Global News Archives

Bikesrepublic

Global News

Victorious First Outing for Ducati Desmo450 MX

It was a victorious first outing for the Ducati Desmo450 MX in its competitive debut in the Italian Motocross Prestige Championship.

Alessandro Lupino rode the Ducati to the MX1 class pole position on Saturday. Lupino, a former MXGP (Motocross World Championship) Champion converted the pole position to a win in the first moto (first race) on Sunday. Unfortunately, he made a bad start in the second moto (second race) to finish in 7th. The result meant that he could only secure 2nd overall.

There is understandably a lot of vibe surrounding the Ducati Desmo450 MX. The Italian factory was able to “lure” former MXGP legend Antonio “Toni” Cairoli over from his long-time home, KTM to act as the development and test rider.

Also, the bike is an effort to diversify into another segment different from the expensive sport-oriented bikes they are synonymous with. We can look forward to a Ducati MX bike, and sure enough, an enduro in the coming years.

Apart from that, the single-cylinder 450cc engine is an interesting development, again, moving away from their multi-cylinder offerings.

It has to be said that Ducati is hot on the heels of another European factory – Triumph – in building dirtbikes. However, the latter’s TF 250-X is a 250cc machine and is now racing in the American Supercross series. It had achieved great results in its opening race, as well. Additionally, the Triumph is already on sale.

CFMoto Ibex 450 – Will it Come Here?

The CFMoto Ibex 450 was launched last month in the US, and with a very attractive price tag to add. So, question is will it come here?

CFMoto first showed off the 450MT sport-tourer at EICMA in November 2023, and followed up by renaming it to the Ibex 450 soon after. The US market will receive it as a 2025 model.

By the way, an “ibex” is a wild mountain goat with thick long horns that are found in Central Asia and Ethiopia. So as the name suggests, the CFMoto Ibex 450 is a lightweight adventure motorcycle.

Highlights:

449cc parallel-twin engine, shared with the 450SS sportbike, 450NK naked bike, and the upcoming 450CL-C cruiser.
The powerplant produces 44 hp at 8,500 RPM and 44 Nm of torque at 6,250 RPM.
Being tuned for adventure and touring duties, that maximum power figure is 6 hp lower and peaks at 1,000 RPM lower compared to the 450SS and 450NK.
The engine also uses the now ubiquitous 270-degree crank configuration and dual counterbalancers.
Power is sent through a slipper clutch and six-speed gearbox.
The engine is carried by a chromoly steel tube frame.
Long travel KYB suspension provides a generous 203mm of travel.
Conversely, the seat height is only 820mm.
The front suspension is fully adjustable and the rear monoshock is adjustable for preload and rebound.
A four-piston, radially-mounted J.Juan caliper grabs a single 320mm disc in the front.
The bike rolls on spoked 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels.
Bosch ABS is standard for both fronts, but the rear can be turned off.
The traction control system is also governed by a Bosch ECU, and it can be turned off or off from the dash.
A 5-inch curved TFT display with smartphone connectivity, and wirelessly updated.
Other features include an adjustable windscreen, LED lighting, an aluminum skid plate, fold-away mirrors, and a USB-C charging point.

The bike was designed by Kiska, the same folks who designed KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas motorcycles, since CFMoto is in partnership with KTM anyway.

In closing, we do hope that this bike gets here since the adventure and touring market is still growing.

Honda Tops Global Sales in 2023, Yamaha Highest in Malaysia

While European manufacturers such as BMW, Ducati, Triumph et al continues to announce their “record breaking” sales each year, it is still Honda who tops global sales in 2023; continuing their dominance for the last 50 years.

According to the Motorcycles Data website which collates data from 92 countries, Honda sold a total of 18.4 million motorcycles globally. The figure represents an almost 700,000 unit increase (4.3%) from 2022.

It is not such a surprising revelation, given that Honda dominates the cub and scooter segments in ASEAN markets (except for Malaysia alone). The ASEAN region consists of motorcycle-centric countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines. In fact, they have cornered almost 1/3 of the entire world’s motorcycle market.

In Number 2 was Hero Motor from India with 5.6 million motorcycles sold, an 5.4% increase. Hero’s bikes are sold not only in their native country, but also exported to several other countries.

Third in the ranking is Yamaha, who moved 4.6 million units (0.9% increase). However, their overall market share has dropped by 5% to 7.5%.

Yamaha was however Numero Uno in Malaysia, consolidated by a hefty sales figure of 652,850 units. This result is the second best ever, being just 4.0% lower than the highest record. Malaysia is still the 12th biggest market for motorcycles globally.

Continuing the list, Bajaj Auto saw 3.6 million sales (up 8.7%) due to strong domestic demand.

In fifth is TVS Motor, selling 3.4 million bikes (increase of 19.8%).

Shanghai-based Yadea sold 2.5 million electric scooters in 2023. Although they are in sixth place in this list, it is actually a 3-place drop due to a 49.7% decline in sales compared to 2022. Yadea makes premium electric scooters and is selling in Malaysia under MForce Bike Holdings.

Suzuki resurged to seventh place, with 1.9 million sales (7.1% higher).

Three Chinese manufacturers namely Haojue, Loncin, and Zhongshen round out the top 10.

2024 KTM RC 8C Launched, More Limited, More Expensive

The 2024 KTM RC 8C has been launched and interested parties can pre-order online from Wednesday, 20th March.

Although the spec sheets point to a bike that is similar to the 2023 model, the 2024 models will be £2,000 (MYR12,003.16) dearer. However, KTM will build only 100 of the 2024 model, compared to 200 of the previous.

So what do you get for £36,999 (MYR222,057.57)? As before, the bike is built in collaboration with Krämer:

The same 889cc LC8c engine from the 890 Duke R, albeit tuned to 135hp at 12,000 RPM.
Top spec WP APEX PRO 7543 forks and WP APEX PRO 7746 shock.
MotoGP-esque carbon aero wings.
Race-spec Brembo 19RCS Corsa Corta radial master brake cylinder, Brembo Stylema calipers, and brake discs with aluminium rotors and titanium screws.
Lightweight aluminium Dymag wheels.
AIM MXS 1.2 RACE dashboard and data logger with built-in GPS functionality, displayed on a 5″ TFT screen with continuous data recording.

Customers who secure a 2024 KTM RC 8C with a £900 (MYR5,401.59) deposit on the day will get an invite to a handover event at Portugal’s Portimao race track which includes a track setup session, dinner, meet and greet, and an exclusive track day experience with ‘KTM Race Royalty’.

So, remember to place your orders, okay? Make Malaysia proud.

American Honda Halts Sale of Three Models

American Honda halts the sale of three models, pending the completion of recalls. They are 2017-2024 Gold Wing, 2018-2020 CBR600RR, and 2018-2019 CBR1000RR.

Honda America’s letter to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the company had been supplied with potentially faulty fuel pumps. The impeller of these pumps may warp when exposed to petrol due to improper moulding. Should this happen, the pump becomes inoperative hence causing the engine to not start at all, or worse, stall while the motorcycle is under way.

Possible symptoms include intermittent loss of power, engine stalling, or the engine has difficulty being started or not at all. The pump was supplied by Denso International America.

Honda says 17,374 bikes may be affected. These represent about 10% of the total number of the three models.

The company began receiving reports of such problems way back in August 2019. Dealers had reported that their new bikes could not start up during setup, prompting Honda to investigate. By February 2024, 142 warranty claims had been registered.

American Honda soon instructed its national dealership network to halt the sales of the aforementioned models, regardless new or used, until they replace the affected fuel pump.

A check in the Honda Big Bike website in Malaysia makes no mention of the issue nor recall campaign.

Triumph TF 250-X Achieves Immediate Podium in MXGP

The new and highly awaited debut of the Triumph TF 250-X achieves an immediate podium in MXGP.

Rider Mikkel Haarup rode to a 5th place finish in Moto 1 (race 1) and 2nd in Moto2 (race 2) for a 3rd place overall in the MX2 class of the Argentinian MXGP.

Both Triumph riders had achieved podium finished in the preseason races, but those races were considered shakedown and warmup races, rather than the real thing.

Haarup made had two crashes during the Qualifying Race which put him 19th place for the start. The Dane rebounded during the two races on Sunday and even led the race in Moto 2.

Haarup said post-race: “Yeah, it’s been a really amazing start to the season! A podium is perfect and a great way to start the year for myself, and Monster Energy Triumph Racing.

“My qualifying race was not so good, but I knew that I had the speed to run in the top three today.

“All through the off-season we have been building and building and what we’ve achieved today is the result of a lot of hard work by everyone involved. I felt comfortable on the bike all weekend and that was really important on a tricky track like this. Today we’ve shown what this bike is capable of and overall, I’m really happy with my performance.”

Haarup’s Triumph teammate Camden McLellan took 11th and 6th-placed finishes to finish 9th overall in his first World Championship race as a factory rider. He said: “That’s the weekend wrapped up in Argentina and it’s safe to say that there were a lot of nerves and a lot of excitement all weekend.

Needless to say, this achievement is important for Triumph as they venture into another segment which they had no prior experience. Very few manufacturers could claim such a dream debut, what more in this age where the margins of performance are so small.

The Triumph TF 250-X is already on sale, from USD 9,995.00 (RM 46,776.60) in several markets.

2024 Yamaha TMAX 560 Launched in Japan

The 2024 Yamaha TMAX 560 has been launched in Japan with some minor updates.

The Yamaha TMAX is arguably the scooter which started the maxi-scooter class when it first was first released in 2001, taking over from the 250cc Majesty. Popular in Europe, the bike has continued it 23-year run with updates after updates to bring it up to snuff. It still promises performance and tech without compromising on praticality and comfort.

Therefore, it is not a surprise that Yamaha updated the TMAX further to keep up, if not stay ahead, of its rivals.

The engine stays the same: A 562cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected parallel-twin. It produces a healthy maximum power of 48 hp at 7,500 RPM and 55.7 Nm of maximum torque at 5,250. That is a good spread of 2,250 RPM between maximum torque and power, ensuring fast roll-on acceleration.

However, the main updates lie in the electronic features. For starters, there is now cruise control which is a welcomed addition for long distance rides. The full-colour 7-inch TFT display now has built-in Garmin navigation. Keyless ignition, traction control, ABS are retained. The Japanese model has heated grips and seats.

Other features include a tall windscreen, comfy seats, huge underseat storage space and more. 2024 Yamaha TMAX 560 owners in Japan can opt for saddlebags and top case, but they may not be available for our market. But one thing for certain is it will take quite some time to arrive here.

Is the KTM Brabus 1400 R being Developed?

A KTM Brabus 1400 R is reportedly being developed and will utilise the new KTM 1350cc engine.

Previously, KTM announced that production of the KTM Brabus 1300 R came to an end after two years. But it turned out to be because KTM had introduced the new engine via the 2024 KTM 1390 Super Duke. The new engine replaces the old 1301cc LC8, found in the KTM 1290 Super Duke Evo.

So, of course the new Brabus will be based on the 1390 Super Duke Evo. That new LC8 V-Twin packs 188 hp and 145 Nm of torque. It powers the 1390 Super Adventure and the upcoming 1390 Super Duke GT, too.

Although KTM and Brabus did not reveal the project, a German motorcycle magazine sighted an application by Brabus to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to register several names. More specifically, Brabus had registered the trademarks “Brabus 1400 R Tailor Made”, “Brabus 1400 R Rocket”, and “Brabus 1400 R Signature”.

So, instead of just one variant with two different colour schemes, the new bike will have three different variants. Perhaps “Tailor Made” refers to a made-to-order form, while “Rocket” signifies eye-popping performance, and “Signature” stands for luxury.

If this piece of news is true, we can expect to see the new KTM Brabus 1400 R by the end of the year.

How much is Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia’s Salary?

Ever wondered how much is Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia’s salary? He is the twice-defending MotoGP world champion, after all.

In case you have not heard, he had just renewed his contract at Ducati for another two years until the end of the 2026 season. You would probably assume a hefty amount but nope, it is not even close to what previous the triple world champion, Jorge Lorenzo did.

According to Motorsport magazine, Bagnaia’s latest deal bags him a base salary €7 million (RM35,892,918.75) per season. However, he is set to earn more than €10 million (RM51,275,598.22), depending on his results.

He first signed on as Ducati’s No. 1 factory rider at the beginning of the 2022 season which he went on to win the same year. His salary was equal to Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini’s (before he moved to the factory team) during the time.

However, while the sum seems really princely for us mere mortals it is not even close to what Lorenzo earned when he moved to Ducati. The Majorcan was paid a king’s ransom of €25 million for each of the two seasons he was there.

Hence it was Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia who gave Ducati their second MotoGP, 15 years after Casey Stoner did so in 2007.

It has to be said that there will be 8 riders whose contracts will be expiring at the end of 2024, so Ducati had to secure Bagnaia’s services quickly. It remains to be seen what Enea Bastianini could pull out of the bag after a disastrous and injury-riddled first season last year. It goes without saying that there will be many who will be vying for that factory Ducati spot for next year including Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin.

Hanoi is the World’s Most Polluted City

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is classified as the most polluted city in the world.

The city was shrouded in a thick haze of pollution yesterday that made it difficult to see tall buildings and caused the city’s nearly nine million residents to breathe poisonous air.

Hanoi has often been ranked among the most polluted cities in the world, in recent years. It is partly due to extensive construction and fumes from the large number of motorbikes and cars that cross the capital daily.

Carbon emissions from coal plants in the north and open burning for agricultural purposes are exacerbating the problem.

Last month, dozens of flights were affected when a thick haze enveloped Hanoi and produced a spike in air pollution and reduced visibility. Weather forecasters have issued regular warnings of thick haze, especially in the mountainous regions of northeastern Vietnam.

The World Bank’s latest report on air pollution says 40 percent of residents in Hanoi are exposed to concentrations nearly five times higher than WHO-defined safe guidelines.

The city also ranked first on air monitoring website IQAir as the most polluted city in the world since late yesterday afternoon.Pollutant levels are recorded at PM2.5, which are cancer-causing micro-particles small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs. It is classified as ‘very unhealthy’ and exceeds 24 times the annual guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO says a number of serious health problems are linked to air pollution exposure, including stroke, heart disease and lung cancer.

Prototype Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 Breaks Cover

Remember we posted earlier about the Husqvarna Vitpilen 901? It turns out that we were off the mark as the prototype Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 was revealed, instead.

Previously, there was a previous teaser video which prompted the 5th March “full edit” video. It showed a bike being taken through its paces on a frozen surface, complete with spiked tyres. Still, it confirmed the arrival of a bigger Svartpilen/Vitpilen.

Husqvarna Vitpilen 901 is (Finally) Coming?

The new video called “A tale of dirt and ice” shows the prototype Svartpilen 801 in its entirety on a frozen lake and flattrack oval.

Husqvarna says the bike will weigh some 181kg, although it was not revealed if this is the dry or kerb weight. The engine, which is the LC8c shared with 790 Duke, produces 103.6 hp. That is actually slightly more than the 790 Duke’s 103.3 hp.

Husky is now owned by the Pierer Mobility Group, who in turn owns KTM, among other brands. Thus, it is safe to assume that this coming bike shares the same underpinnings with the 790 KTM, as with other models in the Husqvarna lineup. Examples are the Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401.

As such, the twin-cylinder LC8c engine will be attached to a steel frame. The same type of swingarm also appears in the video. The main difference here is the subframe, most likely to facilitate flattrack riding in the video. And of course, the WP Apex forks since WP Suspension also belongs to Pierer Mobility.

On the electronics front, the bike may well include Supermoto ABS mode which allows the rider to slide the rear wheel. The rider in the video can be seen performing such stunt. We can look forward to a TFT screen with multimedia connectivity, traction control, quickshifter, and so on as with the 790 Duke.

Husqvarna says, “The all-new middleweight model has been engineered to deliver a powerful combination of performance, agility and contemporary style to take riding to even greater heights.

“The versatility of the Svartpilen 801 is enhanced further by state-of-the-art electronic rider aids, including Easy Shift [an up/down quickshifter] for seamless gear changes, as standard.”

So what is next? The full world reveal will be on 19th March 2024 so stay tuned! And of course, a Vitpilen 801 will surely follow in the near future.

Brembo Opens a Factory in Thailand

Brembo opens a factory in Thailand. The preeminent Italian braking provider is the latest in the host of automotive brands to set up their production facilities in the kingdom.

Brembo’s investment is said to be worth €40 million (RM 205,148,217.88) with the aim of supplying to the Southeast Asian market. As with other manufacturers, the facility is sited in Rayong, just east of Pattaya. It will focus on braking systems for manufacturers in Thailand. They will employ approximately 150 people with operations expected to being in the first quarter of 2025.

The move is seen as a wise one, given the hotbed of motorcycle usage in the region, consisting of motorcycle-centric countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia. It remains to be seen if Brembo will supply the products from this factory to the wider Asian region such as India, China and Japan.

Brembo’s products are considered the best in the industry and used almost exclusively by premium motorcycles. But Brembo’s acquisition of J. Juan and producing the ByBre brand opens up to a wider market.

As mentioned earlier, Brembo joins a long list of both manufacturers and component suppliers with facilities in Thailand. Motorcycle brands like BMW, Ducati, Kawasaki, Triumph have factories in Thailand that cater to the Asian and in some cases, the global market. On the other hand, virtually any popular car brand has production facilities in that country. The same can be said for component manufacturers such as Bridgestone and Michelin.

So, the question is: Will Brembo parts will be less expensive after 2025?