This week’s information record is barely off-kilter and greater than a bit of fascinating:
- Harley-Davidson is working with Hero Motocorp to launch a brand new bike that can probably not see American shores
- Whereas Harley finds successes with Hero Motocorp, LiveWire teases a brand new bike that poses… fascinating vary for a tourer-type variant.
- Glad fourth birthday to Damon’s “HyperSport” prototype! Damon Motors finds two extra firms to make battery circumstances and gearboxes.
- Lid Lovers: Italian Helmet Firm Airoh is formally DOT-Licensed and within the US!
Let’s begin with Harley’s Indian beau, lets?
Rumor Has It: Harley x Hero’s Engaged on a Small-CC Nightster
Harley-Hero Partnership Grows Nearer with Success of X440 Bike Vary
Again in July of 2023 – and sizzling on the heels of the brand new Harley x Hero X440 – we coated that Harley-Davidson had registered a “Nightster 440,” main us to imagine that America’s Staff Orange would sink deeper into the newbie bike section right here within the Americas.
Because it seems, it wasn’t the Americas they have been taking a look at.
In line with protection from Prime Pace, the registration of a Nightster 440 was made for India’s markets. Couple this with the notice that Harley’s X350 and X500 (those that Harley made for China) by no means actually made it to America, and the potential of seeing a child Nightster on our shores is decidedly slim to none.
On to the bike’s energy potential: The Nightster 440 is about to be constructed on Harley x Hero’s present X440 platform; as such, we are able to count on specs to be comparable.
Listed here are the present specs for Harley’s present-day X440:
- ~27hp @ 6,000 rpm
- ~28 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
We all know that the X440 weighs in round 190kg, or 418lbs, placing the bike’s weight-to-power ratio at 15.51 lbs/hp – nothing to write down residence about, however then once more, Harley’s going for accessibility and flexibility on this new Nightster.
Ought to all roads actually result in Rome and Harley x Hero put out the Nightster throughout the yr, we will likely be trying on the very first time that this duo shared a cruiser.
Glad day!
Would you wish to see Harley x Hero’s Nightster 440 in America?
LiveWire Prepares to Push Out a Tourer-Type Bike with S2 Vary
“Alpinista” to Debut January 15
We transfer on from the successes Harley has discovered with their Indian associate, to latest motion from the electrical bike firm that was Harley’s first foray into EV territory.
Earlier than we land into this new bit of stories, it’s price noting that there’s nothing extra irritating than using a motorcycle that must be juiced up each two hours… and we’re getting the sensation that LiveWire’s new variant might very nicely be in that actual class.
The mannequin in query is one thing LiveWire is looking the “Alpinista.” Sneaked in snippets of LiveWire’s teaser video, the Alpinista reveals tour-y components like a taller windscreen, saddlebags and a impartial set of ergonomics. This new bike can be a variant of LiveWire’s “S2” platform, which means we are able to belief with some stage of certainty that the Alpinista will share considerably comparable specs to that of the extra urban-ready S2 Del Mar.
However again to the Alpinista’s potential.
By LiveWire’s accounts (aka, the teaser video exhibiting components of the Alpinista in motion), this can be a bike that may carve canyons. We juxtapose LiveWire’s optimistic angle with the findings of Morgan Gales’s LiveWire One Assessment on Roadracing World, and instantly we’re reminded that the Alpinista is an S2, a motorcycle that options even much less freeway mile vary than LiveWire’s One.
For reference, Morgan set the LiveWire One in his experience evaluation to 65mph, and that bike boasted 7o freeway miles. Based mostly on that info alone, we are able to assume that the S2 Del Mar’s vary of 43 freeway miles – and, by proxy, this new Alpinista – received’t even put a dent in weekend getaways rife with canyons, valleys, basins, and the eclectic winding roads that have been current within the S2 Alpinista’s teaser video.
With a mere seven days till the Alpinista’s reveal (January fifteenth), what do you assume? How lengthy will the Alpinista be capable of journey earlier than requiring a full cost?
Damon Motors Lands New Spherical of Partnerships to Assist in Manufacturing of Hypersport’s Battery Case, Gearbox
Actual Discuss.
Now we have chatted a couple of model transferring towards bigger markets and hung out with an EV model getting their subsequent bike out into the area people, and now we sort out an organization whose bike has but to style the contemporary air of our markets… and it’s been virtually half a decade ready for the factor.
Glad fourth birthday to the Damon Hypersport! It was throughout CES 2020 that Damon introduced this pioneering machine. Initially revealed to the general public on January seventh, the Hypersport was an electrical superbike idea that boasted a brand new, trademarked warning system known as CoPilot™. This was additionally the EV bike that received CES 2020’s “Greatest in Innovation” award, launching the hype for a long-range Hypersport into our communities.
Pre-orders opened on Damon’s web site the identical day the bike was introduced at CES 2020 (through Enterprise Wire), and we now know that over 3400 individuals signed up, pledging $88 million US {dollars} price to Damon (through PRNewswire).
$88 million might appear to be quite a bit, however it’s a must to perceive: The Hypersport boggled the thoughts aesthetically and performance-wise, with “nicely over 200hp and 200nm of torque delivered at zero rpm, a prime pace of 200mph and a spread of greater than 200 freeway miles per cost.”
In brief, Ducati and BMW – sure, even Energica – have been about to get a run for his or her cash to some capability. All we needed to do was wait till the bike received right here.
Quick ahead one, two, three very sophisticated years, and the Hypersport’s fourth anniversary is upon us, together with an e-mail replace from Damon explaining progress delays. Included in that e-mail was quoted the next:
– Damon Bikes. November 26, 2024 (PRNewswire). |
The life like outlook on Damon’s future accompanies an trustworthy breakdown of the place they’re at within the improvement course of:
– Damon Bikes. November 26, 2024 (PRNewswire). |
In commemoration of the above levels, Damon has landed two extra partnerships to help within the constructing of their uncommon magnificence. PRNewswire tells us that Swiss die-casting firm Aluwag AG is taking on the making of Hypersport’s hefty aluminum battery case. On the Jap aspect of the sphere, Taiwan-based producer Fukuta Elec. & Mach. Co. Ltd will likely be dealing with the bike’s digital gearbox.
The place to go from right here?
Damon Motors has a bit to go earlier than mass manufacturing is a actuality, however there’s nonetheless an opportunity that Hypersport followers can have entry to a Damon bike of their very own within the subsequent decade or so…. at the very least, Damon’s pre-orders are refundable, guaranteeing the shopper’s investments to be protected.
Do you assume that Damon’s Hypersport will likely be launched to the general public earlier than 2030?
Western Shores: AIROH is Formally in American Markets
Media Launch Scheduled for January 23
It’s official: he main firm within the bike helmet sector, and the official helmet of the 6DAYS is in America!
Airoh is a Northern Italian lid-maker, and one, too; this model has been making helmets since 1986, with choices just like the light-weight and ethereal Aviator 3 becoming a member of different noggin-happy successes just like the versatile Commander 2.
Per protection on Bike.com, the arrival to American shores additionally means an all-new AIROH USA facility and workforce for Airoh; that is an thrilling level for the model, with Dennis Bloch, CEO of AIROH USA, imparting the next under:
– Dennis Bloch, CEO, AIROH USA (Bike.com) |
On prime of the 150 world titles in bike racing, Airoh additionally claims to be liable for the security of the next cans, all of whom will likely be carrying Airoh within the USA this yr:
- Jason Anderson
- Tom Vialle
- MRP Husqvarna
- Cody Webb
- Cooper Abbott
Airoh additionally lays declare to the stereotype that “Italian firms have a eager eye for stunning design and par excellence style”- a biased declare, however based mostly on the seems of those lids, not far off in any respect from actuality.
We’re informed that Airoh’s helmets will likely be out there from Airoh USA within the spring of this yr.
Keep tuned for the official launch in southern California on January twenty third!
Would you put on Airoh helmets?
*Media sourced from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, LiveWire, Damon Motors’ Instagram, and Roadracing World*
