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• 2022 MSF SuperMoto Round 1 at Tangkak sees field double to 50 racers, new SM Evo race category

  In Bikes, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 3 June 2022 12:30 pm / 0 comment

  

  Now in its second season, MSF SuperMoto returns for 2022 with an even larger field with over 50 racers competing, doubling the number of pariticipants from last year. The reopening of the Malaysia-Singapore Causeway sees the return of racing competition from Malaysia’s island neighbour including big names Eric Chi and Mohd Hasroy Osman in the Elite MSF SuperMoto category.

  The MSF SuperMoto field has also grown with the influx of racers from the MSF Superbike (SBK) race series, with names like MSF SBK podium finisher Karthikesan Sakthivelu trying his chances in a different race series and racing style. With the MSF SuperMoto race series building on the success of its inaugural season in 2021, the top guns from last year are seeing stiff competition from this year’s crop of new challengers.

  In the top rung All Stars Pro category, Daniel Haiqal of Team KMTR Ravenol MY had his top dog position come under attack by Ian Dublin, racing for WeeBiker Tom’s Racing. Dublin, whose resume includes a spot racing in the British Superbike Championship, brought the action to Haiqal in close fought wheel-to-wheel and elbow-to-wheel action in Race 1 while Hasroy mounted a challenge in Racing 2 with an early.

  

  

  

  However, Haiqal prevailed, emerging from the race weekend as overall winner after the chequered flag in Race 2. In the Advanced category, the returning top three riders from last season resumed their battle in 2022, with Azizul Khairi of NK Racing eventually prevailing over the competition with a hat trick of wins, winning the 5-lap Super Rocco race, Advanced Race 1 and Race 2.

  A surge of entries a mere five days before the start of racing on the May 21 weekend saw the creation of the SM Evo category in MSF SuperMoto, segregated into SM Rookies and Super Rookies. Kieran Ng of Weebiker Tom’s Racing Team showed his mettle by matching, and exceeding, lap times run by riders in the Advanced category.

  

  

  

  At the end of the weekend’s racing in SM EVO, overall winner Ng was followed by Steven Tang of WeeBiker Tom’s Racing in second and 16-year old Mohd Ervin Ekhsan of TM Racing Singapore in third. Rounding out the weekend at Tangkak, newcomers in the Super Rookies strutted their stuff, with Muhamat Hairy of NK Racing taking overall winner, Marcus Lee Han of Singapore coming in second and Hervin of Team KMTR Ravenol MY playing third.

  The next round of the 2022 MSF SuperMoto championships moves to the very quick UniMAP circuit in Perlis. All races are streamed live on the MSF SuperMoto page, so don’t miss your chance to catch the action.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2022 MotoGP: Malaysia’s Damok scores wild card ride

  In Bikes, International Bike News, MotoGP / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 3 June 2022 8:49 am / 0 comment

  

  Pressing on after his first wild card entry in in Jerez, Spain, Malaysia’s Syarifuddin Azman, better known as Damok to fans, has scored another wild card ride in Moto 3, this time for the Grand Prix of Catalunya. Damok’s 2022 Moto 3 season did not get off to an auspicious start after difficulty in obtaining a sponsor due to the world-wide pandemic.

  However, SIC Racing Team has managed to score five, possibly six, wild card rides for Damok this year, tentatively including the Malaysian MotoGP race in October. Syarifuddin has competed in the Moto 3 races in Jerez, Spain and Portimao, Portugal, under the wild card and now faces his third race at Catalunya.

  For the race in Catalunya, Damok will be riding for UK-based VisionTrack Racing Team, founded by ex-MotoGP rider and British Superbike race winner Michael Laverty, on the Honda NSF250R.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2023 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone 850 in Malaysia, RM62,900

  In Bikes, Local Bike News, Moto Guzzi / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 2 June 2022 1:40 pm / 0 comment

  

  Following the launch of the V7 Stone Centenario, the 2023 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone 850 is now in Malaysia, priced at RM62,900 excluding road tax, insurance and registration. This compares against the RM72,900 price of the limited edition Centenario at launch and there are four colour options available – Nero Ruvido (Black), Arancione Rame (Orange), Azzurro Ghiaccio (Grey) and Gialla (Yellow).

  The V7 Stone carries the transverse V-twin engine first seen in the Moto Guzzi V85 TT adventure-tourer, displacing 853 cc with liquid-cooling mated to a six-speed gearbox with shaft final drive. Power for the V7 Stone is claimed to be 65 hp at 6,800 rpm and 73 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm, a 25% increase over the previous 744 cc V-twin.

  Increasing rider comfort is new preload-adjustable longer-travel twin shock absorbers along with a stepped seat and revised rider footpegs. Rear tyre sizing has also been increased, the rear 17-inch rear wheel now shod with a 150/70 tyre while the front wheel remains an 18-incher wearing 100/80 rubber.

  

  

  

  Braking is done with single hydraulic discs – 320 mm front and 260 mm rear – with Brembo four-piston calliper on the front wheel while two-channel ABS is standard equipment. 21-liters of fuel is carried in thank which gives the V7 Stone a wet weight of 218 kg, with seat height set at 780 mm.

  Inside the cockpit a single round gauge with LCD display shows all the necessary information the rider needs. In terms of styling, the V7 Stone retains the overall silhouette in terms of its traditional design but some components have been changed. These include the side panels, shorter rear fender, exhaust as well as the use of full LED lighting throughout.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• VIDEO: The making of the 2023 Ducati Desert-X

  In Bikes, Ducati, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 2 June 2022 9:30 am / 0 comment

  While Malaysia waits for the impending launch of the 2023 Ducati Desert-X, the boys in Bologna have issued an in-depth video into the making of Ducati’s dual-purpose motorcycle. From information received Hammy the Badger’s friends in Rayong, Thailand, we can expect the Desert-X to hit Malaysian shores sometime towards the latter half of this year, with pricing expected to be “around RM100,000, depending on exchange rate and taxes.”

  The Desert-X, designed to be capable for both on- and off-road duties, is the Borgo Panigale firm’s foray into dual-purpose riding, competing against the likes of the Yamaha Tenere 700, Husqvarna 901 Norden and KTM 890 Adventure R. As befits its dual-purpose nature, the Desert-X comes fitted with 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels for a true off-road capability.

  Typical of Ducatis, the Desert-X carries a 937 cc Testastretta 11 V-Twin with Desmodromic valve actuation, four-valves per cylinder and liquid-cooling, fed by twin Bosch 53 mm diameter throttle bodies with ride-by-wire. Power is claimed to be 110 hp at 9,250 rpm with 92 Nm of torque available at 6,500 rpm, with the engine mated to a quickshofter equipped six-speed gearbox.

  

  Coming to wheel sizing, the Desert-X carries a 21 by 2.15 tubeless spoked rim in front, shod with a Pirelli Scorpion STR 90/90 tyre while the rear comes with a 4.5 by 18 rim at the back, wearing Pirelli Scorpion STR 150/70 rubber. Ducati claims an all up weight of 223 kg fuelled and ready to go for the Desert-X, with 21-liters of fuel carried in the tank.

  KYB supplies the suspension for the Desert-X, with a 46 mm diameter fully-adjustable upside-down fork in front and monoshock at the back, fully-adjustable with remote preload adjustment. Suspension travel is set at 230 mm for the front, while the rear end gets 220 mm of wheel movement.

  

  

  Braking is done by Brembo, as is usual for Ducati, with radial-mount Monobloc four-piston callipers grabbing twin 320 mm diameter floating brake discs on the front wheel. At the back, a Brembo two-piston calliper clamps a 265 mm disc, and Bosch cornering ABS is standard equipment.

  Seat height, in standard trim on the Desert-X, places the rider 875 mm off the ground. There are options for a tall seat, raising seat height to 875 mm, as well as a low seat, giving 865 mm. When the low seat option is combined with the optional low suspension kit, seat height drops to the lowest possible setting of 845 mm.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2023 Triumph Tiger 900 and 850 Sport get new colours

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Triumph / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 1 June 2022 6:07 pm / 0 comment

  

  2023 Triumph 900 Rally Pro Sandstorm

  Released this year for the 2023 model year, the 2023 Triumph Tiger 900 GT/GT Pro and Rally/Rally Pro, and Tiger 850 Sport adventure-tourers get new colour options. For Malaysia, only the 2022 Tiger 900 GT Pro is available at RM82,900, while the Tiger 900 Rally Pro is tagged RM85,900 with the Tiger 850 Sport retailing at RM59,900, along with the Tiger 660 Sport at RM49,900.

  The Tiger 900 GT and GT Pro get a new Caspian Blue/Matt Graphite colour scheme, with the Pure White and Sapphire Black colour options carried over. For the Tiger 900 Rally and Rally Pro, Sandstorm is available for 2023, alongside existing colour schemes of Matt Khaki Green and Pure White.

  

  

  

  2023 Triumph 900 GT Pro Caspian Blue

  Meanwhile, the entry level adventure-tourer in Triumph’s range, the Tiger 850 Sport, gets a Graphite and Baja Orange paint option, joining the existing catalogue colours of Caspian Blue and Diablo Red. The colour update for the Triumph adventure-tourers follows the recent launch of new colour schemes for its street/sportsbike line up.

  Carrying Hinckley’s inline-triple displacing 888 cc, the Tiger 900 gets 93.9 hp at 8,750 rpm and 87 Nm of torque at 7,250 rpm. The Tiger GT Pro gets Marzocchi manually-adjustable 45 mm diameter upside-down forks with Marzocchi rear monoshock electronically adjustable for preload and rebound damping.

  

  

  

  2023 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport Baja Orange

  Standing taller to the round, the Tiger Rally Pro comes with Showa fully-adjustable 45 mm upside-down forks with 240 mm of travel while the rear gets a Showa preload and rebound adjustable monoshock with 230 mm travel. Seat height on the Tiger GT Pro is adjustable between 810 mm and 830 mm while the Rally Pro gets between 850 mm and 870 mm.

  As for the Tiger 850 Sport, its 888 cc inline three-cylinder is tuned to produce 84 hp at 8,500 rpm with 82 Nm of torque available at 6,500 rpm. Front suspension is done with non-adjustable 45 mm diameter Marzocchi upside-down forks with a Marzocchi monshock at the back with manual preload adjustment.

  GALLERY: 2023 Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2023 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: 2023 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• PDRM Ops Halangan on Jalan Temiang-Pantai – up to RM2k fine, 6 months jail for blocking emergency lane

  In Bikes, Cars, Local Bike News, Local News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 1 June 2022 9:40 am / 44 comments

  

  Following the motorcyclist incident on May 29, Seremban traffic police conducted an operation on the Temiang-Pantai road in Negeri Sembilan against illegal parkers. In the evening operation on May 31, 17 road users were summoned by the Seremban District police Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Division (JSPT) for stopping their vehicles on the road shoulder and obstructing traffic.

  Action was taken against the road users under part 50 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 regarding “obstructing traffic” and part 53 of the same act regrading “Emergency Lanes”. Action may also be taken against the offenders under Section 268 of the Penal Code for causing a public nuisance.

  

  Offenders are subject to a fine not exceeding RM2,000 or not more than six months jail, or both, upon conviction. For second and repeat offences, the penalty is doubled.

  In the May 29 incident, a rider standing on the Temiang-Pantai road, in traffic, reacted with an aggressive gesture when a car driver honked at him. The rider, along with a group of friends, was parked on the emergency lane of the road.

  The Temiang-Pantai road has been popular with visitors stopping to take photos and video of the scenery. However, police take a dim view of the traffic congestion and operation have been conducted since February.

   

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• 7 new dealers added to EMOS Kawasaki Malaysia dealer network, total of 20 dealers nationwide for 2022

  In Bikes, Kawasaki, Local Bike News, Modenas / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 31 May 2022 5:08 pm / 3 comments

  

  After the takeover of Kawasaki Motorcycles distribution, sales and service in Malaysia, Edaran Modenas (EMOS), a subsidiary of Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional (Modenas) has added seven new Kawasaki dealers to its network nationwide. The addition of a new dealer in Sabah and the expansion of the number of dealers in the Central region of Peninsular Malaysia brings the total Kawasaki Malaysia dealer network to 20.

  This is broken into nine dealers for the Central region of Peninsular Malaysia, four in the Northern region, one on the East Coast and four in the Southern region. For Sarawak and Sabah, there is one Kawasaki each located in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, respectively.

  

  The 2022 Kawasaki Malaysia dealer list under EMOS is as follows:

  Northern

  • Bikers Gallery – Alor Setar, Kedah
  • EL Chong Motor Trading – Sungai Bakap, Pulau Pinang
  • Sheng Fatt Motor – Georgetown, Pulau Pinang
  • Hot Bike – Georgetown, Pulau Pinang

  East Coast

  • KK Superbike – Temerloh, Pahang

  Central

  • Eang Chun Motor – Setapak, Kuala Lumpur
  • Apex Motorsports – Batu Caves, Selangor
  • Serdang Motorcycle – Seri Kembangan, Selangor
  • Seri Gading Enterprise – Shah Alam, Selangor
  • Chear Motor (Shah Alam) – Shah Alam, Selangor
  • Soon Heng Bikers – Cheras, Selangor
  • MotorSim – Batu Caves, Selangor
  • KMSB Solutions – Shah Alam, Selangor
  • Puncak Alam Motoworld – Petaling Jaya, Selangor

  Southern

  • Zong Heng Motors – Bukit Baru, Melaka
  • BZ TOP Automobile – Durian Daun, Melaka
  • Qbee Superbike Centre – Johor Bahru, Johor
  • Tong Ban Seng Motor – Kuala, Johor

  East Malaysia

  • Ghee Hua Co. – Kuching, Sarawak
  • Inti Deras Motors – Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

  

  

  

  This expansion of Kawasaki Malaysia’s dealer network from the initial batch of 13 concludes its distribution plans for this year. However, 2023 will see the addition of 20 new dealers to the current network to widen Kawasaki’s reach across Malaysia, according to Kashiwagi Yusaku, Chief Marketing Officer of Modenas.

  In an announcement in October 2021, Kawasaki Motors Malaysia (KMM) ceased distribution of Kawasaki motorcycles in Malaysia after Kawasaki Heavy Industry‘s (KHI) increased its equity participation in Modenas in April 2019. After a six month transition period that ended March 2022, Modenas took over the reins for Kawasaki in the local motorcycle market, using its subsidiary EMOS.

   

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• FreeW empowers Malaysian female motorcycle riders

  In Bikes, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 31 May 2022 11:43 am / 8 comments

  

  With the rising price of fuel and cost of living in Malaysia, many are turning to two-wheeled transport for their daily commute and short trips for necessities, giving rise to the current market demand for small displacement motorcycles and scooters. Hailing from France, Alison Grun of FreeW Riding Classes noticed female riders in Malaysia tend be neglected when it comes to rider training.

  According to Alison, there are many ladies in Malaysia who want to take up motorcycling but many find the process of learning intimidating and dominated by male riders. “Let’s not talk about the driving schools, they only teach you to pass the licence test,” says Alison, “what I teach the lady riders in Malaysia is proper riding skills in a structured environment where they are comfortable and safe.”

  

  

  

  The course syllabus for FreeW is based on Alison’s thirty-plus years of riding experience since age four and comprises of two-hour sessions in blocks of four or eight costing RM290 each. Alison says she caters to lady riders of any experience level and can take a complete novice who only knows how to ride a bicycle to a competent road rider in eight sessions.

  “My teaching includes proper road craft and the necessary skills you need to be a good rider on the road,” Alison says. “You learn things like proper body placement on the bike, both low and high speed manoeuvring, head position in turns, braking, defensive riding… these are the things the driving school does not teach you,” Alison explained.

  

  Alison then mentioned many ladies who want to learn riding tend to pick it up from the men in the sport which she says isn’t wrong but has the drawback of assimilating bad habits and non-recommended practice. “Many male riders in Malaysia, not just Malaysia, around the world, ride with their ego. This is not the best way to learn riding and ego will get you into trouble,” says Alison with a laugh.

  A one-to-one approach is favoured at FreeW with classes kept small to ensure all riders get the proper attention. Alison says FreeW was founded to encourage women to overcome fears and self-limiting beliefs, for women riders to inspire others and in turn, be inspired by women’s emancipation and self-empowerment through motorcycling.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 50 years of Motocross history with Honda CRF450R

  In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 31 May 2022 9:28 am / 1 comment

  

  Celebrating 50 years of motocross competition that began with the 1973 Honda CR250M Elsinore, Honda has released the 2023 Honda CRF450R 50th Anniversary. Coincidentally, this year also marks 40 years of the famed Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), that arose from the Honda Racing Service Centre that was set up to develop and engineer racing motorcycles for Honda and privateer teams.

  The 2023 CRF450R 50th Anniversary, and the Honda CRF450RX, were developed with input from HRC factory riders and feature chassis setup and engine revisions to make them easier to ride for longer. Modifications include new intake ports, air funnel, throttle body, valve timing and ECU settings.

  The engine, with narrower intake ports, longer air funnel, smaller 44mm diameter throttle body and revised cam timing increases low end torque by 10% along with smoother power delivery. Changes have also been made to the suspension with the rear shock having increased spring rate a?nd damping while the 49 mm diameter Showa front forks have revised damping settings to increase front tyre grip.

  

  1973 Honda CR250M Elsinore

  Meanwhile, the cross-country oriented CRF450RX carries the same engine as the CRF450R but is biased towards long stints in the saddle crossing rough terrain. This includes the fitting of an 8-litre fuel tank, 18­inch rear wheel, specific ECU settings for ignition/injection, forged aluminium sidestand and knuckle guards.

  New graphics adorn the CRF450R, with the iconic HRC logo representing the expansion of HRC’s activities into automobile racing. The graphics also pay tribute to the Honda Racing motocrossers of the 80s, including a blue seat and white number boards, with gold wheels and handlebars.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2022 ARRC: Malaysians on podium in SS600 races

  In Bikes, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 30 May 2022 4:51 pm / 0 comment

  

  Malaysians showed strongly in the weekend’s races for the 2022 Asian Road Racing Championship (ARRC) SuperSport 600 (SS600) with podium places for Mohd Helmi Azman and Khairul Idham Pawi, not racing for Boon Siew Honda Racing, in Race 2, while it was a clean sweep of the podium for Malaysia in Race 1.

  For Race 1, Md Ibrahim Md Norrodin of SIC Racing took the top step of the podium with his Yamaha YZF-R6, while Khairul and team mate Arroyo Hakeem Anuar took second and third, respectively. In Race 2, Indonesian Andi Farid Izdihar of Astra Honda Racing Team was wedged in second place between Helmi in first and Khairul in third.

  

  

  

  Malaysian racer Khairul Idham Pawi, known to fans as “SuperKIP”, is competing in this years ARRC under the Boon Siew Honda banner on the Honda CBR600RR. SuperKIP was infamously dismissed from the then Moto3 Petronas Sprinta Racing Team by team principal Datuk Razlan Razali in 2020 due to injury related poor performance, announcing his retirement form racing shortly after.

  After two rounds of racing, the first round taking place in Buriram, Thailand in March, the SS600 riders’ championship table sees Helmi on top with a strong 83 point lead. Following behind him is Ibrahim in second with 67 points while Farid is nipping on his heels with 60 points in third position.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2022 ARRC: Malaysian Fitri tops TVS Asia series race

  In Bikes, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 30 May 2022 2:32 pm / 0 comment

  

  A win in Race 2 for Malaysia’s Muhamad Fitri Ashraf in the 2022 Asia Roda Racing Championship (ARRC) TVS Asia One Make Championship race series at Sepang. Held over the weekend of May 28 and 29 at Sepang International Circuit (SIC), Fitri held off a strong challenge by Indonesian Decky Tiarno Ardy, who came in second after a neck and neck battle.

  Fitri pipped Decky to the finish line with a last minute dash at the final corner at SIC, with the leading group of three other riders chasing behind him. Racing the TVS Apache 310RR, the group of four which included Fitri and Decky, Vorapong Malahuan of Thailand had to settle for third despite getting leading Race 2 at the start.

  

  

  

  Vorapong’s compatriot from the Land of Smiles, Watcharin Tubtimon, settled for fourth, while Indonesian Agung Septian came in fifth. Commenting on the race, Fitri said he made changes to his race strategy after coming in fifth in Race 1, explaining, “it was a good race even with the casualty in the beginning. I grasped the lessons from Race 1 and made the necessary changes in Race 2. It worked as planned.”

  After the inaugural running of the TVS Asia One Make Championship, Vorapong tops the riders’ standings after two races with 41 points, followed by Decky with 40. Fitri is third in the table with 36 points. Action moves to Japan for Round 3 of the 2022 ARRC at Sportsland Sugo, Japan, on August 12 to 14.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2022 MotoGP: WithU RNF Racing goes Aprilia in 2023

  In Bikes, International Bike News, MotoGP / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 27 May 2022 5:11 pm / 3 comments

  

  After a single season with Yamaha, WithU RNF Racing, under team principal Datuk Razlan Razali, will be an Aprilia satellite for the 2023 MotoGP season. RNF Racing will campaign the Aprilia RS-GP alongside the Aprilia factory team.

  RNF Racing’s contract with Aprilia will run for two years with an option to renew for a further two. “We want to express our gratitude to Yamaha for these past years working together and growing together. We are absolutely thrilled for this long term partnership with Aprilia Racing,” said Razlan.

  

  

  

  Emerging after three seasons from the ashes of Petronas Sepang Racing Team (SRT) in 2022, RNF Racing was formed as a Yamaha satellite team racing the Yamaha YZR-M1 as well as competing in Moto-E as Withu GRT RNF MotoE Team.

  The current rider roster for RNF Racing is Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder, who currently sit at 20th and 21st place in the 2022 MotoGP championship standings, respectively. RNF Racing has been languishing at back of the pack this year, with a best performance of a 15th place by Dovizioso in the US Grand Prix.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2022 RGNT Motorcycle No. 1 Classic SE e-bike now in Europe, range of 148 km, 120 km top speed, RM63.6k

  In Bikes, Electric motorcycles, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 27 May 2022 9:17 am / 2 comments

  

  Updating its electric motorcycle (e-bike) offerings the RGNT Motorcycle No. 1 Classic and the Scrambler No.1, RGNT Motorcycles from Sweden has released the Sports Extended or ‘SE’. Currently available in Europe, the No. 1 Classic SE is priced at 13,495 euros (RM63,671) while the Scrambler No. 1 SE goes for 14,495 euros (RM68,389) with purchase made via RGNT’s website.

  The ‘SE’ model appellation is available for either e-bike in RGNT’s catalogue and features regenerative braking and a new ‘Boost’ mode which gives an additional 20% power increase at the expense of battery life. Additionally, an ‘SEL’ limited edition model is available with added accessories, chrome plated fenders, two-tone paintwork on the “tank” and seat upholstered in brown.

  

  

  

  Also new is the instrument cluster, a TFT-LCD screen the size of a tablet with more more personalisation options. The new thumb operated joystick makes it easier to safely interact with the cluster while riding, allowing for displays changes to be made on-the-fly.

  Other updates include a new RGNT app, giving riders real-time updates on charging status and remaining charging time, battery range, and bike location. Planned future upgrades for the No. 1 e-bike range includes tactile feedback, always on IoT-connectivity for security, bike status and automatic software and design upgrades.

  

  

  

  Power for the RGNT No.1 is stored in a 9.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack weighing 60 kg, chargeable using either a Type 2 charger or domestic current. Charging time is claimed to be three hours from 20% to 60% while taking the battery from 0% to 100% requires six hours, with range claimed to be 148 km and a governed top speed of 120 kmh.

  As for performance, the rear wheel hub-mounted motor is rated at 9 kW, with a peak performance of 21 kW and a peak torque of 390 Nm (this is not a typo.) The No. 1 tips the scales at 163.3 kg with a seat height of 810 mm. Classed as an L3e-A1 electric vehicle in Europe, the No.1 is entirely hand-built in Sweden.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2022 Legatus Metropolitan in Malaysia – electric scooter, up to 140 km range, 3-hour charge, RM13k

  In Bikes, Electric motorcycles / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 26 May 2022 5:20 pm / 11 comments

  

  Some three years in the making, Legatus EV is nearing its debut into the Malaysia electric vehicle market. It’s first offering, the Legatus Metropolitan electric scooter (e-scooter), is designed for the urban arena, notably in the areas of light commuting and commercial delivery.

  Styled and developed for the Malaysian market, the Legatus Metropolitan is intended to be an affordable transport solution, with final pricing “around RM13,000”, pending final vehicle type approval (VTA). With a launch scheduled to take place in the next two months, paultan.org was given a first look at the Metropolitan and told, “please take it for review and let us know what you think.”

  

  

  

  Assembled in Malaysia to Legatus’ specific design brief, the Metropolitan e-scooter comes with an external-mount motor, eschewing the use of the hub-mounted electric motor typically found in EVs of this class. This motor design allows for affordability, scalability and future proofing of the Metropolitan, with Legatus developing more Malaysia-specific electric two-wheelers to be launched in the near future and a view to the export market in ASEAN.

  While details of the motor remain confidential for now, what we call tell you is the Metropolitan will give a mixed cycle use range of 120 km, with a governed top speed of 100 kmh. While this may not sound like much, Legatus’ market research indicates this is adequate for urban use and within performance norms of e-scooters found in densely populated areas.

  

  Now in final prototype form, some further improvements will be implemented, into splitting the current lithium-ion phosphate 60 volt 50 Ah battery pack into two to allow for easier removal from the Metropolitan for remote charging. Charging time is claimed to be three hours and the e-scooter comes with three power delivery modes, with Mode 1 giving the best range of 140 km but lowest speed, while Mode 3 raises performance to the level of a 100 cc internal combustion engine scooter.

  Addressing the issue of range anxiety when using EVs, Legatus is in the process of implementing a public infrastructure pilot project, using the Metropolitan. This will bring battery swapping to the Malaysian market as well as develop a public electric charging eco-system for EV users.

  

  Returning to the Metropolitan e-scooter, we will be putting it through the paces in the next few weeks and subjecting it to real world riding conditions, including range tests across a variety of terrain and riding styles as well as suitability for purpose. In the meantime, more EV news will be forthcoming on paultan.org, highlighting developments in both two-and four-wheeled EVs in the Malaysia market.

  Update: Legatus EV wishes to clarify that while the styling of the Legatus Metropolitan might look the same as some electric scooters available online from China, a lot of work been done underneath the bodywork to ensure homologation and safety compliance to Malaysian standards. It should be noted a similar electric scooter available from China has a 50 kmh limited speed, while the Legatus Metropolitan will achieve speeds in excess of 90 kmh.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2022 MotoGP: Finland Grand Prix postponed to 2023

  In Bikes, International Bike News, MotoGP / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 26 May 2022 8:17 am / 0 comment

  

  Mika Kallio testing the KymiRing circuit in 2019

  Scheduled to take place in July, the Finnish Grand Prix has been taken off the 2022 MotoGP calendar. A press statement by organisers Dorna stated the decision was made due to “current circumstances” creating delays and putting ongoing work at the new KymiRing circuit at risk.

  The MotoGP round in Finland has been postponed to 2023, with no announcement of a replacement race venue for the weekend of July 10. This means the MotoGP calendar for this year is reduced to 20 rounds with no races at all between the June 26 round in Assen, Netherlands and the August 7 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

  

  Announced in 2017, the KymiRing circuit in Kuovula was initially expected to host a MotoGP race in 2019 but was delayed due to construction work. The worldwide Covid-19 pandemic saw further delays to the circuit’s debut in 2020 and 2021 while the current conflict in Ukraine has now put a different consideration on things.

  Located about 110 km north of Finland’s capital city of Helsinki, KymiRing circuit is 4.6 km long running clockwise, and contains 18 corners, evenly split between left- and right-handers. Assuming the MotoGP is held in 2023 as scheduled, it will mark the return of of the Finnish Grand Prix, an event absent from Finnish motorsports since the last motorcycle Grand Prix at Imatra in 1982, 40 years ago.

   

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