Kawasaki has updated the 400cc parallel twins for 2023, with the Ninja 400 and Z400 getting a new paint job and Euro5 certification.
The Ninja 400 KRT Edition now appears in more green paint on the bodywork, and a lighter clutch which Kawasaki claimed is 20% lighter to operate than before.
However, the new Euro5 compliance 399cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine saw a drop of 1 Nm from the previous model to 37Nm but remained the same 44.7hp.
Nonetheless, the Ninja 400 retains the same steel trellis frame, 310mm semi-floating front disc, 220mm rear disc, 41mm telescopic front forks and a Uni-Trak rear shock.
Meanwhile, the Z400 also gets a new Euro5 compliance engine and a revised clutch that is 20% lighter to pull and marginally less torque (1Nm less than the previous model).
Despite not many technical changes applied to the 2023 range, the Euro5 certification means that the two models can continue to be sold in Europe.
Triumph Motorcycles has announced that the company’s first electric prototype has completed its final testing and is set for the full reveal in July.
The TE-1 has officially completed its final stage of the testing process.
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Developed in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering and the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, the British marquee will unveil the TE-1 on 12 July 2022.
On that date, Triumph will show the bike and reveal the technical aspects of the machine, including the range and battery charging time.
However, most importantly, the full reveal of the working prototype will also mark the company’s intentions for the future.
The recently concluded Italian GP had witnessed Ducati’s Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia claiming his first win at the Mugello.
While the result was a much-needed boost for the Italian, Suzuki’s Alex Rins, on the other hand, suffered his third attempt in a row of failing to secure a point.
It was a disastrous day for the Spaniard as he was forced to retire after a collision with Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami.
The incident also ignited Suzuki to submit a formal request to the Race Direction to investigate the incident and punish Nakagami. However, Race Direction decided it was just a ‘normal’ racing incident.
In a fiery outburst, Rins slams the Japanese rider during an interview with DAZN.
“Nakagami can’t do what he did. He’s a super aggressive rider. I think he’s the dirtiest rider on the grid.
“On the lap before the accident, I put the bike in front of him between turns 10 and 11.
“Usually, whoever puts the bike in front has the position, like [Johann] Zarco did with [Marco] Bezzecchi, who passed him and took the position.
“‘Taka’ kept accelerating, and as we went forward, he touched me and threw me [to the ground]. I think it was a very dangerous move, and luckily no one was going behind otherwise, I don’t even know what would have happened,” he said.
MotoGP will be back in action this weekend at Catalunya.
As someone who previously owned the 2016 Aprilia Shiver 750, the motorcycle was considered the most affordable Italian steed you can own in Malaysia.
However, Aprilia decided to close the book on the motorcycle after the subdued introduction of the 900cc model back in 2019.
The Shiver 900 could not replicate the success of the 750; moreover, the price tag of a whooping RM72k (in Malaysia) was not helpful since Aprilia Malaysia sold the CKD’s 750 for half the price a few years earlier.
Nevertheless, for those still ‘longing’ for the Shiver 900, worry not as Aprilia has decided to revive the motorcycle under a new name.
The Aprilia Shiver 900 will continue to live on but with a different badge, namely Gilera.
While there is yet an official announcement from Gilera’s parent company, Piaggio, the Gilera-born Shiver 900, was recently seen in China.
Despite clad in camouflage, the motorcycle is undoubtedly a Shiver 900. However, the front headlamp and TFT screen, which previously showcased the Aprilia badge, is now replaced with the Gilera name.
Thanks to Piaggio Group’s recent partnership with Zongshen, the China-based company will manufacture Shiver and Dorsoduro 900.
However, the latest reports do not confirm if Gilera’s revival will be a global effort; instead, the reborn Shiver and Dorsoduro could be sold in China only.
Nevertheless, looking at how interesting the recent developments between Piaggio and their Chinese counterpart are, the future looks great for Gilera.
