The 1200cc Boxer engine and bikes that it powers have been revised through each generation.
With stiff competition from all corners, it is rumoured that BMW will debut the R 1250 GS in 2019.
A new R 1250 RT has been spotted undergoing road trials.
BMW’s venerable boxer engine has come a long, long way and there’s no end in sight for it. the German giant may produce the superb S 1000 RR inline-Four superbike, but what is BMW Motorrad if not for the flat-Twin or Boxer, as it’s affectionately known.
It is likewise the scenario for the Boxer-engine GS, since the first R80GS.
2018 BMW R 1200 GS Rallye
But the competition has been aggressive in the large-capacity adventure segment. KTM, Ducati and now Triumph are carving out large pieces of the pie and BMW has been updating the R 1200 GS with each generation.
You see, the current wasser-Boxer produces 125 bhp of power and 125 Nm of torque but the competition has gone 160 bhp and 140 Nm thereabouts. While BMW owners will tell you that 125 bhp is enough, that is not going to cut it on the spec sheets.
It is also rumoured that the “new” Boxer will include variable valve timing. Along with other changes, it should be good for 140 to 150 bhp.
All this talk started when photos of a new R 1250 RT undergoing road trails surfaced in MCN. Looking at the photo below, you could see that it’s a new bodywork, but what is more telling is the appearance of a new engine.
From riders.drivemag.com
However, as BMW owners know, if there is a new RT, there is a large likelihood that a GS is also in store. Plus, since the GS is the flagship BMW Motorrad, it will be launched first than the RT.
2019 is just a few months away. Who is waiting with baited breath?
Round 1 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) got off to a great start.
The long holiday did not deter teams from competing without much time for set ups.
Competition was close and exciting in a few classes.
The country may still be having a hangover from a people’s victory from the General Elections, but the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) got off to a rousing and positive start, nonetheless.
The General Elections and subsequent holidays had shortened the time available to the teams to set up their bikes for the race. Yet, all teams showed up and used the practice sessions to speed up the process.
But it was refreshing to see that it was very much a family-oriented race series. Most riders and team members had brought along their family along with their spouse and children to the paddock. They ate together. They shared the victories, defeats together. They prayed together.
There are four classes contested this year: Superbike, Superstock, Supersport, and Super 250. Each class is further subdivided into Open and Rookie categories, run together in each race.
Saturday had started warm and proceeded to being blistering hot even before the noon hour. The riders who came back after practice all look beat, yet there are fitter than most of us. There were a few teams that set up inflatable pools behind their pits as contingency in case their riders suffer heatstroke.
Qualifying was subsequently run in scorching heat, yet lap times were surprisingly quick. For example, Chia Motor PJ’s new signing, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman locked down the Superbike pole position with a time of 2:09.506, more than 0.8 second quicker than 2nd placed qualifier Ramdan Rosli of TOC HKMTOYO Racing Team.
Ex-MSBK champion, Rajini Krishnan who runs his own Team RACR now, returned to MSBK competition on a Yamaha R-1M qualified third with a time of 2:11.157.
Qualifying times in all other classes also followed the same template.
However, all the qualifying effort almost amounted to nothing for a few competitors on race day.
A heavy shower in the morning inundated had the track. With heavy cloud cover ahead, the track stayed wet for most parts of the day until later in the afternoon.
For anyone who had ever ridden or driven around the Sepang International Circuit before, the track may look dry as if unmolested by a single drop of rain, only to discover it’s actually soggy.
The first race of the day, Superbike Race 1 got under way under after been declared a WET RACE. While the leaders slipped and slid all over the track, there were six crashers behind them on parts of the track where there was no standing water.
Rajini pushed as hard as he could at the front and won the race commandingly from Ramdan Rosli and Azlan Shah.
Competitors in subsequent categories raced on a wet track, but it was the Race 1 of the Super 250 class which proved to be the most entertaining. The rulebook did not separate the single-cylinder and two-cylinder bikes but it was the former that were faster despite Sepang’s long straights. A six-way battle for the lead developed in the closing stages with some hard passes and kamikaze dives inside each other. And it was that which decided the final results at the last turn on the final lap, when one rider misjudged his brake marker and torpedoed the 2nd-place runner into the dirt. 16-year-old Indonesian rider Surya Narayana fought hard with all comers and came out tops in all three races. On a borrowed bike.
The track started to dry out by Supersport Race 2 and it was the first time that slick Pirelli tyres made their appearance of the day on the Superbikes. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of Hong Leong Yamaha Racing won Race 2, following his crash in Race 1. The team worked throughout the interim to fix his bike.
Azlan Shah showed the way in Superbike Race 2 as Ramdan ran into brake problems, while Rajini crashed at the start of Lap 3. Rajini managed to remount and fought his way back up to 5th at the flag.
In the Superstock 1000 races proceeding the superbike races, Azrol Hakeem of Fastthrottle Motorsports rode in commanding fashion to dominate both races.
In closing, it was a great weekend of great racing. Unfortunately, as many were still making their way back into the Klang Valley following the long holiday, there were not as many spectators as expected. They had missed a great spectacle.
Until Round 2 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship, Selamat Berpuasa dan Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
TOC HKMTOYO Racing Team leads the Superbike standings.
The team is formed through the TOC Technical College and HKMToyo Racing Team.
Round 1 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship marked the first outing for the team.
The TOC HKMTOYO Racing Team was recently constituted, concurrently with the launch of TOC Automotive College’s (TOC) Motorcycle Technician Training course. (Please click here for our coverage.)
As TOC believes that technical training does not only involve repairing vehicles, as motorsports is seen as the ultimate way for the school to impart knowledge and training to their students in a fun way to face the challenges associated with racing. As such, they have also a racing division called School of Motorsports. This division has spawned four-wheeled racing champions in the past and it is only natural that they extend it to two-wheeled motorsports as well.
Headed by Team Principal Mohd. Najuib Alias, HKMTOYO Racing Team is the defending MSBK champion from 2017. The team had also worked with MARA for industrial training in the past thus the tie-up with TOC Automotive College for the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship makes sense, if not inevitable.
The newly formed team combines the technical skills, knowledge and experience of the HKMTOYO Racing Team and personnel from TOC. TOC had also secured the services of Malaysian GP legend and current MX trainer at Most Fun Gym “Foreman” Oh Kah Beng as the Motosports Director to supervise the team and provide MX training.
Four riders are contracted to the team for the Superbike and Superstock classes.
In the Superbike category, Ramdan Rosli raced in the FIM CEV Moto2 Championship in Spain. He was also a wildcard rider in the World Moto2 championship between 2014 to 2016. He rides the BMW S 1000 RR.
The second rider is Muhammad Jamalul Tarmizi, riding the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.
As for the Superstock category, Amirul Hafiq Azmi and Nasarudin Mat Yop are the riders.
In Race 1 of the Superbike class, Ramdan took it easy at start of the wet race, falling behind Rajini Krishnan of Team RACR and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of Chia Motor PJ. Soon, he was able to find his rhythm and started stalking the second-place man, and eventually passing Azlan Shah with 4 laps remaining to finish 2nd.
Muhammad Jamalul rode a steady race to finish 5th, for a tally of two TOC HKMTOYO bikes in the Top 5.
As for Race 2, Ramdan had started strong and was in a three-way battle among Rajini and Azlan Shah. However, Rajini crashed at the start of Lap 3, leaving the two other riders to fight it out. Unfortunately, Ramdan had started to slow from that point with brake problems and allowing Azlan Shah to ride away 2 seconds faster per lap.
As for Muhammad Jamalul, he went one better this time and came home in fourth.
“There was no front brake. The lever came all the way back to the handle grip,” lamented Ramdan. “The only I could make it work was to hold the lever back slightly but I still didn’t have full braking power.”
That was amazing feat considering the monumental challenge.
In the Superstock category, Amirul Hafiz Azmi finished in 5th in Race 1 but forced to retire in Race 2, while his teammate Nasarudin May Yusop picked up 3rd in Race 2.
The TOC HKMTOYO Racing Team now leads the riders’ and teams’ championship in the Superbike Category of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) as the series heads into the Ramadhan and Hari Raya Puasa break.
With one 3rd place and one win, Chia Motor PJ heads into Round 2 in second place.
It had been a start of sorts for Chia Motor PJ but what mattered at the end was the win they had expected in Round 1 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK).
The team’s new rider, Azlan Shah Kamarulzaman, who also races in the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) and previously Moto2, had dominated practice and qualifying before the start of today’s proceedings.
But a heavy downpour in the morning prior to the start of Race 1 of the Superbike category made the going around the Sepang International Circuit tricky. As anyone who had ridden at SIC before could attest, while the rain had stopped when the pitlane opened, the track was still wet with many unseen wet patches. One corner may be dry but charging into the next one could have you highsided into space.
The race was declared a WET RACE and pit crews hurriedly mounted full wet Pirellis onto their motorcycles.
As the crew took to the starting grid, there were cautious smiles, if you could call it that, since this was Azlan’s first ride for the team. Each rider has a peculiar riding style, hence settings to the next guy and it takes time to develop a trust: for team, the rider, the bike, the equipment.
As soon as the lights turned to green, Azlan’s rear tyre was clearly spinning away and fishtailing. It was also apparent that his bike was squirming around under braking. There was even speculation that Azlan had gone out on slicks.
The affable rider was forced to slow down.
In the pits, worried faces crowded around a TV monitor as MSBK ex-champion and ex-Chia Motor PJ rider, Rajini Krishnan overtook Azlan and pulled a healthy lead. Even the ever-smiling Team Boss, Keith Chia (better known as “Ah Kit”) was glum. The entire team was quiet – dropping a spanner now would sound like an IED going off, despite the howls of bikes passing at high speeds.
Afterwards, Team TOC HKMToyo rider, Ramdan Rosli managed to catch and pass Azlan into second position the closing stages.
Azlan was soon on the verge of falling into the grasp of the fourth-placed runner, but managed held on.
At the checkered flag, it was Rajini first, Ramdan second and Azlan third.
“We couldn’t get the proper level of traction control dialed in for the first race. The Kawasaki ZX-10R is a really powerful bike and the rear tyre started to slide around as soon as Azlan touched the throttle,” said Keith after the race. “It’s better to finish and earn some points,” he continued.
That’s right, to win you have to first finish the race.
Later in the afternoon, all eyes in the Chia Motor PJ pits were again glued to the TV monitor in the pits during the SuperSport race, which preceded Superbike Race 2. The did so to observe the track’s condition and behavior of the bikes currently racing, in order to base their last-minute set up and tyre choice for Race 2.
Some sunshine filtered through the clouds halfway through SuperSport Race 1, sending the Superbike teams into another frenzy of activity to replace the wets with dry tyres.
Azlan, Ramdan and Rajini aced their starts and pulled away from the rest of the field almost immediately. Azlan led past the line to start Lap 2, but suddenly Rajini was missing and the camera picked him up in the gravel trap at Turn 1.
Ramdan tried to give chase at that point but the combination of Azlan’s riding skill and the Kawasaki prepared by Chia Motor PJ proved too much – Azlan went 2 seconds faster per lap to claim the checkered flag.
Chia Motor PJ was elated at the results and Azlan stands in second place in the championship as the Malaysia Superbike Championship breaks for Ramadhan and Hari Raya Puasa.
Harley-Davidson of Petaling (HDPJ) called upon Harley owners for a “shop talk.”
The talk covered technical, features of the 2018 Softail range.
The talk included the brake service campaign, introduction to the new engine and bikes, and Motorclothes.
Knowing you’re riding the best motorcycle is one thing, learning about what makes it tick is quite another level altogether.
Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya decided to impart their knowledge of the brand to owners by holding a “shop talk,” where they interact with Harley-Davidson specialists about their bikes, myths, service campaigns and new products.
The event got off to a start with the presentation of the brake service campaign. As we reported earlier (please click here for the article), the Motor Company had decided to recall 2008 to 2011 Touring, CVO Touring and V-Rod models with ABS to have their brake fluid replaced. Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ) has received the new Platinum Line Brake Fluid and is set to get the campaign rolling.
HDPJ’s Technical Specialist also informed the owners that a motorcycle’s brake fluid has to be replaced every 2 years, regardless of mileage covered.
If you own any of the above models, please get in touch with HDPJ’s Service Department to determine if your Harley is affected.
HDPJ moved on to present the new Milwaukee-Eight engine and 2018 Harley-Davidson lineup. Presentation was first carried out on the screen before being moved to the new Fat Bob and Street Glide on display. Those present had the firsthand view of the new features on the new models, such better suspension, brakes, styling. Harleys are truly much more refined these days, without losing their identity.
Do note that Harley’s Shop Talk sessions aren’t one-way traffic; owners were encouraged to formulate their questions when the invitation was published. Therefore, there were many questions, a few myths and concerns that were raised. HDPJ addressed them expertly and professionally.
Lastly, HDPJ presented the 2018 Motorclothes lineup. Motorclothes is Harley-Davidson’s official range of rider wear which consists of everything a Harley owner could think of, plus plenty of Harley-Davidson paraphernalia and merchandise.
Seeing that the owners adjourned feeling elated, they must’ve gained some new knowledge of their trusty steeds from the shop talk.
The new Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya is offering great ways to those who want to get into the Harley lifestyle.
Costs of ownership and maintenance are now more viable at HDPJ.
HDPJ has waived the localisation fee for Harleys purchased via parallel importers.
Owning a motorcycle should be a great joy to anyone but owning one from a brand steeped in history and heritage is extra special. It’s through this heritage that the look, feel and sound of the bike, how it rumbles to life and down the road with the wind in your face flies in the face of convention. Additionally, the lifestyle, camaraderie among the owners and convoy experiences are priceless.
But how much does one need to “relinquish” for a “membership?”
We’ve heard great things about the new Harley-Davidson dealership, Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ), and decided to snoop around.
What we found was HDPJ is attracting more riders in Malaysia to experience the world of Harley-Davidson, through more attractive financing, lower costs of ownership and professional aftersales service.
AFTERSALES SERVICE:
Non-discriminatory policy towards all Harley owners, regardless if the bikes were purchased previously through official channels or parallel importers.
No “localization fee” for “recon” Harleys and all owners will enjoy the same labour rates and parts prices.
The showroom is fully stocked but the workshop is extensive as HDPJ is focusing on aftersales.
The previous hourly labour rate was too high, so HDPJ reduced it accordingly.
Parts prices are also lower than before despite the high USD-MYR exchange rate.
A Harley-Davidson Standard Service means a 24-point check all around the motorcycle for functionality and safety, which includes lubing the cables, checking the battery and electrics, electronic diagnostics, inspecting if all fasteners are properly torqued, inspecting the drive belt and pulleys, inspecting the brake pads and discs (with proper tools), etc. etc.
A minimum price to service a Sportster 883 complete with the 24-point check, standard replacement of washers, Harley-Davidson engine oil, and 1.5-hour labour charge adds up to below RM400.
Compare that to this Editor’s personal experience of servicing his Kawasaki ER-6f (at non-official workshops). Two liters of fully-synthetic engine oil, oil filter and two sparkplugs already cost in the vicinity of RM380 – without the 24-point check.
Besides that, a stator coil for the ER-6f is nearly RM1,300; compared to the stator coil for the Harley-Davidson Softail is RM1,400.
PRICES OF NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES:
HDPJ has also priced the new Harleys more “realistically” by 5% to 25% lower across the board.
The 2018 (base) Sportster Forty-Eight is priced from RM 92,800, instead of RM 109,000 that it once was.
The new Street Bob is from RM 107,200 instead of RM 130K plus.
Attractive financing scheme for buyers – 3.5% per annum – the lowest in the industry.
We also decided to ask a couple of Harley riders hanging around the café at The Gasket Alley. The first person was pleasantly surprised by the much lower price of maintenance. The other person we spoke felt at home at the new Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya, being welcomed and as part of a family.
The Triumph Bonneville T100 Black is a blacked-out modern retro.
Smooth power and predictable handling are its best traits.
Unintimidating, easy and fun to ride.
I’ve many biker friends who name their bikes. The majority being guys, their bikes are almost invariably lady’s names: Suzy, Hunny, Becky, Mimi, etc. etc. Some guys named their bikes with masculine names like Butch, The Rock, etc. However, it had never vexed me to name the few bikes I’ve owned, for some reason. Nope. Not even the Ducati 916SP I once had.
Maybe my bikes have never appealed to me beyond the machines they were.
So here came the Triumph Bonneville T100 Black, all blacked-out with a flat black fuel tank, black headlamp nacelle, black fork stanchions, black front fender, black rims, black peashooter exhausts, black engine covers, black side panels, black bench seat, black shock springs, black rear fender. Black, black, black. The only non-black parts were the throttle body shrouds, wheels’ wire spokes, bezel of the blocks, fuel cap.
The colour scheme actually harks back to the days of custom bikes when owners did away with the chrome and polished bits for something more sinister in appearance. Or more punk, if you will. Like the Sex Pistols vs. the early Beatles.
Getting on the T100 Black tells you how simple bikes were back then. Low seat height, narrow profile, handlebar not too wide and not too narrow, upright seating position, comfortable reach to the handlebar, comfortable positioning of the footpegs.
Just like any Triumph, the T100 Black fired up with a soulful vroom and settled down into a smooth idle. Blipping the throttle had some engine vibration through, just enough to let you know it’s alive.
Looking downwards, your gaze meets a pair of beautifully appointed gauges. Unlike those on other Bonnevilles, the T100 Black’s are black-faced, surrounded by silver counters and finished off with chrome bezels. Those bezels are awesomely beautiful especially at night when you ride past one light source after another. The LCD, numbers and needles glow softly (soft, not dim) without blasting photons into your retinas.
The Triumph Bonneville T100 Black felt special as soon as the clutch went out. Again, the throttle take-up was so direct, so smooth, so linear.
Before I go on, please think of something smooth. Butter, margarine, cheese, cream, etc. It doesn’t have to be dairy products, of course.
Okay, let’s move on.
The 900cc HT (for High Torque), liquid-cooled, parallel-Twin engine has a crankshaft spaced at 270o to mimic a 90o V-Twin’s firing order. It pulled the gears so smoothly… that a vision of a glass-smooth lake flashed through my mind. And this was just out of Triumph Motorcycle Malaysia’s showroom. From zero all the way to the top, there wasn’t a single step in the rev range. The bike didn’t stutter or surge at low speeds, either.
Nonetheless, the bike did rush forward when I snapped open the throttle and it pulled hard but it didn’t feel like a dog going after the GDex delivery man.
The suspension was plush enough without experiencing a speedboat ride on land, while stiff enough to have the bike turn quickly to my commands. Just as with other Triumphs, the twin rear shocks and forks were so well calibrated.
I remembered that I still had articles to write that afternoon, but I thought what the heck, let’s just ride a few kilometres further. I kept going from one place to another, the heart telling the brain, just a few more kilometres.
To cut the story short, I got home three and half hours later after riding it around without any destination in mind.
Why? Because it was such a joy to ride the Triumph Bonneville T100 Black. Half of that “trip” was through rush hour traffic, it even rained on me, but I didn’t care. It was pure riding joy. There a giddy excitement to it, like when I took delivery of the very first motorcycle I owned, exactly 30 years ago.
The handlebar is wide enough for good leverage, but it’s also at the correct width allowing you to filter through traffic. If the kapchai in front of you could get through, so could you. Plus, the low seat height made it easy to put a foot down.
Coupled with the light and smooth action clutch, and especially the smooth throttle and engine power delivery, heavy taffic didn’t actually register until I had to recount my experience for this review. The engine’s torque peaks at 3230 RPM, which equals to lots of pulling power to blast past other vehicles quickly to a soul-stirring vroom.
Conversely, I’ve test bikes that had overly heavy clutch pull and snatchy throttle in traffic. If that’s not bad enough, add in brakes that felt so wooden they might as well have been made of wood, and suspension that sent your liver through your mouth when you hit a bump. They did nothing but caused me curse and swear everytime I rode them.
Not so with the Triumph Bonneville T100 Black; it was just a pleasant experience.
Another factor which contributed to the fun was the brakes. The T100 Black may be a classic looking bike, but that front brake is a floating disc. I had a car cut across my lane at one time. Firm pressure on the levers had the bike slowing down immediately. The front brake lever didn’t come to the bar or pulse when ABS activated, instead it became stiffer meaning you could keep on adding brake pressure. It’s really helpful, allowing you to live to offend the offending driver with an offensive gesture in return. (I didn’t do this – it’s a test bike!)
Besides that, the bike is equipped with traction control. It’s always great to have this safety net.
One day, I got on and just started riding. I couldn’t remember what triggered it, but it may have had something to do with someone listed as “Puan Harimau” (Tigress) in my phone. I ended up in Tanjung Malim before I even realized.
I remembered singing aloud to my favourite songs playing through the Bluetooth headset (mostly Judas Priest tunes – they’re British after all). Wind blast was surprisingly bearable. But I was amazed that engine was virtually vibration free at a steady throttle and coming alive when you accelerate or decelerate. At a steady 110 to 130 km/h, a nice, purring vroom accompanies you.
Approaching an F 800 R cruising along, I the rider glancing into his mirror. My first instinct was, “Here we go again.” My right wrist was at the ready and gunned it at the same time he gunned his. He put his head down and so did I. In a flash, I was past him with my left hand waving to him at the side. I saw his head following me through and I glanced at the speedo. 180 km/h and still pulling. I backed off immediately.
Think the Triumph Bonneville T100 “classic bike” can’t run? Think again. Note that I was in sixth gear and didn’t downshift. It was all a throttle roll-on action.
It was a hot, hot day but I was smiling when I rolled into Tanjung Malim. I was whistling happy tunes when I maneuvered the bike around for photographs. A local guy saw the bike and asked if he could take pictures of it. Another guy spoke to me while I was shooting and invited me over to his sundry shop for a drink, on him. He wanted to talk more about the T100 Black away from the sun, he said.
On the return trip, I ignored the signboards pointing towards the highway and stuck to the old trunk road instead. I don’t normally do this on a hot afternoon, mind you.
The T100 Black was a natural on these roads (it felt natural on any road, anyway), whether it was straight or less so. I took it really easy, never going beyond 100 km/h just to savour that beautiful engine, throttle and suspension while enjoying the scenery. I discovered that the engine wasn’t only smooth on acceleration but on deceleration too. It felt like it had a slipper clutch, although it didn’t. Oddly, it was smoother that bikes with slipper clutches.
And hey! I even spotted a glass-smooth lake on the way. Déjà vu.
The Triumph Bonneville T100 bike makes you want to just ride and ride. In fact, one could end up being a motorcycle vagabond, travelling from town to town. It’s just so fun and effortlessly easy to ride that you forget about everything else in the world, yourself included. 100% pleasure, 0% pressure.
I know a few owners who had logged thousands of kilometres, riding to far and away places on their Bonnies. Who knows I might just drop everything one day and decide to ride to nowhere, similar to how Forrest Gump just ran and ran.
I’ve decided to name a bike. The Triumph Bonneville T100 Black has so much character, so much soul it may as well be alive. Well, it did make me feel great to be alive.
I ran through a few names with the word “Black” in them. “Black Beauty” was used by Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia and it was a great name which truly reflects the bike. I thought of “Black Widow,” not the spider but the actress who plays that character but hey, that’s a bit clichéd, isn’t it?
After many rides to Melaka, it was Moto Guzzi Malaysia’s turn.
The convoy took the scenic route from Port Dickson to Melaka.
A great collection of Moto Guzzi motorcycles were present.
Owning and riding a motorcycle by yourself is fine, but there are times when you want to find out more about the brand you’re on from other owners. Perhaps to increase your number of friends in your network.
After a few successful rides from The Gasket Alley, it was the turn of Moto Guzzi owners to ride to the historic city of Melaka on Saturday, 5th May 2018.
As usual, the riders got together at Moto Guzzi Malaysia early in the morning for some light breakfast and catch up with old buddies or new friends.
The riders showed up on a good collection of Moto Guzzi motorcycles including the limited edition V7 III 50th Anniversario, V7 III Racer, California, Sport 8V, V7 III Special, V7 III Classic, V9 Roamer, and a Grisso 1200 SE.
The convoy travelled down the KL-Seremban Highway before turning off toward Port Dickson. They stopped at the Rezeky restaurant for refreshments and a break before turning south toward Melaka, riding along the coast for a more scenic route rather than droning mindlessly along the highway.
The ride passed many beautiful views of the sea along the way, including at Tanjung Bidara. The road continued through to Pantai Kundur at Tanjung Kling, and all the way into Melaka along Pantai Klebang where the group stopped for fuel.
From there it was a straight ride to the Straits Werx Café near Masjid Kampung Hulu, which is among the oldest masjids in Malaysia. The café also flanks the Melaka River so we saw passengers on the Melaka River Boat Ride taking pictures of us while we had lunch and coconut cendol. The cendol was a welcome as the day had gotten extremely hot.
The riders got to know one another better while chilling out after lunch, before adjourning for the ride home.
TOC Automotive College (TOC) has always been Malaysia’s premier automotive college.
TOC has just launched their Superbike Technician Course.
Registration for the course is open and will begin in July 2018.
Also unveiled was TOC’s bike that will be entered into the Malaysian Superbike (MSBK).
If you own a vehicle long enough, you may encounter the difficulty in finding a mechanic or technician you could truly trust, based on the accuracy in dealing with your vehicle’s problems in a correct and prompt manner.
Truth is, this quagmire doesn’t only exist for us bikers but for workshop operators and manufacturers, as well.
It is that vacuum that TOC and the Malaysian Motorcycle and Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA) want to see filled, by signing a partnership. Through this partnership, students who had undergone TOC’s Superbike Technician Course will find almost instant employment among the MMSDA’s 5,000-member workshops. Nothing is worse than not being able to find a job after spending thousands of Ringgit for education.
The signing of this partnership also connects readily with the Bina Bakat (Building Talents) program. TOC understands that there exist individuals who are passionate about automotive technology but are unfortunately unable to bear the costs of education. Hence, successful applicants will undergo training with up to 100% loan until they begin their journey in the workplace.
Adelaine L.K. Foo, CEO and founder of TOC said in her speech, “Alongside the growth of the four-wheel market, there should be fair competency through improved skillsets given to the motorcycle scene, which also contributes to a large part of the automotive industry.”
“One of the common challenges I have come across which resonates well with me as a parent, is the financial struggle for single parents putting their children through higher education,” she continued. “Through this collaboration, one of our main objectives is to help ease the financial burden and raise the quality of higher education at the same time.”
Chairman of MMSDA, Wee Hong says, “The support of the Bina Bakat Program has increased the opportunity for our industry to have a greater access to quality skilled talents, something which had been lacking before.”
He further added, “MMSDA and TOC share a collective passion and dedication to delivery excellence towards the motorcycle industry. Through this partnership, not only will we see updated and improved facilities for conducive learning but also the increased employment of qualified and skilled technicians with our members and partners.”
The Superbike Technician Course runs for 18 months with 3 levels of academic and career development opportunities. The students will be exposed to real-world experience during industrial training with TOC’s partners during the course.
Adelaine stressed the importance of sending the students out for industrial training, “We can’t have for example a student who graduate wtih a degree in all expects of automotive engineering or maintenance but has never lifted a single spanner.”
This augurs well for motorcycle owners throughout Malaysia as we will have well-trained and experienced mechanics handling our pride and joy.
At the same time, TOC also unveiled the TOC Malaysian Superbike Championship (MSBK) race bike. The team was set up with the assistance of Most Fun Gym’s (MFG) chief instructor and Malaysian GP legend, Oh Kah Beng.
TOC already has a School of Motorsport division and will now see the inclusion of motorcycle racing. “We want our students to experience the immediacy of racing. Fixing stuff under the tutelage of their lecturers is one thing but being pushed by a third-party race team manager is quite another,” said Sebastian K.L. Foo, who is in charge of operations at TOC.
The technicians for the motorcycle race team will also undergo a riding course with MFG. Oh Kah Beng said, “The technicians should feel what a bike does, besides how the components perform in order to easily relate to what the riders tell them. That way, they could fix handling characteristics and problems much easier and faster during a race.” (Please click here to see how we also trained at MFG.)
We were also given a tour of TOC’s facilities afterwards. It was apparent that TOC has the latest machinery, testers and tools utilized in the industry. The Resource Centre (library) was similarly well-stocked. The students are also trained to maintain a clean working environment. A single drop of oil on the workshop floor invites a stiff reprimand. It is also mandatory for students to maintain good personal hygiene and appearance.
“The students may be taken aback to our strict policies such as workplace cleanliness, attendance and passing marks at first, but many have come back to thank us for preparing them, after they’ve gone out to the workplace,” said Adelaine who guided us through the tour.
We also came across groups of students dressed in shirts and neckties. “They’re undergoing the Service Advisor training module. They take turns to play the role of angry customers and techniques to address customer issues correctly.”
“As for the Superbike Technician Course, we’ve purchased eight new motorcycles for the students to work on. They weren’t sponsor,” stressed Sebastian further.
Application for the first batch of the Superbike Technician Course is open for its first intake in July 2018. Please visit www.toc.edu.my or www.facebook.com/TOC.edu/ for more information.
Prices for the XR range begins from RM 56,900 (basic selling price with 6% GST) but hurry, offer lasts until July 2018 only!
Humans are resistant to change by nature. Despite some of us propounding to accept change, we tend to fall back to what we’re familiar with. We go on doing the same thing day in day out but when something unfamiliar comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, we resist, we fight, we rant on Facebook. Like Linus in Peanuts, we keep running back to our security blanket.
One of them was me, especially when it concerned motorcycles.
I loved sportbikes. No, I didn’t mind stretching my arms out, plopping my gut on the tank and offering my bum to the sky gods. To me they offered something familiar: Front tyre feedback, gruesome cornering angles and the exhilaration of blowing everything on the road away.
Then, one day, a few motojournalists and I joined the Ratpack on a ride to Khao Sok National Park in Thailand. The centrepiece of that ride was the then new 2015 Triumph Tiger 800 XRx and Tiger 800 XCx.
They may have won accolades the world over, but I was a little sceptical if I would like it. Because, truth be told, it wasn’t my security blanket. But I sucked my thumb and kept quiet.
You may have remembered the 2018 Triumph Tiger 800 XR lineup’s launch hand-in-hand with its brethren the XC range, along with the Bobber Black and Speedmaster in Bukit Tinggi. (Please click here for our report of the event.)
To recap quickly, the XR line-up consists of the base XR, XRx, XRx LRH (Low Ride Height) and range-topping XRt. The XC range consists of the XCx and flagship XCa.
We’ve tested the 2018 Triumph Tiger 800 XCx (please click here for the full review) and fell in love with it, and we tested the 2018 Triumph Tiger 800 XRx later as it’s more road-oriented than the XCx. As such, the XRx has cast wheels instead of laced spokes. The front is a 19-incher, compared to 21 on the XCx. Suspension is duly shorter with 180 mm front and 170 mm rear travel compared to 220 mm and 215 mm respectively, hence the XRx has a 810 – 830 mm seat height compared to 840 – 860 mm on the XCx.
Other than the rolling stock, both bikes are virtually the same except for the shorter “beak” on the XRx.
It had been some time since I last rode the Tiger 800 XCx and I sighed a relief when I got on the XRx. I was Linus and this was my security blanket. The seating position felt the same although the handlebar felt a little more forward due to the smaller front wheel. Additionally, both my feet could reach the ground comfortably.
A short press on the starter button awoke the bike with a deep vroom. Just a little throttle and I was on my way.
The XRx flicked around lightly on its contact patches like Muhammad Ali (Allah bless his soul). It didn’t take much time to grow acquainted to the bike and I was cutting through traffic effortlessly.
The throttle, clutch, engine, transmission combination worked so smooth even butter has lumps. All I had to do was focus on getting through traffic and let my hands and feet work subconsciously, because the Tiger 800 XRx (and XCx) took the load off me. Besides that, the twin headlamps were large and bright and they had the psychological effect of presenting a much more authoritative presence to other road users.
We were now returning from Khao Sok. It was my turn on the Tiger 800 XRx (before the XCx). I was resistant at first. But 30 minutes into the ride, something changed. I smiled in my helmet. I started to wave and signal thumbs up to the Ratpack riders.
Just as what the XCx did, the XRx induced insomnia in me. Somehow, parts of me, not limited to the heart and brain, had just wanted to go riding. It’s like this little voice that kept going on and on like a bad track, “Let’s ride. Let’s ride. Let’s ride.” Earplugs didn’t work on this one (unlike for the wife’s nagging).
So again, I got up at 5am and went riding.
There’s something eerie about the Karak Highway before dawn. A light mist hangs a few metres above the road and everything seemed to be out from a scene in Insidious. (Man, I’ve to stop watching scary movies.) Anyhow, a tap on the PASS/HIGH BEAM button bathed everything ahead in righteous light. It was just a boon for the sweeping corners of Karak.
This was where I could find the true distinction between the two Tiger 800s. As soon as the bike tipped over into the corner it was rock solid without a bounce or wiggle. I had the choices of either braking deeper or charging in harder into the corners – the Tiger 800 XRx conformed to both tasks without complaint. It didn’t have a slipper clutch but it felt way smoother than actually having one!
However, as stable as it was in mid-corner, it didn’t hesitate when I had to alter my line or direction. If you’ve the chance to test both bikes, they’d feel so much smaller than they seem.
The Genting Highlands road alternated between total darkness to total whiteness during these hours. Still, I didn’t have to worry much since the bike just took over, leaving me to actually enjoy myself even without full vision. I had so much fun I kept grounding the footpeg feelers on both sides. Had someone followed behind they’d surely be reminded of the fireworks on New Year’s Eve (sorry, Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia).
Then the rain poured down on us. In SPORT mode, the throttle felt as if my hands were connected directly to the butterfly valves, so I didn’t switch to RAIN. I just kept riding and riding, invincible against the rain.
I soon came up to a fork in the road so I stopped since I didn’t know the direction. One of the riders who had been following me on his Speed Triple all this while pulled up beside me. He flipped up his visor and yelled, “You crazy ah?!! You were doing 160 km/h in the rain!!! In Thailand!!!”
I reached the First World Hotel, aimed for the Petron station and made a left turn onto a newly tarred road. It was very narrow and as sinewy as a clump of intestines. I stopped at the summit with the Triumph Tiger 800 XRx juxtaposed against the backs of mountains and hills in the distance, just as the horizon started to turn to orange.
And I did this four days in a row in the five that we had the bike.
My surroundings turned bright quickly from then on. I felt on top of the world everytime that happened because not only had I climbed the mountain in the dark and fog, but I had also done it on wet roads. The Tiger 800 XRx and XCx were never fazed by soggy roads.
A few more deep breaths of the fresh air and it was time to head back.
Taking it easy this time due to heavier traffic, I flicked through the LCD display. It was so easy to use with the new switchgear, joystick and menu system. Every bit of pertinent information was there, presented in easy to read format.
Back in the stifling traffic of KL, the Triumph Tiger 800 XCx continued to perform sweetly. It had gone from a daily commuter to a sport-tourer to a canyon blaster and back to daily commuter in supreme comfort without even having to touch a single ride mode switch, although it would’ve been so easy to do so.
It must’ve been a match made in heaven because the Tiger 800 had gone beyond what I had expected of any bike. My paradigm had been shattered, shredded and scorched. But I didn’t resist. I couldn’t resist.
I had loved adventure-tourers from that point on, and it was the Triumph Tiger 800 that was responsible for the change.
I have a new problem now. It’s no secret that I love the Tiger 800 XCx, but I’ve fallen in love with the Triumph Tiger 800 XRx, too. Especially the “White Tiger” such as this one we tested. The XCx is a superbly capable bike on both road and offroad, while the XRx is superbly capable on the road and can do some light offroading.
Why not both?
Oh dear.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATONS
ENGINE
Engine type
Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, inline-Triple
Compression ratio
11.3 : 1
Bore X Stroke
74.0 mm X 61.9 mm
Displacement
800 cc
Fuel system
Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection
Maximum power
94 bhp (70 kW) @ 9500 RPM
Maximum torque
79 Nm @ 8050 RPM
TRANSMISSION
Clutch
Wet, multi-plate
Gearbox
6-speed
CHASSIS
Front suspension
Showa 43mm upside down forks, 180 mm travel
Rear suspension
Showa monoshock with hydraulic preload adjustment, 170 mm travel
It’s useful to know a few math formulas and conversions.
They could come in handy whenever the situation arises.
Math isn’t scary, they can be downright fun instead.
You may have pulled up at a petrol station to inflate your tyres and the measurement unit on the air pump left you scratching your head. Or you’ve travelled a certain distance in a given time but uncertain on how to calculate the average speed. Or how many c.c.’s (cubic centimetres) is that 114 cubic inch Harley engine?
Fret not, because we’re here to help. We work with these numbers on an almost daily basis.
1. Pound-per-square-inch (psi) to kilopascal (kPa)
We’re familiar with these two pressure measurements as tyre pressures. While kilopascal is more widely used, there are still many pumps that still measure in pounds-per-square-inch.
To convert, multiply by 6.9 kpa. For example, 32 psi X 6.9 = 220.8 kPa.
What about bar? You just need to multiply the number by 100 to obtain the kilopascal reading i.e. 2.5 bar X 100 = 250 kPa.
2. Distance (km), speed (km/h) and time (hr.)
These three are interlinked. The easiest way to remember the formulas among them is to draw a triangle and place Distance (D) on top of Speed (S) and Time (T).
Say if you travelled at a steady 110 km/h for 3 hours and 15 minutes:
Distance = 110 km/h X 3.25 hours = 357.5 km
Conversely, to determine your average speed after covering a known distance in a certain amount of time, say from the Rawang R&R to the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration Checkpoint (441km) in 3 hours, 25 minutes:
Speed = 441 km ÷ {[(3 hrs. X 60 minute) + 25 minutes] ÷ 60 minutes} = 441 ÷ (205 ÷ 60) = 441 km ÷ 3.42 hours = 128.95 km/h
Finally, say you’re planning a convoy and need to estimate the amount of time you’d spend in covering a distance at a certain speed. Again, let’s assume the 441 km distance at an average of 110 km/h.
Time = 441 km ÷ 110 km/h = 4 hours
3. Engine Displacement / Capacity (cc)
The formula is: Displacement = Pi X radius2 X height = P X (½ X bore)2 X stroke
As an example, let’s use the Triumph Tiger 800 which we tested recently. The bore’s 74.0 mm and stroke’s 61.9 mm. However, since we seek the result in cubic centimetres (cc), we have to first convert milimetres to centimetres. Hence, the bore and stroke are 6.19 cm and 7.40 cm, respectively. Let’s plug in the numbers.
Pi X (½ X 7.40)2 X 6.19 = 3.14 X (3.70)2 X 6.19 = 3.14 X 13.69 X 6.19 = 266.08 cc
That’s the displacement of one cylinder. Since the Tiger 800 is an inline-Triple, we multiply 266.08 by 3. Therefore, the engine displacement of the Triumph Tiger 800 is 266.08 X 3 = 798.26 cc, which is rounded to 800 cc.
4. Cubic Inches (c.i.) to Cubic Centimetres (cc)
As we mentioned earlier, Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycle engine capacities are published in cubic inches; such as the Milwaukee-Eight 114 and Thunder Stroke 111, respectively.
To convert, multiply cubic inch by 16.387. Therefore, 114 X 16.387 = 1868.12 cc, rounded to 1870 cc.
5. Kilowatt (kW) to mechanical horsepower (hp)
Certain manufacturers publish their products’ power output in kilowatt (kW), but we are more familiar with horsepower.
To convert, multiply kW by 1.34. Hence, 70 kW X 1.34 = 93.8 hp, or rounded to 94 hp.
6. Metric horsepower (PS) to mechanical horsepower (hp)
PS is known as metric horsepower, while HP is known as mechanical horsepower.
To convert, multiply ps by 0.986. Thus 35 PS X 0.986 = 34.5 hp
7. Foot-pound (ft. lb.) to Newton-Metre (Nm)
These two units concern torque, usually used to quote the engine’s “pulling power.”
To convert, multiply ft. lb. by 1.36. Hence, 90 ft. lb X 1.36 = 122.4 Nm
8. Miles-per-hour (mph) to kilometres-per-hour (km/h)
To convert, multiply mph by 1.61. Thus, 60 mph X 1.61 = 96.6 km/h
Similarly, 1 mile is equal to 1.61 kilometres.
9. Foot (ft.) to metre (m)
To convert, multiply by 0.30. Thus, 30 feet X 0.30 = 9.00 metres
10. Inch (in.) to milimetre (mm)
To convert, multiply by 25.4. Hence, 3.5 inches X 25.4 = 88.9 mm
11. Pound (lb.) to kilogram (kg)
To convert, multiply by 0.45. Thus, 410 lb. X 0.45 = 184.5 kg
12. Fahrenheit (F) to Celsius (C)
Do bear in mind that the Fahrenheit scale is 32o when the temperature is 0o Celsius. So, in order to determine the temperature in Celsius, you need to take the Fahrenheit reading, subtract 32 and multiply by 0.5556.
For example: 90o F = (90 – 32) X 0.5556 = 58 X 0.5556 = 32.2o C
Shell Malaysia has launched their 2018 road safety campaign.
Called #SHELLSELAMATSAMPAI, it targets behavioural change in young bikers.
The campaign consists of four major programmes.
Kuala Lumpur, 23 April 2018 – Shell Malaysia has launched their 2018 road safety movement.
The campaign consists of four major programmes, all endeavored at conveying the importance of road safety among young motorcyclists and youth.
The Shell Malaysia Road Safety Movement, popularly known as #ShellSelamatSampai (#SSS) is a Shell Malaysia social investment programme that comprehensively drives road safety awareness and behavioural change among motorcyclists and youth, who make up the highest fatality rate in road crashes in Malaysia.
For the first time, Shell Advance will be actively conduct motorcycle maintenance workshops to inculcate the habit of proactive maintenance and proper lubrication practice. Properly maintained vehicles, including motorcycles, are crucial in reducing the number of road accidents.
This year, #ShellSelamatSampai (#SSS) consists of four main components, namely #SSS School Outreach, #SSS MyLesen, #SSS School Challenge and #SSS Varsity Challenge.
The #SSS School Outreach programme will see Shell Malaysia attempt to drive home its ‘Goal Zero’ accident-free zone message through a fun, educational and interactive roadshow to 20 schools nationwide.
In the #SSS MyLesen programme, Shell will sponsor 40 Sabahan students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Badin in Tuaran and SMK Inanam in Kota Kinabalu to obtain their valid motorcycle-riding license. The selected students would have the opportunity to undergo training on defensive riding, road safety awareness and how to handle emergencies, and a motorcycle maintenance workshop by Shell Advance. The programme sees a joint effort among Shell Malaysia, Road Transport Department (JPJ), traffic police (PDRM) and Ministry of Education.
The #SSS Varsity Challenge aims to challenge students in six selected universities across the country, namely Curtin University, Monash University, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Mara, to develop technical prototypes or devices for road safety intervention that could help prevent road-related accidents among road users with a Grand Prize of RM10,000 in cash awaiting the most impactful, creative and sustainable project.
This year the selected twenty schools nationwide would also take part in in the #SSS School Challenge, which is similar to the #SSS Varsity Challenge in terms of objective and reward.
Since 1957, Shell Malaysia has been a strong advocate for the improvement of road safety culture amongst Malaysians. For more information on #ShellSelamatSampai, please visit www.shell.com.my.
