The grand finale of the Modenas Dominar “Explore the Unexplored” ride will take participants camping.
It will be held from 13th to 14th 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 13th 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 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 13th 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.
Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd., the new custodian of the Aprilia brand in Malaysia will unveil the new bike to Aprilia fans and public alike. Events will continue into the evening with the viewing of the German MotoGP round.
The unveiling will commence from 6pm at The Podium, Sungai Penchala, on 7th July 2019.
The Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory is the challenger to the Ducati Panigale V4. it’s now 1078cc V-Four engine produces 214 hp and 122 Nm of torque. A Bosch lithium-ion battery and Akrapovic exhaust cuts weight to only 199 kg, dry.
Apart from that, Brembo’s latest Stylema front brake calipers perform braking duties for the front. They are lighter yet more rigid than the outgoing Brembo M50 Monobloc. Gripping the discs are more aggressive brake pads. Look closely and you will notice air ducts for the front calipers.
Front forks are Öhlins NIX with 125 mm travel (5 mm more) for better cornering. An Öhlins TTX shock suspends the rear end.
The bike’s bodywork also features “aerobodies,” similar to those in MotoGP.
A Boston Globe journalist did some digging and came up with a disturbing revelation concerning 23-year-old’s records. He had been arrested in six states before for DUI (driving under influence), dangerous driving, and accidents.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy – Photo credit Don Treeger/The Republican via AP, Pool
Zukhovskyy is an immigrant from Ukraine. He was also involved in accident at 16 years old and was found to be driving without a license.
He committed his first offence not long after obtaining his driver’s license in 2013. He was arrested and charged for DUI in June that year in Massachusetts. The judge suspended his driving license.
Zhukovskyy was again arrested in 2014 for driving with a suspended license, providing false information and possession of drug paraphernalia, this time in Ohio. The Boston Globe journalist noted that the Ohio authorities didn’t communicate the arrest with their counterparts in Massachusetts.
In 2017, he then sought assistance for his addiction to alcohol, cocaine and heroin in Pennsylvania.
He obtained a commercial driving license a year later in 2018. But he didn’t stay out of trouble very long.
Police arrested him at 2am on 11th February 2019, following reports of an intoxicated person. They found a crack pipe. However, he was given a deferment with probation and no record as long as he behaved. The probation was due to end on 14th June 2019.
Just one week later, he was arrested in Iowa for improper lane usage and not complying with safety regulations. He paid the fine and went away a free man.
On 11th May 2019, he was arrested in Connecticut for DUI. He posted bail, while awaiting his arraignment on 26th June. When Connecticut’s authorities communicated the charges to Massachusetts where his license was issued, the two states blamed each other for not suspending his license following the 11th May arrest.
Zukhovskyy’s driving record got more serious after that. On 3rd June, he rolled over the Mack truck car hauler in Texas. He claimed that a car had swerved in front of him but the police found no signs of another vehicle. The police didn’t fine him plus, he wasn’t intoxicated at the time.
The authorities should’ve stopped him from ever driving again at this point but no one did. So, on 24th June, Zukhovskyy drove into a group of Jarhead MC riders in New Hampshire, killing seven. The ex-US Marines had just left their bed and breakfast.
He has since been arrested and police found wax packets with heroin residue in his home.
But the accident also highlighted the failure of the authorities in keeping a dangerous and potentially life-threatening driver off the road. Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Secretary Erin Deveney took responsibility and resigned (at least she took responsibility, unlike some politicians in Malaysia).
The Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and the United States Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack promise to overhaul RMV for improvements. The US Immigration and Customs Department has also filed a request to detain Zukhovskyy, meaning that he could be deported back to the Ukraine.
Motorsports is not just about riders trying to outdo each other.
Motorsports is becoming more complex as motorcycles get more complex.
The TOC Automotive College provides the TOC Superbike Technician Course to prepare the students for such eventualities.
When hear the word motorsports, it’s all too easy to visualize a bunch of bikes ridden at breakneck speeds, and their riders planting their knees firmly onto the track in the corners. But truth is, motorsports involves much more than just fast bikes and riders.
It’s safe to say that track action is only 10% of what goes on in motorsports. 90% is about preparation which includes bike setup, maintenance, and repair; data acquisition and analysis; rider conditioning; testing… the list goes on and on.
This is why motorsports is an “industry,” rather than just races in the actual sense. And the industry never sleeps.
Ever-evolving motorcycles
Motorcycles are evolving by leaps and bounds by every annual Intermot and EICMA motorshows. This is because manufacturers seek to outdo their rivals by introducing new and even more advanced models.
We used to marvel at electronic fuel injection 20 years ago, but now fuel injection works in tandem with traction control (TC) and rider-selectable power modes. Speaking of TC, it was a mere pipe dream but now virtually all systems are smarter and faster than even professional riders.
Ducati Panigale V4 R’s instrument display
Early TC systems were rudimentary, at best, relying on wheel-speed sensors but now they’re hooked up to a clever device called the Inertial Measurement Unit. Instead of just checking to see if a wheel or both wheels are slipping to regulate torque and power transmission, new TC systems actually proportions assistance according to the bike’s lean angles.
IMU-based TC has another benefit for the anti-lock braking system (ABS). Hence, IMU-equipped ABS not only helps to keep the wheels from locking up but it’s again lean-angle sensitive.
There’s also engine braking control, wheelie control, rear tyre lift mitigation, suspension control, launch control, quickshifter, etc.
2019 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory electronic suspension system
But of course, racing is about power. A number of manufacturers have equipped their bikes with variable valve timing (VVT). An engine with VVT is in effect two engines in one. Rather than being tuned for lots of power at the expense of torque or vice-versa, why not have both?
And we haven’t even touched on brakes, suspension and frames yet!
What does it mean for the industry?
The myriad of systems on modern bikes are electronically-controlled. Therefore, the motorsports industry needs to adapt by introducing parts and expertise to deal with electronics.
It’s no longer merely about twisting the suspension’s adjusters here besides wondering about what tyres to use or figuring the correct carburettor jetting. Each team must obtain the correct data to optimise their motorcycle setups.
Where is it headed?
In terms of machinery, they are getting more and more complex due to electronics. It’s electronics that unlock the full potential of modern bikes. Of course, all bikes are different in terms of mechanical setup, but they adhere to the same basic principles.
In terms of the motorsport industry, we will see increasing number of electronic engineers or mechanics that are savvy in electronics occupying places in race teams. Electronics used to be the domain of MotoGP prototype racing, but the technologies have been trickled down to other classes of bikes including roadgoing superbikes.
How does TOC play a part?
The Superbike Technician Course in the TOC Automotive College prepares the students by training them on real-world and motorsports applications.
It means that the students not only know how to work on the mechanical aspects, but also in terms of electronics.
In fact, TOC has worked with race teams in the Malaysian Superbike Championship (MSBK) and Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) by sending their students to work with the race teams. The students come away better prepared by the time they hit the job market.
Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn. Bhd. (HLYM”) rolled out a new Extended Warranty program for Yamaha motorcycle owners in Malaysia.
The program covers two years and up to 20,000km, whichever comes first.
The program is only applicable to new bikes registered from 1st July 2019.
Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn. Bhd. (HLYM”) rolled out a new Extended Warranty program for Yamaha motorcycle owners in Malaysia, allowing them to enjoy better product value and longer protection terms for their motorcycles.
Yamaha owners are now covered for an additional year, over and above the existing one-year manufacturer warranty that comes with the purchase of a new Yamaha motorcycle. The new Extended Warranty program entitles Yamaha owners to two years coverage or up to 20,000km, whichever is to come first.
The specified coverage is applicable only for motorcycles registered on or after 1st July 2019, and includes all Yamaha models produced by HLYM Malaysia.
“With this new feature, HLYM looks forward to increase consumer confidence, as well as Yamaha’s competitiveness within the Malaysian automotive industry which would help bring a positive push to the industry as a whole,” said Dato’ Jim Khor, Managing Director of HLYM.
Please refer to the table below for the scope of warranty.
HLYM has also imposed a pre-delivery checklist for the benefit of customers upon receiving their new motorcycles. Verification is undertaken by authorized dealers to ensure all motorcycles are delivered in its best condition, towards further enhancement of customer satisfaction.
