Boon Siew Honda has officially announced the arrival of the 2018 Honda CBR500R, CB500F and CB500X at all BSH authorised dealers.
The 2018 Honda CB500 range have been updated with some styling changes including brand new stripes and colour schemes.
All the 2018 models are priced from RM31,363.28 to RM35,391.28 (basic prices with GST).
2018 Honda CBR500R (Graphite Black)
We got some exciting news from Boon Siew Honda (BSH). It seems that they have officially introduced the updated 2018 Honda CB500 range in the form of the Honda CBR500R, CB500F and CB500X. For 2018, all the models will come with a much sportier, more aggressive and adventurous look together with new designs and colours. (more…)
We can expect the Kawasaki Z900RS and Z900RS Café in 2018.
Both bikes are truly modern bikes.
They’re set to take the market by storm.
We mourned the loss of the Kawasaki W800 modern retro. Here was a bike that looked properly retro: The engine had the bevel drive cover on the outside of the engine block, and beautifully polished aluminium accented cooling fins; the “bread loaf” seat; peashooter exhausts; twin rear shocks; even the front brake disc looked retro.
Then Kawasaki launched the W800’s replacement during EICMA last month. Called the Z900RS and Z900RS Café, they rocked the motorcycle fraternity.
Here are some of the features we are looking forward to.
Heritage
Back in 1972 (for model year 2013), Kawasaki unveiled the monster bike which cemented the Japanese manufacturer’s name as a premiere brand. It was the Z1.
The 900cc, inline-Four was the first air-cooled engine which featured double overhead camshafts (DOHC) and produced 82 bhp to propel the bike to 210 km/h. It was the fastest production bike of its time. It also went to dominate sales and Motorcycle News name it as the Best Bike of the Year four years in a row.
The Z1 went on to spawn the Kz900 which in turn gave birth to the dominant Kz1000-S1 which gave rise to GP greats Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, and Wayne Gardner.
It was also the bike in the popular TV series CHiPs.
Kawasaki had revived the inline-Four modern classic in the vein of the Z1 before. Remember the Zephyr 400/750/1100 in the 1990’s?
How about the later ZRX1100 (1997 to 2005) and ZRX1200 (2001 to 2008), modeled after the mighty Kz1000R-S1?
They were surely beautiful, showing just eternally beautiful was the Z1’s form. However, these were fairly heavy.
The Z900RS on the other hand, weighs only 214 kg, ready to ride. Additionally, it features fully adjustable forks and a rear shock that’s derived from the ZX-10R superbike. A new, lightweight trellis frame holds it all together. The Z900RS is given a sporty rake angle of 25.4 degrees and trail of 88.9, ensuring agile handling.
Z1 Styling Cues
Oh yes, they’re all there.
The ducktail back end, oval rear light, machined engine fins, textured metal tank, side panel badges, cam covers, bread loaf seat, the instrument panel, and gauges that use the same fonts. Even the needles rest at the same angle as the original.
The new upper frame accommodates the seat and tear-shaped fuel tank. The two-tone orange and metallic brown paint are faithful reproduction of the original.
If you want a more racer-esque feel, opt for the Z900RS Café, which has a bikini fairing, lower handlebars and humped seat.
Let’s not forget the new 4-into-1 double-wall steel exhaust system, which most owners of the K1 modified to and mimics the Kz1000’s. Anyone know if Kerker still makes exhausts?
Torque!
Horsepower is useful for the track. Out here on the mean streets, it’s torque that rules.
While the Z900RS’s engine shares the same architecture as the Z900 naked sportbike’s, it’s tuned for more low- and mid-range grunt for the real world.
It means that you don’t have to shift like you’re auditioning for Riverdance when you need to overtake other vehicles and while riding at low speeds.
Practicality
Judging from how the bike looks, its spec sheet and reviews from overseas media, the Z900RS and Z900RS Café are both practical for the daily commute and weekend mountain road riding. It also looks like it has a more pragmatic riding position for all day comfort.
The way we see it, we could attach soft luggage on both sides (since it’s a monoshock) and tankbag without ruining the looks of the bike.
So there you go. We’re sure to discover many other great (and not so great) features of the bike when it arrives in Malaysia. Oh, that may be in the second quarter of 2018.
The folks over at Benelli will be launching the 2018 Benelli 402S cruiser sometime next year.
Obviously inspired by the Ducati XDiavel power cruiser, the Benelli 402S has so many similarities when it comes to the looks.
Powered by a 399cc parallel-twin engine, the 402S is said to produce 39hp and 35Nm of torque.
The world of motorcycling keeps giving us more and more interesting news as days go by. The latest information from the Chinese market shows that Benelli has been quite busy coming up with quite a beauty which looks very, VERY familiar. (more…)
The Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati MotoGP squad has decided to rebrand themselves as the Angel Nieto team.
The gesture was made to pay tribute and honour the fallen 13-time GP world champion Angel Nieto.
Nieto sadly passed away in August when he collided with another vehicle while riding his quad bike near his home in Ibiza.
In honour of the recent passing of 13-time world champion Angel Nieto, the Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati outfit has decided to rebrand themselves as the Angel Nieto team for the 2018 MotoGP season. The decision was made by team owner Martinez Aspar who was once one of Nieto’s greatest rivals but the best of friends. (more…)
Honda has announced that there will be a new entry in the 2018 Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race with their HRC factory squad.
This announcement came to be after the Yamaha Factory Racing Team has won the iconic race for the past three years.
The giant red Japanese manufacturer might even bring their top riders from WorldSBK and MotoGP to improve their chances in 2018.
One of the world’s greatest motorcycle endurance races that is the Suzuka 8 Hours will see a major shift in major league players for the year 2018. After three years of dominance from the Yamaha Factory Racing Team in July earlier this year (which also marked the race’s 40th anniversary), Honda has decided that it’s time to bring out their big guns. (more…)
National motorcycle maker, MODENAS held a grand event celebrating the two Pulsar models.
Many activities were carried out throughout the day.
Main lucky draw prize was a brand new Pulsar NS200.
Speedway PLUS Karting Circuit, 23rd December 2017 – There’s little doubt that the Modenas Pulsar NS200 and Pulsar RS200 is enjoying brisk sales and popular following since its launch earlier this year. It’s therefore high time Modenas to call for a gathering, called “Modenas Pulsar Power Test.”
The event kicked off with a Modenas Pulsar Owners Club (MPOC) convoy from the Modenas Emos headquarters in Glenmarie, Shah Alam to the circuit (more popularly known as the “Elite Circuit” or just “Elite”). More than 400 participants had started congregating there from 7am. The convoy got going at 8am and reached the circuit at 9am for the start of the event.
There were even more participants who went straight to Elite circuit, bringing the total to nearly 1,800 participants judging from the serial number of registered participants. While the majority were from the Klang Valley, many had rode all the way in from all regions in Peninsular Malaysia, including Penang, the East Coast, Johor, et al.
Modenas has set up many activities throughout the day. Modenas had also prepared 20 new Pulsar NS200 and Pulsar RS200 just for this event.
The main event was the “Power Test Ride” whereby existing owners and interested parties had the opportunity to test ride both the NS200 and RS200 on the track itself. Safety was the main concern and every test ride participant must wear the proper riding gear in order to be allowed onto the track.
The test ride was conducted in groups and a Modenas Cub Prix rider led them out on the sighting lap before waving the participants through to ride around at their own pace.
Outside the track, Modenas has set up special booths to service the customers’ bikes, while also offering service parts to owners such as engine oil, oil filter, spark plugs, air filter, and battery. Owners were also offered the opportunity to have their bikes’ electronic systems checked using the special diagnostic tester.
The slip road next to the booths were cordoned off all the way to the roundabout to form a straight-line acceleration test and slalom course, called “Power Time Attack.”
Up the little slope, an area was designated for stunt performance where the stunt riders performed wheelies, stoppies, burnouts of every sort.
Next to the stunt area was where the “Power Corner” demonstration and trials were carried out. The Modenas Cub Prix riders demonstrated the ability of the Pulsar NS200 and Pulsar RS200 could turn in a tight circle given a confined space, besides how stable the bikes were when leaned all the way over even at slow speeds. The riders did their circles with their knees fully planted onto the tarmac!
It wasn’t only about the motorcycle per se, as Modenas had called upon a few food trucks to provide sustenance to the participants. Here, a band played some great music, led by a girl with amazing vocals.
Prominent motorcycle luggage, riding gear and accessories manufacturer GIVI was also on-site with their event bus, displaying the options available for the two Pulsars. GIVI has also loaned full faced helmets to the participants who took part in the test rides.
Modenas carried out lucky draws throughout the day, giving away some great prizes. The last draw of the day was carried out at 5pm to determine the lucky winner of a brand new Pulsar NS200.
It was a great event from Modenas and we are happy to see the national brand thriving.
