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The cousin for Harley-Davidson X440

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Even as X440 takes on the local behemoth Royal Enfield, the global two-wheeled giant Hero MotoCorp’s Mavrick 440 was unveiled in India at Hero World 2024. Based on the Harley-Davidson X440, it features a power-roadster design philosophy and will be available for bookings in February 2024. The Mavrick was co-developed in association with Harley-Davidson and is based on the X440. Available in five colour options, across variants, dealerships will accept bookings from February 2024 with deliveries beginning April 2024. Harley-Davidson X440 and Mavrick 440 share the same engine and trellis frame. Yet it looks drastically different and may not appeal to those who loved the X440 design derived from Harley-Davidson XR1200. Mavrick 440 will likely compete well against those left behind by the X440, including the big four Japanese brands. In all of this, the other retro-cruisers such as recently announced Honda CB350 and Jawa Forty-two and the Roadsters from Yezdi and TVS seem lost in the noise, with less brand appeal and even less after-sales expectations. Find out the detailed specs, features and updates at https://www.heromotocorp.com/en-in/motorcycles/Mavrick.html With the launch of Mavrick 440, the buyers of Harley-Davidson X440 might also breathe a sigh of relief as the doubt for after-sales-service and parts might get resolved. Hopefully, H-D’s franchising strategy with Hero and Chinese QJ Motors (for China market) is a long-term strategy. I doubt if Harley-Davidson will again disappear overnight —since Hero has engaged so much resources, it is likely a tight, well-planned partnership. * * * *

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Hero MotoCorp announces streetfighter juxtaposed to Harley-Davidson X440

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Hero ‘Maverick’ is the upcoming streetfighter, positioned against Harley-Davidson X440. It will also go up against the popular Yamaha MT lineup. Hero and Harley-Davidson are working together but who will win in their respective sales volumes? Hero MotoCorp is the exclusive distributor and service provider for Harley-Davidson in India. Together they built and launched the X440 last year to good pre-booking numbers. The forthcoming Hero Mavrick will share identical foundational elements, such as the trellis frame and the 440 cc oil-cooled, single-cylinder engine. However, it will undergo several modifications to distinguish itself more distinctly from its American counterpart. While Harley-Davidson X440 is categorized as a roadster, the forthcoming Mavrick will be positioned as a streetfighter. It all starts with a cool name. That’s how marketing and branding works. I bet Hero MotoCorp will sell a lot more of these Maverick bikes than H-D’s X440 bikes—- no doubt inspired from a ‘Top Tom’ movie of the same name. If Hero MotoCorp don’t show an advertisement featuring airplane pilots, aspiring owners will probably be disappointed. These will also compete well against existing Yamaha lineup including Yamaha MT-15. Bajaj Pulsar is still a well-known common model and Hero now has its Karizma ZMR as well as Maverick to rival Bajaj. * * * * Subscribe to be in the loop of all things on two-wheels, click to roll. Free weekly newsletter. Once a week, no spam, nothing but motorcycle related content.

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Aprilia to compete with Enfields?

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There might be an Aprilia model to compete with Royal Enfield Classic 350 which is a top-selling model in its class since launch. A new test mule has been spotted in Europe and it has a similar engine casing as the RS 457. It also features old-school styling and body parts that indicates that the world is finally noticing the timeless appeal (and profits) of Enfield models which have built a nice empire in mid-capacity motorcycles for over a decade now. A new retro-styled test bike is getting testes around Europe which on close scrutiny of spied photos suggests it is an Aprilia. Multiple aspects convince eager enthusiasts to claim it is an upcoming Aprilia motorcycle. Engine casing visible on the right hand side is similar to the RS 457’s unit. This test model’s motor appears to be larger in the images. It has a larger exhaust also. But there are many features giving it an appearance of RS 457. However, the design is not very impressive so this would have to be a very early prototype. The aesthetics of its headlight, tank shrouds, and the tail section, seem as if they were all assembled by a local garage shop. A retrofitted model is not exactly a test mule so the mystery is intriguing indeed. RS 457 uses a 457cc, twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine with 47.6bhp and 43.5Nm linked to a six-speed gearbox. It has a slipper clutch. Aprilia may carry these forward with different tuning. A slim USD front forks, dual rear shocks, and single disc at both ends are possible indications as well. Its alloy wheels and TVS tyres seem to be borrowed from the RS. It could take any amount of time before Aprilia debuts this retro-styled motorcycle in production form. The current iteration of RS 457 has

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Classic Legends to get USD 105m investment

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Mahindra and Mahindra, along with others to invest USD 105 mn in Classic Legends The bestselling ‘Scorpio’ car manufacturer will invest USD 105 million along with existing shareholders and new investors, Mahindra said in an exchange filing.This will be over the course of next two to three years. Mahindra owns 60% of Classic Legends, which manufactures two-wheelers such as Jawa, Yezdi, and BSA. This is while investments in premium motorcycle segment in India is heating up with Harley-Davidson and Triumph partnering domestic companies, Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj respectively. Classic Legends has so far not made any inroads into this segment that is still largely dominated by Eicher’s Royal Enfield motorcycles. * * * * Invest in freedom, check out the membership options for Bandit’s Bikernet; click to know more.

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Why We Buy

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Before you ride ’em, you gotta buy ’em. Don’t let the media tell you what to buy, allow me! An extreme and absurd view for the heck of it by Ujjwal Dey with illustrations by Wayfarer & friends Click here to read this handbanged nonsense at breakneck speed, only on Bikernet.com * * * * Click to Join Bandit’s Cantina or die trying

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TVS overtakes Yamaha’s Market Capitalisation

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TVS overtakes Yamaha’s Market capitalisation to become third-largest two-wheeler maker in the world. The market capitalisation (Mcap) of Chennai-based (India) TVS Motor has surged 37% to $9.2 billion over the past six months, as per Bloomberg’s data. In contrast, Yamaha Motor saw an Mcap erosion of $1.6 billion from its August highs. Only seventeen months ago, TVS Motor Company was less than half the size of Yamaha Motor Co. Now, it has overtaken the Japanese two-wheeler giant in terms of market valuation. Investors continue to bet on a revival in both domestic and export markets, and TVS seemed the horse of choice, symbolic of its logo. BTW, Indian two-wheeler manufacturers make up four of the top five companies in the world. Bajaj Auto tops the list with a Mcap of $19 billion, followed by Eicher Motors with an $11.5 billion Mcap. Hero MotoCorp ranks fifth with a market valuation close to $8 billion. Additionally, TVS Motors has gained dominant position in EV scooters, and has managed to gain market share in every segment over the last few years. TVS makes the 310cc BMW engines and motorcycles sold in India. TVS also owns the Norton brand. US-based Harley-Davidson ranked seventh with an Mcap of $4.3 billion, three Chinese manufacturers are featured among the top ten two-wheeler makers in the world. * * * * * * * * Stay on top of the two-wheeled world, subscribe to Bikernet.com free weekly newsletter

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Buell Super Cruiser Pre-Orders at over $100 Million

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Combining the performance of a sports bike with the laid back nature of a cruiser Buell is grabbing attention with its Super Cruiser. It is a motorcycle model designed in collaboration with legendary motorcycle designer Roland Sands. Buell started taking pre-orders soon after they first unveiled the bike in February 2023. Not only has it received a tremendous demand but they got an “unprecedented support” for this new model. Six months after opening pre-orders for the Super Cruiser, Buell already amassed a whopping $120 million in pre-orders. This goes to show that neither motorcycling nor interest in the brand has waned over the years. Harley-Davidson must be restless, having sold this wonderful brand, trying to diminish its value.   According to Bill Melvin, the CEO of Buell, the demand for the new model marks a first for American V-Twins, “Americans love style, muscle, and performance. The Super Cruiser breaks the mold for all three, and the response shows that Buell simply nailed it. This is utterly unheard of for an American V-Twin.” Once the bike enters production in 2025, it’s anticipated to carry a retail price in the $20,000 to $30,000 range. About the specs– running on a 1,190cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected V-twin engine with a maximum power output of 175 horsepower and 101 pound-feet of torque — it rides on 17-inch wheels with fully adjustable suspension, and even adjustable handlebars and footpegs for any rider to tailor the ergonomics exactly to their liking. With a dry-weight of 450 pounds, it is surprisingly light for its power class, as an American V-twin. In a press release by the company, Bill Melvin highlighted the huge potential Buell holds in the market, “Now, the overwhelming demand for the Super Cruiser puts Buell on a trajectory for significant long-term growth. This ramp-up will be

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Kawasaki Celebrates 70 Years Of Making Motorcycles

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In September of 2023, Kawasaki Motors celebrates its 70th anniversary of making motorcycles, first making its forays into the motorcycle business in 1953. After the end of World War II, Kawasaki produced motorcycle engines under the name of “Kawasaki Machine Works.” Since then, Kawasaki has continued to Let the Good Times Roll and has strived to share “Fun to Ride” motorcycles with our customers around the world. Today, Kawasaki motorcycles are sold in more than 90 countries and regions. To commemorate Kawasaki Motorcycles’ 70-year anniversary, a special exhibition will be held at Kawasaki USA Heritage Hall in Foothill Ranch, California as well as Kawasaki Good Times World in Kobe, Japan starting in September 2023. The display will focus on the history of the motorcycle business in the U.S. market, which marked a major turning point in Kawasaki’s overseas strategy. It will be the first in a series of events to commemorate this special anniversary. Working toward upholding our mission statement of “Working for the happiness and joy of all those whose lives Kawasaki touches,” Kawasaki aims to keep moving forward and growing into the future. (Press Release) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Follow Bikernet Free Weekly Newsletter to get latest Motorcycling news, updates, reviews, tech, tips, events & lot of fun. Click here & take a test ride.

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Harley-Davidson and Post Malone collaborate

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Harley-Davidson and Post Malone collaborate on Limited Edition Apparel Collection Post Malone x Harley-Davidson Launches as Part of Harley-Davidson’s H-D Collections on the Same Day as his Fifth Full Length Album Austin MILWAUKEE (July 28, 2023) – Harley-Davidson and GRAMMY® Award-nominated, 8x RIAA diamond-certified global superstar Post Malone, teamed up for the first time to create a limited-edition apparel collection. The collection is a celebration of Post’s love for the iconic brand. With the most RIAA diamond-certified singles from any artisan a brazen style all his own, Post Malone shines unlike any other singer-songwriter of our generation. The garments in the collection are as bold and clean as the polished brightwork on his custom chrome Harley-Davidson® Low Rider ST motorcycle. Available as part of Harley-Davidson’s H-D® Collections, a grouping of unique lifestyle apparel lines, the Post Malone® x Harley-Davidson® collection is a combination of collaborative partner branding, clean and contemporary text designs, chrome treatments, and halftone graphics that either pay homage to or directly pull from classic H-D imagery. Collection highlights include a “Chrome Malone” tee, hoodie, and pant; the iconic Harley-Davidson bar and shield set chrome flame badge tees, a studded vest and pant set, and accessories like horsepower leather gloves and a flame badge silver chain. “I’m beyond pumped to share this collab with Harley-Davidson! After a lot of work and love, we’re so proud of what we’ve created,” said Post Malone. This coming Friday, July 28th Post will release his highly anticipated fifth full-length record Austin via Mercury Records/Republic Records. The album, self-titled after Post’s legal name, is a guitar heavy offering which features his already released songs, “Chemical,” “Mourning” and “Overdrive,” as well as 14 additional new tracks. On Tuesday, July 18, Post Malone teased the collection by wearing the white tee featuring the Chrome flame

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NCOM Biker Newsbytes for July 2023

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Industry & Legislative Motorcycle News from USA and the world Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish This week in the news: U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES BILL PROTECTING ‘MULTIPLE-USE’ LAND NATIONAL FUNDING FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION VERMONT CLOSES “BASKET CASE” REGISTRATION LOOPHOLE MIC WARNS OF BILLS THAT “WILL HINDER THE POWERSPORTS INDUSTRY” HELP TO PRESERVE VEHICLE CHOICE FIGHT FOR YOUR “RIGHT TO REPAIR” and lots more Click Here to read this month’s NCOM Newsbytes on Bikernet.com ABOUT AIM / NCOM: The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) is a nationwide motorcyclists rights organization serving over 2,000 NCOM Member Groups throughout the United States, with all services fully-funded through Aid to Injured Motorcyclist (AIM) Attorneys available in each state who donate a portion of their legal fees from motorcycle accidents back into the NCOM Network of Biker Services (www.ON-A-BIKE.com / 800-ON-A-BIKE). * * * * * * * * All the Motorcycling News you need to use to stay on Two-Wheels – get updated with free Bikernet Blog Weekly Newsletter. Click & Start !!!

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