Paul Tan's Automotive News » Bikes

MotoGP test at Sepang – free viewing from grandstand

Danny Tan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:18:54 +0000

Want to catch some MotoGP action for free? Sepang International Circuit will be opening its main grandstand for free viewing of the annual MotoGP pre-season test, to be held from tomorrow (31 January) till Thursday (2 February). This is the first of three official test sessions before the season starts in Qatar on 8 April.

This three-day session will give fans a first glimpse of the new 1,000 cc MotoGP bikes, which replace the 800 cc bikes from this year. For the riders, not only will they have to get to know their new machines, it will also an emotional return to the track that claimed the life of San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Marco Simoncelli last October.

The key factory teams will have unchanged line ups. Casey Stoner will defend his world title alongside Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, the Yamaha factory team have Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies, while Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden will be flying the Ducati flag.

The off-season saw some transfers, including that of Andrea Dovizioso (Yamaha Tech3) and Alvaro Bautista (Honda Gresini). Hector Barbera will now be the sole rider of the Pramac while Karel Abraham will continue with Cardion AB Racing Team. Colin Edwards and Randy de Puniet joined Forward Racing and Aspar Team respectively, where they will ride new CRT-spec machines. A total of 21 riders will form the MotoGP grid this year.

Besides getting to watch the tests for free, those who make their way to Sepang will get to buy special early bird tickets for the 2012 Malaysian MotoGP (21-23 Oct). In addition, for every MotoGP ticket purchased during the test session, fans are entitled to a 50% discount on 2012 Formula 1 Malaysian GP hillstand tickets from as low as RM30.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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RHB Now ‘Race for a Ducati’ campaign kicks off

Anthony Lim — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:40:11 +0000

RHB Bank has kicked off its RHB Now Race for a Ducati campaign, in which three Ducati Monsters are up for grabs. To be eligible for the prizes, customers need to perform any financial transactions via RHB Now and play the RHB Now Racer online and mobile game, which can be accessed via various channels, from PCs to iPads.

As mentioned in our earlier post, the top 10 customers with the highest score will win the weekly prizes, and the top 10 players with the overall highest scores obtained during the campaign period will be invited to a grand finale challenge, which will see the three eventual winners of the stunning two-wheeler.

The campaign is set to run for eight weeks, from today until March 15, so there’s plenty of time to play the game. In conjuction with the campaign, there’s also a nationwide Race for a Ducati roadshow, with no less than 20 stops at selected RHB Bank branches having been outlined.

The Monster will be on show, of course, and the Diavel and Streetfighter 848 are scheduled to make appearances at some stops. You’ll be able to buy Ducati merchandise as well as bikes at each roadshow – RHB Bank esteemed customers and staff will be able to enjoy exclusive package deals on Ducati products.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Fancy a Ducati Monster 795? You can simply win it in the RHB Now Racer contest!

Harvinder Sidhu — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:14:36 +0000

If you’re a big fan of two-wheelers, then you’ll know the Ducati Monster 795 to be one pretty impressive bike. So, if you fancy the chance of riding one off for free, then you’ll be chuffed to hear that RHB Bank is putting no less than three of these 87 hp Monsters up for grabs.

There’s only one way to win one, and that’s through the RHB Now Racer game, which can be played via the Internet or through a mobile device. In the game, which runs until March 14, participants will take on the role of a RHB Now’s Avatar riding a legendary Ducati bike

The objective of the game is to manoeuvre along one of eight racing tracks that are unlocked weekly, meticulously dodging and jumping over various obstacles – such as sticky tar on the road and giant spikes – along the way. You’ll need to pick up as much treasure as possible and cover as much distance as you can within the given 60-second time limit to rack up the highest possible score.

The top 10 contestants with the highest game scores every week get weekly cash prizes, and the scores are locked in the ‘RHB Now Racer’ leader board. The top 10 overall game winners with the highest game score during the campaign period will then be chosen for the grand finale challenge, where they will compete on a finale route at a dedicated site to see who takes home those three Ducatis.

Sounds simple enough, and the neat thing is that the game can be played numerous times. The scores, however, are only recorded when you make transactions on RHB Now, Internet & Mobile Banking, which of course means that you’ll need to be a RHB Bank/RHB Islamic/Easy by RHB customer registered with RHB Now Internet & Mobile Banking to be in the running for those bikes and the seven grand finale consolation prizes – starting from RM7,000 – as well as 80 weekly prizes of RM200 each.

Each transaction above RM50 carried out via RHB Now online or mobile – and these includes BillPay, Western Union, prepaid reload, PayPal as well as online and mobile purchases from participating merchants – offers you the chance to play the game and lock-in a high score.

You’ll find the game online via ‘RHB Now Racer’ campaign website at www.rhb.com.my, and if you’re doing the mobile route, the ‘RHB Now Racer’ mobile game application can be downloaded from App Store (for iPad & iPhone) or Android Market (for Android phones).

All the necessary details about the RHB Now Racer campaign can be found online at www.rhb.com.my, so if you’re a RHB customer, head on over to see how you can try and make that Monster yours.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

Tan Chong goes the motorcycle route in Laos

Anthony Lim — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:20:30 +0000

According to a report, Tan Chong Motorcycles Laos has been appointed the exclusive distributor, importer and after-sales service provider for SYM motorcycles and spare parts in Laos.

The company, which is a Tan Chong Motor Holdings (TCMH) unit set up in March last year, has inked a three-year distributorship agreement with Vietnam Manufacturing and Export Processing (VMEP), effective Jan 2, 2012.

The distribution of SYM motorcycles in Laos by TC Motorcycles Laos is expected to commence in the first half of 2012, with showrooms set up in the Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone and Vientiane, TCMH said in its filing with Bursa Malaysia. It added that the total projected sales volume for the first three years of operation is 12,200 units.

The Vietnamese manufacturer builds an assortment of SYM models, including the rather menacing sounding Attila Victoria, Attila Elizabeth and Shark, and has over 230 authorised 3S (sales, service, spare parts) centres in Vietnam.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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LIVE from Tokyo: Retro liveried Honda RC-E is super sexy

Danny Tan — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:31:49 +0000

If only four-wheeled EVs are half as sexy. Honda revealed the RC-E concept at Tokyo to great response, thanks to evocative livery that recalls the glory days of the RC racers from the 1960s. Having seen the real vintage stuff days ago at the Honda Collection Hall, Twin Ring Motegi, this one made me drool!

The RC-E is electric powered, so that fuel tank contains no liquid, but batteries. Not much details have been released, but Honda promises a powerful and smooth ride, and 600cc class performance in a 250cc class body. Should be a very strange bike experience – strong off the line EV style, but with no noise!

We can see good stuff such as the Ohlins TTX suspension and Brembos. And part of the reason it looks good is because there’s no need for big headlights – the RC-E’s LEDs are nestled in the nose vent below the No.1. Also notice the plug sign at the bottom of the bike, hinting at what’s powering it.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Next Bike targets 300% sales growth for Ducati in Malaysia

Danny Tan — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:39:30 +0000

Next Bike Sdn Bhd, the sole importer and distributor of Ducati motorcycles in Malaysia, is looking at a 300% sales growth this year following good response for their latest model, the Ducati Monster 795. The latest Monster, aimed at Asia, had its world debut in Malaysia last month. The RM59,900 naked bike is powered by a 803 cc L-twin 2-valve per cylinder Desmodromic air cooled engine, producing 87 hp and 78 Nm.

More than 200 units of the Monster have been sold just one month after its launch, a huge jump from the 50 Monsters Next Bike sold last year. In 2010, they shifted 120 units of Ducatis, bringing the total amount of Ducatis sold in Malaysia to over 1,000 units. This figure is expected to rise sharply with the relatively affordable Monster 795.

EICMA 2011 debutant Ducati 1199 Panigale is open for booking, coming soon

“We have planned out a variety of programmes to help boost the sale of Ducati bikes and within the next 12 months, more exciting Ducati models are expected to be introduced. One of the models is the 1199 Panigale that was recently launched in EICMA Italy and we have already started taking bookings,” revealed Naza Group Joint Executive Chairman, Datuk Wira Hj SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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2011 BMW S1000RR updated with new features

Paul Tan — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:12:55 +0000

After its initial launch in 2009, BMW Motorrad has updated the S1000RR supersports bike. While there are no changes to the peak power output figures of 193 horsepower, there are quite a few new features to the technical update:

Optimised torque curve for improved ridability.
Expansion from two to three performance curves (one each for Rain and Sport modes and an additional one for Race and Slick modes); Rain mode now 120 kW (163 hp).
Reconfigured throttle for enhanced response (particularly gentle and sensitive acceleration in Rain mode, and immediately direct and spontaneous response in Sport, Race, and Slick modes).
Reduced twisting force and tighter twistgrip angle.
Smaller secondary ratio for boosted thrust.
Refined tuning between Race ABS and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC).
Enlarged cross sectional area of the intake air guide through the steering head for greater air flow efficiency.
Better handling, steering accuracy, and feedback.
Revised spring elements for an even wider range of damping forces.
Suspension geometry modified with new values for the steering head angle, offset, position of the swing arm pivot, fork projection, and spring strut length.
New mechanical steering damper adjustable over ten levels.
Forged and milled fork bridge in a new design and with a smaller offset.
Revised design with a leaner tail section, redesigned side panels, centre airbox cover with side aperture grilles, and winglets.
For new colour variants: plain Racing Red with Alpine white, Bluefire, Sapphire black metallic, BMW Motorrad Motorsport colours.
Revised RR logo.
New heel plates and leaner stabilisers on the passenger footrests.
Redesigned LCD engine speed display for better readability and with five dimming levels.
Instrument cluster with the new functions “Best lap in progress” and “Speedwarning”; deactivation of “Lamp” fault message when headlamp or number plate carrier removed.
Catalytic converters relocated, so no heat shield necessary.
Expansion to the optional extras and special equipment ex works.

Look after the jump for a huge photo gallery and a video of the revised S1000RR.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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2012 Honda Integra to come with 700cc engine and twin clutch gearbox – yes, it’s a bike not a car!

Paul Tan — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:49:18 +0000

Honda is bringing back the name Honda Integra to one of its products, but unfortunately it’s not the sports coupe with the screaming high-revving engine that we used to know and love. The 2012 Honda Integra is actually a motorcycle with a scooter-ish riding position which puts the rider’s feet further forward than a motorcycle.

The new Honda Integra uses a 51 hp water-cooled 700cc inline-two engine, which Honda says offers the compact dimensions of an inline engine and the character of a V-twin thanks to a 270 degree throw crankshaft. It’s a long-stroke engine, with a 73 mm x 80 mm bore-stroke ratio for its cylinders, so this should generally mean an engine designed to provide lots of low to mid end torque instead of being a screamer, which should suit this kind of bike.

The Integra also gets a second-generation Dual Clutch Transmission which is lighter and more compact than the version first used in the VFR1200F. It has a simplified hydraulic circuit, among other design enhancements. A learning function has been added to each selected running mode to detect a variety of riding environments from city streets to mountain passes and automatically performs the most suitable shift logic. You can also stick to a 6-speed manual if you want.

Honda estimates a fuel economy of 27 km/L for the Integra. Being a bike instead of a car, the new Honda Integra will debut at the 69th EICMA International Motorcycle Exhibition instead of the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Marco Simoncelli accident: Official Statement from Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, Chairman of SIC

Paul Tan — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:43:38 +0000

The Sepang International Circuit sent out this press release today.

On behalf of Sepang International Circuit (SIC), I wish to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Marco Simoncelli’s family members, teammates, fellow riders and the whole MotoGP family. We share the pain and shock of the tragic and heartbreaking loss of Marco Simoncelli on 23 October 2011.

Marco will be remembered as a talented rider and a flamboyant character who never failed to put a smile on the faces of the racing fraternity and his fans with his cheerful demeanour. Above all, he was a great man and a competitor who was destined for even greater things both on and off the track. MotoGP and the racing world is now a lesser place without him.

SIC would like to state that the decision to cancel the race was taken after considering the severity of the accident. The decision was agreed upon by SIC and Dorna Sports SL, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP. SIC made public announcements on the cancellation of the race and Marco’s death as soon as we were authorised to do so, with priority being given to officially inform Marco’s family members first. I hope that fans can understand the situation prevalent at the time.

SIC would like to reiterate that all preparations and precautionary steps were taken to ensure we staged a safe race in accordance with FIM, AAM and Dorna safety requirements. However, the inherently dangerous nature of motorsports does not allow a race organiser or track owner to give a guarantee that nothing untoward will happen during a race.

The Sepang International Circuit is acknowledged as having been designed to be a safe circuit and managed by a team of experienced personnel, on and off track, to handle race events professionally. We work to the highest safety standards and we will continue to ensure these standards are met at every race held at our circuit. At the race on Sunday, circuit personnel acted speedily and professionally to attend to Marco as soon as the accident happened. Despite all that was done, the medical team could not change the outcome of the situation given the severity of his injuries. In the aftermath of this sad tragedy, we will work with FIM and Dorna to see if there is anything else we can do to improve rider safety in races.

We at SIC are honoured to have had Marco gracing our tracks with his dazzling skills and panache all these years. To Marco, may you rest in peace. You will be missed. Addio Super Sic.

Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Marco Simoncelli dies in Sepang after MotoGP crash

Paul Tan — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:23:35 +0000

Honda rider Marco Simoncelli died today in a horror crash during the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang. He was pronounced dead at 4:56pm today at the SIC medical centre.

The accident happened just minutes after the race began where the Italian’s bike went into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi on turn 11.

Everyone who saw the incident knew this was not going to be good when it was observed that Simoncelli’s helmet got knocked off in the collision. He suffered serious trauma to the head, neck and chest.

“When our medical staff got to him he was unconscious. In the ambulance because there was a cardiac arrest they started CPR (cardiac pulmonary resuscitation). Immediately in the Medical Centre, with the help also of the Doctor of our staff at the Clinica Mobile and local Doctors, he was intubated and it was possible to take off some blood from the thorax. The CPR was continued for 45 minutes because we tried to help him for as long as we thought it was possible. Unfortunately it was not possible to help him and at 16:56 (local time) we had to declare he was dead,” said MotoGP Medical Director Michele Macchiagodena.

Colin Edwards, who was also involved in the crash, had a dislocation of the shoulder and had it fixed under anesthesia. According to Macchiagodena, he is doing fine.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Petronas Motosports Carnival going on from now till Sunday @ KLCC – MotoGP rider Ben Spies dropped by!

Danny Tan — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:31:51 +0000

This is the MotoGP week, where the world’s finest riders make their annual visit to Malaysia. And in conjunction with the race this Sunday at Sepang, Petronas, sponsor of Yamaha Factory Racing, has something special in the city. The Petronas Motorsports Carnival is happening in the open area between the KLCC mall and the fountain, near Chinoz and Dome.

We braved the big jam caused by the rain to pay the carnival a visit. Reaching at 5.30pm, I already saw a long line for the autograph session with Yamaha rider Ben Spies, who would appear half an hour later. Unfortunately, the 27-year old American rider’s star teammate Jorge Lorenzo couldn’t make it to Malaysia.

The 2010 champ crashed in warm up in Australia and had to undergo surgery. Fortunately, the surgeon was able to save the nerves and tendons of Jorge’s injured fourth finger, as a result no functionality will be lost in either the finger or the hand. A get well soon book was at the signing session – before everyone got Spies’ signature, they put theirs in for Jorge. Sweet. Petronas will make sure that the book reaches the recovering rider.

While waiting for the star to appear, I killed time by browsing the booths of Petronas (plenty of nice merchandise for sale) and Yamaha. Tried out the Augmented Reality game as well, and realised that I was completely hopeless at it. Petronas Motorsports has an online version as well – click here to play.

The Petronas Motorsports Carnival happens till this Sunday, and besides the Augmented Reality game, activities include a trial bike showcase, fashion and dance shows and daily trivia. The bikes of Spies #11 and Lorenzo #1 are also on display. Here are some pics from our visit.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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UMW launches Repsol automotive lubricants in Malaysia

Danny Tan — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:18:01 +0000

The name Repsol is no stranger to the biking community and to those who follow MotoGP. I have to admit that I haven’t been following the premier bike series for a long time, but I fondly remember my favourite rider Mick Doohan battling it out with the likes of Wayne Rainey and Kevin Schwantz. The Aussie rode a Repsol Honda, the same team that just powered Casey Stoner to the 2011 MotoGP title.

Well, for those scratching their heads, Repsol is an oil and gas company from Spain with principal operations in Latin America, Middle East and North Africa. The brand is market leader in its home market and Argentina, and is quite big in South America. It operates in 30 countries and its products are available in 60 nations across the globe.

Repsol is now officially available in Malaysia courtesy of UMW Lubricants International (ULI). The principal agency agreement with Repsol was signed in November last year at the Valencia MotoGP race. Since its introduction here in June 2011, ULI has imported over 530 tonnes of lubricant oil for passenger vehicles, motorcycles and diesel engines.

ULI will start blending lubes according to Repsol specs at its Shah Alam plant from January 2012. The manufacturing of Repsol branded products has also begun at Lubritech’s plant in Guangdong, China. Lubritech is part of the UMW Group. Sales of Repsol lubes are expected to reach 20,000 tonnes per year within Malaysia and China by 2015. Locally, ULI is hoping to capture at least 3% market share bu end 2012. Promo activities will start from this weekend’s MotoGP race at Sepang.

UMW also handles the Pennzoil lubricant brand in Malaysia. Repsol will be positioned above the American brand.

“We would like to position Repsol as a premium quality lubricant. Given its long time association with MotoGP, we are going to aggressively promote Repsol products for the passenger vehicle market. We will appoint nationwide distributors and dealers, and target to have more than 200 outlets by the end of 2011,” said Datuk Syed Hisham Syed Wazir, President and Group CEO of UMW Holdings Berhad.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Naza World brings in Indian Motorcycles – not from India!

Danny Tan — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:17:56 +0000

There’s a new bike brand in town, and it’s Indian Motorcycles. Funny name, but think American Indian instead of India. Indian Motorcycles is an American brand focusing on easy riders and has a 110-year history of making two wheelers and was once the best selling brand with introduction of the first V-twin motorcycle in 1907. Currently, it’s more niche than mass and produces limited numbers from North Carolina, USA.

Harmony Fabulous Sdn Bhd (HFSB), a company under Naza World, launched the brand at last weekend’s Bikepalooza 2011. HFSB is the sole distributor of Indian Motorcycles for both Malaysia and Singapore markets. Dato’ Razali Ibrahim, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports officiated the launch.

HFSB is introducing four Indians locally, and they are the Chief Blackhawk and Chief Blackhawk Dark (Special Edition), Chief Vintage, Chief Classic and Chief Dark Horse. The Indian Chiefs are powered by a 1,721 cc air cooled pushrod PowerPlus engine with electronic fuel injection, linked to a six-speed transmission.

The Indian Chief models are priced from RM225,000 to RM285,000, inclusive of three years free maintenance. A dedicated Indian Motorcycles showroom next to Naza Automall PJ is in the works and due for completion by February 2012. In the meantime, the bikes will be on display at Naza World PJ.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Ducati Monster 795: Sneak peak available at Lot 10, KL

Danny Tan — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:27:37 +0000

Next Bike Sdn Bhd, official distributor for Ducati in Malaysia, has been given the honour of launching Ducati’s latest model for the Asian market. The unveiling will happen on 20 October.

In the meantime, they have set up a “Ducati Sneak Peek Box” placed outside the Lot 10 Mall on Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL. As its name suggests, members of the public can take peeks at the new model placed inside the box.

“The new Monster is expected to further contribute to the growth of Ducati in Malaysia, this year alone the company has grown its sales volume by 100% where we expect to retail more than 200 units of Ducati. The introduction of Ducati Diavel in December 2010 had significantly increase our market share as we enter new market segments and with this new Monster, we expect to further capture more market share within the naked bike category,” said Naza Group Joint Executive Chairman, Datuk Wira SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin.

It’s more than just the box. Lot 10 is also hosting the Ducati Brand Experience Roadshow from now till 23 October. On show are Ducati bikes and merchandise. Visitors can also purchase MotoGP tickets (Malaysian GP happens on 23 October) from the Sepang Circuit booth at the roadshow. Next Bike says that roadshow visitors can earn themselves an opportunity to party with Valentino Rossi at the “Monster Party”.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Why riding a bike makes sense in these troubled times!

Keshy Dhillon — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:01:55 +0000

We are stuck in difficult times. Fuel prices seem to be soaring beyond control; taxes are finding creative ways of making their presence felt in our pockets, prices of essential goods are higher than ever, almost everything is so much more inaccessible than they were say 10 years ago. If you’re a speed demon, then these are the dark ages.

Filling up your tank to indulge in your passion now costs twice as much, if not more; the rise in global crude oil has even affected the cost of our precious grip inducing rubber!

But just as people have found ways to cope with challenges, us speed mongers have found alternatives as well, with a number of us taking on two wheels instead of four. The adrenalin rush, the passion, the challenge, the camaraderie, everything remains the same.

True, it is definitely more dangerous, but where’s the fun in staying safe? There’s a very good reason why people go sky-diving naked, drive at over 200 km/h and for riders, scrape their knees while tackling a fast corner. And that’s because dopamine – the hormone that provides an adrenaline rush – is highly addictive!

Sure, a disaster is always just a blink away, but disasters don’t just happen, they are caused by lunacy, bad judgement, drugs, alcohol and ego-feeding machismo, and if you are so inclined – faith (in which case even traveling in a tank won’t save you either).

Bikes are brilliant. They are fast, cheap to run, traffic jams don’t bother bikes (until it starts to rain), and the whole process of putting on your gear and helmet makes you feel like you’re about to go to war! It’s exciting before you even start to ride.

Bikes are a little like fine women, ride one well and the reward is satisfying, but get it wrong and your life is on the line. It really separates the men from the boys.

In the context of superbikes and such, they have largely been inaccessible thanks to the price, high down payment, the whole process of getting a license, and the cost of safety gear.

The prices of superbikes are still beyond the reach of most people. The down payment for a bike loan is still hovering around 20 – 30%, and interest rates are pretty steep as well.

As for safety gear, ask any biker if it’s worth compromising on safety just to get a cheaper alternative, and you’re likely to be in for an earful. There’s absolutely no compromising on safety. Good brands, padded gear, good build quality, and even good tyres are the fundamental basics. And ATGATT – short for All The Gear All The Time – should be enshrined in your mind.

Licensing is another issue; the entire process of attending classes, then training, then examinations can be very tiresome and time consuming. That’s probably why many superbikers on the road today don’t have their license.

Of course, there are easier ways around that, but I’m not going to touch on that, visit your friendly driving school for more information. But if you are thinking that just because you have ridden a scooter and some kapcai, therefore you can ride a superbike, then the classes and training is the safer route for you. Safer for both you and others on the road.

Moving on to the bikes then.

So for the sake of this story, I brought together three very different bikes with very unique abilities, and yet worlds apart to demonstrate how you can indulge in everything a speed demon needs with the convenience of daily transport. Of course there are a number of bikes that deserve to be listed as good entry level bikes but the trio were called together based on availability.

Just to make a point, the owners of all these bikes started off as all-out car nuts, charging Porsche’s and M3’s up some of the trickiest roads in Malaysia, and competing against each other to post the fastest time around Sepang. Bikes suddenly made more sense because you get all the thrill at a budget. It made good economic sense to all.

The Yamaha Diversion XJ6 is the entry level sport bike. It’s the cheapest among the three, the friendliest to ride, and the easiest to live with. It was built to be used on a daily basis, cruise long distance when need be, and attack corners when asked to do so. Simply put, if you’re looking for a bike that will take you on to bigger things, the XJ6 is it.

Built locally, the XJ6 doesn’t command a hefty price tag either. At RM40,647.50, its the cheapest four-cylinder sport bike in Malaysia. The highlight of the XJ6, besides its good looks, is its engine. Besides sounding something like Judge Dredd’s cruiser, the four-cylinders provide a smooth ride with minimal vibrations. This makes long distance cruising quite comfortable.

The engine’s 600cc displacement returns 77 hp and 60 Nm of torque. And if you pull all the way till its 12,000 rpm redline, you will see 100 km/h in slightly more than three seconds and 200 km/h in a little over 20 seconds. That’s not going to win you a duel with a Ferrari or a Ducati, but it’s more than enough to set your heart racing.

However, at 211 kg, it’s no lightweight. It’s no carving knife in the corners either as its heft tends to push it off your intended line, forcing you to slow down. The low set foot pegs also tend to scrape if you try to take on a dramatic lean angle. But it’s still plenty of fun once you get accustomed to its character, and is a great introductory machine.

The KTM 690 Duke R is the other entry-level bike, but unlike the do-it-all XJ6, the Duke R is more suited to stunting and urban riding. It’s a tall bike, but there are mods available to lower the seat height. It’s a mean looking naked bike too, almost as if it’s about to transform into an evil Decepticon and throw you off its saddle at high speed.

Get on the bike and immediately it makes you feel like popping a standing wheelie, terrorise some pedestrians with a stoppie, and pulling off a rolling burnout at a busy intersection.

The 690 Duke R is incredibly fast, and that’s because it’s powered by the world´s most powerful single-cylinder bike engine. The 690cc powerplant produces similar figures to the XJ6 – 70 hp and 70 Nm of torque. But weighing in at only 148 kg, the Duke R totally trumps the XJ6. Still the acceleration figures to 100 km/h remains in the sub-3 second category. The weight savings is meant to make wheelie’s easier rather than help you win drag races.

But while it excels at looking and behaving naughty, the Duke R is not very friendly for long distance riding. That’s because its single-cylinder engine sends vibration up your spine worse than a classic single engine Cessna at take-off and landing. The way to deal with the vibrations is to ride fast, it’s just that the upright seating position exposes you to the onslaught of wind and beetles.

So stick to urban commuting and the KTM 690 Duke R will do just fine. Slap on an Akrapovic exhaust can and you’ll be slicing through traffic like a hot knife through butter. It’s incredibly capable and there’s a very good reason why some of the world’s biking media call it the best single-cylinder bike in the world. That should be reason enough to splash slightly over RM48,000 on it.

If the Yamaha and KTM are entry level bikes for the aspiring superbiker, the BMW R1200R is the bike for the aspiring ‘ride-around-the-world’ tour rider with a fat bank account. It’s worlds apart from the other two and features a gadget list longer than your average car.

At RM112,000, it’s not cheap at all. There are a lot of cars that you can buy for that much money, however it’s meant to compliment your car rather than being your sole mode of transport. But a good, reliable, fast bike like the BMW R1200R can serve as your primary transport if need be. And there aren’t many cars that can return an incredible fuel consumption figure of just 5.5-litres for every 100 km at a constant speed of 120 km/h. There’s just the small matter of Malaysian weather.

Acronyms like ASC (Automatic Stability Control), ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment), ABS, and TPC (tyre pressure control), work in unison to give the rider the safest and the most comfortable ride while traversing continents. Its twin-cylinder horizontally-opposed boxer engine provides a smooth ride while churning out 109 hp and 115 Nm of torque, more than enough to power through dangerous situations or to indulge in traffic light drag races.

Your travels taking you up some chilly mountains? No fear as the heated grips will keep you warm while you concentrate on the road ahead.

At 228 kg, it’s pretty obvious that the R1200R is no corner-slinger but more of a Bahn-stormer. The weight makes it feel stable and subdued at high speed; despite its weight the R1200R will still do the 100 km/h sprint in just 3.6 seconds.

Did I mention it’s incredible easy to ride? With an impressive equipment list, great safety acronyms, incredible frugality, and pleasant retro looks, it’s almost a complete bike. All that is left is having lots of money to buy it.

So there it is then. Three great bikes provide a great case on why biking is the way to go in these days of raising costs and insane traffic jams. Safety is a personal issue, ride safe and stay safe, ride like a lunatic and get buried with a mangled torso, it’s as simple as that.

If you’re thinking of riding, there’s just one golden rule. Riding is not like driving, you can still get into a Ferrari Enzo and drive away, biking is not as simple. It’s an evolutionary process that requires you to start with something small and manageable and then make your way to bigger, more powerful bikes. Money can buy you a nice bike, but can’t buy you valuable experience.

Do yourself a favour, save fuel, save time, increase productivity, ride a bike.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Aprilia Tuono V4 APRC and Dorsoduro 1200 launched in Malaysia – new Aprilia flagship showroom opens

Anthony Lim — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 04:57:39 +0000

Amidst all the non-stop action from IIMS late last week was some local news on the motorcycle front, which we’re finally getting to here. Aprilia aficionados in Malaysia will be pleased to hear that there are two new models from the Italian marque to choose from as well as a spanking new venue housing all things Aprilia.

The first of the two new bikes is the Tuono V4 APRC, the naked version of the RSV4 Factory – Malaysia is the first country in Asia to launch the model. The 1,000cc offering, which has 167.3 hp at 11,500 rpm and 111.5 Nm at 9,500 rpm for output figures and features Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC), is set to take the fight to the likes of Ducati Streetfighter S, KTM Super Duke R and the Triumph Speed Triple.

The Dorsoduro 1200 is the other, and the Motard category offering, with 130 hp at 8,700 rpm and 115 Nm at 7,200 rpm, has an Aprilia Traction Control (ATC) system as standard fitment. The two bikes bring the Aprilia model lineup in the country to eight.

Meanwhile, the new Aprilia flagship showroom in Kampung Baru was also launched along with the bikes. The 3S centre has a service area with eight bays, and the showroom features a Championship Corner where two almost exact replicas of championship racing bikes – a RSV4 Factory which was used by Superbike World Championship (SBK) winner, Max Biaggi in 2010, and a RS125R MotoGP bike – on display.

The showroom will also have a merchandise store – opening next month – offering a wide range of Aprilia racing apparel and casual wear.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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BMW Malaysia appoints Chear Motorrad as dealership

Anthony Lim — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:17:17 +0000

BMW Malaysia has appointed Chear Motorrad as its newest BMW Motorrad dealership. Chear Motorrad is the sister company of Chear Motor (H.Q.), one of the largest distributors for motorcycles, accessories and parts in the country.

Chear Motorrad is in the midst of establishing its new 4S (Sales, Service, Systems and Spare-parts) Motorrad dealership in Puchong, which is set to be ready for operation in September.

With BMW’s motorcycle division in the country charting positive year on year growth since 2003, the latest dealership appointment is set to take things further. Last year, the company delivered 281 motorcycles, a 25% increase from the 225 motorcycles achieved in 2009.

“This clearly shows that there is a growing demand for premium motorcycles in the country and with the appointment of Chear Motorrad, we will be able to meet and better serve this demand.” said BMW Malaysia MD Geoffrey Briscoe.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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BMW Motorrad E-Scooter concept – electric path beckons

Anthony Lim — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:50:30 +0000

Click to enlarge

The folks at BMW Motorrad have come up with an electric scooter concept called the E-Scooter, which offers a comparable performance to a conventional maxi scooter, but in much cleaner fashion

Conceived as a future-oriented vehicle for commuting between urban areas and the city centre, the E-Scooter provides the necessary sustained output and maximum speed for safe and reliable operation on urban motorways and when asked to carry two people.

While no output figures are provided, BMW says that the development study has the necessary juice to be able to achieve acceleration figures within the important 0-60 kph range, and this is at the level of current 600 cc maxi scooters.

Click to enlarge

The E-Scooter has an operational range of over 100 km, and its battery can be charged at regular household power sockets, so no special charging station is required. When completely flat, the charging period for the unit is less than three hours, with shorter charging times for batteries that aren’t completely out of juice, of course.

The charging device includes a charge cable, and in addition to other components like an ISO insulation monitor, high-voltage indicator and a high-voltage distributor, a DC/DC converter is included with the E-Scooter – it’s required to change high voltage to low voltage power for the 12V power supply and especially for the control units.

There’s no main frame with this one – the aluminium battery casing, which also contains the electronic system required for battery cell monitoring, takes over the function of the frame. The steering head support is connected to this, as is the rear frame as well as the left-hand mounted, single swing arm with a directly hinged, horizontally installed shock absorber.

Click to enlarge

The E-Scooter has no hub motor with direct drive or planetary gearbox – instead, the primary electric drive is mounted behind the battery casing, while the secondary drive is made up of a toothed belt from the electric machine to the belt, pulley-mounted coaxially on the swinging fork pivot with drive pinion. From here, power transmission occurs via a roller chain to the rear wheel.

There’s energy regeneration too, when the E-Scooter is decelerated in trailing throttle or when braking, and this offers between 10 and 20% increased range, depending on the driving profile.

During travel, the electric machine and power electronics are liquid-cooled, as is the charging device during charging. An electric coolant pump ensures coolant circulation through the radiator, though the battery on the E-Scooter features an air-cooled system, chosen to save space.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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BMW Motorrad bikes to get Dynamic Damper Control

Paul Tan — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:08:24 +0000

BMW has rolled out dynamic damper control across nearly all their new cars recently, and now BMW Motorrad is doing the same with their bikes.

Motorrad’s DDC is a semiactive suspension system which reacts automatically to manoeuvres like braking, accelerating, and cornering on various road surfaces and analyses the situational parameters provided by sensors to set the correct level of damping at electrically actuated damping valves.

DDC is linked to the DTC and ABS systems. The system recognises the control activities by the other systems and adapts the damping as the situation requires. The adjustments to damping depend on whether the springs are compressing or rebounding, with each process being controlled separately.

Look after the jump for a full explanation on how the DDC system works.

A number of examples quickly provide some insights into the advantages for certain riding situations. Before the rider sets off, activating the ignition first initiates the system check and the flow of information from the engine control, ABS control unit, sensor box (DTC), and the spring travel sensors to the DDC control unit. This appears on the display in the instrument panel.

When the motorcycle sets off, the valves in the front and rear dampers are actuated only marginally (supplied with power) when the speed exceeds a definable value. When the rider accelerates, e.g. when leaving the city limits, the valve in the rear strut is actuated more strongly owing to the changes in dynamic wheel load distribution and in the drive torque. Once the target speed has been reached, valve actuation drops back to its original level (less power supply than setting off). Information flows from the throttle grip via engine control to the DDC control unit, and from there to the damping valves.

When the rider takes a series of corners, both damping valves are actuated more strongly with increasing inclination – starting from the low power supply – until the vertex is reached. When the vehicle returns upright between two corners, the actuation of the two damping valves constantly drops to the original power level with decreasing inclination. When the motorcycle turns into the second corner, valve actuation again rises proportionally to the angle of inclination and again drops from the vertex value. Information flows from the sensor box (DTC) to the DDC control unit, and from there to the damping valves.

When the motorcycle brakes, e.g. at a rail crossing, the actuation of the front damping valve increases proportionally to the deceleration so that the damping forces and therefore riding stability increase as a result. In this case, ?Dynamic Damping Control DDC analyses both the dynamic phase of braking, until constant deceleration and wheel load distribution, and the subsequent static phase.

Once the adjusted speed has been reached (here for passing over the rail crossing), the power supply and therefore the actuation return to their original values. At the same time, information flows from the hand brake pump on the handlebar to the ABS, and from there via the DDC control unit to the valves.

When the motorcycle is passing over the rail crossing (here representing all types of uneven road surfaces), the valves in the front and rear dampers are actuated (powered) proportionally to the respective compression travel. In this case, information flows the front and rear spring travel sensors via the DDC control unit to the valves.

When the motorcycle is finally brought to a stop, the valves are first actuated as in the braking process described above. As soon as the motorcycle is stationary, the power to the valves and therefore their actuation are deactivated.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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BMW Malaysia launch K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL bikes

Danny Tan — Thu, 26 May 2011 07:58:33 +0000

Click to enlarge

BMW Group Malaysia introduced two new Motorrad models today – the K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL. These two touring bikes feature the most compact inline six cylinder engines for serial production motorcycles to date.

The engine in question is a 1,649 cc inline six pushing 160 hp at 7,750 rpm and 175 Nm of torque at 5,250 rpm, with 70% of the latter available from 1,500 rpm. The four-stroke unit has two overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Top speed is “over 200 km/h”. At a constant speed of 90 km/h, fuel consumption is rated at 4.5 litres per 100 km; at 120 km/h it’s 5.7 litres per 100 km.

Weighing in at only 102.6 kg, the engine by far the lightest serially produced inline six over 1,000 cc in the bike world. The K 1600 GT weighs in at 319 kg and the GTL at 348 kg.

The rider has Rain, Road and Dynamic modes to choose from. There’s also the unique Electronic Suspension Adjustment II system, which allows the rider to adapt not only the rebound damping properties of the front and rear spring struts, but also the spring rest of the rear spring strut and spring rate, and thus the “hardness” of the bike’s overall suspension.

These two tourers are very well equipped. Cruise control, adaptive xenon headlamps (with angel eyes!), an on-board computer and a 5.7-inch TFT colour display are among the kit supplied. The latter displays the BMW Motorrad Navigator IV system if one opts for it.

The GTL variant has different seating and ergonomics from the GT. Its single-section, dual level seat together with the rider footrests are positioned further forward and lower, and the handlebars reach further backwards for a more relaxed riding posture.

The GT is priced at RM158k and the GTL RM168k OTR excluding insurance. Gallery after the jump.

BMW K 1600 GT

BMW K 1600 GTL

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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BMW Motorrad Ride with Pride Campaign – duo on 20,000 km ride across Asia to raise funds and create awareness

Anthony Lim — Fri, 06 May 2011 12:56:18 +0000

A couple of adventure-seeking philanthropists recently traversed Malaysia on BMW Motorrad F 800 GS motorcycles as part of a 20,000 km journey across the Asia-Pacific for a worthy cause.

Morgan Parker and Alan Ng completed the Malaysian-leg of their Wheel2Wheel motorcycle enduro-adventure in aid of the Women’s Aid Organization (WAO), a non-government body set up to prevent violence and discrimination against women.

The duo’s Wheel2Wheel independent non-profit project, which kicked off on March 1, aims to raise funds and awareness of grassroots-level charitable organisations by visiting them as part of the journey, involving 10 charities in 10 countries over 100 days. The project has so far raised USD $180,000 through campaigns over Facebook and Twitter.

Parker and Ng started their travels from Hong Kong before heading across China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and now Malaysia. The next stop is Indonesia, followed by Timor Leste and finally, Parker’s hometown of Brisbane, Australia.

The duo paid a visit to the Auto Bavaria BMW Motorrad dealership in Glenmarie on their custom-fitted F800 GS motorcycles after a four-day riding tour of Malaysia, having travelled over 1,200 km of highways and local trunk roads. The duo was greeted by an entourage from the Malaysian BMW Motorrad Owners Club, before embarking on a short ride to Genting Highlands with stopovers at Batu Caves and the Ulu Yam Lake.

“The journey so far has been quite an interesting challenge with much of the terrain posing difficulties as well as spectacular beauty at the same time. However, the cause has made it all worth it as we have managed to see first hand, the work of the organisations such as the Women’s Aid Organisation in making a difference in the countries they operate in,” Parker said.

He added that the duo have made many friends along their journey. “There’s just something about BMW Motorrad owners, their motorcycles and the spirit of adventure. Throughout my journey, I had the privilege of riding along side a few BMW Motorrad owners as they too journeyed across the terrain.”

All the footage of the Asia-Pacific voyage will be compiled into a special Wheel2Wheel 10-part television series, which will be broadcast on the National Geographic Channel in the second half of 2011. If you’d like to know more about the charitable initiative, find out here.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Boon Siew Honda launches the 110cc Wave Dash kapcai

Danny Tan — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 06:31:11 +0000

Boon Siew Honda has launched the new Honda Wave Dash this morning in KL. This 110cc cub (or kapcai, as these underbone bikes are more popularly called) is based on the Wave 110 that was launched early last year, but does not replace it or the evergreen EX5.

The Wave Dash is a sportier option to the more conventional looking Wave 110, and is a big part of Boon Siew Honda’s plans to capture 50% market share in the mid size cub segment (110-115cc) this year.

The Wave Dash shares the proven 109.1cc four-stroke engine with the Wave 110. It produces 6.22 kW at 7,500 rpm and 8.59 Nm at 5,500 rpm, figures that beat Yamaha’s Lagenda 115Z. The air cooled OHC unit is mated to a 4-speed transmission. There are two variants: the kick start RS and the RSR with electric starter. The former weighs 96 kg while the latter is 2 kg heavier.

The bodywork of the Dash is obviously different from the Wave 110, and the colours and graphics are particularly striking (I like the one in HRC colours, officially called Vivacity Red). The headlight has migrated south and the instruments have a new design.

The aerodynamic upper and lower cowl is said to reduce wind noise and help stability in high speed cruising. The RSR adds on the gold sport rims you see here. Another noteworthy feature is the “Double-glow Shuttle Lock System”, which glows in the dark.

The first thing yours truly noticed at the launch was the bike’s tagline, which is “Kekasih Gelapku” in BM. My brain’s faulty auto translate took it to mean “Black Lover”, which doesn’t make any sense. To our relieve, Boon Siew clarified that the Wave Dash is meant to be a “Secret Lover” to its owners

The Wave Dash RS is priced at RM4,998 while the RSR costs RM5,268, both with 1-year comprehensive single rider insurance. They will be available at all Boon Siew Honda dealers from 15 May.

UPDATE: At the event, Boon Siew Honda also conducted the lucky draw for the “Beli & Menang” Honda Genuine motor oil campaign. The drawn winners are Kanhaa a/p Ai Ting from Kedah who won a Honda Icon and Gan Chin Keong who won himself a Honda Wave 125X Ultimo.

Full gallery from the launch after the jump!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Shell Advance 4T roadshow finale – Diavel on display

Anthony Lim — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 04:07:34 +0000

Yes, the first two legs of the Shell Advance 4T roadshow in Penang and Johor Bahru were a success, drawing some 5,000 and 8,000 visitors respectively, and now the show enters its final stretch in KL – the all-day event on April 16 will take place at Berjaya Times Square.

Activities will include a best-dressed motorcycle competition, radio-controlled mini-bike races and various Nintendo Wii and iPad games featuring attractive prizes. As part of its on-ground promotions, Shell will be giving visitors a chance to win 300 free packs of the new Shell Advance 4T motorcycle oils during the event.

Besides the relevant range of motorcycle oils, the roadshow finale will also showcase a trio of Ducati bikes, led by the new Diavel.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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BMW Motorrad enters big scooter world with Concept C

Danny Tan — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 03:28:44 +0000

BMW Motorrad isn’t a name synonymous with scooters, but is looking to enter the big scooter market, as previewed by this Concept C. If birthed, which is very likely, BMW’s maxi scooter will enter a market that has the Suzuki Burgman, Yamaha TMAX, Honda Silver Wing and Gilera GP 800 – the latter with an 839 cc V-Twin.

The Concept C sees BMW put “maximum possible emotion to its interpretation of this subject” and also familiar design cues. This monster has the so-called “split face” and a twin-tipped front spoiler in the style of models such as the S 1000 RR.

The body lines sweeping up to the bike’s rear underscore its active riding character, says BMW. Sportiness and dynamism are also displayed by the close cut, speeder-style windscreen. Also notice the aluminium look bash plates with the air intake adopted from the famous GS.

Tech wise, the Concept C features a complex monolever mechanism with hollowed-out shaft connected to a visible suspension strut. In this concept, front-wheel control takes the form of an upside down fork. The stable twin disc brakes up front features two radial brake calipers. In addition, there’s a single disc brake at the rear and ABS.

While electric drive is a future possibility, the Concept C features internal combustion engines. It’s powered by a new, two-cylinder inline engine paired to a CVT. Engine power, torque, and therefore performance “will be moving towards the top of the segment” it’s claimed, although no figures are given. By the way, the Gilera GP 800 packs in 75 hp and 76 Nm of torque, so BMW will have to top that to be the top dog.

Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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The Harley-Davidson Blackline – a Softail for the young

Anthony Lim — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 03:52:15 +0000

Click to enlarge

It’s stripped to the core, this one is. Harley-Davidson has introduced the new Blackline motorcycle in its Dark Custom lineup, effectively a Softail symbolising defiance, designed for younger riders with that bit of a rebel streak in them.

With an internally counter-balanced Twin Cam 96B V-Twin engine rigid-mounted within the frame, the styling spotlight shines on the Big Twin engine dressed in black and silver, with machined highlights reminiscent of the Big Twins of the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s.

The engine – matched to a six-Speed Cruise Drive transmission – is capped off by a fuel tank shaved smooth and low, and the rider hugs the frame on the lowest two-up seat ever offered by Harley-Davidson.

Instrumentation is compact and tucked, and there’s just enough shine to make the black parts look blacker. The chopped fender, narrow, split drag handlebar, and slammed speedometer contribute to the lean and linear nature of the bike that gives the Blackline its name.

The Softail chassis utilises rear suspension control provided by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally along the frame rails below the powertrain, out of sight. So, while the swingarm section replicates the lines of a vintage hardtail frame, the suspension performance and handling on this one are thoroughly modern.

Other styling cues include a blacked-out horseshoe oil tank recalling the original on the 1936 ELsmooth, black rims on profile laced aluminium wheels with black anodised rims hearkening back to the 1930s and a chopped rear fender made famous by post-WWII riders, bobbed high-and-tight. The bike rides on 21 x 2.15 inch front and 16 x 3 inch rear wheels, with Dunlop D402 MH90-21 front and MU85B16 rear rubbers.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Shell introduces new Advance 4T range of motorcycle oils

Anthony Lim — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 03:22:41 +0000

This one’s for them bike enthusiasts, then. Shell Malaysia has launched a new range of motorcycle oils called Advance 4T, available in four clearly tiered and easily differentiated products designed for specific types of bikes and performance requirements.

The new product range features newly-developed RCE Technology, designed to deliver reliable oil performance by helping remove deposits and maintain viscosity for better protection, better control via smoother gear changes and slippage prevention as well as a more enjoyable ride by reducing vibration and engine noise.

At the top of the range is the new Advance Ultra 10W-40 fully synthetic oil, and Shell says the API SM/JASO MA2 oil – which is priced at RM45 per litre grey-coloured pack – delivers up to 80% better oxidation control, 78% better piston deposit control, 27.4% better sludge control and 48% better valve train protection compared to standard industry test limits.

Next, there’s the new Advance AX7 10W-40 synthetic technology oil for high performance power bikes. In a blue package and priced at RM28 per litre, it’s designed to boost the performance of standard bikes and mopeds.

The Advance AX5 15W-40 premium multi-grade oil is perfect for standard bikes and is proven to enhance the performance of mopeds. This API SL/JASO MA-rated oil, packaged in a bright yellow container, is priced at RM19 per litre. For moped owners, there’s the Advance AX3 20W-40 multigrade, which offers smoother performance and a more responsive riding experience. This one comes in a bright red packaging and goes for RM15.30 per litre.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Swigz electric superbike makes sensational racing debut

Anthony Lim — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 04:53:30 +0000

The Swigz Racing all-electric superbike has made history in its global racing debut, powering to two podium spots in two races at the Auto Club Speedway in California last weekend.

Despite only six laps of pre-race testing from Saturday’s practice session and a cold and overcast day, the privately owned and developed machine managed to live up to its promise to match gasoline-powered bike lap times on Sunday.

Swigz Racing owner and bike rider Chip Yates achieved third place in the premier WERA Heavyweight Twins Superbike race, having started on the third row of the grid, and unbelievably went one better in the WERA Heavyweight Twins Superstock race to finish second and post the fastest lap of the race at a 1:39.792. The bike was recorded at 254 kph on the straight.

“This was an absolutely epic race weekend for our team; we had to overcome some technical difficulties on Saturday but we fixed everything and came back Sunday to score two podiums, a huge top speed, and post competitive gasoline bike lap times with no further technical issues to slow us down,” Yates said.

“We are a small and entirely self-funded team, and together with a small group of very loyal sponsors, are solely responsible for the development, patenting and building of this superbike. What a humbling experience for our small team to develop and build a machine that can beat gasoline bikes from the top manufacturers on their own terms – I was nearly brought to tears as I crossed the finish line both times!”

No more calling an electric bike a wuss, at least not this one.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Mission Motors unveils Mission R electric racing superbike

Anthony Lim — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 04:12:31 +0000

Click to enlarge

Another electric superbike has come about, and this one is set to compete in the TTXGP racing series in 2011. San Francisco-based Mission Motors has introduced what it tags as an entirely new race-ready design, called the Mission R. At the heart of it all is a liquid-cooled three-phase AC induction motor offering 14.4 kWh and 141 hp, housed in a package smaller than that in a current 600cc petrol equivalent.

Built by the EV powertrain technology arm of Mission Motors, in this case MissionEVT, the unit offers 156 Nm of torque at the crank from 0 to 6,400 rpm, and performance specs include a top speed of over 260 kph in a single gear. A MissionEVT 100kW motor controller offers customisable regenerative braking maps as well as throttle maps, allowing the user to tune the bike to his preference.

Click to enlarge

Meanwhile, the Mission R’s chassis features an entirely new design for integrating and balancing the weight and volume of a large EV battery pack into a motorbike, and the chassis is wrapped in a new and aerodynamic industrial design by Tim Prentice of Motonium, with a small frontal-area and aggressive ergonomics.

All vehicle and ride data is accessible via WiFi or 3G connections, and MotoGP-spec components from Öhlins, Brembo, and Marchesini round out this built-for-racing package.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Electric superbike set to go racing against petrol racebikes

Anthony Lim — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:07:57 +0000

Next month will see the start of a rather intriguing two-wheeled battle, that of electric versus gasoline, as the world’s most powerful electric superbike goes head to head against conventional gasoline-powered race bikes in a professionally organised road race in the US.

The Swigz Racing bike will compete against the likes of racing superbikes such as the Ducati 1198 and KTM RC8 at the Auto Club Speedway in California in January, though it will make its track debut later this month in a private test.

By February next year, the 194 hp and 400 Nm electric superbike – which features a bespoke KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) among the host of tech on board – should become the most powerful road racing motorcycle of any kind being actively campaigned.

Excluded from the FIM and TTXGP Championships for electric motorcycles, which set a new 250kg maximum weight limit for 2011 (the bike weighs 266 kg), Swigz Racing’s owner Chip Yates, who is also the bike’s rider, said the decision was made to take the platform forward in the competitive environment of gasoline bike racing.

With a power to weight ratio that is slightly better than 600cc bikes, the machine will begin the 2011 season by competing in the WERA Pirelli Sportsman Heavyweight Twins Superbike class, where its power to weight ratio puts it in the middle of the field, though a more than 20% increase to its current 194 hp has been planned after the first race.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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Naza Group announces its displays for KLIMS

Anthony Lim — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 02:30:16 +0000

Visitors to the Naza Group’s display at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show, which begins on Dec 3, will be able to catch some RM20 million worth of supercars and superbikes on show.

The displays will be made up of products from the Group’s luxury car brands – Ferrari, Maserati and Brabus – as well as from Chevrolet, Peugeot and Kia. On the motorcycle front, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Piaggio, Aprilia, Vespa, Gilera and Naza Bikes stuff will be on show.

Naza is slated to unveil several products at the show, including the Maserati Gran Cabrio, Vespa LX150, Harley-Davidson Softail and its star display, the Ducati Diavel, which is being flown in especially for the show’s opening on Dec 2.

Among the other highlights are the Camaro SS Bumblebee, made popular in the hit movie Transformers 1 & 2 and the Cruze of the World Touring Car Championship (also seen in the latest Hawaii Five-O series) at the Chevrolet booth.

The Group is giving away some neat prizes at the show – 10 NAZA Blitz scooters, with one scooter to be given out each day during the 10 days of the show. Visitors who purchase their KLIMS’10 tickets online stand a chance to win a 3-days/2-nights self-drive getaway, with a choice of either a Chevrolet Captiva or Harley Davidson Sportster 48 to get you there and back, courtesy of the Group

Elsewhere, activities such as a mini-treasure hunt and a charity photo shoot have been planned. And if you purchase a car or motorcycle from Naza World during the show, you stand to win the Grand Prize of a Mercedes-Benz SLK200 Roadster and a Honda ST 1300 valued at RM230,000 and RM102,000 respectively.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 00:47:36 +0000.

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