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  • Motocrew cuts down BMW Motorrad’s K100RS

    In Bikes, BMW Motorrad, International Bike News / By / / 0 comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



     
     

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

    In Benelli, Bikes, Local Bike News / By / / 0 comment

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

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

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

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

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





     
     

  • Genting Highlands denied to car and bike groups?

    In Bikes, Cars, Local Bike News, Local News / By / / 35 comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

     
     

  • BMW Motorrad shows Active Cruise Control for bikes

    In Bikes, BMW Motorrad, International Bike News / By / / 1 comment

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

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

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

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

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



     
     

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

    In Bikes, Ducati, International Bike News / By / / 2 comments

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

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

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

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

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

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














     
     

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

    In Bikes, BMW Motorrad, Local Bike News / By / / 7 comments

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

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

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

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

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

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






     
     

  • 2020 BMW Motorrad S1000XR in Malaysia, RM121,500

    In Bikes, BMW Motorrad, Local Bike News / By / / 0 comment

    Something of an unsung hero in BMW Motorrad’s range of motorcycles is the 2020 BMW Motorrad S1000XR sports-tourer, now in Malaysia and priced at RM121,500, on-the-road excluding insurance. Going on a small diet, the 2020 S1000XR weighs 10 kg then its predecessor and with power optimised for the mid-range and ridability.

    Weight savings were gained with a 19% lighter swingarm, a lighter Euro 5 compliant exhaust system and a 5kg weight reduction in the engine. This is coupled with BMW Motorrad’s “Flex Frame”, where the S1000XR’s engine takes on more load bearing from the frame, becoming part of the bike’s riding dynamics.

    The S1000XR’s inline-four engine is derived from the S1000RR super bike and produces 165 hp at 11,000 rpm and 114 Nm of torque at 9,250 rpm. Fourth, fifth and sixth gear ratios have been made taller to take advantage of the S1000XR’s meatier mid-range and reduce noise and vibration at higher speeds.

    New for the S1000XR is engine drag torque control (MSR) which works in conjunction with a smoother and self-reinforcing anti-hopping clutch. MSR on the S1000XR is electronically controlled and reduces rear wheel slip during hard acceleration or downshifting.

    Suspension is done with BMW Motorrad’s Dynamic ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment) that comes with an electronically controlled upside front-fork and rear monoshock. Riders wanting adjustable damping modes and automatic load adjustment have to purchase Dynamic ESA Pro, available as a factory-fitted option.

    A full suite of riding aids comes with the S1000XR, including Hill Start Control Pro, four ride modes and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) which also provides wheelie control. Optional extras include cruise control, adaptive turning lights and HP Shift Assistant Pro quickshifter.

    The 2020 BMW Motorrad S1000XR comes in two colour options – Ice Grey and Racing Red/White Aluminium as well as an extensive accessories catalogue. The S1000XR will be available in Malaysian BMW Motorrad dealers from July.







     
     

  • 2020 MV Agusta Brutale RR revealed, 208 hp, 116 Nm

    In Bikes, International Bike News, MV Agusta / By / / 4 comments

    After the launch of the limited edition Rush 1000, MV Agusta has now released the 2020 MV Agusta Brutale RR. While not exactly an all-new naked sports motorcycle, MV Agusta has taken heed of riders’ needs and made this year’s Brutale RR more accessible.

    According to Brian Gillen, MV Agusta’s R & D director, the 2020 Brutal RR is designed to accommodate riders of every skill level, be it the seasoned sports bike rider or a rider coming into the MV Agusta stable for the first time. This has been done with revisions to the ride software and electronic suspension, in this case Ohlins NIX EC upside-downfront forks and EC TTX mono shock.

    Inside the engine room, the Brutale RR has had its inline-four cylinder mill leaned on slightly, now making 208 hp at 13,450 rpm and 116.5 Nm of torque at 11,000 rpm. A central timing chain reduces camshaft flex while radial valve technology, similar to that used in Formula 1, is combined with titanium con rods to reduce reciprocating mass, allowing the Brutale RR to increase its rev limit.

    Overall engine friction has been reduced with a redesign of the Brutale RR’s oil feed system, which features a semi-dry sump. This allows for oil to be separated from the engine’s moving parts while still supplying the necessary lubrication.

    More attention has also been paid to engine noise from the Brutale RR, especially with the tightening of Euro 5 regulations. The gears in the six-speed gearbox have been redesigned and cut to reduce noise and friction, supplemented by engine casings that absorb noise.

    Inside the cockpit, a 5-inch TFT-LCD screen displays the necessary information and for the Brutale RR, there are numerous options for the rider, controlled via switches on the handlebar pod. These include four rides – Sport, Race, Rain and Custom – and the rider is able to customise any of the Brutale RR’s engine mapping options via the MV Ride App and the bike’s Bluetooth connection.

    This includes navigation displayed onscreen as well as the ability to create and share routes. The Brutale RR’s riding aids are tied into an Elder EM2 engine management system, developed specifically for MV Agusta’s four-cylinder power plant and includes front wheel lift control, launch control and a quick shifter.

    Braking is done with Brembo Stylema four-piston callipers clamping twin floating 320 mm diameter floating discs with Brembo radial master cylinders for both brake and clutch. At the back is a 220 mm steel brake disc with Brembo two-piston calliper and everything is controlled by Bosch 9 Plus ABS with rear wheel lift mitigation.

    No pricing has been provided for the 2020 MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR as yet but the limited edition Rush 1000 with similar specifications is priced at 34,000 euro (RM162,000). In Malaysia, MV Agusta no longer has representation after the collapse of the Demak group and DNC Asiatic motorcycle assemblers.








     
     

  • 2020 Kawasaki ZX-25R launching in Indonesia, July 10

    In Bikes, International Bike News, Kawasaki / By / / 18 comments

    Much awaited by quarter-litre motorcycle fans especially in Malaysia and South East Asia, the 2020 Kawasaki ZX-25R will be launched in Indonesia on July 10. The announcement was made via a video posted by Kawasaki Indonesia and shows the ZX-25R in two colours, all black like Kawasaki’s Winter Test bikes and in corporate colours of Kawasaki Racing Green.

    Setting the ZX-25R apart from the current crop of sports 250s is the inline four-cylinder mill with liquid-cooling and DOHC, along with a 17,000 rpm rev limit. As tested in Jerez, Spain by Kawasaki World Superbike riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes in saddle, the ZX-25R is capable of speeds above 160 km/h out of the box.

    A racing version of the ZX-25R has also been, loaded with performance bling and destined for a Japan race series. This is done with the addition of a carbon-fibre fairing, A-Tech seat and tank pads, Beet Nassert Evolution Type II titanium exhaust and Dunlop Sportmax 13SP tyres.

    In standard form, the ZX-25R comes with a quickshifter, selectable rider modes and traction control, bringing big bike technology down to the small displacement market. Suspension is of similar spec, with Showa’s SFF-BP (Separate Function Fork – Big Piston) 37 mm diameter upside-down fork in front and a Horizontal Back-Link mono shock in the rear.

    No power figures have as yet been released for the ZX-25R and readers will have to wait till all is revealed at the Indonesia launch. What do you think? Does the ZX-25R need to be released in Malaysia? Leave a comment with your thoughts and opinions, below.



     
     
 
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Last Updated 11 Jul 2020