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Category: Motorcycles
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Indian Motorcycle UK has bolstered its presence in the north of England, with the opening of a new dedicated dealer, Indian Motorcycle Sheffield; bringing America’s first motorcycle brand to Yorkshire, with full sales and after sales facilities.
With the official launch event taking place at the weekend (July 16), Indian Motorcycle Sheffield welcomed over 300 guests and customers to the launch event, where visitors were able to see the new facility as well as the Indian Motorcycle range alongside the brand’s vast clothing and accessory line-up.
Indian Motorcycle UK’s, Andy Simpson, commented, “This is an exciting time for Indian Motorcycle in the UK. Our range of models is expanding, we have a growing customer base and we’re able to bring experienced and respected partners into our dealer network to support key areas such as South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
“Operated by the hugely experienced SMC Bikes team, Indian Motorcycle Sheffield is not only great news for those keen to join the Indian Motorcycle family, but an important boost for existing owners, as we strive to make their ownership experience both simpler and better. With Frank Hayes and the SMC team representing Indian Motorcycle, we are extremely confident that we have the very best representation in this important area.”
Having been in the industry for over 20 years, SMC bikes bring exceptional experience to the Indian Motorcycle dealer network. Managing Director, Frank Hayes commented, “Motorcycles have been my passion from a very early age, and since setting up in business I have had the privilege to work in an industry I love. Indian Motorcycle Sheffield is a very exciting new chapter for us and one that’s been a dream of mine for a long time now. We look forward to welcoming new and existing fans of the brand, while making friends for many years to come.”
Indian Motorcycle Sheffield can be found at SMC Bikes, Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield, S41 9EH
www.indianmotorcycle-sheffield.co.uk
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Suzuki has announced two new scooters that will strengthen its small capacity range, with Address 125 and Avenis 125 on sale from October 2022.
Curves, a rounded – full LED – headlight, and plush seat add a retro flair to the new Address’ styling, finished with chrome-plated accents. The Address oozes style. The retro look extends to a large analogue speedometer, while modern convenience comes courtesy of a digital display, showcasing additional information, including the Suzuki Eco Drive Illumination which helps encourage and achieve economical riding, with the Address 125 capable of achieving 148.6mpg.
Not only is the new, 124cc single-cylinder engine efficient and economical, thanks to Suzuki’s Eco Performance (SEP) technology which optimises and balances fuel economy and performance, it delivers strong torque in the low-mid rpm ranges for quick acceleration. Peak torque is 10Nm at 5,500 rpm, with peak power 8.7PS at 6,750rpm.
Spacious under-seat storage with dual utility hooks plus an upfront storage pocket – housing a handy USB socket – bring the practicality, while comfort comes from a flat, well-padded seat and broad footboards.
In addition to the Address 125 a new Avenis 125 will further expand Suzuki’s scooter range and provide a sportier offering to its Address 125 stablemate.
Wrapped around the same punchy-yet-efficient single cylinder engine is sharp, angular bodywork. Slightly longer, wider, and taller than the Address, the Avenis stands out in a crowd with striking road presence, with its aggressive form, LED headlights and taillights and two-tone graphics.
A full LCD display keeps the rider informed, and, like the Address, features the Suzuki Eco Drive Indicator, to help riders extract maximum efficiency and achieve an impressive 148.6mpg. In addition to under-seat storage and a storage pocket, there are also handy storage compartments upfront.
Both the Address 125 and Avenis 125 will be on sale in October.
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Milton Keynes, UK/12 July 2022: Triumph has announced the completion of its TE-1 electric motorcycle development project, powered by Scalable Integrated Modular Inverter (SIMI) technology from Helix.
During rolling road and track trials, the TE-1’s electric powertrain delivered 130kW (177PS/175bhp) peak power, for a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds and 0-100mph in 6.2 seconds. It also achieved a 100-mile range, based on live testing and official projections.
The high power density that characterises Helix electric powertrains contributed to making the TE-1 prototype as much as 25% lighter than comparable electric motorcycles and achieving its outstanding power-to-weight ratio.
Integral Powertrain Limited’s e-Drive division developed the Scalable Integrated Motor and Inverter (SIMI) in close cooperation with Triumph from 2018. On 4 July 2022, the company relaunched its electric powertrain engineering and manufacturing capability under the Helix brand. Helix offers unique Scalable Core Technology across three Product Levels, while advanced product development, epitomised by the Scalable Integrated Motor and Inverter, is delivered by its X-Division.
Andrew Cross, Helix Chief Technology Manager, said: “We’re delighted to see the final TE-1 motorcycle testing phase completed and further validation of the performance and efficiency of our Scalable Integrated Modular Inverter.
“In its TE-1 application, the motor achieved peak and continuous power densities of 13kW/kg and 9kW/kg respectively; 60% higher than Advanced Propulsion Centre technology roadmap targets for 2025. All this was achieved using materials and processes compatible with volume automotive production and using a motor scalability concept that provided a springboard to our Scalable Core Technology, providing similar performance levels at much greater manufacturing scale than previously possible.
“We’re really proud to have been a key part of this exciting project, which is a landmark for electric motorcycles and British industry.”
About Helix
Helix engineers and manufacturers the world’s most power-dense motors and complementary inverters for demanding automotive, racing, aerospace, marine and industrial applications. Its unique Scalable Core Technology and Flexible Manufacturing Facility (FMF), ensure straightforward access to the most powerful, compact, efficient electric powertrains on the market. Helix Scalable Core Technology is delivered through three strategic Product Levels, while the cycle of electric innovation begun by its founders almost 20 years ago continues with X-Division, an advanced technology development group.
Formerly Integral e-Drive, the launch of a new corporate brand in 2022, Helix, including a new website and logo, aligns with the strategic transformation from consultant to full-service supplier of premium electric powertrains and marks another major milestone in the evolution of the organisation. Helix is investing and gearing up as a technology-driven global company, targeting new markets and sectors.
For more information visit ehelix.com
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Public debut of the custom Indian Chief by Tank Machine x Rise Designs
Awarded to the lucky winner of the prize draw on the main event stage
Indian Motorcycle, in collaboration with Wheels & Waves, commissioned four European builders in December 2021 to design their vision of an Indian Chief for the resurgent Wheels and Waves festival. More than 35 000 people voted for their favourite design and, in combination with a panel of Super-Voters, ‘GRIND Machine’ by Tank Machine x Rise Designs was announced as the top-ranked entry. Completed in just three months, ‘GRIND Machine’ made its public debut at the opening of the Artride exhibition during Wheels and Waves on Thursday June 30 and was awarded to prize draw winner, Fabien Orquin, on the festival’s main stage on Saturday July 2.
Clément Molina founded Tank Machine in 2015 with a focus on motorcycle design, customisation and the development of Plug & Play Kits. Already well known for his many outstanding customisations of Indian Motorcycle models, his submission for the Indian Chief Design beat strong competition to become the winning concept that would be turned into reality.
“I was honoured to be chosen as one of four custom builders to submit designs for the Indian Chief,” said Molina. “As a specialist that loves working on bikes from Indian Motorcycle, I was really enthusiastic about the opportunity, only heightened by the partnership with Wheels and Waves, an event that I enjoy so much.”
Working from the brief to create a vision of an Indian Chief inspired from the past, anchored in the present, and looking towards the future, Molina teamed up Antonin Bazin from Rise Designs to merge their “Board Culture” into the project and reflect the skate element of Wheels & Waves.
“We were really happy to win and have the opportunity to realise the design, even though it was a big challenge to complete the project in just three months for the Artride exhibition,” Molina continued. “But the process was so enjoyable, thinking about the bike, the details, working with different materials like skateboard decks, fabricating new parts and then fine tuning everything. It’s a pleasure to reveal the completed bike at Wheels and Waves and to then hand it over to Fabien. It’s great to know he truly understands and appreciates the time and effort that has gone into the build. He is the perfect new owner for me – an engineer, an engine technician, and a really good guy.”
Randomly selected from the thousands of public voters, Fabien Orquin, an automotive engineer from the French city of Rouen, won a VIP trip to the 2022 Wheels & Waves festival to enjoy the event and be presented with his customised Indian Chief.
“When I was told I had won, I just couldn’t believe it, it was incredible,” said Orquin. “I am so happy to know that this amazing motorcycle is going to be mine, especially because it is the design I voted for. It was also great to meet Clément and hear about the design and build process. Everything about the bike is amazing, every time I look there is another detail to discover.”
The Design and Engineering teams at Indian Motorcycle always had customisers in mind when bringing the Indian Chief to life. A key tagline being ‘Keep it simple so you can easily work on it and customise it’ and a feature of the Chief that Tank Machine took advantage of.
“There are so many nice pieces of the stock bike, especially the central and most beautiful piece, the engine,” said Molina. “The Indian Chief is really easy to strip back to a great base and the idea was to remove a lot of things, keep only the essentials and then build back up with a different balance, adding details that really change up the look of the final machine.”
GRIND Machine’s unique look begins with the big block Continental TKC enduro tyres wrapped around black Excel spoked rims that work with new bars, new rear suspension, and one-off seat unit to change the stance and overall lines of the bike.
Tank Machine created new wider handlebars and lower risers for a vintage style that is echoed by the gaiters applied to the forks and rolled up poncho attached to a custom bracket by webbing straps. At the rear, Öhlins piggyback shocks with longer top mounts lift the bike slightly and add a colour accent as well as providing a high-quality ride.
The one-off seat unit, all designed in house, features the names of the project’s partners discretely machined into the base and the seat pad enhances the retro bobber look with a brown leather top with waxed material sides. A bottle opener hanging from the right of the seat is a nod to the after-ride party atmosphere of Wheels & Waves and a detail that really connected with the new owner. “My hobby is brewing my own beer, and when I saw the bottle opener, it really made me smile,” said Orquin.
Keeping the stripped back bobber look clean are hand-fabricated minimalist fenders, mini-indicators on the forks and seat unit, mini taillight and a LED headlight with ring running light. A secondary guarded PIAA yellow light adds a cool retro touch.
The ‘Board Culture’ of Ride Designs is reflected in the use of skateboard deck wood and grip tape adorning the centre of the fuel tank and either side of the seat unit which are mounted with metal brackets inspired by skateboard trucks. The influences of Wheels and Waves are further heightened with Vans waffle handlebar grips and custom-made foot pegs that take inspiration from BMX grind pegs.
Also designed in conjunction with Rise Design is the aluminium engine protection plate behind the front wheel in a brushed metal finish that is also applied to the exhaust heat shield, CNC machined fuel cap and engine parts to give an old bike look on a modern machine. Textured and matte finishes have also been applied to various covers and particularly the frame where the matte finish reveals the beauty of the shape and welds of the classic-style steel frame. Adding to the retro race look, the standard headers were wrapped and mated to shorter SuperTrapp silencers.
With a paint scheme from Rise Designs that features a brushed metal base, weathered green stripes with red accents, the finishing touches to any custom are the interesting details that are only noticed on a second or third close look. For GRIND Machine, these include the decorated red throttle valve inside the custom bell housing, the cut back primary drive cover, and the creator’s logos machined into the black pulley cover and engine covers.
Indian Motorcycle visit IndianMotorcycle.eu and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Following the news of Indian Motorcycle UK’s intention to open its first dedicated Brand Experience Centre in West London earlier this year, the centre has now enjoyed its official launch, welcoming customers, friends of the brand and VIPs.
Coinciding with the recent BikeShed event at Tobacco Dock, the Indian Motorcycle UK team welcomed more than 70 guests to the event, showcasing the UK’s first Brand Centre, located on the prestigious Kensington High Street in West London.
Situated on the landmark site that was once the home of the Bristol Car Company. The iconic corner showroom, part of the Hilton Olympia Hotel, was fully refurbished over two floors for the new Brand Centre, doubling the display space and allowing for a complete range of Indian Motorcycles, accessories, clothing and heritage to be displayed in the best experience possible.
Indian Motorcycle UK’s Andy Simpson, commented, “We’re extremely proud to be able to officially launch a Brand Experience Centre here in the UK, especially in such an iconic location. Thanks to fantastic support from the team at Krazy Horse, we’ve been able to make this project not just a reality, but a place that our customers the world over will choose as a destination to visit when in London. If the enthusiasm from our guests at this launch event is anything to go by, this will be a very much must visit destination.”
Joining the Indian Motorcycle UK team and senior management from the U.S on the night were a host of friends of the brand, including ex-grand prix racer Steve Parish, Indian Motorcycle Flat Track racer, Leah Tokelove, Dimitri Costa, as well as customers and fans of the brand.
The Indian Motorcycle London Brand Experience Centre can be found at 368 – 370 Kensington High Street, London, W14 8NL, Tel: 0203 007 1666 Web: www.indianmotorcycle-london.co.uk
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