NEW DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 TEST RIDE IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS

 Recommended video before proceeding

Last week we rode the new Ducati Multistrada 1200 to Cameron Highlands and back. Yes the 2015 model is yet to be launched in Malaysia, but the launch is just around the corner. The ride to Camerons was just an introductory ride before the actual Malaysian introduction, and yes the new Multi is hugely impressive; a massive improvement over the older model.
So what’s new?
New bike on the right, old bike on the left
The design is new. Keen eyes will notice the updated front beak which is now in the same colour as the rest of the body. The previous model featured a grey-ish black beak.
You will also notice that the engine compartment is less cluttered with lesser hoses and such protruding around. This gives the bike an overall neater appearance.
The lights are also new. The front headlights have been slightly redesigned, while the rear lights have a cool design to them as shown in the picture below.

The seat is also new and is now set 20mm lower, but it is adjustable of course. It is also narrower than before to make it easier for shorter riders to place their feet flat on the floor.
New screen
There is also a new dashboard screen. It is much neater than before and displays crisp text, but because it is trying to display so many things at the same time (engine temperature, speedo, rev counter, riding mode, etc etc) the text can be a little too small, which makes it hard to read when riding.
Old screen
But other than that, the new Multistrada offers the following items as standard:
Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit, Bosch-Brembo ABS 9.1 ME Cornering braking system, cruise control, four Riding Modes, Ride-by-Wire Power Modes, Ducat Wheelie Control and Ducati Traction Control.
Okay but what is the big deal?

The new Multi has 10 horsepower more than before and yet is 8% more fuel efficient.
This is achieved through the new Testastretta engine’s Desmodromic Variable Timing, or DVT.

Bear with me as I try to explain this but the DVT is basically a modification to the cams and crankshaft so that it all works better, cleaner and creates more power.
Cycle World USA online explains it best, “The significance of variable cam timing is profiting from optimum intake and exhaust valve overlap, which was historically a fixed value. Overlap is when those valves are simultaneously open at the end of the upward exhaust stroke and beginning of the downward intake stroke. With DVT, cam timing is hydraulically varied by a single needle valve for each camshaft that controls flow to housings on the belt-end of the camshafts. Hydraulic pressure causes the pulleys and cams to vary their relationship based on what cam timing the IMU requests.”
BUT … If you still do not understand the technicalities, then watch the video before, it does a great job at explaining DVT.

Why do some say the new Multistrada is 4 bikes in 1?

Because of the four riding modes which give the bike four very different personalities.
The first is Sport mode which makes the throttle response quicker with maximum power. ABS is set at level 2, while traction control and wheelie control are set at a low level. Cornering ABS is maintained at maximum level. The bike feels like a proper hooligan in this mode with immediate, precise reactions to the slightest input.

Touring Mode was our favourite throughout the ride. It also gives you maximum power but throttle response is scaled down a little, perfect for when you need to stand to stretch your legs. ABS is set at a safe level while traction and wheelie control are set to kick in early should the need arise. This mode gives the Multistrada a very sedated character, which is a good feeling because you know that it is still capable of being an absolute brute.
After the first two modes, Urban Mode will feel somewhat boring. It limits power to 100hp while traction and wheelie control and ABS are set at maximum.

Enduro Mode also restricts power to 100hp and is the best mode for slippery surfaces. ABS, traction and wheelie control are set at low levels, brilliant for when you want to slide the rear into a gravel corner.
Switching between the modes can of course be done on the fly.
So how does it feel to ride?

It was a bittersweet experience. The suspension up front and at the rear was set at soft and though it was nice and comfortable on straight roads, it felt nervous and twitchy in the corners. The front end seemed to pick up the slightest inundations and rarely settled down to grip into a corner. This made it tough to muscle the bike around corners.
On the bright side, the suspension is of course adjustable so you can tinker around until the bike behaves the way you want it to. We just didn’t get around to doing that.

But that aside, the bike was well sorted in all other places.
Traffic in Camerons was predictably heavy, but the Multi’s impressive low speed handling and compact packaging made it quite easy to dart from corner to corner without having to worry about clipping a pannier on a car.
The DVT system gives you an abundance of power throughout the rev band. Where previously the bike felt starved of power at low speeds unless you downshift and summon more revs, now though torque is available when you want it. Of course the bike still judders violently when you try to accelerate from fifth or sixth gear, but that’s more acceptable than the same juddering in third or fourth, a characteristic trait of the previous generation Multi.

Brakes are brilliant, but you would not expect any lesser from a Ducati. The process of slowing down the Multi 1200 is managed by a BOSCH 9.1ME ABS ECU. This manages cornering ABS to optimise front and rear brake bias event at extreme lean angles. As for the hardware, the Multi uses radially mounted 4-piston callipers and dual 320mm rotors up front, plus a single 265mm rotor at the rear.
Overall the new Multistrada 1200 is again a great bike. It is however more inclined to the Sporting character in it rather than the Adventure part. The tall ride height is great, but the seat gave me a sore bum after about 300 kilometres of riding.

The electronic systems can also be tricky to master, so we suggest you figure that out first before blasting out for a ride.
We do very much love the new cruise control system though. The buttons are big and are as simple to use as those in a car. BMW, Triumph and KTM could learn from Ducati here.

To put it simply, Ducati has improved the Multistrada. It is not a holistically perfect package as say a BMW XR or the Triumph Tiger, but it is fun, it is one of those bikes that make you look back at it after you have parked it. Brilliant is the word.

				Old screen

				New screen

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MotoGP: Bagnaia Holds Off Quartararo To Take Chequered Flag In Misano

Francesco Bagnaia secured his back-to-back victories in Misano just a week after claiming his first MotoGP win in Aragon.
The win was a major boost for the Ducati rider, who even held off championship leader Fabio Quartararo at the later stage of the race.

Bagnaia took the chequered in style as he led the entire race from the start before crossing the finish line ahead of the Frenchman while fellow Ducati’s, Enea Bastianini, took his first podium of the season at 3rd place onboard a two-year-old Ducati machine.
According to Bagnaia, the start of the race played a pivotal role in his home win.
“I knew that it was very important to start well and already be pushing from the start because, with the soft, the grip initially was better.
“I also knew that Fabio (Quartararo) in the last part of the race would be faster with the medium. So, I just tried to be fast and constant from the start.
“I did my best start ever because I started when the light went off, so it was incredible.
“I trained a lot for this. When I passed the first straight, I was already looking to the board, and it was plus 1.0 seconds which was incredible already,” said the 24-year-old Italian.

The win also reduces Quartararo championship lead to just 48 points with four more rounds to go.
MotoGP will return to action in the first week of October at the Circuit of the Americas.
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Bosch launches world’s first fully-integrated split screen for motorcycles

Bosch has unveiled its latest fully-integrated split screen for motorcycles in the form of a huge 10.25-inch TFT display. With the ability to be integrated with today’s smartphones via the mySPIN app, this beauty offers better info display which is going to be made available starting with Ducati and Kawasaki soon.

According to Geoff Liersch, President of the Two-Wheeler & Powersports unit at Bosch, “Our clusters in combination with mySPIN offer a new riding experience with more safety and convenience for motorcycle riders. For us, this is the next step in terms of connectivity for motorcycles.”

This new 10.25-inch TFT display has already debuted on this year’s latest BMW models. Users will have all the necessary information needed without causing a distraction as they are all customisable via controls mounted on the handlebar.
It works together with the mySPIN smartphone app to ‘show relevant information fitting the size of the motorcycle display’ such as speed limits and warnings.

It’s also said to be linked with other apps like REVER, Genius Maps, and Sygic to offer even better riding experience, suggestions, and navigations for fellow riders. Safety will also be an important aspect of this system as Bosch is planning to include things like Help Connect, a digitally connected emergency call system for motorcycles.
2020 BMW R 18 First Edition officially launched – RM149,500

Written by: Sep Irran
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Panigale Kingdom Malaysia Mega Gathering 2017 @ Kelab Tasik Putrajaya

A Ducati club dedicated to Ducati Panigale owners

88 Ducati Panigales attended the gathering in Putrajaya, Malaysia

Last Sunday marked the first ever mega gathering for 2017 organized by the Panigale Kingdom motorcycle club. A total of 88 Ducati Panigale of different models attended the event which was held at the Putrajaya Lake Club (Kelab Tasik Putrajaya).

As the name goes, the club is only for those who own one of Ducati’s most premium sports bikes of all time, the Ducati Panigale. Ever since its inception back in 2011, the Panigale was considered as the replacement for the outgoing but still highly sought after Ducati 1198. The first model that came out in 2011 was the 1199 Panigale. The club consists of different models of the famous Ducati from the 1199 to the brand new 959.

When the 1199 was released, it was the most powerful production twin-cylinder engine that produced a whopping 195hp and 133Nm of torque. At a wet weight of just 193kg, the 1199 can propel itself from 0 to 100km/h in just under three seconds. Keep the throttle open and you will reach 230km/h within 10 seconds and with enough tarmac, the 1199 will reach 286km/h in no time at all.

There are a lot of different models for the 1199 but the most sought after is the R version. Those with deep pockets and fat wallets can have a taste how the boys over at WorldSBK race in the circuits with the R model. Currently, Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri are piloting the 1199 Panigale R with the Aruba.it Racing outfit in the WorldSBK.

In 2013, Ducati introduced the 899 Panigale or also known as the baby of Panigale. The 899 offers a smaller package compared to the 1199 but will still reach blistering speeds in replacement of the outgoing 848 model. There’s also the 1299 Panigale but that version is a monster in its own nature. CLICK HERE to read more on the 1299 during our visit to EICMA 2016.

The Panigale Kingdom motorcycle club is all about having a fun time and connect with those who have the same interest and taste in superbikes. No matter what issues these individuals face in their lives, they know that the Panigale Kingdom boys are always there to share a common interest that is the Ducati Panigale. CLICK HERE to know more about the Panigale Kingdom Motorcycle Club. Check out the photo gallery below!

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Nicky Hayden has passed away

Nicky Hayden has sadly succumbed to his injuries. The 2006 MotoGP world champion was involved in a road traffic accident last Wednesday while riding a bicycle.
The 35-year old American was hit by a car near Misano circuit in Rimini, Italy.
Hayden had switched to World Superbike Championship in 2015 but also appeared in MotoGP twice last year.
Hayden had sustained severe head, chest and pelvic injuries and was transported first to a local hospital and then to the intensive care unit of a major hospital in Italy.
Hayden’s condition never improved.
He will be forever remembered as a world champion who only won three MotoGP races. The Kentucky Kid as he is lovingly known, racked up six second place finishes and 19 third place finishes in his career, with a total of 28 podium finishes.
Hayden was team-mate to some of the all time greats including Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner, both of who he was good friends with.
Rossi hailed Hayden as “one of the best friends I’ve ever had in the paddock.”
Hayden and Rossi share a special relationship as the American was the one who ended the Italian’s run of five consecutive MotoGP titles in 2006.
Hayden was one of the few motorcycle racers who enjoyed success both in MotoGP and in WSBK.
With his passing, the sport, both MotoGP and WSBK, no longer has an American racing in the series.
We at Bikes Republic are devastated by the news. It’s a dark day for motorcycle enthusiasts everywhere.
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Honda Gold Wing Powered Niken Beater Revealed

Patents show a Honda trike.

While the description says, “two or six cylinders,” we are quite certain it may be the Gold Wing flat-Six.

Surely Honda would like to steal the thunder away from the Yamaha Niken.

Honda may be working on a Honda Gold Wing powered leaning trike to challenge the Yamaha Niken.
The concept of a leaning trike is not new, as it was refined by Piaggio in the MP3 scooter. However, it was Yamaha who applied the concept to a performance bike and garnered lots of publicity in doing so. But that’s not all, as Yamaha is rumored to be working on a 1700cc trike.
Honda is not one to sit still when another Japanese manufacturer creates something groundbreaking.

The magazine RideApart dug up these patents to a Honda leaning trike. From the drawings, it is powered by a flat-Four engine. But the patent descriptions remarked, “The cylinder may be a two-cylinder type or a six-cylinder type.” But we are confident that it should be powered by the the GL1800 Gold Wing’s flat-Six, in view of Yamaha’s development of a 1700cc three-wheeler.

Sure, Honda debuted the NeoWing trike concept in 2016, but it was supposed to be powered by a hybrid engine. The NeoWing never made it to production, but it could well serve as the test bed for an advanced trike.
Honda NeoWing concept
The 1800cc flat-Six currently produces 125 hp compared to the Niken’s MT-09 triple which produces 113 hp. But the real goal here is torque since the trike will be heavier.
Will the concept be ready by the Tokyo Motorshow this year? We would like to see it!
Source: Free Patents Online
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Yamaha R25 spotted being tested in Malaysia

Recently we did an article about ten bikes we can look forward to in 2015. In that article we mentioned that we might get the Yamaha R25 in Malaysia.
Well guess what? We might be seeing it soon as just a few hours ago a friend of BikesRepublic, spotted and captured a picture of what looks like the Yamaha R25 being tested on the road.
According to MaztaGee, he saw three bikes with different colour scheames, white and blue combo like in the picture, white and red combo and a black unit.
The bikes were on the Guthrie Corridoor Expressway heading to Shah Alam.
The R25 is powered by a liquid cooled, 250cc parallel-twin engine generating about 36hp and 22.6 Nm of torque.
Currently being assembled in Indonesia, it was launched there last year where the bike orders quickly exceeded supply in less then 24hours of its launch.
More info as it comes, so keep on tuning into Bikes Republic.
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BMW Motorrad Auto Bavaria – S1K Malaysia Track Day

Auto Bavaria BMW hosted the S1K Malaysia club for track day at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday.

The S1K Malaysia club consists of BMW S 1000 RR superbike owners.

Participants rode on beautifully prepared bikes.

Auto Bavaria BMW Motorrad hosted the S1K Malaysia club for track day at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday.

As its name suggests, the S1K Malaysia club consists of BMW S 1000 RR superbike owners.

The track day was to allow S 1000 RR owners the opportunity to utilize their bikes the way they were designed for. The racetrack is the best venue to find the the riders’ and the bikes’ limits, in a safe and controlled manner.

While it was a mixed brand track day, the S 1000 RR owners were the most heavily represented. Owners had shown up with bikes that have been customized with beautiful paintjobs, exhaust systems and even lightweight wheels.

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Although the entire session was for three hours, it was apparent that they enjoyed the day out regardless of their pace. There were fast riders who dragged elbows and knees, and there were riders who didn’t drag anything, yet they all went away with smiling faces.

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It was also visible that the S 1000 RR were extremely suited to track work and didn’t required the riders to fight with their bikes.

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On the other hand, the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR has yet to make an appearance. Auto Bavaria BMW Motorrad informed us that BMW Motorrad is having their hands full in order to satisfy demand.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Highlights: Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team

It’s hard to deny how the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team made their mark during their very first year in MotoGP. Last season was full of drama, spectacles, and amazing results which ironically started with doubts and worries related to a new team and relatively questionable choices of riders.

Under the helm of Dato’ Razlan Razali, CEO of Sepang International Circuit and Team Principal, they not only proved every doubter wrong but technically blew everyone out of the water with huge success, especially from the main rider in the premier class, Fabio Quartararo.

We’ve heard stories where some folks actually said that Quartararo was the wrong choice where not many people have heard of his past accomplishments but in the 2019 season as a rookie, he was probably the only one that could match up wheel-to-wheel against the MotoGP World Champion, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda).

Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team made their first major mark by the fourth race where both Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli qualified at the very front of the pack which left many folks wondering “Where did that come from?” Two races later, Quartararo gifted the team their very first podium finish and what a celebration that was. New team? Satellite bike? Unknown rider? It didn’t matter.

What the Petronas Yamaha SRT squad achieved by the end of the season was nothing short of spectacular with accomplishments like:

Top Independent Team in MotoGP
Top Independent Rider in MotoGP (Fabio Quartararo)
Rookie of the Year in MotoGP (Fabio Quartararo)
Six MotoGP Pole Positions & 17 front-row starts
Seven MotoGP Podiums
Two fastest race laps
Fourth position in the overall team standings

2020 will be an even tougher year as they have to follow up with the great results obtained in 2019. With more experience and added support from the Yamaha factory, scoring their first win is not a matter of if anymore, but when. Their Moto2 and Moto3 efforts will also try to offer more positive results with Xavi Vierge and Jake Dixon in Moto2 plus John McPhee and Khairul Idham Pawi in Moto3.

Image source: MotoGP
PETRONAS Sprinta Lubricant and PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team Looking Forward to More Success in 2020

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Ducati Achieved Best Third Quarter In History – 49,693 Units Delivered Worldwide

Ducati ends the third quarter of 2021 with a positive result as the Italian firm delivered 49,693 units of motorcycles worldwide.
The numbers also exceeded the sales volume recorded in the whole of 2020 with 48,042 deliveries.

Italy remains the biggest market for the Borgo Panigale factory with 7,954 units counted followed by the United States (7,475) and Germany (5,627).
The Ducati Multistrada V4 continue to be the most sought model followed by the Ducati Scrambler 800 range, the Streetfighter V4 and the new Monster.

“Ducati closed the first nine months of the year with sales volumes that are already higher than the full year 2020, both for the bikes and for after-sales products like clothing, accessories and spare parts.
“The growth we are experiencing is practically widespread on all the main markets in which Ducati is present and extends across the product families.

“We are very satisfied with the results obtained: the community of Ducatisti is growing all over the world and the most influential magazines in the motorcycling sector are awarding important prizes to Ducati bikes.
“This is a source of pride and satisfaction for us here in Borgo Panigale and in all Ducati subsidiaries worldwide.
“The brand is now more solid and appreciated than ever and we are already focusing on next year. In fact, in these weeks, we are presenting to the world the new products for the coming year, through the web series Ducati World Première 2022,” said Francesco Milicia, Ducati VP Global Sales and After Sales.
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The New BMW F 850 GS “40 Years GS Edition” Is Here – RM85,500!

BMW Motorrad Malaysia has launched the “40 Years GS Edition” F 850 GS for the local market priced at RM85,500.
The model offers new black and yellow colour schemes to further intensify the unique GS experience for owners old and new. They also come with expanded standard equipment that was previously offered as optional.

The major changes that can be found on the F 850 GS as standard are new tape designs with unique styling on the side fairings, LED signal lights, USB charging port, ABS Pro, and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC).

Customers will also get a windscreen adjustment mechanism and a 6.5″ TFT display as standard complete with the BMW Motorrad Connectivity.

The motorcycle retains its liquid-cooled 4-valve, 2-cylinder 853cc engine that produces 95hp at 8,250 rpm, and 92Nm at 6,250 rpm.

The BMWF 850 GS “40 Years GS Edition” comes with a 3-year warranty and 3-year roadside assistance.

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Will Andrea Dovizioso retire from MotoGP?

Ducati factory rider, Andrea Dovizioso, has finally come to the conclusion that he will indeed take a break from MotoGP next season, both racing and any test rider roles for any manufacturers. At 36 years old, will this mark the end of his MotoGP career?

We’ve all heard that he was talking to several manufacturers regarding taking up testing roles over at Aprilia, HRC, and Yamaha, but all were turned down while the progress was going good. Why? It seems that Andrea Dovizioso intends to compete in the Italian national motocross scene next year before planning to return to MotoGP in 2022.

Why aren’t manufacturers keen on this idea? Well, racing in motocross carries a lot more risk for injuries and if they play along with Dovi’s plan to return back to racing in 2022, they’ll only acquire his ‘test riding’ services for only a season. And that’s if he doesn’t get injured while racing in motocross. Remember the broken collarbone incident just a while ago?

This all points towards his early retirement from the MotoGP premier class. While 2022 presents a lot of contracts ending and new teams popping up, the grid will most likely acquire the services from more active riders, particularly strong contenders in Moto2. And being 36 years old, Dovizioso’s chance is getting slimmer by the day.
More details will be revealed soon. For now, teams and riders are focusing on the last two seasons of the race in Valencia and Portimao. Stay tuned for more updates.
2021 Honda CFR250L & CRF350 Rally details released

Written by: Sep Irran
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Victory Judge review – The Alternative Americana

Want a slightly different American cruiser? Then the Victory Judge could just be the alternative you’re looking for.

“American muscle never died, it just needed handlebars…”, so said the creators of the Victory Judge sport cruiser you see featured here. Despite the wet spell of rain casted upon us, we managed to sample this ‘Alternative Americana’ over the course of a week recently.
At first glance, there’s plenty to admire with this red-painted test unit of ours loaned to us by distributors Harmony Fabulous Sdn Bhd – a subsidiary of the Naza World Group of Companies. There’s no denying that the Victory Judge is quite a good-looking bike, especially in the eyes of many American cruiser fans.

Much of the Judge’s styling is inspired by classic American muscle cars of yore. That retro muscle car feel comes alive as you clap eyes on the way its large V-twin engine is placed in full view, the shiny and large twin-pipe exhaust running down the right side, not forgetting the massive Dunlop tyres shod in equally large 16-inch wheels front and aft.
Words like ‘muscular’, ‘aggressive’ and ‘brash’ comes to mind, but there’s no denying that this bike has that distinctively classic American cruiser looks to it. Overall, the Judge would please any cruiser fan that lay eyes on it, invoking plenty of gob-smacked expressions and stares whilst riding it through town.

Being a marque developed to compete against Harley-Davidson, the Victory Motorcycles brand stands to offer buyers a new-aged alternative against the famed bar-and-shield marque. Notably, much of the Victory Judge’s left-field traits and charm is exuded by its mechanical workings instead of its aesthetics.
The most obvious of which is that aforementioned massive V-twin engine the Judge packs. This sports cruiser has adopted Victory’s signature 106 cubic inch Freedom V-twin that’s air-cooled and primed with electronic fuel injection. In case you were wondering, 106 cubic inches translates to a whopping and massive 1,731cc in metric terms.

The mill develops 85hp and a meaty 149Nm peak torque figure, with the latter developed below the 3,000rpm mark. All that is managed by Victory’s six-speed overdrive manual transmission and a belt-drive setup as well, with the last bit being yet another typical trait of many American cruisers.
This massive 1,731cc mill grants the Victory Judge with rapid acceleration and seemingly high-speeds easily, feeling almost akin to dragster cruisers in fact. You don’t need to rev the mill high to get it going, and it is the kind of package that naturally dictates you to short-shift up the cogs before reaching a comfortable cruising speed.

The abundance of torque in the low and mid rev ranges make the Judge feel as if it has endless pull, making this quite an engaging bike to ride initially. However, what really felt unnerving were the single-disc anchors primed all round that’s tasked at slowing and stopping this cruiser.

Besides the absence of ABS, the front brake felt rather vague and required quite the tug in the lever to slow this 300kg (dry) cruiser down. Instead it was the rear brake that felt more reassuring, but it does mean riders will need to master the fine art of rear-wheel braking when riding the Judge – not something anyone would want in a hairy, low-grip situation.

1,731cc of pure Americana! @victorybikes_my @victorybikes #victory #victorymotorcycles #victoryjudge #judge #cruiser #vtwin #american
A video posted by BIKES REPUBLIC (@bikesrepublic) on Jun 12, 2016 at 12:10am PDT

However, said quirk is seemingly typical amongst most American cruisers, and it becomes something easily overlooked once you indulge in this torque-rich mill’s thunderous soundtrack coming out of its chromed twin-pipes. The raspy and thunderous note it boasts commands plenty of attention, and it became quite an addiction to lash this 106 cubic inch motor’s throttle just to get that sound.

What deserves merit here too is the Judge’s snug and comfortable sitting position – something many would expect out of a low-seat cruiser. At 658mm off the ground, jut about anyone is welcomed to hop on it in relatively high comforts, whilst the foot pegs positioned further forward felt rather natural too.
For a sub six-footer such as myself, the stock handlebars were an easy reach. But surely, shorter riders will find it a little harder to reach them. The solution to this perhaps lies in opting for a different and longer handlebar that is thankfully available in the Victory Motorcycles’ decent range of optional accessories.

In the ride and handling department, the story here is rather mixed to say the least. Starting with the suspension, the 43mm telescopic front forks and rear monoshock does grant a very plush ride, and this is perhaps a perk from their high travel rates. No doubt, the Judge’s rivals felt a little more refined in this area, but it isn’t a deal-breaker.
Once again, that unnerving feel we got from the front brake’s performance rolled in after realising the lack of agility the Victory Judge poses. Manoeuvring this 2,339mm-long behemoth with its 32-degree rake and 170mm trail is quite a chore during urban rides through traffic. What didn’t help here either were the heavy clutch lever pull and the claimed dry weight figure or 300kg.

Surely, this isn’t the ideal bike for one to thunder across the urban jungle with on a daily basis. Instead, the Victory Judge felt much more suited when tasked at long-distance cruises on straight highway roads where corners are scarce. Additionally, the presence of a long and large 17.8-litre fuel tank does grant this cruiser with a decent touring capability with Victory claiming a maximum travel range of 248km.

Although it has some quirks, the Victory Judge isn’t a bad bike entirely, and riding this left-field offering felt both very engaging and pleasing, mostly because of the low vibrations this bike has compared to its rival. Certainly, the Victory Judge would fit the bill of those seeking an American cruiser alternative that wasn’t Japanese.

Priced at RM119,568 sans insurance and registration costs, it’s certainly not a cheap proposition, especially for a very simplistic bike that lacked ABS of all things.
But, if you find pride in standing uniquely different from the crop of popular American- and Japanese-branded cruisers, then the Victory Judge will do just that easily whilst adding a very engaging left-field charm to the mix as well.
Right now, Malaysian distributors Harmony Fabulous is holding a special sale for the Victory brand, offering lucrative discounts and price reductions for all available models – the Judge included. You can find out more through the official Victory Motorcycles Malaysia Facebook page or by visiting the Victory showroom located in the Naza Auto Mall, Petaling Jaya – just before the flagship Ducati centre.
Could this be the perfect ‘Alternative Americana’ for the brave few? We’d like to think so.
Victory Judge – Specifications

ENGINE
Air-cooled, four-stroke 1,731cc
SOHC 50-degree V-twin with
electronic fuel injection and
electric starter

TRANSMISSION
6-speed constant mesh manual with wet multi-plate clutch and belt-drive

POWER
85hp

TORQUE
149Nm

CHASSIS
Tubular steel frame

SUSPENSION
Front:
43mm telescopic forks with
130mm travel

Rear:
Pre-load adjustable monoshock
with 75mm travel

BRAKES
Front:
300mm floating disc with
four-piston caliper

Rear:
300mm floating disc with
two-piston caliper

WHEELS & TYRES
Front:
130/90 B16 67H

Rear:
140/90 B16 77H

LENGTH
2,339mm

WHEELBASE
1,647mm

SEAT HEIGHT
658mm

FUEL TANK
17.8 litres

WEIGHT
300kg (claimed, dry)

PRICE
RM119,568
(without insurance and registration)

FROM
Harmony Fabulous Sdn Bhd
(Naza World of Companies)

Victory Judge gallery

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TRIUMPH PENANG’S NEW SHOWROOM LAUNCH

Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia has been expanding aggressively for the past few years, growing from strength to strength to being one of the most popular brands in Malaysia.

To cater to their ever growing family of customers, Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia has readied their new Penang showroom for the official launch later tonight.

This auspicious event also sees Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia organizing their splendidly successful “Triumph Try-Days” activity, in which the public is given the opportunity to sample Triumph’s wonderful line of motorcycles.

Triumph Try-Days is still running at the time of this post until 5.00pm today (5th August 2017), so hurry.

The launch will be graced by the RATPack, Riders Association of Triumph Motorcycles, who had ridden to Penang from all over Malaysia, to lend their support on this significant occasion.

Running simultaneously with the Triumph event is Shell Advance Outride Anything roadshow. Visitors stand the chance to win tickets to the 2017 Shell Advance Malaysian MotoGP, besides other gifts and prizes from Shell, such as Shark helmets.

The public will get the chance to sample how MotoGP riders feel when they “elbow” down in a corner on the Triumph Daytona 675R pop-up bike, besides lapping the Sepang International Circuit on a MotoGP simulator.

Triumph Motorcycles Penang’s new showroom is situated at:
16, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Minden Heights
11700 Gelugor
Pulau Pinang.
Tel: 04-658 3007
FB: https://www.facebook.com/fastbikespenang

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Teenager Scammed in Buying Motorcycle Online

A teenager was scammed when he bought a motorcycle online.

The seller had used a fake identity card and many have fallen victim to such scam.

The safest way of buying a motorcycle is to view the bike together with the seller.

There’s a saying that “if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.” But it’s human instinct to latch on to “irresistible deals,” isn’t it? That was how a teenager was scammed when he tried to purchase a motorcycle online.
19-year-old Arvin Veerasegaran had saved the money for the last three months by working part-time at a hotel. He had wanted a motorcycle for his daily conveyance.
So, when he saw an ad in the online portal, Mudah.my, he acted. The ad listed a secondhand Yamaha LC135 for only RM 3,000, below the market rate of RM 4,000.
The seller even presented his identification card as proof, which prompted Arvin to transfer the full amount of RM 3,000. The scammer then told him to visit the shop to pick up his bike the next day.
The operator of KS Wong Motor had lodged a police report as far back as August 4th2018, after discovering that scammers had used her shop’s name. They were shocked again when Arvin presented an invoice bearing their shop’s name on April 19th.
But Arvin wasn’t the only person who visited the shop to pick up his bike. There was another person who had wanted to pick up a Yamaha NVX on the same day. Four people have visited her shop and another 20 called for their bikes thus far.
It was also revealed that the seller had used a fake identity to open a bank account.
So, be careful of who you purchase your bike from. Best way is to ask to physically view the bike together with the seller.
Source: The Star
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2017 MV Agusta F3 657 RC & F3 800 RC unveiled

Limited edition 2017 MV Agusta F3 675 RC & F3 800 RC gets updated livery.

Now with its business back in the green again, Italian motorcycle artisans MV Agusta are back with an updated version of its limited edition F3 675 RC & F3 800 RC World Supersport Championship (WSSP) replica models.

Besides an updated livery, little else has changed as both still retain their respective base bike’s mechanicals underneath. Just to refresh your memory, the F3 675 RC features a 675cc in-line triple-cylinder that pumps out 128hp whilst the F3 800 RC has a larger 800cc triple that churns out 148hp instead.

Supplementing the powerplants is MV Agusta’s signature MVICS electronics suite that offers an eight-level traction control and three selectable engine mappings – read power modes.

By the way, RC stands for Reparto Corse, which is Italian lingo for ‘Racing Department’. Like all of its other RC specials, the 2017 MV Agusta F3 675 RC & F3 800 RC will come with a bevy of special accessories included.

Highlights here include racy bits like a rear seat cowl and paddock stand, license plate holder and a specially designed bike cover too. Lastly, you can also choose between two racing number decal options of current MV Agusta WSSP riders Jules Cluzel or Lorenzo Zanetti.

Though MV Agusta hasn’t released prices and release dates for either just yet, it did confirm that just 350 units will be built. Check out more images of the lightly updated 2017 MV Agusta F3 675 RC & F3 800 RC in the gallery we’ve prepared below.
2017 MV Agusta F3 675 RC

2017 MV Aguata F3 800 RC

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Halogen versus LED: Should You Upgrade to LED Lighting?

Halogen versus LED lighting, which is better?

More and more bikes are equipped with LED lighting but what about bikes still with halogen bulbs?

Here are basic descriptions of both types.

Yes, I’m writing this while the headlight bulbs of my 7-year-old Kawasaki ER-6f are a no brighter than an Ikea Sinnlig scented candle. I’m exaggerating, of course, but it’s really annoying when I couldn’t further down the road! Hence, am now considering upgrading to LED lighting.
It’s apparent that LED lighting is already the mainstream. Every new motorcycle from kapchais to large capacity dual-purpose bikes we tested in 2019 was fitted with LED lights.

This is because LED technology has progressed exponentially over the last 5 years. Whereas they were used for nothing more than for daytime running lights (DRL) or “position lighting,” they are now powerful enough to cater for headlights for both low and high beams.
In view of this, they’ve pretty much supplanted the that scourge of road users everywhere – the Xenon HID (high intensity discharge) bulb.
Let’s explore a little further.
Halogen bulbs

Halogen bulbs have been around for a long time, ever since the use of iodine gas in incandescent lightbulbs was patented in 1933. General Electric (GE) finally patented a working iodine bulb in 1958 and launched the next year. The halogen bulb has been refined to as good as it gets today and still being used in 90% of all vehicles on the road.
The word “halogen” pertains to a group of five chemically related elements i.e. fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At).
So, when someone says halogen, tungsten halogen, quartz-halogen, quartz iodine bulb, they are all the same.

It works by passing a current through a tungsten coil filament to heat it to the stage of being white hot, hence emitting light. The vessel of the bulb is filled with a small amount of halogen fas which allows for the evaporated tungsten to be deposited back onto the filament. This way, the filament’s lifespan and brightness can be increased.
But it’s this conversion to heat that makes halogen bulbs get so hot. In fact, the majority of the current channeled into it is converted to heat. As such, the luminous efficiency (ability to generate light versus current used) is only 2% to 4%.
The intense heat also results in a lower lifespan compared to other types of bulbs.
The amount of power it could draw is limited by legislature in different countries – usually between 50W to 60W. However, this caps the ability to create bulbs as bright as Xenon, HID or LED bulbs due to its inherent lower luminous efficiency.

In order to attain more light or whither light, a hotter filament is needed which again creates a lot more heat.
On the flip side is its simplicity and cost. You only to plug it in without electronics for it to shine. Not working? 99.9% is because the filament’s burnt out.
You can get a better-quality halogen bulb within RM 30. A pair of high-end bulbs could cost between RM 100 to RM 180. But we did see a OEM-spec bulb which costs RM 500!
What are LEDs?

LED stands for light-emitting diode and work differently than incandescent bulbs.
Current is passed through a semiconductor light source. Electrons in the semiconductor then recombine with electron holes and release photons (light).
As such, it’s much more efficient compared to the incandescent light bulb which involves heating. Consequently, in general at least, LEDs have cooler operating temperatures and longer lifespans than traditional bulbs i.e. 20,000 hours vs. 500 hours.

Higher temperature colours i.e. whiter (measured in K as in 5500K, 6000K, 6500K) is attained by changing the properties of the semi-conductor rather than putting in a hotter burning filament.
Another benefit of LEDs is that they operate at lower voltage, allowing them to be used with CAN-bus (controller area network) systems.
High-output LEDs (H-O LEDs) do produce heat although not as high as incandescent lamps. But as LEDs require lower working temperatures to work at optimum levels, they are usually fitted with heat sinks and fans (yes, fans!). They are therefore much bigger than the halogen bulbs they replace, thus retrofitting one into a headlamp assembly designed around the halogen bulb may be problematic. Plus, it’s better to separate the electronics from the bulb’s body for better cooling thereby adding an extra piece of hardware to consider.

Since LED lights require more sophistication to operate, they are much more expensive, although prices are dropping.
Conclusion
That’s it for this instalment. We’ll cover other aspects of lighting in the near future.
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Moto Guzzi Rolls Out V7 Stone Special Edition – Features Arrow Exhaust, 66hp

Moto Guzzi continue to bank on the brand most successful retro-inspired roadster, with the introduction of the V7 Stone Special Edition.

Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Special Edition features unique black colourway with red accent.
Gets a unique Arrow exhaust with Moto Guzzi branding.

Recently unveiled at the Moto Guzzi World Days event, the special edition motorcycle adopts a more discreet silhouette compared to the standard V7 Stone.
That said, the V7 Stone Special Edition features a glossy ‘Shining Black’ paint scheme with red colour accents on the side of the fuel tank.

Similar red-painted colour are also visible on the rear shock absorbers and contrasting stitching on the single-piece saddle.
However, the most standout piece on the V7 Stone Special Edition is an Arrow exhaust complete with the firm’s branding.

According to Moto Guzzi, the exhaust also helps to bump the power from 64hp to 66hp @ 6,700rpm.
Also, the Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Special Edition is priced at EUR9,999 (RM45.6k).
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Honda releases teaser video for a new big bike – “What Lies Beyond”

Honda has released a brand new teaser video with the tagline “What Lies Beyond” signalling a brand new motorcycle launch this coming 24 October 2017.
The short teaser strikes to the heart of all motorcyclists regarding the reasons and feeling associated when it comes to riding and everything in between.
The teaser will actually come in five different parts which also signals that it might be more than just one 2018 model that Honda will launch.

Honda Motorcycles has released a very heart-warming video with the hash tag #WhatLiesBeyond, signalling a brand new motorcycle which will be launched on 24 October 2017. That’s just a few days before the MotoGP weekend in Sepang, Malaysia and also around the same time as the upcoming Honda Asian Journey.

Although we are not entirely sure on what this new big bike from Honda will be, we know that it’s meant to accentuate the experience of riding down highways with adventures and journeys that’ll excite any motoring enthusiasts. Indeed, a great way to electrify motoring enthusiasts out there.

Based on the content of the video, we assume that it’ll be a brand new road-going motorcycle, possibly a touring or cruiser bike. The presence of the Goldwing and NC700X are also some clues that can be seen in the video. Another thing that we can confirm is that based on the teaser which will come in five different parts, it won’t be just any ordinary bike with minor updates for 2018.

We can’t really say for sure but as of the first teaser video, it probably won’t be just one 2018 Honda machine. We have a strong feeling that it’ll be one of many 2018 models which will be introduced on the date stated in the video as well as a few more later this year during the EICMA Show in Milan, Italy.

Whatever it (or they) may be, one thing is for sure; it won’t be boring. So sit back, wait for 24 October 2017 to arrive and discover “What Lies Beyond”.

In the meantime, check out Boon Siew Honda’s “Lifestyle” bikes which are the 2017 Honda MSX125 and Honda Rebel 500 by clicking HERE!
Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more updates.
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Ducati teases new Monster, 2015 scrambler spotted

This week, famed Italian bikes brand Ducati began teasing its new EICMA-bound Monster whilst its upcoming scrambler gets spotted undergoing road tests.
The brand’s up and coming new scrambler was spotted and photographed whilst being road-tested in the outskirts of Bologna. This image posted below published by insella.it of the camouflaged prototype is perhaps the first clear image where we can see its air-cooled V-twin engine, and a much better look at the scrambler’s overall design lines.

Not much information is available at present, but the picture also suggests that the model will feature a large 19-inch wheel in front. All other details at present from other sources are conflicting and sketchy. Insider talks however suggest that the model’s future is a question of “if” instead of “when?”, indicating that Ducati is not fully ready to have the model incorporated in its operations just yet. We will not be seeing this scrambler model being showcased at this year’s EICMA show happening very soon, suggesting that this could be a 2015 model instead.
Speaking of this year’s EICMA show, Ducati’s next generation Ducati Monster on the other hand will make its first appearance there. Ducati appears to have setup a dedicated Twitter page recently called Instinct Monster (@InstinctMonster) for the new Monster, posting a few a few teaser images as such, with videos as well.

After numerous spyshots, it has become a known fact that the new Monster will have a new liquid-cooled Testastretta 11° engine similar to the second generation Hypermotard (read our Hypermotard review here). Dubbed by sources as the new “Monster 1200”, spyshots also suggest that it sits slightly higher off the ground than its predecessor, and could slot itself in a position previously held by the Streetfighter 1098 model.

We will have more details and pictures once the new Monster is fully revealed in EICMA. In the meantime, you can head over to the Instinct Monster Twitter page to view more teaser pictures and videos posted by Ducati.
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Royal Enfield Unveils Teaser For Highly Anticipated Himalayan 450

In an exciting announcement, Royal Enfield has tantalised adventure enthusiasts with the release of the official teaser video for their upcoming marvel, the Himalayan 450 adventure tourer.

the Himalayan 450 is set to debut on November 1, aligning with the festive season to capture the positive buying sentiments of consumers.
the new Himalayan 450 is fitted with an all-new 450cc single capable of pumping 40hp.

The teaser video offers a sneak peek into the habitat of this all-terrain conqueror, designed not only for everyday riding but also for the most daring off-roading escapades. Key features showcased include a circular LED headlamp with a commanding windscreen, robust wire-spoked wheels, block pattern tires, and the signature front beak, all underpinned by a sleek fuel tank with braces.
Beyond its striking exterior, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 introduces a powerful 450 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine, churning out an estimated 40 bhp. The engine pairs seamlessly with a six-speed transmission boasting a slipper and assist clutch, ensuring a smooth and controlled ride.
Watch the official teaser below:

Safety and technology converge in the new Himalayan, boasting front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS, an innovative fully digital instrument cluster featuring Tripper Navigation, and LED tail lamps and indicators for enhanced visibility.
With a focus on off-road prowess, the Himalayan 450 boasts longer travel suspension, including upside-down forks and a monoshock rear, ensuring a balanced and responsive ride on diverse terrains. Meanwhile, its tall seat height, elevated ground clearance, and broad handlebars beckon adventure-seekers to explore the uncharted.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is poised to rival the likes of the KTM 390 Adventure, BMW G310 GS, and the forthcoming Bajaj/Triumph Scrambler 400X, igniting a fierce competition in the adventure touring segment.
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The Supercharged Kawasaki Z H2 SE Now In Malaysia – RM97,800

Kawasaki Malaysia has officially launched the 2023 Z H2 SE hyper naked sports bike, priced at RM97,800.

the SE gets you Showa Skyhook semi-active electronic suspension.
the braking package includes Brembo Stylema monobloc callipers.

Launched at the 2023 Malaysia Autoshow, the Z H2 SE is powered by a supercharged 998cc, inline four-cylinder engine, capable of producing 200 horsepower at 11,000 RPM and 137 Nm of torque at 8,500 RPM. It is equipped with a six-speed gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch and chain drive, which powers the rear wheel.

The bike’s suspension has been upgraded and now features a Showa Skyhook semi-active electronic suspension with a Showa SFF-CA fork and Showa BFRC monoshock, which adjusts according to ride modes and self-adjusts during riding for more comfort.
The braking system has also been improved, featuring Brembo Stylema Monobloc callipers, a Brembo master cylinder, twin 320mm front discs, and a 260mm rear brake disc.
The Z H2 SE is equipped with an inertial measurement unit control (IMU), which controls the Kawasaki Intelligent Brake System (KIBS) and Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC). It also features cruise control, Kawasaki Launch Control Mode (KLCM), Kawasaki Cornering Management Function (KCMF), and three riding modes.

The bike is available in two colours: Metallic Matte Graphene Steel Gray and Metallic Matte Graphene Steel Ebony, and will be available in authorised Kawasaki 4S Dealers showrooms by the end of June 2023.
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Spanish Grand Prix with Honda Team Asia

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Race of Gran Premio bwin de España took place at Jerez Circuit. The condition of the track changed a lot from yesterday’s Qualifying dropping sharply the temperature.

IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia rider Takaaki Nakagami who started from the second row 5th on the grid made good start and reached third position going into the first corner. However, he struggled to keep good pace to the end finishing in 17th position. Teammate Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman who started from 24th on the grid moved up one position due to Simon’s infringement of technical regulations, finished in 21st position.

Tadayuki Okada (Team Manager)
“Nakagami　finished in 17th place due to missing feeling with tire which he had at WUP session in the morning. As we will have the testing at Aragon circuit in this week, we try to make the issue clear and we want to be competitive at next race in Le Mans. Azlan made mistake at the start and took time to get his rhythm. To get the points at next race, we will work hard at test to resolve the problem which we had this weekend.”

#30 Takaaki Nakagami
“I am extremely frustrated for today’s race result due to tire issues despite I had good result till today’s WUP session from Friday Free Practice. I try to clarify the problem we had during the test in Aragon. The test will be very important to be competitive at next race in Le Mans. In the present situation it’s very hard to be competitive, but I will concentrate to resolve the problems and I want to battle for the podium at next race!”

＃25 Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman
“I challenged the race changing the setting but I did not find best feeling with machine. I am really disappointed that I did not keep best position for the first corner. For Next race in Le Mans, I will do my best to get my first championship point!”
Gran Premio bwin de España – 03.May.2015 – Circuito de Jerez
Wheather : Sunny
Air Temperature : 27℃
Humidity : 40%
Track Condition : Dry
Track Temperature : 32℃
Takaaki Nakagami : 17th position
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman : 21th position
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Can you ride the BMW R 1250 GS daily?

BMW Motorrad Malaysia recently celebrated their annual BMW Motorrad Night Fuel event held at the Malaysia. There were many highlights of the night which included the launch of the all-new 2019 BMW R 1250 GS, R 1250 GS Adventure, and the F 850 GS Adventure. We got our hands on the latest R 1250 GS and we’re here to answer the question; can you ride it on a daily basis?

Before we begin, I do have a small confession to make before we go any further; I’m not really into adventure bikes. AT FIRST. As a hardcore motorcycle lover, ADV bikes (in my opinion) are reserved for those who have gone through their hot-blooded phase on more powerful sports bikes. It’s like another way of ‘slowing down’ since most Malaysians don’t really go off-road that often.

My perception was then turned upside down when I got my hands on the Triumph Tiger 800 (my first and all-time favourite bike) and ever since, all I wanted to ride was adventure bikes. I tried my hands on many samples, including the closest competitions to the R 1250 GS; KTM’s 1290 Super Adventure S and Ducati Multistrada 1260 S.

My love for adventure bikes has grown immensely and I’ve been praising on how versatile, powerful, and fun this particular bike segment has to offer. Truth be told, I’ve not ridden any GS models before and that’s when BMW Motorrad Malaysia decided that we should be amongst the first to try latest flagship adventure bike model a go for a week.

Let’s start with the first feature of the bike that everyone will notice – the looks. Standing tall and proud, the R 1250 GS carries the same design DNA that all BMW enthusiasts love and adore. It’s all about outright precision and superior mechanical performance which helps to portray how the bike rides.

Upon picking up the 1250, I was a bit overwhelmed by the size. Sitting at around 250kg (fully fuelled and ready to go), it’s a bit on the heavier side compared to the bikes that I’ve tried before. Even the proportions were a bit intimidating at first but as soon as I sat on the beast, everything sort of made sense.

You don’t really feel the weight and the overall riding experience was agile, nimble, exciting, and precise. The biggest feature that contributes to this ability is how the chassis and engine were designed. Its 1,254cc flat twin boxer engine sits super low which gives a lower centre of gravity (which also means that it’s super easy to manoeuvre, even with all that weight).

BMW Motorrad designed the new R 1250 GS as a world conqueror. With the ability to go anywhere and everywhere, one question came to mind. Can you ride this beast as your daily bike? In short, yes. Was it hard? I thought it was but surprisingly, it wasn’t!

My daily schedule starts off with sending my daughter to school, which is inconveniently located in an area with three other schools with narrow ‘kampung roads’ plus morning traffic where motorists take shortcuts to beat the traffic. In other words, it’s hectic even when riding smaller bikes.

With 136hp and 143Nm of torque paired with BMW’s latest Shiftcam Technology, the R 1250 GS can go fast as balls on fire and slow as an ant without much of a hassle. Stuck behind slow moving traffic? Not a problem as working the clutch was heavenly and slow manoeuvres on a 250kg bike that’s almost the same height as I am was surprisingly no trouble at all.

I also like the fact how it now comes standard with Hill Start Controll (HSC). This feature came in super handy when I had to face traffic up and down hills near my daughter’s school (with uneven roads, potholes, and relentless traffic).
I hated going through this particular road but thanks to the HSC (plus ABS, ASC, and the very impressive Dynamic Brake Control), the journey was made fun for the first time in a long while. Heck, even my seven-year-old enjoyed arriving to school on board this German beauty.

As for everyday riding, I mostly stayed in either Rain or Road mode because they made the most sense. If there’s a need to go faster, I would kick it into either Dynamic or Enduro, but Road was already more than good enough for daily riding. Blasting through highways at reasonable *cough, cough* speeds was swift, comfortable, and surprisingly, gained a lot of respect from other road users as they willingly move out of their way to let me through.
How nice…or maybe they thought I was the police. I guess we’ll never know….

The addition of BMW’s Shiftcam Technology works seamlessly in providing two particularly different engine profiles thanks to the intake cams having two sets of cam lobes. You will never notice how it changes from one to another but what I can tell is that the R 1250 GS is smooth as butter, no matter how much or how little you open the throttle.
Top speed? BMW Motorrad said it can go well above 200km/h and we believe them.

My only pet peeve is that since it comes ready with a bi-directional quickshifter, changing gears using the traditional manner (with clutch) were less smooth than desired. I think the bike was trying to say “Bro, I got quickshifter. Use it la!” And I did, but I still prefer the ‘old school’ method most of the time. Oh, the quickshifter? Probably one of the best I’ve tried so far. No joke.

BMW’s signature TFT screen is both beautiful and super functional but with all the information available on the tips of your fingers, getting used to toggling through all the available functions does take some time to get used to. It’s like getting a powerful PC for the first time, may be hard at first but once you’re familiar, nothing will stop in your way.

Short on cash? Well, you can stop wasting money on premium fuel to fill that 20-litre tank up as its engine is equipped with a couple of updated knock sensors which allows the use of RON 95 or even lower. Planning a trip into Thailand? Well, you don’t have to worry about fuel quality or getting a full refill before crossing the border because the 1250 has got you covered.

Riding the R 1250 GS gave me a whole new understanding on where the current ADV bikes are now and how they will move forward in the future. BMW’s latest offering gives nothing but pure performance no matter the road conditions and it’s a machine worth having in your garage. It looks damn good, rides even better.

I can definitely live my daily life if I have the BMW R 1250 GS as a daily. The only problem (for me, at least) is getting my hands on RM116,500 because that’s how much the bike costs on-the-road without insurance. I wonder when will BMW Motorrad Malaysia will accept my extra kidney as a mode of payment. You only need one to live, right? Right…?
2019 BMW R 1250 GS, BMW R 1250 GS Adventure, BMW F 850 GS Adventure Launched

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CFMoto V.02-NK 1000cc Streetfighter Nears Production

The CFMoto V.02-NK 1000cc streetfighter is nearing production.

It is powered by KTM’s 990cc LC8 platform.

It is also designed by KISKA, who have designed all KTMs.

CFMoto is on the roll since their tie up with KTM and now the CFMoto V.02-NK 1000cc streetfighter is rumoured to be close to production.
KTM and CFMoto first tied up in 2014 to produce the 125 Duke, 200 Duke and 390 Duke for the region.
KTM had contracted CFMoto to build the 799cc LC8c engine which powers the former’s 790 series of bikes including the 790 Duke, 790 Adventure, 790 Adventure R and limited production 790 Adventure R Rally. The Austrians were so impressed with the production capabilities of CFMoto that they’ve decided that they will shift worldwide production of LC8c engines to China from 2021. The factory in Hangzhou can produce up to 50,000 bikes a year.

Since then, KTM sold the 990 LC8 engine which powered the mad 990 Duke to CFMoto. It’s from this arrangement that CFMoto unveiled the V.02-NK concept in 2017. Who know? The Chinese manufacturer may even introduce the first 1000cc superbike in due time.

CFMoto’s range of motorcycles are also designed by KISKA, who also designs KTMs. Thus, the V.02-NK has some design cues from the KTM Duke R but isn’t a carbon copy. There are some innovative ideas here including underseat-mounted radiator and carbon-ceramic brake discs.
Production ought to begin next year and we shall see how the final design turns out.

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Suzuki Released New Burgman Street 125EX Scooter At Intermot

Suzuki Burgman Street 125EX is the third scooter to join its new 125cc range after introducing Address and Avenis 125 in July.

Suzuki Burgman Street 125EX features a new SEP engine.
The Burgman Street 125EX offers better handling and riding stability.

Like its bigger sibling, the Burgman 400, the smaller Burgman Street 125EX is positioned as the firm’s flagship 125 range.
Like the Address and Avenis 125, the Burgman Street 125EX also features Suzuki Eco Performance (SEP) engine.

Although the Burgman shares a similar base architecture as the Address and Avenis, the former is equipped with Suzuki’s latest SEP motor.
As a result, the Burgman makes 8.48hp @ 6,500rpm and 10Nm @ 5,500rpm.
According to Suzuki, the new ‘alpha’ version of the SEP engine also boasts high fuel economy levels and operates at a quieter level.

Other new features available from the new engine include Engine Auto Stop-Start, a new idle system and a new Silent Start System.
Other notable features include:

two helmet hooks
21 L under-seat storage
two closable front compartments
USB port

The Burgman Street 125EX also offers additional stability thanks to a longer wheelbase than the Address and Avenis 125.
Meanwhile, braking is done via 130mm drum brakes and regulated by a combined braking system (CBS).
The 2023 Burgman Street 125EX scooter will only be available next year.
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Sights and sounds of KL Bike Week 2013

The annual Kuala Lumpur Bike Week returned for its 2013 edition last weekend. Once again, bikes enthusiasts gathered in the heart of the city for two days in celebration of all things two-wheeled.

Organised by local two-wheeled institution Red Garage Malaysia, this year’s edition kicked off early on Friday afternoon. The annual two-day event took place in the parking lot off Jalan P.Ramlee, opposite the KLCC shopping haven. As always, plenty of stalls were erected peddling all sorts of two-wheels related merchandise. Items from second-hand and recondition bikes, to memorabilia, gears, accessories, and even designer helmets were present, with merchants fulfilling the desires of visiting bikes enthusiasts that came.

Besides the independent merchants, our friends from the Naza Two Wheels Division were present in full force as well. The group brought most of its bikes brands out on display, but it was clear that all eyes were on its latest addition, Victory Motorcycles. Though barely a week old in our market, many visitors and enthusiasts present flocked to the group’s enormous tent to have a glimpse at the latest bikes brand to arrive on our soil. Not to be left behind, the group’s Harley Davidson brand also kicked things into overdrive, debuting a new variant on Saturday night and retailing much of the H-D lifestyle products and apparels at discounted prices.

However, the main event was of course the gathering of bikes in the centre of the event’s grounds. We cannot think of any other event in the country where bikes of all types and ranges – café racers, custom choppers, motards, classics, and supersports included – would park themselves side-by-side, sharing the same spot of dirt. And as always, the eclectic owners of these fine examples came in full force, donning their respective jackets richly laden with their club or group’s badges and patches, connecting with other clubs and groups that came down.

Not only uniting riders and clubs from within Malaysia, this year’s edition of KL Bike Week also saw a high number of foreign clubs and riders in attendance. Present were groups that rode in from neighbouring nations such as Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Brunei whilst some even came from as far as the Philippines and Australia. However, the ones making the biggest buzz at this year’s running were the bike clubs and groups from the Borneo region, signalling to many of the region’s rich biking culture.

Another highlight of the event included Saturday’s convoy-ride around KL city led by local rock legend and actor Awie. Competitions were also held for best show bike across various categories including Best Café Racer, Best American Chopper, and Best Japanese Custom to name a few. Keeping visitors entertained further were a wide range of bands and musician performing on stage, namely veteran acts such as Kugiran Di Tepi Pantai and Republic Of Brickfields.

The rain throughout the weekend may have been torrential to say the least, but that did not stop many from attending KL Bike Week 2013, a strong sign of the biking culture in Malaysia.

Things came to a momentous close late on Saturday night as many bike groups and clubs took to the stage in a memorabilia-exchanging ceremony, a true display of unity through a single passion for bikes. As the curtain closes on KL Bike Week 2013, we at BR only wish to applaud Red Garage Malaysia’s efforts at keeping the annual event going on strongly year after year. KL Bike Week will return once again in 2014 and, rest assure, we the BR team will be there again to document the nation’s biggest and richest bikes gathering of its kind.
Check out our rich photo gallery below from last weekend’s KL Bike Week 2013.

KL Bike Week 2013
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Gallery: Custom Yamaha CS_07 Gasoline by roCkS!bikes

Custom Yamaha CS_07 Gasoline built by roCkS!bikes is one mean-looking Yamaha VMax.

Meet the latest addition into the Yard Built Yamaha series of custom bikes, the Yamaha CS_07 Gasoline. This is the creative work of Portuguese building duo Alexandre Santos and Osvaldo Coutinho from the collective known as ‘roCkS!bikes’.

The CS_07 Gasoline features a trademark monocoque tank designed by the Portuguese duo, as well as seat and tail units that are similar in design to ones found on the collective’s other builds. The forward mounted tank is in fact a dummy whilst the real one is actually located under the rider’s seat.

There are plenty of shiny chrome ‘bling’ covering the bike including on the Brembo brake and clutch master cylinders. This custom’s soundtrack is sweetened further with an SC Project exhaust system too.

Other notable bits include a rich array of LSL, Rizoma, and Motogadget accessories that give it a finish that reflect the build quality, which is very high based on what we can gauge in these pictures.

According to Yamaha, drag racing bikes inspired the CS_07 Gasoline’s design, explaining its aggressive stance, handcrafted metal fairing, as well as the Mickey Thomson slick rear tyre.

The bike also stood as roCkS!bikes tribute piece to celebrate two milestones in Yamaha’s history. The first was to mark the Yamaha VMax base bike’s 30th anniversary whilst the second celebrates the Yamaha marque’s 60th anniversary.

You can check out more images of the Yamaha CS_07 Gasoline in the gallery we’ve prepared below.
Yamaha CS_07 Gasoline by roCkS!bikes

Sources: MCN and AutoEvolution
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2022 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory now available from RM169,900

Lightly refreshed 2022 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory is now available in Malaysia from RM169,900, packs 217HP, GP-style aero and increased torque.

Lightly revised 2022 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory now available in Malaysia.

In 2022 model year guise, this flagship superbike packs plenty of minor improvements.

Its 1,099cc V4 still churns out 217HP, but torque has improved to 125NM now.

As before, it packs plenty of race-derived electronics and hardware.

Orders now open through authorised dealers from RM169,900 onwards.

Malaysian Aprilia motorcycles distributors Didi Resources Sdn Bhd announced over the recent public holiday weekend that the refreshed 2022 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory flagship superbike is now available locally.
Continuously updated over the years, the latest of which sees the 2022 model year version offer increased torque from its 65-degree 1,099cc V4 heart. There’s now 125NM of twist available at 10,500RPM onwards whilst power figure remains at 217HP.

As before, both outputs power the rear wheel via a 6-speed cassette type transmission primed with a slipper clutch and quick-shifter. The powertrain is also complemented with a host of electronic rider aids, key amongst which includes a total of six selectable ride modes, anti-wheelie, traction control, engine brake control, launch control, cornering ABS, cruise control, as well as a pit-lane speed limiter.
The 2022 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory also continues to offer semi-active Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 suspension suite, which also includes 43mm Öhlins NIX front fork and Öhlins TTX rear monoshock plus a Sachs steering damper. As for anchors, the RSV4 1100 Factory continues to employ Brembo hardware, namely its Stylema monobloc radial calipers up front with dual 330mm rotors.

Other notable race-derived bits include lightweight 17-inch forged aluminium wheels, as well as race-developed aerodynamics which includes integrated winglets. There’s also a wide array of optional accessories available which includes both slip-on and full-system Akrapovič pipes, carbon front brake air vents, billet aluminium levers, and more.
Keen on this evolved missile by the Noale factory? Orders for the 2022 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory are now open through authorised dealers where its base price starts from RM169,900.

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Harley-Davidson To Unveil The New Low Rider S On 26 January

When Harley-Davidson announced its 2022 returning model, the Low Rider S was conspicuously absent from the lineup.
While some assume that the Low Rider S falls victim to Harley’s Hardwire initiative, we believed there could be another side to that story.
It looks like we are not the only one as the folks at Motorcycle.com managed to connect the dots from various sources (mainly Brazilian blogger, Dan Morel and German blog HarleySite.de) that the Low Rider S is still alive.
According to reports, the Low Rider S could get a bump to 1,923cc or 117CI engine, possibly the Milwaukee-Eight 117 powerplant.
HarleySite.de even went as far as to publish an official-looking spec sheet.
Nonetheless, Motorcycle.com managed to verify that the Low Rider S is making a comeback in 2022 in two colour options, Vivid Black and Gunship Gray. Interestingly, the American brand dealer in Thailand also claimed to have sold a 2022 Low Rider S.

Considering that Harley-Davidson has set a date for a new model launch on January 26, the model teased is likely the 2022 Low Rider S.
Moreover, the tagline “Further. Faster” supports the premise of an engine upgrades from the previous 1,870cc to the 1,923cc.
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MotoGP: Marquez Racing Against Time For Qatar GP

Marc Marquez is getting closer to full fitness after conducting his second outing on the RC213V-S at Portimao on Friday.
Apart from assessing his injuries, Marquez took the opportunity to learn the circuit, which was recently added to the calendar last year.
Portimao will host round 3 of this season MotoGP, after Jerez.

This is the Spaniard second outing on the RC213V-S after getting the green light from doctors to intensify his training since his horrific accident last July.
The Repsol Honda rider initially tested his right arm on a minibike before jumping straight on the RC213V-S at Barcelona after a brief trip to Qatar for his first Covid-19 vaccination.
According to reports, Marquez pushed the RC213V-S to its limits during the two tests, indicating a signal that we might be seeing him earlier than expected.
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Video: BMW G310R in detail

BMW Motorrad rocked the motorcycling world when it finally decided to go big by going down-market. The firm has a strong foothold in the large-capacity segments already, so perhaps the creation of the all-new BMW G310R was inevitable.

It may be small, BMW has set its sights for world domination with its newest model. The firm recently released a promotional video that details some of the bike’s special traits and features in better.

If you didn’t know, the BMW G310R is the fruit of the German powerhouse’s partnership with India’s leading bike manufacturer, TVS. It comes powered using a newly developed 313cc single-cylinder engine with a claimed output of 34hp to propel a claimed unladen weight of 158.5kg (more details in our launch story).

Taking a few notes from Austrian rivals KTM, the BMW G310R is being mass-produced in India. The effort should see the baby beemer being priced similarly to its Austrian segment rival (read KTM 390 Duke). Suffice to say, this is one bike we are anxiously waiting for in 2016.
Source: YouTube via Visordown
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Ducati Panigale V4 25th Anniversario 916 arrives in Malaysia – RM359,900!

There have been several notable limited-edition Ducati models unveiled in the past few years and their latest version has arrived here in Malaysia; the 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 25th Anniversario 916. There are only 500 units produced for the entire planet and Malaysia has one.

But before you go to the bank, we also have to mention that there’s already a buyer for this beauty and Ducati Malaysia has priced it at a very cool RM359,900. If you hurry, you might be able to catch a glimpse of it at the Ducati Petaling Jaya showroom before it gets delivered to that very lucky owner. The Ducati Panigale V4 25th Anniversario 916 is definitely a bike you would want to see with your own eyes.

Ducati’s latest limited-edition model combines the very essence of the Panigale V4, Panigale V4 R, and the Superleggera all into one bike. That’s a cool idea considering that the bike pays tribute to the infamous 916 model which won the World Superbikes championship in its debut season (and three more after that).

Designed with the livery inspired by the Ducati 996 SBK bike ridden to the world superbikes championship title thanks to the legendary Carl “Foggy” Fogarty back in 1999, the number 1 decal was placed proudly to showcase the bike’s physical championship-winning prowess.

The Ducati Panigale V4 25th Anniversario 916 unit in Malaysia is the 11th unit of the limited production line and it carries a lot of goodies from carbon fibre panels, billet aluminium parts, race-inspired specs, and many more. Our favourite parts have to be the Marchesini Racing magnesium wheels and a very special Akrapovic titanium silencer.

Other specs that differentiate it from the normal Ducati Panigale V4 are STM EVO-SBK dry clutch, Ducati Corse-spec front frame (similar to the V4 R), Racing Plexiglas bubble windshield, bi-colour rider seat, racing handgrips, and several electronic goodies to make it worthy as a limited-edition Ducati model.

For those of you who have the money and passion to own one of these bad boys, just head over to any of the authorised Ducati dealers and make your voices heard. Who knows, they might just bring another unit in (if there’s any left available). Go on, just do it!

FIRST LOOK: Ducati Superleggera V4!

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Triumph  To Unveil The TE-1 Electric Motorcycle In July

Triumph Motorcycles has announced that the company’s first electric prototype has completed its final testing and is set for the full reveal in July.
The TE-1 has officially completed its final stage of the testing process.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Triumph Motorcycles (@officialtriumph)

Developed in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering and the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, the British marquee will unveil the TE-1 on 12 July 2022.

On that date, Triumph will show the bike and reveal the technical aspects of the machine, including the range and battery charging time.
However, most importantly, the full reveal of the working prototype will also mark the company’s intentions for the future.
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ICON Motosports unveils 2020 Suzuki Katana for Gundam fans

When Suzuki USA wanted ICON Motosports to customise a 2020 Suzuki Katana, they had a few ideas on how to kit it out according to their standards. Usually, their projects would take a few months, but Suzuki USA gave them only 30 days to complete the project. The results? A Suzuki Katana that Gundam fans around the globe can be proud of.

Nicknamed the “Brand New Jack”, this custom Katana was envisioned by the designer’s affinity for Gobots, Gundam, and Robotech where they thought it would fit exceptionally well with the Katana’s façade. A flying robot that fights in outer space? Hell yeah!

For the colour scheme, ICON chose the iconic combination of white with blue, yellow and red highlights resembling one of the most iconic Gundam bots in the universe, the original RX-78-2. There have been many additions in the world of space fighting robots, but none more iconic than this particular Gundam fans and enthusiasts initially gravitated to.

Apart from looks, the 2020 Suzuki Katana custom bike was also kitted with twin endurance racing fuel ports, premium Nitron suspension, solid EBC rotors, Avon competition tires, and a sweet-looking custom Leo Vince exhaust unit. Just like the evolutions of Gundam bot over the years, this is certainly a sweet upgrade for the Suzuki Katana.

Super sexy red 2020 Suzuki Katana, anyone?

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BMW Motorrad Malaysia Introduces New 2017 BMW R nineT, R nineT Pure and R nineT Racer; From RM82,900

The BMW R nineT epitomises casual elegance that focuses on the most important design elements of the motorcycle.

The new BMW R nineT Pure embodies the essence of the purist and authentic classic without frills and reduced to the absolute essentials.

The BMW R nineT represents a purist athletic flair, emotional design and uncompromising styling as a classic sports machine.

BMW Motorrad Malaysia has just revealed three new models from the BMW Motorrad Heritage world of experience. The three new models are the 2017 BMW R nineT, BMW R nineT Pure and BMW R nineT Racer. The new and updated Heritage variants were designed for the ‘pure riding’ experience with the various options for customisations and styling choices.

The new models were introduced by the Managing Director & CEO of BMW Group Malaysia, Mr. Han Sang Yun, earlier today commented “The new BMW Motorrad Heritage lines of motorcycles have enabled us to share our passion for our premium two wheel vehicles with a new segment of customers here and help them make their lives a ride,”

“Over the last two years, BMW Motorrad has been steadily growing in the country, delivering a record breaking of over 1000 motorcycles annually to our performance here. This is a very good indication of not only the growing potential of premium motorcycles in the country but also the appeal our motorcycles are creating in the segment.”

All three models share the same but powerful 1,170cc air/oil-cooled boxer engine that is able to churn out 110hp and 116Nm of torque that’s driven to the rear wheel via a 6-speed transmission. To make sure the power plant meets the Euro4 requirements, the engine has gone through an evolution for its engine mapping, fuel delivery system, carbon fuel canister and a larger catalytic converter for the exhaust system.
Below are the details of each individual premium bikes from BMW.
2017 BMW R nineT

With 90 years of experience, the new R nineT represents the pure essence of the German manufacturer. Looking at the most important design elements for motorcycles, the team of designers took the body back to its roots. The end result? A perfect combination of classic and modern styling all in one amazing package.

The iconic boxer engine from BMW Motorrad drives all its power down to the rear wheel via its final cardan driveshaft which has been the go-to choice from the manufacturer for a few decades now.

As part of the new R nineT package, it also boasts a new dual speed indicator with rational-speed sensor instrument in the on-board computer. Future owners are given a number of choices to customise their own bikes with BMW Motorrad’s Original Accessories which now includes the “Machined” custom parts collaborated with renowned customizer, Roland Sands.

The 2017 BMW R nineT is available at RM101,900 (basic price with GST).
2017 BMW R nineT Pure

For those looking for a dynamic roadster with the classic look and feel, look no further than the R nineT Pure. With the concept of reducing everything down to its bare essentials, the Pure is as raw as it gets (in a very, VERY good way). Like the R nineT, the Pure combines both classic and modern elements together visible through its forged aluminium parts and clear anodised finish.

The 2017 R nineT Pure’s fuel tank and mudguard comes in the Catalano Grey finish that portrays sophistication workmanship that can only be found from pure German engineering. The instrument cluster further compliments the bike’s pure modern classic combination with its analogue and LCD display setup.

The 2017 BMW R nineT Pure is available at RM82,900 (basic price with GST).
2017 BMW R nineT Racer

This is for all the cafe racer fans and enthusiasts out there. This sports-oriented variant highlights something that’s completely different from the other two models; a purist athletic flair, emotional design and uncompromising styling as a classic sports machine.

The new BMW R nineT Racer conveys a sense of old-school sporty aspiration with its striking frame-mounted half-fairing on the steering head which were developed thoroughly with modern technology. With its slim and almost squat like facade, it’s arguably the best looking modern classic cafe racer to date.

The best highlight of all would be its stainless-steel exhaust system with rear silencer that replicates the essence of a classic motorcycle from the 1960s and 1970s. Not wanting to miss out with modern times, the new BMW R NineT Racer comes with light alloy cast wheels similar to the R NineT Pure. The Racer is available in Lightwhite colourway.

To add more flair into the mix, customers have the option of adding a for pillion frame, HP carbon parts for the tail cover, mudguard, cover intake snorkel, timing chain cover, and cylinder head cover and cover ignition key, navigation mounting, and many more.
The 2017 BMW R nineT Racer is available RM88,900 (basic price with GST).

Interested in viewing the bikes in all their glory? Well, head on over the BMW Motorrad Nightfuel event on Saturday, 15th April 2017 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at the Open Car Park Opposite Pulp Coffee along Jalan Riong in Bangsar and you won’t be disappointed.
CLICK HERE to check out the rest of what BMW Motorrad Malaysia has to offer in our exclusive Bike Buyer’s Guide.
Source: BMW Motorrad Malaysia
2017 BMW R nineT Gallery

2017 BMW R nineT Pure Gallery

2017 BMW R nineT Racer Gallery

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Rev Up Your Ride With A Complimentary Termignoni Slip-On Exhaust For Your Ducati Monster – RM75,900

If you’re a motorcyclist, then you know that one of the most important aspects of any bike is the sound it makes. Whether it’s a low rumble or a loud roar, the sound of your bike can make all the difference in your riding experience.

Enjoy a complimentary Termignoni Slip-On Exhaust worth RM11,000 with every Ducati Monster bike purhcase.
The promotion is valid until 31st March 2023.

And if you’re a Ducati Monster fan, then you know that nothing beats the sound of a powerful engine revving up to speed.
But what if you could take that sound to the next level? What if you could make your bike roar even louder and more powerfully than ever before? Well, now you can, thanks to the Slip-On Termignoni Exhaust, available on your next Ducati Monster bike purchase priced at RM75,900.

This complimentary upgrade is worth RM11,000, and it’s an opportunity that no Ducati rider should miss out on. The Slip-On Termignoni Exhaust is a masterpiece of Italian engineering, designed to enhance the power and sound of your bike like never before.
With this exhaust, you can hear the difference in every rev of the engine. It’s not just a louder sound, it’s a fuller, more robust sound that matches the look and feel of your Ducati Monster perfectly. You’ll feel the power of your bike in a whole new way, and you’ll turn heads every time you ride by.

But don’t wait too long to take advantage of this amazing offer. As with any great opportunity, there are terms and conditions that apply. So if you want to upgrade your ride and experience the full power and sound of Italian engineering, then now is the time to act.
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Suzuki Releases GSX-1000 Katana Teaser

Suzuki Katana Concept

Suzuki had revealed the new Katana concept at EICMA 2017.

Now the manufacturer has released a teaser video.

The new Suzuki Katana is set to be introduced at Intermot on 2nd October.

It was nothing short of a revolution when the Suzuki GSX1100S Katana was introduced in 1980.
Suzuki had revealed the new GSX-R1000 powered Katana concept at the EICMA show in Milan last year but nothing else had come from them since, although we did report earlier about Suzuki filing the patents. Until now. Check out the video below.

It shows parts of the processes of forging a katana before ending with the “Coming soon. Intermot 2nd October” message. That’s just 25 days to go at the time this article went online!
However, we are of the opinion that the concept looks like it’s made by Tupperware (as in too plasticky) and we hope Suzuki would’ve done away with it when the production bike’s revealed.
Katana concept at EICMA
The 1980 Suzuki GSX1100S Katana was a motorcycle which featured a groundbreaking design concept, which blended the rear line of the fuel tank with the front portion of the seat. The seat itself had two different colours which lent the solo racing seat look. The fairing was given a sharp leading edge –  “Katana” means samurai sword, by the way (watch “Kill Bill Vol. 1.” Or “The Last Samurai” if you’re a hopeless romantic).
Ten Most Unusual Motorcycles (Part 4)

The design concept, especially that seat/tank interface has since been widely adopted by other motorcycle manufacturers. This is why the first-generation model still looks great after 38 years and is highly sought-after.
Then in 1984, Suzuki released the GSX750E Katana with the pop-up headlight. It was the first and only motorcycle which has that feature.
It is also interesting to note that the bike was designed by Hans Muth, who was the chief designer at BMW. Among his greatest work during his tenure with the German manufacturer was the R90S and R100S. The R90S was the first production motorcycle to feature a headlamp-mounted fairing, while the later R100S was the first production motorcycle with a full-fairing.
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Video: A passion for 50s single-cylinder Italians

Petrolicious maybe a site famed for classic and retro cars videos, but once in a while, two-wheeled gems steal the limelight as how this video about classic 1950s-era Italian single-cylinder bikes.
This video details Hugo Gallina’s exploits with his passion via his Southern California-based business, Vintage Italian Restoration. Gallina specialises is the usual names such as Ducati, Moto Guzzi, and MV Agusta, as well as several almost-forgotten classics like Gilera, Benelli, and surprisingly, Maserati (yes, the very same trident supercar badge).
Words do little to paint the perfect picture, which is why we have the video below for you to experience Gallina’s work with these 50s classic Italian singles.

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INCOMING: 2020 Modenas Ninja 250?

Today marks the launch of the National Automotive Policy 2020 for Malaysia and one very particular Kawasaki Ninja 250 stood out at the MITI building showcase lobby. But it’s not at the Kawasaki booth, it’s at Modenas. Could this be the rebadged 2020 Modenas Ninja 250 we’ve all been hearing all this while?
We all know that Kawasaki Heavy Industries has a huge share in Modenas (30% to be exact) and we’ve also heard that Modenas might be taking over the task of locally assembling Kawasaki models that are under the CKD program. With this 2020 Modenas Ninja 250 publicly presented, we can now confirm that the news are indeed true and they’ll start with the 250cc models.

This raises some questions on the future responsibilities of Kawasaki Motors Malaysia (KMSB) here in Malaysia. Discussions are currently ongoing with all parties but based on some sources, KMSB will probably handle all the CBU units (models above 650cc like the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR) and a little bird also told us that they might just take over the Suzuki big bike segment in the near future.

That’s all well and good but rumours are still rumours until someone confirms it with an official announcement. For now, we’re definitely excited with the prospect of Modenas rebadging some Kawasaki models and judging by how well their partnership with Bajaj Auto is currently going, we can be sure that the Kawasaki models will be cheaper, starting with the 2020 Modenas Ninja 250.
If specs remain the same, you can expect the Modenas Ninja 250 to come with the 249cc parallel-twin DOHC engine that produces 37hp at 12,500rpm and 23Nm of maximum torque at 10,000rpm. You can expect it to be officially launched by the end of the year along with another 250cc (possibly the Z250) and a couple of higher-capacity models. Sweet.
2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R coming to Indonesia in April

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New colours released for 2020 Bajaj Pulsar RS200 & NS200

After eight years in the Indian market, the 2020 Bajaj Pulsar RS200 and NS200 enter the current game with a new selection of colours. Everything else regarding the mechanics and specs has been retained, so they’re still the same 200cc bikes with better makeup, to put it simply.
Pewter Gray
Nevertheless, the new colourways do look great on both the 2020 Bajaj Pulsar RS200 and NS200. If you’re a fan of the 200cc naked bike, the Pulsar NS200 in India now comes in four new refreshed schemes – Matte Burnt Red, Metallic Pearl White, Pewter Gray, and Plasma Satin Blue.
Pewter Gray NS200
As for the RS200, it also comes with the new choices – Matte Burnt Red, Metallic Pearl White, and Pewter Gray. Only the NS200 get the Plasma Satin Blue option, for now. Apart from the new colours, both bikes also receive updated graphics, white alloy wheels, some carbon-fibre-inspired finishing, and newly-designed seats.
Matte Burnt Red
If any of you are interested in getting your very own Modenas Pulsar NS200 or RS200, the Modenas Power Store in Kota Damansara is currently having a great package which includes a free mid-range Shark full-face helmet together with 10,000km free service (engine oil, oil filter, and labour included). To know more, check out the link below.
2020 Modenas Pulsar NS200 ABS at only RM280/month – FREE Shark Helmet + 10,000km service!

Written by: Sep Irran
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Ducati offers ‘unique solution’ to save MotoGP 2020

Dorna Sports CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta, stated that he would be “delighted” if the MotoGP 2020 season can fit 10 rounds into this year’s hectic calendar. Looking at the fact that the first eight races will most likely get postponed (six already confirmed), Ducati has offered a radical solution into how Dorna can save the 2020 season and the championship.

Ducati Corse Sporting Director, Paolo Ciabatti, has voiced his opinion on the current happenings and ultimately finding 10 different tracks in different countries will be the biggest hurdle. With so many travel restrictions and bans, getting it all organised at 10 different venues will be a monumental task considering the current situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of 10 different rounds at 10 different tracks, the Ducati boss stated that it might be easier if MotoGP runs two races in back-to-back weekends at five locations instead. Using Sepang International Circuit (SIC) as an example, teams will stay for a longer period of time (around 10 days) and race back-to-back weekends at one venue but counts them as two races.

Dorna and other related parties have also considered running a two-race per weekend format similar to WorldSBK, which is also being considered. This was also mentioned by the Team Principal of Petronas Sepang Racing Team, Dato’ Razlan Razali, during his online interview with the local media.

Going back to Ciabatti and the possibility of not racing at all in 2020, he replied “As a team and as a company, as far as possible, we have to try to anticipate what may happen. And although it is obviously not what we want, not also considering the possibility that there is no World Championship would not be a responsible attitude on our part.”

What will happen if there’s no MotoGP in 2020?

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Sultan of Johor’s private vehicle collection coming to Malaysia Bike Week

The Malaysia Bike Week 2018 (MBW2018) will be displaying the Sultan of Johor’s private vehicle collection.
From Harley-Davidson to classic vehicles, his private collection is known to be one of the best in the world.
The MBW2018 is happening next weekend (23-25 March 2018) at MAEPS Serdang.

In conjunction with the upcoming Malaysia Bike Week 2018 (MBW2018) next weekend from 23 to 25 March 2018, a lot of great things will be happening at the Malaysia Agro Exhibition Park Serdang (MAEPS). Attendees to the event will get a very special treat as the Sultan of Johor’s very own private vehicle collection will be on display.

It was just yesterday when delegates from the Gabungan Persatuan Permotoran Malaysia (GPMOTO) were granted an audience with Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar himself to witness his impressive collection of rare and beautiful vehicles firsthand. In a report made by NST, an array of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, customised Mack truck and a Morgan classic three-wheeler were previewed at the Istana Pasir Pelangi in preparations for the MBW2018.

The Sultan of Johor’s private collection is known to contain a wide range of stunning vehicles ranging from motorcycles to classics that are regarded as some of the most impressive machines in the world. A few of these gorgeous machines will be on display next weekend and you wouldn’t want to miss this grand opportunity to witness them up close and personal.

These vehicles are used by the Sultan of Johor as one of the ways to get closer to Johoreans. Always making sure that he is in touch with his people, the Sultan of Johor is also one of a few active voices who want the motoring industry and the entire scene to be healthy which can be done through proper guidance and life lessons.

To know more about this very unique and rare collection, come on over to the Malaysia Bike Week 2018 happening next weekend (23 to 25 March 2018) at the Malaysia Agro Exhibition Park Serdang (MAEPS).
Image source: NST
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Mercedes-Benz caught driving on Federal Highway motorcycle lane

There have been many concerns regarding the overall safety of the ‘newly refurbished’ Federal Highway motorcycle lane regarding several issues. It seems that even car drivers want some of that bike lane action as a driver rolling around Mercedes-Benz was caught driving in the bike lane sometime yesterday (video can be seen below, excuse the language).

Kereta ada "class", tapi mentaliti low class. ??♂ ? :  Sayuti Laniaz
Posted by MotoMalaya on Khamis, 5 Disember 2019

The stretch of the Federal Highway motorcycle lane being used by this wild Mercedes-Benz driver seemed to be somewhere between the Subang Airport exit and the Kelana Jaya / Sunway exit. We have several questions that came to mind about this incident and what could’ve been done to avoid it in the future.

How did the driver get on the lane in the first place? Why would someone think that it’s a good idea to drive on this very tiny bike lane? Isn’t he/she aware that was a lane specifically for motorbikes and not cars? Did he/she manage to exit onto the main road without causing any harm towards other motorists?
Image source: Google
Perhaps the most important question lies on whether any action will be taken by the authorities regarding this matter. At the end of the day, if the law is not enforced in the proper manner, such events will keep on happening with the blame being pointed out to wrong people (or worse, more unwanted incidents).
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New Details Emerge For The Upcoming Moto Guzzi V850X

By now, an all-new Moto Guzzi V850X is undoubtedly on its way.

the V850X puts out 66hp @ 6,700rpm.
features the same 853cc twin from the V7.

The V850X nameplate first appeared back in October 2021 with what seemed to be a new Moto Guzzi motorcycle.
The Italian company recently took a leap of faith with the all-new V100 Mandello, a motorcycle intended to break out of the company’s conventional motorcycle categories. The V100 combines the appeal of a naked roadster and a tourer and also features modern technology.

Moto Guzzi looks set to continue the same pursuit with the all-new V850X.
Build based on the current V7; the V850X features the firm’s twin-shock frame and the new 853cc V-Twin engine. However, the V850X gets wire-spoke wheels with Michelin Anakee rubber, signalling the bike’s off-road capabilities.
A spy shot published last year showcased a motorcycle that fitted a nose cowl incorporating an almost circular LED headlamp.
Nevertheless, further details of the V850X have appeared in European type-approval documents.

The document confirms the V850X is essentially a V7 variant, but while the frame and engine are similar, the overall dimension is different.
According to the info, the V850X is shorter and measures around half an inch lower than the V7.
The V850X is also fitted with an 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel, similar size to the V7 Stone and V7 Special. In addition, V850X is also lighter than the V7 Stone and V7 Special.
Powering the V850X is the identical 853ccc twin as the V7, but thanks to a different exhaust system, the V850X makes 66hp @ 6,700rpm instead of 64hp @ 6,800rpm.
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