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All-New Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello Chosen As Marvel’s Wolverine Motorcycle

Unless you are Iron Man or Thor, superheroes need some type of vehicle to move around.

Moto Guzzi and Marvel teamed up for a limited edition Wolverine comic book.
The V100 Mandello was chosen as Wolverine’s motorcycle in the series.

During one of the scenes in Marvel’s Captain America: Winter Soldier, the star-spangled banner superhero can be seen riding the Harley-Davidson Street 750.

In the Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Widow rode Harley-Davidson’s first electric motorcycle, the LiveWire.

However, suppose you ever wondered what kind of vehicle X-Men’s Wolverine would have in his garage. In that case, you can rest easy knowing that the adamantium-clawed (technically, his entire bone is adamantium) mutant rides the new Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello.

It turns out Moto Guzzi and Marvel have teamed up on a special-edition comic book starring Wolverine and the V100 Mandello.

The unique collaboration comic book, titled Viaggio Nel Tempo (Journey of Time), tells the story of Wolverine alongside the V100 Mandello and a V7 at some point.

In the comic, Wolverine will face an uphill battle with the similarly adamantium-strengthened supervillain, Bullseye.

Suppose you are interested in getting your hands on the special edition comic book. The issue will be available from Moto Guzzi Museum in Mandello del Lario and participating Moto Guzzi dealerships.

However, it’s not clear how many of the comic books are issued or what the price is – so it’s best to reach out to the local Moto Guzzi dealership or drop them an email to find out the details.

CFMoto 450SR To Debut In Malaysia On October 22

We knew that CFMoto 450SR is coming to Malaysia awhile back but we just received confirmation from CFMoto Malaysia that the motorcycle is set for launch on October 22.

The highly anticipated CFMoto 450SR is set to debut in Malaysia.
Features a peppy 449cc parallel-twin with 270-degree crankshaft, good for 50HP and 39Nm.

According to latest confirmation by CFMoto Malaysia, the CFMoto 450SR will make its debut ahead of the 2022 Malaysia MotoGP.

CFMoto gains worldwide attention especially in Asia and Europe with their impressive range of motorcycles including the CL700, NK650, and the 650GT.

The brand is known for bringing bike bike to the budget-conscious market including the quarter litre sportbike, the 250SR.

However, CFMoto is about to expand the SR range with the all-new 450SR.

First caught our attention as a concept at EICMA 2021, the upcoming 450cc sportbike is CFMoto latest attempt to attract the small capacity motorcycle segment.

Despite lacking some premium features from the SR-C21 concept bike, the CFMOTO 450SR still looks sharp and beautifully built, with an aesthetics reminiscent of a race bikes.

Powering the 450SR is a 450cc parallel-twin DOHC engine with 270-degree crank capable of pumping 50hp @ 9,500rpm and 39Nm @ 7,600rpm with a compression ratio of 11.1:5.

Power is delivered to the rear wheel via a final chain drive mated to a six-speed transmission.

Other notable features include a 5-inch TFT curved instrument display with smartphone connectivity and USB charging port.

Hero Reopens Bookings For The XPulse 200 4V Rally Edition In India

Hero MotoCorp introduced the limited run XPulse 200 4V Rally Edition back in July 2022 and the bike was very well received by the Indian public.

The Hero XPulse 200 4V Rally Edition is inspired by the firm’s rally machine.
The XPulse 200 4V Rally gets revised suspension.

The motorcycle was sold out in less than four days after the official launch, much to the dismay of off-road aficionados.

However, due to the immense request for the motorcycle, Hero MotoCorp decided to reopens bookings for the XPulse Rally Edition.

The Hero XPulse 200 4V Rally Edition is a special motorcycle as it is fitted by all the necessities to make it a proper off-road machine.

It features a long-travel suspension, dual-purpose tires and a special livery inspired by the firm’s rally machine.

First glance, you’ll notice the combination of white and red colourway to match the livery of Hero MotoSports Team Rally.

While some manufacturers tends to slap a new graphics and livery and called it a “new” edition, Hero MotoCorp dive deep to bring something new to the XPulse 200 4V Rally Edition.

Firstly, the bike’s suspension has undergone major modification, the Rally Edition features full-adjustable front fork with 250mm of wheel travel and a 10-step adjustable rear shock with 220mm wheel travel.

Also, the ground clearance is now 50mm higher and the seat now sits at 885mm compared to 825mm on the base XPulse 200. The Rally Edition also features taller handelbar, longer gear change lever and a longer side stand.

The best part is, the Rally Edition weighs just 160kgs, just 2 kilograms more than the base model.

Mechanically, the XPulse 200 4V Rally Edition gets the same 200cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine but equipped with an oil cooler. It produces the same 19hp and 16.4Nm.

Kawasaki, Kymco Among The New Members Joining Swappable Battery Consortium

The Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium (SBMC) has expanded from its first four founding members to 21 in just a year after its establishment in September 2021.

SBMC welcomes 17 new members to support the initiative.
Kymco and Kawasaki among listed as new members of the SBMC.

The consortium was originally founded by Yamaha, KTM, Honda and Piaggio which is equivalent to Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America founding the Avengers.

While it took many years for the Avengers to expand, SBMC only took a year to add 17 other members.

“The underlying aim of the Consortium is to find solutions to the concerns customers may have regarding the future of electromobility, such as the range, the charging time and infrastructure, and costs,” said SBMC.

According to the official statement, those members include motorcycle manufacturers, tech companies, and others that work in similar fields.

The list of SBC members includes:

AVL
Ciklo
Fivebikes
Foresee Power
Hioki
Honda
Hyba
Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association
Kawasaki
KTM
Kymco
Niu
Piaggio
Polaris
Roki
Samsung SDI
Sinbon
Sumitomo
Suzuki
Swobbee
Vitesco
VeNetWork
Yamaha

As reported previously, SBMC aims to standardise battery specifications while also improving the charging infrastructure.

MV Agusta And KTM Announced New Distribution Partnership

KTM AG announced a new distribution deal with MV Agusta, which will see the Austrian firm assist with distributing the Italian company’s motorcycles.

KTM AG signs a multi-year deal with MV Agusta to distribute the Schiranna motorcycles in North America.
Selected KTM dealership will sell MV Agusta motorcycles in North America.

According to the official statement, the multi-year partnership will see KTM AG – the subsidiary of PIERER Mobility AG – distribute and promote MV Agusta’s motorcycle range in North America and Mexico.

To achieve this, KTM AG will set up a dedicated US-based legal entity that will take charge of all the Italian company operations in North America.

That said, MV Agusta motorcycles can still be purchased from the Italian brand’s existing dealers and new ones but also selected KTM dealerships.

In addition, KTM AG will also set up a company based in the United States dedicated to MV Agusta operations in North America.

The deal is part of MV Agusta’s strategic plan to achieve significant growth in the coming years.

“I am particularly pleased with this agreement signed between two historic European motorcycle companies.

“I am sure that KTM’s impeccable and widespread sales organization, combined with the very strong appeal that our brand has always exercised overseas, will bring great satisfaction to both, creating synergies that will allow us to best implement our growth strategy in the North America market,” said MV Agusta CEO, Timur Sardarov.

Meanwhile, Hubert Trunkenpolz, a Member of the Executive Board at KTM AG, also expressed his excitement over the new partnership.

“We are extremely excited to start a new partnership with such a historic motorcycle brand.

“Our brands are going from strength to strength everywhere in the world, particularly in North America, where we will exceed 100,000-unit sales in 2022 with the KTM, Husqvarna and GASGAS motorcycle brands.

“Taking on the distribution of the MV Agusta brand will complement our extensive premium motorcycle range.

“With the addition of the most iconic Italian luxury motorcycle brand to our KTM North America operations, we are able to ensure support to all North American motorcycle enthusiasts as well as bringing exciting new business opportunities to existing and new dealers,” he said.

Locally-Assembled MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5 In The Pipeline?

MV Agusta CEO, Timur Sardarov, has announced that MV Agusta Malaysia Sdn Bhd – a subsidiary of AFY Mobility Sdn Bhd – is officially appointed as the sole and exclusive distributor of MV Agusta motorcycles and parts in the country.

The 9.5 makes 121hp @ 10,000rpm and 102Nm @ 7,000rpm.
to feature a 7-inch TFT dash with smartphone connectivity.
quickshifter, slide control, and cornering ABS comes as standard.

More importantly, MV Agusta motorcycles will be locally-assembled in Glenmarie, Kuala Lumpur.

That said, the highly anticipated MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5 could be among the bikes listed to be assembled in the country.

The Lucky Explorer 9.5 is MV Agusta’s first attempt to take on the adventure bike territory.

Complete with a 21-inch front wheel and off-road focused suspension and frame, MV Agusta is scheduled to launch the Lucky Explorer 9.5 sometime in 2023.

The motorcycle is currently still in its prototype stages, but some reputable media recently tested the new adventure bike in Europe.

The Lucky Explorer 9.5 faces a list of strong contenders in the middleweight ADV category, including the KTM 890 Adventure, Triumph Tiger 900 range and the newly launched Ducati DesertX.

Although the 9.5 is MV’s first attempt in the ADV segment, CycleWorld – one of a few able to try out the prototype mule – claimed that the motorcycle has genuine touring and off-road potential.

The 9.5 features an all-new 931cc inline-triple engine derived from the 800cc platform taken from the F3 and Brutale. However, MV made several modifications, including a new cylinder head, piston and valve train.

As a result, the inline-triple makes 121.4hp @ 10,000rpm and 102Nm @ 7,000rpm. That said, the 2023 Lucky Explorer 9.5 is set to out grunt the DesertX, 890 Adventure and Triumph’s Tiger 900.

Other notable features include:

Fully-adjustable Sachs suspension.
20L fuel tank.
Bridgestone A41 tyres .
7-inch TFT dash with Bluetooth connectivity
Brembo brakes

Meanwhile, the Lucky Explorer 9.5 is also fitted with a host of electronics:

cruise control (standard).
quickshifter
switchable cornering ABS.
four riding modes; Urban/Touring/Off-Road/Custom.
six-Axis IMU
eight-stage slide control/traction control
front-wheel lift control

For those who wonder about the price, rest assured MV Agusta is keeping it a secret until its official launch date later this year.

More importantly, if the bike is locally assembled, we should expect a competitive price point.

MV Agusta To Be Locally Assembled In Malaysia By AFY Mobility Sdn Bhd

It’s official, MV Agusta officially returns to Malaysia with MV Agusta Malaysia Sdn Bhd appointed as the sole and exclusive of MV Agusta motorcycle, parts, merchandise and special parts in Malaysia.

MV Agusta to be distributed and locally assembled in Malaysia by MV Agusta Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
MV Agusta Malaysia Sdn Bhd is the subsidiary of AFY Mobility Sdn Bhd.

The announcement was made by none other than MV Agusta CEO, Timur Sardarov.

“I am particularly thrilled about this new, important partnership marking the consolidation and the expansion of the MV Agusta presence in one of the most dynamic economies in SouthEast Asia.

“The CKD assembly solutions found with our partners will boost our competitiveness in the region, in line with our global expansion strategy.

“I wish the newly born MV Agusta Malaysia every success,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, MV Agusta Malaysia Sdn Bhd is a newly formed company that is a subsidiary of AFY Mobility Sdn Bhd (AMI).

As mentioned by Sardarov, all MV Agusta motorcycles will be completely assembled at the AMI assembly and training facility in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.

The BMW S 1000 R To Get The ‘M’ Treatment, Coming In 2023

BMW Motorrad unveiled the M 1000 RR during the chaotic year of 2020.

The M 1000 R nameplate appears in recent vehicle certification filed in Switzerland and Germany.
The M 1000 R is scheduled to arrive in 2023 and could make an appearance soon.

Although the coronavirus pandemic hit the world in 2020, BMW bravely went ahead by introducing the M 1000 RR sports bike.

At the time, we knew that BMW wouldn’t stop at M 1000 RR, as the House of Munich also trademarked the name with “M 1000 XR” and “M 1300 GS”, signifying the arrival of two flagship motorcycles.

However, to our surprise, the firm’s hyper-naked motorcycle, the S 1000 R, will also receive the “M” treatment for 2023.

That is the case according to the latest vehicle certification documents in Switzerland and Germany, as reported by Motorcycle.com.

The document showcased the M 1000 R pumping 206.5hp @ 13,750rpm and 112Nm @ 11,000rpm, a significant bump from the base S 1000 R that makes 165hp @ 11,000rpm.

This suggests that the M 1000 R will get the same tuning package as the firm’s S 1000 RR instead of the street-friendly S 1000 R.

According to reports, the M 1000 R will also get a new exhaust system while adopting the ShiftCam timing system.

Considering that BMW Motorrad will not be present at this year’s EICMA show in Milan, the motorcycle could appear one month earlier at Intermot in October.

(Source: Motorcycle.com)

Aprilia RS250 Could Make A Comeback With New Parallel-Twin 4-Stroke Engine

The Aprilia RS250 is probably the best street-legal 250cc two-stroke motorcycle coming out of the Noale factory from 1994 to 2004.

The Aprilia RS250 could make a comeback soon
New patent application suggest a new 250cc parallel-twin 4-stroke engine in the works.

While the idea of reproducing the two-stroke motorcycle is tempting but we can’t ignore the fact that the engine is obsolete while it also goes against the global emission standard.

However, the RS250 nameplate could still make a comeback with an entirely new quarter-litre platform, according to a new design registration filed in China by Aprilia’s Chinese counterpart, Zongshen-Piaggio.

The new powertrain – published by CycleWorld – showcased a DOCH parallel-twin engine.

Not only that, the CAD renderings also shows a central-cam drive setup (between the cylinder) instead of on the side similar to Honda’s VFR400R and Yamaha’s YZR-M1 MotoGP race bike.

While it may seem unusual, but it could be a significant indicator that Aprilia is pursuing a compact cylinder head which helps to reduced the flex to the camshaft and crankshaft.

Also, it could also suggest that Aprilia is squeezing for a higher rev range.

Currently, Aprilia already has the Zonghsen-built GPR250R that is sold in Asia which runs on a single-cylinder engine.

The same bike was used as the basis of the track-only Aprilia RS250 SP that was introduced in the US in 2020.

That said, the upcoming 250cc two-cylinder 4-stroke machine could use the GPR250RR nameplate in Asia whereas Aprilia likely to revive the RS250 name in Europe and the US.

Kawasaki To Introduce The W175 In India – 13hp, 13.2Nm

More good news is coming to India as Japanese manufacturer, Kawasaki plans to introduced the W175 in the country.

Kawasaki W175 is headed to India to compete with the small capacity market.
Features 175cc single-cylinder engine that makes 13hp and 13.2Nm.

Due to the huge demand of small capacity motorcycle in India, several bike makers is registering good numbers in the country.

Bajaj Pulsar range is a hit in India followed by Yamaha and Honda.

Understanding the demand, Kawasaki now wants a piece of that pie with the Kawasaki W175.

Mechanically, the W175 makes 13hp and 13.2Nm from its 177cc single-cylinder engine. Although the engine capacity is 12cc bigger than Yamaha’s FZ X, the W175 is four kilograms lighter.

However, the retro bodywork, inspired by the bigger W800, makes the W175 more appealing especially for younger riders.

The W175 is also a popular bike in South East Asia, but sadly it is not available in Malaysia unless the new Kawasaki distributor in the country plans to do something about it.

MotoGP:Japan GP Facing Cancellation Amid Typhoon Nanmadol

Japan will host the first of four MotoGP flyaway races at the Twin Ring Motegi from 23rd-25th September.

Japan to host the MotoGP since 2019.
Typhoon Nanmadol is expected to hit southernmost part of Japan.

However, the race could be cancelled just days before the event as the country is bracing for the impact of Typhoon Nanmadol.

Although the typhoon is due to sweep through Kyushu – the southernmost part of Japan – which far from Motegi but weather forecast suggest it could still affect the country logistics.

Currently, more than four million people have already been evacuated, signalling the level of damages it could do to the area.

Also, Japan has already cancelled the Shinkansen bullet train services.

Nevertheless, Dorna and IRTA is keeping a close eye at the ongoing situation in Japan and any decision will be likely be taken before departures take place.

2023 KTM 890 Adventure R Updated With Fully-Adjustable Suspension

Ensuring the KTM 890 Adventure R remains to be the most capable motorcycle, the house of Mattighofen has introduced a host of technical and electronic updates for 2023.

2023 KTM 890 Adventure R now features serious off-road capabilities.
Latest upgrade include fully-adjustable suspension and revised bodywork.

Coming in new for 2023, the KTM 890 Adventure R now gets the fully-adjustable WP XPLOR forks and WP XPLOR PDS rear shock inspired by the firm’s Dakar Rally beast, the KTM 450 Rally.

Thanks to redesigned bodywork, the KTM 890 Adventure R features new fairing, revised fuel tank and cowling to boost the bike’s aerodynamic and ergonomics.

In addition, KTM also fitted the 890 Adventure R with a shorter windshield, higher front fender and engine protector.

Electronically, the middleweight dual-purpose motorcycle now features a new 5-inch TFT instrument cluster that include turn-by-turn navigation and coloured pictograms.

Also new on the 2023 model is a new Offroad ABS setting and the optional Rally Mode.

According to KTM, owners can also have a taste of Demo Mode, which allows riders to experienced all the specs and options for the frist 1,500km before deciding which pack to acquire.

Nevertheless, the KTM 890 Adventure R continue to pumps out 105hp @ 8,000rpm and 100Nm @ 6,500rpm from its 889cc parallel-twin, 4-stroke 8-valve powertrain.