THE BRADLEY REPORT
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THE BRADLEY REPORT
NEWS
BRIEFS
The 38th edition of the Biker Fest International ( 9-12 May , 2024 ) at Lignano Sabbiadoro ( UD ) will feature an e-Mobility Village . This is the fifth year that the nearly 100,000 visitors to the traditionally custom motorcycle dominated event will have the chance to engage with ' electrics ' in a 4,000 m ² area dedicated to sustainable mobility in all its forms - including PTW test rides ; www . bikerfest . it
PIERER Mobility has confirmed revenues of € 2,661m (+ 9.2 %) in 2023 ; EBIT of € 160m ( previous year € 235m ); EBITDA of € 323.5m ( -15.1 %) at a margin of 12.2 %; motorcycle unit sales of 381,555 (+ 1.6 %) and bicycle sales of 157,358 units (+ 33 %). At the end of 2023 , the company employed some 6,184 people (+ 1.6 %). In the 2023 financial year , € 284.0m was invested in further growth , of which around € 195.1m was invested in product development and tooling , € 88.9m in plant and infrastructure . The research budget was 9.2 % of revenue . The company rolled out 72 new and updated models across its three core brands in 2023 - with 280,206 KTMs sold , 67,462 Husqvarnas and 29,532 GasGas brand - plus the motorcycles sold by MV Agusta ( 1,852 ) and CFMOTO ( 2,503 ). European unit sales were 140,214 units (+ 15 %). Sales in India were + 29 % ( 66,426 ); North America was -7.7 % ( 101,277 ); South America was -26.4 % ( 27,671 ); Asia was -27.3 % ( 23,129 ) and Australia was + 1 % ( 19,478 units ). Motorcycle registrations in the core markets of Europe rose strongly at + 11 % and also displayed a significantly positive trend in North America ( USA & Canada ) at + 4 %. In 2023 , the market share of all three brands ( KTM , Husqvarna , GasGas ) was around 10.6 % in Europe and 12.6 % in North America . The Australian motorcycle market ( including New Zealand ) stagnated slightly with a 3 % decline in newly registered motorcycles . Nevertheless , the total market share of the three brands increased to 21 % overall . By contrast , as in the previous year , the relevant Indian motorcycle market is seeing a noticeable upswing (+ 22 %). Bajaj sold around 66,000 KTM and Husqvarna motorcycles in India , resulting in a market share of 5.3 %.
Kove 350RR parallel twin By Ben Purvis
Kove is a relative newcomer , even in its Chinese homeland , but the brand is pushing into multiple export markets including the USA and Europe - backed by a couple of highprofile entries to the Dakar rally to raise awareness . The company is preparing a new 350RR parallel twin sports bike to replace its existing 321RR . Typeapproval documents in China have revealed the new model in advance of its official launch , showing a lightweight 344 cc machine that ' s essentially a big bore version of the bike it will replace . Kove ' s original 321RR took more than a little inspiration from Yamaha ' s YZF-R3 , reverse-engineering the Japanese bike ' s 321 cc twin . Sharing the same bore and stroke as the Yamaha , as well as an identical 11.2:1 compression ratio , it achieved 39 hp compared to the R3 ' s peak of 42 hp . With the new 344 cc version , Kove is looking to leapfrog the bike that inspired its design , moving from the original 68 mm bore and 44.2 mm stroke to a 69 mm bore and 46 mm stroke for increases in both power and torque .
Shown as a concept model back in November 2022 , the Brixton Storr 500 is finally heading to production , with the mass-made version having now been awarded type-approval in China . Like other Brixton models , including the Crossfire 500 and the rangetopping Cromwell 1200 , the Storr is to be manufactured in China by Gaokin , which also sells the Crossfire as the GK500 and the Cromwell 1200 as the GK1200 in its homeland . The production Storr 500 shown in the type-approval document is a bit of both , wearing the Brixton name across its headlight , but Gaokin branding on the engine . While heavily based on the existing Crossfire 500 , sharing the same parallel twin engine and a similar steel tube chassis , the Storr - named after a rugged rock formation on the Isle of Skye in Scotland - has a distinctive look of its own as the first ADV model to come from the Brixton brand . The production model is near-identical to the 2022 concept in terms of appearance . Like the Crossfire 500 , power comes from a 486 cc parallel twin putting out 47 hp ( 35 kW ), placing it neatly into the A2 licence category in Europe , and putting it into direct competition
The bike ' s type-approval shows the peak power is increased to 47 hp ( 35 kW ), which could be a clue to European-focused plans for its future , as it meets the power limit for the restricted A2 licence rules adopted across the EU . The 8 hp increase is more than might be expected from a mere 22 cc capacity increase , so might hint at more extensive changes inside the engine . The bike ' s homologated performance backs up the claim , though , with a top speed that rises from 170 km / h for the 321RR to 190 km / h for the new version . The chassis and styling are unaltered , although the type-approval shows that a Brembo radial brake caliper will be offered as an option alongside the standard , Chinese make equipment . There appear to be no alterations to the suspension or the wheels and tyres , which remain 150 / 60-17 at the back and 120 / 70- 17 at the front . Since Kove also makes an unfaired version of the original model , dubbed 321R , it ' s logical to expect the upsized engine will also reach that machine as well .
with machines like Honda ' s NX500 . It sits in a steel frame , again similar to that of the Crossfire , with KYB suspension borrowed from the Crossfire 500 XC scrambler , along with the same J . Juan brakes , Bosch ABS system and the XC ' s wire spoked wheels , 19 inches at the front and a 17-inch rear . The big differences come in the styling , with a larger fuel tank and a fixed front cowl and headlight , as well as a longer , stronger seat subframe to add more lugging ability . Black plastic frames on
While the use of reverse-engineered engines is frowned upon from some quarters , it ' s a shortcut that plenty of Japanese companies took during their formative years and a strategy that appears to be serving Kove well . The company ' s range is currently topped by the 800X adventure bike , with a 799 cc parallel twin that looks very much like KTM ' s similarly-sized power unit . But Kove ' s own engine development capabilities have been demonstrated with the brand ' s 450RR sports bike , which carries a homegrown 443 cc inline four-cylinder engine with an impressive 70 hp ( 52 kW ) on tap .
Brixton Storr 500 ADV By Ben Purvis
either side of the fairing add protection and can be used as mounting points for luggage , along with a similar element on top of the fuel tank . On the 2022 concept version , the side frames were used to house a first aid kit , for example . The approval document confirms a 1,441 mm wheelbase and a relatively light curb weight of 209 kg . Being approved in China suggests Gaokin is gearing up for the Storr ' s production , and a showroom version of the Brixton-branded variant is likely to be revealed later this year .
22 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MAY / JUNE 2024 www . idnmag . com