XENA Bike
XENA takes France on 3-wheels

Philippe AUBEGES and his unique three-wheeled XENA machine are the official opening vehicle in the Dark Dog Tour across France from Sept 26-Oct 5.

LA FERTÈ BERNARD, France– As head of XENA France and CEO of†ICA Security, Philippe Aubeges has built his operation into the country’s top-ranked security systems company for motorcycles and scooters. But neither the man’s talents nor his ambitions end there.

Recently, Aubeges emerged from his workshop talking up a sinister and slightly mad project that gave birth to the extraordinary three-wheeled monster pictured here. Behold the XENA ICA CANAM SPYDER.

Aubeges crafted his customized, one-of-a-kind high-performance three-wheeler†to ride personally in the sixth†running of the now legendary Dark Dog Tour. This will be his third outing (last year, the team finished in 3rd place) in a nine-day, 3,000km rally that touches on every region in France. As well as aiming for the podium, this year Aubeges aims to raise the profile of three-wheel bikes with riders eveywhere.
Initially floated as just another audacious idea, the project flourished under his guidance and a team of developers who worked solidly to produce something well, a little different. The end product has worked out so well that Aubeges will ride the bike (or trike, to be more precise) in all stages of the race. Simply put:"The XENA Spyder is faster than a motorcycle; it drives more like a snowmobile, you get the same sensation," he says.

Key modifications include:

• Circuit reparation by TECMAS Racing
• Front and rear suspension by OHLINS (auto super cross/GP type)
• Carbon exhaust by REMUS
• Engine preparation
• Air filter racing
• 4 XENON lights
• Heated grips
• TITO DECO painting and carbon finishing
• Rear racing rims
• Sport wheels, sport pack

Products distributed by ICA, fitted on the XENA bike:

• 4 XENON HID lights
• GMS/GPS tracking system
• GPS Garmin ZUMO 550
• Anti-theft marking ICA Security
• Digital gear indicator ACUMEN
• Tyre pressure indicator ZADI
• Bike-to-bike intercom (500m range)
• INTERHONE cellular line, Bullett lock by XENA

In nine days, the tour takes in the following stops:

• Reims from 26 to September 28
• Val de Reuil 29 to September 30
• Circuit Magny-Cours October 1
• Circuit Ales October 2
• Toulon from 3 October
• Ajaccio–Corsica from 4 October
• Toulon from 5 October

"When I submitted this project to the organisers of the Dark Dog Tour last year, Marc Fontan was immediately enthusiastic," Aubeges says. "They then agreed to enter my XENA BIKE as the official opener of this one-of-a-kind race."

In his work to customise the vehicle, Aubeges says he and his team primarily aimed to make the bike more responsive in terms of power and to increase its speed-of-movement curve. What they got, Aubeges enthuses, is that and a whole lot more. "Many people have worked on this project, and the result is way beyond our expectations."

Beyond the race itself, the new machine has also given the Frenchman high hopes for the three-wheeled format: "This race is the perfect setting to showcase the incredible potential of this amazing machine. Many bikers think that three-wheelers are exclusively for motorists who won't dare to drive on two-wheels -- hopefully we can change some attitudes, and at the very least, turn some heads."
And who knows where else this Dark Dog may lead. Why not a XENA SPYDER Cup in 2009!
For more information about the race: www.moto-tour.com

Press Office: Agency Flag: 01 58 60 24 24

FrÈdÈrique Libaud: fred@agenceflag.com
www.agenceflag.com