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More than a year since its global introduction, the 2022 KTM RC390 has finally landed in Malaysia with a recommended selling price of RM33,800. 

  • KTM claimed the new RC390 is heavily inspired by the firm’s effort in MotoGP.
  • The 2022 KTM RC390 features lighter frame, increased aerodynamics and higher torque engine. 

Despite the long wait, the official introduction of the latest generation RC390 will put a smile on the brand loyalist.

Coming in new for 2022 is a reworked front fairing to accommodate a new single-piece LED headlight.

Moving on to the bike’s overall look, KTM claimed that MotoGP-derived lines and graphics heavily inspire the new RC390.

Interestingly, the entire body structures are now easily removable thanks to a redesigned mounting systems that allow the use of fewer fasteners and clips.

Not only the new bodywork is more aerodynamic thanks to the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) process, but it also removes the flow of hot air coming from the engine.

Thanks to MotoGP derived technology; the new RC390 is equipped with a 1.5kg lighter frame, 3.4kg lighter wheels and 1kg lighter ByBre brake callipers.

The new RC390 also features state-of-art hardware, including an updated WP Apex upside/down fork with 30-step compression and rebound and a new WP Apex rear shock (adjustable) absorber.

Thanks to Euro 5 requirements, RC390 now feature a single-cylinder 4-stroke liquid-cooled engine with twin overhead camshaft, 4-valve and electronic fuel injection.

The 2022 model also delivers a higher torque thanks to a newly designed airbox and a new engine mapping.

Other exciting features include:

  • new TFT instrument cluster
  • SUPERMOTO ABS
  • Lean Angle Sensitive Cornering ABS
  • Cornering MTC
  • Quickshifter+ (optional)

 

Kawasaki Malaysia has officially showcased the 2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R during a special preview at the Sepang International Circuit.

  • Currently, the ZX-25R is only available in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.
  • The Ninja ZX-25R makes 51hp and 22.9Nm of torque. 

To our surprise, the unit on display is the newly updated Ninja ZX-25R previously launched in Indonesia, earlier last month. 

That said, the Ninja ZX-25R features TFT instrument display replacing the semi-digital meter on the previous model. Thanks to the new dash, riders can now connect the bike to their smartphone via the Kawasaki Rideology app.

The ZX-25R also features new adjustable front suspension and electronic package.

Other notable features include:

  • assist & slipper clutch
  • economical riding indicator
  • electronic throttle valve
  • KQS (Kawasaki Quick Shifter)
  • KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control)
  • power modes

Powering the 2023 Ninja ZX-25RR is an inline four-cylinder, liquid-cooled DOHC mill displacing 249.8cc that produces 51hp @ 15,500rpm (with Ram Air) and 22.9Nm @ 14,500rpm.

Power goes through a 6-speed transmission with a claimed max speed of 197km/h.

However, no official price is announced just yet with the ZX-25R is expected to be launch mid of 2023. 

MotoGP rookie, Darryn Binder will make the switch to Moto2 next season, riding for the Liqui Moly Intact GP Team.

Darry Binder is left without a premier class spot after RNF decided to move with

The South African will make his debut in Moto2 after skipping the intermediate class by moving straight from Moto3 to MotoGP with RNF Racing this season.

Binder joins Intact GP after he was left without a premier-class seat for 2023.

The 24-year-old will teamed up with newly-crowned Moto2 European champion Lukas Tulovic as Intact GP received new backing from Husqvarna.

Meanwhile, team principal, Jurgen Lingg is looking forward to the new partnership and new riders ahead of the 2023 season.

“We are very grateful to Husqvarna Motorcycles for the trust they have placed in us. This merger is a new and an exciting step for our team, ushering in a new era.

“We have a new brand, new riders and a new direction. In 2023 the bikes will change colour and we are all motivated and convinced that this change will take us forward,” he said.

Meanwhile, RNF will no longer participate in the premier class as Yamaha’s satellite team but instead moving with Aprilia machinery next year. 

RNF Racing will run with an all-new line-up of Migeul Oliveira and Raul Fernandez.

Ducati Malaysia has recently been recognised with not one but three awards at the Ducati Global Dealer Conference 2022 in Sardinia, Italy.

  • Ducati Malaysia claimed another milestone in Italy.
  • The award recognises Ducati Malaysia’s effort to strengthen the Ducati brand in Malaysia.  

Ducati Malaysia took home the Global Distributor of The Year 2022, Best Marketing Team 2022 in the Asia Pacific and Best Commercial After Sales Team 2022 in the Asia Pacific. 

The award honours achievements by the Ducati dealership in meeting and exceeding yearly objectives.

The award is another milestone set by Ducati Malaysia, especially after securing the 2021 Best Marketing and Best Aftersales Awards last year.

Ducati Malaysia, in a statement, shared via its official social media page, thanks its Ducati Malaysia family and customers for the achievement.

“To the Ducati Malaysia family, our customers, business partners, friends and fans, we say Grazie! Grazie! Grazie! This is a momentous occasion for all of us, and we couldn’t have done it without you.”

Ducati Malaysia General Manager Dennis Michael accepts the award at the event. 

Keeway has been making great strides in the Indian motorcycle market with a wide range of models.

  • The Keeway SR125 is a retro-style motorcycle powered by a small 125cc engine.
  • The SR125 will join Keeway’s 250cc bobbers and 300cc scooters. 

Retailing at INR119,00 (RM6.8k) the SR125 is undoubtedly one of the most expensive 125cc motorcycles in the country.

Nevertheless, the SR125 stays true to the retro-style DNA, including a straightforward design, an exposed frame and a 14.5L teardrop shape fuel tank.

Meanwhile, the single-piece brown saddle and circular halogen headlamp complete the retro vibe.

More importantly, the Keeway SR125 allows for customization jobs, making it the most significant choice among younger riders.

However, the SR125 will struggle to compete in terms of power as the 125cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine can only produce 9.7hp and 7.7Nm.

According to Keeway, the SR125 is available in three colourways; glossy black, glossy red and glossy white.

Reports of a middleweight version of the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 first emerged earlier this year, with the American firm mistakenly mentioning the model name in its list of accessories.

  • Harley-Davidson to add a new Pan America 975 to its Revolution Max portfolio.
  • The middleweight Pan America will powered by the same engine found in the Nightster.

According to reports, the site listed the fuel cap as being compatible with the RA1250/RA1250S (Pan America 1250/1250S) as well as RA975 and RA975S, with the latter assuming to be the Pan America models powered by the Revolution Max 975cc engine like the one found on the Nightster.

However, the latest evidence obtained by none other than Dennis Chung over at Motorcycle.com further strengthens the rumours of a middleweight Pan America 975.

This time, the proof comes in the form of an official installation instruction for a pair of side mirrors designed specifically for the Revolution Max motorcycles.

Frankly, no one can find this evidence other than Dennis, as it involved not one but nine installation instructions from Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Ukraine. 

MY21 Pan America Photography

In addition, he also includes there service bulletins from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to back his reports. 

Although the service bulletin referred to the Pan America 975 as a 2022 model year – we assumed that Harley’s initial plan was to introduce the new model this year – but due to the ongoing supply chain issue, it is likely that the plan is postponed to 2023.

One way or another, the Pan America 975 is on its way, and we are looking forward to it. 

Two years since the official launch of the Ninja ZX-25R in Indonesia, the quarter-liter screamer will finally make its way to Malaysia. 

However, the Ninja ZX-25R will only be on display as part of a promotion by Kawasaki Malaysia at the Malaysia MotoGP held at Sepang International Circuit.

Nonetheless, it is an exciting development as Modenas Chief Executive Officer Roslan Roskan previously said that the 250cc inline four-cylinder motorcycle will officially arrived as a 2023 model early next year.

So for those would be in Sepang for MotoGP, please make your way to Kawasaki Malaysia booth to take a closer look.

As for the engine, the Ninja ZX-25R’s 249cc inline-four DOHC engine produces a staggering 50hp at 15,500rpm (51hp with ram air) and 22.9Nm of max torque at 14,500rpm. In other words, you will have some good times when you rev this baby hard.

Other specs include:

  • Power Mode Selection (Full or Low)
  • New race-inspired Trellis frame
  • 37mm front Separate Function Fork – Big Piston (SFF-BP)
  • Horizontal back-link rear suspension
  • Dunlop GPR300 radial tyres
  • LCD instrument display
  • 180kg (182kg for SE)
  • 15-litre fuel tank

New patent drawings from Honda revealed that the Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin would soon be equipped with a front-facing camera.

  • Honda to feature a front-facing camera on the Africa Twin.
  • The camera will feed the necessary information to the riders. 
*image by Motorrad

The camera will monitor the traffic and feed the active rider aids with accurate data.

According to reports by Motorrad, the camera would operate similar to a smartphone camera, which uses sensors rather than a lens. 

 In addition, Honda also patented a specially-design mount for the camera. 

*image by Motorrad

The mount will protect the camera from debris and stones while on the road and also from light sources that could disrupt the camera’s operation.

Interestingly enough, the camera is not fixed in position in the mount but rather suspended to protect the camera from vibrations.

Nevertheless, while the patent showcased the camera being mounted on the Africa Twin, we expect Honda to apply the same features to future models.

(Source: Motorrad)

 

KTM made a surprised announcement when they introduced the track-only KTM RC 8C back in June last year.

  • 24 units of newly-produced KTM RC 8C to be made available in Australia and New Zealand.
  • The RC 8C is powered by a 899cc parallel-twin engine producing 128hp. 

The introduction of the RC 8C marks the Austrian firm’s comeback into the supersport segment after the discontinuation of the 1190 RC8. 

At the time, only 100 of these bad boys were made, and only those who were lucky enough managed to get their hands on the ultra-limited RC 8C.

However, if you’re currently residing in Australia and New Zealand, KTM has some fantastic news for you at the land down under as 24 units of newly-produced RC 8C are making their way there. 

According to KTM, the RC 8C is on sale for AUD56,990 in Australia and AUD61,999 in New Zealand, with online orders that will open starting October 19, 2022.

Now, you might think the RC 8C is just another sportsbike considering it runs on the same 889cc engine found in the 890 Duke. 

We can assure you that is not the case, and although it shares the same powertrain as the Duke, the RC 8C is as race-focused supersport as it gets.

When they said the RC 8C is similar to a race bike, they meant it, especially when the carbon-reinforced fibreglass superstructures are heavily inspired by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MotoGP RC16 and only weighs 140 kilograms (that’s 26 kg lighter than the Yamaha YZF-R25)!

Underneath that vibrant-orange panel sits an 889cc parallel-twin LC8 DOHC with an eight-valve (taken from the 890 Duke R) strategically placed in a specially designed 25CrMo4 tubular steel frame and capable of producing 128hp.

The RC 8C gets a 43mm WP Apex Pro 7545 with a handmade closed cartridge front fork assembled by the same team responsible for making and maintaining the suspension of the RC16.

Meanwhile, the rear is managed by a WP APEX PRO 7746 monoshock equipped with separate compression and rebound adjustments to make the bike suits the need of every race track on the planet.

Other exciting features include:

  • 16L tank
  • Dymag forged wheels with Pirelli SC1 slick tires
  • pair of Brembo Stylema callipers
  • 290mm floating disc at the front
  • 230mm floating disc at the rear
  • Brembo 19RCS Corsa Corta radial brake pump
  • Akrapovic titanium exhaust

As we were saying, the KTM RC 8C is a full-blown track beast and lucky Australian and New Zealanders will get a chance to get their hands on a very potent sportsbike. 

HJC (Hong Jin Crown) is ready to take on the Shoei Glamster, Arai Rapide Neo, Biltwell Lanesplitter and Bell Bullit with the new V10 retro full-face helmet.

  • HJC finally has its own retro-style full face helmet.
  • The V10 will go up against the Biltwell Lanesplitter and Arai Rapide Neo. 

The South Korean brand has been busy in the last few weeks as the company launched a range of new RPHA ranges, including the RPHA 1, RPHA 11, RPHA 71, RPHA 91 and the latest RPHA 31. 

Nevertheless, the HJC V10 has captured our attention thanks to its retro build. 

Unlike the rest of its competitors, HJC has never produced a full-face retro-style helmet, with the V90 being the closest you could get to vintage-style headgear. 

That said, the V10 marks a new direction for HJC.

The HJC V10 seems to be inspired by the Biltwell Lanesplitter, especially the boxy chin bar.

In addition, the V10 features premium components, including a fibreglass construction shell and emergency release cheek pads. More importantly, the new V10 helmet meets the UN’s new ECE 22.06 safety standard.

According to their website, the V10 is listed for EUR329.90 (RM1.5k) and is available in seven different colours ranging from White, Black, Flat Black, Nardo Grey, Deep Green, Deep Red and Depp Yellow. 

Meanwhile, the graphic option comes with a slightly higher price tag at EUR369.90 (RM1.7k). 

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) recently launched the 2022 Yamaha TMax Tech Max maxi-scooter for the local market with a recommended selling price of RM74,998.

  • The Yamaha Tenere 700 could finally be introduced to the Malaysian market.
  • There is a considerable demand for middleweight adventure motorcycles in the country.

During the launch, HLYM also revealed their plans to introduce more big-capacity motorcycles in 2023. 

While the exact models are not disclosed, an unnamed source told Paultan.org that HLYM realized that there is a surge in demand for an off-road capable motorcycle in the country. 

That said, it could be a strong indicator that the Yamaha Tenere 700 could finally make its way to Malaysia soon. 

Powering the Tenere 700 is Yamaha’s CP2 689cc parallel-twin engine, capable of producing 74hp and 67Nm. 

Earlier this year, Yamaha updated the Tenere 700 range with a World Raid variant, carrying a massive upgrade, including a 23L twin-tank that can take the bike up to 470km of range. 

Although there is no official confirmation regarding the Malaysian launch just yet, but reports suggest that it is highly likely that the Tenere 700 will soon find its way to our shores. 

We expect that the Tenere 700 could price around the RM50k mark as the motorcycle is currently on sale in the Philippines and Thailand at RM51,900 and RM58,300, respectively. 

The middleweight adventure bike was again the talk of the town as five of the overall top 20 finishers at the recently concluded Rimba Raid 2022 were riding onboard the Tenere 700. 

If you owned a Royal Enfield motorcycle, then you are probably one of the contributor to the brand staggering growth in global sales for September 2022. 

  • Royal Enfield sold more than 80,000 motorcycles in September 2022.
  • India remain as the biggest market for Royal Enfield.

The Indian-owned motorcycle company has just recorded a 145 percent increase in sales for the month of September 2022.

That said, Royal Enfield sold 82,097 units of motorcycles purchased over the 30 day period compared to 33,528 units sold in the same period last year. 

As expected, 73,646 units from the total sales was generated in India which continue to become the stronghold of the Royal Enfield brand to this day.

Nevertheless, the major surge of sales in comparison to last year is down to the brand latest model, led by the all-new Royal Enfield Scram 411 and the Hunter 350.

Moreover, with the demand of small and middleweight capacity motorcycle on the rise will only continue to boost the sales of Royal Enfield motorcycles. 

In fact, the Meteor 350 – introduced in 2020 – is currently contesting the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure for UK”s best selling full-size two-wheelers.

Meanwhile, the brand sales figure is expected to reach greater heights in months to come with a number of other arrivals on the way, including the Himalayan 450, Super Meteor 650 and Shotgun 650.

Royal Enfield also rumoured to be working on a Himalayan. 650. Coming from a fan of ADV motorcycles, a bigger Himalayan is a big yes from us. 

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