QJMotor

QJMotor electric roadster on the way By Ben Purvis

China's QJMotor has been growing at a phenomenal rate in the last couple of years with a fast-expanding model range that's soon to extend all the way up to a 1078 cc, MV Agusta-powered, four-cylinder superbike. But QJMotor also has an eye on the electric motorcycle market. 

While several of QJMotor's most recent ICE-powered bikes have been attractive, and the upcoming 'Ten78' superbike has been designed with the help of former Benelli and MV design boss Adrian Morton, recently filed registrations show a new electric model that couldn't be described as beautiful. Undeniably distinctive, perhaps, but its shapes are not aligned to the kind of styling that we are accustomed to seeing. 

Under the skin, the new model is based on the existing QJMotor OAO Pro, a 7 kW electric sports bike that's been under development for some time, but it takes a radically new approach to the aesthetic elements of the design. While fully faired electric bikes can easily follow existing design traditions, with their bodywork hiding the unconventional mechanical parts, making an electric roadster is a more challenging task. One option is to stick to conventions, using a dummy 'fuel tank' and packing the batteries into a block that sits where the engine would normally be found. But QJMotor's designers are opting for another route by creating a machine that embraces its novel powertrain and moves away from the norm.

The high 'tank' section seen here is actually a cover over the batteries and electronics, and by rising higher than normal, it means there's more space for those parts. Rising above the height of the bars, it is extended forwards, over the top yoke to provide a mount for the instruments, which again breaks with convention. The small touchscreen dashboard appears to be designed to be able to fold down into the bodywork when the bike is parked, protecting its screen and giving a cleaner look to the machine.

The rest of the bodywork adopts an angular look, resulting in something that could easily come from the pages of a comic book.

The bike's internal codename is 7000D-A, showing it's closely related to the OAO Pro, which is coded as 7000D. The '7000' relates to the wattage of the bike, equating to 7 kW or 9.4 hp, and for the 164 kg OAO Pro, QJMotor claims a top speed of 105 km/h (65 mph) and a 0-50 km/h time of 2.5 seconds. The 7000D-A, with the same mechanical parts, is likely to have similar performance. 

Brixton

Brixton Storr 500 ADV By Ben Purvis

Shown as a concept model back in November 2022, the Brixton Storr 500 is finally heading to production, with the mass-made version having now been awarded type-approval in China.

Like other Brixton models, including the Crossfire 500 and the range-topping Cromwell 1200, the Storr is to be manufactured in China by Gaokin, which also sells the Crossfire as the GK500 and the Cromwell 1200 as the GK1200 in its homeland. The production Storr 500 shown in the type-approval document is a bit of both, wearing the Brixton name across its headlight, but Gaokin branding on the engine. 

While heavily based on the existing Crossfire 500, sharing the same parallel twin engine and a similar steel tube chassis, the Storr - named after a rugged rock formation on the Isle of Skye in Scotland - has a distinctive look of its own as the first ADV model to come from the Brixton brand. The production model is near-identical to the 2022 concept in terms of appearance.

Like the Crossfire 500, power comes from a 486 cc parallel twin putting out 47 hp (35 kW), placing it neatly into the A2 licence category in Europe, and putting it into direct competition with machines like Honda's NX500. It sits in a steel frame, again similar to that of the Crossfire, with KYB suspension borrowed from the Crossfire 500 XC scrambler, along with the same J.Juan brakes, Bosch ABS system and the XC's wire spoked wheels, 19 inches at the front and a 17-inch rear. 

The big differences come in the styling, with a larger fuel tank and a fixed front cowl and headlight, as well as a longer, stronger seat subframe to add more lugging ability. Black plastic frames on either side of the fairing add protection and can be used as mounting points for luggage, along with a similar element on top of the fuel tank. On the 2022 concept version, the side frames were used to house a first aid kit, for example. The approval document confirms a 1,441 mm wheelbase and a relatively light curb weight of 209 kg.

Being approved in China suggests Gaokin is gearing up for the Storr's production, and a showroom version of the Brixton-branded variant is likely to be revealed later this year. 

Voge

Voge RR660S four-cylinder Supersport bike By Ben Purvis

The four-cylinder 600 cc Supersport class dominated the European motorcycle market throughout the 1990s, before the dawn of the adventure bike boom, and while the Japanese machines that ruled the category 30 years ago have moved upmarket and become less practical - with diminishing sales as a result - the Chinese industry is now stepping in to exploit that market space.

We've seen several Chinese four-cylinder machines in the circa-600 cc class over the last few months, and now Voge - the luxury, export-targeted arm of Loncin - has type-approved its RR660S, which is on the verge of production.

Voge previewed the bike last year at the Beijing motorcycle show, wearing the name RR666S, but didn't reveal its specifications. The approval documents show a slightly toned-down production version, wearing less flamboyant paintwork and with a dual-sided swingarm instead of the show bike's single-sided version. More importantly, the documents fill in the gaps when it comes to the bike's key technical details.

The engine is confirmed to be built in-house by Loncin, wearing the codename LX467MT. Those numbers reflect its four-cylinder layout and 67 mm bore. The exact capacity is 663 cc, indicating that the stroke is 47 mm. The figures hint that the engine, like several other new Chinese-made fours, may be a reverse-engineered version of Honda's CBR650R design, which also has a 67 mm bore but 46 mm stroke for a 649 cc total capacity.

The Loncin-made engine is certified to make 74 kW (99 hp), which is the same figure claimed for the concept version shown last year. The type-approval shows that it's enough to power the bike to a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph).

It's not just the engine that may owe a debt to Honda's designs. The bike's wheelbase is listed at 1,450 mm, the same as a CBR650R. The frame appears to be aluminium rather than the steel design used on the Japanese bike, but even so, the Voge comes in at 215 kg, which is six kilos more than the Honda.

At the moment, Honda's CBR650R is the only remaining four-cylinder Japanese sports bike that's designed as an all-rounder, competing in a growing market segment that also includes several twins - the Suzuki GSX-8R being the latest addition - and Triumph's new Daytona 660 triple. 

China, however, has several upcoming models that will compete in the same segment, including not only the Voge RR660S, but Zongshen's four-cylinder RC680R, QJMotor's SRK800RR and CFMoto's three-cylinder 675SR, which is due later this year.

Brabus

Brabus - more KTM based collector editions planned By Ben Purvis

The Brabus name might be most familiar from the tuned Mercedes cars that have worn the badge since the 1970s, but these days Brabus is diversifying the brand to include other luxury goods, including boats and motorcycles.

In cooperation with KTM in 2022, the first two-wheeler was the 154-unit limited run, restyled 1290 Super Duke R Evo. They sold out within minutes, so a second 'Edition 23' run of 290 bikes followed in 2023, as well as a further 50 'Masterpiece Edition' machines. 

Despite huge price tags, at least double those of the KTM Super Duke that the Brabus 1300 R was based on, and the same engines, frames, brakes and suspension parts that came on the standard Super Duke R Evo, they were a hit with collectors, so Brabus is now planning more bikes.

The next models will be derived from the new 2024 KTM 1390 Super Duke R, with more capacity and power than the older 1290 version. The 1390 Super Duke R has a 10 hp, 1,350 cc version of KTM's LC8 V-twin, equipped with a cam-shifting variable valve timing and lift system for the first time.

Brabus has filed trademark applications for three new names it hopes to use on the upcoming bikes. The trademarks are for 'Brabus 1400 R Rocket', 'Brabus 1400 R Signature' and 'Brabus 1400 R Tailor Made'. The implication is that, like the original 1300 R, there will be three limited-edition runs of the new 1400 R. 

It remains to be seen whether Brabus is granted the trademarks. It's not hard to imagine that Triumph might have objections to another company using the name 'Rocket' on a bike, for example. But regardless of whether these particular titles are adopted, it's clear that Brabus isn't finished with motorcycles yet. The company has used the 'Tailor Made' title on cars before, specifically its tuned version of the tiny Mercedes-made Smart ForTwo, and it currently applies the 'Signature' name to its high-end speedboats. 'Rocket' is used on some of its high-performance Mercedes.

The previous 1300 R (pictured) used styling that borrows more from Husqvarna than KTM, borrowing a large, circular headlight from Husqvarna's Vitpilen and Svartpilen models and adding it to carbon fibre bodywork that helps give a high-end look to the bikes. Wheels that mimic the designs used on Brabus cars, along with car-inspired paint schemes, mean that customers of the most expensive Brabus four-wheelers are likely to be tempted to buy a matching motorcycle - the same psychology that's made the Ducati Streetfighter V4 Lamborghini and Diavel for Bentley models such immediate sell-outs despite huge price tags.

Bonamici Racing

Bonamici Racing - Aprilia RS660

At the time of writing, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Technical Partner Bonamici Racing was already celebrating the start of what promises to be another season of track success with a pole position, two victories and a third place already in the Italian parts specialist's locker for 2024.

Bonamici has racing coded into its DNA - "our connection with racing is engraved in our values and in our history," brothers Enrico and Riccardo Bonamici told IDN. "Racing is at the roots of our history - this is not just a motto, but the lifeblood that flows in our veins.

"The Bonamici Racing products you see on the market are the result of relentless work, in-depth studies and tireless research on the tracks. It is there, in that whirlwind of adrenaline and competition, that our technicians find inspiration and challenge to create innovative and high-performance solutions.

"Every curve faced, every acceleration, every brake - all of this translates into valuable knowledge that we shape into our products. Every detail has been tested and perfected on the battleground of racing."

In recent months, we have featured Bonamici parts for a wide range of current production models, from the BMW S 1000 RR and Kawasaki ZX-4RR to the Yamaha MT-09 and Ducati Panigale V4.

Seen here, it’s the turn of the popular, versatile and agile Aprilia RS660 to take its place in the Bonamici spotlight.

Exhaustive testing and high-quality precision CNC-machining, the Bonamici range features some of the most commonly changed and upgraded components. Model-specific options for the RS660 include rearset kits (standard and reverse shifting), gear spacer support, choice of 'street' or 'race' top triple clamp, a four-piece engine protector set for 'street' applications and a five-piece set for 'race', a choice of raised handlebar options, brake clutch lever options, including lever kits and remote brake lever adjuster, adjustable full clutch lever and lever protection options (also in carbon), dashboard protection, 8 ml rear oil tank, engine oil cap, micrometric adjustment system chain adjuster, 'racing' grade swingarm spools and block-style mirror.

Bonamici Racing components are FIM approved, used in MotoGP, WorldSBK, EWC, MotoAmerica and even at the IOM TT, as well as most of the leading national championships and trophies. 

In addition to being a BMW WorldSBK team Official Partner, it is a technical partner with a whole range of top teams from MotoGP, Moto3, WSBK, including Leopard Racing, SnipersTeam, BMW World Superbike Team RoKiT, Yamaha Racing and HRC.

BONAMICI RACING

www.bonamiciracing.it

SIP Scootershop

SIP Scootershop - 30th anniversary Open Day

Ralf Jodl first started the business that became his Landsberg, Bavaria based SIP Scootershop enterprise from a garage. A familiar story in the motorcycle industry - one in which a deep-seated passion resulted in enthusiasts becoming entrepreneurs and the garage business eventually turning into a 6,000 sq m emporium of custom-built scooter excellence.

The first inventory was stored between business partner Alexander Barth's father's beehives! "In the absence of employees, we took the parcels to the post office ourselves - on a Vespa of course," says Ralf.

On Saturday 18th May, 2024 "we celebrate our Open Day 'Festival of 30 Years Performance & Style' with a programme that includes on-site pizza bakery, food and drink from our in-house Italian SIPERIA café bar, a performance parts, components, accessories and used scooter market and an official trial sport run of the Vespa Club of Germany".

There'll be the opportunity for enthusiasts (and professionals) to have their scooter's performance calibrated on a P4 Amerschläger dyno (for a voluntary donation of € 10) to see who can take home the bragging rights of a new record.

Plus, a visitor Photowall, guided tours through its architect designed HQ, stands from the Vespa Cowboys, Vespa Club Munich, Vespa Club of Germany and vendor displays from the likes of Bitubo, Dunlop, EGIG, Scootering Magazine, RON Scooters (AT) and more.

With Live DJ sound all day, Saturday evening will see a big 'Soulniter' in the medieval walled splendour of Landsberg-am-Lech in the beautiful cellar vault of the Moritz Club - "an overnight stay would be advisable," says Ralf!

www.sip-scootershop.com

Galfer

Galfer announces "generational" management change

A year after celebrating the company’s 70th anniversary, Galfer has announced a change in its general management with Umberto Milesi, who took the position in 2008, leaving behind a legacy filled with successes. 

On a business level, Galfer has achieved record figures in the last three years, while on a sporting level, Galfer has won more than 100 world titles across the various competitions in which the brand supplies teams with braking products. 

"Umberto Milesi has had a decisive role in the development of the company, its products and its image around the world, and will continue as a member of the Galfer Board of Directors.

"In mid-2023 he was succeeded as CEO of Galfer by Francisco Catena Martínez. Francisco developed his skills in business analysis, trade marketing and sales management roles in multinationals in the infrastructure, perfume and cosmetics and FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer goods) sectors. 

Catena states: "I face this challenge with enormous enthusiasm, energy and a sense of great responsibility. Galfer’s future is full of opportunities and turning them into reality is the job for us all. 

"The companies that identify their strengths and reinforce them in their search for excellence are the companies that lead the market. A passion for two wheels, innovation, technology, performance and unique designs has allowed Galfer to achieve very high levels of success. 

"We must continue to build on our history without setting ourselves limits or barriers. For this we need the engagement of all our employees, partners, clients, distributors and collaborators: we must share our objectives and look to the future with the same enthusiasm and determination. The future is ours if we know how to differentiate ourselves and connect with our consumers.”

www.galfermoto.com