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Moto Guzzi

  • The very first Modclass Speedway track day session was held at the Sepang International Circuit.

  • Around 20 modern classic bike owners took their machines for some fun time around the track.

  • The Modclass Speedway was organised by Tiga Moto and supported by Moto Guzzi Malaysia.

When was the last time you witness a group of modern classic bikes tearing it up in the track? It is certainly a rare occasion and earlier today, the Modclass Speedway organised the very first outing for some enthusiastic modern classic bike owners around the Sepang International Circuit (SIC). (more…)

  • 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.

(more…)

  • 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.

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 9th 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.

Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans Mk I – Sumber imej www.motorcyclespecs.co.za

(more…)

  • Stile Italiano is based in Italy and specializes in high-end classic, collectable and exotics.

  • Launched in 1999, they create café racers for themselves.

  • This Moto Guzzi CR950 took four months to build.

This Moto Guzzi 950 from Stile Italiano had made café racer/custom bike news some time ago, but it’s just too beautiful not to share.

Stile Italiano was launched in 1999 and specializes in selling high-end classic, collectable and exotic motorcycles and cars, which include a Ducati 900NCR Endurance racer ridden by Virginio Ferrari, Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans Mk I, and, and, and, and…. Just too many to list! (Please click here to visit their website.)

But hidden in their workshop lies another passion – building exquisite, ball-achingly beautiful café racers.

However, Stile Italiano’s founder Gianluca Tieppolo, business parner Chritian Diana, skilled mechanic of 25 years, Loris Lession, and his team of skilled builders only build café racers for themselves. That way, they could pour their souls into their creations and conform not to what others want.

Courtesy of Max Trono

They work on mostly Moto Guzzis. This “950” here started from the Moto Guzzi 850 T3, first introduced in 1975. As Stile Italiano took the design cues from Honda’s legendary CR750 race bike, this project was then christened as “Moto Guzzi CR950.” Gianluca wanted this to be their most elegant project and chose a 70’s racebike styling.

First, the Guzzi’s frame was modified to it the revised bodywork. The stock forks were replaced with a pair of 80s-era anti-dive forks, while a pair of rare FOX air shocks took up the job of suspending the rear.

Courtesy of Max Trono

But take a closer look at that front brake. It was considered the ultimate drum brake of its time. This is a 300mm magnesium drum/hub Fontana item, usually found on the Triumph Trident racebikes of the 60’s.

Courtesy of Max Trono

Since the bodywork came from the aforementioned Honda CR750, it had to be modified to allow the engine’s transverse cylinders to poke through, creating an integral form rather than two separate “skin-and-bones” look. A new rear end was fashioned to complete the bike’s lines, instead of leaving the original 850 T3’s fender.

Courtesy of Max Trono

Other beautiful bits include clip-on handlebars and an original Moto Guzzi V7 tachometer. The tank is handmade from alloy and has a battery housing underneath it.

Courtesy of Max Trono

As for the engine, it has been modified from stock. The heads were ported, and the capacity increased to 950cc. The heads are twin spark using a Dyna ignition system. The original 30mm Dell’Orto VHB carburetors were changed to Dell’Orto 40mm items. Spent gasses exit through a custom Virex system whose muffler box wraps up tight underneath the bike.

Finally, when it came to completing the bike, Stilo Italiano would not compromise on the best paint scheme, fit and finish as a reflection of their shop being specialized in high-end classics. Gianluca chose the special “mirror effect” like what you’d see on a grand piano. There were touches of brass to complement the black and gold paint scheme.

It took the team a total of four months of painstaking work to complete the CR950. Worth it, in our books.

Let’s see what these guys can come up with next!

Source: Return of the Café Racers, photography by Max Trono

  • There was a time when manufacturers named their motorcycles after racetracks.

  • The names were as memorable as they were interesting.

  • Here’s the final part of this series, closing with a bike that’s currently in production.

We complained in Part 1 of this series about how boring new motorcycle names have become, but in Part 2 Ten Motorcycles Named after Racetracks, there is one current bike in production which is named so and thankfully, it goes as great as its name. Can you guess which one is it?

5. Moto Guzzi V50 Monza

Moto Guzzi V50 Monza – courtesy of www.madeinitalymotorcycles

Moto Guzzi was clearly in financial problems in 1973 when De Tomaso took over with the backing of the Italian government. The management decided that smaller, less expensive bikes was the solution, resulting in the 500cc V50 and 350cc V35 in 1976. They were less than popular, so Moto Guzzi created a more powerful version of the V50 called the Monza in 1980. V35 also went through a similar makeover and was named the Imola.

4. Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special

Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special – Courtesy of www.motorcycleclassics.com

Named after the infamous Daytona track, the 1979 RD400F Daytona Special commemorated Yamaha’s successes at the track and also the last of street-legal two-strokes in America. When the RD350LC introduced, it was only sold in Europe but imported in the States as a competition-only motorcycle.

3. Triumph Daytona 500

Triumph Daytona 500 – courtesy of www.bikesrestored.com

When American racer Buddy Elmor won the 1966 Daytona 200 aboard a Triumph Tiger 100, it was the first victory at the track for Triumph. Triumph then launced a 500cc, twin-cylinder roadster called the Daytona to commemorate their feat (there was also a Tiger Daytona in 1967). Moving forward to the current Triumph Motorcycle Ltd era, the Daytona name was used specifically for the Hinckley-based manufacturer’s sportbikes. The Daytona lineup were universally praised for its performance and sublime handling until being phased out in 2017.

2. Moto Guzzi Le Mans

Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans Mk I – courtesy of www.motorcyclespecs.co.za

Moto Guzzi build the 850 Le Mans Mk I from the iconic 1971 750cc V7 Sport, which was the first production motorcycle to feature a five-speed gearbox and hit 200 km/h. Guzzi upped the displacement to 850cc, as well as adding new disc brakes. It was the world’s fastest and best handling motorcycle of its time. Guzzi called it the “Le Mans” after the infamous racetrack in France. The 1976 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans Mk I is most collectible Italian motorcycle today (sorry, Ducati).

1. Triumph Thruxton/Thruxton R

In 1965, Triumph hand-built 52 bikes as homologation specials in order to contest in the Thruxton 500 mile (800 km) production endurance race. Many enthusiasts believe that it was this series of races that created the café racer era as standard production motorcycles were modified for extra performance.

In 2004, John Bloor’s Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. produced the new Thruxton 900 as the café racer of the new modern classic Bonneville lineup. In 2016, the Thruxton was revised and featured the new 1200cc liquid-cooled engine. A “hotter” R version was also added which featured Brembo brakes, Ohlins shocks and Showa BFF forks.

The result is the new Thruxton R is the best factory café racer in the market.

Triumph Thruxton R Test & Review

  • 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.

Following the statement released by Naza yesterday confirming that it will cease its Aprilia distributorship in Malaysia (you can read the statement here), the Piaggio Group has today confirmed that it has appointed Didi Resources Sdn Bhd (DRSB) as the new distributor for Aprilia in Malaysia.

The following is the statement released by The Piaggio Group:

Kuala Lumpur, 18 July 2018 – The Piaggio Group officially announces the appointment of Didi Resources Sdn Bhd in Malaysia, as the official distributor of Aprilia, one of the Group’s premium motorcycle brands.

Didi Resources Sdn Bhd will manage Aprilia in substitution of the previous distributor, Naza Premira Sdn Bhd. The Piaggio Group wishes to thank Naza Premira for the continuous effort and support since 2013.

Mr. Gianluca Fiume, Chairman & General Director of Piaggio Vietnam cum Executive Vice President Asia Pacific 2 Wheeler, said, “The appointment of Didi Resources is part of Piaggio’s business strategy to group the motorcycle brands of Aprilia and Moto Guzzi under a single entity to maximize efficiencies across all aspects of the business and reinforce customer commitment in Malaysia. With Aprilia and Moto Guzzi under one roof, we are able to better offer a wider range for potential customers who seek a unique Italian motorcycle experience backed by superior performance and rich heritage of these brands. We look forward to collaborating closely with Didi Resources to propel both Aprilia and Moto Guzzi to greater heights.”

Under the management of Didi Resources, the Gasket Alley at Petaling Jaya will house a dedicated showroom for both Aprilia and Moto Guzzi brands, an aftersales and a service workshop with a new team equipped with specialized technical skills and expertise, fully trained by Aprilia. Customers are assured of a seamless transition in customer care and service support.

According to Mr. Rewi Hamid Bugo, Chairman of Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd, “We are very honoured to be presented with this opportunity to manage Aprilia, a prestigious Piaggio Group brand for the Malaysian market. This complements the Moto Guzzi range which we have established since August 2017 and completes our premium Italian motorcycle product range under Piaggio. Through this acquisition, Didi Resources is firmly committed to building the Aprilia brand through a dedicated aftersales support, strengthening of the Aprilia community and ensuring that engagement with the brand is continuous in the light of a competitive 2-wheel environment in Malaysia.”

The official appointment of Aprilia under Didi Resources will take into effect from 1 August 2018. A series of media and customer engagement activities and service support campaigns for Aprilia are currently in the pipeline to bolster brand building efforts.

DRSB is also the distributor for Harley-Davidson and Moto Guzzi in Malaysia, and has a proven track record of maintaining unique brands. Based at The Gasket Alley in PJ, the team at DRSB have all previously had links to Aprilia in one way or another. So Aprilia owners can rest assured that their machines are in good hands.

  • The Moto Guzzi V7 III Carbon has just been launched in Malaysia.
  • The Carbon variant features carbon-fibre components, red highlights and a unique alcantara leather seat.
  • Only 1921 units will be produced worldwide and you can book yours now.

Moto Guzzi Malaysia today introduced the limited edition Moto Guzzi V7 III Carbon. An aesthetically racier, more performance oriented variant of the popular V7 III.

The Carbon variant, which was introduced at the Moto Guzzi showroom at The Gasket Alley in Petaling Jaya, is distinguished by its carbon fibre components such as the shortened fenders and side fairings, as well as the Matt black colour with red contrasting highlights on the engine cover, logo and front brake caliper.

The seat (above) is also unique to the Carbon model and is made of water repellent Alcantara, leather. It too features red highlight stitching as shown below. In fact, the carbon features many such unique features, such as the tank cap made of anodized black billet aluminum, headlight frame, injector covers and the rear brake master cylinder.

The Moto Guzzi V7 III Carbon is made in limited number, 1921 to be exact, a number that recalls the year Moto Guzzi was established.

The series number of the model is identified by the plate on the handlebar riders as shown above. Also shown above is the dedicated single circular display, which is typical of variants such as the V7 III Stone, Rough and the Carbon. The V7 III Special, Racer and Milano variants on the other hand, have a second circular display for the rev counter.

At the heart of this Carbon model is a transversal V-twin engine, which is now in its third iteration since the original engine was first introduced back in 1967. The 744cc engine features twin valves with light allow pushrods and rockers as well as aluminium heads, pistons and cylinders that help to generate 52hp at 6200rpm and 60Nm of torque at 4900rpm.

Power is transferred via a six-speed transmission which was first introduced in the V7 II model, but with an updated, longer first and final gear ratio that are able to fully exploit the torque and power of the engine.

On the safety front, the V7 III Carbon comes equipped with a four-pot Brembo caliper up front gripping a 320mm disc brake, ABS braking as well as an adjustable traction control system called the Moto Guzzi Traction Control system, which can be adjusted to two sensitivity levels or turned off entirely. The rear brake consists of a 260mm disc with a twin-pot caliper and a master cylinder with built-in resorvoir.

As for the handling of the bike, the sitting position is commanding which is typical of modern-retro machines. The steel frame and the completely reworked front end of the third generation variant of the V7 is said to give the bike a steady feel at high speed and in corners.

As for the the shocks, the front features basic non-adjustable forks with 5.1-inch of travel which the rear is kept in check by a set up Kayaba shocks with 3.8-inch of travel at the rear, adjustable for pre-load and travel.

The limited-edition Moto Guzzi V7 III Carbon is priced at RM74,900 and is now available for viewing at the Moto Guzzi showroom at The Gasket Alley in Petaling Jaya.

  • Moto Guzzi unveiled the V85 concept during EICMA 2017.

  • The V85 takes the form of a dual-sport motorcycle.

  • Patent filings for the bike has been leaked online.

There’s been plenty of positive buzz since Moto Guzzi unveiled their V85 dual-sport concept during EICMA 2017 in November.

Piaggio has plans for a new dual-sport ever since the Stelvio 1200 NTX was discontinued as it isn’t Euro 4 compliant.

The V85’s mini-site is fully running (please click here to visit the site) and provides some insights into the concept. The design speaks of rally raid bikes from the 1980s – namely the Paris-Dakar Rally.

But while the site conclude with the “Stay tuned!” message, Motorcycle.com has sighted and published the patent filing for the bike in Australia. A patent filing is good news as it means there’s a great possibility for a product to go into production.

Comparison of concept vs. patent filing (front) – from Motorcycle.com

Referring to the pictures provided by Motorcycle.com, it seems that many design elements of the concept are retained. That’s a welcomed relief as bikes usually lose so much of the stunning details of the concept once they go into production. A good example is the KTM 790 Duke.

Comparison of concept vs. patent filing (side) – from Motorcycle.com

The V85 certainly looks great, with many details constituting a (welcomed?) departure from contemporary Moto Guzzi norms. Check out the rear monoshock which sits out in the open to mimic traditional dual shocks, the minimalist bodywork and steel tube frame, and retro paint scheme. The official site has also described the powerplant as an 850cc air-cooled 90o transverse V-Twin, which produces 80 bhp. That means it should be the engine that powers the V9 line-up.

Moto Guzzi has yet confirmed the V85’s full name, leaving it to fans to “vote” among Terra, Explorer, Bluster, Rover, Desert, Pathinder, Stelvio, NTX.

in the meantime, you may visit Moto Guzzi Malaysia’s Facebook page or head over to the location below.

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