Wahid Ooi, Author at BikesRepublic.com

2019 BMW S 1000 RR Features Hollow Stem Titanium Valves

BMW Motorrad reveals that the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR uses hollow stem titanium valves.
The hollow core lightens the valves.
Lighter valves allow higher RPM ceiling reliably.

BMW Motorrad reveals that the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR uses hollow stem titanium valves.

Everyday Life of Valves

Engine valves are subjected to some of the harshest environments inside an engine. Compared to pistons, they are not lubricated by engine oil hence they are not cooled by it. The valve head – the surface which faces the combustion chamber – is exposed to extremely hot combustions gases of around 700^oC.

If that’s not tough enough, each valve is slammed open and then slammed shut multiple times within a space of time. At the 14,200 RPM redline of the old S 1000 RR, each valve is opened and closed at 118 times persecond. The 2019 S 1000 RR is equipped with ShiftCam and has its rev limit increased to 14,600 RPM, on the other hand. Each valve now opens and closes 122 times per second at maximum revs.

How Does a Four-Stroke Engine Work

As light as valves are compared to the heavier reciprocating parts of the engine, they are still subjected to almost 5,000G of forces. That 5000 times their own weight.

Enter the Metal of the Titans

So, how do you reduce those forces resulting from inertia? Lighten the valves, of course. But how do you lighten something without compromising its strength? The answer was titanium. Titanium has the best strength-to-density ratio among all metallic elements.

Titanium valves are not new. They’ve been around from a few decades and were used in extensively in racing car engines before being adopted as aftermarket products for motorcycles in the mid-90’s. Since then, many manufacturers have utilized titanium valves in their high-performance models.

However, they still have mass and subsequently inertia when in motion. The engine needs more energy for the cam lobes to force the valves to open. The results are power wastage, lower maximum revs and lower reliability.

When Less is More

That’s why BMW Motorrad decided to fit hollow-stem valves to the new S 1000 RR.

But again, hollow stem valves aren’t new.

Car manufacturers have used hollow stem valves filled with sodium since the 70’s. Aftermarket valve specialist Ferrea Racing Components have been making titanium ones for many years.

Ferrea Racing Components hollow stem valves

However, the 2019 S 1000 RR has the distinction of being the first production motorcycle to use titanium hollow stem valves.

How are They Made?

A valve is made of two parts. The stem and base are then friction-welded into a single piece.

BMW bores out 2mm in the centre of the 5mm diameter valve, before welding them. BMW says the process is a secret.

Heaven MC Supports Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya in 3Damansara

Heaven MC attended a Harley-Davidson Petaling Jaya (HDPJ) event in 3Damansara.
HDPJ has a showcase in the 3Damansara Mall.
President of Heaven MC Nick Lum confirms their love to support events.

Motorcycling lifestyle needs both the dealership and its customer base to support one another. A failure at either end will inadvertently spell the end of the brand’s presence. This is why Heaven MC showed their support to the Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ) showcase at 3Damansara Mall.

The riders of Heaven MC first met up at Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya in The Gasket Alley for some breakfast before riding a short distance to 3Damansara Mall. There, there were provided a preferred parking space. The presence of the bikes and riders gave shoppers the opportunity to view not just the Harleys but also the lifestyle that comes with the brand.

HDPJ also made it possible for us to speak to Nick Lum, the President of Heaven MC.

“The focus of Heaven MC is to support public events, for example, launches, weddings, and so forth, to provide the ‘boom’ effect to the public.”

“Heaven MC has been around for three-and-half years. We noticed wherever the group goes on Harleys, there is a lot of publicity and people would look at the group. Putting that into marketing perspective, there’s impact.”

“We were invited by HDPJ to bring 25 to 30 bikes to show the impact to the public. We did the last event for Skybar in Traders Hotel three weekends ago during MotoGP. The crowd was really excited when they saw Harleys coming. In short, the Harley brand, the soul, the sound, the looks, the culture attract public (attention), so it works. Conventional events as we know (are with) balloons, clowns, fireworks, firecrackers, dancers… To me those are conventional events.”

“As a club, Heaven MC found that it’s a better reason to ride (rather than) going around to eat every weekend.”

“Charities are good but there are so many other clubs doing it already, so we do it once a year.”

“So far so good (for Heaven MC). We have about 120 registered members. We can get up to 25 riders on average with short notice. Given enough time, we can confidently get 50 to 60 riders to join the ride or event. However if the organizer wants a bigger impact, we can invite our friends in other bike clubs to join forces to bring it to 80 to 100 bikes, easily.”

“The biggest impact for Heaven MC was when Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya opened. We joined forces with HOG PJ and managed to put in 500 bikes for the launch event. That was a success. It basically gave us the confidence to hold any other future events.”

“If you need our support during our events, you can look up Heaven MC. We are friendly.”

There you have it. It’s good to have bikers who attend events to lend support to them, while having some fun themselves. But as Nick said, don’t worry, these are friendly bikers.

2019 Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin Unveiled

The 2019 Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin has been introduced.
It features a high-performance engine and handling, with retro looks.
It is inspired by Triumph’s first high-performance bike, the 1937 Speed Twin.

The 2019 Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin breaks cover after being first revealed to dealers during the Global Dealer Conference in October.

The 2019 Bonneville Speed Twin is inspired by the original 1937 Speed Twin – Triumph’s first high-performance parallel-Twin. As such, the new bike is an uprated Bonneville T120.

But it isn’t the case of just slapping on new parts on a T120. Its styling is from the new 2019 Street Twin, but the Speed Twin combines the practicality of the T120 and performance of the Thruxton R.

Triumph pays lots of attention towards how their bikes handle. Consequently, the Speed Twin receives a new frame which was based on the Thruxton R. The front is suspended by cartridge forks. The rear twin shocks are adjustable for preload. Wheels are lightweight 17-inch aluminium shod with Pirelli Rosso Corsa 3 tyres. Four-piston Brembo calipers take care of front braking.

Its seating position is more upright than the Thruxton, but sportier than the regular T120. The ergonomics may look aggressive, but the seat is only 807mm tall.

Powering the bike is the 1200cc High-Power (HP) engine but it has been updated, as well. Triumph revised the engine by adding a magnesium cam cover, new clutch and side cases. The updates yielded a 2.5kg weight saving. Overall, the Speed Twin is 10kg lighter than the Thruxton at 196kg, dry.

There’s now 96 bhp and 112 Nm of torque. The Speed Twin also features ride-by-wire throttle, three riding modes, traction control and ABS.

There is no pricing yet, so stay tuned!

Azlan Shah Heads to Asia Superbike 1000 (ASB1000) in 2019

Current MSBK Champion Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman moves to Asia Superbike 1000 (ASB1000) in 2019.
He will join the quickly expanding ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team.
ASB1000 is the premier category in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship.

Current Malaysia Superbike (MSBK) Champion, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman will contest in the Asia Superbike 1000 (ASB1000) class in 2019.

The ASB1000 class is considered the premier category of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). Its rules are based widely on the World SuperStock 1000 series.

Azlah will team up with ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team. The 34-year-old will ride a BMW S 1000 RR.

“Azlan is one of the best riders we’ve got in Malaysia right now. It was amazing to me that he had not been snapped up by any of the factory teams yet, so we jumped on the chance to have such a high-calibre rider in our team,” said Bobie Farid, Team Principal of the ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team.

“No other rider can equal the depth of experience that Azlan will be bringing with him” said Bobie, referring to Azlan’s long and successful racing career that had taken him from the Malaysian Cub Prix Championship to the top of the Asia Road Racing Championship and subsequently to the Moto2 class of the MotoGP.

ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team is very active in the local motorcycle racing scene. Come 2019, they will field entrants in every class of the Malaysian Cub Prix Championship as well as the ARRC. The team is also weighting on entering the Spanish National Championship (CEV).

Honda Group Confirms Direction for Motorcycle Road Racing in Asia and Oceania

Honda Group of Companies in Asia and Oceania confirms their direction for motorcycle racing in the region.
Honda hopes to produce more world class riders and mechanics through their participation.
The program covers almost all racing series in the region.

The Honda Group of Companies in Asia and Oceania confirms their direction to strengthen Honda’s involvement in motorcycle racing in the Asia & Oceania region. The media briefing was held after the qualifying day at the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) at Buriram International Circuit, Thailand.

Honda confirmed it will pursue the challenges of motorcycle road racing in the region with an aim to develop world-class motorcycle riders and team mechanics from Asia. To achieve this goal, Honda is committed to creating a motorsport culture as well as developing the skills of racers and team mechanics throughout Asia.

In line with this commitment, Honda’s motorcycle subsidiaries in Asia including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India have been following the regional direction in their operations through a variety of motorsports activities such as establishing the Honda racing school, forming their own road racing teams, organizing local Honda one-make races, and competing in local, national, and international races.

Honda’s young riders and team mechanics continue to broaden their experience and improve their skills through intensive training and by competing in various races for local and national championships. The most promising stars will move up to greater challenges by joining Honda’s racing team for international races namely the ARRC. Outstanding riders and mechanics from Honda’s Asian teams will ultimately have a chance to join Honda’s racing teams for world-class races.

At the briefing, Honda also provided an update on its teams that are participating in the 2018 ARRC. Currently, Honda teams from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India are competing in the Underbone 150cc (UB150), Asia Production 250cc (AP250), and Supersport 600cc (SS600) classes. They have achieved impressive results, especially in the AP250 class, in which Honda rider Rheza Danica of the Astra Honda Racing Team from Indonesia is set to take the 2018 AP250 rider championship.

Honda also confirmed its participation in the inaugural Asia Superbike1000cc class (ASB1000) at the 2019 ARRC with Honda Asia-Dream Racing, a team for which top personnel from Honda subsidiaries and Honda racing teams across the Asia and Oceania region are being recruited. Former MotoGP racer Makoto Tamada was confirmed as team manager and Zaqhwan Zaidi from Malaysia as team rider. This year, the team finished in 17^thplace in the Japan Superbike 1000cc class (JSB1000) at the 2018 All-Japan Road Race Championship (JSB) and took 7^thplace in the Suzuka 8-hour Endurance Race. In 2019, Honda Asia-Dream Racing will continue to participate in both championships, challenging itself to perform better and finish in higher positions.

With the collaboration of team members from Honda companies throughout the Asia & Oceania region, Honda will strive to deliver the best race results to realize the dream of having a Honda team and riders become a challenger in world-class motorcycle racing.

Representing Honda were Mr. Soichi Yamana, Department Manager of Motorcycle Department, Motorsports Division, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.; Mr. Atsushi Ogata, Director of Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd.; Mr. Ryo Takahashi, General Manager of Motorcycle Business Division, Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd.; and Mr. Makoto Tamada, Team Manager of the Honda Asia-Dream Racing.

Lewis Hamilton Crashes Superbike, Messages Valentino Rossi Afterwards

Five-time and current Formula 1 champ Lewis Hamilton crashed his superbike.
He rode alongside Yamaha WorldSBK riders Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark.
He messaged his love for motorcycles and a request to Valentino Rossi afterwards.

Lewis Hamilton crashed during his track outing. He later posted his about love for two wheels and a request to visit Valentino Rossi’s ranch.

The five-time and current Formula 1 champion rode during a special track day at Jerez. Hamilton was riding a specially-prepared all-black Yamaha YZF-R1 alongside World Superbike riders Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark. The event was organized by the Pata Yamaha World Superbike Championship squad and British track day company No Limits.

However, Hamilton had a small crash at Turn 5 but was lucky to walk away from it.

He posted a few messages on his Instagram account the next day, admitting his love for motorcycle racing. But he stressed that he had no plans to switch over to two wheels.

“Miss riding the superbike already. FYI I’ve always loved two wheels more than four. Always wanted a motorbike since I was a kid however I am super grateful my dad got me a kart. But current new love is out on track on my bike.”

“I have the highest regard and respect for these motorbike riders. It’s a much different discipline however [it] require[s] some of the same basics such as time, patience, fearlessness, focus, agility and risk taking – all of which make a sport exciting.”

“And yes, I’d love to race bikes. But these guys are on another level so I think I’ll just enjoy riding and testing the limits on track.”

Hamilton concluded his post with this message: “Valentino Rossi I need to come to the ranch asap,” he said.

The Briton is no stranger to the world of motorcycles. He is the ambassador for MV Agusta who created the F4 LH44 and Brutale 800RR LH44 special models in tribute to him. He spent two days lapping around a racetrack in California with Cal Crutchlow. He even said he will join MotoGP in 2018 but later admitting that it was an April Fool’s Day prank.

Sick couple of days in Jerez ???@alexlowes22 @mickeyvdmark @PataYamahaWSBK @MonsterEnergy pic.twitter.com/1uIwgmKx7r

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) December 2, 2018

Aprilia RS 660 Spotted Testing

The Aprilia RS 660 middleweight sportbike was spotted testing.
Sources report seeing one in street trim and another in race trim.
We are still awaiting news on its launch date and pricing.

Remember the sexy-looking Aprilia RS 660 Concept at EICMA 2018? Spy pictures of it testing have started to make to make rounds in Facebook.

There were two bikes spotted: One in street trim and another in race trim.

This is what we know so far. It is a parallel-Twin engine based on the RSV4 but with the rear cylinder bank removed. We are curious to see how Aprilia arrived at 660cc since half of 1078cc is over 500cc…

Aprilia claims the bike may do more than 100 bhp, making the RS 660 a supertwin. The Noale-based manufacturer is aiming for a lightweight and high-performance bike. It would be eligible for the Isle of Man TT’s Lightweight TT class if the engine is below 650cc.

We also hope that Aprilia will include their APRC electronic rider aids package on the bike.

The question on everyone’s mind is the price, of course. Will it be priced to compete toe-to-toe with the current crop of 600s and 650s? Needless to say, there’s no point if the RS 660 costs in the regions of RM 70,000 to 80,000. However, Piaggo has shown their aggressive pricing strategy with the Moto Guzzi V85 TT recently. The price has totally undercut bikes of the same category from all other manufacturers.

Another question is when will the RS 660 be launched? 2020 is when Euro5 regulations are implemented, so it could be so. Lastly, will Aprilia use the engine platform to build other type of bikes?

We shall see.

Countdown to the 2019 Dakar Rally

The 2019 Dakar Rally begins from 7^thJanuary 2019.
It is the world’s toughest off-road endurance race.
However, the rally sees its largest participation in its history.

The countdown to the 2019 Dakar Rally has begun. “The Dakar” is known as the world’s toughest off-road endurance race.

The Rally’s 41^stedition will begin on 7^thJanuary 2019. 534 competitors on motorcycles, cars, UTVs, trucks, SxS and motorcycles will then begin the 5000-km trek. They will climb from sea level to 5000 metres of elevation over sand dunes, rocks and everything in between. The distance includes 3000-km of intense special stages through extreme weather conditions. It’s all designed to test the riders’ mental and physical perseverance, besides machine endurance.

However, there is a change for the upcoming rally. Held in Peru only, and will not involve neighbouring countries of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. On the positive side, such an arrangement avoids the border complications that have dogged the earlier editions.

The 2019 Dakar Rally breaks a number of its own records. The rookie class sees the largest number of participants. The women’s class is also the largest yet with 17 participants. The new “Original by Motul Class” has 34 entries. Originally known as the “Malle Moto class,” the entrants can only fix their vehicles with the limited amount of supplies that can fit into a small trunk. (Malle is the French word for trunk.)

A new addition is the “half marathon.” Cars, trucks and SxS’s that have pulled out earlier by the opening half will get a second chance to complete the race. The category begins after the half-time rest day but as a separate classification. The competitors will wear orange plates and will not be included in the top 25 starters.

Do check in with us from time to time as we bring you the happenings from this most-punishing race.

Marc Marquez Number One Crasher in MotoGP 2018

There were so many crashes over every race weekend in 2018.
But it was Marc Marquez who topped the MotoGP crash list.
However, it was Stefano Manzi who crashed most often over the three classes.

Marc Marquez may had captured his fifth MotoGP crown in 2018, but he also tops the crash list.

Marquez hit the ground 23 times last year, ahead of Alvaro Bautista who found the kitty litter on 21 occasions. The former would have destroyed many more bikes if not for his superhuman feats in saving sure crashes. However, 23 crashes are an improvement over the 2017 season during which he wiped out 27 times.

The world champion crashed mostly in practice sessions as he pushed his tyres and bikes to discover their limits. He will then know how much he could push during the race.

Other Top 5 crashers were Xavier Simeon (18), and Cal Crutchlow tying with Jack Miller at 17.

Malaysia’s Hafizh Syahrin fell 9 times.

However, Marquez’s number of crashes pales in comparison to riders of the other classes. Stefano Manzi (whose front brake lever was squeezed by Romano Fenati) went belly up 31 times in Moto2. Manzi was followed by Lowes (27), Marco Bezzecchi (24), Jorge Navarro (24), Gabriel Rodigro (22). Marc Marquez would have slipped in 5^thplace.

There were 303 crashes in MotoGP, 418 in Moto2 and 356 in Moto3. That totals up to 1,077. The number is a reduction from 1,126 in 2017.

More Ducati V4 Models on the Way

Ducati is looking forward to developing more V4-powered road bikes.
They will launch 29 new bikes in the next 5 years.
The new bikes will also cover segments in which Ducati is now absent.

Ducati’s CEO, Claudio Domenicali has revealed that more Ducati V4 models are on the way. Domenicali said it due was the Ducati Panigale V4’s success.

Ducati has planned to release 29 new bikes in the next 5 years, including in segments they are currently absent from. As such, the Italian manufacturer will utilize the V4 engine in different platforms.

Although they have not revealed where they will install the 213 bhp 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine next, many are of the opinion that Ducati are considering naked, touring and adventure bikes.

Domenicali also expressed surprise with the Panigale V4 R superbike racing homologation model. It uses a 998cc V4 engine instead of the 1103cc V4.

“The V4 R positively surprised us,” he said. “It was a difficult exercise already with the reduced capacity to keep the same horsepower, but the engine then responded quite strongly to the improvements that we made, so that by the end we found a bit more (power) than we expected. In many ways it is the most advanced bike we have ever developed.”

Wait a minute. Why is the V4 R “the most advanced bike” Ducati has ever created? That’s because MotoGP does not allow electronic package, winglets, electronic suspension and ABS.

2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT Price Revealed in America

The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT adventure’s price has been revealed in America.
The V85 TT is full of features to rival other bikes in the category.
It is aggressively priced among its rivals.

The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT is the Italian firm’s foray into the still-expanding adventure market. Teased earlier and finally officially launched at INTERMOT this year. There is much enthusiasm for it since.

There are not much other details since then. However, we just learned that Moto Guzzi has revealed the V85 TT’s price in the United States of America.

Priced aggressively, it starts at USD 11,990 (RM 50,202.13) MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price) for the grey paint option. On the other hand, the V85 TT Adventure, complete with red/yellow/white paint and panniers retails for USD 12,990 (RM 54,389.13).

Those are prices in the States, of course. Both bikes will be available in the US from May 2019. We will get confirmation if and when it will appear here.

The Moto Guzzi V85 TT is chock-full of features. Its new 850cc, 90^oV-Twin engine produces 80 bhp and 80 Nm of torque.

That price includes a TFT screen, LED lighting, Cornering ABS, traction control, and three riding modes. The suspension is fully adjustable with 170mm travel up front. Moto Guzzi claims the 21-litre fuel tank can return a range of up to 402 kilometres. The bike weighs in at 208 kg, dry.

Looks like the middleweight adventure market wars is heating up!

2019 BMW C 400 GT Introduced

The 2019 BMW C 400 GT was introduced at EICMA 2018.
It shares the same engine and frame as the C 400 X, but the GT is meant for touring.
It has many great features as dual front disc brakes, 6.5-inch TFT screen, etc.

The 2019 BMW C 400 GT was introduced at EICMA 2018 as part of BMW Motorrad’s Urban Mobility range.

The C 400 GT is geared as a grand touring (hence “GT”) maxi scooter despite sharing the same platform as the popular C 400 X. The latter has won many awards as the best scooter in European countries, by the way.

Its 350cc, SOHC, four-valve engine produces 34 bhp at 7,500 RPM and 35 Nm of torque at 6,000 RPM. It is mated to a steel underbone frame of the X, but the suspension is revised. The GT has more bodywork and a larger screen for protection against the elements. The seat is also larger for long-range comfort.

It uses 43mm telescopic forks that are mated to a 15-inch front wheel. The rear is suspended by twin shocks with a 14-inch wheel. The C 400 GT uses two 265mm discs in front, gripped by two four-piston calipers. The rear brake is also a 265mm disc but handled by a single-piston caliper.

Touring capabilities include improved storage spaces, consisting of two glove boxes and a flex-case under the seat. Other standard features are all-around LED lighting, keyless ignition, two-channel ABS, steel-braided brake hoses and stability control.

Of course, BMW Motorrad offers plenty of options. Customers can choose between the analog/LCD or 6.5-inch full-colour TFT instrument panel. The latter option hooks up multimedia functions such as your smartphone, music and GPS.

Bikesrepublic

Wahid Ooi

BMW Motorrad reveals that the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR uses hollow stem titanium valves.

The hollow core lightens the valves.

Lighter valves allow higher RPM ceiling reliably.

Everyday Life of Valves

Enter the Metal of the Titans

When Less is More

How are They Made?

Heaven MC attended a Harley-Davidson Petaling Jaya (HDPJ) event in 3Damansara.

HDPJ has a showcase in the 3Damansara Mall.

President of Heaven MC Nick Lum confirms their love to support events.

The 2019 Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin has been introduced.

It features a high-performance engine and handling, with retro looks.

It is inspired by Triumph’s first high-performance bike, the 1937 Speed Twin.

Current MSBK Champion Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman moves to Asia Superbike 1000 (ASB1000) in 2019.

He will join the quickly expanding ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team.

ASB1000 is the premier category in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship.

Honda Group of Companies in Asia and Oceania confirms their direction for motorcycle racing in the region.

Honda hopes to produce more world class riders and mechanics through their participation.

The program covers almost all racing series in the region.

Five-time and current Formula 1 champ Lewis Hamilton crashed his superbike.

He rode alongside Yamaha WorldSBK riders Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark.

He messaged his love for motorcycles and a request to Valentino Rossi afterwards.

The Aprilia RS 660 middleweight sportbike was spotted testing.

Sources report seeing one in street trim and another in race trim.

We are still awaiting news on its launch date and pricing.

The 2019 Dakar Rally begins from 7thJanuary 2019.

It is the world’s toughest off-road endurance race.

However, the rally sees its largest participation in its history.

There were so many crashes over every race weekend in 2018.

But it was Marc Marquez who topped the MotoGP crash list.

However, it was Stefano Manzi who crashed most often over the three classes.

Ducati is looking forward to developing more V4-powered road bikes.

They will launch 29 new bikes in the next 5 years.

The new bikes will also cover segments in which Ducati is now absent.

The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT adventure’s price has been revealed in America.

The V85 TT is full of features to rival other bikes in the category.

It is aggressively priced among its rivals.

The 2019 BMW C 400 GT was introduced at EICMA 2018.

It shares the same engine and frame as the C 400 X, but the GT is meant for touring.

It has many great features as dual front disc brakes, 6.5-inch TFT screen, etc.

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The 2019 Dakar Rally begins from 7^thJanuary 2019.