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World’s Oldest Production Motorcycle Sells For $212,000

This example may be the earliest one still in existence in 2023. World’s Oldest Production Motorcycle Sells For $212,000 At Auction by Janaki Jitchotvisut from https://www.rideapart.com The early days of motorcycling were a wild time. From strapping engines to the frames of unsuspecting bicycles, to steam-powered velocipedes, people were eager to find new and improved ways to get around. New technological frontiers are typically a time of great experimentation, and this era in motorcycling was certainly no different. In February, 2023, an extremely interesting piece of that early history went up for auction at Bonhams Paris The machine in question is an extremely rare 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller, which bears the reputation of “the first powered two-wheeler to enter series production,” as well as the first vehicle to be called by the name “motorcycle” (or “motorrad,” in German). It ultimately sold for €195,500, or roughly $212,000 Yankee dollars including the premium. Brothers Heinrich and Wilhelm Hildebrand set to work crafting their first powered two-wheeler designs during the crucial transition between steam-powered and gasoline-powered vehicles. As the story goes, they started with steam, but eventually turned to a two-stroke design in cooperation with two other individuals: Alois Wolfmüller and his mechanic Hans Geisenhof. Development is often an iterative process, and what the team eventually came up with to make this production vehicle was a water-cooled, four-stroke, parallel twin engine with what must have been a breathtaking displacement at the time: 1,489cc. This reportedly made about 2.5 brake horsepower at 240 RPM, and resulted in a machine that could top out around 30 miles per hour. That might seem terribly slow in 2023, but was likely more impressive in a time when motor vehicles (let alone faster ones) weren’t so commonplace. If this machine seems like an alien contraption to your modern […]

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Enzo Temmerman Secures Second Overall at MX Sports Scouting Moto Combine

Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green Rider Enzo Temmerman Secures Second Overall at MX Sports Scouting Moto Combine Foothill Ranch, Calif. (September 5, 2022) – Monster Energy® Kawasaki Team Green’s Enzo Temmerman earned second overall (2-2) at the final round of the invitation-only MX Sports Scouting Moto Combine at Fox Raceway. Teammate Preston Boespflug participated in both morning qualifying sessions but pulled out of competition due to a lingering injury. The MX Sports Scouting Moto Combine hosted the top A and B Class amateur riders from across the country at Fox Raceway the Friday before the final round of the Pro Motocross Championship. Granting competitors the opportunity to receive mentorship from world-class athletes in media relations, fitness, and nutrition before taking to the track for two 15-minute plus two lap motos. The Scouting Moto Combine is the perfect opportunity for motocross’ next generation of top riders to obtain the tools necessary for their transition to the professional level. With hot temperatures shortening motos, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Enzo Temmerman brought high intensity to both qualifying sessions to earn an early gate pick as the start was sure to be a deciding factor. When the qualifying sessions concluded, Temmerman sat in fifth with a 2:33.287 lap time. As the gate dropped for the first 15-minute plus two-lap race, Temmerman launched off the gate with his rear wheel spinning off the line resulting in a subpar start. Emerging from the first turn in 13th, Temmerman was forced to make quick work of the riders ahead to salvage a podium result. With precision execution and excellent flow around the track, Temmerman made his way into fifth by the halfway mark. The No.30 showcased his fitness and speed by clocking lap times consistent with the leader throughout the entire race and moved into third

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Royal Enfield to lead motorcycle expedition to the South pole

by Shakti Nath Jha from https://www.financialexpress.com Royal Enfield to lead motorcycle expedition to the South pole as a tribute to its 120 years journey Royal Enfield has announced that the company will lead a first-of-its-kind motorcycle expedition that will attempt to reach the South pole. The expedition is being undertaken as a tribute to the 120 years journey of Royal Enfield. Royal Enfield is the world’s oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production since 1901. For 120 years, Royal Enfield has remained the preserver of the legacy of building simple, authentic classic motorcycles that are engaging and fun to ride. Riding through time and tough terrain, the company has emerged victorious in rides that have tested the endurance of man and machine, while remaining relevant and desirable through the ages. Now, to commemorate 120 years of building the pure motorcycling culture, Royal Enfield will mark 2021 with an ambitious attempt to push the boundaries of motorcycling possibilities. The company will undertake a motorcycling expedition on the Royal Enfield Himalayan, to attempt to reach the geographic South Pole, from the Ross Ice Shelf via the Leverett Glacier. 90-degree South – Quest for the Pole is conceptualized as a tribute to the brand’s commitment to pure motorcycling, and to the courage and resilience of innumerable riders and explorers who have made history with their motorcycling journeys. The 90-degree South will be an ambitious attempt of Royal Enfield to go where no motorcycle has ever gone before. This unique expedition will begin from Cape Town, South Africa, on 26 November 2021, and will attempt to reach the geographic South Pole, from the Ross Ice Shelf, via the Leverett Glacier, to the Amundsen-Scott Pole station. Two Royal Enfield riders, namely Santhosh Vijay Kumar, Lead – Rides & Community, Royal Enfield, and Dean Coxson, Senior Engineer-

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Hennessey’s Venom F5 engine bench tested at a furious 1,817 horsepower

by Loz Blain from https://newatlas.com It’s only been live for a week, but we’ve already had to update our list of the world’s most powerful cars, after Hennessey Performance surprised itself with an extreme dyno reading. The Venom F5 is the car Hennessey hopes will demolish not only the fastest production car record now held by Bugatti, but also the 0-400-0 record recently reclaimed by Koenigsegg. With a long enough piece of road, there’s every chance this wild machine could be the first to break 500 km/h (310.7 mph), which is the next nice round number to aim at since the Chiron hit 300 mph (483 km/h) last month. That’s if Koenigsegg’s Jesko doesn’t get there first. To claim the record, the Venom will need power. Lots and lots of power, to fight through the massive force of wind resistance you get at speeds more than four times faster than highway limits. Up until this morning, Hennessey was saying the Venom F5 would make some 1,600 horsepower, a truly staggering total and enough to place it equal fifth on our list of the most powerful production cars available, alongside the Jesko and the Chiron Super Sport 300+. But the engine hadn’t been dyno tested until now. And while 1,600 horses was the target, even John Hennessey himself appeared surprised with the bench test readout of 1,817 hp and 1,193 lb-ft (1,617.5 Nm) of torque. “We exceeded our target horsepower number. Actually, we blew our target number out of the water by delivering over 1,800 horsepower,” said Hennessey. “The F5 engine has a very broad power band with over 1,000 lb-ft of torque available from 2,000 to 8,000 rpm. Give it the full throttle and it’s the most furious engine that we have ever built. Thus, we gave our F5 engine

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