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New Colours for 2019 Yamaha Ego Avantiz

There are four new colours for the 2019 Yamaha Ego Avantiz.
The model has been sold since 2016.
It continues to be popular among Malaysia motorcyclists.

Mention the name “Yamaha” in the small motorcycle segment and the Ysuku (Y15ZR) is the first model that comes to mind. Truth is, other models sell just as well. That’s why Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) has just rolled out new colours for the 2019 Yamaha Ego Altiz.

Launched in 2016, the Ego Avantiz is the most popular twist-and-go scooter in its segment despite the onslaught of competitors.

The Yamaha is powered by a 125cc, air-cooled, SOHC engine which utilises Yamaha’s Blue Core set of solutions for optimum operational. The criteria include efficiency in cooling, low friction and lubrication. Consequently, the engine produces more power and torque while minimising fuel consumption and emissions.

Yamaha scooters always feature lots of storage space and the Ego Avantiz has a 14-litre underseat storage capacity.

Additionally, this model pioneered the use of LED headlamps and taillamp in its segment.

More importantly, the bike has a low seat height, making it accessible to anyone. But most important of all is its very affordable price.

So, it’s easy to see why the bike is still popular among Malaysian motorcyclists. As such, HLYM introduced four new colours for the 2019 Yamaha Ego Avantiz.

They are Blue, Cyan, Grey and Red. Pricing remains unchanged at RM 5,536 (basic sales price and not on-the-road). They will be available from this month onwards.

BMW Motorrad Malaysia Introduces Engine Oil Inclusive, Service Inclusive and Warranty Extension Programmes

BMW Motorrad Malaysia rolled out exclusive aftersales programmes.
They are called Engine Oil Inclusive, Service Inclusive and Warranty Extension.
They offer BMW owners a complete peace of mind.

BMW Motorrad Malaysia introduced three new aftersales care programmes called Engine Oil Inclusive, Service Inclusive and Warranty Extension. The programmes cover new and existing BMW motorcycle customers in Malaysia.

BMW Motorrad Engine Oil Inclusive

This first ever Engine Oil Inclusive programme has two options i.e. three years (or 30,000KM) or five years (or 50,000KM). The programme offers regular engine oil services which also includes BMW ADVANTEC genuine oil and filter replacement for all new and registered BMW motorcycles dated under 10 years from first registration. The maintenance history of the motorcycles should be in accordance to the recommended service intervals and performed at authorised BMW Motorrad dealerships in the country for the programme to be valid.

BMW Motorrad Service Inclusive

The BMW Motorrad Service Inclusive programme offers an additional PLUS over and above the BMW Motorrad Engine Oil Inclusive programme. With Service Inclusive, customers are covered in terms of Valve Clearance Check, Fork Oil Check, Transmission Oil Change, Spark Plug replacement, Brake Fluid Change, Air Filter Change, CVT Belt Replacement, Fuel Filter Change and Rear Axle Oil Change.

Programme options are also over a period of three years (or 30,000KM) or five years (or 50,000KM), and is also available for BMW motorcycles under 10 years from its date of first registration. Prior maintenance history of the motorcycle should also be in accordance to the recommended service intervals and performed at authorised BMW Motorrad dealerships.

BMW Motorrad Warranty Extension

The BMW Motorrad Warranty Extension programme offers an added extension of the manufacturer’s warranty after the expiration of the statutory warranty period, including corrective work repairs with BMW genuine parts.

The add-on programme can be purchased as an additional one-year or two-year package above and beyond the manufacturer’s warranty, which was raised to a standard of three years for BMW motorcycles registered from January 1^st, 2019.

The programme is available on offer for new and registered motorcycles dated 90 days from its first registration, but excludes the BMW Motorrad offering of the Roadside Assistance programme introduced earlier this year.

Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia said, “A complete peace of mind ownership experience is the key to premium expression of a vehicle from the BMW Group. It is also how we differentiate ourselves to create value for our customers in the premium automotive industry.”

Hoelzl added that the ownership experience beyond the purchase of the vehicle is as important as the moment of truth in the purchasing decision process. He said, “This is the very reason we have the best ownership experience in the industry, from the best service and warranty programme to the best customer experience programme which can be seen in our monthly Net Promoter Scores (NPS).”

Owen Riley, Head of BMW Motorrad Malaysia said, “The new programmes are firsts in the Premium Motorcycle industry here in Malaysia. They are backed by the same standards we have for BMW Motorrad worldwide and are on offer at all our authorised BMW Motorrad dealerships. The aim here is to look after our customers in all the areas of maintenance so that they can simply Make Life a Ride!”

Recommended Retail Pricing for the First-Ever Service and Warranty Extension programmes are as per the attached price list. All programmes are also eligible to be financed completely from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia.

For more information on the First-Ever Service and Warranty Programmes from BMW Motorrad Malaysia please visit https://www.bmwmotorrad.com.my/en/service/services/warranty.html.

Here it is! The 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS!

The 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS breaks cover.
Its engine receives a power boost.
It also receives updated looks and lost some weight.

The 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS breaks cover after Triumph’s teases over the last couple of months.

The new bike retains the Street Triple’s classic silhouette, but it’s apparent that Triumph pared it down to look even more purposeful than ever. The headlamps were updated to look fiercer. There are new radiator flanks, exposing more of the frame. Triumph’s scalpel pared away excess weight, ending up with a bike which weighs only 166 kg dry. The manufacturer claims that it’s the lightest bike in its category.

Over to the engine. While the 2020 bike was revealed in preparation for Euro 5 emission, the engine gained power, courtesy of the lessons learned in Moto2 racing. (Triumph is the exclusive engine supplier to the championship.)

The three-cylinder architecture remains the same and includes two catalytic convertors. Despite that, it receives a 9-percent power boost. It now produces 121 bhp and 77.3 Nm of torque, compared to the previous 116 bhp and 76 Nm of torque. That doesn’t appear to be a lot on paper, of course, but you can look forward to a punchier midrange combined with a more responsive throttle (the previous bike’s throttle was already super responsive and smooth!). The gains and smoother powerband are the courtesy of a new exhaust cam, besides the high precision machining of the crankshaft, clutch and balancer.

The previous RS’s chassis and suspension are already in the ballpark, hence carried over to the new bike. The front forks remain the 41mm upside-down Showa BFF, while the rear mono shock is the Ohlins STX40.

Braking duties are handled by a pair of Brembo M50 monobloc 4-piston callipers gripping a pair of 310mm discs up front and a Brembo single-piston calliper out back.

And as we speculated, there is a new TFT screen armed with Bluetooth connectivity. Through the MyTriumph app, the rider can receive navigation prompts, manage music and calls and control his GoPro action camera. The five riding modes i.e. Track, Sport, Road, Rain and rider customisable are also enhanced.

The previous Triumph Street Triple RS remains the most fun bike we’ve tested to this point, so we can’t wait to test this new one!

PHOTO GALLERY

Marc Marquez: 8 Total, 6 in Class and 4 Consecutive MotoGP Titles in 2019

Marc Marquez won the MotoGP title for 2019.
He had won 8 races, finished 2nd four times and retired only once, so far.
It was his 8th world championship in total, 6th in the MotoGP class and the 4th consecutive.

You’d probably heard by now that Marc Marquez defends his title and is the 2019 MotoGP champion. But to put it in perspective, it was his 8th total world championship title, 6 in total in MotoGP and 4th consecutive in MotoGP. He is also the youngest champion to attain those records.

Marquez wrapped up his amazing season in Round 15 at the Buriram International Circuit in Thailand yesterday. He had trailed Fabio Quartararo from the start before making his move on the last lap. Quatararo retook his lead very briefly in the last corner but was overtaken by Marquez.

It was a fitting finish for the champion on his trusty Honda RC213V. Apart for just one retirement in Austin, Texas, the pairing won eight races and finished second in the other four. The are four rounds remaining to the season.

The victory is also a special occasion for Honda as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of Honda Racing.

Marquez had won the title during his first year (2013) in the premier class, making him one of only a handful to have carried such a feat. That win also cemented his place in history as the youngest MotoGP champion.

He went on the rampage in the following year by winning the first 10 rounds consecutively, and ending the year with 13 wins and MotoGP title No. 2.

Marquez would miss out the 2015 championship, but bounced back in 2016 and never looked back since, scoring MotoGP titles No. 3, 4, 5, and 6 yesterday.

Along the way, Marquez and Repsol Honda posted 61 pole positions and won 53 times.

“It is a great feeling to be World Champion with Honda again. 2019 has been one of my most consistent seasons. We fought hard when we had to and all of the team and Honda have done such an incredible job to bring us to this level. Celebrating Honda Racing’s 60th anniversary with the MotoGP title it a great honor and I am pleased I could do this for Honda. I want to thank everyone who has been involved in this season and the fans who always support us,” said Marc Marquez.

Yoshishige Nomura, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) President commended Marquez on his magnificent achievement. “Marc did a magnificent job once again to win his sixth MotoGP title on Honda’s 60th anniversary of World Grand Prix racing. I wholeheartedly salute his dauntless riding that mesmerizes his fans, supported by his persistent training and mature attitude towards racing. I’m grateful for all the support in winning the championship he had from the team staff, the many sponsors who support our racing activities, and MotoGP fans worldwide.”

Source: Boon Siew Honda Press Release

CFMoto 250SR Breaks Cover

Here’s the CFMoto 250SR production-ready prototype.
It’s a race bike based on the 250NK.
Sources say they are working closely with KTM for this.

No, we’re kidding. That’s not the CFMoto 250SR but an Italian bike. You’d believe that for sure. But no, it’s really the CFMoto 250SR from China.

This 250SR is the race bike (hence no lights) based on the CFMoto 250NK. And again, this photo was leaked courtesy of the company’s vehicle type approval submission.

As we’ve written before, CFMoto is on a roll as they’re working hand-in-hand with KTM. In fact, this Chinese company will produce the 799cc engine for all KTM 790 models. They’ve also signed a deal to build the large capacity LC8 engines. They are also on the cusp on releasing a new 700cc model.

Therefore, KISKA’s input on design seems to be part of the parcel. KISKA designs the entire range of KTM bikes.

Anyway, back to the 250SR, the 250NK-based engine produces in 26hp in stock form. It’s a 249, single-cylinder lump.

As for the chassis, the bike utilises a tubular steel frame, upside-down forks, LED lighting and J. Juan brakes. Yes, J. Juan, as in the brakes used on the KTM 790 series.

According to Bennetts UK, the bike weighs only 165kg ready to race… er… ride.

Source: Bennetts UK

Motorcyclist Crashes When Reversed Jacket Caught by Motorcycle Wheel

Another motorcyclist suffered a horrendous fate due to loose clothing.
A nurse wore her jacket backwards and it was tangled in the rear wheel.
She was saved by passersby who untangled her neck and administered CPR.

Despite countless accidents, there are still motorcyclists who choose to wear clothing too lose, or especially in this case, ride with the reversed jacket (turned backward).

We know, riding in this weather can get hot and wearing the jacket backwards with the zipper open allows for some cool air flow.

But stop and think about your actions as what happened here.

Caught in by the dashcam in a following car, the rider suddenly skidded out and hit the road.

But it was more serious than that. The nurse’s backward jacket was pulled into the bike’s rear wheel, which then wrapped around her throat and yanked her head downwards to the ground.

Passersby who stopped to help found her unconscious as the jacket was choking her. They worked furiously to untangle the jacket and performed CPR while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

She is currently recovering.

In January this year, child had his wedged between the rear wheel and shock absorber when his loose jacket was picked up by the wheel. That was just six months after the country was shocked in June 2018 when a 5-year-old lost her arm. Another occurrence in July saw a 7-year-old who lost her leg . Go back a little further and you’ll find a 35-year-old man and his 65-year-old father crashed the motorcycle they were riding on. The former passed away.

These were all cases of loss of limb and life due to loose clothing.

Please stop wearing your jacket backwards and take extra precautions when you or your pillion is wearing loose clothing.