Wahid Ooi, Author at BikesRepublic.com

WorldSBK 2019: Bautista and Ducati Destroy Competition in Their Maiden Race

Alvaro Bautista and the new Ducati Panigale V4 R stomped the WorldSBK 2019 field in the opening race at Phillip Island, Australia.
He finished a whopping 14.9 ahead of the Jonathan Rea.
There were four different manufacturers in the Top Five at the finish line.

It was a fairy tale start for Alvaro Bautista and the Ducati Panigale V4 R as they won Race 1 of the opening round of Pirelli WorldSBK 2019 in Phillip Island, Australia.

Bautista and the Ducat blasted into the lead in Turn 3 on the opening lap. His race laps were so hot that he had opened up an 8-second lead by mid-race. He would eventually cross the finish line 14.9 seconds ahead of the second-placed rider.

He was the first rookie rider to win a WorldSBK race on his debut since Max Biaggi in 2007.

With Bautista clearing off into the horizon, he left his rivals to fight it out among themselves. However, unlike in previous years when four-time world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) dominated his rivals, he had to fight tooth and nail with other riders this time around. His new teammate Leon Haslam provided the strongest challenge, with Alex Lowes in tow (PATA Yamaha WorldSBK Team).

Haslam managed to pass Rea only to crash later. The former remounted and finished 15^th.

Further down the field, Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) battled hard against Toprak Razgatlioglu on his Turkish Puccetti Racing Kawasaki. Sykes’ bike visibly struggling to keep up with the Toprak’s down the straights.

Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) was another rider who put in an amazing ride. He fought his way up from midfield, first passing Michael van Der Mark for sixth place, before chasing down Sykes, Razgatlioglu, and Lowes who was in third. Melandri claimed the final podium spot, relegating Lowes to 4^th.

van Der Mark moved up to 5^that the finish, while Razgatlioglu kept Sykes behind for 6^th.

The biggest story day of course, is about the dream debut of Bautista and the Panigale V4 R. his teammate Chaz Davies was still struggling to learn the new bike and finished in 10^th.

The results mean there were four different manufacturers in the Top Five, including one privateer team (Melandri’s GRT Yamaha).

Race 2 and the new sprint race continue tomorrow (Sunday).

Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya Offering Unbeatable Deals

Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya is offering unbeatable deals for new Harley owners.
The purchase of a new Softail or Touring model entitles you to a 2-year factory warranty and RM 40,000 worth of Harley accessories, free-of-charge.
Interested parties may also enquire about the upcoming Thailand CKD Harleys at the HDPJ booth at the International Motomania of Kuala Lumpur.

But making things more interesting are special deals offered by Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ).

Because owning a Harley-Davidson should enjoyable through a free and independent lifestyle. The last one wants is the lifestyle putting a strain on his finances. As such, HDPJ has already worked out the best interest rates for buyers, besides setting up a full-fledged and professional aftersales service.

Wait, hold on, it gets even sweeter than that!

As part of making ownership enjoyable, purchase a new Harley and receive 2 years warranty. On top of that, you receive up to RM 40,000 worth of Harley-Davidson accessories, free of charge. Yes, RM 40,000. 40 Big Ones.

Which begs the question: Why buy “recond”? Prices for recond Harleys are different around RM 30,000 to new official units, that is true. But there’s no beating RM 40,000 worth of free accessories and 2 years factory warranty. It’s a no brainer.

This promotion is valid for new Softail and Touring model customers. Interested parties may also enquire about Harley’s upcoming Thailand CKD models at the International Motomania of Kuala Lumpur 2019.

The International Motomania of Kuala Lumpur features many great activities for bikers as well as families. So do drop by at the Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya booth there.

VIDEO: Motorcyclist Gets Double Whammy

An Indian motorcyclist got into a double whammy traffic accident.
He miraculously survived the entire ordeal.
The accident highlights the importance of wearing a helmet at all times.

A motorcyclist in India received a double whammy in a traffic accident in what is known as “Jatuh ditampa tangga (hit by the ladder after falling down)” in the Malay language.

In the CCTV footage shared by the Daily Mail UK, a white car first stopped at an intersection before turning left into the rider’s path. The unfortunate rider hit the front of the car, sending him and his motorcycle flying down the road.

The motorcycle then hit a lamp post. As the rider got on to his feet, the lamp post came crashing down squarely on his head. The second impact sent him back down onto the ground.

Thankfully, the motorcyclist survived the ordeal as the helmet saved him.

According to the Daily Mail UK, the incident happened in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

The lives of 15 motorcyclists and pillions are lost every hour in India due to not wearing helmets. Indian law mandates wearing a helmet while riding but many still flout the regulations.

As for the rest of us, we keep stressing on the importance of wearing a good helmet at all times. Spending some money on a better helmet is a sound investment. Better to have one when you don’t need it, rather than need it in an accident but don’t have one.

Source and video: Daily Mail UK

International Motomania of Kuala Lumpur 2019 (IMKL 2019) in Full Swing

The International Motomania of Kuala Lumpur 2019 (IMKL 2019) is happening right now and through the weekend.
It takes place at the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) near KLCC.
All bikes are welcome as there will be many activities, games, vendors and concerts throughout the event.

The annual International Motomania of Kuala Lumpur 2019 (IMKL 2019) is happening now and through the weekend in the capital.

The festival seeks to unite bikers regardless of creed, type and capacity of bike. In doing so, all bikers can relate to one another through the understanding of one another’s lifestyle.

IMKL isn’t like any other bike fests in Malaysia. The organizers have arranged a vast array of entertainment and programs for visitors.

Among the many activities are:

Retro motorcycle competition.
Custom motorcycle competition.
Battle of the Bands.
OSBMX Freestyle show.
Fun games for bikers.
Visit by lady bikers.
Plaque exchange among local and overseas custom builders.
Flag-off for the 365-day World Motorcycle Tour to the New York Peace Ride.
Lucky draws.
Concerts by Datuk Awie, Mus May, Bandi Amuk, Asheed Def Gab C, Nik Putra, Hatta Junction, Blank Gamma, Ali Lela, Dwan Olan.
Promotion booths including Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya.
Games and special promotions by Shell Lubricants.

It looks like a happening festival, alright! IMKL 2019 rocks from 9am to 12 midnight on Saturday, and 9.30am to 5pm on Sunday.

IMKL 2019 takes place at the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) along Jalan Ampang (near KLCC).

Indonesia MotoGP is on for First MotoGP Street Races from 2021

Indonesia will host the first MotoGP street races from 2021.
The new 4.32-km track will be in Mandalika, Lombok.
The new round will bring the MotoGP schedule to 21 races per year.

After years of debates and no-go’s, the Indonesia MotoGP is on for the first street races from 2021.

The event will be in the Mandalika district on the island of Lombok from 2021 to 2023. The state-owned Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (IDTC) and MotoGP promoter Dorna signed the agreement on 21^stFebruary in Madrid, Spain.

The IDTC President, Abdulbar M. Mansoer, told Motosport.com that the FIM Safety Officer Franco Uncini approved the circuit’s design.

However, the new 4.32-km length and 18 corner track will be built from scratch unlike Monaco and Singapore. The track will become public roads after the MotoGP event.

Lombok circuit layout – Credit Motorsport.com

French Vinci Construction from France will begin work in September this year.

The entry of MotoGP into Indonesia is what Indonesia and Dorna had dreamed of for a long time, as the country represents the largest motorcycle market in the world. Indeed, this is the reason why the Repsol Honda chooses to launch their team there every year (apart from this year’s due to the Repsol-Honda 25th partnership anniversary).

Indonesia’s entry will bring the series to 21 races per season, after Finland’s entry in 2020.

It will be interesting to see how the new schedule pans out, for both the regular season and out-of-season tests.

Source: Motorsports.com

2019 Honda CB250R Test & Review – “Simple Yet Fun”

The 2019 Honda CB250R is aimed at both beginners and experienced riders.
It is part of Honda’s Neo Sports Café line-up.
It brings back the fun of something simple, easy to understand and accessible.

We always crave for more power, of course. Power, power, power, but it never seems to be enough, does it? However, the 2019 Honda CB250R may just change your mind.

Honda aims the CB250R at both entry-level and more experienced riders alike, featuring all the basic needs of virtually any rider.

Introduction to the 2019 Honda CB250R

The CB250R is styled like its bigger brother, the CB1000R, as part of the Neo Sport Café lineup. The three words Neo, Sport, and Café points to the mix of classic and modern styling cues. In a nutshell, the line-up’s designs aren’t modern retros like the CB11000F, yet not wholly contemporary like say, the VFR800.

So, you have the round LED headlight and steel tube frame combined with multi-angled lines on the fuel tank and modern elements. Consequently, the bike looks unmistakably “Honda CB” but with a twist.

Hard Parts

The engine is a 250cc, DOHC, four-valve, single-cylinder unit. It produces 27 bhp at 9,000 RPM and 23.3 Nm of torque at 8,000 RPM.

Suspension duties are handled by a pair of upside-down forks up front and a monoshock at the back. ABS is standard.

The instrument cluster is fully LCD, while lighting is LED all-around.

Riding the Honda CB250R

The engine started quickly and was typically Honda quiet and so was the exhaust. The tapered handlebar is rubber-mounted, isolating the engine’s vibes from your hands.

But it was quick-revving. A blip of the throttle sent the bars leaping up the tachometer.

Thinking that since it’s a small capacity bike, I gave it lots of throttle and slipped the clutch to get going. It was totally unnecessary because the engine was surprisingly torque for a 250.

In the city, the CB250R’s acceleration was one of the most important points. However, it never seemed to run out of breath and we never hit the rev limiter, either. One usually needs to possess a left foot like the Riverdance dancers when riding small capacity bikes, but not so on this bike. All you need to do is choose a gear and give it throttle.

Speaking of the throttle, the PGM-FI controlled fuel-injection provided smooth and linear response. That’s a boon especially for newer riders and an advantage for veteran riders to apply gas much earlier while cornering.

The suspension action was pretty good, too. Of course, you’ll feel the deeper potholes and sharper bumps, but that’s because the bike is light at just 145kg (kerb weight).

A good suspension test is by charging into sharp corners at high speeds. The chassis never once protested. Full throttle blasts through sweepers? The suspension didn’t wallow.

This is when you discover the joys of riding a lightweight bike like the CB250R because you hardly need to concern yourself with neck artery popping hard braking. Just charge toward the corner, brake earlier, let go earlier and yell BANZAI!as you turn in. And don’t forget to slam on the throttle on your way out.

Being lightweight also means the bike reacts quickly to braking. The radially-mounted front brake caliper gave plenty of feel at the fingertips.

Out on the highway, we were also surprised at how easy it was to maintain a 120 km/h cruising speed without the engine threatening to grenade itself.

Last but not least, it’s one of the very few bikes that our rear seat reviewer (i.e. my wife) liked. She found the seat and suspension comfortable, besides being easy for her arms to reach the fuel tank.

Conclusion

“Aimed at entry-level and more experienced riders alike” may sound like a misnomer, but the 2019 Honda CB250R does exhibit that kind of attribute.

It’s very simple for beginners to understand and you won’t outgrow it quickly too soon because it can perform whatever you command it to. As for experienced riders, this is one bike which reminds you of the fun and convenience of riding a lightweight bike.

Priced from RM 22,999 (basic selling price and not on-the-road), it’s a worthy buy.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE
ENGINE TYPE	Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT	250 cc
BORE x STROKE	76.0 mm x 55.0 mm
POWER	27 bhp @ 9,000 RPM
TORQUE	23.3 Nm @ 8,000 RPM
COMPRESSION RATIO	10.7:1
TRANSMISSION	6-speed
FUEL SYSTEM	Electronic fuel injection with ride-by-wire throttle
CLUTCH	Multiple-plate wet clutch, cable actuation
CHASSIS
FRAME	Steel tubes
FRONT SUSPENSION	Upside-down forks
REAR SUSPENSION	Monoshock
SUSPENSION TRAVEL FRONT/REAR	N/A
FRONT BRAKE	2x radially-mounted 2-piston calipers, single disc
REAR BRAKE	1X single-piston floating caliper, single disc
ABS	ABS standard
TIRES FRONT/REAR	110/70-R17; 150/60 R-17
STEERING HEAD ANGLE	24^o
TRAIL	N/A
WHEEL BASE	1,355 mm
SEAT HEIGHT	800 mm
FUEL TANK CAPACITY	10.1 litres
KERB WEIGHT	145 kg

Did You Know Harley-Davidson Made Small Capacity Bikes?

Harley-Davidson may be famous for heavyweight V-Twin cruisers, but they used to make small capacity bikes, too.
The small bikes were result of Harley buying over Aermacchi.
Who knows if the Motor Company will produce small capacity bikes again.

Think about Harley-Davidson motorcycles and your mind creates a slideshow of large-sized, heavyweight, iron horses that create micro earthquakes with their signature rumble.

But, did you know that Harley-Davidson actually produced small capacity bikes in their 100+ year old history? Yes, they did. Some worked, some were goofy, but all are gone.

However, there are rumors that the Motor Company will start producing smaller bikes again. The motorcycle buyer demographic has shifted over the years to smaller, cheaper and easier to ride bikes, so the mutterings may turn out to be true.

Let’s take a look at a few of them.

1948 Harley-Davidson S-125

Not everyone could afford and handle a Panhead, so the Motor Company decided to make a more accessible bike. The S-125 was a direct copy of the 1938 DKW RT125 two-stroke. Well, Harley didn’t “copy” the DKW illegally, instead the design was given to the USA a part of Germany’s war reparations.

As such, the same bike is seen as the BSA Bantam in Great Britain, Minsk in the USSR, Yamaha YA-1 in Japan. But it was also produced almost everywhere including Poland and Italy.

1958 Harley-Davidson Topper

The Topper was a rebadged DKW. It was powered by a 165cc, air-cooled two-stroke which needs to be started by pulling a cord, like you would a lawnmower. Sold until 1965, the first generation used the “Scootaway Drive” CVT. However, the belt fell prey to road grime and other contaminants, causing it to slip constantly. So, the updated 1961 model came with a sealed final drive.

1961 Harley-Davidson Sprint 250

Harley bought an Italian company called Aeronautica Macchi, better known as Aermacchi. The result was a slew of lightweights. The bike was fun, according to classic motorcycle aficionados, but Harley fans didn’t like it.

1966 Harley-Davidson Bobcat

The Bobcat is the successor to the S-125. It had a novel feature of one-piece molded seat, tank and rear fender. Harley didn’t make many Bobcats but its styling influenced the “boattail” Low Rider, XLCR Sportster, Triumph X75 Hurricane and Spanish Bultacos and Ossas.

1971 Harley-Davidson Snowmobile

Yes, it isn’t a motorcycle per se, but Harley is a motorcycle manufacturer. The American Machine and Foundry Corportation (AMF) owned both Harley and hence Aermacchi at the time. Besides the boom for mini bikes, the 70’s was also a boom time for snowmobiles. It started out with a 398cc two-stroke, before going up to 433cc. Nearly 10,000 were made by the time it went out of production in 1975.

1973 Harley-Davidson Shortster

That isn’t a typo, you read it right – Shortster. It was the Motor Company’s entry into the minibike craze during the time (read: Honda Monkey), besides introducing the brand to kids. Harley’s plan didn’t work, of course. Folks flocked the cheaper and more reliable Monkey.

1974 Harley-Davidson/Aermacchi RR250 Grand Prix Racer

Four-time Grand Prix World Champion Walter Villa worked with Aermacchi to develop this 250cc two-cylinder two-stroke. He beat out Yamaha in the Italian GP at Monza in 1974 and 1975.

1975 Harley-Davidson SS350

The SS350 was a two-stroke single, the last from the Harley-Aermacchi venture. Harley’s involvement in the lightweight market was also coming to an end, having being beaten by the Japanese manufacturers.

Bikers Kental 2 Premieres Nationwide on 14th March (Spoiler Free)

Bikers Kental 2 premieres in all cinemas nationwide on 14^thMarch 2019.
Zizan Razak, Dato’ Awie reprise their famous roles, with the addition of Datuk’ Afdlin Shauki.
The Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC and Harley-Davidson make their return to the silver screen, along with the addition of an Aprilia Caponord 1200.

The long-awaited sequel Bikers Kental 2 will hit theaters nationwide from 14^thMarch 2019.

The movie stars a returning cast from the prequel including Zizan Razak as Bidin Al-Zaifa, Dato’ Awie, Datuk Afdlin Shauki, Meau Julallangtip besides other actors and actresses making their first appearances in the series. Bikers Kental 2 was directed by Mohd Helmi Mohd Yusof.

As the title suggests (it means “Hardcore Bikers” in English), the film combines a view into the lifestyle and brotherhood of Malaysian bikers, and their love to tour including to neighbouring Thailand. The venue moved from Krabi to Phuket for this sequel. Indeed, the movies features snippets of fun activities in Phuket and the hospitality Thais are famous for.

On the motorcycle front, Zizan’s character continues with his trusty Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC, while Datuk Afdlin rode the Aprilia Caponord 1200. Dato’ Awie rode none other than a Harley-Davidson.

The media were given a sneak preview of the movie yesterday. The film continues with its tried and true action comedy format. Bikers Kental 2 features much improved hand-to-hand combat choreography, vehicle chases scenes and lots of fun.

You can catch it in cinemas nationwide.

Zontes Malaysia are Launching Four Models on 27 February

Zontes Malaysia confirmed launching four new models on 27^thFebruary.
They are the ZT310-T, ZT310-R, ZT310-X and ZT310-X GP.
All four are lightweight but fully equipped with big bike features.

We published an article earlier about the possibility of Zontes making its way to Malaysia. It’s now confirmed.

The new distributor ZONTES MALAYSIA is set to launch four new models on 27^thFebruary 2019. The media launch event will be held in Subang, Selangor.

The four models are ZT310-T, ZT310-R, ZT310-X and ZT310-X GP. Details are unavailable at the moment, save for those on the Zontes website. But as almost all motorcycle manufacturers, all four models are built on a single platform.

Basic technical specifications:

312cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine.
The engine produces 35 bhp at 9,500 RPM and 30 Nm of torque at 7,500 RPM.
Fuel injection management is handled by Delphi, the same folks who supply to Harley-Davidson, among others.
The frame uses steel tubes.
Front suspension consists of upside-down forks, while there is a monoshock at the back.
The ABS system is supplied by Bosch.
All-around LED lighting.
Electrically-adjustable windscreen (for models with windscreen).

Let’s take a look at the variants:

Zontes ZT310-T

The ZT310-T appears to be an adventure-tourer, equipped with a high handlebar and large windscreen. It also appears to be readily fitted with crash protection bars around the front portion. There is also a large luggage rack at the rear.

Zontes ZT310-R

The ZT310-R is a naked sportbike. Although it looks like a rip-off of the Kawasaki Z900 and Suzuki GSX-S750/GSX-S1000 at first glance, it should appear with its own distinctive features. The most notable feature is the “clean” tailsection. The taillight and turn signals are flush in the tail.

Zontes ZT310-X

The ZT310-X is unmistakably a fully-faired sport-tourer. The handlebar is placed high on top of risers and there is an electrically-adjustable windscreen. It appears sportier with the “stepped” seat which the rider sits low and the passenger higher up.

Zontes ZT310-X GP

This model isn’t listed in the Zontes website. We could only guess that it’s the sportier variant of the X. We’ll find out during the launch.

Stay tuned as we bring you the launch of Zontes. The brand may well shake up the sub-350cc class.

WorldSBK 2019: Alvaro Bautista and Ducati Maintains Dominance on Day Two

Alvaro Bautista and Ducati once again dominated Day Two of the final WorldSBK 2019 pre-season testing.
He went faster on the final day, putting his best time way ahead of everyone else.
There were four different manufacturers in the Top Five.

Alvaro Bautista and Ducati again dominated the second day of the final WorldSBK 2019 pre-season test.

The Baustista-Ducati Panigale V4 R package had yielded the best time of 1m 30.743s on Day One, being the only rider to dip under the 1m 31s mark. The next fastest rider was Tom Sykes on the new BMW S 1000 RR, nearly 0.6 second behind with a time of 1m 31.300s.

But if the lap time from Day One was unassailable, Bautista put it even further out of reach on Day Two with a blistering best time of 1m 30.303s.

More importantly, that fastest lap wasn’t just one flying lap, proceeded by mediocre lap times. Bautista put in a total of 33 laps in the second session. Of that total, he ran 17 laps in the 1m 30s, 8 laps in the low 1m 31s bracket, while the rest were out laps (leaving the pit), slow down laps (to enter the pits) and in the pits. That is an amazing progression by any count. Bautista also recorded the highest top speed among the field with 314.9 km/h.

This domination is great news for Ducati, who were the King of Superbikes in the 90’s and early 2000’s.

The Top Five of the field actually improved on their fastest laps on Day Two, all dipping under the 1m 31s mark. Tom Sykes was second fastest on the BMW with a time of 1m 30.539s; new Kawasaki signing Leon Haslam finished third fastest with 1m 30.668s; four-time and 2018 champion Jonathan Rea in fourth on the Kawasaki with 1m 30.722s; and privateer Yamaha rider Marco Melandri recorded the fifth fastest time of 1m 1m 30.760s ahead of factory Yamaha rider Michael van Der Mark.

That’s four different manufacturers in the top five. Looks like we have an awesome WorldSBK 2019 season brewing.

No Benelli TRK 502 Says Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)

Pictures of a Benelli TRK 520 in Royal Malaysian Police colours were making rounds on the internet.
The pictures led some to believe that PDRM are using the bike.
However, they denied that they have the model in service.

The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has denied that they have drafted the Benelli TRK 502 into service.

Pictures of a Benelli TRK 502 resplendent in PDRM markings were making rounds on the internet. Additionally, it is equipped with police regalia such as sirens/loudspeakers and strobe lights. There appears to be no CB radio, however.

Director of the Strategic Human Resources and Technology at Bukit Aman, Datuk Sri Tajudin Md Isa said that PDRM has yet put any new bike into service. “I confirm that the motorcycle does not belong to the Royal Malaysian Police.”

Conversely, he added that, “The motorcycle may be used for testing.”

The PDRM currently has six types of motorcycles in service. They are the Honda CBX750P, Honda VFR800, Honda ST1300, Kawasaki Ninja 300, Kawasaki KLX250 and Kawasaki Z250.

The fleet is being used by the Department of Traffic Investigation and Enforcement (Jabatan Siasatan Trafik dan Penguatkuasaan), Motorcycle Patrol Unit (Unit Rondaan Bermotosikal) and Special Operations Command (Pasukan Gerak Khas).

We hope that the bike is legit i.e. being tested by the police. Otherwise, please refrain from dressing up your motorcycle to mimic that of the police.

Source and pictures: Info Roadblock JPJ/Polis

Video: Surveying the Motorcycle Lane Along Federal Highway

Sections of the motorcycle lane along Federal Highway are open.
We decided to take a peek at the section from PPUM to Midvalley.
The motorcycle lane is still dangerous and poorly thought out.

Just uttering the words “motorcycle lane” is enough to set off fierce debates. We decided to share one of our videos when we rode along the Federal Highway’s motorcycle lane from PPUM to the Jalan Cheras intersection.

This writer usually takes the New Pantai Expressway from Section 13, Petaling Jaya to his home in Bukit Jalil. Although farther, there are a number of curves to play with on the expressway.

The section was closed for some time for remedial works but it has since reopened.

The entry to the bike lane was easy to find. From there, it’s straight towards Kuala Lumpur. The surface is now much smoother now relative to how it was. You can still feel the bumps, but it really isn’t like riding over a ribbon of tarred washboard as it used to be.

However, the lane is still narrow and “divided” in two by broken lines, meaning that one can overtake here. The curves remain. And so do the danger points.

1. KL – Pantai Baharu exit

The exit is directly beneath an overhead section of the NPE. As such, the expressway’s span throws an inky black shadow onto the section. Worse, the exit follows immediately after a right turn while the road to KL curves back to the left, like an S-corner. There’s a huge risk of bikes crashing together here.

2. Tunnel exit next to Plaza Pantai

As the rider’s eyes readjust to the brightness, the bike’s suspension suddenly unloads. That’ll surprise some riders or even cause them to lose control. There’s no space for mistake here because there are steel railings on both sides of the path.

3. KL – Cheras exit

This exit has existed for many decades. It’s super dangerous because the section inexplicably narrows and is at the bottom of a rise.

However, the authorities have closed this exit, but someone removed the concrete barricades. Since I’ve not ridden here for a very long time, I turned in only to find there’s no exit to Jalan Cheras. Now I understand why it’s closed because the exit is exactly where vehicles pick up speed from coming down the downhill corner.

A few blocks were moved to create holes. Smaller bikes can fit through. But I didn’t want to exit here because it’s just foolish and illegal.

3. Taman Desa

I made a U-turn and rode towards KL where there’s another exit to Jalan Kelang Lama, Cheras and Seremban. Emerging from the tunnels, the left lane of the road was closed, forcing us to share the incoming lane with other vehicles.

There was no exit to Jalan Cheras except by riding through parts of Taman Desa. That was when I came across a car driver who ran the red light in front of me.

I started to regret my decision by now. But there was still one last nuisance waiting. There was no way to head towards Cheras after getting off the bridge from Taman Desa. Instead, I had to join the KL-Seremban Highway in order to enter MEX Highway. That’s not an issue for me as I live in Bukit Jalil, but what about those who are residing in Cheras, Kajang, Semenyih and beyond?

CONCLUSION

We were really hopeful when the authorities announced the project to revamp Federal Highway’s motorcycle lane, but it causes more inconvenience to motorcyclists, never mind that many sections are still inexplicably closed. Let’s be clear here: We do not vouch for motorcyclists who flout the law, but what if they’re faced with inconveniences and dangers such as these?

We hope that they authorities will give more thought when rebuilding it as they were designed in the 50s for bicycles. The only way to assess is by riding a motorcycle themselves.

Bikesrepublic

Wahid Ooi

Alvaro Bautista and the new Ducati Panigale V4 R stomped the WorldSBK 2019 field in the opening race at Phillip Island, Australia.

He finished a whopping 14.9 ahead of the Jonathan Rea.

There were four different manufacturers in the Top Five at the finish line.

Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya is offering unbeatable deals for new Harley owners.

The purchase of a new Softail or Touring model entitles you to a 2-year factory warranty and RM 40,000 worth of Harley accessories, free-of-charge.

Interested parties may also enquire about the upcoming Thailand CKD Harleys at the HDPJ booth at the International Motomania of Kuala Lumpur.

An Indian motorcyclist got into a double whammy traffic accident.

He miraculously survived the entire ordeal.

The accident highlights the importance of wearing a helmet at all times.

The International Motomania of Kuala Lumpur 2019 (IMKL 2019) is happening right now and through the weekend.

It takes place at the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) near KLCC.

All bikes are welcome as there will be many activities, games, vendors and concerts throughout the event.

Among the many activities are:

Indonesia will host the first MotoGP street races from 2021.

The new 4.32-km track will be in Mandalika, Lombok.

The new round will bring the MotoGP schedule to 21 races per year.

The 2019 Honda CB250R is aimed at both beginners and experienced riders.

It is part of Honda’s Neo Sports Café line-up.

It brings back the fun of something simple, easy to understand and accessible.

Introduction to the 2019 Honda CB250R

Hard Parts

Riding the Honda CB250R

Conclusion

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Harley-Davidson may be famous for heavyweight V-Twin cruisers, but they used to make small capacity bikes, too.

The small bikes were result of Harley buying over Aermacchi.

Who knows if the Motor Company will produce small capacity bikes again.

1948 Harley-Davidson S-125

1958 Harley-Davidson Topper

1961 Harley-Davidson Sprint 250

1966 Harley-Davidson Bobcat

1971 Harley-Davidson Snowmobile

1973 Harley-Davidson Shortster

1974 Harley-Davidson/Aermacchi RR250 Grand Prix Racer

1975 Harley-Davidson SS350

Bikers Kental 2 premieres in all cinemas nationwide on 14thMarch 2019.

Zizan Razak, Dato’ Awie reprise their famous roles, with the addition of Datuk’ Afdlin Shauki.

The Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC and Harley-Davidson make their return to the silver screen, along with the addition of an Aprilia Caponord 1200.

Zontes Malaysia confirmed launching four new models on 27thFebruary.

They are the ZT310-T, ZT310-R, ZT310-X and ZT310-X GP.

All four are lightweight but fully equipped with big bike features.

Basic technical specifications:

Let’s take a look at the variants:

Zontes ZT310-T

Zontes ZT310-R

Zontes ZT310-X

Zontes ZT310-X GP

Alvaro Bautista and Ducati once again dominated Day Two of the final WorldSBK 2019 pre-season testing.

He went faster on the final day, putting his best time way ahead of everyone else.

There were four different manufacturers in the Top Five.

Pictures of a Benelli TRK 520 in Royal Malaysian Police colours were making rounds on the internet.

The pictures led some to believe that PDRM are using the bike.

However, they denied that they have the model in service.

Sections of the motorcycle lane along Federal Highway are open.

We decided to take a peek at the section from PPUM to Midvalley.

The motorcycle lane is still dangerous and poorly thought out.

1. KL – Pantai Baharu exit

2. Tunnel exit next to Plaza Pantai

3. KL – Cheras exit

3. Taman Desa

CONCLUSION

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Bikers Kental 2 premieres in all cinemas nationwide on 14^thMarch 2019.

Zontes Malaysia confirmed launching four new models on 27^thFebruary.