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• Langen Motorcycles Two Stroke is an authentic two-stroke retro racer – limited edition of 100, RM163k

  In Bikes, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 11 June 2021 1:54 pm / 5 comments

  

  Two-stroke engines, notably in motorcycles, have disappeared from the street, victim to stringent emissions and noise regulations but Langen Motorcycles in the UK has a plan to bring back two-strokers, albeit as a track only machine. Based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, Langen intends for Great Britain to again be a leader in motorcycle development and manufacture.

  Founded in 2019 by Christofer “Langen” Ratcliffe, Langen Motorcycles will be building a limited production run of 100 Langen Two Strokes, priced at 28,000 pounds sterling (RM163,388). Reservations are being taken and a place in the production queue is secured with a 1,000 pounds sterling (RM5,835) refundable deposit.

  Ratcliffe spent 10 years as Chief Design Engineer at CCM Motorcycles, responsible for motorcycles such as the GP450 lightweight adventure bike and the CCM Spitfire cafe racer. Taking inspiration from the Isle of Man TT 250 road racers and the Ace Cafe culture of British cafe racing, Langen is building a stripped down motorcycle designed for speed and omitting all that is unnecessary.

  

  

  Power comes from a 249 cc, two-stroke Vins, 90-degree V-twin, fed by fuel injection. Power output is claimed to be 75 hp at 11,700 rpm with 45 Nm of torque at 11,700 rpm. While not sounding impressive in this age of 200 hp superbikes, the Langen Two Stroke only weighs 114 kg, giving a power-to-weight ratio of 660 hp per tonne with a claimed top speed of “140-plus mph (225 km/h).”

  Ohlins supplies the 43 mm diameter conventional telescopic forks, fully-adjustable while UK suspension specialists KTech – represented in Malaysia by Kratos Motorsports – provide a pair of custom designed Piggyback Razor shock absorbers, also fully-adjustable and including shock length adjustment.

  A pair of Dunlop Classic TT100 radials in 120/70 and 150/60 sizes are fitted to the spoked wheels. Braking is done with twin HEL radial-mount billet callipers grabbing 320 mm brake discs and a HEL calliper with 265 mm disc is mounted at the rear.

  

  The engine is wrapped in an aluminium space frame topped by a carbon-fibre fuel tank and bodywork, with 24-karat gold leaf used as design accents. The whole of the Langen Two Stroke conveys an authentically retro touch, including the hand-formed two-stroke exhausts exiting to the right and under the seat.

  What do you think, a piece of engineering eye candy that is also purposeful on the race track? Leave a comment with your thoughts below.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2021 Dayi E-Odin electric bike enters Europe market

  In Bikes, Electric motorcycles, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 10 June 2021 4:08 pm / 1 comment

  

  A plethora of electric motorcycles (e-bikes) from China is flooding the electric personal mobility arena and the latest option is the 2021 Dayi E-Idon entering the European market. Designed for as a personal mobility vehicle, the E-Odin e-bike is the equivalent of a 125 cc motorcycle, in terms of size and range.

  This makes it perfect for the dense urban centres of Europe, where road real estate and parking spaces are at a premium. Using a hub-mounted 6 kW electric motor, the E-Odin has a claimed governed top speed of 100 km/h.

  

  Power is stored in a lithium-ion 72 volt battery pack rated at 100 Ah, giving a total 7.2 kWh capacity, reports Electric.co. According to the Dayi specifications sheet, this gives the E-Odin a maximum range of 210 km with the battery taking 10 hours to reach a full charge.

  For Europe, the E-Odin falls under the EC’s L3e motorcycle category, which is the equivalent of an A1 license for a 125 cc motorcycle. No word on the likely cost of the E-Odin in Europe but Dayi has mentioned a shipment will be landing in its warehouse facility in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2021 MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR released, 208 hp

  In Bikes, International Bike News, MV Agusta / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 10 June 2021 2:38 pm / 1 comment

  

  Following the release of the MV Agusta Rush 1000, the Italian motorcycle maker has taken the covers off the 2021 MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR. As opposed to the “dressed up” Rush 1000 with it’s rear-wheel cover and dystopian styling, the Brutale 1000 RR presents a classic super naked sports look.

  Similar to the Rush 1000, the Brutale 1000 RR boasts of an identical power output, 208 hp at 13,000 rpm and 116.5 Nm of torque at 11,000 rpm. Motive power comes from a 998 cc inline-four cylinder with DOHC and 16-valves, with both liquid-and oil-cooling.

  A six-speed gearbox with up-and-down quick shifter and rear wheel torque limiter is activated by a Brembo radial clutch pump. Riding aids include four-level torque control and eight-level traction control, along with wheelie control, going through an Eldor ECU.

  

  

  

  The Brutale 1000 RR uses Ohlins Nix EC electronically controlled suspension in front with fork preload manually adjusted. At the back, an electronically controlled fully-adjustable Ohlin TTX EC monoshock props up the rear end and the suspension system is complemented with an Ohlins EC steering damper with both electronic and manual adjustment.

  Brembo Stylema four-piston radial-mounted callipers grab 320 mm floating steel discs while the rear wheel is stopped with a Brembo two-piston calliper clamping a 260 mm steel brake disc. A full-colour 5.5-inch TFT-LCD screen is found in the cockpit, displaying all the necessary information and provide Bluetooth connectivity to the rider’s smartphone.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2022 Ducati Diavel 1260 S “Black and Steel” unveiled

  In Bikes, Ducati, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 10 June 2021 10:29 am / 0 comment

  

  Unveiled before its world premiere at the 2021 MIMO Motor Show is the 2022 Ducati Diavel 1260 S “Black and Steel”. Eschewing the use of the traditional Ducati Red, the Black and Steel edition of the Diavel 1260 S comes in a combination of gloss grey and matte black, accented by a yellow frame and bottom of the tail piece.

  The Diavel Black and Steel joins Ducati’s power cruiser lineup alongside the Diavel 1260 S decked out in Black and Dark Stealth and a red frame while the base model Diavel comes in Dark Stealth with black frame and wheels. For Malaysia, the 2021 Ducati Diavel 1260 S retails at RM139,900 while the XDiavel 1260 S goes for RM161,900.

  Power for the Diavel 1260 comes from a 1,262 cc Testastretta DVT (Desmodromic Variable Valve Timing) V-twin producing 162 hp at 9,500 rpm and 129 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm. The liquid-cooled, twin-spark power plant gets power to the ground via six-speeds, slipper clutch and chain final drive (the XDiavel uses belt drive).

  

  

  

  Standard fitment on the 1260 S is a Ducati up-and-down quick shifter while the riding suite comprises of Bosch ABS Cornering EVO as well as wheelie, launch and traction control by Ducati as part of the Ducati Safety Pack. Riding conveniences also include cruise control, keyless start, backlit switches and a full-colour TFT-LCD instrument panel configurable for the Ducati Link app for smartphone connectivity.

  Braking is done with Brembo M4.32 Monobloc four-piston callipers on 320 mm semi-floating steel brake discs, combined with a Brembo PR 18/19 master cylinder. The rear wheel is stopped by a two-piston Brembo calliper with a 265 mm brake disc.

  Suspension at the front uses 48 mm diameter Ohlins fully-adjustable forks while the rear comes with an Ohlins monoshock adjustable for preload, rebound and compression. The fuel tank on the Diavel 1260 S holds 17-litres while seat height is set at 780 mm with wet weight listed as 247 kg.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2021 Aprilia RS660 Trefeo – RM73,764, 105 hp, 153 kg

  In Aprilia, Bikes, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 8 June 2021 2:06 pm / 0 comment

  

  Following the positive market reception of the Aprilia RS660 sports bike, the boys from Noale have released the 2021 Aprilia RS660 Trefeo, priced at 14,700 euros (RM73,764). The RS660 Trefeo is a track-only version of the road-going RS660, and boasts of a number of improvements over the standard model.

  Modified with an eye to the racetrack, the RS660 Trefeo does without many of the legal requirements for a road bike, including “full power” engine mapping meant for an SC Project race exhaust, meaning any pretence to emissions and noise controls is thrown out the window. ABS is omitted, though the module is still there because it is required by the integrated electronics system, while items such as lights, mirrors and signals are gone, as is the pillion seat.

  

  The parallel-twin engine, making 100 hp in stock form, gets a bump up to 105 hp which Aprilia claims is the most ever for a two-cylinder engine in this class. The riding suite, comprising of traction control, wheelie control and engine braking is track specific while the TFT-LCD instrument panel is reprogrammed for racing duty, omitting the immobiliser function and including a left handlebar racing control pod.

  Suspension uses a modified upside-down fork, installed with Misano by Andreani internals that provide full adjustment for preload, compression and rebound. Similarly, the rear Ohlins AP948 monoshock is fully-adjustable.

  

  Prepared by Aprilia Racing through its Factory Works division, the RS660 Trefeo – Trefeo meaning ‘trophy’ in Italian – is modded for racing through the use of lowered clip-on handlebars, fibreglass race fairing and dry weight reduced to 153 kg. For comparison, the stock RS660 tips the scales at 169 kg, dry.

  The RS660 Trefeo comes shod with Pirelli Supercorsa V3 SC1 rubber in 120/70-17 front and 180/60-17 rear. For Malaysia, the 2021 Aprilia RS660 retailed at RM66,900 (introductory price of RM55,900) but the current allocation has been sold with new stock expected in 2022 but price is yet to be determined.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2021 Triumph Speed Twin in Malaysia soon – bookings open, RM77,900 for black, RM78,900 for premium

  In Bikes, Local Bike News, Triumph / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 8 June 2021 10:12 am / 0 comment

  

  Bookings are being taken for the 2021 Triumph Speed Twin which is due in Malaysia shortly. Updated from the first generation Speed Twin launched in 2019, the 2021 Speed Twin is priced at RM77,900 for the Jet Black model, while the premium colours costs RM1,000 more at RM78,900, a slight increase over the original launch price of RM73,900.

  Now with a Euro 5 compliant engine, the Speed Twin gets 98.6 hp at 7,250 rpm and 112 Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm from its parallel-twin mill. Power delivery has been revised, with the torque curve happening lower in the rev range while the engine now has a 500 rpm higher limit.

  Now standard are Marzocchi 43 mm diameter non-adjustable upside-down forks with preload-adjustable twin shock absorbers at the back. Braking sees a similar performance upgrade, now with a pair of Brembo M50 four-piston Monobloc callipers on the front wheel clamping 320 mm brake discs, matched with a radial brake master cylinder.

  

  

  

  Riding modes are now able to changed on-the-fly, with three options available – Road, Rain and Sport – while traction control is switchable. Weight for the 2021 Speed Twin is 216 kg and 14.5 litres of fuel is carried in the tank.

  Colour options for the Speed Twin are Jet Black, while the premium colour choices are Red Hopper and Matte Storm Grey. For bookings of the 2021 Triumph Speed Twin made before July 15, 2021 at official distributor Fast Bikes Malaysia, a promotion package of two free lubrication service visits and 35% discount on accessories is available, along with a choice of one of three complimentary accessory packages.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• FMCO: Malaysian police say cycling to work is allowed

  In Local Bike News, Local News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 7 June 2021 11:36 am / 42 comments

  

  After it was reported cycling was not allowed in the list of permitted activities under the Movement Control Order 3.0 (FMCO), Malaysian police have come out to say cycling to work is permitted. However, cycling as a recreational or sports activity is forbidden for the duration of the FMCO.

  Speaking during an impromptu handover ceremony for aid to police front liners, Subang Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdul Khalid Othman said no compounds will be issued to individuals riding a bicycle to work. “I appeal to the public, follow the standard operating procedures (SOP), it is our responsibility to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said in a Sinar Harian report.

  ACP Abdul Khalid reminded cyclists that recreational activities involving riding, whether individually or in groups, is not permitted under the SOP and offenders will be issued a compound notice. ACP Abdul Khalid also mentioned that the most compounds were issued for the offences of not wearing a face mask and not using the My Sejahtera application.

   

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• Kawasaki pushes forward e-bikes, hybrids and hydrogen fuel for motorcycle segment in 2030 vision

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Kawasaki / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 4 June 2021 10:05 am / 0 comment

  

  Japanese industrial giant Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) is moving forward with electric, hybrid and hydrogen fuelled motorcycles in its group vision plan for 2030. In a corporate progress report, Yasuhiko Hashimoto, President and Chief Executive Officer of KHI, parent company of KHI Motorcycle & Engine Company that makes Kawasaki motorcycles, touched on the changing social environment and growing environmental consciousness.

  Currently, Kawasaki is developing the EV Endeavor, a pure electric motorcycle that comes with a four-speed gearbox to optimise motor torque and acceleration. Intended to be a technology demonstrator, the EV Endeavor mimics the performance of a traditional combustion engined motorcycle.

  

  KHI will seek cooperation with other players in the industry for the development of electric and alternative fuel motorcycles, as well as collaborate on technologies like hybridisation. Efforts are also being made to seek alliances with other companies to promote KHI’s motorcycle and engine business, one example of which is the revitalisation of the Bimota brand.

  A new company called Kawasaki Motors will be established in October, 2021, to focus KHI’s two-wheel business along with the establishment of “Kawasaki Plaza” stores to cultivate a new customer base via lifestyle branding. In Japan, 77 such stores have been established since 2017, leading to a 60% increase in customers in the 20-year old age group and an 80% increase in sales of motorcycles above 400 cc.

   

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• 2021 GTB Honda RCV Replica – big wheels rolling

  In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 3 June 2021 3:51 pm / 20 comments

  

  If you’re not familiar with the term, ‘GTB’, in Malaysia, stands for “Geng Tayar Besar” or Big Wheel Gang. An offshoot of the custom motorcycle scene, GTB customs take a small displacement motorcycle, usually a kapchai, and then slam on all sorts of goodies taken from a motorcycle 10 times the displacement.

  This gives the GTB a rather unique look for custom motorcycles, which doesn’t doesn’t quite fall into the mainstream definition of “custom”. Typically, for the Malaysian custom bike scene, the accepted build is supposed to be a V-twin of some sort, coupled with either baroque styling in the American cruiser image, or cobbled together rat rods with exposed welding looking like it was built in a junkyard.

  Rudy Norman of GTB prefers to take a somewhat different path, with his particular penchant of taking a small motorcycle and making it look “big”, almost to the point of being a caricature of itself. The nearest we could come to this, in our experience, would be the “egg plane” model kits which are, well, egg shaped renditions of the real thing, looking all kawaii (cute).

  

  A good example is this 2021 GTB Honda RCV replica, based on the Honda RS150R supercub. Taking the RS150R as a starting point, the GTB boys put on replica bodywork and graphics in the style of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) racing motorcycles that compete in MotoGP.

  It doesn’t stop, because Rudy and his crew do a whole lot of additional work to fit superbike-sized tyres and wheels, along with a single-sided swingarm taken from a Honda VFR800. Custom seat, superbike level brakes, suspension taken from the Malaysian Cub Prix race machines, the list is long and the amount of work required to integrate everything even longer.

  “It is not so easy,” says Rudy, “We keep the frame untouched to avoid issues with the authorities, but just about everything else is modified, replaced and otherwise custom built to suit what a GTB bike is.” For the GTB RCV Replica, the most eye-catching piece is the single-sided swingarm, giving this particular custom a look unlike any other.

  

  “Yeah, that one caused me many sleepless nights, trying to figure how to fit the swingarm in the frame, keep the geometry and still look good,” says Rudy. “Somehow, we did it,” he says with a grin.

  Upgrade parts for GTB bikes are either bought off the shelf, or sourced second hand either locally or overseas. Rudy acknowledges this can be the most time consuming part of the build, especially when the part the customer desires doesn’t quite fit.

  “We build the bike to order, depending on what the customer wants and what the budget is. A build can typically range from RM10,000 to RM50,000, the sky is the limit,” Rudy laughs.

  

  

  

  In this particular case, the GTB RCV Replica is fitted not only with a single-sided swing, but actual race bike level rubber, along with fully adjustable suspension. We were invited to take the replica around the Aylezo track nd see what it felt like.

  “Yeah, sure, take it out on the track. Azlan Shah (Kamaruzaman, Malaysian racer and Asian Road Racing Champion 2019) took it out on the weekend for fun,” said Rudy. We did so, and after a couple of laps, became very aware riding the GTB RCV replica was almost unlike anything we had ridden before.

  

  The physical size of a RS150R, steering effort was at supertanker levels, the amount of rubber on the road making a very firm hand at the handlebars very necessary. Couple with the fact that this was a customer bike and due to be delivered soon, we hesitated to find the limits of the replica’s handling, coming in after a couple of laps and telling Rudy this one would take some time to get used to.

  In all, the GTB RCV Replica is perhaps a very good example of Malaysian ingenuity and talent when it come to the world of custom builds. Rudy wraps up the session by saying, “we will continue to build bikes for those who have the will and the dream, and hope for more support from the public and the authorities. Custom building is not about just making a motorcycle that is different, it is about the interest and passion.”

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2021 Triumph Speed Twin updated, more power and torque, Euro 5 compliant, Brembo M50 Monobloc

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Triumph / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 2 June 2021 11:01 am / 0 comment

  

  Receiving a bunch of upgrades and updates is the 2021 Triumph Speed Twin from Triumph’s Modern Classics range now Euro 5 complaint. Amongst the host of improvements to the Speed Twin – priced at RM73,900 in 2019 – is better engine response with more mid-range power and torque.

  In the engine room, power comes from the liquid-cooled, eight-valve, SOHC parallel-twin displacing 1,200 cc. Power is now 98.6 hp at 7,250 rpm, up 3 hp from previous while torque is 112 Nm at 4,250 rpm coming in lower in the rev range from the last generation model’s peak torque of 4,950 rpm.

  Changes to the crankshaft and alternator mean the 2021 Speed Twin has 17% less moment of inertia, allowing the engine to spin up faster to the new 500 rpm higher rev limit. This is complemented by a pair of new high compression pistons, new cam profile and revised porting with the Speed Twin’s first major service coming at 16,000 km.

  

  

  

  Improvements have also been made in the handling department, with higher specification Marzocchi 43 mm diameter upside-down forks, albeit non-adjustable, replacing the previous 41 mm diameter units. At the back, twin shock absorbers are adjustable for preload with the aluminium alloy wheels – a 12-spoke design versus the outgoing seven-spoke – now a new, lighter casting.

  Braking sees a similar performance upgrade, now with a pair of Brembo M50 four-piston Monobloc callipers on the front wheel clamping 320 mm brake discs. A Nissin two-piston clamping and 220 mm disc stops the rear wheel while two-channel ABS is standard.

  

  

  Riding modes have been similarly upgraded and able to be changed on the go, with three selections – Road, Rain and Sport with switchable traction control. Changes have been made to riding ergonomics as well, with 809 mm seat height and foot pegs located 38 mm forward and 4 mm lower, changed from the previous setting that mimicked the Triumph Thruxton.

  Overall weight for the 2021 Triumph Speed Twin is 216 kg, putting on a little weight over the first generation Speed Twin’s 196 kg and 14.5-litres of fuel is carried in the tank. There are three colour options for the 2021 Speed Twin – Red Hopper, Matte Storm Grey or Jet Black.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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