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2019 Honda CB650R Completes the Neo Sports Café Range

The 2019 Honda CB650R was unveiled at EICMA 2018.
It is built on the Honda CB650F platform.
It completes Honda’s Neo Sports Café range.

Honda had teased with a 650cc Neo Sports Café concept back at the Paris Motorshow last month. The design had won many praises, prompting the manufacturer to unveil the 2019 Honda CB650R Neo Sports Café at the EICMA show.

Honda Neo Sports Café 650 Concept Breaks Cover

As we have mentioned before, the CB650R is built upon the Honda CB650F and CBR650F platform. The inline-Four engine and frame are easily apparent in the photos of the new bike. Honda gave the CB650F a retro-modern treatment, like the CB1000R and CB250R. The Neo Sports Café line-up is now complete.

Boon Siew Honda Launches CB1000R and CB250R

Please click here for our review of the Honda CBR650F.

2018 Honda CBR650F Test & Review – “Between Two Worlds”

Please click here for our review of the Honda CB650F.

2018 Honda CB650F Test & Review: The All-Rounder

However, Honda didn’t just build a new styling on top of the CB650F. Instead, they revised a number of features on the bike.

For example, the forks on the CB650R Neo Sports Café are 41mm Showa Separate Function Forks (SFF). The CB650F and CBR650F utilize Showa Bending Valve Forks, on the other hand. Additionally, the CB650R’s front brake discs are gripped by radially-mounted four-piston calipers.

On the electronics side, the CB650R features Honda’s “Selectable Torque Control” system (first seen on the Africa Twin), assist and slipper clutch and what Honda calls “ultra-modern” instruments.

The engine has been uprated, likewise. There is a 5% power boost, bringing its output to 95bhp. Honda also claims a 6kg weight reduction over the CB650F.

When will this hit Malaysia? Soon enough, we hope!

2019 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure Debuts with ShiftCam Engine

The 2019 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure has been officially launched.
It will also feature the new 1254cc ShiftCam engine.
LED lights and 6.5″ TFT screen are standard standard.

The 2019 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure may not be a big surprise after the launch of the 2019 BMW R 1250 GS in September.

BMW Motorrad Officially Unveils New 2019 R 1250 GS and R 1250 RT

However, the Adventure version (popularly called “GSA”) is an important variant for the Bavarian motorcycle manufacturer. The GSA is the long-distance adventure tourer of the two.

Also as expected is the use of the new 1254cc Boxer with ShiftCam engine. The new brings power output to 136 bhp and 143 Nm of torque, as compared to the 1198cc Boxer which produced 125 bhp and 125 Nm.

Please click on the link below to learn more about the BMW ShiftCam engine. in a nutshell, the ShiftCam technology uses two cam lobe profiles to manage power output and fuel usage according to engine load and throttle application.

BMW Motorrad Officially Unveils new 1250cc Boxer Engine

As for the electronics, the 2019 R 1250 GS Adventure will be equipped with Hill Start Control (HSC) and Automatic Stability Control (ATC) as standard. The optional “Riding Modes Pro” package adds two extra riding modes (Enduro and Enduro Pro), plus Dynamic Traction Control (DTC).

Cornering ABS is also an option called ABS Pro. A new option called Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) is available to customers. It automatically modulates the throttle so the drive torque utilizes the torque at the rear wheel for more stability while braking.

There are many more add-on options but LED lighting is now standard. Additionally, the GSA gains the 6.5” TFT screen.

The main difference between the GSA and GS versions is the former has a larger fuel capacity. The new GSA carries 30 litres.

On the flip side, all the upgrades come with an 8kg weight penalty. The 2019 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure weighs a hefty 268kg with 90% fuel, ready to ride.

2019 MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro – 205 bhp Naked Brutality

The 2019 MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro is now the most powerful super naked with 205 bhp.
MV Agusta worked on reducing friction in the engine and reducing weight.
Only 300 will be built.

Has MV Agusta’s Brutale finally lived up to its name? It has now with this 2019 MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro.

The MV Agusta Agusta Brutale line-up has always looked awesome but let’s face it, they were never truly that fierce. It is especially true when compared to its contemporaries in the shape of the Ducati Monster 1200 S, BMW S 1000 R, Aprilia Tuono 1000 and 1100, Triumph Speed Triple, and the completely mental KTM 1290 Super Duke R. But it had a great name: “Brutale” which means brutal in Italian.

Well, it’s time MV steps out of the closet and create the most powerful Brutale and most powerful super naked, yet.

For starters, the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro (Italian for Golden Series) is endowed with 205 bhp. That’s put it way out of the ballpark of current super nakeds that produce 160 to 180 bhp.

But if 205 bhp isn’t enough to blow you backwards off the bike, you can try it with 209 bhp by bolting on the SC Project 4-1-4 titanium exhaust system.

MV Agusta achieved this by drawing on their experience in the WorldSBK and WorldSSP Championships. Their overriding objective was friction reduction.

The Brutale 1000 continues MV’s four-cylinder heritage. The 998cc engine employs 79mm bore and 50.9mm stroke, with a 13.65:1 compression ratio, which are identical to the F4 superbike race machine. The valves are still titanium but the guides are now sintered. The combustion chamber has been redesigned. Camshaft timing is revised, besides changes to the intake and exhaust lobes. The pistons employ low friction Asso compression rings. The crankshaft is all-new.

What sets the Serie Oro apart are the details. The wheels are carbon fibre. However, the radiator shrouds out to capture your attention quickly. They are shaped like aerobody winglets. They start creating downforce from 200 km/h and above. The bodywork is entirely carbon fibre.

Other smaller details include carbon fibre clutch cover and phonic wheel covers. Note also the clip-on handlebars instead of a tapered bar like on all other naked bikes.

The use of carbon fibre brings down the bike’s weight. The MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro tips the scales at 186 kg dry. Using the race kit sheds another 2 kg.

Suspension is electronic Ohlins on both ends, featuring NIX forks and TTX36 rear shock. Brembo Stylema calipers anchor the front.

Another bit of wonderful news: MV Agusta has moved to a 5” TFT rather than retaining the old LCD screen.

Bad news is the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro is a limited production model. Only 300 will be built.

2019 Ducati Hypermotard 950 unleashed!

The 2019 Ducati Hypermotard 950 has been introduced during the recent Ducati 2019 World Premiere.
Fitted with a new its 937cc Testastretta 11° twin-cylinder engine, the new Hypermotard 950 produces 114hp and 96Nm of torque.
Two different have been introduced which are the base Hypermotard 950 and the Hypermotard 950 SP.

There are a lot of things to write about the recent Ducati 2019 World Premiere bike launches and the one that really got to us (apart from the 2019 Ducati Panigale V4 R super-beast) is the 2019 Ducati Hypermotard 950. The next-generation supermoto hooligan now comes with specs that’ll really turn things up all the way to 11. (more…)

GIVI Malaysia MotoGP Convoy 2018 – The Tradition Continues

The GIVI Malaysia MotoGP Convoy 2018 continues with GIVI Asia’s annual tradition.
The National Museum was chosen as the starting point this year.
Participants received many great gifts including a ticket and special parking.

The GIVI Malaysia MotoGP Convoy 2018 continues on GIVI’s tradition of organizing a convoy to the Malaysia MotoGP every year.

GIVI Asia picks a prominent setting as the rendezvous (RV) point for the convoy each year. The National Museum got the pick for 2018. The museum’s mall area provided ample space for the bikes and registration desk.

Each participant had registered himself online when the convoy was announced last month. He then received a confirmation through his email. Lastly, he would show the confirmation to the registration desk at the start of the convoy to confirm his attendance.

He received upon confirmation:

A GIVI goodie bag;
A Castrol goodie bag;
One PA1 motorcycle parking sticker; and
One grandstand ticket.

Registration began at 7.30am. A light breakfast was provided at the museum’s cafeteria. Soon it was time to head out as the races have been moved earlier by two hours to avoid the forecasted rain later in the afternoon.

But first, GIVI’s representative welcomed everyone to the convoy. The Traffic Police officer in charge of the escorts gave his safety briefing afterwards.

The convoy departed from the museum, escorted all the way by the Royal Malaysian Police all the way. The convoy participants were thankful for the escort as they bypassed the notorious bottlenecks as they got nearer to the Sepang International Circuit.

A special parking lot had been allocated for the participants, avoiding the difficulty of locating spaces for themselves. The motorcycles are guarded throughout the entire event by GIVI’s staff.

The participants then proceeded to GIVI’s massive pavilion at SIC’s mall area. There, there were given their tickets and more gifts.

A tribune was also provided, right opposite the Team LCR Honda pits.

Make sure you join GIVI’s MotoGP convoy next year. It truly beats all the trouble of having to ride there yourself.

2019 Ducati Panigale V4 R Debuts at World Ducati Première 2019

Ducati introduced the 2019 Ducati Panigale V4 R at the World Ducati Première 2019.
The 998cc engine produces 217 bhp, but the race exhaust brings it up to 231 bhp.
The new bodywork has winglets.
It weighs only 193 kg, fully fueled and ready to ride.

We expected the unveiling of the 2019 Ducati Panigale V4 R during the Ducati World Première 2019 and it didn’t disappoint.

The Panigale V4 R is the homologation model for World Superbike and other production-based superbike racing series. Production racing calls for the race bikes to have certain similarities to the road bike. Therefore, manufacturers build a specific number of “homologation” models, based on their production figures. The Panigale V4 R fills these requirements.

Its engine capacity is limited to 1000cc as per the rules for V-Four and inline-Four powered bikes, as a result. However, the Panigale V4 R’s 998cc engine punches out 217 bhp and 112 Nm of torque. In the interest of superior power-to-weight ratio, it weighs only 193 kg, fully fueled and ready to ride.

Wait, hang on. 217 bhp not enough for you, sir? Well, you can always add on the Ducati Performance exhaust made by Akrapovic to pump it up to a vicious 231 bhp. That’s the same power output as the Kawasaki Ninja H2 – without the benefit of a supercharger.

The 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale engine in the Panigale V4 and Panigale V4 S produces 212 bhp and 120 Nm of torque, by comparison.

2018 Ducati Panigale V4S Test & Review

The Panigale V4 R’s weight reduction is also the result of using lighter engine internals components. Ducati used forged pistons, titanium valves, titanium conrods, new camshaft and larger throttle body. The lighter components allow the Desmosedici Stradale R engine to rev higher to a maximum of 16,500 RPM. Peak power output is at 15,520 RPM, 2,250 RPM higher than the 1103cc engine.

A “manual” suspension system also reduces weight compared to the electronic system found on the Panigale V4 S.

The updated electronics system includes a pitlane speed limiter, GPS-lap timer, besides the present IMU (Inertial Measurement System) based Cornering ABS and lean angle sensitive traction control, wheelie control, launch control, engine brake control and rear-wheel slide control.

The biggest news however, should be the winglets and new bodywork on the V4 R. The winglets represent Ducati’s intensive research and development in that area. The new bodywork also features large “gills” on both sides to aid airflow through the radiator.