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Metzeler MC 360 tyre sets three world records
The brand new Metzeler MC 360 tyre which already has three world records in its trophy cabinet . At the beginning of March this year , the tyre was subjected to the final stages of a test that challenged it with extreme trials in Chile at the Nevado Ojos del Salado volcano , situated at the border between Argentina and Chile . At 6,891 metres high , it is the highest volcano in the world , and the MC 360 , with the Honda Africa Twin and CRF450RX , established three records in riding it : 1 ) From zero to 5,900 metres above the sea level in less than 24 hours 2 ) 5,960 metres as maximum height for a twin-cylinder motorcycle 3 ) 5,977 metres as maximum height reached with a motorcycle in less than 24 hours The team for this record expedition was composed of Salvo Pennisi , Metzeler ’ s Head of Testing Department , Carlo Fiorani , Honda ’ s Head of Racing Communications , the industry journalists Francesco Catanese and Karsten Schwers , and Fabio Mossini , the enduro champion , now part of the Honda Sud America team .
The first record set was a real team victory : Francesco Catanese , Fabio Mossini and Karsten Schwers riding the Honda Africa Twin and Salvo Pennisi , riding alternately both the Africa Twin and the CRF450RX , managed to reach 5,900 metres , after starting from sea level , in 22 hours and 30 minutes . The second success was an individual record scored by Fabio Mossini , who managed to bring his Honda Africa Twin to 5,960 metres above sea level , the highest level ever reached with a twin-cylinder motorcycle . The third record , another individual one , was set by Metzeler ’ s Head of Testing . Riding the CRF450RX , he set the record for the highest climb above sea level ever reached by a motorcycle ,
Kawasaki unit sales up in “ developed markets ” for 2016-2017 fiscal bringing his single-cylinder Honda to 5,977 metres of altitude in 22 hours and 40 minutes . This came after a challenging climb to reach the Atacama hut at 5,200 metres when riding the Africa Twin . Both the Africa Twin and the CRF450RX had been equipped with the new MC 360 tyres , in prototype sizes for the Africa Twin and standard sizes for the CRF450RX . The adventure in Chile represented the final and most severe testing for the new tyre , aimed at assessing its level of performance , wear , versatility and resistance to tearing in extreme conditions , with temperatures ranging from + 40 ° in the Desert of Copiapó , down to -15 ° on the Andes .
For their full year 2016-2017 ( the period to March 31st 2017 ) Kawasaki is reporting net sales from its Motorcycle & Engine division of 313.0 bn yen , down by - 6.1 percent ( -20.5 bn yen ) from the same period of 2015 / 2016 ; with operating income down by -25.5 percent at 11.7 bn yen . It ascribes |
the decline to the appreciation in the value of the yen during the period and in the sales of motorcycles to its “ emerging markets ”. Total worldwide motorcycle , UTV , ATV and PWC unit sales in the full year were 540,000 units ( up from 524,000 units 2015 – 2016 ); of |
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which 153,000 were motorcycle sales in “ developed markets ” ( up from 135,000 units and generating 112.6 bn yen ), 321,000 were sales in “ emerging markets ” ( down from 328,000 and generating 86.9 bn yen ) and 66,000 units were |
utility vehicles , ATVs and PWC ( up from 61,000 and generating 73.3 bn yen ). The Motorcycle ( and Engine ) division delivered 20 percent of overall corporate net sales , down from 22 percent in 2015-2016 . |
Energica MY 2017 updated
Modena , Italy based high performance E-bike manufacturer Energica has achieved the European Euro 4 homologation and as a result has announced new , increased specs for its 2017 Ego and Eva models . Energica Ego , the electric sportsbike , now offers a higher power output of 145 hp , and Energica Eva , the electric streetfighter , revealed 108 hp . The maximum power of the Ego is now reaching 107 kW ( constant maximum power at 6.000 rpm ), while Eva has now 80 kW ( constant maximum power at 6.000 rpm ). The value of the maximum torque is increased too - for the Ego it goes from 195 to 200 Nm , while for Eva from 170 to 180 Nm . Energica says that with the Euro 4 homologation , the new Energica 2017 model year will have the OBD diagnostics ( on board diagnostics ). As per European regulations , the Energica motorcycles will have standard software that will communicate with a universal diagnostics tool , so any workshop will be able to get access to the data .
Energica Ego Lunar White ( Photo : Damiano Fiorentini )
14 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - JUNE / JULY 2017