Whenever I see a new motorcycle, the first thing I do is envision what exactly it was designed for and think of whether or not it would be good at its job given its spec sheet. It’s a relatively simple and straightforward way of thinking and one that I’m sure a lot of you do, too.
But for some weird reason, when I first saw the new Mud 452 from historic and rather obscure Italian motorcycle manufacturer FB Mondial, my brain went in a completely different direction.
I mean, sure, it’s clearly an off-road-focused adventure bike a la Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, CFMoto Ibex 450, and BMW F 450 GS. But here’s the kicker. It’s from FB Mondial, a company that seemed perfectly happy just producing small-displacement machines in Europe for beginner riders. Why the sudden interest in the middleweight segment? And why a showcase of a totally badass-looking ADV bike in the world’s biggest motorcycle expo?
Well, the answer just has to be aliens, doesn’t it?
What if the FB Mondial Mud 452 is some extra-terrestrial species’ attempt at learning more about the human race? Whoever they are, well, they seem to know what they’re doing. They know that the world wants small bikes, and bikes that boast tons of capability, too. Who knows, maybe somewhere beneath the bike’s 450cc parallel-twin engine lies some secret alien tech?
And sure, the bike’s long-travel suspension, 21-inch front wheel, and knobby tires may be perfect for conquering rugged, technical terrain. But they’re also ideal for riding over the various potholes, ruts, and rocks of the lunar surface. A coincidence? I think not.
All jokes aside, the FB Mondial Mud 452 looks like one seriously capable machine, and one that comes at a time when the world needs it the most. Just like Superman, who surprise, surprise, is actually an alien. Gasp.
But in all seriousness, the Mud 452 could spell some seriously big things not just for FB Mondial, but the small-displacement segment as a whole. For starters, it could be the bike that brings the once-obscure Italian marque into the spotlight. Plus, if the bike proves to be worth its weight in gold, could actually be a contender against the bikes I mentioned earlier.
And hey, more options in the affordable entry-level segment means more people on two wheels. And more people on two wheels means that the figurative wheels of our beloved motorcycle industry will keep on turning.
Perhaps until the world is actually invaded by an alien species.
Source: FB Mondial
