Harley-Davidson has revealed the 2021 Pan America 1250, the American brand's first adventure motorcycle that truly sheds the well-established conventional norms of what a Harley can be.

Expected to be launched globally in the coming months, the Pan American 1250 looks impressive with a wide circular headlight, a tall (and adjustable) windscreen fit on a high handlebar, the seats are split in design and at 868.6 mm.

The adventure motorcycle is available in two variants: Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special. Both are powered by the new 150Bhp Revolution Max 1250 engine, a liquid-cooled 1,250cc V-Twin.

 To minimize overall motorcycle weight (Pan America 1250- 242.218 kg,  wet/Pan America 1250 Special- 253.5 kg. wet), the Revolution Max engine is integrated into the vehicle as the central member of the chassis.

The cast-aluminium swingarm minimizes unsprung weight. The chassis is designed with a 62.2-inch wheelbase, ideal for touring capability and agile handling required for off-road manoeuvrability.

The cast aluminium wheels (19-inch front and 17-inch rear) are designed to be strong, yet lightweight, intended for use on paved roads and unpaved surfaces, such as gravel and rocky roads.

 Harley-Davidson and Michelin have collaboratively designed a Scorcher Adventure (120/70- Front, 170/60- Rear) for the Pan America models to meet the demands associated with adventure touring.

The Brembo Dual front brake rotors are 320mm in diameter, at the rear, we have a single rotor at 280mm. A new lightweight front brake master cylinder offers adjustable lever response.

The Pan America 1250 model features premium passive front and rear suspension that is fully adjustable for pre-load and compression/rebound damping. Front suspension is provided by a SHOWA, 47mm inverted cartridge fork. The rear suspension is a SHOWA Piggyback reservoir shock with adjustable hydraulic preload.

The 6.8-inch TFT touchscreen supports infotainment generated by the rider’s Bluetooth-equipped mobile device, including music and calls. Navigation is supplied by the free Harley-Davidson App for iOS or Android.

There are five riding modes on the base model (4 are pre-programmed and one can be customized). The Pan America 1250 Special model has two additional modes that can be customized by the owner

Pre-programed ride modes for the Pan America 1250 models include Road, Sport, Rain, Off-Road and Off-Road Plus. Each Ride Mode consists of a specific combination of power delivery, engine braking, Cornering Enhanced Antilock Braking System (C-ABS) and Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS) settings.

Additionally, Harley-Davidson is the first to offer Adaptive Ride Height (ARH) in the motorcycle industry as an option for the Pan America 1250 Special model only.

The 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 costs $17,319 (Rs. 12.53 lakhs) for the standard variant and $19,999 (Rs. 14.47 lakhs) for the top-spec Special offering that comes with additional features like wire-spoked wheels, with tubeless tyres, and adaptive ride height. (TT)

Bridgestone is supplying Custom-engineered Alenza A/S tyre with ENLITEN Technology to select models of the 2021 Nissan Rogue as an OE supplier.

The Nissan Rogue is the first vehicle in the U.S. and Canada to feature tyre with Bridgestone’s ENLITEN Technology.

Bridgestone is supplying the Alenza Sport A/S tire with ENLITEN Technology in sizes 235/65R17, 235/60R18 and 235/55R19 for the 2021 Nissan Rogue in North America.

ENLITEN Technology contributes to improved fuel efficiency by reducing tyre weight and delivering low rolling resistance. Tyres with ENLITEN Technology also require fewer raw materials to be produced, helping to deliver environmental benefits. In addition to its sustainable advantages, ENLITEN Technology is designed for enhanced vehicle handling.

“We are continuously working to advance our products, services and solutions to deliver new value for our customers and society,” said Shannon Quinn, president, original equipment, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas. “Supplying the 2021 Nissan Rogue with our Alenza Sport A/S tyre with ENLITEN technology is a testament to our commitment to these efforts and our longstanding relationship with Nissan.”

Hankook Tire has launched the Dynapro HPX, a summer tyre designed for SUVs and all-wheel-drive vehicles. Compared to its predecessor, the Dynapro HP2, the Dynapro HPX boasts improved safety, comfort, and durability. 

The Dynapro HPX features a new material compound and an enlarged contact patch to deliver even wear and longer life. Thanks to new 3D GripControl sipes, the tyre also offers enhanced wet braking and handling. Hankook says the model brakes 15 percent faster and handles seven percent better in wet conditions than its predecessor.   

The tyremaker also focused on comfort, using knurling technology to reduce road noise. The Dynapro HPX is available in sizes ranging from 16 to 19 inches.

“With the Dynapro HPX, we are presenting the newest member of our tyre family, which is specifically designed for the different requirements of SUVs and all-wheel-drive vehicles,” says Sanghoon Lee, President and COO of Hankook Tire Europe. “We are proud to be able to offer our customers a tyre with very high mileage without any compromise on comfort and safety.”

Yokohama has started delivering tyres to the new Impreza as original equipment (OE) in North America. 
The new Impreza cars will have AVID S34 tyres (size P225/40R18 88V).

The AVID S34 belongs to the AVID series of all-season tyres for passenger cars sold in the North American market, and it features the “M+S” (mud & snow) marking on its sidewall.

The AVID S34 tyres’ wide tread ensures a larger contact area, providing stable driving performance not only on dry roads but also on snow. In addition, the tread pattern design features a large number of grooves that effectively grip the surface of snowy roads and improve the vehicle’s safety and performance in snowy conditions. The tyres’ structure also has been enhanced to reduce vehicle wobble during lane changes.

Frog Bikes, a UK-based manufacturer of premium children’s bicycles, has unveiled an innovative partnership with Norwegian tyre company reTyre. This pioneering collaboration will see Frog Bikes equipping its bikes with sustainable tyres from 2025, marking a significant step in the cycling industry's journey towards sustainability.

Jerry Lawson, Co-founder of Frog Bikes, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, “We are thrilled to collaborate with reTyre, a brand that shares our passion for innovation and sustainability. This partnership allows us to further our commitment to the environment while providing our young riders with the best possible cycling experience.”

The collaboration is a testament to Frog Bikes' unwavering commitment to sustainability. It focuses on transitioning Frog Bikes’ entire range to reTyre’s fully recyclable, bio-based pneumatic tyres, ensuring a greener future for the cycling industry.

reTyre, known for its groundbreaking approach to sustainable tyre production, utilizes recyclable bio-based materials and innovative manufacturing methods to achieve lower emissions. The company claims its tyres deliver exceptional performance while minimizing environmental impact.

Frog Bikes aims to complete the full transition to reTyre tyres across its entire product line by the end of 2025. This move aligns with growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products, particularly within the children’s goods market.

“Our tyres are made with renewable and bio-based materials that do not need to be vulcanized, meaning that we can easily reuse the material at end-of-life. Our verified Life Cycle Assessments show that we are then able to reduce emissions by 68-82 percent compared to conventional tyres”, says Ben Evans, Commercial Officer at reTyre. “It’s great to work with a brand like Frog Bikes, who embraces changes for the planet’s benefit.”

 Towards Net Zero Since embarking on their sustainability journey in 2019, Frog Bikes has cut emissions per bike by 25 percent. “We’ve achieved this by transitioning to renewable energy, redesigning our bikes to use less material, virtually eliminating plastic packaging, and moving away from air freight”, explains Anna Drew, Head of Sustainability at Frog Bikes.

 “Exploring sustainable materials, like post-consumer recycled aluminium for our frames and partnering with reTyre for lower-emitting tyres, are crucial to our commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050.” “We are excited to present the Frog bike equipped with sustainable tyres alongside our full range of sustainable tyre products at this year’s event,” Evans concludes.