MXA GOES TO THE MILANO MOTORCYCLE SHOW & GETS A SHOCKING EXPERIENCE



We aren’t sure if the world has been waiting for an electric Supermoto bike, especially one with a wing on the front fender, but if they are Husqvarna has one…the E-go.


The stripped down styling of the electric E-go is very “eclectic” looking. The single-sided fork, a la Cannondale mountain bikes, is actually two fork legs on the same side. The swingarm is also single-sided and held up by a Sachs shock.


Husky didn’t release any info on the power output of the E0-go, not even how many light bulbs it could power up. With KTM and Husky showing electric prototypes in Milano, the big manufacturers are about the step into the kilowatt arena. The price tags of electric dirt bikes hover at the $10,000 mark.


Who knew Ida Lupino raced motocross? Actually this is the race bike of Husky factory rider Alessando Lupino, who finished 15th in the 2011 250 World Championships.


Lupino’s TC250 features a carbon fiber gas tank, WRP handlebars, two-position programmable GET ignition and Kayaba works forks.


Husqvarna gives scrambler aesthetics a modern twist with its latest concept ? the 650 Moab. The Husky Moab pays homage to classic scramblers from the 1960s and 1970s with bodywork and color schemes from Steve McQueen’s classic 400 Cross.


This is Husqvarna’s earlier Mille-3 concept bike of what they think a cruiser for America should look like.


Little Ossa has become the darling of the dirt bike world since they started pushing the two-stroke envelope. The Milano-announced Ossa Enduro 250i/300i features a reverse cylinder, fuel injection, snake pipe, repositioned gas tank, Ohlins suspension and attractive looks. The Enduro joins the TR250i trails bike and Explorer trail bike in the revived Spanish line-up.


Although not quite direct injection (but closer than any other two-stroke), the Ossa Enduro 250i/300i uses two injectors to maximize the fuel delivery to the slant engine. The pipe is reminiscent of the snake and snail pipes of the 1970s.


From Husky to Triumph to Troy Lee Designs, Steve McQueen has found new life in the sport he loved!


Meanwhile, at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, Honda showed the 2012 CRF250L dual-purpose bike. The “CRF” nomenclature may make you think that this is a road worthy version of the CRF250 motocross bike. Not so! It has a steel frame and and engine that is more XR than CRF. It will probably replaced the CRF230 street bike.


The 2012 Yamaha Moegi 125 is designed to look old, but use modern parts. With a 125cc four-stroke engine on a slim, lightweight, bicycle-style frame, the suspended Moegi is designed to deliver good fuel economy with an easy use. This is most likely a Japan-only model.


Also shown in Tokyo was the latest version of the Honda Motor Compo. Honda has been building version of this bike for decades. It is a minicycle that is designed to fit in the trunk of even the smallest compact car to allow a Tokyo commuter to drive close to downtown and then unload the Motor Compo and cruise through heavy traffic. The new Motor Compo uses electric power.

Further Down The Battery Driven Highway…


With only 200 planned for production in 2012, KTM’s Freeride E is powered by a brushed DC motor from Agni capable of 2.1 kWh. The little motor is rated to put out 10 horsepower, though KTM says it’s good for up to 30 horses.


Range varies on the Freeride-E, according to KTM, if ridden hard the battery will drain in 20 minutes, but if trail rode it could last up to 45 minutes. If there’s a 220-volt outlet nearby, the Freeride can be fully recharged in 90 minutes.

Although not powered by an electric motor, the KTM Freeride 350 is a very unique machine. It features a detuned 350SXF engine installed in a hybrid electric Freeride E frame (with a chromoly steering head, backbone and frame cradle). The name Freeride means that the bike is designed for plonking, play riding and casual trail riding. The engine makes about half the horsepower of the KTM 350SXF motocross model.


The 2012 zero lin includes the  Zero DS, Zero S, Zero MX and Zero XZ. Zero claims a range of more than 100 miles is possible with its new models. On top of that some of the new bikes boast top speeds of up to 88 mph, and contain power packs designed to last the life of the motorcycles. If Zero fulfills its promised production dates, it will be the first 100 mile range electric motorcycle available on the market.


The $9995 Brammo Engage is one several electric bikes working on combining regular motorcycle transmissions with electric power.


Stripped to its essence, the Brammo Empulse street bike model shows the complexity of the electrics and the simplicity of the small electric motor. Brammo recently got funded by Polaris.

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