot easier.

And of course, tire pressure makes a huge difference, while mousse inserts will completely remove the possibility of punctures, while limiting you in other ways.

As always, Barry’s videos are based on his own hard experiences out bashing away in the woods on enduro bikes and dual sports, so watch above and maybe you can learn something that will save you a lot of misery down the road.

The post Video: How To Prevent Punctures (Or Make Them Less Of A Hassle?) appeared first on Adventure Rider.

We first told you about this different-speed-limits ideas back in October. You can read the whole story here; the important part is below. As FEMA explained the rule changes then:

The rapporteur proposes differentiated speed limits for holders of A1, A2 and A motorcycle licences. This will lead to situations where motorcyclists will be confronted with other, larger, and heavier, vehicles with higher speed limits on the same roads. We consider this a dangerous situation for already vulnerable road users and for other road users because this will lead to car drivers “pushing” (keeping to little distance to vehicles in front) motorcyclists and more overtaking manoeuvres. Furthermore, numerous studies and statistical information show that most incidents in which motorcyclists are involved, even crashes with critical ending, happen at relatively lower speeds on rural and urban roads, where speed limits are usually well below 100 km/h. Only 8% of the motorcycle fatalities occur on motorways. Lower speeds limits for certain kinds of vehicles that are allowed on all roads do not contribute to road safety and will bring extra risks for some categories of road users like younger motorcyclists. We strongly advise to reject this proposal for safety reasons.

In other words: Newer drivers would be restricted to speeds that would not allow them to keep up with traffic. Dumb, dumb, dumb, and it’s no wonder FEMA’s reaction to this (and many other bad ideas in the EU proposals) was frank criticism.

Well, months later, we now see that that idea, at least, is a no-go for now. FEMA’s latest email says the idea “fell during the vote in the Transport and Tourism Committee and will not be part of the final TRAN report.” Good. FEMA’s general secretary, Wim Taal, said this was a major victory for the EU motorcyclists’ lobby:

Different speeds for different licence holders is the most ridiculous and dangerous proposal I have heard in a long time. This would not only discourage a lot of road users to switch to powered two-wheelers, it would also put motorcyclist in an unacceptable unsafe situation. A victory like this once again proves how important it is to have strong motorcyclists’ organisations throughout Europe.

That’s 100 percent correct, and it does make you wonder how much motorcycle safety could be improved if we improved cooperation and updated the focus of the motorcycle riders’ representative organizations across North America.

Despite this win, you should note that the EU regulators are planning to make other significant changes to moto licensing—see FEMA’s list here. Major changes include mandatory testing to keep your license (done every few years), uploading your license to a smartphone for digital ID, and a two-year probationary period for beginners.

The post No “Different Speeds For Motorcyclists” Law In EU appeared first on Adventure Rider.

For 2024, Joey Savatgy, Evan Ferry and Jalek Swoll will ride the new Triumph TF250-X in American competition. Twenty-one-year-old Swoll will ride AMA Supercross in the 250SX East division. Previously, his best season was 2021, where he ended fifth overall in the 250SX West series. He bagged his first 250 class race win in Pro Motocross that season as well; he will race both the indoor and outdoor series for Triumph this year.

Nineteen-year-old Ferry will also race the 250SX East series. It’s his rookie season; he’s had success in Supercross Futures competition and at the Loretta Lynn Amateur Nationals, and now he’ll have the chance to show his capability in top-tier pro competition.

Savatgy, who may be a more familiar name to some readers, will run the Triumph 250 in Pro Motocross this season, but he is ineligible in the Supercross quarter-liter series due to his past successes there. If Triumph had a 450, he could race in that class, but they don’t—so he can’t. He’s the most experienced rider Triumph has, and he has the wins and podiums to prove he can be the fastest guy on-track. If he can repeat that magic in the Pro Motocross series this year, Triumph will be very, very happy!

Finally, the last piece of the puzzle is trainer Mike Brown, a former Pro Motocross champ himself. He seems very positive on the work done so far (although you can hardly expect a good company man to complain… ).

So far, everything is looking really good within the team with the bikes, and the riders. Everyone at Triumph Racing has been working really hard and my role is to get all three riders ready for 2024, both physically and mentally. It’s been an exciting challenge, and everything is going really well. All three riders have everything they need to run up front next year and when we start racing supercross, I think we can contend for heat race wins and shoot for the top-five in the main events.

Stay tuned, the fun starts soon!

The post Triumph Announces AMA Supercross, Motocross Team For US appeared first on Adventure Rider.

The team consisted of four riders: Christof Lischka, BMW Motorrad Development Manager; Salvatore Pennisi, Metzeler Test and Technical Director; Michele Pradelli, Italian Extreme Enduro Champion and tester for Italian magazine InMoto; and Karsten Schwers, tester and journalist for German magazine MOTORRAD. It’s impressive that the team accomplished this so soon after the new R1300 GS’s introduction. Even more impressive is that they did this on unmodified bikes, aside from substituting the optional Metzeler Karoo 4 tires for better off-road performance than the standard Metzeler Tourance Next 2 tires. The team set off from Bahia Inglesa, a town near the port of Caldera, at 3:00 pm on December 6. They ascended the “Rock Channel” on the north face of the mountain, reaching their maximum altitude in just 19 hours and 22 minutes.

Photo: BMW Motorrad

While the bikes completed the climb virtually without preparation, the same is not true of the riders. This short-duration effort required a great deal of preparation, particularly acclimatizing to high elevations, cold temperatures, and low oxygen levels. The team made a test run up Mount Etna in Sicily, the highest active volcano in Europe, to get acquainted with the conditions they were likely to encounter in Chile. Several base camps were also established along the route, providing the riders with support along the way.

“With this extreme ride up to more than 6,000 meters, the new BMW R1300 GS has shown what it can do and what it is made for,” said Christof Lischka, BMW Motorrad Development Manager, in a press release. “It masters off-road and adventure riding as well as a sporty pace on tarmac and long tours. Even in standard trim with off-road tires. It was important for us to emphasize these core competencies of the new GS once again with this expedition.”

I prefer to set a slower pace and enjoy the ride, but there’s no denying the impressive feat BMW has accomplished here. Few manufacturers could take a bike off the showroom floor, swap tires, and climb an active volcano to over 6,000 meters elevation. It may be a publicity stunt, but it is still a significant accomplishment no matter how you look at it.

The post From Sea Level to 6,000 Meters in a Day on the BMW R1300 GS appeared first on Adventure Rider.

It’s time for a TTAC Giveaway! Once again, we’re giving away some winter tires! You can snag a set by entering below.

Specifically, we’re giving away Bridgestone Blizzaks. Blizzaks are often voted most reliable and best performing, and here’s why: The patented Multicell Technology removes the thin layer of water from atop the ice, allowing the rubber to better grip the ice. It features silica enhancements that also improves grip on snow and ice.

Another key feature is 3D zigzag sipes with block stiffness control. These interlocking sipes provide biting edges that are needed for winter performance — and they also maintain the needed stiffness. This helps with lateral stability.

These tires are also designed for longevity, giving the owner an extra season of use.

This all adds up to excellent traction and stability control, reliable handling, and impressive grip in winter conditions.

We’ll give you until 5 PM Eastern on January 12, 2024 to enter. You can do so here, and the legalese is here.

Good luck!

The post TTAC Giveaway: Bridgestone Blizzak Winter Tires appeared first on Adventure Rider.

Forget Monster Energy. Forget Red Bull. Fantic is going to Dakar powered by Lavazza, a practically-ancient (in business since 1895) coffee company. Sounds crazy, in today’s high-energy, high-adrenaline world of corporate sponsorships, but maybe it’s a match made in Heaven? Lavazza’s chief marketeer said “Lavazza’s participation at the Dakar Rally responds to the goal of spreading the Italian coffee culture around the world and reaching an increasingly wide and cross-generational audience.” So if you’re feeling tired of artificially-flavored energy drinks, maybe this marketing team-up will instead leaving you anxious to get your caffeine buzz from a cappucino.

Or maybe not. However, Fantic’s team does look quite interesting this year, as they’re sending three riders to The Big Race—Jane Daniels, Tommaso Montanari and Jeremy Miroir. All three come from the world of enduro, winning championships at the national or international level, or both. It’s Montanari’s second Dakar. It’s the first for Miroir (who’s done very well in other rally raid competition) and Daniels (who’s pretty new to rally raid).

While KTM-mounted riders, plus the Honda factory team, are always the bikes to beat, there are very interesting sub-stories at Dakar, especially with underfunded privateers and shoestring-budget factory squads. The Fantic team might not have the big names that other organizations have, but if their three riders can put up a strong showing, they’ll fit right in with the new Dakar scene, where previously-unknown teams like Hero and Kove are now working out their own way to success.

And remember: While Yamaha has famously withdrawn from the Dakar, the Fantic XEF450 bike is still very closely related. The engine is derived from the WR450. On previous XEF models, so was the frame, as you can see below:

So is the Fantic bike a back-door factory team for Yamaha? Saying that would be unfair to Fantic, who is going to great lengths to field this squad. However, maybe if Fantic can keep their machine together (a problem Yamaha struggled with for almost a decade), then maybe they’ll tempt their cousins back to the race?

The post Fantic Tackles Dakar Powered By Coffee appeared first on Adventure Rider.

As far as I can tell, this motorcycle was officially called the Kawasaki KL650-A HDT Military when it was initially offered to militaries around the world. As we told you in a previous story, it was a combination of Kawasaki’s design with some US-based re-engineering:

The design work behind this project took a while, and it was highly publicized at the time—I recall at least two stories about it in Cycle World, maybe more. It wasn’t an easy job; Hayes Diversified Technologies re-used most of the standard KLR650 bottom end (same cases and five-speed gearbox), but replaced the top end with a liquid-cooled single cylinder that could burn diesel, biodiesel, kerosene or jet fuel, as per NATO’s requirements at that time—in wartime, support staff could simply re-fuel the bikes from the same jerry cans that they used for Hummers or deuce-and-a-halfs or whatever else was on-base.

Sounds like a lot of work, but the diesel KLR was supposed to simplify supply lines, since previous military motorcycles used by the US (the KLR250, for example) required gasoline. And surely the unkillable KLR650 would prove the best machine for tough military use?

As it worked out, the diesel KLR did not have a long production run, and once taken out of service, they started popping up at surplus auctions. Like Shawn says in the video, they were once more-or-less affordable by an ambitious consumer, but prices have gone wayyyyyy way up. At this point, if you want a unique military surplus bike, perhaps you’d be best-off looking for a Harley-Davidson branded MT500? Which makes an appearance in the video above, btw! Shawn deserves some credit here, because while he might have ridden the diesel KLR like a bit of a goof, that’s how most of us would probably ride the thing too, and the mini-comparo to the MT500 was interesting when you consider they both saw military service around the world.

The post Test-Riding The “Unstoppable” Diesel KLR appeared first on Adventure Rider.

While first drives of the all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma hit a few weeks back, notably absent were two of the most exciting models in the lineup. That changes today.

Sort of…

This 4th gen Taco sees the return of the TRD Pro along with a new Trailhunter model focused on overlanding. When this truck first debuted a few months back, it had a lot of people asking: which version is going to be the halo truck? We decided to find out.

So we headed out to the beautiful, rugged terrains of southern Utah, and enlisted the help of 8-time Pro-4 champion, C.J. Greaves! It was high-speed desert pre-running versus long-distance overlanding. Using C.J.’s expertise, we show you the difference between going faster with the TRD Pro and going farther with the Trailhunter, along with some handy techniques along the way!

The post 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter & TRD Pro: Farther Vs Faster appeared first on Adventure Rider.

Ducati has confirmed that they will introduce their motocross team, alongside their MotoGP team, at the Campioni in Pista (Champions on Track) event, which runs from January 21 to 23, 2024. We already know that nine-time Motocross World Champion Antonio Cairoli and eight-time Italian Champion Alessandro Lupino have been development and test riders for Ducati’s effort, so it would be no surprise to see them included on the team. Nothing is certain, though, and there may be some surprise additions. There is no question that Cairoli and Lupino remain highly involved in the project, however. They are featured prominently in this teaser video that Ducati recently released.

We get a few glimpses of the new bike in the video, but not enough to learn anything new about it besides its gnarly growl. Ducati has not confirmed that they will reveal the new bike at Campioni in Pista along with the riders, but VisorDown says it is likely, and ADVPulse reports that Italian outlets have confirmed the reveal. This is two weeks before the first round of the Internazionale d’Italia Motocross series, on February 4 at Riola Sardo, Sardinia. VisorDown speculates that we may see the new Ducati motocross team in action for the first time here. A shakedown before the Italian Motocross Championship would make sense from a development perspective, as championship points wouldn’t be at risk when racing in another series.

The bike itself is expected to have a single-cylinder 450 cc engine, using the same Desmodromic system as their road and track bikes. This is not to be confused with their 659 cc thumper revealed in October, but it would not be surprising to see some similarities between these engines. In any case, we should know more about the team, and hopefully the bike, in a month at Campioni in Pista. We’ll keep you posted.

The post What’s the Latest with Ducati Motocross Team? appeared first on Adventure Rider.

“This new category will introduce the latest production-based Adventure Bikes, providing the motorcycle industry with an opportunity to showcase the rapidly growing segment,” says the press release. “The new class aligns with the City of Sturgis’ tradition of embracing the future of motorcycling and has sparked considerable interest among manufacturers, leading to rumors of high-profile entries for the event.”

This formula reminds me of MotoAmerica’s addition of King of the Baggers, first as a one-off race, and now as a full-fledged series thanks to its overwhelmingly positive reception. Take some bigger, heavier bikes that more closely resemble what you and I ride, then put them on the track with limited modifications. I am all for it. I love King of the Baggers because those Harleys and Indians look ridiculous, in the best possible way, zipping around a track as quickly as they do. It’s also great marketing for those companies. The AdventureTrackers class could do the same for American Flat Track, and bring in a much wider variety of adventure bike manufacturers to compete.

AFT has held races at Sturgis before. I enjoyed watching one at the Buffalo Chip when I was there in 2019. The Spirit of Sturgis TT, however, is to be a half-mile paved and dirt course incorporating part of Main Street, with the start/finish line at the Harley-Davidson Rally Point. This harkens back to the early days of the rally itself, which revolved around a variety of races in and around town before becoming the cruiser cruise-in it’s known as today. Despite being known for the rally, Sturgis is also a great place for adventure riding, as I learned at Get On! ADV Fest earlier this year. The nearby Black Hills National Forest has beautiful gravel roads and trails suitable for all bikes and skill levels. All this makes Sturgis the perfect place to introduce the new AdventureTrackers class.

AFT says full details about the AdventureTrackers class will be announced “in the near future.” For now, we don’t know any more about it than its brief mention at the bottom of the Spirit of Sturgis TT press release. We’re looking forward to learning more and will keep you informed.

The post American Flat Track AdventureTrackers to Debut at Sturgis appeared first on Adventure Rider.

Photo: Honda Racing

It’s been a journey for Lawrence, his brother Hunter and their family, who originally hail from Landsborough, Australia. The family uprooted from Down Under and moved to Europe to support the brothers budding racing careers, and it was tough times, according to a bio published by the AMA. The family moved yet again in 2018 – this time to the United States – and Jett turned pro at age 16 in 2019 – just in time for racing of all kinds to go on hiatus due to the pandemic. But Jett was taking flight, as was his brother Hunter, who also races in the 250 and 450 pro classes as Jett’s teammate. When racing resumed, a more mature Jett bagged the AMA Pro Motocross 250 Championships in both 2021 and 2022.

Photo: Honda Racing

From there, Jett moved up to the 450 class for 2023 and was literally unstoppable. “What Jett Lawrence accomplished this year was extraordinary,” AMA Board of Directors Chairman Russ Ehnes said in a press release. “The combination of his AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross wins, as well as his perfect rookie season, was worthy of recognition, which is why we selected him as the 2023 AMA Motorcyclist of the Year. We’re proud to have Jett and his brother Hunter as AMA members, and the Lawrence family’s story — transitioning from Australia to Europe to the United States in search of achieving Jett and Hunter’s racing dreams — is truly compelling.”

What’s next for Jett? At just 20 years old, he has many years of racing ahead. Check out some highlights from Jett’s racing career in the video below.

The post Aussie Jett Lawrence, 20, Named 2023 AMA Motorcyclist Of The Year appeared first on Adventure Rider.

According to German magazine Motorrad, the SWM Stormbreaker will carry an MSRP of 9,990 euros, which works out to just under $11,000 USD. Yes, you read that correctly. SWM (aka Speedy Working Motorcycles, one of many long-established Italian marques that has been taken over by Chinese ownership) is now selling a copy of the Sportster 1200 for basically the same price that Harley-Davidson did. And they’re also getting the big air-cooled V-twin into Europe despite the continent’s restrictive emissions regulations.

I’m sure that some of you, like me, are filled with questions.

• If SWM could pick up production, why couldn’t Harley-Davidson keep the Sportster going? Were profit margins too low, or is this part of Jochen Zeitz’s up-scaling strategy?
• Just how can Shineray (who builds these bikes for SWM) manage to get this old design through emissions regulations?
• How did Shineray kick-start production basically as soon as Harley-Davidson shut the production line down? Even if Shineray bought H-D’s old factory equipment, how could it get a production line up-and-running so quickly?
• Who will even buy these bikes? To me, they actually look OK, but won’t they face an uphill battle against Americana purism?
• What are the chances we’ll ever see these bikes in North America?

Actually, I think we know the answer to that last question, As inmate ScottFree commented when we first reported on these bikes:

I don’t think they’ll bring this bike to the US market. Here, it would have to compete with hundreds of thousands of used Sportsters that can be had for as little as $2500-3000. These used bikes are backed by a big dealer network, ready availability of parts (both from the factory and from a thriving aftermarket), and plenty of mechanics (dealer, indy and shade-tree) who are familiar with the bikes. And a used Sportster brings with it membership in the Harley “club,” which means no sneering comments about riding a “Chinese copy.

Pretty hard to argue with that logic; Sportsters are indeed available everywhere at reasonable asking prices. But maybe in Europe, the Stormbreaker 1200 will prevail?

The post SWM Stormbreaker: What’s Up With The Chinese Sportster? appeared first on Adventure Rider.

I just happened to run across this channel this week. Frankly, their videos are, as the kids say, “potato.” But that should come as no surprise, because if you’re riding a low-priced scooter, does it makes sense to go spend the equivalent of the MSRP of your bike on a new GoPro? No, it does not. It would be nice to get more in-flight footage in some videos, though.

Here’s how the channel’s vlogger, who sounds like an ex-pat from the UK or one of its colonies, describes the group he rides with:

We are the “Jollyboys” we live in and around Thailand. We pack up, and ride the small roads and forgotten trails.
Small cc bikes it’s all at a leisurely pace and with frequent stops. We camp overnight having our own camp chef and experts in outdoor adventures. We complete tours around Saraburi and recently toured the entire border of Thailand .We’ve also been to Cambodia, through its jungles and back from Shan State Burma.
Our aim is to be self sufficient and therefore we carry everything we need for a long duration on the wild.
We have training weekends for people who are completely new to these activities from bike riding to living in the wild.
Our bikes are modified to carry everything we need including being our power source.

It sounds like a lot of fun, and as we’ve pointed out here before, there’s a kind of irony in watching people spend a gorillion dollars on a new mega-bike… only to be passed on a jungle trail by a local riding his Honda Cub in flip-flops.

If you want to see some practical modifications for your Honda CT125, it seems like this is a good place to start, too.

See the rest of the channel’s videos here.

The post Explore Asia Aboard A Honda CT125 With… The Jollyboys appeared first on Adventure Rider.

Kyuji’s comments came in an interview with Brit publication MCN. He told them that unless something unforeseen happens, Suzuki will bring out a battery-powered motorcycle in 2024, but it won’t be a full-sized motorcycle like a Zero. It will be smaller, the rough equivalent of a 125 cc scooter. This Burgman project we heard about a while back is probably more-or-less what’s coming.

No doubt some riders would hope for more, considering the performance that’s possible from an electric motor, but this seems to be where the moto industry is headed in coming years, and Suzuki is on board with that plan. The current limitations of battery technology (range, weight, expense) are no different for Suzuki than any other manufacturer.

Instead of working on heavyweight battery bikes, Suzuki is looking at other potential tech, says Kyuji. He told MCN that the limited sales that other manufacturers have seen with full-sized EV motorcycles (as we touched on briefly at the end of this story, with the LiveWire) has made Suzuki consider bio-fuels, efuels and hydrogen. We’ve already seen the first forays into that territory, with a hydrogen-powered Burgman on display at the Japan Mobility Conference. Suzuki is also part of a consortium of moto manufacturers (also including Toyota) that is looking into the possibilities of hydrogen.

In the face of increasing government moves against internal combustion, plays are being worked out, then. We’ll just have to wait and see where government leaders push OEMs, and hope the end result works out well for us as riders.

The post Suzuki’s Long Game: Battery Bikes Are Coming, But They’re Not The Only Option appeared first on Adventure Rider.

Starting on January 5, MAVTV will have same-day highlights of the Dakar Rally on cable and satellite. You’ll have to sort through the rest of the stuff on there (video game racing highlights, drift car competition, luxury vehicle showcases, and the rest of the snoozefest that accompanies cable TV). However, MAVTV has managed to carve out a whole hour of Dakar coverage for the 2024 race. And here’s even better news—the coverage deal will extend through the 2026 race. As per the PR:

Dakar 2024: Premiering Jan. 5, the biggest rally raid in the world comes to MAVTV for the first time. A new deal gives MAVTV same-day broadcast rights through 2026, next month the network will deliver one-hour daily highlight shows from Jan. 5 to Jan. 19, airing at noon ET/PT with an encore at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

So even if you miss the first Dakar broadcast of the day, you get a second chance to tune in. That’s good news for rally raid junkies or just general off-road racing fans, although it’s doubtful MAVTV will be able to show the kind of up-to-date info that we get on the ADVrider F5irehose thread! It’s doubtful the broadcasters even know how to perform Brodomath, to determine who’s in the lead. Speaking of which, check out ADVrider’s current Dakar speculation thread here…

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