Johann Zarco announces that he will leave KTM at the end of the 2019 MotoGP season.
The announcement was made on his Facebook after the Austrian GP weekend.
There’s no news where he will go since all seats in MotoGP are taken.
The Austrian GP weekend has been full of bombshells, and now Johann Zarco announced that he will leave KTM in 2020.
Zarco made the announcement through his Facebook account. The decision was made after discussions with KTM at the Red Bull Ring, considered to be the factory’s home race.
Although it’s well-known that the two-time Moto2 champion has been struggling the whole season on the KTM RC16, it was still a great surprise to see him leave with such haste, as there is no opening in MotoGP next year. But he must’ve been contemplating on leaving for some time.
Zarco had high-profile falling out with the team since Jerez earlier this year. He was caught calling the bike’s chassis and suspension “sh*t” on “live” TV after returning from a crash. He also had scathing words for the bike during an interview, which prompted a public reprimand from KTM’s CEO Stefan Pierer.
Perhaps all these started when Jorge Lorenzo bandied himself for a return to Ducati, at Jack Miller’s expense in the Pramac Ducati squad. KTM stood by to offer Miller a contract should he lose his Pramac seat. That would mean KTM will remove Zarco.
Then Lorenzo turned around and spoke to Repsol Honda boss Alberto Puig that he will continue with his contract through 2020. Consequently, Miller’s place in Pramac was also confirmed.
Now KTM has a vacant slot for next year. Pol Espargaro will continue with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team, while Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder will ride for the Red Bull KTM Tech 3 Racing Team.
Only time will tell who KTM will pick and Zarco’s future.
Triumph is already past midway in their first season of supplying engines to Moto2 teams.
The engines have held up well despite the abuse.
Since then we’ve seen records smashed and closer racing.
The story of Triumph in Moto2 has been a success so far after more than halfway into their inaugural season.
Triumph began supplying engines to Moto2 teams this year, taking over from Honda who powered the bikes for the last nine seasons. In a way, it’s Triumph’s first Grand Prix season since the brand’s start 121 years ago in 1898.
This year, we’ve seen multiple Moto2 records fall and racing is a lot closer (behind Alex Marquez, that is). Then news came of Nicolo Bulega going past 300 km/h during practice at the Italian Grand Prix.
Hitting that speed in the engine’s first season is an amazing feat all by itself.
The engines began as the 765cc three-cylinder from the new Street Triple, then prepared and maintained by ExternPro. ExternPro also prepared the Honda CBR600 inline-Four engines previously. The engine received some upgrades for racing, but the overall architecture and most parts are the same as the road bike’s.
Triumph Street Triple RS
A three-cylinder engine produces more low-end and midrange torque than an inline-Four of equal displacement. But the 765’s larger displacement already provides more grunt, anyway. That’s why we kept seeing riders catching back up after making a mistake.
The factory has since learned much from their Moto2 venture. For example, how the riders trash the powerplant. The engine has a 14,000 RPM limiter on upshifts, but there’s no limiter on the downshift side. That’s why they regularly saw revs exceeding 15,200 RPM during aggressive downshifts.
Moto2 start at Brno 2019 – Photo credit MotoGP.com
Steve Sargent, Triumph’s Chief Product Officer revealed that the riders who abuse the engines aren’t the top guys. Data from those leading the championship such as Alex Marquez and Thomas Luthi showed that they don’t overrev the engine and are much smoother in their operation.
On the other hand, the abusive riders assume they’re riding hard by downshifting even when the throttle was pinned fully open.
ExternPro receives all the data from the bikes and flags the offenders. The company then talks to the riders caught doing so. But habits die hard, so ExternPro imposed downshift RPM limiters beginning Brno, Czech Republic. Riders who continue to exceed the limiter will be fined.
The engines have held up amazing well, despite all the abuse.
Trevor Morris of ExternPro continued, “We’ve done 100 engine rebuilds and the gearboxes don’t even look like they’ve be run in. The Nikasil-coated cylinders look brand new when we strip each engine after 1500 km (every three rounds).”
1500 km are peanuts for roadbikes, but roadbike engines don’t reside in the redline all the time.
There was no mechanical breakdown so far, lending a solid testament to the engine’s steadfast reliability.
Triumph’s Moto2 project hopes to bring the experience into developing their future line-up of motorcycles. While it’s natural that racing begets sportbikes, the data obtained could serve to develop designs, components, parts, etc. that will provide more performance and reliability to owners.
Of course, many hoped that it will result in a new range of sportbikes, but the Hinckley-based manufacturer had stopped producing the Daytona for a number of years now, as the sportbike market had shrunk tremendously. On the other hand, the factory announced the 2020 Triumph Daytona Moto2 765 Limited Edition recently. The engine is still based on the Street Triple’s but will be upgraded for more performance.
It’ll be revealed at the British MotoGP round on 25th August. We can’t wait to see it!
However, while KTM says that they will continue working with the Aki Ajo team in the Moto2 category, there’s no mention of Tech 3 anywhere. That would mean that Hafizh may face fewer options.
The manufacturer made the announcement at their “home” Austrian MotoGP round, where they signed a contract with Dorna to remain in the series for another five years. That means the factory will continue for a total of another seven years.
KTM CEO Stefan Pierer says that the decision will allow them to pool their resources and concentrate on MotoGP. The sentiment was echoed by Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director.
Putting more focus on Moto3 would do the brand some good, as well and paves the way for the return of Husqvarna to roadracing. The brand is currently owned by KTM and it’s expected that a new model albeit using KTM’s technical expertise will be unveiled.
Honda has dominated the series for the past number of seasons.
A backfiring motorcycle caused mass panic in New York City.
The popping sounds were mistaken for gunshots.
The crowd stampeded, causing 22 injuries.
With a nation on edge after three mass shootings in the space of one week, a backfiring motorcycle causes mass panic in New York City, United States of America.
The panic also interrupted and ended the Broadway play “To Kill a Mockingbird” in the Schubert Theatre. The crowd had attempted to flee the play, resulting in a stampede which injured 22 people.
BREAKING **PANIC AT TIMES SQUARE** Broadway and West 44 Street. A motorcycle backfiring caused people to think there was shots fired. Thousands of people panicked. #NYPD on scene confirming it was motorcycle.
New York Police Department said a group of motorcycles were passing by when one of them backfired. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also issued a statement via his Twitter account that, “Times Square is safe and secure. The noises heard earlier were motorcycles backfiring, not gunshots.”
One person said, “We just hear ‘pop’, ‘pop’, ‘pop’, and thought that somebody just came in and started shooting people.”
Another said, “It’s a shame the climate of America is like this.”
The mass shootings have occurred at public events. The last three shootings at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, Arianna Grande’s Manchester concert and Route 91 Harvest Festival left 58 dead and another 489 wounded. Punk band Blink-182 was forced to cancel their concert in El Paso after a gunman opened fire in a Walmart Supercentre, killing 20 over the weekend.
Miller says that it may be due to Lorenzo’s negotiation with the team.
In a shock bit of gossip, Jorge Lorenzo may eye a seat at Pramac Ducati in 2020. Even more intriguingly, current rider Jack Miller says his contract deal is delayed because of Lorenzo.
It’s the mid-season break for the MotoGP paddock and this is when deals are signed and time for the people involved to talk.
Rumours of Lorenzo may quit Honda for a Ducati ride next year started surfacing a few days prior but most (including us) dismissed it as just that – rumours. Why would he leave a factory team for a satellite team?
Miller had earlier joked that his 2020 contract was being “sent to him,” only to discover that Lorenzo had entered negotiations with his team. The Australian wasn’t happy and didn’t mince his words, “I think there is some truth to the rumours about Lorenzo. For sure he’s looking at something because at the moment he can’t ride the Honda. It’s easy to tuck your tail between your legs and run back,” said Miller to Crash.net.
Jack Miller – Photo credit MotoGP.com
“I thought we were waiting on paperwork but clearly that’s not the case. There might be something else behind it, I don’t know yet. We’ll see. Once Jorge comes back from the Maldives or wherever he is, we’ll find out what I’m doing.”
Lorenzo is currently under rehabilitation after crushing his vertebrae in a crash. He had said that the Honda fits him better when he moved to the Repsol Honda factory team but is now reeling from poor results and injury.
The GIVI Malaysian Adventure 2019 ended with Day 9.
It was an amazing ride to show what Malaysia offers.
It was also an amazing ride due to the organization and support.
All good things come to end. Unfortunately, it had to be the GIVI Malaysian Adventure 2019 on Day 9.
For the last day, the GIVI Explorers were pretty much let loose to enjoy the best riding road we Malaysian bikers have come to love i.e. Karak Highway, Bukit Tinggi and Genting Highlands.
Many of the riders were very skilled especially with the Triumph Tiger 800 XR, XRx and XCx in their hands. Mexican Explorer Manuel stood on the pegs of the XCx most of the time while blasting through corners. I can second what he did, because the XCx is one bike which instills supreme confidence in the rider.
The ride ended at the Grand Ion D’Element Hotel. It was a great way to end the ride at a place that’s cooling.
We gathered for the Gala Dinner that night, when Joseph handed out gifts to honour the Explorers based on their “exploits” during the ride. Check out the pictures to see what the gifts were!
The police escorts received a boisterous cheer for their efforts in keeping the routes clear and us safe throughout. The same kudos went to the marshals as well, who always checked to see that there were no rider missing from their flocks.
A personal view of the adventure
The adventure had been epic, taking the GIVI Explorers on a loop through Peninsular Malaysia. We started at the West Coast, rode over to the East Coast, before turning back west. We had crossed the central spine of Peninsular Malaysia twice; dined in a limestone cave in Ipoh; spent a day and night at beautiful Redang Island; partook authentic Baba and Nonya food in historic Melaka; fed elephants at Kuala Gandah. In short, we rode from the city to a cave, lake, beach, island, jungle and up mountains.
Amongst all that, though, the crown jewel had to be GIVI Rimba Raid at Janda Baik. Here we not only watched an event but took in an experience that has no equal anywhere around the world.
But there’s no illusion that it’s our beautiful Malaysian roads that connected all these locations. The marshals from Desmo Owners Club Malaysia who recce’d the routes did a fantastic job in seeking out asphalt ribbons with corners after corners, thereby minimizing zombie-like droning on the highways. They were the ones who filled our fuel tanks when we stopped.
I couldn’t stress enough about the pleasure of having the Traffic Police escort us all the way. Imagine riding through Kuantan and Melaka without escort: The convoy would’ve have fragmented so terribly that some riders would’ve either gotten lost or worse. If local riders find it challenging, what more to those who were visiting Malaysia for the first time!
More importantly, no one got left behind or hurt.
The accommodations were top-notch, as always, and served great food. It’s something good to look forward to at the end of the ride each day.
The GIVI crew provided superb support everywhere we stopped. They were always there to make sure that there was parking and space for us to sit down as a group. Drinks and snacks were always available in the back of the Honda Odyssey, so much so I called it the Snack-On-Wheels. Besides that, they were the ones who moved our luggage into our hotel rooms before we arrived, then pick them up and load them up when we checked out, only do it all again the next day.
I also couldn’t ignore the fact that the GIVI equipment was reliable. The tank bag could accommodate a 2-litre hydration bladder in addition to my DSLR camera. The Trekker Dolomiti hard cases not only looked classy, but stored everything away safely.
We were also very lucky that the weather stayed on our side throughout. We had expected rain, but none caught us. Besides that, the ride ended just one day before the haze from Sumatra returned!
Roll of Honour
The epic ride was the direct result of extensive work put in. It’s work that we didn’t see that manifested in the smooth running of any event. There’s no such thing as just organizing a ride of this magnitude and crossing fingers.
So, a big thank you to Mr. Joseph Perucca. The GIVI Explorer project is his baby and it highlights a number of salient and important points. It’s already established that GIVI produces the best motorcycle luggage and accessories, but there is a driving passion behind it. The people of GIVI, distributors and dealers are what constitutes a family. The GIVI Explorer expeditions are the result of this familial togetherness, sharing the passion for riding and exploration the world over, while using the real world as the rolling laboratory for GIVI products. This love for the family is especially seen in the Explorers who had joined the annual rides from the very beginning (this being the seventh).
Joseph and his wife Van
I wish to also thank Joseph and Pietro (Ambrosioni – GIVI’s Communication Manager). Joseph would send Pietro to accompany everytime I needed to break free from the convoy to shoot pictures.
Next on the list is Mr. On Hai Swee, the Managing Director of GIVI Asia Sdn. Bhd. It was a pleasure to finally ride with him and Mrs. On. I’ve always learned so much about GIVI from him. His hard work and foresight has brought the brand to where it is in these 25 years in Malaysia. A special appreciation to him for arranging the Traffic Police escort throughout the ride.
A thoroughly special thank you to Dato’ Hussein Al-Malique, Chief Executive Officer of Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia. Every Explorer on the Tiger 800 (XR/XRx/XCx) had a great time and there wasn’t a single concern about their bikes. They were perfectly suited to the curvy road along the tour’s routes.
Thank you and congratulations to Dato’ Captain Nik Huzlan who put together another stunning and the largest yet Rimba Raid. I wished I had more time to cover the event, but Insy’Allah I could do so from a rider’s perspective next year. It’s always great to chat with you and I could count on learning so much!
This list wouldn’t be complete without the hardworking (read: overworked) GIVI crew on both the ride and at GIVI Rimba Raid. Sam Sharman, Edwin, Sherlyn, Julian Loh, Aina, and everyone you guys were amazing as always. It was great to see familiar faces everywhere we stopped!
A special shout out to Jeremias Israel. He may be a Dakar and pro racer but he’s one of the most down-to-earth guys I’ve ever met. The guys who attended his off-road clinic enjoyed it immensely and we were all behind you at Rimba Raid.
Let’s not forget Nikkasit, the official photographer who worked non-stop. Awesome pictures, Khun Nikkasit. Please visit soon!
(L-R) Manuel, Nikkasit, Kok Ping
Last but not least, kudos to the GIVI Explorers. It’s always nice to see everyone I’ve met before, but I make new friends everytime we ride together. Your laughs were always so infectious. I hope to learn Spanish and Thai before the next ride (if I’m ever invited again). I hope that you guys enjoyed Malaysia and come back for a more extensive tour. There’s so much more to offer than what we experienced during the ride.
Tech 3 offers Hafizh Syahrin a Moto2 ride in 2020.
But the Malaysian is also hoping for an option in the PETRONAS SRT outfit.
Hafizh says that he will know by the Austrian GP.
There may be a silver lining for Hafizh Syahrin yet, now that Tech 3 has offered him a ride in their Moto2 outfit in 2020.
Tech 3 team principal Herve Poncharal confirmed the news recently, saying that the option is for Hafizh if he accepts. The Tech 3 Moto2 team also fields KTM bikes. However, unlike in MotoGP, the Moto2 bike uses KTM’s frame wrapped around the Triumph three-cylinder engine.
Poncharal said that he spoke to Hafizh a few races prior to announcing Brad Binder’s ascension to the MotoGP team. As such, Hafizh wasn’t entirely shocked by the news.
Hafiz, on the other hand, acknowledges Tech 3’s offer but is leaving options open. He looks to be more interested in joining the PETRONAS SRT outfit should a seat be available, instead.
“I speak (sic) to Herve, also I speak (sic) to Razlan (Razali, the PETRONAS SRT Boss). I cannot say 100 percent. I need to wait until maybe Austria, I will know where I go.”
Stepping back into Moto2 wouldn’t be so bad for Hafizh, since he’s now accumulated priceless experience in MotoGP. He’d been progressing well in Moto2 anyway, before he was picked to replace Jonas Folger in the Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha team in 2018.
Goh Brothers official workshops rolled out a special Service Clinic and Merdeka Campaign for Aprilia and Moto Guzzi owners.
The offer includes just RM 10 for an original engine oil filter.
Please visit the nearest Goh Brothers workshop for more details.
The official imported and distributor of Aprilia motorcycles in Malaysia, Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd. has rolled out a special Service Clinic and Merdeka Campaign for Aprilia owners.
The campaign seeks to care for Aprilia and Moto Guzzi owners in the country, letting them enjoy their pride and joy without as much as a worry.
As Juan Chow Wee, General Manager of Didi Resources put it, listening to customers goes beyond just selling motorcycles.
Through this special clinic, the official Goh Brothers workshops are offering the original engine oil filter from just RM 10. Together with semi-synthetic engine oil change, parts and labour, the cost totals only from RM 270 for an oil change service. (A big bike service at official service centres usually cost from RM 350 and upwards.)
The promotion is available at official Goh Brothers workshops (GBMC) in both Aprilia and Moto Guzzi official dealers.
Ownership and maintenance of large capacity motorcycles doesn’t necessarily mean high costs at official workshops. Do note that technicians are trained to carry out the job and only approved tools and machinery are used. Also, servicing at the official workshop prevents from voiding your motorcycle’s warranty.
There are formal procedures in importing helmets into Malaysia for distribution and sales.
This was why the Customs Department warned against self-importation.
The procedures are centred around motorcycle helmets being safety related items.
What started it all?
We posted an article some time back after a Royal Malaysian Customs Department poster was spotted at an airport.
The poster had warned that helmets without prior approval from the Road Transport Depart Malaysia (better known as “JPJ”) or SIRIM, and without the UN 22.05 (ECE 22.05) and/or SIRIM MS1 standard will be detained or confiscated outright.
That warning is specifically catered to travelers, but there are cases where individuals carry more than one helmet into the country. The Customs Department suspects that the helmets are for distribution and sales.
Moving away from that subject, let’s see how helmets are officially imported into Malaysia. To do so, we met with our long-time helmet partner, HJC Helmet Malaysia for further clarifications.
Mr. Ben Ng, Director of NKS Distributors (KL) Sdn. Bhd. They are the official HJC importer and distributor in Malaysia
Why are imported helmets regulated?
Helmet importation isn’t as simple as ordering the desired models then paying taxes when they arrive at the seaport or airport.
That we find is because many are unaware that helmets are considered safety items. “Motorcycle helmets pertain to safety and are therefore controlled items,” said the now-retired Director of JPJ’s Technical Department when we met him three years ago.
Being controlled items means that their importation needs to be regulated.
The Procedures
These steps are a summary of what’s required. There are many more intricate details that we left out because it’ll result in an article that’s way too long.
STEP 1
The importer, in this case HJC Helmet Malaysia (HJC MY), chooses the models they wish to distribute. For ease of this article, let’s pick one model say the new HJC i70.
HJC MY then prepares the set of documents with the help of the HJC headquarters in South Korea. The documents must state the specifications of the helmet i.e. material, and dimensions such as eyeport size, etc. Since the model was approved under the ECE 22.05 regulation, the manufacturer must also state which lab in which country approved it. TÜV Rheinland in Cologne, Germany carries out the tests for HJC helmets.
HJC MY is also required to provide one piece of the HJC i70 to JPJ for vetting.
STEP 2
HJC MY then hands over the documents to the JPJ’s Technical Department for vetting.
Additionally, HJC MY also needs to furnish the distributor’s details, model and its specifications, quantity to be imported.
The JPJ Officers will then vet through the documents by getting in touch with TÜV Rheinland, or other labs if other components such as the faceshield was tested somewhere else.
The important thing here is to establish that the HJC i70 was indeed tested in the same specifications and obtained the ECE 22.05 certification.
Once fully verified, JPJ will issue a Supporting Letter (Surat Sokongan) to HJC MY.
STEP 3
HJC MY then brings the Supporting Letter to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department. The Customs grants the importation and HJC MY pays the duties and taxes.
JPJ Warning
The JPJ has warned before that the “JPJ Approved” or “Diluluskan oleh JPJ” sticker is not allowed on imported helmets, despite the department’s approval of importation. Please take note!
Other points
As you can probably see, JPJ and SIRIM doesn’t allow exclusively DOT certified helmets into Malaysia. That’s because the DOT certification omits and has a different certification pathway compared to ECE 22.05 helmets. However, helmet is allowed if it has both DOT and ECE 22.05 certifications.
There are also officially imported helmets with both ECE 22.05 and SIRIM MS1 standards. This is unique to Arai helmets (as far as we know), as the Arai headquarters in Japan requires that every model imported to undergo local certification in every country they are imported into. Hence, SIRIM in Malaysia.
We’ll touch more on the different standards in a future article.
How does this affect you and I?
For one, we don’t have to sweat it about buying our helmets from overseas, and risking it being confiscated. The approvals and taxes have been settled by the importer.
Also, we can relax when stopped by a JPJ Officer at a roadblock. We can request that he checks with his superiors or the importer that the helmet was brought through legit channels.
The Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) held a “live” MotoGP viewing to celebrate their Italian motorcycle kinship.
Together, they watched the Czech MotoGP over the weekend.
On another note, Didi Resources is offering a special Service Clinic and Merdeka Campaign to Aprilia owners.
The Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) celebrate their Italian motorcycle kinship – or brotherhood, if you will – for the “live” viewing of the Czech MotoGP over the weekend.
Motorcycle brand loyalty can manifest in fierce tribalism, meaning loving whoever is riding the same brand while eschewing others. It’s not something bad per se, because it’s one of our basic human instinct to protect the clan we live in. (That’s the central theme of post-apocalyptic shows such as “The Walking Dead.”)
So, it’s definitely something to celebrate when ACRC and DOCM got together as one large biker community.
“The love for Italian motorcycles is something we all cherish. In this gathering organized by Shell, we gather our brothers and sisters from Aprilia to join us the Ducati Owners for MotoGP viewing to support our Italian race teams,” mentioned Gaddaffi Shazalli, Vice President of Desmo Owners Club Malaysia.
According to Juan Chow Wee, General Manager of Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd. (the official importer and distributor of Aprilia motorcycles in Malaysia), “To further strengthen the ownership experience, our doors are always open to various owner clubs to foster greater relationship among bikers and we believe the best biking lifestyle is from owners themselves.”
Juan also added that “listening to our customers” goes beyond just selling motorcycles. “As such, Didi Resources just rolled out a special Service Clinic and Merdeka Campaign for for Aprilia owners. We are offering the original factory oil filter at just RM10, and other important parts like brake pads and air filter at special prices.”
“We always believe in listening to our customers as they are important in improving how we do business, and today we roll out an after sales program to further reduce ownership cost and to ensure our owners get the best from our network in terms of quality.”
The 2019 Yamaha YZF-R25 takes a cue from the YZF-R6 and YZF-R1 for its styling.
The updated suspension gives the bike much better handling.
However, the frame and engine remain the same.
We wondered how we’d receive the 2019 Yamaha YZF-R25 when we picked it up from Hong Leong Yamaha Motor in Sungai Buloh.
After all, the 2019 R25 is cosmetically new while retaining the same engine and frame. The front forks are now upside-down, but basically that’s it.
That’s until we rode it.
Styling
The Yamaha YZF-R6/YZF-R1 inspired styling certainly gave the bike a fresher look in the bike’s mid-lifespan (wish that could happen with humans).
The fairing looks simple in pictures but there are some pretty nifty details to admire. Additionally, it gives the look of a larger bike. The fuel tank was certainly updated and looked like it was lifted off the YZF-R1M.
Yamaha retained the styling of the old bike for the tailsection.
Instrumentation, electrics
There is a new LCD screen embedded behind the windscreen. It’s not exactly elegant but it provides the necessary data in an easy to read manner.
The headlamps have gone fully-LED.
Riding the 2019 Yamaha YZF-R25
It turned out that the forks aren’t merely there to look good. Yamaha seemed to have set the handlebars slightly more forward and down, which translated to a sportier poise. The previous YZF-R25 may look sporty, but it put the rider in a straight-up position.
We were surprised at how much better the new bike steers now. With more weight on the front wheel, there was better stability in mid-corner. Front tyre feedback and damping improved a lot as well.
The fuel tank helped a lot in cornering too. The edges supported our forearms much better when we hung off in corners.
We were surprised to find that the rear shock’s damping rate was revised as well. The old bike’s shock tended to squat and rebound, but the 2019 bike’s rear end stayed planted.
So now, you could really just pin the throttle slam the bike through fast corners with more confidence.
The engine’s character remains the same since it’s unchanged. Revs pick up progressively until the tachometer hits 6,500 RPM, pointing towards a fatter midrange rather than top-end power.
Speaking about power, perhaps Yamaha would draw more performance from the engine in the future. But we’ll have to see.
Conclusion
The 2019 Yamaha YZF-R25 is one handsome bike and handles pretty good. We would retain the frame and chassis if were building a Frankenstein 250cc bike. The engine needs more top-end rush but the midrange torque makes the bike easier to live with during the daily commute.
A new Triumph Tiger was caught undergoing tests recently.
The new bike looks new altogether.
It should be unveiled at EICMA in November, at the earliest.
A new Triumph Tiger was caught undergoing tests recently.
It’s no secret that our favourite bikes include the Triumph Tiger 800 lineup (the 800 XRx and 800 XCx). The current third generation family features more than 300 revisions and new components from their predecessor, making it not only the best adventure bikes, but among the best of all motorcycles we’ve ever ridden.
We wondered what how Triumph could improve on the second generation during the third generation’s launch and we wonder again now as the fourth generation is being tested.
Well, the pictures (credit to RideApart.com) shows a bike which seems to be completely reworked, possibly from the ground up!
There are rumours circulating that the engine will be bumped up to 900cc. Such “displacement creed” is inevitable, given the new and more restrictive Euro5 regulations on emissions. Adhering to the current displacement would mean loss of performance. Also, Triumph’s rivals such as BMW Motorrad and now Moto Guzzi have introduced 850cc models into this highly competitive segment.
Let’s go back to the pictures. The styling retains the Tiger 800 DNA but the front has been made smaller, but the flanks around the fuel tank remain. Check out the new radiator shrouds.
We reckon the bike to be the flagship XCa configuration. The front Brembo brakes calipers and suspension definitely look high end.
Moving backwards, the whole bike seemed to have been revised.
The frame looks new and so does the subframe. The passenger footpeg looks more elegant and are attached to the subframe via bolts, rather than being welded on. That’s great news for off-road riders!
The seats look flatter and hopefully they are Triumph Comfort Seats. Those are the best in the ADV world. That passenger grab rail is huge and is a welcomed feature, especially if you install hard luggage and need to push the bike around.
Its tail end also has a new styling, breaking away from the dual vertical brake light tradition.
Moving downwards, the exhaust silencer looks similar to the current one but it certainly looks bigger on this bike. Remember, Euro5 doesn’t only put a cap on engine emissions but also noise. A bigger silencer er… silences better.
The swingarm is likewise new – the most visible feature being that slot. The rear brake caliper’s mounting is also different. The rear shock’s linkage remains the same for a more progressive damping characteristic.
Well, that’s as much conclusion as we could draw from a few photographs. The new Triumph Tiger ought to be unveiled at EICMA in November, earliest.
