Shell Malaysia has joined forces with Malaysian enforcement agencies to combat counterfeit lubricants.
They organized a workshop for the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) and Royal Malaysian Customs.
The workshop will help the enforcers identify fake Shell lubricants when they conduct raids.
Shell Malaysia has joined forces with Malaysian enforcement agencies to combat counterfeit lubricants.
The issue of counterfeit lubricants is certainly not new in this country and it isn’t limited to a single brand, either. Criminals target the most popular brands, because they are business people too but unethical. This is why sometimes exists the perception that there’s widespread existence of counterfeit items being sold in the market.
KPDNHEP Deputy Director of Enforcement Tuan Suhaimi Mat Sari and Shell Malaysia Government Relations Manager Noorhisham Anas taking a closer look at Shell Helix packs.
For this, Shell conducted a research in 2018 to check for illegal lubricant proliferation. They procured samples from online portals and hypermarkets that were tagged as “genuine” Shell products. Samples were sent to their labs and 12 bottles were found to be counterfeits.
Counterfeit products not only create bad publicity for a company and its dealers, it may come down to being downright harmful to consumers, as well. Imagine using inferior lubricants in your engine. Or worse, other consumables such as brake fluid!
Shell organized a special workshop for more than 100 officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) and Royal Malaysian Customs. The objective was to impart the knowledge to differentiate the genuine and counterfeit products, especially when they carry out raids.
An officer inspecting the security QR code sample on a genuine Shell Helix pack
Shell advises that official and genuine Shell lubricants for the Malaysian market are marked with a “Untuk Pasaran Malaysia” label together with a QR codes that can be authenticated via the SHARE website (http://www.shell.com.my/share).
Consumers who suspect they may have purchased counterfeits are advised to contact Shell Customer Service immediately at 1-300-88-1808 or email to generalpublicenquiries-my@shell.com.
Kawasaki has just released a teaser video for a supercharged “Z” model.
There were no other details provided.
It could be for a new supercharged Z1000.
Kawasaki has just released a teaser video for a supercharged “Z” model.
The announcement is quite a surprise since the “Z” model range consists of standard and naked sportbikes such as the Z250, Z650, Z900 and Z1000, with only one fully-faired model, the Z1000SX sport-tourer.
No other details were provided so it may go either one of two ways.
On one hand, the new bike may be a supercharged Z1000. Doing so would boost the engine’s horsepower and torque enter the bike into the supernaked category arena. its competitors are the KTM 1290 Super Duke R, Aprilia Tuono 1100, BMW S 1000 RR, Triumph Speed Triple RS, Ducati Monster 1200, Yamaha MT10. Kawasaki had ruled this segment a long time ago with the Z1, although there was no “sportbike” and “naked sportbike” category back then. The current Z1000 needs a reboot since its introduction in 2014.
On the other side of the coin, Kawasaki could supercharge a 500- or 600cc bike and bring it to the Z1000’s level. However, this seem a little far-fetched for us for a number of reasons, chief being very few buyers would pay big money for a 500/600cc bike, supercharged/turbocharged be damned. To them it’s more like overcharged. Besides that, as we mentioned earlier, the Z1000 is five years old and is dire need of a refresh.
But regardless of which direction Kawasaki takes, the new bike will be the fourth supercharged machine in their stable after the H2R, H2 and H2SX sport-tourer.
The SHARK Nano is small in size but big on style, features, comfort and value.
The features are as innovative as they are functional.
Going for only RM500!
The SHARK Nano open-faced helmet is designed to be radical and head turning, no matter what bike you wear it on. Intended for “metro” usage, it provides safety, comfort and a distinctive style that are not found on other helmets.
Sometimes wearing just any open-faced helmet wouldn’t cut it in terms of style. And definitely not in terms of safety either. The two factors seem to be at odds with each other, like my ex-wife and I.
That’s why you need the SHARK Nano.
Styling
SHARK Helmets opted for a futuristic styling to allow the helmet to stand apart from the crowd. One look at it and you’d probably think “astronaut” or an “intelligent extraterrestrial being.” No, those thoughts aren’t far out – it’s SHARK’s intention to bring forth those creative thoughts in the Nano.
The Nano also features Johann Zarco’s distinctive sunrise graphics. No one will mistake you for wearing another helmet.
Features
There are several innovative features on the helmet. Chief among them is the air vent at the bottom part of the visor. These little vents form an air intake to demist the visor when you’re riding in the rain. The visor’s bottom lip is shaped like an aerofoil to push air upwards through the intake.
The visor has little “fins” near where they attach to the helmet. SHARK call these “air deflectors.” While small, they actually function to smoothen airflow just before the “sidepods.” Consequently, the helmet is quieter and more stable.
As with most helmets from the brand, there is an integrated drop-down sunvisor. The mechanism is placed in the left sidepod for easy operation.
Comfort
Riding in the city needs an ultra-comfortable helmet. As such, the shell is streamlined to provide a closer fit, resulting in a small and lightweight helmet. As an added advantage, you can store the helmet in a top case or carry bag easily.
The comfort lining is supple and uses bamboo charcoal to fight odours. They are extractable and washable, too. Besides that, the surface feels cooling against the skin.
No worries for eyeglass wearers as there are the SHARK Easy Fit glasses pockets.
Safety
The helmet is (UN) ECE 22.05 standard compliant. That means it went through rigourous testing for protection before being produced.
How much?
The SHARK Nano is specially priced to offer an unbeatable value. You get great features, comfort and safety in a great-looking helmet for only RM 500.
Auto Bavaria BMW Motorrad organized the BMW Rider Training sessions over the weekend.
The lessons sought to make better riders and learn more about the capabilities of their bikes.
It also included basic emergency first aid training.
Bikes may be getting “smarter” but the soft science of riding – as in the rider – cannot be ruled out of the equation. This was why Auto Bavaria BMW Motorrad organized the BMW Rider Training clinic over the weekend.
Sure, modern motorcycles are loaded with safety features such as ABS, traction control, wheelie control, combined braking and everything in between, but that doesn’t mean riders just need to sit back and let the systems do the rest. We may as well hang up our helmets and take Grab Car, if it was so.
You see, riders still get into trouble despite the advancement of motorcycle technology. In fact, 90% of motorcycle crashes could be attributed to rider error from one degree to another. Technology complements the rider, instead of the other way around.
BMW R 1250 GS HP
This is why rider training is important. Auto Bavaria BMW Motorrad knows this, hence the rider training.
The sessions were carried out through the day and the number of participants was limited to only a maximum of eight. That low number allowed the instructor more time to focus on each student.
It kicked off with the introduction of certified BMW Motorrad trainer Wong K.K. K.K. has been riding extensively for many years, besides carrying out training for BMW car owners before switching to motorcycle training.
Class began with some reflective questions. The objective was to get the participants to recognize the risks, try to avoid them and solve threatening scenarios through training and learning to ride.
Therefore, subjects covered the basic tenets of riding including turning, braking, vision, throttle control, body positioning, cornering. Additionally, K.K. also touched on urban survival such as being visible to others, reading traffic flow, avoiding the blindspot, ATGATT (all the gears all the time), 3-second rule, being paranoid about other road users and situational awareness.
He also talked about group riding i.e. convoys which covered communication, rules, pacing oneself, avoiding fatigue, besides being fully prepared with emergency kits.
However, the main difference to this training was the basic life support talk and demonstration. The hosts roped in Dr. Khairul Azri, an Emergency Physician at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre for assistance.
He spoke about the need for riders to learn basic life support (BLS) in order to save lives, those which could very well be our very own riding buddies’. As such, his talk covered subjects such as recognizing the severity of injuries, when and how to perform CPR, how to remove the helmet of a fallen rider, and other facets of emergency care.
It was a shame that his session was very compressed but AB will bring the good doctor back for a full-blown BLS course.
The participants and trainers then convoyed to the parking lot outside the Shah Alam Stadium for the practical part of the training.
The first exercise was for tight turns. It sought to provide the students with the confidence to turn their bikes within confined quarters and u-turns. It also highlighted the bikes’ abilities that are usually under-utilised by their respective owners.
For example, the participants needed to ride in a circle within a 2.2 metre square “box.” Most expressed surprise that their bikes including the R 1200 RT and R 1200 GSA could perform the task.
They proceeded to the slow speed slalom afterwards. This was to teach low-speed maneuverability to simulate riding through heavy traffic.
But perhaps one of the best module of the day was braking. Braking is a skill that not many riders are aware of and instead use that facet of bike control as an on/off switch. In fact, while riders everywhere specifically demand the ABS feature, not many are actually aware of what it does and how it works.
A sudden heavy downpour wetted the “track” and it became even more conducive to learn about ABS.
The exercise also served to emphasize BMW’s braking technology such as ABS Pro and Integral ABS.
ABS Pro is actually lean-angle-sensitive ABS, named as “cornering ABS” by other manufacturers. The system provides different braking strategy and brake pressure compared to when the bike is straight up to allow safe hard braking hard while leaned over in a corner.
Integral ABS, on the other hand, is called “linked braking system” or “combined braking system” by other makers. Pressing the front brake lever only will apply some rear brake pressure to stabilise the rear end and chassis. Vice-versa, applying the rear brake only will also trigger some pressure in the front brakes. Consequently, braking is more efficient and safer, in addition to providing more confidence to the rider.
With the ground drenched, the riders were told to ride to certain speeds and apply maximum braking pressure.
The most impressive part was watching a couple of riders who deliberately rode faster to test the limits of their bikes. Watching 250-odd-kg (the R 1200 GS Adventure) and almost 280kg (R 1200 RT) bikes being hauled down from high speeds to a complete stop without drama was probably the best spectacle of the entire class.
Lessons continued throughout the day with the riders learned more and more complex skills.
This writer also heard participants complaining that nothing of use was actually thought at driving schools. All they had to do was remember the procedures to pass. Not one was taught about steering, throttle control, braking, vision, steering and just about everything else. And some people kept wondering why we have so accidents and fatalities among motorcyclists. In any case, they were thankful that AB BMW Motorrad took the initiative to organise the clinic.
In the end, what mattered was eight BMW owners and riders rode home with better skills than when they first stepped into class that day.
HTC Motorcycle Club (HTC MC) handed over a new ambulance to the Malaysian Civil Defence Force.
The handover was carried out together with the Malaysian Association of Hotels, APM and state Public Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee Chairman.
The ambulance is one part of HTC MC’s charity drive during their “Rock to Rock Ride 2019.”
The HTC Motorcycle Club (HTC MC) handed over a new ambulance to the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (Angkatan Pertahanan Awam – APM) during their “Rock to Rock Ride 2019.”
It’s no doubt that Malaysian bikers are charitable and sympathetic souls below that tough and sometimes wild veneer. Virtually all large convoy events are not without stopping at a home of two to provide charity along the way.
But HTC MC did something which not only benefitted a number of charity homes, instead it may save some lives of an entire community.
Dubbed “Ambulance for Life,” the project sought to bring faster emergency medical response to the Teluk Bahang and Batu Ferringhi area.
Prior to this, ambulances have found their way blocked when they travelled from the Penang General Hospital to the Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang areas. These two areas are prime tourist destinations and are prone to heavy traffic. Moreover, there is only one approach on a narrow coastal road. As such, they would usually arrive between 45 minutes to one hour after the calls were placed.
On top of that, the emergency personnel need to render emergency care to the patient, load him into the ambulance and fight through traffic again to reach the hospital.
Therefore, stationing the ambulance in the area would cut down on response time to the benefits of the community.
The handover was completed out on Wednesday (11th September 2019) at the Hard Rock Hotel Penang, together with the state’s Public Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigiation Committee Chairman Zairil Khir Johari; Khoo Boo Lim, the Chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang Chapter; HTC MC members; and APM deputy chief commissioner Norhafifi Ismail and deputy director Mohd. Huzaimi Raup.
Funds for the RM185,000 ambulance were contributed by a number of parties. According to MAH, Hard Rock Hotel Penang had raised RM70,000 while the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Golden Sands Resort, Bayview Beach Hotel and Angsana Hotel donated RM10,000 each; and the Holiday Inn put up RM5,000. Members of HTC MC made up the balance of RM60,000.
Besides launching the ambulance, HTC MC handed over cheques to several charity homes while Hard Rock café hosted the children with great food and refreshments.
The event was a part of HTC MC’s annual “Rock to Rock Ride.” As the name suggests, the members rode from one Hard Rock Café to another, starting from the one in Penang to Kuala Lumpur and finally Melaka.
Club members rode to Penang from all over Malaysia to Penang for the convoy’s flag off.
It was in Penang that the participants were given their event t-shirts and patches.
The ride was then officially flagged off on Thursday (12th September) morning. Instead of taking the main roads through Penang island, the route was changed to the coastal road from Teluk Bahang to Bayan Lepas. This way, it spared everyone from struggling through heavy traffic and intersections. It was a great idea as it also allowed the riders to keep riding and enjoying the great views around the back of the island.
These guys may be riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but they did great to negotiate the tight and rough roads. More importantly, there was no “heroics” going on and everyone rode well within their limits. The marshals likewise didn’t push the riders to ride faster.
Everyone reached Hard Rock Café Kuala safely that evening. Once again, the HTC MC and the restaurant hosted charity homes, together with another round of cheque presentation.
The club rode to Hard Rock Melaka and Desaru the next day (Friday, 13th September). They visited an orphanage in Kota Tinggi on Saturday (14th September) before pushing on to the Desaru Bike Week.
The ride ended today (Sunday, 15th September). It was an epic run of riding and providing to the betterment of the lives of others.
Suzuki GB is set to restore three iconic Barry Sheene race bikes to their former glory.
All three were brought back to the UK after Sheene emigrated to Australia.
The liveries were seen on almost every Suzuki for a long time.
Suzuki GB is set to restore three iconic Barry Sheene race bikes to their former glory.
The restored bikes will be displayed as well as started at the Motorcycle Live trade show in England.
The three bikes consist of the 1978 XR27 RG500; a specially-built XR23A RG500 bored to 652cc for the 1979 Trans-Atlantic and F1 Championships; and a 1984 DAF Trucks liveried and Harris-framed XR45 RG500. The DAF bike was Sheene’s final GP bike.
Photo credit motorcyclenews.com
MCN reports that all three bikes have been shipped from the racer’s family home in Australia. The XR23A and XR45 were refurbished through Suzuki’s Vintage Parts program.
The two will then be started up at the show while the X27 will be displayed together with Sheene’s 1976 and 1977 world GP winning XR14s. The latter bikes were also restored through the Vintage Parts program in 2017.
Photo credit motorcyclenews.com
Suzuki GB aftersales marketing coordinator Tim Davies says it’s a special moment for Suzuki as the three bikes return to the UK after Sheene and family emigrated to Australia.
The livery on Barry Sheene’s race bikes were the most iconic for Suzukis for a long while until the Kevin Schwantz and Lucky Strike involvement in the late-80s.
The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R looks confirmed for the Indonesian market.
It will feature a new 250cc inline-Four engine.
It may also be the most powerful 250cc four-stroke sportbike.
The rumours of a 250cc inline-Four Kawasaki sportbike has been gaining steam over the past months, but now it’s confirmed for the Indonesian market and called the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R.
The present two-cylinder 250-, 300- and 400cc parallel-Twins are relatively new platforms for Kawasaki. The manufacturer had favoured four-cylinder engines for the longest time, up to the ZXR-250 in the late 1990’s.
The ZX-25R ought to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October.
Further rumours say that the new engine will produce 59 hp, which ranks it above all other current 250cc bikes in the market. However, do expect to see that gain in the upper realms of the rev range. We can expect a screamer since each cylinder is just bigger than 70cc.
The question now is how much the bike cost in the Asian market will. As for us in Malaysia, it’s also a matter if and when the model will make to our shores. It’s already got a number of points that Malaysian motorcyclists will like i.e. Not needing to upgrade their license to “Full B,” for one. Besides that, we gather, there are many fans of the inline-Four’s exhaust note, compared to that of a parallel-Twin’s.
Picture of the 2020 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin have emerged.
They were part of submissions for certification in Australia.
The regular and Adventure versions have slightly different looks.
Here’s how the 2020 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin looks like.
The grayscale photos were part of the file submitted for vehicle certification documents in Australia and shared by Motorcyclist.com.
2020 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure
The details also confirmed the speculation that the engine will be enlarged to gain more power in face of stifling Euro 5 regulations. It’s learned that displacement goes up to 1084cc from 998cc, bringing power output to 101 hp at 7,500 RPM. Motorcyclist didn’t disclose the torque figure.
Honda is offering the bike with their proprietary dual clutch transmission (DCT) and manual gearbox.
2020 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure – rear view
Perhaps more importantly, the low-resolution photos show that the manufacturer has reworked the bike’s styling. The dual headlights and distinctive radiator flanks are retained but updated.
The Adventure version retains the “google headlamps” and has a taller windscreen and aluminium panels as on its fuel tanks’ flanks. The side panels are also different but there is a large passenger grab bar and luggage rack at the back.
2020 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin
The regular, non-Adventure model, on the other hand, looks to be more streamlined and the headlamps are made more angular than the current model. There’s noticeably fewer details than its Adventure counterpart.
2020 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin – rear view
The new Africa Twin may be launched at the Tokyo Motor Show in October or EICMA in November 2019.
A German magazine reported that the all-new 2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade will debut in October 2019.
The date puts it at the Tokyo Motor Show, instead of EICMA.
The new bike may prove to be the world-beater in WorldSBK.
A German magazine reported that the all-new 2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade will debut in October 2019.
If what Speedweek magazinesaid was true, the bike will be introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show instead of at EICMA in November.
Lending credibility to the rumour is rider Alvaro Bautista purportedly signing a two-year deal to ride for the HRC factory team in WorldSBK from 2020. There was “news” that the bike he will ride is the all-new CBR1000RR.
The Honda CBR1000RR is the best-handling and easiest to ride superbike we’ve tested thus far but the current model is lacking in top-end horsepower, at least on paper, anyway. However, superbike buyers are always looking at the specs sheets and the CBR’s 189 hp “isn’t enough” when compared to its peers.
As such, the new ‘Blade may have the most powerful naturally-aspirated roadgoing inline-Four.
It may also feature the “active aerodynamics” shown in a patent filing. The system features ECU-controlled winglets in addition to “aerobodies” seen in MotoGP.
The news should bode well for the WorldSBK team, as well. The riders are at the deep end of the field, finding themselves outgunned and unable to mount any serious challenge to the top runners.
Honda and CBR1000RR Fireblade fans will likely rejoice at the news too.
Alvaro Bautista is rumored to return to MotoGP to ride with KTM.
The rumors came to light despite another rumor linking him to Honda in WorldSBK in 2020.
Which way will he go?
Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista is rumored to return to MotoGP to ride with KTM.
Bautista was earlier rumoured to be moving to the Honda’s HRC factory team and remain in WorldSBK 2020. It was also heavily speculated that he will be riding a new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. Honda is expected to unveil the all-new bike at the Tokyo Motor Show this October, and the team will be based in Barcelona.
He had migrated to the WorldSBK for the 2019 season, riding the new Ducati Panigale V4 R for Ducati Corse. However, his form fell by the wayside despite having dominated the field earlier in the season by winning 12 races in a row.
His relationship with the Italian team soured since then. Alvaro then revealed that he would be leaving the team at the end of the season but did not mention where he was going to. His boss, the Ducati Corse Sporting Director, Paolo Ciabatti confirmed that the rider has signed a two-year deal with a “rival manufacturer.”
But now as KTM is searching for a rider to fill the vacancy left by Johann Zarco in the factory Red Bull KTM Racing Team, Bautista’s name came to the fore.
The question was brought up during the Tank Slappers podcast. Motorsport.com Global MotoGP Editor Oriol Puigdemont and Autosport’s Motorcycle Racing Correspondent Lewis Duncan discussed the compelling possibilities.
Please click on the link below to listen to the podcast.
The JPJ warned that they are not only targeting the Yamaha Y15ZR for illegal modifications.
They are also paying attention to all vehicles that are modified.
They also warned celebrities to not encourage illegal vehicle modifications.
The Director of the Kuala Lumpur Road Transport Department (better known as Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan or JPJ) warned that his department is not paying attention to only modified Yamaha Y15ZR but also all other vehicles that have undergone similar alterations.
“We will issue a compound of RM150 for each infraction found on the vehicle as per Section 6 of the Road Transport Act 1987,” he said when met by Harian Metro.
“Motorcycles are modified according to the owners’ tastes. Some made the exhaust louder; there are those who remove the rearview mirrors; in addition to or using non-regulation number plates and installing skinny tyres that are too narrow.”
He added that while modified motorcycles represent all brands, the trend is most popular with the Yamaha Y15ZR. He is aware that the model looks the sportiest in its category and there are many modified for illegal racing.
“Each modification must be within the confines of the law. Owners can refer to JPJ is they are unsure.”
He also warned celebrities to stop displaying their interest in vehicle modification on social media as that will be indirectly misconstrued as encouragement. “It is the wrong thing to do,” he concluded.
A new helmet liner called Koroyd make take over from the current EPS material.
It’s absorbs more shock and allows more airflow.
The lead scientist studied crash data for 40 years before developing it.
A new helmet liner technology called Koroyd make take over from the current EPS material. All current helmets use EPS (expanded polystyrene) as the impact absorbing liner.
Look inside your helmet and lift the top comfort padding. You can then see the EPS liner which looks uncannily like the stuff on polystyrene cooler boxes that are used to keep the BBQ meat cool. In the case of helmets, on the other hand, the EPS is shock absorbing material underneath the hard outside shell. EPS is favoured because each node contains lots of air and acts to soften the blow by deforming.
Arai EPS liner for different helmets. The different colours denote different densities for different zones
However, the material is can be easily damaged and susceptible to erosion by chemicals. This is why you need to replace your helmet every five years.
Scientists and helmet manufacturers have long sought to produce something better than EPS. But behold, there’s a new liner called Koroyd which made its debut in Klim K5 adventure helmet.
Instead of layers of poly, Koroyd is made up of polymer tubes. The tubes are then attached together, forming a honeycomb. As such, it’s able to absorb shocks but will bounce back from low-impact ones. It means that dropping the helmet may not deform the liner.
Koroyd deforms up to 84%, compared to EPS’s 60%. This translates to higer shock absorption thereby providing higher protection to the wearer’s head and brain.
Besides being more shock absorbent, the new material provides better cooling to the head as there are much more open spaces to allow for better airflow. Conversely, EPS granules are packed tightly together hence doesn’t flow air unless punched/drilled through like in all current helmets.
Koroyd’s lead scientific consultant Dr. Priya Prasad studied accident data for 40 years. “The current safety standard are over 20 years old. This new liner is a major step in the right direction that will improve rider safety significantly,” he said.
But as with most new tech, it isn’t cheap. In the UK, the Klim Krios Pro with Koroyd costs £525 compared to £375 for the standard model.
The price will drop given widespread use, if it finds industry-wide acceptance.
