| Polaris Buys Indian Motorcycles |
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Polaris Industries, which also owns Victory Motorcycles, has acquired the legendary and historic American motorcycle maker Indian Motorcycle Limited.
Indian Motorcycles formed the basis of American motorcycling from the turn of 1901 after making America’s very first motorcycle. The company lost out to Harley-Davidson after the First World War and then crumbled in 1953. The manufacturer passed through various hands and made a comeback in 2006.
With this acquisition, Polaris adds one of motorcycling’s legendary brands to its strong stable of Victory cruiser and touring bikes. Indian will operate as an autonomous business unit, building upon the potent combination of Polaris’ engineering acumen and innovative technology with Indian’s premium brand, iconic design and rich American heritage.
Since Polaris has already announced its plans to bring Victory Motorcycles to the Indian market by the end of 2011, it is unclear weather or not the Indian will also be launched in the country. We hope it does! |
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| Sora – an Electric Street Fighter from Lito Green Motion |
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Everyone is jumping onto the electric bandwagon or going green as they say. Yet another new prototype electric motorcycle is in the making and this time it comes from a Canadian company – Lito Green Motion.
This green two-wheeled wonder has been named the Sora and will debut at the Montreal F1 Grand Prix in this month. The bike looks brilliant, almost like a mix between a café racer and a street bike. Not only does the bike look good and powerful, but it is also sensible.
There is an electric seat adjuster for riding comfort and there is also a patented Safe Range System. This system allows you to manage the energy you need for a desired trip. Just set the destination and the bike will manage the amount of energy required so the rider does not suffer from range anxiety. However, this will likely affect the performance of the bike to maintain sufficient energy storage. The system also features an eco mode for maximum range and a performance mode which lets you unleash hell when you’re not worried about the range.
The Sora will likely provide an average range of 260km on a single charge. It also features a liquid-cooled 3-phase AC induction electric motor and a CVT combination provides a clutchless stream of acceleration. The top speed is expected to be 180kmph. The12 kWh lithium-polymer battery modules will fully recharge in about 8 hours and the frame of the bike is made of aluminum and the body work is carbon fiber, which gives this bike a total weight of 240kg.
The Canadian company which makes the Sora says it will cost around $44,000 and deliveries will begin in October. |
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