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The 2025 Ducati XDiavel V4 has made its debut and is now powered by a V4 engine.

Powertrain

The Granturismo V4 engine already powers the Diavel S and Multistrada V4 lineup. As such, the new bike boasts 168 hp (124 kW) at 10,750 RPM and 126 Nm at 7,500 RPM, compared to 160 hp (118 kW) and 127 Nm at 5,000 RPM of the previous 1262cc Testastretta DVT V-Twin engine. That is an 8hp peak power gain, although maximum torque has moved up the powerband by 2,500 RPM.

But maximum power is just part of the story, as the V4 engine features a counter-rotating crankshaft which promotes nimbleness. Additionally, the 2025 Ducati XDiavel V4 weighs in with a kerb weight of 229 kg, which is a whole 6 kg lighter than its predecessor. Yes, the V4 engine is actually lighter than the V2. So, more power, less weight equals a faster and more nimble motorcycle.

Chassis

Suspension duties are handled by 50mm fully-adjustable upside-down forks up front, complemented by a fully-adjustable monoshock at the back, acting on a single-sided aluminium swingarm.

Still about the chassis, the brakes consist of none other than Brembo Stylema four-piston monobloc calipers that grip dual 330mm discs at the front. The rear brake features a single 265mm gripped by a two-piston Brembo caliper.

The riding position has likewise been revised with the handlebar lowered and brought closer to the rider. The seat now features thicker material for better comfort.

Electronics

Over to the electronics, the 2025 Ducati XDiavel V4 has three power modes with four riding modes namely Sport, Touring, Urban, and Wet. Traction control, wheelie control, cornering ABS, cruise control, quickshifter, are all there.

A new 6.9-inch colour TFT has been fitted. It offers Bluetooth connectivity to pair the smartphone for calls, text messages and music, or use the turn-by-turn navigation system (only available as an accessory) via the Ducati Link App.

Colour options

There are two new colours for the 2025 Ducati XDiavel V4 called Burning Red and Black Lava, both metallic. The price has not been revealed.

MODENAS organised an event to handover the 2025 Kawasaki ZX-6R to the first 100 owners in the country today.

The event was held at the Sepang International Circuit, giving the owners their first feel of their bikes in its natural habitat.

The day kicked off with registrations and interviews with several owners. Next, a convoy consisting of the owners were guided around the track. However, perhaps the true highlight of the day was an exclusive track day for the media and owners who had brought their race suits along.

From the press release:

Motosikal & Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd (“MODENAS”), a subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Berhad (“DRB-HICOM”) rolled out the red carpet, or more accurately the racetrack, for the first 100 proud owners of the brand-new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R at Paddock 1, Sepang International Circuit. With 350 excited attendees including Kawasaki dealers, die-hard fans and the media, it wasn’t just a handover — it was a full-throttle celebration!

Leading the festivities was Yusaku Kashiwagi, Chief Marketing Officer of MODENAS, who personally handed over the keys and welcomed new owners to the Kawasaki family. “This is not just a bike delivery. This is the moment Kawasaki is fulfilling the passion of its fans who love performance and pure adrenaline. The Ninja ZX-6R is built for those who crave speed and precision, and today, our customers get to experience that firsthand on the legendary Sepang track,” said Kashiwagi.

And experience it they did! The new owners wasted no time revving up their engines and hitting the track for their first exhilarating ride on their brand-new supersport machines. Adding to the thrill, the media was also treated to exclusive test rides on the Sepang circuit.

The demand for the 2024 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R has been nothing short of phenomenal. When the pre-booking campaign kicked off in November 2024, MODENAS initially expected to secure 50 units. However, due to overwhelming demand, the number of units was doubled to 100 units — effectively selling out the first and second batches of deliveries in record time!

So, what makes the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R such a game-changer? Let’s talk specs! Powered by a 636cc inline-four engine, this beast delivers heart-racing performance with smooth acceleration and torque. It comes packed with advanced electronics, including a quick shifter, three-mode traction control, and multiple power modes to match any rider’s style. The Showa Separate Function Big Piston Forks ensure razor-sharp handling, while the 4.3” TFT dash with smartphone connectivity keeps you informed and in control, no matter where you ride.

And here’s the best part — MODENAS is offering the latest 2024 model at an unbeatable price of RM59,900, a massive drop from the previous 2018 model RM79,900 price tag thanks to the bike now being assembled locally in its plant in Gurun, Kedah. That’s power, performance, and value all wrapped into one thrilling package!

“This model is built for the track, but it’s also ready to dominate the streets. At this price point, the Ninja ZX-6R is the ultimate supersport machine for riders who want the best of both worlds,” Kashiwagi added.

With cutting-edge features, an aggressive design, and an unbeatable price, the Ninja ZX-6R is ready to redefine the mid-weight supersport category. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or looking for your next adrenaline rush, this machine is built to thrill.

The prices of kapchais may go up as much as 20 percent from next year.

Motorcycle manufacturers and dealers say buyers will be affected by inevitable price hikes should the revised open market value (OMV) for vehicles is implemented.

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said in January the implementation of the revised OMV had been deferred once again after its expiration on Dec 31, 2024.

The OMV excise duty revision – officially known as the Excise (Determination of Value of Locally Manufactured Goods for the Purpose of Levying Excise Duty) Regulations 2019 or “OMV 402” – is now set to take effect in January 2026.

OMV 402 was originally scheduled to take effect in 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic had the Finance Ministry putting it on hold until 2021. It was deferred again for 2021. MAA lobbied the government to defer OMV 402 and was granted a two-year extension until 31 December 2024.

The revised regulations OMV calculation stated that the profit and general expenses incurred or accounted in the manufacture of a vehicle, plus also of its sale value.

This revision leads to higher the taxable value of vehicles, resulting in higher prices.

The Motorcycle and Scooter Assemblers and Distributors Association of Malaysia (MASAAM) and the Malaysian Motorcycle and Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA) raised concerns that manufacturers may struggle to fully absorb the increased duties.

This will potentially drive up motorcycle prices by 10 per cent to 20 per cent, depending on the models, they claimed. As such, kapchais currently priced at RM10,000 could cost between RM11,000 and RM12,000 after the revision.

This is not good news, given that the Malaysia motorcycle market is ‘soft’ lately. According to the Motor Cycle Data website which tracks the number of motorcycles that were actually delivered to buyers, Malaysia saw a -19.9% drop in 2024 compared to the 2022 record year.

The Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ) issued more than 107,000 summonses during the Chinese New Year Special Operation, which ran from 20 January to 10 February.

Offenses related to vehicle licensing, driver licensing, and technical violations were among the highest recorded. JPJ Director-General Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli stated that during this period, the department issued 107,014 notices for various offenses involving vehicles and drivers, following inspections of 429,423 vehicles nationwide.

Additionally, 724 vehicles were seized for various offenses, including no insurance, invalid road tax, and vehicles driven by foreigners without valid licenses.

JPJ(P) 22 notices were issued for offenses such as expired Motor Vehicle Licenses (LKM) and no insurance coverage (29,994); driver licensing offenses, including no driving license and expired driving licenses (20,414); and technical offenses such as bald tires and faulty brakes (15,610).

Furthermore, 9,052 notices were issued for other offenses, including major offenses (3,994) and goods vehicle offenses (3,161).

For public service vehicle (bus) offenses, 241 notices were issued, and 140 notices were issued for failure to comply with the goods vehicle driving ban,” he said.

The integrated operation also involved collaboration with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), and PLUS Malaysia.

Elaborating further, Aedy stated that technical offenses such as tire and brake issues are common in every operation, and he reminded all road users, vehicle owners, and company vehicle owners to regularly inspect their vehicles.

The operation also enforced a four-day goods vehicle driving ban on 27 January (before the festive period) and 1-2 February (after the festive period).

JPJ detected goods vehicles that failed to comply with the ban, issuing 140 notices and detaining 21 vehicles under Section 59 of the Road Transport Act 1987,” he said.

However, the number of summonses issued during the 2025 Chinese New Year Special Operation showed a decrease compared to the previous year’s 207,127 notices.

These statistics indicate an improvement in efforts to reduce road accident rates and fatalities through enforcement measures,” he added.

More than 20 roads around the capital will be closed and diverted to facilitate smooth traffic in conjunction with the Thaipusam celebrations next Tuesday.

Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the Chariot Parade ceremony will be held this Sunday, starting from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple on Jalan Tun H.S. Lee at 9pm.

“The parade is expected to end at 4pm, next Monday at the Sri Subramaniar Temple, Batu Caves, Selangor. The return parade will start at 3pm, next Wednesday via the same route,” he said in a statement, here, today.

He said that to facilitate the movement of the parade, several main roads and related routes around the city centre will be closed and diverted.

The route involved for the parade involves Jalan Tun H.S. Lee – Jalan Sultan – Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock – Jalan Pudu – Jalan Tun Perak – Jalan Lebuh Ampang-Jalan Ampang -Jalan Munshi Abdullah – Jalan Dang Wangi – Jalan Raja Laut – Jalan Belia – Jalan Sri Amar – Jalan Raja Laut – Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah – Jalan Tun Razak (U- turn) – Jalan Tun Razak – Sultan Azlan Shah.

“Jalan Ipoh Lama (Batu 5) – Jalan Kampung Batu – Jalan Kepong Baru – Bulatan Ipoh – Jalan Ipoh (KL) (opposite direction) – Batu Caves Bulatan (opposite direction from MRR2) – MRR2 exit – Batu Caves (via opposite lanes and special crossings),” he said

He said the police advised road users, especially residents of the capital, to plan their journeys and avoid using the routes affected by closures and diversions. According to him, the public is also advised to obey the instructions of police officers on duty to ensure smooth traffic.

The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) has extended the ban on heavy vehicles using highways during peak hours on several highways around the Klang Valley starting February 19.

This involves the North-South Expressway (Plus), the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), the North-South Central Link Expressway (Elite) and the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (Duke).

LLM Director-General Datuk Sazali Harun said the implementation of the ban was gazetted by the government on October 21 last year and is one of the initiatives under the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Congestion (JKMKKJR).

It is aimed at smoothing traffic movement in the Klang Valley area and the Kuala Lumpur city centre.

The heavy vehicles involved in the implementation of this ban are Class 2 motor vehicles, which are vehicles with two axles and six wheels except buses.

Also affected are Class 3 motor vehicles, which are vehicles with three axles or more except buses,” he said in a statement today.

However, he said, the ban is exempted for heavy vehicles involved in cleaning, domestic waste disposal and delivery work, emergency and enforcement services, as well as heavy vehicles with highway maintenance work.

LLM calls on all owners and drivers of heavy vehicles to comply with the heavy vehicle movement ban when it begins to be implemented,” he said.

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