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  • KTM is updating and introducing new models to most of their line-up.

  • Next on the list being updated is the 1050/1090 Adventure.

  • The new bike may get a boost to 1150cc besides other technological updates.

When KTM released the 1050 Adventure, it was intended to introduce newcomers to KTM’s world of adventure motorcycles. The biggest complained however was “not powerful” enough as it made “only” 95 bhp. KTM responded by offering the 1090 Adventure which produced 123 bhp.

KTM 1050 Adventure Travel Pack – Ready to Travel

However, the 1090 Adventure is essentially a tuned-up 1050 Adventure as they both share the same capacity. Besides that, the 1050/1090 design is getting a little long in the tooth. Factor in the upcoming 790 Adventure and you have a bike (the 1050/1090) that seems redundant, if not obsolete.

Lastly, KTM does not have a model which bridges the gap between the 1050/1090 Adventure and 1290 Super Adventure models.

KTM 1290 Super Adventure S Super Deal

With all this in mind, it is of no surprise that the Austrian behemoth seem to be testing a 1150cc-engined 1090 Adventure, reported MCN.

Sources close to MCN also reported that the upcoming bike should very well receive new electronic features to bring it up-to-date such as TFT display, lean-sensitive traction control and Cornering ABS, and perhaps a quick shifter.

KTM 1090 spy shot – Courtesy of MCN

The increase in capacity will equal an increase in power, naturally. It is speculated that it will be in the 130 bhp range or thereabouts.

Also, judging from the spy photograph, the new 1090 Adventure may also receive a fresh look similar to the 1290 Super Adventure for family resemblance.

The new bike should appear in 2019 for the 2020 model year, again, in time for the new Euro 5 emissions standard.

  • Kawasaki has updated the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R to produce more horsepower.

  • Updates are centred on the valvetrain and reducing moving mass.

  • The updates show that Kawasaki intends to retain the World Superbike crown.

Horsepower. You can never have enough. Kawasaki has announced that the 2019 Ninja ZX-10R will receive a list of changes that will take its power output even higher.

Kawasaki may have won four World Superbike championships in 2013 with Tom Sykes, and 2015, 2016, 2017 with Jonathan Rea, while currently leading the series with the latter rider, they know that they will be under stiff competition from Ducati with the new Panigale V4 and possibly a new Honda CBR1000RR next year.

The new Ninja ZX-10R’s cylinder head has been redesigned to be more compact to aid quicker combustion. The valvetrain will now have the cams acting directly on finger followers, rather than on tappets, resulting in a 20 percent reduction in mass. It also makes it easier to install more aggressive cam profiles. Consequently, the engine can sustain high RPMs more reliably.

Finally, to mark the updated engine, the cylinder head cover will be painted in red.

There are three variants of the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R: Base, SE and RR.

Ninja ZX-10R

The base 2019 Ninja ZX-10R will have its power increased to 203 PS (200 bhp), without ram air. Expect to see around 210 bhp with ram air. It will receive the updated valvetrain and cylinder head cover. It will also feature the bi-directional Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS) that was previously available on the SE and RR only.

 Ninja ZX-10R SE

The 2019 Ninja ZX-10R SE is considered the flagship model as the RR is a race homologation model. Apart from the valvetrain updates, it will feature Kawasaki’s advanced electronic suspension (KECS) and forged Marchesini rims. Areas prone to scratches are covered with Kawasaki’s proprietary “self-healing” paint, as with the 2019 Ninja H2. Power is the same as the based Ninja ZX-10R.

Ninja ZX-10RR

The 2019 Ninja ZX-10RR will receive Pankl titanium connecting rods that save 400g over the standard bike’s, reducing the crankshaft’s inertia by 5% and yield a 600 RPM increase. Kawasaki quoted 201 bhp peak power without ram air. It will be available only in Lime Green and production is limited to 500 units.

A “Performance” variant for all three types are also available.

  • Aprilia owners are starting to reap the benefits of the brand being under a new caretaker.

  • The owners under the Urban Riders club organized a weekend ride to Melaka for some fun at the beach.

  • The group got together and pushed off from Aprilia Malaysia at The Gasket Alley.

As with other brands under the care of Didi Resources, Aprilia riders are now reaping the benefits with more rides and programs, as promised by the new distributor. As such, the bike club Urban Riders celebrated the organization’s 5th anniversary by riding to Melaka, mostly on Aprilias.

The activity still managed to attract about 30 participants despite being organized in the middle of a long, 3-day weekend (Saturday).

The riders grouped at the new Aprilia Malaysia at The Gasket Alley, for a light breakfast and some catching up.

Two models were heavily represented, the Shiver 750 and Tuono 1000 V4.

Idon Pang, the Aftersales Manager for the Piaggio brands at The Gasket Alley welcomed the riders and thanked them for taking part in the convoy. He also iterated that new Aprilia bike sales will hopefully begin in October 2018.

He also reminded the riders of the inaugural Aprilia Track Day on 9th September 2018.

Didi Resources Organizes Inaugural Aprilia and Modclass Track Day

With that, proceedings were handed to the club’s president, Tok Uban to present the ride briefing. There was no police escort so the participants were told to buddy up and watch out for one another.

The group then departed from The Gasket Alley to head to the Shell petrol station after the Sungai Besi Toll Plaza to hook up with another group, before pushing to Chalet D’ Sayang at Pengkalan Balak, Melaka. They will put up for a night there before heading back to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (Sunday).

PICTURE GALLERY

  • The 2019 Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric cruiser has been previewed to the public ahead of its official release due next year.

  • The brand’s first full-production electric motorcycle is one of many models that will be produced as part of their major evolution.

  • No specific details have been released regarding the production LiveWire yet.

There’s no doubt that 2019 will be a massive, MASSIVE year for American bike manufacturer, Harley-Davidson. This very iconic brand is set for a major evolution with the introduction of some very outstanding models like the Streetfighter, Pan America, and FXDR 114 to name a few. (more…)

  • 2019 Indian big twins will receive a host of high-tech features.

  • All bikes with Thunderstroke engines will have rear cylinder de-activation.

  • They will also feature engine power modes for the first time.

When Polaris revived Indian Motorcycles and started the now-defunct Victory, the had wanted cruisers that were modern without sacrificing heritage and character. Well, their 2019 big twin range will definitely go high tech.

The biggest news of all is the Roadmaster, Springfield and Chief’s Thunderstroke engine will receive a rear cylinder de-activation feature. The system turns off the rear cylinder when the heat picks up during idling, sparing the rider from being sauna’ed. Both cylinders will fire when as soon as the rider twists the throttle, for a smooth and quick take-off.

It may be the first time that such technology is employed on a motorcycle, although it could be found on luxury cars for a decade. Car manufacturers use this feature for better fuel economy especially on the big capacity V6s and V8s, where a bank of cylinders is shut off during idling or steady speed cruising.

However, Indian Motorcycles have stated that their cylinder de-activation feature is purely to cut down on heat rather than to lower fuel consumption.

The 2019 models will also receive switchable sport, touring and standard engine power modes. An updated sound system and speakers are also added to the Roadmaster.

  • Ducati Australia issued an urgent safety recall for a possible rear brake pad issue.

  • Models affected are Hypermotard 939, 959 Panigale, 1299 Panigale, 1299 Panigale Final Edition and the new Panigale V4.

  • Countries affected are Australia, the United States of America, New Zealand and Canada for the time being.

Ducati Australia has issued an urgent safety recall for several models. The recall is to check if the the rear brake pads are coming loose.

The campaign covers the models Hypermotard 939, 959 Panigale, 1299 Panigale, 1299 Panigale Final Edition and the new Panigale V4.

According to the official notice, the brake pad could separate from the backing plate: “If the brake pad separates from the backing plate, this can cause a failure of the rear brake.”

Letters are being sent to owners in Australia, with instructions to contact their closest Ducati dealer to set an appointment to inspect or replace the rear brake pads.

Ducati has been mired in safety recall campaigns recently.

First was for the Brembo front brake master cylinder, although it was not due to the motorcycle manufacturer’s fault. Then there was the recall for the Panigale V4 catching fire and defective fuel tank cap, while the Supersport S melted its fuel tank overfill hose because it was assembled too closed to the horizontal exhaust manifold.

2018 Ducati Panigale V4 gets TWO recalls

The recall seemed to affect Ducati owners in Australia, the United States of America, New Zealand and Canada for the moment.

Owners may check on the manufacturer’s website if their motorcycle is involved in any safety recall campaign by clicking on this link http://www.ducati.com/services/recall_campaigns/index.do and keying in your bike’s VIN (vehicle identification number, or chassis number as it’s known locally).

Anyway, in our opinion, safety recalls should not paint a manufacturer as being bad; instead it should be taken positively as the manufacturer caring for their customers’ well-being.

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