TOTM March: Discounted Ridley bikes, new Shimano shoes, Wahoo electric pedals and roller launch, and much more

This month we have discounted Ridley frames, new Shimano shoes spotted in the wild and the curious new handlebar hack from Tim Wellens. We go into detail on the most recent developments regarding the Australian Pursuit Team’s broken handlebars at the Tokyo Olympics and update you on Wahoo’s launch of its Powrlink Zero trainer and Wahoo Kickr Rollr.

Finally, we wrap things up with a look at this edition’s Bike of the Month, the Pearson Summon the Blood – a titanium gravel bike featuring Classified’s innovative two-speed hub gear.

More affordable Ridley aero and climbing bikes

(Image credit: Ridley)

Ridley offers more affordable models of its Noah and Helium bikes, the brand’s aero and lightweight product lines respectively.

The new frames are said to retain the same ride quality and features as their more expensive counterparts – the increased weight from the carbon change will be the trade-off for the lower list price.

That said, the new Helium frames are said to weigh less than 1000 grams, which is still very respectable, although of course not at the cutting edge of lightweight frames. The Helium SLX Disc has a claimed weight of 780g, for context.

Pricing starts at £2,909 / €3,199 / $4,229 for the Ridley Helium, while the Noah starts at £3,369 / €3,699 / $4,929. You can find more details at Ridley’s website this way.

New Shimano road shoes spotted

(Image credit: Alpecin–Fenix)

Donning the feet of Mathieu van der Poel, we’ve spotted what appears to be an update to Shimano’s range topping the S-Phyre 902 road shoes – which we’ll take a punt and suggest they will be called S-Phyre 903.

The differences appear to be quite subtle, with more perforations for ventilation on the newer model and more devious lace routing – presumably to help distribute tension more evenly.

We’re set for a number of shoe releases this year, with a potential new S-Works model having been spotted earlier during the Saudi tour.

The Tim Wellens handlebar hack

(Image credit: Getty/Dario Berlingheri)

Since the UCI’s ban on the “puppy paws” or “invisible aero bars” position, where a rider rests their forearms on top of their bars, Tim Wellens – a longtime proponent of the position – had to go back to board drawing.

The solution Wellens seems to have found is to place a few inserts under his handlebar tape to help the position of the “aero hoods”—where a rider holds the hoods with their arms parallel to the ground—more easily.

It gives an unusual look, but it seems to work for him. Perhaps more pertinently, he doesn’t appear to be breaking UCI rules – for now at least.

For the full story on Wellens’ bike setup and all the details, you can find it here.

AusCycling apologizes for broken handlebar horror

(Image credit: supplied player)

Sadly, some of the most enduring images of the Tokyo Olympics will be of Alex Porter collapsing heavily after his handlebars snapped at 60km/h during the qualifying laps of the team pursuit.

After publishing a report on the incident, AusCycling apologized to “Alex and his fellow riders, the entire Australian Olympic team and the Australian public, who all had a right to expect better” . It was also acknowledged that a “lack of adequate processes and policies meant that issues were not detected and corrected before the team raced at the Games”.

14 recommendations were put forward by mechanical and aeronautical engineer John Baker, who produced the report, along with specific takeaways: that the national track cycling team provided “inadequate specifications for bespoke handlebars” as well as not “performing adequate fatigue testing.”

The bars’ manufacturer, Melbourne-based Bastion Cycles, was also named in the report and received five recommendations, including a call to review design and production quality assurance procedures. The equipment in question was his basic CA-06 bar, which unsurprisingly is no longer available.

Our full story on the report can be found here.

(Image credit: Wahoo)

Wahoo has released two big product launches, the first being a power meter version of its Speedplay pedals. This has been expected for a while now – and has been on the wishlist for even longer.

They use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and last for 75 hours, while accuracy is +/- 1% with no calibration required. The stack height has been increased from 11.5mm to 13mm to accommodate the pods, making it taller than Favero Assioma (10.5mm) and Garmin Rally (12.2mm).

A longer spindle length for the Powrlink Zero – 55mm compared to 53mm for the standard Speedplay Zero – also slightly increases the Q-factor compared to the competition. Garmin pedals stick with 53mm while Assioma measures 54mm.

Claimed weight is 276g double-sided and 250g single-sided, while the price comes in at £849.99/$999.99 double-sided and £549.99/$649.99 single-sided.

Wahoo says it’s taken a traditional design and envisioned it for the Kickr Rollr offering an option for those who want to combine “the convenience and natural ride feel of rollers with the benefits of strength and connectivity. controlled”.

Since Wahoo is also a manufacturer of direct-drive smart trainers, it would be unwise to criticize them, but what it does say is that the Kickr Rollr is “designed to fit a wide range of body sizes. of chassis and tires via adjustable wheelbase with quick-release clamp… easy to get on and off bikes, making it ideal for athletes who want to quickly transition from indoor training to riding outdoors, as well than for households where multiple cyclists use the same trainer.

Pricing comes in at £699.99 / $799.99 and more information on both can be found in our launch story here.

Bike of the Month: Summon the Blood

(Image credit: Pearson1860)

This month, for Bike of the Month, we have the Pearson Summon The Blood, a snappy titanium gravel bike designed for both shorter gravel blasts and lighter bikepacking adventures.

It comes equipped with the underside of the downtube mount, top tube mounts and mounts for a rear rack – in addition to the two inside the main triangle. The geometry is snappier, with short (for a gravel bike) 425mm chainstays and a particularly steep 73-degree head angle in a size medium.

However, it still offers plenty of clearance, capable of handling 45mm x 700c – and wider still at 650b.

Pearson is one of a growing number of brands offering builds with Classified’s two-speed hub. We were quite impressed with the system when we tested it previously, offering a marked improvement over shifting a front derailleur.

The high price means it’s not a product we’d recommend to everyone, but if you’ve got the cash to spare – and if you’re not too attached to any particular wheelset – it’s worth definitely worth a try.

We will publish our opinion in the coming weeks, in the meantime you can see the bike on Pearson’s website this way

Taiwanese electric motorcycle brand Gogoro reports recent sales surge – Taiwan English News

Electric scooter brand Gogoro announced on March 1 that the number of newly licensed electric scooters in Taiwan in the first two months of 2022 reached 7,308 units, more than double the same period last year, with a growth rate of 132.2%.

Compared with the boom in electric scooter sales, sales of traditional fuel scooters continued to decline. The number of new traditional fuel scooter licenses in January and February 2022 decreased by 10.4% compared to the same period last year. Gogoro’s press release also noted that since March 2021, the number of new traditional fuel scooter licenses on a monthly basis has seen negative year-over-year declines for 12 consecutive months.

Sales figures from Gogoro show that in January 2022, the number of newly authorized electric scooters was 3,025, an increase of 109.6% compared to the same period last year, and in February, despite less working days due to Lunar New Year holiday and shorter month. , business performance was even more dazzling. The number of new licenses in February was 4,283, an increase of 151.2% compared to the same period last year and 41.6% more than in January.

During the October-February period, Gogoro brand electric scooters accounted for more than 94.1% of total electric scooter sales in Taiwan.

Taiwan English News is an independent publication without corporate funding. Subscribe to Taiwan English News to receive the latest news by email. Advertising requests are welcome. Share, like, comment below, and please buy me a coffee. I really need it.

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Sale of British Golden Age motorcycles for Bonhams Amelia Island

Those browsing Bonhams’ catalog for its Amelia Island auction might have noticed that a large percentage of the folder is taken up by classic British motorcycles.

The reason is the inclusion of the Charles Jacobs Collection, 46 motorcycles amassed over the years by the late Jacksonville, Florida resident and regular entrant in the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance motorcycle class.

While Bonhams’ annual Amelia Island auction, held this year on March 3, is usually dedicated to classic cars, Jacobs motorcycles make up a good proportion of the 180 vehicles that will pass through the block.

“Offered entirely without reserve, the (Jacobs) collection includes some of the most prestigious and rare names in British motorcycling history – from Brough Superior to Vincent – and offers motorcycling enthusiasts a rare opportunity to acquire these examples of its golden age,” Bonhams said in a press release. “In addition, proceeds from the sale of one of the lots, a 1954 Norton Big 4, will be donated to a local charity.”

Motorcycle group highlights include:

1936 Brough Superior SS-80 Incomparable, known as the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles, with a polished Watsonian sidecar fitted to the left side for British roads. Estimated value between $80,000 and $100,000.

1951-vincent-499cc-comet

1951 Vincent 499cc Cometestimated between $20,000 and $30,000, presented at the Amelia Island competition.

c-1927-grindlay-peerless-s-o-4-model-350-dog-ear-single-port-jap-1280x854-1

Circa-1927 Grindlay Peerless SO4 Model 350 Single-port JAP “Dog Ear”, a rare machine from the short-lived pre-war British sidecar turned motorcycle manufacturer, which produced the first 500cc motorcycle to exceed 100mph on British soil. Estimated between $30,000 and $40,000.

1934-ariel-4f-square-four-1280x780-1

1934 Ariel 4F Square Four, also known as the Squariel, this innovative model remains unique in motorcycle history, with its unique four-cylinder block and twin geared crankshafts with 180-degree phased pistons. Estimated between $25,000 and $35,000.

1938-triumph-tiger-90-1280x770-1

1938 Triumph Tiger 90, an overhead valve single that was part of a revamped Triumph range introduced in 1937, created by chief designer Edward Turner, who had previously been responsible for the Ariel Square Four. Estimated between $20,000 and $30,000.

1963-bsa-499cc-gold-star-1280x854-1

1963 BSA 499cc Gold Star, one of the last examples of BSA’s legendary café racer, one of the most successful production motorcycles. “This DBD 500cc model is considered the ultimate ‘Goldie’ with its famous RRT2 close ratio gearbox and standard 190mm front brake,” Bonhams says in its description. Estimated between $15,000 and $20,000.

1954-norton-big-4-2-1280x848-1

1954 Norton Big 4, named after the company’s first motorcycle driven by its own in-house engine, the 633cc ‘Big 4’ was the most powerful machine in Norton’s lineup. Proceeds from the sale of this motorcycle will benefit Spina Bifida of Jacksonville. Estimated between $8,000 and $12,000.

“Motorcycles have rarely been offered at the various auctions held over the years during Amelia Island Concours week, and Bonhams is delighted to finally fill that gap with the Charles Jacobs collection,” said Mathieu Guyot- Sionnest, Bonhams US Motoring specialist.

In addition to these 46 motorcycles, eight cars will be offered from the Jacobs collection, all without reserve, led by an elegant 1934 Packard Series 1101 Eight Club Sedan, estimated between $70,000 and $90,000.

The Bonhams live auction will take place at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club on Thursday, March 3, starting at 10 a.m. for motorcycles and automobilia, and 1 p.m. for automobiles.

For more information, visit the Bonhams website.

Honda CB400F world record price highlights UK motorcycle sales

In the middle of the motorcycle adornment presented by Silverstone’s The very first self-driving motorcycle auction was what could easily have been overlooked as a relatively ordinary vintage motorcycle, a 1978 Honda CB400F.

But it was a Honda with a difference. The 400cc 4 cylinder motorcycle has never been used, presented as 100% complete and original, and with only one mile on the odometer.

As such, it sold for a whopping £15,975 ($21,604), an impressive result that broke the world record for this model sold at auction.

The 1936 Brough Superior was the top seller

Silverstone Auction’s sale of 120 motorcycles took place at the Carol Nash MCN Motorcycle Show at ExCel in London, where it achieved sales of £767,000 ($1,037,760) and a sell-through rate of 75%.

The top-selling motorcycle in the auction was a “superbly presented” 1936 Brough Superior SS80 982cc, which sold for £61,875 ($8,3717).

1927-triumph-works-tt-race-1280x786-1 The 1927 Triumph Works TT is believed to have a racing history on the Isle of Man

Another historically significant motorcycle was a 1927 Triumph Works TT 489cc racing motorcycle, believed to be one of six works riders entered by Triumph in the Isle of Man TT races in 1927, and which sold £41,625 ($56,319).

Starting the auction was a special appearance by TT motorcycle racing legend Maria Costello MBE, who is an ambassador for the motorcycle brand, as she reviewed some of the special motorcycle offers on sale, including the record-breaking Honda.

Silverstone’s next motorcycle auction will take place during the MCN Motorcycle Festival at the East of England Arena, Peterborough on May 15. For the full results of the London auction, visit the Silverstone website.

norton-motorcycles-hq_solihull_huftoncrow_031-min-1-scaled-e1644443580103

The former head of JLR becomes president of the motorcycle brand

Former Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth has been named the new chairman of TVS Motor Company.

Effective April 1, Speth takes on the new role alongside Venu Srinivasan who serves as the General Manager.

Ralf Speth started his career at BMW and completed his PhD at the University of Warwick.

Formerly CEO of JLR, Speth will continue to serve on the board as Vice Chairman.

TVS Motor Company bought Norton Motorcycles from administration in April 2020, closing its Castle Donnington base and moving to Solihull.

Creating 100 jobs at its new global headquarters, the facility includes the company’s global design and R&D center, customer showroom and service workshops.

At the National Manufacturing Summit in Coventry, Mayor Andy Street said following the announcement of Speth’s appointment that TVS had “taken over a moribund former British motorcycle brand and they will manufacture electric motor motorcycles A great story about the success of foreign investment.

The new production line aims to produce over 8,000 motorcycles per year, which have been thoroughly examined to ensure the highest quality standards are met.

Norton says it hopes to optimize sustainability and reduce waste to landfills through detailed review of operations. Many durable and fast construction techniques were used on the project, the components of which are reconfigurable at almost 50% as a proportion of the total construction cost.

Presiden El Salvador Trading Bitcoin dengan Telanjang dan Sekarang Negara Terekspos

Tahun lalu, semua kemarahan dalam komunitas Bitcoin berpusat di sekitar kota yang diusulkan di negara Amerika Tengah yang dipenuhi geng kejahatan, El Salvador, terkait sepenuhnya dengan mata uang digital dan didorong oleh egomaniak mudanya – beberapa orang akan mengatakan otoriter – Presiden, Nayib Bukele. Itu terlihat bagus di atas kertas pasti. “The Legend of The Pink Unicorn”, sebuah cerita pengantar tidur untuk anak-anak, juga terlihat bagus di atas kertas sampai orang menyadari itu hanya dongeng.

Namun, teman-teman kami di Coin Geek tidak melihat Kota Bitcoin sebagai “dongeng”. Sebaliknya mereka menyebutnya sebagai lelucon total. Dan sekarang warga El Salvador mulai menangkap (dengan cara yang sulit) hanya seminggu setelah kaisar mereka mengaku tidak mengenakan pakaian saat berdagang Bitcoin. Kami akan membahasnya sebentar lagi.

Kota ini akan mendapatkan pasokan energi dari gunung berapi. Itu saja seharusnya membuat para bejeeber ketakutan. Lihat Tonga. Juga disarankan bahwa negara termiskin kelima di Amerika Utara tidak akan memungut pajak apa pun kecuali pajak pertambahan nilai (PPN). Itu juga terdengar bagus di atas kertas. Lihat “Legenda Unicorn Merah Muda”. Kota itu akan melingkar untuk mewakili bentuk koin besar dan akan dibangun di wilayah tenggara La Unión, kata Presiden Nayib Bukele.

“Kami akan mulai mendanai pada tahun 2022, obligasi akan tersedia pada tahun 2022,” kata Bukele kepada kerumunan yang bersorak di sebuah acara akhir tahun lalu.

Tetapi seperti yang ditunjukkan Steven Stradbrooke dari Coin Geek beberapa bulan yang lalu, Kota Bitcoin lebih bergaya daripada substansi, karena lebih banyak pemikiran yang tampaknya dilakukan untuk membayangkan alun-alun pusat yang berbentuk seperti logo BTC daripada barang-barang biasa seperti aliran limbah.

Bukele, tampaknya, telah membuat negaranya terbuka; sedikit ironi mengingat El Presidente mengaku secara teratur memperdagangkan Bitcoin di buff.

Stradbrooke menyebutnya lebih awal, mengungkapkan apa yang dia nyatakan sebagai “kejahatan besar”.

Siapa pun yang telah melihat secara skeptis pada aspirasi perencanaan kota Bukele—pria yang jelas-jelas tidak pernah melupakan Zynga yang membatalkan permainan CityVille-nya—merasa terbelalak ketika Bukele mengatakan pembangunan kota pada akhirnya akan menelan biaya sekitar 300 ribu BTC (sekitar US$16,5 miliar). Tetapi mata itu cukup muncul ketika Bukele mengumumkan rencana untuk membiayai peluncuran Bitcoin City dengan obligasi berdenominasi BTC $ 1 miliar.

Lebih baik lagi, obligasi—yang akan tersedia tahun depan—akan ditangani oleh Blockstream dan iFinex yang norak. Blockstream adalah bagian dari komplotan rahasia pengembang yang merampok Bitcoin dari hampir semua fungsinya, sementara iFinex berada di belakang pertukaran cryptocurrency Bitfinex yang samar dan stablecoin Tether yang tidak didukung oleh cadangan yang dapat diverifikasi. Bitfinex akan bertindak sebagai ‘book-runner’ resmi obligasi tersebut sementara Liquid Network Blockstream ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Bitcoin (But It Isn’t)’ akan memfasilitasi dana yang masuk dan keluar dari obligasi.

Maju cepat ke sekarang. Kebenaran polos.

Waspadalah terhadap presiden milenium polos yang membawa Bitcoin, tulis Anthony Faiola dari MSN.

Sejak Bukele mengawasi adopsi cryptocurrency sebagai alat pembayaran yang sah tiga setengah bulan yang lalu, wakil presiden lembaga pemeringkat kredit Moody memperkirakan bahwa nilai jatuh Bitcoin telah merugikan perbendaharaan nasional hingga $22 juta cadangan berharga.

Obligasi negara juga merosot. Kekhawatiran akan berkurangnya transparansi keuangan, sementara itu, telah menghentikan kesepakatan pinjaman penting dengan Dana Moneter Internasional. Akibatnya, mereka mendesak El Salvador pada hari Selasa untuk menjatuhkan Bitcoin sebagai alat pembayaran yang sah.

“El Salvador sekarang memiliki utang negara yang paling tertekan di dunia, dan itu karena kebodohan Bitcoin,” kata ekonom Steve Hanke kepada Fortune. “Pasar berpikir bahwa Bukele sudah gila, dan dia sudah gila.”

Jaime Reusche, wakil presiden di Moody’s, mengatakan kepada Faiola Bukele masih menargetkan penawaran obligasi Bitcoin pada bulan Februari atau Maret.

“Itu sangat tidak masuk akal,” kata Reusche kepada saya. “Jika investor menginginkan eksposur terhadap bitcoin, mereka hanya harus membeli bitcoin, bukan risiko El Salvador.”

Perampokan Bitcoin telah terbukti mahal untuk El Salvador – mempertaruhkan cadangan perbendaharaan negara pada instrumen yang tidak menentu dan eksotis sambil membatalkan kesepakatan Dana Moneter Internasional karena kekhawatiran bahwa cryptocurrency mempersulit untuk melacak pencucian uang dan korupsi, kata Reusche.

“Kami memperkirakan negara ini telah kehilangan antara $10 juta dan $22 juta,” kata Reusche kepada saya. “Kehilangan uang pada deposito perbendaharaan cukup belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya, kecuali jika Anda berbicara tentang salah urus ekonomi yang kotor.”

Mungkin Bukele seharusnya mendengarkan rakyatnya sendiri.

“Lebih dari 80 persen orang yang disurvei oleh Kamar Dagang El Salvador mengatakan bahwa mereka tidak menginginkan pengiriman uang dalam bitcoin, dan lebih dari sembilan dari 10 menolak gagasan mengambil gaji mereka dalam bentuk koin,” Tully Shawn dari Fortune.com melaporkan minggu lalu. .

Buy a bike, g… | The motorcycle brand launches with NFTs

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news online over the past few months, you’ll have seen a lot of talk about the ‘metaverse’, NFTs and the shift to digital spaces. A British motorcycle startup is hoping to jump on the trend – Neo, with the One motorcycle.

It’s a very Matrix name for this electric motorcycle, and with wildly optimistic numbers floating around the website – a top speed of 120 mph, 120 lb-ft of torque, a quick 30-minute charge time and a 200 mile range – there’s something a little more interesting (for some) going on.

The world of NFTs. If you’re not sure what an NFT is, don’t worry because you’re in the majority. To give a quick overview, an NFT is a ‘non-fungible token’, a form of data stored on a digital ledger certifying that a digital asset is unique and can therefore be owned by ‘the original’.

Kind of like how there’s only one Mona Lisa, but tons of photos and prints. There is an owner of the Mona Lisa, but everyone can always “access it”. Confuses? Yeah. The NFT market is thought to be worth around $40 billion, so there’s a lot of money here.

And that’s what Neo is trying to exploit. Promising a digital collectible (which they’ll print for you, if you wish) alongside the physical 1 in 250, Neo is also looking to create a Discord community and various “levels” to “join the movement.”

To the untrained eye, it looks like a bubble waiting to burst, and lots of glitz and glamor to re-hash an existing concept – homeowners clubs do exist, and once upon a time you’d get things for being part of them . Maybe access to a Facebook group, access to events (outings and meetings), maybe even a badge.

This is what is often mentioned as the purpose of NFTs, namely that they can serve as a “membership token” to gain access to exclusive clubs and groups. A way to give value to something that might otherwise be worth as much as the Pokémon cards of my childhood in the back of the drawer.

Neo motorcycle brand hopes to enter the NFT market

On their dedicated NFT page, Neo has created a ‘Race Director – Holographic 1 of 1’ level, a ‘Crew Chief – Rainbow 1 of 5’ level, and on… you have to admire the idea, and it might just be something more established manufacturers are considering in the future.

After all, it’s a way to pique the interest of a modern crowd, it doesn’t cost Neo much to create all of this, and if all goes well, they could make an NFT worth millions. That’s right, some NFT coins sell for over $5 million, the highest recorded NFT coin was sold for $91.8 million (a coin called “The Merge”).

Maybe we should do a Visordown NFT, Discord chat and investment opportunities…jokingly. Half fun.

Watch: BMW CE 04 Test Drive

Price, range and maximum speed of the Tork Kratos electric motorcycle

Tork Motorsa Pune-based electric two-wheeler start-up, has launched its first electric motorcycle in India – the Kratos electric motorcycle.

Almost six years after the company first showed off the concept bike, the production version of the electric motorcycle, called T6X, is being launched on the 73rd Republic Day of India.

Read here- Ola Electric Motorcycle & Low Price E-Scooter – Coming Soon

The Kratos electric motorcycle will be available after FAME II and the state subsidy in two variants – Kratos and Kratos R, priced at ₹1.08 Lakh and ₹1.23 Lakh (ex-showroom, Pune).

Here is the Tork Kratos Electric Motorcycle with price, specs and feature details.

Tork Kratos Electric Motorcycle Price

Pricing KRATOS KRATOS-R
Price 1.92499 207499
FAME II grant 60,000 60,000
State subsidy 24,500 24,500
Final price in Pune (ex-showroom) 1,07,999 1,22,999

Estimated price in different cities

KRATOS KRATOS-R
bangalore 1,07,999 1,22,999
delhi 1,02,499
Hydrabed 1,32,499
Chennai 1,32,499
Ahmedabad 1,12,499

Tork Kratos Electric Motorcycle Specifications

KRATOS KRATOS-R
Interval
  • IDC 180 range
  • Actual range 120
  • IDC 180 range
  • Actual range 120
Top speed 100 km/h 105 km/h
Acceleration (o-40km/h) 4 seconds 3.5 seconds
maximum energy 7.5kW 9.0kW
Maximum power torque 28nm 38nm
Dough capacity 4kWh 4 kWh 21700 Li-ion cell
Quick charge 80% in 60 minutes
Color Options White White, Blue, Red, Black

Features:

  • Digital instrument cluster
  • Multi drive mode
  • regenerative braking
  • reverse mode
  • lights on all day
  • mobile connectivity
  • in APP navigation
  • USB charging
  • anti-theft system
  • front storage box
  • Battery indicator
  • Hazard lights
  • safe house features
  • collision alert
  • remote charging status
  • journey analysis
  • guide me the house lights
  • Over-the-air updates

Harley-Davidson Livewire will be the first American electric motorcycle brand to go public

ABIC will merge with LiveWire (the e-bike division of Harley-Davidson) to build a new publicly traded company. This common stock will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under “LVW”. This new coalition will make Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire the first publicly traded electric motorcycle company in the United States.

Harley-Davidson expects the net profit from the transaction to be $545 million. The brand will use these reserves to accelerate the future of its first model, generate new products and improve global production and distribution. This IPO is accompanied by an increase in wealth in the form of a PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity), the Taiwanese manufacturer of two-wheelers Kymco, already a partner of LiveWire, implanting 100 million dollars. The transaction will be funded by ABIC’s $400 million held in trust and a $100 million investment from Harley-Davidson.

What does this mean for the future of Harley-Davidson Livewire?

Via: Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson will be the majority shareholder (74%) of the company following the closing of the transaction. ABIC shareholders will own 17%, while ABIC and Kymco founders will own 4% of LiveWire. Jochen Zeitz (Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson) will be the director of LiveWire and will serve as CEO for the first two years following the closing of the transaction. Harley-Davidson expects the joining forces to have an industry value of approximately $1.77 billion when it goes public.

Via: Harley-Davidson

Jochen Zeitz, President, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson, said: “Today’s announcement is a historic milestone, with LiveWire poised to become the first publicly traded electric motorcycle company in the United States. Building on Harley-Davidson’s 118-year lineage, LiveWire’s mission is to be the world’s most desirable electric motorcycle brand, leading the electrification of the sport.” He explained, “This transaction will give LiveWire the freedom to fund new product development and accelerate its time-to-market model, LiveWire will be able to operate as an agile, innovative public company while benefiting from the large-scale manufacturing and distribution capabilities of its strategic partners. , Harley-Davidson and Kymco.

Via: Harley-Davidson

For reference, in February 2021, Harley-Davidson unveiled its goals to build an electric motorcycle business as part of its five-year “Hardwire” approach. The brand’s first model is the LiveWire One, a relaunched version of the popular LiveWire e-bike at a much lower price. In May, the LiveWire model name was changed to a proper brand name. The US launch of the new LiveWire One initially took place in California, New York and Texas. Beyond the United States, the LiveWire One will be available from 2022.

Expand LiveWire Wallet

Via: Harley-Davidson

The LiveWire One is now in production. The next product plan will be the launch of LiveWire S2 Del Mar, named after the California town of the same name. This bike, smaller and lighter than the original LiveWire One model, will be a mid-weight offering. It is obviously based on the Arrow platform. The S2 range will be accompanied, logically, by the S3 range. LiveWire envisions these models to be scaled-down versions of the Arrow architecture with smaller batteries and motors, so they can fit into the “lightweight market.”

Via: Harley-Davidson

ARROW, a modular and scalable EV system integrating a motor and battery with an on-board charger, is the basis of the future product line. Zeitz said Harley designed the EV systems to meet the needs of the motorcycle market. He also said that spatial constraints and the impact of battery weight on handling were therefore of major importance.

Jochen explained that Harley LiveWire can innovate faster by controlling the IP of motor, battery and power electronics. This allows them to avoid the limitations imposed by third-party options. They can quickly expand vertically and horizontally with the ease of an EV-powered powertrain and the benefits of a modular, scalable architecture. Harley-Davidson can bring new models to market faster with less R&D.

Via: Harley-Davidson

LifeWire’s latest statement on IPO plans says it will focus on applications for urban electric motorcycles. It will first establish a brand presence in North America and Europe, and then expand into other markets, including Asia. LiveWire says it will expand its product line while focusing on the rapidly evolving future of electric vehicles. This will ensure that core Harley-Davidson elements are protected by future technology.

SPAC mergers are a popular way for electric two-wheeled vehicle makers to quickly enter the US stock market. Gogoro is taking a similar route with a SPAC, which will take him to NASDAQ.

Via: Harley-Davidson

LiveWire’s claim to be the first publicly traded electric motorcycle company may need a little explanation. Although Gogoro’s electric two-wheelers can travel over 80 km/h (50 mph), they were considered scooters rather than motorcycles. Arcimoto’s publicly traded three-wheeled fun utility vehicles, legal in most US states, are honestly motorcycles. However, Arcimoto does not refer to its vehicles as bicycles, so it will not protect this label. HD’s LiveWire is sure to be the number one electric motorcycle company on Wall Street, compared to the others.

Who needs a Harley? A man builds an electric motorcycle in his garage

Using lots of steel tubing and a ready-made electric bike kit, this guy built his own electric motorcycle.

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Karan Rawat
(47 articles published)

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Suzuki Named Most Reputable Motorcycle Brand of the Year

Suzuki Named Most Reputable Motorcycle Brand of the Year

The legendary name in the motorcycle world, Suzuki, has been deemed worthy of a new award after its success in the industry. In this context, Suzuki was selected this year as the “Most Reputable Motorcycle Brand of the Year” at the ONE Awards Integrated Marketing Awards organized by Marketing Turkey, and won this award for three consecutive years. Commenting on the matter, Suzuki Motorcycle Brand Manager Emre Acar said, “As Suzuki Turkey, we have reinforced the brand strategy we created by taking inspiration from the history of motorcycles. approaching 70 years, with Hayabusa, which we launched. in 2021, and that we have been deemed worthy of the most prestigious award of the year three years in a row by a public vote. It is very valuable to him.

Suzuki continues to crown its achievements with awards. Suzuki, one of the world’s leading Japanese automakers, has been deemed worthy of an award at the ONE Awards Integrated Marketing Awards held in cooperation with Marketing Turkey and market research firm Akademetre. The event organized on the basis of research on the measurement of reputation performance and brand value; This year, it took place in almost 70 categories. At the ONE Awards Integrated Marketing Awards, the brands and business partners who increased their reputation the most during the year were determined through face-to-face interviews with 12 people in 1,200 provinces. at Suzuki It was voted “Most Reputable Motorcycle Brand of the Year” by the public jury in the ONE Awards Integrated Marketing Awards.

“Inspired by the history of our Suzuki motorcycle, we create our brand strategy”

Commenting on the matter, Suzuki Motorcycle Brand Manager Emre Acar said, “We shape our entire brand strategy by drawing inspiration from Suzuki’s motorcycle history, which is approaching 70 year. The legendary Hayabusa, returning to the streets in 2021, further boosted Suzuki’s image. By adding Japanese technology to the motorcycle world, Suzuki allows us to establish strong bonds with motorcycle enthusiasts and create a portfolio of very loyal customers. Despite all the negative conditions experienced during the pandemic period, we are happy to reunite Suzuki with motorcycle enthusiasts, especially in the positive increase in the motorcycle market due to the trend towards individual mobility. We would like to thank all my teammates, our valued agencies and Marketing Turkey who contributed to this award. This prize, which was awarded to us three years in a row following the vote of the public, is very precious to us. We will continue to build on our successes and make a difference in the industry.