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• 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa revealed – new engine, chassis

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Suzuki Motorcycles / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 5 February 2021 4:52 pm / 7 comments

  Covers have been taken off the 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa, completely new after two generations. Aerodynamics plays an even greater part in the third generation Hayabusa, which Suzuki claims has one of the best drag coefficients on any street-legal motorcycle.

  Design of the 2022 Hayabusa moves away from the curves and bulges of the previous models, being straighter and sharper than before. Suzuki’s Ram Air Direct (SRAD) ducts still feature prominently, flanked by LED DRLs and incorporating turn signals and the entire affair is tied together with an all-new twin spar aluminium alloy frame.

  

  Motive power still comes from a liquid-cooled inline-four, displacing 1,340 cc, normally aspirated. Engine mass has been reduced, with stronger connecting rods and pistons, with a corresponding increase in torque.

  A quickshifter is now standard, with the rider able to select between race-style or casual riding clutches shifts. Ride-by-wire gives a full suite of riding aids including traction control, wheel lift control, engine braking and ride modes, along with semi-electronic suspension, dubbed Suzuki Intelligent Ride Systems (SIRS).

  

  A six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) feeds data to the ECU and keeps everything on an even keel. Braking for the 2022 Hayabusa is done with Brembo Stylema four-piston callipers with 320 mm diameter floating brake discs.

  There are three colour options for the 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa – Glass Sparkle Black & Candy Burnt Gold, Metallic Matte Sword Silver & Candy Daring Red and Pearl Brilliant White & Metallic Matte Stellar Blue. Expect to see the 2022 Hayabusa entering the market in the latter part of 2021.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• MV Agusta puts Italian State Police on wheels, in style

  In Bikes, International Bike News, MV Agusta / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 5 February 2021 10:23 am / 3 comments

  

  Decked out in a gorgeous blue and white livery, four units of the MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso SCS were handed over for duty with the Italian State Police in Milan. This quartet of police spec Veloce 800 Lussos join an existing fleet of two MV Agusta Turismo Veloce and two Rivale, currently in service with the “Nibbio” Motorcycle Unit from Milan’s police.

  A ceremony at the Questura, the Milan police headquarters, MV Agusta chief executive officer Timur Sardarov handed over the motorcycles to Milan’s Police Commissioner, “Quaestor” Giuseppe Petronzi. Also in attendance was motorcycle racer Simone Corsi, who last year rode an MV Agusta F2 dressed in the colours of the Fiamme Oro Police sporting club.

  The Lusso SCS sits second from top in MV Agusta’s Turismo Veloce four model range of sports-touring motorcycles with pricing for the Lusso starting from 20,900 euro (RM102,287). Carrying an inline-three cylinder, 12-valve mill displacing 798 cc, the Turismo Veloce Lusso SCS gets 110 hp at 10,150 rom and 80 Nm of torque at 7,100 rpm.

  

  

  

  A six-speed gearbox, equipped with MV Agusta’s S.C.S. 2.0 (Smart Clutch System) that reduces lever effort, gets power to the ground via chain final drive. The Lusso SCS is geared for a top speed of 230 km/h and the 21.5-litre fuel tank gives a theoretical range of over 300 kilometres.

  The police specification Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso SCS, apart from the Polizia livery, comes fitted with strobes and blinkers, along with a police radio and siren. “The Nibbio Unit can now count on four new bikes for a better, more capillary patrolling of our streets. The Turismo Veloce Lusso SCS is particularly suited”, said Quaestor Giuseppe Petronzi, “for police work in serving our citizens. I therefore thank MV Agusta for their generous attention towards the Police Force.“

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2020 Harley-Davidson financials fail to excite, posts RM791 million loss, reverting to cruisers and trikes

  In Bikes, Harley-Davidson, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 4 February 2021 11:59 am / 3 comments

  

  A pandemic hit 2020 has not been kind to American motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson (H-D), with the Milwaukee firm posting an operating loss of USD 186 million (RM791.86 million) in the motorcycle sales segment. Despite a new chief executive officer, Jochen Zeitz, at the helm and a revised marketing plan called “Hardwire”, market sentiment seems to be against H-D, with earnings-per-share dropping by USD 0.63 (RM2.55).

  Revenue for H-D’s motorcycle sales was USD 3.26 billion (RM13.17 billion), a drop of 29% compared to 2019’s sales number of USD 4.21 billion (RM17.01 billion). More telling is the Q4 motorcycle sales result, with the US market recording a massive 39% shortfall of USD 531 million (RM2.15 billion) against USD 874.1 million (RM3.53 billion) for the same period in 2019.

  

  Worldwide sales saw a similar drop in number, with the world market dropping 17% cumulatively. This figure is broken down to the US market, which fell 18%, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) dropping 16%, Asia Pacific by 8% and Latin America recording the biggest drop with 39%.

  However, H-D stills commands the lion’s share of the US domestic motorcycle market with 42.1%, despite a 7% drop while its European market position only saw a 1% drop to 7.7%. In terms of total number of motorcycles sold, H-D shipped 145,246 unit out the door in 2020, compared to 2019’s number of 191,724 units.

  

  Plans by H-D to address the drop in both profit and earnings in 2020 was its Rewire plan, with which it claims to have saved some USD 115 million (RM464.6 million). Moving forward, H-D intends to implement what it calls Hardwire, a marketing plan that reverses moves by previous CEO Matthew Levatich who had an ambitious plan of 120 “new” motorcycles over five years, including the Livewire electric motorcycle, the Pan America adventure tourer and Bronx street fighter.

  Of these, the Bronx has been axed, with the Livewire released last year and the Pan America scheduled for its worldwide launch on February 22. Zietz intends to focus on what he says are the world’s most desirable motorcycle segments – touring, large cruiser and trike.

   

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• 2021 Petronas Malaysian Cub Prix holds rider tryouts

  In Bikes, Local Bike News, Motorsports / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 3 February 2021 12:35 pm / 1 comment

  

  Budding motorcycle racers are invited to the 2021 Petronas Malaysian Cub Prix rider tryouts, with registration open to Malaysians aged between 13 and 18 years of age. Applications can be made before February 15 on malaysiancubprix.com and there are three One Make Race categories to choose from.

  After registration, short-listed riders will be asked to attend a selection process. The selection will be conducted by Honda and Yamaha for the respective race classes.

  The Malaysian Cub Prix one make race series sees riders on identical underbone race motorcycles compete through a full season of racing, with bike and racing equipment provided by the manufacturer. The series aims to identify upcoming talent in the local race scene, with promising riders usually scouted for racing teams in the bigger race categories.

   

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• MIROS claims to be developing LIDAR for motorcycles

  In Bikes, Local Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 3 February 2021 8:27 am / 12 comments

  

  A Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system for motorcycles has been announced by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), reports national news agency Bernama. The technology is capable of detecting the vehicles in front and warn riders to avoid collisions even at a high speed, says MIROS Director-General Dr Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim.

  The system, designed to be marketable and widely used by Malaysian motorcyclists, will be available in the near future. Dr Khairil says, “collision warning is given through three stages and emphasises the ability to keep riders aware of impending danger in a timely manner,” without providing further details as to how the technology is supposed to function.

  “The main design principles are high impact, low cost, user-based, and easily installed through upgraded design (retrofit design),” Dr Khairil said in a statement today. It was reported collision warning using the system would be given in three stages with an emphasis on warning the rider of impending danger.

  According to the MIROS statement, LIDAR-based technology is a key component of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), designed to prevent vehicle collisions as well as death and injuries. Currently, LIDAR is currently being developed for use in autonomous vehicles like Google and Uber self-driving cars.

  

  However, such a system is fairly large, requires a laser range-finder mounted in a clear spot in a central position on the vehicle and draws a large amount of the vehicle’s power output in terms of electrical energy. Commercially available systems from companies such as Velodyne, Argo AI and Aurora Innovation are typically bulky, expensive and can cost up to USD 75,000 (RM303,435).

  Distance keeping and warning systems for motorcycles is not new, with BMW Motorrad developing Active Cruise Control (ACC) and Ducati installing front and rear radar for the fourth generation Ducati Multistrada V4, a world’s first, as well as a collaboration between Ducati and Audi for collision warning between four- and two-wheelers. However, these systems use radar sensing to work, a technology available in cars for several years now in systems like blind spot warning and parking proximity sensors.

  Additionally, systems used by BMW Motorrad and Ducati integrate the radar into the motorcycle’s ride infrastructure, including throttle, brakes and cornering ABS to prevent abrupt braking and acceleration dynamics and maintain stable rideability. Like ABS, ACC and distance warning systems are not designed to be retrofitted into motorcycles which do not have such systems installed, something MIROS claims it is developing with its LIDAR system.

  

  In a new development, both BMW Motorrad and Yamaha Motor have announced their involvement as of December 2020 in the Connected Motorcycle Consortium (CMC), a grouping founded in 2016 that also includes motorcycle makers Honda, KTM, Suzuki and Triumph. The Consortium aims to expand on developments brought about by V2X, or Vehicle-to Everything, connectivity systems which seek to increase autonomous communication between vehicles and roadside infrastructure.

  CMC is seeking to establish, amongst others, a baseline between car makers and motorcycle manufacturers to allow both types of vehicle to communicate in a standardised manner using on-board systems such as cameras and radar. Future developments from CMC include enhanced motorcycle safety, ensuring that both V2X systems as well as the onboard sensor-based systems of motorbikes and cars work hand in hand and are not used as stand-alone systems.

  What do you think, dear reader? Is MIROS on the proper path to enhancing motorcycle safety or is this just another case of announcing a safety innovation for its own sake? Bearing in mind, ABS is yet to be made compulsory for motorcycles in Malaysia with the only reason we have ABS-equipped motorcycles here is because it is mandatory in other markets and manufacturers prefer to make one internationally compliant motorcycle model rather than variants for specific countries.

   

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• 2021 WMoto ES125 scooter launched in Malaysia, from RM4,588 for Standard model, RM4,888 for SE version

  In Bikes, Local Bike News, WMoto / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 2 February 2021 1:44 pm / 7 comments

  

  Following the launch of the WMoto V16 cruiser last November, MForce Bike Holdings has now launched the 2021 Moto ES125 scooter for Malaysia. Pricing starts at RM4,588 for the Standard, while the Special Edition (SE) retails at RM4,888, with pricing not including road tax, insurance or registration.

  The two ES125 model variants are differentiated by colour, with the Standard coming in red, black or grey colour choices. Meanwhile the ES125 SE comes in turquoise blue and both ES125 models are immediately available at all authorised WMoto dealers in Malaysia.

  Carrying an air-cooled, single-cylinder mill displacing 118.8 cc, the ES125 is targeted to the budget commuter end of the Malaysian scooter market. Power is rated at 8 hp at 7,400 rpm and 9.5 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm, with power going through a CVT gearbox to the rear wheel.

  

  

  

  Suspension on the ES125 is with conventional telescopic forks in front and single coil spring shock absorber at the back, adjustable for preload. Weight for the ES125 is listed as 95 kg, making it easy to handle on the daily commute.

  Fuel capacity is 3-litres, adequate for short trips around town and in the city while a 9-litre storage compartment is found under the seat for miscellaneous items. A USB charging port is located in the cockpit for charging the rider’s electronic gadgets and there are two small storage compartments for items such as a smartphone or wallet.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Norton Motorcycle moves to new facility after multi-million investment by TVS Motor Company of India

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Norton, TVS Motors / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 1 February 2021 9:01 am / 6 comments

  

  Things appear to be improving for the formerly financially troubled Norton Motorcycle of England, with the famed motorcycle maker moving to new premises in Solihull, West Midlands, UK. The new facility comes after a multi-million pound sterling investment from TVS Motor Company of India, which purchased Norton in April 2020 for 16 million pounds sterling (RM88.65 million).

  Commissioning at the new factory is nearing completion with opening expected for the first quarter of 2021. Said to be the most advanced factory Norton has had in its 122-year history of manufacturing motorcycles, the location with host all of Norton operations, including design, engineering, purchasing, sales, marketing, and support teams as well as the production team.

  

  Production of the Norton Commando Classic model at the Solihull site, building a limited quality to honour customers that had ordered and paid for a deposit on these bikes, with production of the V4SS model to commence with full opening of plant. The West Midlands area is also the location of Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover.

  Norton faced difficulties with UK tax authorities in January 2020, when owner Stuart Garner was reported to owe 300,000 pounds sterling (RM1.61 million) in unpaid tax, with the company entering administration. Further allegations of financial misappropriation and customer deposits for Norton motorcycles collected but unfulfilled were made against Garner in the press.

   

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• Frey Beast world’s first 60 Volt e-bike, 160 Nm torque

  In Bikes, Electric motorcycles, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 29 January 2021 3:13 pm / 12 comments

  

  Based in Jinhua, China, electric bicycle (e-bike) maker Frey has unveiled what might be the world’s most powerful e-bike in the form of the Frey Beast. Numbers for the Frey Beast are impressive, with an industry first 60 Volt, 24.5 AH battery pack instead of the usual industry standard 15 to 20 AH battery, reports electrek.co.

  This high capacity battery is located in the Beast’s down tube and despite its size, Frey does a good job of making it look part of the bike as a whole. A huge Bafang electric motor, rated at 1.6 kW, is located at the crank or mid-drive position, supplemented by pedal power which is what sets electric bicycles apart from electric motorcycles.

  Torque rating for the Bafang motor is similarly impressive, putting out 160 Nm of torque. To put things in perspective, this figure is 2 Nm more than the recently released 1,802 cc BMW Motorrad R18 cruiser.

  

  

  

  Suspension follows conventional mountain bike setup, with a RockShox 29″ Lyric fork and RockShoxSuper-Deluxe coil shock absorber at the back, giving 160 mm of travel at either end of the Beast. A size mismatched wheelset is supplied, the Beast rolling on 29-inch front and 27.5-inch rear wheels, which is claimed to give better acceleration and torque.

  Frey intends for the Beast to be its halo e-bike, complementing a range of 1.5 kW e-bikes, and is reported as unlikely to see volume production. More on pricing and detailed specifications will be released during the Frey Beast’s launch in March 2021.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• VIDEO: 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa teaser, launch Feb 5

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Suzuki Motorcycles / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 29 January 2021 12:16 pm / 2 comments

  Scheduled for its worldwide launch on February 5 is the 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa. As Suzuki’s top-of-the-range hyperbike, the Hayabusa has been in production since 1999, with a top speed rated at 312 km/h and the current iteration speed limited to 299 km/h.

  The release of the 2021 Hayabusa marks the third generation of Suzuki’s speed machines, the first generation Hayabusa, also known as the GSX1300R in some markets, putting out 162.6 hp at 9,750 remand 133.4 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. Weighing 255 kg wet, the Hayabusa was not to be considered a lightweight but in terms of acceleration, it would sprint the quarter-mile in 9.84 seconds with an elapsed speed of 229.75 km/h when tested by Motorcycle Consumer News in June 1999.

  

  2020 Suzuki Hayabusa

  2007 saw the second iteration of the Hayabusa, with restyling of the bodywork and refinements to the cylinder head, pistons and exhaust, including titanium valves and the GSX1300R designation removed. This served to bring power up to a claimed 197 hp and 138.7 Nm of torque, though real world testing revealed it to be closer to 172.2 hp and 132.6 Nm of torque, at the rear wheel.

  That the Hayabusa is popular with riders is seen in its sales figures, which buck the normal motorcycle model trend of declining sales year-on-year. For the first generation Hayabusa, over 100,000 units were sold worldwide between 1999 and 2007, the US recording figures going from a few units in the first year to over 10,000 in 2006.

  

  As for the 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa, aside from a video shot of a Hayabusa at speed in a banked corner and a shot of an analogue instrument panel, little else can be discerned. Speculation on what is new includes an increase in displacement, semi-active electronic suspension, the possible inclusion of turbo- or supercharging and updated electronics, including cruise control and cornering ABS.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2021 Honda NC750X unveiled, manual and DCT models

  In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 29 January 2021 11:00 am / 7 comments

  

  Covers have been taken off the all-new 2021 Honda NC750X, which comes in two model variants, manual and DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) models. Engine displacement has also taken a bump, going to 745 cc over the previous 700 cc of the NC750X.

  The NC-series of bikes are something of an oddity in a market accustomed to motorcycles falling into specific styles and categories such as sportsbikes, adventure-tourers, cruisers and naked sports, amongst others. Calling it the “Crossover Urban Transporter”, Honda intends for the NC750X to cater to the urban everyday rider with a need for a touring motorcycle.

  

  Taken from the Honda X-Adv (RM63,499 in Malaysia), the NC750X carries a parallel-twin mill, liquid-cooled and putting 58 PS at 6,750 rpm with 70 Nm of torque at 4,750 rpm. Both the manual – equipped with the slipper clutch – and DCT gearbox are six-speed units, with identical gear ratios but the DCT version having a 1.921/2.411 reduction ratio compared to the manual’s 1.731/2.678.

  This lowers the ration of the manual gearbox between second to fourth gears and first to fourth gears for the DCT, improving low-to-mid range performance of the NC750X. Performance has also been improved with weight reduction in the engine and the frame, with the NC750X weighing 214 kg and 224 kg for the manual and DCT variants, respectively.

  

  Braking is done with single hydraulic discs front and rear, and the NC750X rolls on 17-inch, compared to the 17-inch front and 15-inch rear of the X-Adv. A 23-litre storage compartment is found under the seat and set height is set at 800 mm.

  There are three colour choices for the NC750X – Grand Prix Red, Pearl Glare White and Matte Ballistic Black Metallic with the initial release being for the Japanese market. Pricing in Japan is 924,000 yen (RM35,771) for the manual 2021 Honda NC750X and 990,000 yen (RM38,326) for the DCT gearbox version.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S – 160 hp, 138 Nm

  In Bikes, International Bike News, KTM / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 27 January 2021 5:59 pm / 0 comment

  

  Now entering its third generation, the 2021 KTM 1290 Suer Adventure S is claimed by Austrian motorcycle maker to be its sportiest and most advanced adventure-tourer yet. This takes the form of a chassis overhaul that moves the steering head rearwards by 15 mm and relocating the front half of the KTM V-twin, along with a lengthened swingarm that increases stability under acceleration.

  A new 23-litre fuel tank with keyless access and accompanying bodywork redistributes weight and increases riding agility on the 1290 Super Adventure S. Adjustable in height by 20 mm, the two-tier seat is also lower to the ground, helped by a redesigned subframe with rider comfort further increased by a height adjustable windshield, with 55 mm of movement from high to low.

  A new 7-inch TFT-LCD display connects to the rider’s smartphone and the menu system is now easier to view and more intuitive to use, with the panel sited atop a storage compartment that now features a USB charging socket. Electronic riding aids are also revised to be less intrusive, with four ride modes – Rain, Street, Sport and Offroad – and a fifth Rally mode is an extra cost option with the installation of the KTM Rally Pack.

  

  

  

  Further electronic wizardry is found in the standard equipment Adaptive Cruise Control. Developed in collaboration with Bosch, the cruise control uses radar to automatically adjust separation distance to traffic in front, with five-degrees of separation set by switches on the handlebar pod.

  In the engine room, the Euro 5 compliant V-twin produces 160 hp and 138 Nm of torque from the 1,301 LC8 mill. The six-speed gearbox comes with a revised Pankl gear mechanism and an optional quickshifter is available from the KTM catalogue.

  

  Suspension is WP Apex semi-active with improved damping using new valves while the six-axis inertial measurement unit provides direct input into the suspension system for adaption to rider behaviour. For riders who need more from the 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S, a Suspension Pro package gives individual adjustment for the fork and monoshock as well as automatic preload adjustment and switchable anti-dive.

  The earlier mentioned Rally Pack enables the Rally ride mode and MTC slip adjustment for rear wheel slides. Combining the Suspension and Rally pack gives the Tech pack which additional comes with quick shifter, motor slip regulation, hill hold and adaptive brake light.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2021 Kawasaki KLR 650 – the dual-purpose returns

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Kawasaki / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 27 January 2021 4:26 pm / 3 comments

  

  It seems the dual-purpose motorcycle market is seeing something of a resurgence with the launch of the 2021 Kawasaki KLR 650. Entering the Kawasaki catalogue in 1987, the KLR 650 went through several mode updates and upgrades before production ended in 2018.

  Now, a throughly updated KLR 650 has been released and will likely prove a favourite amongst riders who prefer their motorcycles simple yet heavy duty. In the current dual-purpose motorcycle market, there are few equivalents to the KLR 650 save the Yamaha Tenere 700, the rest of the manufacturers preferring to address the adventure-touring segment.

  This philosophy of simplicity is shown in the engine room, with the same 652 cc single-cylinder as before, but now fed by EFI. Kawasaki says the power output has increased but declined to disclose the figure but what is know is torque is now 54 Nm at 4,500 rpm, mated to a five-speed gearbox revised for smoother gear shifts.

  

  

  

  Other improvements to the 2021 KLR 650 include LED lighting, a taller windshield manually adjustable to two positions and a 23-litre fuel tank, useful for those rides to nowhere. New bodywork, a longer wheelbase with revised front geometry for improved ride stability and a stiffer sub-frame are among other improvements.

  Wheels are still spoked items on the KLR 650, as befits its dual-purpose duty, a 21-inch hoop in front and an 17-inch unit at the rear, both now strengthened for off-road use. Suspension is done with a 41 mm telescopic fork in front and a monoshock adjustable for preload and compression at the back.

  

  

  

  Braking has also seen an upgrade, with a 300 mm diameter single disc on the front with dual-piston calliper and a 240 mm disc and single-piston calliper at the back. The customer has a choice between ABS and non-ABS equipped KLR 650s, bearing in mind the ABS system is optimised for off-road use but unable to be completely deactivated.

  Also new is the instrument panel, a digital LCD display replacing the previous KLR 650’s analogue setup while a USB charging port and heated grips are an extra-cost option. In the US, there are four variants of the KLR 650 on sale – the base model KLR 650, base model with ABS, the Traveller with left and right panniers and the fully equipped KLR 650 Adventure, with pricing ranging between USD 6,699 (RM27,090 to USD 7,999 (RM32,347).

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• 2022 Indian Motorcycle FTR – flat tracker performance

  In Bikes, Indian Motorcycle, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 27 January 2021 2:29 pm / 2 comments

  

  Powering on with its 2022 Indian Motorcycle FTR range of flat tracker naked sports bikes, a new model has been added to the catalogue, the Indian FTR Rally. Being released in 2021 for the 2022 model year, the FTR series of motorcycles is a blend of American flat tracker styling and streetfighter performance, coming together an attractive whole that works.

  Comprising of the base model FTR, the FTR S, the top-of-the-range FTR R Carbon and now the FTR Rally, motive power comes from a 1.203 cc liquid-cooled V-twin. Said to be the most powerful American made two-cylinder mill in a motorcycle, the FTR puts out 123 hp and 120 Nm of torque, numbers comparable to its closest rivals available in the Malaysia market, the BMW Motorrad R nineT (seven models, from RM84,900 to RM104,500) and the Ducati Scrambler 1100 (two variants priced at RM75,900 and RM80,900).

  In keeping with its street performance intentions, the FTR range comes fitted with ZF Sachs fully-adjustable upside-down forks giving 120 mm of travel at the front wheel and ZF Sachs IFP shock absorber, fully-adjustable with 120 mm of travel. Braking is done with radial-mount Brembo callipers grabbing twin 320 mm diameter brake discs and a Brembo two-piston calliper clamps a 260 mm disc at the rear wheel.

  

  Differentiating the FTR S from the base model FTR is a 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen display, with Bluetooth and USB connectivity to the rider’s smartphone. Also standard is an Akrapovic exhaust, three ride modes, wheelie control, traction control and stability control, along with cornering ABS.

  Meanwhile, the FTR R Carbon comes with everything on the FTR S, adding carbon-fibre tank covers, front fender and headlight nacelle, fully adjustable Öhlins gold front forks and gold piggyback shock. A black Akrapovic exhaust, premium seat cover and numbered badge on the console completes the FTR Carbon’s standard equipment.

  For the FTR Rally, wheel sizing is a 19-inch front and 18-inch rear, compared to the 17-inch wheels on the rest of the FTR series. Standard are ProTaper handlebars set 50 mm taller than stock and the LCD panel of the FTR S and FTR Carbon is replaced with the analogue unit from the base FTR.

  

  In terms of colour options, the base model Indian FTR comes only in Black Smoke, while the FTR S is available in White Smoke and Maroon Metallic. The FTR R Carbon comes win Carbon-Fibre while the FTR Rally has one colour option, Titanium Smoke.

  There is no longer representation for Indian Motorcycles in Malaysia, after its distribution agreement with Naza lapsed and was not renewed for 2021. It remains to be seen if a new distributor will pick up the reins for this American brand, after distributorship for Harley-Davidson in Malaysia also slipped through Naza’s grasp.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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• Singapore mandates brakes for bicycles on public roads, considering third party insurance for cyclists

  In Bikes, International Bike News / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 27 January 2021 11:09 am / 6 comments

  

  Cyclists in neighbouring Singapore will no longer be able to ride brakeless on public paths and roads in the future. This comes about from a set of recommendations forwarded by the Singapore Ministry of Transport, reports Channel News Asia.

  The recommendation was listed in the Active Mobility Advisory Panel’s fourth review, which has been accepted by the government. Submitted on December 30, the review intends to promote safe use of active mobility devices.

  This ruling mainly affects riders of “fixies” or fixed gear bicycles. Unlike freewheel equipped bicycles, fixies do not allow the rider to stop pedalling and “coast”, and the rider is required to keep their feet moving at all times.

  

  Braking on a fixie is done with the rider exerting pressure on the pedals, or back pedalling. However, this requires effort and coordination and there is no guarantee the rider is able to stop in time in an emergency.

  To abode by the ruling, cyclists are required to have at least one brake installed and functional when using public paths and roads. Placing the onus on safety on cyclists, a statement from the ministry said, “All active mobility device users should continue to practise safe riding and to look out for other path and road users.”

  

  Addressing the issue of insurance for cyclists, the panel highlighted the need to monitor this requirement, which has been in effect in Singapore since December 2020 for all mobility device users who ride for business or commercial reasons to be covered by third party insurance.

  The panel advised that the insurance requirement should be extended to non-commercial users with a need for the insurance industry to provide “accessible and affordable third party insurance” for cyclists. In Malaysia, fixies are popular among young riders in urban areas, plus the young cyclists who indulge in the sport of “basikal lajak” are found of illegally modifying their bicycles for more speed, including the fitting of undersized tyres and removal of brakes.

   

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• 2021 Triumph Speed Triple 1200RS revealed – 1,160 cc, 180 PS, 125 Nm of torque, 198 kg claimed wet weight

  In Bikes, International Bike News, Triumph / By Mohan K Ramanujam / 26 January 2021 8:01 pm / 1 comment

  

  After a teaser, and a worldwide media video conference, the covers have been taken off the 2021 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS, priced at 15,100 pounds sterling (RM83,590) in the UK. This sets the stage for a showdown with naked sports competitors in the Malaysia market such as the Ducati Streetfighter V4 (RM115,900) and Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory (RM121,000).

  Only one variant of the Speed Triple 1200 will be produced, the RS, with no plans to produce any further variants or a Daytona superbike based on this engine, said Stuart Wood, Triumph’s Chief Concept Engineer. The triple engine from Hinckley is all-new, taking engineering developed from Triumph’s Moto 2 engine supply contract, and produces 180 PS (177 hp) at 10,750 rpm and 125 Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm while the Streetfighter V4 gets 208 hp and the Tuono V4, a claimed 217 hp.

  An up-and-down quickshifter equipped six-speed gearbox, coming standard with a lighter effort slip and assist clutch, is also new, with a stacked gear design giving smoother shifting compared to the Speed Triple 1050. The 2021 Speed Triple 1200RS is also significantly lighter to the 1050, weighing 198 kg wet, 10 kg less than previous.

  

  

  

  Weight savings were realised in the engine room, the power plant being 7 kg lighter than before, and in the chassis, where 10 kg was saved. The new aluminium chassis is 17% lighter than the unit on the 1050 and places the engine further forward and lower down and a new lithium-ion battery realises further weight savings.

  During the media brief, it was emphasised the new Speed Triple is designed from the ground up to be a streetfighter, not a superbike with clothing removed. The handling is designed for aggressive road use but also able to perform on the track.

  This is shown with the inclusion of Ohlins suspension, with fully-adjustable NIX30 upside-down front forks and TTX36 monoshock, also fully-adjustable. Braking uses Brembo Stylema callipers, radial-mounted four-piston units grabbing lighter 320 mm brake discs, giving track level braking performance for the road while a single-piston calliper is used at the single-sided swingarm mounted rear wheel.

  

  

  

  The electronics suite on the Speed Triple 1200RS now includes cornering ABS with a new Continental MIB-EVO ABS module and six-axis inertial measurement unit. There are four levels of traction control – Rain, Road, Sport and Track – along with five customisable ride modes – Rain, Road, Sport, Track and Rider.

  Also included in the riding aids is cruise control, wheel lift control and the My Triumph connectivity system, which uses the rider’s smartphone and Bluetooth for control of navigation, GoPro camera, phone, messaging and music using the handlebar pods. The new 5-inch TFT-LCD screen shows gear position road and engine speed in either of two display modes, with the tachometer display swiping to the side to display any additional information required.

  LED lighting is used throughout on the Speed Triple 1200RS, with the all-new headlight featuring LED DRLs. Other riding conveniences include keyless start as well as optional heated grips and there are two colour options for the 2021 Speed Triple, Sapphire Black, with red and silver graphics, or Matt Silver Ice, with black, silver and yellow graphics.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

   

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