▲ 2019 Arc Vector. Following a huge launch coupled with a raft of super-techno promises, the fireworks have fizzled out for this radical electric motorcycle start-up, and parent Arc Vehicles has gone into administration. Founder Mark Truman, has been quoted as saying that the firm has been let down by an investor with deep, but currently inaccessible, pockets. This, despite a substantial (around £1 million) crowd-funding program courtesy of Crowdcube, has left a gaping financial hole in the project that was first announced in November 2018. The company has until 10th October 2019 to ante-up or go belly up. Features of the £90k Arc Vector include updated hub-centre steering, a 399-volt electric motor churning out around 133bhp/292lb-ft, state-of-the-art carbon fibre engineering and a claimed 45-minute full charge time. The range is reckoned to be 362 miles. 0 - 60mph comes up in 3.1 seconds—which isn't actually all that fantastic for £90k, but will probably give some of us one hell of a nosebleed.

MOTORCYCLE NEWS

October 2019

Biking news | Motor bike stories | New bikes | Motorcycle products

H O M E

T O P

S H O P

2020 Kawasaki W800

At this year's (2019) Tokyo Motorcycle Show, Kawasaki announced a new W800 set to roll alongside the existing Street and Cafe models. You can think of the newcomer (which is also something of an oldcomer) as a "standard" model. Or, if you prefer, "classic". But so far, Kawasaki has simply called it the W800. Purist W800 fans will no doubt consider this a welcome return to the more traditional styling of the bike which was dropped in 2018 due to Euro4 emission issues. But the company has evidently cleaned up its act with suitable engine revamps and tweaks, and has reintroduced the old favourite ensuring that it's appropriately the same, but respectably different.

[More...]

2020 Street Triple RS

Details have officially emerged regarding the 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS, and on paper the improvements certainly look pretty good—but not sensational. The most significant details are that the new 765cc, liquid-cooled, 12-valve, DOHC class-leading middleweight has (a) won the battle to keep on the right side of the Euro 5 standard, is (b) equally fast as the outgoing model, and (c) is a little cleaner on the eye thanks to its "aggressive styling" (yawn). Engine power, however, is still 121bhp, torque is up slightly at 58lb-ft (79Nm), and throttle response is claimed to be more responsive thanks to subtle crankshaft revisions and a new exhaust cam. As such, Hinckley reckons that you'll get your best hits in the mid-range where you want it. Also, the clutch and engine balancer has lost a few grams for lighter action/faster pick-up.

[More...]

2020 Kawasaki 650 Ninja

Kawasaki's 649cc Ninja is an unashamed budget-conscious middleweight motorcycle launched in 2017 having pushed aside the klunkily-named ER-6F. From the start the 650 Ninja was a worthy enough motorcycle offering satisfying performance for those riders who don't feel the urge to stray too close to the edge. Kawasaki saw this bike as a part time commuter and weekend sportster/tourer, and the firm gave it just enough bells and whistles to nudge it over the street cred line. Since its launch, it's sold in respectable numbers, but a revamp is clearly overdue, and the Big K has obliged—but the upgrade isn't likely to blow anyone's boots off.

[More...]

Click the link for: September 2019 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...

Latest motorcycling products and accessories

Biking product news

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

Motorcycle industry news

Bike industry news

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

New motorcycling laws

Motorcycle legal news

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...

Safety news for bikers