This week’s edition of Speed Read is loaded with new releases from major OEMs. We’re reviewing Honda’s new Dax and Hawk 11, Yamaha’s new electric scooter, and the Royal Enfield Scram 411. But first, a flat-track Yamaha XSR700 from Mellow Motorcycles.
Yamaha XSR700 by Mellow Motorcycles From Yamaha The yard is built initiative is one of the longest running and longest running factory-supported custom programs. It consistently produces beautiful bikes — like this one inspired by Kenny Roberts Yamaha XSR700 from Mellow Motorcycles.
Patrick Sauter, Mellow Motorcycles said: “There isn’t much in the world that I like more than King Kenny Roberts and the ‘Speedblock’ design. But this custom XSR, dubbed ‘King Kenny’, is more than just a yellow paint job.
The German workshop went to great lengths — redesigned the XSR’s bodywork and gave it a series of treatments flat roadWorthwhile upgrade. The new body kit includes a one-piece barrel cover and aluminum tail and arms. There is a 6.5 liters [1.7 gallon] hidden storage tank underneath, with the fuel pump also pressed into it.
Mellow installed a set of XSR900 forks lowered up front, which comes with a pair of fork guards instead of fenders. Excel’s 19-inch rims are custom-tuned by HE-Motorradtechnik and wear Dunlop’s perennial DT3 tires.
Upstairs are new flat grooves, equipped with Renthal grips and Magura controls. There’s a new footrest that lowers, a housing filter in place of the air-con box, and an aluminum number plate at the front.
The tall rider twin exhaust is from Racefit, and has been specially designed to match the revised body lines. Patrick affectionately called them “rude, rude, and loud.”
After all the XSRs were buttoned up, the crew took it to the track to adjust it to the race conditions. “After a few laps, you feel instantly safe on this bike,” says Patrick.
“The chassis is stable and predictable, and the engine has linear power development. The bike works completely without agitation and allows you to find the interesting point towards the limit smoothly. ”
The fact that it looks spectacular doesn’t hurt either, right? [More]
Honda ST125 Dax Good news for fans of small Honda motorcycles: The iconic Honda Dax is back! Sad news for Honda fans in the US: so far, it has only been announced for the European markets.
The ST125 Dax joins Honda’s growing line of classic mini-bikes, alongside modern versions of the Monkey, Grom and Super Cube. It is also powered by the same engine as the Super Cub – an air-cooled 124 cc engine that produces 6.9 kW and 10.8 Nm, with a claimed top speed of 90 km/h. [56 mph]. The four-speed gearbox shifts gears via a centrifugal clutch, so there’s no need for a clutch.
Just like the original Dax (or ‘CT70,’ if you grew up in the US), the new ST125 is built around a T-shaped pressed steel frame. The fuel tank is also housed inside the fuel tank, and houses a a whopping 3.8 liters [approximately one gallon].
You get 31mm upside-down forks up front and twin shock absorbers at the rear, with 100mm and 120mm of travel respectively. Dax rolls on 12-inch cast aluminum wheels, with a ground clearance of 180 mm and a seat height of about 775 mm. And it weighs only 107 kg [236 lbs].
It’s also damn adorable. Available in gray or red, this is a dead bell to its predecessor thanks to its chrome silencer, banana seat and mini ape bars. The silver fenders are a nice touch, as are the chrome rear lights and passenger armrests.
Modern highlights include LED lighting system, round LCD speedometer and ABS-equipped disc brakes.
Kudo to Honda for pulling our hearts out with another elegantly revived classic — and for including a Dachshund in the official photos. As fuel becomes increasingly expensive and inner-city parking becomes increasingly difficult to find, bikes like these make more and more sense every day.
Honda Hawk 11 More news from Big Red, who unveiled the new Honda Hawk 11 at this weekend’s Osaka Motor Show in Japan.
So far, Honda has only announced the Hawk 11 for Japan, and they haven’t revealed too many details about it either. What we do know is that it is powered by a 1,082 cc twin-cylinder engine — most likely borrowed from the Africa Twin.
The frame is a semi-double bassinet arrangement, with 17” wheels on both ends. The driving position is sporty, with a chunky exhaust muffler mounted overhead to optimize the pitch angle (according to Honda). The clip-on handlebars are hidden behind a sleek cast crank, and Honda has also revealed some custom parts for it — like the Moriwaki exhaust shown above.
Honda is clearly aiming for a neoclassical style cafe racer design here, but we’re not entirely convinced. Parts such as the crank and concealed tail look natural, but the overall design lacks cohesion.
Time will tell whether the Hawk 11 makes it to the shores of Europe and America – and whether it succeeds or fails. [More]
Yamaha Neo electric scooter Big brands are quickly realizing that electricity Powertrain makes more sense in commuting small bikes, where top speed and range are more valued by economy. And that’s why Yamaha Neo’s scooter has the oddly fitting name.
Yamaha has been in the electric mobility game longer than most, when they launched their first electric scooter in 1991. Neo’s (seriously, we didn’t get it) were touted as the electric equivalent. with a 50 cc gasoline motorcycle. So it’s aimed squarely at city dwellers including short distances at limited speeds.
It is powered by Yamaha’s ‘Integrated Power Supply’ – essentially a rear-drive, direct-drive brushless electric motor, with integrated brakes. It is attached to a single-sided swingarm that also houses the main control unit of the engine.
Output is listed as 2.06 kW for 40 km/h [25 mph] full speed in ‘standard’ mode, with ‘eco’ mode cutting off power to maximize efficiency. The battery is a 50.4 V / 19.2 Ah Lithium-ion, providing approximately 37 km [23 miles] of scope. A second battery can be inserted to double, and each takes eight hours to fully charge.
It’s also a fascinating little game. The design is modern enough to look fresh, but not so futuristic that you won’t want to see it. The twin LED headlights are a nice touch and there are rubber ridges fitted around the edges of the Neo to avoid scuffs.
The petite Yamaha also comes standard with keyless ignition, an LCD display and the ability to connect it to Yamaha’s proprietary smartphone app. With this app you can do everything from check your vehicle stats and share your ride with friends, to find your scooter when you forget where you parked it.
Currently, Yamaha is only launching Neo in a few European countries. Prices will vary, but in the UK it’s currently listed at £3,005 — which is a quarter of the price of their flagship TMAX maxi-scooter. [More]
Royal Enfield Scram 411 Royal Enfield’s latest offering is essentially just a collection of one of their existing models, but that’s not a bad thing. Meet Scram 411 — a variation of the brand’s quirky Himalayan dual sport.
While the Himalayan’s 21-inch front wheels and generously-travelled suspension establish it as a lucky adventure bike, the Scram 411 is more of a modern bike. rival. The front wheel drops to 19-inch diameter are smarter on the street, with front shock absorber travel reduced by 10mm. Even so, the car’s ground clearance is reduced by only 20 mm, at a usable 200 mm.
The Scram 411 uses a chassis designed by Harris Performance of Himalayan and an air-cooled 411 cc single-cylinder engine. So it’s good for 24.3 hp at 6,500 rpm and 32 Nm of torque at 4,000-4,500 rpm.
The visual changes are less subtle, though. Put them side by side and the Scram 411 looks like a stripped-down custom Himalayan.
Gone are the tall front headlights and the distinctive front ‘collision bar’ design. Instead, the Scram 411 is equipped with compact spokes headlights, and a pair of small ‘wings’ next to the fuel tank. The original split seat was replaced by a unit, designed with comfort in mind.
The Scram 411 is also equipped with a low front fender, new side skirts, different taillights and redesigned handrails. And it seems to share the Himalayan exhaust and fenders.
Like most modern OEM-built scramblers, the Scram 411 is built for weeknight commutes and weekend getaways. So Royal Enfield introduced it to young riders, with seven different shows inspired by “hip-hop cultures like ice skating and the night streets of cities like Tokyo and New Delhi.” “. In other words, it’s colorful – with all sorts of clothes and gear to go with it, naturally.
The Scram 411 is now available in India and will next roll out to the Europe and Asia Pacific regions, before finally reaching the Americas. And yes – we will beg Royal Enfield for a test ride. [More]
