greg
2005-12-05 10:09:13 UTC
from http://umgweb.com
JRD Jag
JRD a large Malaysian industrial company with factories all over Asia
(including Thailand) but not exactly yet focused heavily on motorcycles
- the JRD 110RS the kind of low end step-thru that has little going
for it other than its sub four hundred quid ex-factory price. They are
of note, though, as they have developed a 125cc off-road version of the
eternal if not infernal step-thru that is rather more useful than it
sounds and likely to retail in Asia for as little as five hundred
sterling. Worth keeping an eye out for future, larger capacity, models
including a neat 200cc thumper roadster that could make it into Western
markets for half what the Jap's charge for their rather joyless 125
singles such as the Honda CG125.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vincent Variations
Phil Cotton Classics in Cumbria are selling brand new, upgraded Vincent
engines that even have electric starters. These are available for
fitment into either Egli or cut-down Norton frames, with variations in
cycle parts although there doesn't seem to be an option for those who
require proper handlebars... most likely needed for anyone old enough
to front up the 25-30k sterling cost. Not convinced, though, that the
engine is placed far enough forward for sublime handling.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hyosung Highs
The Korean motorcycle manufacturer has a new link with Italjet,
producer of hot scooters, who will be launching some reworked and
rebadged cycles based on Hyosung's 650cc vee-twin, but the over-the-top
styling that results does not exactly inspire much wallet twitching.
The little 250cc vee-twin Comet still seems the best meld of Hyosung's
current motorcycle art - they also make some god-awful ugly choppers!
Be interesting to see what they do with their new litre vee-twin mill.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Better Beemer
BMW's F800ST sorts out the bulky half fairing mess on the F800S at the
price of having to suffer a full fairing that really offers little by
way of extra protection. The ST manages the same mass as a 1965 Honda
CB450 twin, 411lbs, but does knock out twice the power at a probably
very useful 85 ponies - forty years of progress! The Yamaha TDM900,
with its ridiculous carbuncle of a fairing, stands to be the biggest
loser in this game unless and until Yamaha update the big twin in naked
format in a way that emphasizes rather than hiding its neat alloy
wraparound frame. BMW have a couple more 800's to launch, both a naked
version and RT off-roader... reluctantly, I have added the ST and maybe
the naked roadster to the list of possible fiftieth birthday presents
to myself. Price will probably be the most important factor with these
new Beemers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hit and Run
Do a search on eBay.com and find an early edition of Bike Magazine, buy
it and read it. Applaud Mark Williams in his prime and ponder EMAP's
refusal to let him amuse new Bike readers (this kinda mean-mindedness
is repeated over and over throughout the modern publishing world). Then
buy the latest edition of Bike - in all in glorious techno-colour
perfection - and if your blood hasn't yet congealed into lead I'd
guess that the earlier issue for all its relative plainness (if not LSD
weird, honey, bunny...) amused a hell of a lot more. Or is it just me?
Or to be even more obscure, find an old issue of Motorcycle
Illustrated, circa mid 1970's, when Dave Minton waxed lyrical on
everything from a Honda CB200 to a Vincent vee-twin, and try to find a
modern journo who even comes close! Throw me a name and I will eagerly
devour the muse. No? This dismal correctness isn't just there in modern
Bike magazine, it's everywhere; guys covering their asses and running
frightened out of their wits whilst collecting large paychecks for
their dismal endeavours. This is the market and democracy in action and
it's enough to turn an aging lad communist (and, I mean, those gals in
Laos are SO cute, majoring in about 40kgs of pure tensile steel lust)
or... or what? I've always been a confused soul, digging London
dungeons with Punk music turned so high it reduced stone walls to
rubble whilst at the same time applauding Mrs Thatcher's umbrella
waving! Which means (other than being nearly bloody deaf)... sod all,
as usual. A roundabout and belated farewell to LJK Setright whose
columns were an amusing and wholly erudite contrast to Mark Williams'
Running Out of Road diatribes in those early Bike Magazines. Sorry, but
there is no-one doing this kinda stuff any more - bottom line, sadly,
it doesn't sell advertising space in the modern media world.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Milan Mavens
Predictably, the Italian manufacturers kept all the good stuff for the
Milan Motorcycle Show - Ducati showing a neat prototype hypermotard,
Guzzi a big plastic tourer that won't have BMW worried (who have a new
lightweight RS boxer to play with as well as their 800cc vertical twin
models), Morini showcasing their 91/2 vee-twin (disappointingly heavy,
though), Cagiva doing the nasty with a 37hp 125cc learner, Benelli
showed the weirdly named Tre-k with some strange horns on the tank that
probably have an obscure Oriental meaning and Bimota still trying but
not winning with its naked Delirio. The Jap's mostly somnolent, though
Honda did brave showing some more daft hyperscoots. Derbi, of all
companies, had a rather neat big thumper roadster but as their website
is impossible I can't tell you any more about it! Meanwhile, in good
old Blighty, the industry managed to maintain their brilliant record,
left wondering why their commuters and scooters haven't broken into the
mainstream with petrol prices at absurd levels (hint - the scoots
dangerous and the step-thru's priced at twice the level the market
demands). In fact, the combination of hideously overpriced commuters
and ruinous insurance rates have left record numbers of youths riding
around totally illegally on cheap and cheerful (unregistered!) Chinese
imports - anarchy in the UK - so much for a socialist paradise on
earth.
from http://umgweb.com
JRD Jag
JRD a large Malaysian industrial company with factories all over Asia
(including Thailand) but not exactly yet focused heavily on motorcycles
- the JRD 110RS the kind of low end step-thru that has little going
for it other than its sub four hundred quid ex-factory price. They are
of note, though, as they have developed a 125cc off-road version of the
eternal if not infernal step-thru that is rather more useful than it
sounds and likely to retail in Asia for as little as five hundred
sterling. Worth keeping an eye out for future, larger capacity, models
including a neat 200cc thumper roadster that could make it into Western
markets for half what the Jap's charge for their rather joyless 125
singles such as the Honda CG125.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vincent Variations
Phil Cotton Classics in Cumbria are selling brand new, upgraded Vincent
engines that even have electric starters. These are available for
fitment into either Egli or cut-down Norton frames, with variations in
cycle parts although there doesn't seem to be an option for those who
require proper handlebars... most likely needed for anyone old enough
to front up the 25-30k sterling cost. Not convinced, though, that the
engine is placed far enough forward for sublime handling.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hyosung Highs
The Korean motorcycle manufacturer has a new link with Italjet,
producer of hot scooters, who will be launching some reworked and
rebadged cycles based on Hyosung's 650cc vee-twin, but the over-the-top
styling that results does not exactly inspire much wallet twitching.
The little 250cc vee-twin Comet still seems the best meld of Hyosung's
current motorcycle art - they also make some god-awful ugly choppers!
Be interesting to see what they do with their new litre vee-twin mill.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Better Beemer
BMW's F800ST sorts out the bulky half fairing mess on the F800S at the
price of having to suffer a full fairing that really offers little by
way of extra protection. The ST manages the same mass as a 1965 Honda
CB450 twin, 411lbs, but does knock out twice the power at a probably
very useful 85 ponies - forty years of progress! The Yamaha TDM900,
with its ridiculous carbuncle of a fairing, stands to be the biggest
loser in this game unless and until Yamaha update the big twin in naked
format in a way that emphasizes rather than hiding its neat alloy
wraparound frame. BMW have a couple more 800's to launch, both a naked
version and RT off-roader... reluctantly, I have added the ST and maybe
the naked roadster to the list of possible fiftieth birthday presents
to myself. Price will probably be the most important factor with these
new Beemers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hit and Run
Do a search on eBay.com and find an early edition of Bike Magazine, buy
it and read it. Applaud Mark Williams in his prime and ponder EMAP's
refusal to let him amuse new Bike readers (this kinda mean-mindedness
is repeated over and over throughout the modern publishing world). Then
buy the latest edition of Bike - in all in glorious techno-colour
perfection - and if your blood hasn't yet congealed into lead I'd
guess that the earlier issue for all its relative plainness (if not LSD
weird, honey, bunny...) amused a hell of a lot more. Or is it just me?
Or to be even more obscure, find an old issue of Motorcycle
Illustrated, circa mid 1970's, when Dave Minton waxed lyrical on
everything from a Honda CB200 to a Vincent vee-twin, and try to find a
modern journo who even comes close! Throw me a name and I will eagerly
devour the muse. No? This dismal correctness isn't just there in modern
Bike magazine, it's everywhere; guys covering their asses and running
frightened out of their wits whilst collecting large paychecks for
their dismal endeavours. This is the market and democracy in action and
it's enough to turn an aging lad communist (and, I mean, those gals in
Laos are SO cute, majoring in about 40kgs of pure tensile steel lust)
or... or what? I've always been a confused soul, digging London
dungeons with Punk music turned so high it reduced stone walls to
rubble whilst at the same time applauding Mrs Thatcher's umbrella
waving! Which means (other than being nearly bloody deaf)... sod all,
as usual. A roundabout and belated farewell to LJK Setright whose
columns were an amusing and wholly erudite contrast to Mark Williams'
Running Out of Road diatribes in those early Bike Magazines. Sorry, but
there is no-one doing this kinda stuff any more - bottom line, sadly,
it doesn't sell advertising space in the modern media world.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Milan Mavens
Predictably, the Italian manufacturers kept all the good stuff for the
Milan Motorcycle Show - Ducati showing a neat prototype hypermotard,
Guzzi a big plastic tourer that won't have BMW worried (who have a new
lightweight RS boxer to play with as well as their 800cc vertical twin
models), Morini showcasing their 91/2 vee-twin (disappointingly heavy,
though), Cagiva doing the nasty with a 37hp 125cc learner, Benelli
showed the weirdly named Tre-k with some strange horns on the tank that
probably have an obscure Oriental meaning and Bimota still trying but
not winning with its naked Delirio. The Jap's mostly somnolent, though
Honda did brave showing some more daft hyperscoots. Derbi, of all
companies, had a rather neat big thumper roadster but as their website
is impossible I can't tell you any more about it! Meanwhile, in good
old Blighty, the industry managed to maintain their brilliant record,
left wondering why their commuters and scooters haven't broken into the
mainstream with petrol prices at absurd levels (hint - the scoots
dangerous and the step-thru's priced at twice the level the market
demands). In fact, the combination of hideously overpriced commuters
and ruinous insurance rates have left record numbers of youths riding
around totally illegally on cheap and cheerful (unregistered!) Chinese
imports - anarchy in the UK - so much for a socialist paradise on
earth.
from http://umgweb.com