We’ve posted about smaller BMWs going front-wheel drive, but here’s a small BMW that keeps it true – it’s by the M division, lightweight and rear driven! This limited edition BMW M Bike features disc brakes, a cool matt anthracite frame, leather saddle and stylish rims and handles. There are M badges too, of course.

BMW says that with the M Bike you’ll “attract a lot of attention – at least for a few seconds” as “the high total gear ratio transmission delivers astonishing speed” – they’re talking about the light and robust Shimano SLX gear system there. No turbos here, speed depends on your legpower, but at least you’ll be seated well on the fi’zi:k saddle (with red inlay) designed for comfort and superior grip. Other notable components include the Manitou Match suspension fork with 80 mm spring deflection. The M Bike weighs 12.9 kg.

It is available in June online at www.bmw-shop.com, which also sells a full M Collection for you to look like a riding advertisement. Profits go to making real M cars. Larger image after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Naza is now offering the Two Brothers Racing Kit for the Honda CBR1000 RR, which includes a Carbon Fibre exhaust system and a JUICE BOX™ Fuel Controller.

The fuel controller allows you to fiddle around with your CBR1000 RR’s fuel injection system. Consisting of integrated buttons and an LED display, it uses carburetor tuning logic for easy to understand fuel adjustments.

The control unit plugs are directly linked into the OEM wiring harness between the stock ECU and fuel injectors providing precise control of the engine’s fuel management system.

The system allows addition of fuel required with engine modifications without upsetting the stock fuel map. Everything can be done on the controller itself without external additional programming computers.

As for the exhaust system, that itself is said to provide a 2 horsepower increase – dyno-tested. The kit consisting of these two items are valued at RM3,564 but are part of the package when you buy a CBR1000 RR from Naza.

The CBR1000 RR that are fitted with these Two Brothers Racing exhaust system is differentiated with its colours of maroon and yellow.  

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Honda has developed a variant of the Honda Wave 110i equipped with a CV-Matic automatic transmission called the Wave 110i AT. Instead of the regular step-through transmission, you get a belt-based CVT so you don’t have to shift through the gears yourself. The normal Wave 110i with PGM-FI costs upwards of 34,000 Thai Baht, but for the Wave 110i AT with the CV-Matic you have to top up and pay a starting upwards of 44,900 Thai Baht.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Honda’s Indian operations have just launched the new Honda CB Twister in India, a 110cc 4-stroke air-cooled motorcycle which will be sold at about 42,000 Rupee, which translates to about RM3,063. 110cc motorcycles account for about half of total motorcycle sales in India, and India is expectedly the world’s second largest motorcycle market behind China. Honda sells nearly a million motorcycles each year in India alone, and the new CB Twister is expected to account for 220,000 units a year.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Six-cylinder engines are pretty rare in the world of bikes, obviously due to packaging issues. If installed inline, it would either be too wide or too long to fit a bike frame properly. So we see V6 and boxer formats for 6 cylinders in bikes more often than an inline installation. Honda has made both boxer-6 and inline-6 bike engines before, installed in the Goldwing and the CBX respectively.

Though the very popular 320i here has a four-pot, BMW cars are very much well-known for their silky smooth inline-6 engines. BMW is now trying to bring inline-6 into bikes in a big way, as according to them it is the packaging issues that have prevented the cylinder format from really going anywhere when installed in a bike, whether in a production model or in motorcycle racing.

BMW claims that the BMW Motorrad Concept 6’s inline-6 engine is approximately 10cm slimmer than any production inline-6 engine coming before it, and it is only a bit wider than a large-capacity inline-4 engine with conventional technology. BMW has used a slightly over-square bore to stroke ratio measurement with a relatively long stroke and small gaps between cylinders. Electrical ancillaries and drive components are situated behind the crank in the open space above the transmission in order to minimize width.

The engine’s construction uses lightweight materials in as many areas as possible in order to keep the engine relatively light. Some weight-reduction techniques include hollow-drilled camshafts and light conrods. The engine’s inline-6 configuration does not require the use of a balance shaft. The block uses dry sump lubrication, helping lower the engine installation position. Like inline-4 installed in the BMW K 1300 series, the engine is tilted forward by 55 degrees for a lower center of gravity and better weight balance. The tilt angle also allows extra space for the aerodynamically-positioned intake manifold.

And now for some numbers. The inline-6 has 1.6 liters of displacement and can produce 130Nm of torque from just 2,000rpm. It revs up to nearly 9,000rpm. Look after the jump for photos of the Concept 6.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

It looks like MV Agusta is on the market again. The company has been exchanging hands for quite abit recently. It was first ‘resurrected’ by Cagiva after it purchased the rights to the name in 1991. The first ‘modern’ MV Agusta rolled off the factory in 1997. In 1999, the group was restructured and MV Agusta became the main brand replacing Cagiva.

It got into heavy debt and was purchased by Proton end-2004. Then came the famous 1 Euro sale to GEVI SpA. The company then sold its Husqvarna brand to BMW, leaving the group with only MV Agusta and Cagiva brands. In 2008, Harley Davidson bought the group for 70 million Euros.

And here we are today, with bike sales sluggish in the US (Harley Davidson worldwide net income declined 84.1% in Q3 this year compared to the last quarter), Harley Davidson has decided to leave the sports bike market to focus on the typical Harley kind of heavy and noise hog, in a ‘back to basics’ kind of move. Harley also announced that its Buell brandname will be discontinued. The company says the kind of profit it gets from a sale of an MV Agusta or a Buell is far less than that of a relatively low-tech Harley Davidson.

So who will be next in line to own MV Agusta?

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Naza will be holding its Naza Cars and Bikes Carnival this weekend from the 23rd to 25th of October 2009 10am to 7pm at the Naza Automall by the Federal Highway in PJ. The event is open to public and there will be some good deals on Naza Automall cars during the carnival, other than the usual carnival fare of food and drinks.

Part of the deals include 100% financing for Naza Bikes, special financing package for Ducati and Japanese CBU bikes, and a 90% financing package for Harley-Davidson bikes at attractive interest rates, with immediate approval for financing.

The carnival is held in conjunction with the Malaysian MotoGP 2009 and Harley Davidson of Kuala Lumpur’s first anniversary celebrations. In conjunction with the MotoGP, a convoy of between 500 and 600 bikes of Ducati, Harley-Davidson and Naza bikes will be riding from the Naza Automall SIC on Sunday for the race. The convoy is open to all motorcycles, not just the mentioned brands. The convoy is expected to leave at 9.30am.

Other than the good deals on cars and bikes, there will be a number of interesting exhibits there that you might be interested in – the new Ducati Streetfighter, the new Porsche Panamera, and the new C207 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe.

The E-Class Coupe replaces the CLK in the Mercedes-Benz range so if you want to get a glimpse of the new coupe even before Mercedes-Benz Malaysia officially launches even the sedan body – this is your chance. Basically since Naza deals with all kinds of cars and brands, you can even consider this a “PJ Motorshow”. A charity activity has also been lined-up, with part of the proceeds going to several charities and children’s homes.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

The Husqvarna brand will enter a new phase of life under the BMW group as the German automaker’s fourth brand. There’s even a new Husqvarna section in BMW’s Pressclub site alongside the BMW, MINI and Motorrad brands now. We’ll probably see much more from them from now on – the first step is to develop new appealing products, right?

It recently opened a new R&D and administrative building, which will provide product development with the best possible support and permit optimum integration of all the functional units involved in the manufacturing processes for the entire range of Husqvarna products.

The new building has three floors and has been built as an addition to the company’s head office at Via Nino Bixio 8. The ground floor houses the engine R&D department and roller dyno facilities, along with the prototype workshop, the racing division and a technical training centre.

The first floor is where the R&D department is located, although the purchasing and market research departments are also on this floor. This is intentional – the people from all three departments have to meet often to meet a balance between functionality, quality and cost, both within the company and with suppliers.

The building is also ‘green’ in the sense htat energy for the hot water supply is provided by the solar panels fitted to the building’s roof. This is all part of BMW’s EfficientDynamics plan. There is also a public area in the front of the new building which has a Husqvarna showroom.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Honda will be introducing a new scooter model for the ASEAN and global market soon, beginning with Thailand where it will be produced. The new Honda PCX is powered by a 4-stroke water-cooled 125cc single cylinder engine that can do 50km per liter on the ECE 40 MODE cycle. It’s not going to be cheap, as the PCX will be positioned as a high-end but high-value model. The Honda PCX features an “idling stop system” where the engine can shut off automatically when the scooter comes to a complete stop. This can help save fuel consumption while you wait for a traffic light or for whatever reason you’re stopped – traffic jams don’t seem to pose that much of a problem for these bikes.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

The good news – Honda now has a dual-clutch transmission. The bad news (for most of us anyway) is that it’s a transmission for large sport bikes, so you’re not going to see a twin clutch in a Civic for now.

Honda claims this is the first fully automatic motorcycle dual clutch transmission for large-displacement sport bikes in the world. The transmission will make its production debut in a Honda VFR in Europe and North America in 2010, with Japanese sales to start later.

Like most twin clutch transmission, even gears are on one clutch and the odd gears are on the other. This twin clutch has a total of 6 forward gears, and you can either leave the gearbox in full auto mode (two available – regular D and S for sporty) or change to a 6-speed manual mode.

Honda VFRs are currently in use by our Royal Malaysian Police for some of its big bikes. Perhaps they can upgrade to these sometime in the future so the cops can focus on maneuvering their bikes in a chase and take their minds off clutching and shifting.

Look after the jump for more images of the twin clutch.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

They really should make more amusing ads like this. Check out this Volkswagen Touran TV commercial after the jump. They’re promoting the car’s Park Assist system, which by the way is available locally on the Volkswagen Tiguan. The dude in the video can’t dance though but he kinda looks like Schumacher. The Touran is a Golf-based MPV that isn’t available in Malaysia, though there were a number of pre-owned ones (CrossTouran) sold off by Volkswagen Malaysia recently. Volkswagen recently announced that they will start assembly of the Touran in Indonesia.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

If you are a Maxis Hotlink and a CIMB Bank customer, you could be riding off in style with a brand new Ducati 1098 superbike worth RM138k. In addition to that there are also daily cash prizes of RM100 for the highest top up amount in a day.

The CIMB Clicks Maxis Ducati campaign will run from 25 June 2009 to 24 September 2009. Basically all you need to do is reload your Hotlink prepaid phone credit either on the CIMB Clicks internet banking portal, or any of CIMB Bank’s 1,800 ATMs nationwide. The minimum reload amount of RM30.

VIDEO: Ducati 1098 Promo Clip

The 1098 (pronounced by most people as ten-nine-eight), unlike its namesake actually has a 1,099c engine, in classic Ducati L-twin cylinder configuration. If you’ve ever encountered a Ducati next to you at a traffic light you’ll know that the sound of a Duke L-twin especially paired with a nice performance exhaust is extremely addictive. Because of the cylinder configuration there is a very unique power pulse pattern. Twins also generally make more torque lower down compared to inline-4 bikes.

Although there is a 1198 now (just launched by Ducati Malaysia), a 1098 is still alot to handle, with 160 horsepower produced at 9,750rpm, matched with a 6-speed transmission. That’s really alot of power for something with a dry weight of only 173kg.

It uses a tubular steel Trellis frame, Showa 43mm adjustable upside-down forks at the front, and an adjustable Showa monoshock with aluminium single-sided swingarm at the rear.

The Ducati 1098 was honoured as the Best Bike of the Year 2008 from the Supertest World Association, the International Bike of the Year for both 2007 and 2008, Bike of the Year 2007 by Moto, Australian Motorcycle News and Motorrad, as well as the Best Design and Best Sportbike awards by the Motorcycle Design Association.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Naza’s Next Bike Sdn Bhd has just opened the doors to its second Ducati showroom in Malaysia, occupying the first floor of the 3-storey 28,000 square feet Naza Autoworld Complex at TTDI Plaza. Service remains at the 4S centre at Naza Automall PJ along the Federal Highway.

The new Ducati 1198 also got its official importer launch at the showroom opening. Next Bike has held the Ducati import and distributorship since November 2000, so it’s been 9 years of sales now. Next Bike intends to sell 120 Dukes this year from the entire Ducati range including the Monster, Hypermotard and the superbikes.

An initial allocation of 13 Ducati 1198 and 1198S has arrived, but already some have been pre-sold. The bike’s 1198cc Testastretta Evoluzione engine puts out 180 horses at 9,750rpm and 13.4kgm of torque at 8,000rpm. The new motor is nearly 3kg lighter than the one in the 1098 S.

The 1198 S also has a Ducati Traction Control system which is competition ready, and system activation/intervention is indicated on the rider’s instrument panel.

Other than the DTC system, the 1198 S further improves upon the 1198 with lighter wheels – 7-spoke GP replica Marchesini forged and machined wheels to be exact, while the 1198 uses 10-spoke wheels. The 1198 S uses 43mm Ohlin shocks while the 1198 uses a set supplied by Showa. There is also a Ducati Data Analysis package for the S, which enables the retrieval and analysis of data collected from your previous track session or road trip via a USB cable and PC software.

Other than the bikes, a full range of Ducati and Ducati Corse mechantise from fashion wear to premium gifts, miniature bikes and lifestyle equipment with Ducati branding are also sold at the showroom.

The Ducati 1198 goes for RM158k while the 1198 S goes for RM185k. Look after the jump for some images and a video of the 1198 and the 1198 S.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Naza Bikes has just shipped out 500 units of its 125cc Naza Flash to the Iranian market, as well as 100 units of the 125cc Flash and 150cc GTR 150 to Brunei. Two containers full of CKD parts for the bikes were flagged off by the Deputy MInister of MITI Dato Mukhriz Mahathir end last month.

“This is a significant milestone for Naza Bikes as we move to retail our products beyond Malaysia. We continue to seek parties that are interested in retailing our products in other countries in line with the long-term direction of the company,” said Naza Group CEO SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin.

The Naza Flash is said to be quite similiar to the Honda Wave. Its 4-stroke 124.8cc engine produces 7.5 kilowatts at 7,500rpm and 10.3Nm of torque at 5,000rpm, using a common centrifugal clutch gearbox with 4 ratios. It has a fuel tank size of 3.7 liters.

The first two bikes produced by Naza at its 24,000 square feet Shah Alam plant are the Naza Symphony and Naza Gemilang. The company has since launched 12 different models since 2003 in collaboration with Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese partners and also offers big bikes between the 250cc and 650cc range.

The company currently brings in about 25% to 30% of its total revenue from export markets, which is good for the Malaysian economy, and hopes to increase this to 50% within the next 5 years. The company wants to have its own engine by 2014.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Motorcycle tyres are already much thinner than car tyres, and there is only a fraction of that which is the contact patch. So it’s really important that you keep your tyres in good condition.

Here are some tips from a London-based non-profit organisation named TyreSafe which was set up to raise awareness of the dangers of defective, worn or incorrectly inflated tyres.

• Check your tyre pressures from cold at least once a week using an accurate gauge

• Inflate tyres to the level recommended in the manufacturer’s handbook
• Inspect tyres for cuts, bulges, uneven wear or objects embedded into the tread pattern and replace if necessary
• Use dust caps to keep dirt away from the valve core and to act as a secondary air seal
• If your rims are cracked or bent they should be replaced immediately
• Check that your tread depth is not below the legal minimum
• Replace old or damaged valve stems
• Select the correct type of tyre for your machine and riding style
• Check that both tyres fitted to the bike are made by the same manufacturer and have the same tread pattern
• Make sure that your tyre has been fitted the right way round by checking the directional arrows on the sidewall
• When replacing tube type tyres always use a new inner tube
• Make sure your tyre/wheel assembly is balanced correctly
• Keep oil and grease off your tyres using detergent if necessary
• If you are unsure on any aspect of tyre pressure or tyre condition take your bike to an approved fitting centre and speak to the experts.

Feel free to add more below in the comments!

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Story by Mohan K.R.

I remember a time when 2 strokes were ubiquitous on the road. Their light weight, knife edge power bands, a power to H.P. ratio that wouldn’t look out of place on the specifications sheet of a 750 c.c. bike.

The minimalist chassis, coupled with a sub-150 k.g. weight, meant that 2 strokes were suited for kamikaze corner bashing, and head down antics in pursuit of top speed. But their rather anti social tendency to smoke unburnt 2-T lead to their swift banning in many countries around the world because of pollution concerns.

2 strokes are still with us, of course, in dirt biking, and in the GP 125 and 250 classes. Aprilia Malaysia recently launched the RS125 in this country at Sepang International Circuit. We had a go at it, so read our report after the jump.

The RS 125 is, as the name suggests, a 125 c.c. 2 stroke racing styled machine. Very closely patterned after their 2008 125 GP bikes, the RS125 is very much intended for the young racer, or racer wanna-be. A Rotax single cylinder liquid cooled engine with crankcase reed valve and a balance shaft delivers the power smoothly, although the engine needs to be brought up to the upper reaches of the power band before things start happening. Fuelling is via Dell’Orto carburetor, with the exhaust swept up the left side and tucked up out of harm’s way.

The cockpit is minimalist, as is to be expected from a racer, but it comes with everything you need to know, including a lap timer.

The twin beam aluminium frame brings everything together, with 40 mm USD forks, and there’s a hydraulic shock handling absorption duties at the rear. Brakes are typically racer like in feel and bite, with a single disc front and rear. The front brake is a 4 piston caliper, biting a 320 mm disc. More than adequate to bring the entire package of rider and bike to a stop in less time than it takes for you to read this sentence. The brakes are very controllable, and showed some signs of fading after several hard laps around the track. I suspect this might be because the rider is, perhaps, slightly heavier than the whippet weight 125 jockeys this bike was designed for.

The office, as you can well imagine, is a trifle cramped. This bike is definitely designed for slim, fearless, young men in their late teens or early 20s, not older riders who prefer to, shall we say, stretch things out a little. Saying that, once you fold your legs up onto the pegs, bend your elbows slightly outboard of your knees, ( and your elbows will touch your knees in race position), and place your chin on the tank, it feels right, allowing you to dream of being Simone Corsi.

But, the way to ride a small capacity 2 stroke can be summed up in two words. Corner speed. In this, the RS125 does admirably well. Although taking off calls for some cold hearted treatment of the throttle and clutch, once things get going, the 6 speed gearbox is smooth, each gear clicking into place without hesitation. You rev the engine towards 10,000 r.p.m., aim for the corner, and then, You. Must. Lean.

The RS125 is capable of some very extreme lean angles, allowing you to carry and hold the corner speed. At this stage, you really don’t want to start messing with the throttle, because any loss of engine speed takes a long time to claw back, due to the lack of torque. But if you do it right, the bike takes care of it all, allowing you to concentrate on the line, and the exit. Taking turn 9 at Sepang, the corner that is perhaps the hardest to get right, due to its off camber entry and invisible exit, was carved admirably well on the RS125. The light weight of the bike allowed this slightly ham fisted rider to choose a line, and lean over without fear of launching himself, and the bike, into the sky. This is something I couldn’t ever get away with on, say, a Ducati 999.

The RS125 is a motorcycle that rewards a brave rider. It is perhaps not suited for the rider who prefers something that requires minimal maintenance, or a daily commuter, as the Rotax engine requires regular maintenance to have performing at optimum. The handling is razor sharp, and easy to control, as any well designed motorcycle should be.

The peaky engine, together with its insane lean angle and corner speeds, makes this bike one for the racetrack, in the hands of a young racer.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Our favorite motorbike company turned sports car maker KTM arrived in Geneva with the X-Bow Superlight and the X-Bow ROC. The Superlight features motorsport-derived technologies such as a lightweight carbon composite monocoque that weighs only 90 kilograms, carbon crash box, inboard pushrod suspension and black body panels of visible carbon fiber. This range topping X-Bow also comes with limited-slip differential, lightweight lacquered alloys with a single central wheel nut and as well as a lap timer and more, all with a price tag of 79,980 Euros.

The Superlight features a 240HP 2.0 liter TFSI power plant from Audi, individually adjustable pedals, adjustable and removable multi-function steering wheel, ‘Keyless Go’ system, and of course a performance suspension, with adjustable compression and rebound rates, and with preload-adjuster.

The X-Bow ROC on the other hand is a limited edition model offered inline with the X-Bow’s recent involvement in the Race of Champions, where only 30 units will ever be produced. This exclusive model features weight-saving all-carbon body, sports exhaust which attracts special attention with its deep sound, specially painted light-weight alloy wheels with a central wheel nut, adjustable sports suspension, a removable multi-function steering wheel and lastly, exclusive ROC design on the body panels. This special edition model retails for 69,980 Euros. Continue reading to view an image gallery of both the KTM’s.

KTM X-Bow ROC

KTM X-Bow Superlight

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

BMW Malaysia is introducing a total of 7 new motorcycles this year, the BMW HP2 Sport, the BMW K 1300 S, the BMW K 1300 R, the BMW K 1300 GT, the BMW R 1200 R, the BMW F 650 GS and the BMW F 800 GS. BMW bike sales for 2008 represented a 36% increase over 2007 sales – a total of 183 units.

BMW K 1300 S

The BMW K 1300 S is the fastest BMW motorcycle ever in terms of acceleration. Under full hard acceleration, you can hit 100km/h in 2.8 seconds but achieving this requires far more skill than a car driver would need. This kind of acceleration is no joke, it is faster than either the M3 or the M5 and you aren’t sitting nicely in a sports bucket seat while experiencing it.

This is thanks to the bike’s 1.3 liter four-cylinder engine which puts out a total of 175 horsepower and 140Nm of torque. It revs up to a stratospheric 11,000rpm redline. The K 1300 S retails for RM 119,000 while the K 1300 R and the K 1300 GT is priced at RM120k and RM135k respectively.

BMW HP2 Sport

The limited edition BMW HP2 Sport is a limited edition bike and only 11 units have been allocated to Malaysia. The two-cylinder boxer-engine bike marked the return of BMW Motorrad to racing in the 2008 Endurance Championships and it is technically based on the R 1200 S. Its ABS system can be user-deactivated for the race track. Power output is 128 hp at 8.750rpm and 115Nm of torque at 6,000rpm. This baby is priced at RM 158,888.

BMW R 1200 R

The BMW R 1200 R replaces the R 1150 R and is a roadster motorcycle priced at RM 108,000. The bike’s twin-cylinder boxer engine of 1.2 liters in capacity uses a shaft drive and claims to be the first bike in the world with ASC Automatic Stability Control, though Honda actually offered some form of traction control on the ST-series in the 90s. Its engine puts out 109hp, a 28% increase over its predecessor, and 115Nm of torque at 6,000rpm.

BMW F 800 GS

The entry level bikes to the GS world are the F 800 GS and the F 650 GS, new enduro models which retail at RM 83,800 and RM 71,000 respectively. All of the models above include a 2 year warranty with unlimited mileage and are available from Auto Bavaria Bukit Bintang and Auto Bavaria Penang.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Honda hopes the new model will help boost its scooter market share from the current 1% to 2% level up to 46%, which is a huge difference! The Icon is 100% assembled in Malaysia and will sell for RM4,688 OTR, which is cheaper than the Honda Click. It comes in five colours – pink, blue, red, white and black.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

The Aprilia RS125 Challenge Cup is a one-make motorcycle race series using race-prepared Aprilia RS125 two-stroke motorcycles. One can participate by purchasing a rental package which consists of an Aprilia RS125, a set of Pirelli SuperCorsa tires (one set per round), pit support, fuel, lubricants and fluids as well as entry fees for all five rounds. It all costs RM25,000. There is also a RM5,000 crash and damage deposit. All of this can be paid via an affordable payment plan. Riders will have to supply their own racing equipment of course, such as helmet, back protector, gloves and transport, etc. An ownership package is also available where you can instead own the racebike.

The race is divided into two categories, a Junior Riders Cup for 13 to 17 year olds and Open Class for enthusiasts aged above 18. The series will be part of the Malaysian Super Series Championship and the first round will be held on the weekend of the 11th and 12th of April 2009. at the SIC, with a total of 5 rounds, including a support race at the Malaysian Motorcycle GP in October 2009.

Each round consists of 2 practice sessions, a qualifying session, and two races with a total of 12 laps. At the end of the season, two qualifying riders will be selected for a full sponsorship to participate at the “Red Bull Rookies 2009 Final Rider Selection” in Spain.

“The absence of a Regional rider development programme drives us to create this series. We need a platform for young riders within the Asia Pacific region to develop their passion, racing skills and career. We have presented this series to the various ASNs’ in the region and are tirelessly promoting for international entries to create the right environment where talent from across the region can directly compete with each other, compared and further developed,” said Moto Millia Managing Director, Razak Al Malique.

He added, “Out of a maximum grid of 25 riders we have reserved 15 slots for international participants. If we succeed in getting competitors from countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, China and so on, this will be a series where top racing teams will scout for talent. The entry cost has been kept at a bare minimum and it is unlikely that we will breakeven but for us successful implementation of the series is much more critical than gearing for commercial returns.”

Moto Millia also has a Junior GP Racing Dream program using the Aprilia RS50, which is an effort to find a MotoGP rider for Malaysia. A few riders have been selected and trained over the past 2 years and from what I hear they really are quite talented. I think this is a good effort by Moto Millia, but as you can see from the figures above, going further in the motorsports world really burns alot of money (RM25,000 for a rental package is no joke) and impossible to afford for many people without some form of sponsorship. It’s no wonder there are Mat Rempits out there as it’s very expensive to go legal with racing.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Honda has just revealed a new PGM-FI “cub” bike in Thailand. The new Honda Wave 110i joins its bigger engined sibling, the Honda Wave 125i in the Thai market, which has already been around for quite some time. Here in Malaysia our Honda Waves are still carburetted, but maybe Honda will introduce them soon to match their all-new “green” image, as the Honda franchise here has been taken over by the Japanese themselves.

The 110cc 4-stroke engine with PGM-FI fuel injection is said to be 18% more economical than the unit installed in the Honda Wave 100. At the same time it also provides 25% more power. It can use gasohol E20, a fuel that is sold in Thailand at the pumps.

The new Honda Wave is available in 3 series and 8 designs and colours. Features include a key shutter for the ignition, and easy starting without the need of a fuel choke thanks to the PGM-FI sytem. The bike either has disc brakes or drum brakes depending on the variant you pick. It goes for 34,000 Thai baht onwards.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Be very very careful what you upload onto YouTube! A random search on the popular video sharing site will easily reveal many “topspeed” tests recorded by amateur videographers, to show off or perhaps just as footage proof that said vehicles are truly capable of such speeds. But beware, if the road you’re on isn’t one without speed limits such as the Autobahn, you could be making it really easy for the law enforcement to track you down, as the video itself is evidence of sorts!

One YouTube user learned this the hard way. User jmm006, or Joel as his profile indicates, recorded videos of himself riding his Kawasaki Z750 through the streets of Canberra, specifically in a zone that had a 60km/h speed limit.

The coppers traced his YouTube account to his home and paid a visit with a search warrant. Among items seized were footage, a camcorder, a laptop and a hard drive. 20-year old Joel will face the court in a future date.

“We take these offences seriously. As a result of some good work from officers in traffic operations, this investigation was quickly concluded and it should send a message to anyone who seeks to glorify actions that place the lives of innocent people in danger, that they will not be tolerated,” said Superintendent Mark Colbran.

If you want to watch the incriminating videos, check them out after the jump.

Source

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

The Honda Super Cub has been around for 50 years now with more than 60 millions of the motorcycle on the road worldwide. The Super Cub had a convenient automatic centrifugal clutch and a four stroke economical and clean engine even back in 1957.

When R&D was done, the motorcycle was so revolutionary at that time that Honda targetted sales of 30,000 units a month at a time where the total sales for motorcycles a month in Japan was 40,000 units. Today it is still very much relevant in the current economic situation with, close to 5 million units produced annually.

What’s next for the Honda Super Cub? Honda has produced a new global advertisement for the Super Cub and if whatever they are saying in the ad is true, they are determined to make a product that will open roads to a much larger success compared to the Super Cub.

Could this be an electric equivalent of the Honda Super Cub? It could be, as the commercial video shows two people riding what seems to be a bike… but the background is silent, as if the bike runs on a quiet motor.

Watch the video after the jump.

Video: Honda Super Cub

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

This is the Proton Stingray, an experiment by the Proton Prototype Centre that took 2 months. Proton says they built the Proton Stingray to enhance skills and upgrade technical knowledge, but I fail to see what car-related skills could be gained from building a motorcycle from ancient parts such as the carburetted 12 valve 1.5 liter engine they used.

The front suspension bits are telescopic shocks from the Kawasaki Vulcan 800 together with the front brakes as well, while the rear uses S45C mild steel and a ventilated disc brake from a Proton GEN2.

Look after the jump for a hi-res gallery of the Stingray.

PHOTO GALLERY: Proton Stingray motorcycle
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

This move will increase DRB-HICOM shareholding in Modenas from 55% to 70%. The remaining 30% is held by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (19%) and Sojitz Corporation (11%).

Modenas is short for Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd and uses Kawasaki technology and parts for its motorcycles. It also rebadges scooters from Taiwanese scooter company PGO.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Kah Assemblers Sdn Bhd currently manufactures Honda motorcycles in Malaysia. Sales is handled by Boon Siew Sdn Bhd, 100% owned by the Boon Siew family. Honda will buy 50% of the shares of Kah Assemblers Sdn Bhd in September 2008, currently 100% owned by Oriental Holdings Berhad.

The new company will be called Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd and will be a 50-50 joint venture between Honda Japan and Oriental Holdings. The sales function will be transfered to the new Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd in January 2009.

Honda models produced in Malaysia currently include the Honda EX-5, Honda Wave100, Honda Wave125, Honda Click and the Honda CBR150R.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

In the statement Proton said that due to the conditions and limited options available during that time it was in the best interest of the company to let MV Agusta go based on operational, commercial and financial consideration as at that point of time there was a real danger of MV Agusta falling into bankruptcy.

The international investment bank appointed to advise Proton on its shareholding in MV Agusta had informed Proton that continuing to try to develop MV Agusta into a company with positive cashflow would require significant cash backing from Proton over a long period of time, which would result in the exposure of Proton to significant operational, financial and reputational risks.

Proton also added that from an operations perspective it was advised that there was no way to integrate MV Agusta operations into Proton’s big picture.

Related Posts:
Harley-Davidson buys MV Agusta
Proton disposes of MV Agusta for 1 Euro
Tengku Mahaleel and Tun Dr Mahathir question MV Agusta sale

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Harley-Davidson signed an agreement last week to purchase 100% of MV Agusta for 70 million Euros, or roughly 355 million ringgit. This sum includes clearing existing bank debuts of about 45 million Euros, or roughly 228 million ringgit.

MV Agusta will continue to be operated from its Italian HQ but a new leadership team including a new Managing Director will be appointed. Claudio Castiglioni will continue to serve as the group’s Chairman, and Massimo Tamburini will continue as the group’s chief designer. Harley Davidson will also use MV Agusta’s European dealership network to expand its Harley Davidson and Buell motorcycle sales.

“Motorcycles are the heart, soul and passion of Harley-Davidson, Buell and MV Agusta. Both have great products and close connections with incredibly devoted customers. The MV Agusta and Cagiva brands are well-known and highly regarded in Europe. They are synonymous with beautiful, premium, Italian performance motorcycles,” said Harley Davidson CEO Jim Ziemer.

Hat tip to Nahar ARS.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

Mahindra through its unit Mahindra Systech will begin R&D of small and fuel efficient engines for cars such as the Tata Nano and the upcoming Nissan-Renault-Bajaj ULC. Engines Engineering S.p.A. started off designing motorcycles, and some of its motorcycle clients include Ducati, Honda, and Yamaha.

Mahindra did not say if it already had any clients who are looking for small engines or whether it is already in discussions with potential clients, but if there are no takers Mahindra can always build a small car themselves, since it is all the rage now.

Source

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.

“The Naza Group has always been committed in bringing luxury brands to Malaysia and today marks another milestone for our motor division, as we celebrate the arrival of the ultimate motorcycle brand into the family. We are honored by the recognition, trust and confidence that Harley-Davidson has shown in Naza. Harley-Davidson represents a lifestyle in its own category that has big growth potential in the years to come. Our mission at Naza is to provide a solid platform for this rapidly growing brand. We plan on further enhancement with new additions, innovative facilities, and services, all of which will significantly contribute to the success of Harley-Davidson in Malaysia,” said Naza group of companies chairman SM Nasarudin.

“Harley-Davidsons choice of NAZA Group as its partner was based upon NAZA Groups long history of success in Malaysia, where they have consistently met our international standards. We are confident that ‘Harley Davidson of Kuala Lumpur will help us to maintain and further strengthen our presence within this region,” said Harley-Davidson Vice President for the Asia Pacific region, Rod Copes.

Other than a motorcycle and merchandise showroom, the new Harley-Davidson of Kuala Lumpur showroom will be equipped with a large fully equipped and air-conditioned service centre which will be connected online to Harley-Davidsons worldwide dealer support database. No idea where it will be though.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 19 Mar 10 06:24:37 +0000.