It seems that the recent design methodology that Aprilia utilizes with its large displacement motorcycles (Tuono 1250 and RSV4) will carry over to this bike too.
What do we mean here? Well, Aprilia does utilize a template where they take the superbike design and tailor its ergonomy to be more fit for city rides or commutes. The best thing is that this template has withstood the test of time, so it certainly makes sense for Aprilia to utilize this approach with the new Tuono.
With the above in mind, the Tuono 660 is basically a RS 660 with some ergonomic changes. That means that most of the features stay the same, such as:
Engine and its position
Brembo brakes
Headlights
Full-color range TFT display
The 660cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine does have a slight change in a decrease of horsepower to 95. Other than that, it is identical to the engine utilized in RS 660.
What has Aprilia done to improve the ergonomy? First of all, we can notice the high-rise handlebars that will promote an upright riding position. This is a biggie for the comfort factor. Other aesthetic changes include less material in the fairings and the smaller windscreen.
The Acid Gold variant is very catchy.
Aprilia plans to release the Tuono 660 in the late Q1 of 2021. That confirms the rumors that the bike will release in early spring. The planned price for the regular variant will be $10,499 (or €8,635/£7,794). If you wish to snatch the Acid Gold variant, expect to pay $200 more.
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Akaso is one of the most popular entry-level action camera brands these days. Their Brave 4 camera certainly revolutionized the entry-level action camera market when it was released a few years ago.
Who would think that great performance and design were possible for such an accessible price point? Actually, this action camera is solid for different niches, especially for vlogging and action sports.
Well, is this action camera the right choice for your motovlogging setup? Let’s find out in our Akaso Brave 4 action camera review!
Akaso Brave 4 Review – Features
Check out the main features of the Akaso Brave 4 action camera down below:
Dimensions of 59,5 x 41,8 x 30,3 mm
Weighs 0,35 lbs (160 grams)
Supports select video resolutions: 4K at 24fps, 2K at 30fps, 1080p at 60/30fps, 720p at 120/60/30fps
20MP sensor
Video, Photo, Burst, Time-lapse, Loop, and Underwater shooting modes
Electronic image stabilization (EIS) and gyroscope
2-inch IPS main screen and a small front LCD screen
Two 1050 mAh Li-On batteries with 60 to 90 minutes of recording time
Comes with a bicycle stand, 7 mounts, 2 clips, and a helmet mount
Waterproof case included with a 30-meter (100 feet) submersion rating
Without further ado, let’s dive in our Akaso Brave 4 review!
Design & Build Quality
From the first look, there is nothing too revolutionary about the design of the Akaso Brave 4. It features a black plastic rectangular shape with ribbed side texture we all know and love with our action cameras. Like most other action cameras on the market, the Brave 4 is very light at 0,35 lbs (160 grams).
The action camera is strikingly similar in form to GoPro cameras, which is a good thing, as most GoPro accessories will be compatible with the Akaso Brave 4 and vice versa.
When it comes to durability, the Brave 4 will withstand many bumps, which is somewhat surprising. You can put on an included waterproof case to increase the durability even more. This case will provide water protection up to 30 meters of depth (100 feet).
On the back side, we see the 2-inch IPS main screen, which sadly has no touchscreen capability. The front side has a small LCD screen on the top left corner that shows battery life and recording info, which comes in handy, especially when you don’t know if you are actually recording your ride.
As this is a button-based action camera, you can expect a few more buttons than on touchscreen-based action cameras. Here are all the buttons you can find on the Akaso Brave 4 action camera:
Power/Mode button under the front LCD screen
Shutter button on the top
Two navigation buttons on the side
You can also find the Micro USB, Micro HDMI, and Micro SD ports on the right-hand side of the action camera.
Stabilization
Here is the showcase of the EIS that Akaso Brave 4 uses.
Of course, the Akaso Brave 4 has built-in EIS that works very well most of the time. Sometimes, it seems too fast, but at least it doesn’t distort the image quality whatsoever.
Other than that, the Brave 4 action camera has a built-in gyroscope assist that provides smooth video and improves the overall image quality.
Thanks to the decent stabilization, this action camera will provide consistent, shake-free video performance even when you mount the camera on the helmet or chest mount.
Talking about video performance…
Video Quality & Performance
Akaso Brave 4 action camera provides solid 1080p at 60fps performance.
Akaso Brave 4 garnered its high reputation in the action sports community due to it being one of the first entry-level action cameras to compete against GoPro. It certainly managed to set a future standard for entry-level cameras, as most had pixelated video quality and honestly weren’t worth the trouble.
When it comes to Brave 4, it honestly shows its age when it comes to image quality, along with an inability to change sharpness and contrast. Still, it’s a well-balanced configuration with a decent color range. Just don’t expect the unprecedented image quality of newer GoPro cameras, as that expectation for the sub-$100 price point is simply unrealistic.
Keep in mind that the 4K and 2K recording resolutions this action camera offers aren’t native but digitally upscaled, decreasing overall image quality. On the other hand, the 1080p recording resolution is relatively smooth and features nice image quality. With the 720p at 120fps, you can make some nice slow-motion captures, even though they may be low in resolution by today’s standards.
You can also adjust the field view between 170°, 140°, 110°, and 70°. Basically, you get an ultra-wide angle, wide-angle, and narrow angles with the lens.
Some modes that you may like are the diving mode, motion detection mode, and the timelapse mode. Most importantly, the regular video capture will be good for motovlogging, even during rainy days, as the sensor does a great job maintaining image quality during such circumstances.
Photo Quality
Like with most other action cameras, you can take photos with the Brave 4. The 20MP camera sensor with an adjustable lens will provide solid quality images best fit for social media.
There is also a 5x digital zoom that enables you to zoom in on desired subjects and capture them in high detail.
You also get a burst photo mode and the timelapse mode. Honestly, if you are motovlogging, you probably won’t use this feature other than making some photos for social media. Still, it’s good to have this feature for some versatility.
Audio Quality
Without a waterproof case, the Brave 4 action camera is highly susceptible to excessive wind noise.
The audio quality is the biggest drawback of this action camera, and we see that Akaso has saved the most money on this aspect. Still, it is suitable for the sub-$100 price tag.
The sound will get a bit muted when using the waterproof case, and the microphone is highly susceptible to wind noise. This may be a huge problem if you are planning on having great sound quality on your motovlog.
User Interface & Control
As this is an older action camera, it uses a dated, button-based user interface on a 2-inch IPS screen. Nevertheless, the user interface is simple to use and won’t require hours to learn. Additionally, the screen is surprisingly good and will keep the info visible even during low-light conditions.
You can also control the Brave 4 action camera with an included wireless remote control wrist strap accessory. With it, you can easily start and stop recording when the camera is mounted. It is a great safety factor, especially when you are riding a motorcycle and don’t have time to stop. With its 10-meter range, it is quite a handy accessory.
Another control method is the smartphone app (on Android and iOS), enabling you to change settings, view live feed, access past recordings, and record remotely. The app is buggy, so it may not be the best way to control the Akaso Brave 4 action camera.
Accessories
Akaso Brave 4 comes with a generous amount of accessories. To be more specific, it comes with a total of 19 accessory pieces, from mounts to handlebar stands. You can easily mount it on your motorcycle helmet too!
Battery Life
This action camera comes with two 1050 mAh batteries that provide decent battery life. One such battery will give you an hour and a half of 1080p video recording and one hour of 4K or 2K video recording.
Sadly, this action camera doesn’t come with a dedicated charger for the batteries, so you will need to charge the batteries with a USB cable.
Price
You can currently find the Akaso Brave 4 action camera on sale for just $79,99/€65,43/£58,97. It is a true bargain, considering how many accessories you get and the overall solid video quality for such a price point.
Now that we are at the end of our Akaso Brave 4 review, what is our final judgment?
When it comes to its build, it’s nothing revolutionary, but it’s quite sturdy and will withstand the elements, which is vital for motovlogging. One downside is that it isn’t waterproof without the waterproof casing, which will tremendously decrease the audio quality. Without an external microphone, this action camera is not the best for motovlogging.
The menu isn’t touch-based, which is a bummer, but the existing UI is intuitive enough not to be a disturbance. When it comes to overall recording capabilities, the Akaso Brave 4 performs well at this front, even though its 4K and 2K resolutions are not native. You will be best off with the 1080p mode, as it is crisp and smooth.
Overall, the Akaso Brave 4 is a decent buy for those looking for worthwhile entry-level, budget action cameras. It’s certainly not GoPro, but with some post-processing, you can make some decent moto vlogs on this one!
Europe is a market fit for small-displacement bikes due to the regulations that prevent inexperienced riders sit on stronger motorcycles. With that fact in mind, Husqvarna announced to bring a small iteration of their very successful Vitpilen bike in 125cc configuration. It will be called the Svartpilen.
The Svartpilen will utilize a liquid-cooled 125cc engine with a six-speed gearbox to boot. This engine will produce 15 hp and 8,85 lb-ft of torque. The Svartpilen greatly resembles the KTM 125 Duke, both in its engine and the frame aesthetics.
Along with the features mentioned above, the Svartpilen will feature a superb WP Apex suspension system and the ByBre brakes, which do a great job at braking.
You can expect the 2021 Husqvarna Svartpilen 125 to arrive in European dealerships during the next month. We still don’t know the bike’s pricing, but we will certainly make sure to update you once we find out!
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KTM 390 Duke is one of the best beginner motorcycles in the Western hemisphere. On the east, it is the motorcycle many aspire for.
What’s the secret of the 390 Duke? Well, it has loads of high tech features that you cannot even find on higher displacement bikes, such as:
Programmable ABS
High-quality suspension
Bluetooth connectivity
TFT display
It’s certainly an incredible value for money. With that said, it seems that the next generation of the 390 Duke will be even more valuable, according to the new patent from the KTM.
This new patent shows a bike that resembles the current 390 Duke. Will it be a new variant of the same bike or a naked bike with a 390 engine? Well, we don’t know for certain, as there is no mention of a specific bike other than the illustration itself.
The main component of the new patent is the upcoming radar cruise control system, which is expected to debut on the updated 390 Duke. This feature is certainly not a novelty, as we’ve seen it on a number of different, albeit more top-tier bikes. It’s interesting to have this kind of feature on more accessible bikes, that’s for sure.
Now, it’s still not certain if the bike on the illustration is really the updated 390 Duke. After all, KTM is planning to release the 490 range in the next two years. Would it make sense to update the 390 Duke simultaneously. Well, only time will tell.
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There is a new king on the throne in the global motorcycle industry – Bajaj Auto. That’s right, with their market capitalization of $13,6 billion, they have the highest stock value of all motorcycle manufacturers in the world. Interestingly enough, Bajaj Auto isn’t even present in the United States!
What is their secret? Well, Bajaj Auto has a footprint in many famous global brands, such as KTM. Actually, they own 47,97% of the KTM AG.
The Indian motorcycle manufacturer is present in over 70 markets all over the world. They have recently penetrated the Thai market, and are aiming to penetrate the Brasilian market, too.
So, to answer the above question, the secret of Bajaj’s success can be traced to their differentiation strategies. Along with that, the company has been producing motorcycles from their three facilities like bread. Even though they have a fairly streamlined manufacturing process, they are constantly innovating their methods.
They announced an investment of $89 million in a fourth manufacturing facility at Chakan to up their game. This new factory will manufacture KTM and Husqvarna motorcycles, along with Triumph motorcycles.
Smart partnerships and differentiation have certainly helped Bajaj come to the top of the game. Congratulations to Bajaj, and we hope that they will see more success during the new decade!
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According to some sources, it seems that Honda is planning a V4 engine design revival that will get implemented for a 2023 motorcycle (a long way off!).
Their V4 engine bike, the VRF800F, didn’t get any important updates for quite a while. With the Euro 5 regulations in motion, this bike sadly won’t see any update for 2021, as it isn’t worthy of an overhaul. For now, that is.
That opens up a perfect opportunity for Honda to bring a new V4 motorcycle. The company always had a V4 choice, starting from 2002, so it would be unnatural not to have that choice anymore.
With the rise of popularity of V4 bikes, such as Aprilia Tuono RSV4 and the Ducati’s V4 bikes over 1000cc, it would be interesting to see if Honda can compete with them and create a full-size V4 engine configuration.
It seems likely that Honda will upgrade its V4 engine configuration, based on the patent image from 2019. The patent apparently shows a V4 powerplant for their V4 superbike.
Well, does that ring a bell? New VRF Interceptor, anyone? We’ll certainly see what the future holds.
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You may recall that Yamaha used ‘FZ’ tag for naked motorcycles, but now they have reserved the ‘MT’ tag for that. Still, the ‘FZ’ name is going strong, especially in Asia – where the Yamaha FZ25 is rocking in sales figures!
Even though the 249cc engine of the FZ25 produces only 21 horsepower, it is quite enough for the Asian market, where small displacement bikes are the most popular. These bikes rely on high volume sales, and it shows.
Due to the popularity of the FZ25, we suspect that the ‘FZ-X’ trademark may indicate a ADV or off-road variant of the FZ25. This move would make sense as seen with examples from the competitors.
Some examples include off-road and small to mid displacement bikes that had awesome sales results, such as BMW G310 GS, KTM 390 Adventure and Royal Enfield Himalayan. We are certainly hyped up to see into what this trademark will evolve!
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At the dawn of the new year, some news portals managed to extract some juicy information from European emissions documents. More specifically, KTM has confirmed that they are preparing a 1290 Super Duke RR along with the R variant.
Based on the document, both variants will produce 177 horsepower, the same as the 2020 variant. That is exceptional, as KTM has managed to put the same power, along with the new emissions technology.
Even though we can only see displacement and powertrain information in these documents, some upgrades are to be expected, such as:
Lighter components
Upgraded suspension
Special livery
Even though KTM has confirmed the Super Duke RR through these documents, they still haven’t done it officially. Nevertheless, we expect the official reveal to be soon, as the heat on this bike is hotter than ever!
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Ducati has prepared a slew of top-tier features for their upcoming 2021 Multistrada V4 bike slated for release in January 2021. Akrapovic has announced that they will have two new racing exhaust systems that will support this motorcycle at launch.
Aftermarket exhausts like these are highly beneficial as they can provide performance increase and weight reduction.
The first exhaust for the Multistrada V4 is the Racing unit. It comes with a titanium sleeve, carbon fiber end cap, and a stainless steel silencer. As Akrapovic claims, this exhaust will add 4 horsepower to the V4 engine. Also, it will provide an additional 6 lb-ft of torque. You will certainly see the most difference in the weight, as this exhaust system will reduce 11 pounds (5 kg) from the motorcycle.
The second exhaust is the type-approved one, with more subtle changes. It comes with a titanium sleeve and a carbon fiber end cap. This particular exhaust system will provide only 1,5 pounds (700 grams) of weight reduction.
The racing unit will cost $3,200 (€2,630/£2,397), while the type-approved exhaust will cost $1,700 (€1,398/£1,273). You can buy these directly from Ducati, from their Multistrada V4 configurator tool.
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Aprilia found huge success this year with the RS 660 bike. It seems that Aprilia is planning to expand this success to the 350-400cc market!
The Aprilia lineup started at RS 125 (125cc) and swiftly jumped 1000cc to the RSV4 (1200cc). To bridge this gap, Aprilia released the RS 660 (660cc), just in the middle of the displacement range gap.
Right now, Aprilia has a lineup dominated by extremes. While the RS 125 might be too small for some, the RSV4 might be too strong for most customers. That’s one of the reasons why Aprilia is planning to expand to the 350-400cc market.
Aprilia has confirmed that they will develop RS 400 and Tuono 400 bikes for the mentioned displacement range.
We still don’t what markets Aprilia is aiming for with this range. Judging by the record sales of Honda H’ness CB350 and Royal Enfield Meteor 350 in India, it’s highly likely that Aprilia will consider India too!
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