NEW FRAMES
been winning world championships, but
they’ve needed an edgier look and an update
on tech to keep winning in the showrooms.
And going by the 2019 range, the suspension
particularly needed to be improved. It’s no
good having the most competitively priced
motorcycles in the paddock if owners are
then having to spend their savings on
suspension upgrades as a matter of course.
But the 2020s aren’t just an aesthetic
makeover, nor simply a suspension upgrade.
These 2020s are an all-new exercise. New
frames, new motors, new bodywork. How
they’ve done all this over an eight-bike range
with an R&D team of less than 30 is some
miracle, albeit, as Fantigini explained, it has
been a three-year operation.
So they named their goals: new styling,
new ergos; better handling, more precision;
simplification on assembly/maintenance
and improved power delivery. Breaking that
down, here’s the new:
30 KIWI RIDER
So we have new frames for all models with
an increase in torsional stiffness of 15%, with
new details like microcast footrest brackets
and shock mounting points, an engine
position more rearward (mass centralised)
and a longer swingarm. The cooling system
is now integrated into the frame tubes (just
like KTM) and the bottom rails of the frame
are now 20mm narrower, so your feet/
boots sit even closer to the centre of the
bike. Then, like Husqvarna, the subframes
have transitioned from aluminium into
‘technopolimer’ (flash plastic), so we have a
one-piece air filter box and sub-frame with
integrated mounting points for the various
electrics. This air box is now better sealed
with waterproofed joints, while any water
that does enter has an instant drain, and
the air filter is now easier to remove/mount.
Everything there is now ‘no tools’: one button
releases the seat (for access to the battery – a
small li-ion type) while the air box cover has
two bull-nose retainers that pull open for