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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Husqvarna Vitpilen 701, Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 in Malaysia Now

Husqvarna is venturing into the road motorcycle segment as well.
The Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Husqvarna Vitpilen 701, Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 have arrived in Malaysia.
Each model line-up caters to a different sub-category, although they share the same engine platform.

Husqvarna is very much well-known for their dirt bikes, but the manufacturer has recently forayed in road motorcycles. The recently-launched Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Husqvarna Vitpilen 701, Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 have made their way to Malaysia.

The Swedish brand is now under the KTM umbrella. They produce their own motorcycle line-up, although their engines share the same architecture as KTM’s.

We found the bikes listed in Chia Motor PJ’s Facebook page. So please refer to the attached links for more information.

Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 (Selling price from RM 44,500)

Husqvarna calls the Vitpilen 401 as a fresh and simple approach to motorcycling. It is subtle and style focused, stripped of everthing superfluous.

Those are the company’s lines, produced by a copywriter. We see the bike as a modern interpretation of the evergreen café racer layout.

Highlights

373cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine.
The engine produces 44 bhp (32 kW) and 37 Nm of torque.
Bosch fuel injection engine management system (EMS).
Ride-by-wire throttle.
6-speed transmission.
PASC assist and slipper clutch.
Steel trellis frame.
WP upside-down forks.
WP monoshock rear suspension.
BYBRE front and rear disc brakes.
Bosch 9M+ two-channel ABS.
Spoked wheels.
148 kg dry.

Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 (Selling price from RM68,500)

As the name suggests, the Vitpilen 701 is the more powerful version of the Vitpilen 401. However, there are many styling and component differences between the two models.

Highlights

692.7cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine.
The engine produces 75 bhp (55 kW) and 72 Nm of torque.
Keihin EMS.
Ride-by-wire throttle.
Traction control.
Up and down quickshifter.
6-speed transmission.
APTC assist and slipper clutch, hydraulically actuated.
Steel trellis frame.
Fully adjustable WP upside-down forks.
Fully adjustable WP monoshock rear suspension.
Brembo front and rear disc brakes.
Bosch 9M+ two-channel ABS.
Cast wheels.
157 kg dry.

Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (Selling price from RM 44,500)

The Svartpilen 401 is the “scrambler” of the line-up, with a higher handlebar and knobby tyres. Its lines follow those of the Vitpilen 401 but with differences in the details. The seats are longer and lower, too.

Highlights

373cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine.
The engine produces 44 bhp (32 kW) and 37 Nm of torque.
Bosch fuel injection engine management system (EMS).
Ride-by-wire throttle.
6-speed transmission.
PASC assist and slipper clutch.
Steel trellis frame.
WP upside-down forks.
WP monoshock rear suspension.
BYBRE front and rear disc brakes.
Bosch 9M+ two-channel ABS.
Spoked wheels.
150 kg dry.

Scientists Concur That Riding Motorcycles Reduces Stress

We have long known that riding motorcycles reduces stress.
However, there was no real result to show non-believers.
Now a research concur that riding is really beneficial for health.

There is a meme which says “Therapy: You never see a motorcycle parked outside a psychiatrist’s office.” Every serious motorcyclist knows there’s nothing more pleasurable than riding a motorcycle. However, there was no empirical result to show non-believers.

Now, a group of researchers from UCLA’s Semel Institue for Neuroscience and Human Behavior has just confirmed it as a fact. The research was funded by Harley-Davidson and to be presented later this year.

50 experienced riders took part in the study. They wore a mobile electroencephalogram (EEG) which looks like a shower cap covered with electrodes to detect the brain’s electrical activity. Their brain activity and hormone levels were recorded before they got on a bike. They were then set loose on a motorcycle and a car afterwards.

The results were:

Riding a motorcycle reduces cortisol stress biomarkers by 28%.
Riding a motorcycle for 20 minutes increased heart rates by 11% and adrenaline by 27%. The readings were similar to a light exercise.
Sensory focus was enhanced while riding a motorcycle compared to driving a car.
Brain activity suggested increased alertness while riding compared to driving.

UCLA Professor and senior team member, Dr. Mark Cohen said that no lab experiment could duplicate the feelings a motorcyclist has on the open road.

“The differences in participants’ neurological and physiological responses between riding and other measured activities were quite pronounced,” continued Dr. Don Vaughn. “This could be significant for mitigating everyday stresses.”

So, there you have it. Whoever created that meme was right.

Tour Melaka 2018 Ride

The Tour Melaka 2018 Ride was held to promote Melaka as a fun destination for bikes as part of the Visit Melaka 2019 campaign.
As such, the organizers invited riders from Thailand and Singapore.
The ride took the participants to the most famous places and activities around Melaka over two days.

The Tour Melaka 2018 Ride was held in December last year as part of the state of Melaka’s promotion.

The ride was organized by Fast Bikes Club (FBC) with the Chairperson of the state of Tourism, Heritage and Culture Board of Melaka’s.

It was organized to promote the Visit Melaka 2019 promotion. As such, the Melaka Tourism, Heritage and Culture Board hopes that the state will become a destination for bikes from around the region.

As such, bikers from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand joined the ride. The event was sponsored by KTM Malaysia and Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ), among others.

Day 1

A number of participants began the ride from HDPJ. The sky opened up as the convoy got going but everyone reached the Ayer Keroh R&R safely. Another group was waiting at that location to join up.

The group then rode to the Mudzaffar Hotel near the Melaka Planetarium and just off the busy Ayer Keroh main road.

Participants regrouped later that evening for dinner. They were escorted by the Traffic Police to the Halia Inc. restaurant just opposite The Stadthuys at Bandar Hilir (city centre), and not far from Jonker Walk.

The chief organizer, Cik Nini, welcomed the riders and briefed everyone on the mission of the ride. They were given the opportunity to experience what Melaka has to offer to visitors, namely the heritage, culture and fun activities.

Afterwards, dancers came on stage to present traditional Malay dances.

After the dinner, participants were taken to the Melaka River Cruise jetty to board the ferries. A guide skillfully presented the history and culture of Melaka as they cruised on the river, enjoying the cool air and awed by the sights.

Day 2

Another day of fun awaited the riders the next day. It kicked off with the Mudzaffar Hotel launching their own brand of ikan asam pedas(sour and spicy sauce fish). Next, the CEO of the Taming Sari promoted the tower, when he also chastised the media for not promoting his facility.

The ride was flagged off from the hotel afterwards and headed to Masjid Lama Rumbia. There, the riders worked hand-in-hand (gotong-royong) to clean the mosque’s grounds.

From there it was off to lunch (asam pedas again) before heading to the Taming Sari for a ride. The viewing lifted off ground level to about 100 metres to offer the occupants a bird’s eyeview Melaka city.

The riders were then escorted to Klebang for a taste of the original coconut shake. The location was busy as heck, as usual but they received their drinks in the end to cool off.

After that, the convoy was escorted to Kampung Sungai Petai for another community service and games with the vilagers.

The ride committee and villagers held traditional games such as tarik upih, tiup tepung, bowling using coconuts, “football” with a coconut replacing the ball while the participants wore sarung, and musical chairs.

Lastly, prizes were handed out to the villagers and a lucky draw was held which included the villagers and ride participants.

PICTURE GALLERY

HTC Motorcycle Club Annual Dinner 2019

We caught with a group of Harley riders during the HTC Motorcycle Club Annual Dinner 2019.
The club ride mostly Touring and Softail models as they are active in touring.
The club is also active in giving to charities when they ride.

Harley-Davidson owners and owner clubs are as varied and colourful as the motorcycle models themselves. We met one such group at the HTC Motorcycle Club Annual Dinner 2019 through Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya.

HTC MC’s members are named with a “G,” such as Dei G, Loyar G, Ban G and so on. All of them ride Harleys; most of them Touring and Softail frames. Committee member Loyar G tells me that’s because they like long-distance touring.

Dei G also told me that the HTC Motorcycle Club discusses plans through a Committee, rather than posts such as President, Vice-President and so forth. Plans are discussed within the committee.

We caught up with two committee members Dei G and Loyar G for a short interview.

Bikes Republic (BR): How long has HTC Motorcycle Club been around?
Loyar G: We’ve been around for more than 5 years.
Dei G: We formed on 20^thJuly 2013, so it’ll be our sixth year this July.

BR: We saw many bikes parked downstairs. How many members do you have?
Dei G: We have almost 150 official members. However, attending the annual dinner tonight, including their spouses total almost 140.

BR: What does HTC MC do during most rides?
Loyar G: We ride the whole of Peninsular Malaysia and occasionally to Thailand and visit charity homes when we ride. In particular like the last Malaysia Day, we took the opportunity to ride to Kuantan, Johore, Seremban and back to KL. We did charity programs along the way.
Dei G: To add to Loyar G about the Malaysia Day charity ride, we will do so annually, since it’s a public holiday.
Loyar G: We went to four charity centres last year: National Kidney Foundation, old folks’ home in Kuantan, orphanage in Batu Pahat, and another orphanage in Seremban.

BR: What are your plans for 2019?
Loyar G: We’re planning to do more charities for 2019. That’s why we’re doing an auction tonight.
Dei G: We hold our annual dinner before the Chinese New Year. There are two purposes to the dinner. One is for the members to gather and two is to auction sponsored items by members and official sponsors. It’s to gather the charity funds for the year. We only gather charity funds once and utilize it for the entire year. 100% of what is collected tonight goes to charity. Our club has two separate accounts, one for charity and another for the club’s running.

BR: Since you started five years ago, what are your thoughts on the new custodian Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya?
Loyar G: It’s always good to have a dealer in every country that promotes Harley’s bikes. The popularity has grown over the years and more are buying Harleys.

BR: What’s your advice on road safety, since you are experienced riders?
Dei G: Our advice would be to adhere to the rules. As riders we have to give and take among all road users. We give way to cars and cars reciprocate. We keep to one lane when we convoy.
Loyar G: We keep to one lane although we ride big bikes. Follow the rule of law. As long as we’re on public roads we should give way to others. So, cars let us move around.

MotoGP 2019: Ducati Team Launches Ducati Desmosedici GP19

The factory Ducati Team launched the Ducati Desmosedici GP19.
Factory riders Andrea Dovizioso, Danilo Petrucci and Pramac rider Jack Miller will ride the GP19 in MotoGP 2019.
It now sports a full-red livery.

The factory Ducati Team launched the Ducati Desmosedici GP19 for the MotoGP 2019 season.

The launch was aired “live” from the Philip Morris Cube in Neuchâtel, Switzerland early this morning. Attendees at the launch were team riders Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci. Factory and team luminaries including Claudio Domenicali, Paolo Ciabatti, Davide Tardozzi, Luigi Dall’Igna, among others.

The Desmosedici GP19 now sports a fully-red livery without white and grey stripes. The Mission Winnow sponsorship is actually part of Philip Morris International (PMI).

Apart from the livery, the GP19 looks similar to its Desmosedici GP18 predecessor. However, the giant air intake at the front of the fairing has more rounded edges, especially at the bottom. Our guess it to maintain a steady flow of intake air as rounder shapes promote better surface tension. Hence the airflow “sticks” together rather than turn “choppy.”

Besides that, there are “whisker” aerobodies on both sides of the upper fairing.

To those who asked if the “lunchbox” is still there, yes, it is still there underneath the tailsection.

Although the GP19 many look outwardly similar to the older bike, we suspect much underneath have evolved. Remember, MotoGP will use a unified (standard) IMU this year.

There are claims on the internet that the GP19 may produce as much as 300 bhp. It could very well be true as the GP17 and GP18 were already eputed to produce around 280 bhp.

Dovizioso finished as the bridesmaid for the last two seasons. He’s confident that the new bike will help him seal Ducati’s second MotoGP championship since Casey Stoner did so in 2007.

Shark Helmets as French Grand Prix Title Sponsor for 3 Years

Shark Helmets will be the title sponsor of the French Grand Prix for 3 years from 2019.
The manufacturer hails from France hence the French GP is their homecoming.
The 2019 French GP will be held at Le Mans from 17^thto 19^thMay.

MotoGP promoter Dorna Sports announced that Shark Helmets will the title sponsor of the French Grand Prix for the next three years beginning 2019. The event will therefore we called the “Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France.”

The manufacturer was founded in Marseille, France 30 years ago. Hence, sponsoring the French GP is somewhat a homecoming.

Patrick Francois, Shark Helmets’ CEO said, “Racing is our DNA: with nearly 70 world championship titles, we has been relying on motorcycle racing to boost brand development ever since its creation.”

“We are thrilled to have SHARK Helmets on board as the title sponsor for the French Grand Prix,” says Pau Serracanta, Managing Director of Dorna Sports, “Their values match those of MotoGP perfectly. Le Mans is always one of the busiest and most energetic venues of the season and it’s great news for both us and the event to see such a company take top billing for the next three seasons of their home Grand Prix.”

Shark sponsors past top riders such as Carl Fogarty, and current MotoGP riders Johann Zarco and Jorge Lorenzo.

The 2019 Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France will kick off at the Le Mans circuit from 17^thto 19^thMay.