Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128178
. ..... • .... ....... :....1"' ... . I .. ~ . ~ - Happenings In Motorcycling rJLI&J[f({jJY (J3(ff)CB~ TJW JJJ1JCB rJLI(ff)[f[}({j fFlim&J[)~ Not Your Ordinary Joe The National Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame in Anamosa, Iowa, has announced that, later this fall, it will be displaying Hippodrome Studios' Joe Petrali bronze motorcycle display. The life-size statue of Petrali and his Harley-Davidson Knucklehead is one of six being created, and the museum plans to be displaying theirs by November 15. Museum president John Parham (center) and his wife, Jill (left), are pictured with sculptor Jeff Decker and the Petra Ii bronze. By ALAN CATHCART - • Highland Taking High Road A spinoff from the Husaberg range of singles was at one time projected as the basis for KTM's future renge of twin-cylinder motorcycles - the Swedlsh-buih 943cc Folan 50-degree V-twin engine, a liquid-cooled, eight-valve, dohc design produced by ex-Husaberg engineer Lars Nilsson. Though this was eventually rejected by KTM management In favor of developing the purpose-built LC8 75-degree motor from the ground up, the Folan went on to power a bespoke enduro model built by the small Highland concern in Sweden - but in the years after its launch at the 1997 Milan Show, Highland struggled to survive, with only 70 of the Swedish V-twins built in 18 months, of which 30 were sold in Scandinavia, with the remainder exported to Germany. Reliability problems especially related to the underdeveloped bike's electrics (flat batteries were a particular concem, caused mainly by insufficient coolant for the liquid-cooled motor causing the fans to run constantly, thereby draining current) were a constant headache. as well as optimistic power claims and excess weight: instead of 70 bhp in enduro form for a bike weighing 300 pounds dry, reality spoke more of 375 pounds propelled by a 55 bhp output, according to Swedish test riders. Highland's 24 workers at the company's factory near Jonkoping were laid off early In 2000 when production folded. Nevertheless, Highland project leader Mats Malmberg has succeeded in resurrecting the company, which appeared at Interrnot with two new Folan·powered models - the 950 V2 Outback enduro and its 950 V2 Motard street-tired Superrnoto equivalent, each now fotted with Marelli EFt controlled by a Swedish ECU. ·We've spent the last two years while we were trying to restart the company working on the engine to make it more refined and reli'lble," says Malmberg. ·We've completely resolved the vibration problems we had before • not by adding a balance shaft, which just uses up Motocross legend Jeff Ward paid a visit to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, on October 13 to watch the IJSBA World Finals. Ward took some time to pose for pictures with retiring personal watercraft racer Karine Patural, who happened to come away from the event with a World Championship. power, but by using a different balance factor on the crenkshaft which has eliminated the shaking.· Highland now claims an output of 85 bhp at 6000 rpm £rom the V·twin engine, which Is lighter and more compact even than KTM's LCa motor, resulting In a claimed dry weight of 363 pounds for the V2 950 Enduro model. FItted with WP suspension (so, the product of a KTM subsidiary!) and Brembo brakes, the new Highland models are due to enter production in November, and will initially be sold only in Sweden and the EU.. Mllimberg is seeking importers in other countries outside Scandinavia, including Westem Europe, the USA and Austrella. Contact him on highland.mats@telia.com if you're interested. or view the Highland website on www.highland.se. And • yes, Highland is working on beating KTM into production with a V-twin sportrod derived from its present enduro range - expect to see a street version of the Motard launched next spring. KTM ....'t the only lllllnufllcturer with • comPllCt V·twln on tap. TIle SwecI..... II1II. FolD .. reacIy topower ot .........nd.nduro ..... SUp.nao To cast your vote. log on to http://www.cyclenews.com. • . -- - •• • • Beginning next season [i!DD3J • which series in road racing would you most like ta w. c • elf er n persan ar an televisiani' A. B. C. D. MotoGP World Superbike AMA Superbike FormulB USA 6 OCTOBER 30, 2002' cue I • ne""s . The uldto . . . . 8II~.pa_r In atock trim.