The CBR650R is the replacement for the current CBR650F fully-faired midrange sportbike. The new bike uses the same engine as the CB650R Neo Sport Café, which has gained 5% more power. Together with a weight reduction of 6kg from the frame, fuel tank and other parts, the new bike gains 8% in terms of power-to-weight ratio. That is something a rider can feel.
Its ergonomics has also been revised to provide a more aggressive ride. The clip-on handlebars are 30mm further in front, in addition to being lower. Similarly, Honda moved the footpegs back by 3mm and 6mm higher. This arrangement puts more of the rider’s weight over the front wheel for sportier handling.
Honda has also updated the chassis. The new bike features fully-adjustable Showa SFF upside-down forks and radially-mounted Nissin four-piston calipers.
Last but not least, the package is wrapped in a bodywork inspired by the company’s flagship CBR1000RR Fireblade sportbike.
Although the CBR650R doesn’t produce as much power as the discontinued CBR600RR, the former is still a motorcycle worthy in filling the gap. In fact, the CBR600F would look like the CBR650R had it continued on its development arc.
Oh yes, the price. The 2019 Honda CBR650R sells for £7729 (RM 40,730.66 as on 15thJanuary 2019) on the road.
The Shoei IT-HT smart helmet went on display at CES (Consumer Electronics Show).
It features a built-in HUD (head-up-display) and Bluetooth connectivity.
The HUD can display real-time riding data such as speed, engine RPM, navigation, etc.
So far, smart helmets are confined among independent makers. Start-up Brands such as Jarvish and Skully usually raise funds through crowd-funding. But now Shoei has just shown off their smart helmet at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Shoei’s IT-HT includes Bluetooth connectivity and a head-up-display (HUD). Real time riding data is displayed on the translucent HUD, allowing the rider to keep his eyes on the road at all times.
As with the features offered by other smart helmet makers, the rider can customize the data including speed, engine RPM, navigation, incoming call, and so forth.
There are also start-ups such as Hudway, Nuviz and Seemore who provide add-on HUD devices, but Shoei partnered with NS West to develop the technology. The Japanese company produces instrumentation and HUDs for Mazda.
The IT-HT is a demonstrator in the meantime and the Shoei headquarters did not announce when it will go into production. However, they will be the first among major helmet manufacturers to venture into smart helmets should they pursue that direction.
Could this be the impetus to all major helmet manufacturers, as well?
Honda UK has revealed the 2019 Honda CB650R price.
The new bike is almost entire new, besides its styling.
Honda UK is selling it at £6999 on-the-road.
Just as we are currently testing both the CB250R and CB1000R, Honda released the price of the new CB600F in the UK.
First making its appearance at the Paris Motor Show last year, CB650R is an almost total revamp of its CB600F predecessor. Styling wise, the new bike fits into Honda’s Neo Sports Café line-up which includes the two models we are testing.
We were impressed by the CB650F during our testing. We called it an all-rounder as it filled a number of roles comfortably. However, its styling hardly caught anyone’s eyes. Sure, it fitted in with modern motorcycle designs, but there was just something missing.
As such, Honda addressed that issue by redesigning the bike completely. It now has a modern retro styling, yet with modern twists, hence the “Neo Sports Café” designation.
Honda didn’t just perform a makeover, however. The new CB650R is almost entirely new.
Revisions to the frame, fuel tank and other parts lowered weight by 6kg. The frame itself is 1.9kg lighter with a stiffer headstock and more flexible side spars. The forks are now Showa SFF (Separate Function Forks) that are adjustable for preload and rebound damping. The front brakes consist of radially-mounted four-piston Nissin calipers. The rims are new, too.
The engine gains a 1000 RPM rev limit, besides revisions to the fueling and mechanical bits. The result is a 5% power boost from the inline-Four.
As for ergonomics, the riding position is now more aggressive. The handlebar has moved forward by 13mm and down by 8mm. Additionally, the footpegs have gone backwards by 3mm and up by 6mm.
The TFT screen is shared with the Honda CB500 range.
Honda UK quoted the 2019 Honda CB650R at £6999 (RM36,950.52 as of 15thJanuary) on the road. We expect it to cost between RM 45,000 to 52,000 in Malaysia.
Boon Siew Honda gives the 2019 Honda Wave Alpha and 2019 Honda BeAT new colours.
The Wave Alpha is the current leader in the small capacity cub segment.
The 2019 BeAT is the third generation BeAT automatic scooter.
Boon Siew Siew Honda has launched new colours and striping for the 2019 Honda Wave Alpha and 2019 Honda BeAt.
2019 Honda Wave Alpha
The Wave Alpha is the current leader among the small capacity cub segment in Malaysia. This is due to Honda’s brief in producing it as the motorcycle for the masses.
For 2019, Honda updates the bike with new colours and graphics to appeal to both the matured as well as the younger audiences.
The model is offered in two variants. The first features cast wheels and a front disc brake. The other variant features spoked wheels and drum brakes on both ends.
The new colour schemes for the disc brake variant are Pearl Megallanic Black with yellow striping, Vivacity Red and Pearl Nightfall Blue.
As for the spoked wheels variant, the colour schemes are Vivacity Red, Pearl Megallanic Black and Pearl Nightfall Blue.
The disc brake model is priced from RM 4,516, while the spoked wheels model is from RM 4,275 (basic selling prices excluding road tax, insurance and registration). The new Wave Alpha is available from today onwards.
2019 Honda BeAT
This is the third generation BeAT after being first introduced in 2016. The BeAT is popular for its great looks and fuel economy, as well as storage space.
Its powered by a 108cc, PGM-FI fuel-injected engine. Power is fed to the rear wheel via a V-belt.
The new BeAt is now equipped with a sidestand sensor which incapacitates engine start and accidental acceleration. The engine also cuts out when the sidestand is lowered. Additionally, the model also features Combi Brake System which activates both brakes to increase braking power besides stabilizing the bike under hard braking. A Smart Lock System assists with being stationary on a slope – more like a manual Hill Start Assist system in the larger bikes.
There are four new colours for the 2019 BeAT: Vivacity Red, Space Magenta Metallic, Pearl Nightfall Blue and Pearl Megallanic Black.
Boon Siew Honda prices the BeAt from RM 5,365 (basic selling price excluding road tax, insurance and registration).
The new BeAT will be available from next week onwards.
The Kingz Motorcycle Group celebrated their 3rd Anniversary recently.
About 100 riders flagged off the MG’s clubhouse in Sentul.
The group rode through KL to Putrajaya and back to Jalan Tun Razak to complete the proceedings.
The Kingz Motorcycle Group celebrated their 3rd Anniversary recently.
The MG started their ride from their club house in Sentul in the afternoon. Nearly 100 riders took part. A great number of Kingz MG members are well-known throughout the motorcycling fraternity.
But what better way to celebrate a motorcycle group’s anniversary other than creating some heavy metal thunder. It must’ve been a proud day for the members as they rode as one, the wind blowing through their “colours” (the official group vests).
The group first rode from HDPJ through Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya. The riders stopped for some beautiful photographs while taking a short breather and jesting with each other. The majestic buildings of Malaysia’s administrative centre provided a wonderful background to the chrome, shiny paint jobs and rumble of a hundred Harley-Davidsons.
They adjourned from Putraja and rode to G-Tower, situated along Jalan Tun Razak for the remainder of the evening.
There, the riders were visibly elated and on a high from being in a brotherhood. They even poured water on each other after a group photoshoot.
A buffet dinner was served as they were serenaded by a live band who belted out classic “road trip” hits.
With support from Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya, the official distributor of Harley-Davidson in Malaysia, Kingz MG celebrated their 3rdAnniversary by cutting a cake decorated with the group’s name.
We congratulate and salute Kingz Motorcycle Group for bringing the thunder among the riders. May your club flourish and continue to ride for many years to come.
With the current influx of Chinese motorcycles into Malaysia, will Zontes make its way over?
Zontes produces everything in-house, apart from ABS and fuel-injection systems.
The manufacturer is into innovation and their motorcycles utilize high-end features.
With the influx of Chinese motorcycles to Malaysia, we wonder if another maker, Zontes, could be on the way, as well.
The Zontes website lists six models of motorcycles. Three are 310cc and the other three 250cc models. The two engines act as the platforms for the different models.
The first, called 310T, looks like a BMW GS at first glance. Indeed, Zontes positions it as a lightweight adventure-tourer. From what we could gather, it features an electrically adjustable windscreen, TFT screen, upside-down forks, and crash bars.
A second model is listed as the naked sport 310R. It looks like the cross between an MV Agusta and Kawasaki Z800. Its most outstanding features are the twin slash-cut exhausts pipe tips and sharp tail with embedded LED taillights. It too, features a TFT screen.
The third model is what looks like a sport-tourer called the 310X. Apart from the same componentry of the 310R, it has an electrically-adjustable windscreen, as well.
Check out the video below.
All 310 models utilize TFT screens, LED lighting, Bosch ABS and Delphi fuel injection system. Suspension systems on all three bikes are the same: upside-down forks and rear monoshock.
Zontes is currently being sold in China, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Pakistan, among other countries.
Zontes is the result of foreign joint venture with Guangdong Tayo Motorcycle Technology Co., Ltd. and founded in 2003. The company currently boasts 1,600 staff members, with 60% of them holding college degrees and above.
Guangdong Tayo’s philosophy is grounded in innovations. As such, they hold 256 styling patents, 121 patents for utility models and 36 patents for inventions. The company has also received the Technology Innovation Award three times.
Apart from sourcing brake and ABS, and fuel-injection components, the company produces almost all parts of their motorcycles in-house, including the engine. This is due to the manufacturer’s employment of robots in their manufacturing processes.
The robots are used for:
Aluminum alloy high pressure casting.
Magnetic mold-replacing injection molding.
Four-axis positioner frame welding.
Four-axis positioner silencer welding.
Traceless roll welding for gasoline tank.
Aluminum alloy surface coating.
Totally enclosed robot painting.
Seat cushion internal foaming unibody.
Stereoscopic warehouse with ERP system integration.
Apart from the autonomous robots, there are is a semi-automatic man-machine high precision manufacturing department.
They are in charge of:
Four-axis CNC machining.
Gear mechining and thermal treatment.
CNC stretch forming for the gasoline tanks.
Aluminum alloy low pressure casting.
Aluminum alloy frame welding.
Motorcycle and engine assembly.
Electric car components manufacturing and assembly.
The Department of Road Safety (JKJR) is studying on whether to limit kapchais to 70 km/h and riding on the left side of the road only.
The hope that these measures will reduce the number of deaths involving motorcycle accidents.
To us there are more productive ways that should be pursued.
The Department of Road Safety (JKJR) is studying to limit kapchaisto 70 km/h and riding on the left side of the road to reduce deaths from motorcycle accidents.
The Backstory
According to Bernama, the impetus to conduct the study is based on a number of factors. However, the overriding concern is about more than 60% of all deaths in traffic accidents involve motorcyclists and/or their pillions. The number translates to 6,742 fatalities in 2018 alone.
Datuk Rosli Isa, Head Directory of JKJR said the proposal calls for limiting kapchais150cc and under to a maximum speed of 70 km/h and riding only in the left lane. He added that his department will also look at the effectiveness of such measures in other countries where they have been implemented such as Hong Kong and Australia.
To Datuk Rosli, kapchaisweaving in and out of traffic exposes the occupants to dangers among heavier vehicles. Additionally, most of the cases involved motorcycles speeding.
Datuk Rosli’s proposal echoes the views of Safety First, a group of 500 Whatsapp users who met with Minister of Transport YB Anthony Loke last Wednesday.
Our Take
First and foremost, what is the percentage of those motorcycle accidents involving other vehicles as the guilty party? It seems to be a trend to apportion blame on motorcyclists every time an accident happens. It is being simplistic and unfair.
Malaysia already has a number of good laws pertaining to road usage (although they need to be updated). According to the Highway Code which every road test candidate studies, motorcycles are meant to stay on the left side of the road, 3 metres from the shoulder, anyway.
Photo credit NSTP
Yet, where is the enforcement? That is the biggest problem with Malaysia and her laws. After all, Malaysian agencies are notorious for going at it 100% when a new statute is passed, then slack off with the passing of time. There was a blitz against using mobile phones while driving at one time. Where is it now? How about the war against those who stop in the yellow box?
The honourable Datuk Rosli mentioned Australia and Hong Kong. But please bear in mind that road laws there are diligently enforced, and the culprits don’t get away with by contributing a RM 50 angpow.
If the two new laws are passed, who and how will they enforce the motorcycles’ speed limit? Who and how will they enforce against motorcycles continuing to zip around in traffic?
Okay, fine, let’s assume that kapchaisstay at 70 km/h and in the left lane.
However, anyone who has travelled on Malaysian roads can attest to heavy vehicles themselves zipping around in traffic or encroaching into any lane which the driver deems as “empty.” Who are to stop them? Will the government place barricades to separate the motorcycle lane from other lanes in the city?
And speaking about heavy vehicles and the speed limit, what speed limit? Busses and trucks regularly blast by at 130 km/h. It’s going to be messy.
We are not advocating that all motorcycles should be ridden as fast they could but there has to be enforcement against all vehicles to allow the plan to work.
Apart from those, it still behoofs us to see that owners of different vehicles couldn’t get along in this country. Each party claims the right of way, but no one has the courtesy to compromise and work together.
This to us, is the biggest problem facing Malaysian road users. It’s getting to be a jungle out there but there’s nothing done to educate road users to be courteous to each other. Instead, we are left to everyone’s devices. What is this, The Purge? What happened to those Public Service Announcements on TV in the 90’s and early 2000’s?
Conclusion
We do appreciate JKJR’s concern about the lives and limbs of motorcyclists, but the plan will only work with strict enforcement.
Wouldn’t it be more productive to reduce deaths by teaching proper riding techniques (by overhauling the JPJ education and licensing system), proper helmet usage, importance of safety gear, road courtesy, defensive riding, among others?
At the same time, drivers of other vehicles should also be taught on proper driving techniques.
Why not enforce current laws?
And we’ve not started about the motorcycle lanes along the Federal Highway that never seem to reopen. That’s not including the shoddy condition of motorcycle lanes on other highways.
We previewed the GPX Legend 150, GPX Gentleman, GPX Demon GR and GPX GN Demon.
The bikes offer looks and performance of bigger machines at affordable prices.
GPX is a Thai manufacturer who produces almost all of their bikes’ components.
We were given a preview of the GPX Legend 150, GPX Gentleman, GPX Demon GR and GPX Demon GN tonight by Bike Continent Sdn. Bhd.
These GPX models represent great-looking bikes at prices that’s easier on your bank account balance. GPX also assures us that these motorcycles are built tough and reliable.
GPX is a Thai motorcycle manufacturer. They produce the frames, bodywork and other parts of the motorcycle except for the running stock. The engines are built in China, but GPX stations their Thai and Japanese engineers at the production plant to monitor the quality closely.
The manufacturer is now the 3rdlargest selling brand in Thailand by volume. They are active in organizing rides and special events for their customers, such as the mega gathering at Hard Rock Café Siam Square in Bangkok.
GPX Legend 150 (from RM 8,XXX available from April 2019)
The Legend 150 is a retro model for those who like simplicity and customization. Indeed, the Legend is bare-bones in its stock form.
This model is already doing very well in Thailand, its country of origin. The customizers in that country have shown off a number of awe-inspiring customs. The long bench-seat and fuel lends that classic 1950’s look.
As such, it should bode well for motorcycle fans in Malaysia who wish to own a motorcycle which reflects their own personalities, instead of owning something which you could find anywhere.
The Legend 150 is powered a 150cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine. From our observation, the powerplant looks solidly-built with fine finishing.
The chassis handled by a pair of telescopic forks and a pair of shocks at the rear. The frame is a welded spaceframe which utilizes the engine as a stressed member.
GPX Gentleman 200 (from RM 10,980)
The Gentleman is GPX’s café racer in the lineup.
The model has a number of interesting features:
LED running lights and taillight.
LCD instrument display (meter).
A shapely fuel tank with Monza-style fuel cap.
Stitched seats, rear seat cowl.
A large round airbox which kind of looks like an intake for a turbocharger.
Sculpted subframe and tailsection.
Upside-down forks.
Monoshock rear suspension.
The Gentleman is powered by a 200cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine. The quality of the components can readily be seen.
This model is also very popular in Thailand and hundreds of owners will turn up for convoys.
GPX Demon GPR 150 (from RM 9,XXX available from February 2019)
Mini-Panigale? You bet!
The Demon GPR’s styling takes after the already gorgeous Ducati Panigale with a number of differences.
For example, there are also LED running lights sited in where the air intakes of the Panigale are.
Key features:
Aggressive raptor fully-LED headlamps.
LED taillight.
Full-fairing with which has slats and vents.
Split, sporty seats.
Upside-down forks, monoshock rear suspension.
LCD instrument panel.
Steel trellis frame.
Cast swingarm.
The Demon GPR rolls on 14-inch cast-alloy wheels. It is powered by the same 150cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine of the Legend 150.
GPX Demon GN 150 (from RM 8,XXX available from March 2019)
The Demon GN is the “naked” version of the Demon GPR. It takes the look of a streetfighter.
As with the leaked photo, the new bike features a new styling. The new design updates the Rocket from a classic to a thoroughbred power cruiser. Triumph had wanted to compete with the Ducati Diavel and Harley-Davidson V-Rod, so the new look is in the ballpark.
What We Can See from the Photos
The new Rocket III prototype seems ready for production.
The engine cylinder head cover looks new, but the starkest detail are the exhausts. There is a new 3-into-1-into-2 piping with slash-cut tips.
The engine definitely looks bigger and the capacity should see between 2500 to 2800cc. As such, we expect the power output to fall between 180 to 200 bhp.
Photo credit motorcycle.com
The frame also appears to be new. As for the chassis, there is now a rear monoshock while the forks are upside down. Final drive is still shaft drive but the swingarm is now single-sided. Radial-mounted Brembo Monobloc calipers clamp on superbike discs.
In the styling department, the dual headlamps are retained but they are now LED. The taillight has been redesigned and it is also lit by LEDs. Besides that, the new bike looks beefier and more aggressive than its forebear.
Photo credit motorcycle.com
If you look closer at the top of the handlebar, you can see the new TFT display which first appeared on the 2019 Scrambler 1200. In which case it ought to feature Bluetooth connectivity and GoPro camera controls.
One last note. We would love to see people’s reactions when we tell them the engine capacity is 2500cc/2800cc.
Nicola Dutto is the first paralyzed motorcycle rider in the Dakar Rally.
His KTM EXC-F 450 is specially modified for the task.
His team consists of another three riders for assistance.
We know how tough the Dakar Rally is on able bodied athletes, but Nicola Dutto is out to prove to himself that a paraplegic can compete in the event.
Dutto was the 2008 and 2009 European Baja Champion. Unfortunately, a crash in the 2010 European Baja in Italy left him paralyzed.
But he bounced back to race in the 2011 event in a Polaris buggy. Yet he knew that there was nothing like the man and machine synergy of riding a motorcycle. He experimented with roll cages to protect his lower body. Entering Spain’s Baja Aragon four months later, he finished 24th.
This achievement inspired Dutto to compete in the Dakar Rally as the first paraplegic.
Nicola Dutto working on his KTM
To help with his disabilities, Dutto made a number of modifications to his KTM 450 EXC-F. The clutch is electric, and the rear brake lever is moved to the handlebar. wheelchair cushion specialists Vicair build a seat for support. Dutto needed protection from the punishing shocks as he is unable to stand up while off-roading in rough terrain. A roll cage is fitted to protect his lower body, while his legs are secured with a three-point harness.
However, Dutto needs to rely on his team to ride effectively. It consists of his one-time rivals Julián Villarrubia, Pablo Toral and Victor Rivera. One rider will ride ahead to scan the terrain and be Dutto’s spotter when he stops. The other two riders will help to pick Dutto up in case he falls.
Dutto is still going strong at the end of the Dakar 2019 Stage 2. Let’s look out for this extraordinary rider and his team.
The bone was rebroken in physical exertion, not a crash.
Fans of Dani Pedrosa will not see him during the shakedown test at SIC (Sepang International Circuit) in February astride a KTM RC16.
He rebroke his right collarbone without a crash of physical impact but through a “gesture of strength” as reported in the press release. It meant that the rider was probably just exercising.
The injury is the result of having broken the bone twice before and required surgery to fit plates. Consequently, the collarbone has sclerotic lesion which slows regrowth. Furthermore, osteoporosis has set in due to lack of blood flow resulting in a brittle bone.
He rebroke his right collarbone which will require another surgery and long recovery process before being able to test the KTM again.
Dani Pedrosa has retired from the Repsol Honda team and MotoGP competitive racing last year. He later announced that he will take up the roll of test rider for the KTM factory team. He managed to ride the KTM RC16 in the Valencia and Jerez post-season tests and provided some feedback to the team.
We spoke to an international student at the TOC Automotive College.
We had wanted to see how foreign students could adapt to the other students and syllabus.
The college’s learning style opens up the way for students to learn teamwork, regardless of which country they are from.
While some admire those who study abroad, it may not be as easy as it seems. Apart from monetary concerns, there is always the difficulty of cultural and language barriers. But there are international students at the TOC Automotive College.
We sat down for a short Q&A session to garner his perspective.
Bikes Republic (BR): Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Ahmed Mohamed Frah Idris (AM): I’m from Sudan. I started out in the Certificate Course before progressing to Diploma in Automotive Technology (DAT). I came to TOC through the April 2017 intake.
I’m currently in my first year in Diploma in Automotive Technology. I’ll be doing my Supervised Industrial Training (SIT) after completing 5 subjects. It’ll happen in four months’ time.
BR: What made you choose this college and subject? AM: I picked this college as I prefer hands-on learning. I’m interested in learning about the practical side about an engine and how it works.
BR: What do you find unique about TOC Automotive College? AM: What I found unique is like our dress code, the discipline in classes, the stress on punctuality. More importantly, TOC gives us the opportunity to work in different workshops and getting more work experience to ready us for the workplace when we graduate.
BR: How do you like it so far? What’s your impression of being an international student here? AM: So far, it’s really good, especially for me and other international students to know more about different cultures. Malaysia has a lot of different cultures that I learn from. I also get to meet other international students and learning about their cultures.
BR: What are your plans when you finish your studies? AM: Am hoping to get more work experience in Malaysia then I can develop what I learned here and bring it back to my home country.
Conclusion
TOC Automotive College provides an atmosphere which is conducive learning regardless if you are a local or from other countries. This is achieved through lots of hands-on work which requires the students to work closely, hence opening the opportunity to better interpersonal relationships. People skills are important in the workplace if one hopes to succeed.
We would also like to stress that each student that we interviewed loved the hands-on approach to learning, rather than too sitting through too many mind-numbing lectures in the classrooms.
Please click here to find out more about the TOC Automotive College. Please click here if you are interested in the Superbike Technician Course. TOC has a programme called Bina Bakat to assist potential students in need of an education loan.
TOC Automotive College can be reached at (+603) 7960 8833
