International Dealer News 159 Feb/Mar 2021 IDN159 Feb/Mar 2021 | Page 30

THE BRADLEY REPORT

THE BRADLEY REPORT

KYMCO RevoNEX : made in Italy

By Ben Purvis

KYMCO has confirmed that the upcoming RevoNEX electric bike will be manufactured in Italy - not Taiwan . The move is recognition of the fact that the bike is targeting European sales rather than the mass market in Asia , suggesting that its price could be significantly higher than the firm ' s usual price range . The RevoNEX first appeared at the 2019 EICMA show in Milan as a follow-on to the full-faired SuperNEX concept bike that was shown at the
same event 12 months earlier . At the time the company surprised the world by promising that the RevoNEX would reach showrooms in 2021 . Speaking at the company ' s 2021 new model unveiling , where the firm also showed its F9 electric scooter for the first time , KYMCO chairman Ke Sheng- Feng said : " RevoNEX has attracted global attention since its release . We continue to use the latest technology and innovation to create RevoNEX as the new generation electric motorcycle that consumers desire most . Therefore , I am very happy to announce that the mass production RevoNEX will come for the first time from a planned production base in Europe , making RevoNEX the first new-generation large electric model to be marketed globally under the Taiwanese brand ' Made in Italy ' by KYMCO ." Although the fact that the European production base is still ' planned ' rather than up and running suggests the RevoNEX won ' t be ready for sale until late 2021 , and there have already been indications that the showroom version of the bike will be virtually unchanged from the original EICMA show model . The near-production model shown as part of KYMCO ' s 2021 presentation swapped the original concept ' s white and blue colour scheme for a black , grey and yellow paint job , but there were also subtle tweaks that suggest it ' s closer to the showroom . The original version ' s Brembo calipers , for instance , have been changed for KYMCO-branded stoppers , and there are detail changes to elements including the black plastic cover where the radiator would sit on a conventional bike and to the licence plate bracket .

Bimota - limited edition production version of the Ninja H2 powered Tesi H2

Technically , the RevoNEX ' s specs are expected to match those announced back in 2019 . That means we can expect a 3.9s 0-62 mph time and a 127 mph top speed that can be hit in just 11.8 seconds . Although electric , KYMCO has been at pains to make the RevoNEX as appealing as possible to riders accustomed to petrol power . As such , there ' s a six-speed transmission and a hand-operated clutch , even though neither item is strictly necessary on electric bikes . The idea is to introduce a level of rider interaction that typical batterypowered bikes lose . KYMCO is also set on adding a system that amplifies and modifies the sound of the electric motor - not mimicking a petrol engine as such , but adding character to the electric motor and giving the rider an aural indication of revs , helping to encourage the use of the gearbox . The conventional transmission also means KYMCO has opted for a chain final drive rather than the belt drive that ' s more common on electric bikes . Key numbers including power , weight and range have yet to be announced , but the RevoNEX ' s performance figures put it close to the Zero SR / F , suggesting there ' s something in the region of 110 hp on tap . More details are expected later in 2021 as the bike nears production .
The new built-in-Italy Kawasaki backed Bimota finally started releasing production models of the " radical and innovative " Tesi H2 in the final quarter of 2020 . First unveiled at EICMA in November 2019 , the project attracted worldwide media and enthusiast interest as the first machine in a revival of one of Italy ' s most traditional and much admired premium motorcycle brands . " The Tesi H2 is a revolutionary
motorcycle which incorporates advanced engineering and chassis elements first seen on the Tesi 1D , including Bimota ' s iconic hub steering technology , coupled with the high performance , supercharged Kawasaki engine first seen in the Ninja H2 . Underlining the brand tagline , the ' Revolution Continues ', Bimota says it is " constantly pursuing innovation ," as Pierluigi Marconi , designer of Tesi H2 , commented . " Finally , my dream becomes reality . Bimota ' s innovative TESI philosophy has been dramatically enhanced with Kawasaki ' s highquality performance and legendary engineering quality ." In addition to various electronic control technologies brought to the project by Kawasaki , the Tesi H2 has a compact chassis that is composed of aluminium parts newly designed by Bimota . The weight of the machine is centred on the engine , while the outstanding spread of power is delivered by the supercharged fourcylinder Ninja engine . " Hub centre
steering suppresses the pitching of the motorcycle , allowing riders to experience stable , controllable riding . " Bimota would like discerning customers all over the world to enjoy innovative motorcycles the like of which they have never experienced before ". Manufacturing of the Tesi H2 is taking place at Bimota ' s storied Rimini factory in Italy with a planned Limited Edition of 250 units , each with a unique serial number plate , at a suggested retail price in Italy of € 64.000 , incl . 22 % VAT . The Tesi concept was born in 1984 - with the first project realised using a
550 cc Kawasaki engine that was " the main heart of the frame ". The first Tesi 1D project which came after that ( 1991 ) was quite different and equipped with a V-twin . Now , 30 years later , fans of the original Tesi concept will be able to buy a reborn Bimota that incorporates the original design frame . Centralised mass , adjustable rider position , steering separated from the suspension - all the main features of the innovative original Tesi concept are incorporated into the new project Tesi H2 without any compromise and following the central concept phrase of " only what we need will stay ".
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