Keeway’s guardian firm QJ Motor appears to be on a quest for world domination.
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Who Makes Jawa Motorcycles & How Much Do They Cost?
As an Indian firm, the web site JawaMotorcycles lists costs in rupees, making it tough for American customers to seek out a precise value. The web site additionally presently has a discover about fraudulent distributors bearing the Jawa title, which does not make discovering a certified vendor any simpler. Over on Classic.com, there are listings of old models of Jawa bikes and what they offered for at public sale. In April 2023, a 1966 Jawa 250 Californian offered at public sale for less than $1,640. Jawa bikes are primarily offered in Europe and India and are hardly ever imported to the United States.
The few distributors who handle to get their fingers on older Jawa fashions promote them for a premium. Cody Racing Products in Southern California has a number of speedway fashions beginning at $10,000. 4Jawa.com is a web site that imports to America with extra fairly priced choices because it’s targeted on promoting cruisers reasonably than racing fashions. Prices there vary between $7,500 and $9,000. eBay often sells Jawa bikes, with costs bouncing between $6000 and $9000. It’s protected to say that in case you dwell in North America, getting your fingers on a brand new Jawa bike is an costly problem.
4 Yamaha Tech Devices You Might Not Realize Exist
In 1900, Torakusu Yamaha constructed the primary Japanese piano, and the corporate hasn’t stopped since. Yamaha grew to become a staple for pianists worldwide, who loved its merchandise, from the comforts of their houses to the grand live performance halls the place they play professionally. Among its improvements that also affect the music trade at this time is a line of high-tech pianos.
One distinctive technology-powered piano is Yamaha’s TransAcoustic Piano, providing a built-in transducer system that may let pianists create digital results, like electrical pianos, strings, and even a choir. In addition, the TransAcoustic Piano lets pianists document music by way of USB or Bluetooth-enabled gadgets simply. However, this is not even its top-of-the-line mannequin.
Yahama refers back to the Yamaha Disklavier as “the world’s most advanced piano.” The Disklavier is available in 4 variations: Enspire Pro, Enspire ST, Enspire CL, and DKC-900. In addition to a high-quality recording and playback system that may work in a wide range of codecs, the Disklavier collection additionally presents streaming companies, auto-calibration, motorized muting methods, built-in audio system, app integration, and extra.
In current years, Yamaha has continued to push the boundaries of what it might probably do with musical devices. In 2018, working with Tokyo arts universities Yamaha used AI to turn a dancer’s movements into piano sounds. Titled “Mai Hi Ten Yu,” the efficiency was carried out in tandem with dancer Kaiji Moriyama and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Scharoun Ensemble.
ARAI XD-5 ADVENTURE HELMET REVIEW: THE FEED
Arai isn’t an organization that pops out with a brand new product each few months. When a brand new helmet arrives, it’s a giant event. Last week we obtained to strive the Arai XD-5 Adventure helmet for the primary time. This replaces the XD-4, which had kind of grow to be the go-to headwear for probably the most critical journey riders. The helmet clearly has a brand new look, however the core beliefs that information the corporate haven’t modified for a really very long time. The shell nonetheless has a roundish form constructed from 25 separate items of fiberglass, hand laid collectively to kind a powerful, clean construction. Arai sticks to its perception {that a} helmet’s exterior needs to be freed from any irregular shapes that would catch and trigger rotational forces in a crash. The plastic items that funnel air into varied ports are made to interrupt away on impression, leaving a clean “egg” form. The EPS liner is made from a number of densities to soak up the impression, whereas the shell itself is designed for power.
When it involves security, we kind of need to belief the helmet firm to take care of our greatest pursuits. We don’t have the data, assets or willingness to check that facet of helmet design. But, for what it’s value, we drink the Arai Kool Aid. If any firm is worthy of trusting along with your head, they’re.
After spending per week with the XD-5, we are able to actually report that we love carrying the helmet. Some new options are fairly spectacular. It’s designed for use in any of three configurations; full avenue mode is solar visor off, face defend on. Dual-sport mode is solar visor and face defend each in place. Off-road mode is solar visor on, face defend eliminated and goggles in place. The engineers realize it’s unlikely that you’ll change the helmet configuration throughout any given journey, however they put a variety of thought into making it straightforward. The face defend and the solar visor are each designed to return off or go on shortly. At first it’s just a little tough, however you get the dangle of it. You don’t want instruments, though if you wish to journey in full avenue mode, you’ll have to use 1 / 4 to take away the plastic screws on the solar visor and transfer them to the face defend. It’s a really intelligent system.
One functionality that the helmet misplaced on this era was the power to make use of goggles with the face defend flipped up and out of the way in which. The new face defend pivot interferes with the goggle strap. Arai engineers say that the pivot was lowered within the curiosity of security. It’s now in a much less generally impacted zone and due to this fact much less more likely to catch on something in a crash. With these guys, modifications are all the time pushed by security. Another facet that you simply discover instantly is that there’s an enormous port between the solar visor and the shell. This permits wind to go by way of simply for air flow. Also, when you look to the left or proper at velocity, the visor doesn’t catch practically as a lot wind and attempt to twist your head.
We can report that air flow is great and luxury is excellent. There are 4 ports that may be opened or closed and you may immediately inform a distinction. There are additionally a number of choices for a dam underneath your chin to assist with windscreen fogging. We know that each head has a special form, however nearly everybody likes the way in which the XD-5 matches. We attended a press briefing the place a dozen totally different riders had been fitted with new helmets–nearly none of them wanted modification. Arai engineers say that, through the years, they’ve realized that western heads and Asian heads have totally different shapes. These helmets had been all designed for western heads. They say that different helmet producers won’t make that distinction.
As you would possibly anticipate, the XD-5 is a really costly helmet. The helmet we used was the Cosmic Red colorway, which sells for $950. It’s a bit of using gear that, barring crashes, ought to outlast your present bike. Maybe even all of your bikes to return. For extra data go to https://www.araiamericas.com/node/417
THE KTM 790 IS BACK
We used the Arai XD-5 helmet intro as an excuse to get some extra time on the KTM 790 Adventure. In case you haven’t already heard, the 790 is again! We loved this bike when it came out in 2020. Back then the bottom mannequin offered for $12,699. Not lengthy afterward, that bike morphed into the KTM 890 and the value went as much as $15,799. Now, KTM has reintroduced the 790 with a worth of $10,990. How is that doable? The bike is now manufactured by KTM’s Chinese companion CF-Moto. All the unique tooling was shipped to Hangzhou, so the 790 might be provided as direct competitors to the Honda TransAlp ($9999) and the Yamaha T7 ($10,799).
We have a reasonably excessive opinion of CF-Moto–we truly toured the manufacturing unit again in 2013. But, we nonetheless don’t have sufficient time to essentially know whether or not or not the 790 is constructed to the identical normal as the unique. Stay tuned.
JEFF STANTON ADVENTURES
Jeff Stanton was alongside for the journey with the Arai guys, too. As it seems, Jeff is a giant journey bike fan and has turned it right into a enterprise. He hosts about six rides a 12 months in Northern Michigan. He has 20 present Triumph journey bikes, so all you must do is present up and have a very good urge for food for using. Go to https://jeffstantonadventures.com/
Reports: Tesla to put off over 10% of world workforce
Tesla will lay off 10% of its world workforce – equal to round 14,000 jobs – after the corporate suffered a fall in deliveries for the primary time in virtually 4 years.
According to Elektrek, Elon Musk, boss of the American electric vehicle producer, introduced the layoffs via a memo despatched to firm workers.
At the top of 2023, Tesla’s world workforce stood at round 140,473, that means greater than 14,000 folks will lose their jobs due to the layoffs.
“Over the years, we have grown rapidly, with multiple factories scaling around the globe. With this rapid growth, there has been duplication of roles and job functions in certain areas,” Musk stated within the memo.
“As we prepare the company for our next phase of growth, it is extremely important to look at every aspect of the company for cost reductions and increasing productivity.”
Musk stated the layoffs would enable Tesla to be “lean, innovative and hungry” for the next “growth phase cycle”, including there can be a “difficult job” forward.
The agency delivered round 387,000 automobiles within the first quarter of 2024 – down on market expectations by 13%.
Several components have affected Tesla’s output. It slowed manufacturing at its Shanghai facility final month and shortened shifts for employees at its manufacturing facility in Texas, which builds the long-awaited Cybertruck.
Tesla has factories world wide, in California, Texas, New York and Nevada within the US, Berlin in Germany and Shanghai, China.
It beforehand acknowledged deliveries had been affected by a number of components, together with an arson assault on its manufacturing facility in Berlin, in addition to Houthi assaults on transport within the Red Sea.
While it’s not publicly clear which departments of Tesla will likely be affected, Reuters reviews that some members of workers primarily based in California and Texas have been knowledgeable of their departure.
One key departure was the model’s senior vice-president for powertrain and vitality, Drew Baglino, who introduced he was leaving the corporate after 18 years.
In addition to growing motor management firmware for the unique Tesla Roadster, Baglino additionally designed the dual-motor system for the Tesla Model S saloon.
“I made the difficult decision to move on from Tesla after 18 years yesterday. I am so thankful to have worked with and learned from the countless incredibly talented people at Tesla over the years,” Baglino stated.
“I beloved tackling practically each drawback we solved as a workforce and really feel gratified to have contributed to the mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable vitality, a mission that I’m fairly obsessed with.
These Are The 5 Oldest Car Brands In The World
Adam Opel established his namesake firm in Rüsselsheim, Germany, simply 30 miles southwest of Frankfurt. Founded in 1862 to make stitching machines, Opel branched into bicycle manufacturing in 1886 after securing a bit of the German market.
In 1899, Opel’s son, Wilhelm, purchased Friedrich Lutzmann’s Motorwagenfabrik (motor automotive manufacturing unit) and began constructing automobiles underneath the Opel identify. By 1907, Opel was making stitching machines and automobiles alongside one another in its manufacturing unit. However, a hearth burned down the manufacturing unit in 1911, inflicting the corporate to cease operations. When it resumed manufacturing, Opel determined to cease making stitching machines and targeted all its efforts on vehicles.
By 1928, Opel was the biggest German automaker, with 37.5% of the native market share, in response to Detroit Free Press. However, the Great Depression in 1929 hit Opel onerous, and General Motors ended up buying 80% of the corporate for underneath $26 million (about $472 million in the present day). By 1931, GM purchased Opel’s remaining 20% of its shares, making it a fully-owned GM subsidiary.
However, regardless of being a fantastic success for GM within the Nineties, GM Europe, which had Opel underneath its belt, was shedding about $1 billion yearly within the 2010s. So, after practically 90 years underneath its care, GM sold Opel (and Vauxhall) to Groupe PSA in 2017. With the latter’s merger with FCA, Opel is now underneath the Stellantis umbrella, placing it alongside different iconic manufacturers resembling Alfa Romeo, Jeep, and Maserati.
Toyota Is Expanding Its Certified Used Business. Here’s Why.
Toyota Motor North America is a new-car firm. So why ought to it care in regards to the gross sales of used vehicles?
Because, once you delve into the main points, you quickly uncover that these two sectors of the retail automotive enterprise are inextricably linked—to the good thing about Toyota, its sellers, and their prospects.
That’s why Toyota has lengthy supported and promoted a strong licensed used program. And it’s why Toyota not too long ago expanded that program to incorporate autos as much as 10 mannequin years previous with between 60,000-125,000 miles on their odometers.
Silver Certified goes past the present Gold Certified eligibility parameters of as much as six mannequin years and 85,000 miles. The transfer might assist increase Toyota Certified’s present gross sales of greater than 370,000 autos per yr.
“That’s a lot,” mentioned Ron Cooney, Toyota Certified Used Vehicles (TCUV) gross sales operations supervisor. “Based on Motor Intelligence’s evaluation, if Toyota Certified was a brand new automobile model, it will be ranked 13 th out of the 48 makes available in the market.
“But it’s also small when you step back and look at the bigger picture. According to figures compiled by Edmunds, some 6 million used Toyotas are sold every year. Yet our year-end financial statement shows that our dealers only sold 790,540 in 2023. So, there is a tremendous opportunity for growth here.”
In some methods, Toyota’s stellar status for high quality, sturdiness and reliability works in opposition to it on this entrance. Customers know that nearly any well-maintained Toyota is an effective wager when shopping for used, whether or not it’s being bought by an unbiased vendor or personal occasion. But now, with Silver Certified, there much more motive buy a used Toyota from a Toyota vendor.
Why? Three phrases: peace of thoughts. A Silver Certified Toyota comes with:
- A restricted powertrain guarantee for 12 months/12,000 miles
- 24-hour roadside help for 12 months/12,000 miles
- A 136-point minimal high quality assurance inspection
- A free CARFAX® Vehicle History Report
- The choice of together with a trade-in to facilitate the transaction
- The choice of financing the deal by way of Toyota Financial Services
- Trouble-free dealing with of the transaction, together with DMV paperwork
The choice of financing the deal by way of Toyota Financial Services
Trouble-free dealing with of the transaction, together with DMV paperwork
Further, the powertrain guarantee and roadside help are transferable to the subsequent proprietor for free of charge if the automobile is resold earlier than the 12 month/12,000 mile expiration, thus boosting its resale worth. And the guarantee is honored at over 1,400 Toyota sellers within the continental U.S. and Canada.
“We’re not the first automaker to certify its older vehicles, but we studied what our competitors were offering and made sure we got it right,” Cooney mentioned. “Some of them limit the warranty to three months. Others only offer it on some vehicles. Some don’t include CARFAX. It can get very confusing for the customer. We made sure our vehicles were covered for a full year, which is a big selling point to customers who aren’t used to getting any kind of warranty on an older/higher-mileage vehicle unless they pay extra for it.”
Cooney mentioned Toyota’s sellers are supportive of this new stage of certification. Because of it, they’re extra possible to absorb an older Toyota in commerce. That issues when you think about that the majority new-car gross sales contain some form of trade-in automobile. Also, primarily based on preliminary suggestions from sellers, Cooney mentioned they’re promoting Silver Certified Toyotas quicker than non-certified used autos—contributing to their backside line.
“I can see used Toyotas sitting in a dealer’s inventory for 30 or 60 days,” Cooney mentioned. “Then we launched Silver Certified. And the dealers who have taken advantage of this program have sold those cars more quickly.”
Meanwhile, if these prospects do want repairs below guarantee, they’re much extra more likely to convey their autos again to their Toyota sellers. That generates even increased model loyalty.
The internet impact is that the TCUV program helps increase automobile resale values (a key metric on the subject of Toyota’s leasing enterprise) and—maybe most significantly—proprietor retention.
“We want to sell each of our vehicles at least four times: new, Gold Certified, Silver Certified and used,” Cooney mentioned. “We want to keep that car, and the customer, in our family for as long as possible. Ultimately, that’s what this is all about.”
The BMW M5 Touring Is Coming to America
In February, BMW’s design boss let slip that the corporate would sell the next-generation M5 Touring wagon in America. BMW wouldn’t affirm any particulars after we reached out on the time, however now it’s able to make issues official—the M5 Touring is coming to the US. BMW will start producing the 2025 M5 Touring within the fourth quarter of this yr.
BMW is already teasing the automobile, and launched a brand new video of the sedan and wagon occurring a highway journey. It follows the pair from Munich, Germany, to Arjeplog, Sweden, as BMW finishes winter testing for the brand new M5, and it’s the primary in a video collection.
The mannequin will pack a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 engine, an electrical motor, and a plug. The setup will produce over 700 horsepower, with the output doubtless falling between the XM and XM Label, which tops out at 738 hp. The previous-generation M5 delivered as much as 617 hp in Competition trim.
That’s much more energy, however the M5 will doubtless want it. The sedan will reportedly weigh 5,368 pounds, about 1,000 lbs greater than the F90, and the wagon could possibly be even heftier. The hybrid powertrain doesn’t assist, however the next-gen automobile can also be allegedly bigger than the outgoing mannequin, rising in size and width.
It’s too early to know the brand new M5’s value, nevertheless it’ll undoubtedly attain the six-figure mark. The 2023 M5 sedan began at $107,900, and we count on the value to extend with the next-generation mannequin. You’ll doubtless have so as to add a premium for the prolonged roof and further cargo capability, driving the fee effectively previous $110,000.
The 2024 Mitsuoka Ryugi is a Fake British Sedan Based on a Corolla
From the corporate that turned a Honda Civic right into a fake Dodge Challenger, right here comes a Toyota Corolla impersonating a British sedan from many moons in the past. Mitsuoka is at it once more, solely this time, it is taken a Toyota Corolla to provide it a British aptitude. The Ryugi has been round since 2014, and it is now getting a small replace with further tools whereas retaining the unusual exterior look.
Featuring an uncommon face reminding us of a Rover P5 from the late Nineteen Fifties or a Jaguar Mark II from the identical period, the Mitsuoka Ryugi is available in sedan and wagon flavors. Underneath that peculiar physique is a previous-generation JDM-spec Corolla (E160), which continues to be in manufacturing because the Corolla Axio sedan and Corolla Fielder wagon. That’s regardless of the actual fact the most recent era (E210) was launched again in 2018. Since 2022, Toyota has been making the previous one strictly as a fleet car, based on Best Car journal.
Watch a Honda Trail 90 Be Rescued and Then Climb Mountains Like a Proper ADV
I’m a Honda fanboy. The Japanese model can do no incorrect in my e book. But the place the corporate really succeeded in all of its motorcycling endeavors is not within the regular place the place most would look. It’s not Honda’s CBRs or Africa Twins or something like that. No, it is within the cute as hell Trail series, the bike that is extra ubiquitous than another bike round.
So at any time when I get an opportunity to jot down concerning the Trail, I soar on the probability. And the video above is simply the very best round, because it rescues a Trail 90 from a barn, will get semi-restored to working order, after which instantly put to make use of climbing a freakin’ mountain.
The saving, restoration, after which subsequent thrashing is due to Matt Spears, who’s well-known for being a tough enduro rider who builds enduro bikes out of, effectively, non-enduro bike platforms. You could have seen his enduro Goldwing or Hayabusa. As effectively as his Hayabusa snowbike.
Suffice it to say, he is aware of his shit.
Matt and his brother begin all of it out with simply getting the Trail 90 working, which they did in traditional style within the parking zone between an O’Reilys and Walmart. Where else would you do it? And in true Honda style, regardless that the Trail 90 has been sitting for 8 years, it takes nearly nothing to get it to fireplace up. They then proceed to move into the woods, the place Matt makes an attempt to see if he can use the Trail 90 equally to his race dust bike from the prior season.
Suffice it to say, a 250cc two-stroke race bike is barely extra succesful than a 40-year-old Honda Trail 90. Who would’ve guessed? However, although it failed to leap a 6-ft rock, the Honda goes onerous throughout the one monitor that Matt places it by means of, together with some deep puddles.
He then places it by means of a “hillclimb” utilizing the Trail 90’s low-speed switch case, which they reach attending to the highest. That mentioned, Matt then runs again down the path—the Honda would not have any brakes on the time of filming—and grabs his race bike which he proceeds to make use of to wheelie all the way in which up the hillclimb path. So once more, it’s going to do it, however you understand, inferior to his onerous enduro.
Either manner, I really like that the little Honda was saved and that he used it correctly. More of us ought to.