Category: Motorcycles

1. Introducing the new BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR

   Posted on 2:00pm Thursday 28th Nov 2024

   "With a significantly extended range of standard equipment, fully adjustable upside-down forks, lighter wheels and a weight saving of 3 kilograms, we have been able to make the BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR even more attractive. The new F 900 R also benefits from a sportier riding position and the F 900 XR from optimised aerodynamics."  Anton Huber, Project Manager  The new BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR: Technical and visual upgrades and significantly extended standard equipment for the dynamic roadster and long-distance sports bike in the mid-range segment. With the new BMW F 900 R dynamic roadster and the new F 900 XR crossover bike, BMW Motorrad is taking its popular mid- range product range to a new level. Both F-models are designed for sportiness and fun in twisty terrain, with even more agile handling and are suitable for experienced riders as well as newcomers and those returning to motorcycling. While the new  F 900 R as a Dynamic Roadster focuses primarily on sporty riding pleasure, the F 900 XR has everything it takes to be a confident partner on longer tours and holiday trips with luggage.  Powerful two-cylinder in-line engine with Euro 5+ homologation. Dynamic riding mode with sportier set-up, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and engine drag torque control now standard. New sports silencer in collaboration with AkrapovicÌŒ as genuine BMW Motorrad accessories. In the new BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR, the tried-and-tested two- cylinder in-line engine with 895 cc capacity and 77 kW (105 bhp) of power output ensures pleasurable riding dynamics. It also delivers a full-bodied torque curve in the current Euro 5+ homologation. With the newly tuned standard "Dynamic" driving mode, the two new F models offer even more riding pleasure and dynamics at a sporty pace. Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) is fitted as standard to ensure the best possible safety during acceleration. The engine drag torque control is also standard. It prevents rear wheel spin or skidding caused by abrupt throttle release or downshifting, for an even higher level of safety.  The sound of the two-cylinder engine, which already has a powerful character due to the 270/450 degree firing interval, is made even throatier by the new sports silencer available as a genuine  BMW Motorrad accessory in cooperation with AkrapovicÌŒ, which also offers a weight saving of approximately 1.2 kg.  New upside-down telescopic forks with adjustable damping rebound and compression damping and spring preload. New wheels, approx. 1.8 kg lighter. BMW Motorrad ABS Pro and Dynamic Brake Control DBC as standard - for even more safety when braking.  On both the new BMW F 900 R and the new BMW F 900 XR, the front wheel is guided by new, torsionally rigid, upside-down telescopic forks with 43 mm slider tube diameter. Both rebound and compression damping as well as spring preload are now adjustable. This makes it possible to tailor the forks to suit individual requirements.  The new BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR also feature new 17-inch cast aluminium wheels. They weigh around 1.8 kg less than the previous models, contributing to a total weight reduction of 3 kg.  Another new standard feature on the new F models is  BMW Motorrad ABS Pro. In contrast to BMW Motorrad ABS,  ABS Pro goes one step further and offers even more safety when braking in bends by enabling ABS-assisted braking at lean angles.  Another new standard safety feature is Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), which provides even greater safety when braking in difficult situations by preventing unintentional acceleration.  New, 0.8 kg lighter battery as standard and function-integrated turn indicator lights in the new rear end. BMW F 900 XR with Headlight Pro including daytime running light, adaptive headlight, USB-C charging port and heated grips as standard. The two new F Series models are equipped with a new battery that is 0.8 kg lighter. They also have a new rear end with function- integrated turn indicator lights (brake and tail light functions are integrated into the turn indicator lights).  The new BMW F 900 XR comes with Headlight Pro as standard, including daytime running light and adaptive headlight for even greater safety when riding at night. Other new standard features of the F 900 XR include the USB-C charging port on the right-hand side of the cockpit with a maximum charging current of 2.4 A and the heated grips.  BMW F 900 R with optimised ergonomics thanks to a redefined position of the handlebars and footrests for a more sporty riding position. New headlight side trim painted in body colour. The handlebars, footrests and foot levers of the ergonomic triangle between the handlebars, seat and footrests of the new BMW  F 900 R have been redesigned. This has made it possible to create a riding position that is significantly more sporty and closer to the front wheel.  The new F 900 R's increased sporting ambitions are emphasised by the headlamp side trim painted in body colour.  BMW F 900 XR with optimised aerodynamics and hand protectors as standard. The new BMW F 900 XR offers even more touring capability and long-distance comfort thanks to optimised aerodynamics in the front fairing. The redesigned wind deflector reduces wind pressure on the rider, resulting in significantly less helmet vibration and even greater riding comfort. The hand protectors, which are standard for all equipment variants, also provides improved protection from the wind and weather.  Equipment variants and colours.  The new BMW F 900 R is available in three attractive colours. The basic variant is available in Snapper Rocks Blue metallic, the Triple Black version in Blackstorm metallic and the version Sport in Lightwhite with Racingblue metallic.  The new BMW F 900 XR will also be available in three variants and colours for the coming motorcycle season. The basic variant is available in Racing Red, the Triple Black version in Blackstorm metallic and the version Sport in Lightwhite with Racingblue metallic.  New optional equipment and genuine BMW Motorrad accessories for the new BMW R 900 and R 900 XR. The already extensive range of optional equipment and genuine BMW Motorrad accessories has been further expanded for the new model year:  BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR.  Sports silencer in collaboration with AkrapovicÌŒ.  Milled footrests and foot levers.  Axle protectors.  Lockable soft cases.  Mengine spoiler and passenger seat cover in new colours. BMW F 900 R.  • Sport seat (+ 25 mm).  BMW F 900 XR.  High seat (+ 25 mm).  High windshield (+ 30 mm).  All standard innovations as well as new genuine BMW Motorrad accessories and optional equipment at a glance:  BMW F 900 R Complies with Euro 5+ emission standards.  New ergonomics with optimised handlebar and footrest position for improved riding position.  New upside-down telescopic forks with adjustable damping rebound and compression damping and spring preload.  New wheels, approx. 1.8 kg lighter.  New battery, approx. 0.8 kg lighter.  Dynamic Traction Control DTC, engine drag torque control, BMW Motorrad ABS Pro and Dynamic Brake Control DBC.  “Dynamic” riding mode with new settings.  Slim rear end with integrated turn indicator lights.  New colours.  New genuine BMW Motorrad accessories such as sports silencer in collaboration with AkrapovicÌŒ, milled footrests and foot levers as well as axle protectors and lockable soft cases.  New Sport seat (+ 25 mm seat height) available as optional equipment ex works.  BMW F 900 XR Complies with Euro 5+ emission standards.  Increased wind and weather protection thanks to optimised wind  deflector.  Hand protectors.  Heated grips.  New upside-down telescopic forks with adjustable  damping rebound and compression damping and  spring preload.  New wheels, approx. 1.8 kg lighter.  New battery, approx. 0.8 kg lighter.  Dynamic Traction Control DTC, engine drag torque control, BMW Motorrad ABS Pro and Dynamic Brake Control DBC.  “Dynamic” riding mode with new settings.  Headlight Pro (daytime running light and adaptive headlight).  USB charging port.  Slim rear end with integrated turn indicator lights.  New colours.  New genuine BMW Motorrad accessories such as sports silencer in collaboration with AkrapovicÌŒ, milled footrests and foot levers as well as axle protectors and lockable soft cases.  New high seat (+ 25 mm seat height) available as optional equipment ex works.  New high windshield (+ 30 mm seat height) available as optional equipment ex works.

2. Suzuki announces new colours and £650 off its GSX-S125

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 4th Oct 2024

   Suzuki has released two new colour schemes for its naked street bike, the GSX-S125, and announced that the L-plate friendly machine – along with its faired stablemate, the GSX-R125 – will also be available with £650 off the RRP until 16 December, 2024.

   Available in dealerships now is a stylish new black and grey GSX-S125, which rolls on black wheels, while buyers looking for a more vibrant, standout colour scheme can select a black and red version with striking red wheels.

   The GSX-S and GSX-R125 use Suzuki’s free-revving, DOHC single cylinder engine that provides punchy acceleration, housed in a lightweight frame. The GSX-S125 sports angular, aggressive bodywork, while the GSX-R125 is wrapped in a full fairing.

   Find out more about the GSX-S125 here

    

    

    

    

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3. Jared Mees Rides Off into Sunset, Announces Retirement After Setting New Career Championship Record & Completing FTR750’s Perfect Championship Run

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 19th Sep 2024

   Mees Caps Off Historic Career with Win at Lake Ozark Short Track, Sets All-Time Career Grand National Championship Record with 10 Titles & Secures FTR750’s 8th Consecutive American Flat Track Championship in as Many Seasons
   Indian FTR750 Leaves Behind Unprecedented Legacy, As New 2025 Rule Changes Render Indian Motorcycle’s Premier Flat Track Race Bike Ineligible
   The 2024 American Flat Track season began with Jared Mees seeking an unprecedented 10th-career Grand National Championship. In a triumphant and emotional conclusion to an unparalleled career, Mees stood on top of the box one final time – closing out the most successful career in the sport of professional flat track racing. Mees’ final win not only secured his record-setting 10th-career championship but closed the book on the sport’s most dominant race bike, the Indian FTR750.

   “This victory is more than just another championship—it’s the perfect way to honor everything we’ve achieved with the Indian FTR750,” said Mees, “We’ve had an incredible journey with this bike, and to go out on top, knowing it’s the last time, makes this win even more special.”

   Racing for the final time aboard the FTR750, Mees showcased his relentless determination and elite skill, outpacing a field of talented riders, including fierce competitors Dallas Daniels and Brandon Robinson. Only needing three points to secure the historic title, Mees grabbed the holeshot and battled until the end – beating Robinson by a mere 0.423 seconds. The win is a testament to the historic partnership between Mees and Indian Motorcycle, who have dominated the American Flat Track series since 2017.

   “In 2017, at the Daytona TT, Jared secured the FTR750’s first win, as he and Bryan Smith went 1-2 in our first race as a factory team,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Back then, none of us knew it was the start of a historic run of eight consecutive championships. We’re extremely proud of our accomplishments and want to thank all our factory riders and privateers that contributed to the FTR750’s success.”

   The 2024 AFT SuperTwins championship marks an end of an era for Indian Motorcycle, as new 2025 rules will render the flat track race bike ineligible. Since its debut, the FTR750 has not only revived the storied tradition of the original Indian Wrecking Crew, but it revolutionized the landscape of flat track racing – quickly earning a reputation as the most dominant machine in the AFT paddock. The FTR750 retires with 75%-win ratio, winning 104 of the 138 races it competed in. The FTR750 has a perfect championship record, winning all premier class titles since 2017.

    

    

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4. Indian Motorcycle to feature Mikkey Dee’s Forged Indian Scout at Glemseck 101

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 3rd Sep 2024

   Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, is pleased to announce that the custom Forged Indian Scout, built for rock and roll icon Mikkey Dee, will be showcased at the upcoming Glemseck 101 motorcycle festival in Germany.

   The final build in Indian Motorcycle’s six-part Forged video series, the custom Indian Scout was created by Ronna Norén of Unique Custom Cycles, a legendary Swedish builder, who took full advantage of the all-new Scout’s steel tube frame by cutting and modifying it to achieve a look inspired by the bikes of Stan Dishong, an early pioneer of the chopper scene.

   Mikkey Dee, renowned for his drumming with the iconic bands Motörhead and Scorpions, has always been a passionate motorcycle enthusiast and his one-of-a-kind motorcycle will be a centrepiece of the Indian Motorcycle booth, offering festival-goers a unique opportunity to see this clean, modern chopper up close in the paint and metal.

   In addition to the Forged Indian Scout, the Indian Motorcycle booth at Glemseck 101 will feature the latest models from the all-new Indian Scout lineup, on which the Forged Scout is built, along with opportunities for attendees to engage with Indian Motorcycle’s team,  and experience live music.

   Glemseck 101 is one of Europe’s most popular motorcycle festivals, attracting thousands of riders and enthusiasts from around the world. The event is known for its celebration of custom bikes, racing, and the culture that surrounds motorcycling. The Glemseck 101 festival will take place from August 30 to September 1 in Leonberg, Germany.

   For more information on Indian Motorcycle visit IndianMotorcycle.eu and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

    

5. Indian Motorcycle closes out the Forged video series with a chopped Indian Scout for legendary drummer, Mikkey Dee

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 15th Aug 2024

   Indian Motorcycle closes out its six-part Forged video series with a custom Indian Scout chopped by Ronna Norén of Unique Custom Cycles for legendary Motörhead and Scorpions drummer, Mikkey Dee.  

   Featuring three unique interpretations of the all-new 2025 Indian Scout inspired by the stories and personalities that have made the Scout such an icon for more than a century, the Forged series highlights how customizers were always in the minds of Indian Motorcycle’s design and engineering teams when developing the all-new Indian Scout.

   In the sixth and final episode, series host Roland Sands joins Ronna Norén and Director of Design for Indian Motorcycle, Ola Stenegärd, as they meet up with Mikkey Dee in Prague to hand over the custom Indian Scout during Dee’s busy touring schedule.

   A key design choice for the new Scout platform was a return to a steel tube frame, a much more approachable prospect for customizers than cast or alloy frames. Norén, a highly respected builder from Sweden, took full advantage of the new frame by cutting and modifying it to achieve a look inspired by the bikes of Stan Dishong.

   “Dishong was one of the pioneers of the chopper scene in the sixties and one of his Scouts had many of the cues that Ronna has picked up on,” commented Stenegärd. “When you look at the bike, there’s no jarring elements, it’s totally consistent. The stance sits right, totally clean.”

   “The plan from the beginning was to strip down the stock bike and make it as clean as possible,” said Norén. “I started by stretching the frame, making a smaller tank and using bigger spoked wheels to give the bike a lighter look. It has a little bit of a longer fork like Stan’s bike, this is a twist on that.”

   From a family of drummers, Mikkey Dee had an early start in music setting him up for a career playing with some of the biggest names in rock. As a drummer, Dee feels that motorcycles go hand in hand with drums.

    “I am the engine,” said Dee. “We’ve got to ride these guys and push [the band]. The thing with a bike, just the torque, the vibration, the power! And that’s what I’ve got behind [the drums].”

   On seeing his Forged Scout for the first time, Dee exclaimed, “How stylish is that? Wow, that’s clean,” and on hearing it run, “it’s very loud. Louder than my drums!”

   “I wanted it to look light, and this bike has got that. Riding it the whole day was another experience. It’s got really light handling. It has a great balance, and I enjoyed that.”]#

   Mikkey Dee’s Indian Scout marks the final build in the Forged series that saw three very different builds. From Roland Sands’ West Coast performance style to Brittney Olsen’s old school look with a girder front end to Ronna Norén’s New York chopper twist, Forged showcases how the all-new Indian Scout is the perfect canvas for self-expression.

   Roland Sands reflected on all three builds of the Forged Scout series saying, “Some bikes legitimately have soul. You can see evidence of that when you give it to someone to work on, to customise, to put their own love, energy and design into a machine. With this iteration of Scout, I think you’ve seen how different you can make the bike, and how much you can bring your own soul, your own style, your own spirit into the machine. Yeah, Scout’s got soul. That’s what’s up.”

   Ronna Norén, Unique Custom Cycles Indian Scout

   Custom upper frame:

   – Built around a Trask Powerflow air filter
   – 4-inch stretch
   – 33 degrees on the neck
   – 37 degrees on the fork

   Swingarm:

   – Shock mounts moved back

   Fork:

   – 8-inch over Tolle Engineering fork legs and hydraulics
   – One-off billet triple trees with 4-degree rake

   Shocks:

   – Black anodized Indian Motorcycle/Fox

   Wheels:

   – Front: 80/90-21″. Cerakoted hub and rim. Stainless spokes
   – Rear: 180/55-18″. Cerakoted hub and 5.5″ rim. Stainless spokes

   Brakes:

   – Front: Radial mount, monoblock ISR 6-piston. ISR prototype billet adapter kit for Scout. 320 mm full floating disc. ISR master cylinder
   – Rear: Radial mount, monoblock ISR 4-piston. ISR prototype billet adapter kit for scout. Indian Motorcycle master cylinder

   Bodywork:

   – Stock Scout tank shortened, narrowed and sectioned. Custom tunnel with repositioned fuel pump. Tolle Engineering Pop- Up fuel cap.
   – Modified front and rear fenders

   Exhaust

   – Full custom one-off headers and mufflers in stainless steel

   Ergonomic:

   – One-off steel seat base. Silver Machine upholstery
   – Heavily modified stock handlebars bars with integrated risers and one-off speedo housing
   – Modified Scout footpegs and foot controls

   Paintwork:

   – Custom paint and gloss black frame/swingarm by Hakan Lindberg

   All six episodes of Forged are available to watch now on the Indian Motorcycle YouTube channel: YouTube.com/@IndianMotorcycleEMEA

   For more information on Indian Motorcycle visit IndianMotorcycle.eu

    

    

    

    

    

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