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• Naza opens largest Ducati Centre in Asia, launches the 1199 Panigale – 195 hp, 164 kg, from RM160,888

  In Bikes, Ducati, Local News / By Danny Tan / 19 April 2012 4:58 pm / 27 comments

  

  Naza officially opened the largest Ducati Centre in Asia this afternoon. Officiated by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir, the 15,000 sq ft Ducati Kuala Lumpur is located next to the Naza Automall in Petaling Jaya, facing the Federal Highway.

  The new 4S Ducati Centre consists of a showroom, coffee lounge (by Dome), Ducati Club Lounge, fitness centre, merchandise square, a pre-owned Ducati showroom and an after-sales centre. The latter has eight service bays and a suspension tuning room. Naza describes Ducati KL as a “home away from home” for local Ducatisti and visiting riders.

  

  “Naza has been given the option of becoming the distributor of Ducati bikes in any country where Ducati has yet to appoint a distributor. In other words, Naza will be involved in the total globalisation of Ducati distributorship with the blessing of Ducati Holding,” said Naza Group’s Joint Executive Chairman Datuk Wira SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin.

  “The same approach is also being discussed with other international brands that are currently in Naza’s stable,” he added.

  

  At the launch ceremony, Ducati Malaysia also officially unveiled its latest model, the 1199 Panigale. First seen at the 2011 EICMA show, the Panigale is the Italian brand’s flagship supersports bike. Powered by the latest Superquadro L-twin engine, this little red beast has 195 hp (at 10,750 rpm) and 132 Nm of torque made at 9,000 rpm.

  Designed on a “blank canvas”, the Panigale is 10 kg lighter and 25 hp more powerful than the model it replaces. Weighing just 164 kg, the 1199’s power to weight ratio is 1.19 hp per kg. Needless to say, performance is devastating. Not one for the amateurs, that’s for sure!

  

  The Panigale is equipped with Ducati Riding Mode, which combines seven “class-leading” tech. They are the latest gen ABS, Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Electronic Suspension, Ducati Quick Shift, the new race-derived Engine Brake Control and Ride-by-Wire. All the trickery is shown on a full colour TFT screen.

  The 1199 Panigale is priced between RM160,888 and RM209,999. With limited units due to strong global demand, and Naza’s order book already exceeding 20 names, it’s already a winner at launch.

  

  Ducati is gaining ground in Malaysia for sure. Naza shifted 300 units in the first quarter, of which 70% was contributed by the Monster 795. Malaysia is currently the second largest market in Asia for the Italian marque, which has just gone under German ownership. Yes, VW’s Audi unit is acquiring Ducati, read the full story here.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Audi to buy Ducati for 860 mil euros, making it 12 for VW

  In Audi, Bikes, Cars, Ducati, International News / By Anthony Lim / 19 April 2012 1:11 pm / 16 comments

  

  Audi has announced that it is acquiring Ducati from Invest industrial Group, with the deal reportedly set to cost 860 million euros. The Italian motorcycle marque is set to join the Vokswagen empire as the 12th brand under its portfolio.

  It will be the third Italian brand under the VW fold – Lamborghini and Italdesign being the others, with the purchase bringing along the Italian company’s expertise on design and light engines. The transaction will be completed as quickly as possible once authorised by the competition authorities.

  The acquisition price is certainly higher than that originally bandied about earlier, but cements a move on to the two-wheeled path for the group, which VW chairman Ferdinand Piech apparently wants to pursue. It will also allow VW to take on BMW on the bike front.

  In 2011, Ducati sold around 42,000 motorcycles and generated revenue of some 480 million euros, and employs around 1,100 staff. Its racing activities are currently focused on the Ducati official factory team in the MotoGP class of the Motorcycle World Championship and in the Superbike World Championship, supporting competitive private teams.

   

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• Ducati Streetfighter 848 launched by Next Bike – RM99,333

  In Bikes, Ducati, Local News / By Danny Tan / 19 March 2012 5:06 pm / 35 comments

  

  Next Bike Sdn Bhd, the importer and distributor of Ducati motorcycles in Malaysia, launched the Ducati Streetfighter 848 bike at its showroom in Taman Tun this afternoon. Ducati’s Streetfighter naked bike is not new, but this 2012 model year 848 is, featuring a smaller 849 cc L-Twin engine in place of its big brother’s 1,099 cc unit.

  The Italian bike maker says that the 848 “adds everyday accessibility” to its famous naked sport bike family. The Testastretta 11, Desmodromic, liquid-cooled engine makes 132 hp at 10,000 rpm, compared to the bigger engine’s 155 hp at 9,500 rpm.

  

  The sexy thing is suspended by front Marzocchi 43 mm fully adjustable forks and progressive linkage rear suspension with a fully adjustable Sachs monoshock. To stop the 169 kg (dry) bike, you’re looking at double 320 mm semi-floating discs and radially mounted monoblock four-piston Brembo calipers up front. The rear disc is a 245 mm unit with two-piston floating calipers.

  Ducati Data Analyzer (DDA) and ABS are available on the Streetfighter 848, which comes in three colours, black, yellow and red. The nett selling price is RM99,333, and you can find out about 100% financing schemes at Next Bike outlets.

  

  This unveil comes after the October 2011 introduction of the (relatively) affordable Monster 795 and last month’s launch of the beast called Diavel AMG, and Next Bike is in a bullish mood.

  “In the first quarter of 2012, we expect to sell more bikes than our total sales volume in the whole of 2011, an astonishing growth that reflects our economic prosperity and the growing sophistication of Malaysian buyers,” said Datuk Wira SM Faisal, Joint Group Executive Chairman of the Naza Group.

  

  The Streetfighter is quite a sight, so enjoy the gallery below!

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Ducati Monster Diesel: not an oil burner, but fashion tie-in

  In Bikes, Ducati, International News / By Anthony Lim / 19 March 2012 11:55 am / 6 comments

  

  No, it’s not what you think, despite the headline. Rather, it’s a new customised version of Ducati’s naked bike – working in conjunction with fashion house Diesel, Ducati has come up with the Monster Diesel, with its own dedicated Capsule Collection.

  The bike was unveiled alongside the new collection at the Diesel store in New York-Soho last week, and will head on to the Rome and Tokyo-Shibuya outlets later this month.

  With Ducati’s flagship Monster 1100EVO providing the canvas for the new motorcycle creation, Diesel’s founder Renzo Rosso and the Ducati Design Centre guided stylists to a military-inspired theme, supposedly to express the core values of the partnership.

  

  The version gets an exclusive ‘Diesel Brave Green matte’ livery to offer a rugged military vehicle feel, while the front brake calipers are finished in shocking yellow to give a strong reminder of the model’s performance heritage.

  As for the dual-branded clothing collection, that one is composed of eleven different styles, with the range including essential slim-fitting biker jackets, sweats, tees, a unique five pocket in raw denim and a set of accessories. All pieces are characterised by pure biker attitude, with clean technical details and bold Diesel graphics, such as the treated rubber prints recalling the burnt rubber of the bike’s tyres.

  The Monster Diesel is set to go on the market from late July onwards, the clothes earlier, in mid-April, and they’ll be available in select Ducati dealers besides the host of Diesel stores worldwide.
  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• UMW introduces locally-blended Repsol product range

  In Bikes, Cars, Local News / By Anthony Lim / 13 March 2012 8:06 pm / 7 comments

  

  Five months after it officially launched the Repsol range of automotive lubricants in Malaysia, UMW Lubricant International (ULI) has unveiled a complete range of locally-blended Repsol lubes, which covers both passenger car as well as motorcycle oils.

  The full range of Repsol lubricants – including passenger car motor oils, from synthetic right down to mineral base formulations – has been introduced, and these are being blended locally at ULI’s plant in Shah Alam.

  According to Megat Shahrul Azmir, UMW’s executive director, Engineering and Manufacturing Division, the blending of these oils at the ULI plant is operationally supervised and overseen by Repsol Spain. “Therefore by virtue of working hand in hand, ULI can guarantee that the quality of the product is not compromised,” he said.

  Prior to the introduction of the local range, ULI had been importing Repsol’s lubricants for passenger vehicles, motorcycles and diesel engines since the brand’s market debut in July last year.

  Alongside the launch, ULI also announced its strategic business plan to penetrate into the Malaysian and regional market. Chief to this is the expansion of the dealer network to ensure greater accessibility to the products for consumers. Megat said that a total of 300 dealers have been appointed to date, and the network is expected to expand to more than 500 outlets by the end of 2012, including in East Malaysia.

  In terms of market share, ULI has lined up numerous marketing initiatives to promote the brand this year, and says it is confident that by the end of 2012 the Repsol brand should be able to successfully capture at least 4% of the market share in the country.

   

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• Reports: Four goes two, as Audi looks to buy Ducati

  In Audi, Bikes, Cars, Ducati, International News / By Anthony Lim / 13 March 2012 2:36 pm / 8 comments

  

  Ah, it looks like the four rings has serious aspirations to go the two-wheeled path – reports indicate that Audi has been given the first rights to buy Italian superbike manufacturer Ducati, this despite the latter’s recent cooperation deal struck with Mercedes-Benz’ AMG unit.

  A deal has apparently been struck that gives Audi until the middle of next month to finalise the purchase, with the going price reportedly in the region of 250 to 300 million euros, though some reports indicate that the sum may be lower, towards the 100 million mark.

  The move for Ducati, which is on the market, is part of VW chairman Ferdinand Piech’s dream of going the bike path in what’s called Project Eagle. The reports add that the original plan called for a revival of the German brand Horex, which made bikes in the 1930s. The lack of clout with the name, however, means that Ducati is a far finer prospect to contemplate, even if it is encumbered by debt.

  Audi isn’t the only company which has taken a fancy to the Italian – Mahindra and Hero from India, as well as Daimler and VW are also potential suitors. Ingolstadt, however, has the exclusivity deal in place, so it’s the front runner in the race to get the bride.

   

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• Evolve Motorcycles Xenon – for the Tron aficionado

  In Bikes, International News / By Anthony Lim / 5 March 2012 12:02 pm / 6 comments

  

  Here’s something for Tron fans – a replica of the Light Cycle, and it’s real. Workable, too, running on electric power, and it even lights up. Based on the Parker Brothers Choppers’ Light Cycle design, this one is called the Xenon Light Bike.

  Built by Evolve Motorcycles, the bike – which made its official debut in Milan late last year – features a 40,000 watt motor powered by a custom lithium-ion battery system, with two range variants available. The basic Xenon has a 60aH battery, and offers a 48 km range, with a three-hour charge time needed.

  There’s also the xr, which doubles the battery capacity and has an up to 160 km operating range, with an extra hour needed to juice the battery up to full. The design features 32-inch hub-less wheels, a hand-crafted fiberglass frame and the use of OLED light tape, the last to give off that glow. Not cheap at US$55,000, but then, this isn’t quite the ordinary.
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Modenas launching new bike, brand ambassador tomorrow

  In Bikes, Local News, Modenas / By Danny Tan / 29 February 2012 5:40 pm / 35 comments

  

  National motorcycle company Modenas is launching a new bike tomorrow, as hinted by teasers released on its Facebook page. With the headline Pencetus Evolusi, the teasers show parts of the new kapcai (it could also be a scooter) such as the tail, nose and graphics.

  The DRB-Hicom owned company will also unveil its first ever brand ambassador – who do you think he might be?

  The Pencetus Evolusi teasers hints at an underbone that’s higher up in the food chain than Modenas’ previous launch, the affordable RM2,948 100cc KRISS MR1. The brand also launched the CTric electric bike last year. Anyone here with any experience with the rechargeable bike?

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Boon Siew Honda unleashes CBR1000RR and Gold Wing

  In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, Local News / By Danny Tan / 23 February 2012 6:14 pm / 46 comments

  

  Boon Siew Honda has unveiled two new Honda performance bikes – the CBR1000RR and the 2012 Gold Wing. At the same time, the company announced that it will introduce the CRF250L in June this year.

  The CBR1000RR is a super sports machine described as the “ultimate litre-class machine”. It runs on a 999 cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine framed in an all-aluminium twin-spar chassis. The latest CBR features new suspension – 43 mm “Big Piston” fork up front and Unit Pro-Link rears with double-tube shocks. There’s also a new multi-function LCD panel and Combined Anti-Lock Braking System (C-ABS). The CBR1000RR is priced at RM109,900 with C-ABS and RM98,900 for the non-ABS version.

  

  The 2012 Gold Wing is powered by a 1,832 cc liquid-cooled horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine. Its bodywork has been improved by increasing lower body wind protection. This 2012 model gets new seat material, a Pro-Arm Rear Swingarm and iPod connectivity. On the safety front, there’s ABS and Combined Braking System (CBS). The Gold Wing comes in Pearl White or Graphite Black and will set you back RM174,900.

  

  Unveiled at last year’s Tokyo show, the road-going enduro-style Honda CRF250L is designed on the concept of a street-legal dual-sport bike. Powered by a liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC single-cylinder with PGM-FI, this engine emphasis is on low-rpm torque. The slim body is supported by a twin-tube oval-pipe steel frame.

  The bike has disc brakes with wave-shaped rotors and a skid plate. Other features include an inverted fork front suspension, rear Pro-Link suspension and an aluminium swing arm. This bike is related to the CBR250R. Price to be announced later.

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Ducati Diavel AMG – flagship devil rolls in at RM194k

  In Bikes, Ducati, Local News / By Anthony Lim / 13 February 2012 2:23 pm / 51 comments

  

  Five months after making its first public showing at Frankfurt, the Ducati Diavel AMG has oficially arrived in Malaysia. A preview unit has been specially flown in and is now on display at the Ducati AMG Performance Centre in Bangsar, with the order books open for it.

  The special edition, which retails for RM193,999, is based on the Diavel Carbon, and is dressed in matte black carbon fibre bodywork with an AMG “Diamond White Bright” stripe and frame colour trim.

  Features include special edition black wheels, carbon fibre lateral radiator grilles (with aluminium trim), an AMG-style sport exhaust system with engraved end-caps as well as an AMG-style horizontally ribbed seat upholstered in Alcantara. The ‘AMG’ moniker is also present on both sides of the fuel tank, laser-engraved into the air-duct panels.

  With every engine having its Desmodromic cam-timing set by hand, the bike comes authenticated with the name of the engine technician engraved on the left-side engine casing, and further underlining the model’s exclusivity, each motorcycle will come with a numbered plaque on the fuel tank.

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• MotoGP test at Sepang – free viewing from grandstand

  In Bikes, Local News, Motorsports / By Danny Tan / 30 January 2012 2:18 pm / 8 comments

  

  Want to catch some MotoGP action for free? Sepang International Circuit will be opening its main grandstand for free viewing of the annual MotoGP pre-season test, to be held from tomorrow (31 January) till Thursday (2 February). This is the first of three official test sessions before the season starts in Qatar on 8 April.

  This three-day session will give fans a first glimpse of the new 1,000 cc MotoGP bikes, which replace the 800 cc bikes from this year. For the riders, not only will they have to get to know their new machines, it will also an emotional return to the track that claimed the life of San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Marco Simoncelli last October.

  The key factory teams will have unchanged line ups. Casey Stoner will defend his world title alongside Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, the Yamaha factory team have Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies, while Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden will be flying the Ducati flag.

  

  The off-season saw some transfers, including that of Andrea Dovizioso (Yamaha Tech3) and Alvaro Bautista (Honda Gresini). Hector Barbera will now be the sole rider of the Pramac while Karel Abraham will continue with Cardion AB Racing Team. Colin Edwards and Randy de Puniet joined Forward Racing and Aspar Team respectively, where they will ride new CRT-spec machines. A total of 21 riders will form the MotoGP grid this year.

  Besides getting to watch the tests for free, those who make their way to Sepang will get to buy special early bird tickets for the 2012 Malaysian MotoGP (21-23 Oct). In addition, for every MotoGP ticket purchased during the test session, fans are entitled to a 50% discount on 2012 Formula 1 Malaysian GP hillstand tickets from as low as RM30.

   

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• RHB Now ‘Race for a Ducati’ campaign kicks off

  In Bikes, Ducati, Local News / By Anthony Lim / 20 January 2012 4:40 pm / 2 comments

  

  RHB Bank has kicked off its RHB Now Race for a Ducati campaign, in which three Ducati Monsters are up for grabs. To be eligible for the prizes, customers need to perform any financial transactions via RHB Now and play the RHB Now Racer online and mobile game, which can be accessed via various channels, from PCs to iPads.

  As mentioned in our earlier post, the top 10 customers with the highest score will win the weekly prizes, and the top 10 players with the overall highest scores obtained during the campaign period will be invited to a grand finale challenge, which will see the three eventual winners of the stunning two-wheeler.

  The campaign is set to run for eight weeks, from today until March 15, so there’s plenty of time to play the game. In conjuction with the campaign, there’s also a nationwide Race for a Ducati roadshow, with no less than 20 stops at selected RHB Bank branches having been outlined.

  The Monster will be on show, of course, and the Diavel and Streetfighter 848 are scheduled to make appearances at some stops. You’ll be able to buy Ducati merchandise as well as bikes at each roadshow – RHB Bank esteemed customers and staff will be able to enjoy exclusive package deals on Ducati products.

   

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• Fancy a Ducati Monster 795? You can simply win it in the RHB Now Racer contest!

  In Advertorial, Bikes, Ducati, Local News / By Harvinder Sidhu / 20 January 2012 11:14 am / 3 comments

  

  If you’re a big fan of two-wheelers, then you’ll know the Ducati Monster 795 to be one pretty impressive bike. So, if you fancy the chance of riding one off for free, then you’ll be chuffed to hear that RHB Bank is putting no less than three of these 87 hp Monsters up for grabs.

  There’s only one way to win one, and that’s through the RHB Now Racer game, which can be played via the Internet or through a mobile device. In the game, which runs until March 14, participants will take on the role of a RHB Now’s Avatar riding a legendary Ducati bike

  The objective of the game is to manoeuvre along one of eight racing tracks that are unlocked weekly, meticulously dodging and jumping over various obstacles – such as sticky tar on the road and giant spikes – along the way. You’ll need to pick up as much treasure as possible and cover as much distance as you can within the given 60-second time limit to rack up the highest possible score.

  

  The top 10 contestants with the highest game scores every week get weekly cash prizes, and the scores are locked in the ‘RHB Now Racer’ leader board. The top 10 overall game winners with the highest game score during the campaign period will then be chosen for the grand finale challenge, where they will compete on a finale route at a dedicated site to see who takes home those three Ducatis.

  Sounds simple enough, and the neat thing is that the game can be played numerous times. The scores, however, are only recorded when you make transactions on RHB Now, Internet & Mobile Banking, which of course means that you’ll need to be a RHB Bank/RHB Islamic/Easy by RHB customer registered with RHB Now Internet & Mobile Banking to be in the running for those bikes and the seven grand finale consolation prizes – starting from RM7,000 – as well as 80 weekly prizes of RM200 each.

  Each transaction above RM50 carried out via RHB Now online or mobile – and these includes BillPay, Western Union, prepaid reload, PayPal as well as online and mobile purchases from participating merchants – offers you the chance to play the game and lock-in a high score.

  

  You’ll find the game online via ‘RHB Now Racer’ campaign website at www.rhb.com.my, and if you’re doing the mobile route, the ‘RHB Now Racer’ mobile game application can be downloaded from App Store (for iPad & iPhone) or Android Market (for Android phones).

  All the necessary details about the RHB Now Racer campaign can be found online at www.rhb.com.my, so if you’re a RHB customer, head on over to see how you can try and make that Monster yours.

   

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• Tan Chong goes the motorcycle route in Laos

  In Bikes, International News / By Anthony Lim / 4 January 2012 11:20 am / 4 comments

  According to a report, Tan Chong Motorcycles Laos has been appointed the exclusive distributor, importer and after-sales service provider for SYM motorcycles and spare parts in Laos.

  The company, which is a Tan Chong Motor Holdings (TCMH) unit set up in March last year, has inked a three-year distributorship agreement with Vietnam Manufacturing and Export Processing (VMEP), effective Jan 2, 2012.

  The distribution of SYM motorcycles in Laos by TC Motorcycles Laos is expected to commence in the first half of 2012, with showrooms set up in the Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone and Vientiane, TCMH said in its filing with Bursa Malaysia. It added that the total projected sales volume for the first three years of operation is 12,200 units.

  The Vietnamese manufacturer builds an assortment of SYM models, including the rather menacing sounding Attila Victoria, Attila Elizabeth and Shark, and has over 230 authorised 3S (sales, service, spare parts) centres in Vietnam.

   

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• LIVE from Tokyo: Retro liveried Honda RC-E is super sexy

  In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, International News / By Danny Tan / 5 December 2011 11:31 am / 11 comments

  

  If only four-wheeled EVs are half as sexy. Honda revealed the RC-E concept at Tokyo to great response, thanks to evocative livery that recalls the glory days of the RC racers from the 1960s. Having seen the real vintage stuff days ago at the Honda Collection Hall, Twin Ring Motegi, this one made me drool!

  The RC-E is electric powered, so that fuel tank contains no liquid, but batteries. Not much details have been released, but Honda promises a powerful and smooth ride, and 600cc class performance in a 250cc class body. Should be a very strange bike experience – strong off the line EV style, but with no noise!

  

  We can see good stuff such as the Ohlins TTX suspension and Brembos. And part of the reason it looks good is because there’s no need for big headlights – the RC-E’s LEDs are nestled in the nose vent below the No.1. Also notice the plug sign at the bottom of the bike, hinting at what’s powering it.

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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