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New Yamaha Lifestyle Station Opens

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) launched the new Yamaha Lifestyle Station today.
The entire Sungai Buloh complex has been totally renovated.
It forms a new “lepak” place for customers and visitors.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) launched the new Yamaha Lifestyle Station today.

The HLYM Complex in Sungai Buloh has been totally renovated to a facility that reflects the times and to cater for the new motorcycle lifestyle. Additional aftersales support infrastructures were also added to ensure that dealers, customers and even the general public will benefit.

For starter, there is a new service reception area, which affords a full view of the spare parts section. Customers can see spare parts being picked for their bikes.

The service area is now visible to the customers — separated by a glass panel, of course. There are 12 service bays equipped with hydraulic lifts in the covered area. The workshop is fully air-conditioned to provide a conducive working environment for the fully-trained technicians. Such an environment will benefit customers in the end as the technicians can concentrate fully on the work at hand. They are also provided with complete tools including the electronic diagnostic system.

In the waiting area, the previous hard chairs have been removed and replaced with comfortable sofas. There is also a section with multiple charging points for smart devices and laptops.

A few metres away is a Hong Leong Bank ATM machine, allowing customers to carry out their banking needs.

Customers step through a glass door into the showroom area. At 1208 sq. m. (13,000 sq. ft.), it is the biggest Yamaha showroom in the country. Yamaha management joked that they will expand it if they find another showroom which is bigger.

Here, customers will first see the Gen Blu Café which serves a mix of local, Asian, Japanese and fusion delights. There is also aromatic coffee for java lovers.

A friendly robot named Shila Sakura serves the floor. “She” is currently armed with a tablet showing the menu and directory but HLYM is currently programming her to take orders and receive payment for food and beverages in the future.

But the main highlights here are the Yamaha products on display including a collection of Yamaha motorcycles sold by HLYM since 1979, current CKD models and motorsport bikes classic and current.

There are also sections for Yamaha music instruments; outdoor products such as side-by-side buggy, off-road bike, portable generator; marine products such as the Waverunner jet ski and outboard engines.

A Yamaha museum will be added in Phase 2.

The corporate office and reception area were likewise renovated. There is a section for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), highlighting HLYM’s role in helping the less fortunate, besides road safety education.

On the corporate front, HLYM renovate level 2 of the building to expand on their training facilities. That includes adding more classrooms for theoretical and practical training, and a resource centre (library) called META for Motorcycle Education & Training Academy Centre. The library will soon be open to not only dealers and their technicians, but also students and the public.

HLYM also provides detailed training for new dealers right down to managing cash flow and one-to-one relationships with customers.

The new Yamaha Lifestyle Station will be the flag-off point for future convoys and events. As for customers and visitors, it is definitely a new place to lepak (chill out).

PHOTO GALLERY

Production Ready BMW R18 Spotted

The production ready BMW R18 was spotted.
It will bring BMW back into the cruiser market.
The engine is an 1800cc Boxer.

After teasing with custom builds and concepts, the production ready BMW R18 was spotted recently.

Eagle-eyed spotters saw the bike being loaded onto a truck under a blue tarp. When parts of the cover blew open, it revealed a BMW cruiser. And voila! It’s the new BMW R18.

This particular version is equipped with saddlebags and a wide front tyre, making it a bagger. It is rumoured that there will be three versions to the R18 i.e. a bagger, cruiser and tourer. All three will most probably be officially unveiled at EICMA beginning 4th November.

The bike in the picture looks pretty much like a production version rather than still at the concept stage. The exhaust pipes, brakes, wheels are the dead giveaway. But check out the shape of the double cradle frame’s downtubes. The fuel tank is also reminiscent of the classic/vintage BMWs.

But as classic as it looks, that engine is a huge 1800cc Boxer – the biggest Boxer BMW will make. The concept showed carburettors but the production model ought to use direct fuel injection.

BMW has been missing from the cruiser market for a couple of decades now since the last R 1200 C in 1997. Yes, the bike in the James Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies.”

Source: Ride Apart

Schoolteacher Arrested for Illegal Racing

Police arrested a schoolteacher for illegal racing.
He was riding a Yamaha YZF-R1.
His “opponent”, a cook, was riding an Aprilia RSV4.

Police arrested a school for illegal racing on a Yamah YZF-R1.

He was racing against a chef on an Aprilia RSV4 along Lebuhraya Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu, near Bayan Lepas in Penang.

Both men were then arrested at intersection to the Kampung Jawa foodcourt at 2am.

Police revealed that the R1 rider is a secondary school teacher. Both men have made police bail but the police is in the process of completing their report to the deputy public prosecutor for further action.

The case will be investigated under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Source: https://newmalaysianpost.com/2019/10/12/guru-sekolah-ditahan-ketika-sedang-berlumba-haram/

Johann Zarco Returns to MotoGP with Honda?

Sources say Johann Zarco may return to MotoGP this year.
He will ride for LCR Honda if he does.
LCR needs a substitute rider for the injured Takaaki Nakagami.

Johann Zarco may return to MotoGP on an LCR Honda.

Sources say that he will ride for the satellite team for the remainder of the season beginning the Australian GP. He will replaces injured Takaaki Nakagami.

Nakagami suffered a shoulder injury similar to Marc Marquez’s and will require surgery. The procedure was planned to take place earlier but the Japanese decided to carry it out after the Japanese GP.

Zarco, meanwhile, has been off the bike since he was unceremoniously removed from the factory KTM team after his announcement to quit his contract a year early. His seat was then handed over to KTM test rider Mika Kallio.

However, KTM MotoGP boss had allowed Zarco to test or ride another manufacturer’s bike in competition, despite the contract ending only at the of 2019.

It’ll be an important test for Zarco. Honda had wanted him for 2019 but he decided to follow Herve Poncharal’s move ill-fated move to KTM.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Japan Celebrate 40 Years of Co-operation

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Japan celebrate 40 years of successful co-operation tonight.
Hong Leong Industries signed the joint-venture agreement with Yamaha in 1979.
The guess of honour was Yamaha Motor Japan’s President and CEO.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Japan celebrate 40 years of successful co-operation tonight.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) Managing Director Dato’ Jim Khor said that the objective of the joint venture was to produce motorcycles of high quality that are affordable to the people. To that end, HLYM has come a long way to build the brand to its No. 1 position in Malaysia.

The brand had grown regionally to cover other product segments such as marine applications, even to countries such as Vietnam.

For that, he thanked customers, dealers, business partners for their support, co-operation and contributions that led to the current success.

He also thanked the Yamaha Motor Co. for their passion in creating the best motorcycles, for it would not have been possible.

The guest of honour tonight was Mr. Hoshihiro Hidaka, the President and Chief Executive Office of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Japan.

Apart from thanking HLYM for the great work, he also stated that Yamaha finds that motorcycles are closest vehicles to people. Hence the company has always strived to create Kando (feeling of happiness and satisfaction) among their customers. To do so, Yamaha fuse cutting-edge technology with human sensitivities. This principle is reflected in the “Expanding human possibilities” tagline.

Both gentlemen hope that the co-operation will continue for the next 40 years and beyond.

GIVI Mega Camp & Ride 2019

GIVI Asia organised a GIVI Mega Camp & Ride 2019 recently.
Participants rode to and camped at Lata Lembik, Pahang.
There was also an off-road class and ride on the second day.

GIVI Asia Sdn. Bhd. set up an online community recently and it has seen a meteoric rise since then. As such GIVI organized the GIVI Mega Camp & Ride 2019 as a way for the community members to come together to enjoy the GIVI lifestyle.

There had been a number of Ride & Camp activities besides charity rides thus far. All saw enthusiastic participation.

GIVI organised such an event at Late Lembik this time around.

As per tradition, the ride began from the GIVI headquarters at Bukit Beruntung near Rawang. There, participants were provided with light breakfast and refreshments. Each received a “number plate” and GIVISTA t-shirt upon registration. There was a good mix of large and small capacity motorcycles, all fitted with GIVI cases but there were those fitted with almost everything in the catalogue.

Sam Sharman, the Marketing Manager gave a briefing on the ride and activities. Participants pasted the number plates to their bikes so that marshals could keep count of those following. Such system was also used during the GIVI Malaysian Adventure 2019.

Speaking of the Malaysian Adventure, this ride was guided by the same head marshal.

The ride itself was a lot of fun for the riders as they crossed through Batang Kali and headed up to Gohtong Jaya, before descending on Karak Highway. Late Lembik laid close to halfway between Bentong town and Sungai Koyan.

Participants found the tents already pitched by the hardworking GIVI crew when they arrived in the late afternoon. The rain didn’t dampen anyone’s excitement.

It was dark soon, so GIVI showed a movie in the community hall.

GIVI provided breakfast again the next morning, while waiting for the off-road class to begin.

The instructor, Remy Buragas, showed up soon and conducted a short on-bike demonstration. The riders were shown the correct ways of handling the motorcycle in off-road conditions.

It was at this time that we saw a number of bikes with extended suspension. These guys lived up to GIVI’s Explore, Enjoy ethos. There were also riders who competed in the GIVI Rimba Raid.

The trail consisted of easy and medium difficulty sections. But the incessant rain had made it muddy and slippery so certain sections were abandoned. The riders took to it with glee, some of them even had road tyres on.

By now, the food trucks have shown up.

Some free time was provided and the participants took the opportunity to swim in the river.

Come dinner time, the GIVI crew fired up the BBQ. Participants ate to their contention since the food trucks were still there.

A sharing session was held after dinner. Sam described the role of GIVISTA Community, while another two shared their touring experiences. GIVI Ambassador Anita Yusoff gave a talk on her Dream Global Ride. Sam and Anita proceeded to unveil the new GIVI Vista helmets before ending the session.

A basker band took over the proceedings to entertain the crowd.

The activities concluded the next morning. Everyone headed home happy and safe.

The community is made up of GIVI consumers, regardless of type of product and motorcycle the ride. Being an open group, members are free to share their experiences of using GIVI products and travels.