Tag Archives: Factory

Citreon

THE CITROËN BERLINGO VAN HAS HIT 50,000 SALES SINCE COVID CONTINUING TO BE BRITAIN’S FAVOURITE SMALL VAN

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  • Citroën Berlingo Van, now constructed within the UK on the all-electric Stellantis manufacturing unit in Ellesmere Port, is the UK’s greatest promoting small van in 2024, with 4,870 gross sales YTD
  • Citroën Berlingo Van, has bought 50,043 since COVID and has been the perfect promoting small van because the flip of the Twenties decade, the Ford Transit Connect is 2nd, with 46,137 gross sales, and the Peugeot Partner is 3rd, with 43,036 gross sales
  • Berlingo Van is a part of the brand new Citroën van vary that features Ami Cargo Solution, Berlingo Van, Dispatch and Relay – every mannequin within the vary is offered with an electrical variant
  • Ë-Berlingo Van provides as much as 205 miles of vary (WLTP Mixed cycle) and might cost from 0-80% in simply half-hour utilizing a 100kW fast charger

 

Citroën Berlingo Van has maintained its place as the perfect promoting small van within the UK this yr based on the newest registration figures printed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 

Berlingo Van leads the UK small van market yr up to now, 4,870  Berlingo Vans have been delivered throughout the nation in 2024. The success of Berlingo Van with Small and Medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has additionally seen it prime the UK small van gross sales charts, since 2020, with 50,043 gross sales, beating the Ford Transit Connect Van, with 46,317 gross sales and in 3rd is the Peugeot Partner Van, with 43,036 gross sales.

New Berlingo Van is a part of the not too long ago up to date Citroën van vary that features Ami Cargo resolution, Berlingo Van, Dispatch and Relay, which at the moment are open for orders. The complete vary is offered with a completely electrical variant, which signifies that Citroën now provides essentially the most complete electrical industrial automobile vary within the UK.

New Citroën ë-Berlingo Van is manufactured at Ellesmere Port, the UK’s first EV-only quantity manufacturing plant. From 2025, manufacturing of New ë-Dispatch can be manufactured at Luton, alongside continued manufacturing of the combustion van. Citroën, alongside its sister Stellantis manufacturers, is the one model to fabricate quantity mild industrial autos within the UK.

Greg Taylor, Managing Director Citroën UK, mentioned ‘The Berlingo Van continues to be a huge hit with SMEs across the country. Available as a fully-electric variant and now built in Britain, we continue our commitment to providing comfortable and practical vans to suit the needs of SMEs the country over. Our new van range, including Berlingo Van, demonstrates our commitment to providing a van that meets the needs of every user and a Citroën Retailer Network able to support their requirements’.

New Citroën Berlingo Van is offered from £19,255 (excl. VAT), with the absolutely electrical ë-Berlingo Van beginning at £25,455 (excl. VAT after Plug-in Van Grant).

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RIDING THE 2024 GASGAS MC250F FACTORY EDITION & LANGTOWN REMEMBERED: THE WRAP

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We now have slightly time on the 2024 GasGas MC250F Factory Edition. We love the best way it seems to be, we love the best way it runs and we love all the brand new expertise. Virtually all the cost-cutting measures employed on different GasGas MX bikes have been deserted for the Factory Edition. Instead of Braktec brakes and hydraulics, it makes use of Brembo. Instead of solid triple clamps, they’re machined. Instead of a naked area on the left aspect of the handlebar, you get a map swap. Instead of Maxxis tires, you get Dunlop MX34s. It additionally has stiffer suspension settings. That’s the stuff that brings it as much as the identical stage as a standard-edition KTM. The 250 additionally carries a worth equal to that of the KTM 250SX-F Factory Edition: $11,349. Of all of the off-road and MX bikes supplied by GasGas, solely the MC450F Factory Edition is costlier.

Sean Lipanovich on the 2024 GasGas MC250F Factory Edition.

Then you get into Factory Edition upgrades.

  • Connectivity Unit Off-road
  • New body
  • Smaller gasoline tank
  • Red anodized hubs
  • Red anodized triple clamps
  • Akrapovic muffler
  • Hinson clutch cowl
  • WP holeshot machine
  • Semi-floating entrance disc
  • Front brake disc guard
  • Skid plate
  • Gold chain
  • Black rear sprocket
  • Gripper seat cowl
  • New linkage seals
  • Troy Lee/Red Bull graphics
The connectivity unit emits a Bluetooth sign for the GasGas+ app in your smartphone.

The Connectivity Unit Offroad emits a Bluetooth sign to hook up with your cellphone and supply plenty of new options. First and foremost, it provides some engine tuning capabilities–issues like engine braking, throttle response, traction management stage and Quickshift sensitivity. It additionally provides some suspension tuning tips, however you continue to must do all the press and preload adjustments your self–it could actually’t do this by way of bluetooth, but. Additionally, GasGas has partnered with LitPro to supply a GPS overview of any race or trip. It can provide you suggestions telling you how briskly you have been occurring any given part of the observe, what gear you’re in and so forth. It’s extraordinarily helpful to assist decide which line is quicker. To use this function, you’ll want to enroll with LitPro and pay an annual charge. It’s effectively value it.

On our scale, the Factory Edition is 226 kilos with out gasoline.

Somewhat recommendation on the connectivity options: be certain that your supplier helps you set it up in your smartphone earlier than you permit together with your new bike. Download the GasGas+ app and ensure it connects together with your actual bike. If it doesn’t go effectively, the connection course of can drain the bike’s battery. If that occurs on the observe, it’s no enjoyable. Setting all of the expertise and all of the bling apart, the bike itself is the primary occasion right here. We can say with some confidence that it’s essentially the most highly effective manufacturing 250F we’ve ever examined. We don’t know precisely why, nevertheless it’s quicker than the usual MC250F or any of the usual 2024 250s. Granted, we haven’t but examined the KTM 250SX-F Factory Edition, however we’re shocked that the GasGas performs so effectively. It has glorious throttle response and downright wonderful top-end. The solely actual purpose provided that it will be a lot stronger than the usual MC250F is the exhaust system. The Factory Edition has the Akrapovic exhaust canister.

We additionally imagine that the brand new body is a step ahead. The body of the usual version has a stiff really feel, significantly within the first 10 hours. This one feels prefer it’s already damaged in once you first trip it. There aren’t actually some other dealing with notes which can be particular to the Factory Edition. It has the identical geometry as the usual bike. In the large image, the primary purpose that many riders can be drawn to this bike has nothing to do with expertise. It’s all in regards to the manufacturing unit look. KTM is aware of this and protects the graphics that come on the bike. You can’t simply purchase Red Bull shrouds out of your GasGas supplier. You have to supply a VIN quantity proving that you simply already personal one. And we’ve got to confess it is a hanging bike. It has the look, the efficiency and the expertise to be the very best bike but offered underneath the GasGas identify. That’s saying loads.

BETA SPECIAL EDITIONS

Beta Motorcycles is releasing two restricted manufacturing fashions for the 2024 season; the 390 and 500 RS Special Edition. These fashions have KYB suspension and Race Edition impressed add-ons in a twin sport bundle. Along with Beta’s signature Rideability, the RS Special Editions are 50-state avenue authorized permitting you to hook up with extra trails and lengthen the journey even additional.

Features:

» KYB entrance and rear suspension; Same specs as the present Race Edition fashions

» Billet aluminum additional large foot pegs; Stainless metal pins for added grip and sturdiness

» Cooling fan

» Anodized aluminum oil filler caps and rear chain adjuster blocks

» Dual materials rear sprocket; metal enamel with an aluminum middle

» Lightweight wire harness with digital meter; Same because the Race Edition fashions

» Quick-Change entrance axle pull

» Dual MAP ignition system with traction management

» Turn Signals, Tail Light, and Rear fender extender

» RS mirrors and mirror mounts

» Race Edition seat, plastic, and colours

» Fifty state avenue authorized

Pricing: 
RS Special Edition 390: $12,299

RS Special Edition 500: $12,499

LANGTOWN REMEMBERED

Duane Brown (sure, that’s Carson’s dad) within the Langtown days.

For a brief interval in historical past, Langtown was the richest and most prestigious mini race within the nation. It attracted well-known riders and elite spectators. And, all of it passed off in a yard.
Bob Langin had an honest sized yard in Thousand Oaks, California and he stuffed it from fence to fence with a compact Supercross observe. From round 1986 to 2005 he hosted an annual occasion for four-stroke minis–which translated to Honda XR100-based bikes. The guidelines have been unfastened. Companies like BBR constructed digital works bikes particularly for that occasion.

Jimmy Lewis was essentially the most profitable champion of the Langtown occasion with seven Pro-class wins.
Lance Smail gained in 2000 on a BBR mini, which offered for $9000 after the occasion.

“That was one of the most difficult races we had to prepare for,” remembers Duane Brown of BBR. “The whoops were deep and the jumps were steep. Passing was intense.” Jimmy Lewis has the file of seven Pro victories at Langtown. Tim Weigand and Lance Smail additionally took wins there, usually gathering over $2000 in purse cash.
Today, Bob Langin runs a bicycle coaching camp out of the identical space.

Mike Healey was one other well-known MX racer who liked Langtown.
Duane Brown usually raced the occasion himself within the vet class. In 1999, he shared this bike with Pro class rider Rich Taylor. Duane is father to Carson Brown, who wasn’t round within the Langtown period, however would have liked it.
Jerry Bernardo at Langtown.
–Ron Lawson
NewsNew

FACTORY KTM DOMINATES ROUND 3 OF U.S. SPRINT ENDURO

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir has continued his successful methods in Round 3 of the 2024 U.S. Sprint Enduro Series, topping the Pro 1 Class and the general convincingly as FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers teammates Gus Riordan and Brandy Richards additionally stood on the highest step of the rostrum.

Defending champion Girroir has been in profession type so far this season onboard his KTM 350 XC-F, controlling the Warrior Sprint in Semora, North Carolina, throughout each days on his method to a third-straight victory within the collection this yr. As a outcome, he leads the Pro 1 and general championship standings.

Johnny Girroir: “Yesterday I made some mistakes and just wasn’t flowing, but I went to bed last night a little frustrated and told myself I have to hit my marks today. I had one close call in the early tests, but other than that it was a mistake-free day, I put some solid tests in and I’m happy. It feels good to be three-from-three and we want to keep this momentum going.”

FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Riordan – final yr’s Pro 2 title winner – was additionally as soon as once more in successful type, managing to prime the Pro 2 Class on his KTM 250 XC-F, as did teammate Richards within the Pro Women’s Class this weekend. They too at present lead the U.S. Sprint Enduro Series.

Gus Riordan: “It was good, I was able to win the round in Pro 2, and it was a positive weekend overall. I started out a bit slow, but other than that I was happy with how things went, the conditions were nice and dry, so I’m satisfied with Round 3.”

Brandy Richards: “This weekend was definitely a good time. The Cross Test was tricky with it being super-slick, and the Enduro Test was really rough with all the tree roots as well. It was the first time that I’ve actually felt comfortable in the Enduro Tests, so it was a great weekend for me.”

Pro 1 Class Results
1. Johnny Girroir, KTM
2. Liam Draper, YAM
3. Craig DeLong, HQV

Pro 2 Class Results
1. Angus Riordan, KTM
2. Jason Tino, HQV
3. Jack Edmondson, GAS

Women’s Pro Class Results
1. Brandy Richards, KTM
2. Korie Steede, HQV
3. Ava Silvestri, GAS

Motorsport

Bentley Is Building The First New Speed Six Roadsters in Almost a Century

If it weren’t for Bentley’s continuation challenge, the final Speed Six roadster would’ve rolled out off the manufacturing facility flooring 93 years in the past. The firm, nevertheless, has set upon the trail of constructing a handful of its historic fashions as brand-new automobiles, constructed within the UK utilizing authentic processes and supplies. 

It began with a dozen of the basic 4.5-liter “Blower’ Bentleys, accomplished final 12 months, now the automaker is recreating the identical quantity of 6.5-liter Speed Six fashions. The course of requires tens of craftsmen nonetheless acquainted with basic strategies to assemble the automobiles as they’d have within the pre-war interval.

bentley speed six recreation inline D

Before you seek for the tens of millions buried in your sofa cushions, the entire new Speed Six continuation automobiles are pre-sold. Bentley does not title a worth, anyway. That could be ghastly. 

In order to make these automobiles, the automaker has assembled a crew of artisans and engineers tasked with recreating each single a part of the reborn vehicles, however not from scratch. Bentley nonetheless has a couple of Speed Sixes in its stock used as a blueprint for brand new elements. This makes the method simpler, however the elements nonetheless need to be forged, machined, bolted, stretched, and sewn. Bentley claims it has needed to manufacture over 600 new bespoke elements only for the engine of the brand new automobiles, that are at the moment testing on the dyno. 

bentley speed six recreation inline F
bentley speed six recreation inline C

The first prototype automobile is already finished, present process sturdiness testing to make sure the entire new elements will maintain up. The 205-horsepower engine ran for 40 hours on the dyno, the automobile was pushed over 6,000 miles, and it was taken as much as 112 miles per hour, identical to the originals. 

A complete of 182 Speed Sixes have been made between 1928 and 1930. By the tip of 2025, there can be 194.

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COLT NICHOLS TO RACE BIRMINGHAM SX

PRESS RELEASE: Liqui Moly Beta Racing manufacturing facility rider Colt Nichols is about to return and make his 2024 AMA Supercross debut at Round Nine in Alabama this weekend. After struggling a rotator cuff damage earlier than the season began, Nichols has spent the primary eight weeks of the season rehabilitating his shoulder. Now that his shoulder feels considerably improved, he is able to return to racing. With Colt Nichols returning he joins teammate Benny Bloss who’s coming off a top-ten end in Daytona, a primary for Beta Motorcycles in its inaugural Supercross season.

About Colt Nichols:

Colt Nichols is from Muskogee, OK. He turned professional in 2015. He completed third place within the 250SX West in 2019, and in 2021 Nichols received the 250SX East Championship. He has 4 profession wins in Supercross and was the 450SX Rookie of the Year within the 2023 season.

“I’ll see you guys at Alabama. I’m very excited to finally be racing, my shoulder took much longer to heal than I anticipated but feeling good and ready to get on the gate and back racing.”

Motorsport

Listen To This Dodge Demon 170 Make 898 HP On A Dyno

Dodge makes some lofty claims concerning the Challenger Demon 170. From the manufacturing facility the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 could make as much as 1,025 horsepower due to a ton of recent engine elements. The solely approach to discover out for positive is to take it do a dyno. That’s precisely what one proprietor did. 

Herman Young of the Demonology YouTube channel wished to see simply how a lot horsepower his new Dodge Demon 170 would make on a dyno. So he took his automotive to Bailey’s Hyperformance in Forth Worth Texas and threw the automotive on the rollers. Before taking any knowledge, Young made positive to fill the tank with E85 gasoline, as that is the kind of gasoline the manufacturing facility recommends if you wish to make all of that horsepower. Throw in 93 octane, and you will be restricted to simply round 900 hp. 

 

This vibrant blue Demon 170 is ready to put down 898 hp and 878 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. Factor within the industry-accepted 15-percent drivetrain loss you get from crank to tire, and we’re taking a look at round 1057 hp, a bit greater than manufacturing facility estimates. 

Even extra spectacular is simply how a lot energy this Demon 170 makes over a normal Demon. Back when the latter was new, Young introduced his the identical dyno, the place it put down 776 hp and 710 lb-ft of torque whereas operating on 101-octane race gasoline — deficits of over 100 horses and 100 lb-ft versus the brand new automotive.

A becoming sendoff for the last-ever V-8–powered muscle automotive from Dodge.

BMW

P3 for Toprak Razgatlioglu: BMW Motorrad Motorsport kicks off the 2024 WorldSBK season with a podium.

Phillip Island. Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR), the brand new addition to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK manufacturing facility rider lineup, achieved his first podium end with the BMW M 1000 RR throughout his debut weekend on the bike. The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team rider secured third place within the Superpole Race on the Phillip Island (AUS) season opener. However, a technical difficulty within the second predominant race prevented one other success. His teammate Michael van der Mark (NED) and Garrett Gerloff (USA) from the Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team each secured high ten leads to each predominant races.

 

In the primary predominant race on Saturday afternoon, carried out as a flag-to-flag race with a compulsory pit cease, the BMW riders gave a robust efficiency. All 4 BMW M 1000 RRs completed throughout the high ten. Razgatlioglu began from fifth place and crossed the end line in fourth. Van der Mark superior from sixteenth on the grid to seventh, Gerloff climbed from 14th to ninth, and Scott Redding (GBR / Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team), beginning nineteenth, completed in tenth. However, each Razgatlioglu and Redding obtained time penalties for leaving the pit lane a fraction of a second too early after their pit stops, leading to every being demoted by one place.

The Superpole Race on Sunday morning introduced the primary podium of the season for the BMW M 1000 RR. Starting from fifth, Razgatlioglu instantly joined the battle for the lead. After ten laps, he completed the dash race within the celebrated third place. Gerloff completed thirteenth, van der Mark sixteenth, and Redding seventeenth.

The second predominant race late on Sunday afternoon needed to be postponed by over an hour as a consequence of a grimy monitor. Starting from third, Razgatlioglu as soon as once more fought within the main group, however an engine difficulty ended his race after a number of laps. Shortly after, the race was pink–flagged as a consequence of an accident in one other flip. After the re-start, eleven laps had been accomplished with out necessary pit stops. Gerloff secured one other strong outcome, ending eighth, van der Mark was ninth, and Redding crossed the road in seventeenth.

The second spherical of the 2024 WorldSBK season will happen from twenty second to twenty fourth March at Barcelona (ESP).

 

Reactions to the season opener at Phillip Island.

 

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “It has been a very eventful week. It started with non-existent tyres, then the tyres didn’t last, and on top of that, we had changing weather conditions with rain on Friday. But the fact is, we were always competitive, in every session, especially with Toprak. In the first race, a small mistake occurred that dropped us from fourth to fifth. Mickey gave a strong performance, moving up from 16th to seventh, and he lost only a little to Toprak. Garrett and Scott also made it into the top ten. In the Superpole Race, Toprak rode an excellent race and finished in third place. For the other three, it was unfortunately challenging when starting from so far back in such a competitive field. Toprak’s engine failure in the second main race was very, very frustrating. We now need to analyse what the cause was. Mickey and Garrett were able to secure good results once again with eighth and ninth places, just a few seconds behind the winner. Overall, we were clearly performing better than in past years. Now, we need to wait for the first European races to truly assess where we stand but we haven’t been this strong on Phillip Island in a long time. Therefore, the conclusion is: satisfied.”

 

Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 5 / R01: 5 / SP Race: 3 / R02: DNF): “In general, I would say that I am 50 percent happy and 50 percent not. The goal was to make it to the podium which we did in the Superpole Race, but in the second main race, I was really ready to fight for the win because we also had improved the bike and I felt really good but then we had the engine problem. This is racing and it has been the first race weekend of the season. At Barcelona, we need to come back very strong. We have learned a lot in the races, we gathered a lot of data and this is important for our work. Next up is Barcelona, a hard circuit like here. We will see how it goes there and then we go to Assen and more circuits where we normally should be stronger then here. Overall, the start was not bad, especially the Superpole Race. I think that we will get there step by step. We will be testing at Barcelona before the race weekend and I think that we will focus on race pace because that is very important there. We need to find a good setup for the main races.”

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 16 / R01: 7 / SP Race: 16 / R02: 9): “I think overall the weekend wasn’t too bad. I just messed it up in Superpole. Yesterday I had a good race with some good passes and a good result in the end. In this morning’s sprint race we tried something different with the bike which felt good in warm up but when the temperature went up in the Superpole Race I just did not have the same feeling. It was tough, I could not recover any places so I had to start race two from 16th again. In that race, I had a good start, strong first couple of laps, I stayed out of trouble and was riding in eighth when the red flag came out. I re-started from P8 but we had seen that I had some issue with the tyre after five laps before the red flag came. Then we had an 11-lap sprint and I just did not know how to manage the tyre. If I had pushed like in the first part of the race I was not sure if I would be going to make it. So mixed feelings but got some good points at the end. And I think the best thing for us is to see how big the improvement is BMW has made. It’s fantastic to see Toprak on the podium this morning. I think that the start of the season gave the whole team a big confidence boost.”

 

Garrett Gerloff, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team (SP: 14 / R01: 9 / SP Race: 13 / R02: 8): “It was a sinking ship on Tuesday and Friday, but luckily we didn’t completely drown. It wasn’t the best weekend, but it could have been a lot worse for sure. Overall, to have two top-ten in the main races is quite a decent way to start the season. It’s definitely a better way than we started last year where we were barely inside the top 15. I feel good on the bike. The competition is so strong, I can’t believe how fast everybody’s going. That’s definitely not making it easy. But we are figuring ourselves out, making progress. I’m looking forward to my home race coming up in a couple of weeks; testing first and then Barcelona, let’s go.”

 

Scott Redding, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team (SP: 19 / R01: 11 / SP Race: 17 / R02: P17): “It was a difficult weekend. I think we went the wrong way setting up the bike, I couldn’t improve the lap time like the other guys and go fast. It was a strange week throughout the test here as well with the weather changing a lot, track grip changing a lot and I think we just got caught in the wrong way to go with the bike. We go to Barcelona. Hopefully we can improve, because the bike is showing potential. We’ll restart at Barcelona.”

Motorsport

Weird: Ferrari Is Testing A Tesla Model S Plaid At Its Maranello Factory

Oh, Ferrari, what are you doing? A brand new video from exterior the Prancing Horse’s Maranello manufacturing unit reveals what appears to be staff from the Italian supercar maker testing a Tesla Model S Plaid. We don’t imagine Ferrari has any upcoming plans to deal with the electrical sedan section, so we’re shocked to see the four-door American luxurious automotive inside and round Ferrari’s hallowed grounds.

While Ferrari has embraced electrification within the type of hybrids, which accounted for nearly half of the brand’s sales last year, its first absolutely electrical mannequin received’t arrive till 2025.

Maybe Ferrari is simply getting a really feel for what’s already in the marketplace. Or maybe the corporate’s engineers are benchmarking the Tesla towards an upcoming PHEV system that rockets a automotive to 60 miles per hour in two seconds earlier than igniting the gasoline engine. We don’t know, however we hope Ferrari doesn’t study any of Tesla’s unhealthy habits.

We know the automaker will launch three new cars in 2024, one among which might pack a plug-in hybrid twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The LaFerrari successor will allegedly pack an engine derived from the 296 GTB. We must also see the 812 Superfast substitute debut, but it surely’ll possible lack any electrification and stick to a naturally aspirated V12 engine. The camouflage-wrapped prototypes you see all through the video are possible hints of what is to come back.

Ferrari is likely to be specializing in hybrids proper now, however, like the remainder of the trade, it’s additionally researching battery-electric automobiles. The Model S isn’t Tesla’s hottest mannequin, however with over 1,000 horsepower in its spiciest configuration, any electrical automotive from Ferrari should outperform the four-door American sedan from California.

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RIDING THE 2024 KTM 450SX-F FACTORY EDITION

KTM invited us out to Glen Helen Raceway this week for our introduction to the 2024 450SX-F Factory Edition. Unfortunately, after we acquired there it was raining–solely at Glen Helen, nowhere else. The monitor was a swamp. We pickled up the bike anyway and headed into the hills to journey and check it in personal. The Factory Edition has been a convention since 2012 when it allowed Ryan Dungey entry to a motorbike that hadn’t reached full manufacturing. KTM promised to import the minimal variety of items earlier than spring in order that it might qualify underneath the manufacturing rule. All these years later, there was a Factory Edition launch whether or not or not there are any important adjustments that might violate AMA guidelines.

Sean Lipanovich on the KTM 450 Factory Edition.

This yr there are adjustments to the body. It has much less materials across the steering head and the shock tower. That would have been a transparent no-no in response to AMA guidelines, which let you add materials to the body, however not take it away. The engine hangars are new as properly. There was a big backlash over the earlier body which most amateurs and a few manufacturing unit riders thought of too inflexible. The new Factory Edition additionally has important suspension variations. The linkage is new and has a smaller pivot bolt with much less drag. The lever ratio is unchanged, however the spring price has elevated and there are valving adjustments to each the shock and the Xact air fork. In the previous, when there’s a body or motor change like this, the Factory Edition didn’t get too many different goodies. This one is an exception. It has an Akrapovic silencer plus the disc guard, glide plate, holeshot system, upgraded wheels and so forth. It even has new shrouds.


The greatest information of all is that it additionally has an up to date model of the KTM Connect Bluetooth system. This was first rolled out on the 2021 Factory Edition, but it surely didn’t actually get off the bottom. Only just a few items have been on the market. Now it’s rather more subtle. The bike has a sending unit on the fork tube reasonably than within the crossbar pad. It additionally has a GPS unit on the entrance fender. It has all of the engine tuning options that the earlier function had–engine braking, throttle response, traction management and launch management. Plus this one permits you right into a subscription LitPro service (which can value $8.99 a month).
The KTM LitPro service provides the identical options for lap instances and phase, coronary heart price and normal coaching as the final service. In addition, it’s built-in with the motorbike’s telemetry. It can inform you what gear you’re utilizing on any part of the monitor, what rpm you’re at, how far you’re twisting the throttle and extra. It opens up an entire new world of coaching potentialities.


There was method an excessive amount of within the KTM Connect app for us to discover on our first day of testing. Our essential precedence was to expertise the brand new body. Sean Lipanovich was our guinea pig. He has hours and hours of testing time on the 2023/2024 commonplace body, plus he owns a 2022 mannequin with the earlier, extra compliant body. Immediately he might inform the distinction. The new Factory Edition turns precisely like the present commonplace mannequin, which is to say it’s wonderful. It drops into turns simply and has little or no chassis motion on the exit. The noticeable change is in straight-line consolation, notably at decrease velocity. The earlier chassis gave you method an excessive amount of monitor suggestions. You felt each rock and pebble. Plus, you can really feel the motor pulse and vibrate. The new body takes away that onerous edge. You would possibly even assume it has a softer shock spring. It doesn’t–the shock is definitely one step stiffer.


On large impacts and in whoops, the bike feels basically the identical. The motor additionally appears like an ordinary mannequin with an aftermarket exhaust system, which is to say excellent. We nonetheless really feel it has one of the best energy within the motocross world proper now. It positively guidelines the dyno, and continues to be exceptionally controllable. Like The commonplace mannequin, it has a handlebar-mounted swap that permits entry to 2 completely different maps, traction management, launch help and Quickshift. All of these options may be fine-tuned now by means of the KTM Connect App.
The large query for Sean: will he lastly commerce in his 2022 mannequin for the brand new body? He says this one nonetheless isn’t as compliant as his bike, however we additionally know that KTM frames take time to interrupt in. A motorbike with 10 hours is simply stepping into its prime, so we must wait and see. By the time we deliver out our full check within the April, 2024 print version of Dirt Bike, we’ll know for certain. We’re fairly certain Sean might be on board for the brand new bike by then.

MORE KTM TESTING


Also within the April subject we can have a brief comparability between the KTM 450XC-W and the KTM 500XWF. What’s a 500XWF you ask? Most riders don’t even understand it exists. It has the identical chassis because the 450XC-W off-road bike that we examined late final yr. However, it has a motor similar to the one within the 500EXC dual-sport bike. Why trouble? It’s largely to present California sellers one thing to promote. For over a yr, it’s been a battle to register closed-course competitors automobiles in California and only a few bikes meet the present inexperienced sticker requirements. KTM hasn’t even had a inexperienced sticker bike for a while. Now they do, and we wished to know if the 500XWF works in addition to the 450 closed-course model. We’ll fill you in, so keep tuned.

Pete Murray on the KTM 500XWF.

VIRGINIA CITY GP

The Virginia City GP goes again over a half century. The begin on C Street is an honored custom.

The 53rd Virginia City GP is scheduled for April Twenty seventh-Twenty eighth.

  • The Drawing Party is scheduled for five:00pm April 6, 2024 on the iconic Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, NV. This annual occasion guarantees to supply good instances and lasting reminiscences. As in previous, the beginning numbers and grid positions are revealed, together with superb sponsor publicity through the raffle and dwell auctions, all whereas elevating cash for native charities and neighborhood companions supported by the VCMC.
  • Drawing Party occasion posters are again from the printer and prepared for distribution later this week. Please use the connected Drawing Party poster file together with your social media accounts. We might be contacting everybody for each give-away (raffle) objects, in addition to objects for public sale, to schedule pick-up, properly forward of the occasion.
  • New for 2024 is the Vendor Area will now embody the usage of the historic Virginia City Train Depot. While further inspection and planning is required, we need to take full benefit of this unimaginable property…extra to observe!
  • Move-in to the Vendor/Sponsor space race weekend will start on Friday April 26 at 7:30am. The present plan is to have a gentle opening of the seller space at 12:00pm Friday April 26, to take full benefit of the registration (strolling) site visitors.

See you subsequent week!

–Ron Lawson
BMW

Preparing for WorldSBK 2024: BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK groups full intensive testing schedule at Jerez de la Frontera.

Jerez de la Frontera. Three groups, six BMW Motorrad Motorsport manufacturing unit riders; the primary check session of the yr noticed BMW Motorrad Motorsport kick off the crucial section of preparations for the 2024 season within the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) with an enormous line-up. The official assessments at Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) on Wednesday and Thursday not solely featured the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team with Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) and Michael van der Mark (NED) and the Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team with Garrett Gerloff (USA) and Scott Redding (GBR) on the circuit. The BMW Motorrad Motorsport Test Team was additionally in motion with Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) and Bradley Smith (GBR).

 

The two days of testing in southern Spain additionally represented the primary alternative to go up in opposition to WorldSBK rivals, as all producers had been participating. The BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK groups and the check crew loved good situations at Jerez de la Frontera, with loads of sunshine and delicate temperatures. They had been capable of full a complete testing schedule. The focus was on set-up work in a variety of areas comparable to chassis and electronics, in addition to evaluating newly developed parts.

An additional two days of testing are scheduled for early subsequent week at Portimão, Portugal. Phillip Island in Australia would be the location for ultimate testing on nineteenth and twentieth February. That can be adopted by the season-opener there from twenty third to twenty fifth February.

 

Quotes after the Jerez de la Frontera check.

Garrett Gerloff (#31 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team): “Overall, it was a good test. We were able to sort out a few problems that we had which is good. All in all it was just really nice to get on the bike again after two months of not riding and to finally do some laps. I am really excited to head to Portimão and keep trying to get faster. I feel like we have an idea of what we want to try and change at Portimão and then we should be good to go for the season. I am happy with this test, happy to reunite with my team and looking forward to riding again in a few days.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (#54 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “These two days of testing have been very positive for me, especially as I am still learning the bike on every lap and I am improving. Especially on these two days we have learnt a lot and we improved some things. We tried many new parts. Sometimes they worked well, sometimes not, but this is normal. We just try to find a good set-up and good parts. In general, it has been a very positive test. I did not expect to ride a 1:38 lap time. I’m very surprised because for me the bike is still new, I am still learning and usually my plan is to do a mid 1:39 maybe, but yesterday I started straight away with a 1:39 and I believe that I also could have made a 1:38 yesterday. Today I finally made it and I am very happy about it because I see the potential of the bike and this is very good for me. Now we keep working hard and we just need to find my set-up. And after that we will start fighting.”

Scott Redding (#45 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team): “So, the first two days of testing this year are completed. On day one I was feeling pretty sick. It has been difficult but we have been able to do some laps and find some feeling with the bike. It was just about settling with the new team and blowing the cobwebs away. Coming into day two I felt a lot better and then we worked a lot with the bike to get my confidence and my feeling. We played a little bit with the set-up and tested a few new parts from BMW and I was reasonably happy with the steps that we made for my confidence on the bike. I am looking forward to Portimão next and see if the set-up also works on another circuit.”

Michael van der Mark (#60 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “It has been a busy test; two perfect days with amazing weather, so it was great for testing and I really enjoyed riding again. We’ve been trying to test a lot of different set-ups and different parts on the bike.  They have been quite busy days but I really enjoyed it. We are still trying to improve the bike, and are getting better and better. Also myself, my riding has improved so I am quite happy with it. We learnt a lot and I’m looking forward to Portimão. It’s one of my favourite tracks so I can’t wait to go out there and keep working.”