Didi Resources Archives

2018 Moto Guzzi V7 III Rough Officially Launched by DIDI Resources

We had taken the first look at the 2018 Moto Guzzi V7 III Rough earlier.
DIDI Resources has now officially launched it.
Priced from RM 69,900 for introductory units and RM 75,000 thereafter (prices are basic selling prices with SST, but no on-the-road).

DIDI Resources, the official custodians of the Moto Guzzi Malaysia, has officially launched 2018 Moto Guzzi V7 III Rough. We had the first look of the bike earlier.

First Look Review: 2018 Moto Guzzi V7 III Rough

The V7 III Rough is the latest addition to the V7 III’s extensive model line-up which includes the recently launched Carbon, Anniversario, Racer, Stone, Special, besides the Limited and Milano that are not available in Malaysia, as yet.

Moto Guzzi Malaysia introduces limited edition V7 III Carbon – Priced at RM74,900

The V7 III line-up not only represents the Moto Guzzi’s entry-level motorcycles, but also the most customizable, which is why there are so many interpretations within the manufacturer itself.

Coming back to the Rough iteration, the bike rolls on knobby tyres mounted on spoked rims, for a version that screams “urban jungle basher.” That should mean the bike is made for conquering rough city roads, as well as shooting through an unpaved shortcut. It also should be fine for light off-road paths, say to camping sites like those at Janda Baik or Mat Daling, to name a few.

In the V7 III signature minimalistic style, the front and rear fenders are polished aluminium while the fuel tank is finished in matt silver. The headlamp nacelle, handlebars, engine and single-sided swingarm are powercoated in black. The fork stanchions are enclosed in classic dust gaiters. A black leather seat with classy red stitching adds the finishing touch.

Moto Guzzi also offers an extensive array of accessories for the rider to turn his V7 III Rough into a bike which better reflects his personality.

Powering the V7 III Rough is the same 750cc, air-cooled, pushrod-activated 2-valve-per-cylinder, transversely-mounted, 90^o V-Twin lump which made its debut in 1967. It produces 52bhp at 6,200 RPM and 60 Nm of torque at 4,900 RPM. The engine is tuned to provide linear torque throughout its rev range.

The engine and longitudinal gearbox are then mounted to a dismountable double-cradle frame with the same weight distribution as the legendary V7 of 46% rear and 54% front. Dual Kayaba shocks suspend the swingarm (which contains the driveshaft on one side) from the frame. This configuration provides the bike with a low and accessible seat height of just 770 mm.

While Moto Guzzi is considered the “heritage” brand under the Piaggio Group, the motorcycles are anything but, as despite being the entry-level range, the V7 III line-up features a two-level Moto Guzzi Traction Control (MGCT) and a two-channel ABS system made by Continental.

Further on electronics, the single speedometer gauge may look basic, but it displays all pertinent data such as gear position, odometer and daily trip odometer, trip time, average speed, real-time and average fuel consumption, average speed and MGCT level. The minimum and maximum engine revs can also be preset.

The instrument display may also be updated with the optional Moto Guzzi Multimedia Platform which connects a smartphone via an app to present even more data to the rider.

In launching the Moto Guzzi V7 III Rough, it also pays tribute to the upcoming Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) 2018 (happening on 30^th September 2018), Mr. Simone Niccolai, the Managing Director of Asia Pacific 2Wheeler, Piaggio Asia Pacific, dressed the part for the occasion with attired supplied by Tiga Supply Co. together with the management personnel of DIDI Resources and Stronghold Cycles.

The 2018 Moto Guzzi V7 III Rough is priced at RM 69,900 for introductory units and RM 75,000 thereafter (prices are basic selling prices with SST, but no on-the-road).

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

2018 MOTO GUZZI V7III ROUGH
ENGINE
ENGINE TYPE	4-stroke, pushrod-activated 4-valve, air-cooled, transversely-mounter, 90^o V-Twin
DISPLACEMENT	744 cc
BORE x STROKE	80 mm x 74 mm
POWER	52 bhp (38 kW) @ 6,200 RPM
TORQUE	60 Nm @ 4,900 RPM
TRANSMISSION	6-speed
FUEL SYSTEM	Fuel injection with single throttle body
CHASSIS
FRAME	Double cradle tubular frame in ALS steel with detachable elements
FRONT SUSPENSION	ø Ø 40 mm hydraulic telescopic forks, 130 mm travel
REAR SUSPENSION	Twin Kayaba shocks with adjustable spring preload, 93 mm travel
FRONT BRAKE	1 X Two-piston Brembo caliper, ø 320 mm floating disc
REAR BRAKE	1 X Two-piston floating caliper, ø 260 mm brake disc
FRONT TYRE	100/90-R18 (110/90-R18 optional),
REAR TYRE	130/80-R17
STEERING HEAD ANGLE	26.4^o
TRAIL	106 mm
WHEEL BASE	1,445 mm
SEAT HEIGHT	770 mm
FUEL TANK CAPACITY	21 litres (with 4 litres as reserve)
KERB WEIGHT	209 kg (with 90% fuel and all fluids, ready to ride)

Hari Litar Aprilia Malaysia Kali Pertama

Pemilik Aprilia di Malaysia telah menikmati satu hari yang cukup menyeronokkan di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang semalam.
Didi Resources, pengedar rasmi baharu jenama tersebut, telah menganjurkan satu hari litar, seperti mana yang telah dijanjikan.
Pelbagai model motosikal Aprilia telah turun ke litar.

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Aprilia Malaysia Inaugural Track Day

Aprilia owners in Malaysia had a great day at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday.
Didi Resources, the new custodians of the brand organized a track day as promised.
A great mix of Aprilia models took to the track.

As promised by Didi Resources, the new custodian of Aprilia motorcycles in Malaysia, the inaugural (under new management) Aprilia Malaysia Track Day went off without a hitch yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit.

Didi Resources Organizes Inaugural Aprilia and Modclass Track Day

Besides rides and convoys, organizing a track day for Aprilia owners is the right thing to do as the activity demonstrates the manufacturer’s “Be a Racer” philosophy.

It was great to see owners showing up from all over Malaysia and even Singapore on all sorts of Aprilia models, because we are used to seeing the RSV4 superbike in the Malaysian Superbike Championship (MSBK), Malaysian Speed Foundation (MSF) and track days on weekends.

Instead, this track day organized by Didi Resources provided the opportunity to ride on track on any bike, more like a “Run what ya brung” track weekend.

Indeed, we saw the Shiver 750, Tuono V4, SL1000R, RSV Mille (the father of the RSV4), RS250 two-strokes, and an SR-Max 300 scooter ridden by Khairul Hafiz.

Of course, the riders attended a safety briefing after registration. Aprilia Malaysia had also prepared race suits and riding gear for rental to those who don’t own them.

It had rained on the track from early morning and the open track day riders came back to report on a slippery track after their first session. However, the Aprilians were lucky as their sessions started close to noon and went on through late afternoon. The sun had started to shine and dried the track by then.

It was visible that the participants had a great day although they were also exhausted after riding under the hot sun. Didi Resources also provided refreshments and lunch so that they had nothing to worry about except of having fun.

Lastly, while there weren’t many who took the track as expected despite the large number of Aprilians who showed up, we believe there will be many more in the next track days. We would also like to add that they event went without a hitch, and there was no mishap.

PICTURE GALLERY

Kelab Urban Riders Tunggangi Jentera Aprilia Mereka Sempena Ulang Tahun Kelima

Para pemilik motosikal Aprilia mulai merasakan hasil pertukaran pengedar rasmi baharu jenama itu.
Para pemilik yang juga ahli kelab Urban Riders telah menganjurkan satu tunggangan hujung minggu ke Melaka bagi beriadah di tepi pantai.
Kumpulan tersebut telah memulakan perjalanan mereka dari Aprilia Malaysia yang berada di The Gasket Alley.

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Urban Riders Ride Their Aprilia to Melaka for 5th Anniversary

Aprilia owners are starting to reap the benefits of the brand being under a new caretaker.
The owners under the Urban Riders club organized a weekend ride to Melaka for some fun at the beach.
The group got together and pushed off from Aprilia Malaysia at The Gasket Alley.

As with other brands under the care of Didi Resources, Aprilia riders are now reaping the benefits with more rides and programs, as promised by the new distributor. As such, the bike club Urban Riders celebrated the organization’s 5th anniversary by riding to Melaka, mostly on Aprilias.

The activity still managed to attract about 30 participants despite being organized in the middle of a long, 3-day weekend (Saturday).

The riders grouped at the new Aprilia Malaysia at The Gasket Alley, for a light breakfast and some catching up.

Two models were heavily represented, the Shiver 750 and Tuono 1000 V4.

Idon Pang, the Aftersales Manager for the Piaggio brands at The Gasket Alley welcomed the riders and thanked them for taking part in the convoy. He also iterated that new Aprilia bike sales will hopefully begin in October 2018.

He also reminded the riders of the inaugural Aprilia Track Day on 9th September 2018.

Didi Resources Organizes Inaugural Aprilia and Modclass Track Day

With that, proceedings were handed to the club’s president, Tok Uban to present the ride briefing. There was no police escort so the participants were told to buddy up and watch out for one another.

The group then departed from The Gasket Alley to head to the Shell petrol station after the Sungai Besi Toll Plaza to hook up with another group, before pushing to Chalet D’ Sayang at Pengkalan Balak, Melaka. They will put up for a night there before heading back to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (Sunday).

PICTURE GALLERY

Didi Resources Anjurkan Hari Litar Aprilia Dan Modclass Yang Pertama

Didi Resources, pengedar rasmi bagi jenama Aprilia dan Moto Guzzi, dan juga beberapa jenama yang lain, akan menganjurkan satu hari litar pada 9 September 2018.
Akan ada dua kategori yang akan disediakan, satu untuk motosikal Aprilia dan satu lagi untuk motosikal moden klasik dalam kategori “Modclass”.
Anda boleh menyewa sut perlumbaan di litar, namun, anda perlu membawa helmet ‘full-face’ anda sendiri.

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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.

GB Workshop Kini Dibuka Untuk Semua Motosikal Aprilia Bagi Kerja Penyelenggaraan Dan Membaiki

GB Workshop telah mengumumkan yang mereka telah bersedia untuk menerima kunjungan motosikal Aprilia bagi tujuan penyelenggaraan dan kerja membaiki.
Bengkel berkenaan telah dilengkapi dengan peralatan terkini termasuklah “Piaggio Advanced Diagnostics System”.
Bengkel ini dikendalikan dan adalah milik Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd., pengimport dan pengedar Aprilia di Malaysia.

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GB Workshop now open to all Aprilia bikes for servicing and repair work

GB Workshop has announced that it is ready to accept all Aprilia bikes for servicing and repair works.
The workshop is equipped with all the latest tools including the all important Piaggio Advanced Diagnostics System.
The workshop is owned and operated by Didi Resources Sdn Bhd, the importer and distributor of Aprilia in Malaysia.

Aprilia owners in Malaysia have plenty to be happy about as they now have someone capable to turn to when it comes to maintaining their machines.

GB Workshop which is located at The Gasket Alley has opened its doors to all Aprilia motorcycles. In a Facebook announcement today by the company’s head of aftersales, Idon Pang, GB Workshop has already been and will continue to carry out all maintenance and repair work for any Aprilia motorcycles, old or new.

GB Workshop is owned by Didi Resources Sdn Bhd, which was recently announced as the new importer and distributor of all Aprilia motorcycles in Malaysia (read that announcement here). The company also manages the importation and distribution of Harley-Davidson and Moto Guzzi in Malaysia.

The workshop is equipped with all the latest diagnostic tools such as the all important Piaggio Advanced Diagnostics System which is required to maintain all Aprilia machinery. Not only that, but the team at GB Workshop has also been properly trained and have years of experience working on Aprilia bikes. Idon Pang for one was the former head of aftersales when the brand was still being managed by its previous distributor.

So when it comes to maintaining your Aprilia, trust that there is no other workshop more capable than GB Workshop.

So what is next for Aprilia in Malaysia?

Piaggio Group and Naza Premira recently announced that the companies have amicably decided to stop the distribution of Aprilia in Malaysia. Read about it here.
The next day, the Piaggio Group announced the appointment of a new company that will take on the distributorship of Aprilia. Read the full statement here.
The new company is Didi Resources Sdn Bhd, the distributor of Moto Guzzi and Harley-Davidson.
We caught up with the team at Didi Resources to find out their plans for Aprilia in Malaysia.

So as soon as it was announced that Naza and Piaggio had amicably agreed to cease the distribution of the Aprilia brand in Malaysia, we got in touch with the new company in charge of the Italian brand for Malaysia – Didi Resources Sdn Bhd (DRSB).

Some of you may remember DRSB as the company that has been handling the other brand under the Piaggio Group – Moto Guzzi.

DRSB took on the custodianship of the Moto Guzzi brand last year and has since done a stellar job. Moto Guzzi has been selling spectacularly well and the introduction of a number of new models, including the recent introduction of the gorgeous V7 III Carbon (you can read about it here), has given fans and potential owners a diverse choice of models, with at least three more models due to be introduced this year.

Not only that, but DRSB has proven that it does not only know how to sell bikes, but it also knows how to offer a great ownership experience through great after sales service with a dedicated workshop and specially trained technicians. The workshop is equipped with state-of-the-art Piaggio Advanced Diagnostics System and all of its technicians are trained to use the computer and its software, which is required to maintain all of the models under the Piaggio umbrella, Aprilia included.

Besides that, the team at DRSB has also been actively engaging its owners through specially organised rides such as a recent weekend ride to Melaka (you can watch the video here), and the first ever night ride to Penang for Sahur during the recent month of Ramadan.

So when it comes to selling, maintaining and taking care of its owners, DRSB has been impressive. But that is not entirely surprising, the company consists of some of the most experienced people in the industry. Helming the company is Mr Rewi Hamid Bugo (above), a successful businessman with diverse interests who serves as the Chairman of DRSB. The General Manager is Juan Chow Wee (below, left), whose experience includes managing the Ducati brand in its early years, and who has previously worked on the Aprilia brand before. And then there is the ever popular Idon Pang (below, right) who serves as the head of after sales for DRSB. He has also previously served as the head of after sales for Aprilia and other brands, so is perfectly placed to manage such an iconic brand.

I managed to catch Juan for a chat after the announcement was made that DRSB will take on the distributorship of Aprilia, and it was clear that there is huge excitement in the company for the Aprilia brand.

“We want to first assure all Aprilia owners everywhere in Malaysia that we are here to take care of them and to serve their ownership needs. It does not matter where they bought the bikes from, as long as it is an Aprilia, they can come to us,” said Juan Chow Wee.

The new distributor says it is committed to honoring all warranties for all new bikes sold, it will also offer servicing packages and will stock up on spare parts for Aprilia bikes. Besides that, it wants to make Aprilia more competitive in the market and so there will be a price adjustment that will make the brand more enticing to a wider demographic.

“We do not only want to sell Aprilia bikes, but we want to offer new and current Aprilia owners the full extent of the Aprilia lifestyle, which means we will be activating a number of events for owners including track days and even weekend rides. We want to be able to engage owners in a way they have never been before,” added Juan.

So what can Aprilia owners expect from the new custodian of the brand? Well the new flagship showroom will open at The Gasket Alley by November this year, so owners have a place to hang out. The official service centre too will be located at The Gasket Alley, and the company expects to be fully stocked with parts by September.

As for owners who live in other states, DRSB says that it will evaluate the dealership network and either retain current dealerships that show a genuine interest in growing the Aprilia brand, or it will let go some and sign on more promising dealerships that can better serve the needs of Aprilia owners all over the country.

Juan explained, “owning an Aprilia is not just about owning a great bike, but it also gives access to an exclusive lifestyle. Our dealers should be able to offer all their customers access to a great ownership experience.”

“We want to reactivate the Aprilia community, we want to engage them and offer them fantastic ownership experience through a fully stocked workshop, monthly events and we want to take a brand that has been flying under the radar for too long to greater heights. We are committed to taking back the glory of Aprilia to its true value.”

The company has plans to offer all-new models after the launch of its service centre and flagship showroom. And judging by its success with Moto Guzzi, we are actually quite excited about the growth of the Aprilia brand in Malaysia.

More to come.

Wakil Pengedar Rasmi Aprilia Di Malaysia Yang Baharu Diperkenalkan!

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Moto Guzzi Vengeance Challenge Ride

Called the Moto Guzzi Vengeance Challenge Ride, Moto Guzzi Malaysia organised the ride to Penang.
The fasting month did not stop Moto Guzzi riders from riding.
It was an fun ride as the riders got to enjoy their bikes in many different situations.

Many already know that the holy month of Ramadan is when Muslims observe the act of Puasa (fasting). But it goes beyond not eating during the daylight hours of the day. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and was the month when the Holy Quran was revealed. Fasting is the one of the Five Pillars of Islam, so Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and worship. Muslims are expected to increase their effort into following the teachings of Islam.

It the time to challenge our resolve as Muslims to resist temptation.

Hence this was the reason Moto Guzzi Malaysia decided to organize a special ride on 1st June 2018. Called the Moto Guzzi Vengeance Challenge Ride, it was planned as an iftar (breaking fast) ride over two evenings.

The destination this time was Penang. As usual, the participants congregated at The Gasket Alley first for iftar before riding north at night. Jeya Thevan was the head marshal this time, thus he conducted the pre-ride briefing.

Riding at night during the Puasa month is much welcomed as we didn’t have to bask under the sun. The group of 12 kept a tight formation from the start point.

However, it started to rain slightly as we passed Rawang, cooling the ambient temperature even further. At least it wasn’t the heat causing drowsiness.

We topped off our tanks at the Tapah R&R and got rolling again, under the rain, all the way to another stop at Sungai Perak. It was planned as a relaxing ride, so we took our time to enjoy the fresh cool air, the ride and the soft rumble of the Moto Guzzi 90^o V-Twin.

From there it was a straight shot to the Penang Island via the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (the new bridge). It was 2.30 am when we arrived at the toll plaza and there was no traffic to be seen. As a note to bikers, there is a motorcycle lane from the time you turn onto the bridge’s slip road and it’ll lead you to the toll plaza and all the way to Penang Island. However, please make double sure that you have a Touch ‘N’ Go card with you, especially at night as the counters are closed. Imagine having to turn around to get one or have some amount topped up into your IC at Juru.

Penang being Penang (it’s my hometown, by the way), turned left right, left, right, left countless times before reaching the Vouk Hotel Suites along Jalan Azlan Shah. At 3am.

Yes, we surely took our own sweet time. What’s the hurry, anyway? It’ll probably be even more tiring if we had blasted our way there.

We were given some time to freshen up and head back out to Nasi Kandar Line Clear for sahur (breakfast).

The group was given some free time until check out time at 1pm, but we’re not sure if anyone did go around Penang.

From the hotel, it was to Sheng Fatt Motor, Moto Guzzi’s authorized dealer in Penang, situated along Jalan Dato’ Keramat. The dealership provided top-class Penang hospitality, as the shop’s crew even helped us to park our bikes. Looks like Moto Guzzi owners now have a good home up north.

Mr. Sheng, Boss of Sheng Fatt organized a crew to lead us first to Fort Cornwallis for a goup photography session. The Guzzi’s looked especially great in that kind of setting.

Next, the Sheng Fatt boys ran point as they guided us to the first Penang Bridge to Harley-Davidson of Penang at Juru Autocity. The dealership is now fully operational for sales and aftersales.

We bade farewell and got back on the road again, this time towards our first stop at Sungai Perak. The weather stayed clear and hot all the way to that particular R&R before turning cloudy. That cooled down the air and road.

Although most of the riders fasted, none seemed to show signs of fatigue. Instead, they were smiling and laughing as they joked with each other.

It was over to the Foods Project Restaurant in Ipoh for iftar. We arrived ahead of schedule and that allowed us to rest up first. We kicked back a bit more after our dinner before getting on the road again, straight to the Tanjung Malim R&R.

A few riders went their separate ways from the R&R as they didn’t need to ride all the way to Moto Guzzi Malaysia. Not a single Moto Guzzi broke down or encountered any serious problem. But more importantly, everyone got home safe and sound without a single untoward incident.

In conclusion, it was a pleasurable ride. However, we didn’t visit many historic sites in Penang as it was just not practical to explore during fasting, then continuing with the ride after that. Moto Guzzi Malaysia has promised a ride which includes visiting places of interest in Penang in the near future, so stay tuned!