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• 2020 Malaysian Cub Prix calendar released – racing starts this weekend at Sepang International Circuit

  In Bikes, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 13 July 2020 5:56 pm / 0 comment

  

  After a several month long hiatus due to the MCO and government restrictions against public gatherings for sporting events, the 2020 Malaysian Cub Prix calendar resumes. The first round will be held at Sepang International Circuit the weekend of 17 and 18 July at the North track.

  This will be followed by rounds at Tangkak, Johor on 22 and 23 August, Sepang South track on 2 and 3 September and Kuala Terengganu on 18 and 19 August. The Cub Prix circus then returns to Tangkak on 10 and 11 October before proceeding to Sepang on 31 October to 1 November for the sixth round.

  

  The seventh round, scheduled to be held at Sepang, has yet to be determined pending Dorna’s decision to hold the Malaysian MotoGP. The final and eighth round of the 2020 Malaysian Cub Prix will be at Tangkak on the weekend of 12 and 13 December.

  Restrictions to race locations are as per current government regulations on motorsports in events in Malaysia, which can only be held at permanent race circuits. No spectators are allowed, with the number of personnel in the pits and paddock controlled by the organisers.

   

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• 2020 Kawasaki ZX-25R launched in Indonesia – two versions, Standard at RM28,427, SE at RM33,431

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Kawasaki / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 13 July 2020 4:53 pm / 21 comments

  

  After a long wait, accompanied by short video teasers, the 2020 Kawasaki ZX-25R is now launched in Indonesia, which also marks its world debut. There are two versions of the four-cylinder ZX-25R, Standard which comes only in black at 96 million rupiah (RM28,427) and the ZX-25R SE with three colour choices – green, blue or white – at 112.9 million rupiah (RM33,431).

  Aside from the colour choices, the SE version of the ZX-25R comes with a higher equipment specification which includes ABS braking, up-and-down quick shifter and pillion seat cover. Also included is a smoked windshield, frame sliders and wheel graphic stickers.

  From its launch at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2019, technical specifications were slow to be revealed but we now know the inline four-cylinder, liquid-cooled DOHC mill displaces 249.8 cc and puts out 51 PS at 15,500 rpm (with Ram Air) and 22.9 Nm of torque at 14,500 rpm. Maximum speed of the ZX-25R, as shown in the teaser videos from Kawasaki, is 197 km/h.

  

  

  

  Power gets to the ground via a six-speed transmission and the up-and-down quick shifter is activated above 2,500 rpm. An assist and slipper clutch prevents rear wheel hop during hard downshifting and lowers effort at the clutch lever.

  Despite only displacing 250 cc, the ZX-25R comes with several technological advantages including two ride modes – Full or Low – and traction control as well as electronically-controlled throttle bodies. From a security point of view, the ZX-25R comes standard with an immobiliser.

  The sporty intentions of the full-fairing ZX-25R are clear in the trellis with styling following the cues of bigger sports bikes in the Kawasaki stable like the ZX-6R and ZX-10R. For braking, the ZX-25R uses a single 310 mm diameter disc with monobloc calliper on the front wheel while the rear wheel uses a 220 mm calliper, with wheel sizes being 110/70 for the front and 150/60 at the back, shod in Dunlop GPR300 rubber.

  

  Suspension on the ZX-25R uses Showa upside-down SFF-BP forks in 37 mm diameter in front, non-adjustable, while the rear Back-Link horizontal monoshock comes with preload adjustment. Overall weight is claimed to be 182 kg, with fuel carried in a 15-litre tank.

  During the online launch of the ZX-25R, Kawasaki Indonesia;s management said orders are currently being taken for deliveries beginning in August. For comparison, the Ninja 250 two-cylinder is sold in Indonesia at starting price of 64.1 million rupiah (RM18,981) while in Malaysia, it is priced at RM23,071.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2020 Vespa Racing Sixties in Malaysia, from RM19,100

  In Bikes, Local Bike News, Vespa / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 13 July 2020 12:42 pm / 4 comments

  

  A special variant of the Vespa scooter has been launched in Malaysia by official distributor Didi Resources, the 2020 Vespa Sprint and GTS 300 HPE Racing Sixties, priced at RM19,100 and RM31,400, respectively. These sporty scooters come with a two-year or 20,0000 km warranty and prices do not include road tax, insurance or registration.

  Harking back to the heydays of Italian scooters in Malaysia in the sixties, the Vespa Racing Sixties take inspiration from the gentlemen racers of that era when Vespas were campaigned on the race track. The scooters in Racing Sixties guise draw attention in the form of bright graphics and added accessories.

  

  

  

  There are two colour variants of the Racing Sixties, in white or green, with contrasting racing stripes as well as red and yellow graphics. Alloy wheels are finished in gold while components such as the bike levers, rear grab rail, exhaust shield, headlamp surround, footboard and side mirrors, usually done in chrome, are painted matte black.

  A new seat comes with the Racing Sixties scooters, covered in Nubuck and PVC for water resistance, while a Racing Sixties badge is located on the cargo hatch. The Vespa Racing Sixties scooters are accompanied by accessories from the extensive Vespa catalogue as well as Vespa lifestyle clothing in matching colours.

  

  

  

  In terms of technical specifications, the Racing Sixties 150 is identical to the Vespa Sprint 150 currently in the Malaysian market, using a single-cylinder EFI i-GET engine displacing 154.8 cc producing 12.7 hp and 12.8 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the Racing Sixties GTS is the first of Vespa’s models in Malaysia to use the 278 cc HPE mill that puts out a claimed 22.8 hp and 26 Nm of torque.

  The HPE single-cylinder engine in the Racing Sixties GTS is more powerful than the current generation GTS. For Malaysia, the standard model Vespa 300 GTS HPE will be released soon, following the launch of the Racing Sixties.

  GALLERY: 2020 Vespa Racing Sixties Sprint 150

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2020 Vespa Racing Sixties GTS 300 HPE

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2020 Ducati Multistrada 950 S now in GP White colours

  In Bikes, Ducati, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 9 July 2020 3:10 pm / 0 comment

  

  Following the issue of the Ducati Panigale V2 in white, the 2020 Ducati Multistrada 950 S adventure-tourer now comes in a GP White colour scheme. The new livery will be sold alongside the current model’s Ducati Red.

  Taking inspiration from the Ducati Corse livery in MotoGP and World Superbike Championship, the Multistrada 950 S comes in an alternate white and grey paint scheme, accented by red in the frame and wheels. This adds, according to the Ducati press release, “sportiness to the Multistrada 950 S, which makes elegance, fluidity and balance of lines its strengths.”

  The Multistrada 950 carries a 937 cc Testastretta 11, liquid-cooled, V-twin engine with a power output of 113 hp at 9,000 rpm and 96.2 Nm of torque at 7,750 rpm. Weighing 229 kg, the Multistrada 950 rolls on a 19-inch front wheel and 17-inch at the back – available in both spoke and cast alloy versions – while seat height is 840 mm, with lower and taller seats being optional extras.

  

  

  

  In the S version, the Multistrada 950 comes with Ducati Skyhook Suspension Evo (DSS) electronic suspension, Ducati Quick Shift up & down (DQS) and full-LED headlamp with Ducati Cornering Lights (DCL). A KYB 48 mm fully adjustable upside-down fork in front and a fully adjustable Sachs monoshock unit with remote preload adjustment at the back performs suspension duties on the base model Multistrada 950.

  Delivery of the 2020 Ducati Multistrada 950 S in GP White in Europe will begin this July. For Malaysia, the Ducati Multistrada 950 S retails at RM95,900 with free insurance and panniers promotion package till end July 2020, while the base model Multistrada 950 goes for RM88,900 but is not currently available.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• VIDEO: 2020 Triumph Rocket 3 R has no table manners

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Triumph / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 9 July 2020 10:58 am / 2 comments

  Some paultan.org readers might remember a BMW Motorrad video at the launch of the S1000RR from 10 years ago which showed a tablecloth, pulled by the super bike, yanked out from atop a banquet table, leaving the dinner setting in place. The video above is Triumph’s attempt to replicate the trick, this time using the tremendous torque from the 2020 Triumph Rocket 3 R.

  Showing that absolutely no fornications were given, a small table setting, complete with glasses of wine and fine crockery, is comprehensively destroyed by the action of the Rocket 3 R pulling away the table cloth. The video ends with the words, “no table manners.”

  As the successor to the previous generation Rocket 3, the current model Rocket 3 R comes with a 2.5-litre, inline three-cylinder mill, set longitudinally in the frame. While the Rocket 3 produces 167 PS at 6,000 rpm, what is astounding is the torque number, 221 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

  

  

  

  Hinckley’s power cruiser also comes in a Rocket 3 GT variant that has taller handlebars for a more upright riding position compared to the Rocket 3 R’s flatter bars. Weight has taken a beating on the Rocket 3 as well, with a claimed 249 kg dry weight versus the rather porky 362 kg of the previous model.

  The Rocket 3 has a seat height set at a low 773 mm, with adjustable foot controls to suit rider ergonomics. The Rocket 3 R (RM130,900) has mid-mounted controls that are adjustable vertically in two positions while the Rocket 3 GT (RM136,900) has three foot forward control positions and an adjustable pillion backrest.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• BMW Motorrad sees higher Asia sales for June 2020

  In Bikes, BMW Motorrad, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 8 July 2020 4:47 pm / 3 comments

  

  Despite a general down turn in the global economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic, BMW Motorrad seems to be bucking the trend with increased sales in South East Asia and Asia-Pacific. For the month of June, 2020, BMW Motorrad saw a sales increase of 17.3% compared to the same month last year, translating to a total of 2,997 motorcycles sold.

  The sales number covers Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand, which BMW Motorrad says is “pleasingly robust.” Across Europe, sales saw a similar monthly spike, with 13,937 motorcycles moving off the showroom floor, a 2,684 unit or 23.9% increase.

  In its home market of Germany, sales went up by 58.2%, while France saw a jump of 72.9%, followed by Benelux with 52.2% and Portugal with 52%. Worldwide, a total of 20,021 BMW motorcycles were sold in June 2020, surpassing the May 2020 number by 9.8%

   

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• 2020 GPX Super Cub Popz 110, Malaysian launch soon

  In Bikes, GPX Racing, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 8 July 2020 4:06 pm / 5 comments

  

  

  From a Facebook posting by the official Malaysian distributors, Bike Continent, the 2020 GPX Super Cub Popz 110 will be making its way to the local market soon. However, the actual launch is yet to be revealed.

  The Popz 110 comes in classic Cub styling but with a higher standard equipment specification and brighter colour schemes. Originating from Thailand, GPX offers the Popz in a 125 cc version called the Popz 125 but for Malaysia, with the name Popz 110, we assume the engine displacement will be smaller.

  For its home market, the Popz 125 uses a single-cylinder mill displacing 125 cc, fed by EFI and mated to a four-speed gearbox. The engine is air-cooled while the claimed weight of the Popz 125 is only 99 kg.

  

  Front and rear lighting on the Popz 125 is done with LEDs while the instrument panel is a combination digital and analogue unit. From the specifications, the Popz 125 comes as a two seater but the pillion seat is detachable should the rider so require.

  Suspension uses telescopic forks in front with twin shock absorbers at the back, and the Popz 125 rolls on a 60/100 front wheel and 70/90 at the rear. A single hydraulic disk does the stopping for the front while a drum brake does the duty on the back.

  Seat height for the Super Cub Popz 125 is 760 mm while fuel is carried in a four-litre tank. For Malaysia, the Honda Super Cub 125, in single seat configuration, retails at RM13,999 while the evergreen Honda EX5 goes for RM4,783.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2020 WSBK teams gear up for racing in Spain

  In Bikes, BMW Motorrad, Ducati, International Bike News, Kawasaki, Yamaha / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 8 July 2020 1:55 pm / 0 comment

  

  With the 2020 World Superbike Championship (WSBK) racing season truncated by the spread of Covid-19 and associated social distancing measures, teams are now preparing for the second race of this year. To be held at Jerez, Spain on the weekend on July 31 to August 2, the WSBK race follows the MotoGP season opener the weekend before.

  Incumbents for the WSBK title in 2020 along with five-time championship winner Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) are preparing for testing at the Montmelo circuit near Barcelona, Spain. Campaigning the Ninja ZX-10RR, Rea and team mate Alex Lowes will use the final shakedown test at Montmelo before heading to Jerez when racing proper begins after activities were suspended in March.

  Spending most of the lockdown period in Misano where KRT performed a two-day test, Rea has been living the “van life.” “I have been pretty much cycling around Italy with Fabien Foret and my mate Gaz for a good few days, in the campground I often stay at in Misano while observing social distancing. I have been cycling a lot, basically smashing the pedals,” said Rea.

  

  For challengers Pata Yamaha, testing begins this week at the Catalunya circuit with Yamaha backed GRT Yamaha Junior Team and Ten Kate Racing Yamaha joining the official factory team. After winning the WSBK season opener in Australia, Yamaha are hoping Toprak Razgatl?o?lu will continue his competitive streak on the Yamaha YZF-R1.

  Obtaining special permission to travel to Catalunya, Razgatl?o?lu currently sits third in the WSBK championship standings, behind Lowes at the top and Scott Redding, riding for Ducati, in second. The Yamaha teams return to racing after a four-month hiatus due to pandemic lockdowns and all riders will be using the Catalunya test to reacquaint themselves with their race machines.

  Meanwhile, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team riders Tom Sykes and Eugene Laverty concluded testing on their BMW Motorrad S1000RRs at Lausitzring, Germany, ahead of travelling to Spain. Using the time at Lausitzring to gather data, both Sykes and Laverty are confident of their chances in the 2020 WSBK season.

  

  

  “After such a long period off the bike with this tricky moment in time, it is an absolute pleasure to be here at the Lausitzring and back testing with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. It is fair to say that while everybody was stuck at home there has been a lot of work going on, certainly a lot of development, so this test has proved to be very vital,” Sykes said.

  Setting a scorching pace at Misano ahead of this week’s Catalunya test was Scott Redding on the Ducati Panigale V4R. Clocking a time only 135 thousandths of a second off the fastest MotoGP lap at Misano, Redding, who moved to WSBK after racing in MotoGP with Aprilia, was consistently on race pace despite the lack of saddle time due to pandemic lockdowns.

  “These were three very positive days as it was important to regain the feeling with the bike. We have worked a lot especially with used tyres and we have tried new solutions that have given positive feedback. I’ve been working out a lot these months with the goal of losing weight,” said Redding.

  GALLERY: 2020 Kawasaki Racing Team

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2020 PATA Yamaha WSBK Team

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2020 BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2020 Ducati WSBK Team

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Motocrew cuts down BMW Motorrad’s K100RS

  In Bikes, BMW Motorrad, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 7 July 2020 4:07 pm / 0 comment

  

  At its essence, a motorcycle is two wheels, engine and a frame, with suspension which is pretty much what German outfit Motocrew has reduced BMW Motorrad’s K100RS sports-tourer down to. For those who might not know, the K100RS was BMW Motorrad’s first foray outside its traditional boxer-twin layout.

  When released in 1984, BMW Motorrad fans were… divided. The purists, much like the Harley-Davidson fans when the VRSC with its Porsche developed DOCH, liquid-cooled Revolution V-twin was released, howled and bayed for blood, saying the “character” of the brand was diminished.

  Needless to say, due to the machinations of the stubborn and unyielding, Harley-Davidson was left in a technological vacuum for 25 years. BMW Motorrad, however, didn’t, doing well with it’s inline four cylinder as installed in the S-series motorcycles, while also having in its motorcycle engine range an inline-six, parallel-twin, single-cylinder and retaining its best selling boxer-twin.

  

  Coming back to the K100RS molested by Motocrew, the team felt the K100RS, because of its sport-touring origins, was a little portly in the back, reports designboom.com. To that end, the rear sub-frame was hacked off, replaced with a cafe racer tail, tying the frame line, painted in white, to the bottom of the fuel tank.

  A pair of vanes, also in white, fill in the gap at the front end of the tank, a function formerly performed by the K100RS’ front fairing. Adopting the cafe racer design style, the headlight is a single, round, LED unit, in keeping with the overall retro theme.

  The longitudinal inline-four, resting on its side and dubbed the “Flying Brick” by aficionados, is not coated a satin black, as are all components below the fuel. The original K100RS airbag was dumped in favour of a diminutive DNA air filter while new exhaust headers lead into a SC Project CR-T exhaust.

  

  If you’re looking for the front turn signals, they’re there and practically invisible. Motocrew relocated the turn signals to the bar ends, where the wing mirrors are located while the rear turn signals are located inside the frame rails.

  MotoGadget supplies the minimalist speedometer and bluetooth-enabled mo.unit blue controller allowing for keyless start of the Motocrew K100RS. Tokico brake callipers axial-mounted on upside-down forks completes the K100RS build.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2020 Benelli Leoncino 500 in matte colours, RM29,288

  In Benelli, Bikes, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 7 July 2020 12:39 pm / 0 comment

  

  Now coming in three new matte colour schemes for this year is the 2020 Benelli Leoncino 500, priced at RM29,288. The three colours are Matte Red, Matte Green and Matte Grey with pricing excluding road tax, insurance and registration.

  Designed as a retro-styled, versatile middleweight motorcycle, the Leoncino 500 carries a 499.6 cc, liquid-cooled, two-cylinder mill, producing 46.9 hp at 8,500 rpm and 45 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm. Power gets to the rear wheel via a six-speed gearbox and chain final drive.

  Suspension is done with 50 mm diameter upside-down forks and rear pre-load adjustable monoshock. Twin 320 mm diameter discs on the front wheel are clamped with radial-mount four-piston hydraulic callipers while the rear uses a 260 mm disc and single-piston calliper, with two-channel ABS as standard.

  

  

  The Leoncino 500 rolls on 120/70 tires on the front and 160/60 at the rear, shod in Pirelli Angel tyres. LED lighting is used throughout and inside the cockpit an LCD instrument panel displays the necessary information.

  Set height on the Leoncino 500 is set at 810 mm and dry weight is claimed to be 196 kg, with fuel carried in a 12.7-litre tank. The Leoncino 500 comes with a two-year or 20,000 km warranty against manufacturing defects.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Genting Highlands denied to car and bike groups?

  In Bikes, Cars, Local Bike News, Local News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 6 July 2020 5:06 pm / 38 comments

  

  While no official statement has yet been issued by the management, apparently the road leading up to Genting Highlands is closed to car and bike groups. Reports on social media have emerged from road users wanting to drive or ride up of being turned around at the guard house on the Karak highway approach as well as the rear entrance from Ulu Yam town.

  This was witnessed by the author over the weekend on both Saturday and Sunday, at both entrances, with the reason given on Saturday being motorcycle groups were no longer allowed to use the road due to “racing”. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the entrance at the former cable car station was closed due to “a VIP visiting the Goh Tong police station.”

  Both statements were obtained in conversation with Genting Highlands auxiliary police personnel on duty at the entrances. From the previous weeks, various riders and drivers reported being barred from entry, or being allowed through, with no apparent selection criteria.

  

  Information obtained via messaging apps indicate complaints were received from residents in the Genting Highlands and Goh Tong areas about the noise from vehicles traversing the road leading up to the resort and eateries there. It should be remembered the Genting Highlands road is private property and as such, the management has the right to decide who has right of access.

  Denial of access to both Genting Highlands and neighbouring Bukit Tinggi resort has occurred in the past, including police operations and lockdowns, usually in response to public complaints about noise, nuisance and dangerous riding, especially from drivers and riders of sports oriented machines. The Genting Highlands and Bukit Tinggi roads, as well as the Karak highway, is a favourite of car and bike owners, especially on weekends, who want to let off a little steam and wind the speedometer out.

  What do paultan.org readers think? Are fast cars and motorcycles using the Genting Highlands road, as well as the Karak highway and Bukit Tinggi road for fast driving and riding a nuisance, not just the noise but the danger? Leave a comment below.

   

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• BMW Motorrad shows Active Cruise Control for bikes

  In Bikes, BMW Motorrad, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 2 July 2020 4:56 pm / 1 comment

  

  While four-wheeled vehicles have had active cruise control for a while now, BMW Motorrad is presenting its application for two-wheelers as well. Developed in conjunction with its technology partner Bosch, the BMW Motorrad Active Cruise Control (ACC) for bikes aims to provide a comfortable and safer riding experience.

  Primarily designed for the touring rider, ACC automatically regulates the speed set by the rider and the distance to the vehicle in front. When the vehicle in front slows down, ACC slows the motorcycle down accordingly and keeps a set separation distance as determined by the rider.

  Setting ACC is done using using a button, which allows for setting of both motorcycle speed and separation distance. Information is displayed on the instrument panel with two selectable control characteristics – Comfortable or Dynamic – with distance control switched off in Dynamic mode.

  

  

  

  When cornering, speed will be limited by the ACC, taking data from the inertial measurement unit and rider’s desired lean angle. When lean angle is increased, intervention by the ACC is reduced and braking and acceleration dynamics are limited in order to maintain a stable cornering line.

  This avoids upsetting the bike’s balance through abrupt braking or acceleration by the ACC and BMW Motorrad clearly states ACC is only meant to be a riding aid with the rider needing to intervene when necessary. It should be noted ACC only responds to moving vehicles and stationary vehicles – like at the end of a traffic jam or at traffic lights – are disregarded by the system.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2020 Ducati Panigale V2 now in White Rosso colour scheme, Malaysia launch in July pending approval

  In Bikes, Ducati, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 2 July 2020 1:32 pm / 2 comments

  

  Released in 2019, the Ducati Panigale V2 is the Bologna firm’s middleweight racetrack weapon and for 2020 comes in a new colour scheme of White Rosso. Coming to Ducati dealers in July 2020, the Panigale V2 in in the new paint will be sold alongside the traditional Ducati Rosso Red.

  The clinical white paint scheme on the Panigale V2 is broken up with red accents in the front air intakes and the deflectors of the upper half-fairings. This is complemented with wheels painted in Ducati red, giving the Panigale V2 a futuristic, minimalist look as well as a V2 logo on the lower fairings.

  

  Carrying the 955 cc Superquadro V-twin in a monocoque frame, the Panigale V2 puts out 155 hp at 10,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 104 Nm at 9,000 rpm. In keeping with the sporting nature of the Panigale V2, 70% of the maximum torque is constantly available beyond 5,500 rpm, giving that famous V-twin drive out of corners.

  As tested by paultan.org in Jerez, Spain, last year, the Panigale V2, despite the road-going hardware, is more at home on the track. The single-sided swingarm makes a comeback into Ducati’s sub-one litre catalogue, after being absent on the Panigale 959.

  

  

  

  Suspension is done with 43 mm diameter fully-adjustable Showa Big Piston Forks (BPF) in front and an adjustable Sachs monoshock at the back. Braking is by Brembo, with M4.32 monobloc callipers activated by a radial brake master cylinder with Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II tyres providing grip.

  For Malaysia, a date has yet to be announced for the launch of the 2020 Ducati Panigale V2, although a source tells us it will be “this July pending type approval.” Pricing is also yet to be announced, but previous conversations with Ducati Malaysia have indicated efforts are being made to bring the Panigale V2 “below the RM120,000 price point.”

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2020 BMW Motorrad R18 First Edition arrives in Malaysia this October, RM156,500 excluding insurance

  In Bikes, BMW Motorrad, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 1 July 2020 6:10 pm / 9 comments

  

  For those awaiting BMW Motorrad’s retro-styled cruiser, good news is the 2020 BMW Motorrad R18 First edition will arrive in Malaysia this October, and priced at RM156,500 on the road, excluding insurance. The R18 First Edition is limited to only 18 units for the Malaysia market and takes styling cues from the classic 1936 BMW R5.

  The R18 carries BMW Motorrad’s largest opposed-twin to date, an air-/oil-cooled boxer displacing 1,802 cc. For those interested in knowing, the R18 puts out 91 hp at 4,750 rpm but the torque figure is 158 Nm at 3,000 rpm, good enough for pulling tree stumps out of the ground, shall we say.

  

  

  Fed by EFI and twin spark plugs per cylinder, all the R18’s torque is available from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm, making the torque curve about as flat as a tabletop. A minimalist design language permeates through the R18, with the engine prominently displayed in the old school twin-loop steel cradle frame.

  In a nod to the R5, the R18’s shaft drive is exposed and viewers can be entertained by the sight of the steel prop shaft spinning. However, modern riding necessities are not neglected with the R18, coming as it does with three standard riding modes – “Rain”, “Roll” and “Rock” – along with switchable automatic stability control (ASC).

  

  Other riding aids include hill start control, reverse assist and engine drag torque control (MSR). Suspension uses conventional telescopic forks, hidden monoshock and the R18 rolls on spoked wheels for that authentic retro look.

  The R18 First Edition in a classic black finish with white pinstriped paintwork along with chrome accents, a seat badge and “First Edition” chrome badge on the side covers. Bookings are being taken by BMW Motorrad Malaysia authorised dealers for the 2020 BMW Motorrad R18 First Edition.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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