Wahid Ooi, Author at BikesRepublic.com

Ducati 900 SuperSport – Ten Things You Should Know

The 2017 Ducati 900 SuperSport has just been launched.
The Ducati SuperSport lineage is long and interesting.
Ducati now has a bike that’s sporty and practical.

Ducati Malaysia has just launched the 2017 Ducati 900 SuperSport tonight.

Also known as the SS , the SuperSport name is steeped in rich heritage. Here are Ten Things about the 900 SuperSport you should know.

1. HERITAGE

It all started in 1972, when Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari both rode the Super Sport prototype based on the 750 GT to victory and second place respectively, at the Imola 200. The desmodromic-valved V-Twin was designed by none other than the great Fabio “Dr. T” Taglioni (We wrote up about Fabio Taglioni in our Top Motorcycle Designers series).

The significance of these results meant that: 1. Ducati will forever be elevated into the ranks of superbike makers; 2. The use of the desmodromic (desmo) system in virtually every Ducati thereafter; 3. Ducati’s superbikes of that era were named Super Sport.

2. MIKE HAILWOOD
“Mike the Bike” came back to motorcycle racing in 1978 after an 11-year hiatus, joining the Isle of Man TT Formula 1 race, and rode the Ducati 900SS to an emphatic victory.

Mike Hailwood at the 1978 Isle of Man TT

The following year’s 900 Super Sport were painted in black with gold accents, but a limited-edition Mike Hailwood Replica was also produced, complete with green and red colours.

1979 900 Super Sport Mike Hailwood Replica

3. TAMBURINI’S 900SS

The “Michaelangelo of motorcycles,” Massimo Tamburini joined the Cagiva Group in 1985; Cagiva had already acquired Ducati by then.

Tamburini’s first Ducati was the Paso 750 which made its debut in 1986. It featured “boxy” front and rear ends, plus a bodywork which wrapped tightly around the mechanical parts of the bike.

Taking cues from the Paso, he next designed the 851 superbike for 1987. The 851 was the Ducati which started the Italian firm’s dominance in World Superbike.

And from the 851’s design, the 900 SuperSport was reborn in 1988. It was during this time that the SS name had started to be promoted by Ducati. The engine was the 904cc, air-cooled, two-valve, 90-degree, “Desmodue” V-Twin based on the Pantah, with crankcases derived from the 851. This same engine also went on to power the M900 Il Monstro.

But it was in 1991 that the 900SS found great popularity. Between 1991 to 1998, there were many special versions, including the SP (Sport Production), CR, and ultra-sexy SL (SuperLight). Although it was based on the design of the 851, the SS was far more practical for everyday riding and touring to some extent. The riding position didn’t fold the rider in half, instead it was more upright.

Sales of the 900SS started to decline in 1997, due to the popularity of the Monster and 916/996/998 superbike. Ducati offered the 900SS FE (Final Edition) in 1998.

Motorcycle enthusiasts of that era would still fondly remember the 900SS as the Ducati with a volcano-like exhaust rumble.

4. DECLINE OF THE SUPERSPORT

Tamburini had decided to stick with Cagiva who was now concentrating on the MV Agusta marque, leaving Pierre Terblanche to helm the design department at Ducati.

Terblanche designed the SuperSport for 1999, which was inspired by the Supermono he had penned years earlier. The design was too big of a departure from what the Ducatisti had been accustomed to and met heavy resistance in extreme cases.

The SS saw an increase in engine capacity up to 1000cc ultimately, but continued poor sales saw the model axed in 2007.

5. ALL-NEW 2017 DUCATI SUPERSPORT

Ducati revealed the 2017 SuperSport at Intermot 2016.

While Ducati has an extensive lineup in almost every segment, there was a glaring void in the “everyday sportbike” department. Ducati has the Multistrada for both sport-touring and adventure-touring. Conversely, the Panigale as the all-out sportbike. The Monster is a more practical naked sportbike, but doesn’t tour well. The Scrambler is more of a modern classic. The Diavel is a power-cruiser.

The result is this bike. But what should it be called? Why, the SuperSport, of course!

6. RIDING POSITION

The main draw of the 2017 900 SuperSport is its riding position – sporty yet comfortable.

As highlighted above, Ducati heard the requests of the bike buying crowd and built a bike that’s practical for everyday riding, sporty for weekend canyon bombing, comfortable for long-distance touring, and fast enough for the odd trackday.

Just like the 1991 to 1998 900SS.

7. REWORKED POWER DELIVERY

The new 900 SuperSport’s engine is shared with the 939 Hypermotard’s 937cc Testastretta, but has been retuned for low-end and wider torque spread throughout the engine’s range. 80% of the 96.7Nm of peak torque is available from just 3000 RPM.

Low-down and midrange torque is what’s most important when you ride on the streets, as it makes overtaking easier, besides saving your concentration and energy from having to shift often. Additionally, torque is what allows a bike to haul a passenger and luggage easier.

While 113bhp doesn’t seem a lot on paper, it’s already more powerful than the 916 superbike in 1994.

8. DAILY RIDING/TOURING

It may look like the Panigale, but the clip-ons are high set, the footpegs are lower, and the windscreen is adjustable by 50mm. Ducati also offers the “Touring Pack,” which includes a pair of semi-rigid panniers, a larger windscreen and heated grips.

9. SPORT RIDING/CANYON BLASTING

Ducati also offers the “Sport Pack,” which includes a carbon front mudguard, carbon fuel tank cover, articulated racing lever kit, and billet aluminium covers for the front and rear brake fluid reservoirs.

10. VERSIONS

The 2017 Ducati SuperSport is offered in two variants.

The SuperSport S is equipped with fully adjustable 48mm Ohlins fork and Ohlins rear shock. It also features a quickshifter that works on both upshifts and downshifts (the engine blips itself on downshifts). The clutch is therefore only used when starting and stopping. The SuperSport S comes in Ducati Red and Star White Silk. A colour-coordinated rear seat cover is included.

The base SuperSport model gets fully adjustable 41mm Marzocchi forks and Sachs shock that’s adjustable for preload and rebound only. It is available only in two-tone Ducati Red and Saturn Grey. Owners may install the quickshifter of the SuperSport S.

However, both models feature front and rear ABS, ride modes and Ducati Traction Control as part of the Ducati Safety Pack.

Petronas Raceline Malaysia Bids Hafizh Syahrin Farewell

Team Petronas Raceline Malaysia parting ways with Hafizh Syahrin in 2018.
Hafizh Syahrin has finished on the podium twice this year.
He has been with team Petronas Raceline Malaysia for the past 10 years.

Kuala Lumpur 20 OCTOBER 2017 – Team PETRONAS RACELINE MALAYSIA has announced that Hafizh Syahrin will not be continuing with the team in the 2018 Moto2 season, after an illustrious 10 year partnership. (Click here for Team Petronas Raceline Malaysia’s official Facebook page.)

Team PETRONAS RACELINE MALAYSIA has had a very successful relationship with Hafizh Syahrin, dating back to 2007, when the young rider made his debut at the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship. Barry Leong, the Team Principal then, first discovered the budding star when he was racing in the Pocket Bike League.

“It has been a wonderful journey, seeing Hafizh progress throughout his career from racing in the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix, moving up the different classes, and advancing on to the Asia Road Racing Championship. Hafizh, under Team PETRONAS RACELINE MALAYSIA, then participated in The Australian Formula Extreme Championship in 2011, before we moved on to race in the FIM CEV Championship in Spain” said Barry.

“It truly has been an honour and a privilege for us as a team, to have grown together with Hafizh. I have known and guided him since he was 12 years old, racing as a very talented boy, and now, a passionate young adult. However, for everything that has a beginning, there has to be an ending, and we have come to a natural and amicable one” he said.

“Malaysia still has a pool of untapped local talents that are waiting to be discovered. Moving forward, Team Raceline will continue to develop and groom these young talents in setting higher goals to fully maximize their potential” he added.

Hafizh Syahrin has scored a few podium finishes in Moto2, including two this year, one of them at Motegi last week. Syahrin picked up his “Pescao” nickname when he was contesting in the CEV Championships in Spain. According to the rider, because he had always done well in the rain, his crew called him, “Pescao,” meaning “fish” in Spanish. True to his nickname, his podium finishes were mostly from racing in wet conditions.

Since his full season debut in 2014, Hafizh has steadily improved on his overall standings – 19th in 2014, 16th in 2015, 9th in 2016, and is currently in 9th with three rounds to go.

Click here for Hafizh Syahrin’s official Facebook page.

Kalashnikov Producing Military and Police E-Bike

Russian arms maker, Kalashnikov is producing electric bikes for the military and police.
Kalashnikov will also supply the bikes to law enforcement during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Militaries are getting into e-bikes because they are silent and don’t require fuel.

Kalashnikov, the Russian arms manufacturer best-known for producing the AK-47 (Avtomat Kalashnikova) assault rifle has recently shown off an electric motorcycle to be produced for the Russian military and police forces, reports Popular Mechanics. Kalashnikov Group presented the bikes at the 2017 Army International Military-Technical Forum in Moscow.

The e-bike is operational, evidenced by the promotional video (click here to watch), showing a rider unplugging the bike and proceeding to ride in sunglasses and a cap over rough terrain. The police version looks like a supermoto, for urban patrolling.

The manufacturer also announced supplying 50 of the bikes to law enforcement for the 2018 World Cup, which will be held in major cities across Russia.

Kalashnikov didn’t publish any technical data and we can’t read Russian, but a caption in the video shows 100km, most probably meaning the bike’s range. The police bike, however, is said to have a range of 150km.

The news of Kalashnikov’s e-bikes comes after the American firm, Logos Technologies’ announcement that they have been awarded the DARPA contract to research and built an electric motorcycle for the American special forces. According to Logos, their SilentHawk e-bike is based on the Alta Redshift MX e-bike with a range of 170km.

E-bikes are appealing to the military mainly because they are virtually silent compared to the racket of internal combustion engines. Besides that, being electric means planners do not have to sweat over the logistics of sending fuel to remote locations, especially during special operations. Also generally, motorcycles are smaller and lighter, hence the ease of transporting them.

But one thing that intrigues us is if the Kalashnikov bike is as resilient and reliable as the AK-47.

KTM Unveiling KTM 790 Adventure at EICMA

KTM will unveil the KTM 790 Adventure at EICMA 2017.
It shares the same parallel-Twin as the KTM 790 Duke.
We may see a road-going S-version and off-road R-version.

KTM has confirmed the unveiling of the all-new KTM 790 Adventure at EICMA 2017.

First spotted undergoing road tests in December 2016, KTM has confirmed that the 790 Adventure will be available from 2019. The KTM 790 Duke roadster, however, is slated to be available from 2018 (click here for the promo video of the prototype).

The 790 Adventure will use the same 800cc parallel-Twin of the 790 Duke. While there are no official specifications, the new engine is said to produce more than 100bhp.

Although the spy pictures provide a sketchy view, the 790 Adventure will most probably feature a fully-LCD instrument console, twin fuel tanks with their own fillers, LED headlamp, 21-inch spoke front wheel and 18-inch spoked rear wheel. If a road-going version is available, it should sport a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels.

The spyshots show the front end as similar to the 1050/1090 Adventure’s, and electronic semi-active suspension should be ruled out due to cost concerns. The rear monoshock can be clearly seen as almost horizontal and bolted directly to the swingarm, since more space has opened up from having a rear cylinder. Doing so forgoes the complexities of having linkages.

ABS is mandatory, thus we could safely expect it; same for electronic rider aids such as riding modes and traction control.

Introduction of the 790 Adventure will no doubt spice up the hotly-contested middleweight adveture-touring/dual-purpose market.

The 790 Adventure is seen as the direct replacement for the 640 Adventure, which distinguished itself in the Dakar Rally. However, the 790 Adventure is ineligible, as the current regulations allow capacities of only up to 450cc singles or twins. (Click here for the Dakar Rally’s regulations.)

We do hope that the KTM 790 Adventure is a true dual-purpose/adventure-tourer motorcycle that’s not only fully capable off-road but also for long distance touring.

Kelantan Police Chief Gives Advice About Travelling to Thailand

Kelantan police chief issued a travel advisory to Malaysians travelling to Thailand
Malaysians are not prohibited from riding into Thailand
Southern Thailand has been the scene of violence

Kelantan police has issued an advice to Malaysians travelling to southern Thailand to be more vigilant, following the fatal accidental of a Malaysian national in Tak Bai, Narathiwat Province, on 16th October.

It was learned that Wan Mohd. Zain W. Hussain, 46, from Kampung Ketil, Tumpat, Kelantan was visiting his relatives when he was hit by a stray bullet when a group of armed men fired upon the police at the Ban Taba checkpoint.

Later, the superintendent of Tak Bai police station, Police Colonel Patcharapol na Nakhon, was lucky to escape a bomb explosion near a petrol station as he led a team to the scene of the attack.

The blast brought down power lines and caused a local blackout. An inspection of the scene of the bombing revealed what bomb technicians believed to be an IED (improvised explosive device) weighing between 22 to 25kgs.

Daylight inspection revealed a food stall and an electricity pole riddled with bullet holes. Police collected spent bullet casings from M16 assault rifles.

Patcharapol believed the attacks were the work of Famee Mudo, who leads a militant group active in the district. He is a suspect in similar attacks on Oct 21, 2012.

The attacks were believed to be linked to the approaching 13th anniversary of the “Tak Bai incident” on Oct 25, when 85 Muslim men suffocated after being arrested and stacked on top of each other in the back of army trucks after soldiers violently broke up an anti-government protest.

Southern Thailand has been the scene of bombings and violence. On 9th October, a bomb planted on a roadside killed a Ranger and seriously wounding another. On 26th September, a bomb disposal team defused a roadside 20kg IED. On 29th September in Mae Lan district a motorcycle bomb exploded at a checkpoint. Another bomb killed one and wounded 18 in Yala when bomb disposal units went to investigate after two explosions.

So please be careful when riding into Thailand.

KTM Malaysia set to Rock Malaysian MotoGP 2017

KTM Malaysia is set to set the Malaysian MotoGP 2017 ablaze in READY TO RACE Orange.
KTM Malaysia is also offering the KTM MotoGP Fan Package.
Expect to see the latest KTM motorcycles plus Meet & Greet session with top KTM riders.

It’s the best time of the year for motorcycle racing fans in Malaysia and around the region. No, not Christmas, but it’s the Malaysian MotoGP.

The Malaysian MotoGP has without doubt grown over the last 3 years to capacity crowds and this year is no different. But what will make the difference is what KTM Malaysia has in store for fans and visitors.

KTM’s signature orange-coloured pavilion at the Malaysian MotoGP has always been one of the biggest crowd pullers. Not only do they display the latest road-going models, but also the dirtbikes and off-roaders that have conquered the world. Visitors are allowed to get up close to touch, feel and even smell these awesome machines, what more to selfie with them.

Additionally, KTM-branded riding gear and wear, called Powerwear, and KTM’s proprietary motorcycles accessories, called Powerparts will be displayed in all their grandeur.

Visitors could expect to see the latest 250 Duke, 390 Duke (click here for our first ride and here for our review), RC 250 and RC 390, 1290 Super Duke R, 1290 Super Adventure S, 1290 Super Adventure R, 1050 Adventure Travel Pack, 1290 Super Duke GT, 250 EX/C-F, 350 EX/C-F, 450 EX/C-F, 250 SX-F, 450 SX-F and many more. The latter two bikes are the same as those ridden by Gabit Saleh to multiple Malaysian motocross wins and the 2016 FIM Asia Supermoto Championship.

Visitors will also be able to catch a glimpse of the RC Cup racebike and replica of the RC16 MotoGP racer, ridden by Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith.

As such, fans can expect meet-and-greet sessions with the FIM Supermoto Champion, RC Cup riders and, Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP riders (subject to the riders’ schedule and availability). KTM Malaysia is in the midst of working with SIC and Dorna for Gabit Saleh to perform a stunt show at the starting grid and front straight on race day, so stay posted!

KTM Malaysia has offered the Fan Package, which includes a ticket for the KTM Tribune in the Main Grandstand, limited edition T-shirt, cap, bag, raincoat and flag.

As many as 500 KTM fans will mass at the KTM Tribune and turn it into a sea of READY TO RACE Orange. There is nothing better than being in the company of people who share the same passion and cheering for the same riders. The KTM Tribune faces the starting grid and paddock, ensuring a great view of proceedings throughout the day, be it for the support classes, Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP.

KTM Malaysia will also host a myriad of activities at the Tribune. KTM fans can look forward to gifts and lucky draws.

You may also refer to KTM Malaysia’s official Facebook page for more information.

Castrol Bike Mechanic Contest 2017

Champions of the Castrol Bike Mechanic Contest 2017 to represent Malaysia in Asia-Pacific finals.
Only 3 winners were picked from 800 contestants.
The Asia-Pacific finals will be held in Pattaya, Thailand in November.

Kuala Lumpur, 10 October – The prestigious Castrol Bike Mechanic Contest 2017 came to a brilliant close after four months of intense competition, as Castrol Malaysia unveiled the best Castrol Bike Point Mechanic Team in Malaysia.

Teamwork is key in excelling in the Practical Challenge

The Grand Prize was won by the team from the Southern Region. Eng Lean Hui, Sivanathan Letchumanan and Tee Kok Jing outperformed five other teams in the competition’s Grand Finale. Apart from winning the Champion’s trophy and a brand-new Yamaha 125cc scooter each, more importantly, the Grand Prize winners will also go on to represent Malaysia in Asia-Pacific Castrol Bike Mechanic Contest in Pattaya, Thailand, in November. There, Malaysia’s best Castrol Bike Point mechanics will compete with two-wheeler mechanics from other countries in the Asia-Pacific region including Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and India.

From left to right: Tee Kok Jing, Eng Lean Hui and Sivanathan Letchumanan, the champions of the Malaysian Castrol Bike Mechanic Contest 2017

1^st Runner Up was awarded to Goh Poh Joo, Tony Charles and Tan Tack Boon who represented the East Malaysian Region, while the 2^nd Runner Up position went to Lim Kok Seong, Lee Yong Chang and Fakrurazi Abdul Ghafar from the Central Region.

The Malaysian Castrol Bike Mechanic Contest 2017 kicked off in June, where close to 800 contestants across the country’s five regions participated in the preliminary rounds. Out of that, only 18 mechanics, grouped into six teams of three each, qualified to advance to the semi-finals. After a gruelling battle to test their theoretical knowledge, just three teams were shortlisted to proceed to the finals to compete in a Practical Knowledge Challenge for the chance to be crowned the best Castrol Bike Point Mechanic Team in Malaysia. The mechanics were judged by an independent four-member judging team comprising of highly experienced technical & R&D experts from the motorcycle industry.

The final six teams competing at the Grand Finale

“The Castrol Bike Mechanic Contest is one of Castrol Malaysia’s many efforts to recognise and reward high level of skill amongst Castrol Bike Point mechanics in Malaysia. Through the contest, we ensure that mechanics can hone their skills further. Castrol works to raise their technical knowledge and improve customer service. This year’s competition is particularly significant as the winners will go on to represent the nation in the Asia-Pacific competition. We are very proud to recognise the skills of our mechanics in Malaysia and will continue to support them as they prepare for the upcoming battle,” said Keow Mei-Shan, Marketing Director Malaysia & Singapore.

Keow Mei-Shan, Marketing Director Malaysia & Singapore, Castrol Malaysia

Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, Eng Lean Hui said, “My teammates and I are very happy to have won this challenging competition, and are honoured to be representing Malaysia in the Asia Pacific Bike Mechanic contest end of this year. We learned a lot during this competition. As individuals we were not perfect, but together, we made a perfect team! We thank Castrol Malaysia for this opportunity. We will continue to train and update our knowledge in the run up to it, and hope that we can do ourselves, our families and ultimately the nation proud!”

Audience cheering on their favourite contestants

To find out more about Castrol and its products, visit www.castrol.com/my.

Lorenzo Upset at Zarco’s Pass

Jorge Lorenzo is upset at Johann Zarco
Lorenzo cited Zarco for being too aggressive
Zarco defended his move as just racing

Jorge Lorenzo is upset at Johann Zarco’s pass on him in the early stages of the Japanese GP. To the former, the move on him by the triple Moto2 Champion was dangerous, which caused a get-together at the corner exit.

Lorenzo likened Zarco to playing a game on the PlayStation. “You saw what happened,” said Lorenzo. “It’s not the first time he’s done this kind of thing – with me but also with two or three other riders. But he keeps doing it as though he’s playing on the PlayStation on time attack, like there’s no one at the side; very aggressive. I went to his box but he doesn’t understand he’s doing something bad and he won’t change. Someone should tell him to be more calm. He thinks he’s right and doing good, and that you or we need to be careful – not that he has to calm down. I would like to speak with the Safety Commission to see what we can do, because something could happen in future.”

That was CLOSE! Maybe too close? JZ5 barges his way through on JL99!#JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/ANR2uLy764

— MotoGP™??? (@MotoGP) 15 October 2017

Lorenzo was perhaps pointing to the incident at Austin this year, although it was Valentino Rossi at the receiving end of Zarco’s “aggression.”

“I was confident with the front so in Turn 9 I could attack,” explained the Frenchman. “Then he tried to stay on the outside but when I went out the corner I didn’t see him, I didn’t think he could be there and we touched because of my acceleration I went normally on my line and we touched each other. It was quite a strong touch but it was normal in the race. Because I was on the inside I got the advantage. Nobody crashed is the good thing.”

Zarco had started from pole, his second of the year, but slipped back to finish the race in eighth. Lorenzo struggled with rear grip initially but was able to rally and finish sixth.

Kawasaki H2R and H2 Elite Squad

Kawasaki H2R, H2 Elite Squad attends to the premium H2R and H2 owners
Set up with the launch of the Ninja H2R and Ninja H2
The Elite Squad transports the Ninja H2R/H2 to the Kawasaki Exclusive Service Centre for expert care and repair

By now, the Kawasaki Ninja H2R and Ninja H2 have established themselves as being the most powerful production motorcycles being sold to the general public.

But the Kawasaki H2R and its H2 sibling are not just about an extremely powerful supercharged engine stuffed into a frame. No, the H2 and H2R represents the pinnacle of mechanical engineering. Being so earns Kawasaki Heavy Industry’s (KHI) revered “River Mark” – the mark of excellence for innovations with historic significance. Kawasaki isn’t wrong when they are promoted as “Built Beyond Belief.”

As such, the track-only H2 and road-going H2R are premium products, hence the owners of the products expect premium service.

In this sense, Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., KESB created the Kawasaki H2R and H2 Elite Squad. The Elite Squad was activated as soon as the first units of the Ninja H2R and Ninja H2 were handed over (click here for our coverage on the ceremony).

A H2R or H2 owner may call 03-5566 5662 to book an appointment. The Kawasaki H2R and H2 Elite Squad will then arrive at a location specified by the owner, pick up the bike and deliver it to the Kawasaki Exclusive Service Centre (KESC) for expert maintenance or repair.

The Elite Squad transports the H2R or H2 inside an enclosed van, to ensure safety and your privacy.

All KESCs are equipped with comprehensive equipment, including special tools and electronic diagnosis equipment that are unavailable at non-official workshops. Similarly, the personnel at KESC are specially trained to handle the maintenance and repair of the special H2R and H2. That in itself is great assurance that your H2R or H2 is well taken care of.

KESB quotes RM159.00 within the first 30km. However, if the owner requires a pick-up service only outside the 30km radius, an additional charge of RM1.38/km is levied; while for pick-up and return service, an additional RM1.17/km is charged.

Please visit Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.’s official webpage for more information.

Valentino Rossi “In trouble and doesn’t know why”

Valentino Rossi reckons he and teammate Maverick Vinalez are “in trouble and don’t know why,” in worried about their chances at the Japanese GP, should the rain continue. The pair has been struggling with lack of rear grip on their Yamaha YZF-M1 through the entire season.

Riders may be able to ride around the problem in the dry, but the rain amplifies the problem.

The factory team seemed to make some headway in previous races, without doubt also attributed to riders’ skill and determination, however yesterday’s free practice sessions at Motegi saw both riders 11^th and 12^th fastest.

Rossi said, “We’re in trouble and we don’t understand why. Last year I was very competitive in the wet and had a good feeling with the old bike, but this year we’re struggling. We’ve tried to modify the bike, but in the end we’re far from the top. It’s the same as the problem in the dry – we don’t have rear grip.”

While Valentino Rossi knows he’s out of contention for his 10^th title as a result of a broken leg, Maverick Vinalez saw first his lead, and now his chances for his first MotoGP tltle slip further and further away.

At the time this article went “live,” Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati Team continued to be the fastest man after FP3 on combined free practice times, ahead of Marc Marquez, Aleix Espargaro and Jorge Lorenzo.

Valentino Rossi dug deep and found some pace to first make it into the top ten before finally going up to fifth fastest. Vinalez is in 14^th, meaning that he will need to fight through Q1. The Top 12 combined times qualify automatically to Q2.

Q1 starts at 1:10pm today (14^th October).

Suspension Explained (Part 1) – Prologue

In this Suspension Explained series, we will unravel the “mysteries” of your bike’s suspension
Although the suspension is now very advanced, the basics remain the same
As the prologue, we touch on preload, compression damping and rebound damping

Suspension technology has progressed by leaps and bounds over the years. The motorcycle started out as a little more than an engine stuffed into a bicycle frame, hence the only suspension was the rider’s bum and his resolve to withstand the hammering.

Since then, motorcycle suspension evolved into simple underseat springs to sprung struts to hydraulic and gas damping to electronic self-adjusting marvels.

Regardless, the principles of the suspension remain the same. There are a number of parameters that govern how your bike behaves whether on the road, track or off-road. However, only three parameters are adjustable on a motorcycle (without further modification), namely preload, compression damping and rebound damping.

Adjusting the suspension best requires a bit of background knowledge, because whatever adjustments that may have you feeling right may not be exactly right for the bike’s dynamics. A wrong adjustment may mask itself as another problem, causing you to go around in circles. Oh yes, we’ve been there.

We’ll discuss one topic per week. We’ll also speak to the experts on aspects of suspension technology, adjustments and modifications, while dispelling some myths along the way.

Hope this series will be beneficial to all our readers.

PRELOAD

Any discussion about suspension has to start with preload. Preload is of course related to spring rate, but since most riders don’t change the springs in their suspensions, we’ll just stick to preload.

To put it in simple terms, preload means the amount the springs are compressed when the suspension is fully extended.

For illustration purposes, take a valve spring and stand it on your desk. Now add some weight to the top so that it compresses a little. That’s preloading the spring. Adding more weight means adding more preload, while taking some off means reducing preload.

When you increase the preload by turning on the preload adjuster on the forks, or collar on the rear shock, suspension sag is reduced; and vice-versa. The spring pushes back against the adjuster collar, lifting that end of the bike up. So, if you increase (by turning clockwise) your rear suspension’s preload, the seat goes up higher, and similarly for the front.

Therefore, adjusting the preload DOES NOT change your spring rate. If someone comes up to me and say I’d make the spring stiffer by adjusting the preload… well, I’d tell him to go fly a kite. But that’s just me.

We’ll leave this subject here. More on this in latter instalments.

DAMPING

If a bike’s suspension depends on the spring along, it can leave itself prone to oscillations. A compressed spring stores kinetic energy. When it’s released, it may extend to more than its resting length. The load on top of the spring has now received this kinetic energy and unleashes it back downwards, compressing the spring. This goes back and forth until that kinetic energy is transformed to heat (absorbed in the shock absorber’s oil).

Have you ridden on a bike that “pumped” up and down or wallowed like a sampan in stormy seas? (My bike does that.) Yes, it’s due to the lack of damping.

Damping is divided into two: Compression damping and rebound damping.

COMPRESSION DAMPING

Compression damping (or just compression) determines how fast the wheel move upwards when it contacts a bump. Correct compression damping will allow the suspension to absorb bumps and road irregularities better.

The damping adjusters on the BPF fork are all on top. Compression is marked as COM

With more compression dialed in, the suspension, hence the wheel, is more resistant to moving upwards and vice-versa. Dialing in the correct amount will also deal with fork dive to a certain amount during hard braking, although that depends more on the spring rate and preload.

Compression damping is adjusted by the screw in the middle

Too much compression damping will cause the shock of the bump to be transferred directly to the chassis and rider. (That “BLAM” feeling when you hit a bump.) Consequently, the wheel will skip across the bumps, or cause the brakes to lock up easily as the suspension resists being compressed.

On the other hand, too little will have the wheel kicked up quickly, which will also cause it to lose touch with the road. Hitting corners at high speeds will cause the suspension to “squash” down, reducing ground clearance.

REBOUND DAMPING

Rebound damping is the opposite of compression damping. Rebound determines how smoothly and controlled the suspension re-extends to its proper state, after it has been compressed.

Without or too little rebound damping will cause the spring to re-extend quickly, or in simple terms, bounce back. The rider will feel as if he’s being kicked out of the seat after the initial bump has been absorbed. It’s like squeezing a spring between your fingers and letting it go abruptly, or like a Jack-in-a-Box.

Rebound adjuster on the rear shock is usually underneath the shock body. Here it is the screw surrounded by the red collar

Too much rebound damping will cause the wheel to “pack up.” That means the wheel will only come back down too slowly, causing the bike to feel “loose.”

CONCLUSION

That’s it for this week. This is just basic knowledge. We’ll touch on more next week, so stay tuned!

GIVI B32 MotoGP Convoy 2017

The GIVI B32 MotoGP Convoy will start from Menara Kuala Lumpur this year.
The convoy is slated to take place on Sunday, 29th October 2017.
Participants will receive many great goodies!

There are many convoys to look forward to during the Malaysian MotoGP every year. One of them is of course, by the pre-eminent motorcycle luggage and riding gear producer, GIVI.

As with previous years, GIVI carries out a promotion for a new top box in the run up to the event. This year, it is the just-introduced GIVI B32 “Bold” Monolock top box (click here for the launch and details of the top box). We had the opportunity of sampling the pre-production model of the B32 Bold, and both the quality and experience of using the box has been positive (click here for our coverage of the GIVI Media Ride).

Participation in the convoy is simple. For existing GIVI B32 Bold owners, you only need to Whatsapp 012-6253800 for further details.

For new buyers, the details and forms are included in the box. Please follow the instructions to take part.

Participants do not only join the convoy but will also be given a whole bunch of goodies:

1 x K1 Grandstand ticket
1 x GIVI MotoGP Jersey (Limited Edition)
1 x GIVI Waist Pouch
1 x GIVI Cap
1 x GIVI Helmet Cover
1 x Castrol engine oil (1L)
1 x Monster energy drink
1 x Motorcycle parking sticker
1 x Breakfast package

GIVI’s MotoGP convoys gather for the flag off from well-known landmarks each year. The KL Tower got the pick for 2017. Participants are to congregate there on Sunday, 29th October 2017.

Space is limited, so hurry!

Bikesrepublic

Wahid Ooi

The 2017 Ducati 900 SuperSport has just been launched.

The Ducati SuperSport lineage is long and interesting.

Ducati now has a bike that’s sporty and practical.

1. HERITAGE

3. TAMBURINI’S 900SS

4. DECLINE OF THE SUPERSPORT

5. ALL-NEW 2017 DUCATI SUPERSPORT

6. RIDING POSITION

7. REWORKED POWER DELIVERY

8. DAILY RIDING/TOURING

9. SPORT RIDING/CANYON BLASTING

10. VERSIONS

Team Petronas Raceline Malaysia parting ways with Hafizh Syahrin in 2018.

Hafizh Syahrin has finished on the podium twice this year.

He has been with team Petronas Raceline Malaysia for the past 10 years.

Russian arms maker, Kalashnikov is producing electric bikes for the military and police.

Kalashnikov will also supply the bikes to law enforcement during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Militaries are getting into e-bikes because they are silent and don’t require fuel.

KTM will unveil the KTM 790 Adventure at EICMA 2017.

It shares the same parallel-Twin as the KTM 790 Duke.

We may see a road-going S-version and off-road R-version.

Kelantan police chief issued a travel advisory to Malaysians travelling to Thailand

Malaysians are not prohibited from riding into Thailand

Southern Thailand has been the scene of violence

KTM Malaysia is set to set the Malaysian MotoGP 2017 ablaze in READY TO RACE Orange.

KTM Malaysia is also offering the KTM MotoGP Fan Package.

Expect to see the latest KTM motorcycles plus Meet & Greet session with top KTM riders.

Champions of the Castrol Bike Mechanic Contest 2017 to represent Malaysia in Asia-Pacific finals.

Only 3 winners were picked from 800 contestants.

The Asia-Pacific finals will be held in Pattaya, Thailand in November.

Jorge Lorenzo is upset at Johann Zarco

Lorenzo cited Zarco for being too aggressive

Zarco defended his move as just racing

Kawasaki H2R, H2 Elite Squad attends to the premium H2R and H2 owners

Set up with the launch of the Ninja H2R and Ninja H2

The Elite Squad transports the Ninja H2R/H2 to the Kawasaki Exclusive Service Centre for expert care and repair

In this Suspension Explained series, we will unravel the “mysteries” of your bike’s suspension

Although the suspension is now very advanced, the basics remain the same

As the prologue, we touch on preload, compression damping and rebound damping

PRELOAD

DAMPING

COMPRESSION DAMPING

REBOUND DAMPING

CONCLUSION

The GIVI B32 MotoGP Convoy will start from Menara Kuala Lumpur this year.

The convoy is slated to take place on Sunday, 29th October 2017.

Participants will receive many great goodies!

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