Apollo Tyres is reportedly looking to enter the motorcycle tyre business in the first half of 2016. Indian automotive website ZigWheels writes that its sources suggest Apollo will focus on tyres for motorcycles with a 300cc and larger displacement.
Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM has chosen the Metzeler Sportec M7 RR as the original equipment tyre for its 690 Duke. The new mid-capacity naked will receive the Sportec M7 RR in size 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL (M) for the front wheel and 160/60 ZR 17 M/C (69W ) TL for the rear.
Paris-based motorcycle exhibition Le Salon de la Moto played host to the global premiere of two new Michelin tyres aimed at a healthily-growing transportation segment. This pair of products is the Michelin Pilot Road 4 Scooter and Pilot Power 3 Scooter.
The EICMA International Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy begins today, and Bridgestone is on hand with several premières. The tyre maker says the star of the show at its 178m² stand (Pavilion 24, stand M77) is the new Battlax Hypersport S21, which will be shown for the first time at EICMA 2015 and is on display fitted to the new-generation 1-litre Yamaha R1. Bridgestone is also presenting its latest flagship hypersport wet racing tyre, the Battlax Racing W01, for the first time ever.
Milan-based motorcycle exhibition EICMA gets under way tomorrow, and Mitas says it will unveil a new dual-purpose radial tyre there. Called the Terra Force-R, the tyre is said to feature a “street-oriented tread pattern” that offers “excellent traction on wet or dry roads and outstanding performance on light off-road surfaces.”
At EICMA 2015, Bridgestone will unveil its new Battlax Hypersport S21 radial – a tyre that blends proven wet weather technology and innovative new features, giving impressive performance in all conditions and on all surfaces.
Bridgestone will be much in evidence at the EICMA 73rd International Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy, from 19 to 22 November, with a 178m² stand. The company will display new products, innovations and the wide range of Battlax tyres for all types of riders and motorcycles and there will be world premières for two new tyres; the Battlax Hypersport S21, fitted on the stunning new 1-litre Yamaha R1, and the Battlax Racing W01, Bridgestone’s new flagship hypersport wet racing tyre.
Bridgestone’s Battlax Racing Street RS10 tyre will be original equipment on Kawasaki’s 2016 model Ninja ZX-10R, the top-ranked model in the Superbike World Championship 2015.
The Saroléa Manx 7 electric superbike has been homologated in the Isle of Man for public road use, fitted with Bridgestone Battlax RS 10 tyres. The company plans to develop and manufacture high performance street-legal electric motorcycles in limited editions on the Isle of Man. The Manx 7 itself is derived from the Saroléa SP7, which competed in the Isle of Man TT Zero races in 2014 and 2015. Racing on Bridgestone Battlax VO2 slicks, the Saroléa narrowly missed a podium finish this year after completing the 60km TT course at an average speed of more than 170km/h.
Commenting on the September figures for motorcycle registrations, released by the Motorcycle Industry Association, Stephen Latham, head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) which represents motorcycle retailers across the UK, said: “Motorcycle registrations continued to increase with a year-to-date growth of 12.3 per cent, however it was disappointing to see that September sales were only up by 7.2 per cent following the 65-plate change.”
Following an “extensive three-year testing and development programme with riders of all levels,” Michelin has launched the new StarCross 5 range of motocross tyres. The tyre maker reports that its research and development teams and Michelin Motorsort pooled their respective expertise and worked together to design the new tyre; the result is a product that “breaks new ground for the Michelin group in the world of motocross.”
The ENI FIM Superbike World Championship will recommence after its summer break at Spain’s Jerez Circuit on 18-20 September, and Pirelli will add the event to its existing World Superbike sponsorships in Malaysia and Qatar. In addition, the WSB’s tyre supplier will add new tyre products to its range in Jerez. The season’s eleventh round will be named “Pirelli Spanish Round”.
Michelin North America has announced that its Harley-Davidson co-branded motorcycle tyre, the Michelin Scorcher, will now be available through all authorised Michelin and Harley-Davidson dealers. The Scorcher portfolio – the Scorcher 11, Scorcher 31 and Scorcher 32 – were previously only sold through Harley-Davidson dealerships. Scorcher tyres are original equipment on the Harley-Davidson Sportster, Dyna, V-Rod and Street, and their replacement market availability is now growing.
Brno will host the Czech Republic round of the FIM Moto Championship following the USA Grand Prix, and Moto2 and 3 tyre supplier Dunlop is anticipating further success for the newest riders in the more senior series. Alex Rins became the second Moto3 graduate to win a Moto2 race last weekend, while the first, Jonas Folger, won two previous races and will have high hopes for a good result at the Brno circuit where he won his only Moto3 race in 2012. There are now four riders who have appeared on both Moto3 and Moto2 podiums: Rins, Folger, Cortese and Salom.
The Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP has been approved as the original equipment tyre for the new Yamaha YZF-R1. The 200 horsepower, 998cc sport bike was developed using YZR-M1 MotoGP technology and is equipped with the Diablo Supercorsa SP in size 120/70 ZR17 at the front and 190/55 ZR17 on the rear wheel.
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