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KTM 990 RCR Hitting European Dealers from November

The production-ready version of the KTM 990 RCR sportbike has been revealed. Factory assembly will begin for European customers this October, and expected to arrive in dealers from November.

The expected price in the UK is from £13,499 (MYR75,840.10). A track-only version will be launched in February 2026.

That pricing puts it in the middle of the current supersport segment, with the Yamaha YZF-R9 priced from £12,254 (MYR68,845.44) and Ducati Panigale V2 starting at £15,395 (MYR86,492.20). The Honda CBR600RR and Kawasaki ZX-6R are priced below £11,000 (MYR61,800.21), and the Ducati’s Panigale V2S sitting on top from £17,395 (MYR97,728.61).

The 990 RCR is powered by a 947cc parallel twin engine, shared with the 990 Duke naked. Final claimed performance is 128.2 hp at 9,500 RPM, and 103.1 Nm of torque at just 6,750 RPM.

The bike tips the scales at approximately 195kg ready to ride with a 15.7-litre fuel tank.

Suspension duties are handled by by 48mm WP open cartridge forks with 30 clicks of compression and rebound damping, plus a further three turns for preload. At the back, a WP monoshock provides three changes for high-speed compression, and 30 for low speed.

Rebound also gets 30-clicks, with 10 stages of preload adjustment for good measure. These feed down to a set of 17-inch rims taken from the 1390 Super Duke R, shod with Michelin Power Cup 2 trackday tyres.

Stopping power up front comes from the latest Brembo Hypure calipers. There are also pillion provisions.

The standard seat height is pretty high at 845 mm, but the footpegs are adjustable in three positions. Clip-on bars are non-adjustable, but mounted straight for comfort – with four ABS modes equipped as standard. Front/rear weight distribution being a claimed 52.5%/47.5%.

As for the electronics, the riding modes consist of Rain, Street, Sport, Custom – plus an optional Track setting. The latter includes two extra personalised set-ups.

Like many modern KTMs, there’s also the brand’s controversial Demo Mode, which gives the full suite of electronics for the first 1500km, before the customer must purchase their desired tech packs to keep.

Honda Officially Adds Honda CB1000F to Lineup

After revealing the Honda CB1000F as a concept during the Suzuka 8 Hour race in August, they have now revealed the ready product.

The CB1000F is the latest model in the CB family’s 65-year-old history. But more specifically, the CB1000F resembles the CB750F/CB900F from the 80’s. More significantly, it resembles the bike ridden by one Freddie Spencer to a Daytona victory, before he went on to be a 500cc world champion.

As we mentioned previously, it is based on the CB1000 platform, which has now expanded to three variants, namely CB1000R (Neo Cafe roadster), CB1000/Hornet (naked), and now the CB1000F.

Therefore, all three bikes share some basic architecture and features.

Highlights

1000cc inline-four engine, but retuned to produce 122 hp at 9,000 RPM and 103 Nm at 8,000 RPM, compared to the other two variants’ 155 hp @ 11,000 RPM and 107 Nm at 9,000 RPM.
It is clear here that this bike is intended for a more approachable, everyday riding experience, rather than an all-out street blasting.
Honda says it has been “developed under the conceptual target of creating the ‘Best Balanced Roadster’. The CB1000F handles like a middleweight but with big bike feel. And, with the ‘80s now proving such an influential decade in clothing, music, style, and more, the CB1000F is very much a bike ready for today.”

To achieve this goal, Honda revised the cams, lengthened the intake funnel from 50 mm to 140 mm, and a minimum diameter of 36 mm.
The exhaust system has the same 4-2-1 arrangement but gases exit through a three-chamber megaphone muffler.
Front suspension consists of 41mm Showa SFF-BP USD forks which are adjustable for spring preload and rebound/compression damping. (Non-adjustable on the CB1000/Hornet).

At the rear is a Showa shock that also allows for preload and rebound damping adjustments.
Nissin four-piston radial-mount front brake callipers grip 310mm floating discs up front, while out back is a 240mm disc that’s paired with a Nissin single-piston calliper
The CB1000F gets cast aluminium wheels with 120/70-ZR17 and 180/55-ZR17 front and rear tyres.

The CB1000F also receives wheelie control and cornering ABS, three riding modes which include Standard, Sport and Rain, and two customisable User modes for riders to choose from.
The dash features a 5-inch TFT screen, which has smartphone connectivity via the Honda RoadSmart app.

2026 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally Launched

The 2026 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally has been revealed, featuring some revisions to the first version launched just 3 years ago.

Before we move on, let us draw a deep (and deeper) breath as the new bike is equipped with almost everything in the alphabet.

Highlights

Still powered by the madcap 1158cc, Granturism0 V4 engine, which produces 170 hp at 10,750 RPM and 121 Nm at 8,750 RPM.
Ducati says that it delivers “a particularly linear torque curve,” but we wonder that means they have addressed the engine’s slightly anaemic power delivery at lower revs and speeds.
As per the Panigale V4/V4 S, Multistrada V4/V4 S, and Diavel V4/V4 S models, the engine deactivates the rear cylinder bank while in a standstill and at low revs,to save fuel and cut down on emissions.
The Granturismo V4 features conventional valvetrain, as opposed to Ducati’s Desmo, thus valve clearance interval is set at 60,000 km.
As for servicing, the interval is every 15,000 km.
To boost off-road capabilities, the suspension on the Rally has 200 mm of travel for both front and rear axles, increasing ground clearance to 230 mm.

Speaking of suspension, the 2026 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally boasts a new electronic semi-active Marzocchi suspension, called Adaptive DSS Evo.
It allows for adjustment of the preload and hydraulic compression and rebound damping of the fork and rear shock absorber.
Sensors can even tell if you are riding over a bump or into a pothole, and adjusts the damping accordingly. (Superb for Malayian roads!)
The suspension is equipped with a (switchable) Automatic Lowering Device (ALD) which drops the bike’s seat height when speeds go below 9 km/h – great for trudging in off-road conditions or riding through heavy traffic.
It then returns to the normal set height when you hit 20 km/h off-road, or 45 km/h on the road.
Suspension settings can be made while the bike is moving.

Its algorithm works in conjunction with the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which in turn sends data to the ABS, ECBS, EBC, DTC, DWC, ACC, BSD, BSW, FCW, BLE control units or servos. But wait, no karaoke function? (Just kidding.)
Other electronic features include Electronic Combined Braking System, and Adaptive Cruise Control which utilises the bike’s radar.
The radar also runs the blind-spot detection and forward collision warning features.
The TFT screen measures 6.5 inches and through it, you can select your riding modes, Ducati Connect, suspension control, and more.
Ducati pays a lot of attention to aerodynamic of course, not just for their MotoGP bikes. As such, the Multistrada V4 Rally has front wind deflectors that increase protection for the rider and passenger.
The windshield is also 40 mm wider and 20 mm taller.
Additionally, the pannier mounting positions have been revised to “provide ample legroom for the passenger.”
Wheels are spoked aluminium.
Last but not least, the bike is equipped with a 30-litre fuel tank.
Colour options are Ducati Red/Brushed Aluminium with black spoked wheels, and Jade Green/Brushed Aluminium with gold spoked wheels.

The 2026 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally is priced from USD31,995 (MYR135,194.81)

Ducati V2 Future Champ Academy Begins in 2026

Ducati will start a new riding academy in 2026, called Ducati V2 Future Champ Academy. It is aimed at getting young riders into racing, for both domestic and international talents.

Stating the obvious, the programme is designed to allow young racers the chance to ride the brand’s Panigale V2 motorcycle, as well as creating a talent pool for the future.

The new racing academy will kick off in 2026, with the project set to form part of the Italian Championship (CIV), World Ducati Week 2026, and the World Superbike paddock. The format will include traditional sessions like pre-season testing, qualifying, and a double race for each round.

Garage51 is a platform that allows young riders to learn about motorcycles and racing, and is run by Michele Pirro, Ducati’s official test rider. Pirro will offer riders from the new Ducati V2 academy technical guidance, with further details about the project to be revealed at next month’s EICMA show, in Milan.

Francesco Milicia, VP Global Sales and After Sales Ducati, said: “Ducati’s history is deeply intertwined with the world of racing, and investing in young riders means building tomorrow’s champions today. This is why we are very proud to launch the V2 Future Champ Ducati Academy, a strongly desired project designed to guide new talents from passion to professionalism, offering them all the tools they need to become protagonists in the motorcycle racing world of the future.

“The format was created for those who want to take a challenge and improve, relying on the support of an excellence like Ducati, which has made racing its essence. The key to this journey is Michele, whose commitment to the development of the Desmosedici GP has contributed significantly to Ducati’s current results. I would like to thank him not only as a professional but also as a friend: with his experience, technical expertise, and enthusiasm, he will certainly be an inspiration to our young riders.”

Please go to the official Ducati V2 Future Champ webpage for more information.

It is a great step for Ducati to take this step as other manufacturers such as KTM with their Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and Austrian Junior Cup.

No Demand for Electric Motorcycles – BMW Motorad CEO

BMW Motorrad’s CEO, Markus Flasch says that the company is not particularly keen in making electric motorcycles or dirtbikes. However, electric scooters are ongoing.

Speacking to US website Common Tread, Flasch laid out some of BMW Motorrad’s plans, including for their future superbikes.

“You can look forward to seeing something smaller than the 1000 cc [S 1000 RR]. But it’s a bit too early to talk about it.” However, the inline-four engine will stay at 1000cc for the S 1000 range i.e. S 1000 RR/M 1000 RR, S 1000 R/M 1000 R, S 1000 XR/M 1000 XR.

As such the smaller superbike in question could be from the F 900, or even the G 310 range.

Flasch does not want to follow his rivals Triumph and Ducati who have since dabbled into the motocross and enduro segment, as BMW Motorrad’s products are already covering many areas. “We are making this decision talking to our customers and talking to our dealer base and we ended up, for the moment, not going this route,” he told Courts.

Back to electric motorcycles, BMW will not make an electric motorcycle at the moment, as Flasch says customer response is behind that decision, too. Instead, they will continue with electric scooters, since the CE range is leading the 11 kW and above segment.

Royal Enfield Sold 124,328 Motorcycles in September

Royal Enfield has just sold 124,328 motorcycles in September 2025 alone.

That record breaking feat is historic, among other applicable adjectives, compared to 86,978 in the same month last year. It equates to a 43 percent year-on-year increase.

The majority – 113,573 – were sold in India compared to 79,325 in September 2024. Exports increased sharply, too, which saw 10,7555 bikes shipped compared to 7,653 last year.

Royal Enfield’s boss, B. Govindarajan, summed it up pretty well. He called it an “incredible start to the festive season” and pointed to the newly updated Meteor 350 as a hit with the community. Historically, Royal Enfield’s strength is not in one motorcycle, instead it is distributed throughout their range i.e. Bullet, Classic, Meteor, Hunter, Himalayan, and the 650 twins.

However, the lion’s share was contributed by their new 350 lineup. Indeed, 1,07,478 units were sold.

In terms of Q2 2026 sales (yes, it is considered as 2026 financial year), Royal Enfield sold a total of 5,91,903 units, marking a 30% YoY growth over 4,54,779 units in the same period last year.

Honda CB350C Special Edition Unveiled (in India)

You must have thought this was a Royal Enfield, but no, it turned out to be the Honda CB350C Special Edition. We had initially thought the same too.

Launched in India, the Honda has begun selling in the country’s dealerships, with a starting price of INR201,900 (MYR9,591.12). There are two colourways offered, namely Red Metallic, and Mat Dune Brown.

The CB350C Special Edition is undoubtedly meant to rival the Royal Enfield Classic 350, and other similarly styled motorcycles in the country. And look, it has two horns. (We have been told by Bajaj that the most important component of any motorcycle in India is the horn.)

Apart from the styling, the bike is based on the CB350RS/GB350S platform, powered by a single-cylinder, air-cooled, 348cc engine. It makes 20 hp at 5,500 RPM and 28.5 Nm at 3,000 RPM.

We have tested the CB350RS and found to be a simple, practical, comfortable, and affordable machine. It sounded great too. In other words, we would call it “unpretentious.” Sure, it was not fast for a 350cc machine, but trying to ride like a bat out of hell on it is missing the plot altogether.

The bike is equipped with modern features such as LED lighting, Honda Selectable Torque Control traction control, and dual-channel ABS.

Honda CB350RS Test and Review, The Ultimate Lighweight Retro?

Francesco Bagnaia “Very happy but very angry” after Motegi Domination

Ducati MotoGP factory rider, Francesco Bagnaia said he was “very happy, but very angry” after dominating the weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix, held at the Motegi Ring. “Pecco” as he is more popularly known, had qualified on Pole, grabbed the Sprint race win, before going on to win the main race on Sunday.

Pecco had been suffering the entire season as he found himself struggling to adapt to the Desmosedici GP25. More specifically, he had complained of front-end issues which robbed him of his braking strength, and feel, besides understeering (the front going wide). As such, he arrived in Japan without a single podium in the past 10 races.

But it all changed after Ducati offered some ‘unconventional’ changes in the Misano post-race test.

“In the test in Misano, I was riding 0.7 faster, so quite a huge difference,” Bagnaia said in Japan.

“I’m very happy about today, but I’m also very angry about this weekend, because maybe we could’ve done it earlier, maybe after one or two grands prix.

“We just struggled a bit during the season, but finally the test in Misano gave us the possibility to try things that have helped me a lot. Some specific [things] that have helped me also in other situations.

“So, super-happy about it, finally we found it.”

When asked what were the changes that Ducati made, Pecco circumvented the question with a vague answer, possibly because he was instructed to do so: “Honestly, I’m just a rider and I’m just here to push. Sometimes when I push, I’m 20th. And sometimes when I push, I win. It’s not only a matter of me.”

“We tested different things in Misano, different things that we already had. But we never had the chance to really try this season.”

The visible change was the GP24 rear seat aero. It was also rumoured that Bagnaia had an older swingarm, forks and perhaps ride-height device. The engine cannot be changed due to the rules, but the end result is that Bagnaia appears to have finally rediscovered the feeling of last year’s GP24.

“This weekend I was riding my bike and not fighting with it,” he said on Sunday evening.

“It was much easier for me to brake hard, enter fast into the corners, and without having that much movement, that much locking, that much understeering.

Pecco’s win had also opened up an entire chapter of conspiracies, regardless if it is true or otherwise, about Ducati being ‘preferential’ toward Marc Marquez, who is Pecco’s teammate and had secured his 7th MotoGP in Japan after coming home second in both the Sprint and Main races.

Marc Marquez is 2025 MotoGP Champion

Marc Marquez has become the 2025 MotoGP champion, which is also his seventh time winning the championship title.

Marc finished the main race at the Motegi circuit in Japan in second place behind his factory Ducati teammate, Franceso “Pecco” Bagnaia. They also finished the Sprint race on Saturday in the same positions.

However, Marc only needed to finish the race with a points tally exceeding that of his brother Alex Marquez, who rides for the Gresini Ducati team, to become champion. In the end, Marc has collected a total of 541 points so far, 201 points ahead of Alex who is in second place overall. Alex can no longer catch Marc, even though there are still five rounds remaining.

Marc’s championship means it was a 2,184-day wait for him to become world champion again. The last time he became champion was in 2019, before he broke his right arm in 2020. After that, he underwent four surgeries to treat it, and also suffered more than 100 crashes on the track while struggling with his bike when he wasn’t 100% recovered.

This race win in Japan is the second this year for Bagnaia, after he struggled throughout the season to adapt himself to the new Ducati GP25 bike. He finally received advice on his bike setup from former Ducati rider and also former world champion, Casey Stoner, thus enabling him to win both races in this round.

2026 Kawasaki Z1100 SE and Z1100 Revealed

It has been some years since the last Kawasaki Z1000 was sold – way back in 2020, to be exact. And it is back, and bigger as the 2026 Kawasaki Z1100 SE and the Z1100.

Well, the new bike retains the Sugomi look of the previous model, but the giveaway that it is the new model is a “sleeker” exhaust silencer. But yes, it is still big in order to satisfy the Euro 5+ emission standard.

Good news is the new Z1100 boasts some revisions under the skin.

Highlights

The new engine has new pistons, valve springs and cams.
It produces 134 hp at 9,000 RPM and 112.5 Nm at 7,600 Nm, clearly indicating that it is meant for street riding.
The gearbox is now equipped with a slip and assist clutch.
There is now a ride-by-wire throttle, which in turn allows for ride modes and cruise control.
An inertial measurement unit (IMU) takes care of lean sensative ABS and traaction control.
A new 5-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth connectivity is also fitted.
As for the variants, the 2026 Kawasaki Z1100 SE boasts gold coloured Showa forks, Öhlins S46 monoshock with remote adjuster at the back, Brembo monoblock calipers with steel-braided brake hoses, and topped off with a different paint scheme.
Kawasaki claims that both variants weigh the same, although a little heavy at 221 kg.
The standard edition if offered in Ebony/Metallic Carbon Gray, while the SE is available in Metallic Matte Graphenesteel Gray/Metallic Matte Carbon Gray with green wheels.
UK prices for the 2026 Kawasaki Z1100 SE is £12,699 (RM71,872.780) and the standard 2026 Kawasaki Z1100 is £11,099 (RM62,817.23).
The main rival of the bike should the Honda CB1000 SP, which retails for £9,999 (RM56,591.54) in the UK, and RM69,999 in Malaysia.

Colour Updates for 2026 Honda ADV350

The Honda ADV350 is undoubtedly one of the most popular scooters in Malaysia, among many other countries. It has seen some significant updates for 2025 from its 2022 predecessor. As such, there are only new colour updates for the 2026 Honda ADV350.

In case you missed it, the current year model is chock-full of features such as:

Tweaked 330cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine to conform with the Euro 5+ standard.
It produces 29 hp and 31.4 Nm of torque.
Using Honda’s eSP+ technology, it boosts fuel efficiency to achieve a range of up to 330 from its 11.7-litre tank.

Other convenience features include a massive 48-litre underseat storage space with internal lighting, which includes another phone/device charging socket.
There is another phone/device charging socket in the upper, left side compartment.
Electronic features include keyless start, TFT screen which is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones, Emergency Stop-Light System, and many more.

With all that out of the way, there are four new colourways, called, Mat Pearl Cool White, Mat Coal Black Metallic, Pearl Falcon Grey, and Iridium Gray Metallic. So since it is just colour updates, you do not have to worry if you have already ordered a 2025 model.

2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R Unveiled

The new, 2025 Ducati Panigale V4 and its V4 S variant are already fast, potent weapons for the road and track, but there is no beating the full-monty 2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R superbike homologation machine.

What is a homologation special?

Before we go further, allow us to explain something.

The World Superbike Championship is production based, meaning that the bikes we see battling on the track are based on the bikes that we can buy in a local dealership.

that manufacturers who take part in the (WorldSBK) need to produce a certain number of the motorcycle they wish to race in the series. Additionally, the racebike must follow the same frame, engine displacement plus some of its internals, and intake system of the road bike.

However, producing large numbers of these sort of bikes with top notch racing gear is prohibitively expensive for the factory, and more importantly, consumers at large. It is thus that manufacturers began making a special variant in limited numbers, fitted with almost all the goodies for racing, in order to homologate (qualify) the bike for WorldSBK racing.

There have been many iconic homologation specials through the decades from Ducati, each wearing the “SP” (ex. 916 SP) and SPS (ex. 996SPS) badges, before proceeding to “R” since when the Panigale debuted.

Highlights of the 2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R

It certainly looks like this new homologation special is the closest ever to Ducati’s WorldSBK and even MotoGP racer.
New Corner Sidepods, carried over from the 2021 MotoGP bike, making it the first production bike to use them.

The bodywork, based on the latest Panigale V4’s fairing, features larger wings that increase downforce by 25 per cent compared to the previous V4 R, which equates to 6 kg more load on the front tyre at 300 kph.
New dynamic front air intake developed with Ducati Corse, boosting intake pressure and adding 1.2 bhp at top speed.

The chassis follows the 2025 Panigale V4’s, with a Front Frame offering 40 per cent less lateral stiffness and a brand-new Hollow Symmetrical Swingarm.
Suspension up front consists of Öhlins NPX25/30 forks, while the rear features a TTX36 rear shock, plus a new Öhlins SD20 steering damper with revised settings.

Swingarm pivot height allow for four positions in 2 mm steps, while the rear ride height is 32.4 mm versus 13 mm previously.
New, forged aluminium 5-spoke wheels, with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP v4 tyres as standard.

Braking is handled by new Brembo Hypure front calipers, gripping on 330 mm discs.
The 998cc Desmosedici Stradale R engine produces the same 215 hp power output, but Ducati says it is the best for “possible technical base for the Superbike World Championship.” In other words, this is just the standard tune.

The engine internals feature 5.1% lighter 2-ring pistons, revised crankshaft with more inertia, new intake layout with repositioned injectors, redesigned exhaust cams, and shot-peened connecting rods for durability.
These changes deliver a stronger torque in the midrange and on top, as in 7 per cent more at 6,000 RPM and a higher peak of 113.8 Nm at 12,000 RPM.

Fitting the full racing exhaust pushes maximum power output to 235 hp, rising further to 239 hp if you use the Ducati Corse Performance Oil.
The 2025 Ducati Panigale Ve R is the first to introduce the Ducati Racing Gearbox (DRG), with neutral (N) under first gear instead of between first and second.

As such, it also introduces the Ducati Neutral Lock (DNL) system to prevent accidental shifts into neutral.
Final drive gearing has changed from 15/42 to 16/43, raising top speed to 318.4 km/h in road trim, or 330.6 km/h with the racing exhaust.

Electronics now feature the Ducati Vehicle Observer (DVO) algorithm, managing both ABS Cornering and engine braking.
A new Ducati Data Logger (DDL) system is available as an accessory, integrating sensor data with bike telemetry to speed up setup changes.

A new Race Brake Control system adjusts combined braking to allow later braking points and more use of the rear brake, similar to MotoGP bikes.
The bike uses the same 6.9-inch TFT screen from the latest Panigale V4.

The seat, fuel tank, and footpegs have been revised. The pegs sit 10 mm further inboard than before, improving support under braking and when hanging off mid-corner.
Other official upgrades include carbon wheels (–950 g lighter), race fairings, upgraded brakes, and ECU software for slick tyres and track calibration.

Here is the painful part for us plebs: The 2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R is priced at £38,995 (RM221,267.11) in the UK, but course it should be sub-RM500,000 when it arrives in Malaysia.