grew to 121 ci , the same size that the new X-Wedge branded models use . That ' s around 2,000 cc , which is why the four Chinese-made machines in the X-Wedge line-up use that number in their names . All the new bikes have been styled in Europe by Kiska Design , the same

company that ' s responsible for the appearance of most KTMs in recent years as well as many CFMoto designs . Indeed , Kiska is owned by the PIERER Mobility parent company that owns KTM . The first is the Ranger RX2000 , a Fat Boy-style cruiser with alloy wheels , plenty of chrome and conventional looks that is aimed squarely at attracting Harley-Davidson customers . In China , it ' s a plan that might work well ; there ' s a strong market for

car airbags , it can be cheap enough to be fitted even to low-cost bikes and scooters . The challenge , which Autoliv appears to have solved , is to get the airbags to react fast enough once an impact is detected : bikes don ' t have the long bonnets and crumple zones of cars , so the time between initial impact and setting off the airbag is extremely limited . While airbags are only intended to be effective in frontal crashes , Autoliv sees them as part of a holistic safety solution . The company is also developing worn airbags , to be fitted in vests or even in backpacks , and has also teamed up with Airoh to develop a helmet-mounted airbag system . However , the motorcycle-mounted bags are likely to be the most effective in reducing deaths and injuries as they don ' t rely on the rider to make sure he or she is wearing all the right kit . Given the existing relationship between Autoliv and Piaggio , it ' s likely that the first production versions of the airbag will appear on bikes from one

cruisers there and Harley-Davidsons are aspirational machines , way out of reach for most riders . Although prices for the new X-Wedge models haven ' t been announced , and nor have performance figures , the engine shouldn ' t be short of power and the Chinese manufacturing

Walker WR1000

should keep costs down . Alongside the Ranger , X-Wedge has launched the Rover RL2000 as a fulldress tourer built around the same main components . Wearing full luggage and a bar-mounted fairing , it ' s a direct competitor for the Harley Ultra Limited , and is stacked with tech including a large , 7-inch touchscreen display . The same front-end design and top case also feature on X-Wedge ' s trike model , the Vanguard VT2000 , which

of the Italian manufacturer ' s brands , which also include Aprilia , Vespa and Moto Guzzi . In 2022 , Piaggio showed a prototype airbag-equipped version of the MP3 scooter at EICMA in Milan , so there ' s a strong chance that will be among the first models to get the system .

very obviously takes aim at the Harley Tri Glide Ultra . At this point , the X-Wedge range starts to veer away from direct Harley- Davidson rivalry , as the Voyager VS2000 , which is essentially the Ranger RX2000 with a traditional sidecar bolted on the right-hand side . That makes it a three-seater and adds a distinct appeal of its own . Sidecars might seem outdated in the Western world , but in China they remain popular ; the Changjiang CJ750 was a definer for the Chinese sidecar market , built there for decades as a copy of the Soviet Dnepr M-72 - itself a descendant of the pre-war BMW R-71 . The final of the five models in this first X-Wedge range iteration is distinct from the rest , not only in its style and layout but also its engine . It ' s the Walker WR1000 , and as the name suggests it has a 1,000 cc engine . The 976 cc , liquid-cooled V-twin borrowed from the largest of HiSun ' s ATVs , connected to a CVT transmission with an electromechanical reverse gear , and , in the Walker WR1000 , it powers a reverse trike ( two wheels at the front and one at the rear ). It ' s clearly developed to rival Can-Am ' s Spyder and Ryker models and , potentially , the Polaris Slingshot line . At the moment , X-Wedge ' s plans outside China remain a mystery , but given the global presence of the HiSun ATV brand owned by the same parent company , and an established McKinney , Texas based US operation already established , there ' s a good chance they ' ll be exported once production is up to full speed .

However , Autoliv is also expected to offer its airbag system to any other manufacturer that wants to adopt it , so in much the same way as many motorcycle brands use the same Bosch ABS braking systems , multiple companies could end up using the same Autoliv airbags in the future .

In case the implication of recent announcements passed you by , Harley-Davidson now plans annual Homecoming rallies , starting in 2024 . Though generally reserved for every fifth year , in the past Harley tried to apply that branding to the interim Labor Day ' Milwaukee Rally ' centered on its museum , but neither concept , combined or otherwise , has ever achieved critical mass . That hasn ' t deterred Harley CEO Jochen Zeitz from announcing that the Homecoming rally will now be an annual event , starting next year . " Why would we just have a rally every five years in our hometown ? Let ' s do this every year and have a big party . That ' s the plan ," he says . The dates for next year ' s Homecoming will be July 25-28 , 2024 , where Zeitz says they plan to honor H-D icon Willie G . Davidson .

Volcon Inc . ( NASDAQ : VLCN ), which describes itself as " the first all-electric , off-road powersports company ," reported its operational highlights and financial results for the second quarter of 2023 , stating that " as of June 30 , 2023 , we have 142 dealers , taken delivery of our first eight Stag validation units in 2023 , units that include custom suspension parts in addition to the GM propulsion components , and expect to launch the Stag to dealers in Q4 ." It additionally says that it has taken pre-orders for the Stag of more than $ 115m ; has started Grunt EVO production with first delivers anticipated by the end of August , followed by a Runt LT launch in Q4 of 2023 .

Yamaha Motor has announced its eventual withdrawal from the snowmobile market , with sales in Japan to end with remaining 2022 model year inventory , in Europe in 2024 , and in North America in 2025 . Having sold its first snowmobiles in 1968 , Yamaha was an early adopter of environmentally friendly four-stroke models . However , it has concluded that it will be difficult to continue a sustainable business in the snowmobile market . Going forward , Yamaha will concentrate management resources on current business activities and new growth markets .

Drag Specialties has added Rudy Muller to its outside sales team covering the Colorado area . " Rudy comes to us with several years of mechanic and sales rep experience at the dealer and vendor levels . He also has a Motocross and Super Hooligan racing history ."

Sources : AMD , IDN , FT , Reuters , PSB , MPN , BDN , MCN , AP , Bloomberg , MSNW , Electrek , electricmotorcycles . news , RideApart . com , Motor1 . com , Cycle World , motorbikewriter . com

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