Wahid Ooi, Author at BikesRepublic.com

Police Rider Killed in Road Accident with Car

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.

Source:

CFMoto 700cc Model Leaked

Drawings for a CFMoto 700cc model were leaked online.
The new model shows that CFMoto has moved away from copying other motorcycles and building their own.
CFMoto has a tie-up with KTM.

Remember we published about CFMoto having a tie to KTM? Well, this CFMoto 700cc model may be the result of that co-operation.

The stigma over Chinese-made bikes in Malaysia is understandable. The influx began about a decade ago but the market soon discovered that the bikes were as good as scrap metal. However, given the Chinese industry in tying up with foreign and established brands since then, much has improved.

One of them is CFMoto, who have not only improved steadily but also released more advanced models. (Another manufacturer is Guangdong Tayo who makes the Zontes brand).

The early CFMoto 650NK in 2012 looked like a direct copy of the first-generation Kawasaki ER-6, especially in terms of the frame and engine. The bike had plenty of troubles.

But that was 7 years ago and CFMoto have improved so much that one would get a great surprise to see the new generation of bikes.

And now, they’ve taken it to another level with this 700cc model.

It may still resemble the new Kawasaki Ninja 650, somewhat – especially the camchain cover on the left side of the engine – but look closer and you can see that the steel frame is entirely of CFMoto’s own design. The upper portion looks like a hybrid of the Ducati Scrambler (headlight, speedometer, seat) and Yamaha MT-07 (fuel tank flank and intake), though.

The forks are upside-down that provide radial brake caliper mounting. The swingarm looks like a cast-aluminium unit, rather than welded steel sections.

Will this model prove to be the company’s world-beater? We’ll see if the CFMoto distributor in Malaysia lets us sample it.

Yamaha YZF-R6 20th Anniversary Unveiled in Japan

The Yamaha YZF-R6 20^th Anniversary was unveiled in Japan recently.
However, there was no additional data.
But it ought to be the same as the current R6.

The Yamaha YZF-R6 20^th Anniversary was unveiled in Japan during a YZF-R Owners Meeting at the Sugo racetrack recently.

There wasn’t any information accompanying the launch, unfortunately, except that the variant commemorates the introduction of the first YZF-R6 in 1999.

The R6 was a groundbreaking motorcycle when it was launched. It was the first production motorcycle to utilize ride-by-wire throttle, which Yamaha calls YCC-T for Yamaha Computer Controlled Throttle. It was from here that the technology was soon adopted throughout the industry. Additionally, it marked the beginning of rider selectable ride and power modes.

Anyway, Yamaha had introduced the R6 to challenge the Honda CBR600F and later CBR600RR’s supremacy in the middleweight class. Unlike the Honda, the R6 had an alloy frame. The engine was claimed to produce 120 hp at 13,000 RPM. While it didn’t sound a lot, it translated to the first production bike to measure 200 hp per litre. Besides that, it had the shortest wheelbase and lightest weight of 169kg dry in its segment.

Photo credit planetjapanblog.blogspot.com

The current YZF-R6 produces 117 hp at 14,500 RPM, probably because Yamaha revised the engine to provide more midrange rather than outright horsepower.

Anyway, let’s savour the pictures of this 20^th Anniversary special edition.

Hong Leong Bank and Malaysia Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA) Sign MOU to Boost SME Growt

Hong Leong Bank Berhad and Malaysia Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA) sign an MOU to cooperate in banking solutions.
The MMSDA plus 16 of their State Associattions and 6,000 members are set to benefit.
HLB will provide a tailor-made financial programme to the dealers and members.

Hong Leong Bank Berhad (HLB) and Malaysia Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA) today officially inked a partnership to provide a comprehensive suite of banking solutions to bolster the motorcycle and scooter industry and overall small and medium enterprise (SME) growth in the country.

From the partnership, MMSDA, as well as, 16 State Associations under MMSDA and over 6,000 of their members stand to benefit from the holistic financial products and solutions specifically designed to meet their business and individual banking requirements.

This includes a tailor-made financial programme, Motorcycle Dealers Programme (MDP) offering clean working capital financing with a limit up to RM5 million and eligibility for Auto Loan Packages, Cash Management, Payments and Merchants Services, Foreign Exchange Service and Digital Business Solutions.

According to Domenic Fuda, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HLB, “The reality is while 98.5% of business establishments in Malaysia are SMEs, they cut across all sizes and sectors. At HLB, we believe financial products and services must be built around the needs of specific customer segments. We simply cannot provide a one-size fits all solution to SMEs as they operate in different industries and market segments and serve their customers differently and face different challenges and needs for business growth.”

“MDP which provides financing of up to RM5 milion on a clean basis underwritten by the Bank is a testament to our commitment in delivering products and services that are tailored specifically to the needs of the motorcycle and scooter dealers. The portfolio has experienced three-fold growth in the past 18 months, thanks to our engagement with MMSDA and its’ members, and us listening to their needs and delivering financial solutions that meet their requirements for business growth. We hope with the Bank’s dynamic products and services, more dealers and retailers will be able to enjoy benefits that such financial solutions deliver,” added Fuda.

Rapid expansion of e-commerce, ride-hailing and delivery services have and will continue to increase the demand for motorcycles as primary vehicles for private and commercial mobility. According to the Malaysian Association of Motorcycles Manufacturers, market dynamics have largely been positive since 2016 and the motorcycle and scooter industry is expected to witness continuous growth over the next 5 years with a projected 25% increase over the period.

“Working capital is always a concern for the SME and as a Bank with strong entrepreneurial roots, we understand the need for supportive financial arrangements to support entrepreneurs’ in their quest of business growth opportunities. Together with our existing flagship SME banking products including SMElite, digital banking solutions as well as Priority Banking, merchant facilities and payment products, we strive to provide the ultimate banking experience and other support with an aim to be the preferred banker of choice for Malaysian SMEs. Today’s partnership with MMSDA will be one of the many strategic partnerships that we will embark on,” said Terrence Teoh, Head of HLB SME Banking.

Teoh also shared that HLB was named Best SME Bank in Malaysia for 2019 by The Asian Banker, and that the Bank takes pride in having a strong pulse on the ground and having insights on what SMEs require to grow their business.

President of MMSDA, Mr. Wee Hong noted, “On behalf of the association, I am very excited to work with HLB who has identified our challenges and tailored their SME Banking services to the specific needs of the motorcycle and scooter industry. As automation and digitisation are rapidly changing the business landscape, this special partnership will empower dealers and retailers to further develop their business and remain competitive in the industry.”

The partnership covers the following benefits to the various stakeholders:

For MMSDA and the 16 Associations under MMSDA:
Current and Saving Accounts (CASA) & Fixed Deposits

For SME – Motorcycle and Scooter Dealers and Retailers:
SME Loans (MDP, SMElite, Business Auto Loan)
Cash Management
Payments and Merchants Services
Business and Key Man Insurance
Digital Business Solutions via HL ConnectFirst Lite:
• Biztory, an e-accounting and e-invoicing software solution,
• Kakitangan, an e-human resource and e-payroll platform,
• SimpleTax, an online Sales and Services Tax and Income Tax advisory tool
WeChat Official Account
Foreign Exchange

Personal Financial Needs for Members:
Personal Property Loan/Financing
Current and Saving Accounts (CASA)
Fixed Deposits
Credit Card
Forex

For more information, please visit: www.hlb.com.my/sme

BMW Motorrad Vision DC Concept “Electric Boxer”

BMW Motorrad Vision DC Concept is BMW’s electric bike concept.
It mimics the current Boxer’s cylinders.
There are also other styling elements of current BMWs.

Yes, BMW Motorrad makes inline-Four engine models without having the cylinders jutting out into the air stream these days. But their true identity remains the Boxer engine, as much as their blue propeller badge. Check out this BMW Motorrad Vision DC Concept.

But then there’s not horizontally-opposed electric motor. So, what do you do to maintain that Boxer identity? Create an illusion, of course.

BMW says that the “heads” direct air into the battery pack’s cells to assist cooling. Yes, battery packs do need cooling, hence most electric bikes being liquid-cooled.

But the truth is BMW Motorrad wants to keep its Boxer identity, just like its sacrilege for Harley-Davidson to stop producing 45^oBig V-Twins. We don’t know how BMW fans will receive it, but as internal combustion engines are phased out over the years, this design will probably take hold for future generations.

Think of the BMW Motorrad Vision DC Concept as the modern-retro electric bike of the future and you’re probably there.

Anyhow, the “Boxer” isn’t the only styling element that identifies the bike as a BMW. Check out the single-sided swingarm, the Hossack-style girder “forks,” the transmission box-like battery pack and motor casing.

Your Chance to Test Ride the Moto Guzzi V85TT

Here’s your chance to ride the Moto Guzzi V85TT dual-sport motorcycle.
The event will be held on 29^thJune 2019 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, at the Rimba Valley Motor Campsite, in Janda Baik, Pahang.
The bike is already a hit in many parts of the world.

We’ve ridden and written pretty much about the Moto Guzzi V85TT dual-sport motorcycle of late.

Honest, cross our hearts the V85TT was one sweet motorcycle to ride. But that isn’t from a motojournalist’s point of view only, as the Piaggio (the parent company of Moto Guzzi) designed it to be accessible to 95% of the riders in the real world. What that means is that everyone can ride and enjoy themselves on it.

Sure, it has that “heritage” look but heritage and history is what the Guzzi brand is all about. But fear not, it doesn’t handle like Grandpa’s bike that’s rotting under the nangka (jackfruit) tree. This is a modern motorcycle through and through.

These are the reasons why the bike is selling like hotcakes in the world over.

And it is now in Malaysia. To take it up a notch, members of the public are invited to test ride the bike and judge for themselves this weekend.

It will be held on 29^thJune 2019 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, at the Rimba Valley Motor Campsite, in Janda Baik, Pahang. (Please click on the map below.)

Apart from the test ride, attendees will also get to enjoy local delicacies beside chilling by (or in) the crystal clear stream and breath in clean air.

Please click on this link to register https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YfTjLTduFRxs25DEF9cZpHoHixFKx2IVTOe6BNC0lqc/

You may also contact https://wa.me/601123008919for more information.

Kawasaki ZXR-750H1? No Wait, That’s a Kawasaki Z900RS

Spanish custom bike builder Japan Legends has a kit for the Kawasaki Z900RS.
It turns the bike into an old school half-naked superbike.
It definitely looks better than the stock Z900RS and Z900RS Café.

The Kawasaki Z900RS is the manufacturer’s modern-retro model; the successor of the legendary Z-1 but it may lack character to some folks.

Yes, the Z900-based inline-Four has a good kick and howling top-end but the bike is still styled in the UJM (universal Japanese motorcycle) format. The Honda CB1100R, (discontinued) CB400, the ol’ Kawasaki Zephyr 750 and 1100, among others have all used that same “template.” The Z900 RS Café looks better with the headlamp cowl but some scorned it as looking like the BMW R90S, instead.

So, why not let Spanish custom bike builder Japan Legends spice up your Z900RS with a special kit they are building? Now Z900RS owners can transform their bikes into a Japanes classic sportbike.

Visordownpublished the pictures of a kitted-out bike which looks like the ol’ school ZXR-750H1 superbike. Additionally, the bike is resplendent in the classic Candy Apple Green, white and blue paint scheme. The only things missing are the iconic washing machine (intake) hoses that lead from the upper fairing into the top of the fuel tank.

The kit is a half-naked type, which exposed large parts of the engine.

Now, that’s a Kawasaki Z900RS we’d drool over.

CFMoto to Manufacture KTM 790 Models and Engine?

CFMoto is rumored to manufacturer the KTM 790 range and their LC8c engines in the future.
They may also manufacture KTM’s big V-Twin models.
They’ve currently employed Kiska to design their bikes.

It’s now rumored that CFMoto will manufacture the KTM 790 range and their LC8c engine in the near future.

Years ago, this writer worked in a motorcycle shop and came across the 650cc CFMoto the first time when the brand entered the Malaysian market. While the bike looked good and had styling elements of the Kawasaki ER-6 (read: copy), there were issues. Scratch that – it had more problems than Miley Cyrus. Try leaking crankcase, jammed rear brake caliper, leaking rear brake caliper, frame welding that seemed to have been performed by Form 4 Industrial Art students, wonky fuel injection, among others.

But CFMoto has come a long, long way since then. While the brand is still here but flying under the radar in Malaysia, it’s been doing well in China, Europe and the United States. In fact, check out their latest models – the 650NK, 650MT, 650GT and 650TR. Additionally, they are currently building a new model based around a 700cc parallel-Twin engine.

CFMoto actually contracted Kiska, KTM’s styling house who may have a hand in designing the new 700cc bike.

The Chinese manufacturer also has a deal with KTM to assemble the latter’s bikes for the Chinese market. But CFMoto will eventually go on to manufacturing KTM bikes. Rumors say that manufacturing will include the KTM 790 range, which includes the 790 Duke, 790 Adventure and 790 Adventure R. The deal doesn’t stop there as they will also manufacture the 790’s LC8c parallel-Twin engine.

There seems to be some truth here, since CFMoto unveiled the V.02-NK concept bike in 2017 which had an LC8 big V-Twin engine. As such, they may also manufacture KTM’s large capacity V-Twins.

The transfer of technology and knowledge will enable the once-maligned manufacturer to compete in the open class category.

7 Bikers Dead After Being Hit by Pickup Truck

7 bikers died after a pickup truck rammed into their convoy.
The tragedy happened only 500 feet (152m) from their bed and breakfast.
3 more were injured and hospitalized.

While this tragedy happened half a world away in New Hampshire, USA, we as bikers ourselves could not escape the gravitas of the news of 7 bikers being killed by a pickup truck.

The riders had just left their bed and breakfast stay on their Harley-Davidsons. As they convoyed heading east, a Dodge 2500 pickup truck rammed into the group from the opposite direction. The convoy had gotten only as far as 500 feet (152 metres) from where they left.

Owner of the bed and breakfast, Jerry Hamanne said, “It was so devastating to see the bodies on the road. My God, I don’t want to see something like this again.”

The impact threw bikes, debris and the riders all over the road. One survivor said all she saw was grass and fire.

Passersby stopped to help the injured by administering first aid and calling the emergency services. Three persons survived the crash, two of them have since been released from hospital.

The police have not released the cause of the accident and no arrests were made, as of today. They issued a statement that the accident is still under investigation.

The riders were reported to be part of The Jarheads MC. “Jarheads” is the colloquial term for the United States Marines’ troopers.

GrabFood Rider Delivers on a Ducati Hypermotard

We’re used to accepting GrabFood delivery from riders on small bikes. But this rider uses a Ducati Hypermotard.
He’s not wrong to say he’s the fastest delivery rider!
Hopefully, we could get him to delivery before the fries become soggy.

We’re pretty used to using GrabFood delivery service by now. Similarly, we admire the dedication of the riders who brave Kuala Lumpur’s mad traffic, rain and shine to deliver hot food to us. But here’s a rider who delivers on Ducati Hypermotard.

We’re also used to seeing the guys (and gals) pull up on Yamaha 135 LC, Yamaha Y15ZR, Honda RS150 and so forth. This writer has personally encountered a small number of 200cc and 250cc bikes. But the Hypermotard is certainly different.

Customer nak lemang, aku beli kan lemang. Jgn takut klau order dgn aku2 buat penghantaran paling cepat dari orang lain ??‍♂️?? pic.twitter.com/xnyTWWpfZ2

— HerrySevani (@HerySevani) June 19, 2019

A GrabFood rider shared a video of himself delivering a few sticks of lemang to his customers recently on Twitter. @HerySevani had the trademark green “backpack” on the back of the Ducati.

He tweeted in Bahasa Malaysia, “The customer wanted lemang, so I bought leman. Don’t be afraid to place your orders with me for the fastest delivery.”

Well, of course he provides the fastest delivery, since the Hypermotard is made to slice and dice through the challenges thrown up by the city. His customers will have no problem hearing him arriving at their doorstep either, to the tune of a 90^oV-Twin. (Hope I can get him to deliver my order before the fries turn soggy.)

He also tweeted that he took the job as a part-timer to earn some petrol money for his bike.

Body of Missing Motojournalist Davey G. Johnson Recovered

The body of missing motojournalist Davey G. Johnson was recovered from the Mokelumne River.
He had gone missing two weeks ago while returning from test riding a motorcycle.
No explanation was provided about his demise.

On 5^thJune, motojournalist Davey G. Johnson was returning to his Sacramento, California home but failed to reach his destination.

Johnson was out testing the Honda CBR1000RR and was last heard from at 2am. Police found the motorcycle at rest stop at midnight the next day. However, Johnson, his backpack, laptop and phone were missing. Calaveras Country Sheriff’s Office (CCS) initiated a search and rescue mission which involved more than 75 people.

On 8^thJune, they found Johnson’s riding gear, laptop and cell phone near the Mokelumne River, but his wallet was missing. CCS kept up the search and found more clothing items on the river bank. Still, there was no sign of the missing person.

Unfortunately, CCS was force to call off the search on 17^thJune as they couldn’t locate any more traces of Johnson. The search party had swelled to 100 persons by now and they scoured the area between the Pardee Reservoir and hydro power plant.

Then, on last Thursday, his family received a call from the authorities that his body was recovered from the Mokelumne River. No details of his demise was provided.

While we’ve never met Johnson, it’s sad for our community to lose one of our own. May he rest in peace.

Rempit (Hooligan) Causes Scary Accident

A rempit botched a wheelie and crashed, which led to a serious accident involving other road users.
The dashcam video was recorded by one of the vehicles involved.
All parties were thankfully okay.

The rempit (hooligan) menace is nothing short of an epidemic on Malaysian roads. In this latest case near Gua Chempedak, one botched a wheelie and crashed, which led to a serious accident involving other road users.

In the video below, the Nissan Almera’s dashcam recorded a group of three bikes ridden in dangerous manner. One of them pulled a wheelie after the on-bridge.

Further down the road, while a woman in the car can be heard planning a potluck party, a white Mitsubishi Triton 4×4 swerved hard left. It ran over a crashed motorcycle on the road and went cartwheeling toward the vehicle that was recording the entire episode.

The Nissan swerved left to avoid the barreling Triton but was still hit on the rear right quarter, and sliced off the road.

The rempit was caught by passersby. All three vehicles involved i.e. motorcycle, Triton and Almera suffered major damage. All parties walked away from the accident, but we hate to imagine the outcome if there were infants or children in the vehicles.

As usual, the “onion army” was out in force in social media, criticizing the rempit who caused the accident. Some even went as far as questioning why didn’t the 4×4 driver just run over rider. Additionally, as commonly seen in accidents involving motorcycles, there were parties who criticized motorcyclists as a whole, as if we are collectively guilty.

Truth is, no responsible motorcyclist can stand even the sight of a rempit. These cretins serve no other purpose than putting the general public at danger and sully the good name of motorcyclists everywhere. And don’t get us started about those who turn into dogs who love to chase bikes bigger than theirs.

There has to be some concerted approach in ridding the streets of this menace. Criticizing on social media serves no discernible purpose.

Bikesrepublic

Wahid Ooi

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.

Drawings for a CFMoto 700cc model were leaked online.

The new model shows that CFMoto has moved away from copying other motorcycles and building their own.

CFMoto has a tie-up with KTM.

The Yamaha YZF-R6 20th Anniversary was unveiled in Japan recently.

However, there was no additional data.

But it ought to be the same as the current R6.

Hong Leong Bank Berhad and Malaysia Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA) sign an MOU to cooperate in banking solutions.

The MMSDA plus 16 of their State Associattions and 6,000 members are set to benefit.

HLB will provide a tailor-made financial programme to the dealers and members.

BMW Motorrad Vision DC Concept is BMW’s electric bike concept.

It mimics the current Boxer’s cylinders.

There are also other styling elements of current BMWs.

Here’s your chance to ride the Moto Guzzi V85TT dual-sport motorcycle.

The event will be held on 29th June 2019 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, at the Rimba Valley Motor Campsite, in Janda Baik, Pahang.

The bike is already a hit in many parts of the world.

Spanish custom bike builder Japan Legends has a kit for the Kawasaki Z900RS.

It turns the bike into an old school half-naked superbike.

It definitely looks better than the stock Z900RS and Z900RS Café.

CFMoto is rumored to manufacturer the KTM 790 range and their LC8c engines in the future.

They may also manufacture KTM’s big V-Twin models.

They’ve currently employed Kiska to design their bikes.

7 bikers died after a pickup truck rammed into their convoy.

The tragedy happened only 500 feet (152m) from their bed and breakfast.

3 more were injured and hospitalized.

We’re used to accepting GrabFood delivery from riders on small bikes. But this rider uses a Ducati Hypermotard.

He’s not wrong to say he’s the fastest delivery rider!

Hopefully, we could get him to delivery before the fries become soggy.

The body of missing motojournalist Davey G. Johnson was recovered from the Mokelumne River.

He had gone missing two weeks ago while returning from test riding a motorcycle.

No explanation was provided about his demise.

A rempit botched a wheelie and crashed, which led to a serious accident involving other road users.

The dashcam video was recorded by one of the vehicles involved.

All parties were thankfully okay.

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The Yamaha YZF-R6 20^th Anniversary was unveiled in Japan recently.

The event will be held on 29^thJune 2019 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, at the Rimba Valley Motor Campsite, in Janda Baik, Pahang.