THE BRADLEY REPORT
Sources : AMD , IDN , FT , Reuters , PSB , MPN , BDN , MCN , AP , Bloomberg , MSNW , Electrek , electricmotorcycles . news , RideApart . com , Motor1 . com , Cycle World , motorbikewriter . com
THE BRADLEY REPORT
NEWS
BRIEFS
Polaris Industries has reported financial and operational highlights for the second quarter of 2023 , including sales of $ 2,217m , up 7 % compared to last year . The primary sales drivers were said to be " favourable ship volumes , product mix and net pricing partially offset by higher finance interest ". Polaris reports market share gains in Off Road , On Road and Marine segments with overall powersports retail sales for the quarter up 14 %. North America unit retail sales for Indian Motorcycle were up over 40 %.
Following Honda ' s inclusion of level 3 Autonomy features into a road-going car ( in Japan ), Mercedes is rolling out driverless SAE level 3 technologies in Germany , and the U . S . IDTechEx ' s new report , " Autonomous Cars , Robotaxis and Sensors 2024-2044 ", suggests that it won ' t be long before the trickle becomes a flood . Mercedes ' S-Class flagship luxury sedan ( often a tech trailblazer ) has level 3 certification in Germany and the U . S ., meaning that for the first time , drivers in these regions will be able to take their hands off the wheel , feet off the pedals , and mind off the driving . Tesla , GM and Ford can all offer hands-free driving on highways in the U . S ., but none of these systems are certified for level 3 . This distinction means that the driver always needs to pay attention to what the vehicle is doing . Moreover , the driver is always responsible for the vehicle , and if there is an accident , then blaming it on the car ' s driving will likely not hold up in court . However , now that Mercedes has a certified level 3 vehicle , others are expected to respond quickly .
China ' s economy fell into deflation for the first time in more than two years , as prices contracted in July . Its consumer-price index fell by 0.3 % year on year , after not changing in June . Domestic spending has slowed amid a faltering economic recovery after the pandemic . China also suffered a worse-than-expected drop in exports , which fell by 14.5 % yearon-year in dollar terms in July , the biggest decline since February 2020 . China ' s GDP on the other hand continues to grow apace , experiencing a healthy growth rate of 5.5 % year-on-year in the first half of 2023 , one percentage point faster than the first quarter this year . Total GDP reached RMB 59.3tn ( approx . US $ 8.3tn ).
CFMoto 450CL-C By Ben Purvis
CFMoto is without doubt the Chinese brand that comes closest to rivalling Japanese and European competitors at present in terms of image and credibility , but until now it ' s steered clear of entering the cruiser market . That changes with the launch of the 450CL-C - a direct rival to the Honda Rebel 500 and Kawasaki Eliminator 450 .
" Twin-cylinder rival to Honda Rebel and Kawasaki Eliminator "
It might be CFMoto ' s first cruiser , but you only need to look at the way the company operates to deduce there will be more models joining the ' CL-C ' range . The related CL-X lineup started with just one bike , the 700CL-X , but now features five variants , starting at 250 cc . The 450CL-C ' s engine doesn ' t come from the CL-X though . It ' s actually more closely related to
The ' A2 ' licence category is a harsh reality that most riders in Europe have to put up with - going through a period stuck on a restricted-power bike before they ' re allowed to make the leap to full-power machines - and Aprilia ' s new RS457 is aimed squarely at getting the most out of that set of rules . Despite the visual similarity to the larger RS660 , the RS457 is a completely new bike , with a cleansheet-designed parallel twin engine that makes 35 kW ( 47 hp ), which is , of course , right on the limit of what A2 licence riders are allowed . It ' s slung beneath an alloy half-frame , with the engine itself acting as the rear section of the chassis , incorporating the swingarm pivot in its transmission casting . That design , which is similar to the RS660 , helps cut weight , and without fluids , the RS457 is just 159 kg . Add all the liquids , including a full tank of fuel , and the weight increases to 175 kg - another notable number , because the A2 class limits riders to a power-toweight ratio of no more than 0.2 kW
the all-new 449 cc parallel twin used in the 450SR sports bike and 450NK naked sports model . It features a 270-degree crank to give the same firing pulse as a 90- degree V-twin , and in the CL-C it makes a peak of 30 kW ( 40 hp ) at 8,000 rpm and 42 Nm ( 31 lb-ft ) at 6,250 rpm , with dual balance shafts to keep it smooth . In typical CFMoto fashion , the engine is bolted to a steel tube frame with 37 mm USD forks at the front and a hidden monoshock at the back . A single J . Juan radial four-piston caliper and 320 mm disc , aided by a 220 mm rear rotor and single-piston caliper , deal with the braking . ABS is standard , of course , but so is traction control , which is less common on bikes in this part of the market . A low seat and manageable weight are key selling points for small cruisers like the Rebel and Eliminator , and the 450CL-C hits
per kg . With 35 kW , that means you ' re not allowed to ride a bike that ' s less than 175 kg , so Aprilia is precisely on the limit . Others do a similar thing , with Kawasaki ' s Ninja 400 taking the same approach , but offering slightly less power and a reduced 168 kg weight , so it also matches the 0.2 kW / kg restriction . The RS457 ' s kit includes a pair of 41 mm upside-down forks , adjustable for preload , and four-pot radial ByBre both targets with a 690 mm seat and an all-in weight of 181 kg , including fuel . The styling is conventional but nonetheless attractive , with a pleasing simplicity and lack of gimmicks . The round headlight is set well back between the forks , giving a compact look , and sits below a simple , round instrument that - despite appearances - is actually a fullcolour TFT dash . That analogue needle is all computer graphics , allowing the whole display to be changed to suit different functions , which include phone connectivity and navigation .
Aprilia RS457 - ultimate in A2 licence performance
By Ben Purvis
calipers on 320 mm discs . The rear monoshock is also preload-adjustable , acting on an aluminium swingarm . Ride-by-wire throttles mean Aprilia can offer three riding modes as well as three levels of traction control , plus the ability to turn it off . Unusually in this category , the ABS on the rear wheel can also be deactivated , although the front wheel ABS always remains active . The controls include a 5-inch TFT colour dash , backlit controls and LED lights , with a quickshifter as an added option .
26 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2023 www . idnmag . com