1 Minimoto Challenge Malaysia @ Speedway PLUS

Sights and sounds from last weekend’s 1 Minimoto Challenge Malaysia race weekend in Speedway PLUS, Subang.

Last weekend, the 1 Minimoto Challenge Malaysia (1MCM) race weekend took place for the first time in Malaysia.

Held in the Speedway PLUS kart circuit just off the ELITE Highway in Subang, it was a weekend filled with thrills and spills in various sizes, notably from talented kids and youths competing on Kayo MiniGP bikes.
This is the first MiniGP challenge of its kind ever held on our soil in fact, and the first MiniGP tournament of its kind held in the ASEAN region as well. The 1 Minimoto Challenge Malaysia event was also supported by a series of pocket bike challenges, followed by the Supermoto CKD and Supermoto Open races.

The event was organised by HB Motorsports and Pitrides Motorsports, with the technical partnership of Kayo MiniGP Malaysia, as well as sponsors Strada 7 Racing and Area 22 Performance Parts. Notably, 1 Minimoto Challenge Malaysia also garnered the support from the government, namely from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia (also known as KBS) and the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.

A total of 45 riders from as young as seven years old participated in the challenges held over the weekend, with 18 of them hailing from outside the nation.

Some of these came from as far as Tunisia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Despite the presence of highly skilled international riders, the local talent pool did not disappoint, displaying the nation’s true potential and passion for motorcycle racing.
Practice and Qualifying session were held on Saturday, giving all participants a chance to familiarise themselves with the 1km-long Speedway PLUS karting track. What made the day even more challenging was the heavy downpour that delayed many of their sessions. Nevertheless, the heavy downpour did little at extinguishing the riders’ intent and need for speed on raceday Sunday.

Things kicked off with Pocket Bike races where two categories were competed – Novice and Expert. Though held as support events, the sight of five and six-year-old kids clad in full gear astride these tiny two-strokers lapping the Speedway PLUS circuit is a sight to behold.

Given their tiny sizes, each pocket bike race only lasted about five laps, but they proved to be just as dramatic to watch as the MiniGP.

The same can be said about the Supermoto CKD and Supermoto Open support events.

Held in between the MiniGP and pocket bike races, the larger bikes and the older ‘kids’ riding them put on spectacular display of true racing skills, having no incidents throughout all their races.

What was also respectable was their united solidarity these riders showed during their podium ceremony. All five podium winners in the Supermoto Open category brought out a special tribute for fellow rider and pilot Capt. Eugene Choo who tragically lost his life in the MH17 incident.

Making an appearance over the weekend was Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup (Shell Cup) rider Helmi Azman. Helmi was more than happy to lend his supporting voice for the kids in the pocket bike races, paying homage to the very avenue where he started racing.

Later on, Helmi also took part in a fun MiniGP demo session with members of the media present, showing off his tremendous skill and fitness levels first hand to us in the process.

However, Sunday’s main highlight were the MiniGP Open challenge races. Given its large number of participants, 1 Minimoto Challenge Malaysia organisers held six races held in total to filter the competition.

Three of which were group challenges contested over 10 laps, followed by two ‘last chance’ qualifying races lasting 10 laps each, and one 12-lap Final battle. Suffice to say, the day was filled with intense, nail-bitingly close racing action from all the participants, especially in the two last chance qualifying races.

The final race saw 20 bikes take the grid, comprised of top five riders from the group races, and the top five riders from the last chance qualifying races.

Despite the heavy downpour delaying the start and shortening the race distance by half (12 laps were scheduled but only 7 laps were completed), all 20 riders nevertheless put on an excellent show for fans in the wet, displaying their skills at handling the notoriously tough-to-handle MiniGP bikes in the wet.

By day’s end, it the title of MiniGP champion in the 1 Minimoto Challenge Malaysia weekend was claimed by Taiwanese rider Chao Sung-Kai, while Malaysian Azrul Affendi Bin Hadi claimed second, with Hong Kong national Fung Chin Yan claiming third.

Malaysians Muhammad Rashidi Bin Ismail and Mazlan Bin Mustapa Ayob rounded off the final podium spots in fourth and fifth respectively.

Organisers HB Motorsports and Pitrides Malaysia are planning to hold another MiniGP tournament later this year in October. Rest assure we will have details on this as soon as it is made available to us.
For now, enjoy our extensive gallery of the weekend below. More images are also available on our official Facebook page.
1 Minimoto Malaysia Challenge Gallery
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IOMTT: Michael Dunlop To Ride The Ducati Panigale V4 R

Road racing legend, Michael Dunlop will pilot the Ducati Panigale V4 R at the 2022 Isle of Man.
Dunlop signed with Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) Ducati Team ahead of the 2022 IOMTT, however the ongoing pandemic forced organizers to cancel the 2020 and 2021 edition.
Nevertheless, the 2022 season is set to return on May 28 with Dunlop staying with PBM Ducati.
However, to adapt to the Panigale V4 R after a two-year absent, Dunlop will ride the Borgo Panigale machinery at Northern Ireland’s North West 200 happening on May 12 to 14.
Regardless, Dunlop is still regarded as one of the favourites in the Superbike pack, as he currently has 19 IOMTT wins to his name.

If the 32-year-old rider managed to pulls of another win, Ducati will be the seventh winning manufacturer to partner the Northern Irishman after Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW and Paton.
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JPJ (Road Transport Department) Auctioned 65 Vehicles

Successful bid for a Yamaha YZF-R6 - Photo credit Harian Metro

The JPJ of Negeri Sembilan (Road Transport Department) recently auctioned 65 vehicles.

It pulled in a total of RM 389,963.

The highest bid for a motorcycle was RM 15,000 for a Yamaha YZF-R6.

The JPJ of Negeri Sembilan (Road Transport Department) recently auctioned 65 vehicles in one day at the recent Public Auctions Program Series 1/2019 in Seremban.
Apart from the vehicles, 172 auction books were also sold. The program netted an impressive total of RM 389,963.
The batch of vehicles consists of 30 motorcycles, 20 cars, nine MPVs, two trucks, one jeep, and a trailer.
Director of the JPJ’s Enforcement Unit’s Headquarters, Khairul Anwar Bachok expressed his surprise at the large turnout. A crowd started to show since 8am and stayed until the auctions ended at 3pm.
Bids for motorcycles opened at RM 150. A lucky bidder claimed a Yamaha YZF-R6 for RM 15,000.
The vehicles consist of those confiscated by the department for various offences. The vehicles were without legal owners after court rulings. Offences included not having valid Motor Vehicle License (better known as road tax), driving without a valid license, and driving below legal age. A number of the cars were “clones”.
The JPJ has auctioned a total of 599 vehicles since 2013, pulling in RM 737,780.
So, watch out for the next auction, because you don’t what you can walk away with.
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Honda VTR 250 F makes comeback in Japan

WITH a production history dating back to the early 1980s, the Honda VTR250F made its comeback recently in the Japanese domestic market.
Dubbed by many as a mini-VFR750, the 2013 model retains its signature fuel-injected 249cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine configuration generating up to 29bhp. The 2013 VTR250F also features the CBR250R’s headlamps to go with its half-fairing body that strongly hints towards the FireStorm.
Costing 30% more in Japan than its neater-looking and equally powerful single cylinder sibling the CBR250F, reports indicate that Honda does not intend to sell the bike in the European market despite the interests available.
Though the launch comes several days after the firm announced its plans of launching a new sports bike this month, the VTR250F appears not to be the ‘new bike’ in question.
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2020 Benelli TNT 600i officially unveiled – but it’s not a Benelli?

The much-awaited 2020 Benelli TNT 600i has just been unveiled for the Chinese market, but not labelled under the Italian marque. Instead, Zhejiang Qianjiang or QJ, the Chinese manufacturer that happens to own Benelli, introduced the new model as the QJ SRK 600 for the local market.

We’re probably guessing that this particular model will be introduced as the 2020 Benelli TNT 600i for all markets outside of China. In terms of looks, the new TNT 600i is now more up to date with its sharper and more muscular façade plus other key upgrades found upon closer inspection.
The QJ SRK 600 is now equipped with a new shorter swingarm, dual muffler underbelly exhaust system, newly designed headlights, fuel tank, and panels to provide a much-needed modern twist to the popular 600cc inline-four naked bike.

Other highlighted features include a brand new full-colour TFT screen (which may or may not be touchscreen as claimed by numerous reports), keyless ignition, all-new LED lighting, as well as backlit switches. All in all, it is also said that the new Benelli TNT 600i is 33kg lighter than its predecessor.

The QJ SRK 600 will be available in several variants where the top-end model getting some premium equipment such as Brembo brakes, Marzocchi front forks, and a KYB rear shock unit. Engine-wise, they all use the same 600cc inline-four engine which has been tuned to produce slightly over 80hp at 11,000rpm and 55Nm of maximum torque.

Compared to the previous-gen, the new Benelli naked bike produces roughly the same horsepower with the exception of reaching its highest at a slightly lower rpm range. More good news as the new model comes with 4Nm torque more. Happy days.

For now, there’s still no news on when or if this model will be made available outside of China. We’re probably guessing that it might start popping up once all this COVID-19 pandemic dies down. In the meantime, do keep with the ‘new norm’ of social distancing and proper hygiene.
Benelli 600RR Sportbike Spotted

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2019 Ducati Diavel 1260 to Feature DVT

2019 Ducati Diavel spy shot_2 - Courtesy of motorbikes.co.uk

Ducati introduced the DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing) in the 2015 Multistrada 1200.

It will now be carried over to the 2019 Diavel 1260.

But what is DVT and how does it work?

Ducati had first introduced the DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing) in the 2015 Multistrada 1200 to a great reception and will now be carried over to the 2019 Diavel 1260, in addition to the Multistrada 1260 and XDiavel.

But what exactly is DVT and what does it do?
To understand DVT, we need to understand about valve timing.
Truth is, there are many considerations when it comes to valve timing. For one, if the intake valves open for a short duration, less fuel-air mixture can be inducted, compared to the valves being kept open longer. At low-RPMs less fuel-air mixture (also called “charge”) should be inducted for it to burn quicker, resulting in higher torque. Conversely, the valves need to be kept open longer for more charge to enter to produce higher maximum power.
Hang on, that’s not all, because there’s “valve overlap.”
The term describes the timing when both intake and exhaust valves are open together – hence “overlap.” Overlap occurs when as the exhaust valves are starting to close and the intake valves are starting to open. This way, the exiting exhaust gas causes a vacuum which helps to suck in fresh fuel-air mixture and fills the combustion chamber quickly.

So high overlap timing is the magic bullet? Not necessarily.
A racing engine profits from prolonged overlap because each piston travels 20,000 times up and down at 10,000 RPM, thus each stroke lasts merely 0.003 second. The exhaust gas is able to evacuate quickly and draw in fresh charge.
But if the same engine is used as a road bike, there will not be enough time to push all the exhaust gas out and some of it will end up being sucked back into the combustion chamber and mixed with the fresh charge, contaminating and diluting it. That’s when the bike spits, sputters and backfires. And you will end up with a bike that’s sluggish at low- and mid-RPMs.
Of course, the fuel injection ECU could shoot in very specific amounts of fuel at any given load, but there’s not much way around the engine’s basic architecture.

From this, we can deduce that the perfect engine should have less overlap for good torque at low-RPM to mid-RPM, and maximum overlap at higher-RPM for high horsepower (read: top speed).
Problem is, you can only have one cam profile for either characteristic. Take your pick.
You may have heard of Honda’s VTEC (Valve Timing Electronic Control). Ducati’s DVT works on the same principle of varying valve timing but uses a different method to Honda’s copyrighted VTEC.
Ducati’s DVT uses an ECU to control valve adjusters to keep the valves totally shut; or delay, advance or prolong their opening. Each of this behavior translates to the character of the engine, resulting in a super-smooth powerband, enhanced throttle response, higher power production and optimized fuel economy.

The addition of the DVT will surely make the 2019 Diavel 1260 a much better all-round power cruiser to ride. To be unveiled at EICMA 2018, is it also slated to receive Bosch’s six-axis IMU (Inertia Measurement Unit) to enhance rider aids, Ohlins suspension, Bluetooth connectivity and cosmetic updates.
Stay tuned!

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2022 Yamaha Y15ZR announced with four new colourways

HLYM introduces four fresh colourways for the 2022 Yamaha Y15ZR, base price now reads at RM8,498.

HLYM announces refreshed colour choices for the 2022 Yamaha Y15ZR.

Choices now include Blue, Green, Cyan, plus a racy Silver option with red wheels and decals.

No other changes present, whilst base price now reads at RM8,498.

The ever-popular Yamaha Y15ZR supercub/supermoped has been refreshed with four new colourway options in its latest 2022 model year guise. The change was announced today by assemblers and distributors Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn Bhd (HLYM).
HLYM is typically renowned for refreshing its models year-on-year with a host of new colourways and graphics. For its 2022 Yamaha Y15ZR offering, it now comes dressed in either Blue, Green, Silver or Cyan choices.

The most eye-catching change here is the Silver option as it comes brimmed with alloy wheels finished in Red. Those get matched with a tasty set of red model designation decals too.
Otherwise, there are no other changes to report mechanically. You’ll still find the same liquid-cooled 150cc SOHC single-cylinder underneath thumping out 15HP and 13.8NM to the rear wheel via five-speed transmission.
As for the base sticker price, it now reads at RM8,498 before dealer mark ups, on-road costs and accessories. So which of these four new hues do you fancy your Y-Suku in this year?
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OFFICIAL: Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Now In Malaysia – From RM22,000

The all-new Royal Enfield Hunter 350 which was introduced globally back in August 2022 has officially make its way to Malaysia.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350 officially launch in Malaysia.
The Hunter 350 joins Classic 350 and Meteor 350.
Available in two trims, Metro Rebel and Metro Dapper.

Available in two variants, the Metro Rebel and Metro Dapper – with the only difference between the two models is the colour scheme – is priced at RM22,200 and RM22,000 respectively.

Powering the Hunter 350 is the same 349cc single-cylinder J-series engine found in the Meteor and Classic. The engine pumps out 20.2hp @ 6,100rpm and 27Nm @ 4,00rpm, with Royal Enfield claiming a max speed of 114km/h.  Meanwhile, power is delivered to the rear wheel via a five-speed manualtransmission and chain final drive.

While the Indian market gets 17-inch wired spoked (non-tubeless) and alloy wheels, only the latter is available for the Malaysian market due to the former is fitted with drum brake which does not meet the local homologation.

That said, Malaysian gets the 17-inch alloy wheels with 110/70 at the front and 140/70 tubeless tyre at the rear. The Hunter 350 is also fitted with hydraulic disc brakes with dual-channel ABS.

Other notable features include:

analogue and digital dash
USB charging port
43mm telescopic front forks
twin shock absorbers with 6-level preload
790mm seat height
13L fuel tank

The introduction of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 officially completes the brand’s 350 range in Malaysia alongside the Classic 350 and Meteor 350.
GALLERY: ROYAL ENFIELD HUNTER 350

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Best render of upcoming BMW S1000F yet

According to a German Motorrad accessories specialist, this is what the upcoming BMW S1000-based sport tourer will look like.

The render comes from the penmanship of French designer Nicolas Petit for Wunderlich, a renowned German-based specialist manufacturer of BMW Motorrad accessories. The firm commissioned the design render as part of their preparations to introduce a new line of parts for what many assume would be called the ‘S1000F’.
Based on previously reported spyshots, Motorrad’s highly anticipated S1000-based tourer will feature a more touring-oriented upright handlebar position, an effort that is clearly meant to make the bike friendly for long distance rides. Sources have speculated that it will still carry the same 999cc in-line four-cylinder engine fitted in both the S1000RR and S1000R, but it remains unclear for now whether if it the mill would be detuned. Chances are that the S1000F will not have the same 193hp output, but expect it to be at par at least with its nearest Italian rival the Ducati Multistrada.

The S1000F’s impending arrival later this year will mean that the Multistrada will face stiff competition not only from the German’s brand new creation, but also from the already acclaimed and established R1200GS in the large displacement dual purpose segment. Suffice to say, the addition of the S1000F to the S1000 line up is indeed an interesting move to say the least.
Motorrad’s new S1000F is slated for debut at the INTERMOT show in Cologne, Germany this October. Like you, we are also counting down the days until we get an official first look at the model. For now, these design pieces by Frenchman Petit and Wunderlich will give us a good preview of what’s to come.
Source: Nicolas Petit (Blog) and Wunderlich (Facebook) via Asphaltandrubber and Visordown
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Supermoto And Saga Cup Racing Series Now A National Level Event – MSF

The Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) is launching its supermoto and Saga Cup racing series as national-level championships in a bid to gain recognition from the local motorsport community.

The MSF will run five rounds of the SuperMoto Series and open the championship on March 11 and 12 at the Litar Lumba Rakyat Kuala Selangor.
The MSF Saga Cup Championship will also be upgraded to national-level status, and the Touge Hill Climb Series will run for two rounds this year.
Meanwhile, MSF will continue to prioritise its MSF SuperTurismo and MSF Superbikes, and the new Merdeka 88 Endurance at Sepang International Circuit.

The MSF event director, Adian Yein Khalid, said the new series would generate interest and participation among motorsport fans and hoped to receive support from the Youth and Sports Ministry, local authorities and media.
“These are our bread-and-butter events; and they will continue to be our main priority.” he said, adding that the first edition of the Merdeka 88 Enduro, which is an 88-lap challenge to man, machine, and ultimate strategy around the challenging 5.5-km world class racing track.
“Unlike the previous Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race organised by SIC not too long ago, the MSF Merdeka 88 Enduro will feature non-regulated driving stints, which completely opens up the possibilities of multiple alternative refuelling and driver change strategies. We may never really know who is really in the lead until the final 10 laps of the race!” Adian said.
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New 2017 KTM 390 Duke leaks

Leaked photo gives first glimpse of new and revised 2017 KTM 390 Duke naked bike.

It has been long known that the KTM 390 Duke naked bike was going to get replaced. With ever-tightening emissions restriction coming into place, a new 390 Duke was more or less certain to come by 2017 at least.

Image source: Asphaltandrubber
With that in mind, it was only a matter of time before we started seeing the first spyshots of the new 2017 model like this one that reportedly leaked out of the firm’s India-based facility this week.
Looking back at the prototype that was spied testing not too long ago and this new leaked image side by side, we now have a clear idea of how the new KTM 390 Duke will look like.
2017 KTM 390 Duke spyshot. (Image credit: MCN)
Highlights of the revised 2017 model’s aesthetics are rather clear such as the new headlamp design and new fairing designs as well. Also reshaped is the fuel tank and seats that are likely to improve riding ergonomics.

Other cosmetic changes we can expect include a new taillight unit and perhaps a new Euro 4-compliant side-exit exhaust as seen in the updated 2016 KTM RC390.
Whilst the cosmetic changes will grant the new 2017 KTM 390 Duke with a more aggressive outlook, the most crucial of changes will take place underneath its skin.

Euro 4-compliance is a serious affair, so the new exhaust is just one part of powertrain’s update. The new Duke’s revised 373cc single-cylinder engine is expected to offer improvement in both performance and efficiency as well.
And just like many of its small capacity models, the new and revised 2017 KTM 390 Duke will be built en-masse in India at the KTM-Bajaj production facility located in Pune – where the leaked image was reportedly sourced from.
We can expect the new 2017 KTM 390 Duke naked to make its official debut during either INTERMOT or EICMA sometime later this year before going sale in 2017.
Source + featured image source: Asphaltandrubber
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Alpinestars vs Dainese: Dainese responds officially

The Alpinestars vs Dainese legal saga over their respective airbag technologies continues further now with Dainese speaking out about the situation. Though Alpinestars’ response did clear up a few things, this new response from the devil-horn brand has shed even more light into the situation.

In its response, Dainese insists that legal action was taken in Germany, resulting in a Munich court granting an injunction on Alpinestars selling its Tech Air-equipped product in the German market. Dainese further highlighted that legal action is presently being processed in Italy.

This counters Alpinestars’ initial response where it stated that no legal action was taken against it in Germany. However, it appears that the clarification about the patent infringement lawsuit being centred on the physical material used to produce the inflatable airbags in both the Alpinestars Tech Air and Dainese D-Air Armor remains true.
Either way, the outcome of the Alpinestars vs Dainese saga will have global repercussions on several levels indeed. Lets not forget that both brands have top-level riders in both MotoGP and WSBK donning their products, and the outcome of this battle may lead to just one side winning the rights to produce airbag-equipped riding apparels.
You can read Dainese’s response here to get where the devil horn brand is coming from in this entire affair.
Source: Asphaltandrubber
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Ducati 959 Panigale Tested During The Ducati Riding Experience At Sepang Circuit!

Bikes Republic was invited to attend the iconic Ducati Riding Experience, or better known simply as DRE.
While some classes focus on developing basic riding skills, this one was designed to sharpen track riding skills, and also to let participants experience the splendour of the machine tasked with entertaining everyone for the day – the Ducati Panigale 959.
The 959 took over from the ageing Panigale 899 as the entry level model to the wonderful world of Ducati sport bikes.
The 959 is not a heroes-only superbike, far from it actually. Say that you suddenly had the means to fork out RM99,999 for a 959, but had limited riding experience, you could actually get on a 959 and ride around with relative ease.

Some say that a Ducati is considered as a “must-own” motorcycle, no matter the model. They also say it is a right of passage to the life of a biker, and that every able biker with the means to do so has to, at some point, own a Ducati.

While sitting for my SPM examinations, I had printed out two postcard size photos of a Ducati 916 and pasted it to my study table as motivation to do well. The plan then was to study smart, graduate as a geologist, make a ton of money, and buy a 916, a Titan Coyote (really), and a Harley-Davidson. I was 17.

The plan, as with many things in life, did not work out as I had intended to but I was well into studying geology before deciding that rocks, mud, and off-shore work was not for me. I was fated for motorcycles, cars and computers.

My love for the 916 still burns, and though I have owned some fun machines, a 916 eluded me. But I still have a soft spot for everything Ducati.

A few months ago, Bikes Republic was invited to attend the iconic Ducati Riding Experience, or better known simply as DRE. The DRE is an exclusive training session for Ducati owners that focuses on building riding skills through various levels.

The one we attended was open for anyone willing to fork out 1000 Euros (about RM4,842 with today’s exchange rate) to experience riding a Ducati Panigale on track, under the watchful eye of super experienced Ducati trainers such as the legendary Dario Marchetti (DRE Technical Director and Daytona Champion), Alessandro Valia (Ducati official test rider and Italian Superbike Champion) and Manuel Poggiali (two-times 250cc world champion). These are just some of the instructors on hand, there were other legends from around the region as well, but more on that later.

The Ducati Riding Experience has many levels to it and all are held at different locations around the world. The one we attended was held at Sepang and focused on track riding. While some classes focus on developing basic riding skills, this one was designed to sharpen track riding skills, and also to let participants experience the splendour of the machine tasked with entertaining everyone for the day – the Ducati Panigale 959.

The 959 took over from the ageing Panigale 899 as the entry level model to the wonderful world of Ducati sport bikes. And though it may take a keen eye to tell the difference between the two, the differences are vast.

The most obvious difference is of course the engine, which now offers 57cc more capacity to take the total figure to 955cc. Power too has been uprated – where the 899 made 148bhp at 10,750rpm up to 157bhp at 10,500rpm.

But that is just on the power front, there is a galaxy of difference between both bikes such as a new crankshaft, camshaft, new pistons and con-rods, a new and quieter timing chain, thicker engine casing to reduce noise pollution, and a revised gearbox and rear sprocket (the 899 had a 44-teeth rear sprocket, while the 959 has one less at 43).

There is also a slipper clutch while the Ducati Quick Shifter on the 959 features software derived from Ducati’s MotoGP race bikes. In simpler terms, the 959 shifts gears quicker than it takes you to read this sentence.

And just in case you were wondering, the chassis and overall design is not much different. The monocoque aluminium frame is shared by both bikes, and the two also feature the same 43mm fully-adjustable Showa BPF front forks and a fully-adjustable Sachs rear shock. The 959 also has a 5mm longer wheelbase.

There are other details too that make the 959 a better bike than the 899, such as the swingarm that is located 4mm lower to help maximise traction, “showered” injectors that have been carried over from the Panigale R, bigger exhaust diameter, and more importantly, a completely reworked exhaust system with the pipes located on the sides ala Panigale 1299 rather than the underbelly exhaust of the 899.

So an entry level superbike the 959 may be, but it is by no means a bike specifically built for those who just started riding yesterday. Don’t let its good looks and sexy silhouette fool you, the Panigale 959 is a proper crotch rocket, and one that rewards the rider who knows exactly what he is doing. And for those that do not, well there is an armada of onboard sensors designed to keep you safe and feeling like a hero.

But the 959 is not a heroes-only superbike, far from it actually. Say that you suddenly had the means to fork out RM99,999 for a 959, but had limited riding experience, you could actually get on a 959 and ride around with relative ease. The bike will warm up to you with its 176kg dry weight, immediately giving you confidence even at a crawl. The L-twin Desmodromic engine will inspire you to give it a burst of power, and you will because the sitting position is sporty but not aggressivel; nudging on comfortable. And the sound the engine creates seduces you to open up the throttle – just to hear the revs scream.

You might suddenly snap out of the 959’s allure and panic at the speed the bike has so easily piled on. Your lack of experience with superbikes may leave you confused while your senses may be overloaded with information, but Ducati has your back and has equipped the 959 with ABS, Ducati Traction Control, Engine Brake Control and even three different riding modes.

The riding modes is possibly what makes this sports bike such an approachable machine for just about any type of rider; it has race mode which gives you maximum performance, sport mode gives you the full power of the engine but with a restrained throttle response and heightened traction control interference, and wet mode keeps the entire package on a leash and is best for the inexperienced. But one thing is for sure, fun is guaranteed in all modes.

However, the Ducati 959 Panigale is most at home on the track. This is where its sporting DNA really shines through.

Back to the Ducati Riding Experience. So a few other participants from China, Hong Kong, Philippines, and I were paired together with Chinese Superbike Champion Simon Kwan as our instructor.

The most important thing about attending a riding class is of course the instructor. He or she does not need to be the best racer or the guy with the most wins, but he has to speak well and communicate his knowledge to his students. And that is why I am glad we got Simon because he speaks our kind of English, the kind that south east asians understand. I am sure the other instructors are brilliant at what they do, but language accents can be difficult sometimes.

The lessons were simple such as using the correct riding position (you should be able to insert your fist between your crotch and the tank), body position during cornering and braking. Simon keeps an eye out for all his participants, first by letting us follow him around the circuit, and later he rides behind you and comments on your style and do’s and dont’s later in the pit garage.

But most of all, you just end up having a lot of fun out on track with the 959.

I had the bike either in Sport or Race mode all weekend long, and it performed beautifully. My limited skills wouldn’t let me back the rear wheel into the corner, and neither would it let me manipulate the traction control to come sliding out of a corner with the rear wheel smoking. None of that. But the twin 320mm semi-floating front discs with Brembo monobloc 4-piston callipers with front wheel ABS allowed me to brake really late, while a single 245mm, twin-piston calliper with Bosch ABS kept the rear wheel in check.

I learned somewhere that the later you brake the more traction the front wheel has as it expands from all the forward inertia, but there’s a risk of upsetting the balance of the bike as you lean into the corner carrying a load of speed. Very few bikes give you the confidence to brake later and later, lap after lap, and the 959 is one of those bikes.

Of course there is modern technology like the Engine Brake Control that helps keep things in check. There is also the traction control that is adjustable in eight different levels with level 1 being the least intrusive. This helps you burst out of a corner with the quick shifter banging home the gears just as the rev limiter comes on. Did I say that the 959 makes you feel like a hero? Well, it does. The 959 Panigale is like a good friend that always has your back, the kind that always hangs out with you and laughs at your silly jokes, but is always up for some fun anytime you want to.

Every once in a while comes a bike that expertly balances the demands of a street bike and a track bike. This is no easy task because track bikes are focused machines with dedicated technologies designed for maximum performance. While street bikes are usually set up for comfort, safety, convenience and fuel efficiency with a dash of good looks sprinkled on for good measure. The bikes that manage to do both are remembered and talked about at the pub. But the bikes that do both so effortlessly and with such surgical precision, now those are the bikes that go down in the history books as legends. The Ducati 959 Panigale is one of those bikes because its feathery weight, advanced technologies, and superb engine and handling. But mostly it will be remembered for being mega fun to ride no matter the occasion.

And the DRE? It is well worth the money and a must try experience for every type of biker.
Enjoy the photo gallery below, courtesy of the official photographers from the day:

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Honda CRF250 Rally coming soon

Japanese motorcycle powerhouse Honda is set to expand the CRF250 dirt bike model range very soon following reports of its intent at putting the Honda CRF250 Rally concept bike into production.
The news comes following patent and trademark files leaked online. No targeted release date was disclosed, but we are led to believe we will see one as soon as EICMA 2015 later this month.

Essentially, the Honda CRF 250 Rally concept underpins the red wing marque’s CRF 250 dirt bike, with the concept donning a new dressing akin to HRC’s Dakar Rally enduro. Minus the enduro-styled aesthetic enhancements, the concept still retains much of the production bike’s mechanicals.
The leaked design patents revealed that the production-bound version gains several predictable changes such as the adoption of a street-legal exhaust silencer and tail light set.
A baby HRC Rally bike replica available for purchase in showrooms worldwide? Count us in Honda!
Sources: Asphaltandrubber via Visordown
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Five minutes with: NGM Forward Racing MotoGP team

We spend a few minutes in the pits with the NGM Forward Racing MotoGP team riders Alex de Angelis and Aleix Espargaro.

An exclusive chat session with NGM Forward Racing MotoGP riders Alex de Angelis and Aleix Espargaro regarding this weekend’s race in Sepang, Malaysia.
Both de Angelis and Espargaro are astride the team’s Yamaha-powered Open class race machine. Here’s what we managed to speak about with both riders with regards to the weekend and the season so far.
Alex de Angelis (#15)

What are you looking forward to in Sepang this weekend?
“It will be very difficult to get the same results how we got in Phillip Island, but for sure we want to try and stay in the points position, this is our target. Actually, two year ago I won here in Malaysia. This is the kind of track that I like so much. We will do our best. It is also nice to have Espargaro in the team with me, he is really really fast. I hope to have another good result.”
What are your favourite parts of the Sepang International Circuit?
“I love the first fast corner, which is Turn 3, as well as the fast chicanes at Turns 5 and 6. I like all the fast parts here.”

What would be your biggest worry to race in Sepang this weekend?
“Of course, the weather here is really really hot. And, when it is raining, it is raining really really a lot! Everything kind of makes you struggle with the bike, but of course, it is for everyone also. So you must find a way to be faster than the other.”
What are your plans for next season?
“A the moment, I really have no idea yet. There are still two bikes free here in MotoGP. These are the two chances for me to stay here. I also talked to some teams in WSBK as well. If someone would call me now, I would be open to listen to anybody.”
Aliex Espargaro (#41)

How do you feel coming into the Sepang this weekend?
“I feel great because Sepang is a track that I like a lot, one of my favourite tracks on the calendar, it’s a really fast track like Australia and Barcelona. I like a lot of fast tracks. Also, in the last winter test, we were really quick and finished second in the test. I really hope we can battle again for the podium.”
This year, you have your brother Pol racing in MotoGP as a rookie. Have you given him much help or pointers?
“In the beginning, yeah. He did ask me about carbon brakes, the power, and the electronics. But after the first test, he became very fast and he have no problems at adapting into MotoGP. He’s very talented. Now, we’re battling for sixth place in the championship standing, and I cannot give so much more advise anymore because he’s quick.”

Who’s faster? You or Pol?
 “This year, I am faster so far, but only by one point. But we will see what happens in Valencia. The last race, he was really really quick, he was difficult to beat, and it is not going to be easy to finish in front of him!”
What are you looking forward to in Sepang this weekend?
“I just want to try to repeat the same thing we had in Australia, try be in the top five again. I want to try and battle for the podium in the race and no other rider hit me so I can finish hopefully.”
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RSD X Ducati Performance announced

2016 Ducati XDiavel S
Ducati announces collaboration with Roland Sands Design (RSD) to form RSD X Ducati Performance customisation program.

Two of motorcycle’s biggest names have announced its collaboration towards forming a special customisation program. Called RSD X Ducati Performance, it aptly explains itself really – Ducati will team up with Roland Sands Design (RSD) in creating a special series of aftermarket parts for its bikes.

Unsurprisingly, it is the Ducati XDiavel cruiser that’s at the epicentre of this joint venture. Ducati have already gone to work with RSD in designing a batch of accessories for the Italian firm’s first belt-driven cruiser model. However, reports indicate that this collaboration is only getter better by the minute. RSD isn’t just focused on aesthetic enhancement; the famed custom motorcycle design institution is also focused on enhancing the bike’s performance as well.
BMW R nine T
RSD have already proven themselves well, the most notable of which being its collaboration with BMW Motorrad in developing the highly customisable BMW R nineT model.

Whilst the Ducati XDiavel stands as the main bike in developing the RSD X Ducati Performance line, we can also expect more Ducati models being included in the list soon. But for the XDiavel’s cause, the addition of an exclusive range of RSD aftermarket parts will likely boost its mission at becoming the game-changing bike in the power-cruiser market.
RSD KH9 Ducati 1299 Panigale
If you’re wondering how good an RSD-redux Ducati could look like, then check out the RSD KH9 Ducati 1299 Panigale we posted earlier today.
You can also check out more pictures of the Ducati XDiavel in the gallery we’ve prepared below.
2016 Ducati XDiavel

				Ducati XDiavel

				2016 Ducati XDiavel S

Source: AutoEvolution
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Sprockets – More performance the cheaper way

Attaining more speed on your bike through the simple act of upgrading your sprockets.

OE sprockets are generally made of steel due to lower cost (of materials and method of production), and longevity – steel wears less and can do more road miles in bad weather than alloy, but steel is heavier.
Good steel sprockets will be heat treated to change the hardness. If not done properly the sprocket can end up brittle. Induction hardening (heating an electrically conducting object by electromagnetic induction), can be used to control this process. The sprockets are then tempered to produce the correct level of hardness required for efficient power delivery and durability. To sort out any distortion that may occur, they are put then through a flattening-type machine.
Machining involves the sprocket’s teeth and outside diameter being cut at the same time, which ensures the teeth are concentric to the sprockets centre. Normal OE max run-out is at 0.5mm.
Image source: supersproxusa.com
Aftermarket aluminium alloy sprockets are used primarily for weight-saving properties. It can be a 1/3 lighter than their equivalent steel counterparts whereas race ones are even lighter. Decent alloy sprockets are normally made from heat treated 7075-T6 aircraft grade aluminium. They can be hard anodized for corrosion resistance and durability which is a must for road usage.
Even if surface anodized, the alloy sprocket’s subsurface still has to carry load and still deforms faster than steel. One solution is to have a hybrid sprocket like Supersprox which mates a steel sprocket outer rings to alloy hubs.

The Supersprox’s inner section is made from CNC-machined aerospace aluminium and coated with a film of organic based anti-corrosion material. This claims to prevent oxidisation which causes pitting, and ensures your sprocket will not come loose on the wheel hub.
However, it’s worth noting these two separate parts (steel and alloy) still have to be joined together in some way (usually riveted), rather than traditional sprockets that are just one machined piece of metal.

Top Tip: Always replace your chain when replacing sprockets and vice-versa.
The chain rollers / sprocket teeth are designed to mate and wear together. Dor example, if you use a worn chain and new sprocket together, it can quickly wear down the sprocket. Misalignment is indicated by wear on the side of the sprocket teeth, which will lead to reduced chain life. A chain can develop tight joints because the sprocket teeth are forcing the inside plates outward on the bushings, and then binding the joint.

Why change your gearing?
Reducing gearing (down on the front sprocket or up on the rear), increases acceleration and reduces top speed. Increasing gearing (up on the front sprocket or down on the rear), gives more top speed, a taller first gear, relaxed high-speed road work use and possibly better fuel consumption.
The most common gearing mod is to drop a tooth on the front, but this could be too much for the road or 600cc and lower capacity bikes. One tooth on the front roughly equates to just under three teeth on the rear. One or two teeth up on the rear may be a better starting point.

If you drop below 15 teeth on the front (road use) then you’ll have a very tight chain run, which will increase chain wear. If you drop more than one tooth at the front, you may need a shorter chain. Bigger rear sprockets may also need longer chains (definitely if going up three or more teeth).
Lower your gearing too much and you could find your 0-100km/h sprint times are affected by having to change up a gear when before the mod you didn’t have to. Poorer fuel consumption can also be a side effect, and gearbox-driven speedos won’t be accurate – check your bike as some have wheel driven sensors so won’t be affected. On the bright side, your bike will feel much more responsive in each and every gear.

One other reason people change the front first is because it’s way cheaper but it’s a lot more hassle than changing the rear. Think about it – you’ve got to take off the front sprocket cover, undo a big nut, get a friend to hold the rear brake down while you undo it, take the back wheel out, then change it and put everything back.
Changing the rear sprocket is much quicker – take the back wheel out, unhook the chain, put new sprocket in (same as changing the wheel). Changing the front is not something you can easily do between track day sessions and have plenty of time to do other things too.
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70% discount on JPJ summons extended to 30 September 2020

If you own a car, motorcycle, or any form of transport that is used on the roads across Malaysia, you need to settle a few things with the Road Transport Department or JPJ. Things like renewing your road tax or insurance might be an issue if you have any outstanding JPJ summons but fear not as the 70% discount on fines has been extended to the end of September 2020.

Seperti yang telah diumumkan oleh YB Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong, Menteri Pengangkutan Malaysia pengurangan saman…
Posted by Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia on Isnin, 31 Ogos 2020

MCO has been tough for a lot of folks, especially in terms of obtaining a steady source of income. The Malaysian government understands the struggle of Malaysians and that is why the Minister of Transport, YB Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong, announced the JPJ summonses discount last month.
However, the discount period has been extended to 30 September 2020 where certain summons like AES, fines issued ops conducted during holiday seasons like Hari Raya and Chinese New Year, and other common traffic infringements can enjoy the rebate. Court cases and blacklist cases will need to proceed with the usual steps.
So, if you have an RM300 fine that needs to be paid off, you can do so this month at only RM90. RM250? Dropped down to only RM75. RM200? Only RM60 is required to settle things off. To know more, head over to www.jpj.gov.my. You can also check whether your summonses are eligible for the rebate on the official JPJ website.
Get rewarded when you spend at Shell with Hong Leong Bank credit card

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Self-balancing Honda Riding Assist concept debuts

Honda Riding Assist concept bows with intelligent self-balancing technology.

Mighty Japanese powerhouse Honda took the wraps off its Honda Riding Assist concept bike this week during the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Built upon the Honda NC750 platform, the concept sees Honda showing off its latest advanced motorcycle tech that allows the bike to balance itself. The system is an ingenious one in its own right as it does not employ the use of gyroscopes.

Instead, the bike balances itself by raking out the motorcycle’s front forks, and then balances the motorcycle by moving the front wheel back and forth. Basically, the latter process replicates what any skilled rider often does during traffic light stops.

Besides the ability to stay upright on its own, the featured video also shows the Honda Riding Assist concept being primed with the capability to autonomously follow a person – literally a bike that could ride itself. Much of the Honda Riding Asist concept bike’s tech was developed from the comically novel Honda Uni-Cub electric-powered personal mobility vehicle (pictured above).

We got to test out the Honda Uni-Cub briefly last November during the MAI Autoshow 2016 held in the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre where this self-balancing unicycle proved to be quite an entertaining machine.

Honda hasn’t given any word on when/if it will implement the Riding Assist technology into production machines. However, since the concept underpins the NC750 platform, it wouldn’t be surprising to see it applied into Honda’s vast range of an urban-focused motorcycles and scooters models sometime in the near future.
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10 Best Sounding Bikes (Part 1)

Good sounding bikes brings out a certain emotion in us.

Sounds are subjective.

Here are 10 best sounding bikes.

Okay, okay, how a bike sounds is subjective just like how a bike looks. But there’s no denying a certain emotion when we hear a melodious one. But we’ve decided to put together a list of the 10 best sounding bikes, anyhow. Do leave us a comment on which other bike or bikes that you think sounded great.
You may notice that all the bikes here are pre-Euro 4 and Euro 5. That’s when they sounded glorious!
Turn it up to 11 for some eargasm.
10. Harley-Davidson Big Twin

Like it or not, it has to be here. Harley-Davidson Twins, and Big Twins in particular do produce a distinctive sound. Credit that to air-cooling which still allows much mechanical (if not “agricultural”) sounds through. Heavy metal thunder? Roll it on.

9. Kawasaki Ninja ZXR-750
1993 ZXR-750RR
No, not the new Ninja ZX-10R. Instead, its predecessor the ZXR-750 takes the cake. It has a warble and roar at low to mid-RPMs which turns into a mad trumpet at high RPMs. It has to be heard to appreciate.

8. BMW S 1000 RR

Well, any four-cylinder engine with the traditional 180-degree crank would sound the same. But the S 1000 RR has a slight mechanical edge to that howl. Most of all, however, and everyone could agree is when the rider toes the quickshifter.

7. Yamaha R1 (2006 onwards)

Yamaha changed their crank configuration to the now famous “crossplane.” It’s because Valentino Rossi liked the race bike’s engine with the same format. It was then adopted to the street bike. The result is a bike that sounds like a V-Four at lower RPMs then mixing in the howl of an inline-Four when the needle sweeps higher up. We were so engrossed with that we found ourselves riding the test bike much harder. Oops.

6. Aprilia RSV4/Tuono V4

Talking about V-Four engines, the RSV4 and Tuono V4 are the last V-Four production sportbikes. The V-Four engine is a wonderful unit but it’s much more expensive to produce and maintain, besides harder to pack inside a frame. Anyhow, just ride either one of these bikes through a tunnel and pull through a gear or two. No other bikes make the same sound. That roar, that warble. Heaven.

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OFFICIAL: Fast Bikes Ends Distributorship With Triumph In Malaysia, Switch To Honda

Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Triumph Motorcycles in Malaysia, will end its distributorship with the UK brand on January 14, 2023.

Fast Bike ceases Triumph distributorship in Malaysia.
Fast Bike’s Petaling Jaya headquarters is to undergo two months of renovation beginning in January.

The announcement was made during a recent Triumph Ratpack Year-End Gathering and High-Tea session at Fast Bike’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya.
However, under the leadership of Dato’ Razak Al Malique, Fast Bikes will take on a new adventure in 2023 as a Honda Big Wing dealership.

Meanwhile, Fast Bike’s outlets in Penang, Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu also end their Triumph operation on the same date.
That said, a new Triumph distributor for Malaysia has been appointed pending an official announcement.
While the news may be shocking, current Triumph owners continue to shower support on Fast Bike’s management for their support all these years.
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Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix 2016 – Storming season opener!

Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix championship kicks off 23rd season with a blast in MAEPS, Serdang last weekend.

The Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix national underbone racing championship celebrated the start of its 23rd season last weekend during its season-opening round held in MAEPS, Serdang.
The two-day soiree of speed kick-started with Free Practice and Timed Practice sessions held on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s volley of Qualifying shootouts and the Final sprint races. Besides the three main categories – Wira, CP115 and CP130 – fans were also treated with more close racing action from the supporting classes too that included the Petronas Sprinta Pro-Am challenge, followed by the Honda Wave Alpha Challenge and Yamaha Petronas Super Series one-make series.

The second half of Sunday saw a total of six races being held for all six categories being contested. Suffice to say, fans were treated with plenty of thrills, spills and close racing action as riders fought for glory around the specially constructed street course of MAEPS. Here’s our round up from Round 1 of the 2016 Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship.
WIRA
 The first major contest of the day, the Wira category, lasted for 12 laps just after the scheduled break. Winning the race was one familiar face for us, that being former Asia Talent Cup rider Shafiq Ezzariq.
Having secured his pole position from the Qualifying shootout earlier, Shafiq was able to put on a masterclass display of his race craft, leading the 12-lap race from start to finish to clinch his first victory of the season.
With his race win, Shafiq also kicked off the season in strongly for the Idemitsu Kozi Yam Honda Racing team as well. Joining him on the podium was second place finisher Md Qhuwarismi Md Nasir from the Weststar Motorsport team, followed by privateer rider S. Alif Nazirul S. Ismail who finished third.
CP115

Next up came the second premier class race, the CP115 category. Upset came early in the opening stages as pole sitter Azroy Anuar from the Givi Honda Yuzy Racing fell whilst being pressured by the other front-row starters. Azroy, who is also a former Asia Talent Cup Moto3 rider, could only watch in dismay as Tengku Amirul Haffirudin astride the Motul Zeneos Yamaha YY Pang stormed ahead to claim the race win.
CP115 winner, Tengku Amirul. Image Credit: TWMR
Nevertheless, Tengku Amirul’s race win didn’t come cheap either as he had to fend off the charges from the Felda PB Racing Team and its rider Md Fareez Afeez. The battle between the two was something that kept fans on the edge of their seats for several laps.

Tengku Amirul eventually won the 15-lap sprint race, which no doubt saw him collecting another race trophy for the legendary YY Pang-led outfit. Fareez, on the other hand, could only settle for second whilst Md Harith Farhan Baharin from the Idemitsu Kozi Yam Honda Racing claimed the final podium spot.
CP130

In the premier CP130 category, it was a fairy tale ending for youngster and crowd favourite Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin. The Petronas Yamaha Maju Motor rider was a hot pick to take the season by storm, and he did just that during the season-opener in MAEPS.

Kasma Daniel’s Sunday began well after he scored pole position from the Superpole qualifying shootout held earlier. Eager to defend his title, Kasma Daniel showed that his talent was a force to be reckon with, despite his tender age of just 16 years old. Kasma also put on a masterclass of his racecraft by converting his pole position start with a race win.
Image Credit: TWMR
By the time the chequered flag was waved at the end of the 18-lap race, Kasma had already set a huge gap away from the other two podium finishers. With the way things look here, Kasma look’s set to enjoy another runaway success this season with the Petronas Yamaha Maju Motor team.
Image Credit: TWMR
Joining Kasma on the podium was his Petronas Yamaha Maju teammate Ahmad Fazli Sham in second, followed by Givi Honda Yuzy Racing rider Zaqhwan Zaidi who scored a well deserved third place finish. Zaqhwan’s performance was phenomenal to say the least as he bounced back from a poor starting position.

One thing for certain in the premier CP130 category this year will be the ensuing battle between Kasma and the Petronas Yamaha Maju against the Givi Honda Yuzy riders as the latter team and its legendary boss – former World 250cc rider Shahrol Yuzy – is determined to reclaimed their lost title in the premier category this year.

You can check out more images in the extensive gallery we’ve prepared below, or you can check out the CP130 race highlights in the video posted above as well.

				CP115 winner, Tengku Amirul. Image Credit: TWMR

				Image Credit: TWMR

				Image Credit: TWMR

				Image Credit: TWMR

				Image Credit: TWMR

Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix 2016 – Round 1 – MAEPS, Serdang

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Are there Malaysians competing in the 2017 Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race? YES, THREE!

The 40th Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race will once again see riders and teams from all over the world fighting for one of the greatest motorcycle endurance races of all time from 27 to 30 July 2017.
This year’s race marks the race’s 40th anniversary where three Malaysians will be competing; Moto2 rider Hafizh Syahrin, current ARRC rider Azlan Shah and 2016 ARRC champion Zaqhwan Zaidi.
Hafizh Syahrin will race together with Team Kagayama on board the Suzuki GSX-R1000, Zaqhwan Zaidi with Team Satu HATI on board the latest Honda CBR1000RR and Azlan Shah will be racing with Team Green and their infamous Kawasaki ZX-10R.

The countdown to the 40th Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race is getting closer and closer. One of the world’s most iconic motorcycle endurance race sponsored by Coca Cola will run its course from 27 July 2017 to 30 July 2017.

The teams are already in Suzuka conducting a few tests especially for the four major Japanese manufacturers which are Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki. The teams also tested out the event’s tire manufacturers before the actual race at the end of the month.

 Asian power?? #target21 #littlerarathainoodlehouse? #suzuka8hoursenduranceworldchampionship2017 #japan #alpinestars #arai #bismillahirrahmanirrahim
A post shared by Zaqhwanzaidi21 (@zaqhwanzaidi21) on Jul 10, 2017 at 12:49am PDT

Hafizh Syahrin

The major highlight us Malaysians should focus on is the fact that three of our local lads will be racing in the legendary race series where this year’s race will mark their 40th anniversary. Our current Moto2 rider Hafizh Syahrin who’s currently racing in the intermediate race of MotoGP will be racing with Team Kagayama along with other two racers; team owner Yukio Kagayama and Naomichi Uramoto.

 New look,what do you think guys??? #bismillahfirst #akhiratdidepan #tautausampai #rezekidariallah  #thepodiumbydaun #teamkagayama #suzuka8hours  #hafizhsyahrin  #HS55 #teamHS  #pescao55racingteam  #officialfanclubhafizhsyahrin
A post shared by Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah (@hafizh_syahrin) on Jul 10, 2017 at 8:30pm PDT

They will be piloting the latest Suzuki GSX-R1000 which will be another great accomplishment for the 22 year old Malaysian to put under his ever growing belt. Team Kagayama has had some success in the recent years with a podium finish back in 2015 where they finished the race in third and sixth last year.
Team Kagayama (Image source: www.corsedimoto.com
Zaqhwan Zaidi

Another great Malaysian rider who will compete in this year’s endurance race is none other than 2016 Asia Road Racing Championship champion, Zaqhwan Zaidi. The 22 year old has been chosen by the Satu HATI racing squad together with FIM CEV Moto2 rider from Indonesia Dimas Ekky Pramata and ARRC rider from Thailand Ratthapong Wilairot.

 Bismillah? ready for testing suzuka 8hours endurance world championship????? #target21 #littlerarathainoodlehouse? #alpinestars #suzukacircuit #japan #arai #bismillahirrahmanirrahim
A post shared by Zaqhwanzaidi21 (@zaqhwanzaidi21) on Jul 4, 2017 at 6:16pm PDT

The team will be racing the latest Honda CBR1000RR with support for Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) due to Satu HATI’s respectable results and achievements in the endurance race series. In 2016, the team managed to bag eighth place.
Honda Team Asia (Image source (www.world.honda.com)
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman

Last but not least is the most veteran rider (but still very young) that is Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman. The 32 year old hailing from Klang, Malaysia has been given the honour not just to compete in one of the world’s most highly recognised motorcycle endurance race but he’ll be teaming up with none other than British Superbike Championship rider Leon Haslam and Japanese rider Kazuma Watanabe.
Team Green 2017 (Image source: www.instagram.com/azlanshah25)
All three of these great riders make up Team Green which finished second in last year’s race behind the Yamaha Factory Racing Team consisted of Katsayuki Nakasuga, Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith. With that track record, the team is definitely looking for the win this year.
Leon Haslam, Team Green (Image source (www.roadracingworld.com)
It’s a great honour for these three young Malaysians being chosen to race in the Suzuka 8 Hours FIM World Endurance Championship but they have give all they have to go against the top runners like the Yamaha Factory Racing Team, Yoshimura Suzuki Shell Advance team, YART Yamaha Official EWC Team and many more. We’re confident that whatever happens, the three boys have already made all Malaysians proud. All the best, guys!
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No interstate travels allowed without permission from PDRM

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has announced that there will be no interstate travels allowed without obtaining proper permission from the authorities. Following the national-state partial lockdown announced by the country’s newly elected Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, closures of several sectors in the nation will take place starting midnight until 31 March 2020 to control the outbreak of the Coronavirus or COVID-19.

The folks from Bernama TV as well as Bernama TV (and other news outlets for that matter) has announced this news regarding interstate travel restrictions quoted by the Inspector-General of Police of PDRM, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid bin Bador. They will also look into making sure that businesses and institutions abide by this partial lockdown to ensure that there will be no more cases of the Coronavirus of COVID-19 infecting other folks.

AWANIterkini: Sidang media Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador
#FBLiveAWANI Sidang media Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador berhubung Perkembangan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan di Bukit Aman#COVID19#AWANInews
Posted by Astro AWANI on Selasa, 17 Mac 2020

If there’s ever an urgent need for any of you reading this to travel to other states here in Malaysia, you may get the permission at the closest Police Station where you are required to fill out a particular document (soon to be provided to all the police stations across the country) as to why there’s an urgent need for you to travel to your destinations (health complications, families to take care of, etc.).

Those planning to travel to Sabah or Sarawak might face a whole different issue as the state’s government might enforce mandatory quarantine periods for those travelling or even deny the air travel altogether in the effort to stop this very contagious virus.
Image source: Hype MY
Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are facing hardship not just here in Malaysia but everywhere else around the world. Together, we can beat this IF we take proper measures to ensure that we stop the spread of the Coronavirus or COVID-19.
MV Agusta continues production despite COVID-19 outbreak

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2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP hits 299km/h in fourth gear!

A lot of Malaysians (and other folks around the world, for that matter) love to ask the question “What’s the top speed?”. For one particular 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, we have acquired the answer and it’s very impressive, to say the least.

Designed to take over WorldSBK, the new 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP was designed to go fast and kick ass while doing so. In a YouTube video posted by Young Machine, the rider successfully rode the new Fireblade to its speedometer limiter of 299km/h.

What’s even more amazing was the fact that top speed was initiated earlier on when the bike was only in fifth gear. Towards the middle of the video, you can see that the 299km/h top speed limited was obtained when the bike hit the redline in fourth gear!

Proving to be a capable crotch rocket at the Japan Automobile Research Institute, the 214hp superbike continues to gain more and more speed as the meter clearly shows 299km/h. Heck, the boy made it close to 170km/h before shifting into second gear!

There’s no word on the actual top speed of the 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP from anyone around the globe, including Honda. What we can say is that it might just hit 350km/h given enough time and track. We can only confirm this once an owner decided to bring it over to a top speed run in places like the Bonneville Salt Flats or somewhere of that nature. WHAT.A.BEAST.
HRC unveils 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP WorldSBK team

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Mysterious new KTM Duke teased

New KTM Duke model teased with very little hints as to which one.

With EICMA 2016 just around the corner (next week in fact!) we’re starting to see some teasers and leaks around. One of the former happens to be this, which is one of the new KTM Duke models for 2017.
To the question as to which one, your guess is as good as ours really. With just a picture of the new Duke’s headlight design released this week, it could only be one of two – the updated 0217 KTM 390 Duke or the all-new twin-cylinder 2017 KTM 890 Duke.
Say goodbye to the outgoing KTM 390 Duke!
The revised-for-2017 390 Duke was something long expected, and we’ve in fact seen a leaked photo of it coming out of India – the new headlight design seems to match up. But we’re sure most of you are particularly interested in the latter.

Spied testing out in the wild earlier this year, the new 2017 KTM 890 Duke will pick where sister brand Husqvarna’s previous Nuda 900R model (pictured above) left off. KTM will finally have a twin-cylinder-powered Duke middleweight street bike that would rival strongly against the likes of the new Kawasaki Z900 amongst others.
As previously reported, the new addition into the KTM Duke line up gains with a new 800cc parallel-twin, filling the gap between the 690 Duke and 1290 Super Duke R models. Its addition see the KTM Duke model range becoming complete in a sense as there will be a Duke for most – if not all – levels of riders.
For now, we’ll have to sit tight and wait until EICMA 2016 Press Day opens its doors on Nov 8 in Milan, Italy.
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Michelin and Harley-Davidson teams up for The Gift

Michelin and Harley-Davidson collaborate to produce heart-warming short film titled The Gift.

Leading tyre manufacturer Michelin recently teamed up with the famed bar-and-shield marque to create this heart-warming short film titled The Gift.
Harley-Davidson have been working closely with Michelin for quite sometime now, but this recent collaboration’s reasons remains unknown at this point. Nevertheless, The Gift was quite the heart-warmer indeed – even for the most hardcore of bikers.
The short film tells the story of a father celebrating life with his two children – a son and a daughter – through their one common passion: riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
The film was published on June 1 through the Michelin brand’s official YouTube channel with the following description:
The love of motorcycling is a bug that bites deep, awakening all the senses: the sound of engines, the smell of leather, the appreciation of sleek lines, trading smiles with friends and loved ones riding with you… That’s how we see the passion for biking, irrespective of generation, because we are all #RidersForLife”
Whilst we are still left questioning the purpose of this project, we can’t help but admire at the choice of three Harley-Davidson bikes used in the film. Whilst Dad appears comfortable cruising on the American marque’s Street Glide Special model, Son is seen riding a Fat Bob whilst Daughter rightfully sports a Sportster Forty-Eight.
Perhaps the underlying message is that a family that rides together sticks together indeed. Excuse us while we go clear off the dust that’s gotten into our eyes.
Sources: YouTube via MCN
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MIROS Will Meet DBKL To Propose New 30km/h Speed Limit In KL

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) is currently working on a proposal to reduce the speed limit around Klang Valley.
The proposal – will be presented to DBKL next month – is to reduce the current speed limit of 50km/h to just 30km/h in certain areas.
The matter was confirmed by Deputy Federal Territory Minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias.
“Data collection and analysis will be carried out, and if it is agreed, it will be implemented in September this year.
“The areas involved in this MIROS study are areas with speed limits of 60 km/h and 40 km/h.
“Meanwhile, roads that have been gazetted with 70 km/h and 80 km/h speed limits are not included in the study,” he told the Dewan Negara on Monday, responding to a question from Senator Datuk Mohd Hisamudin Yamaha.
According to Jalaluddin, DBKL also shared the same view that reducing the speed limit would also improve other road users’ safety, including cyclists and pedestrians.
The proposal is currently in line with other major cities such as Paris, which implemented the speed limit back in August 2021.
Although the move is seen as beneficial to road users, it might have different implications for motorcyclists who are in and out of the city centre daily.
Trying to keep the speed at just 30km/h will be a struggle, especially when riding between other vehicles.
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2018 Sym Bonus series introduced – From RM3,768

Sym Malaysia has introduced their latest 2018 Sym Bonus series.

Their range of affordable motorcycles come in three variants; E Bonus 110, E Bonus 110 H, and the Bonus 110SR.

The new Euro3-compliant bikes are priced from RM3,768 to RM4,278 (price excluding road tax & insurance).

Sym Malaysia has unveiled their latest affordable motorcycle range in the form of the 2018 Sym Bonus series. Three different variants have been updated to meet with the latest Euro 3 emissions regulations and they are the 2018 Sym E Bonus 110, E Bonus 110 H, and the Bonus 110SR.

All three models now come with a reworked 108cc air cooled, single cylinder, 4 valve SOHC engine which is said to produce 7.1hp at 7,500rpm. One of Malaysia’s most affordable motorcycle ranges is fitted with a four-speed rotary gearbox which drives all the power down to the rear wheel.

Apart from a new Euro3-spec engine, the 2018 Sym Bonus series has gone through a number of styling updates which comes in three different colour options; Blue, Black, and Red. The E Bonus 110 and E Bonus 110 H comes with all-around drum brakes. As for the Bonus 110SR, a brake disc setup is available on the front end.

As for the wheels, the entry-level E Bonus 110 is fitted with a pair of spoke rims while the E Bonus 110 H and the Bonus 110SR come ready with cast sports wheels. A set of front telescopic forks and rear oil-damped twin coil-spring shock absorbers can be found on all three variants.

Other specs include:

103kg weight
4-litre fuel tank
Kick & electric starters
New underseat storage
Safety switch key
Carbon fibre textured design parts
USB charging socket (only for the Bonus 110SR)

The 2018 Sym Bonus series are priced as follows (basic price excluding road tax & insurance):

2018 Sym E Bonus 110 – RM3,768.00
2018 Sym E Bonus 110 H – RM3,898.00
2018 Sym Bonus 110SR – RM4,278.00

SYM Bonus series offers two-years or 20,000 km warranty. The E Bonus 110 variant will be available September onwards while the E Bonus 110 H and Bonus 110SR will be available November. To know more, head over to www.sym.net.my.

2018 Sym Sport Rider 125i introduced with new graphics – RM5,542!

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Ducati will start assembling CKD bikes in Argentina

Agreement with parent company Volkswagen sees Ducati assembling CKD bikes in Argentina, starting with the Scrambler range.

Ducati will be assembling CKD bikes in Argentina starting later this year.

The effort was made possible following an agreement with parent company Volkswagen.

It stands as Ducati’s third overseas assembly effort outside of Italy.

First up for its Latin American CKD effort is the Scrambler Icon model.

Italian brand Ducati is on post-pandemic roll. Apart from profitable sales figures and the return of World Ducati Week this year, the brand looks set to expand its production capacity by assembling CKD bikes in Argentina starting this year.
This comes following an agreement Ducati inked with parent company Volkswagen which sees CKD assembly in Cordoba, Argentina. Inducted in this line are a number of  Ducati Scrambler models, which  stands as the brand’s most popular current offering in said South American market.

Notably, Ducati’s Argentinian factory will stand as the brand’s third overseas assembly operation outside of its home base of Italy, and production is reportedly set to commence sometime towards the end of this year starting with the Icon variant.
The Argentinian motorcycle market is very interesting, Ducati has a strong positioning in this country in which over the years we have been able to achieve excellent results, both in terms of volumes and market share”, said Francesco Milicia, Ducati Vice President of Global Sales and After Sales.
With this CKD operation commencing, expect the Ducati to expand even further in the Argentinian market as how it did in Thailand where it set up a similar effort in the Kingdom’s Rayong district, which also led to strengthening the brand’s efforts in neighbouring markets too – ours included.
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CONFIRMED: Kawasaki ZX-4R Revealed In Patent Filings

Just a few days ago, the good people at Young Machine claimed that Kawasaki is planning to develop a bigger version of the ZX-25R.
However, a recent report has confirmed the rumour based on the patent from the Japanese company.

The patent focused on the motorcycle fairing design with an integrated duct to redirect air around the radiator.
Although the image depicts what looks like the ZX-25R, the patent revealed an additional air cooling due to the high-revving nature of the engine.

Since the ZX-25R has a high redline of 17,000rpm, the enlarged ducts would help to increase the cooling factor without the need to increase the size of the radiator.

Moreover, the documents stated the new invention is preferably applied to a vehicle with a four-cylinder 400cc engine hence referring to the rumoured ZX-4R.
Currently, there is no official confirmation coming from Kawasaki regarding the 400cc machine, but since Young Machine made the claim, you can’t help but feel excited by the new development.
(source: Motorcycle.com)
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FOR SALE: Onexox TKKR SAG Team’s BMW S 1000 RR! RM95k

Looking for a track-ready race machine? How about one that has won the championship title from last season Asia Road Racing Championship? Onexox TKKR SAG Team is selling off two units of the race-prepped BMW S 1000 RR at a very reasonable asking price of RM95,000 each. Anybody interested?

Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman piloted one this BMW S 1000 RR beauties to six victories and two other podium finishes in the ARRC 2019 season. This alone proves that this is more than just a stock BMW superbike that’s ready to rip around the circuit.

This bad boy has been fitted with a BMW Motorrad Motorsport Type 5.2 FIM Superstock engine plus other goodies like a Talio Race Radiator Kit, SC-Project lightweight titanium race exhaust, race electronics, HP4 homologated forged wheels, Brembo RCS19 brake system, race fairings, plus an extensive list of alpha Racing parts.

The mileages on these two bikes are only 662km and 532km. If you’re worried about the lifespan of these engines, they have a spare one where you buy separately. Worried about training? Alpha Racing can provide some much-needed assistance if you’re looking to further finetune these BMW S 1000 RR.

For more information, you may contact Onexox TKKR SAG Team directly or post your enquiries via their very active Facebook page. For the person who’s going to buy these, we sure love to be your new best friends. Hi gang!
Written by: Sep Irran
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Gogoro And Muji Unveil Stylish Eco-Friendly Smart Scooters

Electric mobility leader Gogoro and renowned Japanese lifestyle brand Muji have joined forces in an exciting collaboration to address plastic waste and promote sustainability.

The partnership, spearheaded by esteemed Muji designer Naoto Fukasawa, has resulted in a series of special edition smart scooters and a line of co-branded merchandise.
Dubbed the “Recycling for Good” initiative, the collaboration aims to tackle the issue of polypropylene plastic waste by incorporating recycled plastic body panels into their new electric scooters.

The two innovative models unveiled under this partnership are the Viva ME and the Viva Mix ME, both personally curated by Naoto Fukasawa himself.
Drawing inspiration from Muji’s signature design philosophy, the scooters showcase rustic colors, sleek bodywork, and a user-friendly interface.
In a statement, Fukasawa emphasized the importance of design integrity, stating, “The most important thing in design is that it must always uphold the spirit of integrity towards people, the environment, and life.”

Beyond using recycled materials, the “Recycling for Good” initiative aims to foster a lifestyle change, encouraging individuals to be more conscious about plastic waste. By incorporating eco-friendly designs and fostering collaboration between two popular brands, Gogoro and Muji envision a greater impact than the sum of their parts.
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CFMOTO Plans To Roll Out All-New Models For 2021

While other brands are taking a more cautious approach towards 2021 due to the current coronavirus pandemic, CFMOTO is going ahead with their plans to introduce a few new models.
What surprised us is that while other manufacturers seek to introduce small-displacement two-wheeler to reach broader demographics, CFMOTO is busy with larger-displacements products.
Three new motorcycles are expected to land this year with 2021 CFMOTO 650NK, 700CL-X and the 800MT.
2021 CFMOTO 650NK

The 650NK is a mid-segment naked motorcycle that features a liquid-cooled 649cc parallel-twin engine that produces 60hp and 56Nm.
The motorcycle also packs with a dual-channel ABS, all-around LED lights, telescopic fork and a rear monoshock by KYB, while the braking hardware consists of twin disc setup and a single rear disc with a pair of Pirelli rubber.
The 650NK also comes with a new 5″ TFT screen and a 17L fuel tank.
2021 CFMOTO 700CL-X

This excites us the most, as the 700CL-X is CFMOTO modern take on the scrambler/cafe racer motorcycle, apart from offering higher specifications than the 650NK.

The 700CL-X is packed with a 693cc parallel-twin that produces 73hp @ 8,500rpm and 68Nm @ 7,000rpm and paired to a slipper clutch.

Like the 650NK, the suspension setup is handled by KYB with an adjustable 41mm upside/down fork and monoshock.
It also comes with ride-by-wire technology, riding modes and cruise control, and LED lights with DRL.
2021 CFMOTO 800MT

The 800MT is CFMOTO attempt to penetrate the adventure segment with an all-new dual-purpose motorcycle in partnership with KTM.
As a result, the same KTM LC8 799cc parallel-twin powers the 790 Adventure is injected into the 800MT.
The 800MT is expected to come in two variants, spokes and alloy rims, based on leaked photos.
The 800MT is expected to come with a TFT display, four-piston brake callipers, ride-by-wire, riding modes and cruise control.
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Yamaha Tricity trike debuts

Meet Yamaha’s new 2014 Tricity three-wheeled scooter that made its debut recently on Yamaha’s newly established ‘Revstation’ teaser site recently.

It is the first model from the brand’s new range of products to debut on its Revstation site. Powering the leaning multi-wheel (LMW) is a four-stroke 125cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine primed with fuel injection that outputs 11hp and 10.4Nm of maximum torque. Power is transmitted to the single rear wheel via Yamaha’s V-belt CVT automatic transmission.
Elsewhere, the LMW scooter is primed with all-round disc brakes, telescopic front suspension, and a 6.6-litre fuel tank, weighing in at 152kg (laden) in total. Designed primarily for sales in South East Asian, European, and Japanese markets, Yamaha aims to sell 10,000 units of the feature-packed and premium LMW scooter.

Using Yamaha’s LMW technology, the Tricity’s front suspension uses a combination of a ”parallelogram link” and a “cantilevered telescopic suspension” that grants the front wheels independent movement.

The Tricity will hit its destined markets within the next few months, and we predict it could reach our soil within the year as well. In the EU markets, the Tricity is expected to carry a price tag that starts at €4,000.
Check out more pictures of the new 2014 Yamaha Tricity in the gallery below.

2014 Yamaha Tricity
Source: Revstation via Asphaltandrubber and Visordown
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Best Looking Motorcycle Engines

HRD Vincent Black LIghtning engine - Courtesy of yesterdays.nl

Motorcycle engines are the hearts of the bike.

Not all engines look alike and a few are truly beautiful.

They not only belong to legendary bikes but they made the bikes legends.

Yes, the engine is the heart of the motorcycle. But while non-bikers are confused by how a lump of metal could do stir up so much emotions in us, to us they’re mechanical porn. Here are the best-looking motorcycle engines, in no particular order.
1. AJS 7R
The AJS 7R was a 350cc race bike built from 1948 to 1963. Commonly known as the “Boy Racer,” it won victories for both the factory and privateers from its inception.
Designed by Phil Walker, the single overhead camshaft (SOHC) was driven by a chain from the outside of the engine block, hence the “tower cover.” That cover and cylinder head cover were painted gold contrasting against the gray and black parts of the engine.
AJS 7R engine – Courtesy of over-blog.com
2. HRD Vincent Black Shadow/Black Lightning
The 1948 HRD Vincent Black Lightning was the race bike spawned from the Black Shadow.
It was the fastest production bike of its time, and widely acknowledged as the first superbike.
HRD Vincent Black Lightning – Courtesy of singout.org
The Black Lightning was stripped down and its 998cc, air-cooled, pushrod, overhead valve (OHV), 47.5-degree V-Twin on the Black Lightning had stronger connecting rods, larger intake ports, polished rocker gear, steel idler gears, racing carbs and manual-advance magneto, pushing it to a top speed of 240 km/h.
HRD Vincent Black LIghtning engine – Courtesy of yesterdays.nl
Yes, yes, 240 km/h is attainable by most middleweight bike these days, but look at those skinny tyres the Vincent rolled on!
In September 1948, Rollie Free attempted to break US national motorcycle speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats. He could only reach 239.1 km/h during practice so he stripped down to his swimming shorts, rubber cap and sneakers for the final run and hit an average of 241.905 km/h (regulations required two runs). That bike became known as the “Bathing Suit Bike.”
Rollie Free – Courtesy of americanmotorcyclist.com
But it’s the level of attentiveness to detail and quality that made Vincents’ engines true works of art. Sadly, it was that kind of passion which made them time- and cost-consuming to produce.
Only 31 Black Lightnings were ever built.
3. Britten V1000
Frustrated with the lack of parts and reliability of stock engines, New Zealander John Britten decided to do the impossible: Building his own bike and engine.
Working from his home shed with a few buddies, he came up with a creation in 1991 that not only looks radical, but went on to dominate the Battle of the Twins championship over the factory bikes.
John Britten passed away in 1995 and only ten plus the one initial bike were made.
Britten V1000 – Courtesy of pinimg.com
4. Ducati Singles
Fabio Taglioni adapted the desmodromic valve drive to Ducatis to combat valve float (the valves staying open, thereby causing loss of compression and peak performance) at high RPM. To turn the camshaft, a vertical shaft (also called a tower shaft) on the right side of the engine sent drive up to the camshaft’s idler gears through a bevel gear.
The resulting engine design together with typical Italian attention was the purest testament in the “form follows function” sense, and the “Desmo” became the trademark of Ducati.
Ducati 250 Single – Courtesy of Vintage Motorcycle Photographs
5. Kawasaki W650/W800
The bevel gear lives! Well, for a while.
Ducati’s bevel drive was soon replaced by belt and finally chain drive in the interest of simplicity and weight savings, which saw the disappearance of the tower shaft and knuckle-like bevel gear cover next to the cylinder block.
But hang on, here comes the retro Kawasaki W650 and the later W800. Such beautiful bikes deserve beautiful engines, don’t they?
Then Kawasaki announced earlier this year that the W800 will be discontinued as will not meet future emissions requirements!
NOOOO!!!
W800 engine – Courtesy of kawamotor.de
6. Honda CBX
Speaking of Kawasaki, the 1978 Honda CBX was Honda’s weapon in the titanic arms race between the two Japanese companies. Honda’s wants to reclaim the world’s fastest production bike crown which it lost to the Kawasaki Z1.
Featuring a 105 bhp, 1047cc, air-cooled, DOHC, 24-valve, inline-Six, with six carburetors, it hit a top speed 216 km/h. But that’s just part of the story. The 1979 CBX blew through the ¼-mile run in 11.36 seconds, at 189.82 km/h.
The engine looks large and ungainly in the bike, but it’s only big at the top. The lower parts of the engine were made narrower but moving the alternator and final drive away to other locations to provide more ground clearance for spirited cornerning.
Honda CBX engine – Courtesy of squarespace.com
7. Moto Guzzi V-Twin
There’s no mistaking the Moto Guzzi V-Twin, with both cylinders sticking out the side. This transverse mounting uses the airflow to help cool cylinders and their alloy rocker covers, learned from aircraft experience, instead of having both cylinders stuffed longitudinally along the frame.
The deep, finned oil sump design has also survived to this day.
The newer engines such as the 843cc unit powering the V9 series and 744cc unit powering the V7 series are now fully Euro4 compliant, and are much smoother and easier to live with.
Moto Guzzi V-Twin
8. Triumph Twin
Whether in pre-unit form or the later iterations, Edward Turner’s created an icon. From the timing cases to the angular cylinder and finning around the cylinder block, the Triumph Twin is a distinctively beautiful power unit.
The essential design has been carried forward to the current crop of Triumph modern classics, never losing its trademark and appeal in spite of liquid-cooling.
Triumph Twin – Courtesy of motorcycle-usa.com
9. Harley-Davidson V-Twin
How does one argue with something that has become an icon over so many decades?
Sure, one could argue that there isn’t much innovation or substantial power gain in the Motor Company’s V-Twins, but that’s not the point.
In any way you look at it, H-D’s 45-degree V-Twins (both the Big Twin and Sportster Evolution) form the focal point of all Harleys (except for the V-Rod) and that’s why so many customizers still prefer the Harley V-Twin (along with the aftermarket engines from S&S) as the starting point of their creations.

10. Suzuki “Square Four”
The Suzuki RG500 “Gamma” was built between 1985 and 1987, directly inspired by the RGB500 Grand Prix machine which won 7 consecutive constructors titles in the 500cc class with riders such as Barry Sheene.
The 498cc, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, twin-crank, rotary valved, four-cylinder engine had its cylinders arranged in a square configuration, hence the common pet name of “Square Four.” All four cylinders were arranged on the same plane in the earlier versions, while the later versions saw the front two and rear two staggered for better placement in the frame and weight distribution.
It was also the last 500cc two-stroke race replica ever built (the Bimota V-Due didn’t work).
And no, the pistons are not square-shaped.
Suzuki Square Four – Courtesy of mcnewscom.au
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2017 Vyrus 986 M2 Street Version Now Available for Order

Extreme Italian street bike with a Honda CBR600RR engine

Packed with race technology from MotoGP and WorldSBK

Limited edition of only 50 units worldwide

Photo source: Vyrus

Vyrus has announced that the Vyrus 986 M2 Street Version is open for ordering. The small but ultra exclusive Italian exotic bike manufacturer is offering the ultra sexy bike in two forms; completed built or in kit form. The 986 M2 Street Version gets its power from a donor Honda CBR600RR engine.
What’s so special about the bike? Well, just take a long good look at it. For one thing, it’s the race bike with minimum changes to make it legal for street use. It also has the most unique front end you’ll ever find on any bike on Earth (apart from the Bimota Tesi in which the same great minds brought to life as well). What else? How about the super extensive use of carbon fibre especially the fairings? The 986 M2 screams awesomeness from all directions. Check out the remarkable track edition tearing it up on the tarmac.

This latest offering from Vyrus comes with all sorts of high tech goodies that most of us can only dream of having or experiencing ourselves. For example, the high performance shock absorber comes in the form of Ohlins TTX was taken directly from the MotoGP and WorldSBK universe. There are several Brembo caliper offerings or packages that can be personally selected by the owner ranging from the humble Brembo M4 all the way to the “special back of the room stuff” Brembo GP4 RR.

With certain modifications on this baby, customers can actually take it out on the track and join any middleweight or Moto2 races. This is no “race replica” machinery, ladies and gentlemen. The parts used in developing this beast have actually been used in racing and now, 50 lucky folks have the opportunity to own the 982 M2 Street born with racing in its DNA.
Photo source: mad4exhausts
Apart from all these goodies, Vyrus took it a step further by employing special techniques in developing certain parts. The exhaust is a perfect example as it was formed by HPCorse using hydro forming technology. Lightweight metal is moulded using water pressure and this in turn makes is super seamless with the best airflow that can rival any major exhaust manufacturers (or even put a few of them to shame).
Vyrus 986 M2 Moto2 race bike
Vyrus also is also taking special requests from confirmed buyers of this awesome piece of artwork as a personal touch to make this unique bike even more special. Based on previous news and rumours, the 986 M2 street bike will be priced around €25,000 (RM119,300). Get it now before it’s gone! CLICK HERE to know more about the 986 M2 Street Bike.
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Mini Cub Prix KBS launched to support grassroots racing development

The Malaysian Cub Prix has officially launched the Mini Cub Prix KBS racing series.

The one-make pocket bike racing series is in collaboration and support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The aim is to develop the grassroots racing level from young talents aged 6-12.

The Malaysian Cub Prix Championship together with the massive collaboration and support from the Malaysian Ministry of Youth (KBS) has officially launched the Mini Cub Prix KBS, a pocket bike one-make race series aimed at developing young talents age 6-12.

Five rounds of the pilot season will be run in four different categories which are:

Kidz – 6 to 9 years old
Cadet – 10 to 11 years old
Open – 6 to 12 years old
Junior – 12 years old

14 young riders have already been selected to join the first ever Mini Cub Prix KBS season in the Junior class where they’ll be competing on the 50cc 74Daijiro pocket bikes from Japan. To further enhanced the riders’ participation and development in the Malaysian motorsports scene, the top 4 riders will be awarded full sponsorships into the Honda and Yamaha One-Make classes in 2019 currently running in the Malaysian Cub Prix Championship.

The other riders who finished in the top 10 will also be given slots as well as partial sponsorship to ensure that their fiery passion for racing is not put out after the conclusion of the Mini Cub Prix KBS pilot season.

According to the Director of Safe Aim Mutual Sdn bhd, Mr Ron Hogg, “The Malaysian Cub Prix Championship and the Asia Road Racing Championship have been highly successful in the sense that we have been able to serve the greater good of the motorcycle racing industry in general. By providing two professional platforms where Malaysian riders can develop their racing careers, we have helped create a flourishing and exciting motorcycle racing industry in Malaysia. With the launch of the Mini Cub Prix KBS, we add another platform to the ecosystem, thereby refining and systematising the talent identification process.”

Present to officiate the official launch is none other than the Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia himself, YB Tuan Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who stated “The Ministry of Youth and Sports is fully behind the development of motorsports in the country. You can see our commitment by the fact that KBS support is behind all levels of the sport – from grassroots racing right up to the MotoGP level.”

“In terms of broad policy, the Sports Ministry would like to see more youths benefitting from the various motorsports programs that are currently in place, as opposed to just a select, elite few. In other words, we hope to cast our nets wider and deeper, giving the opportunity for more Malaysian youngsters to realise their dreams of becoming motorsports professionals.”

The KBS minister is also looking urging the public to offer suggestions on how they can be more productive in the particular industry. One of the main suggestions pointed by YB Tuan Syed Saddiq earlier today was to have a representative of the people from the grassroots level in the board member of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

To many, this can be seen as a very good move to ensure proper development in the motorcycle racing industry here in Malaysia where we obviously have a lot of young and driven talents with no proper channels to prosper and develop.

All things aside, the 2018 Mini Cub Prix KBS calendar will begin this weekend (16 September 2018) at MAEPS, Selangor followed by four more rounds listed below.

ROUND 2 – Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu (5-6 October 2018)
ROUND 3 – Batu Kawan, Penang (27-28 October 2018)
ROUND 4 – Jempol, Negeri Sembilan (17-18 November 2018)
ROUND 5 – Bandar Penawar, Johor (15-16 December 2018)

To know more, head over to www.malaysiancubprix.com for further details.

MotoGP: Petronas SIC confirms 2019 rider line-up!

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2018 Honda CB1000R Carbon Edition unveiled in Tokyo

A one-off custom carbon fibre 2018 Honda CB1000R Carbon Edition was revealed during the 2018 Tokyo Motorcycle Show.
Built by Magical Racing, everything from its wheels to handlebars have been replaced with carbon fibre parts.
A Yamamoto Racing Spec-A full-system exhaust with gold silencer brings everything together.

It was only a few months ago when Honda unleashed their latest ‘Neo Sports Cafe’ machine called the 2018 Honda CB1000R. Their super capable naked bike was taken to an entirely new level this year at the 2018 Tokyo Motorcycle Show when a custom Honda CB1000R have been literally drowned in carbon fibre.

The result is nothing short of astonishing and the firm behind all of this beautiful carbon fibre madness is none other than Magical Racing. When we say the Honda CB1000R was drowned with carbon fibre, we weren’t joking. Almost anything that can be replaced with carbon fibre parts has been fitted on this one-off custom machine which can be seen from miles away.

We’re talking custom super lightweight BST carbon wheels, body panels, airbox plates, chain guard and many, MANY more. Even the handlebar was given the ‘Carbon Touch’ which looks amazing as hell. A Yamamoto Racing Spec-A full-system exhaust brings everything together especially its sexy gold anodised silencer.

Those who are interested in the 2018 Honda CB1000R should know that you can already place your orders at the Honda BigWing Centre. The first Honda BigWing Centre is currently located in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur where Boon Siew Honda has announced that the CB1000R will be priced around RM80,000.

Considering its top-of-the-line specs like slipper-and-assist clutch, Ride-by-Wire, traction control, selectable power maps, engine braking controls, fully-adjustable Showa suspensions, and the same 1,000cc, Euro4-compliant, inline-four engine found in the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, we’re guessing that it’ll be one of the most sought-after performance naked machines in the present day.
Image source: Visordown
2018 Honda X-ADV priced below RM70,000?

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Yamaha Introduces New PWseries S2 Electric Motor

Yamaha is expanding its electric mobility presence by introducing a new electric motor called the PWseries S2.

the PWseries S2 is an electric motor strictly for Yamaha e-bikes.
the electric motor is lighter and more powerful than its predecessor.

The new generation electric motor has a maximum torque output of 75Nm and weighs just 2.85kg.

That said, the new motor is not for electric motorcycle, instead it is for the firm’s e-bikes.
Also the e-bike engine is not applicable to motorcycles, considering that e-bikes operate with the power of the cyclist leg.
Nevertheless, the technology can still be a reference for future Yamaha electric motorcycles and scooters.

Yamaha already launched two electric scooters this year with the NEO’s and E01. We aslo got the chance to see the E01 up close during Hong Leong Yamaha’s recently concluded GenBlu Karnival.
However, we are still waiting for Yamaha’s first electric motorcycle and with Kawasaki set to introduce its first electric two-wheeler in November, we expect Yamaha to follow soon.
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Barkbusters Introduces Handguards For Triumph Tiger Sport 660

Australian motorcycle accessories specialist, Barkbusters has a new toy for Triumph’s Tiger Sport 660.

The Barkbusters handguards include the guards and sturdy metal brackets for the Tiger 660.
Owners can choose from a wide variety of colours from a retail price of USD100.

Owners of the new middleweight sports-tourer can now fitted the bike with Barbusters’ handguards. The kit is plug and play, hence riders can equipped the handguards without any modification for fitment.
Also available is a set mounts that allows owners to pick any handguard design available.

While handguards are mostly suited on a more ‘adventure-ready’ motorcycle as it helps to deflects debris but the component are increasingly popular on sport tourers as well since it also helps to protect from cold win and rain during long journeys.
Handguards also protects your levers should the bike tips over. In this case, Barkbusters handguards are made off aluminium so they’ll be sure to provide the best protection needed.
With a wide variety of colours to choose from, you can certainly find the one that fits your Tiger Sport 660.
Anyway, if you are looking for the product code, just search for BHG-095-00-NP on Barkbusters’ website.
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