Off-road news

The UK’S TOP SELLING OFF-ROAD RACE WEAR 01900 873456 www.wulfsport.com

With off-road correspondent Rick Kemp

Anew range of off-road bikes rarely appears on the UK market, but 2022 was an exception: the young American brand GPX Moto now has a UK distributor based in Petersfield, Hampshire. The models cover the full off-road spectrum from trail to hard enduro, and the company ethos is that high quality, high specification and competitive motorcycles should be reasonably priced. Customers don’t have to sacrifice quality for a lower price point, according to GPX Moto, you can have both.

The backstory goes like this: GPX Motorcycles is an American family-owned company based in Utah. The original motorcycle company, Pit Star Pro, was formed in 2003. In 2017 GPX initially looked at developing a range of affordable off-road enduro motorcycles in the USA but quickly found that the cost of manufacturing in the US made this unfeasible. They then established a partnership with a factory in China to have motorcycles developed to their exact specifications.

GPX HQ and the distributors have daily contact with the factory, which takes on board any suggestions and makes modifications quickly, producing updates every few months. For example, recently, reports came back from customers that the speedo cables were a little too short and could get snagged behind the headlight, damaging the wiring. The factory immediately made them longer and pre-installed them to prevent potential damage from dealer assembly. Other improvements include O-ring chains, updated mapping and alloy intake manifolds instead of rubber. These were all recommendations from GPX in Utah. Even now, the TSE 300 two-stroke is undergoing power-valve modifications. GPX says the Chinese factory is very responsive and is run by longterm motorcycle enthusiasts who sponsor teams in Chongqing. The company claims the quality is now on par with anything produced in Japan or Europe.

James Brown from GPX Moto UK says that part of the reason why prices can be kept down is the fact that there is no major sponsorship programme in the USA, no massive headquarters with crippling staff overheads, no shareholder dividends to pay and no desire to dominate the market. “GPX is unusual in the United States in that they don’t advertise, they keep themselves to themselves,” says Brown. “That’s the main reason why GPX hasn’t been imported into Europe or elsewhere. I’ve been competing in off-road events since I was 14, and I’d never heard of them. When I stumbled across the brand, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a decently priced bike over here for the average rider to buy.”

Brown has got the European rights for GPX Moto, and he’s busy making sure that the brand is much more high profile than it is in its home country.

New dealer applications are welcome, particularly in Scotland and the Home Counties. Contact 07411 364803 or gpxmotouk@ gmail.com.

New kids on the dirt

When I stumbled across the brand, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a decently priced bike over here for the average rider to buy

THE GPX RANGE

GPX 250E

Air-cooled, four-stroke with electric start. Key ignition. LED speedo and data terminal. Zongshen makes the engine. Price £4950 with six month warranty.

GPX 250 TSE

Counter-balanced, two-stroke Yamahalicensed, Loncin-made engine with electric and kick start. Key ignition. LED speedo and data terminal. Radiator fan kit. Price £5150 with six months warranty.

GPX 300 FSE

Liquid-cooled DOHC fuel-injected four-stroke. Radiator fan kit. Key ignition. LED speedo and data terminal. Zongshen engine. Price £5695 with six months warranty.

GPX 300 TSE

Two-stroke, counter-balanced engine with electric and kick start. Radiator fan kit. Engine by Zongshen. Key ignition. LED speedo and data terminal. Price £5950 with three months warranty as this is a full-on race bike.

GPX 450 FSE

Liquid-cooled, fuel-injected four-stroke. Electric start. Radiator fan kit. Key ignition. LED speedo and data terminal. Zongshen engine. Price £5750 with six months warranty. ALL OF THESE MOTORCYCLES, APART from the 300 TSE, can have the seat height lowered by 40mm at no extra cost. All models can be road registered by the dealer, and GPX UK has full parts backup.

Latest KTM updates

KTM is justifibly proud of its LC4 motor, the latest version of which, after 30 years of evolution, features in the 2023 KTM 690 Enduro R and 690 SMC R models. KTM claims that the LC4 is the most powerful production singlecylinder engine currently available.

The Enduro R is resplendent in full orange, while the Supermoto SMC R has a new blue and orange finish. Both machines are equipped with a simple but effective LCD screen providing rider information and an array of essential warning lights. The dashboard’s slimline design also means the line of sight forward is clear of any obstructions.

Both bikes benefit from cornering ABS, which allows riders to use full braking power in all conditions, even at big lean angles. This is supported by Offroad ABS on the Enduro R, which reduces ABS on the front wheel and disables it on the rear, allowing riders to lock up the back wheel into a tight turn. Supermoto ABS is featured on the SMC R, which enables it to slide and smoke the rear tyre.

Also updated for 2023, the KTM 890 Adventure retains its 105hp LC8 motor and lists more features than the average combat aircraft. KTM says the highlights include upgraded ergonomics and bodywork for more protective and comfortable riding, low weight, a proven race-derived chassis for the perfect mix of performance and practicality, revised WP Suspension settings and adjusters for more response, better TFT menus, more app options, reworked Ride Modes, a higher screen and a more comfortable two-piece seat. Pirelli Scorpion STR tyres are now fitted as standard, and two fresh colour options and new racier graphics set are offered.

A good read

NO REGRETS IS a look back at the life and career of Dave Thorpe, the three-time FIM 500cc Motocross World Champion, a feat not achieved by any other British rider. This biography recounts Thorpe’s career and provides an insight into what made him a triple champion.

Written with the guidance of established motorcycle writer and broadcaster Jack Burnicle, the book explores the highs and lows of a career that has seen Thorpe travel the world and ride with the very best, but also recounts some of the hardest moments in a career that achieved much success. But, as the title suggests, Thorpe has “no regrets” about the choices he made throughout his career.

Should you want one for the showroom, they are available from www.davethorpe.co.uk

Rally Edition Ténérés

Since its launch in 2019, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 has sold more than 40,000 units throughout Europe. For 2023, the Ténéré 700 and Ténéré 700 Rally Edition feature several upgrades and refinements that add value to the overall package. These include a new 5in dual-theme TFT dash, smartphone connectivity, quick shifter pre-wiring to accept a genuine Yamaha sensor, threemode ABS, a USB socket, LED indicators, a new front brake lever design to prevent it breaking when the bike falls over, and last but not least, new colours in the shape of Icon Blue and Tech Kamo.

V-Strom Prices

SUZUKI HAS ANNOUNCED PRICES FOR ITS BIGGEST V-STROM models due in the Spring. The V-Strom 1050DE will come with a price tag of £13,699, and the standard 1050 model has been confirmed at £12,999.

Essentially the two models differ in focus, with the DE having more of a go-anywhere specification. This includes a 21in front wheel, Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour tyres, increased suspension travel and ground clearance, and revised chassis geometry. It also has wider handlebars, steel footrests, a different seat, and a lower screen. The DE has an additional gravel mode for the traction-control and its rear ABS can be disengaged.

For riders who prefer their adventures on asphalt, the standard 1050 shares the TFT screen, bi-directional quick-shifter, three power modes, cruise control, cornering ABS, linked brakes for load and slope-dependent control, hill hold, and three traction-control settings. www.britishdealernews.co.uk