MCN

‘We don’t see battery electric as the only option’ HOWARD DALE, KAWASAKI MOTORS UK THIS WEEK Battery switch sparks industry eco debate The great and the good of the UK motorcycle industry, think tanks, and government representatives came together last week to debate the landscape of motorcycling in a more eco-friendly future. And there was plenty of division in evidence as manufacturers already on the path to decarbonisation made a case for needing more time in order to deliver greener machines both globally, and for the UK market – the only market to have legislated for zero-emission new models. PAGE 4 RAPID WIN £3477 OF TRAINING! BOOST YOUR SKILLS: BE A BIKEMASTER! SEE PAGE 20 THIS WEEK Adventure bikes on a budget With the UK’s most popular adventure bikes costing upwards of £15,000 before you’ve done so much as…

The juxtaposition between sitting in the shrine to Britain’s motorcycling history last week, while industry luminaries debated biking’s future with government representatives and environmental policy advisors was not lost on me. I was at the fabulous National Motorcycle Museum for an MCIA conference devoted to the pressing subjects of alternative fuels, zero-emission motorcycles and the decarbonisation of the motorcycle industry. That might not sound interesting – but it was actually fascinating. Quite apart from the fact that motorcycles only contribute 0.46% to the UK’s vehicle emissions problem, and that the UK is the only country that has committed to including motorcycles in their zero-emission transport plans – there was a clear message from manufacturers that they need more time. Not just to blindly traipse down the automotive path already laid by our…

Ural are marking the move of their production facility to Kazakhstan by issuing a special badge on their 2023 models. The company, who specialise in flat-twin outfits, made the move to the central Asian country – which is a former Soviet republic – in November last year. The new Ural badge features the words ‘Never Give Up –Since 1941’ and is in the colour of the Kazakhstan national flag. The factory’s 2023 range of models are arriving in showrooms now. Top-spec gear for Harley’s PanAm German accessory specialists Wunderlich have a range of aftermarket parts for Harley-Davidson Pan American models. Available through Nippy Normans (www.nippynormans.com) the range features 36 upgrades and add-ons from plush seats to more specialist items such as screen stabilisers. Prices range from £35 for a fold-out stand aid…

‘We don’t see battery electric as being the only solution’ HOWARD DALE, KAWASAKI UK‘In just eight years we’ll have around 10 million vehicles with a plug’ AARON BERRY OF THE OFFICE FOR ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES‘Targets that we’re trying to achieve on air quality are getting tighter and tighter’ ANDY EASTLAKE, ZEMO PARTNERSHIP TOP STORY Representatives from leading motorcycle manufacturers say the UK’s focus on electric vehicles means we risk missing out on viable alternatives. National bosses from Honda, Kawasaki, Royal Enfield, Ducati BMW and more descended on the National Motorcycle Museum on January 24 for the annual Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) Conference, where they were addressed by Minister for Transport Decarbonisation and Technology, Jesse Norman MP. Addressing the MCIA via a video link, the Minister promised to not “risk a ‘one size fits all’…

The MCIA panel did not just consist of petrol-heavy manufacturers, with Coventry-based low capacity electric firm Maeving offering an alternative take on the future. Co-founder Seb Inglis-Jones said: “I think in our industry, we’ve generally been among the most ardent of petrol heads. And just as a disclaimer, I’m no different. Despite founding an electric motorcycle brand, I am passionate about my 40-year-old CBX, and I came here in a Mazda MX5. I’m someone who loves noise, vibration, smell. “So, there’s lots of things that I’ll miss as we move into this new electric era for sure. But it pales in significance versus the benefits of addressing climate change. I’m sure we all agree on that. “It’s more a question of phasing and I think the reality is that the new generation of…

‘Seeing a real push towards carbon neutrality’ Suzuki are taking their first steps into an eco-friendlier future - announcing that they will be introducing their first electric model in 2024 and that they will have eight EV models bv 2030. “The [Suzuki] factory have had a commitment to carbon neutrality for a long time, but this is the first time that they’ve made it public,” Suzuki GB’s Director of Motorcycles Paul De Lusignan told MCN. “Personally, I am delighted to see the factory make that statement publicly and make our commitment clear.” A statement released on January 27 announced that Suzuki would bring a new electric motorcycle to market in 2024 for the small to mid-size sector. A total of eight plug-in models are then set to appear by 2030. Suzuki say they will…