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Top 10: Bikes for the ladies

Gone are the days when women were perceived to be the weaker sex. Today, they are capable of doing whatever men can, and that includes suiting up and riding a high-powered motorcycle for hundreds of kilometers.

In fact, we have not one or two, but thousands of female riders already, including normal riders, racers, and even stunt riders!

That said, if you are one of the female riders who has just obtained your license, looking for the right bike to begin your journey, you have come to the right place as we have compiled a top 10 bikes which we feel, are best suited for you.

1) Kawasaki ER-6N

Like we mentioned before in one of our Top 10 compilations, this is without a doubt, among the best beginners’ bikes as it is what is being used in most of our driving schools. Despite being powerful, it is not too wild, and remains as one of the most comfortable middleweights out there in the market.

2) KTM Duke 390

Ideal for small-sized individuals, this lightweight naked would appeal to most female riders. Besides that, it is also very sporty, and proves to be an excellent platform for those who are upgrading from a smaller bike. Where the Duke 390 really stands out is in the city, as it is very agile and punchy.

3) Ducati Monster 795

If you’re a beginner and you want something more exotic, the Ducati Monster 795 is a dream come true for you. While other models from the brand might be more suitable for veterans, the Monster, which is smaller, stylish, yet still powerful, is ideal for Asian women. In fact, this model is among the most popular choice among female riders in Malaysia.

4) Yamaha XJ6

It looks good, it is not too small or too big, it is affordable, and most importantly, the XJ6 is a very smooth and comfortable bike that is ideal for you to get used to long distance riding.

5) Honda CBR250R

The CBR250R is among the best starter bikes in the market in our opinion. Ideal for both city-dwelling and long distance riding, the baby CBR is suitable for both beginners and slightly more experienced riders.

6)Yamaha YZF-R25

The R25’s biggest strength is that it is nimble and offers easy-to- use daily riding experience, while being sporty. Its asymmetric swing arm is strong and solid for a stable ride. Complementing the stable ride is the Monocross Twin-tube rear suspension that provides good handling during cornering.

7) Kawasaki Z250SL

Powered by a 4-stroke Single mounted in an original trellis frame, the newest Ninja offers sporty fun in a slim, lightweight and compact package. With competitive performance, quick, nimble handling, and aggressive ergonomics, it is a lighter, ideal platform to learn the basics of riding larger bikes.

8) Harley-Davidson Sportster 883

Among all of Harley-Davidson’s Sportster 883 motorcycles currently available, the Iron is the newest, debuting in 2009. It has the smaller “peanut” style fuel tank so it holds less fuel than the SuperLow. Its styling is edgier than the traditionally styled SuperLow with drag style handlebars, a chopped rear fender, and blacked out accents. The Iron gets beginners going with attitude! In 2015,upgrades were made to the Sportsers including new brakes, an ABS option and of course, new colors.

9) Kawasaki Vulcan S

If cruisers are what you have in mind, and Harley-Davidsons are too expensive, Kawasaki has a perfect candidate for you. Priced under RM30,000, the Vulcan S, which is Kawasaki’s most recent offerings, provides a super low riding position, a smooth 650cc engine, and most importantly, an option to custom fit the handlebars and the foot pegs based on your height.

10) Scrambler Ducati

Ducati’s smartly styled bike that correctly reinterprets the spirit of the 1960s, was built with no room for complicated technology, such as ride-by-wire throttle or a hydraulic clutch. The bike is aimed at people who are looking for a bike that’s not just easy handling, comfortable and accessible, but one’s that’s also as fashionable as the original.

2016 Triumph Bonneville launched

After much anticipation, the all-new 2016 Triumph Bonneville has been officially unveiled to the world by the manufacturer.

As expected, the bike is offered in three guises, each with a different liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine. Firstly, there’s the entry-level 900cc Street Twin; the 1200cc T120, and the top-of-the-range Thruxton, According to Triumph, each variant of the new Bonneville has a different chassis design and distinct engine, and none shares a single component with the existing Bonneville. It is said that the new liquid-cooled engine offers 36 per cent better fuel-economy than the old one.

The company also revealed the T120 Black, which is basically the Triumph Bonneville T120 with different styling detail, and a Thruxton R, which is a Thruxton which comes with Brembo monobloc brake calipers, Showa big piston forks, Öhlins rear suspension and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa Tyres.

For your information, the Thruxton R was the bike that was featured in David Beckham’s recent short film titled “Outlaw”.

It is said that the new Bonevilles’ electronic systems have been updated as well, with features like the ride-by-wire throttle, ABS, slip-assist clutch, traction control, LED lights, immobiliser, a chipped ignition key, and a USB charging socket being offered as standard.

While the T120 comes with two riding modes (road and rain), the Thruxton has a third ‘sport’ mode, which promises a ‘more immediate throttle response’. T120 and T120 Black also come with heated grips as standard.

Standard equipment aside, options for the the Street Twin include a Scrambler kit, Vance & Hines exhaust, brushed aluminium components, and brown ribbed ‘bench’ seat; a ‘Brat Tracker’ kit including Vance & Hines slip-on cans, rear mudguard removal kit and a brown bench seat; and an ‘Urban’ kit, including a fly-screen, single leather pannier and Vance & Hines slip-ons.

For the T120 and T120 Black there’s a ‘Prestige’ kit including Vance & Hines peashooter slip-ons, a ribbed and stitched black seat and chrome clutch cover.

For the Thruxton and Thruxton R there’s a ‘Track Racer’ kit, including a cockpit fairing, clip-on bars and leather tank strap; and a ‘Café Racer’ kit, including a fly-screen, rubber knee pads and clip-ons.

Exclusively for the Thruxton R there’s an additional ‘Performance race’ kit which is ‘specifically designed and developed for competition use and closed circuit racing’. Details have not been confirmed but Triumph’s press release says: ‘The Factory Race kit will take the standard engine performance to an even higher level, with more power, torque and lower overall weight.’

2016 Honda NC750X and Honda CB500X unveiled

The mighty red wing marque that is Honda has finally taken the wraps off its two updated-for-2016 adventure sport models. Meet the 2016 Honda NC750X and Honda CB500X twins. Both models were unveiled online ahead of their slated public debut at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.

Here are the details we’ve managed to garner as of now.

2016 Honda NC750X

Compared to its previous iteration, the 2016 model sees the NC750X gaining with a facelift. It now looks more rugged and adventurous than before, but we’ll agree if you think the facelift is rather ‘mild’.

Complementing the aesthetic revisions are other updates such as LED lights front and aft, followed by a taller windscreen for increased wind protection, a pair of new Showa ‘dual-bending valve’ forks, as well as increased helmet storage space.

Furthermore, variants primed with Honda’s DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) have gained with additional riding modes for riders to select too.

2016 Honda CB500X

Unveiled alongside its revised big brother is the revised 2016 Honda CB500X. The second of the CB500 range to undergo an update after the CBR500R, exterior changes are once again mild in this mid-sized adventure-sport.

Underneath, revisions here include a 100mm-taller windscreen, LED lighting front and aft, a revised front suspension set with pre-load adjustability and new colour schemes too.

2016 Honda NC750X

2016 Honda CB500X

Sources: Visordown ( Link 1 / Link 2 ) and Moto.it ( Link 1 / Link 2 )

New Scrambler Ducati model possibly teased

If you’ve been religiously tracking the development at Ducati this year leading up to EICMA 2015, you’d already know that the brand is set to release up to nine new models during the annual two-wheeled exhibition.

We’ve already seen a few of them, those being the new Monster 1200 R and the Diavel Carbon.

Leaked emissions application documents in the US have also revealed that the two will be accompanied by the revamped Hypermotard trio (Hypermotard, Hypermotard SP and Hyperstrada) as well as an upgrade of the 899 Panigale called the ‘959 Panigale’. If spyshots from earlier this year are to be believed, we could also see a slowed-down, belt-driven ‘cruiser’ version of the Diavel as well.

Do the math and you’d know we’re missing just a few more from that magical number of nine.Well, a recent and very cryptic teaser released on the Scrambler Ducati sub-brand’s Facebook page has perhaps shed some light into this. Whilst the comic strip introducing two new characters named Bart and Betty seems innocent enough, we are likely led to believe that we could see two more versions of the Scrambler Ducati debuting later this year.

Fuelling this further is the fact that rumours of an even smaller displacement Scrambler Ducati model have been around since last year. Details are very scarce, but rumours suggest that the ‘baby’ Scrambler will adopt an engine smaller than the current 803cc found in the Scrambler, and will either be a V-twin or perhaps a single-cylinder should Ducati decide to re-introduce the latter original engine type into the Scrambler range.

Details beyond this point remain rather scarce, but we are excited nonetheless. This year’s edition of the annual EICMA show in Milan, Italy is set to open its doors for the press on November 17 and November 18. Expect more details by then.

Sources: Scrambler Ducati Facebook, Asphaltandrubber and Visordown

2016 Kawasaki Ninja H2 – a dark sparkle

The supercharged monstrosity known as the Kawasaki Ninja H2 has gained a new paint scheme for its 2016 model year version. The new scheme, which Kawasaki calls “Mirror Coated Spark Black”, gives the Ninja H2 a much more darker stance as a result of the scheme’s blackened-out theme and nature.

Besides this dark new paint job, Kawasaki has not announce any further changes to its supercharged halo bike. Minus the new paint, it is highly likely that the model would remain mechanically unchanged from its current form.

Kawasaki has also yet to confirm if it would continue to offer the Ninja H2’s track-only sibling, the Ninja H2R, throughout 2016 as well.

You can check out the 2016 Kawasaki Ninja H2’s darkened new personality in the gallery we’ve prepared below.