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• Ride to PETRONAS Sprinta Launch Thailand – win invites to take part in a 3-day bike convoy to Phuket!

  In Bikes / By Harvinder Sidhu / 3 April 2018 2:51 am / Comments are Disabled

  

  If you think that going on a long-distance trip over 500 kilometres long and crossing the border with like-minded enthusiasts on your favourite two-wheeler is heaven on earth, then you’ll want to continue reading this story.

  PETRONAS is organising a convoy ride to neighbouring Thailand, and you might be one of the lucky few to win an invite to this expense-paid* event. The ride will be for the launch of PETRONAS’ Sprinta lubricants in Phuket, which is set to take place before Phuket Bike Week.

  Approximately 30 riders will be part of this convoy, and we are offering 15 spots to readers of this website. The convoy will flag-off on April 10 in Kuala Lumpur before ending the day in Hat Yai, Thailand. The convoy will then resume its journey on April 11 to Phuket. The next day, you will be part of the PETRONAS Sprinta launch event before departing the following day on April 13.

  

  Accommodation and meals will be provided for the journey leading up to Phuket, and you will ride with selected members of the media and members of the oil and gas firm in a closed convoy, led by experienced marshals equipped with a support team. You will be taking part in this ride with your own bike, and apart from an expense-paid* experience, you will also get a quick oil tune-up before the ride at a selected workshop.

  To be eligible, you will need to have a well-maintained bike which is powered by an engine that is equivalent to, or higher than 500 cc. Start by filling the form below and be on your way to win the exclusive invite!

  Contest ends on April 4, 5.00 pm.

  Terms and conditions

  • All invites are strictly for one (1) pax only.
  • All winners are required to bring their own bikes.
  • The organiser will cover all accommodation and meal expenses for the trip from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket. The return ride will NOT be covered, and it will not be in a convoy. Accommodation and meals for the return trip will be borne by the winners.
  • All winners are not allowed to return back to Kuala Lumpur or leave the official programme on April 12, or anytime before.
  • All winners will be required to sign a talent release form for content production.
  • All winners must have a valid, non-probationary motorcycle license.
  • All winners must have a valid passport. The registration card of the bike will be required to cross the border.
  • All winners are encouraged to bring along appropriate riding gear to help ensure a safe experience,
  • All winners may stay on for the Phuket Bike Week event at their own discretion and expense,
  • The organiser has the right to refuse participation to winners without notice.

   

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• 2018 Yamaha MT-10 – coming to Malaysia this year?

  In Bikes, Local Bike News, Yamaha / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 2 April 2018 4:31 pm / 19 comments

  

  For fans of Yamaha’s naked sports bike, the Yamaha MT-09 and Yamaha MT-07 have been very popular in Malaysia, but what if we told you, there is a distinct possibility the much-vaunted, must lusted after, 2018 Yamaha MT-10, might just make it to our shores? This has been a question we have asked for some time, and we can tell you that Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia might, just might, possibly maybe, bring in the MT-10.

  This, of course, hinges on several things, one of which is pricing, depending on the various duties and taxes imposed. The other is demand, basically from the MT fans who keep clamouring for this hyper naked machine to be brought in with the million dollar question being, would you buy it?

  The MT-10 carries Yamaha’s lauded Crossplane 4 engine, taken from the Yamaha R-1 superbike and detuned to produce power in the low- and mid-range. Placed in an aluminium Deltabox chassis, the MT-10’s inline-four power plant produces 158 hp at 11,500 rpm and 111 Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm and comes with three ride and traction control modes.

  

  

  Weighing in at 210 kg, the MT-10 is slightly on the heavy end of the spectrum as far as big naked sports bikes go, but we can say this, the MT-10 has a huge helping of roll-on torque in the upper gears that makes over-taking effortless and front wheel shenanigans a giggle.

  We know this because paultan.org has been given the privilege by Hong Leong Yamaha to lay our hands on the only officially imported MT-10 in Malaysia, and a full review shall follow shortly. In Malaysia, the MT-10 goes up against the Suzuki GSX-S1000 at RM78,000, the BMW Motorrad S1000R at RM92,900, the Ducati Monster 1200 at RM119,000, the KTM Super Duke R at RM118,000 and MV Agusta Brutale 1090 at RM93,000 as well as the Kawasaki Z1000 at RM82,000.

  Triumph Malaysia is not bringing in the 2018 Speed Triple and all seems to have gone quiet with Aprilia Malaysia and its Tuono. So, that leaves it in your court, dear reader. What do you like about the 2018 Yamaha MT-10 and what do you want to know about it?

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Khairy promises racing circuit for every state in M’sia

  In Bikes, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 2 April 2018 10:54 am / 28 comments

  

  During the inauguration of the RM14.4 million Tangkak racing circuit in Johor, Youth and Sports (KBS) minister Khairy Jamaluddin promised a racing circuit in every state in Malaysia. Khairy said this was inline with the government’s plan to support and encourage the motorsports industry in Malaysia.

  This is part of the National Motorsports Development programme to identify and nurture young racers and elevate them to international level. In addition to the Tangkak circuit, which measures 1.2 km, built and owned by KBS, another circuit will open this year in Jengka, Pahang.

  

  

  

  The Jengka circuit measures 2.4 km in length with a capacity of 2,000 spectators and will cost RM40 million. Meanwhile, the Terengganu state government has announced that a motorsports complex will be built adjacent to the Dungun Velodrome.

  Launch of the Tangkak circuit coincided with the opening round of the 2018 Malaysian Cub Prix Championship, which is in its 25th edition. Three classes were contested, the CP150, CP115 and Wira KBS, which were won by Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin of Johor, Tengku Amirul Haffirudin of Terengganu and Danial Syahmi of Perak, respectively.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• GALLERY: 2018 Yamaha YZF-R3 and R15 sports bikes

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Yamaha / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 30 March 2018 11:41 am / 11 comments

  

  While Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia soldiers on with the Yamaha YZF-R25, a fairly capable sports bike in its own right but rather long in the tooth now, here’s a couple we don’t get locally, the 2018 Yamaha YZF-R3 and YZF-R15. While the R3 has been around for some time, the YZF-R15 Ver. 2.0 was recently launched in India.

  Both motorcycles were on display on the Yamaha stand at the 2018 Bangkok Motor Show, and paultan.org took some photos for a gallery. The R15 is basically Yamaha’s entry-point into its “real” sports bike range, taking design cues from the bigger bikes in the YZF range.

  Power for the YZF-R15 comes from a 155 cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder power plant with variable valve actuation. The engine is rated at 19.3 PS at 10,000 rpm and 15 Nm of torque at 8,500 rpm, with fuelling by EFI and delivered to the rear wheel via a six-speed gearbox.

  A full monochrome LCD display is used for the instrument panel with fuel carried in a 11-litre tank. Suspension uses a conventional telescopic fork with rear monoshock, and single hydraulic disc brakes are fitted front and rear, with wet weight at 139 kg.

  

  

  

  As for the YZF-R3, which could be described as a R25 plus, power comes from a 321 cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC parallel-twin with eight-valves, producing a claimed 42 hp at 10,750 rpm and 29.6 Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm. Power gets to the ground via a six-speed gearbox, and the mill is fed by EFI.

  A 41 mm diameter conventional telescopic fork props up the end and a KYB monoshock adjustable for pre-load suspends the rear. Brakes are a dual-piston hydraulic calliper in front grabbing a 298 mm disc, with a 220 mm disc at the back, grabbed by a single-piston calliper and ABS is a model option.

  Fuel for the YZF-R3 is carried in a 14-litre tank and wet weight is claimed to be 169 kg. In the European market, an extensive catalogue of accessories is offered, including Ohlins fork springs and Akrapovic racing exhaust system.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• GALLERY: 2017 Yamaha Qbix and Motoroid concept

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Yamaha / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 29 March 2018 4:24 pm / 5 comments

  

  Shown at the recent 2018 Bangkok Motor Show was the 2017 Yamaha QBix scooter and Yamaha Motoroid concept e-bike. While neither two-wheeler is new, having been unveiled in the previous year, paultan.org managed to take a few photos while getting up close and personal with the bikes on the Yamaha stand.

  For the QBix, this scooter is designed as family-centric urban transport, and brims with modern conveniences for the rider. Power comes from a 125 cc, single-cylinder mill with Yamaha’s Blue Core engine design philosophy that promises more power and greater fuel efficiency. For the Qbix, this is good for 9.5 hp at 8,000 rpm and 9.6 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm.

  There are three versions of the QBix – base, ‘S’ and ABS – which are self-explanatory. The top-of-the-line ABS model comes with keyless start, something we’ve seen in the Yamaha NVX 155, and all three models come with engine stop-start along with remote opening seat and fuel lid.

  

  Inside the cockpit an LCD instrument is installed, displaying everything the rider needs to know, with fuel carried in a 4.2-litre tank. In Thailand, the Yamaha QBix retails at 53,500 baht (RM6,620) for the base model, while the S and ABS models go for 56,000 baht (RM6,929) and 59,900 baht (RM7,412), respectively.

  Looking like it stepped out the pages of a Japanese manga is the Yamaha Motoroid concept, a technology demonstrator of the future of e-bikes, as Yamaha sees it. The Motoroid’s programming allows it to recognise its owner, along with tracking body movement to allow for a more efficient riding experience though we do not want to know if it will or will not open the pod bay doors.

  Yamaha has not released a lot of information on the Motoroid, but we can tell you it measures 2,060 mm long, 600 mm wide and 1,090 mm tall. An electric motor with unspecified rating drives the rear wheel, with the lithium-ion batteries carried where an engine would be for a normal motorcycle, and the entire package weighs 213 kg.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Malaysia to lower motorcycle license age to 14 years?

  In Bikes, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 29 March 2018 2:29 pm / 47 comments

  

  In an attempt to address the issue of motorcycle hooligans, otherwise known as mat rempit, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has proposed lowering the minimum age for obtaining a motorcycle license to 15 or 14 years of age from the present 16. This recommendation also includes plans to curb basikal lajak or modified bicycles ridden by youth.

  Requirements will be imposed on the license, with riders limited to using motorcycles within housing areas and riding hours limited to between 7 am and 8 pm and the establishment of a special school syllabus on road rules and safety.

  “Besides that, the ministry also plans to set up a special circuit for motorcycle racing to unearth new talent among the young people, as well as enabling them to engage in healthy activities,” said deputy minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun in a Bernama report.

  The issue of motorcycle hooliganism has prevailed despite measures by the authorities to clamp down on such dangerous activities. Azizah said the recommendations came about during roundtable discussions on Children and Teenagers Social Issue held on March 22, and forwarded to the Dewan Negara.

  What is your opinion on this, as a road user? Leave a comment about your thoughts, below.

   

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• GALLERY: GPX Racing Demon 150GR, 150GN and Gentleman 200 – in Malaysia soon from RM8k-RM11k?

  In Bikes, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 29 March 2018 11:57 am / 11 comments

  

  Whilst awaiting homologation and market launch of Thailand’s GPX Racing‘s range of sub-200 cc motorcycles in Malaysia, paultan.org visited the 2018 Bangkok Motor Show and took some photos of three models. Set to be launched locally soon, these are the Ducati Panigale look-a-like Demon 150-GR, the Demon 150-GN naked sports and the retro-styled Gentleman 200.

  Built to cash in on the current trend for retro cafe racers, the Gentleman 200 carries a 197 cc, four-stroke, air- and oil-cooled single-cylinder mill. GPX Racing did not supply any numbers for the engine, but a figure of 20 hp and 18 Nm or so of torque would not be out of the question.

  Fuelling is by carburettor, which is understandable given the budget nature of the Gentleman 200, but it does come shod in Pirelli rubber. Upside-down telescopic forks are used in front, with a monoshock in the rear, and braking is done using twin hydraulic discs on the spoked front wheel.

  

  

  With styling cues reminiscent of the Ducati Scrambler, the Gentleman 200 sports a Clubman seat, with the rear cowl removable to allow for pillion seating. The cockpit is graced with flat handlebars, and a single gauge contains all the necessary readouts.

  As for GPX Racing’s 150 cc bikes, the Demon 150GR and 150GN models, power comes from a 150 cc, air-cooled, cylinder engine. Of note is the styling of the Demon 150GR, which has a nose very closely resembling Ducati’s Panigale superbike.

  From our conversation with GPX Racing’s Malaysia distributor, Bike Continent, pricing for the 2018 GPX Racing Gentleman 200 is said to be around RM11,000 while the Demon 150GN will retail for around RM8,000. However, final pricing can only be determined after approval from the authorities is obtained.

  GALLERY: GPX Racing Demon 150GR
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: GPX Racing Demon 150GN
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: GPX Racing Gentleman 200
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Sepang circuit given three-year deadline to make MSC and MSBK profitable – new e-MCS series introduced

  In Bikes, Cars, Local News, Motorsports / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 28 March 2018 4:47 pm / 25 comments

  

  Despite being held as national-level race championships since 2001, the Malaysia Championship Series (MSC) for cars and Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) have not been profitable, and Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has been given a three-year deadline to make the two series financially self-sustaining. SIC chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali was quoted in a New Straits Times report.

  “The (SIC) board wanted to scrap these events as they have been loss making since (introduction in) 2001 but I insisted on maintaining them as they are our national championships and are part of our nation building and talent development efforts,” said Razlan. ““The government, however, does not want these two series to depend on public funding forever and we have been given three years to break even,” he continued.

  The two races are in the SIC national championships calendar for motorsports and are running based on funding from the government. However, Razlan mentioned funding became available due to the removal of Formula 1 from SIC in 2017.

  

  

  

  “It is easier for MCS as events such as TCR Asia and Asian GT3 are run together with MCS and they pay us a slot fee. It is harder for two-wheels (MSBK),” Razlan added. Razlan said he hopes to be able to have the races turning a profit with increased online viewership of both races to attract sponsors, among others.

  Both MCS and MSBK have five rounds each in 2018, and begin on March 30 and April 12, respectively. SIC is also organising an e-MCS series, riding on the rise of eSports (video game competition) to run alongside the regular MCS, with the winner earning a seat as a full season driver in MCS next year.

   

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• 2018 Kymco Ionex unveiled ahead of Tokyo show

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Kymco / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 27 March 2018 3:25 pm / 2 comments

  

  With the Tokyo Motorcycle show opening shortly, Taiwanese scooter manufacturer Kymco has released photos of its latest model, the 2018 Kymco Ionex e-scooter. From a Motorcycle News report, Kymco’s Ionex overcomes that traditional barriers against adoption of green vehicles – looks, charge time, range and infrastructure.

  While several major manufacturers have released electric motorcycles and scooters (e-bikes), not to mention those that specialise only in electric two-wheelers such as Zero Motorcycles and Energica, take up of e-bikes by the general motorcycling public has been slow. However, Kymco is not deterred, and is planning to release 10 e-bikes with a projected sales volume of 500,000 units, worldwide.

  The Ionex comes with two lightweight batteries located under the floorboard, removable for charging with the press of a button. Weighing only 5 kg each, the batteries have several charging options, including in-bike charging, as well as using consumer electricity where the batteries are charged in the house or office.

  

  

  

  Other options include the Power Outlet Network, where riders can swap discharged batteries for fully charged units and the Charge Point Network, where a local business will charge your battery for you in an hour or so. Another choice is for the rider to rent extra batteries that can be stored under the Ionex’ seat, extending range to over 200 km between stops.

  What sets the Ionex apart is a permanently installed third “core” battery, allowing the rider to continue using the e-bike for a short distance while the two removable batteries are being charged. Kymco has not released any information on pricing, availability, weight, performance or range.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2018 Honda CB150 Verza now in Indonesia – RM5,500

  In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 26 March 2018 6:36 pm / 6 comments

  

  A new model in the Indonesia motorcycle market is the 2018 Honda CB150 Verza, intended for the budget commuter end of the market. Designed to be easily affordable, the CB150 features sporty styling but using underpinnings from the more basic end of the motorcycle engineering spectrum.

  A single-cylinder, SOHC, 150 cc air-cooled mill is used, fed by fuel injection and matched to a five-speed gearbox. Honda claims the CB150 produces 13.04 PS at 8,500 rpm and 12.73 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm.

  Styling on the CB150 is fairly basic, with the lack of a front fairing and single round headlamp with halogen lighting. The rider is placed fairly upright on the CB150, similar to the Yamaha FZ150i for the Malaysia market, and the seat is a flat single-piece affair.

  

  

  

  In front, the CB150 comes with a hydraulic disc brake with dual-piston calliper and telescopic forks, while at the back a simple drum brake is used with twin shock absorbers. As for wheel size, the CB150 rolls on 17-inch wheels front and rear shod with 80/100 and 100/90 rubber, respectively.

  Overall weight for the CB150 is 129 kg and fuel is carried is in 12.2 litre tank. There are two versions of the 2018 Honda CB150 Verza available, with a choice of either alloy or spoked wheels. Pricing for the CB150 verza starts from 19.355 million rupiah (RM5,500).

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2018 Suzuka 8-Hours sees Kawasaki champions team

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Kawasaki / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 26 March 2018 5:18 pm / 0 comment

  

  2017 British Superbike Championship, BSB R11, Assen, Holland. 28th September 2017.
  Leon Haslam, Smalley, JG Speedfit Kawasaki

  Keen to assert its dominance in the world of superbike racing, Kawasaki Team Green has selected current World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea, British Superbike championship racer Leon Haslam and 2013 All Japan Road Race Championship ST600 champion Kazuma Watanabe to race in the 2018 Suzuka 8-hours endurance race. Rea currently holds three world superbike titles while Haslam has two Suzuka 8-Hours wins and Watanabe brings extensive experience in the Japanese JSB1000 race class to the table.

  Team Green will be campaigning with the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, the latest iteration of its top-flight superbike, which is based on the current model ZX-10R. Testing in preparation for the race in Ino, Suzuka City, has begun, with Rea saying, “Suzuka is the biggest test for man and machine. It’s like an emotional roller coaster during the race and I am very excited to go back this season.”

  Rivals Yamaha have won the last three editions of the Suzuka 8-Hours, while Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) entered the fray with an official factory team in 2017, running alongside three HRC-supported privateer teams, one of which is the Malaysian-led Satu Hati Honda Team Asia. Racing the Suzuka 8-Hours is seen as prestigious for Japanese motorcycle makers, with a win being a good motivator for sales and marketing.

  

  

  

  “Suzuka is very challenging circuit and it really suits the characteristics of the bike itself. Being part of Team Green and riding the ZX-10RR is a dream come true,” said Haslam. Meanwhile, Watanabe said, “for this year’s Suzuka 8-Hours we are fielding our strongest team yet. We will be pushing for the win so be sure to cheer for Team Green.”

  The Suzuka 8-Hours is held at the Suzuka circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan, which measures 5.807 km in length. Designed by Dutchman John Hugenholtz, Suzuka has a unique figure-eight layout, with the the back straight crossing over the front straight using an overpass.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  2017 British Superbike Championship, BSB R12, Brands Hatch GP, Kent, UK. 14th October 2017. Leon Haslam, Smalley, JG Speedfit Kawasaki

  

  2017 British Superbike Championship, BSB R12, Brands Hatch GP, Kent, UK. 13th October 2017. Leon Haslam, Smalley, JG Speedfit Kawasaki

  
  

  

  

  2017 British Superbike Championship, BSB R11, Assen, Holland. 28th September 2017. Leon Haslam, Smalley, JG Speedfit Kawasaki

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Suzuki Hayabusa to get turbocharging in 2019?

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Suzuki Motorcycles / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 26 March 2018 1:46 pm / 11 comments

  

  As the rumour that never dies, more speculation has emerged that the Suzuki Hayabusa, now into its 20th year as Suzuki’s uber motorcycle, will get turbocharging and be released as a 2019 model sometime this year. This snippet of information is as yet unverified but reported by website motoridersuniverse.com, but there is some truth to the rumour.

  With the inline-four mill taken from the GSX-R and bored out to 1,300 cc, the Hayabusa will not likely meet current Euro 4 emissions regulations, nor the Euro 5 standards set to come into effect in 2020. This means the most likely method of getting an engine that would meet requirements would be a little adjustment in capacity and the addition of forced induction to make up for the lost power.

  It has been reported previously the GSX engine would be getting some form of turbo- or supercharging, based on patent drawings that surfaced in 2016. Suzuki has also shown the Recursion concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2013, but little has developed since then.

  

  

  

  For the Recursion, Suzuki added turbocharging to a 588 cc parallel twin, which it claims will produce 100 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 100 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. As a comparison, Suzuki’s current superbike, the GSX-R1000 L7, pumps out 117.6 Nm of torque, albeit with twice the horsepower, but from only a third more engine capacity.

  Suzuki has been languishing in the market of late, with the demise of the GSX-R600, and save the GSX-R1000, its models are in need of updates or replacements. Most of the Japanese manufacturers have turned away from the hyperbike segment, save for Kawasaki, which has two machines – the Kawasaki H2 and H2 SX, with the track-only H2R, and the more touring oriented ZX1400.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2018 KTM Duke 790 – the Scalpel in Malaysia soon?

  In Bikes, KTM, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 19 March 2018 2:44 pm / 1 comment

  

  After being shown as a concept motorcycle in EICMA, and touted for the KTM Duke 690, much-loved amongst the hooligan set, it appears that the 2018 KTM Duke 790 will be in Malaysia soon. As the first sub-900 cc motorcycle in KTM’s range to use a two-cylinder engine, the Duke 790, also known as the Scalpel, is an important direction for the Austrian bike manufacturer.

  News of the Scalpel coming to Malaysia came from a Facebook posting by KTM dealer CA Cycle, and when contacted by paultan.org, said the Duke 790 will be in Malaysia in a few months, and be priced at around RM60,000, with refundable deposits being taken now.

  Given the moniker of LC8c, the Duke 790’s engine displaces 799 cc, and is said to be capable of producing 105 hp and 86 Nm of torque. Power gets to the ground via a six speed gearbox and KTM’s PASC slipper clutch.

  

  

  

  Inside the engine room is a DOHC head with eight-valves, and a single spark plug per cylinder, with the cam chain tensioned automatically using a hydraulic tensioner. To reduce vibration, there are two counter-balancer shafts, one located in front of the camshafts and another in-between.

  The 2018 KTM Duke 790 is a completely new model, superseding the previous generation Duke 690 with the addition of traction control, four ride modes, switchable ABS with Supermoto mode, a quickshifter and that distinctive split LED headlight, which we first saw on the KTM Super Duke R. In Malaysia, rivals to the Duke 790 in the naked sports category include the Monster 821 at RM66,999, the Triumph Street Triple 765RS at RM66,900, the MV Agusta Brutale at RM87,331 and to a lesser extent, the Yamaha MT-09 at RM47,388.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2018 MotoGP: Dovi cuts up Marquez on final lap for win, Rossi third, Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin comes 14th

  In Bikes, International News, Motorsports / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 19 March 2018 10:12 am / 9 comments

  

  Pipping incumbent MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez (#93) of Repsol Honda on the final lap, Andrea Dovzioso (#4) of Ducati Team took the initial win of the 2018 MotoGP World Championship season. Meanwhile, fan favourite Valentino Rossi (#46), who recently renewed his contract with Yamaha Racing to 2020, came in third, cocking a snook at nay-sayers who said “The GOAT” was past it.

  As the flag dropped for the start, Johann Zarco (#5) of Tech 3 Yamaha took the lead from pole position, staying ahead despite keen competition from a 10 man train wanting to get in front. Despite clocking several fastest laps during the course of the 22 lap race, Zarco relinquished the lead on lap 18, when Dovizioso and Marquez charged to the fore, pushing Zarco back two places in the process.

  The duo then went at it hammer-and-tongs for the remainder of the race, and despite a move by Marquez in turn 15 on the final lap, Dovizioso took his Ducati Desmosedici to the chequered flag just 0.027 seconds ahead of Marquez. Rossi was in the thick of the action, fending off rivals and clawing his way to third position from fifth, beating Cal Crutchlow (#35) of LCR Honda Castrol who finished as highest ranking independent team rider while Danilo Petrucci (#9) of Alma Pramac Racing on a Ducati rounded out the top five.

  

  

  

  While Zarco eventually finished the race in Losail in eighth position, team mate Hafizh Syahrin (#55), better known as “El Pescao” who is making his MotoGP debut, finished in the points in 14th position on his Yamaha YZR-M1, earning two world championship points and beating Karel Abraham (#17) of Angel Nieto Team who was riding a Ducati.

  In Moto2, Francesco Bagnaia (#42) of Sky Racing Team VR46 won the season opener, while Malaysian racers Khairul Idham Pawi (#89) of Idemitsu Honda Team Asia and Zulfahmi Khairuddin of SIC Racing Team came in 21st and 28th, respectively. Jorge Martin (#88) of Del Conca Gresini Moto3 won the junior class, while Malaysian Adam Norrodin (#7), riding for Petronas Sprinta Racing came in 11th, winning five championship points.

  Malaysia has riders in every category of the Motorcycle World Championship, with Hafizh Syahrin making his MotoGP debut this year. The MotoGP circus moves to Argentina for the next race, which takes place on April 6 to 8 at Rio Hondo.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2018 Sur-Ron “White Ghost” e-bike – below RM11,700

  In Bikes, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 16 March 2018 6:05 pm / 17 comments

  

  Electric motorcycles, or e-bikes, are coming out in the market faster than lightning, with most major manufacturers having one or two in the design or production pipeline, not including current major players Energica, Zero and Brammo. A new player in the field is Sur-Ron, from China, with its current offering, the “White Ghost”.

  Claimed to come with a sub USD 3,000 (RM11,700) price tag, the White Ghost is designed for short urban trips. Carrying a 10 kilowatt electric motor that is the equivalent of 13.4 hp, this e-bike has a 100 km/h top speed powered by a 4.2-kilowatt hour, 60-volt battery that takes three hours to go to full charge.

  Power is transmitted through a two-speed, dual-clutch DSG automatic gearbox, apparently a first for a China made e-bike. Suspension is with upside-down telescopic fork in front with a monoshock in the rear, and ABS is standard equipment.

  

  This is enough to carry the White Ghost to a distance of 100 km, depending on which of the three riding modes is selected. The first two modes – Economy and Sport – are self-explanatory while the third mode, “Turbo”, boosts power by 20% for 20 seconds to allow for over taking or riding uphill.

  Several modern conveniences are included in design of the White Ghost, including a storage space where the fuel tank would be for a normal motorcycle. Also included is full LED lighting all-round, with the headlight being a two-element projector light unit flanked by two DRLs, which Sur-Ron calls “Soul-Eye”.

  

  

  

  At the back, the brake lights and indicators are integrated, changing colour and flashing as necessary. On the inside of the fairing, green LEDs add “atmosphere lighting” to the White Ghost, combined with cornering lights that come on as the rider leans the e-bike.

  Activating the White Ghost is with a keyless fob, which also includes a vehicle location feature and functions as a flashlight. The 2018 Sur-Ron White Ghost is currently under-going type approval and homologation in China for export sales.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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