A new motorcycle company is setting the words ‘modern’, ‘carbon fiber’ and ‘two-stroke’ alongside the promise of 24-karat gold-leaf detailing – and it premieres in three weeks.
Langen Motorcycles was Founded in 2019 when Christofer Ratcliffe – previously the Chief Design Engineer at CCM Motorcycles – decided to break away from the convention of a larger company and create his own twist on the current market.
“I wanted to create something completely new,” Christopher tells us. “I sold my car, sold my home, I went all-in on it.”
His passion was not misplaced. By the time the lockdowns hit in 2020, the business was in full production of their first bike – and there was an immense amount of interest in the big reveal.
“We managed to get to one show last September, in between lockdowns. The response was overwhelming from everyone who saw the bike in the flesh. It validated all the hard work and sleepless nights.”
According to a report from WiganToday, the Two-Stroke will feature a 249cc, 90º V-twin engine capable of tossing out a top speed of more than 140mph, as well as a hand-laid carbon fiber tank and bodywork, courtesy of the gents at Wigan factory.
The bike will also have a tubular aluminum ‘space’ frame and swingarm, purported to be ‘ultra-lightweight, also a factor that was hand-built in-house.
With only 100 units in the batch, the deposits are coming in hard and fast.
Interested in buying this beauty? The Langen Two-Stroke will be up for grabs at the exclusive price of £28,000, with a £1,000 refundable deposit to secure a build slot.
Langen Motorcycles will be premiering the bike at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, in West Sussex, England, in 21 short days.
For more articles on the beauties of limited edition motorcycles, head over to MotorBikeWriter.
According to a report from BikeWhale, KTM has just launched their World Adventure Week – and thanks to KTM’s generosity, the event promises to be hugely popular. The Adventure Week will run from July 5 to the 11th and was created to encourage motorists – specifically those with a penchant for adventure – to get out and ride.
KTM has also pulled a beauty of a move by opening the Challenge up to motorists of every brand, size,, and color – refusing to keep the challenge exclusive to their own engines.
This last act has been an amazing opportunity for motorcyclists everywhere, especially given that so many adventure rallies (including that of KTM) were postponed with the restrictions that were enforced at the time.
The challenge is set for ADV rider to complete 1000km (622 miles) in 7 days, with additional challenges each day to keep everybody on their toes.
KTM will give the most ‘adventurous’ of the bunch daily and weekly prizes, as well as the chance to be ‘that one bloke that was on KTM’s global social media platforms and theworldadventureweek.com.’
Riders who want to participate in the challenge can do so by downloading the RISER app and using the program to record the overall mileage.
Stay safe out there, and viva la KTM!
For more on all things KTM, head over to WebBikeWorld.
In the summer of 2019, a young man named Jack Groves began his moto journey around the world – and it took a little longer than 80 days.
Disillusioned with the dream of a 9 to 5 job, Groves got his hands on a secondhand Royal Enfield Himalayan to defy all odds and travel the 35,000 miles around the orb we call home.
His route took him across Europe, through the Balkan Peninsula, and past Turkey, Asia, China, Southeast Asia, and Australia before flying to South America in January 2021.
The trip was no walk in the park. It required Groves to get used to riding in isolation, taking every precaution possible with the oncoming coronavirus as his travels took him through the Eastern Hemisphere.
The virus caught up with Groves in Cusco, South America, putting his travels to rest for a hefty 255 days. In a report from Dure Magazine, Jack recalls the incident.
“I contracted COVID-19 in early April which, at 3,400 meters (11154.86 ft) altitude, was pretty punchy – spent a month exploring the remote jungle of Manu National Park and the high sierra of the Asungate Massif, and the rest of my time was split between Cusco City and the nearby Sacred Valley of the Incas.”
Now, having returned this past Thursday to his home in Hertfordshire, Jack is officially the youngest motorist to circumnavigate the world – and as much as the memories will always live with him, even Groves will admit he is glad to be back.
“When you do spend this much time away, you start to start to really appreciate the small things in life, so you really start to appreciate the relationships in the family. Those are the one constants in life, so yeah – just spending time with them and not moving.”
Upon asking what his motivation was, Jack recalls how a good friend passed away before Christmas of 2018 – galvanizing him into action with the knowledge that there is no time better than the present.
Groves leaves us with a few words of wisdom, saying, “I’ll wrap this up with a few quotes that inspired me to get after my goals. Maybe they will work for you too”.
’20 years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, discover.’ – Mark Twain
‘Life is measured in achievement, not in years alone.’ – Bruce McLaren.
‘No one gets out alive. Act accordingly.’ – Unknown.
Is there any more iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycle than the hot rod Fat Boy?
From Hollywood stardom to being immortalised as a Lego toy, the Softail Fat Boy is the “most copied motorcycle of all time” according to Harley spokesman Kevin Hintz.
It was introduced in 1989 as a 1990 model and designed by legendary Harley stylists Willie G. Davidson and Louie Netz as a modernised version of the 1949 Hydra-Glide.
The next year, it was ridden to instant stardom by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
Arnie’s Fat Boy
The movie featured a chase scene in which the bike performed a spectacular jump in the LA sewers. Next to The Great Escape jump, it’s probably the most famous motorcycle stunt in cinematic history.
The 3m jump is impressive as stunt double Peter Kent is riding a 300+kg Fat Boy beast, not a relatively nimble little Triumph dirt bike like in The Great Escape.
However, Hollywood trickery did assist as the Fat Boy was supported by 3cm cables. So when bike and ride hit the ground, they weighed only about 80kg. The cables were later digitally erased.
The Fat Boy also played an integral role in the marketing of the film with posters depicting Arnold in leather jacket and pants straddling the bike and carrying his lever-action Winchester shotgun. It’s an image for all time that has bestowed the Fat Boy model with intrinsic and monetary value.
In 2017, Harley made major changes to its Softail range with lighter weight, improved suspension, bigger Milwaukee Eight 107 and 114 engines and two new and very stiff frames.
The wider frame accommodates the massively wide 240mm-section rear tyre of the Breakout and Fat Boy, up from 200mm.
For 2021, the Fat Boy gets minor styling updates and drops the 107 engine, only coming with the 114 plant.
The styling changes would only be noticeable to a Fat Boy tragic.
They include some cosmetic changes, a wet weather “sock” on the hi-flow air filter and a digital fuel gauge in the main instruments, replacing the analogue dial in the “dummy” left fuel cap on the tank. Traditionalists may not like that, but the old gauge was difficult to read.
Sadly, they have also dropped the cruise control that was on the previous S variant.
The remaining styling elements are very similar to those of Arnie’s Fat Boy: Solid Lakester wheels, fat forks, heavily chromed headlight nacelle and wide handlebars.
It’s a style that divides opinion, but there is no doubting it has many steadfast fans and even a legion of young fans.
I’ve ridden every Fat Boy model for the past couple of decades and have always noticed the admiring glances it gets from riders and non riders alike.
But is it a case of form over function?
Certainly the major chassis and powertrain changes of 2017 have improved its function … to a degree.
Yes it has better suspension with an external preload adjuster and dual-bending valve telescopic cartridge forks, smoother transmission and 161Nm of grunt yet even better fuel economy!
But that 240mm, low-profile rear tyre is never going to work well.
The low profile results in a harsh ride, despite the improved rear shock.
It also means you need Arnie’s biceps to counter steer the bike and hold your line in corners as the flat profile tyre tries to stand the bike upright.
We’ve all heard it said that Harleys won’t go around corners. That’s rubbish. Many modern Harleys handle quite well, albeit with limited cruiser-style clearance issues. After two weeks with a Fat Boy test bike, the wide floorboards are copping a hammering.
But the Fat Boy also has issues riding in a straight line on anything less than perfect road surfaces.
If there is a camber in the road, the rear tyre will follow it downhill.
If you hit a bump, the rear tyre will push away from it.
And if you ride over any longitudinal crack, the rear tyre will follow it.
This all makes riding the Fat Boy a tiring experience; a bit like an arms session in the gym.
But isn’t that what really appeals about this bike, anyway? Its need for some muscle behind the bars is intrinsic to its macho appeal.
MV Agusta has just launched a brand new bike to cater to a specific audience.
It sports the classic Agusta red-and-silver color scheme, with max speeds topping out at a blistering 3 mph.
Did I mention that it’s a balance bike for toddlers?
You heard right.
According to a report from RideApart, the Italian manufacturer is now producing a spiffy classic-styled wooden balance bike for your young one. Labeled simply as the ‘Vintage Wooden Balance Bike,’ the contraption was manufactured to get a small child used to the concept of using balance to maneuver about on two wheels. Though Harley Davidson has also released a balance bike (though catered to a slightly older audience) with great success, I personally would prefer a makeshift MV Agusta when I watch a toddler rolling about the property in anticipation of a sporty motorcycle to call their own.
Priced at $198, it’s an extremely affordable and easy addition to the collection – and having been manufactured in the same style as Giacomo Agostini’s iconic MV Agusta GP bike, the legacy can’t be beaten.
While the Vintage Wooden Balance Bike may be a far cry from 500cc, in the mind of a child, anything is possible – and I’ll bet my favorite helmet that this balance bike will set the ball rolling for some wonderful memories further down the road.
I attended the international media launch for the LiveWire in Portland, Oregon, in July 2019, and it has taken almost almost two years before I could get one in Brisbane for a local road test.
It’s certainly been worth the wait.
The 100km launch ride was electrifying with the LiveWire living up to its name as a lively motorcycle capable of reaching highway speed in just three seconds. And that wasn’t on a drag strip with a professional racer aboard and a high wind at his back. We were able to do it easily on a quiet stretch of highway.
MBW riding the LiveWire at its launch in Oregon
This is not an electric toy! It’s a real bike.
The LiveWire also impressed with its build quality, handling, technology, braking and sheer stunning looks.
It took 17 months before the first LiveWire was available to buy in Australia at a whopping $A49,995 (plus $295 if you want the orange one, not the plain black). Only their limited edition CVO models and Tri Glide trike are more expensive.
Here is what I found living with the bike on a two-week road test.
Living with a LiveWire
After two weeks of riding the LiveWire, I found there is a lot more to like about the experience of living with an electric motorcycle, especially the high-performance, hi-tech LiveWire.
Despite the absence of the traditional Harley sound, I actually enjoyed the mindfulness and alertness of riding around town in near silence.
Harley has given the motor a slight “pulse” to try to satisfy traditional riders who like an engine to have some “feeling” and installed a bevel geared primary drive to provide a whining sound.
But ironically the ringing in my ears caused by years of riding loud bikes is actually louder than the LiveWire’s Revelation motor.
Out on the highway all you hear is the wind noise. It’s like flying a glider close to the ground.
The experience magnifies your joys of acceleration and moving through the rolling landscapes.
It also means you can hear music, GPS directions or phone calls on your helmet intercom at lower and safer levels.
Steering the bike up my favourite piece of road to Mt Glorious, the near-silent LiveWire is in harmony with the pristine forest and in sync with the twisting tarmac.
It handles and performs as well as most litre-plus naked bikes; better in some respects.
Although it’s on the heavy side at 251kg, it feels quite nimble. One of the benefits of electric motorcycles is the weight distribution is more flexible and Harley has centred the weight down very low.
It steers with precision and there is little centrifugal mass to overcome when turning. However, the front wheel will follow longitudinal cracks and there is some bump-steer.
Showa suspension provides crisp handling, if a little abrupt over high-frequency bumps.
LiveWire simply loves corners and the sticky purpose-built and Harley-labelled Michelin Scorcher tyres are well up to the task.
The Brembo brakes are excellent and ably assisted by the motor resistance or “engine braking” when you wind off the throttle. This also helps to regenerate power back to the battery.
In fact, I rode all the way up and down the mountain with rare brake application because of the strong regenerative braking effect. That means no brake fade and long brake pad and disc life.
Since engine braking is so significant, the rear stop lights flash when you roll off the throttle to warn those following.
There are no gears and therefore no clutch; just a twist-and-go throttle which results in instant acceleration at any speed and makes it eminently suitable for a complex series of turns.
I didn’t miss changing gears and only reached for the clutch once in my two-week stint with the bike.
It all adds up to an electrifying experience on your favourite stretch of winding tar.
It’s also a hi-tech experience with cruise control, self-cancelling indicators and Bluetooth capability.
You can pair with a “HD Connect” Android and iOS phone app that will remotely check battery and charging status, show the nearest charging stations, provide service reminders and notify you if your bike is being tampered with. If it is stolen, a GPS tracker will follow its location.
Another cool feature is the fact that the water-cooled motor and battery is cool to the touch.
So it doesn’t just look cool and represent a cool trend in motorcycling, it’s literally cool on your legs on a typical Queensland summer commute!
MBW rides the LiveWire in Portland, Oregon
LiveWire quirks
But there are quirks to living with the electric LiveWire, too.
The LiveWire comes with a 3m charging cable under the seat that costs a whopping $A1100 to replace, so make sure you always lock the seat with the key.
I also found it difficult to fit the charger and cable in the limited space and close the seat without pinching and damaging the expensive cable.
At $1100 you would think Harley could make a more convenient charging module with retractable cables that easily and neatly fits under the seat.
Since many Australian houses have lock-up garages with mains power, it is convenient to park and charge an electric vehicle. It may be more difficult without a secure garage.
The supplied type 2 charging cable plugs into the AC mains wall socket at one end and at the other end it goes into a socket on the bike where a normal petrol cap would be.
The charge cable is also CCS2 for DC Mennekes quick charging.
Harley says it will not operate on the free Tesla charging network that can be found at many urban shopping centres.
However, the plug and socket look the same as the Universal Mobile Connector (UMC) used by Tesla, so I tried it and on two occasions it worked.
On a third occasion it threw up an error message and failed to charge.
This was when I discovered that the so-called issue of EV “range anxiety” is real.
Harley claims LiveWire’s 15.5kWh Samsung battery is good for 235km of city range or 152km of highway range.
That should make it suitable for a narrow range of activities such as cafe runs, short blasts up your favourite mountain road and commuting. Mind you, $50k is a lot to pay for a commuter bike.
Noting the range limitations, I still experienced range anxiety because of the unique realities of riding an electric motorcycle and the variables that can have a huge impact on your journey.
For example, I rode 20km to meet a mate for coffee, but the stylish tablet-style instruments showed I had ridden almost 30km and used almost 15% battery because I was riding mainly on the highway.
On another occasion I rode 23km through the suburbs for a coffee, but the battery charge indicator showed I had used only 18km of range and 10% of the battery.
These quirks mean you are constantly making calculations in your mind to determine whether you will reach your next destination and get home again.
It all gets even more complicated factoring in your rider behaviour, carrying a pillion and the engine mode you select which not only varies the ABS and traction levels, but also throttle response and engine braking.
There are seven rider modes to choose from: eco, sport, rain, highway and the three customisable modes.
On a recent open-roads ride with some mates, I had to leave early when I became anxious about being able to get home, even though I had been riding in “eco mode”.
As it turned out I made it home with just 14km of range and 7% battery remaining, so it was wise to prematurely cut from the pack.
On a traditional internal-combustion-engined motorcycle, it wouldn’t really matter if I ran out of fuel. I could walk to the nearest petrol station and get a 5-litre jerry of fuel, or a mate could do it, or I could phone the RACQ breakdown service as many thousands of members do when they run out of fuel.
On the electric LiveWire, I would have to find the nearest level-one 240V mains charging points with the HD proprietary app or any of the many other available apps such as PlugShare, ChargePoint, NextCharge, Chargemap, etc.
There is a surprisingly large number of these points available in urban areas, but not in the bush.
Once I found the charging point, it would take about 90 minutes to replace enough charge for about 20km worth of charge.
That’s not so bad, as you can grab a coffee or a meal while you wait and answer the many questions about the bike from interested bystanders.
A full charge on 240V mains power takes about 11 hours, but if you can get to a level-three quick-charge point, you can charge the battery to 80% in 40 minutes and 100% in 60 minutes. The RACQ also has some rescue vehicles with quick chargers.
However, it should be noted that while the “Rechargeable Energy Storage System” does not limit the number of times a Level 3 DC fast charger (480V) can be used, Harley warns that more frequent DC fast charging will “stress the battery more than Level 1 charging”.
They recommend you avoid using DC fast charge, exclusively.
The suggested best practice is to alternate charging between Level 1 and Level 3 DC Fast Charge in a 4:1 ratio (4 Level 1 charges to every 1 Level 3 fast charge).
The big high-voltage Lithium-ion recyclable battery made up of Samsung battery modules has a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.
Harley says it should last 10 years without significant loss of capacity unless it is frequently quick-charged, not treated well or used extensively in extreme cold conditions.
The company could not tell me how much a replacement main battery will cost, probably because you won’t need to pay for one if you need a replacement in the next five years as they are covered by warranty. They may also not be able to predict the retail cost of a battery five years from now, as it would be a lot cheaper!
While 235km sounds like good range, that’s purely for riding around the city where there is a lot of regenerative braking.
If you want to go for a ride with your mates, don’t count on riding 152km with them as you may already have ridden 20km or more just to meet up for the ride.
Conclusion
If you love the sound of a Harley and the flexibility of long-range touring, the LiveWire is not for you.
In fact, it is so far removed from the type of bike so beloved by traditional Harley diehards that the company is creating a separate LiveWire brand for their urban electric motorcycles.
Harley doesn’t really state a financial case for the LiveWire, either. That’s because the colossal initial purchase cost far outweighs the economic advantages of low running and servicing costs.
The cat of fully charging the bike is less than $4 at Queensland’s rate of 25c/kWh. That’s about a quarter of the cost of an equivalent-range, high-performance ICE bike.
Harley says an 8000km service will cost about $400 plus any consumables such as tyres, brake pads and a drive belt.
As for the environmental benefits, it depends on how you derive your electricity, but at least it adds no tailpipe emissions to polluted urban areas.
Harley is simply targeting cashed-up early adopters who will appreciate the thrill of a unique riding experience.
LiveWire may have limited urban uses, but it performs those tasks in an exhilarating manner. Yes, it’s electrifying.
Key facts
Price: $49,995 ride-away (+ $295 for orange).
Warranty: 5 years/unlimited km on main battery, 2 years on bike.
The brand name “Harley-Davidson” currently adorns the electric LiveWire motorcycle, but future electric bikes from the iconic American manufacturer may not feature its venerable name.
Instead, they will be branded “LiveWire” and will initially target urban riders.
Harley has announced the new all-electric brand will kick off with a new model to be launched on July 8, 2021.
It makes sense that Harley would look to dissociate its name from electric motorcycles given the resistance from some traditional Harley diehards.
They may view the LiveWire with suspicion, given its lack of “potato-potato” V-twin noise … or any noise except a slight whirring.
LiveWire certainly turns heads
However, Harley is not totally divorcing itself from the LiveWire brand with the brand being physically housed in their facilities and the electric technology finding its way int future Harley models.
In a press statement, Harley says LiveWire “draws on its DNA as an agile disruptor from the lineage of Harley-Davidson, capitalising on a decade of learnings in the EV sector and the heritage of the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world”.
“LiveWire will be headquartered virtually, with initial hubs in Silicon Valley, CA (LiveWire Labs) and Milwaukee, WI,” the statement says.
And it appears they are looking for staff.
The brand will initially focus on the urban market, but will also “pioneer the electric motorcycle space, and beyond”.
Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO of Harley-Davidson, says the LiveWire brand strategy fits int his six pillars of The Hardwire Strategy.
“By launching LiveWire as an all-electric brand, we are seizing the opportunity to lead and define the market in EV,” he says.
“With the mission to be the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world, LiveWire will pioneer the future of motorcycling, for the pursuit of urban adventure and beyond.
“LiveWire also plans to innovate and develop technology that will be applicable to Harley-Davidson electric motorcycles in the future.”
LiveWire will be sold through current Harley-Davidson dealers as an independent brand with some dedicated EV showrooms as well as online purchasing.
After a long wait, the handsome CFMoto 700CL-X range will be launched in Australia in July at $9490, ride away.
The bike was to be launched last year, then the launch was pushed back to early this year, presumably because of the pandemic.
More than 8000 have now been produced in China, so they will start to roll out around the world.
When it does arrive, it will come with a pack of accessories including classic-style panniers, a diamond-stitched seat, protection and bar-end mirrors, as well as a collection of rider gear.
It will continue CFMoto’s reputation as one of the most affordable brands on the market.
There were to be three models: Sports with bar-end mirrors, lower bars, solo seat and mag wheels; Classic with more complex mags, round mirrors and wide bars; and Adventure with a screen, wire wheels and knobby tyres.
However, CFMoto Australia director Michael Poynton says the 700CL-X will arrive in the Classic model only in a choice of grey or blue.
It will include a two-year unlimited kilometre warranty plus an extra year if servicing is done by an authorised dealer.
The Adventure and Sports will arrive later this year.
“The 700CL-X is extremely important to us,” Michael says.
“It will be the company’s first non-LAMS model, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg of what we can expect from CFMOTO as a result of its relationship with KTM,” Michael says.
“Underscoring that relationship is a significant joint venture built on bricks and mortar.”
Last year the company opened a new office and R&D building, in Hangzhou, China, as well as a new manufacturing facility nearby.
CFMoto 700CL-X
Most CFMoto models are now designed by Kiska, the contemporary Austrian design house that does KTM’s design work.
This Euro-designed bike features a mix of modern and traditional influences.
For example, the traditional round headlight has LED lighting and the round instruments have an LCD readout that can display fuel consumption and incoming call.
Interestingly, the X design in the headlights and the LCD instrument are quite reminiscent of the popular Ducati Scrambler.
The CFMoto 700CL-X has a lightweight frame that weighs just 16.5kg and the swingarm weighs 6.7kg. All up, it weighs 183kg dry.
Technology includes ABS, electronically controlled throttle, sliding clutch, cruise control , USB charging port under the seat and “electronic protection control” (an alarm, we think).
Its lighting system automatically switches on/off according to ambient brightness.
New engine
The 700CL-X is powered by a newly developed 692cc inline twin-cylinder water-cooled engine.
It is the latest evolution of the CFMOTO 150/250/400/650 displacement platforms, featuring split-type connection rod, forged piston, electronic throttle, sliding clutch.
The optimised intake system improves efficiency and increases the peak power from 41.5kW to 55kw and torque from 62Nm to 67Nm.
Thankfully it is one of the few adventur-ish motorcycles that has an easy-to-access air filter for cleaning.
Just remove the right plastic panel.
They say an oil change is so simple it can “easily be done at home”.
CFMoto also has a range of accessories to customise the bike, including luggage for the Adventure model.
If you thought Harley-Davidson CVO (Custom Vehicles Operations) models were exclusive, the company has now introduced and even more exclusive range called the Icons Collection.
While CVO release three or four models in limited production every year, the Icons Collection will present only one or two models annually, with a single production run for each motorcycle model.
Unlike CVO models, Icons model will never be resumed or repeated.
Each Icons Collection motorcycle will be serialised, and the buyer will receive a certificate of authenticity.
Only 1500 will be built, arriving in Aussie and New Zealand Harley-Davidson dealerships at $A40,495 rideaway ($NZ43,995).
It is inspired by the 1969 Electra Glide with Harley’s first batwing fairing and saddlebags in white moulded fibreglass.
The Electra Glide Revival replicates that look with a Birch White painted finish with Hi-Fi Blue and Black Denim tank and Hi-Fi Blue fenders and side panels, plus period-inspired tank medallion and Electra Glide script on the front fender.
It has a solo saddle with a black-and-white cover and a chrome rail, mounted over an adjustable coil spring and shock absorber, which is a nod to Harley-Davidson FL models from the 1960s.
Chrome steel laced wheels and wide whitewall tyres add to the nostalgic look, as do chrome front fender rails and saddlebag rails, front fender skirt, Ventilator air cleaner cover, fork covers, and auxiliary lights.
Harley released the following model details:
The Electra Glide Revival offers classic style, but its design and technology is absolutely modern. The foundation of the Electra Glide Revival model is the single-spar Harley-Davidson Touring frame with a rigid backbone design to sustain the weight of luggage and to support current engine power. The entire chassis is designed for the long haul. A single knob hydraulically adjusts the pre-load of emulsion-technology rear shock absorbers for optimal ride and control. The 49mm forks with dual bending valve suspension technology deliver linear damping characteristics for a smooth ride.
The classic Bat Wing fairing features a tall clear windshield and a splitstream vent to help reduce rider head buffeting. Electronic cruise control holds a steady speed for comfort on long rides, while a halogen headlamp and incandescent auxiliary lamps provide outstanding illumination and maintain the nostalgic styling of the Revival model.
A Boom! Box GTS infotainment system with colour touch screen powers two fairing-mount speakers and features advanced navigation and hand and voice commands (when paired with a compatible headset) plus Android Auto application and Apple CarPlay software compatibility.
Also, standard is the suite of Harley-Davidson RDRS Safety Enhancements, a collection of technology designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking, including:
oCornering Enhanced Anti-Lock Brake System (C-ABS)
Triumph Motorcycles has honoured Hollywood star and motorcycle fanatic Steve McQueen with a tribute model Scrambler 1200.
The British brand has made many marketing miles out of the fact that McQueen not only rode and liked Triumphs, but starred in The Great Escape jumping a TR6 over a brand wire fence to escape the Nazis.
The stunt was actually performed by friend and bike fettler Bud Ekins, but the brand name has been indelibly linked with NcQueen ever since, bringing marketing and advertising gold to Triumph.
Steve McQueen during filming of The Great Escape in 1962
Now they have honoured McQueen, a talented off-row rider who represented America in the 1964 International Six-Day Enduro Trials in Europe.
The Scrambler 1200 Steve McQueen Special Edition will go on sale in Australia later this year with pricing closer to the date.
Scrambler 1200 Limited Edition Steve McQueen
It is a limited version of the new Euro5-spec Scrambler 1200 with improved emissions and lower heat on the rider’s legs.
Only 1000 McQueen versions will be made, all numbered with special branding on the tank and handlebar clamps, brown bench seat with premium accessories fitted including stainless steel engine bars, laser-cut and pressed-aluminium radiator guard.
The “competition green” bikes come with a certificate of authenticity featuring the signatures of Triumph CEO Nick Bloor and Steve’s son, Chad.
The new 2021 Scrambler 1200 XC and XE are available in three colours: Cobalt Blue with a Jet Black stripe, Matt Khaki Green with a Jet Black stripe or the single tone Sapphire Black option.
Scrambler 1200 XE
They now come with more than 70 accessories for style, practicality, comfort, luggage, protection and security.
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