The successor to Metzeler’s Karoo and Karoo T will be available in spring 2013, the tyre maker reports. The motorcycling world gained a sneak preview of the new Karoo 3 at November’s EICMA motorcycle show in Italy, and when it hits the road next year the tyre will be available in three front wheel and six rear sizes. Metzeler describes the new knobbly tyre as a product “designed for bikers who love adventure and off-road travel.”
Metzeler has again served as sole tyre supplier to the BMW Motorrad GS Trophy, which ran in South America from 24 November to 2 December. The rally-raid is organised every two years by the German motorcycle maker to allow its best and most competent customers to test the off-road qualities of BMW bikes. After the first edition in Tunisia in 2008 and the second in South Africa in 2010, the “Two-wheeler specialist” was chosen by BMW as the ideal technical partner to take on the hard trials scheduled.
Metzeler tyres have had a successful year both around the World and in the UK in Enduro. In the World Enduro Championship, Metzeler’s Six Days Extreme tyres proved a stand out choice for successful competitors with podiums across four classes. Meanwhile in the UK long time Metzeler rider David Knight powered his way to an unsurpassed tenth British Enduro Championship. The Manx resident is now 34 years old, but was able to show his young competitors controlled aggression and pace as he took a double victory in the final round in Hampshire.
Three UK moto series supported by Pirelli-owned bike tyre brand Metzeler came to an end on the weekend of 13-14 October at Brands Hatch. The company supplied tyres to the Superstock 1000 and 600, in addition to the Triumph Triple Challenge in 2012. Metzeler Product and Marketing manager Jim Worland commented: “Once again our three Metzeler supported Championships have supplied fantastic racing, large fields of riders and most importantly supplied a great route for young racers to progress through the ranks. The Metzeler Racetec Interact tyres have helped give fast, consistent lap times and give excellent feedback to the riders.”
Metzeler has announced that its new sport touring Tourance Next tyres will debut on the BMW R 1200 GS at international motorcycle, scooter and bicycle show, Intermot, which runs from 3 to 7 October in Cologne, Germany. Metzeler has been a BMW development partner for its GS line since 1980 with street enduro products and since 1999 with its Tourance-branded tyres. The Tourance Next is the third generation of the range and was specifically designed for the latest generation of street enduro and adventure touring bikes. The tyre is original equipment on the BMW R 1200 GS in sizes 120/70 R19 M/C and the 170/60 R17 M/C, having been developed in cooperation with the Bavarian manufacturer.
On 27 July Metzeler chose London as the host city for an ‘opening ceremony’ of its own, the global debut of its Feelgreen tyre. The new range, which from 2014 onwards will be supplied as original equipment on BMW’s electric C evolution scooter (120/70 R15 on the front and 160/60 R15 on the rear), is designed with an emphasis on minimising rolling resistance.
Two-wheel tyre specialist Metzeler has launched a new scooter product at the Olympic Games. The Feelgreen is being used by some journalists as they move around the London venues; the tyre has been chosen as original equipment by BMW for its electric C evolution scooter, which was introduced at an international press conference on the opening day of the Games. The new scooter will be fitted with the Metzeler Feelgreen in size 120/70 R15 on the front and 160/60 R15 on the rear, and will be sold from 2014 as exclusive original equipment on the BMW electric scooter, as well as in the replacement market.
As parent company Pirelli launched what is, it is probably fair to say, the mother of all pin-up calendars in New York, the firm’s Metzler specialist two wheel tyre brand launched a calendar of its own. The Metzeler Classics calendar, now in its 19th edition, celebrates two-wheeled competitions from the sixties with a series of black & white shots, paying homage to Japan and its motorcycling tradition, marked this year by such terrible adversity with Tsunami, earthquake and nuclear challenges.
Following on from its five year deal with the MCE British Superbike Championship, Metzeler has announced that it will increase its involvement in Superstock 1000, 600 and the Triumph Triple Challenge, including a promotional brand unit in the trade areas of each event. Metzeler Racing manager Jason Griffiths commented; “This is a big year for Metzeler as the Superstock classes have never been bigger and we are also proud to supply the tyres for the Triumph Triple Challenge. Just like the bike manufacturers, Metzeler sees real importance in proving the quality of its road based products especially as lap times have continued to tumble. The class is very difficult to predict this year with so many potential winners, it’s going to be a real battle out there I’m sure! We are also supporting the fans more this year with a promotional unit and competitions at every round with top prizes.”
Pirelli has its ‘Cal’ – the latest of which, incidentally, is being unveiled in Moscow on November 30 – and the company’s Metzeler brand also has a calendar of its own. London’s Ace Café was chosen as the launch venue for the 2011 edition of Metzeler’s ‘Classics’ calendar, and the tyre maker reports an enjoyable evening was had members of the Metzeler ‘community’.
Pirelli recently renewed its tyre supply commitments to the British Superbike (BSB) and Supersport Championships, and now the company’s Metzeler brand has been confirmed as the control tyre supplier for the 1000ccc and 600cc National Superstock championships for a further five years. The German based manufacturer says these two “important production based classes within the prestigious MCE British Superbike series” have great importance as they offer Metzeler the chance to demonstrate the quality of its ‘over the counter’ tyres.
A recent article written by Joel Mayor Loran and published by the Granma and Periodico publications in Cuba gives a fascinating insight into the workings of the country’s National Rubber Company – Poligom. According to the article, which is entitled “How to Save a Million Dollars” the Cuban retreading operation has been facing a scarcity of raw materials and retreadable casings.
The Poligom National Rubber Company reportedly runs five factories specialised retreading work, which retreaded 56,900 tyres in 2009. However, the lack of stability in the supply is said to have affected plans to increase production to 90,000 in 2010. In the year to 10 June the retread companies located in the municipality of Cotorro in Havana City, in the central province of Las Villas, and in the eastern provinces of Camaguey, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba received 34,000 casings, 6,000 less than expected.
Tiffany Coates has developed a reputation as the "most journeyed" female motorcyclist, travelling long distances on her trusty BMW R80 GS. Her latest oddyssey was a 17,000 mile overland trip, riding on Metzeler tyres, and detailed in the latest edition of Bike Tyrestores' weekly e-mail magazine.
Metzeler has claimed its third consecutive World Indoor Enduro title with top riders Blazusiak and Cervantes heading the order on Metzeler 6 DAYS EXTREME enduro tyres. After just three rounds of competition, Metzeler rider Tadeusz Blazusiak (KTM) was proclaimed FIM Indoor Enduro World Cup Champion in Vigo, Spain after winning all three finals. According to the company, this form of exciting and fast action Enduro has attracted big names this season with top names including multi World Enduro and Trials champions such as Mika Ahola (Honda), Dougie Lampkin (Beta) and Ivan Cervantes (KTM).
Cuba is a country renowned for Castro, Caribbean Climate and Classic Cars. But the streets of Havana and Santiago de Cuba are not just made resplendent by the presence of four-wheeled relics from the island’s pre-communist era – motorcycles predating the 1960s are still to be found, and are lovingly maintained in working order by owners who wouldn’t be caught dead riding the rubbish the Soviet Union later sent over. Of course keeping a classic bike on the road is not so easy in a country embargoed by the US for close to half a century…So Metzeler has decided to lend Cuban riders a hand.
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