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Category: Motorcycles

  1. Indian Motorcycle reveals its first ‘Forged’ custom Sport Chief build

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    Indian Motorcycle today revealed its first ‘Forged’ custom Sport Chief build. The first of three builds was designed and handcrafted by Powerplant Motorcycles for renowned actor and motorcyclist, Norman Reedus. Known for his star role in ‘The Walking Dead’ and his show ‘Ride with Norman Reedus,’ Norman has a deep passion for motorcycles and lives life on two wheels.

    The custom Indian Sport Chief by Powerplant features a range of unique modifications specifically designed for Norman. To achieve a sleeker and more streamlined look, Powerplant repositioned the rear shock mounts and relocated the swingarm mounts. Powerplant also lifted and narrowed the fuel tank, and outfitted the tank and the side covers with three-inch louvers. A custom-made rear fender fits the narrower seven-spoke Morris Mag replica wheels, while custom eight-inch risers complement the Sport Chief’s four-inch round touchscreen display powered by RIDE COMMAND. A complete list of modifications can be found below.

    Parts List: 2023 Indian Motorcycle Sport Chief

    • Repositioned the rear shock mounts and relocated swingarm mounts to reduce the rear section’s width.
    • Narrowed and lifted the fuel tank, outfitted it and the side covers with 3-inch louvers, and custom-made a fender inspired by old-school Indian style to fit the narrower wheels.
    • Modified seven-spoke Morris Mag replica wheels to fit Indian Motorcycle axles, brakes, rotors, sensors, and bearings. Lyndall Brakes made matching chrome rotors and a sprocket to complement the wheels.
    • Narrowed down the front fork system to accommodate an 11.5-inch rotor instead of a 13-inch rotor, due to the narrow wheel used.
    • Designed custom 8-inch risers to imitate the Indian Motorcycle display gauge engagement system and created handlebars that were narrow with lots of pull back to suit the bike’s needs.
    • Fabricated a one-off stainless steel exhaust pipe with a RedThunder cone from the bike’s Italian partners.
    • Crafted a fully custom cobra-style gunslinger seat with a stainless steel seat pan and upholstered it.
    • Applied a custom paint job with a mix of root beer colors that was darkened to fit the Indian Motorcycle style.
    • Paint and bodywork were done by Walt at WW Cycles, while Pacman added custom pinstripes.
    • Conducted all work in-house except for the bodywork and chrome/powder coating, which were done by Garett GAS Powder in Simi Valley

    Next in the Forged series, Barnstorm Cycles unveils its custom Sport Chief on May 10 with Carey Hart unveiling his build on May 18.

  2. Suzuki launches Service Activated Warranty to its car and motorcycle owners

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    Suzuki GB PLC is very pleased to announce the recent launch of its Service Activated Warranty Scheme, Suzuki is unique in the industry in offering this to both its car and motorcycle owners as well as offering it totally free of charge.  

    Available to customers since April 3rd, Service Activated Warranty is offered once the car or motorcycle reaches the end of its manufacturer warranty period and is booked in for its next scheduled service within the Suzuki Dealer network. This warranty stays in place until the next qualifying service and is then simply renewed again up to a maximum vehicle age of 7 years /  100,000 miles for cars or 70,000 miles for motorcycles - whichever comes first.

    As an enhancement to Suzuki’s well renowned product reliability record, Service Activated Warranty offers ‘Peace of Mind as Standard’ as well as customer retention within its network of new car and motorcycle dealers and authorised repair centres.

    Major components are covered, and should a customer decide to sell their car or motorcycle between services and within the seven-year qualifying period, the warranty can simply be transferred to the next owner – again free of charge.

    Additionally, Service Activated Warranty can also be applied to a Suzuki that has been purchased privately or has a gap in its dealer service history providing it goes through a Suzuki Vehicle Health Check in the first instance.

    Commenting on the launch, Denis Houston, Director Aftersales, Suzuki GB PLC, said: “At Suzuki, customer experience and retention are paramount, the launch of Service Activated Warranty will certainly enhance this for the future, ensuring our customers get the best levels of service, fitment of genuine parts and avail of the expertise within our dealer network rather than going to a non-franchised repairer once their manufacturer warranty expires. Offering Service Activated Warranty free of charge to both our car and motorcycle owners is unique and we are very proud to offer this as a strong message in support of our customers”.

  3. Get ready to ride this summer with a new offer on Suzuki 650 twins

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    Get ready to ride this summer, with a new offer on all of Suzuki’s 650 V-twin models that includes a £500 off test ride incentive, twoyear free service plan, plus low-rate, 4.9% APR finance available on PCP or HP for up to four years with no deposit required.

    The offer, which runs until 30 June 2023, covers the SV650 – the bike that defined the middleweight twins category – plus its café racer-styled SV650X stablemate and the V-Strom 650 and V-Strom 650XT adventure machines.

    All four models use Suzuki’s iconic, tried and trusted 645cc V-twin powerplant that boasts a quarter of a century of development and delivers incredibly smooth, linear power in both the SV and V-Strom models, with strong acceleration from the very bottom of the rev range and a stirring soundtrack. Reworked and redesigned over the years, in the very latest SV650 it produces 73PS and 64Nm of torque, all while meeting the latest Euro5 emissions regulations.

    With £500 off, the SV650 comes with an RRP of £6,499, and even with no deposit, on a four-year PCP deal it can be ridden for £91.70 per month. The V-Strom 650XT, with its spoked wheels, handguards, traction control, low RPM assist, and easy-start system, can be had for just £101.96 per month as part of a four-year PCP dealwith just a £500 deposit.

    Jonathan Martin, Suzuki GB head of motorcycles, said, “Our 650 V-twin is a motorcycling stalwart and represents one of the most-loved, and most-purchased engines in motorcycling. It has powered, and continues to power, models that combine an engaging riding experience with exceptional value. We are now adding even more value by offering money off, low-rate finance with no deposit required and a twoyear free service plan which includes parts and labour.

    The two years’ free servicing includes the initial 600-mile first service, the first annual or 7,500-mile service, and the second annual or 15,000-mile service*. 

    For more information on Suzuki’s range of offers, click here

  4. Zapp’s i300 Carbon Wins Prestigious Red Dot Product Design Award

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    Zapp Electric Vehicles Limited (“Zapp” or the “Company”), a UK-based, high-performance two-wheel electric vehicle company, has received yet another endorsement for its innovative i300 Carbon Launch Edition with a category win at the internationally renowned Red Dot Award for Product Design.

    Every year, the Red Dot Award: Product Design sets out to find the year’s best products. The products selected by the Red Dot Jury to win an award may be aesthetically appealing, functional, smart or innovative, but what they all have in common is their outstanding design. The Red Dot Jury is made up of a global team of leading design experts.

    Zapp’s Red Dot victory arrives shortly after the Company’s wins at the Good Design Award, the German Design Award, as well as a highly successful night at the E-Mobility awards, held at the British Motor Museum, where Zapp took home an unprecedented three category prizes, along with a further award of merit.

    The Red Dot Award further reinforces the world-class design credentials of Zapp and its debut product, the i300 Carbon, which is now available to pre-order on Zapp’s website www.zappev.com.

    Warin Thanathawee, Chief Design Officer, Zapp, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious Red Dot Award: Product Design. Zapp is very much a design-led company; quality and innovation are at the centre of all that we do, so to have our work recognised by Red Dot’s expert, international jury is a great honour.”

    “For the i300, we’ve created a design that blends old and new, one that simultaneously draws inspiration from the history of two-wheeled transport, and looks towards an exciting, electrified future. We’ve created a totally new design language that conveys Zapp’s technological advancement and high-performance credentials, all through appealing forms that are simple yet elegant.”

    Zapp is a British company on a mission to redefine the electric two-wheeler segment. Zapp’s debut product, the i300 is an urban electric high-performance two-wheeler capable of traditional motorcycle levels of performance in a step-through format, combining ease of use with exhilaration and fun.

    To achieve this, Zapp’s design team created a unique and innovative ‘Z’-shaped exoskeleton architecture. This distinctive design lowers the i300’s weight and centre of gravity to deliver superb on-road performance and handling. The i300 is capable of accelerating from 0-30 mph in just 2.3 seconds and its unique configuration and exoskeleton architecture also meaningfully reduces weight, maximising efficiency and boosting battery range.

    Another key innovation of the i300 is its ultra-portable double battery system. Each battery pack weighs just 6kg and can be charged from 20% to 80% via a standard 220v/110v wall socket in approximately 40 minutes. The portability of the battery packs makes the i300 easy to charge anywhere and at any time without reliance on a public charging network.

    Zapp is committed to Gen-2 sustainable design and production and the i300 exemplifies Zapp’s mission to create truly sustainable products. Not only are most of the i300’s components recyclable, but its exoskeleton architecture lowers the number of components required for assembly, in turn reducing assembly steps and energy used.

    Proposed Business Combination
    On November 22, 2022, Zapp and CIIG Capital Partners II, Inc., a U.S. publicly-listed blank check company (Nasdaq: CIIG) (“CIIG II”), announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”). Upon closing of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Business Combination”), the combined company, Zapp Electric Vehicles Group Limited (“Pubco”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, is expected to list its ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol “ZAPP”. The Business Combination is expected to close in the first half of 2023, subject to stockholder approvals and other customary closing conditions.

    About Zapp
    Zapp Electric Vehicles Limited is a British company – run by a team of experts from the mobility industry – on a mission to redefine the electric two-wheeler segment. Zapp created the i300 as an urban electric high-performance two-wheeler capable of traditional motorcycle levels of performance in a step-through format, combining ease of use with exhilaration and fun. The i300 is the first in a suite of high-performance electric two-wheelers expected to come to market from Zapp. Zapp is expected to operate a high-quality direct-to-customer (DTC) experience called DSDTC (drop-ship-direct-to-customer). Customers ordering the i300 online will have their bikes conveniently delivered to their home by “Zappers” who provide at-home inspection, service and support throughout the vehicle ownership lifecycle.

  5. Bag a ‘Busa for less with new Suzuki offer

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    Suzuki’s Hayabusa is now available with just 2.9% APR representative over three years, on both PCP and HP agreements, with just a £1,000 deposit. Better still, the iconic hyperbike also comes with two years’ free servicing.

    Running from now until 30 June 2023, the offer means the third generation Hayabusa – complete with its jaw-dropping 1340cc inline-four cylinder engine, that produces an abundance of power across its entire rev range, and its comprehensive suite of electronics that includes power modes, lean angle-sensitive traction control and ABS, launch control, and a bi-directional quickshifter – is available for £240.15 per month, with the minimum £1,000 deposit on a three-year PCP deal.

    And with two years free servicingcustomers can continue to save, making it even easier to own a legend. The two years free servicing includes the initial 600mile first serviceplus the first annual or 7,500-mile service and the second annual or 15,000mile service*.

    The latest iteration of the iconic hypersport machine is still unmistakably Hayabusa, with a silhouette that pays homage to the original while adding new angles and accents that present a thoroughly modern, classy look. Class extends to the clocks, too, with two big analogue dials also nodding to the original, while flanking a colour TFT dash displaying a plethora of information.

    The electronics package enhances the performance from the proven motor. Still nothing comes close to a Hayabusa powerplant, with its turbine-like power delivery, which is housed in a twin-spar aluminium frame, while fully adjustable KYB forks, Brembo Stylema calipers, and specially designed Bridgestone tyres deliver a sporty-yet-plush ride.

    Find out more about the Hayabusa, here.