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Superkip Racing Academy to Campaign in 2018 Cub Prix Season

Malaysian Moto2 star, Khairul Idham Pawi had set up his own racing academy.
The Superkip Racing Academy will enter riders in the 2018 Cub Prix season.
The team will be managed by Superkip’s father, Pawi Omar.

Young age and a busy schedule at MotoGP did not stop Malaysian Moto2 rider, Khairul Idham Pawi, from training young riders through his own Superkip Racing Academy.

In addition to training, the academy based in Kampung Gajah, Perak, also took a step further by campaigning in the national professional racing stage, namely in the PETRONAS AAM Malaysia Cub Prix Championship in 2018, in the CP115 and Wira categories.

Among the early riders of the SuperKIP Academy are Khairul’s younger brother Anuar Ibrahim Pawi, besides Honda Wave Alpha Challenge riders Md Afizat Supaat, Md Amer Rossi Amidi, Md Hazim, and Md Haziq Rosmaza.

“Selection of riders has been done since the mid-season of the Cub Prix 2017 Championship where we saw and evaluated potential rivals competing in the Honda one-make race series.

“After listing some riders, we invited them to undergo my training session as soon as the Cub Prix Championship ended in Johor, last November. We did different approaches where these riders did not only undergo intensive training, but also provided accommodation here. In addition to training on the circuit, they also underwent training such as fitness, cycling, and others according to the set schedule,” said the 19-year-old rider.

Commenting on the target against all riders, Khairul said, “This is the first year the team is competing at the Cub Prix while the riders are also competing for the first time in the higher classes. We did not set the target too high, we’ll be satisfied with top five finish, and would definitely be very happy if they could climb onto the podium.

“The competition will be fierce and they will be forced to face more experienced teams and riders, including my former team, Idemitsu Kozi Yam Honda Racing. The competition is certainly great and I hope the riders can gain useful experience this year.”

He added, “This team will be supervised by my dad as I’m in Europe a lot next year. Nevertheless, I will always watch them race live on social media when I’m not involved with racing and always get the latest updates from team management.”

Meanwhile, Khairul’s father, Pawi Omar, who will act as team manager, said the plan to set up the academy arose after Khairul won the Moto3 race in Argentina and Germany.

“In the early stages, the academy was created to provide guidance to local youths who are interested in racing before deciding to go further.”

“The way we formed Khairul all this time will be used to guide other riders. Most important is the support of the riders themselves. We are pleased that the families of the riders in the academy are fully supportive and willing to let their children live with us for training and preparation for the Cub Prix race, “he explained.

What to expect from Boon Siew Honda’s adventure bike line-up in 2018

Boon Siew Honda plans to expand their motorcycle line-up for 2018 with around ten new models.

Two of these new models will cater to a growing demand for adventure bikes.

Apart from the recently introduced 2017 Honda CRF250L series, we can expect to see the Honda X-ADV and Africa Twin on our shores sometime next year.

The world of motorcycling has been witnessing quite a huge jump new and current riders going for a much more versatile two-wheelers. Touring, dual-sport and adventure bikes have been placed right in the spotlight for those looking for more than just entry-level cubs or manic superbikes. (more…)

Moto Guzzi Gentlemen’s Year-End Gathering

Moto Guzzi Malaysia invited Guzzi owners to a year-end gathering.
It serves as a platform to touch base with both existing and new owners.
Moto Guzzi Malaysia’s Aftersales Department were present to assist on technical matters.

Moto Guzzi Malaysia is paving the path to engage not only potential or new customers, but existing owners as well.

Since finding a new home at The Gasket Alley (click here for our coverage on the launch), they have organized many events and rides that reflect upon the Guzzi lifestyle, for example, a Sunday ride to Bentong a couple of months back (click here for the report), and now a special gathering as 2018 beckons.

Called the “Moto Guzzi Gentlemen’s Year-End Gathering,” the event brought together Guzzi owners past and present to make new friends and build camaraderie.

We were able to witness a myriad of Moto Guzzis, including the V7 II, V7 50 Anniversario, Norge GT, and an ultra-rare 90^th anniversary California.

The owners were then invited to share their experience of owning a Guzzi on video. Although it wasn’t us who interviewed them, we were within an earshot when they described their experience and they were at the least satisfied and loved their bikes.

With the interview session done, Mr. Amarjit Singh, the Head of Aftersales met with the owners personally to discuss on what Moto Guzzi Malaysia could improve on, besides assuring that Moto Guzzi Malaysia is serious in providing the best possible aftersales service and parts availability.

The event adjourned after dinner, and with the owners exchanging contacts with each other. Looks like there’ll be plenty of Moto Guzzi rides soon!

PICTURE GALLERY

Modenas wants YOU to test the Pulsar RS200 and NS200 in the track!

Modenas will be organising the Pulsar Power Test this Saturday (23 December 2017) at the Speedway PLUS Karting Circuit in Subang Jaya.

From 10am to 6pm, those who attend will be able to test the Modenas Pulsar RS200 and NS200 in the track.

Other activities include pro riding tips from racers, time attack, free check-ups for Pulsar owners, stunt shows and many more.

The technical partnership between our very own MODENAS (National Motorcycle and Engine Company) and one of India’s biggest motorcycle manufacturers Bajaj Auto Limited gave way to the introduction of three new Modenas 2017 models. These bikes are none other than the Modenas Pulsar RS200, Pulsar NS200, and the V15. (more…)

Bajaj Dominar edges Yamaha FZ to win prestigious award!

Dominar beats the Honda Cliq and the Yamaha FZ 250.
Dominar also won two other important awards, edging out Benelli and other brands.
Watch our first impression video at the bottom of this post.

The 373cc Bajaj Dominar recently bagged one of India’s most prestigious awards for two-wheelers, the NDTV Two Wheeler of the Year 2018 trophy.

In doing so, the Dominar trumped the Honda Cliq, and more importantly, beat the coveted Yamaha FZ 25. But, this is not the first time Bajaj has won the iconic award – in 2016 the company won the award with the Pulsar RS 200, in 2013 it won with the Pulsar NS 200 and in 2008, Bajaj won the award with the Pulsar 220 DTSFi.

The Dominar won the award by a huge margin, garnering 330 points out of 420 while the Cliq only managed 302 points.

The Dominar also won two other awards, winning its category to be crowned the Premium Motorcycle of the Year award (beating the Benelli 302R, Versys-X 300 and the KTM 390 Duke) and also winning the CNB Viewer’s Choice Two Wheeler of the Year award, winning 45% of the total vote.

We recently tested the Bajaj Dominar 400 at the Bajaj test track in Pune, India. The single-cylinder motorcycle is hailed by Bajaj as a sports touring bike that is more than capable of handling the demands of daily urban life, but also is perfectly suited for those who prefer some weekend fun or long distance touring.

NDTV CEO Suparna Singh presents the coveted award to Bajaj representative, Sumeet Narang.

On track, the Dominar was predictable and accurate. The engine offered decent power and the ABS system lets you brake late without worrying about the wheels locking up. On road, the Dominar offered a comfortable sitting position with a well cushioned seat, a comfortable reach out to the handle bars, good leg positioning even for taller riders and was good all round.

The Dominar comes with Bajaj’s triple spark technology which burns fuel cleanly and more efficiently. This gives the Dominar a good fuel range which makes the bike perfectly suited for everyday life, and more.

The Bajaj Dominar is expected to be offered in Malaysia within the first quarter of 2018, at which point it will be known as the Modenas Dominar 400. With a price range that is expected to be below RM20,000, the Dominar 400 is set to be among the most anticipated motorcycles of 2018, and judging on how good the bike is at what it does, we are expecting an immediate success story for Bajaj and Modenas.

Click here to read more about the Dominar 400. And don’t forget to watch our first impression video below:

Moto Guzzi V7 III Stone and Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer Test & Review

The new Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer and V7 III Stone complements the Guzzi family.
Moto Guzzi calls the V9 Roamer a custom bike, but its design harks back to the beautiful 70’s bikes.
The V7 III Stone forms the basis for further customisation.

Moto Guzzi is a legendary Italian brand since 1912, but a few hiccups along the way gave the impression of the brand being “on/off.” However, Moto Guzzi is seeing a resurgence lately as the new official distributor, The Gasket Alley, has stepped up their marketing and aftersales efforts.

However, having ridden just one Moto Guzzi for mere hours in the past, I wasn’t sure of what to expect from these two bikes: The V9 Roamer and V7 III Stone.

When Sep and I went to pick them up, both had that modern-classic look, but it was the V9 Roamer which appealed to me with lots of chrome offset by anodized black parts and yellow paintwork. It looked like a 70’s kind of standard motorcycle. That’s just the looks, because the 853cc, 2-valve, 90-degree V-Twin engine is all new.

On the other hand, Sep preferred the V7 III Stone as it looked more “masculine” with its boxier fuel tank with flared sides over the cylinders, no chrome and flat yellow tank. In a way, the V7 III Stone has that unfinished look, no doubt being the model for further customization (there are hundreds of items in MG “Spark” catalog). The “III” designation means this is the third generation V7, inspired the by the 1971 V7 Sport. The V7 has been revamped in many ways including a 10% engine power bump.

Both bikes now feature MGTC (Moto Guzzi Traction Control) and ABS.

Pushing both bikes around The Gasket Alley’s parking lot revealed that they were light. It’s even more so when we climbed on board. Their seats were low and both of us could place both feet on the ground with ease.

The V9’s handlebar was mounted on a riser and swept back to meet the rider. The V7’s was flatter for a slightly more café racer feel.

As I reached out to thumb the starter button on the V9, I noticed that the switchgear had a new design, outlined by brushed aluminium bezels, similar to the Calfornia. The V7 made do with the conventional switchgear.

Both bikes starter quickly when the starter button was pushed, to a 90-degree V-Twin growl and the bike kicking to the right simultaneously. Such is the character of transverse-mounted twins (both cylinders projecting out the sides, instead of sitting fore and aft inside the frame), since the crankshaft is longitudinal along the axis of the frame. Conversely, V-Twin that’s mounted longitudinally (Harley, Ducati, et al) has the crankshaft across the frame, thus the frame damps out the crankshaft’s secondary vibrations.

As with Moto Guzzi’s engine configuration, the transmission mates directly to the back of the crankcase (like a BMW Boxer-Twin), although the Guzzi’s single dry clutch is behind the transmission instead of sitting in the middle between the two parts. Power transfer to the rear wheel is best served by a shaft final drive for transverse Twins.

This arrangement makes for a lower centre of gravity as the heavy parts are lower near the ground, as opposed to engine configurations where the transmission is “stacked” above the alternator (although it is more compact).

Anyhow, right away, the V9 Roamer exhibited a relatively maneuverable despite having a 19-inch tyre up front and 16-inch at the rear. Similarly, squeezing through traffic was easy as the bike’s pretty slim. My only gripe about riding it in traffic was the overly soft exhaust volume in order to comply with the Euro 4 emission standard. I don’t have to tell you that some car drivers in Kuala Lumpur are complacent behind their steering wheels, so a loud exhaust is the way to grab their attention unless you honk all the way.

The suspension of both bikes were supple in their initial strokes but took big hits over the shraper bumps and deep potholes. Still, they were remarkably better than their predecessors.

Out on the highway, the V9 Roamer went with the flow due to its taller gearing – it’s not that the engine lacks punch – the transmission was already in overdrive in fifth gear, while sixth was an even taller overdrive. This is definitely a bike for relaxed cruising.

The V7 however, felt more engaging due to its shorter gearing, meaning it kept pushing all the time. In Sep’s words, “The V7 feels more hooligan.” He’s right, because the Stone is just one of the variations in the V7 III family, which includes the V7 III Racer.

Italian bikes are famous for their handling, but I wish I could say so for these two. But it wasn’t because of the bikes, it was due to the standard Pirelli Sport Demon tyres. I’ve experienced the very same trait on another test bike. These tyres are great in running straight but their sidewalls flex like rubber stress balls when pushed in corners, causing the bikes to wobble. It also caused the V9 Roamer’s 19-inch front to steer slower into corners. My concern is that customers who are uninitiated to the Sport Demon will blame the bike.

Anyway, the V7 III Stone wasn’t a slouch when we blasted down the highway. With a sportier riding position, the rider has more confidence to take it to higher speeds. The V9 Roamer, on the other hand likes to be ridden smoothly and in a benign manner. That said, remember the crankshaft’s torque kicking the bike to one side? It all disappeared as soon as we got rolling and the engine became really, really smooth.

We took a different route to Kuala Kubu Bahru for the photoshoot and while it had many beautiful corners, certain sections were bumpy as hell, but these bumps were handled better as long as they weren’t sharp, whereas I would have a chiropractor on standby on the older bike.

We also noticed that there wasn’t any “shaft jacking” despite the lack of an extra arm, like Moto Guzzi’s CARC setup. The term shaft jacking pertains to the bike lifting upwards due to the shaft’s torque as power is applied to the rear wheel.

As our four days with both bikes coming to an end, we liked both the V9 Roamer and V7 III Stone for what they are. They’re just different from other bikes in the market, hence to compare with other makes may not be fair. Both bikes’ appeal rest in the ease of riding them, with a certain kind of soul that could only come from the transversely mounted V-Twin. Besides that, there aren’t many Guzzis around so you’ll earn plenty of inquisitive stares when you ride one.

So which one did we pick as our favourite? Let’s call it a split decision. Keshy and Sep chose the V7 III Stone for its no-frills approach, while Chaze and I chose the V9 Roamer for its looks and soft character.