Archive Archives

WMOTO XDV 250i Officially In Malaysia – From RM18,888

MForce Bike Holdings has launched the WMOTO XDV 250i maxi-style scooter for the local market with a recommended selling price of RM18,888 for the standard trim and RM21,888 for the ‘Project-X’ variant.

In addition, customers can also purchase the up-spec WMOTO XDV 250i ‘Project-X’ for RM. The special unit features wire-spoke wheels, top box and panniers and a taller windscreen.

The urban adventure style scooter offers sporty look and sport a bevy of features including a full-colour digital LCD instrument cluster and keyless ignition.

Mechanically, the XDV 250i is equipped with a 244.3cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that makes 24hp and 22.5Nm.

On paper, the XDV 250i can hit a max speed of 130km/h putting it on par with the Yamaha XMAX 250. However, the latter does have enough juice squeeze some extra speed.

Interestingly, the XDV 250i also features a headlight-mounted front apron, an adjustable windscreen and a side-mounted exhaust.

The scooter also packs a UBS charging port and a twin LED headlamps.

Other notable features include front and rear disc brakes, along with a dual-channel ABS, KYB inverted front forks and dual-rear shock absorbers with preload adjustability.

Moto Guzzi To Revive The Stelvio Adventure Motorcycle

For those who able to make it to EICMA last month, chances are you might’ve visited Moto Guzzi’s booth exhibition booth.

Moto Guzzi confirms the Stelvio to make a comeback.
The Stelvio adventure motorcycle is likely to feature the same powertrain as the newly launched V100 Mandello.

If you did, it is likely that you also came across the Italian brand latest teaser that confirms that return of the Stelvio adventure motorcycle.

The Moto Guzzi Stelvio was an adventure-touring type motorcycle that was in production for eight years, running from 2007 to 2016.

Despite proving itself as a capable ADV machine, the Stelvio was going up against a stronger foe at the time including the BMW R 1200 GS and KTM 1190 Adventure.

As a result, Guzzi pulled the Stelvio out of production in 2016 due to lacklustre in sales. Moreover, Europe’s transition to Euro 4 didn’t help the motorcycle to remain relevant at the time.

However, it looks like Moto Guzzi is ready to revive the Stelvio soon as confirmed by a teaser at EICMA.

The special teaser showcased the Stelvio nameplate that sits above a set of wire-spoke wheels.

While Moto Guzzi is keeping a tight lipped over the Stelvio’s comeback, ongoing report suggest that the adventure bike will be equipped with the same mill found in the all-new V100 Mandello sport tourer motorcycle.

That said, the Stelvio is likely to feature a revised 1,042cc transverse V-Twin engine taken from the V100 Mandello. At present, the engine makes 115hp and 105Nm.

Currently, there’s no word regarding the bike’s development and Moto Guzzi has been eerily quiet about the Stelvio following its teaser in Milan. All we can do now is speculate until there is an official word coming from the Mandello del Lario factory.

Caltex Havoline BikePro Workshop Offers Expert Servicing And Convenience

Chevron Malaysia Limited (Chevron) has launched its first Caltex Havoline bikePro workshop in Malaysia that caters to every motorcyclist that seeks expert servicing experience.

Havoline bikePro workshop offers expert servicing for motorcyclist.
The programme allows every staff to undergo training and business programme.

Malaysia motorcyclists can enjoy the best service from a fleet of well-equipped staff ready to take on your two-wheel problems.

More importantly, every staff has undergone training and even completed an elaborate business development programme.

Meanwhile, according to Khoo Huan Teong, Manager of B2B Fuels & Lubricants of Chevron Malaysia Limited, aside from offering the best services to a motorcyclist, the programme also allows existing workshops to up their skills.

“Through our research, we found that there is a behavioural change amongst motorcyclists who are increasingly inclined to seek servicing experiences that account for all their worries.

“The owners who take a hands-on approach are becoming a small minority as many seek convenience and expertise in keeping their motorcycles in shape. But aside from just benefiting customers, this programme essentially provides the opportunity for our existing workshops to up their skills and better service the motorcycles in Malaysia,” he said.

In addition, Caltex aims to open 15 more Havoline bikePro workshops by the end of next year, allowing more customers to enjoy first-class services and unparalleled convenience around the country.

Royal Enfield Working On Five All-New 450cc Bikes

These days, Royal Enfield’s name appears almost every day on any two-wheel website.

Royal Enfield to introduce five new motorcycles featuring an all-new 450cc platform.
The Himalayan 450 could be the first to make public debut next year.

That’s because the Chennai-based motorcycle company has been busy introducing a range of new bikes in the last couple of years.

However, Royal Enfield will soon grow its portfolio with five all-new 450cc motorcycles.

According to reports in India, the 450cc range is likely to include an adventure tourer alongside a more off-road capable machine, possibly called the Himalayan 450. Also in the pipeline are a 450 roadster, 450 scramblers and a 450 cafe racer.

Royal Enfield has been caught testing an adventure tourer over the last few months, with reports claiming that it could be the first among the five to make its global debut next year.

Meanwhile, the Himalayan 450 will feature a single-piece flat seat, higher ground clearance and a longer travel suspension to boost the bike’s off-road ability.

Secondly, the roadster is a street-biased motorcycle, thus offering a lower seat height, sportier riding ergonomics and sharper bodywork.

The 450 scramblers and 450 cafe racer are similar to the roadster, offering slightly differing packages, including wired-spoke wheels, lower set clip-on handlebars, shorter fenders and a front beak.

In addition, all five models will boast LED lighting, including modern instrumentation.

Honda Prepping For A New And Powerful Fireblade For 2024

There is a rumour ongoing that Honda could be working on a more powerful Honda Fireblade for 2024 which is set to debut in Japan next year.

Honda’s rumoured to be working on a “full power” CBR1000RR-R Fireblade.
The new Fireblade could make public debut in October 2023 at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Apparently, Honda wants to introduced a ‘final edition’ Fireblade before emissions regulations begin to tighten as reported by Webike.

The latest generation Fireblade introduced in 2020 was considered at the time to be the most powerful, with 215hp on tap. However, the latest iteration was not considered successful as the CBR1000RR-R could not compete with Ducati’s Panigale V4 R, Yamaha’s R1M and Kawasaki’s ZX-10RR at the WorldSBK.

Evidently, Honda has not won a single race in the WorldSBK despite finding success in Japan including winning the Suzuka 8 Hours earlier this year.

That said, Honda wants to return to the front row with a new generation CBR1000RR-R Fireblade ready for 2024, with a public debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2023.

However, the new machine still needs to adhere to the current Euro5 emission standard.

Nevertheless, these are just rumours and no confirmation coming from Honda just yet but it would make sense for Honda to actually working on an even powerful and capable sportsbike.

Three-Wheeled Maxi Scooter Kymco CV3 Debuts In The UK – 52.7hp, 55.6Nm

Kymco has successfully established itself as one of the world’s best scooter manufacturer.

Kymco CV3 now available in the UK for GBP11,999 (RM64.5k).
The three-wheeled scooter runs on the same 550cc parallel-twin engine found in the AK550.

The Taiwanese motorcycle manufacturer recently took to EICMA show to showcased its 2023 lineup including the radically designed CV3, a three-wheeled maxi-scooter.

For starters, a three-wheeled tilting scooter is not a new thing as there are others that also offers similar design and practicality.

However, the Kymco CV3 goes beyond anything we’ve ever seen before, primarily due to its sharp styling and aggressive bodywork.

For instance, the CV3 sports a split LED headlight upfront and a large windscreen which significantly improves the bike’s capability to go for a long-distance touring.

At the back, there is a big and comfortable space for the pillion including a back rest.

Of course, the main highlight of the CV3 is the sophisticated front end that looks similar to Yamaha’s Niken that combines quad front forks – two on each side – and two 13-inch wheels. Meanwhile, the rear wheels is fitted wiht a 15-inch wheels.

Mechanically, the CV3 is equipped with the same engine found in the high-performance AK550 maxi-scooter. That said, it runs on a 550cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine that makes 52.7hp @ 7,500rpm and 55.6Nm @ 5,500rpm.

Other key features include a 6-inch full colour TFT instrument cluster, cruise control, keyless ignition and heated grips.

The Kymco CV3 is now available in the UK for a base price of GBP11,999 (RM64.5k).

2023 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition Breaks Cover

KTM has introduced a ‘factory edition’ version of the 2023 450 SX-F dirt bike by the Austrian brand’s US division.

The 450 SX-F gets KTM’s factory treatment for 2023.
Featuring two-time 450SX AMA Champion Cooper Webb graphics and livery.

The introduction of the factory edition 450 SX-F is as expected after its fellow Pierer Mobility Group member, GasGas rolls out its own factory rendition, last week.

Visually speaking, the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition features the same Red Bull graphics as the KTM team competing in the AMA Supercross and AMA pro Motocross series.

That said, the dirt bike also features two-time 450SX AMA champion Cooper Webb #2 plates.

In terms of power, KTM claimed the 450 SX-F Factory Edition makes 68hp however, several reputable media has rated the motorcycle to make around 55hp after putting it on the dyno.

Nonetheless, thanks to the bike’s quickshifter system, power delivery is smoother for a motocross machine.

According to KTM, the 450 SX-F Factory Edition also equipped with a series of other modification befitting a motorcycle that fight for title success.

Other key components available on the factory edition includes:

KTM factory racing seat
KTM factory wheels
Akrapovic slip-on pipe
semi-floating front disc
KTM factory racing front brake disc guard
KTM factory racing skid plate
KTM factory start device
ODI lock-on grey grop set
Hinson outer clutch cover
KTM orange sprocket

Unfortunately, the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition will only be available in the US.

The Yamaha Y15ZR Gets Updated Visuals – RM8,998

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM), the sole distributor of Yamaha motorcycles here in Malaysia, has introduced the updated 2023 Yamaha Y15ZR which now comes in four exciting new colours for the local market.

Yamaha Y15ZR now comes in four exciting colours.
The Y15ZR continue to feature 150cc single-cylinder SOHC engine that makes 15.4hp and 14.4Nm.

Those who are interested should be glad to know that these four new colour options are Matte Green, Yellow, Silver, and Orange. These new offerings for the 2020 Yamaha Y15ZR are already available at all authorised HLYM showrooms nationwide with the recommended selling price of RM8,998 (excluding insurance, road tax & registration).

As a bonus, each new purchase of the 2023 Yamaha Y15ZR will come with a complimentary Yamaha disc lock worth RM100 for added safety and peace of mind. Like the price, the specs for the very popular Yamaha 150cc moped remains unchanged.

2022 Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory Now In Malaysia – RM73,900

New for the Malaysian market is the 2022 Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory, priced at RM73,900 as announced by local distributor, Didi Group.

Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory brings higher power and better specs.
The Tuono 660 Factory features the all-new 659 cc parallel twin-cylinder engine with a 270-degree crank.

In terms of power, the Tuono 660 Factory is rated at 100hp, a 5hp increase from the base Tuono 660 but the peak torque remains unchanged at 67Nm.

That said, the Tuono 660 Factory also gets a shorter gear ratio for its gearbox plus all the electronic riding aids and APRC suite just like the RS 660 (traction control, wheelie control, cornering ABS, selectable riding modes, quickshifter, auto-blipper, etc.).

Despite the higher power than the base model that was introduced back in 2021, the Tuono 660 Factory is RM4,000 cheaper, making it very desirable among brand loyalists in Malaysia.

Also, thanks to weight-saving improvements, including using a lithium-ion battery, the Tuono 660 Factory is 2kg lighter.

The suspension is upgraded with a fully-adjustable 41mm Kayaba front fork and Sachs rear shocks.

Other notable features include:

dual 320mm disc (front)
single 220mm disc (rear)
Brembo calliper
Aprilia LED (with bending light function)

The 2022 Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory is only available in the Factory Dark colourway.

WorldSBK: Hafizh Syahrin To Remain With MIE Racing For The 2023 Season

Malaysian racer, Hafizh Syahrin will get another chance at the WorldSBK after he was handed a contract extension ahead of the 2023 season.

Hafizh Syahrin to remain at MIE Racing Honda Team for the 2023 season.
Hafizh will partner Brazilian rider, Eric Granado on board the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade.

Just five days after announcing the signing of Brazilian rider Eric Granado, MIE Racing Honda Team also officially extended its agreeement with Hafizh.

That said, MIE Racing Honda Team thus completes its line-up for the 2023 WorldSBK season with two riders who are more than ready for action when the season kicks off in Australia on February 24-26.

Meanwhile, team owner, Midori Moriwaki, is pleased to secure Hafizh signature for the upcoming season.

“I am extremely pleased to announce the contract extension with Hafizh who made his debut with us in the WorldSBK and has grown steadily throughout the season.

“I think he and Eric (Granado) will form a strong partnership and will help us to both develop our project with Honda whilst promoting the WorldSBK in South America and Asia,” she said.

Triumph-Bajaj Test Mule Caught Testing With Extra Accessories

The Covid-19 pandemic might have delayed the Triumph-Bajaj motorcycle project over the last three years but with things are moving positively these days, the motorcycle is is getting closer for its global debut.

Bajaj-produced Triumph motorcycle could roll out to production soon.
Latest test-mule hints at more than one variant.

The Bajaj-produced Triumph first made an appearance back in February with the test mule sported with a single-cylinder engine.

At the time, there’s no confirmation regarding the bike’s variants but latest spy shot from India’s Bike Dekho confirms that the upcoming Triumph-Bajaj motorcycle could comes in two different trims.

That’s because, the latest test mule features wire-spoked wheels as opposed to the former that is shod with 17-inch alloy wheels.

Interestingly, the latest test mule also features hand guards and a high-mounted front fender.

That said, the test mule is likely to be a scrambler version of Triumph-Bajaj’s upcoming motorcycle but since both parties is yet to confirm this, it’s best to leave it to our imagination.

One thing for sure, the highly anticipated motorcycle from Triumph-Bajaj partnership should arrive by 2023.

Honda Unveils EM1 e: Electric Scooter For The European Market

Honda was among the busiest at EICMA last month after introducing a series of new bikes for 2023, including the all-new XL750 Transalp.

Honda EM1 e: is an electric scooter based on the exisitng U-Go scooter in China.
Features Honda’s swappable battery unit.

However, the Japanese firm also unveils its first European-market electric scooter, in the form of the EM1 e:. (yes, the colon after the “e” is part of the name).

The EM1 e: is an interesting electric scooter mainly because it could be inexpensive as it is based on an existing U-Go scooter manufactured in China by Wuyang-Honda.

While both of scooter is indistinguishable from the outside, there are a few technical differences. Firstly, the EM1 e: is equipped with Honda’s Mobile Power Pack e: swappable battery.

Although the EM1 e: and U-Go battery shares similar capacity, both features different battery design. Also, the EM1 e: has a range of just 40 kilometres as opposed to the U-Go’s 65 kilometres.

Although their differences in range, the electric motor on the EM1 e: looks identical to the U-Go’s. That said, the hub-mounted unit on the U-Go is rated at 1.6hp. While the figure is not a lot, the scooter can still reach a max speed of 50km/h.

However, considering the U-Go is available for just CNY7,300 (RM4.5k) in China, the EM1 e: is expected to be priced at around the same, making it one of the most affordable electric scooters in Europe.

The EM1 e: is due to roll out in mid-2023.

Bikesrepublic

Archive