Motorcycle news, Motorcycle reviews from Malaysia, Asia and the world

Yamaha YZF-R6 20th Anniversary Unveiled in Japan

The Yamaha YZF-R6 20^th Anniversary was unveiled in Japan recently.
However, there was no additional data.
But it ought to be the same as the current R6.

The Yamaha YZF-R6 20^th Anniversary was unveiled in Japan during a YZF-R Owners Meeting at the Sugo racetrack recently.

There wasn’t any information accompanying the launch, unfortunately, except that the variant commemorates the introduction of the first YZF-R6 in 1999.

The R6 was a groundbreaking motorcycle when it was launched. It was the first production motorcycle to utilize ride-by-wire throttle, which Yamaha calls YCC-T for Yamaha Computer Controlled Throttle. It was from here that the technology was soon adopted throughout the industry. Additionally, it marked the beginning of rider selectable ride and power modes.

Anyway, Yamaha had introduced the R6 to challenge the Honda CBR600F and later CBR600RR’s supremacy in the middleweight class. Unlike the Honda, the R6 had an alloy frame. The engine was claimed to produce 120 hp at 13,000 RPM. While it didn’t sound a lot, it translated to the first production bike to measure 200 hp per litre. Besides that, it had the shortest wheelbase and lightest weight of 169kg dry in its segment.

Photo credit planetjapanblog.blogspot.com

The current YZF-R6 produces 117 hp at 14,500 RPM, probably because Yamaha revised the engine to provide more midrange rather than outright horsepower.

Anyway, let’s savour the pictures of this 20^th Anniversary special edition.

Hong Leong Bank and Malaysia Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA) Sign MOU to Boost SME Growt

Hong Leong Bank Berhad and Malaysia Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA) sign an MOU to cooperate in banking solutions.
The MMSDA plus 16 of their State Associattions and 6,000 members are set to benefit.
HLB will provide a tailor-made financial programme to the dealers and members.

Hong Leong Bank Berhad (HLB) and Malaysia Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA) today officially inked a partnership to provide a comprehensive suite of banking solutions to bolster the motorcycle and scooter industry and overall small and medium enterprise (SME) growth in the country.

From the partnership, MMSDA, as well as, 16 State Associations under MMSDA and over 6,000 of their members stand to benefit from the holistic financial products and solutions specifically designed to meet their business and individual banking requirements.

This includes a tailor-made financial programme, Motorcycle Dealers Programme (MDP) offering clean working capital financing with a limit up to RM5 million and eligibility for Auto Loan Packages, Cash Management, Payments and Merchants Services, Foreign Exchange Service and Digital Business Solutions.

According to Domenic Fuda, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HLB, “The reality is while 98.5% of business establishments in Malaysia are SMEs, they cut across all sizes and sectors. At HLB, we believe financial products and services must be built around the needs of specific customer segments. We simply cannot provide a one-size fits all solution to SMEs as they operate in different industries and market segments and serve their customers differently and face different challenges and needs for business growth.”

“MDP which provides financing of up to RM5 milion on a clean basis underwritten by the Bank is a testament to our commitment in delivering products and services that are tailored specifically to the needs of the motorcycle and scooter dealers. The portfolio has experienced three-fold growth in the past 18 months, thanks to our engagement with MMSDA and its’ members, and us listening to their needs and delivering financial solutions that meet their requirements for business growth. We hope with the Bank’s dynamic products and services, more dealers and retailers will be able to enjoy benefits that such financial solutions deliver,” added Fuda.

Rapid expansion of e-commerce, ride-hailing and delivery services have and will continue to increase the demand for motorcycles as primary vehicles for private and commercial mobility. According to the Malaysian Association of Motorcycles Manufacturers, market dynamics have largely been positive since 2016 and the motorcycle and scooter industry is expected to witness continuous growth over the next 5 years with a projected 25% increase over the period.

“Working capital is always a concern for the SME and as a Bank with strong entrepreneurial roots, we understand the need for supportive financial arrangements to support entrepreneurs’ in their quest of business growth opportunities. Together with our existing flagship SME banking products including SMElite, digital banking solutions as well as Priority Banking, merchant facilities and payment products, we strive to provide the ultimate banking experience and other support with an aim to be the preferred banker of choice for Malaysian SMEs. Today’s partnership with MMSDA will be one of the many strategic partnerships that we will embark on,” said Terrence Teoh, Head of HLB SME Banking.

Teoh also shared that HLB was named Best SME Bank in Malaysia for 2019 by The Asian Banker, and that the Bank takes pride in having a strong pulse on the ground and having insights on what SMEs require to grow their business.

President of MMSDA, Mr. Wee Hong noted, “On behalf of the association, I am very excited to work with HLB who has identified our challenges and tailored their SME Banking services to the specific needs of the motorcycle and scooter industry. As automation and digitisation are rapidly changing the business landscape, this special partnership will empower dealers and retailers to further develop their business and remain competitive in the industry.”

The partnership covers the following benefits to the various stakeholders:

For MMSDA and the 16 Associations under MMSDA:
Current and Saving Accounts (CASA) & Fixed Deposits

For SME – Motorcycle and Scooter Dealers and Retailers:
SME Loans (MDP, SMElite, Business Auto Loan)
Cash Management
Payments and Merchants Services
Business and Key Man Insurance
Digital Business Solutions via HL ConnectFirst Lite:
• Biztory, an e-accounting and e-invoicing software solution,
• Kakitangan, an e-human resource and e-payroll platform,
• SimpleTax, an online Sales and Services Tax and Income Tax advisory tool
WeChat Official Account
Foreign Exchange

Personal Financial Needs for Members:
Personal Property Loan/Financing
Current and Saving Accounts (CASA)
Fixed Deposits
Credit Card
Forex

For more information, please visit: www.hlb.com.my/sme

BMW Motorrad Vision DC Concept “Electric Boxer”

BMW Motorrad Vision DC Concept is BMW’s electric bike concept.
It mimics the current Boxer’s cylinders.
There are also other styling elements of current BMWs.

Yes, BMW Motorrad makes inline-Four engine models without having the cylinders jutting out into the air stream these days. But their true identity remains the Boxer engine, as much as their blue propeller badge. Check out this BMW Motorrad Vision DC Concept.

But then there’s not horizontally-opposed electric motor. So, what do you do to maintain that Boxer identity? Create an illusion, of course.

BMW says that the “heads” direct air into the battery pack’s cells to assist cooling. Yes, battery packs do need cooling, hence most electric bikes being liquid-cooled.

But the truth is BMW Motorrad wants to keep its Boxer identity, just like its sacrilege for Harley-Davidson to stop producing 45^oBig V-Twins. We don’t know how BMW fans will receive it, but as internal combustion engines are phased out over the years, this design will probably take hold for future generations.

Think of the BMW Motorrad Vision DC Concept as the modern-retro electric bike of the future and you’re probably there.

Anyhow, the “Boxer” isn’t the only styling element that identifies the bike as a BMW. Check out the single-sided swingarm, the Hossack-style girder “forks,” the transmission box-like battery pack and motor casing.

Your Chance to Test Ride the Moto Guzzi V85TT

Here’s your chance to ride the Moto Guzzi V85TT dual-sport motorcycle.
The event will be held on 29^thJune 2019 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, at the Rimba Valley Motor Campsite, in Janda Baik, Pahang.
The bike is already a hit in many parts of the world.

We’ve ridden and written pretty much about the Moto Guzzi V85TT dual-sport motorcycle of late.

Honest, cross our hearts the V85TT was one sweet motorcycle to ride. But that isn’t from a motojournalist’s point of view only, as the Piaggio (the parent company of Moto Guzzi) designed it to be accessible to 95% of the riders in the real world. What that means is that everyone can ride and enjoy themselves on it.

Sure, it has that “heritage” look but heritage and history is what the Guzzi brand is all about. But fear not, it doesn’t handle like Grandpa’s bike that’s rotting under the nangka (jackfruit) tree. This is a modern motorcycle through and through.

These are the reasons why the bike is selling like hotcakes in the world over.

And it is now in Malaysia. To take it up a notch, members of the public are invited to test ride the bike and judge for themselves this weekend.

It will be held on 29^thJune 2019 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, at the Rimba Valley Motor Campsite, in Janda Baik, Pahang. (Please click on the map below.)

Apart from the test ride, attendees will also get to enjoy local delicacies beside chilling by (or in) the crystal clear stream and breath in clean air.

Please click on this link to register https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YfTjLTduFRxs25DEF9cZpHoHixFKx2IVTOe6BNC0lqc/

You may also contact https://wa.me/601123008919for more information.

Kawasaki ZXR-750H1? No Wait, That’s a Kawasaki Z900RS

Spanish custom bike builder Japan Legends has a kit for the Kawasaki Z900RS.
It turns the bike into an old school half-naked superbike.
It definitely looks better than the stock Z900RS and Z900RS Café.

The Kawasaki Z900RS is the manufacturer’s modern-retro model; the successor of the legendary Z-1 but it may lack character to some folks.

Yes, the Z900-based inline-Four has a good kick and howling top-end but the bike is still styled in the UJM (universal Japanese motorcycle) format. The Honda CB1100R, (discontinued) CB400, the ol’ Kawasaki Zephyr 750 and 1100, among others have all used that same “template.” The Z900 RS Café looks better with the headlamp cowl but some scorned it as looking like the BMW R90S, instead.

So, why not let Spanish custom bike builder Japan Legends spice up your Z900RS with a special kit they are building? Now Z900RS owners can transform their bikes into a Japanes classic sportbike.

Visordownpublished the pictures of a kitted-out bike which looks like the ol’ school ZXR-750H1 superbike. Additionally, the bike is resplendent in the classic Candy Apple Green, white and blue paint scheme. The only things missing are the iconic washing machine (intake) hoses that lead from the upper fairing into the top of the fuel tank.

The kit is a half-naked type, which exposed large parts of the engine.

Now, that’s a Kawasaki Z900RS we’d drool over.

CFMoto to Manufacture KTM 790 Models and Engine?

CFMoto is rumored to manufacturer the KTM 790 range and their LC8c engines in the future.
They may also manufacture KTM’s big V-Twin models.
They’ve currently employed Kiska to design their bikes.

It’s now rumored that CFMoto will manufacture the KTM 790 range and their LC8c engine in the near future.

Years ago, this writer worked in a motorcycle shop and came across the 650cc CFMoto the first time when the brand entered the Malaysian market. While the bike looked good and had styling elements of the Kawasaki ER-6 (read: copy), there were issues. Scratch that – it had more problems than Miley Cyrus. Try leaking crankcase, jammed rear brake caliper, leaking rear brake caliper, frame welding that seemed to have been performed by Form 4 Industrial Art students, wonky fuel injection, among others.

But CFMoto has come a long, long way since then. While the brand is still here but flying under the radar in Malaysia, it’s been doing well in China, Europe and the United States. In fact, check out their latest models – the 650NK, 650MT, 650GT and 650TR. Additionally, they are currently building a new model based around a 700cc parallel-Twin engine.

CFMoto actually contracted Kiska, KTM’s styling house who may have a hand in designing the new 700cc bike.

The Chinese manufacturer also has a deal with KTM to assemble the latter’s bikes for the Chinese market. But CFMoto will eventually go on to manufacturing KTM bikes. Rumors say that manufacturing will include the KTM 790 range, which includes the 790 Duke, 790 Adventure and 790 Adventure R. The deal doesn’t stop there as they will also manufacture the 790’s LC8c parallel-Twin engine.

There seems to be some truth here, since CFMoto unveiled the V.02-NK concept bike in 2017 which had an LC8 big V-Twin engine. As such, they may also manufacture KTM’s large capacity V-Twins.

The transfer of technology and knowledge will enable the once-maligned manufacturer to compete in the open class category.

Bikesrepublic

Latest News

The Yamaha YZF-R6 20th Anniversary was unveiled in Japan recently.

However, there was no additional data.

But it ought to be the same as the current R6.

Hong Leong Bank Berhad and Malaysia Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA) sign an MOU to cooperate in banking solutions.

The MMSDA plus 16 of their State Associattions and 6,000 members are set to benefit.

HLB will provide a tailor-made financial programme to the dealers and members.

BMW Motorrad Vision DC Concept is BMW’s electric bike concept.

It mimics the current Boxer’s cylinders.

There are also other styling elements of current BMWs.

Here’s your chance to ride the Moto Guzzi V85TT dual-sport motorcycle.

The event will be held on 29th June 2019 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, at the Rimba Valley Motor Campsite, in Janda Baik, Pahang.

The bike is already a hit in many parts of the world.

Spanish custom bike builder Japan Legends has a kit for the Kawasaki Z900RS.

It turns the bike into an old school half-naked superbike.

It definitely looks better than the stock Z900RS and Z900RS Café.

CFMoto is rumored to manufacturer the KTM 790 range and their LC8c engines in the future.

They may also manufacture KTM’s big V-Twin models.

They’ve currently employed Kiska to design their bikes.

Archive

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube

BikesRepublic

The Yamaha YZF-R6 20^th Anniversary was unveiled in Japan recently.

The event will be held on 29^thJune 2019 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, at the Rimba Valley Motor Campsite, in Janda Baik, Pahang.