WorldSBK 2018: Jake Gagne joins Red Bull Honda with Leon Camier

The Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team has announced that their second rider will be 25-year-old American, Jake Gagne.
Gagne stepped in a few races in this year as wildcard entries after the tragic loss of beloved rider, Nicky Hayden.
Jake Gagne will be racing together with another new Red Bull Honda rider, Leon Camier.

After several wildcard entries for the factory Honda squad in last year’s WorldSBK season, Jake Gagne has finally got his opportunity to race full time. The 25 year old from California USA will be racing for the Red Bull Honda outfit together with double British Superbike Champion, Leon Camier.

After the tragic loss of MotoGP World Champion and beloved racer Nicky Hayden, Jake Gagne was the first person Honda brought in to fill in the empty seat. It was back in June when Gagne hopped on the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 and raced at the iconic Laguna Seca speedway.

To know more on the tragic passing of Nicky Hayden, CLICK HERE.
The 24 year old has been actively participating in the MotoAmerica championship this year on board Honda machinery so the move together with some experiences in the FIM World Superbike Championship finally sealed the deal for the young American. Gagne has been crowned champion in both the Red Bull Rookies Cup as well as AMA Superstock 1000.
Jake Gagne (Image source: MotoAmerica)
This will be the biggest challenge for Gagne as the Red Bull Honda outfit has been struggling with finding the right settings for the challenging Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2. Even with the help of a great rider like Stefan Bradl couldn’t smooth out all the creases.

For 2018, the WorldSBK Honda factory is optimistic as Gagne will be partnering with another experienced rider known as Leon Camier. This will not be a walk in park considering their opponents from Kawasaki and Ducati who clearly dominated the field during the entire 2017 season.
Leon Camier
According to Gagne himself, “It’s really a dream come true to have the chance to contest a full World Superbike season with the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team,” said Gagne. “I cannot thank Red Bull, Honda and Ten Kate enough for the opportunity to race the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 over three rounds this year.”

“2018 will be an exciting year for me, with a lot of travelling and racing on some of the best race tracks in the world. I want to thank again everyone involved for this incredible opportunity, and I feel I’m ready for the challenge ahead!”

Will things finally turn around for Honda next season? Only time will tell. Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more details.
Source: WorldSBK
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BMW And Suspension Experts ZF Develops Carbon Fiber Telescopic Fork

BMW Motorrad always puts serious thought into developing front suspension.

BMW and ZF develop a new carbon fibre front end.
BMW won the 24-hour Spa of the EWC while testing the new carbon fibre telescopic fork.

The R 1250 GS is fitted with a Telelever front end, the K 1600 GT Duolever suspension is innovative, while the S 1000 RR semi-active unit is an integral part of the superbike setup.
However, BMW has up the ante in its latest joint venture with suspension experts and partner ZF (Zahnradfabrik) to develop a carbon fibre telescopic fork.
 The collaboration is to develop the front fork for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team.
Firstly, carbon fibre front suspension is common in MotoGP, but it’s still a grey area for BMW as the House of Munich is not involved in the world championship.

As a result, the Endurance World Championship is BMW’s best bet to test out the new component.
The BMW M 1000 RR now features the said component, with the fork consisting of a carbon fibre outer tubed mated to a carbon fibre composite/metal inner tube. The metal fork legs slide within the carbon fibre tubes.
The lightweight material not only helps to reduce weight and allows BMW to study the M 1000 RR characteristic.
According to BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Mark Bongers, the main focus during the development of carbon fibre forks is to test the bending loads.
“Using this material and this technology allows us to shift the threshold at which body vibrations occur.
“One major focus during development was the design of the homogeneous bending loads.
“The goal being for the throttle response for the rider to be extremely subtle, even under the most extreme strains. And feedback from the riders confirmed that the goal was achieved,” he said.
In an exciting development, the number 37 BMW M 1000 RR fitted with the carbon fibre telescopic fork won the 2022 24-Hour Spa of the Endurance World Championship.
Could the new component make its way to future BMW bikes? BMW certainly thinks so, but it will need to meet the strict homologation standards before that happens.
(Source: webbikeworld)
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Ducati V21L MotoE bike launches quicker than its MotoGP counterpart!

Ducati works test rider Chaz Davies posts video showing prototype Ducati V21L MotoE racer launching quicker than its MotoGP counterpart.

Latest video by Chaz Davies shows the potential of the Ducati V21L MotoE prototype.

In a simulated race-start ‘test’, the electric machine held its own against a full-fledged GP bike.

Could this perhaps be indication of an exciting and faster-paced new era for MotoE?

Retired WSBK star Chaz Davies isn’t sitting idle in retirement. In fact, he’s been busy with colleague Michele Pirro in developing the Ducati V21L MotoE prototype race machine. Well, the Brit recently took to social media showing how that’s going, and we now have an idea just how quick it is.
In his recent Instagram post, Davies posted a video showing the V21L going head-to-head with a relatively current Ducati Desmosedici GP MotoGP machine in a simulated race start whilst testing over at Mugello.
Unsurprisingly, the GP machine had the edge for the long run, but it’s the initial launch that caught our attention.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chaz Davies (@chazdavies7)

From the video, we can clearly see the Ducati V21L prototype performing a near-perfect launch, edging past its MotoGP counterpart momentarily too – the latter presumably having its ‘Holeshot’ ride height device primed for launch too.
Those who understand the dynamics of electric propulsion won’t find this surprising. The ‘test’ eventually ends with the GP machine having a clear advantage, but the fact that the electric V21L had the initial edge and stayed alongside for the most parts is a sight to behold.

Surely, this is clear enough indication that this next generation MotoE racer, which is slated to enter competition from 2023 onwards, has got a lot of power and speed on tap – perhaps significantly more than the current MotoE machine supplied by Energica.
Are we in for a much more exciting and faster-paced racing in MotoE when Ducati enters the foray as the series’ new one-make supplier? We’d like to think so…

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The updated 2017 Honda Wave Alpha MMC

Improved for better fuel efficiency

Fresh look with a new colour – Pearl Nightfall Blue

Environmental friendly kapchai that’s EEV and Euro3 certified

Boon Siew Honda recently announced that there’s a new and improved version of their Wave Alpha kapchai and it’s called the Honda Wave Alpha MMC (Minor Model Change). With a few changes to one of Honda’s best selling cubs, it is now more stylish with improved fuel efficiency and of course better for the environment.

Wave Alpha MMC comes with an enhanced emission filtering system that is able to produce lower emissions as compared to the previous model. The new filtering system in turn increases its performance as well. The new Honda Wave Alpha MMC comes with a redesigned colour and stripe which improves the overall look of the bike making it more appealing for anyone looking for an entry-level motorcycle from one of the biggest bike brands in the country.

The Wave Alpha MMC is also equipped with a sporty-like exhaust muffler and a redesigned rear grab for that extra exterior appeal. Apart for the design and new parts, Boon Siew Honda has also introduced a brand new colour for this particular model called the Pearl Nightfall Blue. This new colourway is an addition the two existing colour options for the bike; Pearl Magellanic Black and Vivacity Red.

The showroom price based on two variances from RM 4,535.74 (basic price with GST) for the drum brake and spoke wheels option and RM 4,927.94 (basic price with GST) for the disc brake and cast wheels variant. The model comes with two years or 20,000km manufacturing warranty (whichever comes first).

Since the first launched in November 2015, Wave Alpha continuously received overwhelming demand from the market and thus it has gained the highest market share and leading in smaller displacement engine CUB market. This is contributed by its fuel economy, product durability and affordable price. Hence, the release of the Wave Alpha MMC will lead Honda to continue dominating the smaller displacement engine CUB market.

To know more about the new 2017 Honda Wave Alpha MMC, you can visit the Boon Siew Honda official website or their Facebook page.

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2021 Honda MSX125 Grom launched in Europe

Honda Europe has launched the new 2021 Honda MSX125 Grom mini bike with a bunch of new updates, including a brand-new engine. It’s no longer called Grom Europe or MSX125 in Asia, folks. Now, it’s officially known as the MSX125 Grom everywhere.

Starting with firepower, the 2021 model now carries a new 125cc single-cylinder PGM-Fi engine that produces around 9.6hp at 7,250rpm and 10.5Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. It’s roughly the same power figures as the previous-gen model but now comes with a new five-speed manual transmission for better all-round performance.

Top speed is slightly raised to 94km/h, which is more than enough to roll around town in style. Up top, there’s a new LCD meter which now comes with a rev-counter as well as a gear position indicator. Good call, Honda!

The 2021 Honda MSX125 Grom now has a fresher look with a new LED front headlight and redesigned side panels with quick-release bodywork (for better and faster customization works). You’ll notice this via the six bolts on each side that can be easily accessed by youngsters who what to add a bit of custom flair to their 125cc mini bike.

Its ABS system is also connected to an internal IMU unit for better safety, while other juicy specs include a 31mm USD front fork, 12-inch cast aluminium wheels, dual disc brakes, six-litre fuel tank, and many more.

There are three colours available for the 2021 Honda MSX125 Grom which are Force Silver Metallic, Mat Gunpowder Black Metallic, and Gayety Red. No news on pricing just yet, but if does land here in Malaysia, it shouldn’t be too far off from the RM11,000 mark compared to the previous model launched back in 2017.

2021 Honda Forza 750 officially launched!

Written by: Sep Irran
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Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia (Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd) is currently running its “AWESOME DEALS AMAZING OFFERS” Raya promotion.
Customers can enjoy huge savings in the form of cash rebates, in-store credits and a few freebies when they purchase their Triumph models of choice.
There are a total of 21 models on offer for customers to choose from the latest Triumph Speed Triples to the uber cool Bonnevilles.

Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia (Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd) is currently running a very special promotion called the “AWESOME DEALS AMAZING OFFERS” in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidifitri celebration. Those who are looking for a sweet ride can head on over to the nearest Triumph showroom for the best of offers, promotions and a few extras thrown into the packages. There are a total of 21 models currently on offer so take your pick because any Triumph bike is a winner.

Those who have been longing to own a Triumph bike of their own can enjoy some very amazing offers. Customers can enjoy cash rebates on selected models as much as RM5,000. Not only you will get a big price cut on the original prices, Triumph is also throwing in some in-store credit as much as RM1,000 if you want to look apart with some cool riding gears and accessories.

Still not enough for you? If you purchase any of the Triumph Tiger Explorer XR, Tiger Explorer XCx, Tiger 800 XRx or Tiger 800 XCx during this promo, you’ll be entitled for some Triumph aluminium panniers absolutely FREE. Talk about big, BIG savings.

Fans of their previous models can enjoy even more price cuts that almost too good to be true (but they are). Interested in the Street Triple R ABS? The bike’s normal price is at RM56,900 but if you buy it now, you’ll get RM10,000 of the original price. We’re not kidding, folks. This is 100% true. So visit your nearest Triumph Motorcycles showroom today because it’s the best time to join the Triumph family.

CLICK HERE to know more about Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia’s “AWESOME DEALS AMAZING OFFERS” Raya Promo which will last until 25 July 2017.
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GIVI marshal safety riding course visits Melaka

After a successful campaign in Selangor, the GIVI marshal safety riding course made its way to the heart of Melaka together with MotoWazi. Their first stop in the ‘Southern Tour’ gathered around 40 bikers who were excited to learn the ropes in handling motorcycle convoys in the proper manners with one goal in mind – safety.

Even during the Movement Control Order, all participants were ensured that they were healthy to begin with in order to curb the infection of COVID-19. GIVI Asia together with MotoWazi drilled in all the aspects related to the roles of marshal riders in motorcycling handling as well as communication between other marshals while on the road.

The knowledge presented to these marshals were cemented by the presence of the Royal Malaysian Police force (PDRM) in highlighting all the rules and regulations when it comes to conducting huge motorcycle convoys on the open road. Very good CSR program from the folks over at GIVI Asia.

All participants were gifted with a certificate of participation as well as a brand new GIVI M10.2 Vista helmet as a token of appreciation. Rest assured that more of these safety riding programs will be conducted by GIVI Asia soon. To know more, head over to https://www.givi.com.my/ or visit https://www.facebook.com/givimalaysia.

Written by: Sep Irran
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Cub Prix: Kasma Daniel wins opening round in Johor

Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin (Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor) took home the first win of the 2018 Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix round.
The Tangkak Racing Track saw a great battle between Kasma and second place finisher, Ahmad Afif Amran (Petronas Sprinta Yamaha CKJ).
Mohd Hafiz Nor Azman (Petronas Sprinta Yamaha CKJ) completed the CP150 podium.

The 2017 Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix champion Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin kicked things off this season with a strong win in the newly-formed CP150 premier class. The 25th season opener held at the Tangkak Racing Track this weekend saw the Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor rider taking the first win on his new Yamaha Y15ZR.

It was, however, a worrying start during Saturday’s Free Practice sessions as CP150 rookie Mohd Akid Aziz gave a strong performance together with the other Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor riders. Despite an unbelievable pace, Akid, unfortunately, lost the holeshot to Kasma Daniel and other more experienced riders in the field.

Unlike his signature style of pulling away from other riders after taking the lead, second place finisher Ahmad Afif Amran made sure that Kasma had to work hard for his win. The Petronas Sprinta Yamaha CKJ rider was riding with a mission to win and managed to take the lead but Kasma responded on Lap 13. Afif settled for second place but his performance will indeed put Kasma on top of his every game each and every round.

Afif’s teammate Mohd Hafiz Nor Azman finished in third with a six-second gap behind the Ahmad Afif. It was quite an improvement for Hafiz considering that he qualified in the sixth position behind some very well-known riders in the Malaysian Cub Prix. It looks like Yamaha is off to a very strong start as the top six riders are all piloting the Yamaha Y15ZR.

In the CP115 intermediate class, Tengku Amirul Haffiruddin from the Motul Zeneos YY Pang Racing team got off to a very good start this season with a stunning win. A textbook win from start to finish secured not only the win but a 2.5 second ahead of second place finisher, Ahmad Syukran Aizat (PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha-CKJ) and Md Haziq Md Fairues (PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor) in third.

The WIRA KBS class saw the newly-formed SIC Junior Team AFB Tech Racing taking the top two spots with riders Danial Syahmi and Harith Haziq. Their one-two finish was indeed a fight to finish as they crossed the chequered flag with only 0.7 seconds dividing the two. Alif Ashraf Tahiruddin (PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha) completed the podium in the third position.

The second round of the 2018 Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix will be held in Temerloh, Pahang from 5 to 6 May 2018. Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more Malaysian Cub Prix updates.
RESULTS & STANDINGS
CP150
1 Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin (JHR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 14:54.984s
2 Ahmad Afif Amran (TRG) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha-CKJ 14:55.266s
3 Md Hafiz Nor Azman (PRK) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha-CKJ 15:01.124s
4 Md Ramdan Rosli (SGR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 15:01.350s
5 Md Adib Rosley (SGR) Motul Zeneos Yamaha YY Pang Racing 15:09.121s
CP115
1 Tengku Amirul Haffirudin (TRG) Motul Zeneos Yamaha YY Pang Racing 11:45.056s
2 Ahmad Syukran Aizat (TRG) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha-CKJ 11:48.459s
3 Md Haziq Md Fairues (SGR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 11:49.814s
4 Md Fareez Afeez (JHR) Motul Zeneos Yamaha YY Pang Racing 11:50.054s
5 Nazirul Izzat Md Bahauddin (MLK) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ 11:55.567s
WIRA KBS
1 Danial Syahmi (PRK) SIC Junior Team AFB Tech Racing 10:27.747s
2 Harith Haziq (SGR) SIC Junior Team AFB Tech Racing 10:28.421s
3 Alif Ashraf Tahiruddin (KUL) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha 10:29.866s
4 Fadlyshah Redzuan (SGR) Idemitsu Kozi Yam Honda Racing 10:34.911s
5 Daniel Fahim (PNG) Sic Junior Team AFB Tech Racing 10:39.437s
Superkip Racing Academy to Campaign in 2018 Cub Prix Season

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All-new Triumph Scrambler 1200 Coming!

A Triumph Scrambler 1200 have been speculated even from the time the 900cc version was launched.

Now Triumph has just launched a teaser video.

The new bike will be launched on 24th October 2018.

Talk about a déjà vu: We’ve just posted about the Triumph TR6 Trophy from The Great Escape and its successor the Street Scrambler, Triumph Motorcycles has just unleashed a trailer of the all-new Scrambler 1200.
Rumblings about a 1200cc Scrambler has been making rounds for a long time and many enthusiasts have been awaiting the launch since then.
1200cc Triumph Street Scrambler caught on camera?

The short 10-second video shows the new bike coming out of a jungle, before announcing the launch date as 24th October 2018.

The only well, speculations, we could work on are based on the video’s illustration. The bike wears knobbies and an under-engine skid plate. Woohoo!
But the things we are quite certain of would be the engine, which will be based on the current 1200cc, liquid-cooled parallel-Twin which powers the Bonnevilles Bobber and Bobber Black, Speedmaster, T120 and Thruxton/Thruxton R. Only thing we would not know which “tune” Triumph would choose, as the Thruxton is powered by the “High Power (HP)” version while the rest are of the “High Torque (HT)” tune.
There are also speculations that new 1215cc triple from the new Tiger 1200 may be utilised. It may be a possibility although we think it’s highly unlikely, given the Scrambler’s modern classic approach.
Here’s what Triumph has to say about the new bike: https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/motorcycles/classic/bonneville-scrambler-1200
“A brand new Triumph modern classic is set to create a riding revolution with a whole new benchmark for what makes a scrambler great.
“The Scrambler 1200 marks the birth of a stunning new motorcycle generation. With never-before-seen levels of dual-purpose capability, this incredible full-on scrambler is as truly amazing off-road as it is on the road, doing everything an adventure bike can, and all with authentic scrambler style and attitude.
Because of the unprecedented worldwide interest in this next generation motorcycle, we’ve decided to release a series of exclusive insights into this genuine game-changer well in advance of its official launch.”
The 900cc version was released in 2017 to global accolade on its character and fun factor. We’ve since tested it and even rode it around more than once and are still fond of it. The 1200cc version should be a gamechanger to the genre, given Triumph’s propensity to infuse their bikes with great handling, linear power delivery and fun character.
By the way, Bikes Republic will be visiting the Triumph Motorcycles Ltd.’s factory during the time of the launch (thanks to Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia and UK), so we hope to bring the launch event to you “live.”
TESTED: Triumph Street Scrambler – “Escapism”

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WSBK Malaysia 2016:Sykes dominates Race 1

Pole-sitter Tom Sykes cruises to victory astride Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R in WSBK Malaysia 2016.

British rider Tom Sykes clinched victory in the scorching heat of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) during Race 1 of WSBK Malaysia 2016.
Astride the Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R, Sykes’ victory comes just after his record-setting pole position qualifying run during the Superpole sessions held earlier in the day.

Sykes held a commanding lead in the 16-lap sprint race ahead of teammate and current WSBK championship leader Jonathan Rea who finished second. Again, despite racing on identical Kawasaki ZX-10Rs, Rea simply didn’t have the pace to catch Sykes, finishing the race 5.600 seconds behind his winning teammate.

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Chaz Davies completed the all-British podium lockdown as he finished third. This was a well-deserved result for Davies following his struggles to master Ducati Panigale R around the newly resurfaced Sepang track. In the Superpole sessions held earlier, the Ducati rider could only manage to qualify fifth on the grid.

Even during the 16-lap race, Davies faced stiff competition from Spaniard Jordi Torres astride the Althea BMW Racing Team S1000RR and fellow Brit Alex Lowes who started from second on the grid astride the Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team YZF-R1.

Having collected 25 valuable championship points with his win today, Tom Sykes sits third in the standings with his total score of 179 points so far. Teammate Jonathan Rea still leads the standings with 241 points after collecting 20 points today whilst Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Chaz Davies splits the two in second place after collecting 16 points today to bring his total score up to 202 points.
With Race 1 concluded, all attention now focuses on Race 2 scheduled to take place tomorrow on Sunday at 4pm local time.
Sunday’s program begins with the second races of the Malaysian Superbike Championship 2016, followed secondly by the second Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup Moto3 race at 1pm local time. The supporting World Supersport Championship (WSSP) race takes centre stage at 2pm local time and it features home hero Zulfahmi Khairuddin.
WSBK Malaysia Race 1 Results

WSBK Malaysia 2016 – Saturday – Race 1

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OFFICIAL: Ana Carrasco Rejoins Moto3 World Championship

2018 World Supersport Championship 300 champion, Ana Carrasco has officially returns to Moto3 World Championship, where she competed between 2013 and 2015.
After becoming the first woman to become a world champion in two-wheel racing, Carrasco decided to part ways with Kawasaki and the WorldSSP300.
“Racing is tough, not just on track where people see but also at times like this when you have to make tough decisions.
“My ambition is always to grow as a rider, to set myself new goals that other’s see as impossible and to achieve them.  When my parents bought me my first minibike and then I started racing of course my dream was like any rider “one day I want to be a World Champion”.
” This I achieved in 2018 and even today that feeling is magical; but anyone that understands racing will know that every racer needs to push, to be ambitious and to test themselves again and again.
“This opportunity to ride in Moto3™ is a logical step in my mind even if the emotional step is hard,” said Carrasco in a statement.
Carrasco recently participated in the official Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) test at Jerez as preparation to keep fit before the first pre-season test.
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9-Time WRC Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb Announced As Indian Motorcycle Ambassador

If you don’t know who Sebastien Loeb is, you probably live under a rock.
The man is a nine-time World Rally Championship champion and has three Dakar podiums in his career.

The WRC legend will add another achievement as Indian Motorcycle announced Loeb as the company’s new ambassador!
In addition, Loeb will now ride an Indian FTR R Carbon to help promote the American motorcycle brand.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Sébastien Loeb, who is a charismatic and talented personality.
“During our meeting, I discovered a real enthusiast, of cars of course, but also of two-wheelers, especially motorcycles with a character like the FTR.
“I am thrilled with this new partnership which goes against the grain of Sébastien’s traditional universe. Basing this partnership on the Indian FTR is a natural fit; it is a motorcycle with a unique style and performance, everything that Sébastien was looking for in his future motorcycle,” said Pierre Audoin, Indian Motorcycle National Manager, France.

Meanwhile, Loeb also expressed his excitement over the new development with Indian and is looking forward to taking the FTR Carbon R on numerous adventures.
“I am pleased to collaborate with Indian, I am seen more often behind the wheel than the handlebars, but I have always ridden to experience different sensations.
“I love riding whenever I get the chance, whether on the track or on the road, and the FTR has all the qualities necessary to have fun at any pace,” he said.
Despite spending most of his life behind four-wheelers, a love for motorcycles is often there and is often the case with drivers racing at the top level. The 47-year-old himself spent a lot of his time at moto-racing, including enduro, during his earlier days.
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Miguel Oliviera Wins KTM’s First Moto2 Victory

Miguel Oliveira wins KTM’s first Moto2 victory at the Australian GP.

Teammate Brad Binder claimed his first podium in second place.

It is KTM’s first year in Moto2.

Pictures courtesy of KTM.

Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder scored the top two podium finishes in the Moto2 race at the Australian GP yesterday, and a place in KTM’s record books.

Oliveira took the lead as soon as the lights went green and never looked back, even opening up a margin of six seconds at one point. Binder trailed in second place but was soon caught by championship leader Franco Morbidelli. The pair traded places with some aggressive moves until the rain flag waved just before the end. Binder held off Morbidelli for his first Moto2 podium in his first year in the intermediate class.
Brad Binder ahead of Franco Morbidelli, Australian Moto2 Race 2017
The Austrian manufacturer had decided to contest both Moto2 and MotoGP beginning this year (2017). But while Pol Espargaro and Bradly Smith have been posting encouraging mid-pack results on the RC16 in MotoGP, it’s Miguel Oliveira who has been knocking on the door for his first Moto2 win.
Oliveira, Binder and KTM Moto2 Team in Australia
Prior to the Australian GP, Oliveira had guided his KTM Moto2 bike to 6 podium finishes in its very first year in the class. In fact, KTM’s Moto2 effort got off to a flying start when the Portugese rider finished in fourth at the first race in Qatar, then following up with a second place in Argentina. He was on the podium again two races later in Jerez, Spain. More podium finishes came in Catalunya, Germany, Czech Republic, and Aragon.

In the sixteen races leading up to yesterday’s, Oliveira had finished out of the top ten only once in France, apart from two retirements in Austria and San Marino. He had also claimed two pole positions along the way.

Brad Binder, on the other hand, was the 2016 Moto3 champion, before moving up to the Red Bull Ajo Moto2 team to partner Oliveira this year. Fans would most probably remember Binder’s two victories after he started from dead last on grid!

Despite a difficult start to the season and injuries, the South African have been making steady progress since Round 11 in Austria.
Finishing 7th in Austria, Binder has since logged 9th in Great Britain, 4th in San Marino, 5th in Aragon, a DNF in Japan, and the second place in Australia yesterday.
With two rounds left in the 2017 Moto2 Championship, Miguel Oliveira now places third with 191 points, while Brad Binder is in tenths with 89 points.

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2019 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Iron Ready to Rumble in Malaysia

The 2019 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Iron has arrived at Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ).

The new bike features a new headlamp fairing, handlebar, graphics and paint scheme.

It also includes the Harley-Davidson Smart Security System and anti-lock braking system (ABS).

The 2019 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Iron has arrived at Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ).
The Iron 1200 recipe starts with power. A 1202cc Evolution® 1200 V-Twin engine delivers 36 percent more torque (73.0 ft. lbs. vs. 53.8 ft. lb.) than the 883 Evolution engine that powers the Iron 883, the original urban brawler in the Sportster family. The Iron 1200 brings more punch to the street fight – more power to blast away from green lights and more mid-range to muscle through traffic. More power for more rowdy fun.

The satin-black Mini Ape handlebar is an essential element of the garage-built chopper look that adds instant attitude. This 1.0-inch diameter handlebar offers an 8.75-inch rise, 32-inch spread and 6.5-inch pull back, that opens the rider triangle with a fist-in-the-wind posture. The gloss black speed screen framing the headlamp is a West Coast styling influence that amplifies the attitude of the tall bars, is intended to offer some wind deflection at speed and provides a space for easy personalization. The fast-back Café Solo Seat flows to the rear fender and is shaped to help hold the rider in position when the torque of the Evolution 1200 kicks in.
A classic 3.3-gallon (12.5-litre) Sportster fuel tank features multi-colored striped graphics that wrap around the tank profile. The dark engine finish helps draw the eyes to the bright tank graphics. Fuel tank paint color options include Vivid Black, Twisted Cherry and Billiard White, always contrasting with the Vivid Black speed screen.

The entire powertrain has been styled with a popular color: black upper and lower rocker boxes, black exhaust and muffler shields, and black timer, primary and derby covers. Chrome pushrod tubes and tappet covers are the only brightwork and highlight the V-Twin engine shape. The Iron 1200 is finished with all-black 9-Spoke wheels (19-inch front and 16-inch rear diameter) and a solid black belt guard and rear sprocket.
The Harley-Davidson Smart Security System and anti-lock braking system (ABS) are factory- installed options for the Iron 1200 model.

The Evolution 1200 engine features a black top end and an expanse of brilliant chrome below, including chrome primary, inspection and derby covers, and solid chrome muffler and exhaust shields. Chrome lower rocker boxes, pushrod tubes and tappet covers contrast with the black cylinders to highlight the V-Twin engine shape. High-performance Michelin Scorcher 31 tires front and rear are mounted on Black Split 9-Spoke cast-aluminum wheels (16-inch diameter front and rear).

Since its introduction in 1957, Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycles have been repeatedly reimagined, in the hands of both the Motor Company and bike owners: As a bobber, a chopper, a scrambler and a café racer; as a hero on flat tracks and drag strips and road-race courses; as an accessible entry-point for first-time riders, and as a custom-of-one cruiser.
New fuel tank graphics distinguish both the Iron 1200 and the Forty-Eight Special, and combine bold color stripes with a formal typeface, color and graphic elements originally popular in the 1970s.

“With its introduction and showcased at the showroom, we welcome everyone to come over and see it for themselves for a limited them as this particular unit already has its owner. In addition to the Iron 1200, H-D Petaling Jaya is also hosting their 1st Anniversary Carnival this weekend, and we would like to invite everyone to come over to our showroom” said Ahmad Rano, the Head of Sales for H-D PJ.
They are offering rebates up to RM28,000 on selected Touring models, interest rate as low as 3.6%, and garnished by 2 years factory warranty. Along with 30% discount on General Merchandise and selected Parts & Accessories. So come on down to Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya 1st Anniversary Carnival from 25th to 26th May, starting at 10 AM until 5 PM.

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MTT 420RR Turbine Hyperbike – 420hp & 810Nm of MADNESS!

The creators of the Y2K turbine-powered motorcycle is back with a bigger project which has been dubbed the MTT 420RR.
Using a Rolls Royce Allison – 250-C20 Series Gas Turbine engine, Marine Turbine Technologies is planning for their upcoming MTT 420RR to produce 420hp and 810Nm of torque!
No news on when the bike will be officially introduced but with the specs stated by MTT, it’ll probably be the fastest road-going production motorcycle of all time.

The creators of the super manic turbine-powered Y2K superbike are back with a bigger and more “off the charts CRAZY” project. Like most manufacturers, they too felt that they can and should do better than their previous 320hp turbine-powered Y2K superbike which was built back in 2000.

Just when you thought that having around 200hp on the standard road-going superbikes that are available in the current market to date, the folks over at Marine Turbine Technologies feel that bigger is always better and their next project is a BEAST.

After 17 years of success with their larger than life Y2K motorcycle that produces 320hp and goes up to 227mp/h (around 365km/h), they’re turning everything up to 11 with their upcoming MTT 420RR turbine-powered monstrosity.

Using a Rolls Royce Allison – 250-C20 Series Gas Turbine Engine usually used for powering helicopters of the face of the Earth, MTT is tuning it to churn out a massive 420hp at 52,000rpm and 810Nm of head-decapitating torque as low as 2,000rpm.

All that firepower is transferred down to the rear 17-inch carbon fibre Dymag wheel via a 2-speed automatic gearbox and a final chain drive. Together with its aluminium alloy frame and a fuel tank capacity of 34 litres of diesel and kerosene, the MTT 420RR sits roughly at around 226kg which is roughly around the average weight of a cruiser.

Of course, just talking about it won’t probably make much sense considering how crazy it sounds right about now. That’s why MTT has released a short snippet to turn all the doubters into believers. Check out the soundtrack in the video below!

Testing a new 420RR
Posted by Marine Turbine Technologies on 24hb Februari 2017

To add a bit of class into the mix, the new 420RR will come with a colour dash monitor and control screen make sure that all the information regarding the helicopter engine sitting right in between the rider’s legs are functioning as it should.

All in all, we’re confident that once this baby is up for sale, it will be the most powerful and fastest road-going motorcycle to world has ever seen. All we can do now is wait or if you’re interested to know the complete specs of the MTT 420RR, CLICK HERE.
Source: Marine Turbine Technologies
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New Supersport 300 class announced for WSBK

New Supersport 300 class announced and will run alongside WSBK from 2017 onwards.

With many of the industry’s mightiest players switching their focus towards the small capacity market in recent years, it was only a matter of time before this reflected itself in the world of racing towards the formation of the Supersport 300 class.
We’ve had a whiff of this last year, and now it has become a reality. Dorna, the commercial rights holder to both the World Superbikes Championship (WSBK) and MotoGP, together with ruling body FIM, officially announced the new just this week.
Perhaps what’s fuelling the birth of the Supersport 300 class also lies is the global decline in sales and demand for the ever popular 600cc supersport segment – it simply isn’t as popular as it once was with consumers due to several factors.

Nevertheless, this is an exciting development indeed, and a few crucial details have been made public. Firstly, the core of this class will be the extensive focus on lightweight production machines, and four such examples have been homologated for the class.

				2016 Honda CBR500R

The list consists of four models led by the Yamaha YZF-R3, followed by the Kawasaki Ninja 300, the Honda CBR500R and the KTM RC390. As you can see, the list has a fairly rich variety of bikes in terms of capacity sizes and the engine layout – singles and twins.

To keep things even, several strict technical rules will be enforced starting with stricter rev limitations for larger capacity models. Besides that, engines and frames must remain virtually unaltered from stock, but the deletion of secondary throttle valves are permitted.
Additionally, the bike’s exhaust systems can be changed. However, it must retain the same number of silencers as found in their respective road bike forms.

Electronics, on the other hand, must also resemble the stock bike’s specifications. Alternatively, teams can use a separate, homologated race kit from the manufacturer or a Dorna-supplied special Supersport kit. Also limited here are data-logging, as is suspension tuning.
Crucially, the class will allow riders as young as 15 years old to compete in it, thus making the Supersport 300 the perfect and most affordable starting platform for aspiring talents.
Details beyond this, including a provisional calendar, have yet to be revealed. Credible sources however are reporting that this new Supersport 300 class could step in to replace the existing European Junior Cup series when it gets underway next year.

We can also expect the Supersport 300 to stand as the new benchmark for national-level championships worldwide. A similar program is already running our nation’s very own Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSC) called the Pirelli 250cc & 300cc Race Series that’s organised by SBR Trackdays.
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Yamaha launches teaser site

Yamaha has set up a dedicated teaser website recently in preparation of introducing several new models in less than a week’s time.
The site, called ‘Revstation’, featured a teaser video that are heavily inspired from sci-fi, followed by a countdown timer for the reveal date. Said teaser video, which we have also posted below, has not only built up our anticipation further, it also shows snippets of what exactly will Yamaha launch in just a five days time.

One of which appears to be the long-anticipated production version of the YZF R25 Concept race bike seen at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show. The R25 will likely feature Yamaha’s parallel twin 250cc as its powerplant, and the model is expected to feature street-legal bits such as lights and a silencer exhaust.

The R25 is also expected to spawn a 300cc brethren that some reckon would be called the ‘R3’. AS you would have figured, the R25 will be suited for selected markets where regulations favour 250cc bikes whilst the R3 will go into other markets without such restrictions.

Also hidden behind the video’s sci-fi themed musings are hints of the brand’s new three-wheeled scooter. A closer look suggests that it is most likely the production version of the Tricity Concept three-wheeled scooter previewed last year. Likely to be powered by a 125cc engine, destined to rival against Piaggio’s three-wheeler the MP3.

Further details remains scarce for now, but all is expected to surface once the countdown timer reaches zero in just about five days.

Source: Visordown / Asphaltandrubber via Revstation
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New sportier 2017 Honda Wave Alpha introduced – RM5,086!

Boon Siew Honda (BSH) has launched their latest 2017 Honda Wave Alpha in the market which now comes with a much sportier look.
The design was inspired by the same one used by the cub prix riders currently competing in the 2017 Honda Wave Alpha Challenge.
Priced at RM5,086.94 (basic price with GST), the new Honda Wave Alpha comes with new colour scheme, sporty muffler, rear seat grab and leg shield.

The latest 2017 Honda Wave Alpha has been introduced today which shows a much sportier look and feel thanks to a redesigned colour scheme. The best-selling cub currently in Malaysia produced by Boon Siew Honda (BSH) now comes in a refreshed version to cater to the younger generation and new riders looking for the perfect first bike.

According to Deputy Chairman and Deputy CEO of Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Seri Datuk Wira Tan Hui Jing, “We are very excited about this new update. This new look, with its racing stripes will be showcased by the young riders in the 2017 Honda Wave Alpha Challenge. But it is important to note that this latest introduction will be an addition to the existing models that are already in the market.”

The bike which was meant to be launched a couple of days ago during the penultimate round of the 2017 PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix in Penang was cancelled along with the race due to the extreme weather the Northern side of the country  is currently facing.

To know more about the 2017 PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix race cancellation, CLICK HERE.
Back to bike, the design was inspired by the same one used by the riders currently competing in the 2017 Honda Wave Alpha Challenge one-make race which runs together with the Malaysian Cub Prix. The major highlights on the bike are the sporty exhaust muffler, new rear seat grab and disc brake (only available for the cast wheel version).

Other features of the new Honda Wave Alpha are the fresh-looking speedometer, underseat storage and a very appealing leg shield. This new package is hoped to capture the young hearts of Malaysians by offering something that is young and fresh but also affordable as well.

Those who opt to buy the latest version of the 2017 Honda Wave Alpha can obtain it at a price of RM5,086.94 (basic price with GST) with the Candy Scintillate Red colour scheme. Boon Siew Honda is also offering a two-year or 20,000km manufacturer’s warranty for added convenience and assurance.
To know more about the sporty 2017 Honda Wave Alpha, head on over to www.boonsiewhonda.com.my.
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Kawasaki Motors Begins Latest Chapter With New Corporate Logo

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has recently announced Kawasaki Motors Limited as a new entity in charge of its motorcycle businesses.
KHI decided to introduce the spin-off motorcycle company after the brand witnessed an increase of 80 per cent sales since 2017.

Customers demographics are increasingly younger as well, as the Japanese firm revealed a number of riders in their 20s had grown significantly by 60 per cent within the same period.
Even before announcing Kawasaki Motors Limited, the company has already pushing to expand their factory in the US, including spending around USD265 million in global expansion projects.

To celebrate the new corporate identity, Kawasaki Motors Limited is branding itself with a new logo or an old one previously used on the H2 range.
The company decided to adopt the iconic River Mark as the official corporate logo. The design was conceptualized with the Japanese kanji for “kawa”, which means “river”. The logo was originally flown on the flags of ships owned by Kawasaki Tsukiji Shipyard, which later became KHI.

The new logo is a clear statement of intent that will shape the company moving forwards.
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Riding Boots Part 2 – Choosing Your Motorcycle Boots

Here’s Part 2 of our special guide to help you choose the right riding boots.

In Part 1, we looked at the different types and styles of motorcycle riding boots out in the market. However, it’s also very important to know and understand what you’re looking for in a boot as well, which is where we’ll cover in this second part.
Choosing the right boots can be a tricky affair since there are numerous types and options available nowadays. But knowing the common things to lookout for will help your decision-making process further in purchasing the perfect pair of boots.
Here are a few things to consider first before purchasing:

Sole
The sole of the boot is very important to the type of riding one is planning of doing. When you’re looking for a motorcycle boot, you’ll want to have enough grip for the type of terrain you’ll be encountering. A softer sole will offer you a better feel to your brake and shifter pedal. The softer material will let you grip these important parts and the pegs, giving you better control of the motorcycle.
However, softer soles will tend to wear faster and can be uncomfortable on rocky terrain. Harder soles will last longer, have more durability in case of a crash, but will ultimately provide less grip. Soles should be oil resistant, which is essential for street riding where encountering oil patches are more frequent. The better your soles, the more effectively you can grip the road in wet conditions as well, which is also critical for the adventure type riders.

Protection
Majority of dirt bike, motorcross and off-road motorcycle boots come with protective shells and armour to keep rider’s shins and feet safe. Since these types of riding are common to high impact, you’ll want to have a boot that comes with Kevlar, carbon or plastic armour around the shin area and top of the foot.

Flying off dirt ramps brings a lot of danger to your feet and you’ll want to be able to protect ankles, feet and shin as much as possible. Some motorcross boots come with steel-toe protection, which is highly recommended for riders experiencing more frequent impacts.

Additionally, there are ankle and shin protective padding to give the rider a more comfortable armour feel inside the boot. Shifter pads and toe sliders are something any rider who experiences a lot of wear and tear should consider, whether riding on a race track or off-road.

Boot Height
The height of the boot also plays an important part to the type of riding you’ll be doing. For extra protection, you’ll want your boot height to cover your shin, which is critical for off-road riding.

For the cruiser type of rider, a boot that will protect your ankle and Achilles can be considered. However, it is recommended to have boots to come up to at least the middle of your calf, while having plenty of stability up top.

If you plan to wear your boots all day, on or off the bike, you may want something a little bit lower to give you more comfort and free movement. This will be less restrictive while walking around, but it’s still critical to have ankle support.

Vented Or Water Proof
Depending on how long your ride is going to take and what kind of weather you might face, you may want to consider a waterproof type of boot if the weather you’ll encounter is un-predictable. You’ll want your feet to stay dry no matter what type of riding you do, as this will make the journey more enjoyable and let you concentrate on the road ahead without thinking of your soggy feet.

Vented boots will provide more airflow for those hot days and keep your feet staying cool. It’s always important though to think ahead about the weather you will encounter before making the decision of whether to purchase a vented or water proof boot. There are some boots while being water proof, also offer proper venting and most of these boots are quite expensive due to the Gore-Tex (or Sympatex) membrane built within. These boots are perfect for all-weather use.
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Aprilia is axing the Dorsoduro 900 & Shiver 900, Pegaso revival considered

Dorsoduro 900 & Shiver 900 duo axed as Aprilia mulls 660-based Pegaso revival and more.

We saw this coming for a while now, but reports online are confirming that Aprilia will axe the Dorsoduro 900 & Shiver 900 duo soon. In their place, the Noale factory is mulling an expansion of its new generation 660 platform that includes reviving its Pegaso nameplate.
Last seen in 2009 as the Pegaso 650, it was regarded as stylish street bike that heavily leaned towards being a supermoto than its earlier traillie-esque predecessors. It was axed as the Dorsoduro and Shiver models combination partially crossed into its category.

				RS660

				Tuno 660

Aprilia has already garnered colossal success through its new generation 660 platform offerings – the RS660 supersport and its Tuono 660 streetfighter twin. An off-road-focused Tuareg 660 dual-sport offshoot is also in the works and slated for debut very soon.
Recent comments made by Cristian Barelli – Aprilia’s marketing manager – indicate that a Pegaso revival is part of a further three-model expansion plan. He also hinted that the  revived Pegaso will likely stand as a dual-sport that bridges both the Tuono and Tuareg.

While he neglected to reveal further beyond that, we won’t rule Aprilia out of creating a proper supermoto offshoot off the RS660 as the Dorsoduro 900’s indirect replacement. As for the Shiver 900 though, a successor – direct or indirect – remains to be seen still.
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Modenas Pulsar NS160 and Modenas Kriss MR3 Launched

The Modenas Pulsar NS160 and Modenas Kriss MR3 were launched today.

The Pulsar NS160 shares the same frame with the NS200, compared to the Pulsar 150.

The Kriss MR3 continues with the Kriss MR2’s success.

The Modenas Pulsar NS160 and Modenas Kriss MR3 were launched today.
Both bikes expand Modenas’s offerings in the Malaysian lightweight motorcycle market, giving buyers more choices.
Modenas Pulsar NS160 (from RM7,577)

The Modenas Pulsar NS160 is the upgrade from the Pulsar 150. It shares styling elements of the NS200, apart from its narrower tyres, 240mm front brake disc, and engine.
Its 160cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine delivers 14.8hp and 14Nm of torque. That power is channelled through a five-speed transmission. The engine is secured to a perimeter frame from the Pulsar NS200.

The chassis consist of telescopic front forks and a gas-charged monoshock at the back. The split five-spoke wheels are mounted with 80/100 front and 110/80 rear tyres. Disc brakes handle braking on both ends and is supplemented with a single-channel ABS.
The Pulsar NS160 is seen as the entry level model, compared to the NS200. It offers better affordability in the naked style of the Pulsar NS200. It may prove to handle better and nimbler than the NS200 due to its lighter weight, while still retaining the Pulsar NS200’s chassis. Modenas brands the model as the obvious upgrade from kapchais.

Modenas targets to sell at least 1,500 units of the Pulsar NS160.
Highlights:

Four-stroke, 160cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled, fuel-injected, SOHC engine, with Digital Triple Spark Ignition (DTSi).
Fuel-injection system is supplied by Bosch.
The engine produces 14.8hp (11.05kW) at 8,500 RPM and 14Nm.
5-speed gearbox.
Nitrox gas-charged rear shock.
LED lighting for headlights and turn signals.

The bike will be available from October 2019 and is priced from RM7,577.

Modenas Kriss MR3 110 (from RM3,377)

The Modenas Kriss MR3 continues the success of the Kriss MR2. “MR” stands for “motosikal rakyat” or “people’s motorcycle.”
The model is designed to be affordable by a larger portion of motorcyclists, enabling to have their own transportation.
Highlights:

Certified as an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV).
110cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine.
It produces 4.7hp at 8,000 RPM.
Telescopic forks and twin rear shocks.
Sport headlamp and tail lamp designs.
4.2-litre fuel tank.
Up to 200km range.

It is available at dealers from October 2019 and priced from RM3,377.
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Kymco RKS 150 Breaks Cover At 2021 Beijing International Motor Show

Kymco has pulled the wraps off its RKS 150 maxi-style scooter at the 2021 Beijing Internationa Motor Show.
The RKS 150 was propelled by the popularity of the recently launched S350 earlier this year.

Despite being a 150cc scooter, the overall look of the RSK 150 is comparable to that of a maxi-scooter, with a wide front fascia, tall windshield and plush seat.
It also comes with a complete LED light setup, including a DRL (daytime running light), fully digital LCD cluster, keyless ignition and a USB port.

The Kymco RKS 150 is powered by a Euro 5 certified 149cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine capable of producing 15hp @ 8,000rpm and 13.2Nm @ 6,500rpm.

The braking is done via dual-channel ABS paired to disc brakes at the front and rear.
According to reports, the RKS 150 will soon be available for the global market, including South East Asia.
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Motorcycle Sales Decline in Japan

Motorcycle sales in Japan has dropped precipitously

Sold only 338,000 in 2016 compared to 3.285 million in 1982

Hardest hit is the moped segment

Yes, you read the title correctly.
Ironic as it seems, sales of motorcycles in the birthplace of the many motorcycles around the world have been dropping for many years now.
The Japan News reported that the decline is due to the increasing popularity of low-cost minicars and electric bicycles. Moped sales are the most affected as manufacturers focus on the middleweight and open class motorcycles.
The moped market had to contend with electric bicycles that are less than half the cost. In 2016 alone, there were 540,000 electric bicycles sold, compared to 338,000 motorcycles. The number is a far cry from the 1982 peak of 3.285 million motorcycles sold. In view of this, Honda and Yamaha will join forces to develop a low-cost moped, while still allocating more resources to large capacity motorcycles for export.

Japanese industry observers expressed fear that the emphasis on larger machines will turn away the younger buyers, since big bikes can cost up to six times more than mopeds. The numbers don’t lie: A Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) in 2015 reported that the average age of a motorcycle buyer was 53 years old, a 1.5-years increase over the past two years.
On the other hand, sales for 126- to 250cc machines have increased by 20 percent in 2016.

“If we can provide the younger generation with the fun and excitement they’re expecting, they’ll come back to us,” said Noriake Abe, chief officer of Honda’s motorcycle operations.
Are we seeing the same shift towards bigger motorcycles here in Malaysia as the population gets older, and the availability of affordable large capacity motorcycles?
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Honda Developing Advanced Motorcycle Crash Detection System

Honda is reportedly working on a new motorcycle crash detection system that goes beyond just alerting riders when a crash has occurred.

Honda is developing a new motorcycle crash detection system that can determine if the rider is unconscious and decide whether or not to call for emergency services.
The system uses the motorcycle’s IMU and sensors to detect a crash.
The system can differentiate between minor incidents and serious accidents and has the potential to save lives by quickly alerting emergency services.

The new technology is said to be able to determine if the rider is unconscious or not and decide whether or not to call for emergency services.
The system uses the motorcycle’s IMU and an array of sensors to detect when a crash has occurred. It then links to the rider’s smartphone and helmet-mounted Bluetooth headset to determine if the rider is still conscious or not. Based on this diagnosis, the system will decide whether or not to make an emergency call.
Interestingly, the system is also said to be able to differentiate between a minor incident, such as dropping the bike on its side at a driveway, and a serious accident that requires immediate attention. If the incident is deemed minor, the system will not make an emergency call.
While this new technology sounds promising, questions remain about its accuracy and reliability. For example, if the rider is not wearing a Bluetooth headset, will the system still be able to accurately determine their state of consciousness? Additionally, it will be interesting to see how the system performs in real-world scenarios.
Despite these questions, Honda’s new motorcycle crash detection system is a promising development in motorcycle safety technology. It has the potential to save lives by quickly alerting emergency services when a serious accident has occurred. Honda has not yet announced when the technology will be available to the public.
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HJC Unveils New I71 With ECE22.06 Ratings

Thanks to Europe’s latest ECE22.06 regulations, HJC were motivated to update its current range of helmets.

HJC adds the new i71 to its range of ECE22.06-approved helmets.
The i71 replaces the previous i70 sport-touring helmet.

As a result, HJC replaced the long-running CS-15 with a new C10 while also introducing new models including a new RPHA range and the retro-styled V10.
The latest to join the lines of HJC new range is the i70 full-face helmet.

Replacing the i70, the sport-touring helmet not only meet the latest ECE22.06 certification but also features revised shape, reworked air vent for better air flow and additional air duct a the chin bar to help improves aerodynamics.
Also the newly advanced polycarbonate shell offers better protection as a result from the more rigorous testing including energy attenuation, penetration resistance and chin strap structural integrity.

As a sport touring helmet, the i71 also features a drop-down sun visor. According to HJC, the new sun visor provides a 3-position option for the rider to adjust the sun shield forward thus delivering ideal sun visor protection.
Also, the i71 comes with three shell sizes throughout the six available sizes to help optimise weight and comfort.
Interestingly, despite a major reworked to replaced the i70, the i71 still retains the same affordability thanks to its EUR229.90 (RM1,075) price tag.
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Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Z 300 spotted in Malaysia!

Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Z 300 twins spotted in Malaysia plus planned pricing details – RM26,989 and RM25,989 after GST.

Following a initial lead sent to our sister site MotoMalaya.net, it appears Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (KMMSB) are indeed in the midst of readying itself to expand its line up.

We did some snooping around and true enough, both the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Z 300 were found on display in KMMSB’s corporate headquarters located in Glenmarie, Shah Alam. Upon our first sighting, we also managed to gain a scoop on the bike’s planned selling prices set by the Japanese green brand’s Malaysian arm.
The firm look set to begin selling the sport-bodied Ninja 300 at RM26,989 after GST. Its naked brethren the Z 300, on the other hand, will be priced RM1,000 lower at RM25,989 after GST. Though KMMSB has not officially announced anything, everything looks set for its introduction fairly soon.
As you may know, Malaysians have long fared with the 250cc-powered Kawasaki Ninja 250 entry-level sport and Z 250 naked, which share the same 249cc parallel-twin heart. Whilst the 250cc models were developed for entry in such markets like our where the licensing laws favours such capacity, the larger 300cc version we spotted here were originally intended for other markets that did not have such restrictions.
We reckon that the popularity of larger 300cc bikes such as the rivalling KTM 390 Duke and RC 390 have proven that there is demand for bikes of such capacity, despite the unfavourable licensing laws. Soon, the 300cc models we spied here will join its 250cc parallel-twin and 250cc single-cylinder ‘SL’ siblings here in Malaysia.
We will have more as soon as KMMSB makes an official announcement. In the meantime, you can check out more details in the scanned pamphlets we obtained below. (PS, excuse the grainy photos as they were taken in haste using an iPhone 5S!)
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2021 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce Breaks Cover With Latest Upgrade

After announcing the updated Superveloce range for 2021, MV Agusta now proceeds to unveil the Turismo Veloce sport-touring range, including the Lusso, Lusso SCS, RC SCS, and Rosso.
Spurred primarily to meet Euro 5 emission standard, MV Agusta also updated the overall package of the Turismo Veloce.

The Turismo Veloce maintains the familiar 798cc inline-three with a counter-rotating crank. However, it gets a new intake for better low-end and mid-range power with MV claimed the powerplant now makes 110hp with a 12 per cent increase torque between 3,000-6,000rpm.

According to MV, the gearbox has been revised for lower revs to reduce vibration and optimized fuel consumption.

Not only that, but the Turismo Veloce also gets the same upgrade as the Superveloce with EAS 3.0 quickshifter, DLC-coated valve tappets, sintered valve guides, a redesigned exhaust, and new fuel injectors.
In a move to reduce friction, MV also upgraded the engine with a new crank bearing, new piston rod bearings and countershaft bearing, increasing engine durability and reliability.

To make a point of the new Turismo Veloce capability, MV will attempt the new motorcycle with a 1900km ride within 24 hours, crossing 11 countries, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Lichtenstein, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.

Other significant updates include:

e-Novia 6-axis IMU
Cornering ABS and lean-sensitive control
5.5″ TFT display with MV Ride App integration
Sachs semi-active suspension (Rosso gets analogue suspension with Marzocchi 43mm
fork and Sachs mono-shock)
side panniers and a top case as standard on SCS
Smart Clutch System (SCS) *available on Lusso SCS and RC SCS

MV Agusta has been a little quiet for the last few years in Malaysia, there were rumours some time ago that the Italian brand will be revived in the local market but it remains to be seen. However, we do hope to check out these beautiful machines up close!
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MotoGP: Thomas Lüthi signs with Marc VDS for 2018

The Marc VDS Racing Team has chosen Thomas Lüthi as their second MotoGP rider for the 2018 season.
The 30 year old Swiss will graduate to MotoGP next season together with his current rival in Moto2, Franco Morbidelli.
Both Lüthi and Morbidelli are on top of the Moto2 2017 world standings with just 26 points separating the two riders.

The Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS team has finally completed their 2018 MotoGP rider line-up with the latest signing of current Moto2 rider, Thomas Lüthi. The 2018 MotoGP season will see Thomas Lüthi teaming up with another rookie, Franco Morbidelli, who’s currently leading the 2017 Moto2 championship.

At present, both Thomas Lüthi who’s currently racing for the CarXpert Interwetten Moto2 squad and Franco Morbidelli with the Marc VDS Moto2 team are on top of the 2017 Moto2 world standings. Morbidelli is in the lead with 207 points whereas Lüthi isn’t far behind with 181 points; just 26 points separating the two.

The 30 year old from Switzerland has been a dominant force this 2017 season in Moto2. Out of the 11 rounds so far, Lüthi has been on the podium nine times including a race win at Brno during the Czech GP.

Apart from his racing successes especially with two championships under his belt, Lüthi has had some experience on board a MotoGP race bike back when he was chosen to test the KTM RC16 in 2016 prior to the manufacturer’s full-time entrance this year.
Thomas Luthi testing the KTM RC16 MotoGP bike in 2016 (Image source: www.bikeadvive.in)
According to Marc van der Straten, president of Marc VDS Racing Team, he stated that “There were a number of options open to us when we were looking for a MotoGP rider for the 2018 season, but Thomas Lüthi was the unanimous choice, despite him being a MotoGP rookie.”
Thomas Luthi (right) with Marc van der Straten (left), president of Marc VDS Racing Team (Image source: Marc VDS)
“A former 125cc World Champion, his consistency over seven seasons in Moto2 has been incredible, with a sixth place in 2013 the only time he’s finished outside the top five in the championship. He’s been a constant thorn in our side in the intermediate class and this year is no different, with his consistency again making him a serious threat to our title aspirations. Tom is a good fit for our team and I am both happy and proud to welcome him to the Marc VDS racing family”, added Straten.

Looks like there will be a lot of rookies in the next MotoGP season. Will the new boys teach the veterans what young riders are made of or do they have to work harder than ever to reach that top MotoGP podium spot most racers only dream about? Only time will tell.

Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more MotoGP updates.
Image source: MotoGP
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RSD KH9 is one sexy custom Ducati 1299 Panigale

Custom-built RSD KH9 further heightens the sex appeal of the Ducati 1299 Panigale.

It’s Friday and we thought of kick-starting your biking weekend on a very sexy and drool-worthy note thanks to this custom Ducati 1299 Panigale called the RSD KH9.

As you can probably tell, RSD stands for Roland Sands Design, and the American bike artisans are renown for building some of the planet’s most exceptional customs. This latest creation of theirs, dubbed the KH9, sees it giving the already gorgeous Ducati 1299 Panigale superbike’s sex appeal a greater boost – something we thought wasn’t possible.

According to RSD’s blog post, the RSD KH9 was commissioned and built for a customer who was a drag racer and all-out racing fan. Inspired by Jeff Koons BMW art car, the KH9 wears a special brushed paint scheme crafted by Chris Wood of Airtrix.

The KH9 sees its entire bodywork and the fuel tank treated with the satin gloss and brushed satin metal paint scheme, which is then complemented further by a clear varnish coating plus a series of outrageous colour accents. On top of that, the billet parts and triple clamps have been polished as well for greater bling.

There’s also pinstripe bits that adds a dash of retro to things whilst the stock Marchesini forged wheels features a ‘Ride Fast Take Chances’ lettering in matching colours painted on in its rear set. The builders at RSD also went to the extent of fitting the same Akrapovič titanium exhaust unit from the limited Ducati Panigale Superleggera, which should give this special Panigale with the special soundtrack to match.

Besides that, the stock levers were also replaced with CRG carbon fibre types, whilst a new billet tank cap and Bonamici rearsets complete the outlooks too. There’s also an extensive array of carbon fibre parts being primed such as the sprocket cover, swingarm and chain guards, rear brake line guard and shock guard, the rear exhaust heatshield, countershaft sprocket cover, brake and clutch reservoir mounts, rear fender trim, and the engine bulkhead covers.

We know that you’d agree with us when we say that this RSD KH9 Ducati 1299 Panigale truly stands apart as one of the sexiest custom superbikes ever created. For you own drooling satisfaction, we’ve included an extensive gallery below for your perusal.
RSD KH9 custom Ducati 1299 Panigale

Sources: RSD via AutoEvolution

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TESTED: Vespa Sprint 150 ABS – “Classy, comfy, Italian Beauty”

The latest generation Vespa Sprint 150 ABS was launched last year together with its siblings, the Primavera 150 and GTS 300 SuperSport.

Vespa’s sportiest model comes ready with their latest 155cc i-Get single-cylinder engine that provides decent performance and fuel consumption.

We’re here to answer on whether the new Sprint 150 is truly sportier or more than just modern-looking scooter with a host of new bells and whistles.

The scooter market here in Malaysia is filled with so many choices ranging from different brands, capacities, styles, and purposes that it is simply difficult to make a choice on the best one for you. The task of picking out the most suitable for your wants and needs can be a real challenge but maybe, just maybe, the 2018 Vespa Sprint 150 ABS might help to make things slightly easier.

Vespa Malaysia launched the latest generation Vespa Sprint 150 ABS alongside its brothers, the Primavera 150 ABS and the GTS 300 SuperSport during the Sneakerlah shoe convention at Mid Valley Megamall. Since then, we were quite eager to give the Vespa a go since we ourselves are modern Vespa owners (I myself have the previous gen Vespa Primavera 150, prior the new i-Get engine).

Straight out of the box, the Vespa Sprint 150 ABS is recognisable thanks to its iconic look and persona. Labelled as Vespa’s sportiest ‘small body’ option in its current line-up, the Sprint’s main focus is to attract the younger crowd into the whole hip lifestyle. Judging by the looks, we’re pretty sure it has pulled that one off successfully.

The already modern Vespa has been modernized even further with the introduction of all LED front headlight setup which gives it a more youthful and sportier expression. Housed in that signature rectangular housing, those who prefer a more contemporary appearance should be able to appreciate the Sprint’s edgier exterior compared to other Vespa offerings which offer a more classic feel (apart from the Vespa S125, which is like a smaller version of the Sprint).

Moving towards the side and rear, the Sprint still has that iconic Vespa design that a lot of folks here in Malaysia appreciate and love. It comes to as no surprise when you can see quite a number of units rolling around town compared to previous years. One of the best features of the Sprint has to be its newly-designed 12-inch aluminium wheels that further elevates the whole sporty façade.

This might just be another ‘cosmetic’ upgrade most of you might think (including its front ‘tie’ design) but wrapped it Maxxis rubbers, the Sprint does offer a significant sportier riding experience compared to the more classically-looking Primavera 150 ABS (which uses the Vee Rubber option on one of the test units we saw).

Paired with its 155cc i-Get Euro4-compliant, four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine, the Sprint 150 ABS produces around 12.9hp at 7,750rpm and 12.8Nm of maximum torque at 6,500rpm. This is the same engine found in the Primavera 150 ABS but through our own experience, the Sprint presented a slightly better acceleration performance to match its sportier appeal.

A top speed of 91km/h is stated in their official website but we got it up to a maximum speed of 110km/h (slightly more when going downhill). There are other 150cc options out there in the market that can go faster but Vespa prides themselves in offering something that is more dynamic and fuel-efficient in the whole modern classic scooter package.

With a full fuel load of 8 litres, the Sprint (and its fuel consumption rate of 44km/litre) is able to ride as far as 350km before needing to stop for fuel again. This is only theoretical based on super saving riding style but in our real-life experience (a mixture of congested city riding, traffic jams, and highway stints), we managed to squeeze slightly about 200km before the low fuel warning light turns on.

As for riding experience, we found out that the Sprint does offer a great deal of stability even when travelling at full speed. The next statement might sound a bit ‘extra’ but we sincerely believe that the entire modern Vespa range offers one of the best and comfortable riding experiences even when riding at its maximum. No uncomfortable vibrations or wobbles, just silky smooth.

Other modern features that can be found on the Sprint 150 ABS are electronic anti-theft device (for that added piece of mind when left at dodgy areas of the neighbourhood), front ABS unit (for safety, rear brake is drum to keep it ‘old school’) and a mechanically-operated saddle where the underseat storage can be accessed with a push of a button near the ignition key slot.

Storage is decent where you can fit in an open-face helmet and a rain suit easily (there’s also a smaller storage area up front where you can fit your smartphone and wallet). This remotely-operated underseat storage access is indeed a welcomed addition compared to previous models where you have to manually use your key to access the storage space under the seat. Nice touch, Vespa.

In terms of reliability, Vespa ensures everyone that their latest generation offerings are built with better quality materials but the only way to really find out is to conduct a long-term test. We might no be able to assess that anytime soon but based on testimonials received by owners, so far so good. This is coming from those who ride their machines day in and day out plus frequent long-distance trips (including Thailand).

Naza Premira (Vespa Malaysia) is currently offering the 2018 Vespa Sprint 150 ABS at RM16,400 (basic price without tax and insurance) with four different colour options; Blue Matt, Monte Bianco, Rosso Dragon and Grigio Titantio.
The Vespa Sprint also comes with a wide range of accessories for customisation including a dedicated top box, backrest, customised windscreen with Vespa logo and front side and rear chrome mudguards if you feel like taking your new Sprint to a whole new level (and you should).

Our final verdict? The Sprint 150 ABS is indeed a fun option to have if you’re willing to spend a bit more on something that is clearly more stylish in this day and age. Stability is also a strong key feature that can help to provide more comfort in your everyday journey paired with decent performance. No matter if you’re a young gun who just got his or her license or a hotshot executive crunching in millions, the Sprint 150 ABS will fit in just nice (like Goldilocks and her choice of porridge and bed comfort).
Looking for something a bit more special? Check out Vespa’s latest Notte edition which is available for the Sprint and GTS 300 models. Their catchphrase? “For those who own the night”.
Vespa Notte Sprint 150 i-Get ABS and Vespa Notte GTS Super 300 ABS Launched

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Modenas introduces new Kriss MR2 kapcai

National motorcycle maker Modenas today introduced its latest model – the Kriss MR2. The new MR2 moped/underbone/kapcai (lets just call it kapcai) is the successor to the old MR1 which was introduced back in 2011. If you’re wondering what the MR stands for, it is ‘Motosikal Rakyat’ in Bahasa Malaysia, which translates to the ‘People’s Motorcycle’.

Priced from just RM3,890 for the base model, the bike features a rotary gear system and a Euro-3 compliant 110cc, four-stroke engine that puts out 8.3hp at 7,500rpm and 8.2Nm of torque at 5,500rpm.

Fuel efficiency is what the new Modenas truly excels at; its tiny 4.5 litre fuel tank is capable of covering a shocking 200 kilometres on a full tank. There’s is also an undersea storage area that can fit a small helmet or other belongings, but not much else.

Modenas is targeting to achieve overall total sales of 60,000 units in local and regional markets by year end.

The MR2 is available in three colours – Sand White, Celebration Red, Strike Blue and Canary Yellow.

Modena says that it is committed to building up its after sales service support, and is aiming to improve this by opening its second Training Centre at its service centre in Subang by the middle of April 2017.

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Video: KTM 790 Duke protoype hooning about

Watch the KTM 790 Duke prototype tear up the asphalt with its punchy new twin-cylinder heart.

Shown off at EICMA 2016 last month, the KTM 790 Duke prototype marks a huge step forward the orange Austrian brand. Not only will it finally bridge a gap between the 690 Duke and the 1290 Super Duke R, it will also start a new family of parallel-twin engines for KTM.
KTM didn’t reveal many details about the 790 Duke prototype’s new mill, with rumours indicating an 800cc displacement. This video however should silence any and all doubts about this mill’s power and torque figures – it definitely has plenty!

The KTM 790 Duke will arrive as a full-fledged production model in 2018, but we are certain it will not be alone. With this naked will likely get accompanied by an adventure sibling alongside it as well dubbed as the 790 Adventure.
The latter adventure was recently spied testing out in the open, and there are some interesting development here too. Not only will KTM bless it with actual off-road capabilities, the 790 Adventure will also reportedly feature a twin fuel tank setup plus a full-LCD dash display to boot.

Surely, the upcoming new 790 Adventure based off the 790 Duke prototype will be the spiritual successor to the KTM 640 Adventure that was produced from 1997 to 2007. Expect to see the final production versions of both the 790 Duke prototype and its 790 Adventure during EICMA 2017.
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MV Agusta CEO Talks KTM Partnership

MV Agusta is back on the rise since being purchased by Russian entrepreneur, Timur Sardarov in 2019.

KTM AG signs a multi-year deal with MV Agusta to distribute the Schiranna motorcycles in North America.
KTM purchased 25.1% stake in MV Agusta.
KTM to distribute MV Agusta motorcycle and vice versa.

Despite immediately facing serious struggles including the global pandemic, supply and resource shortages and the recent Ukraine-Russia conflict, MV Agusta has been making great strides.
However, the focus now is not just surviving but also ensuring that the MV Agusta brand continue to thrive in the motorcycle market.

In order to do so, the Italian moniker recently agreed to a strategic partnership with Pierer Mobility Group’s KTM.
In a recent interview with Motorcycle.com, Sardarov explained the reason behind the big move.
“And so that’s why for me to partner up with a big business, with a big industrial partner like KTM–it makes my life easier.
“I want to focus on developing the business, on making the company better and more efficient–but it’s very hard to do this when you’re constantly thinking about whether we should ship our wheels from China by plane or by boat!,” he said.

MV Agusta and KTM announced a new distribution deal back in September before it was confirmed a month later that KTM AG has owned a 25.1 per cent stake in MV Agusta.
Interestingly, two KTM senior management team members also joined MV Agusta’s board of directors as a result from the partnership.

“We’re going to develop a network together, so it’s going to be either multi-brand dealers, or standalone dealers, depending on the country, but it’s definitely going to mean better dealers overall.
“I hope some of our existing dealers will stay with us, because many of them have invested heavily in MV, and I’m really grateful to them for doing so, and I will make sure that they are still part of our family.
“But some other dealers simply haven’t performed, so we’ll be letting them go,” added Sardarov.

Although some might suggest that KTM AG could acquire the Italian brand altogether, Sardarov is adamant that this is not the case.
(Source: Motorcycle.com)
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WorldSBK: Ducati Rev Limit Lowered By 250rpm, Kawasaki Raised

The FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) have recently announced updated rev limits for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship category.

The new rev limits will come into effect starting from this weekend’s event at the Prosecco DOC Catalunya Round.
Ducati rev limit decreased by 250rpm, Kawasaki gained extra 250rpm.

After analyzing the performance of the machines over the first three rounds of the 2023 season, it has been decided that the maximum rev limit for Ducati will be decreased by 250 rpm as per article 2.4.2.2-3 of the regulations. This move is aimed at ensuring a level playing field for all participants in the championship.
In contrast, Kawasaki has elected to use 5 concession points to benefit from a 250 rpm rev limit increase as per article 2.4.3.3 of the regulations. This decision comes after careful consideration of their performance in the first three rounds of the championship.
According to article 2.4.2.3 of the regulations, the rev limit may be updated at the end of every third event provided at least three events remain in the season. That said, there may be further updates to the rev limits in the coming weeks.
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LEGO Technic Yamaha MT-10 SP Now In Malaysia – RM999

Get ready for a thrilling new LEGO project that combines the best of speed, engineering, and creativity with LEGO Technic Yamaha MT-10 SP.

The all-new LEGO Technic Yamaha MT-10 SP is a captivating replica of Yamaha’s iconic motorcycle, designed to spark inspiration and ignite a passion for speed.
Crafted with precise attention to detail, this LEGO Technic model seamlessly captures the spirit of Yamaha’s Hyper Naked range while paying tribute to the premium styling of its real-life counterpart.

Every aspect of this model is thoughtfully designed to provide an authentic Yamaha experience, including the 4-cylinder engine and multi-speed transmission, which are meticulously rendered in LEGO Technic form.
Builders will appreciate the precision and engineering that went into creating this exceptional replica, including the gearbox elements such as the shift drum, shift fork, gear shift ring, and ratchet drum that contribute to the model’s realism. Measuring over 25 cm high, 44 cm long, and 15 cm wide, this set is a remarkable gift idea for motorcycle collectible enthusiasts and devoted Yamaha fans.

The 42159 LEGO Technic Yamaha MT-10 SP is designed to provide an unparalleled building experience, promoting a shared passion for precision, innovation, and adventure among motorcycle enthusiasts and LEGO fans alike. To showcase this exceptional set, builders can take advantage of the included display stand.

The 42159 LEGO Technic Yamaha MT-10 SP set will be available at major retailers and department stores in Malaysia and LEGOLAND™, as well as the LEGO Certified Stores, LEGO Official Store on Lazada, and Shopee from August 1, 2023, priced at RM999.
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Kawasaki GTR Owner Club (GTROC) 6th Gathering

Kawasaki GTROC (GTR Owner Club) celebrates their 6th gathering today.

The ride started from Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.’s HQ in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.

They will ride to Melaka to meet another GTR group to bring the total to 300 motorcycles.

Kawasaki 1400GTR onwers of from the GTR Onwer Club (GTROC) begun their 6thgathering today in the historic city of Melaka.
Some 50 owners of the high-powered sport-tourer congregated at Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.’s (KMMSB) compound for the flag off. From there, they rode to Ayer Keroh, Melaka to meet up with another group of 1400GTR owners, bring the total to almost 300 motorcycles.

The group will visit an orphanage and a religious school for charity work, as part of the ride’s itinerary.

The Assistant General Manager of KMMSB, En. Awaluddin Bin Md. Lip, and Assistant Manager for Marketing of KMMSB, En. Ahmad Radzi Abdul Rahman (better known as Che Mad) welcomed the group. They added that KMMSB felt honoured to support the group and their activities, besides looking forward to more co-operations in the future.

President of GTROC, Dato’ Shaid Tasiran thanked KMMSB for their support. He then laid down the rules for the convoy, including the etiquettes such as following the marshals’ signals, no wild riding, etc., besides their itinerary and routes.

The Royal Malaysian Traffic Police will escort the group once they reached Melaka.
The ride was flagged off by En. Awaluddin Bin Md. Lip.

PICTURE GALLERY

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Gallery: Check out the BMW M1000RR 50 Years M in all its glory!

New BMW M1000RR 50 Years M special celebrates half a century of perhaps the fastest and most powerful letter ever in the motoring world.

BMW M1000RR 50 Years M celebrates the single-letter division’s half-century.

It comes dressed exclusively in ‘Sao Paulo Yellow’ just like the BMW M4 sports coupe.

Special M bits include aluminium swingarm, M billet package, and lots of carbon fibre.

BMW M didn’t say how many of these it will build, but it will accept orders until Nov 30 only.

BMW’s performance arm, by which we mean BMW M (or ///M, if you like), celebrates its milestone 50th anniversary this year (2022). Over the last half-decade, the division has created numerous four-wheeled legends, but it’s foray on two-wheels only began in September 2020 via the BMW M1000RR.

Well, to celebrate its half century, the division didn’t waste the opportunity to mark the occasion with a special iteration of its first ever superbike. Called the BMW M1000RR 50 Years M, it comes specially dressed in ‘Sao Paulo Yellow’ – the same scheme that dresses the BMW M4 Coupe sportscar.

Furthermore, this special is also brimmed with the optional Competition Package that adds a lightweight aluminium swingarm, a host of carbon fibre parts and panels, pillion delete package (single-seat only), M endurance chain, M billet aluminium package, as well as a code to unlock the onboard M GPS laptrigger data module.

To refresh your memory, the first ever M-badged superbike edges over the BMW S1000RR superbike it underpins through various enhanced features. These include manually adjustable Marzocchi suzzies, stickier Dunlop SportSmart TT tyres, tweaked chassis geometry, wind tunnel-developed aerodynamic winglets, as well as a beefed-up version of Munich’s 999cc in-line four screamer with 206HP.

Regarding availability, this varies according to market and region, but BMW Motorrad will reportedly take orders starting Saturday, May 21 until Wednesday, November 30. As for price, this again varies according to market and region, but online sources report figures of £30,160 (approx. RM165,169.98)in the UK and US$36,995 (approx. RM 162,371.06) in the American market.

Yup, said figures puts this somewhat limited-run special in the same space as the Ducati Panigale V4 SP2. For that price, perhaps the only shame here is this Bimmer’s apparent lack of a semi-active suspension suite – you’d at least expect this in a special like this, no? You can check out more images of the BMW M1000RR 50 Years M in the gallery prepared below…

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MotoGP: RNF Racing switches to Aprilia satellite machines for 2023 and 2024

Malaysian-owned RNF Racing MotoGP team swaps to satellite Aprilia machines supply for 2023 and 2024.

Malaysian-owned RNF Racing MotoGP team switches to Aprilia machinery starting next year.

The squad signs initial two-year deal with the option to renew for another two years after.

This sees four Aprilia RS-GP machines lining up the grid for 2023 and 2024.

After weeks of much rumours and rife speculations, the word is finally out: RNF Racing will swap from satellite Yamaha to satellite Aprilia MotoGP machinery starting next season.
The move was officially announced today jointly by RNF Racing team principal Dato’ Razlan Razali and Aprilia’s MotoGP director Massimo Rivola. The deal is said to last over two seasons, meaning RNF Racing will sport satellite-spec Aprilia RS-GP machines for the upcoming 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Notably, this is being touted as a ‘long-term’ collaboration as it includes the option to renew the partnership for a further two years beyond the initial two-season contract. Crucially, this will see no less than four Aprilia RS-GP machines lining up the premier class grid for 2023 and 2024.

“The proposal by Aprilia Racing fulfils our long term plans, strategies and security for the next two plus two years and I must thank Aprilia Racing for its trust, confidence and faith in us. We are absolutely looking forward to the season next year and this new partnership,” said Dato’ Razlan regarding this new collaboration.
This comes after the Malaysian team principal’s expression of delight whilst also thanking Yamaha – a factory he has worked with since the birth of his MotoGP endeavour in 2019 under the PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team banner that folded at the end of last season.
Despite being a relatively ‘young’ team in its RNF Racing form, Aprilia says the outfit has demonstrated great solidity and professionalism, achieving important results and rightfully entering the MotoGP stage.
“With RNF Racing we find a partner to enhance and valorise this extraordinary heritage. We are thinking, of course, of the riders and the best competitiveness, but also of raising new generations of engineers, technicians and managers,” Rivola adds.
According to Aprilia, the partnership with the Malaysian-owned independet squad extends beyond the sale of the bikes as it will involve a strong synergy that will lead Aprilia Racing to invest in the partnership for the training of engineers, technicians, managers and riders.
Aprilia hopes this multi-year programme with RNF Racing would lead to the expansion, consolidation and enhancement of a technical and management culture that represents the heritage of the famed Noale-based factory.

With satellite Aprilia RS-GP machinery confirmed for the next two seasons, question still remains as to who will ride them for the RNF Racing squad.
Presently, the team has returning veteran Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso alongside South African rookie Darryn Binder. Both are currently on direct contracts with Yamaha until the end of this season, though the latter rookie has the option for 2023 in hands still.
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MotoGP: Most Crashes Award For The First Half Of The Season Goes To Pol Espargaro

Pol Espargaro is struggling with Repsol Honda RC213V, apart from yet to clinch a podium finish in the 2021 MotoGP season; he currently accumulates the most crashes in the first half of the season.
According to the stats, the Spanish rider went down 13 times this season and comfortably leading the crash chart with three crashes ahead of his brother Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), Iker Lecuona (Tech3) and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda).

To make matters worse, his former team, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, is soaring this season with the likes of Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder.
With 13 crashes, Espargaro is on course to surpass Johann Zarco’s 2019 and 2020 tally of 19 and 17 crashes, respectively.
The youngest of the Espargaro’s currently sits at the 12th spot in the championship with just 41 points after nine rounds.
The 2021 MotoGP season will resume in August at the Grand Prix of Styria.
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Benelli Malaysia Introduces Three New Models Including New Kapcai!

Benelli Malaysia, which is operated by M Force Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd, today took the covers off its first ever underbone, or better known locally as a kapcai, model – the RFS 150i, making Malaysia the first country in the world to have the underbone/moped/kapcai on sale in its market.
Besides that, the company also introduced two other models, the 302R sports bike and the TRK 502 touring bike. All three bikes mark the Malaysian resurrection of the Benelli brand under a new stewardship from M Force Bike Holdings, and the company seems to know what the market wants and is confident of strong sales and a good aftersales service through its network of dealers nationwide.
We will save a thorough review until we have rode all three bikes tomorrow, so for now, these are the what the three bikes have to offer:
Benelli RFS150i
  Short walkaround video of the Benelli RSF150i

The RFS stands for ‘Riders For Speed’, and Benelli in its press release says the RFS 150i is a race-spec underbone sport moped motorcycle which balances Benelli engineering standards with Italian racing style.

It is powered by a liquid-cooled, single-cylinder SOHC engine with four-valves and Benelli’s latest B3SP three spark plug technology. It puts out 15.5hp at 8,500rpm and transfers power via a six-speed gearbox with a wet multiplate clutch.

You must be wondering why this bike needs three spark plugs, and so were we, but Benelli explains that it’s B3SP ‘3-Spark’ system uses the three spark plugs together with the bike’s ECU and fuel-injection system, to modify engine timing and plug usage to maximise power, keep engine temperatures down to a minimum, which thus optimises fuel efficiency and minimises emissions. Three spark plugs also ensure an even and complete detonation of fuel, which means better performance, efficiency with lesser environmental impact.

The exhaust of the bike too has been specially designed to clear the emission gases immediately and offers good cornering balance despite it being mounted on the extreme right hand side of the RFS 150i.

The chassis is made up of a straddle type frame with a unique upside down telescopic fork with 88mm of travel. This fork is typical of race and sports bikes, but this is the first time that a moped/kapcai is offered with this suspension set up. So that makes the RFS 150i the only motorcycle in its class with an upside down fork.

The rear suspension is made up of a telescopic single coil spring with 27mm of travel and is oil damped.
Other features include a sports seat with carbon-fibre lookalike weave with a passenger grab handle. The meter panel is part analogue and part LCD while the front headlight features integrated LED daytime running lights.

Prices start from RM6,988 for the yellow, red, blue and matte grey, and RM7,338 for the special edition model. Did we mention the RSF150i is the cheapest in its class?
Benelli TRK 502

This is the touring bike the market has been waiting for. With a price of RM28,888 with no panniers, and up to RM30,588 with all side and top panniers included, the Benelli TRK 502 is the bike you want if you are looking for a touring bike that is big in size, light and easy to maintain with very little electronics.

The engine is a twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC with four valves per cylinder, 500cc unit that puts out a decent 48hp at 8,500rpm and 45Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. The engine is mated to a wet, multiple, six-speed gearbox.

The suspension of the TRK 502 is made up of an adjustable upside down front fork with 150mm of travel, and the rear consists of a steel swing-arm with an oil damped, coil spring with 45mm of travel.

Braking power is provided by dual 320mm discs up front with twin-piston callipers, and a single 260mm disc also gripped by a twin piston calliper.

The TRK 502 comes in three colours, white, gray and red/black. Prices stated above are excluding GST.
Benelli 302R

If you want a sport bike but don’t want to fork out more than RM25,000 for one, then the 302R is worth a look. It features a classic Italian rounded design with a mix of a new age edginess.

It may not seem like it from here, but the 302R is a long bike, measuring in at a lengthy 2157mm with a wheelbase of 1405mm. The dimensions and the design gives the 302R an imposing presence, but the powerplant seems friendly.

The engine is a 300cc four-stroke, liquid-cooled, vertical twin-cylinder, DOHC with four valves per cylinder, and puts out 37hp at a screaming 10,000rpm and 27.4Nm of torque at 9,000rpm. It too is mated to a six-speed gearbox with a wet multi-plate clutch and a chain final drive. In fact, all three new Benelli bikes feature a chain final drive.

It features an arch bar truck frame with telescopic front forks with 120mm travel, and telescopic oil-damped coil spring suspension at the rear with 45mm of travel.

Brakes are made up of twin 260mm discs with radial four-piston callipers with ABS at the front, and single 240mm discs with dual-piston callipers with ABS at the rear as well.

At 190kg dry, the 302R is not a light bike, but with good looks and a great price on its side, the new sports Benelli will be swaying opinions in its favour when it hits the streets real soon.

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Confederate unveils C2 P-51 Fighter

American exotic bikes maker Confederate Motorcycles unveiled its latest creation last weekend, the C2 P-51 Fighter.
The P-51’s launch suggests that the exotic bikes brand hasn’t been sitting idle since its last creation, the X132 Hellcat unveiled two years ago. Renowned South African designer Pierre Terblanche who was drafted into the firm earlier this year penned the P-51’s design.
Confederate’s second-generation model for its Fighter line, the P-51 sports several improvements over its predecessor’s architecture and design. Most notably is the 40ibs (18kg) weight reduction as a result of its V-twin engine’s new billet aluminium crankcase. The mill is also primed with a new downdraft injection system, which the firm promise will result in more power, as well as improved ergonomics.
Details beyond that are scarce, but Confederate confirmed that it plans on producing just 31 examples. The P-51 will be made available starting middle of next year, predicted to carry a price tag surpassing the US$100,000 mark, just like all of its other creations.
The firm also released a video to launch the bike that you can check out below.

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