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Kiwi electric motorcycle manufacturer FTN Motion steps out of the moped sector with new model Streetdog FTN Motion’s original Streetdog is a fun little commuter option packing one heck of a practical punch, and now the boys behind the original are amping things up with an even more powerful version dubbed the Streetdog 80. Set to be build locally at the FTN Motion factory in Hamilton, the Streetdog 90 is expected to be available towards the end of 2024. As its name suggests, the Streetdog 80 is the next step in the Streetdog story, withe new model boasting a higher top speed of 80km/h and a real-life range of up to 80km. Just like the original moped-class Streetdog, it also features a whopping 30 litres of built-in and  lockable storage, a touch-screen display, alarm-activated wheel lock, regenerative braking, and a proprietary LG 21700 lithium-ion battery. Unlike the original Streetdog, the 80 does have its downside as its top speed and power means it doesn’t fall within the definition of a moped-class bike and as such will mean it will require riders to hold a motorcycle license. Michel Roncara, FTN’s General Manager, says there’s already strong interest from both sides of the Tasman in the next evolution of the Streetdog. “Since the beginning of FTN Motion, people have asked us if a faster Streetdog was on the cards. Over the last 12 months, we’ve been developing the new Streetdog80 to meet customer demand. We were stoked to see buyers from Aotearoa and Australia lining up to secure the first Streetdog80s as soon as we opened the reservation list. “Our team has been putting the bike through its paces in Wellington - our original test zone given the city's ruggedness - and it’s ticking all the boxes. We can’t wait for it to be on the road,” he says. FTN Motion's co-founder, Luke Sinclair says the Streetdog80 also marks other milestones for the company: the first production run from its new purpose-built Hamilton base and the first for Australasian customers. “We took the Streetdog to Sydney and Melbourne towards the end of 2023 and had an incredible response from our roadshow and test rides. Congestion and parking are massive problems in most main centres. The typical daily commute is around 15km with a single person in a car. The rush of orders for the Streetdog80 that have come through since the launch shows people are keen for something different. “Moving our manufacturing to Hamilton was an essential step in our journey to scale production, particularly as we enter Australia. I can’t wait to see our new factory humming as we build and deliver the Streetdog80 to riders on both sides of the Tasman,” he says. FTN Motion says that the fully customisable Streetdog80 has an estimated price of $14,500, and will be built to order in Hamilton.

We recently popped over the Tasman to check out the newly updated Harley-Davidson Road Glide and Street Glide. With prices starting from $59,490, does the latest and greatest from Haley stack up to the price tag?

Sherco is diving headlong into the world of electric minis with its EB18 Factory Edition which has just landed in local dealers. Priced at just $2,299 ride away, the EB18 Factory Edition joins the range as the new flagship balance bike model from Sherco. According to Sherco, it’s not just a plaything,  it's a tool designed to empower young riders in the 8-10 years range to develop the confidence and technical skills needed to take on the world of ICE motorcycles. The EB18 Factory Edition is powered by a 36V 500W brushless motor which, like other balance bikes on the market, offers multiple modes to tame the speed to the young rider’s ability before progressively unlocking more speed as they can handle it. The EB18 starts at Low which is limited to 15 kph, while Med allows up to 22 kph and high sees the EB18 Factory Edition top out at 30kph. As the name suggests, the EB18 Factory Edition rolls on 18-inch alloy spoked rims to suit older novice riders entering the moto world. Pulling the EB18 to a halt is a set of front and rear hydraulic disc brakes for confident stopping power. In the suspension department, the EB18 Factory Edition sports adjustable front suspension, featuring a hydraulic lockout function, while the rear suspension is an oil/gas shock to cater to individual preferences, delivering a customisable and comfortable riding experience. The height-adjustable seat ensures that the bike grows with the rider, providing long-lasting enjoyment. With a simple twist-and-go throttle, battery-level display, and essential safety features like a kill switch with a safety lanyard, riders can confidently explore and build their skills in a way that is hard to achieve with an internal combustion engine machine.. Each EB18 Factory Edition comes with an NZ 240V household charger, owner's manual, and toolkit. To help build extra peace of mind, each EB18 Factory also comes with a 12-month parts-only warranty. Sherco EB18 Factory Edition Specifications POWER •    A 36V 500W brushless motor •    3 speeds: Low 15km/h, Med: 22km/h, High: 30km/h •    Run time is 30-60 minutes (depending on power setting and riding conditions) •    Recharge time is two-three hours •    A quick-change spare battery is available ($349 - sold separately) •    Simple twist-and-go throttle with a battery-level display •    Kill switch with safety lanyard BRAKES & TYRES •    Both front and rear hydraulic disc brakes •    Alloy wire-spoked rims •    18 x 2.5-inch tyres FRAME •    Premium alloy frame, handlebars and pegs •    Front Suspension: adjustable, triple clamp fork with hydraulic lock-out function •    Rear Suspension: adjustable, oil/gas shock •    Height-adjustable seat RIDER •    Recommended age: 8-10 •    Max rider weight: 50kg OTHER •    Each bike comes with an NZ 240V household charger, owner’s manual and toolkit. •    12-month parts-only warranty

Despite the glory days of custom motorcycles making mainstream headlines being well in the past now, Harley-Davidson as a brand continues to support the hard graft of those who live and breathe custom motorcycles. Following the success of Harley-Davidson’s ‘Breakout Boss’ customisation competition in late 2022 and 2023, the newly announced Number One competition was met with eagerness and friendly rivalry from Harley-Davidson owners across Australia and New Zealand. Determined for their bike to be crowned the ‘Number One’ Harley-Davidson, more riders than ever submitted their motorcycles into the competition, all with a shared passion for the history, custom culture and evolution of the iconic American brand. To champion Harley-Davidson’s ever-growing number of riders and motorcycle models, the competition has grown exponentially and expanded into three categories: Club Style, Heavyweight Cruiser and Bagger. Each category consisted of 14 motorcycles, which were submitted to a three-round public voting system and an expert panel of judges to assess the artistry, ingenuity, and creativity of the build. The judges had the privilege of deciding which bike was ‘Number One’ in the final competition week from April 1-5, and Australia and New Zealand’s ‘Number One’ Winner is John Cage and his Club Style FXR. “It’s a massive honour to have my FXR crowned Number One across Australia and New Zealand and to have that work recognised by the Harley-Davidson community,” said John Cage, on winning the Number One competition. “The depth of the competition, finalists and winners across each category really highlights how diverse the Harley-Davidson community is and the different tastes, styles and cultures that influence how we all customise our bikes.” The winners of each category in the Harley-Davidson ‘Number One’ competition were: CLUB STYLE: John Cage - FXR HEAVYWEIGHT CRUISER: Matt Mueller - Breakout BAGGER: Glen Couper - Road King The final decision in naming Number One was entrusted to a panel of judges who had decades of experience in motorcycling and motorcycle customisation. “To see entrants from every corner of Australia and New Zealand emerge for the “Number One’ competition is absolutely astounding,” said Nigel Keough, Managing Director for Harley-Davidson ANZ. “As riders and bike lovers, we live for opportunities to show off our bikes and to rev the engines in some friendly competition.”

It is perhaps Indian Motorcycle’s most well-known model, so maybe that is why it has taken the American brand so long to turn its gaze to changing it with the Scout entering its second generation for the 2025 model year. The Indian Scout has an inimitable link to New Zealand through the legendary Burt Munro, and now the modern Indian Scout is finally set for an update after a nearly 10-year production run. The Scout in its current form has been around since late 2014 and at its core has remained largely the same as it was on debut. Motorcycling has changed a lot in the past decade and Indian’s owners Polaris are known for being a bit more forward-thinking than their other American counterparts, and this is reflected in the new Scout. “Scout is the most iconic American cruiser of all time and is synonymous with the Indian Motorcycle brand,” said Mike Dougherty, President for Indian Motorcycle. “As our top-selling platform, Scout has long been a staple in our lineup. And while riders around the world love the current Scout offering, we’re excited to take it to the next level and continue its evolution with a robust offering of models to meet the diverse needs of our global riding community.” That evolution will see a wide range of riders catered for by the Scout model family, with five models on offer starting at the Scout Classic which keeps to the model's roots as the logical starting point of the lineup, while the top-of-the-line Scout 101 pushes the bike towards power cruiser territory. Filling out the middle of the range is the returning Scout Bobber alongside the new Sport Scout with its Scout Rogue-inspired fairing and the new Super Scout which sees the platform optimised for touring. Set to arrive in New Zealand dealers in Q2 of 2025, the new Indian Scout will arrive in a five-model family from the off, a clever move on Indian’s part to get the maximum from the new platform by building on learnings from the Gen-1 bike’s owners. At the top of the changes for the 2025 Scout is its chassis, which sees Indian dropping the innovative Aluminium frame of the Gen-1 bike in favour of a more traditional steel frame. While the 1133cc engine of the 2015 Scout was no slouch, Indian thought that the market demanded more - so for 2025 the Scout rolls to the beat of a new 60-degree V-twin called the SpeedPlus 1250. Power from the new engine is rated at a cool 79kw at 7250rpm with 108Nm at 6300rpm of peak torque in all variants except the performance-oriented Scout 101, which sees performance boosted slightly to 83kw and 109Nm at the same revolutions. Indian is perhaps the most forward-thinking of the American manufacturers when it comes to integrating tech into its bikes, with the new Scout all coming standard with ABS and Traction Control systems, with the Scout Classic, Bobber and Sport Scout set to be offered in two trim levels, with a Standard trim focused on keeping pricing attainable with a stylish analogue dash, and an optional Limited +Tech Trim throws in Indian’s Ride Command infotainment system and touchscreen dash into the mix. For the Scout 101 and Super Scout, the higher specification Tech trim is the standard equipment. “Scout is a beloved model and the most iconic and historic of our lineup, resonating with all types of riders, men and women, from all over the world,” said Ben Lindaman, Product Director for Indian Motorcycle. “Since launching the current Scout 10 years ago, the midsized cruiser segment has evolved. After conducting tons of research, rider insights drove our developments that prioritised the Scout’s iconic styling, its class-leading performance, and new rider-centric technology.” While the new Scout range adds many new features in both technology and performance riders now expect, it remains the key entry point to the Indian Motorcycle range. With that in mind accessibility is a key to the new Scout, and along with its new trim levels it will enter the market with the lowest seat height in the industry at just 649mm. With a low seat height, brawny 1250cc engine and a range of models for different niches within the cruiser class, it looks like Indian is well on the way to another success story with the Gen-2 Scout. Surprisingly, despite the wide variation in the tech specs of the new Scout range, pricing is quite tight with the bikes priced between $24,495 and $29,995. That’ll make deciding on which version of the all-new Scout to choose all the harder we expect. The MY25  lineup starts at $24,495 with the base model Scout Bobber which is set to be offered in Black Metallic. To opt for a different colour and also add Indian’s new tech package which adds TFT instrumentation and infotainment increases the price of the Scout Bobber to $26,495. The base model Scout Classic will also be available only in Black Metallic is priced from $24,995 with the Limited+Tech package also adding $2,000 to the price along with the Ghost White Metallic and Red Metallic paint options. Sport Scout enters the lineup at $25,495 with the Limited+Tech package priced at $27,495 also offering Black Smoke and Metallic Blue colour choices The Super Scout will be offered only in Limited+Tech trim, with both colour options - Black Smoke with graphics and Maroon Metallic with graphics - priced at $28,495. The range-topping Scout 101 rounds out the range at $29,995 and will be available in Maroon Metallic or White Metallic with both also enhanced with graphics.

Royal Enfield's Super Meteor 650 was one of our favourite rides of 2023, and now its custom-inspired sibling the Shotgun 650 has been confirmed for the New Zealand market. Royal Enfield New Zealand has confirmed hot introductory pricing for the Shotgun 650, with the bike entering the NZ market from just $11,990 for the Sheet Metal Grey colourway. Plasma Blue retails from $12,190, Green Drill from $12,190, and Stencil White tops the range at $12,390. All prices exclude on road costs. Alongside the pricing announcement, Royal Enfield has opened up pre-orders for the bike. In a cool move, the first five customers across Australia & New Zealand to place their deposit online at 12pm Wednesday 24th April 2024 for the Shotgun 650 will receive an exclusive invitation to the official Australian launch party in mid-May 2024. Enfields have always had plenty of options for customisation by owners, but with the Shotgun 650, Royal Enfield looks to take this a step further. The Shotgun 650 is inspired by Royal Enfield's SG650 Concept - showcased at EICMA 2021 - and brings the brand a new model as a blank canvas for customisation and personalisation. The custom-inspired motorcycle, available in four unique colourways - Stencil White, Plasma Blue, Green Drill, and Sheet Metal Grey - the Shotgun 650 is the ultimate canvas for personalization, reflecting a blend of raw creative energy, anarchic custom culture, and the iconic Royal Enfield DNA. Built on Royal Enfield’s globally proven 650-Twin platform, the Shotgun 650 is a tribute to the culture of customisation and a new chapter in design for Royal Enfield with an exciting vision of the future. Commenting on the launch of the motorcycle announcement, Royal Enfield CEO B Govindarajan said, “The Shotgun 650 is a symbol of the united pulse of the custom community, and an ode to the long-standing tradition of customising Royal Enfield motorcycles. After the overwhelming response for Shotgun 650 Motoverse edition, we are excited to finally make the production version available for the riding community across the world and can't wait to see how our riders infuse their unique styles into this exceptional motorcycle”. The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 blends retro-futuristic design with modern features. An LED headlamp fitted in a gorgeous custom, neo-modern nacelle stays true to the neo-retro fusion aesthetic while offering improved visibility. The motorcycle has a digi-analogue instrument cluster, which comes equipped with the Tripper navigation system and is designed to deliver all the information you need as you head out. It also features a USB charging port to keep your devices charged on the go. With the globally award-winning 650 Twin platform at its core, the Shotgun 650 is loaded with a double barrel of fun. It is ergonomically optimised, with a mid-set foot position, a low 795mm seat height and an intuitive handlebar position that gives the rider a commanding sense of presence and control, while the floating single seat is both retro and modern at the same time. The Shotgun’s specially tuned suspension features 43mm diameter separate function big piston Showa forks on the front matched to twin tube 5-step preload adjust RSU at the back. When combined with the bike's short 1465mm wheelbase and a low centre of gravity, Royal Enfield states that the handling package comes together to make riding in traffic, on highways and down twisty back roads equally fun, without compromising on comfort. Wide 18-inch front and 17-inch rear tubeless tyres, combined with 320mm and 300mm disc brakes, ensure a steady grip, keeping you engaged and in control at all speeds. Carrying through with the concept of customization and personalization, a diverse range of 31 Genuine Motorcycle Accessories are available for the Shotgun 650. Designed to further highlight the aesthetic appeal of custom culture, bar end mirrors, a sculpted solo seat and contrast-cut billet rims, to name a few, are available. Also, customization is inseparable from lifestyle and so to compliment the spirit of the Shotgun 650 a range of apparel has been developed to explore the future of the brand's apparel. The New Shotgun 650 will be released in 4 bold colourways - Plasma Blue, Sheet Metal Grey, Green Drill and Stencil White. As with the rest of the Royal Enfield range, the Shotgun 650 range comes backed by a solid warranty which in the Shotgun's case is a 3-year unlimited km warranty and 3 years of roadside assistance.

We're counting down the days to the New Zealand arrival of the new BSA Gold Star, and now we know the bike's pricing ahead of its local launch. The 2024 BSA Gold Star will retail from $10,990 with the range topping out at $12,990. As we have seen with other manufacturers, pricing varies depending on colour. The Gold Star enters the market with the bike in the blacked-out Shadow Black colour scheme at $10,990 followed by the Highland Green option at $11,990. The racing-striped Insignia Red, Silver Dawn and Midnight Black are all priced at $12,590 each. Topping the range is the Silver Sheen Legacy Edition with its chrome fenders Silver Sheen Legacy Edition with its chrome fenders and trim, polished engine covers and other premium details. This is priced from $12,990, with all prices excluding on-road costs. At the same time, BSA Motorcycles New Zealand has confirmed that all 2024 BSA Gold Star motorcycles are backed by an unlimited kilometre 2-year warranty. Pricing is competitive with the LAMS modern classic segment, with the new Gold Star set to go head to head with Royal Enfield's popular Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 models. BSA's point of difference is that the 2024 bike is powered by a 45hp 652cc single-cylinder engine rather than the twin of the Royal Enfields, which should mean it offers a different overall riding experience. Like Enfield, BSA has gone to great lengths to retain the classic styling of the bikes of the 1950s and 60s with uniquely oriented clocks, 18 and 17-inch spoked wheels and six distinct colour options. The new BSA Gold Star is expected to arrive in local dealers imminently, with the Cyclespot Group in Auckland and Wellington currently confirmed to be taking on the storied brand.

MV Agusta confirms its new Enduro Veloce adventure bike is heading to New Zealand It’s fair to say that when MV Agusta announced its limited edition LXP Orioli we were less than impressed. A small batch “luxury” off-roader really didn’t make much sense to us. Thankfully, MV never intended to let its off-road ambitions end with the LXP, and has finally announced the full production version of its first adventure bike - suitably named the Enduro Veloce. Like the LXP Orioli, the Enduro Veloce (which is such a cool name!) runs to the hum of a 931cc triple producing 124hp at 10,000rpm and 102Nm at 7,000rpm. Designed, developed, and built entirely at the firm’s factory, the engine weighs in at just 57 kg. MV Agusta hasn’t released official weight specs for the Enduro Veloce, but considering its based on the LXP Orioli we’d assume a similar dry weight of 224kg and around 240kg wet. Running a ride-by-wire system means the Enduro Veloce benefits from all the tech MV could possibly throw at it. Along with cornering traction control and ABS, cruise control and Rear Wheel Lift-Up Mitigation, the Enduro Veloce also gets four riding modes - Urban, Touring, Off-Road and Custom All-Terrain. All of this is controlled through a 7-inch TFT dash. Like the rest of MV Agusta range, the Enduro Veloce features built-in Bluetooth connectivity with the free MV Ride app, which has been significantly revised and updated to make it even more efficient and advanced in terms of connectivity. The rider can now enter a destination and view the route, turn by turn, on the colour TFT display and by enabling the Trip record functionality, data acquisition is active during riding. That means not only can you track your journey, you also will be able to look at all kinds of interesting data including the route, and data regarding speed, gears used, lean angle, altitude and more. Styling has been toned down somewhat from the LXP, with the Enduro Veloce getting a two-tone paint treatment in MV’s Ago Red and Ago Silver colour combination. Interestingly, MV appears to have dropped the standard crash protection that the LXP benefits from for the full production bike which could be a reason why it has a very contemporary Italian design feel compared to its limited edition stable mate. Like the limited edition bike, the Enduro Veloce is sprung by a 48mm Sachs fork with adjustable compression, rebound and pre-load and an adjustable Sache mono shock. Both ends can move through 210mm of travel while the bike features 230mm of ground clearance to work with. While the seat height is a rather tall 870 mm, MV has ensured those of us short in the leg department have a look in by giving it 20mm of adjustment which can see it drop to 850mm. The shape and padding of the seat have been carefully designed to ensure comfort and adequate support in all conditions of use, including long-range highway travel. As you’d expect, MV has gone to the top of the shelf when it comes to its braking system of choice, with Brembo Stylema callipers on 320 mm floating discs at the front and a dual-piston calliper with 265 mm disc at the rear. As standard, the Enduro Veloce mounts Bridgestone Battlax A41 tyres in sizes 90/90-21 and 150/70-18 on Takasago Excel tubeless wheels with an elegant black finish to set them apart from the limited edition LXP. While pricing is expected to be announced closer to the bike’s August 2024 arrival, the addition of the Enduro Veloce to the MV Agusta range is sure to be a welcome shot in the arm for the brand which only registered three (3) bikes for Kiwi roads in 2023.

Two new colours for Royal Enfield's popular LAMS cruiser land in New Zealand dealerships. Royal Enfield’s Super Meteor is already one of the brand’s more upmarket offerings in terms of colours and build quality, and now it's getting even better with the addition of two new paint schemes for 2024. The new colours are Astral Green and Interstellar Grey with pricing aligning with the current colours. Astral Green will set you back $12,490 plus on roads, while the rather fetching Interstellar Grey comes at a $200 premium. In the local market, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor is perhaps the most authentic cruiser experience in the LAMS class with its air and oil-cooled 650cc parallel twin engine and relaxed ergonomics. The Super Meteor is also the newest offering currently available in the New Zealand Royal Enfield 650 lineup. We test rode it last year, and loved the authentic cruiser experience the bike brings to the local LAMS market. The new Shotgun, 650 launched internationally last year, shares the same basic frame and engine and is expected to join the local Royal Enfield lineup soon.

Triumph’s Trident 660 has been wildly successful for the brand since its initial release. Now it is finally getting its very own special edition variant - the Trident Triple Tribute Special Edition. New for 2024, the Trident Triple Tribute celebrates Triumph’s legendary triple engines and will be available for one year only. The Trident Triple Tribute is a contemporary take on Triumph’s iconic ‘white, blue and red’ racing scheme of old, and features the distinctive ‘67’ graphic, which once adorned the most famous Trident in history, a bike called ‘Slippery Sam’ which won the Isle of Man TT a record five consecutive years, from 1971 to 1975. Triumph Motorcycles New Zealand has confirmed that just six examples of the Trident Triple Tribute will be coming to our shores with pricing announced closer to the bike's local release. The Trident Triple Tribute continues the Trident's eye-catching notions, taking its inspiration from the most celebrated Triumph triple bike of all time, ‘Slippery Sam’, which is the only motorcycle ever to win five TT production races in five consecutive years, from 1971 to 1975. The white, blue and red scheme with colour-matched fly screen and belly pan set the bike apart from the regular Trident, while a factory-equipped quickshifter helps keep it humming like its legendary inspiration. “Since its launch in 2020, this middle-weight roadster has reinvigorated this highly competitive category, selling more than 35,600 units worldwide”, Triumph Motorcycles Chief Commercial Officer, Paul Stroud said. “It’s triple engine and premium detailing at a great price, has been successful in bringing younger and new riders to Triumph, and just as ‘Slippery Sam’ once inspired a generation, we believe this special edition has the iconic style, extra technology and dynamic performance to appeal to today’s Triumph fans.” Like the current Trident, the Triple Tribute will only be available in LAMS guise with 54PS of peak power achieved at 8750rpm and 59Nm of peak torque at 5,000rpm. The full power model available overseas, by comparison, puts down 81PS and 64Nm at its peak meaning it has not received the same engine enhancements as seen on the soon-to-be-released Daytona 660. The distinctive tank design with number 67 race graphic surrounds the signature knee cut- outs, complementing the flowing seat line. With an impeccable attention to detail, the Trident 660 features high-quality Triumph badges in both the headlight and taillight and logo touches on the fuel filler cap, handlebar clamp and instruments, plus an inset aluminium Trident badge with diamond machined detailing. Body-coloured radiator cowls, aluminium yokes and heel guards, body-coloured fork protectors, tapered aluminium handlebars and teardrop shape mirrors, with five-spoke, black, lightweight, cast aluminium wheels, complete the eye-catching look. If you want one you’ll need to be quick, as there are only six examples destined for our shores.

Husqvarna has fully revealed the all-new production Svartpilen 801 which is expected to be released in New Zealand in August of 2024. While pricing is yet to be announced by Husqvarna Motorcycles New Zealand, the new Svartpilen looks to be one of the most attractive bikes in the range for a wide set of Kiwi motorcyclists. Previously, since the single-cylinder LC4-powered Svartpilen and Vitpilen left the lineup Husqvarna's only mainstream large-capacity offering has been the Norden 901 adventure bike, with the rest of the Swedish brand's range heavily leaning towards the dirt side of the market. The new "scrambler-inspired" Svartpilen 801 is set to change that with its LC8c parallel-twin engine, cast alloy wheels and truly appealing styling. In its press release, Husqvarna states that the new Svartpilen 801 is "engineered to elevate the road riding experience and escape the ordinary, this exceptional motorcycle sets a new standard of excellence for middleweight street models." Weighing 181 kg without fuel, the Svartpilen 801 is built around a strong and light chromium-molybdenum tubular steel frame for a precise balance of flex and rigidity. As its name implies, at its heart is the 799 cc version of the LC8c engine which is now offered in three capacities across the Husqvarna and KTM ranges. Tipping the scales at 52 kg dry, the engine offers a peak power output of 105 hp and 87Nm Husqvarna is touting the engine's reliability and efficiency as "guaranteed by innovative technologies that extend service intervals to 15,000 km and ensure an extremely low fuel consumption." Showing its road focus despite its scrambler inspiration is a set of cast alloy 17-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli MT60 RS tyres. Suspension and brakes are at the premium end of the spectrum with adjustable WP Apex suspension components handling bumps in the road with 140/150mm of travel respectively, whilst J. Juan brake calipers handle stopping duties. Tech-wise, Husqvarna has ensured the new Svartpilen lives up to the standards set by its LAMS-approved counterpart - the Svartpilen 401 - with the 801 receiving a comprehensive tech package that includes a 5" TFT screen through which everything is controlled. Pairing the TFT with the Ride Husqvarna Motorcycles app allows for clear Turn-by-Turn navigation to be displayed on the dash, as well as the ability to control telephone calls and music selection. A Hazard Warning system is also integrated into the handlebar controls while anti-theft protection is provided via the factory immobiliser. Included in the build is Husqvarna's "easy shift" quickshifter as standard, LED lighting, adjustable Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) and ABS, Street, Rain, and Sport ride modes are pre-set options as standard equipment. For advanced riders, a Supermoto ABS mode is also baked in and can be engaged by those looking for a bit more of a thrill in addition to more direct control over the braking system. Riders wanting even more can opt for the Dynamic Pack which introduces Motor Slip Regulation (MSR) for controlled deceleration with the Anti-Wheelie mode limiting the maximum wheelie angle for extra safety. While the Svartpilen 801 looks to finally see a more mainstream motorcycling option from Husqvarna on offer in the mid-capacity segment, whether we will see the traditional sister bike - the Vitpilen - also receive the 801 treatment is yet to be revealed.

Triumph's moodier, more powerful Rocket 3 Storm makes its return for 2024 with more power than you could realistically ask for. You heard us right, the world's largest series production motorcycle has just gotten a boost of power for 2024 along with a smattering of upgrades to help take the world by storm. New Zealand pricing and local arrival of the new Rocket 3 Storm R and Rocket 3 Storm GT are yet to be confirmed by Triumph Motorcycles New Zealand at the time of writing, however, they are expected to arrive before the end of the year. “Known around the world as the ultimate muscle roadster, the Rocket has already achieved global sales of more than 18,000 since the 2.5 litre engine was introduced in 2019," Paul Stroud, Triumph’s Chief Commercial Officer, said. "By listening to feedback from our customers, we know they love the Rocket’s muscular presence and heart-stopping performance. We also know that riders desire even more.  That’s why the new Rocket 3 Storm R and GT have been given an impressive power and torque increase, even greater agility and an even darker, moodier style and presence on the road.” Triumph has squeezed a 15PS gain in power from the monsterous 2458cc inline-3 engine with both the new Rocket 3 Storm R and GT now delivering a massive 182PS at 7,000rpm. Torque has also been increased by 4Nm, with a new peak of 225Nm at a low 4,000rpm. As before, Triumph has tuned the engine to produce a flat, rich torque curve with maximum torque all the way through the mid-range to give explosive acceleration and effortless response in any gear. Whether this bump in power makes any measurable difference on the Rocket 3's already range topping acceleration is yet to be revealed by Triumph, but it's not like the bike really needed to be any quicker. As we found out on the base model when we tested it last year, the experience of the Rocket 3's acceleration is truly mind bending. The Rocket’s 16-inch rear and 17-inch front wheels have been updated with a sportier ten-spoke cast aluminium design, reducing unsprung mass. This reduction has a positive impact on steering response while on the move, improving the Rocket’s already impressive agility. The strong and lightweight aluminium frame, first introduced in 2019, uses cast and forged elements for an exceptional torque-to-weight ratio. Following the sales success of recent special edition Rockets which featured blacked-out components, the new Rocket 3 Storm models feature a dark, moody colour scheme and an impeccable level of quality detailing. The large 18 litre tank features the new Storm name, and each model has three distinctive two-tone colour options. The R is available in Carnival Red with Sapphire Black, Satin Pacific Blue with Matt Sapphire Black and Sapphire Black with Granite. The GT is available in the same colours, but the split of the tank is reversed, providing a distinctive, high impact look and consistent colour choice across both models. On top of that, Rocket 3 Storm also comes with high-quality black anodised finishes throughout; rear frame forging, swingarm guard, forks lowers and yokes, risers and handlebar clamps, RSU Rocker, seat finisher, footrests & hangers for rider and pillion, brake and gear pedals, levers, and side stand.