▲ 2019 KTM 450 SX-F. The story here is that KTM AG has released advance sales details for 2018, and the numbers look very good for the Austrian firm. KTM and Husqvarna-branded bike sales jumped to 261,500 units; a rise of 10 percent over 2017 stats. Apparently, that's the eighth annual record in a row. Most bikes were sucked up in the European market (110,000 machines). The United States of America took another 55,000. And 49,600 bikes (mostly road-going motorcycles) were manufactured in India for both domestic and export consumption. We've never "got into" KTM. Just one of those things. But there's no doubting that these are high quality and very successful competition bikes. Pity they ain't British.

MOTORCYCLE NEWS

January 2019

H O M E

T O P

S H O P

Ariel Ace of Diamonds

Just 10 of these motorcycles are going to be built. That's the promise from the Ariel Motor Company which has just thrown the wraps off its new Ace of Diamonds model. Powered by a Honda's 1,237cc V4 Unicam engine producing 175hp at 10,000rpm, the torque output is rated at a more-than-adequate 97lb-ft @ 8,750rpm. Driving through a six-speed manual sequential gearbox, Ariel reckon you'll accelerate from 0-60mph in just 2.9 seconds, which probably feels like a hand grenade detonating. And if you fully wind open the throttle whilst in top on a straight enough stretch of road, you'll have your urges capped at a whopping 165mph top speed.

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2019 Honda CB650R

A new engine (93hp @ 12,000rpm). New frame (steel). A new front fork (41mm USD Showa SFF). New styling. New front calipers (radially mounted Nissin). A new headlight. A new and sportier riding position. New wheels. And new suspension. This timely replacement for the outgoing CB650F will sit more comfortably alongside the current CB125R, CB300R and CB1000R range. Honda speaks about a "Neo Sports Café" concept and has clearly thrown a lot of time, money and effort at this machine.

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2019 Kawasaki Versys 1000

For 2019, Kawasaki has stood the already very worthy Versys 1000 on the launch pad, bolted on some boosters, pressed the GO! button and sent this machine into a significantly higher orbit. The 1,043cc motor is, however, the same 118bhp (88.2kW) @ 8,900rpm inline four cylinder liquid-cooled lump with 75lb-ft (102Nm) of torque @ 7,500rpm. And the styling, although clearly reworked for the new season, is essentially the same animal albeit with a few new facets. But electronically speaking the Versys 1000 is a new machine that, okay, hasn't exactly overtaken the pack, but has certainly narrowed the gap.

[More...]

Click the link for: December 2018 motorcycle news from Sump

Sump workshirt £26.99

All purpose street & garage wear

We spend much of our miserable lives in the garage. Usually we're fixing bikes and stuff, and all too often we're re-fixing the stuff we ought to have fixed properly the first time around.

So it goes.

Anyway, we wanted to increase our product range (that's partly how we fund Sump) and we've been thinking for some time about introducing workshirts and general shirts that we might want to wear when the weather closes in—which is most of the time in the UK. Anyway, this is the result; our first Sump branded garage/all purpose shirt.

The Sump logo is featured above the left-side pocket only (notice how we cunningly avoided saying "breast"?). The image quality is very good and will last the life of the shirt.

We think these are pretty good quality and worth the money. First come, first served, etc.

Hit the button below, baby...

BSA M20/M21

workshirt £26.99

All purpose street & garage wear

Seems that plenty of folk love our BSA M20/M21 T-shirt design which features the above roundel. So, to widen the appea we decided to reproduce it on a more formal shirt that you might want to wear in the garage or in the magistrate's court.

The shirts are 100% cotton twill, which means they're tougher than ordinary cotton. We wear these ourselves, and we're perfectly happy with them—and we're nothing if not hard to please. Follow the links and see if they're right for you (Hint: they probably are).

The BSA M20/M21 roundel is featured above the left-side pocket only. And when you wear this, other BSA folk will notice and might even become your friend and take you out for walks and stuff. It happens.

The image quality is very good and will last the life of the shirt. You know you want it, and you know we've got it.

New motorcycle launches and reviews

Motorcycle news

There's news, and then there's Sump news, and we usually see it differently from the rest of the world. Come check it with us...

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In a world of plenty, there's plenty more coming down the pike. Stay with us for new motorcycle gear.

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Without industry, the wheels won't turn. We're keeping an eye on the guys who grease your spindles.

New motorcycling laws

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Fortunately, in the UK we have the rule of law. Unfortunately, few know what all those laws are, and the government keeps changing them anyway. But if it affects you, we'll tip you the wink...

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