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• 2018 MotoGP Winter Test Valencia – who goes where?

  In Aprilia, Bikes, Ducati, Honda Motorcycles, International Bike News, KTM, Suzuki Motorcycles, Yamaha / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 21 November 2018 5:49 pm / 3 comments

  

  With the conclusion of the 2018 MotoGP season, convincingly won by Marc Marquez (#93) of Repsol Honda Team, the MotoGP circus now moves into Winter Testing phase, held at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. This is the first of two Winter Tests held in 2018, the other being at the Jerez Circuit on 28 and 29 November before the year-end break.

  Testing resumes in Sepang International Circuit on 6 to 8 February, preceded by a shakedown test on 1 to 3 February. This is followed by the Qatar Test on 23 to 25 February before the 2019 MotoGP season begins in earnest on 10 March at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

  With the beginning of Winter Test, the game of musical chairs for riders has settled down with the biggest change being Jorge Lorenzo (#99) heading over to Repsol Honda Team, joining fellow Spaniard and current MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez (#93) on the RC213V, taking the place of the recently retired Dani Pedrosa (#26). Lorenzo’s place at Ducati Team is taken by Danilo Petrucci (#9) who joins Andrea Dovizioso (#04), riding the Desmosedici GP19.

  

  

  

  Ducati’s presence on the 2019 MotoGP grid remains huge with a total of six bikes carrying the Ducati badge. Aside from the factory team, the others are Reale Avintia Racing with Karel Abraham (#17) and Tito Rabat (#53) along with Alma Pramac Racing with riders Jack Miller (43) and Francesco Bagnaia (#63) who moves up from Moto2.

  New addition to the grid is Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team, with rider Franco Morbidelli (#21) and Fabio Quartararo (#20) on Yamaha YZR-M1s, and functions as a satellite team for Yamaha following the departure of Herve Poncheral’s Tech 3 racing team. Fan favourite Valentino Rossi (#46) remains with Yamaha Factory Racing till at least 2021, and has Maverick Vinales (#12) as team mate.

  Austrian outfit Red Bull KTM Factory Racing on KTM RC16 race bikes sees Johann Zarco (#5) join Pol Espargaro (#44) in the team. They are joined by Red Bull KTM Tech 3 with Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin (#55) and Miguel Olivera (#88), who comes up from Moto2, in the saddle.

  

  

  

  Honda’s other satellite team is LCR Honda Idemitsu and LCR Honda Castrol, who share a joint paddock, with riders Takaaki Nakagami (#30) and Cal Crutchlow (#35). The other Japanese factory team on the grid is Team Suzuki Ecstar with riders Joan Mir (#36) and Alex Rins (#42) on the GSX-RR.

  Also on the grid is famed racing name Aprilia in the form of Aprilia Racing Team Gresini with the Aprilia RS-GP. Riders for the Aprilia team are Andrea Iannone (#29) who replaces Scott Redding (#45), and Aleix Espargaro (#41), brother of Pol Espargaro.

  There are 19 races scheduled for the 2019 MotoGP calendar with the season opener in Qatar on 10 March. The Malaysian GP takes place on 3 November ahead of the season ending race at Valencia on 17 November.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Petronas Yamaha SIC Racing team begins winter testing in Valencia, Franco Morbidelli sixth fastest

  In International Bike News, Yamaha / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 21 November 2018 1:03 pm / 0 comment

  

  After wrapping up the 2018 MotoGP season, teams have moved to Valencia, Spain to begin the first round of winter testing for next year’s competition. This saw the debut of the Petronas Yamaha SIC Racing team with riders Franco Morbidelli of Italy and Fabio Quartararo from France.

  Riding the Yamaha YZR-MI, both riders took the first day adapting to the race machine and dialling in their seating position. 19-year old Morbidelli of Italian and Brazilian ancestry, took quickly to the YZR-M1, clocking 1’32.085 which placed him sixth fastest on the day.

  “It has been a great first day, I felt good with the bike as soon as I got in it and the connection with the team is really good. I managed to get some laps in this afternoon that were solid and fast,” he said. Morbidelli finished the 2018 MotoGP season as Rookie of the Year, beating Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin by just four points.

  

  

  

  Meanwhile, Modbidelli’s team mate in the Petronas Yamaha SIC team, Quartararo, did not fare so well, coming in with a best of position of 23rd at the end of the day. “It was a shame we didn’t get to do more laps because of the conditions, which weren’t the best, but I am happy because each time I went out onto the track I improved,” said Quartararo.

  Quartararo started his motorcycle racing career at age four, and won six Spanish championship titles, including two back-to-back CEV Moto3 titles in 2013 and 2014. He finished 10th in the 2018 Moto2 championship riding for Italian racing outfit Speed Up wth 128 points.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2019 Honda Wave 125i – price drops to RM5,999 for single-disc, RM6,299 for double-disc, LED headlight

  In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 19 November 2018 5:13 pm / 24 comments

  

  Updated for next year is the 2019 Honda Wave 125i from official distributor Boon Siew Honda Malaysia, priced at RM5,999 for the single-disc brake version and RM6,299 for the double-disc equipped underbone bike. This is a price drop from last year’s pricing of RM6,263 for the single-disc and drum brake and RM6,549 for brake discs front and rear, when GST was still in force.

  New to Honda’s Wave 125i is an LED headlight for lower power consumption and longer service life. As a kapchai targetted towards the middle and higher end of the commuter market, the Wave 125i has proven popular with urbanites.

  The large under seat storage compartment, with 18-litres of capacity, also provides a larger seat for greater riding comfort. Fuel is carried in a 5.4-litre tank, which Honda says will give an estimated 300 km of range.

  

  

  Fed by Honda’s PGM-Fi, the Wave 125i uses a single-cylinder four-stroke air-cooled 124.9 cc power plant that produces 9 hp at 7,500 rpm and 10 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm. Power for the Wave 125i gets to the ground via a four-speed centrifugal clutch automatic gearbox and chain final drive.

  The two 2019 Honda Wave 125i single- and double-disc brake versions come with three colour choices – Pearl Magellanic Black with Candy Scintillate Red, Pearl Magellanic Black with Pearl Nightfall Blue and Force Silver Metallic. Availability of the Wave 125i at authorised Boon Siew Honda dealers is from this month.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Honda reveals CB125X and CB125M concept bikes

  In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 16 November 2018 4:02 pm / 4 comments

  

  CB125M and CB125X Concepts

  Flying somewhat under the radar at the recent EICMA show in Milan, Italy was the public showing of the Honda CB125X and CB125M concept bikes. This pair of sub-250 cc motorcycles are the product of Honda’s research and development centre in Rome, using the 2018 Honda CB125R as the base.

  With the European 125 cc motorcycle market seeing a 25% increase in sales this year, it makes sense that Honda will want to cover every customer need when it comes to model variants. This means we can expect to see a more production oriented CB125X adventure bike and CB125M motard style bikes soon, possibly next year in 2019.

  Honda makes no bones about targeting the youth market with this duo, notably in the area of styling. The motard styled CB125M comes in brilliant red with a slit of an LED headlight giving the bike a minimalist look.

  

  

  

  The CB125X is much taller, being an adventure bike styled after the CRF1000L Africa Twin and comes with a three LED light setup in front – a headlight flanked by two riding lights inside the fairing. Clad in white, Honda says the CB125X is meant to evoke a science-fiction feel.

  Both the Honda CB125X and Honda CB125M were shown in the Design Studio area of its stand in EICMA and feature custom-built SC Project exhausts. The CB125X and CB125M are the brain child of project leader Valerio Aiello and his team, who penned the bikes’ avant-garde looks.

  

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• REVIEW: 2019 Yamaha YZF-R15 – lots of fun for RM12k

  In Bike Reviews, Bikes, Yamaha / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 15 November 2018 5:55 pm / 22 comments

  

  We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: if there is one thing Yamaha does and does well, it is making small displacement engines that hit well above their weight class. A case in point is the 2019 Yamaha YZF-R15, its sports bike offering for the 150 cc market and priced at RM11,988.

  In the 150 cc market segment, Yamaha offers two other alternatives, albeit in the scooter side of things. These are the sporty Yamaha NVX 155 – which made it to our “Bike of the Year” list in 2017 and the slightly more conservative Yamaha NMax 155.

  Does the Malaysian market need a third 150 cc offering – third national car project notwithstanding? Well, for the YZF-R15, it addresses a market gap last filled by the Honda CBR150 and Kawasaki KIPS – something a little faster than the run of the mill kapchai and targetted to the young rider who wants a sporty bike with full-fairing that looks the business.

  

  The business is, of course, looking like you’re going at warp speed while waiting for the lights to turn green on Dataran Merdeka. But there is not a lot lacking in the performance of the YZF-R15, as we were to find out.

  Handing us the key to the YZF-R15, Yamaha’s technical person said to the author, “let me know what you think, I think you will like this engine.” Bearing Yamaha’s racing heritage, especially with 250 cc two-strokes, in mind, we set off on the YZF-R15 to find out what was what with the baby YZF.

  Read the full review of the 2019 Yamaha YZF-R15 after the jump.

   

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• MV Agusta shows 2019 motorcycle range at EICMA

  In Bikes, International Bike News, MV Agusta / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 15 November 2018 3:29 pm / 0 comment

  

  While Malaysians have somewhat turbulent memories of Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta, including the infamous sale of the firm for 1 euro and the recent closure of a new Malaysian distributor after barely a year in operation, it cannot be denied the Varese, Italy company makes some very beautiful motorcycles.

  During the recent EICMA show in Milan, Italy, MV Agusta displayed some of their 2019 model range – the Brutale 1000 Serie Oro among them – ranging from super bikes to race oriented track weapons to sports nakeds. With the company claiming a fresh injection of funds and resolution of its financial troubles over the past two years, MV Agusta looks to be re-entering the market on a strong foot.

  Making its debut at EICMA as a concept bike but scheduled for production in the second half of 2019 is the 2019 MV Agusta Super Veloce Ottocento, or Superveloce 800 for those of us who do not speak Romance languages. Derived from the F3 800 sports bike, the Superveloce 800 harks back to the racing machines of the seventies, yellow-tinted windscreen and headlight, mimicking the endurance racers of that era.

  

  The headlight itself is a circular twin-element LED unit accompanied by a yellow LED DRL located just inside the fairing at the base of the windshield. A new sub-frame design allows for the rider to transform the Superveloce 800 between single and pillion riding duties and the adjustable footpegs allow the rider to tailor the bike to fit.

  Targetted at the American market with its red, white and blue paintwork is the Dragster 800RR America. Launched last year, the Dragster America is updated for the upcoming riding season with new LED tail lights and DRL.

  An integrated steering damper is built into the the upper triple clamp and up-and-down quickshifting is standard. Of note are the passenger footpegs which fold away into the tail piece, giving the Dragster 800RR America a sleek, clean profile.

  

  Another variant of MV Agusta’s Brutale is the Brutale 800 RC, decked in carbon-fibre components including the front fender, inner rear fender, side panels and instrument cluster cover. Forged wheels finished in red along with RC style paintwork complete the look look of the Brutale 800 RC.

  In the middleweight sports bike stakes are the F3 675 RC and F3 800 RC – ‘RC’ standing for Reparto Corse or Racing Department – equipped with MV Agusta’s inline three-cylinder. As a limited edition motorcycle, both the 675 RC and 800 RC come with a dedicated race kit that includes a titanium SC Project full-system exhaust along with carbon-fibre and aluminium components.

  On the touring side of things is the Turismo Veloce RC, which MV Agusta says moves away from a segment “characterised by increasingly heavy and bulky bikes.” The 2019 Turismo Veloce RC comes with what MV Agusta calls the “Smart Clutch System”, or SCS, which allows for either manual or automatic clutch operation.

  GALLERY: 2019 MV Agusta Superveloce 800

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2019 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RC

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2019 MV Agusta Dragster 800 RR America

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2019 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce RC

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2019 Moto Morini Milano and Corsaro launched

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Moto Morini / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 14 November 2018 6:07 pm / 4 comments

  

  A famous name from the hey-days of 350 cc class racing is Moto Morini and it is now back in the motorcycle market with the 2019 Moto Morini Milano and sportier Corsaro which comes in ZT and ZZ versions. Inspired by the famous Moto Morini 3 1/2 344 cc 74-degree V-twin, the Milano and Corsaro also come with two-cylinder arranged in a ‘V’, this time with an 87-degree angle and designed by Franco Lambertini, who created the original 3 1/2 mill back in 1969.

  Displacing 1,187 cc, the same liquid-cooled Bialbero CorsaCorta engine configuration is used in both the Milano and Corsaro, producing 116 hp at 8,000 rpm in the Milano, and 137 hp at 8,500 rpm in the Corsaro. Torque for the Milano is 108 Nm at 7,000 rpm, while the Corsaro ZZ produces 112 NM at 6,750 rpm and the Corsaro ZT peaks out at 125 Nm at 6,750 rpm.

  With styling strongly reminiscent of scrambler motorcycles of the 70s, the trio of sports nakeds gets power to the ground via a six-speed gearbox equipped with slipper clutch and reduced effort at the lever with chain final drive. The trellis frame is made from TIG welded CroMo steel and the Milano weighs 200 kg, while the Corsaro ZT and ZZ come in at 197 kg and 191 kg, respectively.

  

  

  

  Suspension is done with 46 mm diameter upside-down forks, fully-adjustable for preload and damping in compression and rebound, with 120 mm of travel on the Milano, 135 mm for the Corsaro. At the back is a monoshock, connected to the swingarm via Pro-Link and adjustable for preload, rebound as well as height, giving 110 mm of wheel travel for the Milano and 120 mm for the Corsaro.

  Braking, as is natural for an Italian motorcycle, is done by Brembo using a four-piston calliper, with twin 320 mm diameter discs in front and a single 220 mm disc with two-piston calliper in the rear, with radial front brake master cylinder and Bosch MP9.1 ABS is standard. Seat height for the Milano is set at 820 mm, while the Corsaro in ZT and ZZ flavours has a 860 mm tall seat.

  Inside the cockpit, the rider views a 5-inch full-colour TFT-LCD instrument panel which comes with user selectable display options. Rolling on 17-inch wheels front and rear, the Moto Morini Milano is shod in Pirelli Angel GT tyres while the Corsaro is shod in Pirelli Diablo Rosso III rubber.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2019 Ducati Desmosedici GP19 gets handling fixes

  In Bikes, Ducati, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 14 November 2018 12:08 pm / 0 comment

  

  Coming to a close is the 2018 MotoGP season, with the penultimate round at the Shell Malaysia Sepang MotoGP at Sepang International Circuit. As part of events leading up to Sunday’s race day, Shell Malaysia organised an exclusive for paultan.org with Paolo Ciabatti,

  During the discussion, which centred around the technical partnership between Ducati and Shell in the development of lubricants and fuel for motorsports use, Ciabatti touched on developments across 2018 for the Ducati Desmosedici MotoGP racing machine. This came about after several high profile racing incidents over the past few races involving both Ducati riders, Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso.

  “We have, as you know, had some problems with the handling for the previous races and we have made some changes to this year’s chassis,” said Ciabatti. “Now there is improvement in the handling which we will carry forward to next year,” he continued.

  

  Asked about the 2019 chassis, Ciabatti said the Desmosedici is currently the most powerful machine on the grid. “Right now, the Desmosedici is not lacking for power but we know the handling is still a little bit behind. For the next year, the chassis and swing arm have been improved for more stability,” said Ciabatti.

  “In 2019, with Jorge Lorenzo changing teams, we will have Andrea Dovizioso as our lead rider, while Danilo Petrucci will be given time to adjust to the Desmosedici,” Ciabatti said. Moving into 2019, Ducati Corse continues its technical partnership with Shell fuels and lubricants.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Aprilia opens official showroom in Malaysia

  In Aprilia, Bikes, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 12 November 2018 4:25 pm / 5 comments

  

  In conjunction with the recent Shell Malaysia Grand Prix held recently, Didi Resources, official distributor for Aprilia motorcycles in Malaysia, launched the Aprilia Malaysia showroom and 3S service centre. The event also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Welly World Cycle, Sheng Fatt SUperbike and Soon Hin Co. and Didi Resources.

  The memorandum sees the three motorcycle dealerships being appointed dealer representatives for Aprilia in Malaysia. Welly World Cycle, located in Sungai Buloh, will cover the central region, while Sheng Fatt Superbike in Penang and Soon Hin Co in Kuantan will cover the northern region and East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, respectively.

  Gracing the event was former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion and winner of the 2010 and 2012 World Superbike Champion Max Biaggi along with Aprilia MotoGP team riders Aleix Espargaro and Scott Redding. The Aprilia Malaysia showroom and service centre covers 2,104 square feet and is located at The Gasket Alley, Petaling Jaya.

  “Our vision is to create a new ownership experience for existing and new customers where owning a motorcycle goes beyond just the product. We will continue to invest in after sales improvement and value-added services to increase the ownership experience like dedicated track days, racing support, rides and gathering that is niche and unique to each Aprilia owner,” said Rewi Hamid Bugo, chairman of Didi Resources.

   

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• 2018 EICMA: 2019 Benelli 752S – 77 hp, parallel-twin

  In Benelli, Bikes, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 9 November 2018 5:42 pm / 2 comments

  

  After being away awhile from the larger motorcycle displacement range, Benelli has returned with the 2019 Benelli 752 S, its offering for the naked sports segment. Set to go on sale in Europe in the summer of 2019, the 752S goes up against rivals such as the Ducati Monster, Triumph 765, and Yamaha’s MT-07, to name some examples.

  Save for the fuel tank and front mudguard, the 752S has a minimum of a bodywork, bringing its trellis frame to the fore, alogn with the round-section steel tubing swingarm. This encapsulates the two-cylinder, 750 cc, liquid-cooled DOHC mill that produces a claimed 77 hp at 8,500 rpm and 67 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, with power going through a six-speed gearbox.

  Betraying its sporting intentions is the Marzocchi 50 mm diameter upside-down fork, fully-adjustable, and the 320 mm diameter brake discs clamped by Brembo four-piston callipers. At the back, a 250 mm diameter single disc does the job with a single-piston Brembo calliper and two-channel ABS comes standard.

  

  

  

  Inside the cockpit, a full-colour TFT-LCD display can be found, along with LED lighting throughout. Fuel for the 752S is carried in a 14.5-litre tank with an overall weight of 228 kg.

  Seat height for the 2019 Benelli 752S is set at 810 mm and it rolls on 17-inch wheels shod in 120/70 and 180/55 rubber. There are three colour options for the 752S – white, black and green.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2018 EICMA: KYMCO shows SuperNEX e-bike

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Kymco / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 9 November 2018 3:42 pm / 5 comments

  

  Moving into the electric motorcycle (e-bike) segment is Taiwanese scooter maker Kymco, with the unveiling of the Kymco SuperNEX. Saying that one of the issues for the acceptance of e-bikes amongst the riding populace is gear shifting, or the lack thereof, the SuperNEX comes with a six-speed gearbox to replicate the traditional motorcycle riding experience.

  According to Kymco, the SuperNEX is able to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, with 0 to 200 km/h in 7.5 seconds and hitting 250 km/h in 10.9 seconds. These claimed figures are supported by Kymco’s Full Engagement Performance (FEP) which controls wheelies and wheel slip during launch and rear wheel lift during hard braking, ensuring every kiloWatt gets to the rear wheel with minimal loss.

  Kymco FEP also provides traction control for wet and slippery surfaces with degree of engagement and intervention user customisable. Sounds is also issue with e-bikes, with most tending to sound like a washing machine on spin cycle, but Kymco says it has addressed this with what it calls “Active Acoustic Motor.”

  

  

  

  From the press release, the SuperNEX has a motor which is “designed to convey the heartbeats of the machine.” This comes from a “multi-frequency acoustics generator that reconstructs the dynamic sounds of the motor with great authenticity.”

  The SuperNEX does not offer ride modes but instead, in Kymco parlance, offers “Adaptive Machine Personalities.” These are Poised, Assertive, Bold and Extreme, which we think correspond to Tour, Road, Sport and Race modes.

  Kymco neglected to provide any real performance numbers for the SuperNEX, aside from the above mentioned acceleration times. What we do know, perusing launch and press photos, is the Kymco Supernex rolls on O.Z. Racing wheels and Metzeler rubber, and is braked by Brembo, with suspension by Ohlins.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  
  

   

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• 2018 EICMA: Royal Enfield shows KX Concept bike

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Royal Enfield / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 8 November 2018 5:39 pm / 3 comments

  

  A big surprise and huge deviation in design language happened at the EICMA show in Italy when Indian motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield showed the KX Concept motorcycle. Inspired by the classic KX 1140 V-twin motorcycle of the 1930s, Royal Enfield says the KX Concept is a showcase of their design prowess and was completed in a mere six months.

  Although an interpretation of the classic design, the connection between the KX Concept and its predecessor from 80 years ago can easily be discerned. Cues to the 1930s design can be seen in the wide handlebars, V engine, “floating” single seat, flat-tip exhaust and fuel tank finished in British Racing Green.

  Royal Enfield did not disclose the engine capacity of the KX but a “838” logo on the engine might be an indication. Exhaust exits on the right side, in the traditional style.

  

  

  

  A unique touch on the KX Concept is its suspension, with a girder fork – possibly made from aluminium – installed on the front end, and the headlight cowl integrated into the fork covers. At the back is a triangluar single-sided swingarm attached to a shock absorber under the seat.

  Modern equipment installed on the Royal Enfield KX Concept include disc brakes and rear, clamped by Brembo callipers, with the front wheel being a 19-inch hoop shod in Maxxis DTR-1 rubber. Chain drive gets power to the rear wheel and LED lighting is used throughout, while a circular digital instrument readout is found inside the cockpit.

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2018 EICMA: Husqvarna Svartpilen 701, Vitpilen 701 Aero Concept shown – tracker and cafe racer style

  In Bikes, Husqvarna, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 8 November 2018 4:32 pm / 1 comment

  

  More known for its prowess in off-roading and supermoto, Swedish motorcycle maker Husqvarna unveiled the Svartpilen and Vitpilen naked sports bikes a couple of years ago. At this year’s EICMA show in Italy, Husqvarna brings two variants to the table, the flat tracker styled Svartpilen 701 and the cafe racer inspired Vitpilen 701 Aero Concept.

  While it is not known if these two new iterations of the Svartpilen and Vitpilen will make it to the market, the minimalist styling of Husqvarna’s street bike offerings has attracted the interest of many riders. The 701 Svartpilen’s styling is inspired by flat track racers with taller handlebars and a race number plate on the side.

  The Svartpilen uses the same engine as the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, a single-cylinder mill displacing 692.7 cc, with output claimed to be 73.8 hp. Power gets to the rear wheel via a six-speed gearbix equipped with a slipper clutch.

  

  

  

  Colouring for the Svartpilen is predominantly black and grey with colour coordination in that theme carried out throughout the bike. This includes the 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel, exhaust, 12-litre fuel tank, LED headlight housing and engine guard.

  A WP Suspension 43 mm diameter front fork is used, complemented by a WP monoshock in the rear with braking done by four-piston Brembo calliper in front clamping a single 320 mm disc and single-piston Brembo at the back with a 220 mm disc. ABS is standard fitment and all up weight is said to be 158.5 kg.

  As for the Vitpilen 701 Aero Concept, decked out in blue and white, this prototype betrays a racing design style, looking very much like a cafe racer. This is borne out by the front fairing, lowered handlebars and more aerodynamic styling such as the front mudguard.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2018 EICMA: 2019 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory and Tuono 1100 RR – 175 hp and electronic suspension

  In Aprilia, Bikes, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 8 November 2018 3:02 pm / 0 comment

  

  Super naked sports bikes are intense fun and Aprilia is joining the fray with the release of the 2019 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory and V4 Tuono 1100 RR. Both naked sports bikes receive a slew of electronics upgrades designed to enhance the riding experience.

  Both V4 1100s come with Aprilia’s legendary 65-degree V-four engine, tuned to produce 175 hp at 11,000 rpm and 121 Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm. Both the Factory and RR versions of the Tuono V4 are fed by Magneti Marelli 48 mm throttle bodies and ride-by-wire, giving the rider a choice of three ride modes – Tracl, Sport and Race.

  Main difference between the Factory and RR is in the area of suspension, with the RR making do with Sachs 43 mm diameter fully-adjustable forks and full-adjustable Sachs monoshock. Meanwhile, the Tuono Factory is equipped with Ohlins Smart EC 2.0 electronic suspension front and rear, along with an electronically controlled Ohlins steering damper.

  

  

  

  Braking is done by Brembo with M4.32 MonoBloc four-piston callipers, grabbing twin 330 mm diameter stainless steel floating discs in front and single 220 mm disc at the back. Seat height on the both the Tuono Factory and RR is seet at 825 mm and fuel is carried in a 18.5-litre tank.

  Naturally a full suite of riding aids is supplied, controlled by a 4.3-inch TFT-LCD screen, including Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC) which gives traction control, wheelie control, launch control, cruise control, quick shifter and pit lane speed limiter, all of which are rider customisable. ABS is provided by Bosch with its 9.1 MP advanced multimap cornering ABS.

  The 2019 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR comes in either Sachsenring Red or Magny-Cours grey while the Tuono Factory is available in Superpole graphics. As for tyre choices, the Tuono Factory comes fitted with a Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa in 200/55 while the RR has a 190/55 Pirelli Diablo Rosso III.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2018 EICMA: Aprilia shows RS 660 Concept sportsbike

  In Aprilia, Bikes, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 8 November 2018 12:24 pm / 2 comments

  

  While more known for its race-purposed V-fours, Italian motorcycle maker might be expanding its sports bike range with the showing of the Aprilia RS 660 Concept at the EICMA show in Italy. The RS 660 was developed with close attention to aerodynamics, premium components and electronics as well as a new engine.

  According to Aprilia, the RS 660 Concept is the result of research into aerodynamics including design cues taken from the racing world to produce a bike that is compact and fun to ride. The RS 660 is sculpted to optimise airflow and and produce differing levels of down force according to user needs.

  For the chassis, lessons learned by Aprilia is translated into the RS 660 and results in a lightweight aluminium chassis and swingarm. This includes a special mount for the rear suspension that provides optimum response without use of any additional suspension linkage.

  

  

  

  Motive power comes from a new two-cylinder engine displacing 660 cc that uses the 1,100 cc V-four mill as a basis, developed in-house by Aprilia. This engine configuration was chosen for being compact, efficient and with lower heat emission as well as giving Aprilia designers a free hand in developing the frame.

  Looking toward the future, Aprilia says the RS 660 Concept will form the foundation of a range of middleweight sports machines. It hopes this lead to Aprilia becoming a major player in the motorcycle market not only in Europe, but also in America and Asia.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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