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REPORT
Denmark based brake pad manufacturer SBS has named Tucker as a U . S . distributor . Tucker says it will offer SBS a significantly increased domestic inventory and make SBS " a relevant and preferred brake parts supplier across the U . S . network ".
Tucker Rocky Corporation , Inc . recently assigned all of its rights in the Malcolm Smith Racing , MSR and MSRHP brands and as such announced that it will no longer be fulfilling orders for any products that bear the Malcolm Smith Racing , MSR or MSRHP trademarks , logos or branding . The move brings an illustrious relationship with the legendary and pioneering MX racer to a close , ending a multi- decade business relationship that at one stage saw TR leading the Off- Road G & A and hard parts segment with the MSR brand .
In USA , H-D has already had to issue a safety recall on certain of its 2021 RA1250S and RA1250 Pan America ADV production models - the seat base may not be fastened properly , which could cause the hand-hold portion of the base to fracture .
Ski-Doo , Can-Am and Rotax owner BRP has reported Q3 revenues down by -5.2 % ( CAN $ 1,588.0m ), representing a " previously anticipated decrease of product deliveries mainly caused by supply chain disruptions ." Revenues were CAN $ 5,300.4m for the nine-month period ended October 31 , 2021 (+ 28.1 %). It has seen market share gains in ORV and PWC in North American powersports , despite retail sales being down by -20 % ( compared to a 2020 third quarter ) due to limited product availability in the network .
KTM North America has signed a twoyear deal for AFT Singles Championship contender Max Whale to remain with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team through the 2023 American Flat Track Championship . In his fourth season in the class , the Aussie has established himself as a force in the AFT Singles division . " With four Main Event victories and four topfive finishes in his first season with the team , Whale continues to build on his solid platform aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION for the next two seasons ".
Norton V4 reborn as V4SV
By Ben Purvis
Under new ownership , the Norton brand is bringing back the V4 . After Norton Motorcycles ( UK ) Ltd folded early in 2020 - with its remains being sold piecemeal by liquidators - the depths of the problems with the company ' s flagship V4 superbike started to emerge . Now , after months of work to fix and improve the bike , it ' s heading back into production . The current iteration of Norton might have a familiar name and logo , but it ' s a new company , The Norton Motorcycle Co Ltd , owned by Indian bike-making giant TVS , which bought the brand and other assets when the old company was liquidated . Originally , there were hopes that the handful of V4SS models that had reached customers would be able to be repaired and improved , but having discovered a list of 35 faults , 20 of them safety issues , the company has decided that ' s not viable . It continues to try to support customers where possible but isn ' t liable for the flaws in the old bikes .
Royal Enfield calls itself a company ' in transition ' - for decades it was the very embodiment of tradition , only recently adopting such radical ideas as fivespeed gearboxes . But with machines like the Himalayan and the parallel twin Continental GT and Interceptor 650 , the Indian brand is dragging itself into a new market position . While still targeting buyers looking for a classic experience , the addition of a huge new UK-based R & D operation , including a large number of ex- Triumph personnel ( and the acquisition of leading chassis engineer Harris Performance ), means Enfield is in a position to move in a much more sophisticated direction . That ' s where the SG650 comes in . Officially , it ' s a concept bike , and elements like a fuel tank machined from billet aluminium , with a matching headlight cowl and triple clamps , along with billet alloy wheels , are clearly not viable for production . But dig a little deeper and the SG650 is really a lightly disguised , pimped-up version of the next big model range to come from Royal Enfield - a range of cruiser-style twins based on the same 650 cc engine that ' s used in the Continental GT and Interceptor . The SG650 ' s frame is pure production
The new Norton V4SV might look near identical to the previous V4SS , but it ' s had some big changes to fix the previous problems . Under the carbon fibre skin lies essentially the same 1,200 cc V4 engine , albeit with flaws in the original addressed . Power is down from the previous 200 hp to a more modest 185 hp at 12,500 rpm and torque is reduced from 130 Nm to 125 Nm at 9,000 rpm , but the bore , stroke , V- angle and compression ratio are all the same as before . It sits in the same TIG-welded aluminium tube frame , with off-theshelf Öhlins NIX 30 forks and TTXGP shock , with Brembo brakes - all proven parts . On board , there ' s a 6 " TFT dash , keyless start and , as before , a rearfacing camera , although it doesn ' t replace the mirrors .
Two versions are to be offered , one in bare carbon , with carbon fibre BST wheels , the other finished in silver - rather than the chrome-effect of the
Royal Enfield SG650 concept
By Ben Purvis
Royal Enfield to go cruising ?
bike , identical to the chassis that will underpin the upcoming cruiser line . Just as Triumph spun off the Bonneville Bobber and Speedmaster by slotting its Bonneville twin into a cruiserspecific chassis , that ' s what Royal Enfield will do in 2022 . One new model is likely to be a bobber , visually similar to the SG650 , but there will also be a more traditional cruiser-style machine with longer fenders built around the same frame and engine . Just as Harley-Davidson creates a wide array of bikes around a common set of building blocks , the Royal Enfield cruisers are sure to be offered with original - and using forged alloy Oz- Racing rims in red . One major change that ' s yet to be seen is the exhaust . The original V4s were never given full emissions certification , but the new version is intended to achieve Euro 5 , and as such will get a compliant catalytic converter and silencer in final production form , with the race-style pipe seen here offered for track use .
various fenders , alloy or wire wheel options and different pipes and suspension set-ups to expand the range to suit a wide number of potential customers . The bikes will coincide with the company ' s 120th anniversary , which is being celebrated in 2022 with a limited run of 480 Continental GTs and Interceptors , with 120 bikes - split 50:50 between the two models - to be sold in each of the company ' s four main markets , Europe , India , South- East Asia and America , each with a special black chrome finish , brass badges and yellow graphics .
18 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022 www . idnmag . com