Australian Motorcycle News Vol 75 Issue 4

“AS AN EDITOR, THIS IS THE KIND OF READER CORRESPONDENCE YOU DREAM ABOUT” I WONDER IF, back in May this year when Roothy wrote his Vol 74 No.19 column about sidecars, he had any idea of the reader responses it would generate. It seemed such an innocuous piece of editorial at the time, with Roothy posing the highly rhetorical “Are sidecars relevant in 2025?” to kick things off. And kick off they did, with an incredible (hand-written!) letter from 98-year-old reader Ernie Peacock appearing in Vol 75 No.01, then another one from reader Geoff Blunt in Vol 75 No.02. But the best letter of all is one that we didn’t print at the time, as I’ve been saving it up until now: “I have been a long time AMCN reader and…

There’s no question that the star of last year’s EICMA show in Milan wasn’t a complete bike but an unfinished chassis and engine – Honda’s ‘ICE’ concept that previewed its upcoming V3 engine complete with an electric supercharger. The bike utterly overshadowed the rest of Honda’s display, including the ‘EV FUN’ electric concept that’s winging its way to showrooms in the near future as Honda’s first full-sized battery-powered motorcycle. It proved that the people who matter the most – riders and buyers – are still far more invested and interested in combustion engines than in futuristic electric machines. Not that the V3 concept wasn’t futuristic, as it also packs Honda’s first electric supercharger which uses battery power to provide maximum boost immediately at any part of the rev range, giving…

A NEW PATENT application from Honda depicts a redesigned front wheel and brake system intended to stop heat leeching into the tyre – potentially helping to solve the front tyre pressure problems that have been plaguing MotoGP. While the design is shown on a roadgoing CBR250RR, complete with old-fashioned axial-mounted calipers, the system is likely intended for the highest level of racing, where brake temperatures and tyre temperatures are vital in extracting the ultimate performance. While carbon brakes, as used in MotoGP, need substantial temperature to work properly, it’s not always desirable for that heat to spread to the front wheel and tyre, potentially overheating it. In recent years, the introduction of closely-monitored rules on tyre pressures has added to the problem, with leading bikes – which get better cooling…

We’ve known for a while that Triumph has been planning a half-faired cafe-racer version of its hugely successful Speed 400 single. We’ve already run spy shots of a prototype on test alongside the recently-launched Scrambler 400XC. Now it’s confirmed for India. Why India before the rest of the world? Because that’s where Triumph’s 400cc singles are build and, at least in part, developed with the help of the company’s manufacturing partner Bajaj. The same occurred with the Scrambler 400XC earlier this year. It was launched in India six weeks before being confirmed as a global model. Although it would have been simple to screw a Speed Triple 1200RR-style nose cowl to the front of the Speed 400 along with some low, clipon ‘bars, and then head to the pub…

ROYAL ENFIELD has broadened the appeal of its Guerrilla 450 with the release of a more subdued colour option and a full catalogue of factory accessories now available in Australia. The model launched globally last year with a youthful attitude and a palette to match, but dealer feedback has prompted the introduction of a fourth option to appeal to more conservative tastes. Built on the same liquid-cooled 452cc single-cylinder platform as the Himalayan, the Guerrilla 450 was launched in 2024 as a lightweight, urban-focused nakedbike with sharp styling, a six-speed gearbox, ride-by-wire throttle and 40Nm of torque. Its upright ergonomics, 185kg kerb weight and TFT dash with full-map Google navigation made it an attractive option for riders chasing agility and connectivity in an affordable midcapacity machine. The new plain color,…

Motorcycle brands are facing a dilemma. They know legislation and technology is edging towards the eventual elimination of combustion engines so investing in the development of electric models is a safety net for the future. However they also realise that global sales of electric motorcycles aren’t big enough yet to give a return on that investment. Get started too early and they might be wasting time and money creating machines that will be outdated before they ever have a chance to recoup their development costs. But leave it too late and their rivals get an invaluable head-start that they might never overcome. In China, CFMoto already has its own electric bike brand for scooters, ZEEHO, and it’s dabbled with larger electric models like the 300GT-E that was developed in response…