Indonesia plans to sell an only electric motorcycle to replace the conventional combustion engine by 2040.
According to the country’s energy minister Arifin Tasrif, Indonesia is looking at selling electric motorcycle by 2040 and electric cars by 2050.
The move is expected to boost electric mobility in South East Asia as the country currently sold an average of 6.5 million and around 1 million cars every year.
Based on data from 2019, Indonesia currently has more than 112 million motorcycles and 15 million cars on the road.
The new initiative is laid out as part of the national plan to curb air pollution as major cities such as Jakarta is among the country’s most polluted cities.
In April, Indonesia’s e-hailing giant, Gojek, aims to use only Electric Vehicle (including cars and motorcycles) by 2030.
Honda has unveiled a Special Edition of the ADV 150 adventure scooter in Japan.
According to Honda, The special edition scooter comes in a unique Ross White paint job and is limited to just 1,000 units worldwide.
The paint scheme combines white with sporty grey graphics that are visible at the front and side panels.
Despite the special colourway, overall features and specification remain the same as the standard ADV 150, including the 149cc single-cylinder engine that produces 14.5hp @ 8,500rpm and 13.8Nm @ 6,500rpm.
Currently, the ADV 150 is available in Malaysia for a price of RM11,999. However, we were told that you might have to wait up to 3-months to get your hands on the new scooter.
There was some serious rumour doing the round in 2020 concerning the Cagiva brand allegedly to be relaunch by MV Agusta, including the resurrection of the iconic Elefant adventure motorcycle.
At the time, Cagiva was rumoured to be relaunch as an electric mobility brand while the Elefant could be reintroduced under the MV Agusta badge.
However, according to the Varese-based company CEO, Timur Sardarov, that might not be the case as it appears that Elefant could become a brand on its own, focusing on adventure/off-road motorcycle.
“Cagiva is a brand that belongs to MV Agusta.
“Our marketing department is evaluating the possibilities of products with the Cagiva brand, and we are also considering whether to define Elefant as a ‘sub-brand of MV Agusta or as Cagiva Elefant.
“The decision hasn’t been made yet,” he explained.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi marked his debut season as ARUBA.IT Ducati rider with a sensational Superpole Race wins at WorldSBK.
Riding onboard the Panigale V4 R, the Italian rider secured Ducati first win of the season in front of 5,000 fans at Misano.
Rinaldi finished ahead of Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu in the Superpole Race while the 6th time WorldSBK champion, Jonathan Rea, claimed third place.
The 25-year old rider then completed a spectacular weekend by placing second in Race 2, this time behind Razgatlioglu.
Jonathan Rea continues his championship leads with 149 points, followed by Razgatlioglu with 129pts and Redding with 104pts meanwhile Rinaldi sit fifth with 82pts, just six points shy of Alex Lowes with 88pts.
“I am very happy with this weekend: we just missed the icing on the cake. But I must admit that in Race 2 Toprak and the Yamaha were better than us and that’s why I want to congratulate them.
“I gave my best trying to chase the victory, but in the last laps, I took a high risk and then I decided to bring home this very important second place. It’s a very important step forward,” said Rinaldi.
Fellow ARUBA.IT Ducati rider, Scott Redding, struggled to keep up the pace against his teammate but managed to place 4th in both races.
“It was a very difficult weekend for me. Today we were able to improve a little bit the feeling with the bike compared to yesterday, but it was not enough to be able to reach the podium.
“honestly, in the first laps of the Superpole Race, I thought I could fight with Jonny (Rea) in an incisive way, while in Race-2 I felt I had no grip with the front tire. The season, however, is still long and I hope to be much more competitive in Donington,” he said.
Redding will have a chance to redeem himself in the next round at Donington Park in July.
MV Agusta has since steadily re-organised its company structure thanks to its new CEO, Timur Sardarov.
Under his stewardship, the MV Agusta has shifted its focus towards improving reliability and ownership experience while putting in a significant investment in expanding the current line-up.
“One of my first objectives was to resolve the situation of financial stress that the company was experiencing and lay the industrial and commercial foundations for its growth. Today, these objectives have been achieved and we can look to the future with renewed confidence, comforted by the success our new models are achieving.
“In 2021 we expect to exceed 100 million euros in turnover for the first time in history, and to triple this figure within the next three years,” said Sardarov.
The Varese-based company is currently busy updating its current model to meet Euro 5 emission; however, Sardarov revealed they would soon turn its attention to enter a new segment, particularly the mid-range market.
“A 550 and 950 [will come]. Both projects take 24 to 28 months from now to complete. Perhaps the 550 could arrive first,” he added.
MV Agusta has just unveiled the updated 2021 Brutale 1000 RR ‘hyper naked’ motorcycle.
At a glance, it’s hard to pinpoint the changes on what remains to be one of the most bizarre yet extreme looking motorcycles in the market.
The updated Brutale 1000 RR looks virtually identical to the previous model, including the power figure, as it remains at 208hp and 116.5Nm.
Nonetheless, the 1000cc engine now Euro 5 compliant, which means despite the same monstrous power, it is now cleaner thanks to tweaked valve guides and exhaust system.
Like the recently launched F3 Rosso, the Brutale 1000 RR now equips with cornering ABS by Contentinal incorporated into the Continental IMU for better handling and ride experience.
Riders will also appreciate the 5.5″ TFT cluster with Bluetooth connectivity, navigation system and Mobistat tracker.
The latest patent from Honda suggests the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer is developing a computer-assisted clutch system similar to the throttle-by-wire system available today.
The Japanese marquee currently offers the conventional cable clutch, hydraulic and dual-clutch transmission (DCT) in its fleet of motorcycles; thus, developing another type of clutch system really put us on edge.
Like the throttle-by-wire systems that are now a must-have feature on every big bike, a clutch-by-wire will allow ECU assistance.
According to the latest reports, the clutch lever will be linked to an electric pump to modulate the pressure, while a hydraulic pressure control unit will ensure a typical clutch feel.
While some may question the need for another computer intervention, some may appreciate the new system to help manage the clutch during high and low speeds.
Then again, if you are not keen on the new development, we can at least appreciate the thought process from Honda.
The Kawasaki Z650 was one of the most popular mid-segment naked motorcycle available in the market long before the arrival of Aprilia RS660, Tuono 660 and the Triumph Trident 660.
Despite the aggressive looks, the Z650 comes with a very manageable power and performance with 67hp and 64Nm thanks to its parallel-twin 649cc engine.
Hence, it comes as no surprise that the Z650 (along with the Ninja 650) was loved by beginners and experienced riders.
To keep up with the rest of its competitors, Kawasaki decided to update the Z650 with two striking and aggressive colours for 2021 consisting of Metallic Spark Black and Pearl Robotic White.
While the Metallic Spark Black is akin to the bigger Z H2, the Pearl Robotic White features a younger aesthetics, which we think will win new riders’ hearts.
Nevertheless, the Z650 maintains the same features, including a 41mm telescopic fork with a preload-adjustable monoshock, a sleek TFT cluster, and dual-channel ABS.
Over the years, we have seen many DIY projects involving cardboards, and we love every single one of them, especially those who give attention to details.
However, out of many of those creative individuals, we are definitely a fan of a certain 19-year old Brazilian, Henry Goncalves, who produces life-size cardboard replicas of motorcycles.
You read that right, Goncalves make a real-life two-wheel model with cardboard at his home in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil.
One of his most impressive creation is building a life-size BMW R 1200 GS using a combination of cardboard, PVC pipe and screws.
However, his first attempt was a Honda Hornet, and it took him almost ten months to complete it before advancing his skills in building a more detailed machine.
Goncalves took just four months to complete the R 1200 GS despite the fact that the motorcycle is more challenging to build than the Hornet.
Interestingly, Goncalves has always been a car guy before shifting his focus to a two-wheeler.
“Since I was a kid, I’ve always liked cars. I was hugely influenced by the Fast and Furious movies and the Need For Speed video games.
“For a long time, the appeal of bikes never made much sense to me. But that changed when a friend of my father’s arrived with a Hornet. At that moment, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I said to myself: I have to have one of these,” he said.
Ducati further expands the Diavel 1260 family with the new Diavel 1260 S “Black and Steel” inspired by the Diavel “Materico” concept presented at the 2019 Milan Design Week.
The Diavel 1260 S “Black and Steel” livery is characterized by asymmetrical graphics with glossy grey and matt black paint job. Ducati also added a sporty yellow that can be found on the frame and tail.
According to Andrea Ferraresi, Centro Stile Ducati director, the 1260 S “Black and Steel” will continue to propel the Diavel 1260 range to greater heights.
“The Ducati Diavel 1260 family, synonymous with style, innovation and performance, has won prestigious international design awards such as the “Red Dot Award” and the “Good Design Award”.
“We are really pleased to present this new version in Milan, a city that has always represented a world benchmark in this sector.
“The Diavel 1260 S “Black and Steel” is a bike that does not go unnoticed. Its asymmetrical graphics, the contrast between matt black, grey and touches of yellow have been designed to enhance the power, design and sportiness of this bike.”
The Diavel 1260 S “Black and Steel” continue to be powered by the massive 1262cc Testastretta DVT engine capable of producing 162hp and 129Nm.
Other manufacturers have started to flood the motorcycle market with an all-new model for the last few years.
On the other hand, Suzuki took the most minimalistic approach by “updating” their range of motorcycles to meet Euro 5 emission standards while throwing in a couple of electronics aid.
At the end of the day, the current lineup, especially the GSX-R family, maintain almost the same looks and specifications.
However, new reports suggest the Japanese manufacturer plans introduce an all-new GSX-R1000 for 2022, replacing the current fifth-generation available in the market.
While there is no confirmation coming from the Hamamatsu headquarters, we can assume extensive upgrades are being done as part of a plan for Suzuki to return to the WorldSBK Championship.
Despite making notable success in MotoGP with Joan Mir winning the championship in 2020, Suzuki still lacks in the production-based competition.
We expect the upcoming GSX-R1000 to finally break the 200hp barrier to compete with the likes of Kawasaki ZX-10RR, Ducati Panigale V4R and the BMW M 1000 R.
Suzuki is also likely to include a customizable electronics aid, one of the most notable aspects where the GSX-R1000 is lacking compared to its competitors.
Thailand-based mobility company Etran has launched Myra, the country first electric motorcycle explicitly designed for food delivery.
According to the company statement, Myra was designed, developed, and manufactured in Thailand with the support of big players in the country consists of ND Rubber, Summit Auto Body, Pioneer Motor, and Nostra Logistic.
Interestingly, the electric motorcycle allows riders to travel longer and can support cold-chain refrigerators.
It also features a fleet management system for road data analysis.
Etran will also set up seven power station in Bangkok to allow riders to swap batteries easily.
Etran’s Executive Chairman, Archawat Chareonsilp, said that despite the world is struggling with Covid-19, it also provides a window to venture into something new.
“As disruptive as it is, Covid-19 created the so-called ‘techcerellation’ where technology adoption happens at an accelerated speed.
“Myra is built for times like these, and we see the clear launch window into the fast-growing online food delivery sector,” he said.
Etran will also announce a partnership with the country top food delivery app by the end of the year.
