Tag Archives: retro

Motorcycle News, News

HJC makes first retro flip-up helmet

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The retro helmet fad has boomed in recent years, but this HJC V90 with bubble visor is the first we have seen in a modular or flip-up helmet.

These vintage-style helmets are usually worn by touring riders (and many BMW riders!) who are more interested in the flexibility of the practical design than in fashion or style.

That’s why most come in solid colours.

So does this. It is available in solid white, grey or black only.HJC vintage retro flip-up modular V90 helmet

The modular helmet costs €319 (about $A520) but there is no word yet on availability here.

Flip-up chin barHJC vintage retro flip-up modular V90 helmet

HJC say the flip-up chin bar can be secured in the up position.

We don’t know if this means it was certified that way, but if it was, then you should be able to legally ride with the flip-up front open. Otherwise, it is illegal, even though many police officers ride with the front up!

Since it’s modular, it is practical and unlike many other retro helmet designs, it includes large air vents front and back.HJC vintage retro flip-up modular V90 helmet

Apart from retro styling and the practicality of the flip-up chin bar other features include an integrated anti-fog sunvisor, fibreglass composite shell, removable and washable cheek and forehead pads, plus Silvercool “moisture-wicking” liners with anti-bacterial fabric.

It is also suitable for the Smart HJC integrated bluetooth communication system.

Like all HJC helmets it comes with a five-year warranty which is the usable life of a helmet anyway.

The V90 comes in sizes XS (53-54cm) to XXL (63-64cm) with just two shell sizes covering the six sizes.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Meet the retro-style Bullit Bluroc 250

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Bullit congers images of Steve McQueen driving a Mustang through the streets of San Francisco in the 1968 film Bullitt, or maybe the retro Bell Bullitt motorcycle helmet.

But Bullit is actually a Belgian motorcycle company with one “t” in the name (maybe to avoid copyright concerns!).

They make retro small-capacity motorcycles from 50cc that are suited to specially licensed novice riders in Europe like our Learner-Approved Motorcycle Scheme.

Bullit motorcyclesBullit motorcycles

Bullit Bluroc 250

Bullit motorcyclesBullit Bluroc 250

Their latest and biggest yet is the meagre 17kW Bluroc 250 powered by a Chinese Lifan four-stroke V-twin married to a five-speed gearbox. It’s also their first multi-cylinder product.

The bike weighs just 151kg and is claimed to have a top speed of about 125km/h. Perhaps that’s downhill, with a tailwind!

In keeping with the retro theme it comes with a single round headlight, round instrument pods, bench seat, spoked wheels and gaitered forks but with a modern monoshock rear rather than twin shocks.

We love the overall scrambler-esque style and that exhaust system looks extremely handsome.

Bullit motorcyclesBullit Bluroc 250

The Bullit Bluroc 250 will be sold throughout Europe costing £3599 (about $A7100) in British racing free (of course) and matte grey.

It reminds us of the Italian SWM range with Chinese Shineray 445.3cc single-cyllinder engines: Gran Milano cafe racer ($7990 ride away), Silver Vase scrambler ($7490) and Gran Turismo naked roadster ($7490).

We contacted the company to find out if they will be exporting outside of Europe and they said: “We do not at the moment however we are actively looking for distributors in other countries.”

However, being built in Europe, they should meet the toughest emissions and safety standards recognised around the world.

Would you like to see Bullit motorcycle imported here? Leave your comments below.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Shoei launch retro Glamster helmet

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Every motorcycle helmet seems to have a retro model after the recent Arai Rapide Neo and now the Shoei Glamster road helmet.

Shoei already has the Ex-Zero which is more of a retro adventure helmet.

Shoei Ex-Zero retro helmet - Glamster
Shoei Ex-Zero

While the Glamster is a handsome looking helmet and has all the usual Shoei hi-tech, quality finish and protection, the name is perhaps one of the lamest we’ve ever heard.

It’s as cringe-worthy as the hipster video to announce the helmet’s release.

It shows riders on neo-retro BMW and Ducati scramblers heading to the beach for some racing with their hipster friends before heading home.

Glamster

Shoei Australia spokesman Jade says the Glamster is going into production now and due to arrive around April.

“We will have them on our website closer to the date of arrival and images will be uploaded for viewing and purchasing on our website,” Jade says.

There are no Aussie prices yet, but they cost £399.99 in the UK (about $A760) for a choice of eight plain colours while the graphic Resurrection is £499.99 (about $A950).

Glamster will come in three shell sizes for five head sizes from XS-XXL.

Inspired by ’70 and ‘80s race helmets, it uses modern material and production techniques.Shoei Glamster retro helmet

It has an AIM built outer shell with organic fibre and multi-composite fibre in various layers for shock-absorption and rigidity.

The interior liner is removable and washable. It is made from multi-density EPS with different densities to protect different parts of the rider’s head.Shoei Glamster retro helmet

The visor is Pinlock ready with three-position adjustment and a wide aperture.

Ventilation is provided by air inlets in the chin and forehead and exhaust outlets at the rear.Shoei Glamster retro helmet

By the way, some people pronounce Shoei as “shoe-ee”, others say “showy”, while the Japanese say “show eye”.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Kawasaki adds a Chrome W800 to retros

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Kawasaki will add a Chrome W800 model to its retro range to join the blacked-out W800 SE and the bubble-faired W800 Cafe.

The Japanese company has announced the addition ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show tomorrow.

We also expect Kawasaki will unveil their naked supercharged Z H2 at the show.

2020 Kawasaki Z-H2
2020 Kawasaki Z-H2 spy photo

It will be interesting to see if it has the same power as the H2 or whether it is “retuned”.

Crome W800

Meanwhile, the Chrome W800 not only has more chrome than the SE or Cafe, but also a silver-finished engine, chrome tank badge and a 19-inch front wheel with a chrome fender.

There is no word yet on when it will arrive or pricing, but we suspect it will sit between the SE at $11,999 and Cafe at $13,999 (plus on-road costs).

Many – including us – had been expecting a scrambler W800 version.

Kawasaki is also expected to unveil a baby Versys with the Ninja 400 engine at the show along with updates to the Ninja 650 and Ninja 1000.

We have not heard any confirmation yet from Kawasaki over the rumours that the big green machine has gobbled up Italian icon, Bimota, for which it has historically supplied engines.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Kawasaki lists retro W800 Cafe price

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Kawasaki Motors Australia has listed the neo-classic W800 Cafe online at almost $3000 more than the currently discounted W800 SE.

The Kawasaki website lists the 2018 W800 SE at about $12,400 ride away in Brisbane which is a discounted price to clear stock and the 2019 Cafe model is listed at $15,246. Prices may vary depending on your location.

So what makes the W800 Cafe so special and worth almost an extra $3000 over the discounted W800 SE?

W800 Cafe extras

Kawasaki W800 in surprise return z400 meguro
W800 Cafe

Most obviously, it adds a bubble fairing, a hump-backed two-toned seat, restyled dual instrument pods, LED lighting, clip-on bars and much improved brakes.

For the first time it gets a disc brake on the rear while the front discs go from 300mm single semi floating disc with twin piston calliper to a 320mm disc now with ABS.Kawasaki W800 Cafe

Despite speculation the W800 would be scrapped because of tougher Euro4 emissions laws, the engineers have managed to lean down the air-cooled 773cc engine without resorting to liquid cooling.

Kawasaki says the engine is 90% new, yet it retains the bevel-drive camshaft.Kawasaki W800 Cafe

It should be a little more frugal and with an extra litre in the 15-litre tank, it should have slightly greater range.Kawasaki W800 Cafe

The engine also has ever-so-slightly more grunt.

Power is the same at a moderate 35kW but at 6000rpm, down 500 revs, while torque is up marginally from 60N at 25oo revs to 62.9Nm at 4800 revs.

So you don’t lock up the rear wheel on aggressive downshifts, there is now an assistant function/slipper clutch.

Steering and handling should also be more stable with the 37mm telescopic forks replaced by thicker 41mm forks.Kawasaki W800 Cafe

Somehow the ground clearance is lifted from 125mm to 130mm but the seat height remains at 790mm.

The extra add just 6kg more.

It will only be available in “Metallic Magnesium Grey with Galaxy Silver” with a two-year warranty.Kawasaki W800 Cafe

Kawasaki W800 Cafe tech specsKawasaki W800 in surprise return

Kawasaki W800 Cafe

Kawasaki W800 Cafe Kawasaki W800 Cafe Kawasaki W800 Cafe Kawasaki W800 Cafe Kawasaki W800 Cafe

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Kawasaki trademarks retro Meguro name

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Kawasaki has filed trademark applications for the retro name Meguro in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Europe, and the Philippines.

The trademark application seems to point to the development of more retro models such as the successful Z900RS and Z900RS Cafe and the new W800 Cafe (pictured above).

Meguro invested in Harley-Davidson during the Wall Street Crash of 1929 to gain technological know-how.

They used that knowledge to start making gearboxes and by 1937 were making their own motorcycles.

Megruo supplied bikes for the Japanese police and military and even went racing in the 1950s.

The company offered a range of motorcycles from 50cc to 350cc, but they were too expensive.

Kawasaki-Meguro B8 125cc 1
Kawasaki-Meguro B8 125cc

Meguro revived

Kawasaki saved the company from extinction in 1960 and made several models in a Kawasaki-Meguro partnership.

Together they made 125cc, 175cc and 250cc single-cylinder models, 500cc K-series twin and the 625cc Kawasaki W.

The W625 was the inspiration for the development of the retro parallel-twin W650 in 1999.

Kawasaki replaced the W650 with the the 775cc W800 in 2011.

While that air-cooled model appeared destined for extinction thanks to Euro emissions standards, Kawasaki surprised by unveiling the W800 Cafe at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan last November.

Kawasaki W800 in surprise return z400 meguro
W800 Cafe

Kawasaki Motor Australia confirms the W800 Cafe will arrive later this year.

Pricing and full specifications are not yet available for the retro model as production is not until mid-2019.

But it seems clear that Kawasaki intends to mine its historic roots with more retro models.

However, the name Meguro is not well-known outside of Japan.

The trademark application actually says the name could be used for “two-wheeled motor vehicles; motorcycles; scooters; mopeds; bicycles; structural parts for motorcycles”.

So “Meguro” could start appearing simply as badging on a range of retro models.

Or it could be the name for a whole new platform of neo-classic motorcycles.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com