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“Easy Rider” Peter Fonda Passes Away at Age 79

Peter Fonda, the star of the iconic 1969 film “Easy Rider” has passed away at age 79.
He wrote, produced and starred in the movie.
Fonda had played many biker characters and in motorcycle movies.

Peter Fonda, the star of the iconic 1969 film “Easy Rider” has passed away at age 79, due to lung cancer. The sad news was confirmed by his wife Margaret (Parky) DeVogelaere and actress sister Jane Fonda.

Fonda became known as the motorcycle actor of Hollywood through his many characters as bikers and bike flicks.

He first shot to fame in the controversial film “The Wild Angels” in 1966. The film portrayed a group of bikers as a modern-day barbaric horde whose only objective total anarchy i.e. sex (as in sexual assault), drugs and motorcycles. Director Roger Corman revealed later that the US State Department has tried to block its screening in Venice because “it didn’t portray the real America.”

Fonda decided that bikers should be portrayed in a better light, hence he began writing on “Easy Rider.” Teaming up with the late Dennis Hopper, he became the producer and handed the director’s chair to the latter.

The film received a nomination for the Best Picture of the Year, while Jack Nicholson won the Oscar for the Best Supporting Actor. Easy Rider has since been inducted into the US National Film Registry, having been deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” Easy Rider just celebrated the 50^thanniversary of its first screening.

Fonda continued being cast in biker roles through the years.

He then received a nomination for Best Actor in the 1997 film “Ulee’s Gold” but lost out to Jack Nicholson for his role in “As Good as It Gets.”

We saw him again in later years, case opposite Nicholas Cage in “Ghost Rider.” He also made an appearance in “Wild Hogs.”

While Fonda was invariably associated with Harley-Davidson (especially the bike called Captain America), he had owned a number of brands including Triumph, BMW, Ducati, MV Agusta.

He had also worked with Evel Kenevel to promote riding with gear on. That’s a normal thing these days, but it was different in the 70’s.

Ride in peace, Peter.

CFMoto V.02-NK 1000cc Streetfighter Nears Production

The CFMoto V.02-NK 1000cc streetfighter is nearing production.
It is powered by KTM’s 990cc LC8 platform.
It is also designed by KISKA, who have designed all KTMs.

CFMoto is on the roll since their tie up with KTM and now the CFMoto V.02-NK 1000cc streetfighter is rumoured to be close to production.

KTM and CFMoto first tied up in 2014 to produce the 125 Duke, 200 Duke and 390 Duke for the region.

KTM had contracted CFMoto to build the 799cc LC8c engine which powers the former’s 790 series of bikes including the 790 Duke, 790 Adventure, 790 Adventure R and limited production 790 Adventure R Rally. The Austrians were so impressed with the production capabilities of CFMoto that they’ve decided that they will shift worldwide production of LC8c engines to China from 2021. The factory in Hangzhou can produce up to 50,000 bikes a year.

Since then, KTM sold the 990 LC8 engine which powered the mad 990 Duke to CFMoto. It’s from this arrangement that CFMoto unveiled the V.02-NK concept in 2017. Who know? The Chinese manufacturer may even introduce the first 1000cc superbike in due time.

CFMoto’s range of motorcycles are also designed by KISKA, who also designs KTMs. Thus, the V.02-NK has some design cues from the KTM Duke R but isn’t a carbon copy. There are some innovative ideas here including underseat-mounted radiator and carbon-ceramic brake discs.

Production ought to begin next year and we shall see how the final design turns out.

Yamaha XSR 155 Launched in Thailand

The Yamaha XSR 155 was launched in Thailand recently.
It’s the neo classic model in Yamaha’s “155 family.”
It’s equipped with the 155cc VVA unit shared from the YZF-R15.

The Yamaha XSR 155 was just launched in Thailand to a rousing welcome.

It completes the “Yamaha 155” family which already includes the NVX (automatic scooter), Y15ZR, MT-15 naked bike and YZF-R15 sportbike.

As with its bigger brother the XSR 700 and XSR 900, the XSR 155 takes on the “neo classic” styling which combines modern and classic elements. Think round headlight and taillight, teardrop shaped fuel tank, ribbed bench seat (some call it the “bread loaf” seat”), megaphone exhaust. The seat features a tan-colour cover to lend an even more classic look. The exhaust heat shield is in perforated tommy gun style. The instrument cluster is round in shape. Finally, a tall handlebar completes the package.

Powering the XSR 155 is the 155cc liquid-cooled Single with VVA (Variable Valve Actuation) from the YZF-R15. Yamaha didn’t fettle with it in any way thus the performance figures are 19 hp and 14.7 Nm of torque.

The engine is suspended in Yamaha’s signature Deltabox, while the front forks are upside-down. A monoshock takes care of rear end suspension duties.

The bike is priced at THB 91,500 (RM 12,363 as of 17^thAugust). Plan on seeing the bike in Malaysia at the end of 2020, should Hong Leong Yamaha Motor chooses to assembled it locally.

Moto3 World Champion Danny Kent is going to jail?

The first British Moto3 world champion since 1977 that is Danny Kent has surprisingly received a suspended jail sentence for carrying a knife in a fight together with brother and a 63-year-old man.

Danny Kent who is currently racing in the British Superbike Championship for the Bike Devil Sweda MV Agusta team has apparently pleaded guilty at the Cheltenham Magistrates Court. (more…)

REVIEW: 2019 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure – “Globetrotter”

We recently tested BMW Motorrad’s latest flagship adventure model, the BMW R 1250 GS. After concluding the fact that you can basically go anywhere and everywhere (including riding it as a daily bike), BMW Motorrad Malaysia gave us the opportunity to test its bigger and more badass version, the 2019 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure. (more…)

Make your own 2019 BMW S 1000 RR Carbon Edition

Attention to all BMW fans and enthusiasts? If you’re in love with the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR as much as we do and you want to take it to the next level right out of the showroom, you can basically ‘make’ your very own 2019 BMW S 1000 RR Carbon Edition thanks to some very tantalising carbon fibre parts from Ilmberger. (more…)