The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has denied that they have drafted the Benelli TRK 502 into service.
Pictures of a Benelli TRK 502 resplendent in PDRM markings were making rounds on the internet. Additionally, it is equipped with police regalia such as sirens/loudspeakers and strobe lights. There appears to be no CB radio, however.
Director of the Strategic Human Resources and Technology at Bukit Aman, Datuk Sri Tajudin Md Isa said that PDRM has yet put any new bike into service. “I confirm that the motorcycle does not belong to the Royal Malaysian Police.”
Conversely, he added that, “The motorcycle may be used for testing.”
The PDRM currently has six types of motorcycles in service. They are the Honda CBX750P, Honda VFR800, Honda ST1300, Kawasaki Ninja 300, Kawasaki KLX250 and Kawasaki Z250.
The fleet is being used by the Department of Traffic Investigation and Enforcement (Jabatan Siasatan Trafik dan Penguatkuasaan), Motorcycle Patrol Unit (Unit Rondaan Bermotosikal) and Special Operations Command (Pasukan Gerak Khas).
We hope that the bike is legit i.e. being tested by the police. Otherwise, please refrain from dressing up your motorcycle to mimic that of the police.
Source and pictures: Info Roadblock JPJ/Polis
Mount Jerai of Kedah was ground zero for a historic day for Malaysia. The mountain, which is the highest in Kedah and offers stunning views of the Kedahan coast, was the venue for the launch of the newest Malaysian motorcycle brand – Ottimo.
Ottimo, which is Italian for ‘great’ – was established in January of 2018 by a group of visionaries and passionists. The CEO of the company is an accountant by training but has spent a great deal of his career in the manufacturing business. He is supported by a experienced team of engineers and executives, almost all of who have spent a great deal of their careers at Malaysia’s first motorcycle builder.
In just within a year, Ottimo Technologies Sdn Bhd (OTSB) has put together and launched their very first motorcycle, the VIZ110 step through commuter (kapcai).
As a first attempt, the VIZ110 has quite a lot to offer. It’s slim and sleek design is reminiscent of a certain Japanese model, but looks great anyway. It is powered by a Chinese-sourced single-cylinder, SOHC, air-cooled 107cc engine. The four-stroke engine puts out 5kW@8000rpm and 6.9Nm of torque at 6,000rpm. The carbureted engine can be brought to life either by a push-start button, or a more traditional kick-starter.
The engine is fed by a 3.6-litre fuel tank, which according to OTSB, is capable of travelling 180 kilometres before it needs to be refuelled again. Power is managed by a 4-speed gearbox.
Both wheels measure in at 17-inches, and the suspension consists of a regular telescopic fork up front while the rear offers a standard dual-shock suspension. As for the brakes, the front features a single disc with a twin-piston calliper, while the back features a conventional drum brake.
While all of this may seem pretty regular, the Ottimo VIZ110 does also offer some genius touches like a USB port and a slot to keep your phone while it is being charged. There are LED daytime running lights that not only aid road safety, but also makes the bike look really cool. Even the turn signals are made up of LED lights.
From what we saw at the launch ceremony, the VIZ110 seems to be a bike that has great potential. If the bike proves to be reliable, then the sky is the limit for OTSB. The VIZ 110 may be a partially Chinese made bike with 30% localisation with local parts, but it is very much a Malaysian product. OTSB showed us the early sketches and even the CAD files, so yes, the Malaysian team had a lot to do with the bike you see here.
And judging by the few hours we got to poke and prod around the bike, there are only three things that go against what seems like a good bike. First is the fact that it has very little under seat storage area. Secondly is the price, at RM4,288 before road tax and insurance, the price of the VIZ110 is quite steep and puts it square against the likes of Modenas and Benelli. And the price is only temporary, there will be a price revision after the first 500 units have been sold, so it may go down or worse. And finally, the VIZ110 is only available in Northern Malaysia, specifically Penang, northern Perak, Kedah and Perlis, so if you are anywhere else and want an Ottimo, well you can’t, yet.
OTSB says that it is adopting such a strategy to offer better quality control and better after sales support to its owners during the initial stages. With a sales target of 300 bikes a month for the first year, it is understandable that the company wants to keep the buyers closer to the headquarters, which is located in Sungai Petani. That way it can immediately offer support and also learn how their first motorcycle is handling real-world situations.
Also, in addition to having its manufacturing plant and spare parts centre in Gurun, Kedah, the company also plans to open a 3S centre in Sungai Petani by February 2019.
The Ottimo VIZ110 is now available in Northern Malaysia with two colour variants – Syinta Red (top) and Syantik Blue (bottom).
Photos from the launch ceremony and close ups of the VIZ110.
Chinese-owned Italian brand, Benelli will be the latest manufacturer to set up a motorcycle factory in India. India is currently the world’s largest motorcycle market.
Benelli is setting up the plant near Hyderabad and have also signed a deal with the Adishwar Auto Ride India-Mahavir Group to market the bikes in India. Remarkably, this new factory will start production beginning October 2018, albeit making motorcycles for the Indian market first.
Needless to say, manufacturing motorcycles in the country for domestic consumption avoids having to pay hefty levies.
India has naturally become the market where motorcycle manufacturers are flocking into, either to market or manufacture their motorcycles. In 2017 alone, a total of 17.7 million motorcycles and scooters were sold. Divided that number with 365 days and that’s a whopping 48,000 units per day!
KTM Motorrad AG was among the first to partner with an Indian motorcycle company, namely Bajaj Auto, to produce small capacity motorcycles for the Asian region before exporting them worldwide.
Other manufacturers include Harley-Davidson who built their Street series there; BMW who partnered with TVS to produce the G 310 lightweight series; all the Japanese Big Four; Triumph Motorcycles had signed an MOU with Bajaj Auto; and Polaris had announced lately that they will assemble Indian Motorcycles and ATVs.
The largest motorcycle companies in India are Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto Ltd. and Eicher who currently owns the Royal Enfield brand. When it was speculated that Ducati was up for sale last year, Eicher made a bid of €1.8 billion.
Benelli Malaysia and authorized dealer Kedai Motorsikal Tenaga Sdn. Bhd. have opened their first ever Benelli exclusive station called BEST-Shop in Selangor. It is also the fourth BEST-Shop in the country.
Located in Kajang, Selangor, the BEST-Shop is situated in a new-renovated corner-lot and houses a motorcycle gallery which showcases the full range of Benelli’s motorcycles, a state-of-the-art service centre, and a genuine accessories and spare parts corner.
“Benelli has received overwhelming response in Malaysia since the launch of few popular demand models including super cub RFS 150i, touring bike TRK 502 and classic Leoncino. Backed by this demand, an exclusive showroom and service centre in Selangor state will ensure all Benelli owners can enjoy the best-in-class ownership experience that our brand stands for.”, said En. Asri Ahmad, Operation General Manager of MForce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd.
En. Asri added, “Benelli Malaysia has recently been selected and appointed as the sole Road Test Center in South East Asia by Benelli Global. Therefore, all new motorcycles will be tested in Malaysia before launching in other ASEAN countries. This new milestone gives us immense pleasure and motivation indeed! In 2017 Benelli Malaysia was awarded the best in Global Sales, Network Sales Management & Product Launching, we are on track to achieve the feat again for 2018 and also en route to be the best in After Sales Service for the year 2018 as well”.
The shop address is No. 2, Jalan Hentian 2, Hentian Kajang, Jalan Reko, 43000 Kajang Selangor. Opening hours are from 9am – 7pm from Mondays to Fridays, 9am – 6pm on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays. For more information, please contact BEST-Shop Kajang at Tel 03-8737 2161, Fax 03-8741 0891 or log on to Benelli’s official website at https://malaysia.benelli.com/ or Facebook page at http://fb.com/malaysia.benelli
Following the launch of the 2018 Benelli TNT 135 LE (Limited Edition) just last month, Mforce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd (the official importer and distributor of Benelli in Malaysia) has organised the Benelli Dynamite Track Day 2018 at the Speedway PLUS Karting Circuit in Subang Jaya earlier today. (more…)
The folks over at Mforce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd otherwise known as Benelli Malaysia have officially launched the 2018 Benelli TNT 135 LE. The super fun mini bike is a limited edition model where only 1,000 units will be produced for market consumption. (more…)
Mforce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd has announced that the 2018 Benelli Leoncino 500 will arrive this February at all authorised Benelli showrooms across the country. Ever since the bike was launched back in October last year, it has received over 1,000 booking for the Leoncino 500. Production has begun early January and will continue to do so to meet the high demand. (more…)
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