The GIVI B32 MotoGP Convoy will start from Menara Kuala Lumpur this year.
The convoy is slated to take place on Sunday, 29th October 2017.
Participants will receive many great goodies!
There are many convoys to look forward to during the Malaysian MotoGP every year. One of them is of course, by the pre-eminent motorcycle luggage and riding gear producer, GIVI.
As with previous years, GIVI carries out a promotion for a new top box in the run up to the event. This year, it is the just-introduced GIVI B32 “Bold” Monolock top box (click here for the launch and details of the top box). We had the opportunity of sampling the pre-production model of the B32 Bold, and both the quality and experience of using the box has been positive (click here for our coverage of the GIVI Media Ride).
Participation in the convoy is simple. For existing GIVI B32 Bold owners, you only need to Whatsapp 012-6253800 for further details.
For new buyers, the details and forms are included in the box. Please follow the instructions to take part.
Participants do not only join the convoy but will also be given a whole bunch of goodies:
1 x K1 Grandstand ticket 1 x GIVI MotoGP Jersey (Limited Edition) 1 x GIVI Waist Pouch 1 x GIVI Cap 1 x GIVI Helmet Cover 1 x Castrol engine oil (1L) 1 x Monster energy drink 1 x Motorcycle parking sticker 1 x Breakfast package
GIVI’s MotoGP convoys gather for the flag off from well-known landmarks each year. The KL Tower got the pick for 2017. Participants are to congregate there on Sunday, 29th October 2017.
The HJC RPHA 70 bridges full sport and touring helmets
It is built upon the HJC RPHA 11’s principles
Lightweight, comfortable, safe, at a great value
HJC Helmet Malaysia have also introduced other models besides the RPHA 70 – click here to see more
It’s probably needless to say that motorcycle helmets have come a long, long way to where they are now. But along with that progress, helmets have become sub-divided into many categories for different uses. Gone were the days when a rider could almost wear just one helmet for every application (off-road riding notwithstanding).
Nowadays, you’d have specific helmets for the track, sport-touring, adventure-touring, touring, sport classics, cafe racers, customs, urban riding, and everything else in between.
We’ll pick the first two.
A race helmet should ideally be light, stable at high speeds, and snug-fitting. Comfort is relative, as a race helmet should hold tight to the wearer’s face and head, lest it moves around when blasting down SIC’s back straight at top speeds.
A sport-touring helmet, on the other hand, should provide all-day comfort, good ventilation and also good stability at high speeds. The emphasis for sport-touring helmets is comfort, something which is a compromise in racing helmets.
Courtesy of womenridersnow
Bridging that gap is never easy, as the resulting helmet is more often than not compromised for either spectrum. So how? You need both.
Or do you?
Built on the solid foundations of the HJC RPHA 11 race helmet (see here for more), the HJC RPHA 70 seeks to bridge those two concepts into one complete high performance package.
As with the RPHA 11, the RPHA 70’s shell is made from a what HJC calls their “Premium Integrated Matrix Plus (PIM+)” material, which consists of carbon fibre, Aramid, fiberglass and Kevlar; resulting in a lightweight but strong shell. The EPS has different densities around the helmet.
Traces of the RPHA 11’s design philosophies are evident in the RPHA 70’s tall chinbar, aerodynamic shell design, optically correct 2D faceshield with the centrally-located lock (which it shares with the RPHA 11), and interior paddings, in addition to the cheekpads that are extractable in emergencies.
Sport-touring features include the internal drop-down sunshield and large vents on the chinbar and crown (top of the head). The are deep cutouts for the ears, closed off by padding. Remove those pads and you have yourself built-in velcro pads to attach your Bluetooth speakers (I really welcome this).
The cheekpads are thick and tall. There are eyeglass “pockets” on both sides – spectacles wearers will welcome this. The crown pad is also thick and seems to float a couple of milimetres above the inner EPS lining.
Our first opportunity to sample the RPHA 70 was during the ride to Penang to cover the BMW Motorrad Nightfuel event (click here for our coverage and pictures). We rode a myriad of bikes including three variants of the R nineT, S 1000 R naked sportbike, K 1600 GT tourer, and G 310 R lightweight roadster. That means we rode on more bikes without fairing for wind protection.
The BMW S 1000 R was fast! You’d drone along at 60km/h in sixth gear, hit the throttle and you’re suddenly flying at 180km/h. But there was no wind protection. This was where the RPHA 70 showed its mettle. It stayed stayed stable without wobbling around, nor did it felt like ripping our heads off when we turned to the sides. Besides that, it resisted lifting and diving
Sep was testing the BMW G 310 R all the way into Penang (with top speeds close to 170km/h) and he reported the RPHA 70 being stable, too.
The HJC RPHA 70 is also relatively quiet at high speeds even without earplugs, which meant that I didn’t have to turn up my Bluetooth communicator’s volume to full blast, and it’s definitely a pleasant experience with earplugs in.
The sunshield dropped down and retracted quickly when activated via the switch at the bottom of the left chinbar. As with the main faceshield, the sunshield is optically correct, which means it won’t give you headaches from bad vision. My only gripe with the sunshield is that the bottom edges drop ever so slightly when its up, although Sep didn’t encounter this problem.
Airflow through the Advanced Channelling System (ACS) can be described as good and satisfactory. Air entering through the chin vents is directed upwards to the faceshield. A secondary and smaller chin vent directs airflow straight to wearer’s chin and mouth (the switch is on the inside). With the top central vent open, the wearer could feel a cooling stream of air moving past his crown.
We had encountered some rain on the way into Penang, and we thought we’ve come through the worst.
On that same evening, we rode from our hotel at Gurney Drive to the event ground next to the new Penang Bridge, when we got hit by the heaviest rainstorm we’ve ever encountered. There wasn’t even time to close the vents but thankfully, no water got through and the faceshield remained clear as we’ve installed the anti-fog lens which came in the box.
We’ve since donned the helmet everywhere we went, including riding around the city in all weather conditions and times of the day. As with most fullface helmets, the air inside could get a little stuffy on scorching hot days but all one needs to do is crack open the faceshield a little or, just ride faster.
Back to the subject about track usage: Not only does the HJC RPHA 70 comply to the ECE R22.05 standard, but it is also approved by the FIM. Approval by the FIM means the wearer could use the helmet for FIM-sanctioned racing events. That’s unprecedented, as most if not all, FIM approved race helmets are without built-in sunshades.
So, there you go. A real two-in-one helmet at one great value.
The Spartan Concept Store located in Sunway will be organising a special meet and greet session with their MotoGP rider, Johann Zarco.
The meet and greet will happen at their store on 25 October 2017 from 7pm – 10pm.
Those who come before 8pm with their motorcycles will stand a chance to win a brand new Shark helmet, Furygan jacket and other amazing prizes.
Image source: MotoGP
Attention to all Johann Zarco and MotoGP fans here in Malaysia! The Spartan Concept Store is proud to announce that they’ll be organising a special meet and greet session with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider, Johann Zarco on 25 October 2017! (more…)
Comfort, refinement, utility makes it the ultimate touring bike
After months of heavy speculation, Honda has just released the Gold Wing teaser video.
2017 Honda Gold Wing
As Japan’s regulators tighten emissions standards to match that of Euro4 and beyond, Honda will soon stop production of the current model and a number of models. As such, Japan’s largest motorcycle manufacturer went ahead with creating an all-new Gold Wing.
News of the new bike was leaked out into the grasps of the world’s media last month, followed by pictures of what may be the final bike. (Click here for our report.)
Leaked photo of the 2018 Honda Gold Wing
But instead of disproving those photos, Honda has released a teaser video called “Beyond the Standard,” highlighting the evolution of the ‘Wing through the ages.
2016 Honda Gold Wing F6B
Ever since its inception in 1975, the Honda Gold Wing has been known as the ultimate touring motorcycle to many of its fans. Creature comforts, utility, chock full of features, refinement are what the bike is about.
The model proved to be a huge hit in the North American market that Honda Corporation actually started a factory just to build them in the USA. The production facilities were shifted back to Japan a few years ago.
There are many Gold Wing owners and clubs here in Malaysia too. You can see hundreds of them when they come together for special gatherings or motorcycle events.
MV Agusta has unveiled their latest 2017 MV Agusta F4 RC WorldSBK replica bike shortly after the announcement of the F4 LH44.
This new F4 RC comes with an interesting race kit which includes an SC Project full system exhaust, race ECU, quick-release fuel cap, carbon fibre parts and many more.
Once fitted with the race kit, the WorldSBK F4 RC replica is said to produce 212hp and 115Nm of torque which will hit a maximum speed of 302km/h without a hiccup.
Shortly after the announcement of their partnership renewal with Lewis Hamilton and official launch of the MV Agusta F4 LH44, the premium bike manufacturer throws us yet another beautiful bone in the form of a WorldSBK replica MV Agusta F4 RC. (more…)
Kawasaki has just released a short teaser video indicating that they will be launching another supercharged motorcycle at this year’s EICMA Show in Milan, Italy.
With the tagline “Supercharge your journey”, this new machine might just be the highly-anticipated sport touring version of the manic Kawasaki H2.
Rumours are also pointing out to the possibility of this being a brand new supercharged 1400 GTR but we will only know for sure come 7 November 2017.
Previous rumours pointing towards giant Japanese manufacturer releasing another exciting supercharged machine appears to be true, ladies and gentlemen. Just a couple of days ago, Kawasaki released a short teaser video announcing that the new bike will be revealed on 7 November 2017 during EICMA 2017 or the Milan Motorcycle Show. (more…)
