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
