Bikesrepublic

Wahid Ooi

  • The three new Vespa models embody style, character and heritage.

  • The Vespa 946 (RED), Sprint Carbon and Sei Giorni caters to riders who seek specific characteristics.

  • All three models are available at Naza Premira and authorized dealers nationwide from September 2018.

The official Vespa distributor in Malaysia, Naza Premira has introduced three limited edition, stylish and exclusive Vespa modesl: The 946 (RED), Sprint Carbon and Sie Giorni.

Vespas are the expression of uniqueness, a distinctive lifestyle and Italian elegance. From the brand’s interpretation, Vespas are “Not for Everyone.”

The three new models are distinctively catered for different niches for those who seek different flavors instead of cookie-cutter volume production bikes. The exclusive Vespa 946 (RED), Vespa Sprint Carbon and Vespa Sei Giorni are available for viewing from September 2018 at selected authorised Vespa dealerships and outlets nationwide.

Vespa 946 (RED): For those who crave uniqueness and style

This model is the all-red special version of the 946. It has to be said that the 946 is uniquely styled while still retaining the Vespa DNA. Apart from that, the 946 (RED) also has safety features such as dual disc brakes, dual-channel ABS, and Piaggio Group’s proprietary traction control system called Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR).

The 946 (RED)’s bodywork is steel and complemented by aluminium components such as the mudguard and side covers that house the engine, transmission and other mechanical parts.

The bike is powered by a modern and eco-friendly 150cc, single-cylinder, three-valved, four-stroke engine, which is fuel efficient, emits very little emissions and quiet.

It is priced from RM 66,000 and available only in red.

Vespa Sprint Carbon: For sporty riders

The Vespa Sprint Carbon combines sporty personality and innovative technologies to invoke riding pleasure without sacrificing the heritage of vitality and youthfulness of the vespino.

It is lightweight and small while being both comfortable and protective. Being lightweight makes the bike extremely agile which is perfect for youths and those young at heart to enjoy around town.

The body is made entirely of steel. It also features a rectangular headlight and large 12-inch aluminium-alloy wheels. There is a USB socket inside the leg shield backplate compartment.

The Vespa Sprint Carbon is powered by Piaggio’s new and modern i-Get 150cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine which provides good performance, lower operating costs, high fuel efficiency and lower noise. The engine conforms to the stringent Euro 4 standard.

ABS is standard.

The Vespa Sprint Carbon is priced from RM 17,400 and is available only in black.

Vespa Sei Giorni: For those who seek travel and adventure

The original Sport “Sei Giorni” was made specifically for the “Sei Giorni Internazionale di Varese” competition in 1951. The bike went on to win 9 gold medals.

As such, the new Sei Giorni is the spiritual heir of the great bike. Made in limited numbers, each bike has a “Special Edition” plate bearing a serial number.

The bike is designed with characteristic elemets such as the “faro basso” low headlight position on the front fender, a handlebar which mimics the original, exposed metal pipe, and a black number plate. It also has a seat which mimics the single rider racing seat of the Sei Giorni but it is capable of carrying a passenger.

The Sei Giorni is powered by Vespa’s most powerful engine – a 300cc, single-cylider, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, EFI unit which produces 20.9 bhp (15.6 kW) at 7750 RPM.

As part of the GTS range, the Sei Giorni has a large helmet compartment and comfortable seats for long distance riding. It is also equipped with a USB port and front LED turnsignals that perform as daylight running lights.

This model is available only in green and priced from RM 38,000.

  • It has been rumoured that the new R 1250 GS will be powered by a new Boxer engine with variable valve timing.

  • A promotional video has surfaced online confirming the rumors.

  • The video also illustrates how the “Shift Cam” technology works besides the look of the new GS.

It was hotly rumoured that the new 1254cc Boxer engine in the new 2019 BMW R 1250 GS will feature variable valve and cam timing but there was no concrete proof. But now, a promotional video has surfaced online which illustrates the new Boxer engine with “Shift Cam” technology, courtesy of Motocular.com.

The system aims to provide the best acceleration along with high power gains, while maintaining smooth power delivery, and lower fuel consumption as well as exhaust emissions to meet the tough Euro 5 standard.

To achieve those targets, the BMW Shift Cam system is simple, utilizing an intake camshaft with two cam profiles and a mechanical shift gate at one end.

At low engine loads (lower RPMs), the shift gate engages the camshaft and locks the low lift and short duration cam lobes over the finger followers. That way, both intake and exhaust vavles shut quickly for less overlap, promoting low-end torque.

Conversely, at high engine loads (higher RPMs), the shift gate… er… shifts the camshaft to present the high lift and longer duration cam lobes. Consequently, the intake valves shut later for more valve overlap timing, raising the engine’s power output.

It is the best of both worlds. (You may read more about valve overlap in this article.)

The new Boxer is claimed to produce 136 bhp and 143 Nm of torque, up from 125 bhp and 125 Nm of the present 1176cc engine.

Valve cover of the new engine – Courtesy of motocular.com

Besides seeing how the new engine works, the video also revealed how the 2019 BMW R 1250 GS will look like.

As we have reported earlier, the new engine may also power the entire Boxer-engined line-up. The R 1250 GS and new models should make their first official appearance at the Intermot show in a few weeks’ time.

  • The Moto Guzzi V85 TT replaces the cancelled Stelvio 1200.

  • The photos of the production version show that it is off-road capable.

  • The production V85 TT should appear at EICMA in November.

Moto Guzzi has finally unveiled the V85 TT adventure bike’s official production model photos.

The V85 concept was unveiled at EICMA 2017 to much anticipation as it seeks to replace the Stelvio 1200 which had been cancelled as it could not meet the Euro 4 emissions standards.

Moto Guzzi V85 Dual-Sport Patents Leaked

The production V85 TT looks remarkably similar to its EICMA concept, with only small changes. While Moto Guzzi did not release the bike’s specs, we could draw a few conclusions from these pictures.

Firstly, it surely looks more off-road capable that the V7 III Rough. We could see the headlamp mounts have been beefed up.

Apart from that, the handguards also carry the mirrors. Moving to the back, the rear portion of the subframe has fewer joints in its latticework. The production version’s exhaust canister is also larger and painted in black, besides having a heat shield next to the passenger’s footpeg.

The shape of the fuel tank is the same, although the paint scheme’s striping is diagonal instead of being horizontal.

The front brakes consist of twin discs clamped by radially-mounted, four-piston Brembo calipers.

The engine should be a new 850cc unit, said to produce 79 bhp, compared to the V9’s 850cc engine which produces 53.6 bhp.

The V85 TT will feature a fully-digital LCD instrument display. There is a compass bearing surrounding the screen. We wonder if it is merely decorative? (Please refer to the photo below).

What intrigues us is the two-helmet symbol in the display. The bike does not seem to be suspended by electronically-adjustable suspension, so that symbol could only mean integrated Bluetooth connectivity between the rider and passenger.

The smartphone symbol points towards Piaggio’s app which integrates with the bike to show upcoming service, locating the bike in a parking lot, locating the nearest petrol station and helping to call pre-stored emergency contacts.

Going further, notice the rain symbol and the word “PIOGGIA”? Pioggia means rain in Italian and it looks like the bike has ride modes and a ride-by-wire throttle.

  • The fully-faired BMW G 310 made its appearance at the BMW Motorrad Days in Japan.

  • The concept looks like a smaller S 1000 RR, clad in carbon-fibre.

  • BMW should show off the production model at Intermot and EICMA.

It looks like the BMW G 310 range will gain a sportbike, called the G 310 RR.

The BMW G 310 R (roadster) and G 310 GS (adventure) versions were launched to a great reception, not only in Asia where they were first intended but also in Europe and the Americas. Heck, we even saw many G 310 GS entered in the recent GIVI Rimba Raid Mat Daling and they performed well. What is missing from the line-up though is the sport version.

While it has been rumored for some time that the German manufacturer is working on a G 310 RR, they have been very secretive about it, hence there were little news and pictures to reveal the bike.

Well, BMW has dropped a bomb on us. The fully-faired version made its first appearance at BMW Motorrad Days in Japan.

As evident from the photo, the G 310 RR concept’s styling is heavily influenced by its popular sportbike sibling, the S 1000 RR, including the headlamps and the sinewy fairing on the right side complete with the trademark shark gills. Yes, we are sure some may even all it the “Baby S.”

Courtesy of autocarindia.com

The exhaust has been moved from the side to underneath the seat, and all the bodywork is in carbon fibre.

Speaking about carbon fibre, we do not think the material will be used in the final production bike. Still, having one more entry to the 300cc single-cylinder in the market will definitely light up the lightweight sportbike wars.

The production model should make its debut at the Intermot show at the earliest, or EICMA in November. Let us hope the production model looks as great as this concept!

  • The 2018 Moto Guzzi V7 III Rough is the Italian manufacturer’s “scrambler” variant.

  • Built on the V7 III platform, the Rough has limited off-road capabilities.

  • Apart from the tyres and a few design cues, the Rough is fundamentally the same as other V7 III.

It seems that virtually every manufacturer which has a modern retro line-up features at least one “lightweight adventure” variant, usually called a “scrambler.” Moto Guzzi is not left out in this revolution either, with this 2018 V7 III Rough.

The Rough is part of Moto Guzzi’s popular V7 III line-up. Its styling outline is the same, with minor differences.

The fuel tank is painted in matt silver, while the front and rear fenders are polished aluminium. It also sports larger sized wire-spoke wheels shod with adventure tyres and minimal bodywork, signaling its intent. This means the bike could be ridden on the road and on light off-road situations.

The V7 III Rough is powered by the same 744cc transversely-mounted 90o V-Twin which serves the V7 III range. The fuel-injected, air-cooled, OHV engine produces 52 bhp @ 6200 RPM and 60 Nm of torque at 4900 RPM.

It has Moto Guzzi Traction Control (MGTC) but no power modes. ABS is standard on both ends. The front brake consists of a 320mm floating disc clamped by a Brembo caliper.

Unlike other “scramblers,” the Rough’s dual exhausts are mounted in the standard positions instead of being mounted high up. As such it should be able to tackle the lighter off-road stuff. On the plus side, the low exhausts allow for more luggage mounting options.

All in all, the V7 III Rough provides Moto Guzzi fans with another option. Priced at RM 69,900 (basic selling price excluding tax, road tax and insurance), it is now available at Moto Guzzi Malaysia’s showroom in Petaling Jaya.

Please follow Moto Guzzi Malaysia’s official Facebook page for more details or drop by at the location below.

  • Don’t let money hold you back from your passion.

  • TOC Automotive College offers an education loan for anyone who wishes to enrol in the Superbike Technician Course.

  • The TOC Bina Bakat Program study loan means students do not have to pay until find a job.

A good education is lot like using a good umbrella when it rains. It protects you from everything that life throws at you and equips you with the necessary skill to survive situations. A certification program does exactly that and more often than not, lets you indulge in your passion.

TOC Automotive College recently introduced the Superbike Technician Course, a specialist course that aims to equip future motorcycle mechanics with the proper knowledge and certification to secure jobs. The course also aims to address the fact that motorcycle mechanics generally do not have any form of certification or professional training, but rather rely on knowledge handed down by friends or family.

There is an obvious glut in the industry when it comes to certified motorcycle mechanics. In a recent interview with the after sales manager of GB Workshop Idon Pang, it was made clear that the industry lacks “engineers” who are well trained to handle modern motorcycles.

“There is a big gap between current motorcycle technology and the people who are certified to handle and maintain these technologies or make it even better. The gap is very big,” explained Idon.

Working with Certified Technicians: An Employer’s View

The TOC Automotive College aims to address the obvious lack of professional talent in the industry through the Superbike Technician Course. But acknowledging the fact that certification courses can be expensive to pursue, the TOC Automotive College is offering a unique education loan called TOC Bina Bakat Program.

The TOC Bina Bakat program offers up to 100% loan for youths who want to pursue a course at the TOC Automotive College. Youths who qualify for the loan are not required to repay the education loan until the day they secure a job and begin to earn a salary.

Are you interested to pursue your passion in motorcycles, to begin a career that lets you indulge in your passions? Then click here for more information regarding the Superbikes Technician Course and the Bina Bakat education loan program.

So what are you waiting for? If it has always been your dream to work in the motorcycle service line, or to start your very own motorcycle workshop, then this is the perfect platform to get you started on the path to achieving your dreams. Don’t wait, find out more about the TOC Superbike Technician Course at www.toc.edu.my or call (+603) 7960 8833 for more details.

CLICK HERE to know more about TOC’s Superbike Technician Course.

  • Technician Khairil Anuar steadfastness in using Shell Advance lubricants paid off at last.

  • He won the Grand Prize of the Shell Advance Buy & Win Consumer Contest.

  • The prize happened to be Khairil Anuar’s dream Ducati Monster 797.

Sometimes, dreams do come through, especially for Khairil Anuar Abdul Rasol, 35, when he won a brand-new Ducati Monster 797 through his participation in the recent Shell Advance Buy & Win Consumer Contest.

“My discipline did payoff. I have always only used fully synthetic Shell Advance Ultra as it goes further without impacting the performance and makes my bike feel lighter and more powerful. I was surprised when I received the call informing me of the good news. I am so thrilled as I did not expect to win the Ducati Monster,” shared Khairil, who is a Technician by trade.

The contest was held between 1st April to 31st May 2018. It was open to any motorcycle owner who purchased any of Shell’s Advance 4T motorcycle engine lubrication worth a minimum or RM 25 or more in a single receipt from authorised Shell Advance retailers.

Khairil Anuar Abd Rasol with his Ducati Monster 797

The contest was aimed at rewarding bikers who are passionate and trust Shell Advance products to protect their prized motorcycles.

Shell is the Technical Partner of Ducati in MotoGP, allowing them to develop products that benefit motorcycle owners worldwide with cutting edge technology, such as the Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology. “PurePlus” derives its name from its virtually pure and crystal-clear base oil which is derived from Shell’s Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) process. A clean base oil is important in ensuring a lubricant that not only provides the best protection, but also holds its performance for a longer period of time without breaking down and leaving harmful deposits in the engine.

Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus 3000km Test & Review

As such, every new Ducati which leaves the factory is pre-filled with Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology.

Look out for more great programs from Shell Malaysia, such as the one at the Shell Malaysia MotoGP from 2nd to 4th November 2018.

  • The 2018 Moto Guzzi Audace Carbon represents the dark side of the manufacturer’s line-up.

  • It is meant to be a power cruiser, with many beautiful details.

  • Priced from RM 123,000 (basic selling price not inclusive of SST, road tax and insurance).

Moto Guzzi may be the represent the “heritage” side within the Piaggio group of motorcycle brands, but that does not mean the brand is without “characters” such as this Audace Carbon.

The Audace Carbon represents the “dark soul” of the Guzzi line-up along with the MGX21, a reflection of its name which means “audacious.” There is not one single chromed part. You could say it is the gothic version of the regular Audace.

Distinguishing parts include the carbon fibre cowlings on either side of the fuel tank and front mudguard. Besides that, the cylinder head covers and Brembo front brake calipers are painted in “Mandello Red,” to mark it as the dark lineage shared with the MGX21 and V7 III Carbon.

Moto Guzzi Malaysia introduces limited edition V7 III Carbon – Priced at RM74,900

At the heart of the Audace Carbon is a monstrous 1400cc, transversely-mounted, 90o V-Twin which punches out 96 bhp. Being a cruiser, however, means torque is always more important than outright horsepower. As such, the engine produces an arm-straightening 121 Nm at just 3000 RPM. It is also Euro 4 compliant, featuring 2 sparkplugs per cylinder and a 3-way catalytic converter. Along with an Eco Ride mode, you can have best mix of performance and fuel consumption while touring.

Speaking of modes, there are three power modes: Veloce (sport), Turismo (Touring), and Pioggia (Rain). The power maps are linked to the adjustable Moto Guzzi Traction Control (MGTC) thresholds. The power modes are courtesy of the ride-by-wire (rbw) throttle.

There is also cruise control, activated by a single switch on the left handlebar.

Lastly, the Audace Carbon includes the Moto Guzzi Multimedia Platform (MG-MP) which interfaces with the app in your smartphone to provide a complete suite of riding information. The system will even show the location of the nearest petrol station within range when the fuel level goes into reserve.

Priced from RM 123,000 (basic selling price not inclusive of SST, road tax and insurance), the 2018 Moto Guzzi Audace Carbon is now available at Moto Guzzi Malaysia. Please follow the Moto Guzzi Malaysia Facebook page for more information.

PICTURE GALLERY

  • Giovanni Castiglioni has announced that we will stop Romano Fenati’s contract with MV Agusta for the 2019 Moto2 Championship.

  • Fenati caused an uproar after squeezing Stefano Manzi’s front brake lever at the San Marino GP.

  • Fenati has been given a two-race ban but many are calling for his outright ban from motorcycle racing.

Giovanni Castiglioni announced on his Instagram account that MV Agusta he will stop Romano Fenati from his contracted ride for MV Agusta in the 2019 Moto2 season.

Hot headed Moto2 rider Fenati caused an uproar among racing fans for his actions at the San Marino Grand Prix yesterday. Ironically, Manzi is the current rider for the Forward Racing Team who are the team running MV Agusta and contracted Fenati for next season.

Romano Fenati Picked to Ride MV Agusta Moto2 Race Bike

Giovanni, the CEO of MV Agusta, did not mince his words and opined that Fenati’s actions was the “worse and saddest thing he had seen in a bike race,” before going on to say that he would have handed Fenati a lifetime ban if he was with Dorna.

Indeed, Fenati had been handed a 2-race ban by Dorna and FIM from the next GP but everyone, including us, is of the opinion that it is not enough. Banging fairings is one thing but applying the brakes at 230 km/h could have caused Manzi to flip over.

If the race ban is ridiculous, adding insult is Dorna docking Manzi with a six-grid placing penalty at the next GP. Other MotoGP riders have done worse stuff and gotten away.

Manzi had lunged inside Fenati at Turn Four when the latter went wide. Fenati turned back toward the apex and the two came together, and almost crashing. However, both riders managed to collect themselves and continue riding. Fenati then caught up with Manzi after Turn Seven and squeezed the latter’s front brake lever when they were side-by-side. Manzi would go on to crash in a separate incident two laps later, while Fenati was black flagged for “irresponsible riding.” Please click on the video below to watch.

  • Aprilia owners in Malaysia had a great day at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday.

  • Didi Resources, the new custodians of the brand organized a track day as promised.

  • A great mix of Aprilia models took to the track.

As promised by Didi Resources, the new custodian of Aprilia motorcycles in Malaysia, the inaugural (under new management) Aprilia Malaysia Track Day went off without a hitch yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit.

Didi Resources Organizes Inaugural Aprilia and Modclass Track Day

Besides rides and convoys, organizing a track day for Aprilia owners is the right thing to do as the activity demonstrates the manufacturer’s “Be a Racer” philosophy.

It was great to see owners showing up from all over Malaysia and even Singapore on all sorts of Aprilia models, because we are used to seeing the RSV4 superbike in the Malaysian Superbike Championship (MSBK), Malaysian Speed Foundation (MSF) and track days on weekends.

Instead, this track day organized by Didi Resources provided the opportunity to ride on track on any bike, more like a “Run what ya brung” track weekend.

 

Indeed, we saw the Shiver 750, Tuono V4, SL1000R, RSV Mille (the father of the RSV4), RS250 two-strokes, and an SR-Max 300 scooter ridden by Khairul Hafiz.

Of course, the riders attended a safety briefing after registration. Aprilia Malaysia had also prepared race suits and riding gear for rental to those who don’t own them.

It had rained on the track from early morning and the open track day riders came back to report on a slippery track after their first session. However, the Aprilians were lucky as their sessions started close to noon and went on through late afternoon. The sun had started to shine and dried the track by then.

It was visible that the participants had a great day although they were also exhausted after riding under the hot sun. Didi Resources also provided refreshments and lunch so that they had nothing to worry about except of having fun.

Lastly, while there weren’t many who took the track as expected despite the large number of Aprilians who showed up, we believe there will be many more in the next track days. We would also like to add that they event went without a hitch, and there was no mishap.

PICTURE GALLERY

  • Romano Fenati’s red mist moment in Moto2 at San Marino was captured on camera.

  • The fiery Italian had a run in with Stefano Manzi in the Moto2 race.

  • Fenati was DQ’d in the race but expect a heavy penalty soon.

If Moto3 is usually always exciting, let us be honest, Moto2 is snooze inducing (to put it kindly). The Moto2 contest at the San Marino GP was going to be no different, what with Francessco Bagnaia running away with his home grand prix. Well, that was until the red mist descended on racing bad boy Romano Fenati.

Fenati had been running down in 15th, when Stefano Manzi snuck his bike inside the formers into a right hander. When Fenati turned toward the apex, both riders came together and ran wide into the sand trap but managed to stay upright.

It was visible at that moment that Fenati was furious and he gesticulated wildly at Manzi.

As the camera focused adoringly (read: boringly) on the race leader, it suddenly cut away to Fenati’s team preparing the pitboard signaling that the rider had been DQ’d (disqualified). Soon, the we saw the slow-motion footage of Fenati riding up beside Manzi, then reaching out with his left hand to squeeze the latter’s front brake lever.

Romano Fenati had great talent and was one of the first riders picked by Valentino Rossi himself to ride in his SKY Racing Team by VR46 in the Moto3 Championship back in 2014. He was sometimes brilliant while totally nowhere in the remainder. Yet, the team knew he had raw talent and retained his services.

In 2016, he was suddenly dropped beginning the Austrian GP and his contract for the remainder of the year and 2017 was terminated. The team would later cite “behavioral issues in conflict with team policies.”

But Marinelli Honda decided to take gamble and signed Fenati for the 2017 Moto3 season. The team was rewarded with three victories and five second places as Fenati finished second overall.

He moved up to Moto2 this and suffered tremendously as he languished near the tail end. However, MV Agusta has signed him up for their foray into Moto2 in 2019.

Romano Fenati Picked to Ride MV Agusta Moto2 Race Bike

In our opinion, such action is unquestionably dangerous and inexcusable, besides being just one of a few cases. Dorna and the FIM has not published any actions on Fenati at the moment but expect a heavy penalty.

  • Ducati MotoGP rider Andrea Dovizioso controlled the San Marino MotoGP race and won.

  • Pole sitter Jorge Lorenzo crashed out with 2 laps to go.

  • Marc Marquez finished 2nd to extend his championship lead.

Jorge Lorenzo had been fully expected to win the MotoGP class at the San Marino GP after yesterday’s magnificent qualifying, in which he broke the track record twice over.

But it was a different scene during the morning’s warm-up session when Marc Marquez was the fastest, followed closely by the Ducati factory pairing of Andrea Dovizioso and pole-sitter Lorenzo.

That was not the full news, however, as the times of the top 11 riders were covered by less than 1 second.

There was also hope of a revival for the Movistar Yamaha factory team after Maverick Vinalez put his bike third on the grid.

Lorenzo shot into the lead during at the start, trailed by his teammate Dovizioso and the rest of the field. Dovi then started to shadow Lorenzo and finally overtook him on Lap 4. Behind them, Marquez fought his way through the group of riders to break free into third. He rode as hard as he could and caught the Lorenzo midway through the race.

Dovi meanwhile, rode a steady race and started to open up a gap until he was 1.8 seconds ahead of the chasing two.

Marquez made his move on Lorenzo with some fifteen laps to go, but Lorenzo fought back tenaciously. They kept passing and repassing each other but it was Lorenzo who finally made his overtake stick and started to close down on his Ducati teammate with 8 laps to go.

But Dovi managed to react to Lorenzo’s push. Behind him, Lorenzo was in turn pushed on by Marquez. Lorenzo decided to push harder and attempt to catch Dovi but made a mistake and low-sided his bike with two laps to go, handing 2nd place to Marquez.

Cal Crutchlow had broken free and finished on the final step of the podium.

Alex Rins battled with with his ex-Suzuki teammate Vinalez and prevailed to finish 4th. Pedrosa rode a quiet race to finish 6th while Rossi crossed the line in a lowly 7th.

Marquez extends his championship lead with 201 points, from Valentino Rossi who has 142 and Jorge Lorenzo with 130 points.

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