British

Aprilia to compete with Enfields?

General Posts / By

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 […]

Aprilia to compete with Enfields? Read More »

Delivery and Deliverance

General Posts / By

A tale of two parties to a deal and one steadfast old iron engine Text and photos by Ujjwal Dey with illustrations from Wayfarer An Enfield Bullet 350 finds a home after being in limbo for four stressful months. The cast iron engine with right-hand-side gear shift is a well-known legend among motorcyclists, especially purists who don’t want the brand name “Bullet” associated with run-of-mill modern designs & engines. What misadventure occurred and what new adventures await? “First time in life I decided to purchase a used vehicle. An out of production cast-iron engine Enfield Bullet 350cc with right-hand-side gear shift which is the closest thing available to the 1955 Enfield Bullet 350 including chassis and engine design by the Britishers among other things such as dashboard, tank, hand-painted pinstripe, etc. These come with Green Tax for the alleged pollution they may or might be making. I got a fitness test certificate from the Road Transport office, where the ownership change is registered.” — Dey Click here to read this awesome anecdote about ‘love after love’. Believe it! * * * *

Delivery and Deliverance Read More »

Norton Opens First Flagship Showroom

General Posts / By

Norton Opens First Flagship Showroom At The Bike Shed London Five additional United Kingdom locations will comprise the brand’s early distribution network. with inputs by Dustin Wheelen from https://www.rideapart.com Indian automotive giant TVS had acquired Norton Motorcycles in April 2020 after a tumultuous period in the OEM’s history. However, since then this legendary British brand has kept its head down, opening its Solihull factory, hiring a new CEO, and receiving a £100M British Pounds Sterling (~$125M USD) investment in two years’ time. In October, 2022, Norton started rolling out its 2023 Commando 961. With a firm eager to get its products into riders’ hands, Norton opens its first retail location within London’s The Bike Shed. “Seeing the Norton brand move from within the four walls of Norton HQ and out into the marketplace is positive on a number of levels,” claimed Norton Chief Commercial Officer Christian Gladwell. “More dealers mean more riders enjoying the results of the hard work and dedication that the entire team at Norton has contributed towards.” Known as Norton Atelier, this space will showcase Norton’s V4SV superbike alongside the Commando 961. Customers can purchase and/or test ride both models at the Shoreditch Bike Shed chapter. Norton apparel designed by Savile Row fashion designer Nick Tentis is also available at the new showroom. Tentis’ has also influenced this retail space itself. “For the first one I wanted to create a space reflecting the history and values of the Norton brand while also creating the perfect environment to display the new clothing collection,” explained Tentis. Norton will also establish showrooms at Krazy Horse London, Crawley’s P&H Motorcycles, Sheffield’s Via Moto, Bodmin’s Thor Motorcycles, and Cheshire’s Oakmere Motor Group. These locations will offer test rides, maintenance, and parts and accessories. We can’t wait for this epic brand to expand

Norton Opens First Flagship Showroom Read More »

World War II Rider Beatrice Shilling, OBE

General Posts / By

by Jason Marker from https://www.rideapart.com With a simple, thimble-shaped washer, this pioneering woman gearhead saved the lives of countless RAF pilots in WWII. During the Battle of Britain, the Royal Air Force discovered a glaring problem with its Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered fighters—the Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine Spitfire. See, that generation of Merlin was fitted with dual-choke, updraft carburetors built by the S.U. Carburettor Company Limited. These worked just like your regular updraft carb and were great in level flight. Problem was, you see, that fighter planes don’t spend a lot of time in level flight. Any negative-G maneuvers, such as pitching the nose down sharply in a dive, would cause the carbs to flood and the engine to cut out. Not exactly what you want in your badass, high-po, Nazi-killing fighter. RAF pilots figured out pretty quickly that they could perform a quick half-roll before diving in an attempt to counteract the flooding, but this only worked so well. It also introduced a delay in the RAF boys’ maneuvers that provided ample opportunity for the fuel-injected Luftwaffe fighters—especially Willie Messerschmitt’s legendary BF109—to either blow up the RAF planes or run for it as the situation allowed. The RAF needed a solution to this problem, and fast. Enter one Beatrice Shilling. Humble Beginnings and Early Career Beatrice Shilling was born on March 8, 1909, in Hampshire, and raised in Surrey. Her parents were butcher Henry Shilling and his wife Annie (née Dulake). She was, by all accounts, a peculiar young girl for her time. She was obsessed with Meccano, a model-building system similar to an Erector Set, and even won a prize in a national Meccano-building contest. She spent her pocket money on tools, knives, and pots of glue, and, the fact that most concerns us here at RideApart, bought her

World War II Rider Beatrice Shilling, OBE Read More »

Mutt Launches Mushman Scrambler

General Posts / By

by Janaki Jitchotvisut from https://www.msn.com Preorders are now open for both, with bikes starting to roll out in March, 2023. On February 14, 2023, Birmingham, U.K.-based motorcycle company Mutt officially introduced its revived Mushman in two displacements: 125cc and 250cc. It’s Mutt’s newest scrambler on the block, and it comes with a number of features to set it apart from the pack. Both displacements are powered by air-cooled, single-cylinder engines that are mated to five-speed gearboxes. The 125cc makes a claimed 10 newton-meters (about 7.37 pound-feet) of torque, while the 250cc makes a claimed 18 newton-meters (about 13.27 pound-feet) of torque. Other differences include a combined braking system (CBS) on the 125, while the 250 gets an anti-lock braking system (ABS). The Mutt Mushman comes with 18-inch stainless-steel spoked wheels with black rims, knobby tires, black tracker handlebars, grips that feature black diamond-pattern rubber and aluminum, a black vinyl seat, and LED lighting. Other features exclusive to the Mushman in Mutt’s lineup include matt black engine bars, a leather tank strap, and a steel tank rack. “The inspiration for the styling of the Mushman came from the idea of early scramblers,” Mutt co-founder Benny Thomas said in a statement. “The simple practice of preparing a road bike for off-road use by taking the bulky bits off, fitting knobby tires and high-rise mudguards to create a stripped-down bike that does exactly what it says on the box. While the Mushman was never intended to be a scrambler, it has the look and the feel of something Mr McQueen would ride between shoots if he was around in 2023,” he continued. “It’s the ultimate hack-around bike. Lightweight, good looking and perfect for taking on the city or hitting the country lanes. ‘Nothing Fancy’ is the motto for all our Mutts, and I

Mutt Launches Mushman Scrambler Read More »

BSA Scrambler At 2022 Motorcycle Live Show

General Posts / By

by Janaki Jitchotvisut from https://www.rideapart.com/ It features subtle styling changes from the Gold Star on which it’s based. In November, 2021, the revived BSA Motorcycles proudly presented its first new motorcycle in decades, the 2022 BSA Gold Star. Fittingly, the reveal took place at the 2021 Motorcycle Live show, which is the U.K.’s biggest annual motorcycle event—and which, let’s not forget, is also held in the BSA birthplace of Birmingham. The new Goldie—powered by a liquid-cooled, dual overhead cam, 625cc single—was met with a mostly positive response. Fast-forward to 2022, and the latest edition of Motorcycle Live rolled into the NEC Birmingham events hall for visitors to see all the latest motorcycles on display. Of course, BSA was there, and of course it brought the Gold Star along. The company also brought along something new—a shiny new scrambler. At this point, we must caution you that it’s only a design concept at the moment—but this, friends, is our first look at a conceptual BSA Scrambler. According to BSA, this is the first design that was developed entirely in-house at BSA’s new West Midlands facility. While the team didn’t offer a whole lot in the way of details, since it is only a concept, it’s meant to “offer a snapshot of what the future could look like,” as well as “showcase the customization capability of BSA’s Gold Star platform.” The BSA Scrambler concept is built around same 652cc single found in the production BSA Gold Star. If you need a refresher, that engine makes a claimed 45 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, in addition to 55 newton-meters (or 40.5 pound-feet) of torque at 4,000 rpm. It’s also mated to a five-speed gearbox. The concept boasts a sportier look, with a particularly grippy-looking seat cover, high front mudguard, and what at least looks to

BSA Scrambler At 2022 Motorcycle Live Show Read More »

Discovering British V-Twin Classics

General Posts / By

Could there be a Connection? by Bandit and crew, including the National Motorcycle Museum “Recently, I spotted this BSA V-Twin and was inspired first by the fact that BSA manufactured a V-Twin but then by the styling that called out Brough Superior. Two motorcycles dominated the upscale V-Twin market in the UK during the early 1900s. Vincent and Brough Superior, so I was astounded to discover this BSA from the National Motorcycle Museum. I’ll let you kick around what I found and let me know your thoughts. Hell, someone surely knows something that may connect these bikes.” — Bandit Get inside the Cantina, Catch-up to speed with this V-Twin….Click Start Now * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Know benefits and free swag you get from Cantina Membership, Click Here!

Discovering British V-Twin Classics Read More »

Isle Of Man TT Announces 2023 Schedule

General Posts / By

Two UK Bank holidays should help IOMTT attendees enjoy more racing. by Dustin Wheelen from https://www.rideapart.com The Isle of Man TT (IOMTT) returned to the Snaefell Mountain Course in 2022 after a two-year hiatus. As expected, drama unfolded over the two-week period, but officials are always searching for ways to make the Tourist Trophy even better. With the aim of enhancing the event’s long-term sustainability by increasing overall visitor numbers, the new 10-race schedule addresses issues identified by IOMTT organizers. “This research revealed that the existing TT schedule, the Island’s travel capacity, the Island’s accommodation infrastructure, costs factored against the current economic climate, and customers’ changing habits are no longer compatible and do not meet the needs of the event’s customers,” stated MHK Minister for Enterprise Lawrie Hooper. To optimize the TT’s crowd-welcoming ability, organizers scheduled the opening-day qualifying on May 29, 2023, the U.K.’s Spring Bank Holiday. Authorities also deemed Friday, June 9, 2022, the “TT Bank Holiday”, bookending the racing event with two three-day weekends. The 2023 Isle of Man TT schedule follows: Qualifying Week Monday, May 29, 2023 – Morning & Afternoon Qualifying Tuesday, May 30, 2023 – Evening Qualifying Wednesday, May 31, 2023 – Evening Qualifying Thursday, June 1, 2023 – Evening Qualifying Friday, June 2, 2023 – Afternoon Qualifying Race Week Saturday, June 3, 2023 – Supersport (Race 1) and Sidecar (Race 1) Sunday, June 4, 2023 – Superbike TT Tuesday, June 6, 2023 – Superstock (Race 1) and Supertwin (Race 1) Wednesday, June 7, 2023 – Supersport (Race 2) and Sidecar (Race 2) Friday, June 9, 2023 – Superstock (Race 2) and Supertwin (Race 2) Saturday, June 10, 2023 – Senior TT Of course, many IOMTT attendees predicate travel plans based on their work schedules. By recognizing two Bank Holidays over the course of

Isle Of Man TT Announces 2023 Schedule Read More »

Five Motorcycle Sales Trends Shaking the Vintage Market

General Posts / By

Prices for classic motorcycles are changing by James Hewitt from Hagerty.com There’s a Hagerty Motorcycle Price Guide that uses thousands of transactions to track values on 9751 motorcycles. Here are five trends that stood out to us in the most recent update, released in June. The smart take in the motorcycle community of late, much like for cars, is that a full-on, concours-level restoration rarely pays — at least financially speaking. Click Here to Read the full Feature Article. See Photos of the Motorcycle Brands & Models. STAY UPDATED With All Motorcycling & Industry Events, News, Updates, Products, Reviews and More. Simply Click & Subscribe to Bikernet’s FREE Weekly Newsletter.

Five Motorcycle Sales Trends Shaking the Vintage Market Read More »

Rarest Ducatis to star at London Concours in 2022

General Posts / By

Two-Wheeled Heroes in the heart of the City: Rarest Ducatis to star at London Concours in 2022 Rarest and most significant Ducati motorcycles to be assembled at London’s Honourable Artillery Company this June. Exceptional examples from the past 50 years will be united at the capital’s leading concours d’elegance event, charting the rich history of this most storied motorcycle brand. 4x World Superbike Champion and Ducati Ambassador, Carl Fogarty, will also appear at this summer’s event, in association with Bikesure Sixth annual London Concours to run from the 28th to 30th of June in the heart of the City. Tickets on sale now at londonconcours.co.uk/tickets, from £35 London, UK (27th May 2022): The London Concours, presented by Montres Breguet, has announced that this June’s event will feature a selection of two wheeled stars from the most iconic and evocative motorcycle brand of all, with its ‘Ode to Ducati’ Ducati. Spanning close to 50 years of the Italian marque’s illustrious history, the remarkable collection of bikes will wow alongside the Concours’ breath-taking array of four wheeled machinery – from spectacular supercars to the finest classics – on the immaculate lawns of the Honourable Artillery Company in the heart of the City. The wonderful selection of motorcycles from the Bolognese manufacturer will include an example of the rare 750 GT ‘Sandacst’ from late 1971. The bike, Ducati’s first v-twin cylinder machine, was born when Fabio Taglione, or “Dr. T” – Ducati’s longstanding chief designer and technical director – was tasked with building a 750 class bike to compete with the likes of Moto Guzzi, Laverda and of course the Japanese giants. The move into the 750 class was viewed as crucial to the success of the marque; a gateway to significant sales volumes in the USA. Taglione’s proposed low-cost solution was to

Rarest Ducatis to star at London Concours in 2022 Read More »

Scroll to Top