Bikesrepublic

Latest News

The 2025 Ducati Panigale V4 has been revealed, sending Ducatistis into a frenzy. Us included.

As with each revision, Ducati has thrown everything into this one, sans the Desmosedici GP engine. The list eye-watering long and some of these features require full articles to be written for each of them, so we have summed it up into a list of 5 new things.

1. New styling
  • The 2025 Ducati Panigale V4’s design was inspired by the subliminal and world-conquering Ducati 916.

  • They then added new aerodynamic and ergonomic solutions derived from the Desmosedici GP.
  • A new central air intake hidden under the chin, and the seat is wider and longer to provide more room for the rider.

  • The new fairing reduces aerodynamic resistance by 4% and keeps the rider in a bubble of calm air.
  • The wings are double-profiled and provides the same amount of downforce as the previous model’s.

  • The mudguard’s shape has also been revised to provide better cooling air to the oil cooler.
2. New ergonomics
  • The riding position was developed with the objectives of integrating the rider into the bike’s aerodynamics and improving control of the bike.

  • The revision results in  greater roominess, and additionally the deep recess in the upper part of the tank avoids interference with the chin guard of the helmet.
  • The rear area of the tank, combined with the side covers and the shape of the seat, better supports the rider during braking, entering and cornering phases, making it easier for the rider to anchor himself.

  • The footrests have been moved 10 mm inwards, increasing ground clearance and improving aerodynamic penetration.
3. New chassis
  • Franceso Bagnaia set a lap time of 1m35.8s on a Panigale V4 during the Race of Champions at Misano in 2022, which was only exactly 4 seconds slower than the 1m31.8s on his Desmosedici GP.

  • Ducati Corse requested new stiffness targets for the frame and swingarm.
  • So, Ducati’s engineers revised the frame’s lateral stiffness to maintain grip at lean angles now over 60°(!).

  • It is also lighter at 3.47kg compared to the previous 4.2kg.
  • This revised frame is mated with a new forged double-sided swingarm dubbed the Ducati Hollow Symmetrical Swingarm.

  • The swingarm reduces lateral stiffness by 37% and is 2.7kg lighter than the previous single-sided version.
  • The V4 S receives forged aluminium alloy wheels that weigh only 2.95kg for the front and 4.15kg for the rear.

  • Third generation electronically controlled Öhlins NPX/TTX suspensions of the Panigale V4 S.
  • The new 2025 Ducati Panigale V4 is the first motorcycle to be equipped with the new Brembo HypureTM front brake callipers. They are lighter by 60 grams per pair.

  • Another important world premiere is the Race eCBS system, developed by Bosch in collaboration with Ducati. This system needs an entire article dedicated to it!
4. Ducati Vehicle Observer (DVO)
  • The system simulates the input of over 70 sensors, according to electronic control strategies.

  • The 2025 Ducati Panigale V4 is equipped with the complete package of electronic controls: Ducati Traction Control DVO, Ducati Slide Control, Ducati Wheelie Control DVO, Ducati Power Launch DVO, Engine Brake Control and Ducati Quick Shift 2.0.
  • The DQS 2.0 system uses a strategy based solely on the angular position sensor of the gear drum, thus being able to use a gear shift rod without microswitches.

5. MotoGP dashboard
  • A completely new 6.9-inch dashboard placed in such a way it does not interfere with the rider’s vision.

  • The protective glass uses Optical Bonding technology to ensure optimal readability on a black background even during the day.
  • New Track display on the dashboard to display parameters such as g-Meter, Power & Torque, Lean Angle.

  • The Info Mode Track uses the DDL data acquisition system which utilised GPS and developed together with specialist 2D.
In a nutshell

These are just the main points for the new 2025 Ducati Panigale V4. We shall delve into each point soon, so stay tuned!

2025 Ducati Panigale V4 Photo Gallery

Boon Siew Honda Sdn. Bhd. (BSH) has announced two additional new colours for the 2024 Honda Rebel (also known as the CMX500) called Mat Laurel Green Metallic and Seal Silver Metallic. This brings the available colour options to three, including the existing Mat Gunpowder Black Metallic.

Mat Laurel Green Metallic
Highlights
  • The engine remains untouched, hence it is still the 471cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin which delivers 43Nm of torque at 6,500 RPM and 34kW (45.6hp) of maximum power at 8,500 RPM.

  • It is of course fed by Honda’s long-standing PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injection) system, which the manufacturer says helps to save fuel, and reduce emissions, among several other benefits.

  • The powerplant is tuned for strong low and midrange torque, instead of maximum power befitting its cruiser role.
  • All-around LED lighting, with a round headlight.

  • Dual channel ABS as a standard feature.
  • The speedometer is set in a 100mm dial with a negative LCD display and white backlight which displays gear position and fuel consumption.

  • The “peanut” tank holds 11.2 litres of fuel.
Price and availability

The 2024 Honda Rebel sells from RM33,899 excluding road tax, insurance, and registration. It is now available at all Honda BigWing dealers now.

Boon Siew Honda provides a two year or 20,000 manufacturing warranty, whichever comes first. Please visit https://hondabigbike.com.my or call their toll free number at 1-800-88-3993 for more information.

2024 Honda Rebel Gallery

The 2024 CFMoto 800MT Explore Edition has been launched in Malaysia.

The Explore Edition adds several touring amenities, making it fully ready for your next long-distance tour.

Highlights:
  • Silver-colored aluminum cases. 35L of storage space in the left, 28L in the right, and 36L in the top case. CFMoto says these cases are lockable and weather-resistant.
  • 799cc, parallel-twin engine, which produces 67kW (89 hp) at 9,250rpm and a maximum torque of 75Nm at 8,000rpm.

  • Electronic features include an 8-inch Multi Media Interface (MMI) with connectivity functions such a navigation and music streaming.
  • Riding modes are Enduro and Pro, besides Traction Control System (TCS).
  • RDS Rear Radar for blindspot detection, the first for a CFMoto model.
  • Dual-channel ABS as standard.

Recommended selling price for the 2024 CFMoto 800MT Explore Edition is RM57,800, excluding insurance and road tax. It is available in two colour options called Gem Black, and Starry White, respectively. Buyers will enjoy a two-year unlimited mileage warranty.

KTM’s parent company, Pierer Mobility Group is cutting jobs again. PMG is also the parent company of Husqvarna, and GasGas, and owns of 50.1 per cent of MV Agusta.

PMG says this latest round of restructuring is due to slowing sales, after doubling their staff in the last 10 years due to high sales. The company did not specify the number of employees to be laid off.

This reduction in personnel after years of rising employment is painful,” says a Pierer Mobility Group statement, “but necessary in order to maintain and secure the competitiveness of the production site.” The statement blames slowing in 2024 due to European market volatility and high interest rates in the US.

Consequently, PMG is reducing production in Mattighofen, Austria and is instead looking to further utilise their partnerships with CFMoto in China and Bajaj in India.

Due to the increasingly fragile supplier industry in Europe,” the PMG statement reads, “the Pierer Mobility Group is utilising the favourable economic conditions in these regions (China and India) to secure its competitiveness. An efficient and high-quality supplier industry is being established there.

PMG expects a decline of between 10–15 per cent in the 2024 financial year. They added that cost saving measures will allow them to break even or even make a before-tax profit in 2024. “The Executive Board assumes that the cost savings introduced in the current financial year will be able to compensate for the negative effects of declining sales to such an extent that a balanced to slightly positive EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) can be generated.

Additionally, PMG is expected to downsize some of its motorcycle racing projects. Unconfirmed media reports from the Motocross World Championship (MXGP) suggest that Husqvarna will not be present next year, while another team will only compete in the MX2 category only. Furthermore, GasGas might not be present in MXGP next year, either. As such, Jeffrey Herlings of the Red Bull KTM team will be the sole PMG representative in MXGP.

In MotoGP, the Tech3 team will not use the GasGas name but returns the the Red Bull KTM branding from next year.

We have listed the CE standards’ codes for motorcyclists’ Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), so there is also a CE standard for motorcycle gloves.

By the way, “CE” and “EN” mean the same thing: “CE” stands for “Conformite Europeenne” in French, while “EN” stands for “European Norm.”

The CE standard for motorcycle gloves is:

 EN 13594:2015

 

Referring to the sample label above:

  1. The rider on two wheels with a helmet means this PPE is meant for motorcycling. Not for bicycling, driving, or skateboarding.
  2. If this box says “KP,” it means that the glove’s knuckle protector was tested and provides protection for the knuckles. As such, be careful because some gloves with knuckle protectors may not have this “KP” rating.
  3. The digit here pertains to the level of protection provided by the gloves. There are levels 1 and 2, the latter being more protective. Please refer to the box below.
  4. The CE standard and its year of revision.

In order to qualify as Level 1 or 2, the gloves need to pass these test standards:

So, be careful when you buy gloves that seem to be protective but are actually not.

Are sportbikes truly dead? It does not look to be so as the revised 2024 Honda CBR600RR supersport bike leads the middleweight category sales in the UK, in June this year.

Honda UK naturally says it is great news since CBR600RR is now doing well in the SuperSport category in the British SuperBike (BSB) series and won at the recently completed Isle of Man TT.

However, overall industry news is not so rosy. Total registration in June was 12,734 units, which is a 5.8% drop compared to 2023. Year-to-date sales are also 0.7% down from the previous year.

The Honda CBR600RR was dropped for all other markets except for Japan since 2017 but it returned to the UK this year, selling at £10,499 (RM63,579.65). Its 599cc, 16-valve, inline-four engine produces 119 hp, putting it in the same category as the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R.

The CBR600RR is the real supersport machine, compared to the 94hp Honda CBR650R which is more road-oriented. The latter is in the same category as the Yamaha YZF-R7, Kawasaki Ninja 650, Suzuki GSX-8R,  Triumph Daytona 660, and also the Aprilia RS 660. whose engines produce sub-100hp performance.

2024 Honda CBR650R

Archive

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube