Search Results

Grandpa Earl himself - Dean Wilson- has been confirmed as making his way to Aotearoa for the increasingly epic Auckland S-X open event later this month. The Monster Energy backed event will be the first time in years that a Supercross event has been held in New Zealand's largest city, and will be without a doubt the largest event of its kind to be held in New Zealand. Dean Wilson is just the latest in a string of high-profile Supercross athletes to be confirmed for the event, with Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed and New Zealand's own Ben Townley also booting up for the main event on November 24th. Tickets for the Auckland S-X Open can still be bought via Ticketmaster here

Yamaha Motor Europe has announced it will live stream coverage from the Yamaha stand at the EICMA show in Milan next week. In a release to members of the press, Yamaha announced that the company will stream the Yamaha Press Première for EICMA 2018 on the Yamaha Motor official Facebook Page on November the 5th at 18:00 hrs CET. That means an early start for Kiwis of 06:00hrs (6am for non-military time folk) on Tuesday November 6th. While Yamaha has not gone the route that Suzuki took for the Intermot show, when the company slowly released teasers of the reborn Suzuki Katana, one bike we are 99% sure will be unveiled as a full production model will be the highly anticipated Tenere 700 as tipped by Yamaha Motor New Zealand National Manager, Alan Petrie over Labour Weekend. Another possibility is the unveiling of a revamped YZF-R1, which now stylistically is an outlier from the rest of the YZF range. With the bike being a few years old now, it is coming up on time for a face lift at the minimum. Want to be amongst the first in the world to see what Yamaha has in store for 2019/2020? Set your alarm for 5:55am on Tuesday the 6th and head along to the Yamaha Motor Europe Facebook page to find out.

While discussing the growing Yamaha motorcycle range with riders at the recently held Yamaha MT day, Yamaha Motor National Manager, Alan Petrie candidly took to answering any and all questions relating to the brand. One of the most anticipated models to be awaiting an official launch date is the new Tenere 700 model, an adventure bike based loosely on the MT 07. When asked about the long-awaited model, Petrie didn't mince his words. "Ahh the mystical T7, Petrie told the assembled crowd of riders. "We've taken a lot of questions on when we're going to bring that bike out.  I'll tell you what happened about the T7. When the T7 first came out as a concept, it was originally a soft roader and our friends across the Tasman kicked up a stink and said 'this is not right', but the Europeans went out and made a mock-up and released it on social media and all of a sudden the factory was caught out and thought 'we've got to do something about this' and that's what they've done. So the new T7 when we receive it next year - we believe - will be the business. It's a proper dual sport motorcycle and we can't wait for it to be honest with you. The T7 will be a game changer."It is expected that Yamaha will officially announce the Tenere 700 as a production model at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in early November, but this is the first we've heard from a Yamaha employee that the wait for the long-awaited replacement for the Tenere 660 is finally nearly at an end. #Yamaha #T7 #Tenere700

Triumph Motorcycles partners with GoPro and Google for motorcycle world firsts debuting on the 2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 - due in New Zealand dealers in late-January 2019. Triumph motorcycles can be credited with popularising the modern scrambler class of motorcycles, thanks to their Bonneville Scrambler models which first appeared in the 2006 model year. While the bikes have always offered more off-road ability over the traditional Bonneville range, they have never really been particularly well suited for aggressive off-road adventures. That all changes next year, when the new Scrambler 1200 model arrives in dealerships. The Scrambler 1200 utilises the 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine platform used by the Bonneville and Thruxton 1200, but unlike those bikes, the Scrambler’s High Power engine features its own dedicated tune to produce 66.2kW just 100rpm before redline at 7,400rpm backed by a stump-pulling 110Nm of torque from 3,950rpm. That’s 37.5% more than Triumph’s current scrambler offering, the Street Twin based Street Scrambler. Unlike the Street Scrambler, the Scrambler 1200 truly offers a capable motorcycle for both on the road, and well off it thanks to a host of technological upgrades. While the Street Scrambler, offers decent gravel road performance, the Scrambler 1200 ups the ante with better, suspension, more ground clearance, and a world first motorcycle integrated GoPro control system plus Triumph’s first turn-by-turn navigation system (which was developed in partnership with Google) and Bluetooth phone and music operation. The GoPro controls require an accessory, while the navigation can be accessed via a dedicated Triumph App for iOS and Android devices which links in with the bike itself and displays navigation data on the bike’s TFT dashboard. Both models also feature Triumph’s keyless ignition system as standard, meaning riders can spend more time riding and not fumbling around in pockets for keys. But it is in the handling department that the Scrambler 1200 truly sets itself apart. An aluminium swingarm connects to the traditional frame, while twin Ohlins rear shock absorbers maintain the heritage scrambler look while also providing ample suspension adjustment. Up front, Showa 45mm USD forks are adjustable and offer 200mm of travel in the base XC model, while the more off-road oriented XE model features 47mm forks and a further 50mm of travel. Both models feature Brembo M50 monoblock brake calipers, which may be overkill for off-road, but will ensure ample stopping power on the road. Plus it is of course backed by switchable ABS, Traction control and up to six rider modes for the ride by wire throttle. The latter should ensure riders have the perfect response from the engine for any given situation. Indicative pricing puts the new Scrambler 1200 at the high end of the Bonneville range, with Triumph New Zealand general manager, Leigh Beckhaus, indicating that pricing will be “in the mid to high $20,000 range.” #TriumphMotorcycles #Scrambler #Scrambler1200

In an increasingly crowded marketplace, getting riders to remain loyal to your brand is a challenge all manufacturers are now finding themselves negotiating. While some brands offer t-shirts, discounts on insurance or dress up kits at the point of purchase to build a relationship with their customers, Yamaha Motor New Zealand has taken a different approach -- and it involves free fish and chips and a beachside reserve. Yamaha are no strangers to brand outreach; they have successfully built up a following of loyal customers with their bLU cRU Racing initiative, backed by a range of bikes - particularly in the dirt sector - suitable for those from small children to competitive motocross machines and a range of rider-friendly exclusives to bring added value to the Yamaha purchase. When it comes to the road market, Yamaha has a range of bikes to cover all aspects of motorcycling, but are only now starting to leverage that market spread with rider-only exclusives such as the first ever Yamaha MT Ride Event held recently in Auckland. “The MT are a very popular range and it was a way that we knew we could engage with customers and particularly the wide demographic from young guys to older riders, and that was exactly the blend we got,” says Yamaha Motor NZ national manager, Alan Petrie. “We want to engage our broader Yamaha Family because motorcycling is a passion and something we all share. We had a good number of enquiries when we posted this event on Facebook from riders riding R series bikes or our adventure range going ‘hey, what about us?’ and of course we acknowledge that, so this is the first of many such initiatives for Yamaha.” MT09 rider, Alton Rodgers, rode from Hamilton to attend the event. “I wanted to come and get together with a bunch of other MT riders and see what was going on, he said. “I got hooked on the bikes after I swung a leg over the 900 with its triple motor and I was hooked. It doesn’t matter what you do, where you are and what you’re up to, that monster torque (what the MT stands for) is there when you’re ready for it.” The event, which was held over Labour Weekend, invited owners of Yamaha’s MT range of road bikes to meet at Te Puru Park near Maraetai before heading out on a pre-prepared ride along some of the best roads South Auckland has to offer. With uncharacteristically good Labour Weekend weather, 65 riders of Yamaha’s MT range of bikes, rode up to the beachside reserve to get in on what Yamaha referred to as “the Yamaha Family” action. After an hour and fifteen-minute long scenic ride around South Auckland led by Yamaha affiliates, Pro Rider Motorcycle Training, the pack of riders returned to Te Puru Park for free fish and chips put on by Yamaha, plus a prize-giving ceremony where exclusive prizes were given away to those in attendance. With the MT day a resounding success, Yamaha are setting their sights southward to the annual Burt Munro Challenge, with plans in the works for a large ride from Auckland to the event in Invercargill. “Our goal is to get 100 riders to go down to the Burt,” Petrie says. “I think we can do it. All they need is an opportunity to join and give them enough time to register and we’ll put the event together for them.” “We believe we don’t exist without our customers and we need to acknowledge that, but also share with them what’s fantastic about motorcycling. These people ride these bikes because they’re passionate, they want to enjoy them, and this is a lifestyle choice to them.” #Yamaha #MT #BrandOutreach #NZRiders