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Motorcycles that Revolutionised Motorcycles (Updated) – Part 2

Here is Part 2 of the history of more recent technologies that have made motorcycles they are today.

6. Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 (2007)

As we mentioned earlier, Yamaha somehow dropped the ball after developing the ride-by-wire system by not giving their bikes ride/power modes. (Your bike needs to have ride-by-wire throttle for ride/power modes.) Suzuki got rolling with it when they introduced the GSX-R1000 K7 the next year, along with the B-King. Granted, they had only two rides modes, namely A and B. Mode A gave full engine power, while B cuts it back for riding in the rain.

7. Ducati 1098R (2007) – IMU-based traction control

Some say the first motorcycle to feature traction control was the BMW K1. However, it featured ABS which is the simplest form of traction control. Instead, it was the Honda ST1100A (1992) which followed the ST1100 Pan European that had both ABS and a rudimentary traction control system.

The true modern TCS which works via the ECU and IMU (inertial measurement unit) which calculated the motorcycle’s lean angle and pitch was introduced with the Ducati 1098R. The system, developed by Bosch, provided eight levels of TC settings.

The system was further developed and became Ducati’s integrated electronics suite which debuted with the Multistrada 1200 in 2010.

8. BMW R 1200 GS (2008) – Electronic suspension

Several high-end modern motorcycles use electronic suspension, including sportbikes, sport-tourers, nakeds, dual-sports. However, it began with the 2008 BMW R 1200 GS.

Developed by Sachs, BMW called it ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment) and was offered as an option back then. It altered the rear shock’s preload through a handlebar button and stepper motor.

The system was further upgraded to include more settings such as rider only, rider only with luggage, rider and pillion without luggage, and rider and pillion with luggage. Further development saw the advent of Dynamic ESA which self balances.

On the 2013-2014 BMW S 1000 RR HP4, BMW introduced the Dynamic Damping Control system which adjusted the rear suspension’s damping on-the-fly.

Other manufacturers followed suit, especially Ducati which featured the also Sachs developed Skyhook system. Showa also developed their electronic suspension that are fitted to er… Japanese bikes. KTM models such as the 1290/1390 Super Duke GT uses WP’s electronic suspension.

Anyhow, this system is complex and expensive, thus is limited to, as we said earlier, top-tier models. And oh, it is banned in WSBK and MotoGP. Although it is allowed in the FIM Endurance World Championship, teams favour non-electronic suspensions as their insides are easier to fettle with.

9. Ducati Streetfighter 1100 (2009) – LED headlights

So many Ducatis in this list… but yeah, they truly pushed new features on their motorcycles. LED headlights are everywhere these days, even on kapcais. And it all began with this bike.

10. Ducati Diavel (2011) – TFT display

Motorcycle instrument clusters were LCD for a long time, then came the TFT which offered much sharper pixels. Soon, riders could pair their smartphones to the TFT for music streaming, phone operations, and navigation.

However, it was the Ducati Monster 1200R in 2016 which showed off the world’s first fully-colour TFT screen.

The TFT is screen is everywhere now and new motorcycles are expected to feature it.

11. KTM 1190 Adventure (2014) – Cornering ABS

Traction control and ABS are good, but actually needs different parameters and strategies when the bike is leaned over into a corner. Remember that the motorcycle’s tyre profile is rounded compared to cars that are flatter. So, applying the brakes until (standard) ABS activates in a corner will just have the bike standing straight up instead of tracking along the chosen line. The same happens when TCS decides to cut engine torque in the middle of the corner.

So again, Bosch went to work and introduced Cornering ABS and Cornering Traction Control – packaged as “MSC” (Motorcycle Stabilily Control) to the 2014 KTM 1190 Adventure, by further utilising the IMU’s data. KTM was so confident in the system that they called the 1190 Adventure “The uncrashable motorcycle.”

Continental also developed their own system and was fitted to the first BMW S 1000 XR.

12. Ducati Multistrada V4 (2020) – Radar and Adaptive Cruise Control

BMW was the first to announce that they were working on a radar equipped bike and adaptive cruise control, but were undoubtedly shocked by Ducati who introduced it on the Multistrada V4. Included in the suite was also Blind Spot Detection which detected and warned the rider of other vehicles.

2027 BMW S 1000 RR to Debut on 24 May

Mark you calendar! The new generation 2027 BMW S 1000 RR will be revealed on 23 May, 7pm CEST (1am, 24 May in Malaysia). BMW Motorrad has just released a teaser image in their social media platform ahead of the launch.

The teaser image shows a bike profiled against a black and gray background, and we can just make out the silhouette of an S 1000 RR. Apparent are the top of a large windscreen, split fuel tank, seat, and tail unit. You should also be able to pick out the large front winglets, too.

Anyway, will there be a performance enhancement? The current inline-four-cylinder engine produces 209 hp and 112.6 Nm. It is not the most powerful among its peers (on paper anyway), so upping its maximum power may also benefit the bike in World Superbike competition.

Apart from the engine, BMW had used a prototype and unhomologated chassis when they won the WSBK crown in 2024 as part of the championship’s concessions. However, had to revert to the roadgoing S 1000 RR frame (as per WSBK rules), only to see factory rider and champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu complaining almost every weekend. Thus a new frame could well be in the works, too.

The reveal should be for the base S 1000 RR variant, while the racing homologation M 1000 RR ought to follow a year after.

Motorcycles that Revolutionised Motorcycles (Updated) – Part 1

Modern motorcycles are technological marvels, in due to advances in the materials and techniques used to build them, tyres , suspension, and of course, electronics, besides aerodynamics. But all begin from somewhere in time. There are motorcycles that revolutionised motorcycles to the state we are in right now.

We have covered the mechanical advances in a previous article, so we will cover mostly on the electronics front in this one.

1. Honda X-ADV (2017) – The one which popularised adventure scooters

Okay, the first one on the list is not about electronic advancements, although the Honda X-ADV is equipped with the trick Honda Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT).

It was not the first adventure scooter, either, but it was the definitely the adventure scooter (despite Honda insisting that it is a “crossover motorcycle”) that popularised the adventure scooter segment. Look at where we are now… Honda launched the ADV350, followed by the ADV160, followed by almost every manufacturer issuing their own adventure scooters: WMoto, Zontes, SYM, just to name a few.

2. Kawasaki Z1000H (1980) – First fuel injected engine

Save for a handful of small motorcycles, big and small bikes in this age are electronically fuel injected. The method of fuel delivery is primarily used to clean up exhaust emissions, but it can also boost performance tremendously compared to the carburetor. And it is so ubiquitous that we do not even need to think about it anymore.

While electronic fuel injection fully caught on in the late-90s and early-00s, the 1980 Kawasaki Z1000H was already equipped with it. However, the market did not catch on to it as it needed to go against the well-established carburetor.

The next fuel injected bike would be the Kawasaki GPz1100 in 1981, followed by Honda’s first EFI bike, the CX500 Turbo in 1983.

3. BMW K100RS/K1 (1988) – First motorcycle ABS

The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) was first develop for cars by Daimler Benz way back in 1978, only to find its way onto a motorcycle in 1988 when BMW launched the K100RS SE and K1. These were primitive systems and added 10 kg to the motorcycle’s weight. This system was also the grandaddy of traction control. The Ducati 1098 R became the first production motorcycle to include race TC.

Other manufacturers were slow to catch on, and BMW continued to persist with it, despite complaints of the system having faults here and there. But now ABS is a necessity, a guard against panic braking.

4. Bimota Tesi 1D (1991) – First digital meter display

This was hard to nail down but it was the Bimota Tesi 1D which had the first LCD digital display. And we meant completely digital, not part digital, part analog. The Tesi’s display had a strip for the tachometer, which another LCD panel for speed, temperature, odometer and fuel level. Looking back, it looks so rudimentary!

5. Yamaha YZF-R6 (2006) – First ride-by-wire throttle

Along with a new crossplane engine equipped YZF-R1, Yamaha launched the updated YZF-R6 with fuel injection. It also had four titanium valves per cylinder and a stratospheric 17,500 RPM redline. All these changes resulted in 133 hp at 14,500 RPM.

Oh yes, it had the Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) ride-by-wire throttle. However, it was not a true system like today as there were throttle cables leading to the ECU which calculated the throttle valve opening and injection. Yamaha did not capitalise fully on this technology by giving the bike ride modes and Suzuki capitalised on it.

Closing

Okay, that was Part 1, now onwards to Part 2!

Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride 2025, Continuing the Tradition

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride 2025 continues its tradition in raising awareness for men’s health, here in Malaysia and the world over. DGR, in its short form, also continues to be sponsored by Triumph Motorcycles worldwide.

Several Malaysian cities took part, including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Bintulu, Kota Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sandakan, Sibu, and also Genting Highlands.

The ride began on Saturday, 17th May when another group rode from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka. There were two groups on Sunday, 18th May: One congregated at Triumph Motorcycles Petaling Jaya, and another began from the Balai Seni Negara at Jalan Tun Razak.

The ride welcomed any motorcycle make and model, while most riders dressed up in the dapper gear. It was all for a good cause.

From there, both groups rode to the Xintiandi Genting parking lot. Some 207 riders registered formally and donated USD1,533 (RM6585). The event in Penang recorded 602 registrations, who donated a total of USD2,075 (RM8913.16).

We shall let the pictures do the talking and see you in DGR 2026.

Photo gallery

2025 QJMotor AX200 Launched, from RM7,988

Another motorcycle launched was the 2025 QJMotor AX200 scooter. Its selling price begins from RM7,988.00.

The AX200 is an urban scooter, with a sporty outlook, which rivals the Yamaha NVX.

Highlights:

175cc, single-cylinder, SOHC, 4-valve engine which produces 17.0 hp (13.0 kW) at 8,500 RPM and 15.2 Nm at 6,500 RPM.
Front suspension utilizes telescopic forks, while there are oil-damped twin shock absorbers at the back.

230mm single brake disc up front, 220mm disc at the back.
Dual-channel ABS and TCS are standard.

Both front and rear wheels are 14-inches.
10-litre fuel tank.

Curb weight of 127 kg.
LCD screen.

LED lighting.

The 2025 QJMotor AX200 is available in three colours namely Grey, Moon Blue, and Sand Brown.

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2025 CFLite 250NK Launched in Malaysia, from RM9,888

Another motorcycle launched last night was the 2025 CFLite 250NK, with an attractive selling price starting from RM9,888.00.

It is a lightweight naked/roadster from CFMoto, sharing the silhouette of its bigger NK cousins. There are some similar design cues of the KTM 250 Duke, too, since CFMoto shares the same design agency, Kiska, with KTM.