The four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers namely Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha will work together to develop motorcycle batteries.
They should be working on battery swapping technology to overcome long charging times.
Yamaha is already working with Gogoro in Taiwan for battery swapping.
The four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers namely Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha will work together to develop motorcycle batteries.
The joint effort is to combat the bane of current electric motorcycles: Charging times. Make that long charging times. As such, they should be coming up with a solution to swap low-power or depleted batteries with fully charged ones.
Their solution should be similar to Gogoro’s, which is currently in operation in Taiwan. Electric bike riders visit a charging station, pull out the depleted battery in their motorcycles, insert it into the charging station and swap it for a fully-charged one.
Yamaha is already working with Gogoro on this solution in the island state.
Gogoro first entered the Taiwanese market in 2015. Since then, 750 GoStations have been installed, catering to some 17 million battery swaps. The company is targeting 3,000 stations, ultimately.
Honda and Yamaha are the strongest players in the electric motorcycle sector among the four manufacturers. But with the dateline for electric vehicles looming on the horizon, Kawasaki and Suzuki need to hustle in producing their own electric bikes. Most European countries will revert to new electric vehicles only in a decade or so, while phasing out fossil fuel vehicles.
Malaysia, without a doubt is still lagging far behind. Currently, only luxury cars are hybrid or electric. Consequently, the infrastructure is built by these manufacturers to cater for their own cars.
Motorcycle charging or battery swapping stations? Forget about it. The Malaysian government ought to step this up quickly.
Honda is developing a system to cool or heat the seat.
The rider can control how hot or cool.
It may be implemented in the Africa Twin or Gold Wing.
While some may laugh at the prospect of having heated grips in this hot and humid Malaysian weather, Honda is building a seat warmer/cooler system.
In a patent filing by Honda, the diagrams show pipings leading from the front and radiator of the bike to the bottom of the rider’s seat. The inlet for the cool air circuit is placed at the front of the bike. The heating circuit, on the other hand, starts from the radiator.
The rider can choose between cooling or heating, or mixing the cold and hot air to his preference. Operations are by a button mounted on the handlebar.
The way we see it is that the cooling function will definitely be a plus after parking the bike under the blazing sun.
The Honda seat temperature system should be implemented in models such as the Gold Wing tourer and the Africa Twin dual-sport bike.
Do we really need a seat or heated grips in Malaysia? Trying riding in the rain.
Johann Zarco said he was exhausted from fighting his bike in the Argentina MotoGP.
He couldn’t ride the KTM RC16 the way he wanted to.
He finished 15th and Hafizh Syahrin in 16th in the race.
While we published Hafizh Syahrin’s struggle with the KTM RC16 MotoGP bike, we wondered what his ex-Yamaha Tech 3 teammate Johann Zarco went through.
The two-time Moto2 champion finished 15th in Qatar and obtained the same result in Argentina. Even then, his final placing at Argentina was after Morbidelli took himself and Vinalez out of the race. By the end, Hafizh Syahrin was able to latch on Zarco’s back wheel and finished one spot behind.
On the other hand, long-time KTM MotoGP rider Pol Espargaro and new Red Bull KTM Tech 3 signing Miguel Oliveira took off to fight it out for 10th and 11th.
Zarco had been quite prior to this, but he recently shared his thoughts in an interview with Motorsports.com.
First, he was held up by Jorge Lorenzo who mistakenly his the pitlane speed limiter on the Repsol Honda. Zarco was in 21st place into Turn One. But his race also deteriorated as it went on.
“I almost struggle all the way, from the start. With Lorenzo I don’t know what happened and I had to brake a lot behind him, I was second to last,” he recalled.
“Beginning of the race, the first eight laps I was feeling quite good but not able to overtake my opponents because I cannot control well the bike at the moment.”
“Then more and more I was going in the race it was coming harder and harder to ride the bike. I spent a lot of energy.”
“Difficult to leave this kind of races when everything I would like to do, I can’t. This makes me fight with the bike, and then I am exhausted.”
At that point, the bike started to slide, difficult to brake and turn into corners. Zarco rides the traditional long-arc style, in other words, early braking to carry more mid-corner speed and smooth transitions. Hafizh Syahrin rides in this method, as well.
Photo credit Fox Sports Asia
Is this the key to why both these ex-Yamaha riders are suffering?
However, he is adamant in keeping his riding style, as he believes that it allows KTM to improve. Staying on one style means you don’t have too many variables to work with, making it easier to concentrate on which areas that need improving.
The Austrian factory would surely (and sorely) be missing inputs from test riders Dani Pedrosa and Mika Kalio by now. Both are unfortunately recuperating from their injuries.
The Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin may get an engine displacement bump to 1100cc for 2020.
The increase prepares the bike for Euro 5 standards.
Also, middleweight adventurers produce the same power as the current Africa Twin.
Motor Cycle News Australia’s networks of spies found that the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin may be upsized to 1100cc for 2020.
Their Japanese sources claim that the next generation of the Africa Twin will see a capacity upgrade from 998cc to 1080cc. There’s a gain of 5.4 hp along with the upsizing. It may not seem a lot but remember that 2020 is when Euro 5 regulations come into effect. The new emission standards will choke many bikes in terms of power.
The rumours also claimed that there’s minor upgrade to its styling. The Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT – please fix the low speed drivability, Honda). Its fuel capacity may increase to 20 liters, while the Adventure Sport edition may retain the 24.2 litre tank. We may also see a new TFT screen.
Yes, Honda wants to take the middle ground between the 1200/1300cc and 800cc adventure bikes, but the middleweights are now producing the same horsepower from smaller engines. That’s before mentioning that the middleweights are lighter and have lower seat heights, too.
Honda truly needs to upgrade the Africa Twin to stay in the fight. Its current 94 hp is on the low side when compared to open-class adventurers, and on par with the middleweight segment. For example, the Triumph Tiger 800 produces the same amount of horsepower, besides the new BMW F 850 GS and KTM 790 Adventure.
Let’s wait for the 2019 Tokyo Motorshow in October.
A new cutdown version of the Honda GL1800 Gold Wing has been revealed.
It fits in the bagger sub-segment with no top case and has a lower windscreen.
All other functions and features are retained.
A new more stylish Honda GL1800 Gold Wing has been introduced, just a year after its launch.
There’s great demand for less “touring” and more stylish bagger style tourers and other manufacturers enjoy brisk sales for them. A “bagger” is a more stylized and cutdown touring motorcycle with panniers but without the top case.
This new Gold Wing hence harks back to the previous Gold Wing F6B. It features a low windscreen, no top case, and more blacked-out parts for a slimmer, custom look.
Deleting the top case also removes 50 litres of storage space, rear speakers and passenger backrest, but it saves 40 kg.
However, owners still get to enjoy the bike’s 1833cc flat-Six engine which produces 125 hp and 169.5 Nm of torque. Electronic niceties such as ride-by-wire throttle, riding modes, traction control, keyless ignition, electronic suspension, LED lighting and infotainment system which integrates Bluetooh connectivity, music, maps and Apple CarPlay are retained.
The new “standard” Gold Wing will on have a standard 6-speed transmission i.e. no Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).
A Brazilian magazine dug up the patent submission of the new BMW F 850 RS.
It closely resembles the 9Cento concept, with some differences.
BMW needs to fill the middleweight sport-tourer gap.
Remember the 9Cento concept? Looks like it will be applied to the new BMW F 850 RS, as Brazilian patent revealed.
The 9Cento concept drew lots of interest and many were hoping that BMW Motorrad put it into production. But the factory kept mum about it until the prototype was spotted undergoing road tests in the UK. BMW needs a midrange sport-tourer and the new 853cc parallel-Twin provides the perfect platform.
Now it looks like a reality. Brazilian motorcycle magazine Motor1 Bugmanaged to dig up BMW’s patent filing to the National Institute of Industrial Property, dated 2 April 2019. The files not only showed a rendering of the new bike but also the name “F 850 RS.”
The computer rendering shows a design which closely matches the 9Cento, albeit more practical for everyday riding, including a longer seat. It ought to be a great commuter compared to the likes of the R 1250 GS/GS Adventure and S 1000 XR sport-tourer.
Will it be launched at Intermot? Or EICMA? We will have to wait and see.
The Zero SR/F streetfighter is set to compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this year.
The bike was launched in January.
Its motor produces 110 bhp and 189.8 Nm of torque.
The just-launched Zero SR/F streetfighter will be raced up Pikes Peak in June this year.
The 156-corner, 20-km Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) may not ring a bell with many motorcycle enthusiasts in Malaysia, but it is an important event where street bikes are pitted against the mountain and the clock.
Many well-known motorcycle models have tackled the course and earned the prestigious win including the electric Lightning LS-218, Ducati Multistrada, KTM 1290 Super Duke R. Ducati even went ahead to build the limited-edition Multistrada Pikes Peak.
However, sportbikes aren’t allowed on the course due to safety reasons after a number of riders were killed. So, the PPIHC sees close competition among sport-tourers and naked sportbikes.
Consequently, Zero Engineering feels that the event is the best place to show off the capabilities of the SR/F. American rider Cory West will ride the bike.
The Zero SR/F was launched earlier this year in Amsterdam. Although it looks like the mix between a Ducati and Benelli, it’s anything but, according to the company.
Specs include a motor which produces 110 hp and 189.8 Nm of torque. Torque is the most important aspect up Pikes Peak due to the snaking course, sharp corners and hairpins.
Besides that, owners can charge the battery to 95% in one hour and it weighs 226kg.
Ten Kate is returning to WorldSBK with Yamaha and Loris Baz.
The team will be supported fully by Yamaha Europe and will have the same equipment as the factory team.
The team was dropped by HRC at the 11th hour last year.
Ten Kate is returning to WorldSBK with Yamaha and Loris Baz this time.
Many were surprised when Honda dropped their long-time WorldSBK partner Ten Kate for the 2019 season. It was already 30th October when Honda made the announcement, which meant that Ten Kate had prepared the race engines, materiel and signed two riders through 2019 and 2020.
HRC’s move forced Ten Kate to lay off their race team and declare bankruptcy.
But it proves that racing is in team principal Ronald ten Kate’s blood as he began talks with other manufacturers. He finally reached an agreement with Yamaha Europe just before Christmas, but the details were only fully confirmed in January.
He decided on Yamaha and Loris Baz as he will be supported fully by Yamaha Europe, hence receive the complete package. It means that he will receive the same factory equipment as the Crescent Yamaha and GYTR Yamaha teams.
However, he concedes that the team could only aim for as many podium finishes as possible since the championship is fully underway. The team will only begin at the Jerez round from 7th to 9th June 2019.
Motorcycle manufacturers do get in the April Fool’s Day pranking act.
We round up a few from this year’s.
Triumph and BMW are the leaders in this.
It’s just not getting punk’d by your office mates, but there are motorcycle manufacturers who couldn’t resist teasing motorcycle fans with April Fool’s Day jokes. It isn’t difficult to illicit a few laughs these days, given the willingness of many in believing everything on social media.
Here’s this year’s April Fool’s Day wrap-up.
Triumph Rocket Mode Thrusters Accessory
Triumph Motorcycles have been pranking us for many years. We remember fondly of “a new model” which replaced the handlebar with a steering wheel from a car.
Introducing the new Rocket Mode Thrusters accessory!
The latest hybrid technology from Triumph Motorcycles with 1,000hp jet engines now available for the Rocket TFC.
So, wouldn’t you like a pair of miniature jet engines that sit inside the exhaust pipes? On a Rocket III TFC, no less! Triumph even posted the blueprint for it. It promised 1,000 hp and available only on 1stApril 2019.
Apple iLid
A motorcycle retailer in the UK named Sportbike Shop announced that they secured the rights to distribute Apple’s HUD smart helmet called the “iLid.”
We’re excited to finally reveal we have exclusive UK rights for Apple’s newest tech venture… into motorcycling. The iLid features a heads-up display and a thumbwheel control to help you access everything you need while riding. Find out more… https://t.co/fdcRpyFpNEpic.twitter.com/2UbKxW4DBy
— SPORTSBIKESHOP.co.uk (@SPORTSBIKESHOP) April 1, 2019
It’s definitely a prank because nothing Apple plans escapes the gaze of tech publications.
BMW iRace
Think BMW Motorrad is all serious? They have been doing April Fool’s Day pranks for a long time.
Check out this “GPS-guided iRace system” for the S 1000 RR. BMW claims it allows beginners to circulate tracks close or even matching their lap records.
Ja, ja, I’d like to lap the Nordschleife with this!
BMW R One T
Another one from BMW, in the shape a mono-wheeled bike photoshopped from the R Nine T. There’s a similar one made by BMW Motorrad Malaysia.
BMW R 1250 GS One Wheel
The copywriting blurb said, “Ready for our latest novelty? A revolutionary design using a single wheel underneath the 1250cc boxer engine.”
Shell Malaysia earns the first “Green Building Index” award for two of their stations.
The index is awarded to buildings that comply to environmentally-friendly measures.
Shell’s green stations are the first among petroleum companies in Malaysia and APAC region.
As the Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd., En. Shairan Huzani Husain said, “It’s not easy to convince people the petroleum companies actually care about the environment.” But Shell Malaysia is now the first petroleum company to have certified “green retail fuel stations” not only in Malaysia, but in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
To Shell, it is their responsibility to care for the wellbeing of the planet, while supplying energy resources to consumers. Truth is, Shell not only researches on better fossil fuels and other petroleum products, but also energy solutions for the future including electric vehicles.
Shairan Huzani Husain, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
As such, Shell Malaysia embarked on a quest to turn their retail stations into environmentally-friendly those with “Green Building Index (GBI)” certification. Two stations have been awarded as such, one in Damansara Jaya and another in Taman Connaught.
En. Shairan further added that Shell Malaysia will reduce the carbon footprint of their stations by 50% cum 2025.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNKK)
Highlights of GBI certified buildings:
Solar Photo Voltaic panels installed on the station’s canopy to generate electricity during daytime. The clean electricity obtained will supplement the station’s energy requirements such as running the air-conditioning, lighting, fuel pumps and so forth.
Adjustments to reduce energy consumption. Such as painting the surfaces of roofs and walls white to reflect solar radiation to reduce interior temperature during the daytime.
Use of Energy Monitoring System (EMS). It allows the station to monitor electricity and water consumption. The station’s crew can react quickly to abnormal consumption.
Waterless urinals and water saving taps replace conventional bathroom fittings. Water usage was reduced by up to 60%. It equals saving up to 600,000 litres per year, per station.
LED lighting with lower power consumption and longer lifespans.
Carpool and green vehicle parking bays to encourage their use.
Strategically placed electronic display board at shop’s entrance which provides detailed information on the station’s energy and water consumption, temperature and carbon intensity reduction.
Red Bull KTM Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal admitted that he was “very angry” at Hafizh Syahrin.
The outspoken Frenchman shared his thoughts during the Argentina MotoGP.
Hafizh Syahrin’s target is to go better than his new teammate Miguel Oliveira this year.
Oh dear, this doesn’t sound good at all. Red Bull KTM Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal admitted that he was “very angry” at Hafizh Syahrin.
The outspoken Frenchman spilled his guts when interviewed by MotoGP trackside announcer Simon Crafar during the weekend’s Argentina MotoGP.
“Hafizh, this is something very strange, but we’ve been through that before,” said Poncharal, alluding to his previous “motivational” talk with the rider at Misano last year.
Herve Poncharal – Photo credit GPOne
“He finished ninth last year for his second race in MotoGP, we know the guy has potential.”
“And yesterday FP1 was a disaster. He was looking almost like you (Simon Crafar) or me riding the bike around the track. I was really angry.”
“But after three laps in FP2, he improved by a full two seconds, which is a lot. Changed nothing on the bike, but clearly there is something is his head. At the moment he doesn’t dare to push, for reasons I can’t explain, he can’t explain.”
However, Poncharal gave assurance that the KTM Tech 3 team is fully behind Hafizh in his quest.
Hafizh Syahrin’s Thoughts
Motosport.com asked Hafizh for his opinion regarding Poncharal’s strong words. “Yesterday morning was (a) similar feeling like Qatar and also in the test. I didn’t find any good grip with the bike.”
“And after that we make a small change (which Poncharal said they didn’t change anything on the bike), and really surprised for me, and I feel a different bike, and we improve.”
Hafizh admits that that he’s still adapting to the bike. “Now I start to understand this bike more or less 90 percent. I just need a little bit more laps.”
Our Take
Before you jump on Poncharal, consider this: MotoGP is business. It’s not some fancy hobby of the rich who employ riders to blast around tracks worldwide. MotoGP is not horse racing and the riders are not horse jockeys.
Now, sponsors have the very right of seeing their logos on the bikes they sponsored and it’s not exactly cheap in MotoGP. These sponsors may say, “We use the top level of motorsports i.e. MotoGP to develop our technologies,” but it’s about brand visibility. Sponsors want to be associated with winners. Would you sponsor a fly-by-night team? You wouldn’t.
Unfortunately, only the front runners and crashers who get the most visibility during a race weekend. The cameras will focus on the front runners 99% of the time; the footage beamed into millions of homes around the world.
In other words, teams and riders at the back of the field are “invisible,” unless they crash. Even then, the front runners who crashed receive more air time. Sponsors will have a hard time justifying the costs to their stakeholders and start pressuring the manufacturer. The manufacturer then pushes the team boss, and the team boss goes down to the pits and start kicking butts.
Sepang International Circuit CEO and Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team principal, Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali was asked about Hafizh Syahrin’s performance during a recent interview. He said that he had a talk with Hafizh at Qatar. “I gave him a stern advice: Do not look at the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team as a backup, since we’ve signed Morbidelli and Quartararo for two years,” said Dato’ Razlan.
He also added that getting into MotoGP could be relatively easy, but staying in MotoGP is entirely a different matter. “Tech 3’s target for Hafizh in 2019 was to go faster than his new teammate Miguel Oliveira.”
“I also told him to stop comparing the KTM with the Yamaha he rode last year.”
As with Poncharal, SIC supports Hafizh’s venture. “We’ve gone the whole length of trying to help Hafizh, including signing on a sport psychologist for him.
BikesRepublic.com hopes Hafizh Syahrin will rise to the challenge quickly. We understand that being a MotoGP rider isn’t easy but it’s a world based on results.
*NOTE:
Many top riders also suffered with grip at the Termas Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina. Apart from MotoGP, the circuit is hardly used throughout each year. Consequently, the surface lacks grip. Maverick Vinalez qualified second but lost 1.5 seconds per lap to winner Marc Marquez. Alex Rins could qualify no better than 16thon his Suzuki and had to be satisfied with finishing 5th. Johann Zarco on the factory KTM also suffered, finishing in 15th, one place ahead of Hafizh Syahrin. Andrea Dovizioso said he was disappointed in finishing 3rdafter nursing his worn tyres home.
The Yamaha Niken is already funky, but an Australian garage added a turbo.
It should produce 148 hp, compared to the stock 115 hp.
The custom paint job is a nice touch, too.
Power, power, power. It’s never enough, is it? How about the Yamaha Niken, then? Not funky enough? How about adding a turbo sound to you?
That’s exactly what Trooper Lu’s Garage in New South Wales, Australia throught when they built this world’s first turbocharged Yamaha Niken.
Yamaha Motor Australia who shared this post didn’t reveal much details. But we could see a Garrett turbocharger mounted just ahead of the rear wheel where all three exhausts merge, before exiting to the Akrapovic muffler. According to Ride Apart, such set up usually gains some 33 horsepower. The stock Niken engine – which is shared with the MT-09 – produces 115 hp. Hence it should pump out 148 hp with the turbo.
Photo credit Yamaha Motor Australia
The GIVI aluminium top case complete with a pair of flasks is a nice, if not ironic, addition.
Photo credit Yamaha Motor Australia
Other changes include a custom colour that’s a departure from Yamaha’s standard “racing blue.” You could also see the custom KYB forks up front.
Photo credit Yamaha Motor Australia
In closing, a certain motojournalist had wheelied the standard Niken so the turbo in this one should kick the front up even higher!
