Shell Advance Masterclass Series trains and rewards local motorcycle mechanics

The team of nine mechanics from AMS Empire Motorsport led by manager Siti Sabariah Ismail was happy to be able to attend Shell Advance Masterclass.
The Shell Advance Masterclass Series organised as part of the Shell Advance ‘Outride Anything’ roadshow exclusively for local motorcycle mechanics.
The masterclass program was setup to help gear the local mechanics with useful knowledge and tips on proper motorcycle maintenance.
A total of seven online videos were developed in collaboration with Ducati to arm the mechanics with some bike wisdom related to brake maintenance, piston replacement and many more.

As part of its new ‘Outride Anything’ brand campaign, Shell Advance has launched an exclusive Masterclass training programme built for local motorcycle mechanics. The Masterclass programme comprises of seven online videos developed in collaboration with Ducati to guide and provide mechanics with expert knowledge and tips on proper motorcycle maintenance.
More than 200 mechanics and workshop owners attended the Shell Advance Masterclass training programme recently.
Led by master mechanic Jeff Oh, he provides a step-by-step guide on important motorcycle components and maintenance such as brake services, piston replacement, valve timing setting, timing chain replacement and many more.

With the assistance of featured videos covering nine different modules targeting specific motorcycle components, local mechanics are able to learn extensively especially regarding some complicated inner workings of a motorcycle.
Over 200 bike mechanics as well as workshop owners from the Klang Valley region attended the inaugural ‘live’ session of the Shell Advance Masterclass recently praised the programme by Shell Lubricants Malaysia.
Image source: MotoGP
To make things even more exciting, those who complete watching all seven videos and successfully answer questions at the end of each video correctly by September 30, 2017 will be incentivised with a ticket to the 2017 Shell Malaysia MotoGP™ and certification from Shell Malaysia.

When asked about this very special masterclass programme, Shell Lubricants Marketing Manager – Malaysia and Singapore, Alex Lim stated that Shell has big plans to share knowledge and develop the skills of over 2,400 mechanics across the country.
“As the lubricant market and technology leader, we at Shell believe that our investment in this programme will benefit the entire value chain as it creates a pool of professionally trained and certified mechanics. Bikers will enjoy better service, workshop owners can grow their business through better customer satisfaction and the mechanics themselves can look forward to more rewarding technical careers,” stated Alex Lim.
Mechanic Muhamad Maridan Abd Kadir and his employer for the past 10 years, Ti Tai Chin.
Ti Tai Chin, 49, owner of a motorcycle workshop along Jalan Tun Razak since 1990, said that the programme was definitely helpful.
“I always encourage my mechanics to go for training programmes to continuously upgrade themselves. These are usually organised by motorcycle manufacturers and this is the first time that an oil company has made an effort to do so,” he said.

Mechanic Muhamad Maridan Abd Kadir, 30, who has worked for Ti for the past 10 years, appreciated the opportunity to learn how the professionals do it.
“The videos are easy to understand as everything is clearly shown. I also like that the trainer took time to explain about the various types of motor oil from Shell Advance and the different benefits of each,” he said.
The team of nine mechanics from AMS Empire Motorsport led by manager Siti Sabariah Ismail was happy to be able to attend Shell Advance Masterclass.
AMS Empire Motorsport Sdn Bhd manager Siti Sabariah Ismail, who brought a team of nine mechanics to the Shell Advance Masterclass session, said that it was a first experience of a proper training programme for many of them.
“They are mostly from poor backgrounds with no formal education and could not afford to enrol in vocational training institutes. These kinds of programmes are very good, especially when organised by a reputable brand such as Shell Advance.  All of them are eager to complete the modules and receive their MotoGP tickets!” she said.
The Shell Advance ‘Outride Anything’ roadshow at a Shell Advance panel workshop.
The Shell Advance Masterclass ‘live’ sessions will continue its efforts throughout the Shell Advance ‘Outride Anything’ Roadshow covering Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

The roadshow continues on until the Shell Malaysia MotoGP weekend at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC). They will be making their rounds at several selected workshops, malls and hypermarkets for the public to participate as well.

To know more about all the stops for the Shell Advance ‘Outride Anything’ Roadshow, you may visit www.shell.com.my/advanceroadshow.
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2017 Honda Rebel 500 officially launched at Art of Speed Malaysia 2017 – RM31,798!

Boon Siew Honda has officially announced that their latest 2017 Honda Rebel 500 will finally be available as part of the ‘lifestyle’ motorcycle range here in Malaysia.
The official announcement was made earlier today in conjunction with the Art of Speed Malaysia 2017 festival held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).
The all-new Rebel 500 “Bobber” is priced at RM31,798.94 (basic price with GST) for the dual-channel ABS variant.

Boon Siew Honda has officially announced that their latest 2017 Honda Rebel 500 will finally be available here in Malaysia. The launch was made official earlier today in conjunction with the 2017 Art of Speed Malaysia festival held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).

Spearing ahead as Boon Siew Honda’s flagship lifestyle motorcycle range, the latest Honda Rebel 500 represents freedom, style and overall functionality for those looking for something different in the current motorcycle market in the country. The all-new Rebel is Honda’s main weapon in getting the younger crowd to start fuelling their two-wheel passion with the perfect cruiser option at an affordable price.

“The long waited Honda Rebel will be available in Malaysia end of August 2017. This model receives overwhelming response from other countries that had launched earlier. Right here, we are showing you the H2C accessories equipped Honda Rebel where it enhances the overall consumer experience.” added by Dato Sri Datuk Wira Tan Hui Jing, Deputy Chairman and Chief Sales Officer of Boon Siew Honda on the Honda booth.

Powered by a steady 471cc, parallel twin-cylinder engine, the Rebel punches out 45.6hp at 8,500rpm and 43.2Nm of torque at 7,000rpm which is around the same range as its sportier cousin, the Honda CBR500R. This makes it a very suitable option for those looking for their first middleweight cruiser with adequate power that won’t burn a gigantic hole in their wallets.

All that power is transferred down to the rear wheel via a six-speed manual transmission with a final chain drive for maximum yet efficient power delivery. All these power and torque figures are wrapped around in a very stylish cruiser that some might even call a “Bobber” which is fast becoming a trend setter in the motorcycle industry for 2017.

We’ve tested the Rebel 500 before during a special media test ride session a couple of months ago at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and based on reliable sources, we can confirm that the all-new 2017 Honda Rebel 500 will be available in August.

While we previously guessed that the Rebel 500 will be priced at around the RM35,000 mark, Boon Siew Honda gave everyone a very pleasant surprise when they announced that the final pricing is only RM31,798.94 (basic price with GST). That price pays for a very stylish cruiser or “Bobber” with dual-channel ABS system thrown into the package.
Not bad, Boon Siew Honda. Not bad at all.

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2020 Honda Forza 300 unveiled – ‘Air Force’ Grey

The updated 2020 Honda Forza 300 has just been unveiled where the previous maxi-scooter offering has been upgraded for an improved ownership experience in the premium mid-size scooter segment. If you’re in the market for a 300cc scooter that can be used as a daily bike or even some fun time during those weekend riders, the 2020 Honda Forza 300 might be worth considering.

For 2020, owners can get it in the limited edition Exclusive ‘Air Force’ Grey colour scheme; a mix of grey and gloss black for an added ‘premium’ touch. Dimensions of the 2020 Honda Forza 300 remains the same apart from a revised chassis that offer a higher seat height and improved visibility.

Its 279cc liquid-cooled fuel-injected SOHC four-valve engine offers 18.5kW at 7,000rpm and 27.2Nm of maximum torque at 5,750rpm. Top speed? Limited to 130km/h. You can further upgrade your Forza with a host of optional accessories which includes 45-litre Smart top box, rear carrier rack (direct fitment), inner bags, heated grips, and alarm

The Forza 300 is also enhanced with the addition of Honda Selectable Torque Control (HTSC) that can be turned on and off by owners. Talking about range, riding sensibly will offer you over 350km with a single full tank of fuel (11.5 litres) which is more than enough to cover a few days of your daily travels.

Other specs include:

Electrically adjustable front windscreen
Full LED lights
Smart Key
Huge under-seat storage (enough for two full-face helmets)
12V charging socket (under the seat)
Two-channel ABS

The 2020 Honda Forza will be available in five different colour options which are Crescent Blue Metallic, Pearl Nightstar Black, Matt Cynos Grey Metallic, Matt Pearl Cool White, and of course, the limited edition Exclusive ‘Air Force’ Grey.

Ten Best Honda Production Motorcycles (Part 2)

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Custom BMW S 1000 RR by Revival Cycles

The folks from Revival Cycles built a custom BMW S 1000 RR with a ‘vintage’ appeal.

Based in Texas, USA, the team envisioned the bike to be a classic race paired with all of its performance magnificence.

Custom alloy fairings and other performance-inspired parts were all included to further enhance the bike’s capabilities as a racer.

Not a lot of folks would tear down a perfectly awesome modern-day superbike and build it up into something completely out of the ordinary. While most folks would consider this as a very daunting task, Revival Cycles from Texas, USA went through this journey and the result is simply outstanding.

The journey started back in 2015 when BMW Motorrad USA invited Revival Cycles to the official launch of the BMW S 1000 RR. It took them a while to see some potential in customising the crotch-rocket beast but fast forward a few years later and a light bulb lit up for something ‘vintage’.

BMW Motorrad USA commissioned a brand new S 1000 RR for them to work with and the first thing they did with it was break it in so that the bike can run up to its full potential. A few runs around the Circuit of the Americas with the help of a few friends did the job quickly and efficiently.

After re-flashing the ECU to unleash all of its 200 horses, the team got down to its bare essentials and begun all of the customisation works. The folks from Revival Cycles tried a few modifications to the bike’s exhaust system and ECU tunings but the brand new S 1000 RR was considered to be ‘perfect’ in the performance department.

With that being said, they began working on the bike’s aesthetics instead. Some brand new alloy fairings were built to further enhance the bike’s smooth flowing facade which was made possible thanks to a new subframe. Everything from the bike’s ECU, electronics to its battery were all housed in the subframe.

Some side fairings and belly pan were all shaped by hand to give that ‘organic’ feel to the hyper-modern track machine. They even customised the fuel tank to ensure that the bike can carry up to 22 litres of fuel! This move was inspired by the bikes used in the world of endurance racing.

This particular custom BMW S 1000 RR may look ‘vintage’ but it is anything but that. Despite the looks, the bike still has 200hp at its disposal and based from our personal experiences, the BMW S 1000 RR is indeed one hell of a performance machine.

Image credit: Motorcycle.com
Ten Innovations by BMW Motorrad

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Shah Alam Stadium will Host Final Round of the FIM Asia Supermoto Championship 2016

The fourth and final round of the FIM Asia Supermoto Championship will be held at the Shah Alam Stadium on the 17 – 18 December 2016
Image source: fim.asia

Over 20 international riders from 14 countries will be contending for the last time in this year’s season of the FIM Supermoto Championship for overall standing and championship title. They will battle it out one last time this season from 17-18 December 2016 at the Shah Alam Stadium.
This is definitely a historic moment for the FIM Asia Supermoto Championship when they convert the stadium area into the deciding track as the battle grounds on who will be the overall champion of the 2016 series.

When asked about the choice of venue, the CEO of Asia Supersports Group, Satheswaran Mayachandran stated “Shah Alam Stadium has a strong history and reputation in hosting various international sports and activities. Crowning the championship’s overall champion will be historical for the race.”

Currently leading the championship with 121 points is our very own local supermoto hero, Muhd Habibullah or better known as “Gabit”.  Not too far from the top rider is Australian Andy McLiesh who is currently trailing Gabit in second spot by just 14 points. These two supermoto legends will fight it out for the Open International Class championship in two weeks time.
Image source: fim.asia
Another local talent and brother to Gabit, Mohd. Al-Amirul Ashshahid aka “Gaban”, is also in the running to grab the third overall placing in the championship.
The two brothers, Gabit and Gaban, are also competing for the title in the Asian Class. The battle for third place is still up for grabs with another Malaysian, Mohd Khairi Zakaria, battling it out with Japanese supermoto sensation, Takashi Sasaki.
Image source: fim.asia
The final round of the FIM Asia Supermoto Championship 2016 is something that all motorsport enthusiasts should look out for on the 17th and 18th December 2016 at the historic Shah Alam Stadium. This round will be the championship decider and as the awesome Malaysian supporters that we all are, the local riders will need all the support they can get to get the job done and once again put the Malaysian name on the map of international motorsports.
Apart from the supermoto races, there will also be a lot of activities at the street fiesta where spectators can bring the whole family to have a fun-filled weekend. With all this planned for the finale, we sure can’t wait for that weekend to arrive.

FIM Asia Supermoto Championship is organised by Asia Supersports Group, a consortium of three companies namely Bikenation Motorsports Sdn Bhd, CW Media Sdn Bhd and E-Plus Entertainment Productions (M) Sdn Bhd, with international supporters from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Malaysia Major Events, Destination NSW, Tourism Hunter, Newcastle City Council, FIM Asia, Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM), KYT, KTM Malaysia,Premium World Motorsports (PWM) Sdn Bhd, official distributor of Husqvarna in Malaysia, RK South Asia Sdn Bhd and iM4U.
For more information, you can visit the FIM Asia Supermoto Championship Facebook page.
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Yamaha Malaysia Launches New EZ115, Priced at RM5,598!

The new EZ115 is aimed at who value practicality and convenience.
But it also boasts performance, there’s a one-make series in CubPrix being planned.
Priced at RM5,598, other underbone makers should be worried.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor kicked off 2023 with the launch of a new underbone motorcycle, the Euro-4 compliant Yamaha EZ115.

Yamaha says the new EZ115 boasts features that promise better performance and easier utility for any lifestyle need. And it is not difficult to see why Yamaha would be so confident to release such a statement.

At the core of the new Yamaha ‘kapcai’ is a single-cylinder 114cc engine that puts out 8.7PS at 7,000rpm and 9.5Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. This is good enough for anyone’s day to day utility usage.

And it’s quite economical to run too, with a fuel tank that measures in at just 3.9-litres, that will cost just RM7 to fill up.

But the true nature of the Yamaha EZ115 is in the convenience that the bike has to offer. The EZ115 offers a large headlight for clearer nighttime visibility, an ECO light indicator that will allow the rider to keep an eye on his riding style to maximise fuel consumption, and more importantly, there’s decent under-seat storage for any grocery runs.

Yamaha though has full confidence in the performance of the bike and will be organising a one-make race series.

“To demonstrate the exemplary performance and capabilities of the Yamaha EZ115, we will be having a one-make-race with this model in the 2023 Malaysian CubPrix race. We hope to show everyone the potential of this new motorcycle, and what Yamaha’s new model can do,” said Dato Dr Jim Khor, Group Managing Director, Hong Leong Industries Berhad.

The all-new Yamaha EZ115 comes in three colours: Red, Blue and Cyan. The new EZ115 will be available at all authorised outlets beginning today (January 16th, 2023) at a recommended retail price of RM5,598 excluding registration fees and insurance coverage.
Blue

Cyan

Red

Features

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ARCH Motorcycle Debuts 2019 ARCH KRGT-1

The ARCH KRGT-1 isn’t the usual custom power cruiser.

The new bike features 20 major changes and 150 newly-designed components.

Power is supplied by a 124 cubic inch (2032 cc) V-Twin.

ARCH Motorcycle Company was co-founded by Keanu Reeves.

First and foremost, California-based ARCH Motorcycle was co-founded by Gard Hollinger and Keanu Reeves.
Yes, Keanu Reeves a.k.a. John Wick a.k.a. Neo.

What’s different about ARCH Motorcycle and the ARCH KRGT-1 is that each bike is tailored to the ergonomic and aesthetic wishes of each customer in close partnership throughout a 90-day process.
But that’s just part of the the bike’s appeal. It’s a power cruiser that’s created to charge, brake and steer.
The new KRGT-1 includes 20 major changes and more than 150 newly-designed and manufactured components. The changes include a redesigned bodywork, upgraded suspension, ergonomic enhancements, updated brake components and safety features.
Let’s take a look at some of them.
ENGINE

Substituting guns, lots of guns, the real firepower comes from 124 good ol’ American cubic inches.
To us cubic centimetre devotees, that’s 2032 cc, courtesy of the ARCH X S&S V-Twin engine.
It started as an S&S block but was custom-engineered by ARCH to feature an in-house designed downdraft induction and proprietary K&N filter.
The ARCH 2-into-1 stainless steel header and exhaust ends with a Yoshimura silencer.
The engine is EPA (Environmental Agency) and CARB (California Air Resources Board) certified.

CHASSIS

It’s a cliché to say a powerful bike that couldn’t handle makes for a good artificial reef, but not the KRGT-1.
Race-inspired aluminium swingarm manufactured from billet — increases rigidity and reducing unsprung weight for better handling.
The frame utilises billet aluminium side plates where the updated swingarm pivot and engine isolation mounts are attached.

The rear suspension uses a fully-adjustable Öhlins shock which was made specifically for ARCH.
The front suspension consists of 48 mm Öhlins NIX cartridge forks. (Öhlins developed the NIX technology for World Superbike and World Supersport racing.)
The forks are held by new billet aluminium aluminium triple clamps.

BRAKES

The KRGT-1 uses ISR 6-piston monobloc front brake calipers.
The diameter of the pistons were increased for even better stopping power and feel.
ARCH worked directly with Bosch to develop the dual-channel ABS.

BODYWORK

Redesigned fuel tank, tail section and seat to increase rider comfort.
The billet aluminium fuel tank has a 19 litre capacity.
Base of the seat is composite.
Redesigned, reshaped and resized cowling (flyscreen) to reduce wind buffeting.

Also to accommodate a new instrument panel.
It also complements the new J.W. Speaker Adaptive 2 headlamp.
Front and rear mudguards are carbon fibre.

CONTROLS

Updated hand and foot controls, using Magura clutch and front brake levers.
Black Tek (BST) five-spoke carbon fibre wheels.

Michelin Commander II tyres — 120/70ZR19 front, 240/40ZR 18 rear.

“The KRGT-1 was originally designed to realize the potential and push the boundaries of what an American V-twin motorcycle could offer,” says ARCH Motorcycle co-founder Gard Hollinger. “Our new KRGT-1 stays true to the original objective while further developing and refining the motorcycle’s design and performance elements to enhance the overall riding experience.”
“The new KRGT-1 delivers on ARCH Motorcycle’s ambition: a beautiful and extraordinary machine that handles like no other motorcycle. Through the curves, down the straights, planted, confident, comfortable, it’s an unsurpassed riding experience,” says ARCH Motorcycle co-founder Keanu Reeves. “The focus on fit and finish, the detail, the execution, the exceptional quality, how the bike is made defines ARCH.”

In short, the ARCH KRGT-1 isn’t just a run-of-the-mill custom motorcycle. It’s a unique machine that oozes appeal and desirability.
No, we don’t think every purchase includes a puppy. (Sorry, we couldn’t help it.)
Please visit ARCH Motorcycle Company’s website for more details.
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Indian Motorcycles 2016 models announced

Indian Motorcycles 2016 models were announced last week by the American manufacturer. Similar to rivals Victory, Indian Motorcycles’ 2016  model updates go only as far as cosmetics and new colours. However, all models in the range can be now equipped with EU certified accessory Remus exhaust pipes.

2016 Scout
With its compact design, low 643mm seat height and ABS as standard, the Indian Scout boasts a liquid-cooled 1133cc V-twin engine, with 100b on tap. For 2016 the Scout comes in five colours. Wildfire Red(new), Thunder Black, Thunder Black Smoke, Silver Smoke, Indian Motorcycle Red.

2016 Chief
Riders can now opt for the Chief Classic (cruiser) with its classic looks, much cleaner now following some re-work carried out for 2016: solo vinyl seat, black switches, single headlight and cast aluminium wheels. It now also only comes in one colour; Pearl White.
Next there’s the Chief Vintage (bagger) with its beautiful fringed leather saddlebags and seats, and quick-release windshield (all as standard) making this the option for those who plan to ride on extended road trips. Four colours are available with one of these being new for 2016.
The Chieftain (bagger) has a large fairing with a power-adjustable windscreen (to offer superb cruising comfort), genuine leather seats and hard saddlebags with remote central-locking. It’s available in four colours in 2016 with two of these new.

Finally there’s the Chief Dark Horse, which is matte black from end-to-end with only a few flashes of chrome (accessories are available to fully blacked it out).

2016 Roadmaster
The Roadmaster is all about comfort for long distance cruising, and will be available in five colour options with three of them being new.
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BMW K1600-based bagger coming soon?

Rumours abound that the BMW K1600-based bagger, the Concept 101, will debut as a road bike later this year.

If you haven’t realised it yet, BMW Motorrad is a brand that has a knack at turning its concept bikes into production realities. With that in mind, the recent rumours of the BMW K1600-based Concept 101 bagger making it debut as a road bike later this year seems sound.
A statement made by BMW Motorrad CEO Stephan Schaller during the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este held recently in Lake Como, Italy fuelled the model’s rumoured debut. Though Schaller remained coy with details, his statement hinted at a “nice surpise” that will be revealed later this year.

We reckon that surprise would be none other than the production version of the Concept 101.
Revealed last year, the BMW Concept 101 sees the BMW K1600 sport-touring bike reborn as a classic American-styled bagger. Clearly, BMW aims rival against the long-dominant Harley-Davidson marque and the likes of the Goldwing-based Honda F6B.
The Concept 101 underpins the BMW K1600 model series’ architecture whilst retaining the 1,649cc in-line six-cylinder powertrain too. Said engine is known for outputting 158hp and 175Nm of torque that sent to the rear wheel using a shaft-drive setup as well.

Our source reports that the BMW K1600-based bagger will debut as early as autumn, perhaps during this year’s edition of the INTERMOT motorcycle show held in Cologne, Germany. If not, we can certainly expect the bike to debut later during the annual EICMA show in Milan, Italy instead.
Should the German marque unveil its new road-going bagger, segment favourites like Harley-Davidson, Honda and even Victory may have to face off stiff competition from a new European player. However, we are indeed curious to know if a German-engineered, American-styled bagger would appease consumers from this segment.
Rest assured, we will keep an eye out for this new German bagger when INTERMOT 2016 opens its doors in October this year.

Source: Autoevolution
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MotoGP: Yamaha dominates Qatar Test

The three-day MotoGP test in Qatar has finally concluded with some very interesting results from the entire grid. One thing is for sure is that Yamaha has got it locked down when it comes to putting down some incredible lap times, particularly Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) who was the fastest out of all the three days.

The young Spaniard showcased promising results in the first two days of testing at the Losail International Circuit but exponentially increased his pace by the end of Day 3. Combined times for all sessions saw Vinales on top of the timesheets with the Petronas Yamaha SRT duo, Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo close behind in P2 and P3.

The 2020 Yamaha M1 package seems to be working with most of the Yamaha riders apart from Valentino Rossi who is still adapting to the bike. The nine-time world champion did, however, state that he’s happier with this season’s package and might possibly be more competitive compared to last season.

The latest Yamaha YZR-M1 can be seen testing their very own version of the holeshot device, a mechanism that drops the rear before the start of the race to gain more traction and power delivery without suffering from wheelieing. Other manufacturers have tested similar parts, with Ducati going a step further with their ‘active’ ride height configurator (which can be modulated during the race and not just the start).
Noticed how low the rear end dropped when the holeshot device is used
The first round of MotoGP 2020 will commence in two weeks’ time at the same venue and by the looks of things, Yamaha might have what it takes to take the crown this season with the current champion, Marc Marquez, struggling with his injuries as well as a difficult 2020 Honda RC213V machine. Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more updates.

Source: MotoGP
2020 Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP team launch with THREE riders?

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Sepang Test: Enea Bastianini Ends Day 2 As The Fastest

Enea Bastianini made surprise improvement towards the end of last season as the young Italian managed to collect 71 points during the final six rounds of the 2021 MotoGP season.
After making a switch to Gresini Racing onboard the Ducati GP21, the 24-year-old is among the fastest rider in Day 1 and 2 at the Official MotoGP Sepang Test.

Bastianini clocked second fastest in Day 1 with 1 minute 58.638 seconds, one of only two riders who managed to do under 1m58s alongside Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro who came out on top.
However, Bastianini further improve his lap time at Day 2 and emerged as the fastest rider of the day with 1m 58.131s ahead of Espargaro’s 1m 58.157s.

According to Bastianini, the Ducati GP21 offers a lot of improvements compared to Avintia’s Ducati GP19, the bike he rode throughout of his rookie season last year.
“I’ts better in every part of the track. You can brake later and also I like a lot the rear because it’s more stable.
“Especially when I have the new tyre on the rear I can open throttle aggressively compared to the GP19,” he said.
After making a great impression towards the end of the last season, the rider is expected to make a significant leap for 2022.
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CBR650F & CB650F Pricing is Out! Along with a Few Surprises from KTM and SUZUKI

It’s an exciting week as three bike brands made an “announcement” one after another with revealing a new product or long awaited pricing.
It started with Suzuki posting on their facebook site a banner that says the Suzuki GSR750 will be launched here in October at RM53,888 and it will be a CBU unit from Japan itself.
The Suzuki GSR750 is one of the most popular Suzuki models and one of the best in its class. Its powered by a 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine with a displacement of 749cc.
It generates a maximum power of 105hp at 10000rpm and 80Nm of torque at 9000rpm. All that is transferred to the rear wheel through a six speed constant mesh transmission.
No other information about the bike as we have not been able to get any official statement from Suzuki.

Fresh from its global reveal is the KTM RC390 and RC200, its not even officially launched yet but the Malaysian dealers are already taking orders for this radical mini supersport.
They are estimating the price to be lower than at RM28,000 for the RC390 and no less than RM18,000 for the RC200. The two bikes will be CKD models coming from the CKD plant in Jitra Kedah.
KTM officials wont confirm or deny but they did confirm that the bikes are already in the plant.

And last but not least is apparently a price announcement by one of the
Honda dealers on the CBR650F and CB 650F posted on facebook. Both models were launched in June but no price was announced however it was teased at between RM45,000 to RM50,000.
According to that dealer, the CB650F is priced at RM39,999 and the CBR650F at RM41,999. Both prices however are not including insurance and road tax yet.
Again no official statement by Boon Siew Honda but do tune in to this page as we will update you with more information as time goes on.
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Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE and Ernie Vigil’s Awesome Result at the Mexican 1000 Rally

The Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE and Ernie Vigil finished fifth overall at the Mexican 1000 rally.

The bike was stock apart from the necessary rally items such as headlamps, engine protection bars and seat.

Triumph and Vigil went up against dedicated 450cc rally raiders.

Remember Triumph Motorcycles entering the Mexican 1000 rally with the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE with Ernie Vigil Riding? They have just notched up an amazing result on a stock bike!
Triumph and Vigil had wanted to enter the “Real Deal” (nickname for the Scrambler 1200) in the Baja 1000 rally. The manufacturer was eager to show that they have a realscrambler over the other scramblers.  However, they were forced to rescind the plan when the former was injured before the race.

The next best thing to do as entering in the Mexican 1000. The rally is a 1,307-mile (1659.2 kilometres), 5-day event where the competitors use the same route as the Baja 1000.

Triumph and Vigil finished fifth overal against dedicated 450cc dirt-bikes that were further “enhanced” for the event. Remember, the Scrambler 1200 XE was stock except for the necessary rally equipment such as engine crash bars, lights and seat. Also bear in mind that the Scrambler 1200 weighed in at 205 kg dry, while the Honda CRF450R race bike weighed only 112kg wet!
The bike suffered no mechanical failures, but an unfortunate failure with the Michelin BIB Mousse tyre filler. The filler is used to seal punctures during off-road riding. Luckily for team, their support vehicle wasn’t far behind to render assistance. Bike and rider were on their way after a tyre swap. They would’ve finished even higher up the order if not for the unfortunate occurrence.

While fifth wasn’t an outright victory, it is a victory in terms of technical excellence for a bike which is stock. It just goes to show that Triumph’s done the right thing in building the Scrambler 1200.
Source and photos: Ride Apart
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First Vespa 3S showroom launched in Kuching, Sarawak

Didi Resources, the official custodian for the Vespa brand here in Malaysia, has officially launched the first Vespa 3S showroom in Kuching, Sarawak. Offering the full range of Vespa scooters, accessories, and apparel, folks living in the area can also expect great aftersales services to cater to anything and everything Vespa.

Known as Yong Sport Motor or Vespa Kuching, the Vespa 3S showroom is the first of its kind in the state of Sarawak. According to Mr Rewi Hamid Bugo, Chairman, Didi Resources Sdn Bhd., “I would like to thank and congratulate Yong Sport Motor (Vespa Kuching) for introducing and carries the Vespa brand in Sarawak, which will help us to further strengthen our positioning and boost our presence in Malaysia. The opening of Vespa Kuching also reflects the strengthening of the distribution network of Vespa in Malaysia.”

Located in Hakka Avenue Estate, this showroom offers all the latest Vespa models available here in the Malaysian market. It’s also a cool hangout place where they offer a waiting lounge and other amenities while you wait for your beloved Vespa to get serviced. A true one-stop-shop for the brand in Sarawak.

Vespa Malaysia has introduced a number of special edition models in the past three months which includes the Racing Sixties, Sei Giorni II, (Vespa Primavera) RED, and Primavera Sean Wotherspoon edition. They are available in limited numbers and for those in Sarawak who wants to get their hands on any of these, you’ll know where to go!

Written by: Sep Irran
Vespa Primavera Sean Wotherspoon now in Malaysia – RM24,960

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Kawasaki Malaysia launches Kawasaki Safety and Responsible Riding Course

Kawasaki Motors Malaysia (KMSB) has officially launched the Kawasaki Safety and Responsible Riding Course.
Together with the support from their principal Kawasaki Heavy Industries and K-TEC Corporation Japan, the program is intended to ultimately reduce the number of accidents involving motorcyclists in Malaysia.
The course will be offered to new and current Kawasaki owners to further enhance their riding ability through theory and practical programs.

In an effort to further strengthen their Corporate Social Responsibility initiative here in Malaysia, Kawasaki Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd (KMSB) has launched a new program called the Kawasaki Safety and Responsible Riding Course (KSRR). The program was officially launched earlier today at the Sepang International Kart Circuit.

This is the first ever safety program to be organised by KMSB together with their principal, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. together with K-TEC Corporation Japan. With the aim to promote safety and responsible riding for all Kawasaki owners in the country, KMSB hopes to lower the number of accidents affecting motorcyclists through theory and practical activities embedded within this new course.

Present today was Hiroyuki Saito, President of K-TEC Corporation who said “Today, KMSB is holding the first safety riding school. It is a great honour and delight that K-TEC is able to work with KMSB and KHI for this program and is able to contribute to the promotion of traffic safety and the prevention of accidents involving motorcycles here in Malaysia,”

“Through this program, we obtain the opportunity to share with Malaysian customers our knowledge and skills of the operation of motorcycles, which has been accumulated over a long time within our company” added Saito.

According to Ahmad Faez Tan Sri Yahaya, Executive Chairman of KMSB, “With Kawasaki Rideology concept incorporated in our motorcycles and the rider training program at Kawasaki Safety and Responsible Riding Course, we can offer current and new customers opportunity to enhance their riding ability for a safer and enjoyable experience. Kawasaki motorcycles are meant to be fun to rid and exciting to go places, for customers to enjoy and to let the good times roll.”

Through this program, Kawasaki owners will be able to access the major contributors of road accidents through vital data as well as practical training thanks to KMSB’s very own trained instructors certified by K-TEC and Kawasaki Japan. This will help to ensure that all participants will learn, experience and ultimately enhance their overall riding ability.

To know more about the Kawasaki Safety and Responsible Riding Course, head on over to their official website or Facebook page.

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Ferrari bike patent surfaces

Leaked patents show plans of a Ferrari bike with new V-twin engine.

Storied Italian supercar makers Ferrari appears to be readying itself to expand into the performance bikes market.

Based on leaked patent documents, the iconic prancing horse marque has submitted design patents of what appears to be a new V-twin configuration type engine. The patent documents also show the mill being placed in a generic motorcycle body sketch, reinforcing the rumour of the firm’s interest of expanding into the two-wheels segment.

Furthermore, the document’s description by inventor Favaretto Fabrizio shows several unique traits. One of which is the mill’s adoption of ‘balancing masses’ instead of a typical balancing shafts most V-twins have. This supposedly helps in reducing the mill’s weight and reciprocating inertial forces.
Additionally, Ferrari also recently submitted a trademark application for the ‘Cavalinno’ nameplate, with intent on using it to christen a new vehicle. The firm however has refused to comment on the matter, so it remains unclear whether the trademark and engine design patent are related. Iterestingly though, the ‘Cavalinno’ name and reference, which means ‘pony’ in Italian, is used throughout the leaked patent.

Though it has never created a bike before in its history, Ferrari did allow one ‘official’ use of its badge on a motorcycle in 1995 for a specially built custom bike made by Peter Kay Engineering (see the bike here).
Nevertheless, the idea of a new performance bike instead of an SUV or sedan carrying the prancing horse badge is an interesting one to say the least.
Source: Visordown and Asphaltandrubber
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Video:Pirelli MV Agusta Diablo Brutale revealed

Pirelli and MV Agusta teams up for one off Diablo Brutale to commemorate their partnership.

Italian motorcycle artisans MV Agusta recently teamed up with Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli in building this special ‘Diablo Brutale’. Based on the MV Agusta Brutale 800 streetfighter, the one off creation celebrates the long-standing partnership held by both MV Agusta and Pirelli.

Firstly, the Diablo Brutale comes dressed in a special and unique livery that was penned to match with the high-tech Pirelli tyres it comes shod with. Speaking of which, this one off bike comes equipped with Pirelli’s new Diablo Rosso III high performance superbike tyre.

Notably, the bike’s tubular steel trellis frame finished in a fiery red paint. Complementing that are a series of dark black accents that can also be found in the front fender, underseat and tail section. Besides that, the tank and fender features a decorations that boast the “thunder” groove – a signature trait of the Pirelli tread pattern.
For now, the Pirelli MV Agusta Diablo Brutale remains as a one-off creation, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the storied Varese-based manufacturer decides otherwise and prepares a handful of these for a select few.
Sources: Pirelli via AutoEvolution
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Battle of the teams in Pasir Gudang Cub Prix

After a nine year absence, the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship will be making a return to the legendary Johor Circuit in Pasir Gudang for the finale of the 2015 season this November 20 and 21, 2015.

But with the riders titles bagged and sealed by Ahmad Fazrul Sham (CP130), Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin (CP115) and Mohd Harith Farhan Baharin (Wira), the attention now shifts to the title chase between the teams fighting for the Team Award in the main categories.
In the CP130 premiere class, three teams are still in contention for the title. PETRONAS Yamaha CKJ currently rules the roost with 211 points. The CKJ trio comprising of Mohd Affendi Rosli, Mohd Fitri Ashraf Razali and Ahmad Afif Amran will be tasked with the responsibility of maintaining the team’s 29-point lead against their rivals from teams PETRONAS Yamaha Maju Motor and Harian Metro Y-TEQ SCK Honda.

Meanwhile, the competition for the Team Award in the CP115 class has come down to a tussle between teams PETRONAS Yamaha Maju Motor and Motul Yamaha YY Pang.
“There will be no let up in the high level of competition, even though the 2015 champions have already been confirmed. There is still plenty to fight for, especially with their team honour now on the line. Ahmad Fazrul Sham may be the new CP130 champion, but his team, Yamalube AHM, is not even in contention for the Team Award because they had to rely solely on Fazrul to bring in the points,” said Cub Prix’s Operations Chief, Shafry Azizan.

“Over the past few rounds, the focus in the Championship has narrowed down to the fight between the two Sham brothers (Ahmad Fazrul Sham and his elder brother Ahmad Fazli Sham). Now at the final leg of the 2015 season, we find the spotlight widening again to include the nine riders representing the three rival teams. Fans coming to the circuit can expect to see team strategies and team orders being implemented on the race track.”
The 3.86km Johor Circuit, the oldest race track in Malaysia, will serve as the final battleground to what has been an exciting 2015 season. Built in 1986, the Johor Circuit is the oldest motorsports venue in Malaysia and has, in its time, hosted many international events such as the MotoGP.

“The last Cub Prix race to be held at the Johor Circuit was in 2006. We hope that this return to the venerable old circuit will herald a second renaissance for the grande dame of Malaysian motorsports,” Shafry concluded.
Entry for spectators to the final leg of the 2015 PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship is free for the public.

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New Honda Monkey in the works?

Ah yes, the Honda Monkey. Amazing during its unveiling, iconic throughout history, and timeless even by today’s standards. It turns out that its evolution is far from over as Honda is currently working on a more ‘compact’ version of the Honda Monkey 125 mini-bike. Is it possible? Looking at the filed patents, apparently so!

As we look closer at the filing, there’s not a lot to go by but we’ll try to break it down for you the best way we can. The new Honda mini-bike plans to have a shorter wheelbase compared to the Honda Monkey 125 as well as a slightly bigger rake and trail upfront. That’ll give the new mini-bike a more ‘chopper’ like façade but when you’re on a bike that tiny, it won’t make much of a difference.

The other thing that is quite intriguing is how the engine and transmission unit are placed within the filed patent. While the current Monkey runs a 125cc single-cylinder engine with a manual four-speed gearbox, Honda’s new mini machine resembles more like a scooter. This means that its new mini-bike will be automatic, which makes sense in the financial department.

The Monkey remains to be one of Honda’s most iconic bikes around the globe but in some markets, it is widely viewed as a bit too pricey, especially considering that it’s only a 125cc motorcycle. If Honda can find a way to drive down the price without sacrificing any of the Monkey’s signature looks, we’re guessing that they’ll probably see a spike in sales.
Kitaco Honda Monkey 125 Café – Edgy but Still Cute

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Bajaj To Introduce Pulsar RS400 Later This Year?

Bajaj Auto is planning to expand the current Pulsar range to target more significant demographics.
Based on latest reports in India, Bajaj is looking to launch its top of the line Pulsar RS400 later this year.
Even though the “rumours” were squashed last year, it looks like the Pune-based manufacturer is going ahead with the plans after  a great response with the Dominar 400.
The RS400 will be powered by the same liquid-cooled, 373.2cc engine that powers the Bajaj Dominar and KTM 390 and produces 41hp and 34.5Nm.
Meanwhile, Bajaj is also looking to launch a Pulsar 180 naked sports motorcycle based on the semi-faired 180F.
It will be powered by a single-cylinder, air-cooled 178.6cc engine that generates 16.6hp and 14.52Nm and mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
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ARRC: Azlan Shah wins first ASB1000 race!

The first round of ARRC (Asia Road Racing Championship) saw Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman taking the first ever win the ASB1000 class.

The ONEXOX TKKR SAG Racing Team rider and his BMW S 1000 RR delivered a masterclass victory at the Sepang International Circuit.

Thitipong Warokorn (KAWASAKI Thailand Racing Team) and Ahmad Yudhistira (VICTOR RACING TEAM) completed the podium spots in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Racing Team)

Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman from the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Racing Team has created history by winning the first ever ASB1000 race earlier today during the first round of the ARRC (Asia Road Racing Championship) 2019. On board the powerful BMW S 1000 RR, the 35-year-old national rider delivered a masterclass victory in Race 1 against Asia’s best riders.

It was a battle of wits and strengths as the grid was filled with top riders including 2nd place finisher, Thitipong Warokorn (KAWASAKI Thailand Racing Team), Broc Parkes (YAMAHA Racing Team ASEAN) and many more. Most of the race was led by Warakorn and his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R SE but with difficult conditions and the blistering opposition and pace by Azlan Shah, the Thai Kawasaki rider concluded Race 1 in second place.

Legendary Aussie rider, Broc Parkes completed the final podium position in the blistering heat where the riders with different bikes and settings managed to deliver one eventful race results of the newly-formed premier class.

As for the SuperSports 600cc category, Peerapong Booniert (YAMAHA Thailand Racing Team) managed to fend off Malaysia’s very own Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (Hong Leong YAMAHA Malaysia) for the victory in the first race of the season. It was a close battle between the Yamaha duo but Peerapong maintained a textbook performance and took advantage from a couple of mistakes made by Kasma Daniel.
Peerapong Booniert (YAMAHA Thailand Racing Team)
Muhamad Adam Mohd Norrodin (SIC Junior ZK Racing) also celebrated his first podium finish in the ARRC by crossing the finish line in 3rd place behind the two Yamaha riders. It was a morale-boosting finish for the ex-Moto3 rider and by the looks of things, Adam Norrodin is just going to produce more positive results here in ARRC.

Race 2 of the ARRC first round will commence tomorrow (10 March 2019) starting with UB150 at 1.10pm, AP250 at 1.55pm, SS600 at 2.45pm, and ASB1000 at 3.50pm. To know more, head over to www.asiaroadracingchampionship.com.
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Benelli Introduces “MyBenelli” Mobile App In Europe

Benelli is the latest motorcycle manufacturer to introduce its mobile application, namely the “MyBenelli” in Europe.
Downloadable on Android and iOS devices, the application allows riders to receive a host of information pertaining to their motorcycle on a real-time basis.

Developed in collaboration with MOTO.APP, riders can also share content on social media and get in touch with other “MyBenelli” app users, including accessing the brand catalogue or e-shop.
It can also inform riders of the motorcycle battery condition, plan maintenance and helps to find the nearest service centre.

The new application will work with Benelli (2021) range above 500cc as all of the motorcycle will come equipped with a b-box, a proprietary black box that can communicate with the “MyBenelli” app.
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Ten Most Unusual Production Motorcycles (Part 3)

Please click here for Part 1 (Suzuki RE5) and here for Part 2 (Honda CBX1000) of the Ten Most Unusual Production Bikes series.
YAMAHA GTS1000
Fork dive – compression of the forks when the brakes are applied – has been something that gave chassis and suspension engineers migraine headaches ever since BMW featured the first production hydraulically damped telescopic fork on the R12 in 1934.

Fork dive is counter-productive; as little suspension travel is left to soak up bumps in order to keep the front wheel planted to the road. If the bumps are large enough or if there are multiple successive ones, the front wheel will start to hop as it runs out travel, causing loss of traction, instability and potentially loss of control. (Or a rolling stoppie!)

Besides that, most riders find it disconcerting when the forks bottom all the way down, leading to loss of confidence, leading them to either release the brakes and/or failing to turn into a corner.
Well, many folks decided it was time to eliminate front end dive, and one notable solution was presented by the ELF Racing Team GP racer in the late-70’s through to the late-80’s, ridden by one Ron Haslam. The single-sided swingarm front suspension removed shock absorbing and damping duties from the steering head, in the pursuit of making the front end more stable under extreme braking. Honda saw a potential in the program and started supplying racing engines to the team.

A designer named James Parker also saw the capability of the single-sided swingarm front suspension and went about designing his own, which he then named together with his company, Rationally Advanced Design Development – RADD.
His first prototype was based around a Honda XL600R engine and frame, donated by Honda USA, which he got a young dirt tracker and Superbike rider, one who will one day become a 3-time 500cc World Champion, to test ride it. He was Wayne Rainey.

Rainey was impressed by the handling and feedback of the front suspension. Honda Japan wasn’t interested, however, as they were already involved with ELF.
Parker went on to work on a Yamaha FZ750 next and the finished project named RADD MC2 was revealed at the 1987 Milan Motorcycle Exhibition.

Yamaha Japan got wind of the MC2 and began work on their own project, called the Morpho, without Parker’s approval. When Parker found out, he negotiated with Yamaha to license his designs before the Morpho was unveiled in 1989. But the project hit a roadblock as Yamaha has always outsourced fork production to contractors.

However, there’s light at the end of the tunnel for Parker’s RADD concept as Yamaha Europe demanded that Yamaha Japan build a new sport-tourer. That’s where the RADD chassis found a place.
The result was the GTS1000 in 1993. Besides the RADD front suspension, it also boasted other new technologies such as electronic fuel injection, ABS, and for the first time on a motorcycle, a catalytic convertor. The engine was lifted from the FZR1000, but detuned to 102 bhp.

The GTS1000 looked great and was generally praised by the media, unfortunately the price tag of US$ 12,999 put many potential buyers off as they felt the improvements and added weight did not justify the extra cost.

Plus the fact that Ducati launched the 916 in the same year, which overshadowed every single bike for the next two years, the GTS1000 included.
Please click here for Part 1 (Suzuki RE5) and here for Part 2 (Honda CBX1000) of the Ten Most Unusual Production Bikes series.
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2016 Shell Malaysian MotoGP: Moto2 & Moto3 highlights

Recapping the thrills and spills from the supporting Moto2 and Moto3 classes during the 2016 Shell Malaysian MotoGP.

As mentioned in our previous report, mother nature wreaked havoc during the 2016 Shell Malaysian MotoGP raceday held in the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) earlier today.
Despite, it did little from impeding the 95,316 fans from filling up the sold-out grandstands and hillstands to watch the world’s best two-wheeled racers in action. For many locals though, it was also a chance to see all five national riders in action at their best as well.
Here’s what transpired in both the supporting Moto2 and Moto3 classes earlier today.

Moto2 – #2arco makes two
In the supporting Moto2 class, French rider Johann Zarco made history as he successfully defended his World Moto2 title, becoming the class’ first double-championship winner in the process as well.

The weekend began excellently for the Frenchman astride the Ajo Motorsport Kalex machine. Zarco’s charge began when he qualified in pole position yesterday, putting himself in a prime position to make history.

An early shower just after the end of the Moto3 race held earlier meant that tyre strategy was critical. As the lights went out, Zarco proceeded to battle it out against Franco Morbidelli astride the Marc VDS machine and Jonas Folger piloting the Dynavolt Intact GP machine.

Though all three riders had the pace, it was Zarco’s mastery of tyre preservation that granted him the grip he needed to charge in the final laps. Taking the lead away from Morbidelli on Lap 14, Zarco then proceeded to pull away, taking the win with a 3.256-second gap ahead of the Italian who settled for second followed by Folger who finished a further 3.689 seconds behind in third.

The 25 points collected with his win in Malaysia allowed Zarco to seal his second Moto2 title with 251 points in total. This was perhaps the best end to a challenging season before he moves up into the premier MotoGP class next year with the Tech3 team.

Not too far down the order, national riders Hafizh Syahrin and wildcard teammate Ramdan Rosli also gave local fans a treat. Both Petronas Raceline Malaysia riders rode their Kalex machines brilliantly, with Hafizh taking a solid fifth place and wildcard Ramdan finishing in a respectable12th place.

Both Hafizh and Ramdan stood as the best performing national riders today, earning themselves not just valuable championship points, but also a place in the hearts of the many local fans that turned up to support them.

Moto3 – Pecco reigns supreme
Last but not least came the day’s first race, which was the thrilling lightweight Moto3 class. The biggest surprises here were the number of riders crashing out, but the results were fruitful for a few.
One of the riders crashing out today was none other than newly crowned Moto3 world champion Brad Binder. The South African youngster crashed out on his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine early on Lap 3 along with a few others.
Image credit: Aspar Mahindra Moto3
Also meeting a disappointing and early end to the day was national rider Adam Norrodin. One of the victims of an apparent oil slick, the Drive M7 SIC Racing Team rider retired on the first lap along with five other riders.
After a few more crashes, race stewards then red-flagged the race with just four laps remaining after Spanish lady racer Maria Herrera’s dramatic high-side crash, bringing the race to an early end.
Image credit: Aspar Mahindra Moto3
Winning here was Italian rider Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia astride the Aspar Mahindra Team machine, scoring another well deserved win not just for himself, but also for the rising Mahindra factory racing effort.

While fortune didn’t favour Adam Norrodin, it did favour his teammate Jakub Kornfeil after the Czech rider took a spectacular second place finish on home soil for the Malaysian team. Completing the podium was Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Bo Bendsneyder who finished third.

Further down the order saw national rider and rising sensation Khairul Idham Pawi settling for a respectable 8th place finish despite the challenges of mastering the newly re-profiled home circuit of his.

Also marking a respectable performance was wildcard Hafiq Azmi who finished 12th astride the Peugeot MC Saxoprint machine. Hafiq’s wildcard entry was confirmed earlier this week when he was roped in to replace an injured John McPhee in the Peugeot squad.

With his win, Pecco now ranks third in the standings with 145 points and looks in line to end the season as one of the top three riders of the class.
Valencia season finale
With 17 rounds now completed and all classes crowning their champions for the year, MotoGP will host one last running for the year in Valencia from Nov 11 to 13. Raceday broadcast on Sunday begins with Moto3 at 6:00pm, followed by Moto2 at 7:20pm and finally MotoGP at 9:00pm. (All times listed are local Malaysian times.)
Moto2 Results

Moto3 Results

2016 Shell Malaysian MotoGP

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Honda is developing a Blind Spot Warning System for bikes

Patent indicates Honda’s development of a Blind Spot Warning System for bikes using both cameras and radars.

Besides the next generation Honda DCT, the might red wing marque is currently pressed at developing yet another piece of motorcycle technology, this time focusing on safety instead in the form of a Blind Spot Warning System for bikes.
Honda recently filed a patent (featured image) for a system that utilises both cameras and short-range radars designed to detect vehicles in a motorcycle’s typical blind spot areas and warn its rider about it. Based on the patent sketch, the system appears to be an independent unit as it does not rely on communication with other vehicles or existing traffic infrastructure, thus fuelling its dependability further.
BMW Side View Assist
However, it is worth noting that Honda isn’t the first manufacturer dwelling into this safety tech. Rivals BMW Motorrad spearheaded this first with its BMW Side View Assist system that is primed in the updated EU-spec 2016 BMW C 650 Sport and C 650 GT maxi-scooters. (PS, both scooters just arrived in our market  this week. Read about them here.)
The system developed by BMW Motorrad differs from Honda’s as it uses a series of four sensor arrays, which is similar to the marque’s parking sensor system’s hardware – likely radar based. The effective range of each sensor is about 5 metres at speeds not exceeding 10km/h over the scooter’s current speed, with two placed at the scooter’s front end and another pair in its tail section.
Image credit: Bosch
The principles remains the same with Honda’s system, but it is reportedly capable of detect motorcycles, passenger cars, vans, trucks and other vehicles in the rider’s blind spot. Then, warning lights placed in the handlebars or dashboard will warn riders of the danger and allow riders to take appropriate measures and reaction to avoid collision.
Rumours also indicate the possibility of haptics feedback integrated in Honda’s Blind Spot Warning System. The rumours indicate that alerts are being set as vibrations that will be triggered in the corresponding grip of the bike or perhaps other parts that are in contact with the rider’s body.
Will wee see a Blind Spot Warning System integrated in Honda models soon?
Honda hasn’t stated a targeted implementation date for its Blind Spot Warning System for bikes. But since rivals BMW Motorrad have already implemented its BMW Side View Assist feature, we reckon it wouldn’t take Honda long to have its Blind Spot Warning System for bikes implemented in its production models.
Source: AutoEvolution
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TuneBoss Launches Three new ECUs for Yamaha R25, Lagenda 115z and Honda RS150R

TuneBoss Programmable ECU for three new models

Made by FSR Technology, 100% Malaysian owned company based in Ara Damansara

Also available in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Europe and Mexico

FSR Technology launched their latest Tuneboss programmable ECUs that will support three popular bikes currently in Malaysia. The new ECUs are designed specifically for the Yamaha R25, Yamaha Lagenda 115z and the Honda RS150R. All three new ECUs will be available for purchase at the end of the month.
The three new additions to their product line up makes a total of ten different programmable ECUs for popular small capacity motorcycles in the country. Some of these models are the Yamaha FZ150i and also the Yamaha Y15ZR. All of the ECUs are simply Plug-and-Play devices that anyone can swap on their own without any need for complex wiring.

The TuneBoss ECU are able to boost the bike’s performance by giving the user the ability to tune their machines with different characteristics. The ECUs allow a variety of adjustments that includes the air-fuel mixture and spark timing for increase in performance.
What makes the company’s products even more unique than any of its competitors is their wireless connectivity via their TuneBoss Manager application (can be downloaded for free). Many of its functions and settings can give the user a more direct control using their smart phones or tablets. All TuneBoss ECUs can be connected via Bluetooth to be more user-friendly.

With the TuneBoss Manager app, users can actually perform advanced diagnostics to detect any problems or issues without having to take their bikes to the workshop. Users can even download different mappings (for free) via their website to suit different styles of riding, giving more choice and freedom to the users.

TuneBoss also offers a number of upgrades and functions like the Quick Shifter, Launch Control and many more. These upgrades can be activated with a simple purchase in a form of a key code via the dealers without having to change or add anymore hardware to the bikes (think of it as something similar to an ‘in-app purchase’).

TuneBoss also provide the “Race Package” upgrade for racing applications that has been proven to be competitive during their season in the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSC) series back in 2016 and other races like the KBS-MAM Kapcai Endurance Race.

FSR Technology also presented the grand prize from the Facebook lucky draw contest to one lucky winner. The grand prize is a brand new Honda RS150R equipped with the TuneBoss ECU was handed over to the winner (Muhammad Zulhanif Bin Hamidon) during the launch just now.
To know more about FSR Technology and TuneBoss products, you may visit their official website or the TuneBoss Facebook page.

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Wireless tuning with Tuneboss

The guys in FSR Technology are real teasers, last week they released a picture and some information on their FB page about a standalone programmable ecu called Tuneboss for the Yamaha FZ150i and Lagenda.
Yesterday they were at it again but this time even worst, posting a picture of the Tuneboss and an android phone next to it which had what looks like an app to connect to the Tuneboss wirelessly and thats it.
Now the boys are a bit tight lip about releasing more information than what they already have right now, before the actual launch which is in a few weeks. But luckily we have our ways to get more info, unconfirmed of course as its not directly form FSR Technology themselves but close enough. Never underestimate the power of “teh tarik”. You just have to love Malaysians, we’re so easy that way.
So far from what we can gather is that users can connect to the Tuneboss wirelessly to their android phone for wireless tuning capability, even the full tuning app on the pc will be using the same wireless connection. But not mentioned is what type of wireless which could eitherbe Bluetooth or wifi.
The phone app will have fuel, ignition, rpm limiter adjustment, including advanced diagnostics which means, theres no need to look at the silly blinking engine light like on the original factory diagnostic tool, it will tell you exactly what the problem is.
Thats it for now, or until FSR Technology do another teaser before the launch.
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2017 MotoGP race calendar released

Dorna releases finalised 2017 MotoGP race calendar with Malaysian GP set for Oct 27, 28 and 29.

MotoGP’s commercial rights holder has released the finalised 2017 MotoGP race calendar earlier this week. Mark your dates for all 18 rounds that’s scheduled for this year.
Besides the final confirmation of Silverstone as the venue for the British GP, little else has changed from the provisional calendar released back in September last year. As always, the season kicks off under the floodlights in Losail, Qatar from 24 March to 26 March.

More importantly, the Malaysian-leg of the world championship remains as the season’s penultimate round before the Valencia season finale. The Malaysian round is slated to run from Oct 27 to Oct 29 and stands as the last of three ‘flyaway’ race venues after Twin Ring Motegi, Japan and Phillip Island, Australia.
Here’s the 2017 MotoGP race calendar in full for your reference:

From what’s developing in the winter tests, the factory-backed Yamaha squad remains a top favourite with superstar Valentino Rossi leading new teammate Maverick Viñales in its riding roster.

Also poised for strong performance this year is Jorge Lorenzo who made the successful switch into the factory-backed Ducati squad. The Spaniard is hoping to reclaim his lost glory astride the scarlet Italian team’s Desmosedici GP machine while compatriot Marc Marquez mounts his title defence with Honda.
Rest assured, we at BikesRepublic are counting down the days to the start of the 2017 MotoGP racing season together with you.
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Final Drive: Chain, Belt or Shaft

The final drive is what transmits power from the engine to the rear wheel.

The three most common types are chain, belt and shaft drives.

Each has its own pros and cons.

The final drive is the component which transmits the engine’s power to the rear wheel. The three most common motorcycle final drives use chains, belts or shafts.
Let’s discuss on not only how each function, but the pros and cons too.
CHAIN
The chain drive is the most widespread method of driving the rear wheel of a motorcycle. In fact, it was the method of driving early cars, after the belt drive, and is still used to drive go carts today.

Although the roller chain was patented by Hans Renold in 1880, Leonardo Da Vinci sketched it in the 16th century. Roller chains have since been utilized in a myriad of power transmission applications, but it’s most well-known for motorcycles since the chain is in plain view.
A clean and well-maintained chain constitutes very little parasitic power loss and can transmit up to 98% of the engine’s power. Besides that, they could withstand high power and high torque.
Pros
Easy installation and replacement. It’s best to replace the chain, countershaft sprocket (front) and rear sprockets at the same time, but the rear wheel doesn’t have to be removed if the rider so chooses to replace the chain only. The same principle applies should the chain break.
Easy to alter the ratios. Feel your engine is revving a little high and the vibration is getting to you at your favourite riding speed? Just opt for a taller final gearing by using a smaller rear sprocket or a slightly larger front sprocket (it’s better to use a larger front than a smaller rear sprocket, if possible). Need more acceleration at the track? A larger rear sprocket will do.
Cons
Intensive maintenance: Chains need more maintenance than their belt and shaft counterparts. They need to be cleaned and re-lubed usually every 400km, besides periodic adjustments. How long a chain lasts depends on many variables especially on how one cares for it. Chain care itself is a variable since different riders use different cleaning agents and lubricants, for example.
Dirty. Cleaning the chain is a dirty job in itself, hence causing many riders to just ignore it. Spray on too much lubricant will cause it to be flung all over the rear end of the bike and rider.
Low lifespan. Compared to belts and shafts.
BELT
Belt drives are pretty much utilized only by cruiser manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles these days. There are a few heavyweight Japanese cruisers that use belts, but it’s uncommon.

Pros
Easy maintenance. A belt just needs cleaning by hosing off the road grit. There is no need for lubrication.
Unobtrusive operation. A belt is low noise, especially when compared to an unlubricated, unadjusted or old chain. A belt drive also does not fling chain lubricant all over the bike and rider.
Long service life. For example, Harley-Davidson recommends that the drive belt be replaced at 90,000 km (60,000 miles). Belts that have cracks should be replaced sooner but still, that’s a lot of mileage!
Cons
Difficult installation. Replacing the drive belt on a Harley-Davidson requires the removable of the swingarm, outer primary cover and inner primary cover. So if in the unlikely case of it breaking, you’re stranded.
Difficult to alter gearing. A belt’s length corresponds to the recommended sizes of the stock pulleys. Which means you’d need to replace the belt should you want to alter the sizes of the pulleys. And replacing the belt means you need to remove the swingarm, outer…. etc. etc.
Expensive. Yes, a drive belt is expensive. But that’s a trade off against the cost of how many drive chains and sprockets a motorcycle goes through in 90,000 km.
SHAFT
Power is transmitted to rear wheel via a driveshaft, just like a rear-wheel-drive car. The shaft and differential are usually sealed, the latter bathed in oil/fluid.

Pros
Low maintenance: This is the probably the best feature of a driveshaft. The final drive oil, or to be more accurate, the lubricant change interval for the differential is usually unlisted by the manufacturers. However, there are owners who change it at every 40,000km.
Unobtrusive operation. Quiet and not messy. “Shaft jacking” phenomena has been addressed by most manufacturers.
Cons
Gearing cannot be altered. Truth is, it can but the work is so extensive and expensive that it becomes unpractical.
Expensive. If major parts should break.
So, there you have it, the different types of common final drives. There are others such as magnets and direct electric motors but let’s leave that for the future. We’ll touch on the specifics of each system in later articles.
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New Scrambler Ducati model possibly teased

If you’ve been religiously tracking the development at Ducati this year leading up to EICMA 2015, you’d already know that the brand is set to release up to nine new models during the annual two-wheeled exhibition.

We’ve already seen a few of them, those being the new Monster 1200 R and the Diavel Carbon.

Leaked emissions application documents in the US have also revealed that the two will be accompanied by the revamped Hypermotard trio (Hypermotard, Hypermotard SP and Hyperstrada) as well as an upgrade of the 899 Panigale called the ‘959 Panigale’. If spyshots from earlier this year are to be believed, we could also see a slowed-down, belt-driven ‘cruiser’ version of the Diavel as well.

Do the math and you’d know we’re missing just a few more from that magical number of nine.Well, a recent and very cryptic teaser released on the Scrambler Ducati sub-brand’s Facebook page has perhaps shed some light into this. Whilst the comic strip introducing two new characters named Bart and Betty seems innocent enough, we are likely led to believe that we could see two more versions of the Scrambler Ducati debuting later this year.
Fuelling this further is the fact that rumours of an even smaller displacement Scrambler Ducati model have been around since last year. Details are very scarce, but rumours suggest that the ‘baby’ Scrambler will adopt an engine smaller than the current 803cc found in the Scrambler, and will either be a V-twin or perhaps a single-cylinder should Ducati decide to re-introduce the latter original engine type into the Scrambler range.

Details beyond this point remain rather scarce, but we are excited nonetheless. This year’s edition of the annual EICMA show in Milan, Italy is set to open its doors for the press on November 17 and November 18. Expect more details by then.
Sources: Scrambler Ducati Facebook, Asphaltandrubber and Visordown
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2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 launched in the US – RM42,400

Aprilia has launched its second model in the 660cc middleweight range in the form of the 2021 Aprilia Tuono 660. This half-naked version of the RS 660 was initially planned to go into production last year, but COVID-19 really threw a wrench in Aprilia’s plans.

Better late than never, we guess. The 2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 essentially carries all the same specs as its full-fairing siblings, minus a few things here and there. The most noticeable is of course the full front fairing, but the Tuono 660 still has that side aero-winglets but with a more compact design.

In terms of firepower, the Tuono 660 is said to produce around 95hp, which is 5hp less than the RS 660. To make up for that, Aprilia offered a shorter gear ratio for its gearbox plus all the electronic riding aids and APRC suite just like the RS 660 (traction control, wheelie control, cornering ABS, selectable riding modes, quickshifter, auto-blipper, etc.).

The rest is pretty much the same as the RS 660, which should’ve made more sense if they were launched together, but that’s Aprilia for you. The US market is selling this beauty at $10,500, which is around the RM45,400 mark when directly converted to today’s currency exchange rates.
Three colours are available – black/red, grey/red, or ‘acid gold’ with black.

				Tuno 660

Written by: Sep Irran
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Harley-Davidson moves production outside of the US

Harley-Davidson has announced its plans to move its production to their plants outside of the US.

Due to the trade wars between the US and EU, the import tariff for US-made bikes has been raised by 25%.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, had a few remarks to say about H-D on his Twitter page.

The latest trade wars between the US and the European Union (EU) has resulted in some nasty remarks between a few key parties in the motorcycling industry as well as the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

What’s even more crucial it the fact that it led to the EU increasing the tariff for American-made motorcycles from 6% all the way up to 31% – a 25% increase. Harley-Davidson for one decided to increase the production of their international assembly plants outside of the country.

Trump unleashed a series of Tweets regarding H-D’s decision which are as follows:

Early this year Harley-Davidson said they would move much of their plant operations in Kansas City to Thailand. That was long before Tariffs were announced. Hence, they were just using Tariffs/Trade War as an excuse. Shows how unbalanced & unfair trade is, but we will fix it…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2018

….When I had Harley-Davidson officials over to the White House, I chided them about tariffs in other countries, like India, being too high. Companies are now coming back to America. Harley must know that they won’t be able to sell back into U.S. without paying a big tax!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2018

A Harley-Davidson should never be built in another country-never! Their employees and customers are already very angry at them. If they move, watch, it will be the beginning of the end – they surrendered, they quit! The Aura will be gone and they will be taxed like never before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2018

Trump made his remarks clear and H-D responded by stating that the 25% tariff increase will put a burden on the company and the only sustainable option at the moment is to move its production to plants which they’ve set up in countries like Thailand, Australia, Brazil, and India just to get by.

This move is not something that H-D will be proud of but it will help deflect around $100 million worth of taxes thanks to the trade barriers imposed by the EU. This is certainly not looking good for its US factory considering that they churn out around 40,000 bikes there just for the EU market.

Our best guess is that H-D will remain as strong as ever and with the intention to retain its 16% of sales revenue in the EU, their plans to shift production outside of the US is the only viable option. For now, at least. We have a feeling that it won’t stop here. Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more updates.
Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles Slapped with Huge Import Tariffs

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Aprilia Shiver 900 To Be Reborn As Gilera, Here’s The Proof!

As someone who previously owned the 2016 Aprilia Shiver 750, the motorcycle was considered the most affordable Italian steed you can own in Malaysia.
However, Aprilia decided to close the book on the motorcycle after the subdued introduction of the 900cc model back in 2019.

The Shiver 900 could not replicate the success of the 750; moreover, the price tag of a whooping RM72k (in Malaysia) was not helpful since Aprilia Malaysia sold the CKD’s 750 for half the price a few years earlier.
Nevertheless, for those still ‘longing’ for the Shiver 900, worry not as Aprilia has decided to revive the motorcycle under a new name.
The Aprilia Shiver 900 will continue to live on but with a different badge, namely Gilera.

While there is yet an official announcement from Gilera’s parent company, Piaggio, the Gilera-born Shiver 900, was recently seen in China.
Despite clad in camouflage, the motorcycle is undoubtedly a Shiver 900. However, the front headlamp and TFT screen, which previously showcased the Aprilia badge, is now replaced with the Gilera name.

Thanks to Piaggio Group’s recent partnership with Zongshen, the China-based company will manufacture Shiver and Dorsoduro 900.
However, the latest reports do not confirm if Gilera’s revival will be a global effort; instead, the reborn Shiver and Dorsoduro could be sold in China only.

Nevertheless, looking at how interesting the recent developments between Piaggio and their Chinese counterpart are, the future looks great for Gilera.
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FIRST LOOK: 2023 Ducati Monster SP

Ducati has officially unveiled the 2023 Ducati Monster SP during Episode 2 Ducati World Premiere 2023 web series.

2023 Ducati Monster SP debuted in episode 2 of Ducati World Premiere 2023.
Incorporates Ducati Lenovo Team Desmosedici GP colour scheme.

Although the Monster remains as one of Borgo Panigale’s most affordable model, the factory thinks that the Monster deserved some attention.
Lo and behold, the Monster gets the special SP treatment for 2023 that features all the exciting goodies.

First and foremost, the Monster SP is equipped with a fully-adjustable Ohlins NIX30 fornt fork which is now 600g lighter than the base Monster and Monster+.

Braking is done with a 320mm front disc and is paired to Brembo’s top-of-the-range Brembo Stylema brake callipers. In addition, the SP also features Termignoni homologated exhaust.
The SP also incorporates Ducati MotoGP-inspired paint job that further accentuate the bike’s overall look.

Other notable features include:

steering damper
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres
recalibrated riding modes with new Wet Mode
Launch Control

According to Ducati, the 2023 Ducati Monster SP will arrived at worldwide dealership beginning January 2023.

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MotoGP: Marquez Is From Another Planet – Jorge Lorenzo

Retired three-time MotoGP world champion, Jorge Lorenzo, praised his former Repsol Honda team-mate, Marc Marquez, after his comeback at Portimao.
The sixth-time MotoGP champion finally returns to the track after 265 days due to a broken right arm sustained in the 2019 opening round in Jerez.

Marquez clocked the third-fastest time in FP1 before qualifying P6 and finished the race at seventh place despite the long layoff.
He also managed to place himself within the Top 3 at Turn 1 during the early stage of the race.
Marquez, also the only Honda rider, managed to remain on his bike while Pol Espargaro, Takaaki Nakagami and Alex Marquez crashed during free practice and race day.
“About Marc Marquez, more than his speed, I was even more surprised by his return, after nine months from a super complicated injury, possibly the longest injury in motorcycle history, and he has returned to race MotoGP without any fear of hurting himself again, having scares and taking risks to achieve an incredible result.
“He is from another planet,” said Lorenzo on his YouTube channel.

Nonetheless, Lorenzo thinks the 28-year-old will take some time before returning to his best.
“It may take a while until he is back to being the top Marquez of 2019 and there are also new younger rivals, such as Quartararo at 21, Mir at 22, Bagnaia 24. But I have no doubt that Marc will win races and fight for the world championship again, perhaps this one as well,” he added.
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“Zarco can’t pay mortgage for his house?” -Jorge Lorenzo-

Five-time MotoGP world champion and current Yamaha factory test rider, Jorge Lorenzo, dropped one hell of a burn pointed towards the new Reale Avintia Racing Ducati rider, Johann Zarco. Somehow, it’s related to money, financial status, and the fact that Zarco had to take a mortgage loan to buy a house?

Seems ridiculous, right? Well, it all started with Zarco stating in an interview on how he ‘turned down’ a Honda ride for the LCR squad (and forego a good paycheque) to go for the Reale Avintia Racing team with Ducati. The Frenchman prematurely exited his contract with KTM and that was being compared to Lorenzo’s exit from Honda.

“Maybe something good came out of something bad because Ducati opened its doors. Those were things I couldn’t handle. I’m certainly much less interested in money than he (Lorenzo) is. I had to ask for a loan for my house. He lives in a country (Switzerland) where he doesn’t pay taxes, or he pays less. I live in France, I pay taxes, and a mortgage. I had many reasons to keep on going for the money, but I didn’t,” stated Zarco.

It seems that that particular statement has reached Jorge Lorenzo and when someone asked him on Instagram, he replied with “I don’t like to talk about how others manage their finances. Everyone does what they can with what they have. But since someone asked me (and you asked me), I think he (Zarco) should seriously ask himself, how come, after 10 years in the World Championship, after having become world champion twice, and having signed with KTM, he can’t pay the mortgage on his house…”

Apply cold water to the burned area because that was painful. Ouch.
Source: GPOne & MotoGP
MotoGP: 2020 KTM RC16 liveries unveiled!

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How fast is the 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR in the track?

The Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK riders recently concluded a track test session with the new 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Despite mixed weather conditions, both Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes threw down some incredible lap times during the two-day test period.

Looking at the lap times, we could see that both riders were not that far off from each other. Both Lowes and Rea completed a total of 66 and 57 laps respectively around the iconic 5.3km Spanish track and their best times were 1’49.716 for Rea and 1’49.832 for Lowes.

Even with poor track conditions and tricky weather, the KRT riders were only a second away from the track’s lap record which was set by Rea during the Aragon round qualifying session back in September. And that was with the previous-gen Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR with the super light qualifying setup and an overall machine that they’ve ridden all season long.

The lap times would’ve been more incredible if the track was at optimum conditions considering the fact that the 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR comes with a host of updates, particularly its internal front winglet design (which offers 17% more downforce) and a lighter engine with higher rev-count.

According to the 2020 WorldSBK world champion, Jonathan Rea, “The first day was positive because we kept working with the items we had from the recent Jerez test. We really worked step-by-step on the engine side to understand all the feelings I have and all the different parameters we can explore with the new bike. We drew some really good conclusions. The lap time was very fast and I feel good on the bike – but I feel the potential is much better.”

As for Alex Lowes, he stated, “Day one was pretty good for me. Of course, the temperatures in Aragon are a little bit cold, so it took a while for the track to warm up so that we could get into some proper testing. With new parts to try we wanted to take the opportunity to confirm some of the things that we tried that were positive in Jerez. A couple of things that worked well last week have worked well this week, so from my side we are really happy.”
Indonesia to host WorldSBK race in November 2021

Written by: Sep Irran
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Yamaha To Introduce MT-07 Based Sportsbike?

Last year, Yamaha announced their decision to discontinue the YZF-R6 due to the stringent emission rules.
The motorcycle instead continued to be sold as a non-homologated, track-only machine.
Nonetheless, rumours start to rife that Yamaha may be working on an MT-07 based Supersports, possibly called the Yamaha YZF-R7.
Japanese publication, Young-Machine even predicted the R7 before Yamaha decided to pull the plug on the R6.
The said motorcycle is rumoured to fill the gap between the beginner R25 and the 1000cc R1.
If the rumour is accurate, we are looking at a possible R7 powered by the same CP2 engine of the MT-07 that produces 74hp.
Even though the power is not up to par with the Aprilia RS660 or their Japanese counterpart, the Honda CBR650R, we can assume that Yamaha might tweak the engine to add more power.
The R7 might also retain the same chassis and electronics as you get on the MT-07.
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2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 – Everything you need to know

Ducati just held their first global live stream presenting their latest and most powerful streetfighter yet, the 2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4. Moving ahead with the times, the online stream focuses on everything you need to know about the powerful beast, from the designer’s perspective to power output.

Voted as the ‘Most Beautiful Bike of the Show’ during last year’s EICMA event, the Ducati Streetfighter V4 started life out on the rough side as the man who was supposed to bring the bike to its first full-on glory was unfortunately killed during the final stretch of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb event.

While Carlin Dunne’s death was blamed due to the dangerous nature and road conditions of Pikes Peak, the Ducati Streetfighter V4 was well on its way to setting the new world record as the fastest bike to complete the race. This further cemented the Ducati Streetfighter V4 as the ultimate all-rounder performance machine, despite rough beginnings (RIP, Carlin Dunne).

Labelled as a super-naked superbike, the new Ducati Streetfighter is fitted with the 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine that churns out 208hp and 123Nm of max torque. The Italian manufacturer’s presentation focused on the theme “The Fight Formula” where the entire powerful yet highly intelligent package sits at only 178kg.

Its design presents both beauty and high functionality with features like the front biplane wings, sexy front LED headlights, and other aspects that carry that signature ‘superbike’ appeal like its full-fairing brother, the Panigale V4. In essence, the new Streetfighter is technically a superbike that you can ride on a daily basis AND rip through the apexes of the track on weekends.

Those who want a bit more than just 208hp can opt for its specially designed Akrapovic full-racing exhaust system that bumps up the overall power output to a massive 220hp and reduce the weight by 6kg. The Italians sure love power and insanity all mixed into one because that is crazy yet scary appealing!

Anyway, the online presentation showcases everything you need to know about the 2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4, from how much downforce the front biplane wings produces (28kg at 270km/h) to all of its technical and electronic aspects of the Italian beast. It’s a great way to past the time and get hyped before Ducati Malaysia brings it here to Malaysian shores!
Ducati Streetfighter V2 in the works

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New QJMotor QJ650 adventure bike surfaces with a V-twin

New middleweight QJMotor QJ650 middleweight adventure model surfaces in China, and it packs a 649cc V-twin with 75HP.

First images of new QJMotor QJ650 middleweight adventure bike surfaces online.

This model sees the Chinese brand fielding a new 649cc V-twin heart with a claimed 75HP.

Two variants will be available, namely a basic ‘standard’ plus a higher-specced ‘Adventure’.

Common features include crash bars, handguards, wire-spoke wheels, as well as ABS.

Higher-specced offering will come with a set of side and top luggage boxes too.

After filing patents for a new middleweight adventure motorcycle model last October, Chinese motorcycle manufacturer QJMotor has finally unveiled the true look of the QJ650 in China.
The image of the QJ650 surfaced through the latest patent application filed in China which also revealed some key technical details surrounding the model. Key to which is the engine that the QJMotor QJ650 adopts – a 649cc V-twin with a claimed output of 75HP.

Moreover, the two patent documents filed also revealed the QJ650 will come in two variants. One of which will be a higher-specced ‘Adventure’ offering brimmed with a set of luggage side and top boxes. Other details revealed include a claimed weight figures of 219KG (standard) and 249KG (Adventure), as well as the presence of an ABS module.

Like what we saw in the QJMotor SRT800 launched locally last week, common features in both will include things like crash bars and handguards too. As for the wheels and tyres, both appear to roll on wire-spoke types measuring 19-inch up front and 17-inch at the rear.
As for release date and availability, QJMotor remains mum about it for now, but word has it we will see this V-twin model officially debut sometime later this year.

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New Ducati Hypermotard for 2019?

Spyshot of the new Ducati Hypermotard - Courtesy of MCN

Ducati could be revamping the Hypermotard for 2019.

It should be ready for Euro 5 emissions standard since it will be implemented in 2020.

While it is not confirmed, there is speculation that the new engine will be equipped with DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing).

A revamped Ducati Hypermotard has been caught undergoing road trials. Could it be released for 2019?
Looking at the spy shot, the “new” bike looks to have a new engine, styling changes and twin underseat exhaust silencers.
According to MCN, the exhausts are the obvious sign that the new Hypermotard will comply with the Euro 5 emissions standards that’s set to be introduced in 2020. The new rulings are even tougher on carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and noise emissions.
Hence, the new Hypermotard’s exhaust system separates the baffles and catalytic convertor rather than having both in the same unit. The new Supersport and Multistrada may also follow this same route.
Speaking of the new Multistrada 1260, the Hypermotard’s engine may just be equipped with DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing) too since the system allows for better efficiency throughout the rev range.
Other takeaways from the spy photo are a new steel trellis subframe which replaces the previous one-piece cast unit, the clutch and alternator covers beefed up for more sound-proofing, and Marzocchi forks and Sachs rear monoshock.
Expect the 2019 Hypermotard to be unveiled at EICMA.
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Win a custom 600cc Honda C70 at Art of Speed Malaysia 2018!

The Art of Speed Malaysia 2018 is set to explode this 28 and 29 July 2018 and one lucky folk will bring home a custom 600cc Honda C70!

Dubbed “Papa Jahat” or “Bad Daddy”, the iconic Honda C70 is fitted with a 600cc single-cylinder engine from a Honda XR600R.

The awesome machine will be Sunday’s grand prize while Saturday’s lucky draw prize will be an amazing trip to Japan!

There are many iconic bikes from around the world that have gained legendary statuses and the Honda C70 was one of the first here in Malaysia to start the Supercub movement. For Art of Speed Malaysia 2018, they’ve taken the OG of kapcais and took it to a whole new level.

To those who are familiar with Art of Speed Malaysia and their mega annual event, you should also know that they like to give out loads of stuff and some of them are sophisticated yet amazing custom one-off machines that you can’t possibly get anywhere else.

For this year’s event happening at the end of the month (28 and 29 July 2018), they’ve decided to go old school but with one hell of a major upgrade. The Sunday grand prize giveaway will be a one-off custom Honda C70 fitted with a 600cc single-cylinder, four-stroke engine taken from a Honda XR600R!

The marriage between the Honda C70 GBO-J and Honda XR600R led to the birth of what they’ve dubbed the Honda C600R aka “Papa Jahat” or “Bad Daddy”. The first official unveiling was held yesterday at Beautiful Machines located in the heart of Sunway and listening to the beast coming to life was as majestic as one famous lion roaring from the side of a rocky mountain.

All the main work was commissioned to one Mohamad Irwann bin Mohd Azlan aka “Cheng” from FNG Works of Ipoh, Perak. The idea was to keep the looks and facade as stock as possible (apart from that gigantic 600cc single-cylinder heart residing in the middle of the tiny frame).

To make sure that the bike is able to hold all of its weight, the frame has gone through a major customisation and reinforcement regimes whilst maintaining its stock appearance. The swingarm and fork have been slightly upgraded to compensate the newly-found power and weight.

Everything from the electrical, fuel, exhaust, suspension, lighting, foot and hand controls, drive train, seat, and oil tank (which is embedded within the frame!) are all customised just for the Honda C600R. The ‘sleeper’ appeal comes to mind where a bike looks as standard as it possibly can but hides a serious firepower underneath it all (in this case, it’s open for all to see which is not really a sleeper but we love it).

The overall cost to build this beautiful monster is somewhere around RM45,000 (so far) and come 29 July 2018, one lucky folk will bring this baby home. On the 28th, Art of Speed Malaysia 2018 will give an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan so be sure to attend both days!

To know more about Art of Speed Malaysia 2018, head over to https://www.facebook.com/ArtOfSpeedMY/.

Top reasons why the Art of Speed Malaysia 2017 was AWESOME

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TuneBoss Wants to Give You a Y15ZR

Yamaha Y15ZR - picture for illustration purposes only

TuneBoss engine ECUs are for tuning fuel-injected motorcycle engines.

It is used to unlock your motorcycle engine’s true potential.

Now a lucky customer will walk away with a newYamaha Y15ZR.

TuneBoss provides ECUs to enhance the performance of your motorcycle’s engine.

The fuel injection timing and amount, besides ignition spark timing and advance are controlled by the engine electronic control unit (ECU). While it is electronic, the tuning or more accurately, mapping has been pre-set by the manufacturer to provide compromises between outright power, fuel economy, emissions, engine longevity and other factors. It could be said that only a fraction of the engine’s full capability is utilized due to those compromises.
Tuning a bike – pic from thestar.com.my
In order to retune the engine, you could use performance ECUs like those from TuneBoss.

And now its creator, FSR Technology wants to giveaway a brand new Yamaha Y15ZR.
The lucky draw will be held in conjunction with the 2018 Yamaha YZF-R25 Gathering at the Speedway Plus Circuit on 7th July 2018.
All customers stand a chance to win the grand prize. To complete the entry, you only need to follow the instructions in the “TuneBoss Bike Giveaway” post on Facebook.
The winner will be randomly picked via Facebook “Live” according to the ECU’s serial number. Proof of ownership is required by providing the receipt, ECU, warranty card and the product box to prevent entry by using stolen units.
This is not the first time FSR Technology has given away a motorcycle. Last year, Muhammad Zulhanif Hamidon won a TuneBoss-equipped Honda RS150R in a competition organised by the tech company.

FSR Technology was founded in 2011 by Farhan and Sufian, both electronic engineers. Their vision is to build a company based on “Research & Development” for leading product design.
It took them three years for the R&D work to produce TuneBoss ECU which was made possible through self-financing and also supported by a development grant from the Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, an agency under the Ministry of Finance.
For more information please visit tuneboss.co or call + 603-78315041 or drop a “Private Message” on the Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/TuneBoss.Malaysia/
Direct link to competition post https://www.facebook.com/TuneBoss.Malaysia/posts/914116125439658
Please visit the link below for more information on the launch of their new products.
TuneBoss Launches Three new ECUs for Yamaha R25, Lagenda 115z and Honda RS150R

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Digimoto BMW R1200R Concept: Possible Future of Motorcycles?

Digimoto’s BMWR1200R Future Concept from Zanzotti, GRADEV. and Wunderlich.

Presenting the Digimoto R1200R concept birthed by German designer Zanzotti, industrial design house GRAYDEV., and parts-maker Wunderlich. The future-inspired beast was on display at EICMA 2016 in Milan, Italy just last week.

This mad and futuristic concept started out as a brand new BMW R1200R before it was taken apart and 3d scanned by these mad scientists. They stated that the bike was designed mainly with virtual reality and other futuristic techniques (as clearly seen below by the man wearing Oculus Rift goggles and other virtual reality gears) which resulted in this concept machine.

The creators of Digimoto also explained that there are all sorts of sensors and even cameras on the bike that is relayed directly to the rider’s helmet shown below. This is their attempt to close the gap between man and machine to make it as seamless as possible or in their own words “drastic streamlining”.

As you can see, the helmet that they’ve designed together with the bike looks like a very advanced and ultramodern version of a fencing helmet. One can actually see that it’s more appropriate to be used for Gundam or Macross pilots fitting for all their antagonists.

Aluminium disc disc wheels, laser cut seat and makrolon poly-carbonate brake light look simple but jaw-dropping at the same time.

What caught our attention the most was the choice of headlight, if you can call it that. It looks like the there’s a galaxy contained in the front end of the bike to illuminate the surroundings just for rider who is lucky enough to ride it.

The boxer twin looks proper for the Digimoto concept. The design of the fuel tank is also very unique where there’s a significant gap between the tank and the frame. Perhaps the designers wanted to incorporate some act of the levitation into the concept as well.

All we can say about this concept is that it’s a concept that we would love to have in our own garage in the distant future. What about you?

To get a sense on how the bike was designed, you can visit www.thedigimoto.com.

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