ReiseMoto is probably the youngest tyre company in India, and one which primarily focuses on touring and off-road tyres. Reise has earned a place amongst the motorcycling community as a trusted vendor of good products in a very short span of time. The only missing link in its portfolio were road-biased radials catering to the sub-500cc performance motorcycle category. Their new TraceRad range takes care of that. Available in 150/60-R17 and 110/70-R17 sizes for now, the TraceRad radials are W-rated and are zero-degree steel belted radials. This category is currently packed with Indian offerings from Ceat, Apollo, MRF and TVS Eurogrip.

It was my first time at the CoASTT and I was equally excited to not just ride there but also to see how the new TraceRads performed. Having partnered with KTM, Reise had a fleet of track-prepped RC 390 motorcycles and a few 390 Dukes as well. Having earlier ridden these motorcycles shod with imported premium tyres, like the Metzeler M7RRs on my own Duke, trying out the new tyres on similar KTMs gave me precious perspective.

I took it slow for the first few laps, assessing the feel of the tyres and the lay of the track as well. With my track-familiarity and confidence building every lap, my speed increased. And so did my lean angles. This track had brilliant elevations and some superb fast corners! As the tyres warmed up, I was able to get more feedback out of them. The TraceRads felt stable on the straights and gripped fantastically on the corners, leading to exceptional stability and confidence, even with my 104kg weight! But something was missing; the tyres felt a little weavy under hard braking. After a brief talk with the good guys from Reise, we concluded that tyre pressures were higher than ideal. This corrected, I headed out to the track again. This time, the front end felt much more stable, and the feedback went up a couple of notches. This goes on to show just how much of a difference correct tyre pressures can make upon your riding experience!

The CoASTT has so much to offer to a rider. The corners urge the rider to push harder and go faster with every lap. So was the case with me, with the reduced pressure and more laps, slowly but surely, I was able to feel my rhythm coming back. There were faster riders, but I was catching up more and understanding the tyres better with every passing lap.

I never thought the Duke could be so much fun on the track. There is a plethora of electronics on the new Duke, which my ancient 2015 variant is devoid of. Turning the electronic nannies off, I felt more at home. The new Duke feels so much better than the one it replaces; almost as bonkers as the original 390, but with better handling dynamics and the TraceRads only amplified my feelings. These tyres inspired confidence. Watching other riders clocking lap after lap, I couldn’t help but think of how far tyre technology has come, and where most manufacturers are running after mass market products and volumes, a young manufacturer like Reise is instead focusing on a niche, which might not give them the volume, but will surely give them a place amongst the community.

The TraceRads present a very strong case indeed. They are able to handle high speeds while being pushed around the corners in extreme angles. And taking such abuse on the track with my kind of weight while maintaining their poise and balance is truly commendable. At ₹ 5,199 for the front and ₹ 6,199 for the rear, the ReiseMoto TraceRads comes across as an impressive set of tyres that offer world-class performance without breaking the bank.

The post ReiseMoto TraceRad radials: Track Review first appeared on Turbocharged.

The new look, thanks to the generational update, is a complete redesign from the ground up. Where the previous Vitpilen was a compact motorcycle, the new one has grown. It gets a larger fuel tank and a longer wheelbase, but more importantly, the ergonomics have been improved with a lower seat height and a more comfortable one-piece handlebar instead of the clip-ons its predecessor came with. The edgy styling too has been dropped in favor of a more muscular look, especially seen in the new fuel tank, new radiator shrouds, front mudguard, and alloy wheels.

Of course, the trademark Scandinavian styling continues. It still features the signature round headlamp and minimalistic two-piece bodywork that helps make the Vitpilen 250 a clean-looking motorcycle. In fact, the 2024 Vitpilen 250 goes a step further with a conventionally mounted tail lamp and a new underslung exhaust which admittedly dials down the grunge factor but adds to the minimalistic look. If I were to nitpick, I would say the headlamp looks disproportionately larger compared to the rest of the bodywork. The styling is subjective—you either love it or loathe it, but one thing is for certain, the Vitpilen 250 stands out in a crowd as its predecessor did. As for conformity, the switch from cafe racer to a roadster format opens up a larger audience for the Swedish motorcycle.

Like previous modern Husqvarnas that share their platform with KTMs, the Vitpilen 250 shares its platform with the new KTM 250 and as an extension, new features such as ride-by-wire, traction control, quickshifter, and a Supermoto ABS mode that deactivates ABS on the rear wheel. Unlike the larger Husqvarna Svartpilen 401, this one misses out on the cool-looking 5-inch color TFT screen and makes do with a simpler 5-inch LCD layout while also missing out on Bluetooth connectivity. That said, this unit is well laid out and the important information is quite easy to read on the go thanks to the large fonts. It is quite informative too, with data easily accessible through the four-way switch cube shared with the KTM Dukes. Overall, the Vitpilen 250 looks like an expensive motorcycle and feels like one too.

The new 249cc engine is new and while many among us complained that the previous 250cc didn’t match the aggressive demeanor of the Vitpilen, the new one does! This new liquid-cooled SOHC motor puts out 31PS and 25Nm on paper but more importantly, the performance is easier to access than before. While you do have to rev the motor past 5,000rpm to eke out performance, it is an enjoyable affair thanks to the quick-revving motor and short-ratio gearbox. You can also ride it gently if you want to, without experiencing any jerkiness, unlike the previous motor. Ride-by-wire now offers more precise fuel delivery which seems to have helped here. The short gearing too helps you ride the motorcycle in higher gear in the city with ease.

Another highlight is the bi-directional quickshifter. It really elevates the riding experience if you are in the mood to go fast, offering smooth and rapid upshifts and downshifts. Riding fast is also rewarded with a rorty exhaust note.

A part of the update also focuses on accessibility and comfort. While the fuel tank shrouds now have more usable knee recesses, the seat height has now dropped to 820mm. The seat itself is wide and long, offering room to find a sweet riding spot. While it features firm cushioning, longer rides on this motorcycle should be relatively comfortable.

The Vitpilen handles like the new-generation KTM Dukes—fast, precise, and fun! That’s a given, with the Vitpilen sharing its frame (sans subframe) and cycle parts with the new 250 Duke. It especially impresses with its braking—the 320mm front disc with sintered pads and 240mm disc provide phenomenal stopping power with lots of feel. The 43mm WP Apex upside-down forks and side-mounted monoshock offer a fine balance between ride and handling.

The Vitpilen 250’s trump card remains unchanged. It not only offers a more left-field alternative to the KTMs but also an affordable one. Priced at ₹2.19 lakh ex-showroom, the Vitpilen 250 is ₹21,000 more affordable than the KTM 250 Duke. While the previous-generation Vitpilen held the same USP, it was unable to capitalize on it due to its left-field emphasis that leaned a bit too… left.

The switch to roadster format improves the new Vitpilen 250’s appeal as does the more comfortable ergonomics and performance. In fact, it is better than its predecessor in all aspects. This time Husqvarna has colored inside the lines and created a masterpiece.

The post Husqvarna Vitpilen 250: First Ride Review first appeared on Turbocharged.