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Yamaha YZF-R25/YZF-R3 Facelift for 2019?

The Yamaha YZF-R25/R3 has been unchanged since 2015.
Pictures have surfaced in Indonesia pertaining to be the “new YZF-R3” for 2019.
If Yamaha goes ahead with the plans, expect to see updated components and styling.

The ever-popular Yamaha YZF-R3 (YZF-R25 in Malaysia) has been around for a few years and may well see a facelift for 2019, as photos have surfaced in Indonesia.

If Yamaha does adhere to the design the picture, the new bike’s styling brings it closer to the manufacturer’s other supersport models, namely the YZF-R6 and YZF-R1 besides the YZR-M1 in MotoGP.

Additionally, taking a cue from current industry standards, it may well feature full-LED lighting. Will it also have an updated instrument console? Perhaps. How about an upgraded chassis? Who knows.

But the biggest question would be regarding its displacement, of course.

The 250- to 400cc category is hotly contested, with Yamaha’s rivals Kawasaki now offering both the Ninja 250 and Ninja 400, while KTM has the 390 Duke and RC 390. Even Modenas has the Dominar D400. Hence, there has been much speculation that we may well see a sub-400cc R4 because how else could one compete if the others have higher capacities?

But there’s a problem if it goes 400. While Yamaha offers the R3 or the speculated R4 in other countries, we will be inadvertantly stuck with the 250cc version. This is the same with other manufacturers as well, except for KTM. It’s such a disaster that we won’t get to experience the bikes’ full potential due to riders who are resistant to upgrade their license to “full-B” hence small capacity bikes are stuck at the 250cc ceiling. But the silly thing is that these are the very same cretins who complain about not having bigger capacity bikes in Malaysia compared to our neighbours.

The new R3/R4 should break covers at the AIM Expo in Las Vegas, so stay tuned.

WorldSBK: Alvaro Bautista joins Ducati factory team for 2019

Alvaro Bautista confirms his move to WorldSBK 2019 after signing with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team.
The current MotoGP rider for the Angel Nieto squad will be racing alongside his new teammate, Chaz Davies.
Both riders in the Ducati factory team will also debut the brand new 1,000cc Ducati Panigale V4 R with hopes to win the championship next season.

Looks like the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WorldSBK squad is all set for the 2019 season, folks! After the announcement of a brand new signing with the current Angel Nieto MotoGP rider, Alvaro Bautista, the Ducati factory WorldSBK team also confirmed that they’ve also extended their contract with Chaz Davies. (more…)

Triumph to Celebrate Moto2 Engine with Parade Lap at British GP

Triumph Motorcycles have completed the final revision of their Moto2 engine and will showcase it during the British GP.
The 765cc-triple engines will be supplied to Moto2 teams beginning 2019, replacing the 600cc inline-Four from Honda.
Triumph’s engine is expected to produce more midrange and peak horsepower.

Triumph Motorcycles will hold a parade lap during the British GP at Silverstone this weekend on a bike powered by their Moto2 engine. The event commemorates the completion of the Triumph engine which will be supplied to teams in the intermediate class beginning 2019.

The rider picked to ride the bike is two-time World Superbike Champion, James Toseland. He will ride the bike specially painted bike in the Union Jack theme.

The new engine has been warmly welcomed by Moto2 riders who have tested it as it has plenty of midrange grunt compared to the outgoing 600cc Honda inline-Four. It is also reputed to feature a quickshifter for both up- and downshifts, with an autoblipper. Additionally, an advanced Magneti Marelli ECU will be employed which bumped up the power output more than the current Moto2 engine, besides including traction control for the first time.

But do note that although it’s based on the Street Triple RS’s 765cc triple, only the engine will be supplied to Moto2 teams next year, instead of the entire bike which will perform the parade lap. This is because Triumph will not field their own Moto2 team. As per Moto2’s regulations, Triumph supplies the engines while teams such as Kalex, Speed Up, KTM, et al will produce their own frames to house the powerplant.

Triumph Motorcycles have also organized other activities such as a factory visit in Hinckley by Moto2 riders including Same Lowes, Danny Kent and Luca Marini, in addition to Moto3 rider John McPhee.

We hope this parade lap will be telecast “live” in Malaysia this weekend!

Source and pictures: MCN

NHTSA Gaffe Reveals 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R

The NHTSA had mistakenly uploaded the list of 2019 Kawasaki motorcycles on their website.
The list includes a new Ninja ZX-6R.
We expect the 2019 bike to feature a host of changes to go toe-to-toe with the Yamaha YZF-R6.

Kawasaki had issued a letter including a list of 2019 models which included the new Ninja ZX-6R to the United States’ NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) this week. Kawasaki had also stated, “AS the embargo lift date for these models is October 11, 2018, we request that this document not be posted on the NHTSA website until after the embargo lift date.”

Funnily, the NHTSA posted the list on their website anyway.

The 600cc supersport market is pretty much stagnant these days, but Kawasaki has decided to go ahead with the ZX-6R in the hopes of breathing some new life into that segment.

The 11^th October date is when the AIM Expo show is held in Las Vegas, Nevada, US when it’s supposed to make its American debut, although the Intermot event in Cologne will be held a week earlier from 3^rd to 7^th October.

Although there was little technical detail in the list, it did show that the 2019 ZX-6R will be powered by the 636cc inline-Four which is found in the current bike and produces 127.4 bhp., a 2 bhp reduction compared to the current model being sold in Europe.

The reduction would have pretty much to do with the tough emissions regulations in the States. In fact, a document filed with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) showed that the new bike has a 3-way catalytic convertor instead of the existing oxidising catalyst. This new addition nearly halves the 2019 bike’s hydrocarbon, NOX and carbon monoxide emissions. That could also very mean that the bike may meet the new Euro 5 standard in 2020.

The full details may be sketchy, but we do expect the 2019 Ninja ZX-6R to go through an extensive makeover for it to beat the new Yamaha YZF-R6. Therefore, there will likely be a new styling, suspension and electronics package.

Stay tuned!

Didi Resources Organizes Inaugural Aprilia and Modclass Track Day

Didi Resources, the official distributor for Aprilia and Moto Guzzi, among others, is organizing a track day on 9^th September 2018.
There are two categories, one for Aprilias and one for all modern classics in the “Modclass.”
You may rent your racesuit at the track, although you need to bring your own full-faced helmet.

When Didi Resources promised great things to rejuvenate the Aprilia brand in Malaysia, they were serious at it. The new custodian and authorized distributor of Aprilia motorcycles in Malaysia is organizing a track day for Aprilia owners at the Sepang International Circuit on 9^th September 2018.

Piaggio Group Confirms The Appointment of a New Distributor for Aprilia in Malaysia

The Aprilia Track Day is open to all Aprilia owners of any model. Riders can choose between Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced categories, and there are two sessions allocated per category.

The entry fee is RM220, inclusive of track time, refreshments and door gifts.

It’ll be great to see and hear Aprilia’s V-Fours and V-Twin ridden in anger on the track again.

Also held on the same day are sessions for “Modclass” motorcycles, which is open to all modern classic motorcycles, although it is organized by Moto Guzzi Malaysia.

The entry fee is a little higher at RM250, but it includes a safety riding briefing and short training by “Foreman” Oh Kah Beng. Besides that, there is also a guided ride by certified marshals and motorcycle inspection by trained personnel. As with the Aprilia sessions, the Modclass fee also includes food and refreshments. Riders will also receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the day.

For the Modclass, it will be the best opportunity to settle the score among modern classics to see which is faster!

You need not worry if you do not own a racesuit as you can rent a set which includes the suit, gloves and boots at RM330 for the entire day. You will need to bring your own full-face helmet, though.

Please register quickly as there are limited slots and they are going fast! You may refer to this link https://goo.gl/forms/wd3bJSCrdXrGQm2R2 to register or get in touch with Liyana at 011-23008919.

See you at the track.

New Ducati Hypermotard for 2019?

Ducati could be revamping the Hypermotard for 2019.
It should be ready for Euro 5 emissions standard since it will be implemented in 2020.
While it is not confirmed, there is speculation that the new engine will be equipped with DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing).

A revamped Ducati Hypermotard has been caught undergoing road trials. Could it be released for 2019?

Looking at the spy shot, the “new” bike looks to have a new engine, styling changes and twin underseat exhaust silencers.

According to MCN, the exhausts are the obvious sign that the new Hypermotard will comply with the Euro 5 emissions standards that’s set to be introduced in 2020. The new rulings are even tougher on carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and noise emissions.

Hence, the new Hypermotard’s exhaust system separates the baffles and catalytic convertor rather than having both in the same unit. The new Supersport and Multistrada may also follow this same route.

Speaking of the new Multistrada 1260, the Hypermotard’s engine may just be equipped with DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing) too since the system allows for better efficiency throughout the rev range.

Other takeaways from the spy photo are a new steel trellis subframe which replaces the previous one-piece cast unit, the clutch and alternator covers beefed up for more sound-proofing, and Marzocchi forks and Sachs rear monoshock.

Expect the 2019 Hypermotard to be unveiled at EICMA.

Bikesrepublic

Latest News

The Yamaha YZF-R25/R3 has been unchanged since 2015.

Pictures have surfaced in Indonesia pertaining to be the “new YZF-R3” for 2019.

If Yamaha goes ahead with the plans, expect to see updated components and styling.

Alvaro Bautista confirms his move to WorldSBK 2019 after signing with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team.

The current MotoGP rider for the Angel Nieto squad will be racing alongside his new teammate, Chaz Davies.

Both riders in the Ducati factory team will also debut the brand new 1,000cc Ducati Panigale V4 R with hopes to win the championship next season.

Triumph Motorcycles have completed the final revision of their Moto2 engine and will showcase it during the British GP.

The 765cc-triple engines will be supplied to Moto2 teams beginning 2019, replacing the 600cc inline-Four from Honda.

Triumph’s engine is expected to produce more midrange and peak horsepower.

The NHTSA had mistakenly uploaded the list of 2019 Kawasaki motorcycles on their website.

The list includes a new Ninja ZX-6R.

We expect the 2019 bike to feature a host of changes to go toe-to-toe with the Yamaha YZF-R6.

Didi Resources, the official distributor for Aprilia and Moto Guzzi, among others, is organizing a track day on 9th September 2018.

There are two categories, one for Aprilias and one for all modern classics in the “Modclass.”

You may rent your racesuit at the track, although you need to bring your own full-faced helmet.

Ducati could be revamping the Hypermotard for 2019.

It should be ready for Euro 5 emissions standard since it will be implemented in 2020.

While it is not confirmed, there is speculation that the new engine will be equipped with DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing).

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Didi Resources, the official distributor for Aprilia and Moto Guzzi, among others, is organizing a track day on 9^th September 2018.