The updated 2019 Ducati Scrambler Icon was recently launched earlier this month.
Styling updates together with internal changes have turned the 2019 Ducati Scrambler Icon into a more premium package.
We travelled to Italy to experience the updated Icon that is now safer and more comfortable without sacrificing any of the fun factors.
There are not that many things in life that most folks consider as ‘complete’. And yet when they are found, it brings a level of joy only known to the beholder no matter how big or small that thing may be.
From a simple delicious pack of nasi lemak with a whole egg inside or listening to the world’s most perfect song (it’s ‘Paranoid Android’ by Radiohead, if you’re wondering), this very feeling is massively difficult to replicate on a machine like the motorcycle. (more…)
Ryan Reynolds, the superstar who portrayed Marvel Comics’ Deadpool is an avid biker.
He fancies café racers and customs.
He de-stresses by riding his motorcycles.
Okay, okay, it’s not what motorcycles Deadpool rides in the movies, but what superstar Ryan Reynolds who plays the (anti) hero rides.
Ryan Reynolds has actually been in the show business since 1991 but it was arguably the Deadpool franchise which made him an A-list celebrity. Anyway, it was revealed that he loved motorcycles more than cars in a number of interviews.
His character in The Hitman’s Bodyguard rode a Triumph Speed Triple, after all.
He told Men’s Health, “I love the fact when you’re on a motorcycle, riding a motorcycle is the only thing you’re doing.” Great advice on how to unwind from a busy schedule and parenthood.
Right, let’s take a look at what are in Deadpo… Reynolds’ collection.
Customized Triumph Thruxton
Reynold’s Triumph Thruxton is one of his most famous bikes and he was instrumental in the customization process. Triumph had presented the actor the bike but he wanted Kott Motorcycles of Los Angeles to build it to look like the old Thruxton.
Check out this short film called Invite the Unexpected.
Customized 1964 Triumph 650 “Nine O’ Clock Gun”
The Nine O’ Clock Gun is a naval cannon which fired every night at, you guessed it, 9pm everyday in his native Vancouver, Canada. It was designed and built by Factory Metal Works.
Triumph Bonneville and Triumph Tiger
Reynolds bought the modern Bonneville and the classic Tiger (not the Tiger 800 or Tiger 1200 adventure bikes) sometime in 2005.
If it’s not apparent yet, Reynolds loves café racers so these two were his first choices as he could customize them himself.
Speaking on Triumph’s For the Ride lifestyle microsite, he revealed that, “There aren’t many material things in life you can really invest in, but with a motorcycle it’s emotional. I’ve put a lot of time, energy and thought into my Bonnie.”
And he sure did put a lot of riding miles into the Bonneville, “My Bonneville is a bike that has taken me safety across the country on a least three occasions and there’s no substitute for the feeling that accompanies me on a long ride.”
Ducati Paul Smart Limited Edition
Reynolds had been spotted riding on a Ducati Paul Smart Limited Edition, the successor of the 1972 Ducati 750 Imola which commemorated the rider Paul Smart’s all-important victory at the Imola 200 race.
Although his collection isn’t as extensive as Jay Leno’s, who knows it may grow bigger soon.
The iconic Honda Monkey makes a comeback and is available in Malaysia.
The new Monkey looks retro but is a modern bike underneath.
Boon Siew Honda offers the bike in three playful colours.
Boon Siew Honda has launched the successor of one the most iconic motorcycles of all time – the Honda Monkey.
The Honda Monkey was officially called the Z50 when it was launched in 1963. It rolled on five-inch wheels, powered by a single-cylinder 49cc four-stroke engine.
The Z50 harked a shift in paradigm to small, inexpensive “playbikes” which everyone could just jump on and monkey around. If it surprised everyone in its Oompa Loompa-friendly size, its sales success was an even bigger surprise.
1963 Honda Monkey
The Z50 became known as the Honda “Monkey” both affectionally and derogatively. The name was derived from how adult riders looked like when seated on the bike, with his back arched, knees and elbows sticking (way) out the sides. If your mind suddenly conjures up the image of an ape riding a tricycle in a circus, you’re right, my friend.
But that’s the real appeal of the Honda Monkey – being fun while different at the same time.
Honda Monkey riders unite – courtesy of wikimedia.org
The bike was so popular that Honda introduced a whole list of upgrades and updates throughout the years until the introduction of the MSX125. Also known as the Grom, it swept up multiple awards from overseas publications. It’s also immensely popular in Thailand.
For starters, 125cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine was sourced from the MSX125. It produces 9 bhp at 7000 RPM and 10.5 Nm of torque at 5500 RPM. Such power output makes it more viable as an everyday bike.
2018 Honda Monkey in Pearly Nebula Red
The rolling stock has also been upgraded to feature upside-down forks in front and preload-adjustable dual-shocks at the rear. Honda claims a 775mm seat height and 100mm of rear wheel travel. Both front and rear ends are anchored by hydraulic disc brakes.
Other updates include LED headlamp, taillamp and signal lamps, digital LCD meter, alarm system with Answer Back feature, and retro-style muffler.
The 2018 Honda Monkey comes in three colour schemes of shiny chrome and bright paintjobs including Pearl Nebula Red, Pearl Glittering Blue and aptly named Banana Yellow.
Boon Siew Honda recommends a basic selling price of RM 13,999.00 (with 0% SST and not on-the-raod).
It is based on the bike which won the 2018 Dakar Rally.
Only 75 will be built for rally privateers.
Want to ace the next Rimba Raid rally? Or want to take it all the way to The Dakar? Here’s the 2019 KTM 450 Rally Replica for you.
The 450 Rally Replica is built from the same bike which Matthias Walkner won on in the 2018 edition of the Dakar Rally. However, it is meant for privateers – racers without the bottomless budgets of factory teams.
The 2019 model has been redesigned from the contact patch up with a new chassis to improve mass centralisation.
Additionally, the swingarm, shock linkage and shock, airbox, fuel tanks and seat are new. These items were also redesigned for the theme of mass centralization.
Just as with the Austrian manufacturer’s 2019 450 SX-F, the 450 Rally Replica’s cylinder head has been redesigned for extra power. The gearbox is also new, made to withstand the toughest conditions, according to KTM
As with all KTMs, the 450 Rally Replica is fitted with WP suspension. The front is suspended by WP XACT PRO 48mm forks with closed cartridge cone valve technology. Brakes are of course Brembo.
KTM says they will build the 2019 450 Rally Replica in small numbers – 75 – to be exact. But before you run off to KTM Malaysia to order one, every single unit has been pre-booked.
The new Suzuki Katana is finally revealed in the fourth and final teaser video.
It appears Suzuki have learned their lesson with the later Katanas and have now returned to the bike’s ancestor.
The bike will be officially launched at the Intermot show which starts on 2nd October.
The sword has been unsheathed: The Suzuki Katana finally appears in the final teaser video.
It is apparent from the video that Suzuki is going back to the original 1980 GSX1100 Katana’s design. That’s certainly wonderful news as the later Katanas were so ugly they earned the “Kan-O’-Tuna” pejorative.
Besides, if Kawasaki can go modern retro with their Z900RS, surely Suzuki can too since it was the classic Katana which revolutionized motorcycle design, anyway.
The original GSX1100 was the work of BMW’s ex-Design Chief, Hans Muth. He gave not only the BMW R90S and BMW R100S the distinction of being the first faired production bikes.
It was said that he approached BMW with a concept called “79 Target Design” but was turned down as being too funky. So, Muth brought the design to Suzuki instead and it became one of history’s most iconic motorcycle.
The 1980 Katana’s design changed the convention of motorcycle styling. Apart from the angular bodywork, the “tank/body interface” where the downward sloping line of the rear part of the fuel tank join the forward portion of the seat.
So, heritage is all good and dandy, but where do we go from here?
The new bike’s design still retains some of sharp panels but a little more rounded to feel more contemporary. The silver-coloured bodywork is then mated to a blacked-out frame, engine and swingarm. The seat looks to be a stepped one-piece design, although the more observant among us would probably question the lack of a dual-tone seat.
The exhaust has also gone single-sided instead of exiting on both sides.
The handlebar appears to be high and wide. The rider’s knees seem to be pushed wide apart at the fuel tank. These points may allude to a seating position that’s halfway between a all-out sporty crouch and a totem pole-like upright.
Well, there’s just four days to got to the Intermot show when this went to print. We are just as curious as you about the technical specs of the bike.
Many manufacturers have unveiled their new bikes ahead of the shows.
But there may be more in store.
The end of the year brings MotoGP, heavy rain and touring season to Malaysia. On the international scene, however, the year-end marks the motorcycle show season.
We have reported on many new motorcycles that have broken their cover over the past months, notably the new-Boxer powered BMWs, Moto Guzzi V85 TT adventure bike, new Harleys and many more but they have yet to be officially launched. There are teasers, as well, such as Triumph who have promised the new 1200 Scrambler and Suzuki with their new Katana.
So, we decided to put together a list from A-Z of we expect to see at the Intermot (2nd October), Tokyo Motor Show (27th October) and the big one, EICMA (8th November).
Aprilia
You could very well expect an updated RSV4 superbike. But rumours have been circulating about a 600cc superbike, too. Expect them to be shown off at EICMA as Italian manufacturers prefer to unveil their new bikes on home turf.
BMW Motorrad
BMW is expected to launch nine new bikes for 2019 but it still is not clear whether they would do it at one go or spaced out over the next year.
Like the Italians, the German manufacturers tend to introduce their new bike at Intermot since it is in Germany.
However, models that are sure to be unveiled officially are the new R 1250 GS and R 1250 RT.
Apart from the Boxers, you could reasonably expect the new S 1000 RR superbike which is said to feature a counter-rotating crankshaft, besides being Euro 5 compliant.
There is also talk of the F 800 GS Adventure making its debut.
Ducati
Ducati have since introduced the updated Scrambler Icon (our Editor Sep Irran rode the bike in Tuscany, Italy last week).
Let’s see, what does that leave us with, then? How about the homologation special Panigale V4 R for the World Superbike Championship? Oh yes, that ought to do it.
Energica
We hope the Italian electric motorcycle manufacturer will launch the roadgoing version of their MotoE World Cup racer.
Harley-Davidson
The Motor Company has unveiled their Touring, CVO and FXDR models a couple of months back, but the prototypes of the Pan America adventure bike, Custom 1250, Streetfighter 975 and LiveWire electric bike may make their appearances.
Honda
Computer rendering of CBR1000RR – Courtesy of MCN
There is a heady expectation for the updated CBR1000RR Fireblade to break covers. If that does happen, it should first appear at the Tokyo Motor Show and EICMA later.
Indian Motorcycles
Time to finally unveil the FTR1200 dirt tracker!
Kawasaki
It has been reported that Kawasaki will unveil their bikes at Intermot without waiting for the Tokyo Motor Show. That may signify that Big Green could have something interesting for the European market.
The updated Ninja ZX-10R superbike will surely be there but the Z400 naked sport bike may be launched.
KTM
KTM fans the world over have been holding their breath for the 390 Adventure and 790 Adventure. KTM may also show off updated models to counter BMW’s foray into variable valve timing technology.
MV Agusta
Milan, the city where EICMA is held is just 30 minutes away from MV Agusta’s HQ at Varese. However, there is no news of new models except for the F3 675 equipped with an Inertia Measurement Unit (IMU).
Moto Guzzi
The V85 TT adventure bike has been revealed very recently but it will be the first opportunity for the public to see it in the metal.
Suzuki
Katana concept at EICMA
Oh yes. Suzuki will be present at Intermot ahead of Tokyo. That ought to set alarm bells ringing of something important. How does the new Katana sound?
There has also been lots of rumors about the Japanese manufacturer working on a turbocharged bike to go up against the Kawasaki Ninja H2.
Or how about something wild like a turbocharged Katana? Ooooh.
Triumph
Triumph will launch the new 1200cc Scrambler of October 24th at Hinckley, UK (we’ll be there for it!), and that means it will be launched after Intermot.
However, there have been hints of a new Rocket III and long-awaited replacements for the Thunderbird and America cruisers.
The Moto2 engined Daytona test mule/demonstrator should make an appearance at Intermot.
Yamaha
The Tenere 700 prototype was unveiled at EICMA 2017 and Yamaha has been testing the bike all over the world ever since. This could very well mean they will launch it this year.
