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BMW Motorrad Option 719 Preview at Auto Bavaria

BMW Motorrad Auto Bavaria held a special preview for Option 719 last night.
Option 719 is part of the BMW Motorrad Spezial ex-factory customization program.
Option 719 is currently available for R nineT, K-Series and C-Series line-ups.

BMW Motorrad Auto Bavaria held a special preview for Option 719 last night. The special event was held in conjunction with their BMW Motorrad Fest.

Auto Bavaria unveiled four R nineT’s with various Option 719 paintjobs. A customer, Dato’ Ariffudin Mokthtar also took delivery of an R nineT Pure finished in Black Storm/Metallic Auburn.

It was appropriate to debut Option 719 on the R nineT series, since it was designed to be customized. It is perhaps high time to launch the program as the Option 719 has been around for some time.

Option 719 is part of the BMW Motorrad Spezial ex-factory customization program. Owners could specify the special options for their BMW motorcycles prior to them arriving at the showroom or order the parts later. Depending on model, customers could choose from a catalog full of components such as billet brake fluid reservoir caps, engine covers, hand levers and paint jobs.

Customization is carried out by BMW’s in-house artisans such as those who carry out pinstriping, polishing, billet machining, seat leather stitching and so forth.

Customizing one’s bike with Option 719 accessories also means that the bike’s warranty isn’t voided. Besides that, the customer is assured of work being carried out by trained personnel, hence his bike isn’t butchered.

Option 719 is currently available for the R nineT, K-Series tourers, and C-Series urban mobility (read: scooter) line-up, but there are plans to expand it to include the adventure (GS) and sport (S 1000 RR) series.

You may obtain more information about Option 719 by following the BMW Motorrad Spezial webpage.

Interested parties can view the bikes at BMW Motorrad Auto Bavaria. Please follow BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s Facebook page and BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s website for more information on BMW motorcycles.

PICTURE GALLERY

2019 Suzuki Katana has Arrived in Malaysia!

Suzuki Malaysia posted in their Facebook that the new 2019 Suzuki Katana has arrived!
However, there is no official pricing or further details.
A search in Mudah.my found posts from last month asking for RM 85,000.

Suzuki Malaysia posted in their Facebook page that the new 2019 Suzuki Katana has arrived on our shores!

Unfortunately, they did not include the price, nor did they announce of any media unveiling of the price. We contacted Suzuki Malaysia but they company if off for the weekend. We hope to receive a reply on Monda.

However, we did a quick search in Mudah.my and found a couple of postings from early April and late March 2019. Both listed the price as from RM 85,000. On the other hand, Suzuki UK listed its price at £11,399 (RM 61,741.80).

We are not certain if that is going to be the exact price, as it means the Katana will cost more than the GSX-1000S that it is based on.

Not having any details to go on is definitely annoying. There have been many complaints about Suzuki Malaysia not engaging the media to spread news about the products in the last two years. Not that we are expecting advertising (although we definitely welcome it!) or test rides, but there has not been one single press release, even.

Consequently, most enthusiasts in Malaysia could only count on IF the media ever produces any news about Suzuki’s motorcycles. We only keep pushing news to our readers because of our love for all bikes, otherwise everyone will be in the dark.

So, if you’re reading this Suzuki Malaysia, please send some details to us in the media.

Bajaj Pulsar NS250 Expected to Launch in 2020 in India

There are rumors of a Bajaj Pulsar NS250 for 2020.
It will take the manufacturer into the 250cc segment.
There is no detail yet, but the new bike ought to be better equipped than the 200 line-up.

Rumours are running amok that a Bajaj Pulsar NS250 will be launched in India in 2020.

If it is true, the development follows the cancellation of the Pulsar NS180. The introduction of a 250cc model will bring Bajaj into the fray currently dominated by the likes of Kawasaki and Yamaha. Suzuki is also slated to introduce their own 250 soon.

As with the NS200 and RS200 that are developed based on the KTM 200 Duke and RC 200, the NS250 should also benefit from Bajaj’s joint venture with the Austrian manufacturer. Consequently, the engine dimensions ought to similar, if not identical, to the KTM’s. However, the tuning between the Bajaj and KTM engine may differ.

The picture below shows a rendering by SRK Designs and published by Indian Autos Blog.

The new 250 should be equipped with a dual-channel ABS ex-factory, if the manufacturer wants to place the bike among the premium brands. Besides, in Europe, all motorcycles 125cc and above are mandated to be equipped with ABS. Doing so also differentiates the 250 from the 200 models.

Norton Breitling Sport Unveiled

Norton teams up with Breitling to create the limited production Norton Breitling Sport.
Only 77 will be built.
Both companies have long heritage in their respective fields.

Norton is the offensive as the owners seek to bring the brand up to glory. They have just collaborated with luxury watchmaker Breitling to produce the Norton Breitling Sport.

The model is based on the Commando 961. Only 77 examples will be built, so each bike will be numbered. The Breitling Sport will er… sport a different seat, paint and trim.

Since Breitling is a timepiece maker, we can expect a line of watches to match the special model. Both brands have strong heritage: Norton started building bike parts in 1898 before venturing into building complete motorcycles in 1902. Breitling, on the other hand, was founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling.

Norton boss Stuart Garner said of the partnership: “I’ve always said that the key to a company’s success is to let the brand be the brand. This has been essential both at Norton Motorcycles and Breitling. We haven’t tried to change the nature of our brands or deny their histories. In fact, we revel in those histories and take inspiration from them while focusing on the future.”

Georges Kern, Breitling’s CEO says that his brand’s parallels with Norton Motorcycles are striking. “Both companies are innovative, entrepreneurial and have powerful legacies.” he says. “At the same time, we are looking ahead toward what we at Breitling call ‘our legendary future’.”

Source and pictures: MCN

Ducati Diavel 1260 S Materico Unveiled

The Ducati Diavel 1260 S Materico is a design concept in conjunction with the Milan Design Week.
It was born from the meeting of designers Tom Dixon and from Ducati, Lamborghini, Pirelli and VW.
It is a one-off special and is displayed in designer Tom Dixon’s restaurant.

The Ducati Diavel 1260 S Materico is a design concept in conjunction with the Milan Design Week.

Instead of focusing on performance upgrades, the Materico highlights textures and materials. As such, the side panels are made from carbon fibre and lined with yellow trim; the seat cover is suede with yellow trim; black exhausts and new 10-spoke wheels.

The bike is a one-off creation. It is on display at The Manzoni in Milan. The establishment is a restaurant and showroom created by British designer Tom Dixon. The bike was born after a meeting between Dixon and designers including Ducati’s Andrea Ferraresi, Lamborghini’s Mitja Borket, Pirelli R&D Director Piero Misani and former VW design department head Walter de Silva.

Ferraresi said: “We wanted to pay homage to the incredibly artistic and creative Milan Design Week by making our Diavel 1260 more audacious and original than ever. The Diavel 1260 Materico brings out all the vividness of the used material and the painstaking attention to detail that, together with high-tech components, makes this bike such an effective blend of form and function.”

Yamaha Turbocharged Twin on the Way?

Patent filings show that Yamaha is working on producing a turbocharged twin.
Yamaha seeks to lower exhaust emissions by utilizing a turbo.
A turbo increases intake efficiency by forcing in more air.

Patent filings show that Yamaha is working on producing a turbocharged twin.

However, Yamaha’s turbocharging idea is to beat the Euro 5 emissions standard. To that end, the manufacturer seeks to use a smaller engine to reduce fuel consumption, while the turbo ups the power. Forced induction increases intake efficiency i.e. forces in more air.

The patent also shows that Yamaha is concentrating their effort in the turbo’s wastegate. The wastegate is a device which vents access pressure in the turbo’s compressor. In the patent, Yamaha aims to optimize the wastegate’s actuator to increase the “degree of freedom in the layout of the catalyst.” In layman terms, it means they can fit a bigger catalytic converter.

Turbocharging is not a new to the world of motorcycling. All Big Four manufacturers flirted with forced induction in the 80s. However, they were interested in coaxing more horsepower from smaller engines instead of being concerned with emissions. In the end, issues with turbo lag and cooling killed the turbo bikes.

Yet, we have the supercharged Kawasaki H2 30 years later.

Almost all diesel vehicles use turbocharging to force in more air and clean up exhaust emissions. The bonus is of course, more power and torque from the engine. The manufacturers overcome turbo lag by either utilizing dual turbochargers are turbochargers with variable geometry vanes (VGT). That is why Kawasaki opted for a supercharger instead. Let’s hope Yamaha can address the issue in their own way, too.

Sources: Ride Apart, AMCN, Bennets, Free Patents Online

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Latest News

BMW Motorrad Auto Bavaria held a special preview for Option 719 last night.

Option 719 is part of the BMW Motorrad Spezial ex-factory customization program.

Option 719 is currently available for R nineT, K-Series and C-Series line-ups.

Suzuki Malaysia posted in their Facebook that the new 2019 Suzuki Katana has arrived!

However, there is no official pricing or further details.

A search in Mudah.my found posts from last month asking for RM 85,000.

There are rumors of a Bajaj Pulsar NS250 for 2020.

It will take the manufacturer into the 250cc segment.

There is no detail yet, but the new bike ought to be better equipped than the 200 line-up.

Norton teams up with Breitling to create the limited production Norton Breitling Sport.

Only 77 will be built.

Both companies have long heritage in their respective fields.

The Ducati Diavel 1260 S Materico is a design concept in conjunction with the Milan Design Week.

It was born from the meeting of designers Tom Dixon and from Ducati, Lamborghini, Pirelli and VW.

It is a one-off special and is displayed in designer Tom Dixon’s restaurant.

Patent filings show that Yamaha is working on producing a turbocharged twin.

Yamaha seeks to lower exhaust emissions by utilizing a turbo.

A turbo increases intake efficiency by forcing in more air.

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