Motorcycle news, Motorcycle reviews from Malaysia, Asia and the world

Hafizh Syahrin to Use Carbon Fibre Swingarm on his KTM in Germany

Hafizh Syahrin will be the next recipient of the carbon fibre swingarm for his KTM RC16.
The change will take place at the German MotoGP round in Sachsenring.
It’s hoped that the new swingarm with have the flex characteristics to enable better cornering.

Hafizh Syahrin will be the next recipient of the carbon fibre swingarm for his KTM RC16. The change will take place at the German MotoGP round in Sachsenring.

It’s no secret that Hafizh is finding it difficult to adapt to the KTM after his Tech 3 team switched over from Yamaha to the Austrian manufacturer. Hafizh is not alone in his suffering, though. His ex-teammate and two-time Moto2 champion Johann Zarco is also facing a difficult prospect.

However, the carbon swingarm seems to yield better results for the other three KTM riders, namely, Pol Espargaro, Johann Zarco and Miguel Oliveira. Oliveira, Hafizh’s Red Bull KTM Tech 3 Racing teammate had gone well in the early parts of this season, but has now dropped down the order. He finished just ahead of Hafizh in succession in the past number of races. Hafizh, meanwhile, has finished in the points twice thus far.

The carbon fibre swingarm is both strong and light at the same time. More importantly, however, is the amount of tuned flexure especially when the bike is leaned over into corners. A bike’s suspension works best when it’s straight up, but its performance starts to drop off until about 45 degrees off vertical. MotoGP riders, on the other hand, constantly lean more than 50 degrees. Something has to give in order to absorb the bumps in midcorner. Engineers will need to “tune” the frame and chassis for this. It is believed that the RC16’s steel-lattice framework is too stiff, hence riders like Hafizh and Johann find it difficult to turn the bike.

Let’s hope to see Hafizh improve on his results throughout the year.

Another Case of Wire Strung Across Motorcycle Lane

Another motorcyclist had his finger cut by a wire strung across a motorcycle lane.
The location is at the entrance from Taman Greenwood to the DUKE highway.
A same occurrence happened at the same location last year.

In September 2018, a motorcyclist was almost beheaded by a wire strung across the motorcycle lane. Since then, another motorcyclist almost met the same fate at the same location.

Harian Metro reported two days ago that 28-year-old Mohamad Syazwan Mohd. Jelani, was riding from Sri Gombak to Kuala Lumpur when he encountered the booby trap. The location of the trap was at motorcycle lane entering the DUKE Highway from Taman Greenwood.

Syazman recounted that he felt something on his face which then travelled downwards to his neck. He almost lost control of his motorcycle at the time, but managed to grab his neck out of reflex. His fingers found a piece of wire. He managed to push it above his head and helmet, but the offending material cut into his fingers, almost taking it off.

“The motorcyclists behind stopped to help and one of them told me it could be a kite string,” said Syazman. “But there weren’t any kites flying and it didn’t snap when I pulled on it. Instead, it cut into my fingers.”

He has since reported the case to the police.

In the same incident last year, Mohamad Afiq Izwan Ismail suffered a cut on his neck when it came into contact with fishing wire strung across the bike lane.

We urge the authorities to act before something serious happens.

Source: Harian Metro

2020 Husqvarna FS 450 supermoto, Sexy in its Purity

The 2020 Husqvarna FS 450 supermoto has been unveiled.
It is the only race-ready supermoto direct from the factory.
Updates are in the suspension department, using WP’s top-of-the-line components.

Here’s the 2020 Husqvarna FS 450 supermoto – make that the ultra-sexy factory supermoto.

In fact, it’s the only ex-factory and read-to-race supermoto in the market. On the other hand, other brands of supermoto bikes taking part in competition were invariably modified from motocross or enduro bikes. As such, on could say they lack the FS 450’s purity.

However, changes on the 2020 FS 2020 are in the suspension department, since Husqvarna had done plenty of upgrades for the 2019 bike.

The new bike features 48mm WP XACT forks and rear shock and doing away with the WP AER items. Compared to the AER it replaces, the XACT forks units combines two of WP’s best technologies. Whereas the AER are air forks, the XACT forks use both cone valve damping and air spring systems.

As a race-ready supermoto, the bike is fitted with a 16.5-inch front and 17-inch rear Alpine wheels. The Bridgestone racing slicks are standard.

The engine is carried over from last year. It produces 63 hp of teeth clenching power. That doesn’t sound a lot to road riders but try riding one of these babies and you’d soon understand that big horsepower stands for naught. The Husqvarna FS 450 weighs only 102.8 kg dry, after all.

Oh, the anti-hop/slipper clutch is from SUTER, while the hydraulic unit is from Magura.

Electronics are pretty basic, of course. There’s launch control and traction control but don’t expect IMU-based strategies.

Will we see this bike in the FIM Asia Supermoto Championship? We hope so!

A Hydration Backpack Can Save Your Life (and Headaches)

Riding with a hydration backpack keeps you hydrated along the ride.
There are plenty of options to choose from.
Once you start using one, you’ll never stop using it.

We wrote an article with tips about staying hydrated when you ride. In it, we mentioned about a hydration backpack by the name of CamelBak.

I’ve always wanted one but I didn’t know where to find it. I know, you’re probably shouting “LAZADA!” now, but let’s come back to that

Then, KTM Malaysia sent me to Morocco to test ride the 2019 KTM 790 Adventure. KTM handed each of us a small Ogio backpack (in KTM colours, of course) and a 2-litre bottle of mineral water. It turned out to be that the backpack is a hydration pack! Yippeee!

I continued using it back in Malaysia and I swear by it ever since.

Hydration pack vs. stopping at petrol stations

Sure, there are plenty of stops along Malaysian highways and small towns if you use the trunk roads for your travels.

So okay, here’s the scenario. We stop at an R&R, charge into the petrol station’s shop like Genghis’s horde. Our faces flushing red like lobsters, tongues hanging out, and heads throbbing like it’s been under a hydraulic press. We shove everyone else aside at the chiller to pull out a bottle or can of cold beverage. Then we gulp the entire content down even before we reach the counter (oh yes, it’s happened).

We get back to riding.

An hour later, we have to stop again to relieve our bladders and for another bottle of water. There goes the fluidity (no pun intended) and rhythm of the ride… We’d feel even more tired from stopping too many times than the actual riding, instead.

A hydration pack on the other hand, allows you to sip on your chosen drink in small quantities at your own disposal. It’s more controlled. So that way, you could concentrate on riding for much longer periods of time. Compare that to suddenly feeling woozy due to dehydration and having no drinks at hand!

Hydration packs can keep you cool in another way.

Remove the water bladder from the backpack and store it in your jacket’s back protector pouch. You don’t have to remove the protector. That liquid you carry will keep your back cool.

What to fill with?

It’s entirely up to you. Personally, I choose between 100 Plus and Glucoline. But please don’t fill it up with beer or alcoholic beverages. Try not to drink Coca-Cola or energy drinks all the way, either, because sugary drinks will dehydrate you even faster. A can here and there is fine but do not replace water for it.

Oh! And don’t forget to wash the bladder and tubing once you’re done. Rinse and clean them with a set of special tools (not expensive).

Where can I buy a hydration backpack?

If you want the original and the best, go for a CamelBak. It’s expensive but there are endless numbers of spare parts for it, hence worth the investment. You can find them here.

Okay, now Lazada. There are plenty of options here, from the ridiculously cheap to the most expensive ones. There’s no guarantee based on price so rely on the customer ratings. One with a 1.5 or 2.0-litre bladder is good because it won’t be too heavy when you fill it up.

Conclusion

Go for one today, I promise that you’ll never ride without one again.

Let’s Go Camping with the Modenas Dominar “Explore the Unexplored” Ride

The grand finale of the Modenas Dominar “Explore the Unexplored” ride will take participants camping.
It will be held from 13^th to 14^th July 2019.
The ride will begin from Juru Auto City to Cameron Highlands and finally the Rimba Valley Motorcamp for camping.

The Modenas Dominar “Explore the Unexplored” Ride reaches its grand finale next weekend. To end the epic program on a high note, Modenas has something grand in store for the participants.

For this edition, the ride will begin in the early morning of 13^th July 2019 from Juru Auto City, Perai then head to Cameron Highlands for some cooling air. The convoy will then head down towards Bentong via the beautiful Cameron Highlands – Sungai Koyan road. The ride will finally end at the Rimba Valley Motorcamp site in Janda Baik where the participants will camp beside a crystal-clear stream and beneath the stars.

The Rimba Valley Motorcamp is also the site of the Rimba Raid event a week later.

Refreshments, food and lodging costs are provided by Modenas, while riders pay for fuel only.

The “Explore the Unexplored” initiative began not long after the Modenas Dominar D400 was launched in Malaysia. As the name suggests, it isn’t merely a single model ride to exotic places around Peninsular Malaysia. It also allows riders who ride there to share the locations with international Dominar 400 riders, as well.

As for the Malaysian Dominar owners, there is a contest for the best picture captured. Also, participants get to participate in fun and games at the destinations and win attractive prizes.

Please register by sending an email to safrin@modenas.com.my. Please note that only riders are allowed to enter, thus pillions are not allowed.

The Stolen Triumph Tiger 1200 Has Been Returned

The stolen Triumph Tiger 1200 test bike was been returned early this morning.
The bike was returned by the thief’s father and brother.
We were informed that he had done so on a number of prior occasions.

As a follow-up of the Triumph Tiger 1200 test bike stolen yesterday, Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia informed us that the motorcycle was returned early this morning. Triumph also wishes to extend their appreciation to those who shared the news.

The miscreant signed up for a test ride yesterday afternoon at around 3.46pm, but did not return after six hours. Thousands of netizens shared the news in social media.

We were then informed just after 1am that the thief’s father and older brother returned the motorcycle.

There were also netizens who pointed us to the person who rode off with the bike, and we were informed that this person Bro Superbike has done such a thing many times previously. His previous alleged crimes included driving off in his colleague’s car, plus a number of test bikes. Each time, his father and brother returned the vehicle.

His Facebook page shows him on a 2018 BMW S 1000 RR, and purporting to being affiliated to the S 1000 RR and Yamaha MT-07 owners groups in Malaysia and Singapore. There was only 1 posting in that FB account on 13^th June 2019, calling on buyers if they are interested in purchasing a superbike.

The case is now handled by the police.

In our personal opinion, provided that he committed the alleged crimes before, this man is a pathological thief and requires rehabilitation.