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It’s the weekend, the weather looks great. You’ve washed your motorcycle and it shines like it was new. Only thing left to do is ride.

Out on the highway, the early morning air is cool. Mist still hangs over the road and among the trees. Aahh… How nice it would be to be accompanied by some music, just like in the movies.

So here’s our Top 10 Songs for Riding. No Despacito here! (Songs are copyrights of the respective artists.)

*NOTE: We do not condone listening to music through earphones as you ride. Instead, it’s best that you do so through a Bluetooth headset installed on your helmet (example, Cardo, Sena) at a reasonable volume that does not perturb your awareness of your surroundings or your concentration on handling your motorcycle.

10. RIDE THE WIND
by Poison
While Poison didn’t explain the lyrics, it was clearly apparent that Ride The Wind was written when frontman Brett Michaels had been smitten by motorcycles. The song starts immediately with, “Hearts of fire, streets of stone, modern warriors, saddle iron horses of chrome.”

Poison had always been called glam rock’s pretty boys but the song is certainly a nice tune, regardless.

9. WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
by Bon Jovi
Likened to being a song on outlaws, or particularly the outlaw biker, who drifts riding from town to town, staying just a finger’s length ahead of the law. Conversely, Bon Jovi attributes the song to their touring experience.

But the song’s lyrics never fails to find a home in the psyche of bikers who sets out on long rides to discover himself. That’s also why it’s a favorite among movie makers.

“I’m a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride, I’m wanted dead or alive.”

8. SLOW RIDE
by Foghat
Truth is, Slow Ride talks about getting it on. Not on a bike, no. (We haven’t tried it either.)

But! Riding is sometimes like lovemaking, especially when you’ve got a sweet a ride and a never ending stretch of road. The powerful guitar riff and baseline does make you want to ride, anyway.

7. SWEET HOME ALABAMA
by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Some called it a redneck song, some called it racist, some says it’s against racism, but Sweet Home Alabama never fails to lift your spirit.

Riding under a heavy rainstorm? Just yell, “Boo! Boo! Boo!” or scream, “Sweet home Alabama!” in your helmet and the rest of the way may just as well be sunny.

6. SHARP DRESSED MAN
by ZZ Top
That gutsy blues guitar riff and rumbling bass line are unmistakable, as if they emanate from the internals of an American V-Twin. Is it a coincidence since Billy Gibbons owns a huge collection of classic hotrods and Harleys?

A simple song, it talks about how ladies find rich, sharp-dressed men irresistible. In an interview, bassist Dan Hill said, “Sharp-dressed depends on who you are. If you’re on a motorcycle, sharp leader is great.”

Doesn’t matter, ‘cos we’ll just kick our heels into the wind and ride everytime we hear this song.

5. TURBO LOVER
by Judas Priest
Turbo Lover may not be as famous as other Priet’s songs such as You Got Another Thing Comin’ or Breaking The Law, but it is a succinct reference to motoring. Halford wrote this song after his fascination for fast bikes and cars.

“Then we race together, we can ride forever, wrapped in horsepower,” sang Halford.

But it’s the musical arrangement of the song that evokes the image of crusing down the highway with the wind blowing against you that makes it a worthy inclusion.

4. RUSTY CAGE
by Soundgarden
First and foremost, RIP Chris Cornell.

This song is not, we repeat, is not about motorcycles.

However, it served as the intro to one of th baddest, bat poo craziest, most entertaining motorcycle racing game of all time called, Road Rash.

It’s not the racing game like MotoGP or WSBK, but in one which you need to win by wrecking your opponents by kicking, backfisting, whipping with a chain, knocking their noggins’ with a bat, while controlling your bike, and avoiding the cops, traffic and hazards. The opening video itself shows a bunch of hooligans performing all sorts of delinquent acts on motorcycles.

No, we don’t condone violence and hooliganism, especially on motorcycles, but the game will certainly entertain you when you’re trapped at home. Hey, that’s the meaning of the song, after all – feeling claustrophobic and trapped.

Just make sure your kids aren’t at home to learn a whole new vocabulary of colourful language.

3. BORN TO BE WILD
by Steppenwolf
No motorcycle-related song list is complete without this song.

Born To Be Wild is the song most associated with motorcycles ever since it was used as the opening song to the 1969 movie Easy Rider.

No better line speaks about going out for a ride to nowhere, “Get your motor running, heading out on the highway, looking for adventure, in whatever comes our way.” “I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder,” echoes the sound of a Harley. while, “Like a true nature’s child, we were born, born to be wild,” speaks to every biker who looks at motorcycles as means of non-conformism.

By the way, the term heavy metal started with this song.

2. HIGHWAY STAR
by Deep Purple
This song should probably come with a disclaimer, because you’d probably be going way much faster than you should when you ride to it.

The song describes a man’s love for his fast machinery, or more accurately, his lust for speed.

The intro of Highway Star sound likes when you’re blipping the throttle as you warm it up. Then as the crescendo rises, you hold open the throttle against the clutch before launching the beast into the horizon when the song’s first bar hits, and there’s no stopping you until you hit “the speed of sound.”

Masterfully written and performed, it’s also considered as the first speed metal song, opening the way for Motorhead and Metallica, et al.

1. HIGHWAY TO HELL
by AC/DC
Superficially, the title Highway to Hell describes a person’s journey into the afterlife in a tongue-in-cheek, if not in somewhat morbid manner. That’s exactly the reason why Hollywood love to feature this song in their horror movies (Final Destination, for example), in a demeaning light. To the religious, the song is satanic. Well, the late Bon Scott sang, “Livin’ easy, livin’ free, season ticket on a one-way ride,” in the intro, then going on to mention, “Hey Satan, paid my dues,” in another, after all.

Truth is, Highway to Hell takes on an entirely different meaning if you knew what Scott was trying convey when he wrote the song.

There’s a pub in the Australia where he and his friends would frequent for “a few drinks,” and outside this pub was a long stretch of road where there was “No stop signs, speed limit.” Drunk customers would blast up the road, “Nobody’s gonna slow me down,” and ended up crashing, more often than not fatally.

On the other hand, lead guitarist extraordinaire and people’s hero, Angus Young, dedicated Highway to Hell to their punishing US show schedule.

But no matter what conviction you may hold or what the song means to you, no riding/driving/road trip song list is complete without this eternal (pun unintended) classic.

A recent report made by the Marc VDS team has stated that their Kalex Moto2 that Tito Rabat rode to win the 2014 Moto2 championship was stolen early this morning.

The bike which was displayed at the Marc VDS workshop located in Gosselies, Belgium was the only thing stolen when the thieves broke into the workshop at around 2am of 16 August 2017.

The 2014 Kalex Moto2 bike features the team’s 2014 livery and also the number 54 that Tito Rabat used during his 2014 Moto2 season.

Image source: www.motorsport101.net

According to a recent report made by the Marc VDS, Tito Rabat’s Moto2 bike which he rode to win the 2014 Moto2 world championship was stolen just hours ago in Gosselies, Belgium. (more…)

Yamaha positions the NVX as a premium scooter.

The NVX offers a sportier ride.

The NVX’s engine is based on the NMAX’s.

We motorcycle reviewers should have an extra title tagged to our designation. Part-time Sales Executive should be apt.

The very first person I met after picking up the NVX from Sg. Buloh asked a set of of questions that would go on to form the template throughout the time the bike was with me.

“What is it?”, “How does it compare to the NMAX?”, “How is it to ride?”, “What’s the top speed?”, “How much?”. Not necessarily in that order, but they were the same queries, nonetheless.

I answered at least one person, sometimes even three separate ones per day. I bet I would’ve sold a few and use the commission to buy myself that astronomical telescope I’ve been lusting after. One thing is clear, there’s lots of interest for the Yamaha NVX.

The Yamaha NVX first was unveiled by “The Doctor” Valentino Rossi himself during the 2016 Malaysian MotoGP. Also known as the Aerox in certain countries, Malaysian netizens went wild as soon as the news and pictures hit social media.

But we had to wait for another agonizing nine months before it was officially launched in July 2017 (click here for the launch event). We soon discovered that the “delay” was because firstly, Hong Leong Yamaha Motors (HLYM) had wanted to see how the model performed in other markets in terms of reliability. Secondly, HLYM had invested in the ABS machine in order to equip the NVX and future models with the system. Thirdly, HLYM wanted to ensure their technical department and dealers are fully trained on the NVX. Fourthly, HLYM needed to build up their spares inventory – nothing worse than for customer to own a bike without the necessary parts, would it?

Well, the NVX is here and judging by how good the NMAX was, we and many prospective buyers were eager to find out more about the NVX.

Seeing a bike on stage during a launch was always somehow different from being up close to it in the real world.

The NVX is bigger than the other models in HLYM’s family of scooters, and definitely more aggressively styled and high tech. The design consists of sharply angled lines and panels, starting from the front, all the way to the rear. It has bigger wheels and beefy tyres. The central “spine” where the fuel filler resides is taller. The LED headlights has that “scowl” of the R25. In fact, the front end of the NVX shares the same character as Yamaha’s current crop of sportbikes, led by the YZF-R1.

Climbing on the first time confirmed that the seat was taller than the NMAX’s, courtesy of the 14-inch wheels. (vs. 13-inches on the NMAX). The ergonomics of the NVX is more compact, like a kapchai with floorboards. There’s no space to extend your feet up front.

From the seat, you’re greeted by the 5.8-inch fully-digital LCD screen and a new ignition and locking system. The NVX uses the new Smart Key System, which is essentially a keyless-go setup. But it goes beyond that.

The rider needs to is disarm the immobilizer, then press and turn the “dial” to the desired function i.e. opening the seat/fuel filler flap/ignition on. Similarly, the dial will be locked in the LOCK or OFF position if the immobilizer hasn’t been disarmed. There is no way to start the engine, should the dial on the bike has somehow been left in the ON position, as long as the immobilizer isn’t disarmed via the Smart Key. We also discovered that the bike will emit very loud blips should the dial be left in the OPEN (to open the seat or fuel flap) position to remind us to turn it to OFF or LOCK. If left ignored, the immobilizer will eventually self-activate, disabling the engine from being started. We love this feature.

Starting up the engine exuded a muted but slightly sporty exhaust note. Twist the throttle and it was go time.

Speaking about the powerplant, the NVX’s engine shares the same Blue Core approach as found on the NMAX, including the Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) feature. However, the NVX is rated as an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV). Yamaha claims a scrooge-like best fuel consumption figure of 2.2 litres/100 km. Helping to achieve that efficiency is the “Start and Stop” function.

The Start and Stop system is toggled by the switch on top of the engine start button. With the system on, riding above 40 km/h to trigger it; the engine will then stop with the ignition and lights on when reach a full stop. A twist of the throttle will start the engine back up. Conversely, if you toggled the system off, the engine will continue to idle when you stop. Simple.

Although the engine shares the same architecture with the NMAX, it felt livelier on the NVX. Throttle response and fueling was spot on, there’s power as soon as you turn the twist grip. There’s still enough grunt left even when you’re riding at 110 km/h.

Right away, the NVX demonstrated how light it was on its feet, but with an added bonus. The suspension and fat tyres provided a high level of confidence to sling through corners and swerve through traffic with conviction. Scooters would normally feel “flighty” at the front due to their smaller wheels, yet there was no indication the NVX was going to lowside as you flick it around.

I got into a heavy shower right after taking delivery. The tyres may look semi-slick but they gripped very well over the wet road. Apart from that, I was really thankful for the 25-litre underseat storage space, as I had transferred my rainsuit over from my personal bike’s topbox, besides stowing my laptop bag in it. So now I stayed dry with the rainsuit on and my laptop stayed dry under the seat. There is also a compartment up front, underneath the left handlebar. It has a cigarette lighter socket for you to plug in an adapter and charge your phone.

Out on the highway, the NVX took no effort in reaching 110 km/h. It had no trouble climbing to my preferred cruising speed of 120 km/h from a standing start either. The tachometer showed 9000 RPM at that speed, so there’s another 1000 RPM to go. The engine never once felt like it was going to disembowel itself at high speeds. The larger wheels and tyres have in effect given the bike taller gearing, therefore cruising was smooth.

But where the NVX truly shone was commuting in the city. Riding an agile motorcycle with controlled aggression in Kuala Lumpur equals living for another day. It felt like I was riding a (fast) bicycle as I swerved in and out of traffic, squeezing between lanes and shooting through sharp corners. There was lots of feedback from the front tyre, and it had never threatened to let go as you flick the bike from side to side. As a matter of fact, the NVX didn’t mind taking sweepers with the throttle pinned open, either. It was very stable for a small-sized scooter.

The brakes were strong a definitely helped a lot, too. The ABS worked as it’s supposed to when I had to brake hard in the rain to avoid a car that had cut me off.

Truth is, I used to question why scooter and kapchai riders like to swerve around, climbing onto sidewalks to park, slipping by obstructions, and committing just about any general buffoonery. The answer is: Riding a lightweight motorcycle is just pure fun!

I didn’t have to worry about the clutch and correct gear selection; I didn’t have to stop as much when lane splitting as the NVX was narrow enough; and I can sure as heck outmaneuver anything; plus the freedom of not needing to shoulder my heavy backpack.

Additionally, the NVX was truly fuel efficient. I didn’t manage to obtain the 2.2-litre figure due to aggressive riding, but I once saw 2.8 litres/100 km. I had only filled up twice in the one week with the bike, the second time being when I returned the bike (I didn’t want to return a test bike on empty).

Shortcomings? Well, just like any scooter, the NVX’s main enemies are potholes and sharp bumps. The NVX is surprisingly well-sprung as it is, but the road conditions in KL are nothing less than embarrassing. Deep potholes caused the rear struts to hit their bump stops when I rode two-up with my wife, but bear in mind that we weigh a total of 150 kg. Lighter riders shouldn’t worry.

So there you have it. The answers to all your questions pertaining to the Yamaha NVX. On a personal note, I loved it, and I don’t mind having one to complement my other bike. I looks great, works great and went great, that’s why it’s a hoot of a scoot.

The Yamaha NVX is priced from an attractive RM 10,500, inclusive of 6% GST, but not on-the-road.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE
Engine type Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, single-cylinder with VVA
Compression ratio 10.5 : 1
Bore X Stroke 58.0 mm X 58.7 mm
Displacement 155 cc
Fuel system Electronic fuel injection
Maximum power 14.7 bhp (11.0 kW) @ 8000 RPM
Maximum torque 13.8 Nm @ 6250 RPM
TRANSMISSION  
Clutch Dry, centrifugal
Gearbox CVT (constantly variable transmission)
CHASSIS
Front suspension Telescopic forks
Rear suspension Twin shocks
Front brakes Single disc, ABS
Rear brake Drum brake
Front tyre 110/80-14
Rear tyre 140/70-14
FRAME & DIMENSIONS
Frame Underbone
Wheelbase 1350 mm
Seat height 791 mm
Dry weight 118 kg
Fuel capacity 4.8 litres

 

PICTURE GALLERY

Didi Resources (Moto Guzzi Malaysia) has finally launched the Moto Guzzi Flagship Centre which is located at the Gasket Alley, Petaling Jaya.

The new 3S Centre will house the manufacturer’s showroom as well as provide the best after sales services to all Moto Guzzi owners.

The latest 2017 Moto Guzzi V7 III Anniversario was also launched in conjunction with the introduction of the new 3S Centre.

Moto Guzzi Malaysia has finally launched their latest Moto Guzzi Flagship Centre earlier today. The newly launched Moto Guzzi hub here in the country is located at the Gasket Alley, Petaling Jaya. (more…)

The world’s first “smart helmet’ has been officially launched in Malaysia. The Jarvish Smart Helmet is distributed by RT Ride Tech Motorsport, which is the sole distributor for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

The Jarvish Smart Helmet features a built in 2k 120 degree wide angle video recorder, voice activation command, ability to receive and to reject phone calls, and it is compatible with Apple Siri and Android’s Google Go. This feature allows riders to check on the weather, location of nearby petrol stations and location of food stalls, all through voice commands. This allows the rider to keep both hands on the handle bars.

The helmet even has its own applications, which needs to be downloaded to a smart phone. This app enables the rider to download a video to his phone via wifi, or to a computer via a USB cable. It is said that the application will soon be able to offer live streaming to the riders Facebook account.

The device is operated by battery which can last up to 5.5 hours with continuous recording. Jarvish says that the battery is made of a solid state lithium ceramic military grade material and is thus an anti-explosion battery, even under extreme conditions such as piercing, collision, rupture and such, the battery stays stable, and will not leak, smoke, or burn.

The smart helmet even has its own crash sensor, and will automatically save a video recording into a “black box” when the sensor detects an impact. The helmet supports SD memory card with up to 256GB memory, which roughly sums up to about 3 days of recording.

Future plans includes a crash sensor that will be able to call out a specific phone number during emergencies, and in Europe, the helmet will be able to link up to rescue units and also insurance companies.

Jarvish Smart Helmet Specification:

  • Waterproof level: IPX5
  • Voice command: After the mobile phone Bluetooth is connected to the intelligent helmet, voice commands can be used to control the functions including camera recording, telephone answering, volume adjustment, music playing, etc.
  • Recording function: 1920 X 1080P, traveling dynamic status can be recorded via the recording function.
  • Safety certificate: ECE R22.05 (Regional), DOT(Regional), CNS 2396, CNS 13438, CNS 13439, NCC-CCAM17LP0170T2.
  • APP: Wi-Fi connection, videos can be downloaded and the system status of the intelligent helmet can be viewed. The navigation function allows the input of destination address before each trip and voice commands for navigation can be transmitted to the earphones of the intelligent helmet via Bluetooth connection. (Satellite navigation may have errors and it is recommended for reference usage only).
  • Helmet shell material: The helmet shell uses a carbon fiber composite material characterized by high stiffness, high stength and light weight.
  • Battery features: Use a solid state lithium ceramic military grade material anti-explosion battery. Under extreme conditions, such as piercing, collision, rupture etc., the battery is maintained to be safe without the occurrence of battery solution leakage, smoke or burning, etc.
  • Ventilation features: The mouth portion and forehead portion are equipped with two-stage adjustable air inlets in conjuction with the design of additional three air outlets in order to ensure air ventilation inside the helmet. The two areas of the lower rear portion are provided with heat sinks.
  • Quick-removal inner lining: The inner lining is of a removable design along with anti-bacterial and mite-proof treatments; the inner lining is also washable.
  • Model: MONACO EVO S
  • Importer: JARVISH Inc.
  • Materials, net weight, quantity: Carbon fiber composite material, Styrofoam, metal buckle, fabric inner lining
  • Rated voltage (V) and rated frequency (Hz): Rated voltage 3.8 ~4.4 v, 60 Hz
  • Rated total power consumption or rated input current: 0.65A
  • Certifications: ECE R22.05 、 DOT、 CNS 2396、CNS 13438、CNS 13439、NCC
  • Product name: Enhanced flip-up protective helmet for motorcycle riding (applicable for use in non-competition motorcycles above 125C.C.)
  • Product type: Enhanced type, applicable to light or heavy motorcycles and large heavy-duty motorcycles.
  • Main materials: Composite carbon fiber helmet shell, EPS, Styrofoam, metal buckle, fabric inner lining.

MV Agusta has finally announced that all their three-cylinder motorcycles to comply with the strict Euro4 regulations.

The MV Agusta F3 675, F3 800 and Dragster 800 models have gone through evolutions to their engines, electronics, engine noise and exhaust gas emissions making them quieter and cleaner.

The move to make their bikes comply with the Euro4 regulations means that they can continue selling their bikes in European countries in 2018 and beyond.

MV Agusta has finally of their three-cylinder motorcycles to comply with the even more strict Euro4 regulations. (more…)

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