A-Z

By Ben Purvis and Robin Bradley

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with stacked headlights and bold , crisp folds , highlighted by simple , unadorned paint schemes . On board , you get a five-inch TFT screen with dual display modes , three riding modes and three traction control settings . The same dash is used on the V-Strom 800DE , which adds an extra traction control setting for off-road use and switchable ABS with two modes and the option of turning off the rear wheel ' s antilock when riding

off-road . The V-Strom ' s Showa suspension is adjustable and the bike wears 21-inch front and 17- inch rear wire wheels with Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour tyres . Both bikes offer a bit more torque than their Honda rivals , thanks to an extra 21 cc of capacity , giving 78 Nm at 6,800 rpm . However , the bigger story is told by the engine ' s fat torque curve , which is a result of a relatively long-stroke design , compared to the

Honda twin ' s revvy , short-stroke layout . The Suzukis will need that extra torque , though , as they ' re heavier than their new rivals - the GSX-8S coming in at 202 kg ( 12 kg more than the Hornet ) and the V- Strom 800DE at 230 kg ( 22 kg more than the new Transalp ). The bikes haven ' t been priced yet , as there ' s still several months before they are expected to reach dealers .

Another manufacturer that ' s turned its back on the tradition of launching ranges at bike shows -instead drip-feeding them over a period of months - Triumph ' s biggest 2023 news so far is the heavily revamped Street Triple 765 range . For next year , the line-up is led by a new top-of-therange Street Triple , the Moto2 Limited Edition , which takes lessons from the company ' s experiences as the sole engine supplier to the Moto2 championship to become the sportiest Triumph middleweight since the demise of the Daytona 675 . All the 2023 Street Triples get a power boost . The base Street Triple 765 R now makes 118.4 hp ( 120 PS ) at 11,500 rpm , a couple of hp more than its predecessor , but notably arriving there 500 rpm lower at 11,500 rpm . The more expensive Street Triple 765 RS and the Moto2 Edition both peak at 128.2 hp ( 130 PS ), up around 7 hp on the 2022 equivalent . All versions make 80 Nm of torque . The increases come from a higher compression ratio , revised combustion chambers and new pistons , camshafts and valves . Shorter inlet trumpets and revisions to the crankshaft , balancer , clutch and gearbox complete the extensive engine updates , which help it achieve Euro 5 emissions limits while improving performance , as does a new exhaust system with a single catalyst that ' s lighter than before . While the frame is carried over from the old model , the geometry is tweaked with a shorter wheelbase and steeper head angle , achieved by raising the rear end . On the Moto2 , the adjustments are more

extreme to give even sharper handling , and the Moto2 also gains Öhlins NIX30 forks to join the Öhlins STX40 shock that it shares with the RS . The RS features the same Showa forks as the previous model , and the base R model uses Showa kits at both ends . The R and RS get wider bars than the 2022 models , while the Moto2 uses low clip-ons for a much sportier riding position , and all versions have a new , reshaped , 15-litre fuel tank . The RS and Moto2 also get uprated brakes , with Brembo Stylema calipers replacing the previous M4.32 versions , and both gain an additional ' track ' riding mode . An up / down quickshifter is standard on all 2023 Street Triples . Elsewhere in the line-up , Triumph has launched the " Chrome Collection " across its Modern Classics range and the Rocket 3 models . Encompassing ten bikes in total , the models add real chrome coating on

the fuel tanks of the Rocket 3 and 1200 cc Modern Classics machines , while the 900 cc Modern Classics are offered with chrome-effect decals on their tanks . While total production numbers aren ' t restricted , the Chrome Collection will only be available for the 2023 model year , ensuring a level of rarity . Finally , Triumph has confirmed its plans to enter the FIM Motocross World Championship , starting in 2024 in the 250 cc class and then the 450 cc class in 2025 . The bikes that will compete in the series have yet to be shown , but are likely to break cover soon to allow some months of overt practice and development before entering the heat of competition . Triumph ' s works motocross team will be operated by the MX ESCA setup that ran Kawasaki ' s effort for more than a decade before parting company at the end of 2021 . Motocross legend Ricky Carmichael remains onboard to assist with the project and the bike ' s development .

A year ago , Vmoto Soco gave us a glimpse of its highest-performance electric offering yet - the Vmoto Stash - and for 2023 the production version has been revealed alongside two new models under the name ' Dirt Bike '. The Stash is the first bike to be designed under a collaboration with former MV Agusta and Benelli design chief Adrian Morton , and it provides a substantial step forward for Vmoto Soco in terms of performance and market position . The existing Super Soco models are already best-sellers , but only offer moped performance levels . The Stash leaps up to the 125 cc class , with an electric motor that ' s rated ad 8 kW ( 11 hp ), so it fits into the 11 kW / 15 hp learnerlegal class , but which can actually hit peak outputs of 15 kW ( 20.1 hp ) to offer more performance than an equivalent petrol-powered bike . The ' fuel tank ' area is actually a storage space , big enough to hold a full-face helmet , and below it there ' s a 7.2 kWh battery pack powering a motor mounted on the front of the swingarm . It ' s a recipe

Stash

that gives the Stash a top speed of 110 km / h ( 68 mph ), while a bar-mounted ' boost ' button accesses the motor ' s peak performance to add an extra 10 km / h to the top speed when you need a little extra . The controls are scooter-style , with both brakes operated by bar-mounted levers , but the brake system is also combined , so pulling the front brake also applies the rear . ABS is standard .

The Vmoto Dirt Bike is available in two versions , the ' On-R ' or ' Off-R ', and it comes with either knobbly tyres or a supermoto-style look . Again , Adrian Morton has styled the bikes , and customers will be able to specify them in restricted form to comply with 50 cc moped rules or as full-power machines with 8 kW on tap to fit into the 125 cc class . Top speed for the derestricted version is 85 km / h , compared to 45 km / h for the moped model . The full power Dirt Bike models have a 48 Ah , 72V battery , while the restricted model has a 32 Ah pack , and the machines weigh a mere 84 kg .

Dirt Bike