THE BRADLEY REPORT
Suzuki GSX8-T and TT launched
By Ben Purvis
THE BRADLEY REPORT
NEWS
BRIEFS
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, Italian Brakes conglomerate Brembo has announced that it has entered the intensely competitive bicycle brakes sector for the first time. It has done so via a first ever collaboration in mountain bike Racing competition- the Downhill World Cup- in partnership with Specialised Bicycles ' Gravity Team- an internationally recognised MTB race outfit. The official debut took place during the race in Val di Sole, 20-22 June, as part of the 2025 UCI MTB World Series calendar- the same weekend as the Brembo Italian MotoGP.
Few companies are as adept as Suzuki at making the most of each model platform in their ranges. After launching its new 776 cc parallel twin engine in the GSX-8S, GSX-8R and V- Strom 800, Suzuki has now added two more machines in the form of the GSX- 8T and GSX-8TT retro models. As their names suggest, the new pair are closely related, with the GSX-8TT being a part-faired version of the naked GSX-8T, and in turn they both share all their mechanical parts with the existing
Officially Honda calls the CB1000F a ' concept ' but the pretence that it ' s anything other than an upcoming production model is wearing increasingly thin with the reveal of a second variant- the new CB1000F SE- and multiple colour schemes for the machine that will essentially replace the age-old CB1300 Super Four and Super Bol d ' Or in the company ' s lineup. After showing the CB1000F Concept earlier this year, Honda took the wraps off the CB1000F SE Concept at the Suzuka 8-Hour race in August. Like the previous bike, it ' s based on the FireBlade-derived 999 cc four-cylinder
GSX-8S. Not that you ' d know that at a glance, as they both swap the GSX-8S ' s futuristic, razor-sharp folds and edges for retro curves with all-new bodywork. Using the GSX-8S platform means you get the same 61 kW engine, peaking at 8,500 rpm, that makes 78Nm of torque at 6800rpm, as well as the familiar steel tube frame from the earlier bike, the same aluminium swingarm, and identical KYB suspension that combines non-adjustable USD forks. The riding position is very similar to the
engine and the chassis from the current CB1000 Hornet, but wrapped in 70sinspired styling that owes a lot to the old CB750F. The ' SE ' version adds a small, barmounted cowl and windscreen to the previous design, as well as a few other tweaks including a slightly more luxurious seat and heated grips. Honda also displayed modified versions, including a Moriwaki-made, racestyle CB1000F. Details not seen before include the bike ' s instrument display- the same TFT panel that ' s used on the CB1000 Hornet- and elements like the
GSX-8S, with no change to the seat hight or the position of the bars or pegs, but so substantial are the styling changes that the GSX-8T and TT will appeal to a different segment of the market, vying for the same customers that might currently opt for a Kawasaki Z650RS or Z900RS, or a Yamaha XSR700 or XSR900, although the Suzuki ' s performance and pricing slots the 8T and 8TT into a gap between the larger and smaller of those rival models.
Honda CB1000F SE By Ben Purvis
CB1000F SE Concept and CB1000F indicators and numberplate hanger, which were absent on the original CB1000F concept earlier this year. Although the bikes still lacked mirrors, they were otherwise in road-ready form. The chassis is largely identical to the CB1000 Hornet, and the subframe under the CB1000F and SE ' s retro-style tail bodywork is reshaped. A question remains over whether the CB1000F will be offered outside Japan. Its predecessor, the CB1300 Super Four, was sold around the world when it was new, but was discontinued in markets other than Japan many years ago.
Indian electric vehicle brand Ultraviolette made its debut in June 2025 at Berlin ' s Reload. Land EV-fest with its A1 license segment high-performance electric motorcycles being distributed in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy by Zero Center AG, based at Radolfzell on Lake Constance in southern Germany.
Following its divestiture from the bankrupt clutches of KTM, Italian ' boutique ' motorcycle manufacturer( and former H-D subsidiary) MV Agusta Motor S. p. A. has confirmed the successful closing of the transaction that returns 100 % ownership of the company to the Sardarov ' s investment vehicle Art of Mobility- " reaffirming its strategic independence and long-term vision." After the two year " partnership " with KTM, former COO and Deputy CEO Luca Martin has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer( CEO). Additional board appointments include confirmation of Hubert Trunkenpolz as Chairman of the MV Agusta Board of Directors. The ' T ' in KTM, Trunkenpolz must have found Italy to his liking- he is the grandson of KTM founder Hans Trunkenpolz. KTM ' s original name, when founded in 1934 was Kraftfahrzeug [ Motor Vehicle ] Trunkenpolz Mattighofen- that being the town in Austria where KTM ' s principal facilities are still located to this day.
Norton parent company TVS Motor Company has announced that the brand that it bought out of bankruptcy for around € 19m in 2020 has confirmed that the iconic, 1898 founded brand is to enter( reenter?) the Indian market by the end of 2025, with up to six new models expected by 2027. Speculation suggests that Indian customers can expect to be offered small displacement Indian market-oriented models at some stage. Norton is also set to re-enter the German market.
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Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles. news, RideApart. com, Motor1. com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter. com