Trip to Ranong on the New R1200GS Water-Cooled

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A detailed  write up on my last trip from 12-15 July 2013 to Ranong one of Thailand’s southern provinces which is approximately 1150km away from home. There were only 2 bikes that rode up, Legendary Sunny Oh and myself embarked on a trip which was initially planned for a riding group of 6 bikes but due to work commitments not many were available on the proposed dates hence the 2 of us decided to proceed. Our trip was earlier planned for a 5 days / 4 night’s trip but we had to cut it short and changed it to 4 days / 3 nights instead.

It also coincides for me to run-in my new bike, the much talked about GS 1200 LC which I recently acquired end of June 2013.
Day 1 (710KM) – Our ride took us thru the Malaysian North South Expressway into Changlun where we did our passport and insurance paperworks and proceeded to Wang Kelian (Wang Prachan Thai Border Crossing Route 4184) exiting Malaysia into Thailand and subsequently into Satun (Route 406 & 416) and finally arriving at Trang (Route 404) a small mid point town known fondly as a fishing village and was the first area of Thailand where rubber trees were planted.

Trang was an important sea port of southern Thailand. Legend says the ships always arrived in the morning, which led to the town’s name – Trang derives from the Malay word for “light’ (Terang). We had travelled 710km and checked-in at Thumprin Thana one of the biggest hotel in this small town.

Rooms were big and spacious but nothing to shout about as the facilities aren’t that great and were shabbily maintained. If you happen to pop into Trang, you should stay at Eco Inn which we were recommended by our fellow biker RJ Rider.

The hotel is situated about 500m away from Thumprin Thana Hotel entrance and the landmark is a small Caltex Petrol Station. Eco Inn opened its doors for business about 3 months ago and we decided to checkout the place. The hotel looked pretty decent and cosy except that we did not have the chance to view the rooms.

But a follow up on their hotel’s website, the rooms looked good. Goran Phuket decided to surprise us and popped in about 7.30pm our hotel riding all the way from Phuket which was about 300km away. He arranged for us to meet up with Khun Poom who is the Chief of Police for Trang District and have been very helpful and instrumental to a few of our fellow Malaysian bikers who had issues in the past around his province. Khun Poom is a very simple and humble chap. I offered him to test ride my GS1200 LC and after a short spin around the town he was all smiles upon returning and was surprised with the characteristics of the bike and kept talking about the bike.

Day 2 (440KM) – We started our ride early just after breakfast with Goran deciding to ride with us from Trang to Phang Nga where he had suggested to take us for lunch at Idin Resort before we spilt in different ways. The ride to Phangnga was lovely as we rode thru Sikao known for its long corners which lasted for about 80km.

Goran and myself decided to switch bikes as he wanted to test ride my bike while I rode his K1600 GTL. We headed out to Krabi and onto Phangnga which was about 200km away.

Just before we arrived at Idin Resort, we passed thru Thap Put (Route 41) which welcomed us with about 30km of lovely winding roads. The last time I rode here, the conditions were very poor with lots of pot holes. We stopped for lunch about an hour and half and bid farewell to Goran where he would be riding about 100km back to Phuket while we continued on our journey.

It was a wet ride all the way to Ranong which was approximately 260km away. It drizzled in some place and poured like crazy at certain stretches.

However, it was an opportunity for me to test out the Rain mode on my bike. Throttle control was gentler to avoid the rear wheel from sliding in the wet which made riding in the rain more fun then how I used to remember. We arrived at Tinidee Hotel situated centrally in the town at about 4.30pm.

The last 80km before we arrived at Ranong, the roads were lovely with long sweeping corners one after the other which I have always yearned to come back and ride again at this stretch but the weather was not on our side.

Out of the limited times I have come here, it always seems to rain along this route a familiar phenomenon around Slim River area in Malaysia.

Day 3 (510KM) – As usual, I woke up early and headed out for the breakfast at the hotel’s coffee house. It was a full spread breakfast at its newly renovated coffee house with Sunny Oh. During breakfast, we planned our route to make our way to Hatyai which was approximately 460km away. At 9.00am we saddled up and started our ride thru Luan Sang which is a mountain range in Ranong Province.

We had about 100km of ideal roads but the rest of the remaining journey was rather boring from Surathani to Pathalung and finally to Hatyai.
We arrived at the hotel about 3.00pm and was enough time to check out Hatyai town and paid a visit to say hello to our old friend Chawat at New Season Hotel (Co-Founder of 3Nation Charity in Thailand).
Day 4 (520KM) – Hatyai to KL was a breeze. Weather was perfect all the way home. We stopped in Changlun to refuel and started our ride about 11.00am and rode all the way to Ipoh to have lunch with MJayah and Chong Kar Thong at Menglembu. Arrived at Ipoh at about 2.00pm and we adjourned for lunch and white coffee before leaving Ipoh at 3.30pm.

Next stop was at Jalan Duta and we arrived just past 5.00pm to be greeted by the massive KL traffic as everyone was rushing home after the days work. Well, its time we got back to reality after the lovely 4 days of riding and return to our lives and love ones. It was a free and easy ride and the both of us had good fun riding together as we have always been over the years. No firm plans right from the beginning, just two boring riders enjoying their “Passion for Riding”…
** My personal opinion on my newly acquired and much awaited and talk about bike the GS1200 LC 2013 **
I have ridden over 2000km in 4Day during my trip to Ranong Thailand. I had ridden the bike on Malaysian highways, Thai Highways, back route thru Thailand, mild off roads, short and long twisties along the Lang Suan mountain range and riding up and down the mountain roads somewhat like a roller coaster, in mild drizzle to a heavy down pour and this bike came out with high ratings if you asked me. I love the weight distribution on this new model compared to its previous models be it the GS or GS Adventure, handling has been improved and somehow the bike is very nimble, braking has improved, suspension is great with the 3 different modes (Soft, Normal and Hard) which could be switched on the fly plus the 5 different modes on the bikes that gives me pre-set options which makes the bike rideable weather you’re an amateur or professional.

I am very impressed of the bike although I had a minor heated grip issue during my last lg back into Malaysia from Thailand when the heated grip turned on and off by its self. A quick complain to Auto Bavaria and they changed the switch to resolve the issue immediately. Jeff, Prakash and Mat did a fine job as I sent my bike in for service last week and I would like to say thank You for their dedication for the job which gives me a whole lot of new perspective to BMW Service centre in Glenmarie. I hope Fazli Shukor takes note of these.

I have 3 personal dislikes on the new LC. Firstly, on the LED day running lights which are not easily visible by other motorist from afar especially if you have forgotten to turn on the headlights or you have not set the lights on ON mode in the default settings. I had experienced a few close calls on a couple of occasions during the first few days after taking delivery of the bike. I resolved the problem by installing an after market Denali light which makes the bike a more visible. Secondly, I would have to say the standard horn sounded wimpy. Resolved that problem by adding a booster and relay to give it a more profound and firm tone and the third is the stock standard windshield isn’t good enough especially among the taller riders…. You will need to upgrade it to a higher aftermarket windshield to give you better wind protection.
Till we ride again in the near future, keep the “Passion for Riding” going strong. “Ride hard & Ride safe always” **
Best Regards,
Kev for BikingMsia
Check out MORE specs here https://www.bikesrepublic.com/bulletin/bmw-unveil-new-r1200-gs/

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2016 Victory Motorcycles lineup announced

2016 Victory Gunner

Victory Motorcycles has announced its 2016 product range. According to the company, there will not be any new model, but only existing models with subtle design updates and new colours.
The biggest highlights of  the 2016 Victory Motorcycles lineup are the Vegas 8-Ball and the Vegas, where each model will feature an improved round headlight and colour-matched frames. Victory has also upgraded the wheels for each model, with lighter and stronger cast aluminium ‘Falchion’ rims. A new, sleeker headlight further slims the profile. The Vegas 8-Ball comes in Gloss Black and the Vegas is only on sale in Sunset Red.
2016 Victory Vegas 8 Ball
As for the Gunner, things remain pretty much the same, except the addition of two new colours – Suede Titanium Metallic and Suede Sagebrush Green Metallic.
The Judge on the other hand, will also come in a new colour next year– Sunset Red with Black Rally Stripes.
2016 Victory Magnum
And then, there is the Magnum, which has had the biggest makeover in the range with new paint-schemes that have stripes running from the fairing to the tail.
The Magnum will come in three colour options with two of these completely new for 2016. The two new schemes are Black Crystal over Havasu Red and Suede Pearl White with Black. The third colour is Black Crystal over Super Steel Grey.
2016 Victory Cross County Tour
The Cross County Tour, which carries a whopping 156 litres of gear atop a versatile cast-aluminium chassis, also gets two new colours for 2016 – Gloss Black or Gloss Pearl White over Super Steel Grey. The highlight about this bike is that it can be ridden two-up with fully loaded bags, and also be stripped down for a solo ride by removing the quick-detach rear trunk.
2016 Victory Vision
Last but not the least, the Vision’s modern design broke the mould for American touring models immediately on its release. The bold and flowing design wraps the rider in unparalleled comfort.
The aerodynamic bodywork and frame-mounted fairing featuring a power windshield gives the rider a smooth pocket no matter what speed they ride. And the cast aluminium chassis carves through corners and smoothens out highways no matter how long the trip. This year the Vision is available in Gloss Black.
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2019 Motorcycle Review Wrap-Up (Part 1)

Here’s Part 1 of our 2019 Motorcycle Review Wrap-Up.

We test nearly 40 bikes in 2019.

We summarize some of our verdicts here.

Looking back through 2019, we reviewed some 30 motorcycles. That’s why we decided to present our 2019 Motorcycle Review Wrap-Up, to welcome the new year.
We tested bikes in China, Morocco, Spain (multiple times including a tyre test), and Thailand (of course). The rest were conducted locally.
Here are the bikes we rode in 2019, in chronological order.
1. Yamaha YZF-R15

The YZF-R15 may be just a little 155cc sportbike but it’s just so much fun. What it lacks in outright horsepower it makes up in superb handling. We even scored a few kneedowns on it. We do need to say this: It did outrun the Yamaha “Ysuku” (Y15ZR”).
Read: 2019 Yamaha YZF-R15 Test & Review
2. BMW F 850 GS

We were super excited to receive this bike. It wasn’t just a 50cc hop-up from its predecessor, for it’s an entirely new bike. The supple suspension makes it comfortable for everyday use but that shows its intended off-road DNA. It has a lot more low- and midrange punch now, plus a whole lot more comfortable that the previous F 800 GS.
Read: BMW F 850 GS Test & Review
3. Honda CFR1100L Africa Twin

Yes, the Africa Twin has many fans but we kind of struggled to get to grips with the DCT 2 (Dual Clutch Transmission). Maybe it was because we needed more time to get used to it. In any case, the bike was good to ride, and we did a number of long trips out of town during testing. Great low-down and midrange torque for zipping around town with a long-legged highway prose.
Read: Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Test & Review
4. Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport

This model is the alpha bike of the Ducati Scrambler family, bedecked with Öhlins suspension. It sure was a soulful ride but it’s no Monster, of course. The fun is using that torque and handling to zap traffic. It can do some light off-roading, as well.
Read: Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Test & Review
5. Honda CB250R

The naked CB250R is the smallest model of what Honda calls the “Neo Sport Café” line-up. As the name suggests, it combines classic and modern styling elements. Well, styling is just styling because it’s a punchy little bike to ride. It may be a 250cc, but the acceleration would match something in the 300cc range, and the lack of weight makes it easy to throw around. Build quality was the typical top-notch Honda.
Read: Honda CB250R Test & Review
6. Honda CB1000R

While the CB250R was the smallest, the CB1000R was the taikor (big brother). It’s inline-four was sourced from the pre-2017, long-stroke, CBR1000RR Fireblade. Doing so gave the bike great low-down and midrange torque, while still maintaining enough top-end power to keep things entertaining. It’s a modern classic kind of bike with a single-sided swingarm.
Read: Honda CB1000R Test & Review
7. KTM 790 Adventure (790 Adventure R)

The KTM 790 Adventure and 790 Adventure R represent the most off-road capable middleweight adventure bikes. The former is more road-oriented while the latter is an out-and-out off-roader. Still, they are both good to ride on the road. Confused? Well, just think of the base model being for the occasional off-road rider, while the “R” version is for hardcore riders. But you can still take either one for touring. New electronics, suspension, fuel tank placement, seats, etc. makes it a legitimate middleweight dual-sport contender.
Read: KTM 790 Adventure Test & Review
8. Ducati Hypermotard 950 (and Hypermotard 950 SP)

The King of Hooligan bikes. Bar none. Wheelie-happy, kneedown-happy, foot-out-happy, stoppie-happy and everything else in between. Ducati brought in more refinements for the 2019 model while still maintaining its rowdy character. This is one bike you just couldn’t be nice on!
Read: Ducati Hypermotard 950 Test & Review
9. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R SE

Kawasaki is rightfully proud of the ZX-10R as it’s the multiple WorldSBK title winner, after all. The ZX-10R SE isn’t the WorldSBK homologation model (that’s the ZX-10RR) but it has the new Showa electronic suspension. It’s claimed to work faster than their rival Öhlins’ offering. It was certainly true as the damping rights made the bike less tiresome to ride on public roads. The bike’s chassis shows a bit of its age where it still has a stiff frontal area, where almost all new superbikes have gone the softer route. It means that you would need more effort to get the front to lean into corners compared to the others. Also, the inline-four engine is tuned for higher power, so it needs to get above 6,000 RPM before any real acceleration happens.
Read: Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R SE Test and Review
10. Ducati Diavel 1260 S

The Diavel 1260 S is 90% new. A lot of work had gone into giving the bike butch features such as electronics, display panels, bodywork panels, etc. However, the biggest news has to be the engine as its now powered by the Desmo Variable Timing (DVT) equipped 1262cc Testastretta V-Twin from the Multistrada 1260. It means more power, of course, but the DVT gives the bike engine a more precise engine response, rather than a sudden kick.
Read: Ducati Diavel 1260 S Test & Review
Intermission
That’s Part 1 for now. Stay tuned for further instalments.
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Heaven MC: A Malaysian Motorcycle Club With A Cause

Heaven MC, a club founded in 2015 is made up of predominantly Harley-Davidsons but is open to riders of all types of V-Twin powered motorcycles.
The President says it is a fun, non-profit motorcycle club.
The club mostly organizes local rides, but also rides to Thailand up to three times a year.

Motorcycle clubs (MCs) have been all the rage ever since the motorcycle was first introduced to the world. Case in point, the oldest motorcycle club in the world is the Yonkers Motorcycle Club of New York, which was founded in the year 1903, the same year that Harley-Davidson tried to sell its first models.

Since then, the world has seen the rise and rise of MCs either for leisure and socialization, or for criminal activities. Hells Angels, one of the most popular MCs in the world, immediately comes to mind when you put motorcycle clubs and criminal activities together in one sentence, but fact of the matter is, such MCs are the 1% of the world’s motorcycle riding community.

Malaysia too has a huge number of MCs, how many in total is unknown as there is no governing body that monitors and sanctions the MCs, but 100 clubs is easy if you consider the mopeds and scooter clubs.

One such club is the Heaven MC, a club founded in 2015 and is made up of predominantly Harley-Davidsons but is open to riders of all types of V-Twin powered motorcycles.

The club is headed by Nick Lum (top right), who took over as President in 2016 and is in charge of keeping the club’s 125 members occupied with weekend rides and such.

I had the pleasure of having a few brewskis with Nick last week to talk about the club he actively leads.
“The club only had 20 members when I joined with about 8 to 10 active riders. There was this one time where we organised a weekend ride but only me and this guy named Alex Locke showed up on Sunday morning. I remember us looking at each other and feeling clueless, and from then on Alex and I went out to actively recruit members,” said Nick that night at The Gasket Alley.

With a background in MNC marketing and the regional direct sales industry, Nick together with Alex, set out to to build and recruit members using the law of averages. “I knew that the more people we recruited, the higher the chances were of more people coming out to ride over the weekend. If we spoke to 50 people about Heaven MC and only 20% showed up over the weekend, that would be good enough for us as that is better than just two people showing up. These days we can easily get over 100 riders out for a ride, I would say we have done well,” explained Nick.

The 53 year old Nick is an active rider himself and owns a Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle, Road King Classic and a Street Glide CVO, and has gone through a number of Harleys in his riding career. “For me, riding a Harley-Davidson is akin to driving a Bentley or a Rolls-Royce. Not only are the bikes a symbol of status, but I also feel safe riding a Harley as I don’t need to ride fast to get satisfaction. Cars these days are way too expensive, a Harley on the other hand is also expensive for a motorcycle, but a lot more affordable and it changes your life.”

When asked about Heaven MC, the President says it is a fun, non-profit MC. The club’s most notables rides has been the inaugural ride to open the new Harley-Davidson PJ showroom where the club’s members were a part of about 500 Harley owners who rode together to celebrate the new showroom.

The club is open to all bikers who ride any type of V-twin motorcycle. There is no membership fees and everyone is welcome to join the weekend rides. The club actively supports events and community service and actively organizes fund raisers for any charity that needs it.

The club mostly organizes local rides, but also rides to Thailand up to three times a year. The club also recently held its annual CNY gathering to celebrate with their achievement and to share their upcoming plans. Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya also took part as a dealer to celebrate the annual event together with HOG of PJ to foster Harley-Davidson brotherhood. Anyone interested to join the club and its rides can get more information at the Heaven MC Facebook page.

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Gallery: Scrambler Ducati Italia Independent limited edition

The Scrambler Ducati just got even cooler with the revelation of the Scrambler Ducati Italia Independent limited edition version.

As it is, the Scrambler Ducati range perfectly epitomises everything that is ‘cool’ and ‘retro’ on two-wheels. However, should neither of the four variants of the 803cc version or the new Flat Track Pro and baby Sixty2 399cc variants tickle your fancy, then this collaboration with Italia Independent should up the ante.

For the uninitiated, Italia Independent is an Italian creative and stylish brand specialised in producing lifestyle eyewear products. Of course, being the ‘different’ sub-brand that it is, it comes to no surprise that the Scrambler Ducati sub-brand would collaborate with such a brand.

Back to the bike and it takes things further up a notch compared to the existing variants of the 803cc Scrambler model. It dons a much darker approach in its aesthetics compared to the Scrambler Throttle with highlights such as the matte black-finished tank with contrasting aluminium covers and 10-spoke wheels finished in a ‘Night Copper’ paint scheme.

Other unique highlights include a café racer style headlamp cover, a low-drag handlebar design with a pair of stylish under-bar rear-view mirrors and a copper-painted frame. Completing things are a set of specially designed logos littered around the bike, followed by an engraved and numbered commemorative aluminium ID plate for each bike.

All in all, this is one dark and sexy outtake of the Scrambler Ducati that stands just a little bit cooler than the regular variants in the range. Adding further to its cause is its exclusivity, with just 1,077 units planned. Ducati hasn’t announced a set price for each one just yet, but we reckon this would be one highly sought after Scrambler indeed, regardless of price.
Scrambler Ducati Italia Independent limited Edition

Sources: Scrambler Ducati via Airows and Jalopnik/Lanesplitter
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Motorcycle ABS supply chain disrupted by materials shortage

Shortage of certain raw materials amongst lead causes of motorcycle ABS supply chain slow-down worldwide.

Motorcycle ABS supply chain reportedly disrupted worldwide.

This is the likely cause of delayed deliveries of certain mid- to high-end brands and models.

Much of this disruption stems from the shortage of certain metals and alloys.

In case you were wondering why the delivery times of some motorcycles have extended lately, this could possibly be a result of a shortage in certain raw materials that has reportedly affected the motorcycle ABS supply chain.
According to French motorcycling portal Moto-Station, certain OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) have reported facing issues in keeping up with demand for motorcycle ABS sensors. They owe much of this to a lack of raw materials – certain types of metals and alloys specifically.
As a result of this shortfall, some manufacturers who depend on other firms for components and parts might have altered their production plans and timelines in order to accommodate for this disrupted and subsequently reduced parts supply.

Effectively, this adds to the already lengthy waiting times, especially for certain mid- to high-end brands and models that significantly depend on ABS sensors to function.
Compounding this further is the fact that most additional systems, namely traction control and electronic stability control, require inputs from the ABS module, further underlining the importance of this somewhat tiny and often overlooked component.
The root cause of this shortage hasn’t been pinpointed, though many believe this might the snowballed effects of the Suez Canal blockage last year, not forgetting the Covid-19 pandemic as well. What remains unclear too is how long more this disruption on motorcycle ABS supply might last for.
As most of the pandemic-driven constraints are lifted, employment in manufacturing factories and raw material refineries are ramping up again. Lets hope this motorcycle ABS supply chain disruption doesn’t last too long…
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CONFIRMED: BMW R 18 With A Bat-Wing Fairing Is Next In Line

BMW Motorrad is planning to expand the R 18 range after launching the R 18 First Edition and The R 18 Classic.
The latest patents filed by the German marquee revealed that the R 18 is getting a touring makeover. Thus, becoming the third variant for the motorcycle.

Like the R 18 First Edition and the R 18 Classic, the new model is expected to retain the “Big Boxer” 1,802cc engine; however, it will receive other major updates and redesigned.
The motorcycle seems to have a thicker dual seat based on the image file, a bigger teardrop-shaped fuel tank to increase fuel-range and the obvious bat-wing fairing.

Looking at the dash, the new R 18 might come with a large TFT screen located below the two (suspected) analogue meter while at right and left panel is expected to include a speaker.
There is also a more noticeable front fender (mudguards) than the one found on the standard R 18.
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VIDEO: Suzuki RG500 two-stroke beast blitz Isle of Man TT

The world of motorcycle Grand Prix in the 70s and 80s were dominated by 500cc two-stroke monsters and one of the best ones was the Suzuki RG500 piloted by the likes of Barry Sheene and more. In the last two years, Team Classic Suzuki raced their restored beauties at the Isle of Man TT Classics category by Danny Webb.

It’s already mesmerizing to watch modern-day superbikes battle it out at the iconic street circuit but watching seasoned riders piloting two-stroke monsters is definitely something on a different level. Below is the on-board video of Danny Webb racing around the island on the Suzuki RG500 at ridiculous speeds at mind-blowing RPMs.

According to Webb, riding the two-stroke beast is a completely different experience. Crazy powerbands within a relatively lightweight race bike require more finesse and control, which is why you see him dropping a lot more gears often when approaching corners and riding it to the red lines every chance he gets.

This Suzuki RG500 is the Mk10 version is tuned to produce somewhere above 100hp and 70Nm of torque but considering the bike weighs less than 180kg (plus the crazy power delivery only found on 500cc two-stroke race bikes), riding the beast to its maximum is like dancing with the devil himself, but Danny Webb made it looks so mesmerizingly easy.

We agree with Webb when he said that this Suzuki RG500 is a proper ‘man’s bike’. You need some huge cojones to race this baby AND keep the RPMs pinned at its maximum.
Top 10 Suzuki Motorcycles (Part 1)

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2019 Motorcycle Review Wrap-Up (Part 2)

Here’s Part 2 of our 2019 Motorcycle Review Wrap-Up.

We continue with a batch of the next ten bikes.

Here are summaries of our verdicts.

The second batch of motorcycle reviews began in April. April holds a special place for us as it’s the month when we gear up for rides to Thailand to celebrate Songkran and the Phuket Bike Week. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to test bikes all the way there.
Still, we got the opportunity to ride one of the baddest bikes on the road and a newcomer to the middleweight adventure segment.
11. Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE

If you thought the Ninja H2 was mental, it makes as much sense as using a rocket launcher to kill a fly when it’s converted to a sport-tourer in the Ninja H2 SX.
It’s not about top speed (limited to 299 km/h anyway) but the sheer, visceral acceleration. To illustrate, cruise at a steady 110 km/h in sixth gear and slam on the throttle. It’ll hit 200 km/h in just about four highway lampposts. And that’s in L (low) power mode! It took only 17 minutes from BHP Gombak to Starbucks Gohtong Jaya without pushing it to knee scraping cornering and such. Talking about knee dragging, this thing handled really well, too!
All these with hard panniers and smile to go along with it.
12. Zontes ZT310-T, ZT310-X, ZT310-R

Zontes shows what a Chinese manufacturer could do when they think outside the box rather than CTRL+C CTRL+V others. But Guangdong Taiyo (manufacturer of Zontes motorcycles) demonstrates the willpower and courage to build almost everything in-house to control quality and address potential issues. This trio is just one small part of what they produce but they have gone to invade many markets around the world, so much so that there’s limited supply of stock (of bikes, not parts).
They were surprisingly good to ride and somewhat comparable to established brands. They’re not perfect but we’re confident that they will be sooner than later.
13. Kawasaki Z900RS Café

The Z900RS Café was one of the most awaited bikes along with its Z900RS brethren. Surely you’ve read this many times: It’s built as the soul successor to the groundbreaking Z1 from 1972. Yes, it looks great and there’s plenty of low-down torque and power but blighted by snatchy throttle response (on/off) and a mule-like rear shock. But hey, most don’t mind because they want how good a bike looks, instead.
14. Yamaha Tracer 900 GT

The Tracer 900 was a sales success in many parts of the world but there were things that many wished were addressed. And that’s exactly what the GT did. TFT screen, revised suspension, smooth throttle response, better seats, wider footpegs, longer swingarm, etc. etc. turns it into a legitimate sport-touring contender. Oh, let’s not forget the low price!
14. Moto Guzzi V85TT

The Piaggio group was very excited with the launch of the V85TT and so were many avid motorcycle fans. Here was a bike that looks good by mixing the elements from rally bikes with a modern classic. The result surprised even MG. The V85TT was an easy bike to just hop on and go without needing to worry about anything at all. Its handling catered to newbies and veterans alike, and it was comfortable to ride on the entire day. Shame that it costs much more than it should in Malaysia as it’s fully-CKD.
16. Honda PCX Hybrid

The first commercially available hybrid motorcycle. That electric motor certainly gave the bike that low-down punch which surprised many Ysuku riders. And it still saves lots of fuel! The Hybrid version is finished much more exquisitely than the run-of-the-mill PCX and attracted the attention of Honda City, Civic and Accord drivers when we tested it. The hybrid system really worked and we wish more bikes will be fitted with it in the future.
17. Kawasaki Z250 ABS

The Z250 is the naked version of the Ninja 250. While it doesn’t look as pretty as the Ninja 250, the suspension was something totally different. Hernia inducing bumpy roads, smooth roads, slippery road – it didn’t care. The engine was rev-happy and provided lots of hooligan-like entertainment. About the way it looks, well, we never bought into Kawasaki’s “Sugomi” design theme. We tried. Oh, we tried hard.
18. Yamaha YZR-R25

The 2019 YZF-R25 was given a facelift to look like the YZF-R6, but was also given upside-down forks. Other parts including the engine stayed the same. The forks made handling a whole world of difference compared to its predecessor – providing gobs of confidence to chuck the bike into corners despite the stock iRC tyres. However, the engine showed its age as it revved slowly. It shows just competitive the 250cc market is.
19. BMW R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure

We tested these two at one go. In shaping up for the imminent Euro 5 regulations, BMW built an entirely new Boxer engine. First, they took the capacity to 1254cc, and then topped it off with the BMW ShiftCam VVT/VVL head. Some may feel disappointed because the “feel” of the engine was almost exactly the same as the previous engine despite the hike in power and torque. But we called that an achievement because it retains the Boxer’s punchy yet smooth character. The new model is also equipped with new and revised electronics (including a bi-directional quickshifter) to make it even better as a long-haul runner.
20. BMW F 750 GS

The F 750 GS is actually the F 850 GS with the same engine but less power and meant for the road. But don’t let that stress you out because it was still a nice bike to ride. The suspension is a little tauter than the F 850 GS’s and uses 19-inch front and 17-inch rear cast alloy wheels. It’s a simple bike with nothing much to play around with apart from the excellent TFT screen, but it does allow you to fit all the luggage and accessories you need to an extended tour. That is in fact the main draw of the F-series. They cost less and are easier to maintain or repair.
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TESTED: 2017 Kawasaki Z900 ABS & Z900 ABS SE – “Speed Demon”

 Our video review on the difference between the Z900 Standard and the
 Z900 Special Edition.
The latest 2017 Kawasaki Z900 ABS is considered as a major improvement to the model it’s replacing, the Z800.
We took the Z900 and Z900 SE (Special Edition) for a long term test ride to see how good these bikes really are.
To put into perspective, we’ve compared it to the previous Z800 and also the Z1000 to really understand how the Z900 ABS is a superior super naked machine from Kawasaki.

Naked bikes and street fighters have been a big part of the motoring industry even since motorcycle enthusiasts modified them to make their bikes more aggressive and perform better than ever before. Motorcycle manufacturers took note of this and ever since then, they’ve been churning out their ready-to-ride naked bikes and street fighters.

Kawasaki is a prime example of a manufacturer that has been doing this for a while and they’re doing it well. They’re most successful naked bike is arguably the Kawasaki Z800 which has been a staple among big bike enthusiasts around the world. In Malaysia, it was seen as the perfect option for those looking to upgrade to their first big bike with tremendous performance figures without burning a huge hole in their wallets.

Considered as one of the best selling entry level big bikes of all time, it has become a bit dated for the past few years and Kawasaki knows all too well that coming up with the proper replacement to the popular Z800 is a monumental task. Before they could do so, they went out of their way to launch another “super naked” on steroids that is the Kawasaki Z1000 which embodies the “Sugomi” in its purest form making it one of the most aggressive yet beautiful naked bikes of all time.

That only made their task of coming up with the Z800’s replacement that much harder because it has to better than the Z800 but at the same time shouldn’t overshadow or make the Z1000 look redundant. The day that they introduced the Z900 ABS earlier this year was the day that we confirmed that Kawasaki succeeded in doing so.

We’ve tested the Kawasaki Z900 previously during a test ride session which was organised by Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (KMSB) a couple of months back and we were quite impressed with how the Z900 ABS performed. We decided to take it out one more time to really dig deep and understand how the Z900 is better than Z800 and also how it’s different from its bigger and more aggressive sibling, the Z1000.
Kawasaki Z1000 ABS
First and foremost, the looks of the Z900 ABS is simply stunning. It still carries the iconic ‘Sugomi’ design throughout the bike which is the essence of the Kawasaki Z series. It still has that aggressive appeal to it which is roughly the same as the Z800 but one look at the Z900 and you know immediately it’s something special. Personally, we still prefer the Z1000 in terms of looks but we’ll take the Z900 ABS any day.

The bike is not just a mere replacement to the Z800 as it has actually gone through so many evolutions that we can simply say it’s an entirely different beast altogether. By comparison, it is 21kg lighter than the Z800 thanks to many upgraded features to the engine, swingarm, chassis and many more.

The biggest change is the swap to the trellis frame similar to one found in the mad Kawasaki H2. Completely redone, the Z900 ABS ditched the subframe altogether which managed to dropped its overall weight by 11kg compared to the Z800’s chassis. Simply put, try riding the Z900 with two 10kg bags of rice on your bag and you’ll understand how the weight loss greatly affects the overall performance of the machine.

Moving on the engine, the one found on the Z900 is based on the previous Z1000 but reworked to make it into a 948cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline-four cylinder, fuel injected monster that produces 123,6hp and 98.6Nm of torque. By comparison, the Z900 is 142cc bigger than the Z800 and only 95cc smaller than the Z1000. In terms of power and torque, the Z900 has 13.6hp and 15.6Nm more than Z800 but just 16.7hp and 12.4Nm of torque less than the Z1000. In short, the Z900 sits nicely between the two.

Let’s move over to weight figures. With power and torque figures not that different from the Z1000, the Z900 ABS wins in the power-to-weight ratio as it only weighs 210kg (213kg for the Special Edition) which is 11kg less than Z1000 and as stated earlier, a good 21kg lighter than the Z800. Better performance plus less weight equals AWESOMENESS. Everyone can agree with this.

In terms of overall stability, the Z900 ABS wins again with its new horizontal back-link suspension that adds more mass centralisation which is similar to Kawasaki’s higher end bikes like the Ninja ZX-10R and Z1000SX. It gives the bike a much better riding experience which is super smooth at blistering speeds as well as cornering steadiness. Riding the Z900 ABS gives such a good experience, it’s hard to believe it’s a naked bike and not a track machine.

For this particular writer, the Z900 ABS is both jaw-dropping and terrifying at the same time. It is so smooth and near perfect that any micro input can be felt when riding the bike. For this particular writer who thought that his riding style is average, the Z900 slapped some sense into how much there is to learn in order to become a great rider.

It’s like when you learn how to play the guitar with a cheap and old instrument. You feel like you’re playing all the chords right but when we get that top of the range Gibson electric guitar with all the bells and whistles, all the imperfections are more noticeable and the urge to become better becomes stronger. The Z900 ABS is so good to bring this writer back down to Earth for a reality check and we can’t see any other bike at this range that perform that particular task so elegantly and efficiently.

Riding the Z900 also feels great in terms of riding position which has been greatly improved from its predecessor. With increased handlebar width and lower seat height, it offers great stability as well as amazing manoeuvrability in heavy traffic which can be daunting when piloting the Z800. Most Asians with lower average heights can appreciate the Z900 ABS easily but anyone who exceeds the 170cm height will find the Z900 ABS to be a little cramped.

Apart from that, the Z900 ABS is near perfect for any riding occasion at any given day. The Z900 ABS can be a darling to cruise comfortably on the highway but twist open that throttle a bit more and you will fly and fly fast. The last time we tried it out in a controlled environment, we managed to hit 200km/h without breaking a sweat and at long piece of flat tarmac, we reckoned it can go a whole lot faster. This thing has so much power and torque, it can wheelie of the line up until the sixth gear when given to someone with the right skills (obviously, none of us).

We’ve also mentioned previously that the Z900 trumps the Z800 and Z1000 with the addition of a ‘Slip and Assist’ clutch that helps with smooth clutch operations that lets the bike rolling off easily as well as avoid any unwanted rear wheel lockups when shifting to lower gears. In our experience, they work extremely well that it’s easy to forget the true nature of this particular Kawasaki.

With great power comes great stopping power and its twin 300mm front disc brakes with quad-piston callipers together with its 250mm rear disc plus single-piston calliper helps the Z900 to stop on a dime. Further complimented with Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), it offers better braking performance and confidence when braking hard but be warned as there’s no cornering ABS so stay gentle and progressive on that brake levers when going through corners and you should come out the other end safely.

We can go on and on how awesome the Z900 really is but mere words won’t really do justice as one really needs to experience what this latest Kawasaki ‘super naked’ bike has to offer. Priced at RM49,158 (basic price with GST), it roughly around the same range as the Z800 but a whopping RM33,562 cheaper than the Z1000. Just add an extra RM1,801 more and you can bring home the Special Edition model with that blue and chrome colourway plus gold telescopic forks.

Other extras include front axle sliders, engine sliders, engine cover rings, radiator screen, screen cover, single seat cover, tank protector and knee pad and the best of them all is a DC output which allows the rider to recharge their smartphones or GPS units while riding the bike. Not a bad deal if we say so ourselves.

All in all, Kawasaki not only did a great job in coming up with a proper replacement to the dated Z800 but they knocked this one right out of the ball park with so many upgrades and improvements that it’s hard to believe it’s only around RM50,000. Our only advice we can give now is that ditch the old Z800 and forget about waiting for the new Z1000 because the Z900 is more than enough to get your adrenaline pumping each and every time you go out for a ride. It is truly a bike that lets the good time roll all day, every day.

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Massive Turnout for 2019 Yamaha MotoGP Convoy

1,300 Yamaha owners joined the 2019 Yamaha MotoGP convoy.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) co-operated with PETRONAS to organise a convoy to the 2019 Malaysia MotoGP.

The participants were given privileges at the Yamaha booth and PETRONAS Experience at SIC.

It is an annual tradition expected by Yamaha motorcycle owners in Malaysia. Once again, Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) co-operated with PETRONAS to organise a convoy to the Malaysia MotoGP on 3rd November 2019.

Participants, 1,300 of them to be exact, rode in to the Klang Valley specifically to join the convoy. They rode in on every Yamaha model including the Lagenda 115, 135LC, Y15ZR, 125ZR, NMAX, NVX, XMAX, all the way up to the XJ6, MT-07, MT-09, MT-09 Tracer and so forth. It was here during the convoy that one can see just how numerous is HLYM’s lineup.

The huge group congregated at the TSI Arena in Cyberjaya since 6.30 am.
PETRONAS Vice President of Downstream Business, Dato’ Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Tahir was on hand to address the crowd. The attendees were expecting great results from the PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, of course. The pair had qualified first and third on the grid, after all.

HLYM was represented by Managing Director Dato’ Jim Khor, who thanked the riders for choosing Yamaha.

The convoy was later flagged off by both Dato’ Sri Syed Zainal and Dato’ Jim Khor.

All riders rode in orderly fashion until the Sepang International Circuit. A specially-prepared parking area was allocated for the riders and was guarded by HLYM’s staff throughout the duration of the race.

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Participants were welcomed at the Hong Leong Yamaha booth and the PETRONAS Experience “mini mall”.
The 2019 convoy was another huge success. We could only see an even bigger convoy next year.
PHOTO GALLERY

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MotoGP: Petronas To Pull The Plug On SRT

Malaysian oil giant Petronas reportedly decided to pull the plug as title sponsor for Sepang Racing Team (SRT) in MotoGP starting next season.
According to motorsport.com, SRT will also set to abandon its Moto2 and Moto3 project in an effort to protect the MotoGP team.
Moreover, it is understood that Yamaha has renegotiated its current deal with SRT, whereby two ‘B-spec’ M1 will be provided for the 2022 season instead of one factory-spec and one A-spec the team is running on at the moment.
SRT is still in a dilemma ever since Maverick Vinales decided to quit the factory Yamaha team at the end of the season, while Franco Morbidelli is expected to make the jump to the factory team as a replacement.
Meanwhile, veteran rider and 9th world champion, Valentino Rossi, is set to retire at the end of the season, leaving team principal Datuk Razlan Razali the pressure to look for two new riders for the 2022 season.
Raul Fernandez from KTM Ajo was earlier seen as a top candidate before Team Orange decided to promote him to Tech3 MotoGP.
Rossi protege Marco Bezzechi was next in line to join SRT, but the latest development suggests he will now move up to the premier class with VR46 Ducati alongside Luca Marini.
(Source: Motorsport.com)
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2020 Yamaha YZF-R6 20th Anniversary unveiled by YART – RM96k!

The Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART) who’s known for their efforts in the world of two-wheels endurance racing has unveiled their version of the 2020 Yamaha YZF-R6 20th Anniversary model for the European market. It seems that they’ve slightly upgraded the actual 20th anniversary Yamaha R6 which was introduced last year, the correct year to celebrate the bike’s anniversary.

Compared to last year’s special edition R6, this version announced by the YART squad doesn’t look that much different, especially when both versions come with the same red/white commemorative paintworks. Nevertheless, the bike looks baller and we would probably drool over it if there’s one anywhere near us.

Upon closer inspection, the model that YART is offering comes with added bits and pieces that make it different from last year’s 20th anniversary Yamaha R6. These include Akrapovic exhaust unit (presumably a full system, instead of just a slip-on), single-seat setup, brake lever protector, and some carbon fibre bits.

There’s no other mention of any other major differences but looking at the price point of close to €20,000 (around RM95,900), we’re assuming that there must be some hardware upgrades to the standard package because that’s a mad price for a 600cc supersports machine. Anyway, it’s a mean-looking machine for those who want something a bit special in their garage.
New colour updates for 2020 Yamaha MT-09 – RM48,920

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MV Agusta releases special edition 2018 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR Pirelli

A brand new partnership between MV Agusta and Pirelli has resulted in the production of the 2018 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR Pirelli model.
The Brutale 800 RR Pirelli edition comes with a specially-designed paintjob and a few other parts taken from their F4 superbike.
There will two colours available; matte black plus red and grey plus blue.

MV Agusta has signed an official agreement with major tyre manufacturer Pirelli as the brand’s sole tyre supplier. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the premium Italian brand has launched the very limited 2018 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR with special Pirelli graphics.

Created by the folks over at MV Agusta together with Pirelli Design, the bike was designed as a symbol of partnership which will lead to all MV Agusta bikes currently in production being fitted with Pirelli tyres from now on.

Compared to the standard Brutale 800 RR, the main changes on this beautiful Pirelli version are focused mainly on a few different components and of course, the paint works. There are two different colour schemes available; a combination of matte black plus red and grey plus blue.

Another great accessory advantage from this partnership is the fact that you have the option to choose a set of special Pirelli tyres with coloured sidewalls to match your beloved motorcycle.

Other cosmetic features include a specially-made seat with coloured stitching and repainted headlight bracket plus subframe. The biggest changes to the 2018 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR Pirelli edition are the lightweight wheels plus a few other parts taken from their flagship F4 superbike. To make way for the new rims, a set of bigger profile Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP rubbers were added.

While most special edition MV Agusta bikes are one-offs, the 2018 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR Pirelli is the brand’s first model customised by Pirelli that will go into production and be sold in limited numbers as agreed by both major Italian companies.
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2018 Ducati Scrambler 1100 has arrived in Malaysia! From RM83,000

Next Bike Sdn Bhd has officially launched the 2018 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Special and Sport variants here in Malaysia.

The official launch was made at the 2018 Art of Speed Malaysia festival currently happening this weekend at MAEPS Serdang.

The 2018 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Special is priced at RM83,000 while the Sport variant comes in at RM85,000 (OTR price without insurance & 0% GST).

Next Bike Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of Ducati here in Malaysia has officially unveiled the latest and most powerful Ducati Scrambler ever built yet for the Malaysian market. The 2018 Ducati Scrambler 1100 comes in two different flavours which are the Ducati Scrambler 1100 Special and Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport.

According to Mr Nazman Shah, Head of 2-Wheels Division, Naza Corporation Holdings, “The Scrambler 1100 aims to meet the needs of even the most demanding motorbike enthusiasts infusing more fun, style, and freedom that have been the cornerstone trademark of the Scrambler.”

“Global sales for the Scrambler have soared past the 46,000 units mark since its first introduction in 2015 and now, the Ducati Scrambler 1100’s arrival in Malaysia completes our Scrambler line-up offering here where the full range of Scramblers is now available through Ducati Malaysia,” added Mr Nazman during the official launch at the 2018 Art of Speed Malaysia festival.

Launched during last year’s EICMA show in Milan, the 2018 Ducati Scrambler 1100 is without a doubt the most powerful Scrambler Ducati has produced yet. This is further cemented with its 1,079cc air-cooled, L-twin engine which is able to produce a cool 86hp at 7,500rpm and 88.4Nm of torque at 4,750rpm whilst maintaining is Euro-4 emissions standard.

When it comes to self-expression, styling and fun factor, the Scrambler 1100 does not compromise any of those in its stages of development which can be seen in the end result. Those who prefer a more contemporary and classic appeal can opt for the Scrambler 1100 Special but those who are a bit on the wild side can always go for the more sporty and muscular Scrambler 1100 Sport.

Ducati is able to achieve all of these performance factors whilst maintaining its roots back to the bikes built in the 1970s and of course, the ‘Land of Joy’ spirit. To accommodate the bigger and more powerful engine, this particular Scrambler is bigger and wider which also helps in increasing the overall riding comfort for both rider and pillion.

Other high-performance specifications include:

All-new twin upper spar steel Trellis frame
Rear aluminium subframe
15-litre fuel tank
Ohlins suspension kit (Kayaba set for the Scrambler 1100 Special)
Front 45mm USD front forks
Bosch 9.1 MP Cornering ABS
Ducati Traction Control (DTC)
Front dual 330mm disc with Brembo M4.32B monobloc 4-piston calipers
Selectable riding modes (Active, Journey, and City)

The Ducati Scrambler 1100 Special comes in a very enticing Custom Grey colour scheme which matches brilliantly with its blacked out frame and wheels while the Sport variant comes in Viper Black with yellow highlights around the entire machine.

As for pricing, Next Bike Sdn Bhd has a set a selling price of RM83,000 for the Special and RM85,000 for the Sport (on-the-road price without insurance and 0% GST). Those who book their machine from the 28 July 2018 until 5 August 2018 will be able to enjoy a special SST tax exemption of the final pricing.

To know more, head over to any of the authorised Ducati showrooms located across Malaysia.

12 Ducati Panigale V4 S race livery bikes up for auction!

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Royal Enfield Newest Factory In Thailand Begins Operation

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Royal Enfield is set to ram up its production in Asia as the company has begin its factory operation in Chachoengsao, a province located east of Bangkok,Thailand.
The new facility would not only serve the local market but also other major South East Asian region.
Interestingly, the Indian-owned company has already started things going by developing a small-displacement motorcycle in cooperation with Thailand motorcycle company GPX.
According to the Indian firm, Royal Enfield plans to ship its motorcycle as a CKD model for assembly which includes the Himalayans and the 650 Twins (Interceptor and Continental GT).
“We are very happy to announce the commencement of operations at the CKD assembly plant in Thailand.
“A testament to our commitment to the region and the market potential, and to our growing community of riding enthusiasts, this facility will enable us to efficiently cater to the growing demand in this region, and also become the hub for the rest of Southeast Asian markets,” said B. Govindarajan, Executive Director Royal Enfield.
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Next-Generation Moto Guzzi Stelvio Likely To Debut At EICMA 2023

Italian motorcycle manufacturer, Moto Guzzi, is making waves in the industry with the recent global launch of its V100 Mandello.

Moto Guzzi hinted the revival of the iconic Stelvio back in 2022.
The next-gen adventure bike to feature the same 1042cc engien taken from the V100 Mandello.

Known for their distinctive charm and retro designs, Moto Guzzi has taken a step towards modernity with the technologically advanced V100 Mandello, equipped with high-tech components and a powerful 1,042cc engine.
Building on this success, Moto Guzzi has hinted at the revival of their beloved Stelvio adventure bike at the EICMA 2022 event. The company showcased a teaser display featuring the word “Stelvio” alongside an eagle flying across the iconic Stelvio Pass. Originally discontinued due to lackluster sales, Moto Guzzi’s decision to resurrect the Stelvio reflects the growing demand for liter-class adventure bikes.

Spy shots shared on Facebook offer a glimpse of the upcoming Stelvio, revealing its close resemblance to the V100 Mandello. The revamped Stelvio incorporates several modifications to enhance its off-road capabilities, including wire-spoke wheels with dual-purpose tires, long-travel suspension, an adjustable windscreen, and hand guards.
Notably, the new Stelvio is poised to be Moto Guzzi’s most technologically advanced model to date. Sources suggest it may feature radar-powered cruise control, IMU-powered traction control, ABS, multiple ride modes, and potentially even electronically adjustable suspension.

While Moto Guzzi remains tight-lipped about specific details, insiders speculate that the Stelvio will make its highly anticipated debut at EICMA 2023. Adventure motorcycle enthusiasts eagerly await further updates from the iconic Italian brand.
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2023 Tracer 9 GT Likely To Feature Radar-Assist Cruise Control

We are already at the start of the second half for 2022 and usually this is the time where motorcycle manufactures starts to unveil what’s in store for the coming year.

The Yamaha Tracer 9 GT likely getting the adaptive cruise control function for 2023.
2023 Tracer 9 GT could feature radar technology similar to Ducati Multistrada V4.

Looks like Yamaha has some big news for us already as the Japanese firm is likely introducing radar-assisted cruise control function for the upcoming Tracer 9 GT.
Yes folks, the sports tourer motorcycle will feature the fancy radar technology as reported by Motorrad.
The German publication managed to capture a spy shot of what appears to be the Tracer 9 GT underwent a road test in southwest Germany. You can check their spy shot photos HERE.
From the photos, you can see that there is a conspicuous box attached in between the front headlamp. Motorrad also claimed that it could be a Bosch unit, similar to the one installed on the Ducati Multstrada V4.
However, while the Multistrada V4 also feature radar technology at the rear for its blind spot function, the Tracer 9 GT could be missing out on that particular technology.
Nevertheless, while these spy shot did not revealed much a part from the new technology, it could be well enough to highlight that Yamaha is moving towards radar-assisted function for the future.
Then again, everything is mere speculation at this point and the adaptive cruise control system could still be in an early stage and the Tracer 9 GT might just be a lab rat for Yamaha to test out the new feature.
One thing is clear however, we might know the rest of the story from Yamaha in the coming months.
(Source: Motorrad)

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Gallery: Custom BMW G310 R Street Tracker by Wedge Motorcycles

A closer look at the custom BMW G310 R Street Tracker created by Wedge Motorcycles of Japan.

As you can probably tell, we at BikesRepublic.com are just an anxious as you are for the arrival of the BMW G310 R naked – and perhaps its G310 GS adventure sibling – into our market next year.

It’s arrival may be delayed here, but it hasn’t doused out our interests in it, and this tasty custom confirms one new thing about it – you could indeed customise the BMW G310 R if you wanted to.

This custom-built BMW G310 R Street Tracker was the creation of Tokyo-based Wedge Motorcycles. It was commissioned by BMW Motorrad Japan and, as you can see from the pictures provided, Wedge Motorcycle’s Takashi Nihira has created one stunning custom bike indeed.

Nihira-san says that the most intricate part about this build was the engine and its unique rearward-facing exhaust header. What was an ingenious design for optimum weight balance proved to be a challenge for Nihira-san, as was retaining the G310 R’s chassis frame.

This explains the exceptional craftsmanship undertaken to fit the custom high-mounted exhaust that loops around a custom swingarm assembly, as well as the side-mounted radiator. Complementing them are the custom 19-inch wheels with directly mounted brake discs whilst the stock base bike’s calipers and master cylinder remains.

What started out an unassuming ‘little’ roadster has transformed into a cool custom street tracker. BMW Motorrad did promise more offshoots of the G310 R in the near future, and perhaps this could be a hint for the German marque to develop a mini retro scrambler.
Check out more images of the custom BMW G310 R Street Tracker by Wedge Motorcycle Japan in the gallery we’ve prepared below.

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Watch this Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R hit over 200km/h

When Trick Star Racing got their hands on a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R, they knew that the 250cc inline-four machine could do so much more with just a minimum number of upgrades. With the help of their ARRC rider, Tahakiro Yamamoto, they took out the modified version onto the Fuji Speedway to see what the bike is capable of.

Fuji Speedway presents one of the longest straights at 1.475 kilometres, which should be enough to achieve what they’ve set up to do – go as fast as possible on their tricked-out Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R. A bunch of aftermarket parts were installed to achieve this goal, like a custom full system exhaust, race-spec air intake and ram air, filter, sprockets, and chain.

These are relatively minor upgrades that most people can do on their bikes without too much of a hassle, and Trick Star even installed a GPS speedometer to see the difference with the bike’s stock meter.

At the highest point, their Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R actually hit 202km/h at the end of the Fuji Speedway’s front straight, with the GPS speedometer clocking 195km/h. All of that was achieved with the bike revving extremely high at 17,000rpm, not even at its redline at 18,000rpm.

Compared to the time when the WorldSBK riders, Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes took the standard-spec bikes out in Jerez, Spain, the Trick Star ZX-25R clocked 20km/h faster in fifth gear before proceeding to shift into the final sixth gear and reaching 202km/h. Very impressive.
2021 Honda CBR150R launched in Thailand – 17.1hp, RM12,480

Written by: Sep Irran
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Honda ‘CB300F’ slated for 2015 release

Following a patent leak reported earlier this year, it seems Honda will slot its upcoming ‘CB300F’ entry-level naked for next year instead.
According to sources, recently leaked emissions documents states that the ‘F’ or naked version of the Honda CBR300 (CBR250 in our market) has virtually the same emissions figures as its full-faired sibling. This means we can expect no changes from the CBR version’s 286cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, and its output figures of 30.4hp and peak torque of 27Nm.
The same can be said about its weight. Though the F version will weigh slightly less having less body panels than the CBR version, emissions documents does show it having an inertial weight of about 260kg (likely a weight figure associated when the bike is moving, not stationary).
Given that Honda have pushed back the CBR300R’s introduction in the UK by a year, the CB300F naked is expected to be released shortly after in the same year – 2015. Also expected to follow shortly after is a 250cc version destined for markets in and around Asia.
Source: Visordown
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Is this the new 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa?

Patents of the new Suzuki Hayabusa emerged sometime last year, which indicated that the Hamamatsu-based manufacturer is indeed working on a new ‘hyperbike’. Now, rendered images of what many has assumed to be the 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa model have emerged and it’s from none other than Autoby.

This bigger and better Hayabusa gave everyone hope that the ‘bird of prey’ is indeed alive and well and will be making its official debut most possibly before the year ends. A lot of things have been floating around regarding its possible specs, most notably its engine.

Due to strict Euro5 emissions regulations, it is most likely that we will see a bigger 1,440cc inline-four engine that’s expected to produce somewhere over 190hp. Others have indicated a completely new power plant, one with a turbocharger.

What we can also expect are upgrades in the electronics department, the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS) in particular. SIRS was introduced by Suzuki when they launched the new 2020 V-Strom 1050 XT which includes a new IMU unit, cornering ABS, selectable riding modes, and other intelligent riding aids.

We still have two and a half months before the end of 2020 and one thing is for sure. The 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa is coming and it is going to be legendary. Stay tuned for more updates.
Written by: Sep Irran
New Suzuki GSX-R to be launched in Malaysia

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KTM reveals Fuel-injected Two-stroke Motorcycles

KTM has finally taken the covers off their latest fuel-injected two-stroke motocross bikes for 2018; the KTM 250 EXC TPI and 300 EXC TPI.
The new ‘Transfer Port Injection’ (TPI) technology has two fuel injectors that fires directly into the transfer port without the need of pre-mixing the fuels.
This new fuel-injected technology for two-stroke engines means that it can greatly improve power delivery, lower fuel consumption and requires no messing with for the air-to-fuel ratio for different riding conditions.

It’s finally here, ladies and gentlemen. KTM has finally unveiled their latest masterpiece in their two-stroke motocross line up. Unlike previous motorcycles that they have launched before, these motorcycles represent the new era of two-stroke technology where KTM has combined it with fuel injection capabilities.

Introducing the new 2018 KTM 250 EXC TPI and 300 EXC TPI. With the TPI stands for ‘Transfer Port Injection’, this particular technological marvel has two fuel injectors that will fire directly into the transfer port which in turn requires no fuel premix, better power delivery, improved fuel consumption and no mucking about the air-to-fuel ratio settings for different riding conditions.

CLICK HERE to know more about this new Transfer Port Injection technology in our previous report.

Together with the new Transfer Port Injection, KTM has also implemented a brand new engine management system and ECU which will assist greatly in fine tuning the bike for the best fuel injection delivery and ignition timing all day, every day.

Since the 250 EXC TPI and 300 EXC TPI are going to front line the movement of two-stroke machines into the future, KTM has also implemented brand new cylinders, air filter box, oil pump and fuel tank to make sure that the bikes perform at their optimum ranges no matter the riding conditions.

According to a report made by MCN, the bikes will be available in the UK market sometime around June. No mention of the prices just yet but we’ll keep you posted once we have all of the necessary information.

In the mean time, CLICK HERE to check out all the other KTM models available in Malaysia via our Bike Buyer’s Guide right here on Bikes Republic.
Photo source: KTM

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Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Gets Android Auto!

After updating the Honda Gold Wing with the Android Auto last year, the Japanese marque is now bringing the same updates to the CRF1100L Africa Twin.
The Android Auto function enables you to access Google Maps, music, answer calls, and other services via the TFT display connected to your smartphone.
Android AutoTM integration for the CRF1100L Africa Twin
According to Honda, this software update is free and current owners can bring their Africa Twin to nearby Honda dealers to execute the latest upgrade.

For those interested to do the upgrade yourself, Honda also shared a link on how to launch the update, which you can find HERE.
All you need is a USB 2.0 or a higher flash drive with 512MB of space, a computer, or a laptop with a high internet connection.
The updates will take at least 15 minutes.
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All-New 2022 Suzuki GSX-S950 To Launch In August – 95hp, 92Nm

Suzuki presents the all-new 2022 GSX-S950, a brand new motorcycle build to tackle the mid-segment naked bike category.
Based on the recently launched GSX-S1000, the 950 version maintain the original, modern street-fighter looks, including the electronic package making it one of a complete machine in the category.

While swingarm and riding mechanics derive from the iconic GSX-R, the GSX-S950 was developed mainly for road use.
In terms of performance, the 950 is powered by a detuned 999cc in-line four-cylinder found on the GSX-S1000 that now makes 95hp @ 7,800rpm and 92Nm @ 6,500rpm.

Nonetheless, the GSX-S950 comes with cheaper 43mm KYB front forks, Tokico front callipers (Brembos on the GSX-S1000) with ABS, straight handlebars and Dunlop Roadsport 2 radial tires.

However, you still get to enjoy the electronic packages that include:

Suzuki Traction Control System (STCS)
Ride-by-Wire
Suzuki Easy Start System
Suzuki Low RPM Assist

The all-new GSX-S950 are available in two colours, Suzuki and Glossy Matt Black.

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Scorpion Covert FX Retro-Inspired Helmet Breaks Cover

Speaking of helmets, brands like AGV, Shoei and Arai have cemented their status in the motorcycling industry, including protecting some of the world’s greatest motorcycle racers.

Scorpion introduces new Covert FX retro-style helmets.
The Covert FX meets the latest ECE22.06 homologation standards.

However, in recent times, Scorpion has also proven to be part of the elite, especially with the successful partnership with 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo and 2022 WorldSBK Champion Alvaro Bautista.
Of course, a helmet brand doesn’t play a big part in a racer’s success on the track, but it indeed jumps on the bandwagon surrounding the racer’s achievement, thus making it widely known.

Thanks to the brand’s success in recent times, Scorpion has been able to release a new range of helmets called the Covert FX.
The Scorpion Covert FX is a retro-inspired helmet with similar vibes to Simpson and Biltwell.
Despite the retro-touch, the Covert FX meets the latest ECE22.06 safety standard thanks to its TCT fibre construct shell that offers excellent impact dissipation.
The Covert FX is also fitted with a Kwickwick3 inner lining with soft and hypoallergenic coating. Other standard features include a drop-down sun visor and adequate front, top and rear ventilation.
The Scorpion Covert FX will be available starting December 2022 for EUR249.90 (RM1.2k).
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MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa together with Petronas Yamaha?

Some folks have speculated that Dani Pedrosa will stay in MotoGP next season together with the Petronas Yamaha satellite team.

While nothing has been confirmed, Lin Jarvis stated that talks between Yamaha and Petronas are currently going well.

The next 24 hours will reveal if these possibilities are true as we wait for the official announcements.

After last round’s fiasco regarding the future of current Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, a lot of different folks around the world have already begun speculating the Spaniard’s future in MotoGP. With all of the factory seats confirmed, one question remains. WHERE WILL DANI PEDROSA GO?

While there were some who predicted that Pedrosa will retire from the premier class after 13 premier class seasons with HRC, a few other key parties in the MotoGP paddock have indicated otherwise. Lin Jarvis, in particular, was one of those people.

The Yamaha team boss stated that the possibility of a Yamaha satellite team powered by Petronas is currently positive. While nothing has been set in stone just yet, some media outlets have already begun stating that Pedrosa has already signed a new contract with the still unconfirmed team.

According to Jarvis, “We have two factory riders in a factory team and they will get the focus for development in the future. Yes, we can supply a bike of equal level for another team but it is a matter of money.”

“After that, the development goes to the factory riders and when it works and if we have enough time to produce extra parts they will filter down to other riders. It also depends on finance because there are different price levels for different specs of bikes and support,” added the Yamaha team boss.

Currently, the rumours are pointing towards the new Petronas Yamaha satellite team replacing the Aspar Ducati team which is said to make their exit at the end of this season due to financial issues. Their second rider? A set of eyes are looking at Marc VDS’s, Franco Morbidelli.

The MotoGP circus has already set up shop in the Netherlands for the Motul TT Assen round and we expect that the official announcement of the Petronas Yamaha satellite team together with their two riders will be made in the very, VERY near future.
Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more updates.
Image source: MotoGP
Officially official: Lorenzo joins Honda for 2019 and 2020 MotoGP seasons

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Bell Helmets Shuts Down Headquarters In California

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the motorcycle industry, Bell Helmets’ parent company Vista Outdoor Action Sports has announced that it will shut down Bell Helmets’ headquarters in Scott’s Valley, California, on September 1, 2023.

This comes as part of a USD50 million (RM220 mil) cost-cutting and earnings improvement program that includes significant staff layoffs and headcount reductions across its brands and corporate teams.
The decision to shut down the Bell – and Giro Helmets’ – headquarters is expected to have a major impact on the marketing, brand, and creative departments, with many employees facing heavy losses. However, Vista Outdoor Action Sports president Jeff McGuane has assured customers that the move will not impact the separate brand identities under Vista Outdoor’s umbrella.
“We are accelerating the merger between Bell, Blackburn, Copilot, Fox, Giro, Krash, and Raskullz,” McGuane told Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.
“Plans are underway to unite our teams at the current Fox offices, which will soon be transformed into a revamped Innovation Center that unites our teams under one roof while honoring each brand’s culture and ethos, which are unique, valued, and untouchable.”
The decision to shut down the Bell and Giro Helmets’ headquarters comes after a series of slumping sales in key areas for Vista Outdoor. Despite a revenue increase of 34 percent compared to the same period the previous year, gross profit still declined by 15 percent, operating expenses rose by 16 percent, and earnings before interest and taxes fell by 39 percent.
In the SEC filing, Vista Outdoors also cites “elevated retail inventory levels, rising interest rates, and inflation” as contributing factors. McGuane hoped to reassure customers by stating that the merger wouldn’t impact the separate brand identities under Vista Outdoor’s umbrella.
Nevertheless, the decision to shut down the Bell and Giro Helmets’ headquarters is a major blow to the cycling industry, and many will be watching closely to see how this story develops.
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New Modenas Karisma 125 & Elegan 250 scooters launched

New Modenas Karisma 125 & Elegan 250 scooter launched – from RM5,278.80* and RM13,599.80* respectively.

National motorcycle marque Modenas (Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd) marked the launch of two new scooter models earlier today. Joining its line up now are the new Modenas Karisma 125 & Elegan 250.
Both were the result of the recent joint venture inked between Modenas and leading Taiwanese manufacturer Kymco. Here’s a detailed look at both scooters.

Modenas Karisma 125
We’ll start off with the new generation Modenas Karisma 125 model that replaces the outgoing model that’s been around since 2003. The replacement model boasts a sharp and dynamic new design that’s matched with a new powertrain.

Propelling the scooter is an air-cooled four-stroke and carbureted 124.8cc (125cc) SOHC single-cylinder that makes roughly 9.4hp @ 7,500rpm. Paired with a twist-and-go CVT automatic transmission, the mill is tasked with bringing this scooter’s claimed dry weight of 113kg up to speeds.

The chassis is brimmed with telescopic front forks and a five-step adjustable rear trailing swingarm plus single shock suspension setup while anchors come in the form of a 220mm disc brake up front paired with a rear drum unit. Fuel, on the other hand, is stored in a 4.6-litre tank unit.

Notable features include the twin halogen headlamps plus LED tail lamp, larger new 14-inch wheels promising greater stability and handling, plus a wider new seat design with enhanced comfort levels. The under-seat storage bin is large enough to store a half-face helmet and it also features a USB charging port.

Designed and developed for the urban youths of Malaysia, the new Modenas Karisma 125 carries a basic retail price of RM5,278.80 (with GST).

Modenas Elegan 250
Next up comes the new generation Modenas Elegan 250 that replaces the outgoing and highly popular Modenas Elegan 150 that’s been around since 2004. Based off the Kymco X-Town 250, the new Elegan also boasts a sharp new design and an enhanced features list as well.

Powering the new generation Elegan 250 is a liquid-cooled four-stroke 249.1cc (250cc) SOHC single-cylinder unit primed with electronic fuel injection. It healthily generates roughly 22hp @ 7,000rpm and also comes paired with a twist-and-go CVT automatic box to bring its claimed dry weight of 193kg moving.

Like the new Karisma, the new Elegan he chassis also features telescopic front forks and a rear trailing swingarm setup, but the latter gets a twin shock setup instead. It also benefits with a larger 12.5-litre fuel tank, all-round disc brakes measuring 260mm up front and 240mm at the rear, as well as a four-stage adjustable brake lever to boot.

Complementing its stylish design is the dual headlamp with LED daytime running lights plus a snazzy LED tail light design, as well as the 14-inch front and 13-inch rear wheels. The dash also features an LCD display screen integrated with the analogue speedometer and rev-counter clocks.

Other notable features include the improved new 2-up seat saddle covered in leather, a large under-seat storage bin, as well as a nifty glovebox in the headstock primed with a USB charging socket. All of which were meant to enhance the new Elegan 250’s practicality further over its predecessor.

Designed and developed for the young urban executive, the new and B2 license-friendly Modenas Elegan 250 will go on sale with a basic retail price of RM13,599.80 (with GST).

Check out more images of the new generation Modenas Karisma 125 & Elegan 250 scooters in the gallery we’ve prepared below. Don’t forget to also check out our report of the new Kymco Downtown 250i model that was launched alongside them that’s coming up shortly.
Modenas Karisma 125

Modenas Elegan 250

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Start-up Daal ANC creates tech that reduces helmet wind noise

Daal ANC showcases tech that reduces helmet wind noise by using active noise-cancelling technology.

Norwegian start-up Daal ANC shows off new DXL-5 kit that promises to reduce helmet wind noise.

The DXL-5 is a rather unique kit in this space as it harnesses Noise-Cancelling tech

Presently, it’s only compatible with the Nolan N-Com B 902 X and the X-Lite X1005 helmet.

Founded in Norway back in 2016, Daal Active Noise Control (Daal ANC) first began crowdfunding to develop its vision of creating technology to reduce helmet wind noise. A few years later, it partnered with Italian helmet-making giants Nolan Group on this tech and it’s now ready to introduce the first fruit of said partnership – the Daal ANC DXL-5.
What’s unique about the Daal ANC DXL-5 unit is its use of active noise-cancelling technology to curb in-helmet wind noise. How this works is a little hard to explain, but Daal ANC says it works to a degree that still allows riders to hear road traffic sounds and maintain safety.

Notably, the Daal ANC DXL-5 was designed to integrate with the Nolan N-Com B 902 X Bluetooth helmet comms unit and it functions seamlessly. Presently, the DXL-5 unit is designed to fit in the X-Lite X1005 helmet model only.
As for market availability, the first batch of Daal ANC DXL-5 units will be limited to an unspecified number, with this batch likely serving as a test to see its market reception. Daal plans to manufacture these throughout summer this year and commence shipment to customers during fall, 2022.
As for price, riders keen to purchase the Daal ANC DXL-5 from the first batch will need to pre-order it online via Daal ANC’s website and place a KR2,790 (approx. RM1,340.22) deposit. The total cost of a DXL-5 unit currently reads at KR5,990 (approx. RM2,877.40).

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2021 Honda SH350 teased on YouTube

Earlier this month, we saw the launch of the 2021 Honda Forza 750. To further strengthen its current scooter line-up, Honda released a short teaser video on another new ‘mid-range’ scooter, the 2021 Honda SH350.

The video editor sure knows how to make a 350cc scooter look sexy in the video. The global launch date, however, was shown which will take place on 10 November 2020. Will it have any resemblance to the recently launched 2021 Honda Forza 350 in Thailand? We’ll just have to wait and see, folks.

What we can tell from the short video is a sleeker and sexy front-end design with sharp lines, especially from the front LED headlights. Other visible features include a dual-LED meter display, a very big front windscreen, clear plastic handguards (classy), and possibly the Honda Smart Key remote system.

There are no other details that are visible in the video. In terms of firepower, it won’t be a longshot away from the Forza 350’s 330cc single-cylinder DOHC liquid-cooled engine that is said to produce around 29hp and 31Nm of maximum torque. More than enough to cover your daily commute.

No other speculations can be made for now but all the details will be revealed during its official launch on 10 November 2020. Stay tuned for more details.
GIVI Malaysia launches two new helmets – From RM230

Written by: Sep Irran
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Kawasaki working on Artifical Intelligence for bikes

Kawasaki reportedly developing Artificial Intelligence technology for future bikes.

Screen grab from Terminator Salvation (2009)
It seems Kawasaki is playing catch up against rivals Yamaha as we receive reports that that Team Green is hard at work currently in developing its own Artificial Intelligence technology for bikes of the not-so-distant future.
As you may already know, Yamaha is at the forefront of this race through its Motobot program. Yamaha’s mission is rather ambitions as it plans to fully develop a robot that could race equally as fast as Valentino Rossi.

Kawasaki, on the other hand, has a slightly different mission. Team Green’s still in development Artificial Intelligence (or AI in short) project is actually aimed at growing its motorcycles further by letting it have evolving personalities to compliment its owners.
Yes, this may sound ludicrous for many staunch and traditional riders, but this computer-powered future isn’t too far off from reality.

Case in point is adaptive traction control systems primed on MotoGP bikes. This system adjusts various rider aid settings on-the-fly depending on course conditions and rider inputs. That, in itself, is a very basic form of AI already and somewhat compliments riders taming these high-speed land-missiles.
And, according to Kawasaki’s own documents, its AI tech would allow two of the same owners to buy identical models from the same dealer, but both bikes will having distinctively different state of beings developed based on each owner rides their respective machines.
You could also call the Bosch IMU system as another basic form of AI.
In other words, Kawasaki wants its bikes to create a greater and much deeper bond with its riders through AI. Kawasaki believes that this would eventually lead to brand loyalty and thus repeat sales for the brand in the long run.
Team Green’s documents also reportedly outlined a few parameters that its AI system will measure. It includes the rider’s voice and riding inputs that will be used to interpret a personality profile of sorts that will also grow over time.
The explanation also highlights the adaptation of “internet connectivity” “cloud storage” services as well, indicating this future tech’s wireless and high connectivity nature – just like any other smartphone we see today.

Not only an interesting concept, it brings forth some radical new ideas that not only could make riding safer, but it also  debates about privacy – do you really want your favourite bike company to know everything about your life away from the hot seat for example?
Whether you welcome our new machine overlords or not is irrelevant. The fact here is that it is coming and we ought to be prepared for some huge changes in the way we ride in the not-so-distant future indeed.

via GIPHY
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BMW Motorrad presents BMW Motorrad Spezial – official custom parts for your motorcycles

BMW Motorrad has introduced the BMW Motorrad Spezial; a special range of customised parts for their Touring and Heritage models.
The customised parts address the ever growing demand of customising motorcycles and also for customers looking to add their own personal touches to their beloved bikes.
The Spezial range is said to be available worldwide beginning August 2017.

With the ever increasing demand of personalising motorcycles to add a touch of uniqueness to the bikes, BMW Motorrad has decided to expand their individualisation range with the introduction of the BMW Motorrad Spezial; a custom range that offer distinctive-design, performance-enhancing and exclusive customisation options ex works.

BMW Motorrad Spezial offers custom parts for several of their flagship models made with high-grade materials, genuine surfaces, skilled craftsmanship and the love of detail are what define BMW Motorrad Spezial. For the initial stage, the Spezial range covers bikes from BMW’s Touring and Heritage ranges with future plans to expand and offer such customisation options to other models as well.

The range will be available from August 2017 which includes not only exclusive optional equipment ex works, but also products from the present Original BMW Motorrad Accessories range, which have been construction with the same amount of quality, styling and dedication as the Spezial range.

Customers have two different options to choose from on how to customise their beloved BMW bikes. The first option offers customers to directly equip his or her motorcycle ex works with all the visual upgrading by ordering it with the Spezial equipment already installed.

As for the second option, customers will also be able to choose special accessories from a “Spezial World” in the near future where all a higher range of customisation will be offered to interested individuals. This means that the customer will still be able to customise his motorcycle via the dealer in the traditional way.

The good news regarding both options is that all of the parts are covered by the warranty and those who are looking to own a new BMW Motorrad motorcycle can also include the parts in their financing plans which will help customers save more in terms of cost and time.

Not sure on how your bike will look like as a whole with all the customised parts? Fear not as BMW Motorrad will also introduced the latest generation of the BMW Motorrad Configurator that’ll help in the digital presentation of the large part of the special accessories specifically for the R nineT models.

The custom range is said to be available starting from August 2017 but we’ll wait for confirmation from BMW Motorrad Malaysia on the actual date of availability here in the country. Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more updates.

Source: BMW Motorrad
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Are Bikers Superstitious?

We’ve always seen Valentino Rossi’s pre-race rituals.

But are other bikers truly superstitious?

Here are some stories we’ve heard of.

Surely you must’ve heard of horror stories among the motorcycling fraternity. But are bikers truly superstitious?
Here are some that we know of.
Right side first

It may seem as a habit, but there are bikers who insist on putting on the right side of everything prior to their rides: Gloves, boots, jacket. It may very well stem from the Islamic decree that everything must begin from the right side, but this habit carries on around the world, too.
What’s that bell for?

You may have seen a number of bikes with bells on them. No, there’s no relation to AC/DC; in fact, these are in the opposite of the song’s famous song.
It’s said that it’s gremlins that cause motorcycle problems, including crashes. Dead battery? Flat tyre? Spotty fuel injection? Blame it them.
So these guardian bells scare these critters away. It’s said that the bells are more powerful talismans if gifted by someone else (Gandalf?). Unfortunately, I’ve not being given one by anyone after riding for more than 30 years. Maybe people don’t like me…
Bike colour

There is a superstition that green colour bikes are bad luck. It probably stemmed from army riders in World War II, since many riders were killed. Yet, Kawasaki has been going strong all this while including winning five World Superbike Championships on the trot! (My personal Kawasaki ER-6f is another story, though.)
But I guess it goes along with each ethnic group or religion. Green is considered good in Islam. Red is considered auspicious among the Chinese, while black is seen as “morbid.” Purple is favoured among the Indian.
Bike number

This is definitely something pretty prevalent, especially among Asians. Four is read as “die” in Cantonese hence spurned by the Chinese, and is “lucky” or “auspicious.” Then there is the combination of numbers. 4448 reads as “die, die, die lucky,” which means being lucky no matter what. 458, on the other hand, translates to “die cannot lucky.” It means the owner will never be lucky until he dies.
For the Malays, the number 4 is considered lucky because it rhymes with “dapat,” i.e. get.
My favourite race number? 69. No, not because of the late Nicky Hayden. To me it means that a**hole is always in front of me.
The passenger footpegs

Some say you’d invite an evil spirit as a passenger by leaving the passenger footpegs down, especially when riding at night. Some say doing so lets your guardian sit behind you.
Which one is which? We don’t know. I always flip the pegs up so that it’s easier to slip through traffic.
The full moon

Research has shown that accident and murder rates pick up during the full moon. No, this is not made up. Does this mean you will crash during the Supermoon? Not in our experience – so far. No, we’ve not met any werewolves or vampires, either.
The pros

Let’s get to these guys. The superstitions do extend to professionals, too. We’re pretty used to seeing images of Valentino Rossi kneeling and holding a footpeg of his bike before he joins the grid. While certain riders insist on carrying a special number throughout their careers.
There are also those we’ve not seen such as riders who insist on applying the decals themselves. Or one rider who must have a spotlessly clean bike (well, that’s more OCD than superstition). Yes, there are ones who cannot have his helmet on the way we do.
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Suzuki Prai CKD plant ceases operations

Suzuki Prai CKD plant shuts down following weak market demands.

Some bleak news from the local front as we’ve received word through our sister site MotoMalaya.net that the Suzuki Prai CKD plant in the state of Penang has been shuttered. According to a report published by business site Nikkei Asian Review, the move was a response by principals Suzuki in Japan towards weak market demands.

The plant, operated by Suzuki Assemblers Malaysia (SAM), was churning out a number of sub-150cc cub and scooter models like the Address, Nex, Axelo and the Belang. The report also stated that the S-brand had initially reduced the plant’s output for 2015 down to just 8,000 units – half of what SAM produced two years earlier in 2013.
Despite having shuttered SAM’s CKD plant and operations, word form industry sources indicate that principals Suzuki plans to keep its presence in the local market for the foreseeable future.
Could Suzuki switch focus on to speciality and big-capacity models?
The report further states that Suzuki will do so by importing bikes into the local Malaysian market directly from Japan. This likely suggests that Suzuki is taking a similar step at focussing on speciality and large-capacity models as what rivals Kawasaki are doing through Kawasaki Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd (KMMSB).
At the time of writing, SAM hasn’t issued any official statement about the move by its Japanese principal as yet. We will update you as soon as we get an official response from the firm about the current situation.
As for current Suzuki cub and scooter owners, spare parts and maintenance services will likely remain available for the moment through SAM’s existing network of authorised dealers and parts stockists.
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WorldSBK: Ducati unveils final Ducati Panigale V-Twin race bike!

The WorldSBK Ducati factory squad has pulled the covers off their latest and last Ducati Panigale V-Twin race bike.
The 1198cc Superquadro L-Twin powered machine will have its final hurrah together with star riders, Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri.
Beginning 2019, Ducati will be using the Ducati Panigale V4 R race bike to conform to the new rules of World Superbikes.

As the WorldSBK 2018 gets nearer, the folks over at Ducati has unveiled their final Ducati Panigale V-twin race bike that they’ll use to compete this year before moving on towards the Ducati Panigale V4 machinery beginning of 2019.

The Aruba.it Racing Ducati outfit has released its Ducati 1199 Panigale R race machine which honestly doesn’t look that much different from last year’s bikes. Despite the lack of visual differences, what lies under those fairings will determine the effectiveness of their last effort this season using the 1198cc Superquadro L-twin engine.

The 2018 Ducati 1199 Panigale R will have its final hurrah and together with star riders Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri, they’ll try to win the championship before the V-Twin machine goes into retirement. After years of competition and development, the Italian manufacturer will have to conform to the new rules of WorldSBK where all homologated superbikes must run the within the same engine capacity.

In the photos, we can clearly see how the Panigale R differs from the stock model within the laws of WorldSBK. The most obvious change would be the rear thumb brake both riders are running for this year which is almost similar to the ones used MotoGP riders, Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso.

This will help to provide more control during aggressive braking and corner entries in order to keep up with Kawasaki Racing Team’s Ninja ZX-10RR. With only 10 days remaining before the season begins, the 2018 FIM Superbike World Championship will kick things off in Phillip Island, Australia.

Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more updates.

WORLDSBK: KRT launches 2018 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR title challenger!

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Reliving The Old Days With Zeths Latest ZFR 500 R Avenger

Something interesting just came across our news desk this week, and it is probably one of the best-looking retro-style motorcycles we’ve ever seen.

Zeths is a motorcycle company based in China.
The ZFR 500 R Avenger is the company’s maiden sports bike.

Chinese motorcycle company, Zeths has just announced the ZFR 500 R Avenger, a retro-inspired machine that could take us back to the old days’ thanks to its exciting design.
The 500 R Avenger is not only a departure from the firm’s current range of bikes but also the brand’s maiden sports bike in the lineup.
However, we have to give credit to Zeths for coming up with a motorcycle that is inspired by race bikes from the 70s instead of copying and pasting designs of existing models from other manufacturers.
Also, the ZFR 500 R Avenger looks good and features decent specs, including a parallel-twin 500cc engine, adjustable suspension, single-sided swingarm and even four-pot radial Brembo brakes and twin disc.
The specs might be standard for a European or Japanese machine, but it is an interesting development for a bike coming from China.
Nonetheless, it remains to be seen if the bike will ever make its way outside of China.
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WorldSBK: Long lap penalty to be introduced in 2021

The 2021 WorldSBK season will see a lot of changes in how they conduct the races, including the introduction of the long lap penalty, which has been successfully implemented in MotoGP this season. Considering how competitive (and aggressive) the races have become, this introduction will see fairer and safer races for all.

? First look at the new long lap penalty!
Riders will want to steer clear of this on Sunday!#QatarGP ?? pic.twitter.com/IHkdPbjetm
— MotoGP™? (@MotoGP) March 8, 2019

This is not without its limitations. The long lap penalty will only take effect at certain circuits based on their configurations. Some layouts in the 2021 WorldSBK calendar may not see this penalty being taken into consideration, but that’s all based on the safety officers and FIM inspectors.

Below is the long lap penalty announcement and details posted by WorldSBK.
Long Lap Penalty(ies)
The Long Lap penalty(ies) having proved its efficiency in GP will be also applied in the range of sanctions for the FIM WSBK. However, the Long Lap Penalty may not be applied at all circuits due to their configuration. Therefore, it will be a duty of the FIM Inspector/Safety Officer to decide on which circuit this LLP will be applied.

Another rule change that hopes to improve the safety of all riders is the implementation of yellow flags and how it affect lap times during practice sessions. During a yellow flag scenario, riders on the track are required to slow down and anyone who passes the yellow flag zone will have their lap times cancelled. Both of these rule changes will be interesting to see once the season starts.
SIC MiniGP Championship concludes 2020 maiden season

Written by: Sep Irran
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Ultra Rare Honda RC213V-S Becomes Most Expensive Japanese Bike Ever!

This is probably the most epic buy for collectors of rare bikes.
A 2016 Honda RC213V-S still in its original shipping crate is now the most expensive Japanese bike ever sold.

The street legal MotoGP replica has never been out of the crate and has just under 2 km on the odo meter. It has no signs of wear and tear or shipping damage anywhere.
Over 63 eager bidders lined up for the bike which could have resulted in the price being hiked up.
The RC213V-S is similar to the Honda RCV1000R that was raced in 2014 by the likes of Scott Redding.

The bike is powered by a 999cc liquid cooled V4 engine with an output of 215bhp.
There’s also a HRC Race Kit that turns it into a proper race machine with a supposed dry weight of just 170kg. The kit will add a further RM86,000 to the already stratospheric price of this Honda.
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Video: epic on-board shots of the Vyrus 986 M2

Vyrus 982 M2 Spanish CEV Moto2 racer takes to the track with some stunning video footages.

First unveiled in 2011, the Vyrus 982 M2 race machine took a while to get itself into the racing scene. But this innovative Italian boutique has managed to get its creation, the Vyrus 982 M2, ready for the track as it enters the CEV Spanish Moto2 championship this year.

To celebrate that, the firm has released a video depicting the Honda-powered Moto2 race machine being put through its paces on-track by British rider Bradley Ray. Not only is this one of the most beautifully-created race machine’s we’ve seen in a long time, the video features some of the most dramatic on-board footages we’ve ever seen as well.

If you can’t get enough of this sexy race machine as captured from the extreme angles of the helmet rotor cam mounted on Bradley himself, check out the extensive gallery we’ve provided below of this gorgeous carbon fibre-rich bespoke race machine.
Source: YouTube via Asphaltandrubber
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