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

All-New 2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade to Debut in October?

A German magazine reported that the all-new 2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade will debut in October 2019.
The date puts it at the Tokyo Motor Show, instead of EICMA.
The new bike may prove to be the world-beater in WorldSBK.

A German magazine reported that the all-new 2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade will debut in October 2019.

If what Speedweek magazinesaid was true, the bike will be introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show instead of at EICMA in November.

Lending credibility to the rumour is rider Alvaro Bautista purportedly signing a two-year deal to ride for the HRC factory team in WorldSBK from 2020. There was “news” that the bike he will ride is the all-new CBR1000RR.

The Honda CBR1000RR is the best-handling and easiest to ride superbike we’ve tested thus far but the current model is lacking in top-end horsepower, at least on paper, anyway. However, superbike buyers are always looking at the specs sheets and the CBR’s 189 hp “isn’t enough” when compared to its peers.

As such, the new ‘Blade may have the most powerful naturally-aspirated roadgoing inline-Four.

It may also feature the “active aerodynamics” shown in a patent filing. The system features ECU-controlled winglets in addition to “aerobodies” seen in MotoGP.

The news should bode well for the WorldSBK team, as well. The riders are at the deep end of the field, finding themselves outgunned and unable to mount any serious challenge to the top runners.

Honda and CBR1000RR Fireblade fans will likely rejoice at the news too.

Alvaro Bautista Back to MotoGP with KTM?

Alvaro Bautista is rumored to return to MotoGP to ride with KTM.
The rumors came to light despite another rumor linking him to Honda in WorldSBK in 2020.
Which way will he go?

Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista is rumored to return to MotoGP to ride with KTM.

Bautista was earlier rumoured to be moving to the Honda’s HRC factory team and remain in WorldSBK 2020. It was also heavily speculated that he will be riding a new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. Honda is expected to unveil the all-new bike at the Tokyo Motor Show this October, and the team will be based in Barcelona.

He had migrated to the WorldSBK for the 2019 season, riding the new Ducati Panigale V4 R for Ducati Corse. However, his form fell by the wayside despite having dominated the field earlier in the season by winning 12 races in a row.

His relationship with the Italian team soured since then. Alvaro then revealed that he would be leaving the team at the end of the season but did not mention where he was going to. His boss, the Ducati Corse Sporting Director, Paolo Ciabatti confirmed that the rider has signed a two-year deal with a “rival manufacturer.”

But now as KTM is searching for a rider to fill the vacancy left by Johann Zarco in the factory Red Bull KTM Racing Team, Bautista’s name came to the fore.

The question was brought up during the Tank Slappers podcast. Motorsport.com Global MotoGP Editor Oriol Puigdemont and Autosport’s Motorcycle Racing Correspondent Lewis Duncan discussed the compelling possibilities.

Please click on the link below to listen to the podcast.

Listen to “Shock MotoGP return for World Superbike sensation?: Episode #3” on Spreaker.

JPJ Warns Not Only Yamaha Y15ZR Besides Celebrities Supporting Modifications

The JPJ warned that they are not only targeting the Yamaha Y15ZR for illegal modifications.
They are also paying attention to all vehicles that are modified.
They also warned celebrities to not encourage illegal vehicle modifications.

The Director of the Kuala Lumpur Road Transport Department (better known as Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan or JPJ) warned that his department is not paying attention to only modified Yamaha Y15ZR but also all other vehicles that have undergone similar alterations.

His issued his statement two days after Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement deputy director warned the police may confiscate motorcycles that are illegally modified and pointed to the popular Y15ZR.

“We will issue a compound of RM150 for each infraction found on the vehicle as per Section 6 of the Road Transport Act 1987,” he said when met by Harian Metro.

“Motorcycles are modified according to the owners’ tastes. Some made the exhaust louder; there are those who remove the rearview mirrors; in addition to or using non-regulation number plates and installing skinny tyres that are too narrow.”

He added that while modified motorcycles represent all brands, the trend is most popular with the Yamaha Y15ZR. He is aware that the model looks the sportiest in its category and there are many modified for illegal racing.

“Each modification must be within the confines of the law. Owners can refer to JPJ is they are unsure.”

He also warned celebrities to stop displaying their interest in vehicle modification on social media as that will be indirectly misconstrued as encouragement. “It is the wrong thing to do,” he concluded.

New Helmet Tech Koroyd May Replace EPS Liners in Helmets

A new helmet liner called Koroyd make take over from the current EPS material.
It’s absorbs more shock and allows more airflow.
The lead scientist studied crash data for 40 years before developing it.

A new helmet liner technology called Koroyd make take over from the current EPS material. All current helmets use EPS (expanded polystyrene) as the impact absorbing liner.

Look inside your helmet and lift the top comfort padding. You can then see the EPS liner which looks uncannily like the stuff on polystyrene cooler boxes that are used to keep the BBQ meat cool. In the case of helmets, on the other hand, the EPS is shock absorbing material underneath the hard outside shell. EPS is favoured because each node contains lots of air and acts to soften the blow by deforming.

Arai EPS liner for different helmets. The different colours denote different densities for different zones

However, the material is can be easily damaged and susceptible to erosion by chemicals. This is why you need to replace your helmet every five years.

Scientists and helmet manufacturers have long sought to produce something better than EPS. But behold, there’s a new liner called Koroyd which made its debut in Klim K5 adventure helmet.

Instead of layers of poly, Koroyd is made up of polymer tubes. The tubes are then attached together, forming a honeycomb. As such, it’s able to absorb shocks but will bounce back from low-impact ones. It means that dropping the helmet may not deform the liner.

Koroyd deforms up to 84%, compared to EPS’s 60%. This translates to higer shock absorption thereby providing higher protection to the wearer’s head and brain.

Besides being more shock absorbent, the new material provides better cooling to the head as there are much more open spaces to allow for better airflow. Conversely, EPS granules are packed tightly together hence doesn’t flow air unless punched/drilled through like in all current helmets.

Koroyd’s lead scientific consultant Dr. Priya Prasad studied accident data for 40 years. “The current safety standard are over 20 years old. This new liner is a major step in the right direction that will improve rider safety significantly,” he said.

But as with most new tech, it isn’t cheap. In the UK, the Klim Krios Pro with Koroyd costs £525 compared to £375 for the standard model.

The price will drop given widespread use, if it finds industry-wide acceptance.

Source: MCN

Andrea Dovizioso Shows How Alpinestars Airbag Suit Works

Here’s Andrea Dovizioso testing the Alpinestars airbag suit off his bike.
The suit saved him and Fabio Quartararo in a horror crash in the British MotoGP.
The airbag works on a very sophisticated algorithm.

We wrote about how the Alpinestars airbag suit saved Andrea Dovizioso and Fabio Quartararo in a horrific crash at the start of the British MotoGP.

Alpinestars published the data recorded by both men’s suits, as well.

But in this video, Dovizioso stands in and shows how it looks like when the suit inflates. As you can see in real motion, the airbags inside the suit expand quickly in anticipation of an impact.

However, bear in mind that the airbag ECU has a sophisticated algorithm to inflate a single airbag or airbags to different capacities. The ECU also determines when is the best time to inflate.

For example, a lowside triggers the inflation of a single airbag, leaving the other as a spare. The rider may choose to carry on riding. The inflated bag will deflate in short order, as well.

At the Silverstone round however, the sensors would’ve picked up that Dovizioso was flying through the air and inflate the both bags a little later so that he’d have a softer landing. Inflating too soon would mean the airbags could be below optimum inflation.

We’re thankful that the FIM mandated that airbags are compulsory in all three classes.

Check out the video below.

Testing the leather airbag outside the track with @alpinestars @redbullmotors @VanessaCarlotta??#dovi04 #desmodovi #AD04 #missionwinnow #forzaducati #motogp #alpinestars #suomyhelmets #redbull #oldwildwest #biotekna #mondottica #DucatiEyewear pic.twitter.com/9mQuNEHt1b

— Andrea Dovizioso (@AndreaDovizioso) May 10, 2019

Honda Promises “Secret Model” at AIMExpo 2019

Honda promised to unveil a “secret model” at the AIMExpo 2019.
They are secretive about it so we could only speculate.
There are a number of segments that we could look at.

Honda promised to unveil a “secret model” at the AIMExpo 2019.

While the AIMExpo takes place in the United States, no one is sure whether the new bike will be meant for specifically for the US or worldwide market.

The intrigue is due to Honda missing in number of segments, which their rivals have been running away with for some time. Additionally, the models that do occupy those core segments are due for upgrades.

Here are to name a few:

Lightweight sport

There were rumours suggesting that Honda will upsize the CBR250RR to 300cc and selling it worldwide. The current 250 is being sold only in Indonesia, Japan and Thailand.

Middleweight adventure/dual-sport bike

Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin render – Photo credit MCN

This is a huge gap that Honda has yet to fill. They’ve the CRF250L and CRF250 Rally on the lightweight end and the CRF1000L Africa Twin on the heavyweight side, but nothing in between. The manufacturer has acknowledged this, lending to rumours that they will work on an 800cc Africa Twin. No, the CB500X is not a true-blood dual-purpose bike.

Middleweight sport-tourer

This segment is currently filled by the VFR800F. The bike still has a wonderful V-Four soundtrack but it’s kinda long in the tooth and doesn’t show up in buyers’ radars.

Heavyweight sport-tourer

The VFR1200F currently occupies this range. It’s the first Honda bike equipped with their proprietary Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). But like the VFR800F, it should be due for a replacement.

Superbike

Ah, the CBR1000RR Fireblade. The Fireblade used to be the most popular superbike on the planet. That was until BMW unleashed their S 1000 RR. While the current CBR1000RR is arguably the best handling 1000cc sportbike, it’s outgunned in terms of outright power (at least on the spec sheets). In the face of 200+ hp rivals, its 189 hp has pushed it into the background. Will the next-gen Fireblade be a V-Four? Or an inline-Four with more power and active aerodynamics?

X-Adv

The super scooter could make its debut in the US market. This would be great news for Americans but a kind of letdown for the rest of the world since the model is already available elsewhere.

The AIMExpo begins on 26^thSeptember and we’re eager to find out, too!