Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) has introduced the 2018 Yamaha Y15ZR GP Edition.
Owners of the new limited edition super cub will also receive a Yamaha Y15ZR miniature model and fitness wristband.
HLYM has priced their latest GP edition bike at RM8,588 (basic price with 0% GST).
The folks over at Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn Bhd (HLYM) have unveiled their latest 2018 Yamaha Y15ZR GP Edition. This fourth GP Edition model not only comes with a stunning colour scheme but new owners will receive a few extras alongside this limited edition model. (more…)
KTM has teased us with a set of photos of the 2019 KTM 790 Adventure R.
The prototype version can be seen ripping around the same 799cc platform as the 2018 KTM 790 Duke.
KTM promises an adventure bike that will be super lightweight, powerful, and full of innovations that assist in off-road riding.
It was just last week when the 2018 KTM 790 Duke proved itself to be one of the best machines at the 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Not only did the 790 Duke won the middleweight class thanks to Chris Fillmore, it also clocked in the third fastest overall time with just a few seconds separating them from the Ducati Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak and the KTM 1290 Super Duke R. (more…)
HI-REV has officially launched their entire racing line-up for 2018.
A total of 13 bikes and two cars will be competing in different racing series from the Malaysian Cub Prix, Malaysia Superbike Championship, and many more.
HI-REV also introduced their latest premium performance lubricant which is the TorQe Pro Fully Synthetic 5W40.
HI-REV Racing has officially unveiled their 2018 satellite teams which will be competing in a number of different racing series for both two and four wheels. The unveiling was done at Genting Highlands where the race machines from different racing teams were also introduced. (more…)
The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) have Malaysia’s very own MotoGP team.
Yamaha had also been looking for someone to run their satellite team.
The rumours have been confirmed earlier today.
It is official: Yamaha will have a satellite team from next year, sponsored by Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and run by the Angel Nieto Team from next year.
Following the loss of the Tech 3 team to KTM in 2019, Yamaha would have been without a second team. A satellite team is always important as it serves to provide extra data to the factory team.
Rumours began to circulate in early May that SIC or Petronas will step in to sponsor a Yamaha satellite team, along with the hopes of signing Hafizh Syahrin as one of the riders in due time.
But Syahrin was adamant to follow the Tech 3 route, while there were also buzzes that Jorge Lorenzo might return to Yamaha. However, since the seats at the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP factory had been secured by Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinalez for the next season or two, the only route for Lorenzo would be the SIC team.
But Lorenzo went ahead to join Repsol Honda instead, after Dani Pedrosa announced his departure from Honda after 18 years.
Then, earlier today, the Angel Nieto Team announced that SIC will take over their MotoGP effort from the next season, with Jorge Martinez “Aspar” assuming the Sporting Advisor position in the team.
Another announcement followed afterwards, in which Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SIC to lease the Yamaha YZR-M1 to the latter for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons.
No rider line-up has been announced at the this was published. There were hopes of Dani Pedrosa joining the team. He is set to announce his future plans at the German Grand Prix next week (12th to 15th July).
Meanwhile, the move by SIC should boost the Malaysian MotoGP’s popularity even further, now that we have a rider and team in MotoGP.
The KTM 790 Duke “The Scalpel” has been officially launched in Malaysia.
KTM Malaysia is excited as they now have a bike to fill the gap between the 690 Duke and 1290 Super Duke R.
The first batch of bikes have been sold out.
After much waiting and anticipation, KTM Malaysia has launched the KTM 790 Duke, nicknamed “The Scalpel” today (4th July 2018) to the motoring media at their Lifestyle Showroom in Kota Damansara.
We have since published the sneak preview prior to this launch. Please click on the link below for more information.
The KTM 790 Duke is slated to plug the gap between the 690 Duke and the “supernaked” 1290 Super Duke R in the Duke naked bike lineup, which starts from the 125 Duke (not available in Malaysia).
KTM 1290 Super Duke R
As we reported previously, the 790 Duke is the result of extensive research, as KTM wanted to build a motorcycle that is as close to perfect as possible. In fact, the 790 Duke’s R&D included 250 people, 111,111 manhours, 604,800 km of dyno endurance testing, 900,000 km of road endurance testing, 18 prototypes and test mules, and a total of 3 years.
The heart of the 790 Duke is the all-new LC8c 799cc, DOHC, 8-valve, liquid-cooled parallel-Twin. The use of the parallel-Twin engine is unprecedented for KTM. KTM had wanted a compact, lightweight motorcycle yet powerful, hence settling on the LC8c, rather than overboring the present 690 Duke or sleeving down the 75o V-Twin from the 1050 Adventure.
As a result, the new engine is only taller by the cylinder head cover compared to the KTM 390 Duke. To illustrate this fact, KTM Malaysia showed us slide of the engine silhouetted against the engines of other motorcycles of the same class. In fact, no one could believe their eyes when we saw just how compact the new engine is in the motorcycle!
LC8c engine
The LC8c produced 105 bhp @ 9000 RPM and 87 Nm of torque at 8000 RPM. 70 Nm of that torque is already available from as low as 3250 RPM.
The engine also features a host of new philosophy for KTM’s engines, especially the split cylinder, crankcase and transmission, in the name of simplicity besides ease of maintenance and repair.
The media briefing also highlighted the new brakes, made by Spanish brake specialist J.Juan. KTM AG had wanted brakes that suited the 790 Duke’s characteristics perfectly but they could only obtain off-the-shelve products from Brembo, hence the joint development with J.Juan. J.Juan is a smaller company and are able to customize the brakes to KTM’s specific requirements.
Also to rehash, the bike features an entire collection of KTM’s rider aid and electronics package, including the new TFT screen, Quickshifter+, Motor Slip Regulation (MSR), Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC), Motorcycle Stability Control (MSC) with Cornering ABS. Ride modes are RAIN, STREET, SPORT, TRACK.
KTM Malaysia allowed the assembled media the opportunity for a short test ride around the compound.
The KTM 790 Duke is sleek, narrow and the lack of weight was immediately noticeable. In fact, it felt a lot like riding the 390 Duke, with more power and awesomely powerful brakes. The quickshifter worked quickly, auto-blipping the throttle on the downshift even at low RPM to eliminate real wheel chatter or lock up. Speed picked up quickly and the suspension was in the right zone without the need for extra adjustments.
We hope to test ride the bike for a full review soon, so stay tuned! In the meantime, please click on the link below to witness Chris Fillimore riding the KTM 790 Duke “The Scalpel” to win and setting a new record at the punishing and dangerous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb event on its first trip out.
Last week, three players of the Moto2 championship went to Aragon to test out their chassis with Triumph’s 765cc triple-cylinder engine.
Kalex, KTM, and NTS all reported positive results where they clocked in similar lap times as the current 2018 championship after just two days of testing.
2019 will see the biggest change to the Moto2 intermediate class with its new engine and electronics package.
We’ve passed the first half of the year and with all the action plus drama the boys from Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP have been giving us, it won’t be long before the 2019 season starts. This brings the biggest change to the intermediate class with a brand new triple-cylinder engine swap from Triumph. (more…)
