Earlier this month, there were rumors suggesting that the V8 engine would make a comeback in the C63 and E63 models. However, these rumors have been denied by an AMG engineer, calling them “pure nonsense.” Unfortunately, it has now been confirmed by the AMG CEO, Michael Schiebe, that the V8 engine will not be returning.
In an interview during the Monterey Car Week, Schiebe definitively denied the rumors and stated that the decision to downsize and electrify the engines was the right move. He mentioned that other competitors are also introducing sporty hybrid models with smaller engines, making this a strategic decision for AMG.
Are you familiar with Japanese capsule toys? These toys, also known as gachapon or gachagacha, are specifically created for Japanese capsule machines. They are collectible items that can be cute, funny, or cool. And sometimes, a gachapon run may include motorcycle collectibles that enthusiasts would love to know about.
For instance, there is a new collection of metal keychains featuring classic Kawasaki badges. These keychains are made by the gachapon toy companies 16 Directions and Toys Cabin, and they make for a cool gift for Kawasaki fans. It’s important to note that they are officially licensed Kawasaki merchandise.
The collection, called Kawasaki Metal Key Holder Volume Two, includes six all-metal Kawasaki badge keychains. There’s the Zephyr logo, a 750 Double Overhead Camshaft badge, a Z400FX badge, a gold Kawasaki badge, a Z1000R badge, and a Ninja H2 Carbon badge that says “Super Charged.” These keychains are set to be released in Japan in August 2023 and will cost 500 yen each.
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What If You’re a Kawasaki Fan Who’s Not in Japan?
If you’re a Kawasaki fan but not in Japan, don’t worry! Although these specific keychains may not be available for sale online yet, 16 Directions and Toys Cabin have released other motorcycle and automotive metal keychains from various manufacturers in the past. You can find items from Honda, Nissan, Datsun, and more on sellers’ websites like Amazon Japan and eBay. Just make sure the seller ships to your location. It may require some extra effort, but it’s good to know that it’s possible.
If you’re in the US, there’s an online shop in Arizona that specializes in bringing gachapon items to the States. As of August 17, 2023, they have the Kawasaki Metal Key Holder Volume One collection available on their website for $8 each.
The Volume One collection includes keychains with the KH400 badge, the Mach III 750 badge, the 900 Double Overhead Camshaft badge, a silver Ninja logo badge, a black and white Kawasaki badge, and the GPz900R DOHC 16-Valve badge. If you’re interested in purchasing or learning more about these keychains, you can find the link to the shop in the Sources section below.
In 2023, if you’re familiar with Vespa, chances are good that you know at least a little bit of how the company started. Post-WWII, everyday Italian people needed a convenient, affordable way to get around, so Piaggio came up with one. While the company and designer Corradino D’Ascanio certainly couldn’t have known what a style icon they were creating at the time, that’s still exactly what they did.
Necessity, in this case, was the mother of invention—but just because you need function doesn’t mean that you can’t also have a form that’s extremely appealing to the eye. Over the decades, Piaggio has taken these strengths and improved various components in keeping with the times. Its devotion to style and a certain timelessness is clear, but it’s also not afraid to modernize.
Take, for example, the TFT display that’s been showing up on various Vespa models in the past few years. In Japan, the latest version of the Vespa Sprint S 150 now comes with a full-color, 4.3-inch TFT dash. You could previously get it on the Justin Bieber x Vespa Sprint collab, but now it’s also available in two stunning new matte colors for 2023—with no specific pop star allegiance necessary. It also features smartphone connectivity using the Vespa Mia app.
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Engine Specifications
The Vespa Sprint S 150 with TFT is powered by an air-cooled, 155cc single-cylinder engine that makes a claimed 12.9 horsepower at 7,750 rpm, alongside 12.8 newton-meters (or 9.4 pound-feet) of torque at 6,500 rpm. It’s mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), as are most twist-and-go scooters on the market in 2023.
Brakes and Dimensions
It features a single disc brake up front, along with a drum brake in the rear, and rolls on a pair of 12-inch alloy scooter wheels that vary in color depending on which color scoot you choose. Seat height is 790mm, or just a hair over 31 inches. Wheelbase is 1,334mm, or about 52.5 inches. Total vehicle weight is 131 kilograms, or just under 289 pounds.
Colors and Pricing
For 2023, the Vespa Sprint S 150 with TFT comes in two colorways for the Japanese market: Bronze Antico or Black Opaco. Both feature a gorgeous matte finish, and both feature contrasting details that really set off the main color nicely. The Bronze Antico scoot has black details, including black alloy wheels. Choose the matte black scoot, and you get bronze details instead—including bronze alloy wheels. Both feature a special seat with diamond-pattern stitching to take the style level up another notch.
MSRP starts at ¥ 638,000, or about $4,452, including Japan’s 10-percent consumption tax. As always, for the most up-to-date information regarding pricing and availability, your best bet is to reach out to your local authorized Vespa dealer for applicable information in your market.
Komine, a Japanese company established in 1947, has evolved from manufacturing bicycle parts to specializing in riding gear and accessories. One of its latest products is the KK-901 Turbo Fan Cooling Tank Bag, designed to combat the scorching summer heat. With temperatures reaching 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) in Tokyo, where the bag was created, this innovative solution offers much-needed relief.
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The Komine Turbo Cooling Fan Tank Bag is not your typical storage bag. Instead, it features a small pocket for the turbo fan and an optional battery pack to power it. The bag attaches to the motorcycle’s tank and connects to a flexible hose that can be inserted into your clothing. The turbo fan can be easily switched on or off using an analog toggle switch. It can be powered by your bike’s 12-volt battery using the same wiring harness as Komine’s heated gear.
This fan system is designed to provide cooling relief during traffic jams. While riding, the air flow brings comfort, but when stuck in traffic, the heat becomes unbearable. The Turbo Cooling Fan Tank Bag solves this problem by blowing air into your jacket, utilizing evaporative cooling to lower your body temperature. Komine is currently seeking feedback from real riders to improve the product for future versions.
The Komine Turbo Cooling Fan Tank Bag is priced at ¥ 7,900 (about $55) on the Komine website. An optional battery is available for ¥ 3,850 (about $27). The bag is available in multiple regions, including Australia, Chile, Turkey, and several countries in Asia. Although currently out of stock on Amazon Japan, this innovative accessory promises relief for motorcycle riders enduring the heat.
Most of us are familiar with Vantablack, a paint that absorbs an astounding 99.96 percent of light. However, a group of researchers at Purdue University, led by mechanical engineering professor Xiulin Ruan, have achieved the opposite effect with a white paint that reflects 98.1 percent of solar radiation. This innovative material not only has a cooling effect but also holds potential in the fight against global warming. In fact, a version specifically designed for cars is in the works.
Unlike conventional paint, this white paint emits more infrared heat than it absorbs. The secret lies in the paint’s composition, which includes barium sulfate particles of different sizes. These particles scatter various wavelengths of solar radiation, resulting in a surface temperature that is lower than the surrounding environment.
Nimbus may sound familiar to you, but we’re not talking about the electric autocycle manufacturer. We’re referring to the motorcycle manufacturer from the 20th century. Like many other early motorcycle manufacturers, Nimbus started in a different industry before venturing into motorcycles.
While Ducati began with radio equipment, Nimbus started as Nilfisk, an electric motor and vacuum cleaner company. The name “Nimbus” was derived from the surnames of its founders, H.M. Nielsen and Peder Andersen Fisker. In 1918, Fisker developed the first Nimbus motorcycle prototype as motorcycles gained popularity. In 1934, Nimbus introduced its most popular and long-lasting model, the Type C.
The Type C, a shaft-driven motorcycle, initially produced around 18 horsepower, which later increased to 22 horsepower in subsequent versions. It had a top speed of 75 miles per hour. The Nimbus Type C became popular for military and government use, serving as contract vehicles for the Danish post office, army, and police forces. It was also a reliable choice for civilian use within Denmark, although the company did not export the motorcycle.
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Now, in 2023, the past is meeting the future once again. Nimbus is nostalgically remembered by many Danish fans and collectors around the world. Collectors and enthusiasts are thrilled by the idea of obtaining a rare bike that can only be seen once a year in a remote location. This explains why Nimbus motorcycles have a dedicated group of fans beyond Denmark.
Nimbus Reborn
In 2014, Claus Støvlbæk Clausen, a Danish entrepreneur, felt it was his responsibility to revive the Nimbus name as a symbol of Danish innovation and technology. He contacted Nilfisk-Advance, the owner of the Nimbus rights, to express his interest in acquiring them. Although Nilfisk-Advance initially had plans to sell to someone else, the deal fell through, and Clausen ultimately obtained the Nimbus trademark and technology rights.
Initially, Clausen hoped to secure funding from investors to start producing new Nimbuses in 2015, but this plan did not materialize. Nonetheless, Clausen persevered in his mission. He enlisted the help of the design firm 3Part, and they collaborated to create this electric bike design. The goal was to capture the essence of the Type C while reimagining it as an electric motorcycle.
3Part founding partner and CEO Simon Skafdrup stated, “It is with great humility and respect that we have agreed to be birth attendants in the development process, which will lead to a relaunch of the Nimbus motorcycle. I compare it with standing with the potential some Italians saw years ago, with grabbing the original FIAT 500 drawings and bringing the model back into the present. Incidentally launched in a pure electric version recently. There is a strong DNA and countless design details to take as a starting point, so our role on the design team may be more to select, focus, and refine than it will be to find something new.”
The company plans to produce both an electric motorcycle and an electric bicycle, with production of the motorcycle expected to begin around 2025. There has been talk of reintroducing a sidecar, which was previously used with the Type C, but no designs have been released concerning this development. As we learn more, we will keep you updated. What are your thoughts on what you’ve seen so far?
If you’re someone who loves to tackle hands-on projects, then you’re probably familiar with what I call “project brain.” It’s when you become so focused on achieving a specific goal that you throw caution to the wind. Did you end up spending more money than you planned on? Maybe. But you’re determined to get the job done. That’s what matters.
In a new video series from the YouTube channel Donut, motorcycle enthusiast Jeremiah Burton has taken on a new project: transforming a Coleman Powersports minibike from Wal-Mart into a 100mph speed demon. Can he do it? Even if he doesn’t, at least they’ll have an entertaining video series to show for it.
Before reaching his goal, Jeremiah needs to understand what he’s working with. After spending some time on the dyno, he discovers that the stock bike only produces 3.47 horsepower. To hit 100mph, he estimates that he’ll need to increase the power output to around 28 horsepower. It won’t be easy, but Jeremiah is determined to prove the naysayers wrong.
With a mountain of upgraded parts, Jeremiah sets to work on the bike’s engine. He replaces the connecting rod, flywheel, side cover, cylinder head, and carburetor, among other things. The only original component he keeps is the engine case itself.
When you combine the motivation to prove doubters wrong with project brain, it’s easy to stay focused on the goal. The video series has two more parts remaining, and glimpses of the future suggest that the bike becomes significantly faster and more powerful. Will it ultimately reach 100mph? Only time will tell.
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