The middleweight phase is prospering throughout all classes with new fashions coming into the market left and proper. At EICMA 2023, we noticed a variety of new fashions from numerous producers hit the scene, significantly within the 400cc to 500cc phase. This time round, it’s one other historic Italian model that was acquired by a Chinese firm.
SWM was based within the 70s in Italy. Known as Speedy Working Motors, the corporate centered significantly on enduro and motocross, with a collection of light-weight and performance-oriented dual-sports. These days, SWM remains to be in existence, however is not Italian-owned. While its headquarters stay in Italy, most of its funding, in addition to the event and manufacturing of its fashions, takes place in China, beneath the management of Shineray, an automotive producer working throughout the automotive, motorbike, and heavy automobile industries.
The model has lately unveiled its premium beginner-friendly providing for the European market known as the Gran Milano 500, and it’s clearly a really stark departure from the model’s off-road centered machines. It’s a modern-styled streetfighter that matches snugly into the A2 licensing class, and as is the case with many 500cc bikes originating from China, makes use of a really acquainted technical blueprint.
Powering the SWM Gran Milano 500 is a 494cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, parallel-twin engine with a 180-degree crankshaft configuration. The similar engine could be present in different Chinese bikes from Loncin (Voge within the European market). Ultimately, the engine finds its roots from none aside from Honda, extra significantly, in its CB500 vary of road bikes, all of which proceed to be very fashionable within the world market right now. In the case of the Gran Milano, it pumps out 48 horsepower, and is Euro 5 compliant. As is the case with practically all bikes of this caliber, energy is distributed to the rear wheel by way of a six-speed handbook gearbox.
SWM claims a moist weight of 188 kilograms, which is fairly approachable for newbie riders. It makes use of a metal spine body that makes use of the engine as a burdened member, contributing to the bike’s light-weight package deal. On high of that, it options KYB-sourced suspension {hardware} within the type of an inverted entrance fork and a preload-adjustable rear monoshock. The result’s an extremely pleasant 790-millimeter (31-inch) seat peak. The bike rolls on cast-aluminum wheels measuring 17 inches back and front, and curiously, will get Pirelli Angel GT rubber. Dual entrance discs measuring 296 millimeters and a single rear rotor measuring 240 millimeters are sourced from J.Juan, and are available geared up with dual-channel ABS.
In phrases of pricing and availability, SWM has priced the brand new Gran Milano at 5,990 euros (about $6,531 USD), which is cheaper than the Honda CB500F, however not by a lot. For reference, the CB500F, which has just about set the usual for all 500cc bare bikes in the marketplace, carries a retail worth of round 6,300 euros, or about $6,869 USD on the time of writing.
