Surflex

 Complete clutch plate kit

Legendary Italian specialist Surflex has a new complete clutch plate kit for GasGas EC 2T and EX 250 4T and 350 - a bike that is stable at high speeds and agile on narrow and technical routes, which seems designed for maximum off-road fun.

Designed to work in an oil bath, "this Surflex kit is another performance component that can be added to other competition components that help riders to get the most out of these popular 2 and 4 stroke 250 and 450 enduro and MX models.

"Of-road competition is notoriously tough on the driveline, not least on clutch components, and it's no surprise that this kit has been chosen for the 2025 season by some top teams competing in national and world championships."

The kit consists of eight discs gasketed with an advanced compound of friction materials containing fibres and newly formulated organic resins. "They ensure excellent and stable friction coefficient and greater resistance to high temperatures in all conditions of use. They do not swell and do not pollute the engine oil - ensuring the integrity of the characteristics of the oil. The kit is completed by 7+1 bare steel discs".

Granted the 'Marchio Storico' - the "Italian historic mark" in 2021, Surflex was the very first Italian company to manufacture clutches for motorcycles and scooters. Surflex has produced over 15,000 different clutch components in its 70 plus years - including components for motorcycles dating back to 1920.

SURFLEX S.R.L.

www.surflex.it

Harley-Davidson

Harley Backing 12-Race Bagger Series at Six MotoGP Rounds

Following its Barcelona test last November, AMD was almost alone in suggesting that Harley-Davidson shouldn't go near a MotoGP event-based Bagger Racing series. However, the news has now been confirmed - with a 12-race series in planned for six selected MotoGP rounds in 2026.

"Pairing one of the world's most iconic brands with the most exciting sport on earth," Harley-Davidson and MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports (Madrid, Spain) are to launch a new global racing championship in 2026 featuring Harley-Davidson Bagger motorcycles.

In the absence of competitive brands and models, such as Indian Motorcycle's Challenger (or BMW's K1600 or R 18 B), it will, in essence, be a "Company Cup" - the conventional orthodoxy for which is to grow demand for a product line. However, Harley recently reiterated its core range strategy of premium pricing and "brand exclusivity" - while continuing to reduce dealer inventory and having previously reduced the number of international markets they sell into. They will have to sell enough tee-shirts to circle the earth a hundred times make it pay its way (that, btw, is a guesstimate - but you get the general idea).

The twelve-race series will be staged at six Grands Prix rounds in Europe and North America, with riders battling it out on race-prepared Road Glides in two races per round. The grid is expected to comprise six to eight teams, each fielding two riders -supported by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing (HDFR). 

It is hard not to see the fingerprints of Colorado based Formula 1 owner Liberty Media all over this move - though at this stage the final approvals for their planned acquisition of MotoGP/Dorna Sports remains uncertain - stalled in the European Union's Anti-Trust bureaucracy. The company's 2017 acquisition of Formula 1 faced similar hurdles.

Regardless, Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports stated that "this collaboration is an exciting opportunity for both parties. We offer a truly international platform for Harley-Davidson to expand their global reach. 

More details, including the calendar and how fans will be able to watch and stay up to date, will be revealed soon. Those looking to join the growing field or explore sponsorship and media opportunities are invited can contact: factoryracing@harley-davidson.com 

Bihr

Bihr adds Sidi Boots distribution for France and Belgium

Bartenheim, France based distributor Bihr has added exclusive distribution of the Italian SIDI motorcycle boots brand for France and Belgium.

"Renowned for their unmatched craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology and Italian design, Sidi has built a global reputation as a leader in motorcycle footwear. The brand is trusted by professional racers and road riders alike and is respected for delivering superior comfort, protection and performance across all disciplines – from motocross to touring."

Bihr says that this is another expansion of its premium offerings, one that "reinforces its position as a trusted distributor of elite motorcycle brands according to Peter Hakanson, President of Bihr.

"We are honoured to integrate Sidi boots into Bihr's Rider Gear portfolio. Sidi's reputation for excellence in safety and innovation aligns seamlessly with Bihr's longstanding expertise in both road and off-road markets. This partnership enhances our ability to offer premium gear to our dealer network and reinforces our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality solutions to motorcyclists across France and Belgium."

On behalf of SIDI, CEO Davide Rossetti is quoted as saying that "the decision to entrust Bihr with distribution in strategic markets fully reflects Sidi's commitment to continuous improvement and to working exclusively with high-level partners. 

"This choice is part of a broader growth strategy, which includes significant investments in the modernization of our production facilities and the creation of a new logistics hub. This project will allow us to become even more agile and responsive to market dynamics, strengthening our competitiveness on a global scale. 

"Being a reliable partner for our dealers is our top priority. For this reason, we also want to partner with the best in each territory to be sure the same level is guaranteed across all the distribution network in each country Sidi is represented."

www.sidi.com

www.mybihr.com

QJMotor

QJMotor SRK921RR reaches Europe 

By Ben Purvis

No bike company's range has grown faster than QJMotor's over the last few years - the Chinese upstart has gone from nothing to more than 130 different models in less than five years. After concentrating on its home market QJMotor is now spreading its wings globally and has just stepped into a new category by introducing its MV Agusta-powered SRK921RR sports bike to Europe.

Initially set to reach the German market, the SRK921RR uses a 921 cc four-cylinder engine that's manufactured by QJMotor in China under licence from MV Agusta, and can trace its heritage back to the original MV Agusta F4 750 superbike. MV developed the 921 cc version of the engine for a short-lived version of the Brutale, and has now let QJMotor adopt the design.

In terms of outright performance the bike is still a step down from similarly-sized fours from Europe or Japan, with a peak of 129.3 hp (95 kW) at 10,000 rpm and 93 Nm of torque at 8000rpm, but also features an MV-style chassis with a cast alloy swingarm section and steel trellis front end, allied to a single-sided swingarm. In China, the same basis is used for the 'Super9' model, which is a close replica of the exotic MV Agusta Superveloce, while the SRK921RR has a more modern look complete with the inevitable winglets and a four-pipe exhaust system similar to the MV Brutale 1000's design.

The performance might be a generation behind the latest, cutting-edge four-cylinder bikes, but the SRK921RR offers substantially more power than rivals like Yamaha's new R9, which peaks at 87.5 kW (117.3 hp), while simultaneously offering Italian-esque styling, high-spec chassis components including Brembo brakes and Marzocchi suspension, and plenty of technology. What's more, it does it for a price that undercuts the Yamaha R9 by a wide margin - coming in at € 12,999 in Germany, where the R9 starts at € 13,999.

While Chinese companies are still finding it an uphill task to convince European customers to buy their more high-end models, that's likely to change rapidly if bikes like the SRK921RR live up to their promise.

Yamaha

Yamaha hybrid prototype points to future big scooter

By Ben Purvis

Yamaha can be credited with essentially creating the concept of the maxi-scooter with the launch of its XP500 T-Max 25 years ago. Now the company is exploring how  hybrid power could be adopted in future bikes aimed at the same category.

The HEV Proto is a rolling laboratory exploring the potential for hybrid powertrains, and Yamaha has released a video showing how its 'series-parallel' hybrid system works. 

Normally hybrids, which are increasingly familiar on four wheels, are either 'series' or 'parallel' designs. A series hybrid is also often known as a range-extender, and mean an electric vehicle that has a combustion engine used purely to drive a generator, topping up the battery when needed. 

A parallel hybrid, by contrast, has a petrol engine that drives the wheels as well as electric motors, with the electric power used as an extra boost to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. 

A series-parallel hybrid, as shown by Yamaha, offers a combination of both designs, allowing them to operate in all-electric mode while still including a petrol engine and transmission that can drive the wheels. Kawasaki's Ninja 7 Hybrid and Z7 Hybrid work like that - the only big hybrid bikes currently on the market - and Yamaha's design follows the same pattern.

In all-electric mode, the battery mounted between the rider's feet feeds an electric motor on the rear hub, allowing the bike to operate like any other electric machine as it pulls away. Once on the move, it initially enters series hybrid mode, with the combustion engine running but at low speeds all its power goes into a generator, recharging the battery, and it's not coupled to the rear wheel. At higher speeds, a clutch engages to couple the combustion engine to the rear wheel via a belt drive, and the electric power is disengaged to save the battery.

Like the Kawasaki hybrids, the Yamaha prototype also has a 'boost' mode where both the combustion engine and the electric motor are used to power the rear wheel simultaneously, maximising its performance and acceleration.

Yamaha says that in the future the system, while prototyped on a maxi-scooter style bike, could be used on all types of motorcycles, including roadsters and sports bikes. 

Zonsen

Cyclone SR1000 nears production 

By Ben Purvis

The idea of large-capacity bikes from Chinese manufacturers is rapidly becoming more familiar, but when Zonsen showed its RA9 concept bike in 2021 as a 1000 cc V-twin it was breaking new ground for the company - and for the Chinese industry as a whole.

Four years later and the RA9 is getting closer to production, with Zonsen gaining official type-approval for the bike in China. Expected to use the name 'SR1000' in production form, the new model is heavily based on elements of the old Aprilia Shiver, which was sold from 2007 to 2021 in a 750 cc and 900 cc forms, sharing the same essential engine and chassis design as the Aprilia. 

But this isn't a stereotypical Chinese copy. Zonsen operates a joint manufacturing venture with Aprilia's parent company, Piaggio, in China, and has just revived the Shiver 900 model as a new offering for the Chinese market. That means it has direct access to the genuine Aprilia designs and components to use as the basis of the SR1000.

While the rereleased Shiver 900 uses an 896 cc, 90-degree V-twin engine, putting out 70kW (94hp), and has only been mildly facelifted compared to the last version to be sold in Europe, with new side panels and a slightly revised headlight, the SR1000 has substantial changes. First, the engine is upped to 996 cc, retaining the same 67.4 mm stroke as the Shiver but increasing bore from 92 mm to 97 mm to gain an additional 100 cc. Power rises by similar proportion, increasing to 78.5 kW (105 hp), as a result. Since the same basic engine design was also the basis of the old Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200, which used a 106 mm bore, there's scope for further capacity increases in future.

The SR1000's frame is clearly derived from the Shiver, too, with the same cast aluminium rear section bolted to a steel trellis front part. The upside-down forks and radial brakes also mimic the Shiver, but the Cyclone features its own swingarm design, wider than the Aprilia's to carry a huge 240/45-17 rear tyre instead of the Shiver's 180/55-17. The original RA9 concept featured a single-sided swingarm, but the single photo of the production version accompanying the type-approval documents shows a dual-sided setup.

The documents list a curb weight of 225 kg, 5 kg more than the Shiver 900, as well as a substantially higher 235 km/h (146 mph) top speed in place of the Aprilia's 210 km/h (130 mph).

White Motorcycle Concepts

White Motorcycle Concepts and Pininfarina reveal joint venture design 

By Ben Purvis

The work of White Motorcycle Concepts in the United Kingdom caught the world's attention in 2021 with the WMC250EV electric land speed record challenger - demonstrating an extreme interpretation of the company's idea for a through-bike air duct that allows a hugely reduced frontal area and drag coefficient without compromising the riding position. 

Since then WMC has turned its attention to a three-wheeled scooter that shows the system's effectiveness at low speed, and a concept developed with Zero to incorporate the idea into the Zero SR/S electric sports bike. However, its latest collaboration in is with Italian automotive legend Pininfarina - to explore how the duct can be made attractive as well as effective.

The essential idea of the through-bike duct is to rearrange components in the bike to clear space for air to pass directly from the high-pressure area in the nose to the low-pressure zone at the back. Wind tunnel and computer testing has shown substantial potential improvements in terms of aerodynamic efficiency, with even the version of the duct used on the WMC-modified Zero SR/S achieving a 10% reduction in drag - despite the need to maintain the standard bike's chassis and other main parts as well as most of the external styling. 

WMC's work has attracted the attention of Pininfarina, the legendary design house that's inextricably connected to Ferrari in most minds but also has its own R&D and production facilities, including a wind tunnel with its own place in motorcycling history - it was used in the 1970s to sculpt the shape of the BMW R100 RS, the world's first full-faired production bike. 

As a result, Pininfarina's designers have sketched out a pair of bikes with WMC's patented duct layout, with the designs presented at an event marking Pininfarina's 95th anniversary and the company's connection with motorcycles, dubbed 'Design and Performance In Motion - Shaping Two-Wheeled Aerodynamics.'

The machines share the same central core, a composite version of the WMC duct that doubles as the main frame structure. At the front there are four air intakes, with the duct split around the forks and steering head, combining into one channel that exits under the seat. Below it hangs an powertrain that's described as a small-capacity combustion engine with forced induction, paired to an electric hybrid system to maximise efficiency. 

Pininfarina's designs show one version of the bike as a naked roadster, the other as a part-faired version with a more aerodynamic front mudguard and an extensive bellypan that unusually encloses more of the rear than the front.

Robert White, CEO and founder of White Motorcycle Concepts, said: "It has been a true pleasure collaborating with Pininfarina on these initial imaginings of how our patented duct could be incorporated into a new motorcycle design with a compact forced induction hybrid powertrain. I am particularly proud of how we have managed to make the duct both a structural and style feature on a faired and naked concept. 

"The duct concept has always been about improving efficiency no matter the fuel source, but this collaboration has taken this to the next level showing how the duct can provide functional performance as well as be an aesthetic feature for future motorcycles."