Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd., the new custodian of the Aprilia brand in Malaysia will unveil the new bike to Aprilia fans and public alike. Events will continue into the evening with the viewing of the German MotoGP round.
The unveiling will commence from 6pm at The Podium, Sungai Penchala, on 7th July 2019.
The Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory is the challenger to the Ducati Panigale V4. it’s now 1078cc V-Four engine produces 214 hp and 122 Nm of torque. A Bosch lithium-ion battery and Akrapovic exhaust cuts weight to only 199 kg, dry.
Apart from that, Brembo’s latest Stylema front brake calipers perform braking duties for the front. They are lighter yet more rigid than the outgoing Brembo M50 Monobloc. Gripping the discs are more aggressive brake pads. Look closely and you will notice air ducts for the front calipers.
Front forks are Öhlins NIX with 125 mm travel (5 mm more) for better cornering. An Öhlins TTX shock suspends the rear end.
The bike’s bodywork also features “aerobodies,” similar to those in MotoGP.
A Boston Globe journalist did some digging and came up with a disturbing revelation concerning 23-year-old’s records. He had been arrested in six states before for DUI (driving under influence), dangerous driving, and accidents.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy – Photo credit Don Treeger/The Republican via AP, Pool
Zukhovskyy is an immigrant from Ukraine. He was also involved in accident at 16 years old and was found to be driving without a license.
He committed his first offence not long after obtaining his driver’s license in 2013. He was arrested and charged for DUI in June that year in Massachusetts. The judge suspended his driving license.
Zhukovskyy was again arrested in 2014 for driving with a suspended license, providing false information and possession of drug paraphernalia, this time in Ohio. The Boston Globe journalist noted that the Ohio authorities didn’t communicate the arrest with their counterparts in Massachusetts.
In 2017, he then sought assistance for his addiction to alcohol, cocaine and heroin in Pennsylvania.
He obtained a commercial driving license a year later in 2018. But he didn’t stay out of trouble very long.
Police arrested him at 2am on 11th February 2019, following reports of an intoxicated person. They found a crack pipe. However, he was given a deferment with probation and no record as long as he behaved. The probation was due to end on 14th June 2019.
Just one week later, he was arrested in Iowa for improper lane usage and not complying with safety regulations. He paid the fine and went away a free man.
On 11th May 2019, he was arrested in Connecticut for DUI. He posted bail, while awaiting his arraignment on 26th June. When Connecticut’s authorities communicated the charges to Massachusetts where his license was issued, the two states blamed each other for not suspending his license following the 11th May arrest.
Zukhovskyy’s driving record got more serious after that. On 3rd June, he rolled over the Mack truck car hauler in Texas. He claimed that a car had swerved in front of him but the police found no signs of another vehicle. The police didn’t fine him plus, he wasn’t intoxicated at the time.
The authorities should’ve stopped him from ever driving again at this point but no one did. So, on 24th June, Zukhovskyy drove into a group of Jarhead MC riders in New Hampshire, killing seven. The ex-US Marines had just left their bed and breakfast.
He has since been arrested and police found wax packets with heroin residue in his home.
But the accident also highlighted the failure of the authorities in keeping a dangerous and potentially life-threatening driver off the road. Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Secretary Erin Deveney took responsibility and resigned (at least she took responsibility, unlike some politicians in Malaysia).
The Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and the United States Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack promise to overhaul RMV for improvements. The US Immigration and Customs Department has also filed a request to detain Zukhovskyy, meaning that he could be deported back to the Ukraine.
Motorsports is not just about riders trying to outdo each other.
Motorsports is becoming more complex as motorcycles get more complex.
The TOC Automotive College provides the TOC Superbike Technician Course to prepare the students for such eventualities.
When hear the word motorsports, it’s all too easy to visualize a bunch of bikes ridden at breakneck speeds, and their riders planting their knees firmly onto the track in the corners. But truth is, motorsports involves much more than just fast bikes and riders.
It’s safe to say that track action is only 10% of what goes on in motorsports. 90% is about preparation which includes bike setup, maintenance, and repair; data acquisition and analysis; rider conditioning; testing… the list goes on and on.
This is why motorsports is an “industry,” rather than just races in the actual sense. And the industry never sleeps.
Ever-evolving motorcycles
Motorcycles are evolving by leaps and bounds by every annual Intermot and EICMA motorshows. This is because manufacturers seek to outdo their rivals by introducing new and even more advanced models.
We used to marvel at electronic fuel injection 20 years ago, but now fuel injection works in tandem with traction control (TC) and rider-selectable power modes. Speaking of TC, it was a mere pipe dream but now virtually all systems are smarter and faster than even professional riders.
Ducati Panigale V4 R’s instrument display
Early TC systems were rudimentary, at best, relying on wheel-speed sensors but now they’re hooked up to a clever device called the Inertial Measurement Unit. Instead of just checking to see if a wheel or both wheels are slipping to regulate torque and power transmission, new TC systems actually proportions assistance according to the bike’s lean angles.
IMU-based TC has another benefit for the anti-lock braking system (ABS). Hence, IMU-equipped ABS not only helps to keep the wheels from locking up but it’s again lean-angle sensitive.
There’s also engine braking control, wheelie control, rear tyre lift mitigation, suspension control, launch control, quickshifter, etc.
2019 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory electronic suspension system
But of course, racing is about power. A number of manufacturers have equipped their bikes with variable valve timing (VVT). An engine with VVT is in effect two engines in one. Rather than being tuned for lots of power at the expense of torque or vice-versa, why not have both?
And we haven’t even touched on brakes, suspension and frames yet!
What does it mean for the industry?
The myriad of systems on modern bikes are electronically-controlled. Therefore, the motorsports industry needs to adapt by introducing parts and expertise to deal with electronics.
It’s no longer merely about twisting the suspension’s adjusters here besides wondering about what tyres to use or figuring the correct carburettor jetting. Each team must obtain the correct data to optimise their motorcycle setups.
Where is it headed?
In terms of machinery, they are getting more and more complex due to electronics. It’s electronics that unlock the full potential of modern bikes. Of course, all bikes are different in terms of mechanical setup, but they adhere to the same basic principles.
In terms of the motorsport industry, we will see increasing number of electronic engineers or mechanics that are savvy in electronics occupying places in race teams. Electronics used to be the domain of MotoGP prototype racing, but the technologies have been trickled down to other classes of bikes including roadgoing superbikes.
How does TOC play a part?
The Superbike Technician Course in the TOC Automotive College prepares the students by training them on real-world and motorsports applications.
It means that the students not only know how to work on the mechanical aspects, but also in terms of electronics.
In fact, TOC has worked with race teams in the Malaysian Superbike Championship (MSBK) and Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) by sending their students to work with the race teams. The students come away better prepared by the time they hit the job market.
Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn. Bhd. (HLYM”) rolled out a new Extended Warranty program for Yamaha motorcycle owners in Malaysia.
The program covers two years and up to 20,000km, whichever comes first.
The program is only applicable to new bikes registered from 1st July 2019.
Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn. Bhd. (HLYM”) rolled out a new Extended Warranty program for Yamaha motorcycle owners in Malaysia, allowing them to enjoy better product value and longer protection terms for their motorcycles.
Yamaha owners are now covered for an additional year, over and above the existing one-year manufacturer warranty that comes with the purchase of a new Yamaha motorcycle. The new Extended Warranty program entitles Yamaha owners to two years coverage or up to 20,000km, whichever is to come first.
The specified coverage is applicable only for motorcycles registered on or after 1st July 2019, and includes all Yamaha models produced by HLYM Malaysia.
“With this new feature, HLYM looks forward to increase consumer confidence, as well as Yamaha’s competitiveness within the Malaysian automotive industry which would help bring a positive push to the industry as a whole,” said Dato’ Jim Khor, Managing Director of HLYM.
Please refer to the table below for the scope of warranty.
HLYM has also imposed a pre-delivery checklist for the benefit of customers upon receiving their new motorcycles. Verification is undertaken by authorized dealers to ensure all motorcycles are delivered in its best condition, towards further enhancement of customer satisfaction.
Carlin Dunne died in a crash at the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), riding the Ducati Streetfighter V4 Prototype.
He was in the process of setting a new record.
The race was won by Rennie Scaysbrook on a 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100.
Rider Carlin Dunne died while racing the Ducati Streetfighter V4 Prototype at the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC).
Dunne had qualified in pole position a day earlier and everyone had tipped that he would win his fourth PPIHC race, and set the fastest ever time for a motorcycle in the “Race to the Clouds.”
Carlin Dunne after winning last year on the Multistrada 1260 – Photo credit Cycle World
All eyes the world over was on him and the Ducati as the prototype will serve as the precursor to the most powerful naked sportbike ever built. Ducati had stripped down the Panigale V4 and fitted a taller handlebar to it for the race.
Rennie Scaysbrook had set the fastest time ever previously at 9m44.963s on his 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100. That time was already 5.6 seconds faster than the 9m49.625s set by Chris Fillimore on the KTM 1290 Super Duke R in 2017.
Dunne went out last and logged the fastest times in three out of four sectors. He was ahead by 1.3s in Segment 1, 2.5s in Segment 2 and nearly 4s in Segment 3. Then tragedy struck as he crashed less than 400 metres to the finish line near the highest point of the mountain.
As such, Rennie Scaysbrook won the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) on the Aprilia, with his time entered as the new record. The win was Aprilia’s first in the heavyweight category.
Dunne had won the PPIHC race three times previously, all on Ducatis. He won in 2011 and 2012 on the Multistrada 1200, and last year on the Multistrada 1260. Ducati went on to produce the Pikes Peak Edition Multistradas to commemorate the rider’s achievements.
Carlin Dunne on the way to winning on the Multistrada 1260 last year – Photo credit Motorcyclist.com
The PPIHC is where non-sportbikes battle it out for supremacy, hence you’d find bikes such as the Streetfighter, BMW S 1000 R, KTM 1290 Super Duke R, et al. Competitors are flagged off at sea level and ride up the 156-corner, 20-kilometre (12.42-mile) road to the finish line 4302 metres (14,115 feet) up the hill.
Maverick Vinalez won at the Dutch MotoGP 2019 round to end Yamaha’s year-long drought of race wins.
Marc Marquez finished in 2nd place.
Fabio Quartararo finished on the podium again.
Maverick Vinalez (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) won at the Dutch MotoGP 2019 round to end Yamaha’s year-long drought of race wins.
Vinalez had battled all race long with the youngest back-to-back pole sitter Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Sepang Racing Team) and World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda). The trio traded places on and on until Quartararo had to slow down due to incessant speed wobbles. Both Vinalez and Marquez passed him without hesitation, to set up a two-bike battle in the closing laps.
Vinalez finally prevailed from Lap 18 to end the race 5 seconds ahead of Marquez. The latter seemingly slowing down to settle for 2nd position to protect his lead in the championship. Indeed, he revealed in the post-race interview that his goal was to finish ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati), Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) and Danilo Petrucci (Dovizioso’s teammate).
Quartararo made it home in 3rd for his second podium finish in his first season. He had battled through arm pump to stay ahead of Andrea Dovizioso.
Photo credit – MotoGP.com
His teammate Franco Morbidelli pushed up the field to pass Petrucci on the final lap to finish 5th.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) fought back against Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) to grab 6th.
Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Gresini Aprilia) rounded off the top 10.
It was another nightmare race for Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) who crashed together with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) at high speed. Nakagami was stretchered off the track side.
Marc Marquez had predicted a strong race, if not a victory, but one of the Yamahas after witnessing their pace throughout the weekend. As in the previous race at Catalunya, the Yamahas demonstrated higher midcorner speeds and ease of being flicked side-to-side, fitting the twisting format of the Assen track well. Suzuki also had this advantage but Alex Rins crashed out from the lead on Lap 3.
It was Marquez’s remarkable skills to put the Honda in 2nd place. The next closest Honda of Cal Crutchlow was way back in 6th.
The Ducatis couldn’t take advantage of their towering engine power and straightline speed at the Cathedral of Speed. As Dovizioso remarked earlier this season, the Ducati Desmosedici GP19 still has trouble with keeping its line in midcorner, thereby hampering the riders from applying the throttle earlier.
Photo credit MotoGP.com
Marquez currently leads the championship with a substantial 44 points clear of Dovizioso in second. Indeed, the cameras caught a despondent-looking Dovizioso sipping his drink in his paddock after the race.
What about Quartararo’s speed wobbles/tank slapper? As pointed out by our veteran journalist friend, both the Yamahas and Suzukis suffered the same problem down the back straight due to the strong crosswind. The two manufacturers’ bikes are set up for quick-steering hence have less stability, compared to the Honda RC213V, Ducati Desmosedici and KTM RC16.
Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia launched two limited-edition models today, namely the Triumph Bonneville T120 Diamond Edition and the Triumph Bonneville T120 Ace Café.
The Bonneville T120 Diamond Edition celebrates the 60th anniversary of the 1959 Bonneville T120.
The Bonneville T120 Ace Café celebrates the birthplace of café racers, on the other hand.
Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia launched two limited-edition models today, namely the Triumph Bonneville T120 Diamond Edition and the Triumph Bonneville T120 Ace Café.
Both are special commemorative models and were launched as a pair earlier this year. Although they are Bonnie T120 twins, each boasts distinctively different stylistic cues, lending to that good twin/bad twin adage.
The duo are powered by the 1200cc, liquid-cooled, HT (High Torque) parallel-Twin which features a 270o crankshaft spacing.
Triumph Bonneville T120 Diamond Edition – From 74,900
It’s called the Diamond Edition because it commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Bonneville, which made its appearance in 1959 Bonneville T120. The “T120” name is hallowed in Triumph’s history as it was the first bike to hit 115 mph (185 km/h) in stock form and 120 mph (192 km/h) with slight modifications.
Highlights:
Premium one-off Snowdonia Whie and Aluminium Silver “Union Flag” on the gas tank.
Unique T120 Diamond side panel branding.
Chrome 4-bar Triumph badges on the gas tank.
Chrome cylinder head cover, cooling fins, crankcase covers, badges and chain guard.
Only 900 will be built.
Each owner will receive a special certificate signed by Triumph CEO, Nick Bloor.
Only 4 units are available to customers in Malaysia.
Triumph Bonneville T120 Ace Café – From RM 75,900
The legendary Ace Café in London is considered the birthplace of the café racer. Legend has it that the riders there will challenge each other to race on a street circuit and return to the venue before a song ends on the jukebox. Hence, probably why the bike is “blacked out” for that mean, stripped down, hopped-up and “Head Down – Hold On” attitude.
Features:
One-off Matt Storm Grey paint scheme with racing stripes.
Ace Café logo on the front mudguard and side panels.
“Head Down – Hold On” detailing on the fuel tank.
Blacked-out detailing throughout.
Black four-bar Triumph badge on the gas tank.
Black bench seat.
Only 1,400 units will be built.
Each owner will receive a special certificate signed by Ace Café Managing Director Mark Wilsmore and Triumph CEO Nick Bloor.
His name is still famous among bikers, especially Ducati owners. It was Fogarty who dominated WorldSBK for a number of years, scoring 59 victories and ultimately four WorldSBK crowns.
He began racing for Honda in the Formula One World Championship for motorcycles and transitioned to the World Superbike series in 1988. He switched to the Ducati 888 in 1992 but inconsistency saw him finishing in ninth.
He continued with the Ducati 888 in 1993 and exhibited the kind of fiery determination that won him an army of Ducati fans. He would go on to win 11 races and stood on the podium 4 other times. This was when his intense rivalry with American racer Scott Russell began. However, Russell would prove to be more consistent and beat Fogarty to the title for Kawasaki’s first superbike crown.
Ducati released the game-changer for 1994, called the 916. Fogarty immediately found the bike suited his high mid-corner speed riding style and won 10 races and 4 podiums in a total of 22 races to snatch the title from Scott Russell and Kawasaki.
Fogarty would repeat his dominance in 1995. Out of 24 races, he only finished off the podium 3 times and retired twice. He won 13 races and no lower than 2nd in the other 6 times.
But a certain team, specifically Honda kept pounding on the point that the Ducati V-Twin had 166cc more displacement than their 750cc RC45 V-Four. There were also certain quarters and riders who charged that Fogarty had won the championships due to the superiority of the Ducati.
Seemingly to prove them wrong, Fogarty went back to Honda in 1996. He won four times on the RC45, three more than long time Honda rider Aaron Slight but again consistency did him in. He eventually finished fourth.
He returned to Ducati in 1997 and fought season long with ex-GP rider John Kocinski. He eventually finished second to Kockinski.
He fought back in 1998 and retook the title, as he did in 1999.
Year 2000 saw the undoing of his racing career as he hit privateer Ducati rider Robert Ulm. The crash caused Foggy multiple injuries including a shoulder injury that never really healed enough for him to race again.
But that didn’t keep him away from the racetrack. Foggy became the manager for the Foggy PETRONAS team, hence the creation of the PETRONAS FP1.
There are still more exploits of the plucky Englishman to list here, but we hope to still see him in the motorcycle industry.
Touted by Moto Guzzi as the first modern-classic travel endure, it retains the Guzzi DNA which has endeared the brand to those who sought something different. However, as classic as it looks, the V85TT is actually a very modern bike under its skin.
The 853cc, transverse 90o V-Twin produced 80 hp at 7,750 RPM and 80 Nm at 5,000 RPM. It is tuned for a smooth and flat torque curve. That power is harnessed through modern electronics including ROAD, RAIN and OFFROAD riding modes. The Continental-based ABS is standard but the rear can be disengaged for offroad riding. The suspension is also a modern affair, consisting of upside-down forks and adjustable rear shock with piggyback reservoir.
But there’s only so much that the tech specs reveal for Piaggio made the bike to cater to 95% of riders in the real world. That means riders of any skill level and physique can find a sweet spot on the bike.
We have tested the bike during the Asia Pacific Media Launch in Thailand. Please click here for the full details.
The Moto Guzzi V85TT is priced at RM 87,888 for the standard colours (Blue Atlante, Grigio Atacama, Rosso Vulcano) and from RM 89,888 for the Evocative Graphics (which includes the yellow and white Sahara Yellow, and red and white Kalahari Red). However, Didi Resources is providing a special promotion from RM 79,888 for the standard colours.
The bike has generate more than 1,000 requests for test rides worldwide which converted to more than 80% sales. Consequently, the Guzzi production line is working overtime to keep up with the overwhelming orders.
The US National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) published a list of 2020 BMW motorcycles and stirred some intrigue.
A number of popular models are omitted from the list.
They include the S 1000 XR, R nine T Urban G/S and the C 650 scooter.
The US National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) published a list of 2020 BMW motorcycles and stirred some intrigue.
The NHTSA compiles and list the models of motorcycles homologated for the American market in the coming year. But BMW Motorrad’s list seems to hint at upcoming models.
That’s because missing from the list is the S 1000 XR. It may not be seen much on Malaysia roads as the R 1200 GS Adventure and R 1200 GS (soon R 1250 GSA and R 1250 GS) are the most popular models. In America, however, the S 1000 XR is one of the most popular.
One way of seeing it is because the new S 1000 RR superbike has a new engine equipped with ShiftCam variable valve timing technology. As such, the new engine is expected to be grafted to a new S 1000 XR.
However, the naked sport S 1000 R remains on the list and unchanged for 2020. Will there be a new ShiftCam model? You can bet so but maybe for 2021. Or BMW could working on the bike right now and unveil it at Intermot or EICMA later this year.
Other models missing are the F 800 GT sport-tourer and F 800 R roadster. This was expected with the debut of the F 850 GS and F 850 GS Adventure. The two bikes have a new engine with revised firing order, besides being completely new from ground up. Rumours are still surrounding the 9Cento concept on whether it will turn out to be the new F 850 GT or F 850 XR. If there is an F 850 GT/XR, there will definitely be a new F 850 R.
But the omission of the R nine T Urban G/S couldn’t be explained sufficiently. Will the new 1800cc Boxer engine make an appearance in a new Urban G/S-like model?
The C 650 Sport and C Evolution Urban Mobility models (i.e. scooters) are also missing. It’s understandable that the American market doesn’t like scooters.
Anyway, 2020 will be a big year for all manufacturers with the advent of the Euro 5 emission standard. It’s going to be hectic at the Tokyo Motorshow, Intermot and EICMA.
American Honda has issued a recall for a number of models including the 2018 Honda CRF250L and Honda CRF250 Rally.
The issue concerns the transmission.
Boon Siew Honda is currently checking if the Malaysian units are affected.
American Honda has issued a recall for a number of models for issues regarding their transmissions. The recall include the 2018 Honda CRF250L and Honda CRF250 Rally, among others.
According to the circular, the models affected are the 2019 Honda CB300R, 2018 to 2019 Honda Rebel (CMX300), 2018 Honda CBR300R, as wells as the aforementioned 2018 Honda CRF250L and Honda CRF250 Rally.
Only the two CRF250s are being sold in Malaysia among the list.
BikesRepublic.com placed a call to the Malaysian distributor, Boon Siew Honda for further clarifications on the recall. While the Malaysian units may not be affected, Boon Siew Honda gave their assurance that they have taken the initiative to investigate the matter. They shall revert with the answers soon.
According to the American Honda recall, the circlip on the transmission’s main shaft may detach. It will cause gear misalignment should it occur.
The misalignment will in turn cause the transmission to shift into gear while in NEUTRAL during engine start. If the motorcycle is in motion, it may cause the transmission, hence the rear wheel to seize.
A police rider was killed in a road accident with a car.
Witnesses reported the driver of the car swerved into the path of the policeman.
Motorcyclists in Malaysia have to face such dangerous situations everyday.
Lans Korporal Mohamad Hanis Bin Zainudin, the police officer with the Unit Rondaan Bermotosikal (Motorcycle Patrol Unit) has passed away today after being involved in a road accident yesterday.
The accident happened in Kulai, Johor. Witnesses stated that a car from the opposite lane had cut across the officer’s path to enter the Shell petrol station. Being already at a short distance from the car, the officer couldn’t avoid and slammed into the front left door of the vehicle.
The impact threw the policeman off his bike. A video taken at the accident scene showed that the entire front portion of his Kawasaki Ninja 250 was smashed.
He was rushed to the hospital and listed as critical. However, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away this morning at 10am.
We wish to convey our condolences to his family.
Unfortunately, L/Kpl Mohamad Hanis will not be the last to die because due the impatience and indifference of other motorists towards motorcyclists. This writer himself encounter at least three close calls per day while commuting on his motorcycle.
But what truly makes us mad are certain groups and individuals who never fail to blame motorcyclists for every single accident which involves a motorcycle. To us, these people are both myopic and selfish. Sure, not every motorcyclist is an angel, but surely not every cause of accident is attributable to the motorcyclist. We really want to hear what they think of Allahyarham L/Kpl Mohamad Hanis’ demise.
