World’s Fastest Touring Bike, The Buell SuperTouring 1190 Breaks Cover

Buell Motorcycle has officially pulled the wrap off the SuperTouring 1190 and Baja DR dirtbike at the Daytona Bike Week.
The returning American brand decided Daytona Bike Week as the best platform to announce the company’s latest revival.

After the success of unveiling the Hammerhead 1190 RX sports bike back in November 2021, Buell began its 2022 campaign with the official launch of the SuperTouring 1190.
Claimed as ‘The World Fastest Touring Bike’, the SuperTouring 1190 makes 185hp and 137Nm from the Hammerhead’s detuned 1190cc V-Twin engine.
While it is a big claim from the American company – which the Kawasaki H2 SX can easily debunk – the SuperTouring 1190 comes with a hefty price tag of USD21,995 (RM92k).

Although the teaser photo – unveiled last year – looks promising, the finished product certainly caught our attention mainly because of its oddball looks and unusual road-bias set-up.
The side profile features an alloy fuel-in-frame design, while the front-end is dominated by two circular headlamps – taken from the Buell XB12 – wrapped in a chunky rectangular cowl paired to a vertical windscreen.
Frankly, it looks as if the bike pieces together from a different set of motorcycles altogether.

Meanwhile, the DR Baja marks the company’s first step into the dirt bike category.
The DR Baja is also fitted with the same 72-degree V-Twin 1190cc engine capable of pumping 175hp, making it the most powerful production dirtbike in the world.
--Ads--


Lane splitting increases your chances of getting into an accident by 12%

Image credit: Malay Mail

Lane filtering or lane splitting is so engrained in the Malaysian motorcycle culture that it is hard to imagine riding a motorcycle without splitting lanes.
Can you imagine if that did not happen? Your Grab and Food Panda delivery orders will take much longer, and Malaysian roads would just be so – weird – if all bikers stuck to riding behind cars instead or riding in between them.

But this so called “accepted behavior” is not necessarily safe. In fact it does not need mega hours of research to tell you that lane-splitting is extremely risky. But that is what we are about to get into here – a detailed study on the safety of lane splitting.
A five-year experiment conducted by the Federation of European Motorcycles Associations (FEMA) and assessed by the Centre for Studies and Expertise on Risks, Environment, Mobility and Planning (CEREMA) found that lane-splitting caused a 12% increase in motorcycle crashes in areas where splitting was allowed.
And the areas where lane-splitting was not allowed, actually saw a decrease of accidents by a whopping 10%.

But then again, this is not something that needs an in-depth study, any biker that rides everyday can tell you that lane-splitting is very dangerous. And there are thousands of videos that show you what can happen when lane-splitting is done wrong.
But the purpose of this study is to protect motorcyclists.
French motorcyclists organisation, “Federation Francaise Des Motards En Colere’ which literally translates to “Angry Bikers Federation” was involved in the study from the very beginning and was one of the organizations that helped set up guidelines for lane splitting. And it found that with proper training of young drivers as well as setting up of guidelines for lane-splitting, the act of lane-splitting itself had a positive impact.
And even though the results were not satisfying, but with proper guidelines and training of both riders and drivers, lane-splitting can be made safe.
But don’t expect such a thing to every be introduced to Malaysia in the near future – lane-splitting is so engrained in our riding culture that it would take generations to make it safer through training.
You can read the full report here.
--Ads--


Brad Pitt expresses undying love for MotoGP

Photo courtesy of MotoGP.com

Many who witnessed the British MotoGP round last weekend would have noticed the presence of popular Hollywood actor Brad Pitt during the event.
Although it is normal for celebrities to grace MotoGP race events with their presence, not many are true fans of the race itself, unlike Brad Pitt, who expressed his undying love for MotoGP last week at the Silverstone circuit.
Speaking to ShortList, a lifestyle magazine in the U.K, Pitt said, “It’s just phenomenal. These guys are so poetic and beautiful, and yet they’re on the edge of complete and utter destruction. It’s incredible, incredible, incredible.”
“When I first started, wherever I was, I had to find an outlet who was going to broadcast it and at what time, including in the middle of the night. Now you can just go to motogp.com to watch it live. Nothing gets in the way of Brad Pitt watching the flag drop on race day: I’ll watch with whoever wants to watch with me, my wife, my kids – everyone’s welcome. But I’m definitely watching,” he said.
“I’ve always loved the bike. Over a car any day. These bikes are the ultimate – the space shuttles of the motorcycle world. I started watching a bit in the Nineties, the Mick Doohan years – the great Australian racer. But it wasn’t until Rossi’s time around 2001 that I came maniacal about it. I don’t think I’ve missed a race since,” Pitt’s admiration for the sport the same as even the most fanatical fan.
When asked about his championship predictions, Brad Pitt said that it is still too early, as the title race is still wide open between Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Marc Marquez.
When asked who his favourite rider was, Pitt said that he would always remain neutral, enjoying the sheer thrill of the racing itself: “I love Lorenzo, because his focus is absolute – this fighter pilot focus, He’s incredible. And then Rossi is just great. There’s a mythology around all the riders. They’re gladiators to us. These guys have to make decisions at 200mph in milliseconds. It’s just thrilling to watch.”
“You attach your life to it, and either it goes the way you want it to, or it goes against you. The gods are with you or they’re not. The millions of us who follow sports have had that experience. That ride of heartbreak and success, heartbreak and success, heartbreak and success. It’s hard to pull yourself away from that,” Brad Pitt is a MotoGP fan for life.
Pitt stars as a narrator of the upcoming MotoGP film – ‘Hitting the Apex’.
--Ads--


2018 BMW F 750 GS and F 850 GS – Premium middleweight ADV bikes for the masses

The latest 2018 BMW F 750 GS and F 850 GS have been unveiled this week at EICMA 2017 in Milan, Italy.
BMW Motorrad’s latest middleweight adventure bikes offer both “touring and long distance capability with sporty dynamics and supreme off-road performance.”
Both bikes are fitted with BMW’s latest 853cc, two-cylinder in-line engine which produces 77hp and 83Nm for the F 750 GS and 95hp and 92Nm for the F 850 GS.

The latest offering by BMW Motorrad for their middleweight adventure bike segment comes in not one but two entirely new models. We were fortunate enough to witness the launch for the new 2018 BMW F 750 GS and F 850 GS, the ultimate middle-class adventure bikes.

Those who are looking for a modern, compact yet sharp and aggressive package that can basically go anywhere and everywhere should pay attention to these bikes. With BMW Motorrad’s vast experience in manufacturing world-renowned adventure bikes, their latest middleweight offerings combine both “touring and long distance capability with sporty dynamics and supreme off-road performance.”

While the 2018 F 750 GS are focused on riders who are looking for that perfect touring machine that’s compact, ample power plus a low seat height for easy access making it a perfect all-rounder, the F 850 GS is more suited for those who want that extra bit of power with more touring qualities and off-road capabilities.

Power and torque for both these bikes come in the form of a powerful 853cc, two-cylinder in-line engine which has been tuned for different characteristics. The F 750 GS churns out 77hp and 83Nm of torque while the more rugged F 850 GS produces 95hp and 92Nm of maximum torque. The new crankshaft design plus firing sequence for the engine produces a wild sound that touches the souls of any ADV enthusiasts.

A self-amplifying, anti-hopping clutch provides a noticeable reduction in the hand clutch operating force while the drop in engine drag torque also enhances safety on the road. Two different modes are available for both models; Road and Rain which are further enhanced with BMW’s ABS and ASC (Automatic Stability Control) as standards.

Need an extra kick? The F 750 GS and F 850 GS can be fitted with optional equipment, such as Pro riding modes and in turn the additional ‘Dynamic’, ‘Enduro’ and ‘Enduro Pro’ riding modes. This comes with BMW’s Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and ABS Pro.

Housing all the engine parts and electronics is an all-new tough steel bridge frame with monocoque construction which not only protects all the goodies but also allows for greater riding precision. Further enhancing the rideability is a new set of upside-down telescopic fork with double-sided aluminium swingarm which supply dynamic riding characteristics.

Want to enhance your future F 750 GS and F 850 GS even further? BMW Motorrad will also offer a range of optional parts such as the 6.5-inch full-colour TFT display with Connectivity, Intelligent emergency call function, Keyless Ride, Gear shift assistant Pro, Dynamic ESA, eCall, Connectivity and many more.

The new 2018 BMW F 750 GS and F 850 GS will be available in Malaysia sometime next year. As for the price, we’re confident that BMW Motorrad Malaysia will play their cards right in coming up with the best offers for the Malaysian bike segment to flourish even further.

--Ads--


Hafizh Syahrin gets ‘support’ from Primavalet

Hafizh Syahrin gets some much-needed support from one of Malaysia’s leading fashion brand, Primavalet. The newly signed partnership was made official earlier this afternoon between Primavalet and Malaysia’s first-ever MotoGP premier class rider. He is now the official ambassador for the major fashion house in 2020.

The deal confirms that Hafizh Syahrin will be releasing a special edition clothing line with Primavalet fashion house for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations. When asked about the agreement between the two parties, Hafizh Syahrin stated that his ‘spirit’ to compete in the 2020 season is further elevated thanks to this new agreement.

Dr Arshad Beg Mirzaja Hanjuan, Primavalet’s director, voiced his concern regarding the support given to fellow Malaysian motorsports athletes like Hafizh Syahrin where most folks find lacking even though they’re out there promoting Malaysia on an international level.
They might not be the main sponsor but any form of contribution towards the cause is greatly appreciated by Hafizh Syahrin and his career in racing.

Further details regarding the new partnership are still being finalized but we’re pretty sure that the Primavalet brand will be somewhere posted on either Hafizh’s helmet, racing suit, or Moto2 race bike. As most of you have already known, Hafizh will be competing in Moto2 together with the Angel Nieto Team (formerly known as Aspar Racing Team).

 View this post on Instagram

 Very positive Day 1,after touch down with flight and straight jump on the bike!!?????? #teamHS #HS55 #RezekiDariAllah — 47laps with my beasts,tomorrow more ✊???❤ #Speedup @speedupfactory @angelnietoteam
A post shared by  Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah (@hafizh_syahrin) on Nov 25, 2019 at 9:11am PST

It’s a tough road to climb for the young Malaysian rider as he needs to get in tune with the Triumph-powered machine and working out more deals with other parties to help support his racing career. That’s quite a daunting task as the young Malaysian needs to be 100% in order to be competitive in the very competitive intermediate class.
Ministry of Youth and Sports to Assist Hafizh Syahrin in 2020 Moto2

--Ads--


MV Agusta Reveals New Rapido E-Kickscooter – 4 Power Modes, 24Nm

MV Agusta has officially unveiled the all-new Rapido Serie Oro electric kickscooter, the company’s first e-scooter.
The Rapido Serie Oro is a new member of the MV Agusta e-mobility family after AMO, the company first electric bicycle.

Based on the premium Serie Oro, the Rapido offers a refined classic black/gold/red livery and features the most advanced technologies.
The Rapido features a magnesium alloy frame, 10″ tubeless front and rear tyres, dual hydraulic disc brakes and a 48V 500W brushless electric motor capable of generating up to 24Nm with a top speed of nearly 40km/h.

According to MV Agusta, the Rapido offers a generous 50km autonomy range.

Like all MV Agusta motorcycle range, the Rapido offers four power modes; pedestrian, Eco, Comfort and Sport Plus, which can be accessed via a 4″ digital LCD screen connected via smartphone.

The Rapido Serie Oro will be on sale via the online platform first for a price of EUR999 (RM4,700).
--Ads--


New KTM 790 Duke now in Malaysia – Priced at RM64,800!

KTM Motorcycles Malaysia has officially announced the price of the new 790 Duke.
New 790 Duke offers the most bang for the buck when it comes to onboard features.
Features include cornering ABS, quickshifter +, colour TFT screen, traction control, and more!

After months of speculation, the day has finally arrived and KTM Motorcycles Malaysia has officially announced that the much awaited KTM 790 Duke is now available in Malaysia for an unbelievable RM64,800 with zero rated GST, excluding insurance and road tax.

Dubbed ‘The Scalpel’, the new 790 Duke continues on the success of its single-cylinder 690 Duke, this time powered by a new 799cc, LC8c DOHC, 8-valve, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine featuring a 75 degree crankpin offset. The offset was chosen to mimic the firing of order of its manic 1290cc 75-degree V-Twin big brother. KTM reverted to a parallel-Twin instead of a V-Twin for a more compact packaging, in aiming for better weight distribution and weight savings, hence a better power-to-weight ratio.

The new engine produces 105bhp at 9,000rpm and 87Nm of torque at 8,000rpm. It now features two balancer shafts to dampen vibration for a smoother ride.

The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox with KTM’s PASC power assist slipper clutch, that allows for ultra fast downshifting or decelerating without locking up the rear wheel, thus improving safety.

The new 790 Duke engine is then set in an all-new frame as a stressed member. The new frame comes with unique sections that have thinner-walls with molybdenum steel sections. KTM says the frame has a finely tuned rigidity distribution to offer the best possible sporty feel with maximum feedback to the rider.

A consequence of the new frame gives the 790 Duke an attribute which Malaysians will love: Its seat height is only at 825mm. It’s very light, too, weighing in at 169kg dry.

As for the suspension, the 790 Duke uses specially-developed WP 43mm open-cartridge upside-down forks up front with 140mm of stroke. The rear suspension is a gas-assisted WP shock absorber and adjustable for preload. A WP steering damper keeps front end movements in check.

Other than that, the aluminium triple clamp has been tuned to match the flex of the forks. Steering rake angle is at 24 degrees while trail measures in at 98mm. Note that those are sporty numbers for a nimble handling bike. As with all KTMs, the handlebar is adjustable in four positions.

As for the electronics, the 790 Duke features ride-by-wire technology (RBW), lean angle sensitive Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC), cornering ABS, Motor Slip Regulation (MSR) for controlled engine braking, Quickshifter + for quicker  up and downshifts with auto blip, and a full-colour TFT display with the optional KTM MY RIDE smartphone integration.

The new KTM 790 Duke is available in Malaysia as a CBU model and priced RM64,800 with 0% GST without insurance and road tax.
Read more about this awesome machine here.
--Ads--


Aprilia RS 250 SP — #Be a Racer Realised

The Aprilia RS 250 SP was also launched at EICMA.

It’s a purpose-built race bike.

Aprilia will hold a 6-race championship next year.

Aprilia is on a roll. Besides the RS 660, Tuono 660 and updated RSV4 1100, they’ve added this Aprilia RS 250 SP.
It’s a purpose-built race bike which the manufacturer aims to find the next grand prix superstar.
The bike is the result of a collaboration between Aprilia and Ohvale.
It’s fitted with the right high performance bits such as 17-inch wheels that will fit Pirelli race tyres, Brembo brakes, Ohlins suspension, SC Project race exhaust, among others.
The engine is sourced from Aprilia, while Ohvale will be in charge of production.
As promised, the Aprilia RS 250 SP will be the star of the Italian FMI Aprilia Sport Production Championship. The single-make series will run through six rounds in 2020, and Aprilia hopes to find the next Capirossi, Biaggi or Rossi.
“The new championship takes up a tradition that makes Aprilia unique, a brand that has taken generations of young people onto the track and that has raised up great champions,” said Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing.
“From 2020, thanks to the partnership with the Federation, we will once again be providing fun for young people who, in this championship, will find a way to make their dreams come true and perhaps, this is our wish, the start of a path in the world of competitive motorcycling.”
“This is why we have designed an easy bike and formula that will attract the highest number of young people to competitive motorcycling.”

--Ads--


Voge Valico 300 Rally Lands In Italy – 28.6hp, 25Nm

Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Voge has introduced the 2022 Valico 300 Rally variant in Italy.

the 300 Rally now joins the base strim in Italy.
features 292cc single-cylinder engine that puts out 28.6hp and 25Nm.

The Rally variant will now join the based model launched just one month ago in the country.
Powered by the same engine as the standard trim, the Valico 300 Rally features a 292cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine that pumps a respectable 28.6hp @ 9,000rpm and 25Nm @ 6,500rpm.

The drivetrain is mated to a six-speed manual transmission with the engine fed from an 11L fuel tank. In addition, Voge claimed that the Rally could reach around 300 kilometres with a full tank of gas.
Like the base model, the Valico 300 Rally is fitted with high-strength steel tubes, an upside-down front fork with 205mm of travel, and an adjustable preload mono-shock at the rear.

Braking is done with a single axial-mounted calliper with a 265mm disc at the front and 220mm disc at the rear and regulated by a dual-channel ABS. The ABS can also be deactivated.

Considering the Rally is a motorcycle built for gnarly road conditions, the Valico 300 Rally features all the necessary aspects to make it off-road capable, including a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel, 1,430mm wheelbase and seat height of 905mm. Weighs just 150kg (dry), the Rally is suitable for not only experienced riders but also beginners.

Other notable features include:

digital LCD instrument cluster
USB port
handleguards
halogen headlamps with LED taillights

According to Voge, the Valico 300 Rally is available in Italy for a recommended selling price of EUR4,440 (RM20.4k).

--Ads--


2022 Dakar: Danilo Petrucci Takes Maiden Dakar Stage Win

Danilo Petrucci just became the first former MotoGP rider to win a Dakar Rally stage at the 2022 Dakar.
It was an exceptional Day 5 for the Italian after finishing stage four at third place, his first-ever podium after leaving MotoGP.

While some might suggest it was pure luck, that thought was single-handedly shut down by Petrucci as he came out on top of Stage 5 despite getting into his first Dakar crash.
“Today was quite a long day. I set off this morning and decided I really wanted to learn and improve my navigation, so I didn’t push too hard at the beginning.
“After one corner there was a large dune with a group of camels on the other side. One big camel came into the track, and I had to avoid it but ended up crashing after going across a lot of bumps and camel grass.
“That was my very first crash of this Dakar. After that I eased off a bit and Kevin caught up with me and we rode together towards the finish,” said Petrucci.
Despite coming in second place, 4 minutes 14 seconds behind fellow KTM Toby Price, the latter was handed a six-minute penalty for speeding, subsequently handing Petrucci his first Dakar stage win in just his fifth attempt.

Petrucci started the endurance rather strongly, storming the first stage at 13th place.
However, his KTM 450 Rally suffered a mechanical issue during Stage 2 after passing kilometre 115, which also ended his chance to finish the 2022 Dakar within the classification.
Nevertheless, he bounced back in Stage 3 and got to finish in 22nd place, 9 minutes 21 seconds off the winner.
Two-time motocross world champion, Heinz Kinigadner had high praise for the KTM rider who is considered a rookie in Dakar.
“Danilo Petrucci rode incredibly in the fourth stage. He made rally aces look almost ridiculous on Wednesday, to the point of embarrassing them,” he said.
--Ads--


2020 Honda Rebel 500 launched in Malaysia – RM32,899

In conjunction with the launch of the Boon Siew Honda Racing Support Programme, BSH also took the opportunity to unveil its latest big bike model for the Malaysian market, the updated 2020 Honda Rebel 500. Unveiled globally late last year, the new Honda Rebel has finally arrived on our shores with some much-needed upgrades to turn it into a more ‘complete’ Japanese bobber.

Most of the exterior looks of the 2020 Honda Rebel 500 remains the same as the previous generation model, with the addition of a brand-new front LED headlight setup. In fact, all the lighting systems on the new Rebel 500 is LED.

Updated to comply with the Euro4 emissions regulations, the 471cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine now produces 45.5hp at 8,500rpm and 43.3Nm of maximum torque at 6,000rpm. Adapted from the CBR500R sports-oriented sibling, the 2020 Honda Rebel 500 offers strong bottom-end torque as well as smooth power delivery which is perfect for new and experienced riders.

Its six-speed manual transmission is now enhanced with the addition of an assist and slipper clutch. Also to make riding a little more enjoyable, its circular minimal speedometer now comes with a digital gear position indicator and more comfortable seats, something that was clearly lacking from the previous-generation model.

Other notable specs include:

41mm telescopic front forks
Twin Showa rear shock absorbers (nitrogen-charged) with pro-link system
11.2-litre fuel tank (around 26km/litre fuel consumption)
16-inch wheels (130/90 front, 150/80 rear)
Nissin brake calipers
Dual-channel ABS
690mm low-seat height

BSH will be selling the new 2020 Honda Rebel 500 at RM32,899 per bike (price excluding insurance, road tax & registration). Three colours are available; Matte Jeans Blue Metallic, Matte Armored Silver Metallic and Graphite Black.
There’s also a host of accessories specifically made to customise the all-new Rebel 500. For more information, head over to www.boonsiewhonda.com.my or go straight to any of its authorised dealers located nationwide.
--Ads--


Body of Missing Motojournalist Davey G. Johnson Recovered

The body of missing motojournalist Davey G. Johnson was recovered from the Mokelumne River.

He had gone missing two weeks ago while returning from test riding a motorcycle.

No explanation was provided about his demise.

On 5th June, motojournalist Davey G. Johnson was returning to his Sacramento, California home but failed to reach his destination.
Johnson was out testing the Honda CBR1000RR and was last heard from at 2am. Police found the motorcycle at rest stop at midnight the next day. However, Johnson, his backpack, laptop and phone were missing. Calaveras Country Sheriff’s Office (CCS) initiated a search and rescue mission which involved more than 75 people.
On 8th June, they found Johnson’s riding gear, laptop and cell phone near the Mokelumne River, but his wallet was missing. CCS kept up the search and found more clothing items on the river bank. Still, there was no sign of the missing person.
Unfortunately, CCS was force to call off the search on 17th June as they couldn’t locate any more traces of Johnson. The search party had swelled to 100 persons by now and they scoured the area between the Pardee Reservoir and hydro power plant.
Then, on last Thursday, his family received a call from the authorities that his body was recovered from the Mokelumne River. No details of his demise was provided.
While we’ve never met Johnson, it’s sad for our community to lose one of our own. May he rest in peace.
--Ads--


MV Agusta Superveloce 75 Anniversario sold out within SECONDS!

Pre-bookings for the limited-edition MV Agusta Superveloce 75 Anniversario opened yesterday and the plan was that it’ll stay open for 75 hours for those who are interested to book one. Only 75 units are available and within seconds of opening the online booking, they were sold out. SOLD.OUT.

That’s right, folks. Fans and enthusiasts of MV Agusta (presumably with deep pockets and clearly not affected by COVID-19) rushed to the website and booked every single unit of this magnificent 75th anniversary MV Agusta Superveloce.

Why? Just look at the thing! The Superveloce in its base form is already a beautiful rolling work of art that represents the ‘perfect balance’ between the brand’s unique modern styling as well as its racing heritage all rolled into one masterpiece.

When you take that base form and paint it in the Italian flag colours and plastered it with dedicated graphic details, black/gold Inmotion spoke rims, red Alcantara seats, and throw in some added stuff like that gorgeous SC-Project exhaust system, it’s hard to deny the fact that you would buy one if you had that kind of money lying around.

According to Timur Sardarov, CEO MV Agusta, “I was convinced #superveloce75anniversario would be a success, but I didn’t expect it to go sold-out in just a few seconds. To all those who did not manage to book one, I can only say that their enthusiasm and loyalty are a true inspiration for us all as we continue handcrafting, with immense pride and passion, our unique pieces of motorcycle art.”
2021 Aprilia RS 660 price revealed in the Philippines – RM73,600

Written by: Sep Irran
--Ads--


GIVI Malaysian Adventure 2019 Day Four and Five

The epic GIVI Malaysian Adventure 2019 convoy reached Kuala Terengganu on Monday (22nd July), and the participants crossed over to Pulau Redang on Day Four the next day (23rd July).

We crossed over to Pulau Redang and then back the mainland.

From there, we rode to Kuantan.

Day Four (23rd July 2019)

The epic GIVI Malaysian Adventure 2019 convoy reached Kuala Terengganu on Monday (22nd July), and the participants crossed over to Pulau Redang on Day Four the next day (23rdJuly).

It was a short 46-km ride to boat jetty at Merang. The hardworking GIVI support crew loaded our luggage into their vans and brought them there, while we rode in all our Hevik riding gear and GIVI motorcycle equipment. Our luggage was then offloaded from the vans and moved into one boat.

We changed into our “beach gear” i.e. shorts, slippers/sneakers and t-shirts near the jetty. All our riding gear such as our GIVI helmets, and jackets, riding pants, gloves, plus boots went into the GIVI cases. It reminded us on how indispensable the GIVI cases and luggage are for bikers. You don’t have to drag your riding gear around when you get off your bike!

1 of 2

So, the group got into four boats and it was a race to Pulau Redang!

1 of 4

Thankfully, the sea was calm and our boat (which also included racer Jeremias Israel who kept goading the boat driver to give “full gas”) glided above the blue sea to arrive first, although we departed last! Woohoo!

The Taaras Beach & Resort transit vans were already waiting at the jetty. The resort was just 5 minutes away.

1 of 12

Joseph and his wife Van

We were welcomed by every staff member who saw us, regardless that we were locals or foreigners. Kudos!

The foreign riders in the group didn’t take long to hit the beach and pool after lunch. A scuba diving foray was organized quickly and they went diving at one of Redang’s world-renowned coral reefs.

Another thing we liked very much about hotel is that it has a Turtle Lab, whose work is harvesting and hatching turtle babies. It’s a fully-equipped laboratory with high-tech equipment.

1 of 2

The sand on the beach was white and almost feels like powdered milk between the toes. It was blazing hot when we arrived so there weren’t many people. But it was a hive of activities later in the afternoon. Guests played beach volleyball, kids dived into the pool, couples sat facing the sea enjoying each other’s company, and many took to swimming in the sea.

1 of 4

Dinner was held right on the powdery white sands of the beach to a cooling sea breeze. We spent hours chatting the night away, not giving a thought about tomorrow’s trip.

1 of 9

Day Five (24th July 2019)
We checked out late(r) the next day at 9am. Judging by the look on everyone’s face, no one wants to leave that beach and resort. Well, it’s just a teaser and we’re sure some will return.

Back at the jetty, we got back into our riding gear (still there in the cases) for the ride to Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan.

The ride was pretty straightforward but may it’s because many were still suffering from “Redang withdrawal.” We followed the coast to our destination but most of the seaside was hidden away by homes and hotels.

But lunch was definitely a memorable affair. We stopped at the Tanjung Jara Resort. The whole complex seemed to be converted from an old bungalow, hence providing a rustic Malaysian atmosphere. They served local foods, too, instead of the usual western fare.

1 of 8

The keropok lekor was the freshest and tastiest we Malaysians have consumed, the other dishes deserve five-star rating and desserts include a longan and sea coconut tongsui (sweet soup).

1 of 4

Back on our bikes, we rode past multiple bridges with awesome views of the rivers below. We also saw the massive PETRONAS Gas Processing Plant at Kerteh.

1 of 14

We reached Kuantan safely and checked-in at the Hyatt Regency Hotel for the night. The ride will continue to Melaka the next day (25th July).

1 of 2

--Ads--


MotoGP: Marc Marquez Back On Pole After Three Years

Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez secured his first MotoGP pole since 2019 after clocking the fastest time in Q2 at The Japanese Grand Prix.

Marquez returns to pole position after three years at Motegi ahead of Johann Zarco and Brad Binder.
Quartararo will start at the third row of the grid in ninth place.

Marquez showcased spectacular form on Saturday despite a disastrous comeback last week at Aragon after he collided with Fabio Quartararo and Takaaki Nakagami.
The Repsol Honda rider managed to hold off late charges from Johann Zarco and Brad Binder to claim his first pole position this season.
Marquez set impressive opening laps in tricky conditions before Fabio Quartararo, and Johann Zarco bettered his time.
However, the Spaniard regained the top spot with another flying lap to get clear of Zarco and Brad Binder.

Both Zarco and Binder tried to respond in the final minute but lost time compared to Marquez.
Meanwhile, current title contender Aleix Espargaro finished sixth, while the current championship leader, Quartararo, could only secure the ninth spot.
Nonetheless, it was a shocking Q2 for the on-form rider, Francesco Bagnaia, as he will start at P12.

--Ads--


Rare Honda NR750 auctioned off by Bonhams

Bonhams UK reportedly sold a 1992 German-registered Honda NR750 during a recent auction.
For those of you who were riding from the early 1990s, you may remember this gem and modern classic. Back in 1993, the NR750 was tagged at approximately £35,000, nearly five-times as much as a Fireblade of the same year. This particular NR750 Bonhams sold recently belonged to a German businessman who only clocked in 6,400 miles (approximately 10,300km) on it, and turning it into his highly prized office fixture.
Back in the early 1990s, the Honda NR750 was the most technologically advanced road bike of its time. It featured a V4 engine primed with oval pistons, titanium con-rods, and an eight-valve per piston configuration. Besides its carbon fibre bodywork, the NR750 also featured an underseat exhaust, side-mounted radiators, and in-mirror turn indicators. Yes, most of these are pretty common on current production bikes, but their paths were spearheaded in the early 1990s by bikes like the limited-run Honda NR750 seen here.
The bike was sold for £57,500 during the auction. However, it is worth noting that ownership of the NR750 would prove to be cost-ineffective. Its 1993 sale price of £35,000 equates to roughly £60,000 in today’s financial terms, slightly more expensive than its auction sale price.
Source: Bonhams via VisorDown
--Ads--


Orange Hooligan – Revisiting the KTM Duke 690 III

Imagine this, tight back roads spotted with potholes, broken tarmac, littered with loose sand, on your left is a cliff wall and on the right, a low 3 foot tall crash barrier with an impending drop to your doom. But it doesn’t faze you, brrraaaap, brrraaap, quick clutchless up shifts thru the box accelerating to the next corner.

Bumps? Bumps that would scare those on superbikes and nakeds, but not you, gently lift your torso a few inches above the low seat, forward or rearward depending if you want to wheelie over or keep both wheels firmly in on the road, your choice. Brurp Brurp is all you hear, the WP suspended bike absorbs whatever you decided to ride over (to an extend), then suddenly a HUGE speed bump appears in your path, too late for any sudden changes of direction but you cannot be bothered to close your throttle, you stand up and boom! Launching off the forefront of the speedbump, bike easily a foot off the ground and you land it perfectly without the harsh landing.

The long travel of the suspension earning it’s keep. Hair pin corner approaches, hard on the Brembo brakes, the forks dip and you tilt in and the rear breaks traction, never mind, the short gearing allows for it, and as the bike rotates around the corner, you give it the berries again and it launches out of the corner, brrraaap brrraaap brraap, repeat.  No, this isn’t an enduro bike, a dual purpose nor is it a Versys. The closest would be a motard? Try commuting on one and tell me it isn’t a bike that you want to be on.

This is the real life experience of the KTM Duke 690 III. It’s raw and no holds barred. An endure bike cum motard but with real world road manners. Do not mistake this for the refined and dare I say sterile Duke IV. If you want a bike that kicks ass on B and C roads with some reasonable commuting thrown in, this is the way to go. Do not mistake the 690 as the engine capacity of this thumper, yes it’s a single cylinder 654cc, liquid cooled 4 valve lump. Class winning power output for a single cylinder, a mighty 65hp.

Riding a thumper, it somewhat a different affair compared to bikes with more cylinders. At low speeds, the throttle has a direct connection to the velocity of your acceleration, nothing comes close. But the star of the entire show is the brakes, Brembo 4 piston radially mounted calipers on 320mm rotors for the front. These barr non are the best brakes ever. Zero fade, strong and powerful and most certainly very controllable.

But as everything, there are limits. Limits due to the physical aspects for a large single, it runs out of breath at high speeds, topping out at around 180km/h. Use it to annihilate the others on the way down from Coffee Bean at Genting Highlands, but expect to be served back what you dished once on Karak Highway, the second half of Karak highway as that’s how far you would have gone before the superbikes catch up.

A young James Bond in trainers, with his martin blended, not shaken nor stirred.
--Ads--


Bikes and bike trends that ruled EICMA 2016

Here’s our pick of bikes and bike trends that ruled last week’s EICMA 2016 show.

We’re still reeling in from the rush of attending the world’s biggest motorcycling show that was EICMA 2016 in Milan, Italy last week. One thing for sure was that there were plenty of new bikes and bike trends that shaped this year’s edition.
After a closer look at things, here’s our top pick of bikes and bike trends that shaped the show last week and how they will make 2017 a monumental year for motorcycling worldwide.

Small-sized adventure bikes
One of the biggest new trend that rose and shaped this year’s EICMA 2016 show was the dawn of the small-sized adventure bikes segment. This is one genre that holds a tremendously huge sales potential, especially in emerging markets like Asia.

Leading this charge is the new adventure-styled offshoot of the BMW G310 R naked called the G310 GS. The ‘Baby GS’, as fans have fondly referred to it, sees the G310 R’s 313cc single-cylinder powering an adventure-styled machine, and it is brimmed with all the right accords.

But the Baby GS isn’t alone as EICMA 2016 also saw rivals in the form of the Suzuki DL250 V-Strom and Kawasaki Versys-X 250/300 bowing too. Unlike the G310 GS, both Japanese rivals feature 250cc parallel-twin hearts instead, and both will favour strongly in markets that favour said capacity – ours included.

Given how fast Team Green’s Malaysian arm usually gets things going, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Versys-X 250 arriving in our market first ahead of its two rivals sometime next year and we’re excited with this prospect.

Carbon fibre superbikes
Moving on into the flagship superbikes segment, it appears that a carbon fibre war of sorts has sparked. Central to this battle are Ducati and BMW Motorrad as both showed off flagship speed machines that heavily (excessively in fact) use said elements.

House Bologna showed its ultimate expression of the ultimate superbike through its 1299 Panigale Superleggera special that stole the thunder from rivals BMW Motorrad and its HP4 Race concept. Both share the same excessive use of carbon fibre, most notably in constructing their respective chassis frames.

And this obsession for lightness through carbon fibre isn’t limited to the big boys. Also making its presence felt, albeit on a smaller scale, was boutique Dutch builder VanderHeide that showed off its hyper-exclusive Aprilia RSV4-powered and carbon fibre-framed creation.

The arrival of these three carbon fibre-framed missiles has effectively signalled that it’s ok to use said element at such excessive levels. More importantly, this could signal the start of a huge leap in bike manufacturing and engineering with BMW already pledging to heavily use said element in its future bikes and cars.

Chic electric
Perhaps the biggest surprise for many at this year’s show was the ‘fashionably late’ arrival of a new and key player into the zero-emissions electric-powered arms race – the Vespa Elettrica concept.
Electric is the future of mobility, and Vespa knows this well enough. Parent company Piaggio says that the concept will be developed for production and sale starting from the second half of 2017.

The Vespa Eletrrica’s impending arrival next year should see it spark even greater interest in the zero-emissions mobility movement, with big player Piaggio Group perhaps giving spearheading upstarts a run for their money in the mass commuter segment specifically.

Retro’s second coming
The other budding trend we couldn’t ignore was the second wave of retro and modern classics entering the 2017 market. With Triumph, BMW Motorrad and Ducati all expanding their classic or ‘heritage’ line ups, 2017 is shaping up to be the year for all retro-loving, bike-borne hipsters.

Leading this charge is Triumph and its expanded new generation Bonneville range through new additions likes the Street Scrambler, Street Cup, Bonneville T100 and Bonneville Bobber.

Ducati, on the other hand, grew its Scrambler sub-brand range up to eight variants in total after bowing its aptly named Scrambler Café racer and retro enduro-styled Scrambler Desert Sled.

But our favourite of the lot has to be the expanded BMW R nine T range where it welcomes its new Racer and Urban G/S offshoots. In short, if you’d wanted a retro bike in 2017, you now have a rich choice of bikes to choose from courtesy of the Germans, Italians and the Brits.
--Ads--


Zero Motorcycles Launch Limited Edition Quickstrike Custom Kit

Zero Motorcycles has launched the Quickstrike package, a limited edition customization kit for the fully electric SR and F model.
According to the company, only 100 of the numbered set will be made available for the global market.

“Zero’s launch of the revolutionary SR / F has brought about a change in the entire market.
“It is extraordinary how the success of a single model can support an entire winning category of high-performance electric motorcycles.
“For this reason, we wanted to create an exclusive and special package that could underline even more the uniqueness of the SR/F,” said Chris Metcalfe, Zero Motorcycles VP of Marketing.

Interestingly, the Quickstrike kit was inspired by the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, exclusive motorsport events in the world.

The kit includes a host of features such as:

anodized brake lever guard
front and rear smoked LED turn signals
carbon fibre front and rear mudguards
rear kickstand pin
black aluminium fairing
custom mirrors
exclusive Quickstrike logo
Quickstrike pin
Quickstrike bike cover

--Ads--


Patents reveal new Benelli 1,301cc V-twin in development

Codename: QJ2V108MYL
Filed patents confirm a new Benelli 1,301cc V-Twin is being developed, shares similarities with KTM’s LC8 v-twin.

Qianjiang Group recently filed patents revealing designs of a new 1,301cc V-twin.

Said engine shares a lot of similarities with the KTM LC8 as found in the Super Duke R.

If produced, this engine will likely go on to power a future Benelli model.

Qianjiang Group, the Geely-owned parent company of the Benelli brand, recently filed patents for a new liquid-cooled 1,301cc V-twin engine, reportedly destined to power Benelli’s next generation model line.

				Codename: QJ2V108MYL

				KTM LC8

The patent shows Qianjiang’s design to be very similar to the KTM LC8 V-twin as found in the 1290 Super Duke R supernaked – both have 75-degree vee angles and similar displacement figures. Tell-tale signs of its proposed use in a performance model include dual camshafts and quad-valves per cylinder setup.
Furthermore, the mill’s purported codename of ‘QJ2V108MYL’ does indicate a few more things like the first two letters stating the manufacturer (Qianjiang), ‘2V’ to denote cylinder count and layout, whereas ‘108’ refers to the mill’s 108mm bore size.
The strong resemblance both engines have might lead to assumptions that Qianjiang may have ‘copied’ KTM’s design, but the Chinese giant’s recent partnerships with several Western brands like Harley-Davidson and MV Agusta likely suggest it’s already in talk for an agreement with KTM.
Furthermore, Qianjiang also has an existing KTM connection through its efforts at campaigning KTM-made machinery in this year’s Moto3 World Championship under the QJmotor brand with the Avintia team.
Beyond that, Austrian brand KTM has several of its engines manufactured in China already thanks to an agreement it signed with CFMoto, which produces the “790″ and “890″ series of parallel-twin engines for the KTM brand itself.
Certainly, if Qianjiang gets the green light to manufacture this – or any – version of the KTM LC8 V-twin, as suggested by these patents, it’ll likely make its way into a Benelli-branded model in the future.
--Ads--


New Ducati Monster to be launched next week + WorldSBK rider announcement

The fifth and final 2021 Ducati World Premiere web series will see the arrival of a new Ducati Monster. Thanks to a few and very clear teaser photos posted on the brand’s social media, fans were also quick to notice the leg of the rider sitting on the new Monster with Aruba.it Racing team from WorldSBK.

The desire to see it, hear it, touch it, challenge it.
The new Ducati #Monster will make your dreams come to life on December 2nd – 07:00pm CET
#Dream
Posted by Ducati on Saturday, November 28, 2020

Word on the street is that the new Ducati Monster will receive the same engine upgrade as the current Ducati Hypermotard 950, which is a 937cc Testastretta 11° L-Twin engine that produces 114hp at 9,000rpm and 96Nm of maximum torque at 7,250rpm.
2018 Ducati Monster 821
We’re also hearing of a new alloy frame that uses the engine itself as a stressed member which is said to provide greater robustness and an overall lighter package. We might also see a new aluminium swingarm which when it all comes together, the new 2021 Ducati Monster will be a whopping 10kg lighter than the current 821.

As for the new WorldSBK factory rider, we all know that the brand is only interested with riders who have proven to produce results under unique circumstances. With Chaz Davies out of the picture, a second rider is required to accompany Scott Redding in their battle for supremacy in WorldSBK.

In the second teaser photo for the 2021 Ducati Monster, this new rider couldn’t be clearer. Ducati posted a picture of the rider’s racing suit from the backside POV where the name ‘Rinaldi’ is clearly stated. That can only mean one thing – the next WorldSBK Ducati factory rider will be none other than Michael Ruben Rinaldi, a rider that made waves last season onboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R.

Stay tuned for more updates next week as Ducati set themselves for their final 2021 new model showcase. Who knows, they might just throw a curveball and surprise everyone in this final web series.
Ducati Superleggera V4 lands in Malaysia

Written by: Sep Irran
--Ads--


MV Agusta Attempt To Cross Europe In 24-Hours With The Turismo Veloce

MV Agusta is attempting to get into the record books by crossing through Europe in just 24-hours.
According to MV Agusta, the attempt will see them hitting more than 1,931 kilometres, crossing Europe from Sweden to Italy.

Interestingly, the model that will take up the challenge will be the newly updated MV Agusta Turismo Veloce, with an Italian journalist, Valerio Boni, chosen as the rider.
“This long, epic ride across Europe will certainly be challenging for both rider and bike, but the 2021 edition of the Turismo Veloce, in its production version, has everything it takes to achieve the objective in the best conditions.
“Thanks to the Turismo Veloce’s onboard technology we will be able to share the adventure in real-time on the official website www.mvagusta.com,” said Boni.
The trip will kick off at Malmo in Sweden and to reach MV Agusta headquarters in Varese, Italy.
If successful, MV Agusta will set the record of the most countries in 24-hours, including Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy.
--Ads--


Bajaj To Launch Dominar 400 Facelift

Green is now reserved only for the Dominar 400

Bajaj Auto is set to introduce an updated version of the Dominar 400.
According to reports, the new Dominar will sport a new styling for 2021, including new colour options, presumably the same dual-tone colour schemes introduced for the 2021 Dominar 250.

While detailed information is yet to be obtained other than word of mouth from Bajaj dealers in India, we can expect a minimal styling update done to the flagship motorcycle.
The facelift Dominar will continue to offer the same 373.3cc engine capable of delivering 40hp @ 8,800rpm and 35Nm @ 6,500rpm while mated to a 6-speed transmission.
The 2021 model will utilize the same 43mm upside/down front forks, preload-adjustable monoshock with Nitrox, 320mm front disc and 230mm rear disc and dual-channel ABS.
(source: RushLane)
--Ads--


Yamaha E01 And E02 Enters Production, Slated For 2022 Launch

Yamaha has confirmed that the E01 and E02 electric scooter concept revealed two years ago in Tokyo will be headed for production.
Yamaha first unveiled the E01 and E02 at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show as a concept model.
Two years went by without any news, which triggered many to question Yamaha’s commitment towards electrifying its motorcycle range.
However, back in May this year, patent images have revealed a production-ready version of the E01 electric scooter followed by the E02.

In the latest development, Yamaha has announced its 2022 production plans for the European and Asian markets which will include the E01 and E02.
The E01 is an electric scooter equivalent to a 125cc motorcycle while the E02 is similar to a 50cc scooter.
Further details remained unknown at this point in time but E01 and E02 are likely to have a power output of 11kW (15hp) and 4kW (5.3hp) respectively.
--Ads--


Ducati Begins 2022 Chapter With The New Multistrada V2

Ducati rolls out the first episode of the Ducati World Premier 2022 (DWP 2022) web series with the new Multistrada V2.
While it may look like the current 950S, the Multistrada V2 is a far technologically advanced motorcycle thanks to an all-new electronic package.

According to the Bologna-based company, the entire build was focus on ergonomics, weight reduction, and engine updates.
As a result, the new Multistrada V2 is equipped with the latest 937cc Testastretta 11° with desmodromic distribution and a water-cooled unit that delivers 113hp and 98Nm.

The twin-cylinder engine offers linear and manageable power at low-revs while also capable of pumping greater torque when needed.
Ducati claimed the engine has an extended maintenance interval, with a regular oil change at every 15,000km and Ducati Desmo service (valve clearance check) at every 30,000km.

This is contributed by using new connecting rods, a new 8-disc hydraulic clutch and an updated gearbox that guarantees better precision during shifting.
In order to achieve maximum comfort, the Multistrada V2 features a 19″ front wheel and Ducati Skyhook Suspension EVO semi-active suspension that adjust the suspensions settings according to the road conditions.

Shorter riders will also benefit from the shorter 830mm seat height and narrower saddle, allowing you to touch the ground with your feet easily.
Interestingly, the Multistrada V2 also features a new footpeg taken from its bigger cousin, the Multistrada V4 and a 5kg weight reduction compared to the current Multistrada 950.

Moving on to the best bits, the Multistrada V2 is packed with a host of electronics packages, beginning with ABS Cornering, Vehicle Hold Control, Ducati Traction Control, four Riding Modes and Ducati Brake Light System that flickers in the event of sudden braking.

Meanwhile, the S version gets you the Ducati semi-active suspension, Cruise Control, LED headlight with Ducati Cornering Lights, quickshifter, a hands-free system, and a 5″ full-colour TFT display.

--Ads--


Big Bike Warehouse sale happening this weekend @ The Gasket Alley!

Malaysia’s first Big Bike Warehouse will be taking place this weekend (6-8 March 2020) where major bike brands in the country will be offering some awesome deals for those looking to save thousands of Ringgits when purchasing your next motorcycle.

If you’ve been eyeing that particular Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Kawasaki, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa, or even Modenas, chances of finding your dream bike with great deals are high when you make your way to Warehouse 15, which is situated right behind The Gasket Alley in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Everything you need to own your dream bike is situated under one roof from all the major brands to great financing packages offered by AEON Credit. Don’t want to leave with a ‘standard’ bike? Brands kike GIVI, Hypergear, Alpinestars, Akrapovic, Petronas, Riders Garage, and more will be there to help you out.

Your new bike will need a sick matching helmet and luckily for you, the Big Bike Warehouse will also display some fine examples from HJC, KYT, Simpson, Bell, Ruby, and more! There will also be a complimentary suspension check from K-Tech to help ensure that they’re in good condition as well as tuned the right way.

If you already have plans this weekend, cancel them and head over to Warehouse 15 (behind The Gasket Alley, Section 13 Petaling Jaya) and check out some amazing bikes on display. The event will start this Friday (6 March 2020) from 3 pm – 10 pm and 10 am – 7 pm on Saturday and Sunday. See you guys there!

Modenas Dominar D400 Test & Review

--Ads--


Rimba Raid @ Janda Baik 2018 a Rousing Success

Rimba Raid @ Janda Baik 2018 was held over the 10th to 11th February weekend.

It saw a total of 60 participants from Malaysia and Singapore.

Competitors were judged on their ability to tackle different situations.

Somehow, I didn’t mind being lost. It’s already almost 10am but the air was still crisp and cool, as a mist surrounded me, the village houses, farms, all the way up the hillsides. This is a part of Janda Baik that I’ve seen for the first time.
A few kilometres up the road, I came up face-to-face with large white tents and RIMBA RAID beach flags. A RELA personnel waved me onto a dirt road. I passed a family with three children sandwiched between their parents. As I kept riding up that trail, campers, tents and families with young children came into view, and a nice smoky aroma of BBQ wafted in the air.

After being to other parts of the country, Rimba Raid (which literally translates to “Jungle Raid”) was back, this time in Janda Baik. For the city folks, Janda Baik is one of the most idyllic picnic and recreation sports, consisting of streams surrounded by hills. Genting Highlands is practically a stone’s throw away.

Rimba Raid (the organizer) had picked a beautiful location in the already beautiful Janda Bike area. The trail formed the floor of a valley between two steep hills – think of it as the bottom of a “V” – with a stream running parallel to it. The hills formed a funneled through which a cool breeze blew through the locale throughout the duration of the event, keeping temperatures tolerable despite the bright sunshine. Additionally, Janda Baik spans an area which is 400 to 600 metres above sea level.

And here, parked on both sides of the dirt road were more than a hundred adventure motorcycles of every brand or every size, which included those of the competitors. Manufacturers Ducati, KTM, Kawasaki, BMW Motorrad erected their pavilions and offered test rides to competitors and spectators alike. BMW Motorrad even had a section for foot massage!

Mixed in with the manufacturers were the tents belonging to accessories and riding gear makers Wunderlich and Touratech.

Since this was my inaugural time covering Rimba Raid, I was surprised to find that the participants were competing on big bore adventure bikes. It turned out to be “formula” of the event when I interviewed Dato’ Capt. Nik later, “I do a lot of road biking (which) became very mainstream, but I do a lot of offroad biking, as well. Getting to the trail was difficult so that’s why I use a big DP (dual-purpose motorcycle) to play on the trail,” explained Rimba Raid CEO Dato’ Capt. Nik Huzlan. “(That way) I don’t have to use a trailer and all that. As I travelled I felt that this must be shared.”

Also according to him, while there are many offroad events in Malaysia already and the numbers are picking up, there is yet one which caters to large-capacity adventure motorcycles. “We are looking forward to holding an event for 250cc bikes at Mat Daling, but as of now we started with bikes 650cc and above.”

Hence there were mainly BMW R 1200 GS and GS Adventure, F 800 GS, F 700 GS, F 650 GS; followed by KTM 690 Enduro, 990 Adventure, 1190R Adventure, 1290 Super Adventure R; a few Triumph Tiger 800s; Yamaha XT1200Z Super Teneres; Honda Africa Twin, NX6750, NC750X; a Husqvarna 701 Enduro; Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled.

Outside of the BMW Motorrad GS Trophy and the KTM Malaysia Weekend Adventure with Chris Birch, this would be the first time I’d get to bear witness to riders competing on these beasts of multiple brands.

“Frankly, I was quite surprised that these owners would actually risk their RM 150,000 pride and joy, some even just 2 months old in the jungle,” said Capt. Nik with a laugh, when I told him about my excitement of seeing the likes of the BMW R 1200 GSA splashing through the streams.

The bikes were still shiny at this point. Capt. Nik called for the riders to congregate as he walked them through the different challenges, called “Sections.” The aptly named sections (Obstacle Course, Rimba Rhythm, Sumpit, Jalan Salah, Bridge & River, and Twilight Zone). Sections will test the riders on different aspects of motorcycle control and utilizing the capabilities of their machines.

More and more families with their young children in tow kept showing up. The kids were wide-eyed in excitement from seeing these beautiful big bikes and riders dressed in brightly-coloured riding gear. Malaysian adults don’t typically show their excitement but at Rimba Raid, they pointed to that bike over here, over there, another one, the next one, and on and on.

Returning to the main area, Capt. Nik called it: “The competition starts now. Riders please go ahead and choose which Section you wish to compete in.”
I was surprised.

Most competitions (apart from the GS Trophy qualifiers) have all riders complete one discipline at a time. Not so with Rimba Raid. “If we queue everyone up at one test at time it’s just going to take too long,” explained Capt. Nik. In my personal opinion, however, that offered a great chance for a competitor to mentally prepare himself; by taking on a challenge that he’s confident about first would boost his confidence when attempting the harder stuff. Well, that’ll be my approach, anyway.

Excitement started to mount as riders hurriedly donned the rest of their riding gear and went through their personal routines. Game faces replaced carefree laughter and grins. The roars of Boxer twins, V-Twins, triples, parallel-twins, singles reverberated off the hillsides.

The spectators’ kids shrieked in glee, their parents grinned. Everyone not competing lifted their phones and not cameras to shoot pictures.
Riders went in both directions as they sought out their preferred Section. But the stream crossings drew the largest crowds. Why not? They always produce the best drama.

At the first crossing, riders rode on a wooden bridge to the far bank, up the slope on a short trail, drop back down into stream and up the other side. Putting a foot down or dropping it means a penalty as well as losing time.

The water looked calm and shallow, inviting even, but as soon as the first rider went in, it suddenly dawned on everyone of how deep it actually was! It came up to just below the front fender. He made it about halfway before the front deflected to one side and down he went for a swim.

The marshals helped to lift the bike back onto its wheels. The rider started his bike and gave it full throttle. A jet of water shot out of the exhaust like from an angry powerboat. At the near bank, the front wheel went into deep soft mud and down he went again. The marshals helped him up again and he spun his rear wheel up the slope. The crowd cheered.
The next rider tried to just gun it through. But either the water acted as a speedbrake or he had hit a rock, because he practically dove into the river, like a platform diver. The marshals came in to help again, and again and again.

It’s not all doom and gloom of course, as there were participants who made it through without dropping it into the river. One, on a Triumph Tiger 800 XCx ran straight through, eliciting a loud cheer from the spectators. So did defending champion, Bee Wong on his trusty KTM 1190 Adventure. They just held a steady throttle, stood up looked all the way up the river bank and up they went.

I got so absorbed with all the action and drama here that I had forgotten the other Sections, until Capt. Nik came by and pointed upstream, “If you think this crossing is tough, you should go see the one over there. It’s a 70% failure rate.”

I hurried over. A humungous crowd had already gathered, spread out all over the banks and down to the boulders jutting out of the stream. The water was much shallower but there were so many underwater rocks. Sure enough, many got caught out. They either dropped it or had their front wheels wedged in by the rocks.

The participants needed to cross to the opposite bank, turn back around and park up a slight slope before a wooden foot bridge. They then run across that bridge to the control tent and back again to their bike, to ride back across the stream.

One by one they went down. A number got past on the out trip only to drop it a couple of metres away from the bank. They tried it all: Speeding, riding slow, up off the seat, on the seat. It didn’t matter what bike they rode, that stream was kicking butts and taking names.

Soon, it was Bee Wong’s turn. He blasted down the slope, into the water and was up on the other side faster than it could register in anyone’s mind. He performed the other parts of the test flawlessly. The crowd had started to cheer him on as he remounted his KTM for the return trip. He hit the water like a jet ski on nitrous and… he went down! A loud “AWWW!” went up. He remounted quickly and got up the bank. But that mistake had thrown the competition wide open. Bee Wong is a superb rider and had won Rimba Raid many times over.

Adjacent to Section 5 was Section 6, which is a trail ride. Scoring is based on the fastest time. The starting point of the trail was easy – a flat, gravel road – before giving way to mud and deeper, softer mud. The participants climbed up hill before descending down a slippery path that’s littered with deep sunken portions that could swallow whole bikes. The image of a Venus Flytrap entered my mind when I saw those holes. It’s a great test of the rider’s ability to think ahead and anticipate, rather than to just react.

As the festival broke lunch, spectators’ children dunked themselves in the cool stream, while their parents picnicked on the bank. Being so far upstream, the water here is especially clear and cool. The stream of cool air kept blowing through the valley. What a great place.

The competitors sat together to talk about the day’s progress. It didn’t matter what brand of motorcycle they rode, everyone spoke, laughed and cringed as friends, while they analyzed what they went through or to gain a few tips from those who had cleared other sections.
Once proceedings resumed, competitors went to back the Sections they have yet to complete.

Over at Section 1, a rider moved a ripe and aromatic durian from the top of a bamboo pole to another. He stopped a couple metres later and was handed a blowpipe to shoot darts into a target. He then rode ahead to the finishing line where he needed to balance his bike at near standstill, on a patch of wet mud.

My ears caught the soundwaves of boisterous laughter. Over that laughter and shouts was the signature exhaust note of a BMW 1200cc Boxer engine being blipped aggressively. It came from the Time Attack section. As I made my way over I saw an oil-cooled R 1200 GSA being ridden expertly around that tough course. But what caused the laughter and shouts was this guy running next to the rider, pulling on his arms – in an effort to slow him down! It was among the funniest things I’ve ever seen in my 30-odd years of riding. (I got there too late to shoot pictures or video. Sigh.)

While the activities carried on, groups upon groups of bikers visited the Rimba Raid grounds throughout the day, some to lend support to their friends who were competing, some to spectate. Whatever their intention, no doubt everyone went away impressed and in awe.

Virtually every manufacturer present provided test rides. KTM provided the KTM 1050 Adventure on knobbies (incidentally the very same bike I rode during the KTM Weekend Adventure with Chris Birch). Kawasaki showcased their Versys 650, KLX150, and probably their centerpiece lightweight adventure bike, the Versys-X 250. BMW Motorrad’s centerpiece was the new G 310 GS.

As the action wound down, the riders retreated to their tents. A few took the opportunity to swim in that very stream that claimed their bikes or their buddies’. The foot massage therapists had brisk business. Sustenance was provided throughout the day by Rimba Raid exclusively for the competitors, as did food trucks and a catering service called Teddy… (do try their grilled German sausages and mini pizza if you ever ran into them).

The organizer and riders later went out on a Night Recce to ride the trail for the next day’s test, before returning to the camp site for dinner.
Day Two saw the competitors leaving the camping grounds for the trail section. “This is where they are tested on their fitness and stamina.” They were separated into groups of 20 to complete the section. Having 60 riders of different skill levels and on machines of different capabilities would have probably been “morbid.”

The results from Day One (which constituted to 40% of the overall score) and Day Two’s were tallied at the end of the day.
Finishing third was Syed Hafiz Bin Syed Sheikh, from Singapore. In second was Bee Wong, who relinquished the coveted #100 yellow number plate to his brother Alex Wong. Browsing through the results, it’s apparent that the competitors have to be good overall. However, given some of the tough sections, to participate in Rimba Raid is itself a great achievement, hence every participant apart from the winner received a competitor’s medal as a token of appreciation, regardless of their finishing positions.

To conclude, the Rimba Raid is the one of – if not the – most fun non-professional offroad competition and event that I’ve had the pleasure to experience. To the spectators, the atmosphere, the proximity to the action, and the sight of heavy (read: expensive) adventure bikes being hammered in the rough was an unprecedented experience. As for the competitors, they had something to achieve while having fun at the same time. Sometimes there’s just no way of gauging your riding capabilities unless you measure it against your peers’ – in a controlled environment, of course.

Of course, there were a few gripes from the competitors, but Capt. Nik said it best that Rimba Raid is still new and they’re still learning and evolving. In my humble personal opinion, Rimba Raid has the immense opportunity to grow into a premier offroad event.

Oh, by the way, am now itching to enter the next Rimba Raid. Anyone care to loan me a bike?

PICTURE GALLERY

				Rimba Raid Janda Baik

--Ads--


John McGuinness suspected of Broken Leg after North West 200 Crash

 John McGuinness aka “The King of The Mountain” was reported to have suffered a crash during a practice session at the 2017 North West 200 race.
His Honda Racing Team reportedly tweeted that the 23-times Isle of Man TT winner is on the way to the hospital with a possible broken right leg.
The status of McGuinness to race alongside Guy Martin at the 2017 Isle of Man TT at the end of the month hangs in the balance for the “Morecombe Missile”.
John McGuinness (TT Legends Honda) celebrates winning today’s Superbike TT on the Isle of Man. (Image source: Stephen Davison)

With the 2017 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy just around the corner, bad news filled the road racing scene as John McGuinness aka “The King of the Mountain” suffered a crash during the North West 200 race during yesterday evening’s practice session earlier today according to a report made by BBC.
Image source: IOMTT
Following the crash, the 23-times Isle of Man TT winner was said to be conscious and on the way to the hospital in Northern Ireland with a suspected broken leg according to McGuinness’s Honda Racing Team who tweeted the incident.

Red flag @northwest200 was unfortunately John, he's conscious & is going to hospital with a suspected broken leg. Update when we know more.
— HondaRacingCBR (@HondaRacingCBR) May 11, 2017

The North West 200 race organizers also stated that the 45-year-old road racer has been taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital located in Belfast for further treatment. There are 15 different sections of the road race circuit and John McGuinness suffered the crash at the Primrose Hill section right before the practice session is scheduled to end.

While we are not sure on the current situation of the Isle of Man TT legend and his condition, his status to race the brand new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 alongside his newly acquired team-mate, Guy Martin, hangs in jeopardy as this year’s event is scheduled to start at the end of the month on the 27 May 2017.
CLICK HERE to know more about the 2017 Isle of Man Honda dream team.
Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more updates.
--Ads--


Is this the Husqvarna 701 Svartpilen Naked Roadster?

Some spy photos of the Husqvarna 701 Svartpilen naked roadster has been going around the internet these past few days.
Based on the photos, it was confirmed that it is indeed a 701 based on the numbers indicated on the footrest of the bike.
The 701 currently being tested looks like a much more refined 701 with a few inspirations from its younger 401 sibling.
Image source: MCN

Spy shots of what looks like a Husqvarna 701 Svartpilen naked roadster has been circulating all over the internet these past couple of days. The Svartpilen was a bike built around the concept of the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 when it made its first appearance back in 2015 at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy.
Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen concept
The more scrambler-like appearance of this blacked-out 701 is said to be the Svartpilen instead of the more roadster-like Vitpilen due to its spoke wheels wrapped with what looks like Pirelli’s MT60 scrambler or dual-sport tyres. The same characteristics can be seen on the 401’s as well.

CLICK HERE to check out the Husqvarna 401 during our visit to last year’s EICMA show.

More study on the spy shots showed that it is indeed a 701 based on the numbers indicated on the aluminium footrest to confirm our suspicions. While we are still not sure about the finalised engine specs for this particular 701, we’re guessing that it will most likely run the 693cc single-cylinder engine from the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto which is based on the 2016 KTM 690 Duke.
Husqvarna 701 Supermoto
CLICK HERE to know more on the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto.

So that means that the power figures will probably be around the 74hp @ 8,000rpm and 71Nm of torque @ 6,750rpm. Other details in that can be seen in the spy shots are WP inverted telescopic front forks, Brembo brake callipers and also the presence of ABS.

It looks like Husqvarna is having all the right cards in their hands so far with this soon-to-be 701. In conclusion, the manufacturer is definitely setting out to create a brand to be more familiar with on-road bikes. With that in mind, we can’t wait for the 401s to come out too.

Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more updates.
--Ads--


Rare 1938 Brough Superior BS4 sold for over RM1.89 million!

Ultra rare 1938 Brough Superior BS4 sold at auction for record-breaking sum of £331,900 (RM1,894,265)!

Late last year, we brought you word of the discovery of perhaps the last batch of un-restored Brough Superior motorcycles. Dubbed as the ‘Broughs of Bodmin Moor’, the collection was led by an ultra rare four-cylinder and twin-rear-wheeled 1938 Brough Superior BS4.
This week, news broke out that said bike went under the hammer in the famed Bonhams auction house where it sold for a record-breaking sum. The collection’s lead bike was sold to a German bidder who placed a staggering bid of £331,900 – roughly RM1,894,265. It now holds the title of most expensive British motorcycle ever sold at auction.
Bonhams had initially appraised the collection at £340,000 (RM1,940,494). However, each bike sold at a much higher price than initially valued during the auction, allowing the entire collection to fetch a total collective value of £752,625 (roughly RM4,295,484) instead.

As previously reported, the Broughs of Bodmin Moor collection were discovered in barns located in Bodmin Moor – hence the collection’s name – late last year. All of them were languishing for over five decades hidden under machinery and more junk. Their discovery ended the debate of their existence and was dubbed as the greatest motorcycle discovery of the decade by many experts.
What is truly remarkable is the fact that each bike in this collection of rusting junk were equally as expensive or more expensive in value as the bike’s we’ve listed in our recent ‘Most Expensive Motorcycles of All Time’ feature.
Broughs of Bodmin Moor

Source: Visordown
--Ads--


Honda @ 2016 Osaka Motorcycle Show

Honda @ 2016 Osaka Motorcycle Show: four new concept and prototypes revealed.

Being in its home ground, the mighty Japanese motorcycle manufacturer that is Honda did not disappoints as it unleashed four new concept and prototype bikes in its booth. Here are the four bikes in greater details.
Image credit: MCN
HRC Honda MSX 125
Also known as the Honda Grom in certain markets, the tiny warrior that is the Honda MSX125 receives the full treatment from the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC). The HRC Honda MSX125 sees its thumpy 124cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine being fully tuned as it gains with a two-stage engine mapping, a quick-shifter, an all-new exhaust system and a pit lane speed limiter. The HRC Honda MSX125 will reportedly be sold as a complete race bike to participants of the HRC Trophy one-make series in Japan.
Image credit: Visordown
Honda CRF250 Rally prototype
Previously shown as a ‘concept’, the Honda CRF250 Rally prototype shown in Osaka this time round indicates that Honda will put the model into its production line very soon. When will this happen is still subjected to heated debate, but we reckon it will hit markets starting 2017. The progression from concept to pre-production prototype sees little changes. Besides minor tweaks in the body panels and fitment, much of the previous concept’s racy bits have been toned-down with more production-friendly bits like the exhaust. Also revised are the screen, instrument panel and headlights that have been toned-down from the concept in this prototype – the Dakar-esque styling remain but the dash has been replaced with a smartphone/GPS bracket.

Honda concept CB Type II
The supposed new replacement of the Honda CB1100 retro styled bike gets previewed in café racer form with the Honda concept CB Type II. Based on the Honda concept CB from last year, it is still powered by the CB1100 model’s engine and gets a redesigned fuel tank with new LED headlight plus a more attractive retro styling.

The Honda CB concept Type II takes things up a notch by replacing the wire wheels for 17-inch alloy replacement, followed by a set of better-looking gold-finish forks. It also gains with radial-mount Brembo anchors plus rear Öhlins shocks with remote-reservoirs. Completing its café racer stance is the single-seater layout, a pair of Over Racing end cans, new side panels and a new fuel tank finished in bare aluminium. There’s also a pair of bar-end mirrors plus a series of carbon fibre parts such as the heel guards and airbox covers.

Whether if the café racer-styled Honda concept CB Type II will hit production remains to be seen, but since rivals Triumph has its new Thruxton R entering the segment, Honda will likely counter it with the production version of this concept bike.

Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports concept
The Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adeventure Sports concept sees the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin transformed into a more off-road-focused bike that what it already is. Whilst the base bike is set to fight against the likes of the standard BMW R1200GS and standard Ducati Multistrada 1200 DVT, the production-bound version of this concept will fight against the BMW R1200GS Adventure and Ducati Multistrada Enduro versions instead.

This concept sees much of the CRF1000L Africa Twin’s basics retained such as the chassis, powertrain and bodywork. The concept’s more ‘adventurous’ bits comes in the form of its new rear end, the massive aluminium bellypan, tubular luggage rack and grabrails, as well as an upswept Termignoni exhaust unit.

The colour and livery scheme inspired directly from the first generation Africa Twin model, with Honda also stripping this concept from having side mirrors and signal blinkers too. Expect the last two bits to be installed in the road-going version.

Sources: MCN ( Link 1 / Link 2 ) / AutoEvolution ( Link 1 / Link 2) / Visordown ( Link 1 / Link 2 / Link 3 )
--Ads--


Viral Dashcam: Angry biker threatening car driver on Temiang-Pantai Highway

Viral dashcam footage captures angry biker threatening car driver after being honked at along Temiang-Pantai Highway.

Viral dashcam footage shows angry biker threatening car driver whilst on Temiang-Pantai Highway stretch.

Said biker reacted in anger after being honked at for obstructing the road, and appears to hurl an unidentified object.

What transpired after viral footage’s end remains uncertain, but clearly this is no way for any biker to act.

Temiang-Pantai Highway stretch has been a popular destination amongst enthusiasts for its Instagram-worthy view.

The Temiang-Pantai Highway stretch in Negeri Sembilan stands out as a popular spot for both local motorcycle and car enthusiasts of late. Much of this stems from the pass’s Instagram-worthy view that many have likened to being in New Zealand.
However, sometimes, people forget that said stretch serves as a public road first above everything else – not a photo studio. Perhaps the angry biker caught in this recently viral dashcam footage, published by our sister site MotoMalaya.net, forgot that fact.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sukan Star TV – sstv.my (@tvsukanstar)

We have little information regarding this footage, other than what we can obviously see: car driver driving through the Temiang-Pantai Highway stretch, comes across a group of bikers stopped on the emergency lane, sees a biker in the middle of the road, proceeds to honks as a warning to give way.
However, instead of acknowledging the car driver’s right of way, said bloke who was honked at responded with anger and appears to threaten the car driver by attempting to hurl an unidentified object in his hand at said car driver. This is the point where the footage ends abruptly.
We are uncertain as to what proceeded after the footage ends, but certainly, many of you will agree that this is not the right way to respond. If anything, the car driver who captured this footage is well within his movement rights.
As for the angry biker, he and his friends ought to acknowledge that they are in the wrong for parking and congregating their bikes in the emergency lane, and the fact that angry biker was in the path of oncoming traffic.
Let this serve as a reminder to all of us that we share the roads with many, and no one quarter has a greater entitlement over the other with it…
UPDATE:
It appears that Negeri Sembilan state police have launched an investigation into this incident. Local daily Sinar Harian confirmed this with Seremban district police chief ACP Nanda Maarof who was quoted in saying that the incident will be investigated under Section 48(1) of the Road Transport Act of 1987 for obstructing traffic, which can entail to a fine between RM1,000 to RM5,000 or a minimum 1-year jail sentence, or both.
--Ads--


2022 Kawasaki Versys-X 250 Gets New Colourway In Japan

Team Green has just updated its Versys-X 250 range with an exciting new adventure colourway for 2022 in Japan.
The baby adventure-tourer with off-road-ready spoke-wheels now comes in two colour schemes, Candy Lime Green X Metallic Flat Spark Black and Metallic Ocean Blue x Pearl Robotic White.
The Japanese firm’s revised Versys-X 250 will be available beginning February.

Apart from the new colours, the Versys-X 250 now comes fitted with a pannier case as standard with 17 litres of storage on both sides. The updated bike also comes equipped with an engine guard, centre stand and power socket.
However, the fog lamp that appears in the photos is an added option.
Running on the same 250cc parallel-twin engine taken from the Ninja 250, the baby Versys makes 33hp but with a more low-end torque compared to the Ninja’s mid-to-top-end performance.
Other features include a 130mm telescopic front fork, link-type rear mono-shock with 147mm suspension travel, and a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel.
--Ads--


2017 Triumph Street Triple 765 unveiled in the UK

New 2017 Triumph Street Triple 765 debuts with three variants, bigger engine and more tech.

The long-awaited replacement of the Triumph Street Triple has just debuted in the UK. Meet the bigger, more powerful and feature-laden new 2017 Triumph Street Triple 765.

House Hinckley has prepared three variants of its new middleweight streetfighter. The range begins with an entry-level S model followed by a mid-range R. New at the top now is a range-topping RS variant.

Despite the revised styling, the new Street Triple’s looks remains distinct and unmistakable. The most critical of revamps were performed underneath its skin, namely with its new powerplant. The chassis is now lighter by 2kg with each variant boasting a claimed dry weight of just 166kg.

A larger new liquid-cooled DOHC 765cc in-line triple mill with 12 valves derived from the Daytona 675 supersport now powers the much-loved British streetfighter. Besides an increased bore and stroke, Triumph have fettled 80 new parts for the powerplant including the crankshaft, pistons and Nikasil-plated aluminium barrels.

According to Triumph, the revisions in the new powerplant now deliver improved low- and mid-range torque. Supplementing that are its new ride-by-wire suite, traction control and selectable ride modes for added control whilst ABS is standard across the board with the R and RS able to switch off completely.

Unlike the current Street Triple 675 that boasts 105hp and roughly 68Nm of torque, the new Street Triple 765 S base model offers a higher output of 113hp and 71.9Nm of peak torque. Both the R and RS version offers higher torque of 75.9Nm, with the R developing 118hp while the range-topping RS has a whopping 123hp.
Here’s a quick walkthrough of the new 2017 Triumph Street Triple 765 range and its respective features.

Street Triple 765 S
– Two riding modes: Road and Rain
– Showa 41mm upsidedown 41mm separate-function front forks
– Pre-load adjustable piggyback reservoir monoshock
– Two-piston sliding front calipers and Brembo single-piston rear

Street Triple 765 R
– Four riding modes: Road, Rain, Sport and rider-defined Custom mode
– Assist and slipper clutch
– Full-colour TFT digital dash display with five-way joystick control
– Showa 41mm upsidedown 41mm separate-function front forks
– Pre-load adjustable piggyback reservoir monoshock
– Brembo M4.32 quad-piston radial monobloc front calipers and Brembo single-piston rear

Street Triple 765 RS
– Five riding modes: Road, Rain, Sport, Track and rider-defined Custom mode
– Assist and slipper clutch
– Full-colour TFT digital dash display with five-way joystick control
– Adjustable Showa big-piston 41mm upsidedown front forks
– Adjustable Öhlins STX40 piggyback reservoir monoshock
– Brembo M50 quad-piston radial Monobloc front calipers with Brembo single-piston rear caliper

In the UK, the new range-topping RS will go on sale first starting in March, followed by the new S base model in April whilst the mid-range R enters the UK market from May onwards. Prices in the UK start from £8,000 for the base-model Street Triple S while pricing for the rest of the range is yet to be confirmed.
Check out more images of the new 2017 Triumph Street Triple 765 in the gallery we’ve prepared below.

--Ads--


Ducati Multistrada V4 spied testing on the street

Ducati is hard on developing their current line-up with their latest 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine and the latest spotting of the Ducati Multistrada V4 showcased the engine’s ability into the world of dual-sport motorcycles.
Source: RideApart
The folks over at RideApart published a couple of very interesting photos of the said Ducati Multistrada V4 in camo while out and about on the streets for testing. Designed to offer something completely new in the present Multistrada family, the V4-powered machine entails a lot of subtle changes once you go in for a closer look.

Apart from the bright red subframe (which is not available on either the 950 or 1260 models), we also noticed that the rear double-sided swingarm is somewhat slightly shorter than its current V-twin siblings (the other V4-powered models and the 1260 use single-sided swingarms, FYI).
Only the Enduro model uses double-sided swingarms to go with its spoke wheels
The front fairing which sets the Multistrada different from any other bike in the same category looks to be more compact with a set of different air ducts on the front and side. The power figures are still in the dark at the moment but just for comparison, the Panigale V4 kicks out 214hp while the Streetfighter V4 has around 208hp of powerful goodness.

The prospect of an adventure bike with over 200hp is certainly interesting but scary at the same time. We’re guessing that Ducati might change it up to offer more smoothness and better torque delivery in lower rpm to keeps things north of everything fun when it comes to riding an adventure bike.
Ducati Panigale V4 25th Anniversario 916 arrives in Malaysia – RM359,900!

--Ads--


Harley-Davidson Officially Launch The 2021 Pan America 1250

MY21 Pan America Riding Photography

After months of waiting, finally, the Milwaukee based company officially launched the 2021 Pan America.
The Pan America is available in two variants; the Standard comes in Vivid Black and River Rock Grey while the Special in Vivid Black, Gauntlet Grey Metallic, Deadwood Green and the two-tone Baja Orange and Stone Washed White Pearl.
Engine

The all-new Pan America is powered by a Revolution Max 1250 dual spark VVT that produces 150hp @ 9,000rpm and 127Nm @ 6,750rpm.
According to Harley-Davidson, the unit is built from the ground-up in an effort to improve the weight distribution.
Specifications

The Pan-America Special is packed with a beefy 47mm inverted fork with trick semi-active suspension, including Adaptive Ride Height adjustment.
The Adaptive Ride Height works by adjusting the seat height accordingly, which we think a very innovative move by Harley-Davidson.

The suspension automatically drops the bike down to 855mm once you come to a stop before returning to 890mm once you are on the move, simple yet practical for many.
The rear shocks are handled by a linkage-mounted monoshock with automatic electronic preload control and semi-active compression and rebound damping.

The braking is done by radially mounted, monoblock, 4-piston calliper at the front and dual rotor, floating, tower-mounted at the rear.

The standard and Special comes with a full colour 6.8″ TFT touchscreen display, full LED Light setup, cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, cruise control and hill control which put the Pan America as the most technologically advanced motorcycle coming out of Milwaukee.

As far as an adventure motorcycle goes, Pan America offers a 21L tank with a weight of 258kg for the Special and 245kg for the standard.
--Ads--


Yamaha Ego Avantiz: New Colours for 2018

Hong Leong Yamaha announces the new colours for the 2018 Ego Avantiz.

Price remains at a competitive RM 5,700 (incl. of 6% GST) but not on-the-road.

The new colours are available from this week.

The Yamaha Ego Avantiz automatic scooter has been enjoyed encouraging sales since its introduction in 2016. Compared to its bigger sisters, the NMAX and NVX, it offers a bike that’s even more accessible to daily riders. Additionally, being priced at an ultra-competitive price of RM 5,700, it represents a great value.

The Ego Avantiz may seem simple, however, it’s actually full of useful features such as the 125cc, four-stroke engine which features Yamaha’s proprietary Blue Core Technology package for more performance and fuel efficiency at the same time. And yes, the Blue Core Technology powers Yamaha’s bikes all the way to Rossi and Vinalez’s Yahama YZF-M1 MotoGP bikes.

Other great features of the Ego Avantiz include a large, 14-litre underseat storage compartment which is large enough for a jet-type helmet, parking brake, LED headlamp, and a finely tuned ECO riding indicator.

Now in 2018, Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn. Bhd. (HLYM) has just announced the lineup of new colours for the Ego Avantiz, intended to create fresh excitement and appeal, besides enhancing the bike’s sporty appearance even more.

Named “Blue”, “Red”, and “Yellow,” the new graphics cover larger portions of the bike, rather than the previous streaks.
The new colours will be available from this week onwards.

--Ads--


2016 Kawasaki Z1000SX gets slipper clutch and ABS

The 2016 Kawasaki Z1000SX has been revealed, and it gets a few subtle, yet important updates.
According to the company, the updates include the addition of a slipper clutch and ABS as standard, with no increase in price.
Besides the new technical additions, the sports tourer also comes in new colour options such as the Candy Plasma Blue, and a more aggressive green, similar to the Versys 1000.
The 2016 Kawasaki Z1000SX’s new assist and slipper clutch makes the lever 30 per cent lighter to pull, and reduces the tendency of the rear wheel to lock under engine braking following aggressive down-changes.
The Versys 1000 on the other hand, will come in new metallic grey and ‘metallic raw titanium’ options as well as the existing green scheme for 2016.

--Ads--


Is BMW Working on a Supercharged S 1000 RR?

A German patent application showed that BMW is working on an electrically supercharged superbike based on the S 1000 RR.

An electrical supercharger boosts performance without sapping engine power.

Power and torque are boosted without needing higher RPM.

A German patent application showed that BMW is working on an electrically supercharged  S 1000 RR.
Forced induction isn’t something new and neither is an electrically driven supercharger. but an electric supercharger offers more advantages than an engine-driven or exhaust-driven supercharger.
An electric supercharger has the potential to spool up quickly, thereby eliminating or reducing lag when the throttle is snapped open. The compressor should be driven by a motor which gets its power supply from a battery or capacitor.
On the other hand, engine-driven supercharger like the Kawasaki Ninja H2’s saps the engine’s power. The H2 may not lack power but the output could be potentially higher.
An exhaust-driven supercharger (or turbocharger) creates a blockage in the exhaust system and produces turbo lag. Another critical part is keeping the supercharger or turbocharger’s bearing oiled.

The document shows a simplified drawing of the system. The electric motor (24) drives the supercharger (28), which stuffs air into the combustion chamber (11).
Having a supercharger not only boosts top end power but also torque throughout the engine’s rev range. It certainly does away with needing tons of RPM. Besides that, engine emissions could also be reduced.
Will we see a supercharged S 1000 RR soon? Who knows, but remember that BMW patented a carbon frame and it resulted in the S 1000 RR HP4 Race.
--Ads--


FortNine Just Reminded Us How Awesome The 1990 Honda CBR250RR Was

If you tend to go on YouTube to check out our reviews (hopefully) on the latest motorcycle in Malaysia, a certain channel called FortNine might have popped up your recommended watchlist from time to time.
Here’s a secret, we are also a fan of the Canadian-based YouTube channel too!
Anyway, recently FortNine via its host, Ryan F9 talks about the legendary 1990 Honda CBR250RR and its glorious 16-valve, inline four-cylinder engine. Which you can check out below:

Codenamed the MC22, the quarter-litre motorcycle was sold between 1992 and 1996 in the Japanese market and makes 45hp @ 14,500rpm and 23.5Nm @ 11,500rpm.
However, the most impressive feature of the CBR250RR is it 19,000rpm redline, with a 20,000rpm limiter.
As Ryan F9 brilliantly puts it “the CBR250RR is Honda’s gift to the world”.
Why you asked? Well, it has the coolest sound ever produced and you can hit the redline while in a McDonald’s drive-thru. No joke.

The amazing sound is all thanks to the bike gear-drive cams.
However, the bike function well thanks to a combination of 16 half-size Tequilla glass that works together with four-tiny pistons, including small Keihin carburettors to ensure the fuel and air mixture runs well.
Secondly, Honda did well to depict the CBR250RR as a smaller Fireblade thanks to the amazing decals and livery.
Nevertheless, as Japan lifted its license restrictions to bikes under 250cc, the demand begins to decline which resulted in the MC22 being shifted to other parts of the world.
Despite the not so happily-ever-after ending, the MC22 is still regarded as one of the coolest bikes ever produced by Honda and if you have one sitting in your garage, perhaps it’s time to take it out for a spin again as we are about to say goodbye to 2021.
What other way to welcome the new year other than redlining it in front of the your favourite mamak’s?
--Ads--


Why do Riders Still Crash Despite Traction Control, ABS?

Many modern motorcycles are equipped with electronic rider assist systems.

These systems include ABS and traction control.

But why do we still crash?

The TC and ABS lights blinked like Christmas lights gone crazy as the R 1250 RT’s rear end snapped to the right, threatening to overtake the front. MFG and CSS training told me to hold on to the gas, to not chop the throttle. So, I held a steady. The rear wheel reversed direction and slid to the left, then continued sliding the right and back to the left.
However, the intensity of the slide started to lose momentum, the slide was now smaller in degree and wound down to four right-left-right-left headshakes.
Still keeping the gas on, the bike and I continued down a straight line. Speed had dropped from 140+ km/h down to just below 100 km/h.
The above scenario wasn’t made up (no need to sumpah laknat), as it happened while I was testing the new BMW R 1250 RT. I had hit a huge rainstorm like a continuous ice bucket challenge on the way back from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur. I steered too quickly over the white line, which triggered the slide.
Traction control did work, as evidenced by the blinking lights and lower speed at the end. But this episode brought up and important question: Why do riders still crash despite rider assistance?
What do we have?

Most bikes these days are equipped with ABS, while those higher up the scale (read: more expensive) feature a whole myriad of rider assistance systems such as lean-angle sensitive traction control and ABS, engine braking control, wheelie control, vehicle stability control (slide control, in other words), rear wheel lift mitigation, etc. etc. The list of rider assistance electronics would stretch almost from A to Z.
So why do we still crash?
Lowside crash due to too much speed – Courtesy of RNikeyMouse
Rider assistance electronics are just that: TO ASSIST. While they do compensate for clumsy riding and mistakes, it’s only to a small degree as it still depends on the rider to make the correct inputs. Think about it: If the systems take over, we might as well just sit back and let the bike ride itself.
There are a number of factors

Over confidence. That’s right. I’ve met riders who think that the rider assist systems will automatically make them better riders. Sorry to burst your bubble – they don’t. Never go out there and ride without thinking of the consequences of your actions just because the “bike has the most advanced traction control system.”

I’ve seen riders keeping the TC and power settings in “slick” mode when their bikes weren’t on slick tyres and riding on public roads. Sure, they probably liked the bike’s aggressive nature in those settings but keep the consequences in mind.

Not knowing how the systems actually work. Sure, the development of rider assist has come a long way. But remember, they still depend on the rider’s inputs to work.

Let’s go back to the opening story. Things could’ve been tragically different had I shut the throttle as soon as the wheel started sliding. Snapping it shut would cause weight to transfer abruptly to the front, taking the load off the rear wheel. Besides that, engine braking will take effect. These factors will in turn worsen the slide and the bike could’ve either slid out from underneath me or worse, having the rear gripping suddenly and sending me over the high-side.
Therefore, not shutting the throttle abruptly didn’t throw in extra variables into the equation and allowed the ECU to determine the best course of action effectively and quickly.
ABS control unit
That’s the same thing with ABS leading riders to think that they wouldn’t hit an obstruction. While ABS does allow you to brake at the maximum level, hence shorten the braking distance, it’s real function is to keep the wheel from locking up into an uncontrollable skid. It also means that you can steer away from the danger – not braking hard and heading straight towards it!
Also, some riders got spooked when the brake lever started pulsing when ABS activated, causing them to release the lever instead of holding on.
So, what should I do?
The first thing you should do is nothing if the bike slides. Yes, you read that correctly. A sliding tyre is actually looking for a stable position and will find that equilibrium if you let it. Fighting it makes it worse.
If the tyres slide when you’re leaned into a corner, all you need to do it countersteer slightly on the outside handlebar to lift a little and reduce the lean angle. Just don’t lift it with your entire body because that will send you wide and overshoot the corner. Keep looking through to where you want to go and keep the bike pointed that way.
2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 S
But most of all, keep the gas on. If you really need to slow down, roll the throttle off smoothly. Snapping the throttle off is tantamount to throwing everything down the road.
The best to do is to take up advanced rider training and learn the correct fundamentals of riding. For ultimate slide control, you can learn it at Most Fun Gym (MFG). For performance riding, you can choose from Alpha Track Academy, Ducati Riding Experience (DRE), PTD, Eric Yong, et al. Also, don’t miss California Superbike School Malaysia.
--Ads--