KTM Malaysia Launches 2018 KTM 200 Duke at KTM Orange Carnival

2018 KTM 200 Duke

The KTM 200 Duke introduced the bantam-weight and affordable streetfighter motorcycle to Malaysia.

It also opened the eyes of enthusiasts to KTM’s “Ready to Race” philosophy.

The 2018 KTM 200 Duke features updated graphics and looks.

KTM Malaysia has launched the new 2018 KTM 200 Duke at the KTM Malaysia Orange Carnival in Johor over the weekend.
Enthusiasts could fondly recall that it was the 200 Duke which single-handedly popularized the 200cc naked sportbike market back in 2013. In fact, it was the motorcycle which brought the affordable streetfighter to not only in Malaysia but the world. Being light and agile, it’s friendly to beginners yet entertaining enough for veteran riders during rush hour commute and over narrow mountain roads.
Additionally, it was the KTM motorcycle which introduced the company’s “Ready to Race” philosophy to Malaysian bikers.

The KTM Duke 200 was then supplanted by the Duke 390 and Duke 250 later on, apart from the full-fairing and race ready RC200, RC390 and RC250 in that order, but its spirit of a lightweight fun bike has never been phased out.
There are still thousands of them on our local roads and you could always count on meeting on during your daily commute or weekend rides.
It is due to these facts that KTM Malaysia has launched the 2018 Duke 200.
While mechanically the same (why change something when it’s not broken), the bike has been refreshed with new looks. The customary KTM orange paintjob has additional streaks, while a new white colour scheme has been added. Both colour schemes feature orange anodized wheels.
2018 KTM 200 Duke in white
The 2018 KTM Duke 200 is priced at RM 11,888 (basic selling price with 0% GST).
Stay tuned for the next KTM Malaysia Orange Carnival to view the bike or please follow KTM Malaysia’s official Facebook page for more information.

2018 KTM 200 DUKE

ENGINE

ENGINE TYPE
Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled

DISPLACEMENT
199.5 cc

BORE x STROKE
72 mm x 49 mm

POWER
26 hp (19kW) @ 10,000 RPM

TORQUE
19.5 Nm @ 8,000 RPM

COMPRESSION RATIO
11.5:1

TRANSMISSION
6 gears

CLUTCH
Multiple-plate wet clutch, cable-operated

FUEL SYSTEM
Bosch EMS

CHASSIS

FRAME
Powdercoated steel trellis

FRONT SUSPENSION
WP upside down ø 43 mm forks

REAR SUSPENSION
WP Monoshock

SUSPENSION TRAVEL FRONT/REAR
150mm / 150 mm

FRONT BRAKE
Single radially-mounted 4-piston caliper, ø 300 mm disc

REAR BRAKE
Single-piston floating caliper, ø 230 mm brake disc

ABS
N/A

TIRES FRONT/REAR
110/70 ZR-17; 150/60 ZR-17

STEERING HEAD ANGLE
25o

TRAIL
95 mm

WHEEL BASE
1,367 mm

SEAT HEIGHT
810 mm

FUEL TANK CAPACITY
11 litres

DRY WEIGHT
134 kg

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Fight your everyday struggles with Caltex Havoline

There are many engine lubricants in the market, but only a few stand out through specially formulation like Caltex Havoline motorcycle lubricants.
Caltex Havoline motorcycle lubricant works to protect the engine to avoid premature wear.
With over 100 years of experience, Caltex Havoline motorcycle lubricant also helps to produce more power and increases mileage.

We go by everyday hoping to make tomorrow better than today, a feat usually achieved through sheer will power, strength, persistence, courage and a heaping dose of knowledge to tie everything together.
Whether it is simply commuting to work or squeezing out every last drop of performance from your race bike at the track, you need something reliable to make sure your machines can cope with the challenges thrown at it. And that is where Caltex Havoline comes into play.
When it comes to optimum engine protection from premature wear, Caltex Havoline advanced engine oil addresses these issues to a tee. With over 100 years of experience, research, development, and technology, Caltex Havoline has successfully made significant advancements in motorcycle engine oil through something called C.O.R.E. Technology.

So what is this C.O.R.E. Technology and how can it help you as you go about your everyday life? Well for starters it is an abbreviation for:
1. Cleans and protects
2. Oxidation stability
3. Reduced engine heat damage
4. Enhanced acceleration with ZoomTech
Caltex Havoline motorcycle oils focuses on the four core areas mentioned above to help improve engine life and improve performance. Caltex motorcycle engine oil has proven to be 50% more efficient in keeping engines clean so as to deliver superior performance. In fact, the Havoline SuperMatic 4T Semi-synthetic and SuperMatic 4T performs 50% better than the industry standard limit (API SN) in overall engine cleanliness and deposit control.
But the lubricant does not only clean and protect, it is also specially formulated to offer oxidation stability. Oxidation is never good for engine lubricant as it affects the viscosity of the oil and produces sludge, which affects the performance of an engine and reduces its life expectancy. But with “Oxidation Stability” formulated into the lubricant, Caltex Havoline motorcycle lubricant offers 50% more protection against increase in viscosity.
That’s not all though, Caltex Havoline also offers 40% better protection against oil degradation so as to minimise heat damage to the engine, and also offers better acceleration and 13% improvement in clutch grip under heavy loads thanks to a technology called ZoomTech.
ZoomTech is a friction booster that works to reduce clutch slippage, especially under high loads such as when carrying a passenger. By increasing the friction between the clutch plates, the lubricant is also then able to offer maximum power transfer for enhanced acceleration, which basically translates to better acceleration.
Caltex Havoline engine oils ensure that they bring the fight straight to all of the common issues related to engine wear and tear. Paired with factors like toughness, resilience, power, and discipline, Caltex Havoline has teamed up with ONE Championship as they share the same values.
MMA (mixed martial arts) fighters in the ONE Championship all go through rigorous training regimes to ensure that they’re at their peak fighting performance each and every time they get in the ring. Being Asia’s ‘Home of Martial Arts’, their sentiment is right on point with Caltex Havoline’s dictum to “Put the Fight Back in Your Engine”.

For a limited time only, Caltex Havoline is offering a special promotional pack for every purchase of Caltex Havoline products such as Havoline® Super 4T Fully Synthetic SAE 5W-40 and Havoline® Super 4T Semi Synthetic SAE 1W-40, where buyers stand a chance to get a polo t-shirt, cap or a bandana. Promotion starts from now until 30 July 2018 or while stocks last.
Click here for more information about this exciting offer.

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Kawasaki Prepping The ZX-4R For Launch Soon

The highly anticipated Kawasaki ZX-4R looks to be on its way, as confirmed by the latest reports.
Talk of a new 400cc inline-four sports bike has been around for quite some time, ever since the introduction of the quarter-litre ZX-25R.
Japanese publication, Young-Machine – known for getting the latest insight for Japanese motorcycles – has made the ZX-4R its latest cover for April with a render that is likely to be close to the final product.

The headline also suggests that Kawasaki is prepping for an official reveal very soon.
While the ZX-4R is somewhat related to the ZX-25R, the former will follow the ZX-10R design, prominently the sunken headlight and the air-duct.
Reports also suggest that the new bike will feature premium components, from Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), USD forks and riding modes.
We have yet to secure any information regarding how much power it might produce, but rumours have that it could be around 75hp and above.
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Environmentalist Begins 30,000km Journey From London To India On A BMW K 1600 GT

Famous environmentalist, Sadhguru has set off on a 30,000-kilometre journey from London to India to raise awareness on his Save Soil campaign.
The campaign will see him ride his BMW K 1600 GT motorcycle across Europe and the Middle East en route to India just in time for the Summer Solstice on June 21, 2022.
The first course of the week will witness the ‘yogic guru’ riding through Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague before aiming to arrive in New Delhi in 75 days in honour of India’s 75th year of independence.
According to Sadhguru, soil depletion is a worrying rate, and he hopes that the campaign will have a significant impact on raising awareness.
“It’s extremely important that we act now. I’ve been talking about this for over 24 years, but solution can only happen when there is positive policy in every nation.
“It is still snowing in many parts of Europe and we’ll be going through that on a two-wheeler,” he said.
Although riding has been his passion, Sadhguru admits that he wants to use it to bring a positive change to the world.
The 64-year-old previously toured all of India on a Yamaha RD 350 and was also spotted cruising on a customised Honda VFR X for his ‘Save Cauvery River’ campaign.
“At this age, it’s not a joy ride. So why am I doing this? Because over 300,000 farmers have committed suicide in the last 20 years. Not just in India, across the world this is happening..one of the main concerns is soil depletion,” he added.
Sadhguru’s campaign aims at inspiring at least 3.5 billion from the world’s population to support long-term government policies to revitalise soil and reverse depletion.
(Source: News18)

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GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017 (Day Four)

Day Four of the GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017 took the GIVI Explorers to Phnom Penh.

The GIVI Explorers stopped at the 800-year-old bridge in Kampong Kdei.

They got a taste of some truly chaotic traffic with vehicles buzzing around everywhere.

Phnom Penh, 15th November 2017 – As we GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017 Explorers had breakfast and prepared our bikes for the next leg of the adventure in Siem Reap, the rain came down on us.

We pondered if the occasion has finally arrived to test the new GIVI rainsuits (made specifically for this GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017). One of the Thai marshals, Nok (full name: Sitthithat Ritthikraironnaka), consulted his weather radar app, and informed us that it was only a passing cloud that’s headed away from out travel route.
We hopped our bikes as soon as the rain subsided, as we had been delayed for an hour. Today’s destination was Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, 315 kilometres away.

Again, we rode through the slightly chaotic urban Cambodian traffic before breaking clear and opening up in the countryside. Much of Cambodia is very flat, with rice paddies on both sides of the road. The rain had turned the roadside laterite into mud and some of it had been thrown onto the road surface itself, so we took it easy.

We were actually travelling south, adjacent to the great Tonle Sap Lake to the west (on our right) but heavy foliage and built up areas obscured our view. Shame.
There were many cows grazing and chewing on their cud serenely right up on the road shoulders. It panicked me a few times initially as I’ve grown wary of livestock crossing the road back in my wife’s kampong in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, prompting me to stick my leg out to warn the other Explorers behind. But it had been unnecessary as the ones in Cambodia stayed off the roads. “Cows here are much smarter,” remarked Giorgio Dalla Rosa, GIVI Vietnam’s Factory Manager, when I recounted the experience to him.
By the way, speaking of the word kampong, villages in Cambodia are incidentally called the same as we do in Malaysia, for instance Kampong Kdei, Kampong Thom, and so forth.
We rode 63 kilometres out before the marshals called for us to pull off the road on another ornately designed bridge, similar to the one we saw at Bayon yesterday. Just as well, the heat and humidity had returned after the downpour.

Known as the Kampong Kdei Bridge, and officially known as Spean Praptos (some called it the Naga Bridge), it was also built in the 12th century during the reign of that Jayavarman VII guy, the same King who commissioned the construction of the temples we visited in Siem Reap.

The bridge was one of the world’s longest corbeled stone-arch (same building technique at the temples in Angkor) bridge and one of the few Khmer Empire’s bridges to have survived to today. The stone railings on both sides end with carved articulated cobra heads.

Anyway, we noticed a few locals shooting pictures of us with Nikon DSLRs as we maneuvered our bikes to park along the bridge, and as soon as we got off, the same ladies were already there with the pictures they shot and mounted, “Photo, photo, Sir? 5 dollars.” Wow! Their speed was even more impressive than their enterprising spirit!

However, the locals (without DSLRs) had also come out en masse to greet us. Well, more like to witness this group of bikers on big bikes attached with all sorts of space-aged equipment visiting their kampong.

It was heartwarming to see the children smiling in all their innocence when we waved at them.

Later, we watched as a mini bus unloaded a crowd of loud tourists (no prizes for correctly guessing where they’re from) before commencing with our own photography and drone video session of the convoy crossing the bridge.

We then continued on our way riding on a wet dirt road. I love offroad riding.
Image courtesy of GIVI Explorer

The GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure continued on its way after lunch. It was a great break from the Cambodian humidity, that’s for sure, as we gulped down jugs of water. Credit also need to be given to the Thai support guys as they would invariably bring in hot water and coffee for the Explorers.

We were greeted by heavy traffic in the form of mopeds and scooters, a few with more than two occupants onboard. The riders tend to overtake each other without checking what’s behind them, and I noticed none of them actually looked in their rearview mirrors, not once. So why do they have mirrors…? Well, nevermind.

We maneuvered around them as best as we could, but we were just as unaccustomed to them as they were to us. They’d cut pass our front wheels as if we weren’t there. On the other hand, we were worried about them being unaware of us having side cases and panniers – the local riders may think we’ve passed them and end up being hit by a box.

The Explorers got away safely and arrived at Phnom Penh Hotel, but a few of us went back out to shoot pictures for GIVI. With just four riders in the group, we rode in a super tight four-ship formation, preventing ourselves from being cut off.
We stopped at a beautifully opulent temple complex, all the main buildings seemingly encased in gold, starting from the gate itself.
Image courtesy of GIVI Explorer
But the best thing was watching Pietro Ambrioso, GIVI’s Official Photographer at work, shooting the photos for GIVI’s official catalogs and website.

We rode back to the hotel, witnessing how luxury SUVs cut into traffic, pushing plebs aside. But we were told that the traffic in Cambodia so far is only a warm up for the main event: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

It was here that I saw how the GIVI cases looked like after riding through the weather. They were more or less encased in mud, but no water nor soil got in. Thank God, ‘cos my laptop’s in there!

A few Explorers took to the riverside for some nightlife while many chose to rest for tomorrow’s ride into Vietnam.
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A beginner’s guide to Honda Big Bikes!

In today’s Bikes Republic feature, we’ve prepared a very special beginner’s guide to Honda big bikes that are available here in Malaysia.
While most Malaysians already consider Boon Siew Honda (BSH) as a household name when it comes to small capacity mopeds and scooters, BSH do offer a wide range of bigger capacity bikes.
From the ever powerful Honda CBR1000RR superbike to the uber-cool Honda Rebel 500 cruiser, there’s always the right Honda bike for everyone from beginners to veteran riders.
Image source: www.ndtvimg.com

While most Malaysians are already familiar with Boon Siew Honda (BSH) as a major household name when it comes to the world of cubs, mopeds and small capacity motorcycles, those looking for something a bit more should also know that BSH offers a wide range of bigger capacity two-wheelers that’ll suit any type of rider for any riding situation.

From street bikes, cruisers to the best track day machines, Honda always has something available for everyone. In this special feature, we’re going to look at the types of bikes you can get from the good folks over at Boon Siew Honda Malaysia.
SPORT BIKES / SUPERBIKES – CBR1000RR

Considered as the crème de la crème when it comes to modern day motorcycles, the sport bikes or superbikes are road legal versions of what manufacturers would use as their race bikes built to rip up the tracks and circuits around the world.

Patented after road racing machines, this particular type of motorcycle offers the best aerodynamics with its sleek outer appearance and cool-looking full fairings. Honda bikes like the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade or the middleweight CBR600RR are suitable for racing and occasional track days.

Most riders can get the best out of the street legal bikes through short stints like carving the mountain roads during the weekends. However, these bikes are not that suitable for normal everyday use like commuting back and forth the office.

While there are some folks who are doing this (big respect), it is not advisable for beginners to do the same thing as these bikes have been tuned with great throttle response, braking performance as well as power and torque outputs.
The top grade race-inspired suspensions are great in the circuit to gain maximum feeling of the track’s surface but on normal roads, riders will feel every single road imperfection which can be very tiring after a short time of riding.

So if you’re looking for the ultimate fun when it comes to track days, racing or the ever popular weekend ride outs, the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade might be the perfect tool for you. To know more about the CBR1000RR, CLICK HERE.
STREET BIKES – CBR250R / CBR500R / CBR500F / CB650F / CBR650F

One of the most common types of bikes you’ll see on the roads today is the street bikes. Street bikes are the perfect everyday motorcycles that are able to perform all tasks fairly well and they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. The question is whether you prefer naked bikes or full fairing machines because Honda has BOTH!

When it comes to BSH, they do have quite a range of street bikes available in their ever-growing arsenal that’ll suit beginners and veteran riders alike. Bikes from the entry-level Honda CBR250R all the way to four-cylinder Honda CBR650 range will excite any rider whether it’s for commuting, weekend rides or the occasional fun around the circuit.

The Honda CBR250R is an entry-level 250cc sports bike from Honda which has been considered one of the best options out there for those looking to start their passion in big bikes. Thanks to its improved handling dynamics and ease of use, the new CBR250R is suited for all sorts of riding whether it’s commuting daily to work or going for a fun Sunday ride on mountain roads.
Interested in the Honda CBR250R? CLICK HERE to know more!
2017 Honda CBR500R
Honda bikes like the mid range CBR500R and CBR500F are good for beginners wanting to upgrade to bigger capacity motorcycles without being overwhelmed by the power. These bikes are designed with good ergonomics that are not too aggressive which offers good levels of comfort. This aspect is the main selling point considering that the folks who buy these bikes will probably use it every day.

To know more about the CBR500R and CBR500F, CLICK HERE.
2017 Honda CBR650F
If the 500cc twin-cylinders are not enough for you, then upgrading to the four-cylinder Honda CB650F or CBR650F might be the perfect choice. These two machines offer very unique riding experiences with that soul-stirring inline-four engine soundtrack plus enough power to make the ride much more exciting.
2017 Honda CB650F

Check out the Honda 650 range by clicking HERE.
SPORT TOURING MACHINES – CB500X / NC750X
Honda CB500X
Those who are looking for something a bit more special that offers great comfort even for long distance riding can opt for either the Honda CB500X or the more powerful NC750X. These touring-oriented sport bikes come with sleek design but offer superior levels of comfort for the riders and pillions.

Riders wanting to go for long distance travels across countries have a higher degree of customisations when it comes to these touring machines. Things like riding position, seat height to foot positioning can all be altered according to rider’s specifications.

The Honda CB500X is also a very good option for everyday commute as is very easy to ride even after a hard day’s work at the office. With all its comfort plus healthy power output that caters to all sorts of riders, you can never go wrong with the CB500X.

CLICK HERE to know more about the latest Honda CB500X.
Honda NC750X
Looking for something that’s a bit more exciting? Why not treat yourself by going straight to the NC750X which comes with a 745cc liquid-cooled parallel engine that produces 54hp and 68Nm of torque. With the NC750X, it always a good day to ride.

Read more on the exciting NC750X by clicking HERE.
CRUISER – REBEL 500

For those who are looking for one of the latest additions into the Malaysian cruiser market can go for the 2017 Honda Rebel 500, a reasonably-priced entry-level cruiser with high levels of ‘cool’. A middleweight “Bobber” is just what the Malaysian ‘bike doctors’ ordered to add some excitement into the motorcycle scene.

When it comes to cruisers, these bikes were built with the intention for long and low cruises. Like touring bikes, cruisers prioritise comfort over speed. They usually come with huge engines but has been tuned for controlled power. With the Rebel 500, it’s the perfect choice for newbies as some cruisers can go up to 1,700cc which come with a huge price tag as well.

The most prominent feature on the cruiser is that long front fork or ‘rake’ which offers more control and stability during long tours on highways. Comfort levels are elevated even further as most of them are fitted with lower seat heights which allow greater control for the riders even at slow speeds.

The Rebel 500 offers enough power and torque to excite any rider whether it’s going to the office fully-clothed in your business suit or a lovely weekend ride to popular riding destinations and eateries. The 471cc twin-cylinder engine offers great versatility without breaking the bank as it is priced just above the RM30,000 mark.

To know more about the latest Honda Rebel 500, CLICK HERE.
DUAL SPORT BIKES – CRF250 Rally / CRF250L

Off-roaders, rejoice! BSH recently gave us a preview on the latest dual-sport Honda CRF250 Rally and CRF250L which are also known as dual-purpose bikes. This means that these bikes can handle well of paved roads but if you want to take them for some off-road fun, you can do that as well without making any modifications whatsoever.

Dual-sport bikes are a combination between full-on dirt bikes and adventure motorcycles thrown into the mixing bowl with all the best features combined. With the off-road motorcycle community growing bigger by the day in Malaysia, bikes like the CRF250 Rally and CRF250L can be a great addition that can handle more off-road sessions while maintaining its street legal status.

With these bikes, you don’t have to load them up on a truck to get to the riding track or location. Simply gear up, start the bike and ride on over legally without facing any issues with authorities when going through normal streets.

Check out the CRF250 Rally and CRF250L by clicking HERE.
SCOOTER – NSS300

Scooters are the innovators of the past, people movers of the present and the ultimate daily machine of the future. These automatic bikes require no gear changes whatsoever and are perfect go-to options for weaving in and out of cities with ease.

Those who require travelling a longer distance but still want all the goodies provided by a scooter can opt for its bigger sibling, the maxi scooter. Designed with bigger power, maxi scooters are perfect for longer distance riding which comes with great levels of comfort and ease.

Maxi scooters like the Honda NSS300 is part of BSH’s premium line of motorcycles that comes with ample storage space, lightweight design, automatic transmission for easy riding and even a charging port to power up your mobile devices on the go.

Whatever your choice maybe, Honda scooters are perfect machine that are fun for all ages and riders. CLICK HERE to know more about the latest version of the NSS300.

There you have it, folks. While there are more Honda bikes available in different markets around the world, the bikes stated above are all available now or coming real soon on Malaysian soil. No matter what type of rider you are, we’re sure that there’s always a Honda bike for anyone and everyone.

Whatever your passion may be, Boon Siew Honda is there to fuel that passion towards dreams and finally turning it to outstanding motorcycling realities or as they like to call it “Passion towards Dreams”.
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Sena launches neat new smartphone app

Leading helmet intercom maker Sena introduces neat new smartphone app with increased abilities.

If you’re an avid touring rider, you’d probably have at least heard of or currently use a Sena intercom unit in your helmet. This week, the brand has taken its renowned intercom systems a step further after introducing a new smartphone app for it.
Called the Sena RideConnected App, it connects with your headset via Bluetooth and uses your phone’s internet connection (both Wi-Fi or cellular network) to let users create a talk group. The best part is that this gives the Sena intercoms a major boost in range as well.
So as long as riders have internet connection through their phones via Wi-Fi or cellular networks, the Sena RideConnected App gives a near-limitless range extension for your headsets. It also allows non-riders to connect into the group talk with their own smartphone app as well.

Though it heavily relies on the availability of a cellphone signal, it should increase the range and usefulness of Sena’s headsets for motorcyclists in most situations. The ability to have a group connected should be of particular use to commercial users too – tour groups or production studios and teams.
The featured video shows just how versatile the app gets when paired with a Sena intercom unit. Presently, the Sena RideConnected App is now available on both the App Store and Google Play. You can find out more about the app and its range of uses on the official Sena website by clicking here.
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First Impression: Kawasaki Versys X 250 – RM23,789!

  Video: Our first impression of the new Kawasaki Versys X 250!

At just RM23,789 with GST, the Versys X 250 is now the cheapest adventure bike in the market right now.
Tall riders will love the sitting position, which is similar to that of bigger adventure bikes, minus the weight.
The 249cc engine, though nothing spectacular, was designed to balance power and fuel consumption.
During the off-road session, the tall ride height of 180mm ensured that the bottom never met any rocks, and with a weight of just 173 kilograms, it was simple and easy to manoeuvre through the tight spots and thick mud.
If it is a light, cheap, do -anything, go-anywhere kind of bike you want, the Versys-X 250 is the bike you should be spending your money on!

What is it that makes a good adventure bike? Is it a brand? Or a certain look? Or a particular engine or perhaps it should have about a hundred different rider aids? We asked some friends and the general answers were that a good adventure bike should be simple to repair, lightweight, comfortable with good suspension and it should have good fuel range as well.

Well there are lots of bikes that meet all those criteria, and the latest one is this – the Kawasaki Versys X 250. I have to admit to being a little excited about meeting this bike, which is odd because it is not one of those bikes you would normally call beautiful, and neither is it particularly powerful. It is just a plain, functional simple green Kawasaki with tall suspension and seat height. I was excited because this is the bike that signals that all is well in the motorcycle industry and manufacturers are creating more and more models to meet rising demand. An adventure bike for less than RM25,000, who would have imagined we would have bikes like this 10 years ago. It is a brilliant idea, and one that gives almost everyone a chance to own a good bike.

You see, at just RM23,789 with GST, the Versys X 250 is now the cheapest adventure bike in the market right now. It is also quite a big, tall bike and could be considered as a almost full-sized tourer. And with more people relying on two wheels to commute and to travel, the Versys X 250 is the one bike that could potentially offer it all – add some boxes and you will have ample storage space, it has good fuel range and it is cheap to buy. This is the bike that is capable of taking you around the world tomorrow should you want to. It is prepared, and even comes with tubed tyres, something that is easy to repair anywhere.

But lets manage expectations first. To begin with, the X is not powerful, at all. It offers just 31hp at 11,500rpm and 21.7Nm of torque at 10,000rpm. This means it has a high revving nature, and acceleration is just that, and the bike wheezes its way to a top speed of 150km/h. I managed 161km/h but that was on a downhill, so that’s cheating, sort of. The foot pegs too vibrate way too hard at high speeds, making it uncomfortable and leaves your feet buzzing for a good 10 minutes after stepping off the bike. But that’s it, that is all that is wrong with the baby X. Everything else about it is good enough.

The sitting position for one is similar to the Versys 650. The seat has been plucked off the bigger Versys 650 and feels comfortable on the Versys-X, good enough for a long ride north in fact. Tall riders will love the sitting position, which is similar to that of bigger adventure bikes, minus the weight. Talking about weight, this bike tips the scales at just 173 kilograms, which can be considered as ultra-light in the world of touring/adventure/dual purpose motorcycles.

The 249cc engine, though nothing spectacular, was designed to balance power and fuel consumption. The 17-litre tank offers a range of about 260-300 kilometres, something overlanders will appreciate. The engine is a liquid-cooled unit with double overhead cams (DOHC), eight-valves with parallel mounted cylinders. Most of the power it generates is at the bottom and mid-range of the rpm band and peaks at the very top between 10,000 – 11,500rpm, and it is because of this that you need to downshift when cruising at higher gears if you suddenly need more power; there is very little acceleration power in high gears.

But it is this low-ratio gears and high-revving character that makes the Versys-X such a capable machine when off-roading, as we found out during the recent official test ride in Rawang. Part of the route took us into a plantation, and because it had been raining, sand had turned into mud with little to no grip, great fun it was and the character of the engine and the lightweight nature of the Versys-X truly came alive here. The low-ratios means you have to use first or second gear through the slipperies and gives you access to power throughout the tall rev-band. And the ride height of 180mm ensured the bottom never met the mud, and with a weight of just 173 kilograms, it was steady through the tight spots and thick mud, parts where heavier bikes will struggle. I have to admit that the Versys X 250 was fun and nimble for a rookie off-roader.

The Versys-X was obviously designed to tackle both tarmac and off-road. The all-new rigid backbone frame was specially designed to handle external shocks like the hard knocks and bumps you get when riding off-road. It was also designed to make the bike sturdy when carrying a pillion and luggage.

The suspension too was good enough for us with 41mm of fork travel up front designed to soak up everything the road could throw at it and a bottom-link, uni-trak, gas-charged fork with adjustable pre-load at the rear. The front fork is connected to a 19-inch wheel while the rear measures in at 17 inches. The varying wheel size and the long forks gives the bike good handling, though there were some members of the media who thought 21 inches would have been better, low and high speed handling is already pretty good.

The Kawasaki Versys-X 250 was a rather pleasant bike to ride. You can’t tell how good a bike is just by looking at it, and the Versys-X 250 cannot be judged just by the way it looks. In fact it has a larger than life spirit to it, the kind that is willing to go anywhere, anytime and is able to do it well. Kawasaki Malaysia even specified a multi-function LCD panel that clearly indicates speed, rpm, and even a gear position indicator, which gives the bike a high-tech touch and doesn’t leave you feeling short changed.

The Versys-X 250 is currently the only bike of its kind in the market right now, and it doesn’t seem like there will be any competitors any time soon. So if it is a light, cheap, do -anything, go-anywhere kind of bike you want, the Versys-X 250 is the bike you want!

				2017 Kawasaki Versys-X 250

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Harley-Davidson 338R patents revealed – only for Asian market?

Someone did some digging around and they’ve managed to get their hands on some patents and a spy shot on what looks like the pre-production version of the Harley-Davidson 338R.
We were a bit confused when QJMotor released some shots of its upcoming QJ350 with the H-D stamp on the engine case, but we can now confirm that this is the look that they’ll be going for its first ‘baby’ Harley-Davidson.

By the looks of things, the Harley-Davidson 338R will carry that ‘streetfighter’ look which closely resembles the Bronx or LiveWire rather than the iconic cruiser look. We’re guessing that this ‘naked bike’ vibe will jive better amongst the Asian folks who want to ride the brand but can’t really afford to big thick boys currently on offer.

You can also see other elements playing around the patents from the world of flat track and classic bikes, but underneath all of that will most likely be the same engine as the QJ350 – a 350cc parallel-twin. Yup, not a V-twin, folks.

Other visible aspects that we can extract from the patents are round front headlights (possibly LED), a single round meter display (most probably TFT, but don’t count on it), a nice-looking ‘flat-track’ style seat and rear subframe, USD front forks, 2-into-1 exhaust, and other things that are yet to be confirmed.

Expect the Harley-Davidson 338R to be properly introduced sometime next year, manufactured and assembled in Thailand OR the QJMotor plant in China. Whatever the case may be, we can be sure that this will probably sell like hotcakes IF they play their cards right with the prices. Everyone loves a good deal, right?
Written by: Sep Irran
Is this 350cc bike a Harley-Davidson, Benelli or Qianjiang?

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Troubleshooting Suspension Symptoms (Part 2) – Rebound Damping

We’ve put together a troubleshooting suspension symptoms guide.

A troubleshooting guide is easier to remember and use.

We continue with rebound damping as most adjustable suspension systems are fitted with it, rather than compression damping.

We provided a guide on troubleshooting preload adjustment yesterday (click here for the article). Today, we continue with rebound damping (or “TEN” on Japanese suspensions).
What is rebound damping?
To recap, rebound damping controls the rate at which the spring returns to its original length after being compressed. Without rebound damping, the spring will re-extend too quickly, sometimes even further than its starting length. This is what causes oscillations – that wallowing or pogoing (pumping up and down) motion.
Think of rebound damping as a brake when the spring re-extends. The more rebound damping you add, the slower the wheel goes back down, and vice versa.
The rebound damping adjuster is marked as TEN (for tension) on Showa forks
Too little rebound damping (Front)

The forks feel exceptionally plush when riding straight up.
As the pace picks up, the front starts to feel mushy and you second guess what they tyre is doing (loss of feedback).
As you flick the bike into a corner, the front tyre starts to chatter and lose traction. You feel the front as unstable through the handlebar.
The bike does not want to stabilize after countersteering it quickly into corners.

Too much rebound damping (Front)

The suspension “packs down,” resulting in lack of traction especially on bumpy roads.
Ride feels harsh, opposite of too little rebound.
The front tries to wiggle or tank slap when accelerating hard out of bumpy corners.
Continuous bumps cause the bike to ride loose (loss of compliance).

The rear shock’s rebound damping adjuster is located just underneath the spring
Too little rebound damping (Rear)

The ride is extra comfortable when cruising but starts to wallow and weave when encountering bumps.
Poor traction over bumps under hard acceleration and the wheel starts to chatter.
The rear suspension pumps up and down (pogoing) resulting in the chassis pitching its weight back and forth. This is especially frustrating when you are riding a bike with a short-wheelbase.

Too much rebound damping (Rear)

Suspension compliance becomes poor hence feels vague.
Traction is poor over bumps under hard acceleration.
The bike tends to run wide when gas is added mid-corner as it forces the front tyre to lift.
The rear end of the bike hops and skip when the gas is chopped.

Stay tuned for Part 3 when we troubleshoot compression damping.
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Updated KTM RC 390 Leaked Ahead Of Official Launch

After a series of spy shot photos, the KTM RC 390 finally appear in its official form thanks to a series of leaked photos ahead of its official launch.
The entry-level sportbike will also be offered in 125cc and 250cc in Europe and the Asian market.

For now, the RC 390 is the Austrian manufacturer “biggest” sportbike offering after they discontinued the RC 8.
The RC 390 will continue to offer the same 373.2cc found on the 390 Adventure, with the power set to be around 44hp.

The most significant change is using a single piece front headlight, replacing the dual-headlight setup flanked by a long piece of indicators.
Like the current DUKE and Adventure, the RC 390 comes with a TFT colour display, adjustable WP suspension, larger fuel tank and a new single-disc brake system.
According to reports, KTM will unveil the RC 390 this weekend at the Red Bull Ring.
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Motorrad recall: BMW Malaysia is investigating!

Social media has been abuzz with news of a global recall for BMW R and K models.
Concerned owners have been bombarding BMW Facebook pages both locally and internationally with questions about their bikes.
The recall is said to affect around 300,000 bikes globally, including those sold officially in Malaysia by BMW Group Malaysia (BGM), and those imported and sold on the grey market.
Lets put it this way, if your BMW bike is either a R or K model, then it is best to have it checked immediately at an official service centre.
There has been no official word yet to help Malaysian owners, so we contacted BMW Group Malaysia to get a statement.
The company clarified that they are still investigating the number of bikes affected by the recall campaign in Malaysia as this only affects a small number of motorcycles here.
BMW Malaysia, the importer, assembler and distributor of everything BMW in the country then went on to assure customers that the bikes are still very safe to ride. But should the customer require further peace of mind, BMW Group Malaysia recommends Motorrad owners to visit an authorised BMW outlet to get their bikes inspected.
As for grey import bikes, BGM recommends owners to visit an authorised BMW dealer to check if your bike is affected by the recall.
A number of online biking websites picked up on a press release issued by BMW in the UK, but not distributed locally. It stated: “As part of a technical campaign involving motorcycles of the R and K Series produced between 11.2003 and 04.2011, BMW Motorrad will replace the wheel flange of the rear suspension as a precaution.”
“Based on ongoing quality analyses, it was found that in the case of incorrectly carried-out maintenance work excessive torque may be applied to the brake disk bolts or to the nuts when changing wheels, contrary to the values specified in the BMW Motorrad repair instructions or operating instructions.”
“Cracks and damage can occur in the wheel flange as a result of excessive torques. BMW Motorrad has therefore decided to exchange the wheel flange with a more robust part as a precaution.”
For further information, BMW Motorrad owners in Malaysia can call 1 800 88 3000
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D3O reveals new AMP helmet liner system

D3O has developed a new AMP helmet liner system that effectively absorbs low-level impacts.

UK armour specialists D3O reveals innovative new AMP helmet liner system.

It’s constructed using its proprietary non-newtonial material renowned for flexibility and impact absorption.

AMP is designed to absorb low energy impacts where traditional helmet EPS are unlikely to compress.

Famed tangerine-hued UK armour specialist that is D3O have revealed its newly developed helmet liner system earlier this week. Dubbed the AMP system, it’s designed to effectively absorb low-level impacts.
More specifically, AMP is designed to help riders involved accidents such as a tumble at the traffic lights or getting struck by a branch whilst off-roading – specific situations where traditional polystyrene helmet EPS liners are unlikely to get compressed.
“We found that standards are testing – quite rightly – those really high energies that activate an EPS lining. We’re going to come down to a lower energy point, that isn’t high enough to make EPS compress,” said Richard Harfoot, D3O’s Head of Motorsport, to UK two-wheeled portal MCN.
Based in Croydon, the D3O brand is famed for its orange-coloured non-newtonian material armour that’s renowned for both its flexibility and highly effective impact absorption abilities. Said material is present in a number of leading apparels brands– Furygan being one of its biggest adopters.
Richard Harfoot, Head of Motorsport – D3O
The non-newtonial material works by allowing molecules to flow freely when moved slowly, thus allowing it to be twisted and moulded easily by hand. However, under a sudden impact, the molecules will lock and will give a stiffening sensation, thus allowing more effective energy dispersion.
Back to the AMP and, according to Harfoot, the layer will likely be between 4mm and 6mm in thickness and produced using an aerated version of D3O armour for improved comfort. Though this added thickness comes a slight helmet weight increase, D3O say this will be somewhere in the region of 0.3g – somewhat unnoticeable when riding.
Furthermore, D3O AMP is also designed to work in tandem with systems like MIPS, which sits between the helmet’s EPS and the outer shell to allow a degree of movement and help protect a rider’s head from rotational motion during an impact in an accident.
D3O say they are now in the midst of commercialising its AMP project, with helmet firms currently testing it internally to gauge the integration of the AMP system in future products.
Whilst D3O are already working with several brands, the development process required for new helmet models, not forgetting their long shelf lives in between updates, means it will take at least a year before AMP-equipped products enters the market.
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The 2020 BMW F 900 XR and 2020 BMW F 900 R were launched at EICMA 2019.

The engine was enlarged for more power.

Both models are comprehensively equipped.

BMW Motorrad dropped a surprise by launching the 2020 BMW F 900 XR and 2020 BMW F 900 R Launched at EICMA 2019, because everyone had expected the 850 versions.
The engine started out as the 853cc parallel-Twin lump from the F 850 GS but was given a 2mm increase in bore size, resulting in 893cc. The displacement bump results in 105 bhp and 92 Nm of torque, compared to 95 bhp and 92 Nm. The 270-degree crank is retained.

The power increase puts the bike in contention in the middleweight sport-touring segment.
A new frame ties the new engine as a stressed member and everything else together. A new 15-litre plastic fuel tank is used to keep weight down.

The F 900 XR’s design closely resembles the 9Cento concept revealed a year ago. The concept’s lines were also adopted to the new S 1000 XR.

As for the F 900 R roadster/standard/naked bike, its styling resembles the R 1250 R, albeit with more aggressive lines. It’s fuel tank is also moved to the front from underneath the seat, following the change first seen on the F 850 GS.

These two may be middleweights, but they follow BMW Motorrad’s move in equipping almost all models with high-end features (even the C 400-series scooters have TFT screens and keyless ignition). Hence these models have Road and Rain ride modes, ABS, keyless ignition and TFT screen.
You can spec’ them up further by adding two Pro ride modes, electronic suspension, ABS Pro, cornering lights and quickshifter (yes!).

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Top-up your Setel app with credit card & earn 10% cashback!

Everyone is being super cautious at the moment with all the Covid-19 pandemic happening everywhere and one of the ways you can minimise contact with other is via cashless payment. The Setel app has got your back if you want to refuel at any Petronas petrol stations and as a bonus, app users can earn up to 10% cashback when they top-up their account using credit cards!

Celebrating its achievement of over one million users here in Malaysia, Setel wants to reward its users when they top-up the app using any of the credit cards from AmBank, CIMB, Citibank, Hong Leong Bank, RHB Bank, and UOB. As for other banks, they’ll most likely come in in the near future as well.

According to Mr Iskandar Ezzahuddin, CEO of Setel, “Customers that currently benefit from credit card fuel cashbacks have been wanting to get on Setel and they can now enjoy the seamless experience without losing existing privileges. Setel has crossed the one million users’ mark just one month after our nationwide expansion early February 2020, making us one of the fastest-growing mobile application in Malaysia. Our daily order in February alone showed a significant increase of 85% from the previous month, a positive indication of Setel’s appeal to customers as a new retail-on-the-go convenience in Malaysia.”

For more information on the Setel app, head over to www.setel.my or download it for free via the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
Marvel x HJC special edition helmets for sale!

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Yamaha updates the FJR1300

Yamaha has officially taken the wraps off the 2016 version of the FJR 1300 sport tourer, featuring a number of improved cosmetic and technical upgrades.

The biggest change for 2016 is the addition of a new six-speed gear box, which will be replacing the outgoing five-speed transmission. Complementing the new gearbox is a new A&S slipper clutch, similar to the one that is fitted on the R1 to be exact, which promises to offer better riding dynamics.
The bike also gets a new instrument cluster which looks slightly more modern and sophisticated compared to the current unit.

In terms of cosmetics, Yamaha is now offering two new Matt and Silver paint schemes, a reshaped tail unit, as well as LED headlights and tail lights with adaptive cornering feature.
According to Yamaha, how the adaptive cornering lights work is that three aditional LEDs that are added above the left and right main headlights come on as the bike corners to help illuminate turns, using an inertial measurement unit to detect lean angle.

Unveiled yesterday at the Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham, UK, is expected to go on sale next year. However, Yamaha has not revealed any details on its pricing yet.

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V Oiler chain lubrication system

Lubricating or oiling the chain, its a must for all chain driven bikes and failure to do so will result in accelerated wear and if not careful a breakdown by a snapped chain.
And if you are like me, one of the most irritating things to do is oiling the chain. Chain lubrication is a tedious job especially if you don’t have a paddock stand or built-in centre stand.
You risk your back from a slip disc, dropping the bike and theres even a few cases of loosing a digit or two. So in my search of making my biking life easier, I went around and did some asking and digging.
The solution has to solve a few possible nagging nuisance related to oiling the chain. The main criteria are that it has to be easy to use and in no part needs to tap anything on the bike in order for it to work.
While on a biking trip with a buddy, I noticed that he had this small translucent container, containing to what looks like oil on the opposite side where the rear brake reservoir is located.
He told me it was a local product developed by the adventurer Hadi Hussein who was made famous for riding his Modenas cubchai all the way to London and then a few other places.
It was at the perfect timing as I was just a few days away from making a long trip with my bike to the world famous Phuket Bike Week.
A quick ride over to Hadi’s V Care Centre in Taman Medan, near Sunway and the kit was installed in less than an hour which included a chain wash just to get the old grease out and to be replaced with his self developed chain oil.
The kit consists of the oil container, some flexible tubing, mounting parts, the drip-heads and the abovementioned chain oil.
Everything is secured in place using double sided tape and cable-ties, no drilling or screwing needed.

Half of the provided chain oil went into the oil reservoir on the bike, and you can top it up yourself when its low. The system works using gravity, with a quick press and release of a button on top of the oil canister, the oil flows into a secondary chamber before slowly going into the tubing and finally to the drip-heads.

At the drip-head, the oil will go on to the inner left and right sides of the rear sprocket and using the spinning motion created while you are on the move, spreads the oil evenly on to the chain.
So, after four months and almost 6000km clocked, its safe to safe to say that the V Oiler have really changed my biking life.
As mentioned, oiling the chain is as easy as pressing the button and ride. You don’t need to carry a can of chain lube anymore even on long rides.
Also because of the way the oil is spread on to the chain using the spinning motion of the sprocket itself, the oil is spread evenly and coats it properly. No mess no fuss.
How about oil drips on the wheels? That may happen if you tend to use more than whats needed, its easy to see that and according to Hadi, generally all you need is a squirt for every 200km.
I have yet to finish all the oil provided at the installation and was told the refill is just RM25 and the whole kit is about RM200.
A highly recommended investment for any bike big or small, as long as it comes with a chain.
For more information, contact Hadi at 03-7770 9937 or look up V Care Center in FB.
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KTM and Husqvarna planning new small V-twins

Austrian bikesmaker KTM and Swedish sister brand Husqvarna planning new series of small V-twin engines.

Our favourite orange Austrian brand KTM, as well as its Swedish sister brand Husqvarna, are reportedly planning a series of new small-sized V-twin engines.
If you don’t already know, the Pierer Industries AG firm headed by Stefan Pierer wholly owns both brands. Both brands are also known for sharing common parts in most recent times as proven by Husqvarna’s new concepts shown during EICMA recently.

In a recent interview, Stefan Pierer revealed plans for KTM to build a new series of V-twin engines with smaller displacements. The new series, reportedly displacing between 600cc to 800cc, is meant to fill in the gap that exists between KTM’s small-displacement range of 200cc and 390cc and its larger 690cc to 1,290cc range. This new range of engines will also be made available to sister brand Husqvarna confirmed Pierer.

Additionally, KTM are also at work developing a new V4 superbike engine destined to power its track-only RC16 race machine. Though the likelihood of the RC16’s V4 engine making its way into a Husky model seems unlikely, the KTM’s RC8 series of V-twin looks certain to make its way into the Husky range instead.
Sources: MCN and Asphaltandrubber
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2022 Honda BeAT Gets New Colour Update – RM5,765

Boon Siew Honda begans its 2022 calendar by updating the Honda BeAT compact scooter.
According to BSH, the Honda BeAT gets new refreshing colour and modern graphics to cater to a younger riders and is available for a price of RM5,765.

Regardless, the 2022 BeAT continue to run on Honda’s eSP (enhanced Smart Power) 108.2cc, single-cylinder air-cooled engine that makes 8.67hp @ 7,500rpm and 9.53Nm @ 5,500rpm. Power gets to the rear-wheel via a CVT transmission and conventional belt drive.
The Honda BeAT also continue to run on 14-inch wheels with 80/90 front and 90/90 rear tyre.
Thanks to the innovative enhanced Smart Architecture Frame (eSAF), the compact scooter offers better agility and ergonomics on the road while providing a greater space utilisation, resulting to a large 4.2L fuel tank and 11.7L under-seat storage.
Other features include:

Combi Brake System (CBS)
LED headlights
parking brake lock
Side Stand Switch

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CONFIRMED: MotoGP Finland is happening in 2019!

Image source: Jari Heikkila
MotoGP Finland is finally going to happening 2019 thanks an agreement made by KymiRing and Dorna officials.
KymiRing and MotoGP officials have signed a five-year contact to run the Finnish GP starting 2019 until 2023.
With the capacity to host around 100,000 spectators, KymiRing is said to be completed by next year.

The great land of Finland has finally been confirmed to join the FIM MotoGP World Championship calendar beginning 2019. The still under construction KymiRing and the folks over at Dorna has agreed on a five-year contract that will see MotoGP races in Finland from 2019 until 2023.

Over 50 representatives gathered for a press conference at the Helsinki Music House including special guests to celebrate the return of the Finnish GP such as Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna Sporting Manager Carlos Ezpeleta, Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sport Sampo Terho, Chairman of the Board of the Directors of KymiRing Kari O. Sohlberg, Chair of the Finnish Motorcycling Federation Tapio Nevala and KymiRing Project Manager Timo Pohjola.

Located in Litti, the KymiRing motorsports complex is still well in its way of construction which hopes to bring more economy backing to the Southern of Finland upon completion.  With the ability to hold a capacity of around 100,000 people plus strategic and unique location in Northern Europe, it’ll be a win-win situation for both the people and entire MotoGP circus.

According to Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, “It’s a big pleasure to announce the agreement we have with KymiRing and the works are now underway. We will propose to the FIM to have Finland in the MotoGP calendar for 2019. This is a great day as it´s so many years since the Imatra GP here in Finland and we are very proud to announce this new venue.”

“Finland has been a traditional place for motorsport. It has had number of fantastic riders in MotoGP in the past. I remember Jarno Saarinen and recently Mika Kallio, and many other people have raced. Finnish people understand motorsport very well and I think KymiRing will be hosting incredible events in the future. The layout of the circuit is very nice, it’s fast and it’s safe, and we’re very happy to announce this today.”

When asked about the golden opportunity of hosting MotoGP in Finland, KymiRing Project Manager Timo Pohjola stated “This is something we’ve wanted for many years and now it’s true. I think the layout is based on Finnish racing experience – Finns loves motorsport and that’s why we want to make a special layout and track for MotoGP, something new.”

We are the only international circuit in northern Europe and that’s why so many other countries are interested in KymiRing. The first Finnish champion was Jarno Saarinen, then in Formula 1 we had Keke Rosberg and Mika Hakkinen and so on, but motorcycling has always been very popular in Finland.”
Source: MotoGP
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Honda Developing A Ride-By-Wire Clutch System, But Why?

The latest patent from Honda suggests the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer is developing a computer-assisted clutch system similar to the throttle-by-wire system available today.
The Japanese marquee currently offers the conventional cable clutch, hydraulic and dual-clutch transmission (DCT) in its fleet of motorcycles; thus, developing another type of clutch system really put us on edge.
Like the throttle-by-wire systems that are now a must-have feature on every big bike, a clutch-by-wire will allow ECU assistance.

According to the latest reports, the clutch lever will be linked to an electric pump to modulate the pressure, while a hydraulic pressure control unit will ensure a typical clutch feel.

While some may question the need for another computer intervention, some may appreciate the new system to help manage the clutch during high and low speeds.
Then again, if you are not keen on the new development, we can at least appreciate the thought process from Honda.
(source: CycleWorld)
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Dainese Track Riding Skills Day, Sepang Circuit

It was yet another great annual event organized by Dainese Malaysia. Approximately 40 riders were present to catch briefings by MSS podium rider Nasarudin Yusop before Malaysian Moto3 hero, Zulfahmi Khairuddin shared his vast riding skill tips with the participants.

Participants were divided into 2 groups (Beginner and Advanced) with both experienced instructors leading the packs on track. The event was rounded off by lucky draws with the gifts presented by Jennifer Lee of Dainese Malaysia.

MORE pictures courtesy of Dainese Malaysia can be found on Bikes Republic FB Page
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Official Harley-Davidson Service Centre in Petaling Jaya Now Open For Business!

Great news for all Harley-Davidson owners in Malaysia! The official Harley-Davidson service centre at The Gasket Alley will officially open its doors tomorrow (Saturday 8th of December).
Built with an investment of RM1.5 million, the new service centre features unique tools and even hydraulic jacks that have been specially flown in from either Europe or the United States. These are unique equipment specially designed for Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
The technicians including the management team have all been trained at the Harley-Davidson University in Bangkok, and are certified to service any type of Harley-Davidson.

The service centre is open to ALL Harley-Davidson’s regardless of whether they were bought from the official dealer, or second hand, or from the grey market. The new service centre does not charge a “localisation” or “initilisation” fee, and will service all Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

In a recent interview with Johan Kleinsteuber (pictured above), the Managing-Director of Harley-Davidson Asia Emerging Markets, the question of aftersales service cropped up, to which Johan replied, “Personally I will encourage grey market owners to visit authorised workshops. I am a rider myself and I will always want my bike to be in the best condition possible because at the end of the day it is also about safety. Our dealership staff are all fully trained. They have gone through the whole training process and attended the Harley-Davidson university in Bangkok, so they can be assured of the highest level of service quality. Ultimately this is what we want to bring to our customers, to be part of the whole ownership experience.” (You can click here to read the full interview)

The opening of the official service centre will be followed by the launch of the all-new Harley-Davidson showroom at The Gasket Alley which is scheduled to take place next month.
For more information, visit The Gasket Alley’s Facebook page here.

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VIDEO: Motorcyclist Gets Double Whammy

Car knocks down the rider - Photo credit Daily Mail UK

An Indian motorcyclist got into a double whammy traffic accident.

He miraculously survived the entire ordeal.

The accident highlights the importance of wearing a helmet at all times.

A motorcyclist in India received a double whammy in a traffic accident in what is known as “Jatuh ditampa tangga (hit by the ladder after falling down)” in the Malay language.
In the CCTV footage shared by the Daily Mail UK, a white car first stopped at an intersection before turning left into the rider’s path. The unfortunate rider hit the front of the car, sending him and his motorcycle flying down the road.
The motorcycle then hit a lamp post. As the rider got on to his feet, the lamp post came crashing down squarely on his head. The second impact sent him back down onto the ground.
Thankfully, the motorcyclist survived the ordeal as the helmet saved him.

According to the Daily Mail UK, the incident happened in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
The lives of 15 motorcyclists and pillions are lost every hour in India due to not wearing helmets. Indian law mandates wearing a helmet while riding but many still flout the regulations.
As for the rest of us, we keep stressing on the importance of wearing a good helmet at all times. Spending some money on a better helmet is a sound investment. Better to have one when you don’t need it, rather than need it in an accident but don’t have one.
Source and video: Daily Mail UK

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Royal Enfield On Track To Debut Maiden Electric Motorcycle By 2025

Royal Enfield is embracing the electric revolution with plans to introduce its debut electric motorcycle by 2025.

Royal Enfield progressing steadily towards inaugural electric two-wheelers launch in 2025.
a team of nearly 100 two-wheels and EV expert is currently developing a thriving ecosystem to create a proper electric motorcycle.

A recent report from The Hindu Business Line affirms the brand’s steadfast progress toward this milestone. Acknowledging the shifting tides of the motorcycle industry, Royal Enfield remains committed to both its traditional internal combustion offerings and its pioneering electric venture.
To achieve this vision, the company has established a dedicated electric vehicle division and harnessed the expertise of Mario Alvisi, a former Ducati executive, as the Chief Growth Officer.
With unwavering focus, a close-knit team of nearly 100 experts is working to create not just an electric motorcycle but a thriving electric vehicle ecosystem. Their mission is to craft distinctive, high-performance electric motorcycles that encapsulate Royal Enfield’s signature charm.
Eicher Motors, Royal Enfield’s parent company, has strategically invested in Spanish electric mobility firm Stark Future, fostering potential synergies. This strategic partnership seeks to leverage their respective strengths in a collaborative pursuit of innovation.
While certain components like battery cells are sourced internationally, Royal Enfield actively engages in in-house manufacturing and supply chain partnerships for other essential parts. The company has expanded its supplier network, embracing 11-12 new collaborators and exploring further opportunities.
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Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus 3000km Test & Review

Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology is a fully-synthetic motor oil

The lubricant is formulated to last up to 12,000 kilometres

Engine is now smoother, faster-revving and has gained extra RPMs

We’ve covered Shell Advance Ultra with Pureplus’ origins in a previous article (click here to read more). I’ve been using this lubricant in my 2011 Kawasaki ER-6f since May of this year.
There were two grades to choose from at that particular time: 10W-40 and 10W-50. The former grade is recommended by Kawasaki as the primary choice, while the second is recommended by the manufacturer for countries with high ambient temperatures.
While the second grade would’ve been perfect, I decided to go ahead with the 10W-40 choice just to test how it would fare, since it’s the primary choice.

During the pour, the oil was a very clear, almost golden yellow. That’s due to the PurePlus Technology. Shell’s PurePlus Technology results from Shell’s gas-to-liquid crystal-clear base oil which is virtually free from impurities such as sulfur, mercaptans, mecury, nitrogen, aromatics (click here to read more).
The real difference, of course, was what happened when the engine was started and running. The Shell Advance Ultra’s effect was immediate. The ER-6 range is well-known for its loud ticking sound emanating from the cylinder head, but with the Shell lubricant, the sound was reduced significantly at idle. The sound totally disappeared when the helmet went on and riding.
Engine response was quick, even when the oil was new. (A new oil is still more viscous or “thicker,” compared to older oil.) More importantly, the engine didn’t feel stressed when accelerating hard through the gears and had no qualms about holding high RPMs for extended periods.
Additionally, there’s a 300 RPM drop when cruising at all speeds. Lower revs equate to lower fuel consumption.
The oil has since covered 3000km. I’ll be honest here: The biggest complaint heard in the market about most, if not all oils, is their inability to hold its grade and performance throughout its lifespan. Most bikers change their oils every 5000km, regardless if they used fully-synthetic or semi-synthetic lubricants. In their opinion, lubricants would experience a performance drop by the time it hits the 2500km to 3000km mark.
Now, I’ve used almost every oil available in the market, even some that aren’t; and I can happily report that the Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus has not a dropped in its performance thus far. The ticking in my bike’s valvetrain is still soft, the engine still revs willingly, and the 300 RPM reduction is still present. That has made riding a hoot especially in the city as overtaking is easy – a quick blast of the throttle is all that’s needed.

Of course, the oil has changed colour, but extracting some of it out of the engine revealed that it is still reddish brown instead of being totally black or worse, grayish black. I’m positive that should be credited to the PurePlus technology, since it started out free from impurities (click here for more info).

Shell has iterated that the Advance Ultra with PurePlus technology is formulated to be long-lasting. Because of that, its official service life is at 12000km for Ducatis. While different engines “use” their lubricants differently, if so, it means the oil in my engine has covered only at 25% of its lifespan.
A further report at 6000km is forthcoming from our test and I shall push it to the 12000km cycle. But at this moment, the Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus has already surpassed my expectations.
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New colours for 2020 Benelli Leoncino 500 – RM29,288

MForce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Benelli bikes here in Malaysia, has unveiled the updated 2020 Benelli Leoncino 500 with three new colour offerings. These new colour options are Matt Red, Matt Green and Matt Grey with a market price of RM29,288 (excluding insurance, road tax & registration).

The new colours further highlight the Leoncino 500’s modern classic look with more options for customers to suit their taste. Underneath all that beautiful bodywork lies a 500cc inline-two-cylinder engine that produces 47hp (35kW) at 8,500rpm and 45Nm of max torque at 5,000rpm.

The 2020 Benelli Leoncino 500 has other noteworthy specs such as:

All-round LED lights
Digital meter panel
USD front forks
Disc brakes (front twin 320mm, rear single 260mm)
12.7-litre fuel tank

Those who are interested to own a Leoncino 500 of their own should also take note that Benelli will stop its production in the middle of this month, according to General Manager of Operations MForce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd, Mr Asri Ahmad.
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HJC RPHA 70 Iron Man Homecoming – RM2,779!

HJC Helmet Malaysia has brought in the latest HJC RPHA 70 Iron Man Homecoming sport-touring helmet.
The latest Iron Man helmet was inspired from the Spider-Man: Homecoming movie by Marvel.
Priced at RM2,779 (recommended retail price), the RPHA 70 is perfect for street use which is also race-certified for track riding.

Attention to all Marvel fans and motorcycle enthusiasts, lend me your ears! The all-new HJC RPHA 70 sport touring helmet now comes in the latest Marvel’s Iron Man graphics based on the Spider-Man: Homecoming movie which was released back in July of 2017.

We’re big fans of HJC helmets and even bigger enthusiasts for the Marvel cinematic universe so this particular helmet checks out all the boxes. Knowing that HJC has a good arrangement with Marvel in producing some very special edition lids, the latest Iron Man rendition is indeed the best one we’ve seen yet.

Check out our review on the new HJC RPHA 70 sport-touring helmet, below!
HJC RPHA 70 Test & Review

This time around, a lot more finer details can be found which makes this limited edition more impressive the more you look at it. Our favourites are the Stark Industries decals on the side and the blue arc reactor at the back of this ‘powerful’ RPHA 70 inspired by the new element found by Tony Stark in the second Iron Man movie.

The RPHA 70 sport-touring helmet is actually a race-certified helmet that has been slightly modified for more comfort especially when riding on the streets. It is one of the better helmets out there in the market that can handle both street and track riding fairly well which is quite impressive.

The shell is made out of some reinforced materials called the ‘Premium Integrated Matrix’ or ‘P.I.M Plus’ which include carbon and carbon-glass hybrid fabric. This in turn provides a more enhanced shock-absorbing performance together with high levels of comfort while keeping the helmet satisfactory light (1,500 grams).

HJC Helmet Malaysia has priced it at RM2,779 (recommended retail price). To know more about this beauty that was launched together with the HJC CS-R3 Spider-Man full-face helmet, CLICK HERE. Additionally, you can head to the HJC Helmet Malaysia official Facebook page for further information.

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Ducati Diavel 1260 S Materico Unveiled

The Ducati Diavel 1260 S Materico is a design concept in conjunction with the Milan Design Week.

It was born from the meeting of designers Tom Dixon and from Ducati, Lamborghini, Pirelli and VW.

It is a one-off special and is displayed in designer Tom Dixon’s restaurant.

The Ducati Diavel 1260 S Materico is a design concept in conjunction with the Milan Design Week.
Instead of focusing on performance upgrades, the Materico highlights textures and materials. As such, the side panels are made from carbon fibre and lined with yellow trim; the seat cover is suede with yellow trim; black exhausts and new 10-spoke wheels.

The bike is a one-off creation. It is on display at The Manzoni in Milan. The establishment is a restaurant and showroom created by British designer Tom Dixon. The bike was born after a meeting between Dixon and designers including Ducati’s Andrea Ferraresi, Lamborghini’s Mitja Borket, Pirelli R&D Director Piero Misani and former VW design department head Walter de Silva.
Ferraresi said: “We wanted to pay homage to the incredibly artistic and creative Milan Design Week by making our Diavel 1260 more audacious and original than ever. The Diavel 1260 Materico brings out all the vividness of the used material and the painstaking attention to detail that, together with high-tech components, makes this bike such an effective blend of form and function.”
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Review: Royal Alloy GP180 – A good modern retro scoot for you?

Packing nostalgic retro looks, adequate performance and decent modern features, the Royal Alloy GP180 might just tempt you to scoot in high style…

Air-cooled 169cc single-cylinder.

10HP and 10.6NM.

Loaded with modern features and amenities.

Comfy ride and easy handling.

RM15,525 (base price).

Wait a sec, isn’t this a Sco… ?
Shush! You’re not wrong into thinking so, but you’re technically not right either. We’ll be brief and point out that Royal Alloy is a new and independent UK-based brand that boasts a manufacturing facility just north of our border – Thailand.
The brand strives to deliver on its “Nostalgia is made Real” promise through its product range, all of which are retro-styled scooters with designs loosely based off of defunct Italian brand Lambretta.
In Malaysia, the brand is assembled and distributed by local two-wheeled stalwarts Chear Global Sdn Bhd (CGSB). The firm offers four models from the brand, those being the GP125, GP180, TG200 and TG250.

Fine then, tell us about this GP180.
Sitting on the higher end of the brand’s GP – or ‘Grand Prix’ – range, the GP180 we tested perfectly embodies everything the Royal Alloy brand stands for. There isn’t a better example from the range that showcases the brand’s nostalgia-inducing style and modern amenities in one package.
In terms build, the Royal Alloy GP180 embodies lots of aluminium, especially for most of its beautifully designed exterior panels. There are a few bits of ABS (read: plastic) panels present, but they don’t hamper this retro-styled scooter’s arguably pretty stance too much.

It does look pretty good though…
Yup, and there’s plenty to bask in. In its finer details, we’re certain retro scooter fans will appreciate touches like the chrome brightworks adopted for both the headlight and front intake snout surrounds, the rear cargo rack, as well as the exhaust cover panel.
Essentially, it’s easy to fool anyone above the age of 50 into thinking it is the aforementioned 1960s era Italian scooter that inspired its design. Royal Alloy’s design team deserves applause for sure, more so after considering just how well it conceals much of its modern amenities present.

What really gives away this bike’s modernity are things like its cast alloy 12-inch wheels, full swing of LED lighting (headlight, taillight, and signal repeaters), the neat digital dash display, as well as much of the bar controls and switchgears present.
Whilst here, we’ll also note the rather excellent build quality and execution of it all, and the news gets better as we hopped onto the 770mm tall seat and started scooting.

How does it ride?
Unlike what its looks suggest, there’s no cumbersome 60s era kick-starter here. Just a simple key-twist and press of a button to get the fuel-injected 169cc single-cylinder underneath started. After which, it’s simply twist and go – typical of any current scooter.
The ergonomics are decent to say the least, with its step-through flat-floor welcoming just about anyone – ladies in skirts and dresses included – to hop on and starting riding. Right off the bat, the mill’s offer of 10HP and 10.5NM of twist are immediately accessible in the low-to-mid rev ranges.

Surely, the air-cooled single thumps out plenty of useable grunt, making it perfect for runs through the concrete jungle. Predictably, it does feel a tad gutless with top-end power. This, along with the near-absent wind protection, means highway cruises isn’t really this scooter’s forte.
What’s really nice though is the ride and handling. The suspension brimmed – which are adjustable too by the way – delivers enough travel and damping, soaking up much of the imperfections and bumps typically littering our urban roads these days, in great stride.

Adding to this is the seat saddle’s ample padding, as well as the  high vibration suppression incorporated. There’s still a certain degree of the latter to deal with, but it’s pleasant enough to welcome a pillion and ride two-up at any time.
Despite the longer than usual length and wheelbase, the Royal Alloy GP180 is actually joy to filter through traffic with. Agility is surprisingly high too, with rapid direction changes at speed only requiring slight weight shifting.
What’s reassuring too are the anchors as this scooter is primed with both all-round hydraulic disc brakes topped up with single-channel Bosch ABS suite. In other words, this scooter will stop on a dime when needed. Just don’t expect it to win any street Grand Prix though…

So, what else does it offer?
One downside to the beautiful retro styling is the absence of a sizeable under-seat storage bin – a common feature amongst modern day scooters and underbone commuters. Ride with pricey lids often? then you’d best be  carrying it about after parking as there’s nowhere to store that in this scooter.
Fortunately, the Royal Alloy GP180 does offer a glove box up front for small items – wallets, phone, road tax, etc. The presence of a USB charging outlet inside, plus a cargo hook (read: tapau hook) just outside and above it in the centre stack, should makes up for said compartment’s rather cramped real estate.

On the upside, range should be the least of anyone’s worry too as the decently peppy powertrain mentioned earlier is paired with respectably large 10.5-litre fuel tank.
Overall, it’s safe to say that the Royal Alloy GP180 covers all the basics quite well, thus adding to its overall desirability. The only hurdle left lies in meeting its base price tag of RM15,525 sans on-road costs and accessories.

Yikes! That’s not exactly cheap, no?
We can’t disagree. In its defense, a real, bonafide Italian (read: Vespa) costs quite a bit more. They’re also very pricey to maintain in the long run, to which the Royal Alloy GP180 promises to mitigate thanks to its rather simpler mechanicals underneath.
Sure, you get plenty of street cred with a Vespa, but the Royal Alloy GP180 – as well as its stablemates – arguably delivers just as much, and perhaps a little more. Best of all, it’ll do that for slightly less Ringgits too. Tempted yet?
VERDICT

FOR (+)
AGAINST (-)

·        Stylish, nostalgia-inducing retro looks ala 60s’ Lambretta.
·        Thumpy single perfect for urban runabouts.
·        Comfy saddle and suspension plus decent agility.
·        Single-channel ABS present makes this a safe bet too.

·        Not the peppiest or quickest retro scooter around.
·        Absence of a large under-seat storage bin is very concerning.
·        Not exactly a ‘cheap’ proposition.
·        Annoyingly mistaken for another brand too often.

SPECIFICATIONS – Royal Alloy GP180 ABS

ENGINE
169cc air-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke

TRANSMISSION
CVT automatic, belt drive

POWER
10HP @ 7,250RPM

TORQUE
10.6NM @ 5,250RPM

CHASSIS
Steel space frame

SUSPENSION
FRONT:
Leading-link fork with adjustable preloadREAR:
Single monoshock with adjustable preload

BRAKES
All-round hydraulic disc brakes
with Bosch ABS (single-channel)

FUEL TANK
10.5 litres

DIMENSIONS
1,845mm (L) x 670mm (W) x 1,115mm(H)
1,390mm (Wheelbase)

WHEELS/TYRES
FRONT:
110 / 70 – 12REAR:
120 / 70 – 12

SEAT HEIGHT
770mm

WEIGHT
130kg
(claimed, nett)

PRICE
RM15,525
(Base, excluding on-road costs)

Gallery: Royal Alloy GP180 ABS

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Triumph Motorcycles Celebrate Landmark Millionth Bike Built Since 1990

Triumph Motorcycles has reached a historic milestone by unveiling the millionth motorcycle built since the company’s return in 1990.
To celebrate the landmark achievement, the folks at Hinckley revealed a one-off custom-painted Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro.

Frankly, we thought the Bonneville would have been the ideal choice considering that it is an undisputed British icon. However, understanding how successful the Tiger 900 range since it introduction in 2019 including making an appearance in the latest James Bond franchise, the Tiger 900 Rally Pro is indeed the perfect candidate.

“Everyone at Triumph is incredibly proud to have played a part in achieving such a momentous moment in the modern history of this iconic brand.
“Over the 31 years since we re-launched Triumph with a new line of British designed motorcycles in Cologne in 1990, we have shared so many great moments with our fans across the world.
“From returning to the TT champions arena, to entering the MotoGP paddock with our Moto2 Engine partnership to supporting the biggest global riding event and its great cause for health and wellbeing with the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, to mention only a few.
“Triumph’s success has always stemmed from the passion and commitment we share with our riders,” said Triumph CEO, Nick Bloor.

The special one-off Tiger 900 Rally Pro will be on display on Triumph’s stand at this year Motorcycle Live Show at the NEC.

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MotoGP: Espargaro Wants A Stronger Teammate At Aprilia, Claimed Dovizioso Not Competitive Enough

No holds barred might the right word to describe Aleix Espargaro.
He is not the type to shy away from giving an honest thought about something, especially when he thinks he is right.
*Aleix Espargaro
During a recent interview with Marca, Espargaro revealed his take on reports linking test-rider Andrea Dovizioso returning to MotoGP with Aprilia for the 2022 season.
*Andrea Dovizioso
“It’s difficult to evolve the bike because, when something new comes along, you have to test it.
“They (Aprilia) wanted me to do a couple of tests during the summer break and get in the wind tunnel.
“It would be helpful to have a stronger teammate or a satellite team.
“Dovizioso has done a couple of tests with us, but he hasn’t been very competitive so far and doesn’t seem to want to race.
“I’m a fan of his, but it’s hard to see him as my teammate,” said the Spaniard.
Aprilia will enter the 2022 season as a full-factory team, ending a 7-years partnership with Gresini Racing, who will continue their effort next season alongside Ducati as an Independent Team.
Dovizioso was heavily linked with Aprilia after being brought on board as a test rider to prepare a strong 2022 RS-GP.
*Maverick Vinales
However, with Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales decided to leave the Japanese marquee at the end of this season, the Spanish rider is rumoured to be Aprilia no.1 choice ahead of the 2022 MotoGP.
Based on Espargaro desire of having a stronger teammate, Vinales fits the bill.
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TVS-Owned  Norton Motorcycles To Fulfil The Commando 961 Backlog From Previous Owners

Norton Motorcycles announced they are fulfilling the 29 outstanding orders of the Commando 961 Classic.

Norton is fulfilling all 29 outstanding orders of Commando 961 left by previous ownership.
The first batch of orders has reached its customers.

The backlog was left from the previous ownership led by the disgraced former CEO, Stuart Garner.
Despite no legal obligation, the TVS-owned company, will fulfil all 29 outstanding orders.
Most importantly, all the Commando 961 have been developed and significantly improved by the firm’s new manufacturing plant in West Midland.

According to Norton, the first batch of bikes has already reached its customers.
Unfortunately, the revised Commandos do not meet Euro5 emission standard, hence the motorcycle were sold via Motorycle Single Vehicle Approval process.
That said, Norton did not disclosed the price and the spec sheet due to its limited volume.
Nonetheless, the British firm has confirmed a new generation of Commando 961 is in the pipeline.
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Motorcyclist Throws Fit and Destroys Own Bike After Being Fined

A motorcyclist in Indonesia threw a fit and destroyed his own bike.

The police caught him riding against traffic and issued the fine.

He destroyed his bike by lifting and smashing it, pulling parts off and smashing it with a rock.

A motorcyclist in Indonesia threw a fit and destroyed his own motorcycle after being fined by a traffic policeman.
In the South Tangerang incident, the motorcyclist identified as Adi Saputra, 21, was caught riding against traffic flow. He then tried to ignore the traffic policeman, so he was given a ticket. In addition to riding the wrong way, he was also riding without a helmet and driving license.
The fine drove the motorcyclist angry and he started shouting at the police officer.
He then proceeded to destroy his bike by first lifting (amazing what adrenaline could do) and smashing it back down, before pulling parts off it and throwing them into the nearby bush. Lastly, he used a rock to deliver the coup de grâce on the hapless bike. His female companion could be heard pleading for him to stop.
We hate to think of what would happen if he were riding a horse.
Check out the video by Jakarta Info below.

View this post on Instagram

Pada hari kamis tanggal 7 Februari 2019 pukul 06.36 lokasi di jalan letnan soetopo serpong, anggota satlantas polres tangsel an Bripka Oky memberhentikan pelanggar yang berusaha melawan arus karena menghindari petugas yg sedang melaksanakan pengaturan lalu lintas di putaran pasar modern BSD. Bripka Oky melaksanakan penindakan dengan memberikan surat tilang, selanjutnya Pelanggar marah dan membentak-bentak petugas serta merusak kendaraannya sendiri. —— video @pauull_21 via @relfikar #jktinfo
A post shared by  JAKARTA INFO (@jktinfo) on Feb 6, 2019 at 7:22pm PST

The police confiscated the bike anyhow and promised to return it if he furnishes the required documents.
According to the South Tangerang Police traffic unit chief, Adj. Comr. Lalu Hedwin Hanggara, his unit had deployed 73 officers to enforce road laws against wrong-way riding.
They ticketed more than 700 motorists within a week
Source: The Star Online/The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network
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Harley-Davidson Shows off Electric Moped and Scooter Concepts

Harley-Davidson is keen to take the lead in electric motorcycles.

Their electric moped and scooter look like the concept drawings we saw last year.

These are still prototypes.

Besides announcing the LiveWire going on sale in August 2019, Harley-Davidson also introduced their electric moped and scooter concepts.
Remember, many countries will see only electric vehicle being produced in a few years’ time.
Both look similar to the concept drawings shown last year.
Electric Moped
Looking more like a mountain bike, Harley’s moped is a cross between an e-bicycle and motorcycle.
Its design definitely has some of the Motor Company’s heritage. Check out that flat-track inspired tail and “tank.”

The battery could be a 2 to 3 kWh type, similar to those fitted to pedal e-bikes that you can find in Japan. It ought to give the rider a few hours of riding. Being of lower capacity also means faster charging times.
Electric Scooter
It may not look it, but this is an electric scooter.

The long seat and footboards mean it should be able to accommodate two occupants. The space between the seat and battery pack offers lots of carrying space.
The battery pack looks large, allowing for lots of running time between recharge. It ought to fit into the role of a daily runner pretty well.

Its front forks are upside down items but we are worried about it being a hardtail. However, this is just a fleshed-out prototype.
Then again, if it does make production in this form, then it ought to the fill the roll as a pit scooter. Tired of walking around at MotoGP? This is your answer.
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New generation Honda Monkey patents leak

Leaked patents indicate a revival for the Honda Monkey cult classic.

More news from Honda today, this time revolving around the revival of a cult classic – the lovable Honda Monkey. Patent drawings of what appears to be a modern revival have leaked online and sparked plenty of excitement too.
According to reliable sources and from the patent drawings themselves, there is a high chance that the new generation Honda Monkey is being developed based off Honda’s other successful small cult bike, the MSX 125 aka Grom.

Even Honda has been taken aback by the success of the MSX 125, and it looks like the firm is willing to expand the platform further by reviving this small but larger than life cult classic.
With that, we can expect the new generation Monkey to adopt the MSX 125’s modern 125cc four-stroke powertrain underneath its classic and pretty skin. This should ensure its compatibility with current emission standards worldwide as well.

If you didn’t know, the Honda Monkey can trace its roots back to the 1960s. Known as the Honda Monkey Z100 then, it was originally built as an amusement park attraction, but it soon gained popularity amongst urban commuters and quite literally started the pit bike or monkey bike trend.

Since then, the Honda Monkey has become a highly sought after machine amongst cult fans and custom builder alike. Case in point of the latter includes the likes of our friends at Shawn Seelan Creations who happens to have a small fleet of tastefully customised Monkeys.
Certainly, the revival of the Honda Monkey has excited us. More importantly though, it also points towards Honda celebrating a landmark year in 2017 fuelled by this, along with the new CBR250RR, CBR1000RR superbike, as well as the upcoming new X-ADV adventure maxi-scooter.

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MotoGP: Rossi To Decide Future During Mid Season Break

Valentino Rossi will decide whether to continue racing beyond the 2021 MotoGP amid his worst start to a season.
The Italian made the switch from factory Yamaha to Petronas Sepang Racing Team (PSRT) at the end of last season that sees Fabio Quartararo heading the other way.
Despite getting the factory treatment with the M1, the seven-time MotoGP champion is yet to finish a race within the top ten after five rounds. Meanwhile, his partner, Franco Morbidelli, managed to secure a podium finish in Jerez onboard the old A-spec M1.
Nevertheless, Rossi revealed that he would decide on his future during the summer break.
“Speaking with Petronas and Yamaha it’s more half-season, because after nine races we have the summer break and I think I will decide for next year in that period, after nine races,” said Rossi.
Rossi currently sits at 19th place in the championship standings with 9 points together with Miguel Oliveira and his half brother, Luca Marini.
(source: Visordown)
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Isle of Man TT 2017 – Guy Martin withdraws from Final Senior TT race

Honda Racing’s rider Guy Martin has decided to withdraw from the final Senior TT race in the Isle of Man TT 2017.
Due to the limited amount of time spent developing the bike together with poor weather and Martin’s superbike crash on Sunday, the decision was made for the benefit of everyone.
“We’re not doing the times needed to be competitive here, we need more time to set up the bike and doing six laps (Senior TT) will not achieve what we set out to do.”

The Honda Racing squad stationed at this year’s Isle of Man TT races has just confirmed that their only star rider Guy Martin will not partake in the final superbike Senior TT race. The race was scheduled to begin the six laps around the Mountain Course earlier today has been further delayed due to poor weather and track conditions.
Image source: Grimsby Telegraph
The main reason why Martin decided to pull out from the race was primarily down to the short amount of time spent on the new Honda Fireblade SP2 race machine. The lack of experience and development with the team and bike together with constant bad weather and Guy Martin’s earlier crash in the week were also some of the main factors which contributed to the decision. Check out his unfortunate crash in the video below.

According to Guy Martin himself in a report made by Visordown, he stated “‘I came back to the TT this year to race and try to win with Honda Racing. I’ve done loads of testing and the team have been flat out, before we got here and at the event. But we’re not doing the times needed to be competitive here, we need more time to set up the bike and doing six laps will not achieve what we set out to do and I’ve always reckoned this is not the place to be out riding just to make up the numbers, so as a team we agreed it wasn’t right competing in the Senior TT. With the weather and my crash I’ve done plenty of tea drinking and dog walking.’
Image source: www.todocircuito.com
Guy Martin luckily survived a crash during Sunday’s Superbike race which was caused by the false neutral on the new Honda Fireblade. Despite the withdrawal from the Isle of Man TT’s main event, the team is keen to get the bike and Martin ready for the upcoming Southern 100 and Ulster Grand Prix.
Image source: MCN
Guy Martin’s team manager, Jonny Twelvetrees, he commented that “We’re disappointed not to be taking part in today’s Senior TT, a decision that is ultimately due to a lack of track time for Guy on the Fireblade. We came here to race and everyone in the team – who have worked extremely hard over the last few months – was looking forward to seeing what the new bike could do. Guy informed me that he wouldn’t race in the Senior, which is a tough decision to make but one I can understand given the lack of practice we’ve had.”
Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more TT updates.
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Supercharged Kawasaki Vulcan in the works?

When it comes to modern supercharged motorcycles, the only manufacturer that comes to mind is team Green, Kawasaki. After four years of releasing bikes like the Ninja H2, H2R, H2 SX and the Z H2, talks of another supercharged monster are currently spreading and it involves the iconic Kawasaki Vulcan cruiser.

Eager to get back their spot in the cruiser segment, Kawasaki wants to re-enter with a bang and what other way to make an entrance than with their supercharged inline-four beauty. Japanese’s Young Machine predicted that a possible Kawasaki Vulcan H2 is currently being developed and just the thought of a power cruiser powered by that powerful engine gives us the tingles.

From the manufacturer’s point of view, Kawasaki has not confirmed nor denied the fact that they might be working on a brand-new supercharged Kawasaki Vulcan. Logically, a new engine that has been proven to be powerful, reliable, and popular would be milked out as much as possible for bragging rights as well as profits.

Anyway, if the rumours are indeed true, the actual bike will only be introduced in the next few years as the Kawasaki Z H2 is still very new in the market. Nevertheless, the prospect of a next-generation Kawasaki Vulcan powered by the brand’s 998cc inline-four supercharged mill is certainly something we will definitely keep our eyes and ears on.
Here are some cool upgrades for the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R

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Futuristic Looking Yamaha Augur 155 Rolls Out In Taiwan – 14.7hp, 13.8Nm

Yamaha released an all-new scooter specific to the Taiwanese market called the Augur.

Yamaha Augur is the latest compact scooter to be made available in Taiwan.
Features the tried-and-test Yamaha’s 155cc single-cylinder engine with VVA.

At a glance, the 155cc scooter is the most futuristic-looking model manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer in recent years.
Interestingly, the Augur 155 also packs some tasty features, including a 4.3-inch TFT instrument display with smartphone connectivity, traction control and ABS.

However, the centrepiece has to be its radical design, highlighted by its angular section, creating a never-before-seen aesthetic.
At the front, the Augur gets an arrow shape headlamp that also features the nifty Y-LLA (Yamaha Lean Light Assist) or cornering lights.

What’s more extraordinary is that the user can change the LED headlight colour from bright white to warm white depending on weather conditions.

Despite the modern touch, Yamaha still retains the typical scooter functionality, including a wide saddle for comfortable riding, a flat floorboard and ample under-seat storage.
Powering the Augur is the same 155cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, and fuel-injected engine found in the NMax 155 and NVX 155.
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