Metisse Triumph CR900

IN 2012, Metisse unveiled its first BMW-based Café Racer-style model, following it up with its R1200 CR-T roadster version in the spring of 2013.

Metisse

Designer and Metisse owner Horst Edler says “both bikes impressed motorcycle enthusiasts all around the world, and sales started very well”.

He has now followed them up with a third member of his CR family, the Metisse Triumph CR900.

Based on Triumph’s Thruxton/Bonneville/ Scrambler range, Edler’s Metisse kits are available for all models from 2001 up, or complete brand-new TUV-approved bikes can be supplied worldwide by German Triumph dealer and Metisse partner ZTK.

Kits and bikes can be supplied with a range of optional Metisse accessories, from hardware makeovers and suspension units up to belt drive conversions. The standard kit includes a polished aluminium tank with fitting for the original fuel pump, tank filler cap with lock, polished aluminium seat with chequered flag upholstery, seat brakets, LED tail light, licence plate and indicator bracket, decals and a lowering kit for the instuments.

Kits can be ordered directly from Horst Edler at Metisse in Germany, but Horst says that he is also interested in hearing from potential import/distribution partners elsewhere in Europe and worldwide.

info@metisse.de  
www.metisse.de

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SPONSORS COME AND GO IN BSB

Some recent good news about commercial participation in the cash-strapped British Superbike Championship and associated series has at least tempered the departure of one major sponsor.

BSB: reeling from Honda's withdrawal

Series promoter MotorSport Vision Racing has announced that Motorpoint, the leading car supermarket chain, has extended its title sponsorship of the British Supersport Championship and associate sponsorship of the MCE British Superbike Championship for a third consecutive year into the 2014 season.

And at team level, TAS Racing’s Tyco Suzuki squad has recruited paint protection manufacturer Paintseal Europe to its sponsorship roster. The company will be using this involvement to promote its GEN-3 Glasscoat product.

GEN-3 Glasscoat branding will appear on Tyco Suzuki race bikes, transporters, pit garages, team clothing and riders’ leathers for the team’s 2014 BSB challenge with John Hopkins and Josh Waters. In addition, GEN-3 Glasscoat will support British Supersport contender Taylor Mackenzie and TAS road-racers Guy Martin and William Dunlop at the North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix and Isle of Man TT.

However, the BSB paddock is still reeling from withdrawal of the official Honda squad from BSB contention in 2014, following the loss of its headline backer Samsung after only two seasons — despite taking championship victory for the Korean mobile phone giant in 2013. The Samsung package was reportedly worth around £500,000 a year to Honda and its abrupt (and clearly unanticipated) disappearance cast Honda’s budgetary planning into serious disarray. Unable to canvas replacement commercial partners to finance a competitive BSB presence at such short notice, Honda racing supremo Neil Tuxworth has reluctantly decided to pull out for a year.

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THE THREE WISE BUYS OF CHRISTMAS

www.MyMotorCycleCheck.com - the motorbike and scooter provenance website - has selected its three suggested wise buys of Christmas.

They are the BMW S1000 RR Sport, which it describes as “highly desirable”; the Vespa GTS 300 Super, “safe bet”; and the Honda XL125 Varadero, “used star”.

BMW S1000 RR Sport

Rob Hobson explains: “The BMW S1000 RR Sport  is a joy to ride either on the track or on the road. If it had been launched as a very limited edition it would probably have got more attention, but it suffered slightly on launch due to oversupply in the dealer network. Any high-spec late models hitting the used market now get snapped up very quickly. So long as you carry out a history check to ensure the one you’re looking at is what it claims to be – for instance, that it hasn’t been clocked and isn’t still on finance – then this is certainly a bike worth paying a premium for.

Vespa GTS 300 Super

“In terms of scooters that hold their value, safe bets don’t come much safer than the Vespa GTS 300 Super. As ‘the name’ in the industry, a Vespa is an expensive outlay new, but it makes a great second-hand buy. Any clean, low mileage example, which has had its initial depreciation, is a rock-solid investment.  It’s always worth checking to make sure it hasn’t been stolen or written off though, particularly when buying privately.

Honda XL125 Varadero

“For our ‘used star’ this month I’ve chosen the Honda XL125 Varadero. It is an expensive bike new, in the ultra-competitive 125cc learner-legal market, but you can’t argue with the finish or reliability. Used examples can be a fantastic buy, especially for taller riders. When it comes to negotiating on price, remember, as well as revealing a bike’s history, MyMotorCycleCheck.com also provides valuations.”

As to market trends, Hobson commented: “As the dust settles on another Motorcycle Live, the UK’s main bike show, it is interesting to reflect upon the overall feel of this year’s event. There was a cautiously optimistic atmosphere, with encouraging noises being made by a number of manufacturers.  

“Virtually all the manufacturers represented featured heavily on nostalgia and their individual heritages – most had historical examples on display. Many have launched new models which draw on the past while offering more flexibility in terms of both usage and individual input. There is certainly a growing ‘back to the future’ movement.

“Some feel that the classic market may be at its peak, but the current trend, with bikes such as the Royal Enfield Continental GT and the return of the Yamaha SR400 single, offer opportunities to buy into the past with modern reliability.

“We know that this country has an ageing customer profile and, while more has to be done to generate new blood, this existing base has to be retained. There is a growing range of products which should do the trick: Honda continues to expand its footprint while Yamaha has the MT-09 and the surprise recent addition, the MT-07.

“One of the busiest stands belonged to Ducati. With the launch of the 899 Panigale it is clearly targeting Sports riders with what is said to be a more forgiving road bike. An aggressive promotion is apparently helping sales and, while its arrival may affect residuals of the 848, sales of its large engine stable mate, the 1199, are holding up.  

“In general, any clean examples with fsh and low mileage are still in demand, although trade bids might often be low initially based on the time of year. That’s not to say there aren’t some real opportunities out there. We’ve seen some good bikes going pretty cheap.

“It has to be noted that there are some very strong retail campaigns and attractive finance packages out there, along with a significant amount of pre-registered new dealer stock in the market. As well as the obvious impact on late plate trade bids, the implications of mass pre-registering are felt well beyond the nearly new market."

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Casino bike sale for big players

BONHAMS is gearing up for its high-profile bikes-only sale on Thursday, 9 January, 2014, at Bally's Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Bonhams: bikes for sale

This glamour auction offers 204 motorcycles plus memorabilia. Entries include more than 50 machines from the Wayne Pierce Museum of Harley-Davidsons, and more than 25 Ducatis – pictured is Lot 363, a 1978 Ducati 900 NCR, which is expected to fetch £55,000-£67,000 - from the Jack Silverman Museum of Ducatis.

The biggest buck top estimate is $185,000 (£114,000) for a 1984 Ducati TT1 racer campaigned by Team Leoni in America. The last rider on this machine was 1991 AMA Pro Twin GP1 champion Pablo Real.

The sale catalogue is now available at $45 (£29). Or view online via www.bonhams.com/vegas

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Bayliss heads up Ducati Riding Experience

The Ducati Riding Experience is set to continue in 2014, and online enrolment for the 11th edition of the Italian manufacturer's riding school is now open.

 

Troy Bayliss

Participants can look forward to using some of Ducati's latest models, including the new, 148hp 899 Panigale Superbike for Racing 1 & 2 courses or the new Monster 1200 for the Intermediate course, Ducati's latest generation Monster awarded "Most Beautiful Motorcycle of the Show" when unveiled at the EICMA show in Milan in November.

As usual, the Ducati Riding Experience (DRE) covers all levels of riding experience, from absolute beginners taking their very first steps on two-wheels in the Basic course, to the Master Racing and Troy Bayliss Academy courses for regular track-day experts wishing to perfect their talent.

For DRE 2014, the Racing 1 and Master Racing courses take on a new format intended to provide participants with enhanced instruction for fast and safe riding, with a dedicated classroom session prior to the track experience. Courses will spread over two days, during which Racing 1 participants will start the first afternoon with a briefing and theoretical exercises designed to lay a firm foundation of knowledge before practical tuition on the track. For the more advanced Master Racing course, participants will have a highly informative classroom session with Ducati's official test-rider, Alessandro Valia, and Chief Instructor, Dario Marchetti, before taking to the track aboard Ducati's impressive 1199 Panigale S Superbikes.

Participants of the highly prestigious Troy Bayliss Academy courses will be instructed in groups of five by the triple World Superbike Champion himself. Academy students will ride the Ducati 1199 Panigale S further equipped with a Termignoni exhaust system.

Racing 2 courses, which remain unchanged, are intended for riders who already have track experience and wish to develop it further. In addition to many other details, they will work on areas such as increasing corner turn-in and mid-corner speeds and on how fully capitalising on every last hp of acceleration can achieve a smoother, more fluid and confidence-inspiring riding style.

Enrolment for Racing 1 and 2 courses is limited to 50 students, divided into efficient learning groups of just five, whereas the Master Racing course is open to just 12 participants, divided into groups of three. While all groups are guided by an expert instructor, all track-riding participants must be holders of Class A driving licenses without engine size limitation.

For non-track riders, DRE 2014 also offers a fully comprehensive range of courses from Basic to Intermediate. While learners in the Basic course will use the Ducati Monster 796, participants of the Intermediate course can improve their existing road skills to enhance their overall safety using Ducati's own versatile Multistrada 1200 S, Hypermotard and Hyperstrada models and, new for 2014, the Monster 1200 with excellent user-friendliness and the enhanced ergonomics of an innovative adjustable seat height.

Within the cost of the courses, all DRE participants will be provided with a motorcycle and instructor as well as a welcome kit and lunch, while those who need to rent riding gear can do so during the online enrolment.

Dates are:

28-29 Apr - Adria - Racing 1 course
29 Apr - Adria - Intermediate course
29-30 Apr - Adria - Racing 1 course
30 Apr - Adria - Base & Intermediate courses

13-14 May - Mugello - Master Racing course
14 May - Mugello - Intermediate, Racing 2 & Troy Bayliss Academy courses
14-15 May - Mugello - Master Racing course
15 May - Mugello - Base, Intermediate, Racing 2 & Troy Bayliss Academy courses

09 Sep - Mugello - Intermediate & Racing 2 courses
09-10 Sep - Mugello - Master Racing course
10 Sep - Mugello - Base, Intermediate & Racing 2 courses

With more dates expected to be added, visit Ducati.com to remain updated on DRE 2014.

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Bobber with street-cred

Old Empire Motorcycles, specialists in building bespoke, limited-run motorcycles, is launching the latest in a line of super-cool custom street bobbers, the Fox.

The Fox - looks awesome

 At the heart of the Fox is the 2002-specification Royal Enfield Bullet 500 motor - other more modern Enfield power plants, such as the later Electra and EFI motors, can also be specified - which provides plenty of motive power – but it’s the styling that catches the eye. Tall at the front and hunched at the rear, this is a modern bobber with a broad hint of a board-track racer. The single-seat accentuates the look of minimalism, as does the side-mounted licence plate and single leather pannier. Only five will be made and prices start at around £7500.

Specification includes LED indicators, a modified Harley-Davidson Sportster tank and Amal carburettor conversion, midnight blue paint and Avon Roadrunner tyres.

For more on the Fox, go to oldempiremotorcycles.com

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Prescott Bike Festival

The organisers of next year’s Prescott Bike Festival want potential exhibitors to get in touch as space is in demand. The annual show, in aid of the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes charity, will take place on 6 April.

Prescot Bike Festival

“Exhibitor space is much sought after and limited to those who will add real value through higher-end product offer,” festival organiser Gordon Downie said. Anyone interested in taking space should click on the New Exhibitors section of the Exhibitors page on the website or email pbf@kdbc.co.uk.

Downie predicts the fourth annual event will be the largest ever, with even more bike manufacturers and clubs confirmed, plus a large display of historic, modern and race bikes in the paddock. There will be demo areas, passenger rides, trade stalls, stunts, live music, good food and “a host of entertainment both on and off the track to keep the whole family amused”. Special guest appearances include former three-times British Superbike Champion and Blood Bike ambassador John Reynolds, MotoGP commentator Steve Parrish, motorcycle adventurer Nick Sanders and making his debut appearance – Michael Rutter.  

The list of historic, classic and race bikes at Prescott Bike Festival 2014 includes:
* Carlos Checa’s MotoGP Ducati Desmosedici GP5 and his 2011 WSB-winning Ducati 1198 F1 (courtesy of Dawn Treader Performance)
* David Jeffries' GSX-R1000 TT bike and James Toseland's first WSS machine
* The 1930 Rudge Ulster belonging to David Osborne
* Chris Sawyer's 1928 Cotton Blackburne
* A rare Sachs R800 Roadster from 2002 owned by Barry Fahey
* The 1959 Norton Dominator of Ian Cordes
* Rare Excelsior Manxmans from Dave Lee and Adrian Sellars

New features include the Angelic Bulldog 400mph streamliner land speed motorbike project.

The show is held at the Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, GL52 9RD. Advance tickets are £12; under 16s (with paying adult) go free.

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Addicted to Winning at Goodwood

The theme for the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed, now confirmed to be held 26-29 June, is 'Addicted to Winning - The Unbeatable Champions of Motor Sport'. This theme will celebrate the legendary drivers and riders, teams and manufacturers who have swept all before them in their sport.

Addicted to winning!

The history of motor sport is illuminated by great champions who transcended mere victory to become utterly dominant. On two wheels these include John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts and Valentino Rossi, who have all enjoyed periods of unassailable brilliance, as have Norton, MV Agusta, Honda and Yamaha.
The festival will also celebrate the centenary of one of the most glorious sports car marques - Maserati. Many of the Modena manufacturer's most iconic racing cars will be gathered together on the hill, while a selection of fabulous Maserati road cars will have a dedicated class in the Cartier 'Style et Luxe' concours d'elegance.

Other significant anniversaries will include 100 years since the fabled 1914 French Grand Prix, in which the Mercedes team overcame strong opposition to score a commanding 1-2-3 victory. Mercedes-Benz's victorious stints in grand prix racing in 1934 and 1954 will also be celebrated, as will 60 years of the Jaguar D-type, the 50th anniversary of the Mini's first Monte Carlo Rally victory, and the 40th anniversary of McLaren's first F1 crown.

As usual, the festival will feature a glittering array of cars and motorcycles from a huge variety of disciplines, further enhancing its reputation as the world's greatest celebration of motor racing history and culture.

The highly-popular Goodwood Revival is now confirmed for its traditional mid-September slot (12-14 September), with tickets for next year's event already selling fast.

Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival founder Lord March says: "I am really looking forward to having so many great cars and drivers and riders here at the Festival of Speed next summer to celebrate our 2014 'Addicted to Winning' theme.”

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Historic racing at Mallory Park

British Historic Racing, part of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club, will hold more than 20 championships over six meetings at venues across the country next year, including the newly re-opened Mallory Park.

Mallory: Future looking better

 The meetings are for members and invited clubs.

A wide range of vintage and classic motorcycles compete against each other, from pre-1934 solos, outfits and three-wheelers, through to the exciting BEARS series, catering for European and American machines from the 1970s and 1980s. It also invites clubs, such as BSSO Scooters and the Morgan Three-Wheeler Club, to come along to its meetings.
Anyone with road-race licence can compete against like-minded friendly racers. Next year’s events are: Anglesey, 12/13 April; Three Sisters, 10/11 May; Mallory Park, 14/15 June; Lydden Hill, 5/6 July;  Darley Moor, 26/27 July; Cadwell Park 27/28 September. callison1972@msn.com

There is also a series of ACU spectator parades - philreaney@hotmail.co.uk – and race parades - gerry.daine@ntlworld.com
www.britishhistoricracing.co.uk

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MALLORY back in business

Leicestershire’s historic Mallory Park race circuit is back in business, with the appointment of new event promoter Real Motorsport, following the collapse into liquidation of its previous operator Mallory Park Motorsport Ltd (MPML) at the end of November.


 

Mallory Park- back in business

Real Motorsport has been set up by Buildbase BMW British Superbikes team boss Stuart Hicken and Pirelli motorcycle tyre distributor Eddie Roberts to take a fresh lease on the track from its owner, Chris Meek of Titan Properties. Hicken’s race team is based at Mallory and he has had a long association with the track.

In a statement from Hicken and Roberts, they said: “This is a great day for us both. We have grown up with Mallory Park, firstly as spectators, then as competitors and now running businesses associated with the sport. We realise that there is a lot of bridge-building to be done with the local community but Mallory Park has been here for a long time and we are hopeful that with understanding all round it will have a long and successful future. We would like to thank circuit owner Chris Meek for giving us the opportunity of re-establishing Mallory Park and also Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council for advice regarding noise issues and the community.”

In addition to preparing Mallory for the forthcoming season, Real Motorsport says it plans to stage a first race meeting in the spring, plus a programme of practice and track hire days.

Meanwhile, new revelations about the behaviour of MPML parent British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) have emerged since it placed the operating company into administration in October.

For a full story on this, see next month’s British Dealer News magazine.

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Parliamentary push highlights social benefits of biking

Key figures from the motorcycle industry will be joining MPs and peers from all parties this week to hear how motorcycling benefits society.



 

Motorcycling: discussion imminent

 A reception has been organised by the Associate Parliamentary Motorcycle Group to be held inside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December. It will highlight how alternative-powered motorcycles (ePTWs) and the Wheels to Work programme contribute to wider societal goals regarding the environment, social inclusion and the economy.  Wheels to Work schemes provide the loan of a motorcycle, moped, bicycle or scooter to those who otherwise would have no access to work transport.

The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) will take this opportunity to launch an update to its policy framework, a range of factsheets which illustrate how motorcycling addresses key areas of social concern, including:

    Congestion
    Economic growth
    Employment
    Equality of opportunity
    Crime prevention

In addition to MPs and peers, guests at the reception will include senior industry figures and representatives from a range of motorcycling and other organisations.
On the same day, a display of electric motorcycles will be held outside the Houses of Parliament, in Old Palace Yard. This will provide an opportunity for parliamentarians and the public to view the latest developments in alternative-powered transport technologies.
The parliamentary reception follows a safety and transport policy conference, jointly organised last month (11 November) by the MCI and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), in conjunction with the Department of Transport, which hosted the event at its offices in London.

The conference, already reported by British Dealer News, explored compelling evidence from other EU countries where there is a link between greater use of powered two-wheelers and lower casualty rates, as well as a study which showed congestion could be cut by 40% for all road users if just 10% of car drivers swapped to a motorcycle, scooter or moped.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill, who has a motorcycle licence himself and has a son who recently passed his bike test, is particularly positive towards Wheels to Work, which he described as “a value for money way of bringing people and jobs together”. 

He added that there were safety benefits to starting a motoring career on a small powered two wheeler, which he said “can improve awareness of safety on the roads, knowledge of the highway code and road signs, which can in turn make it easier to learn to drive a car”, which would result in helping former moped riders to “be aware of other vulnerable road users, such as cyclists”.

“We will certainly continue to encourage inclusion of these schemes in the transport planning process.”

The Associate Parliamentary Motorcycle Group (APMG) draws its membership from MPs, peers and from organisations across the industry and motorcycle community. Its current Chairman is Steve Baker MP.

Let us know what you think: editorial@dealernews.co.uk

NEW FRENCH REVOLUTION

Voxan has achieved "a major revolution in French motorcycle history" with the presentation of an ultra-powerful electric machine, radically innovative in its technology and its architecture. The manufacturer claims the Wattman shows the new techniques and stylistic direction of the brand, with avant-garde technologies in the field of electric mobility and “a design that anticipates the shape of bikes to come”. 

Voxan Wattman - 200 HP

With 200 HP and an instantaneous torque of 200Nm up to 10,500 rpm, Wattman is said to be the world's most powerful electric motorcycle. Belt-driven, it reaches 160km/h (100mph) in 5.9 seconds.

The Wattman is built around its battery pack, the frame being replaced by an ultra-rigid exoskeleton, integrating all the components of the powertrain. “This results in a very pure motorcycle without a visible technical feature,” says designer Sacha Lakic. "This aluminium exoskeleton, which contains the battery, is the motorcycle’s signature. You can tell from this design that it is an electric machine."

The bike features charges to 80% in less than 30 minutes thanks to a "COMBO II" socket, the European quick charge standard. It can also be plugged to a standard household socket, thanks to its integrated charger.

Its ultra-compact 12.8kWh battery ensures 180 km of range.

Primarily intended for an exclusive international clientele seeking innovation, the Wattman will be hand-assembled in France, at the Solesmes (Sarthe) Electric Vehicle Manufacture.

 www.voxan.com
 

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