Month: May 2020

Categories
Bite Tests

Bite Test: 2020 Piaggio Ape City Fi

This type of vehicle has many names: ‘Tuk-Tuk’ in Thailand, ‘Auto Rickshaws’ in India, ‘San Lun Che’ in China, or in the Philippines simply called a ‘Tricycle.’

But I call them ‘Tricycle Alternative Vehicles’ since they are completely different compared to the usual side-car style ‘Tricycles.’

One of the pioneers of this genre is the Italian brand Piaggio, yup aside from their namesake scooter line like the MP3, and the highly popular Vespa line they also build the Apé all the way since 1948!

The one we have here is the Indian-spec 200cc petrol City Fi variant, in Europe Piaggio still sells the Apé Calessino Cabrio! Piaggio also sells the larger Apé Xtra 400cc Diesel!

Since this is my first ever time riding a vehicle like this, how will I cope with riding a Tuk-Tuk or TAV!?

Maybe after riding/driving this, I may be proficient enough to ride any old Vespas! See how I react stupidly here!

Piaggio Ape Auto DX (diesel) – PHP218,000 / US$4,311

Piaggio Ape City Fi (gasoline) – PHP 180,000 / US$3,560 [BITE TESTED]

[NOT AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA]

 

Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2018 Polaris Slingshot SL

 

Three-wheeled cars, 3-wheelers, tri-cycles, tri-cars, reverse trike, and Autocycles. These are the names associated with vehicles like this. Much like the Morgan 3Wheeler, Campagna T-Rex & V13R, and Vanderhall Venice within this group; the Polaris Slingshot is by far the bestseller on its segment!

Polaris claims that the Slingshot as a ‘motorcycle’ in the US. But I consider this as a 3-wheeled car (although the name ‘Autocycle’ sounds right too).

On actuality, how does this vehicle drive!? Does it deliver the same fun factor as a typical sports car? Or is this vehicle serves as an excuse for Polaris just to enter the sports car genre and dance around US regulations? Either way, this will be a completely curious experience!

Want to turn you Slingshot into a 4-wheeler or more:

Bullet Speed & Design

Maintenance Page


https://www.facebook.com/bulletspeedanddesign/

DF Kit Car Project 324
https://dfkitcar.com/index.php
https://www.facebook.com/dfkitcar/

Trak Hamr

Trak Hamr


https://www.facebook.com/slingshotconversionmichigan/

Alpha Powersports
https://www.facebook.com/alphapowersports/

Categories
News Opinions Rev Bites

Rev Bites: Why The Lack Of Fun Cars And The Swift Sport PH!?

Last April, Maruti-Suzuki of India was caught testing the exciting Suzuki Swift Sport.

That got me thinking. Since Suzuki PH offers cars mostly from Maruti-Suzuki of India, why can’t they import this hot hatch in the Philippines!?

Plus I point out the lack of fun affordable sporty cars in the Philippines.

(This video was originally recorded live on Facebook last April.)

[UPDATE] Two weeks ago, Maruti confirmed that The Swift Sport will not arrive in India.

 

Categories
Bite Tests

Bite Test + Philippine Debut: 2020 TM Racing SMR 450 Fi

 

First, I thought Beta Motorcycles was the only Italian dirt bike manufacturer. That is why I was so giddy on ‘Taste Testing’ Beta’s street-legal flagship, the 500 RR-S!

A few months later, I found out another enduro bike specialists from the same country. That company is SWM; although I haven’t ridden any of their bikes yet, I’ve heard good things about them! And I thought I was done of identifying these Italian dirt bike marques, I was wrong, definitely wrong. This is TM Racing, I would think they’re the least known of the three.

But TM has a very colorful racing history on motocross, enduro-cross, and karting competitions. But TM is very well-known in the field of supermoto! With 8-straight championships on the S1GP, the MotoGP-equivalent of supermotos!

So I am very excited to get my paws on this ‘Ferrari of Dirt Bikes!’ I was so excited, in the end, I got nervous. See what happened!

Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2020 Harley-Davidson LiveWire

Ever since 2014, this new un-orthodox bike from the big American cruiser company Harley-Davidson debuted its first-ever electric motorcycle. No one, I mean no saw this coming!!!

Since then, everyone is keeping a close eye on this motorcycle including yours truly. From its miss-marketing, over-optimism, and sometimes arrogance divides its fans apart.

Unlike 10-years ago, there is now a market for electric motorcycles. Players like Zero, Energica, Cake, Lightning, UBCO, and many others; now H-D joins the fray.

Now I will finally try to ‘Taste Test’ this hype-bike!! How does the LiveWire perform on a short ride? How do I think about its overall performance? Check it out here!

 

Event:

– Long Beach International Motorcycle Show

www.motorcycleshows.com/longbeach

 

Host Manufacturer:

– Harley-Davidson USA

www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/

https://www.facebook.com/harley-davidson/

 

Dealer (PHI):

– Harley-Davidson Philippines (Quezon City, NCR)

www.harley-davidsonofmanila.com.ph/

www.facebook.com/HarleyDavidsonOfManila/

 

Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2018 KTM 1090 Adventure-R

Before the 790, 390, and soon the 490 Adventure series of bikes, KTM’s bike lineup wasn’t as diverse as they are now.

The 1090 Adventure-R was the gateway to KTM’s Adventure line. Replacing the much-loved and iconic old-flagship, the 1190 Adventure series.

Slotting below the insane 1290 flagships, this 1090 competes with the likes of the V-Strom 1000, the F800 GS, the Tiger 800 XCA, and most especially the much talk-about Honda’s Africa Twin!

The 1090 Adventure-R is one of the few bikes I consider as “Adventure-Dirt” motorcycles as they put their emphasis on dirt riding rather than street riding. But it makes the 690 Enduro-R a spartan Dual-Sport compared to the 1090R.

Since I’ve already ridden all the 1290 Adventure series (S, R, & T), is this 1090 a watered-down boring beast? Find out here!

 

Host Manufacturer:

– KTM USA

https://www.ktm.com/us/

 

Host Dealer:

– Chaparral Motorsports (San Bernardino, CA, USA)

https://www.chapmotors.com/

https://www.facebook.com/chaparralmotorsports/

https://www.youtube.com/user/chaparralmotorsports/

 

Dealer (PHI):

– KTM Philippines

https://www.ktm.com/ph/

https://www.facebook.com/KTMPHILIPPINES/