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 nothing short of exhilarating. Anyone interested in joining us for this exciting ride – in any capacity – should reach out now. We want to work with you.”
Kawasaki claims the first strong hybrid motorcycle to enter mass production
Just after the brand announced its first electric motorcycles they have introduced the first hybrid motorcycle. Unlike the Ninja e-1 and Z e-1, the 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid aims to be more than an urban commuter or entry-level motorcycle.
Kawasaki declares the Ninja 7 Hybrid is the first mass produced motorcycle (excluding scooters) from a major manufacturer with a “strong hybrid” system. This means it can run on gas, electricity, or a combination of the two.
Despite the 7 in its model name, the Ninja 7 Hybrid is to be equipped with a liquid-cooled 451cc Parallel-Twin. Kawasaki hasn’t provided more details about it. Kawasaki claims the engine produces 58.3 hp, which is actually more than the Eliminator produces. Supplied photos of the TFT display show an indicated max speed of 11,000 rpm.
When using an electric motor it increases output to a possible 68.5 hp of hybrid net power. This puts the Ninja 7 Hybrid slightly ahead of the Ninja 650 and Z650 which claim 67.3 hp at 8,000 rpm.
Sport-hybrid, Eco-hybrid, or EV are the three riding modes which will provide different riding characteristics, offering a focus between performance or fuel economy. Fuel economy is expected to be on par with a 250cc class motorcycle.
Other unique aspects are its clutch and idling features along with an Automatic Launch Position Finder function.
The Kawasaki Ninja 7 would likely be presented in silver and black colors with a lime green lower fairing, and is expected to arrive in European showrooms in January. U.S. availability remains to be determined.
Huge Parade Of 1500 Bikes Led By King Of The Baggers Champion, Tyler O’Hara
Exclusive Challenger RR and Cutaway PowerPlus Engine Display
American Motorcycle Dealer “Approved” Budweis Custom Indian Motorcycle Show
King of the Baggers Race Team Present Replica Indian Challenger to Prize Draw Winner
The 2023 edition of the Indian Riders Fest 2023 (IRF23), held in České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic, June 9-11, proved to be the largest celebration of Indian Motorcycle owners in the world. With a record-breaking attendance of over 3000 people from 39 nationalities, this year’s event solidified its position as the most significant congregation of Indian Motorcycle enthusiasts globally.
One of the highlights of the festival was the huge Saturday parade ride, led by King of the Baggers Champion, Tyler O’Hara, where 1500 motorcycles took to the beautiful South Bohemian roads to be welcomed by waving and smiling onlookers along the entire 39 km route. Even with the event open to riders of all makes, nearly 1350 of the participating motorcycles were Indian Motorcycle models, topping last year’s number of 1200.
Making the parade possible, the organisers were supported by the local authorities with nearly 120 Police personnel and 26 mobile units helping to close junctions and hold traffic along the route for the parade to pass smoothly. In addition, six bus routes were cancelled or re-routed for the day to allow the riders to make their way to the Přemysl Otakar II square at the end of the parade. The final gathering providing a spectacular photo opportunity as the Indian Motorcycle Riders groups laid their flags in the centre of the historic square surrounded by their motorcycles.
“A huge thank you to all the riders, visitors and partners who came to the Indian Riders Fest 2023. We hope everyone had a fantastic time and enjoyed the weekend festival. We would also like to express our gratitude to Indian Motorcycle and all the other IRF partners for their continued support, and a huge thank you to the IRF production team for making this event possible. We can’t wait to celebrate with you again next year at the very special 2024 ‘Back In Time’ Edition of the IRF,” said Jean-Marie Guyon, organiser of the IRF.
IRF23 created an unforgettable experience for attendees, showcasing the rich legacy of Indian Motorcycle and embracing the vibrant culture of motorcycling. The event witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 2000 tickets sold in advance, to fill festival grounds with energy as 2500 motorcycles, including 1800 Indian Motorcycles, gathered in a celebration of motorcycling and its vibrant culture.
“Jean-Marie and his team have done it again. The IRF just keeps on growing and really has become a major destination event for riders from all over the world. The parade was stunning, it’s really moving to see so many riders joining together to celebrate our motorcycles, and to see the joy and support from the locals along the route was infectious. I know that Tyler, Jeremy, and our guests from the US were blown away by the event and the enthusiasm from everyone who attended,” said Grant Bester, Vice President International for Indian Motorcycle.
Adding to the excitement, the exclusive Challenger RR, number three of just 29 produced, plus a cutaway of the PowerPlus engine at the heart of the Challenger, were prominently displayed at the Indian Motorcycle booth, providing an up-close look at the cutting-edge engineering and craftsmanship that makes it an unrivalled force on the road and track.
In addition, as part of the festival, the American Motorcycle Dealer “Approved” Budweis Custom Indian Motorcycle Show featured a display of 32 exhilarating customised Indian Motorcycles across six classes, showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship of European custom bike builders and standing in a unique position as the only custom show to be 100 percent dedicated to Indian Motorcycles, past and present.
During the Saturday evening entertainment, Tyler O’Hara and Jeremy McWilliams, renowned motorcycle Indian Challenger and FTR racers, joined with Grant Bester and Gary Gray, Vice President of Racing, Technology and Service, on the main stage to present the grand prize Indian Challenger to one lucky prize draw winner.
Selected randomly from all the attendees who had entered the draw, Noah from Illertissen in Germany, was stunned to be presented with the unique race replica Indian Challenger that O’Hara had ridden in the parade earlier that day. Arriving at the festival on his Indian Scout after an eventful journey, Noah was nearly speechless at winning the one-off Indian Challenger signed by O’Hara, McWilliams and Gray.
“You know, we nearly didn’t make it here due to a tyre failure on my father’s trailer on the way down. It’s still there, we had to abandon it,” laughed Noah. “And now we get to leave with this amazing bike. It’s so crazy, I’m so happy.”
Alongside a variety of food and retail stalls, the audience were thrilled with heart-stopping performances from the Wall of Death, fearless stunt riders showcasing their exceptional skills and precision, exhilarating rodeo performances capturing the essence of the American West, live concerts, the genuine Indian Motorcycle apparel shop, and the Indian Motorcycle Roadshow truck offering test rides on the latest models.
The Indian Riders Fest has become an essential date for Indian Motorcycle riders, welcoming everyone regardless of motorcycle brand, anyone interested in planning on attending next year should mark their calendars for a great IRF24 summer weekend over June 14-16, 2024.
An American Has Created A Beer-Powered Motorcycle,
Claims It Could Reach Speeds Of Up To 240 Km Per Hour
Ky Michaelson, is an American infamous for unusual inventions. His past accomplishments include a rocket-powered toilet and a jet-powered coffee pot. Now his latest invention is: a beer-powered motorcycle.
Speaking to Fox9, Ky explains that the unique motorcycle has a 14-gallon keg with a heating coil instead of a gas-powered engine. This coil heats the beer up to 300 degrees, which then becomes super-heated steam in the nozzles, making the bike move forward. Ky’s garage in Bloomington is where he built this unique motorcycle that runs on beer (or is it steam?).
Ky told the publication that he aims to do what others have never done. He blamed the rising prices of gasoline as a reason for not finding it useful for powering a vehicle.
Ky, is nicknamed ‘Rocketman’ for being the first civilian to launch a rocket into space.
The motorcycle could reach speeds up to 150 miles per hour (240 km per hour) as per Ky. He hopes to take the bike to a drag strip soon to test its capabilities. The unusual inventor also noted that any liquid, including Red Bull and Caribou Coffee, could fuel his bike.
So far, Ky’s vehicle has made it to a few local car shows, where it won the first position. Ky had also shared a video on his YouTube channel 9 months ago, featuring his son presenting detailed information about the motorcycle.
Ky Michaelson, a space and movie stunt enthusiast, has created many such innovations in the last few years and converted his home into a museum.
Keanu Reeves Shows Off His Most Prized Motorcycles
Keanu Reeves shows us his most prized motorcycles at his shop, Arch Motorcycle. From his green Ducati in The Matrix Reloaded to his custom built Arch motorcycles, Keanu takes us through his collection!
Bikernet.com is proudly associated with ARCH Motorcycles
Sharing with you the final builder in Indian Motorcycles Custom Sport Chief Series, Carey Hart.
A pioneer in freestyle motocross, turned street performance builder – watch Carey as he gets ready for an extra special build that will be put in the hands of longtime friend and fellow FMX legend, Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg.
Check out Part 1 of the episodic series where Carey and Twitch talk shop on his vision for the Custom Sport Chief here:
Indian Motorcycle Dealer Bike-Farm Melle wins top spot with a nearly 3:1 voting ratio
Last weekend, during the Custom Bike Show in Bad Salzuflen, Germany, the finals of the European Biker Build-Off saw Indian Motorcycle Dealer Bike-Farm Melle gain nearly three times the votes with their Indian Chief based Longfork Chopper “Purple Haze” over Harley-Davidson Bielefeld to take the title.
First held in 2007 and the highlight of the famous Custom Bike show, the European Biker Build-Off sees two teams competing to complete their custom bike in just three days, live, under the eyes of the trade show visitors. This year’s title fight was even more exciting as both finalists come from the region, just 30km from each other: Bike-Farm, the Indian Motorcycle dealer from Melle and Reibchen + Stegemann the Harley Davidson dealer from Bielefeld.
From Friday to Sunday at noon, the creation of two extraordinary custom bikes could be followed on the show stage and by 1 pm on the Sunday, the time had come: Judgement Day. With 529 to 179 votes, nearly a 3:1 ratio, the audience chose Bike-Farm’s ‘Purple Haze’ Indian Chief chopper as the clear winner.
“A classic long fork chopper based on the 2022 Indian Chief! It’s absolutely stunning what the Bike-Farm crew has created here. This bike radically brings to flower the seeds that are at the core of the current Chief lineup: The spirit of the past combined with the technology of today.” said Ola Stenegärd, Director of Industrial Design at Indian Motorcycle. “We always had the builders in mind during development and we worked really hard to make the reimagined Indian Chief a delight to work on. So, it’s such a pleasure to see this great canvas to create motorcycle art.”
Not only has ‘Purple Haze’ been completely designed around the current air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 engine, it also still features all the electronic amenities of the original Chief Dark Horse from which it evolved: from ABS to GPS navigation, via the touchscreen of the original gauge now cantered in the revised Chieftain tank.
Other core components have also been adopted and adapted from the original bike such as the footrests and brake systems. The frame, with a full 48° rake, was manufactured by the Dutch experts VG Motorcycle Specials, and all other components are custom-made by the Bike-Farm crew: Sheet metal parts such as the tank cover with integrated gauge and GPS transmitter to the fender were created in-house just like the sissy bar, seat, wheels, handlebars, final drive, intake and exhaust system. Even the seal-less, oil-free fork with its Teflon-lubricated sliding tubes incorporating Progressive Suspension Cartridges. Finally, Lange Metallveredelung took care of the chrome surfaces, while Vossi Lackcenter Melle traditionally handled the finishing of the paint.
“The entire bike was created within just eight weeks,” as workshop manager Tristan Frische recounts. “With four men, we wrenched, shaped and turned day and night. All the more we are delighted with this title. Not only have all the electronic features been retained, but also the fully road legal, including remaining Euro 5. So, this dream bike will soon be seen quite regularly on public roads.”
In case anyone feels inspired to build their own Longfork Chief Chopper: the VG frame is available for order at Indian Motorcycle Melle, the Indian Chief, of course, at any official Indian Motorcycle dealer.
More information about the ‘Purple Haze’ and Bike Farm/Indian Motorcycle Melle can be found on www.indian-melle.de and on their social profiles at Facebook and Instagram.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle visit IndianMotorcycle.eu and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
ABOUT BIKE-FARM MELLE: What started in 1987 in a barn with a few friends has grown into a large company with highly specialized employees. Official Indian Motorcycle dealer since 2019, the 2,000-square-meter Bike-Farm is all about American V-twins. A constantly changing exhibition showcases custom bikes created on site, which regularly receive top marks in international competitions.
Photos by Ben Ott (@benottfilm) and Fabrian Friese (@fabfri)
Kawasaki is aiming for a smooth transition to EVs and doesn’t seem to be in a rush to make the switch
With its ICE-based motorcycles still going strong, Kawasaki has been rather slow in catching up with rivals in EV segment. The company has a long-term plan, wherein it aims to achieve a fully-electrified portfolio by 2035. It will include pure EVs as well as hybrid electric vehicles.
At INTERMOT 2022, Kawasaki has showcased a new EV prototype that appears to be of A1 specification (125 cc, 15 hp). It is the same model, as was showcased at Suzuka 8 Hours endurance racing event earlier this year in August. At the event, Kawasaki had also showcased a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). Kawasaki electric two-wheelers could be launched in select markets such as US and Europe in 2023.
Kawasaki new EV prototype
Design and styling of Kawasaki EV prototype unveiled at Intermot 2022 is borrowed from Kawasaki’s Z range motorcycles. The EV prototype has a sinewy profile with aggressive front fascia, sculpted fuel tank, sharp body panels, exposed frame and split-seat design. It will be getting an all-LED setup. Riding stance seems fairly committed with low-set flat handlebar and slightly rear set foot pegs.
In terms of hardware, the EV prototype has standard telescopic forks at front and swingarm rear suspension. Alloy wheels have a trendy design and are shod with track-focused performance tyres. The bike has disc brakes at both ends. Sound note of this bike is close to the typical hum of an electric motor, as was revealed at Suzuka 8 Hours racing event.
While the EV prototype has a captivating profile, key details such as range, battery capacity, charging time, etc. are not available at this point of time. Kawasaki has done well to keep things tightly under wraps. Only the VIN information was revealed earlier, which showed that the prototype will generate 15 PS of max power. That should be good enough for some thrilling rides in an urban environment.
It is not certain if Kawasaki EV prototype will have a fixed or removable battery pack. The batteries are placed in the bike’s underbelly, encased by the frame from all sides. The battery pack should be accessible via the faux fuel tank lid.
Focus on ICE models
While it has started working on its electric and hybrid portfolio, Kawasaki has always maintained that its primary focus will be on ICE-based two-wheelers in the near future. That seems like a logical thing to do, as the company has global operations with a comprehensive range of ICE-based two-wheelers.
The capital investments involved, production platforms, human resource skilling, supply chain networks, etc. cannot be altered at short notice. Kawasaki’s 2035 target to achieve full electrification seems just right for enabling a smooth transition. The company has to ensure that its pure EVs and HEVs continue to offer the same level of performance and reliability, as associated with its current breed of ICE two-wheelers.
With the 2022 King of the Baggers series finale this weekend, we wanted to share the latest “Inside Indian Motorcycle Racing” video. The piece fully recaps the dramatic action at the last round in Brainerd. You may recall, it was Brainerd where Bobby Fong made the incredible inside pass on Tyler O’Hara and captured his first bagger racing victory. The race was nothing short of boring, with oil leakage, a disqualification, crashed riders, delays, and ultimately rain concluding the Main after three laps.
In this video, viewers get an inside look to all the action, along with compelling interview insights from Tyler O’Hara, S&S and Indian Motorcycle Racing team members. It’s truly an inside the paddock experience that we thought would be cool for your audience to check out heading into the series finale.
It’s winner-take-all in Jersey. HD vs IMC. David vs Goliath. This is what racing is all about….
It’ll be a fun one! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
