Polestar, a brand under Volvo and Geely, has announced a collaborative partnership with electric motorcycle (e-bike) maker Cake. This partnership came about after both companies realised their business models shared common values.
Among the similarities between the two entities from Sweden is the Scandinavian design ethos. With a core business of designing and producing electric-powered vehicles, the two also share new ideas in branding, marketing and sales to the end user.
“Polestar feels connected to Cake, sharing both a belief in redefining performance and a passion for design. Our desire to create an electrified and emission-free future is a clear bridge between us,” said Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath.
Polestar had previously collaborated with Cake, but only to the extent of Cake providing e-bikes at certain Polestar events. Now, the partnership is strengthened with Polestar displaying Cake e-bikes at Polestar display spaces throughout Europe.
“The motorcycle industry is undergoing a similar shift towards electrification as the car industry, and Cake is ahead of the curve. Cake urges people to explore with respect and are building high-tech bikes with a beautiful design, to do exactly that,” said Stefan Ytterborn, Cake’s CEO.
With the conditional movement control order (CMCO) taking effect from the previous week, Kawasaki Malaysia is back online and providing services to customers from this week. Kawasaki owners requiring service for their motorcycles should call 03-5566 5660 for a service appointment at the Shah Alam headquarters.
Meanwhile, orders for spare parts are being taken over the phone at 03-5566 5688. The spare parts service is for pick-up only and walk-ins will not be entertained.
In line with government regulations under the CMCO, customers visiting Kawasaki Malaysia’s Shah Alam headquarters will be required to adhere to certain conditions. This include social distancing, wearing of face mask and use of hand sanitiser as well as temperature checks.
Legendary name in motorcycle design Bimota of Italy – now 49.9% owned by Kawasaki – made a return to the news last year with a swingarm front steering bike based on the Kawasaki H2 hyperbike dubbed the Tesi H2. Now, Bimota has released two teaser photos on its social media page, blurry shots of a bike they call the KB4.
Following Bimota’s traditional naming nomenclature, the ‘K’ would stand for Kawasaki, while the ‘B’ is for Bimota and the ‘4’ would be the fourth design in a series. In this case, despite the blurred out teaser photos, it can be seen the engine takes the shape of an inline-four.
The front fairing seems also retro, with definite cafe racer lines and a housing for a round headlight upfront. However, the lines from the tank and onwards to the back resemble a modern sports bike.
No technical specifications were provided in Bimota’s social media post. What can be seen is the front suspension uses telescopic forks and not the swingarm steering from the Tesi.
Rumours in the European press has it the Bimota KB4 will use the inline-four, 1,043 cc mill from the Kawasaki Ninja 1000. At the back, the swingarm looks to be a cast and welded aluminium alloy unit.
For those Malaysian riders who know the name and the legend of Bimota and the genius of Massimo Tamburini, what do you think? It is time for the return of Bimota as purveyor of beautiful handling motorcycles?
Known more for its fast, lovely, high-performance racing motorcycles, Ducati is addressing the other side of the moving people around equation. With an earlier collaboration with V Moto of China, Ducati is now teaming up with Italian firm MT Distribution, launching a range of four electric scooters (e-scooters) and three folding e-bikes under its brand name.
Designed for urban mobility, the first two e-scooters will be launched at the end of June and early July, 2020. The e-scooters, named “Cross-E” and “Pro II”, fall under the Ducati Scrambler and Pro branding schemes, respectively, with a third ‘Ducati’ brand.
The Cross-E, as befits the Scrambler branding, comes with “fat” anti-puncture tubeless tyres in 110/50-6.5 sizing which Ducati says is capable of handling stretches of dirt or very uneven roads. Powered by a 500 W motor fed by a 375 Wh battery hidden inside the floorboard, the Cross-E has a range of about 30 to 35 km, at a speed of 15 km/h.
Meanwhile, the Pro II e-scooter, meant for the city streets, has a 350W continuous brushless motor and a 36-volt, 280 Wh battery that will gives 25 to 30 km of riding range. 10-inch puncture proof tyres and rear suspension provide a little comfort to the rider as well as a twin brake – electric front and rear disc – and a large 3.5-inch LCD display.
Other design touches in the Cross-E and Pro II include rear lights integrated in the seat post, concealed battery and automatic activation of the lights at dusk. Market availability of Ducati’s range of e-scooters is not as yet know, nor is pricing, but some models will be available at Ducati dealers and in the Ducati Shop Online.
Mandated by law, every Malaysian motorcyclist is required to wear a helmet when riding. But many seem to take a lackadaisical attitude to wearing this essential piece of safety equipment.
It does not matter if the distance is near or far, wearing a helmet can save a rider’s life, not to mention the cost to family and community at large. However, there is another danger for riders and that is the fake helmet.
All helmets are required to have a safety certification such as ECE, DOT, SHARP, SNELL or ISI before being approved for use by authorities. Testing costs money and reputable helmet manufacturers chalk this up to the cost of doing business, with part of that cost being passed on to the consumer.
Safety has a price, as they say, and that price is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that while a helmet cannot protect from unforeseeable impact, within the limits of its safety performance, the helmet will do the job. There are some people who produce fake replica helmets of reputable brands, offering a cheaper product because nothing which they produce is submitted for any sort of testing.
This scourge of fake helmets is becoming common, especially on Malaysian Facebook. The consumer wants a branded helmet, with the fancy graphics and impressive logos but does not want to pay the price of the real thing, which, while passing a standards test, is also made from materials designed to absorb impact and in a certain thickness.
So, the fake helmet maker comes out with a replica, made from cheaper or substandard materials like plastic, mimicking the original down to the fake testing standard sticker. Pricing for a fake helmet can be as much as 20% of the cost of the original but do you know what happens when an imitation helmet fails?
Watching the video, several imitation helmets are subjected to the same ECE/DOT testing as the originals, and the fakes fail spectacularly. The video examines the overall quality of the imitation while the testing, and the after effects, can be seen at around 5:40.
What is obvious is while the fake helmet might look outwardly the same as the original, in safety, the performance is very lacking. Wanting a replica that makes you look good while riding is not an excuse to risk your life.
The lesson is clear, always purchase the best helmet you can afford and there are reputable brands sold in Malaysia starting from around the RM500 price point. While riders lust after something like a Shark Race-R Pro Carbon, AGV Pista GP, X-Lite, Shoei X-14 or Arai RX-7X, there is something in every manufacturer’s range to suit every budget, like the HJC C70 at RM949.
Military themed retro motorcycles have an appeal to a certain segment of the riding public and French importer Mash caters to the dream with the 2020 Mash Desert Force 400, priced at 4,995 euros (RM23,516). Styled after an army despatch rider’s metal steed from around the time Montgomery and Rommel were duking it out in North Africa, the Desert Force 400, as its name implies, is reminiscent of motorcycles from that era.
Dressed in desert beige, styling is definitely on the vintage side of things, with the large passenger grab ring a design cue taken off the BMW Motorrad R75 used by the Afrika Korps. Other styling cues to give the Desert Force 400 its retro nature include sprung seats, spoked wheels, jerry can and pannier on the left and right, respectively and a small document pouch with ammo bandolier mounted on the 13-litre fuel tank.
Looking a little out place is a the single, round LCD instrument panel, offset in the style of the Ducati Scrambler with blue backlight. A grilled horn is located on the other side of the display and a headlight grille completes the retro military look.
While Mash is not a mainstream motorcycle company, selling a range of budget motorcycles in the 50 cc to 400 cc range, what is known about the Desert Force 400 is it carries a 397 cc air-cooled, single-cylinder mill that produces a claimed 27 PS and 30 Nm of torque. Power gets to the ground via a a five-speed gearbox and chain final drive, with reports saying this retro bike is made by Qingqi of China.
Weight for the Desert Force 400 is said to be 163 kg, which is somewhat normal for a retro motorcycle of this sort and it certainly does look like a fun bike for slow trips around the countryside. Suspension is done with telescopic forks in front and twin shock absorbers in the back while a single hydraulic front disc with ABS and drum brake at the back perform stopping duties.
Honda announced that Android Auto™ will be integrated with the current-model Gold Wing.
Setting the standard for long distance motorcycle touring since 1975, the current model Honda Gold Wing – priced at RM208,800 in Malaysia – now gets Android Auto connectivity for the rider’s smartphone. This allows the rider to seamlessly access Android smartphone functions such as music, phone calls and messaging.
While the Gold Wing received Apple CarPlay integration for the US and Canada markets in 2017, this move to include Android Auto allows a wider audience for the app’s functionality. A software update and method will be advised to current model Gold Wing owners in June.
The Gold Wing is Honda’s flagship touring motorcycle and carries a flat-six engine that displaces 1,833 cc. Power output from the six cylinders is claimed to be 124.7 hp at 5,500 rpm and 170 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm.
A seven-speed DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) with electric reverse gear gets power to the ground via shaft drive. Four ride modes are available to the Gold Wing rider – Tour, Sport, Econ and Rain – with the ECU also controlling brake force distribution depending on mode.
Honda’s Smart Key allows for keyless opening of panniers and trunk while LED lighting, along with riding lights set low on the front fairing, lights up the way. In Malaysia, the Honda Gold Wing is only available in the DCT-equipped Tour version in Pearl Glare White.
Honda announced that Android Auto™ will be integrated with the current-model Gold Wing.
With the implementation of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has reopened from May 12 with conditions and restrictions on use. This is in line with government directives on social distancing and to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Usage of the track is restricted to race teams, four- and two-wheeled, participating in a race series at SIC for 2020. Examples include MSBK, MSF, MCS, ARRC and Malaysian Cub Prix with only registered racers presently allowed out on the track during practice sessions.
While government regulations permit a maximum of 20 people in one specific gathering, SIC management is currently discussing pit arrangements to practice social distancing, which includes restricting the number of overall participants allowed per session to a maximum of 10. Additionally, no members of the public or team guests will be allowed into SIC during any practice session.
Visitors to SIC are required to undergo temperature checks and register their details before entering the area. Temperature checks will be done at specified entry points with hand sanitiser and mask provided by SIC.
Parking is at designated areas only and visitors are requested to reverse park with a minimum two metre distance between cars. Race teams are requested to call their respective SIC account managers or to call the SIC Hotline at +603 8778 2222 for more information on bookings and restrictions.
Available in Malaysia since 2019, CFMoto is known in its home market of China as a manufacturer of large displacement motorcycles. Launched without much fanfare recently was the 2020 CFMoto 1250J, intended for use by China police as a enforcement motorcycle and likely for escort duties as well.
With styling very reminiscent of a BMW K1600LT, the CFMoto 1250J apparently carries KTM’s LC8 V-twin motor. This is not surprising as CFMoto produces KTM designs for the China market and using the previous generation LC8 engine makes engineering sense.
In this case, the 1250J comes with a 1,278.8 cc mill, producing a claimed 140 hp at 8,500 rpm and 120 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. It can be safely assumed a six-speed gearbox is in the mix and final drive is by chain which, while not unknown for big motorcycle engines in sports guise, does generate noise and vibration.
For the instrument panel, a 12.3-inch LCD display is used, making it bigger than any production motorcycle to date and bigger than the display unit in some cars. Smartphone connectivity is standard, along with Bluetooth and navigation, with four riding modes.
No word on traction control or ABS, but considering the state of current motorcycle technology and China’s prowess in electronics, we would assume these modern riding aids are there. From the CFMoto website, a batch of CF1250Js has been delivered to China law enforcement agencies for testing and training purposes and rumour in the market a CF1250G model will be coming to the civilian market soon.
Recently shown at the 2020 Wheels and Waves show in Biarritz, Spain, this selection of the Honda CB1000R Neo Sports Cafe customs – priced in Malaysia at RM74,999 – are now the subject of an online poll for Honda fans. Taking the engine and frame of the CB1000R, various custom shops have stamped their mark on Honda’s current litre-class naked sports bike and CB1000R fans can go to the hondacustoms.com to vote for their choice.
Some of the custom CB1000Rs have taken inspiration from race bikes from Honda’s past, including the Dani Pedrosa Replica and the Dirt Endurance, a curious mashup between a Bol D’Or endurance racer and a dirt tracker. Others are yet more imaginative, like the Monkey Kong, a CB1000R dressed in Monkey mini bike clothing, and the Africa Four CRF1000R, a cross between the Neo Sports Cafe and Honda’s Africa Twin CRF1000L adventure bike.
Carrying an inline four-cylinder 998 cc mill, the CB1000R produces 143 hp at 7,500 rpm and 104 Nm of torque at 8,250 rpm. Power goes through a six-speed gearbox and chain final drive and the CB1000R makes more mid-range power by using reinforced pistons, greater valve stroke with bigger valves, larger intake and redesigned combustion chamber, along with a 4-2-1 exhaust Honda claims is 4.5 kg lighter than most factory exhausts.
Braking is done with twin radial-mount callipers grabbing 310 mm diameter floating brake discs and a single 265 mm disc at the back, with two-channel ABS as standard. Three ride modes are available, Standard, Sport, and Rain, with a fourth user customisable mode and LED lighting is used throughout.
Suspension is with an adjustable Show Separate Function Big Piston fork (SFF-BP) in front and fully-adjustable Showa monoshock. There are two colour options available in Malaysia – Graphite Black and Candy Chromosphere Red.
Covered in an earlier article in paultan.org under the name RMK E2, the Finnish electric motorcycle (e-bike) firm has undergone a name change to Verge. Similarly updated, Verge now offers the TS, a development of the earlier E2 and was supposed to have been named the E3 before going on public sale.
Claiming an astounding 1000 Nm of torque from the 80 kW integrated rim motor – most e-bikes carry a separate motor with belt-drive to the wheel like the Harley-Davidson Livewire or hub-mounted motor – the Verge TSis claimed to do the 0-100 km/h sprint in under four seconds. Considering that for e-bikes all the available torque is available from zero rpm, this will make for exciting traffic light drag races.
The rim electric motor was developed in-house by Verge during its former iteration as RMK and is the work of Teemu Saukkio, lead designer and Verge’s chief technology officer (CTO). Verge claims the TS is good to a top speed of 180 km/h and range is touted at 300 km in the city and 200 km at highway speeds.
While no figures have been published for weight, Verge says the overall weight of the TS is kept low with the use of a lightweight aluminium alloy frame. Charging time for the TS is listed at 100 % in 4 hours and with DC fast charging, 45-50 minutes, using the onboard charger.
Equipment fit out will be familiar to many riders, with brakes from Brembo, suspension by Ohlins and Pirelli Rosso Corsa II rubber. Pre-orders with a 2,000 euro (RM9,394) deposit are being taken for the 2020 Verge TS, priced at 24,990 euro (RM117,382), which compares to the Harley-Davidson Livewire with its website price of 29,799 USD (RM129,648).
With its 2020 calendar thrown into disarray by Covid-19 and lockdowns across the world, MotoGP has come up with a plan for a 12 to 16 race season. “Our idea was to start at the end of July and to continue planning events in Europe until the middle of November, more or less, and from then on in warmer climates, where we can race from November to December,” said Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.
Should continuing the MotoGP season in Asia not be possible then the 2020 season will conclude in Europe, added Ezpeleta. Dorna, along with the regional government of Andalusia and the city council of Jerez de la Frontera is forwarding a proposal to the Spanish government to hold two MotoGP rounds at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto on the weekends of July 19 and 26, followed by a World Superbike Championship (WSBK) round the weekend following, on August 2.
The races will be held with a reduced MotoGP contingent, around 1,300 people, including teams, track personnel and broadcast media. Discussions are also taking place with authorities in the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy on the possibility of resuming circuit racing in the respective countries.
Per Dorna’s proposal, teams from outside Europe will have to arrive at least 14 days before race day and henceforth stay in Europe till the conclusion of the race season. “Then, all the teams, including the Europeans, will have to do a test before leaving their countries, no later than 4 days before they arrive at the first Grand Prix, which will be in Spain,” Ezpeleta said.
On arrival at the circuit, another test for Covid-19 will be administered and medical teams will constantly monitor all at the track for symptoms and check body body temperature. “There will be a protocol put in place should something happen and how we’ll deal with it,” Ezpeleta continued.
For riders’ peace of mind, BMW Motorrad has increased the warranty period on its Motorrad brand helmets to five years from the previous two-year period. The five-year warranty applies to all BMW Motorrad helmets purchased in 2020 and is retroactively applied to any helmet bought on or after January 1, 2020.
The warranty applies to material and manufacturing defects, valid for helmets purchased from a participating BMW Motorrad dealer. Helmets purchased in 2019 and previously will only have a 24-month warranty.
However, the BMW Motorrad communication system installed as an option in its helmets is excluded from this warranty extension. The five-year warranty excludes damage caused by improper handling, an accident or the improper installation of the system and accessories.
Scratches on the visor, sun shield, helmet shell or plastic parts are also not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. The full range of BMW Motorrad helmets, riding gear and motorcycle accessories is available from authorised BMW Motorrad Malaysia dealers.
In a first for the Malaysia two-wheeler segment, Vespa Malaysia in collaboration with online sales platform Lazada, is giving consumers the chance to buy scooters online. Using the services provided by Lazada, scooter buyers can browse the online Vespa catalogue, place an order with a minimum RM60 booking fee and complete the sale online after being contacted by an authorised Vespa dealer.
Placing a minimum RM60 deposit also gets the Vespa buyer a t-shirt and RM700 voucher for original Vespa accessories valid when the sale is finalised. Buyers can now get the 2020 Vespa Sprint S 150 at RM16,900 in either Yellow Sole Metallic, White Innocenza Metallic and Black Opaco Matt.
Also available is the 2020 Vespa Primavera S 150 Special Edition at RM18,300 and coming in Orange Tramonto Metallic and Grey Stile Matt. Prices do not include road tax or insurance.
The entire process, including submission of documents, processing of financing and so on is done electronically for most cases with the assistance of the dealer and the buyer only needing to be physically present for the registration of their Vespa. Vespa Malaysia intends for the process to be as seamless and hassle free as possible for the buyer.
Eliminating the sometimes time consuming process of physically negotiating a sale in a dealership, Vespa Malaysia intends to attract a different rider demographic, the younger rider who may not have a lot of experience in or find the traditional motorcycle and scooter buying process somewhat off-putting.
Progenitor of motorcycle racing champions till 2010, the Aprilia RS250 with its two-stroke engine was dominant on track and road for more than a decade. Now, Aprilia has released the 2020 Aprilia RS250SP in four-stroke guise at a price of 9,700 euro (RM45,307).
The catch is this, the RS250SP is for racing purposes only and is designed to compete in a national series called the Italian Sports Production Championship, designed to provide riders with an entry path into top flight motorcycle racing somewhat like the Spanish CEV race series. However, with much of the world either recovering or still in lockdown from Covid-19, it is likely the championship will be pushed forward to next year.
Launched online, the RS250SP is developed by mini moto manufacturer Ohvale and only takes the engine from Aprilia. In this case, the liquid-cooled, four-stroke 250 cc power plant is a single-cylinder, producing some 28 hp.
As is expected for a racing only motorcycle, the RS250SP makes no accommodation for road-going sensibilities like mountings for lights, turn signals, registration plate or mirrors. In terms of size, the RS250SP is much like a road-going 250 except it only weighs 105 kg, about the same as a 100 cc kapchai.
While the price of the RS250SP might shock some – the Yamaha YZF-R25 retails at RM19,998 – the cost is reflected in the components supplied. These include Andreani racing forks, Ohlins monoshock, Brembo brakes, SC exhaust, Marchesini wheels along with racing slicks and aluminium frame.
Malaysian riders are familiar with the two-stroke Aprilia RS250 – the author’s first review for paultan.org was the 2009 Aprilia RS125 – from years ago and there is a loyal fan base in this country. Based on the Grand Prix 250 class before it became Moto2 in 2010, the RS250 was the springboard for many of the race champions we know today, including Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Marco Melandri and Manuel Poggiali.
