"Good things come to those who dare" seems to be the new philosophy for the reborn Italian motorcycle manufacturer SWM. With help from Chinese maker Shineray, SWM is back in business, and a new bike launch is imminent, so prepare for something that looks very cool.
Photo: SWM Motorcycles
The upcoming SWM machine is the Superdual, a true adventure-travel bike. No, it's not a liter-class or bigger beast, but a very nifty middleweight bike that is light and seemingly a ton of fun on both tarmac and dirt.
We already told you that Shineray / SWM bought the rights to the Husqvarna engines KTM did not buy from BMW. The Superdual is motivated by one of these engines, namely the one that used to power the 2012 model year Husqvarna TE630.
This means around 50 hp, a six-speed transmission with wide ratios that make riding on all surfaces easy and rewarding, and provides effortless highway speed, too. The 4-stroke thumper packs just under 600cc and comes with electric starting and decompression, fuel injection and dual-radiator liquid cooling.
One of the things we love best about the Superdual is its kerb weight. Without fuel, the new SWM tips the scales at 350.5 pounds (159 kg), and adding 5 US gallons (19 l) of fuel doesn't make it excessively heavy, either.
With older similar 600cc bikes being well north of 440 lb (200 kg) laden, the Superdual seems to have the upper hand when it comes to terrainability and maneuverability on rough ground.
The bike was announced as being equipped with Marzocchi forks, but we know this will change in the not-so-distant future, as Marzocchi is through. Sachs supplies the rear monoshock and it is possible that the same company will deliver the front units soon.
The first photos show the bike equipped with crashbars and aluminum sidecases, but it is most likely that these are optional items. Anyway, the bike looks nimble and fun, and the knobby tires should also work well on the street. Given the Husky DNA, the SWM Superdual might just do better than expected. No prices or availability are known at the time of writing, but we expect such info to surface soon.
We already told you that Shineray / SWM bought the rights to the Husqvarna engines KTM did not buy from BMW. The Superdual is motivated by one of these engines, namely the one that used to power the 2012 model year Husqvarna TE630.
This means around 50 hp, a six-speed transmission with wide ratios that make riding on all surfaces easy and rewarding, and provides effortless highway speed, too. The 4-stroke thumper packs just under 600cc and comes with electric starting and decompression, fuel injection and dual-radiator liquid cooling.
A 350 lb weight without fuel is great for off-road fun
One of the things we love best about the Superdual is its kerb weight. Without fuel, the new SWM tips the scales at 350.5 pounds (159 kg), and adding 5 US gallons (19 l) of fuel doesn't make it excessively heavy, either.
With older similar 600cc bikes being well north of 440 lb (200 kg) laden, the Superdual seems to have the upper hand when it comes to terrainability and maneuverability on rough ground.
The bike was announced as being equipped with Marzocchi forks, but we know this will change in the not-so-distant future, as Marzocchi is through. Sachs supplies the rear monoshock and it is possible that the same company will deliver the front units soon.
The first photos show the bike equipped with crashbars and aluminum sidecases, but it is most likely that these are optional items. Anyway, the bike looks nimble and fun, and the knobby tires should also work well on the street. Given the Husky DNA, the SWM Superdual might just do better than expected. No prices or availability are known at the time of writing, but we expect such info to surface soon.
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