Bikesrepublic

Amirul Azreen

The dangerous trend of attempting to reach the 300 km/h speed limit on motorcycles has claimed another life in India. 

  • There’s been several incident where YouTubers and influencers in India been trying to hit the 300km/h mark solely for content purposes. 
  • Agastya Chauhan is a popular YouTuber in India with 1.25 million subscribers.

This time, a known Youtuber with 1.25mil subscribers, Agastya Chauhan, lost his life after attempting similar speed. 

The incident occurred on the Yamuna Expressway between Agra and Delhi in Uttar Pradesh. The 25-year old was riding his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. As he was attempting to reach the 300 km/h mark , he lost control of the bike and hit a divider on the expressway.

According to reports, the impact of the crash was severe with the YouTuber succumbed to a head injury and died on the spot. 

While some reports have claimed that Chauhan was an experiend biker, others suggest that he was simply a YouTube influencer who had been riding bikes for a long time and making videos on them. 

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is a powerful machine that features a 998cc, inline four-cylinder engine capable of generating a maximum power of 197.3 Bhp at 13,000 rpm and a peak torque of 113.5 Nm at 11,500 rpm. The bike is electronically limited to a top speed of 299 km/h for safety reasons.

(source: Times of India)

CFMoto, the Chinese motorcycle brand, is reportedly developing an all-new suspension setup similar to BMW’s Duolever. 

  • the new suspension system could be used on CFMoto upcoming touring and naked motorcycles.
  • the Hossack-style fork shows that CFMoto is exploring wider possibilities in creating a motorcycle that’s on par with established machinery. 

The setup is a girder-style fork suspension and is expected to be incorporated into the new CFMoto model. The suspension technology was first developed by British engineer Norman Hossack in the 1970s and has since been adopted by BMW and Honda for their touring bikes.

The use of the girder-style fork suspension on the 1250TR-G is intended to broaden the spread of suspension geometry and separate braking and suspension forces, allowing for relatively soft suspension without suffering from too much dive during braking. The use of a single shock absorber also makes it easier to adopt technology like adaptive damping or electronic control preload adjustment.

CFMoto’s new suspension setup is expected to narrow the gap in quality and technology held by more established Japanese, European, and American motorcycle brands. The company has already begun exporting 800cc models all over the world. The 1250TR-G uses a 140 hp, 1,279cc V-twin engine that is derived from a KTM design but heavily altered by CFMoto.

The new suspension technology is expected to form the basis of an upcoming 1250NK streetfighter model, which was inspired by the 2017 V.02-NK concept and first seen in patents filed earlier this year. While the 1250TR-G is currently only sold in China, its technology is already at levels that would be more than acceptable globally. 

Modenas has officially launched the new Dominar 250 motorcycle for the Malaysian market at the 2023 Malaysia Autoshow.

  • The Dominar 250 shares many of its specifications with the Dominar D400, but with a smaller engine.
  • Powering the Dominar 250 is a KTM-derived 250cc single-cylinder DOHC engine. 

The Dominar 250 comes equipped with a 249 cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine with a twin-spark cylinder head. The engine generates a maximum power of 27 hp at 8500 RPM and 23.5 Nm of torque at 6500 RPM. The bike also features a 6-speed gearbox and a slipper clutch for smooth gear shifts.

One of the most significant differences between the Dominar 250 and 400 is the suspension setup with the former comes with 37 mm diameter upside-down forks compared to the 400’s 43 mm units, while the aluminium swingarm on the 400 is replaced with a box-section type arm.

The Dominar 250 is available in three colour options: Sparkling Black, Racing Red, and Citrus Rush, giving customers a range of choices to pick from. The bike has a sleek and sporty design, with LED lighting, a digital instrument cluster, and a comfortable riding position.

Stocks of the Dominar 250 will be available in authorised Modenas Malaysia dealer showrooms from this month with a recommended selling price of RM13,797. 

Kawasaki Malaysia has officially launched the 2023 Z H2 SE hyper naked sports bike, priced at RM97,800. 

  • the SE gets you Showa Skyhook semi-active electronic suspension. 
  • the braking package includes Brembo Stylema monobloc callipers.

Launched at the 2023 Malaysia Autoshow, the Z H2 SE is powered by a supercharged 998cc, inline four-cylinder engine, capable of producing 200 horsepower at 11,000 RPM and 137 Nm of torque at 8,500 RPM. It is equipped with a six-speed gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch and chain drive, which powers the rear wheel.

The bike’s suspension has been upgraded and now features a Showa Skyhook semi-active electronic suspension with a Showa SFF-CA fork and Showa BFRC monoshock, which adjusts according to ride modes and self-adjusts during riding for more comfort. 

The braking system has also been improved, featuring Brembo Stylema Monobloc callipers, a Brembo master cylinder, twin 320mm front discs, and a 260mm rear brake disc.

The Z H2 SE is equipped with an inertial measurement unit control (IMU), which controls the Kawasaki Intelligent Brake System (KIBS) and Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC). It also features cruise control, Kawasaki Launch Control Mode (KLCM), Kawasaki Cornering Management Function (KCMF), and three riding modes.

The bike is available in two colours: Metallic Matte Graphene Steel Gray and Metallic Matte Graphene Steel Ebony, and will be available in authorised Kawasaki 4S Dealers showrooms by the end of June 2023.

Modenas has launched the 2023 Modenas Dominar D400 Adventure in Malaysia at the Malaysia Autoshow 2023 with a recommended selling price of RM15,797. The new model comes with updated styling and features designed to cater to the touring motorcycle segment.

  • The Dominar 400 Adventure features additional accessories allowing for better touring capabilites. 
  • The addition of a taller windscreen, handleguard adds comfort for longer rides. 

The Dominar D400 Adventure received an update in 2019, transforming it into a touring motorcycle. The updated model comes with a taller windscreen, hand guards, leg guards, an engine bash plate, and a passenger backrest, making it more comfortable for long rides. 

In addition, the Dominar 400 Adventure  also comes with a smartphone mount with a USB charging port.

Powering the  Dominar D400 Adventure is a single-cylinder 373cc with three-spartk plug engine that pumps 39.4hp with 35 Nm of torque to the rear wheel. 

The Dominar D400 Adventure is equipped with non-adjustable 43mm diameter upside-down forks and a Nitrox monoshock in the rear, which is adjustable for preload. The motorcycle also features single hydraulic discs for braking duties in the front and rear, and two-channel ABS is standard equipment.

The Dominar D400 Adventure tips the scale at 182 kg and is available in two exciting colours – Savanna Green and Charcoal Black. 

BMW Motorrad Malaysia opens its new chapter in electric mobility by launching the all-new CE0-04 for the Malaysian market, priced at RM59,500. 

  • The CE-04 is proof that BMW continues its pursuit of electromobility strategy for urban conurbations.
  • The CE 04 is mounted with a permanent magnet electric motor located in the frame between the battery and the rear wheel.

The CE 04 is powered by an electric motor capable of producing 31kW (42hp) and able to reach 0-50km/h in just 2.6 seconds. Despite build as an urban commuter, BMW claimed the CE 04 has a maximum speed of 120 km/h while able to cover up to 130km thanks to a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 60.6 Ah (8.9 kWh).

As an added convenience, owners can charge the battery via a regular household socket, a wall box or at every public charging station.

BMW claimed that the charging time is around 4 hours and 20 minutes if the battery is completely flat, but owners can opt for a quick charger that cuts down the charging time to just 1 hour and 40 minutes.

However, if the battery level is at 20 per cent, the charging time to 80 per cent will take just 45 minutes. Interestingly, like every petrol-powered BMW motorcycle, the CE 04 also offers Automatic Stability Control (ASC) as standard and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) as an optional package.

 

The CE 04 also features three riding modes consisting of ECO, Rain and Road, while the (optional) Dynamic mode allows better acceleration.

Other exciting features include:

  • full LED light setup
  • tubular steel frame
  • telescopic front fork with 35mm slider tube
  • single-sided swingarm with a spring strut
  • 120/70-R15 front tyre
  • 160/60-R15 rear tyre
  • ABS (ABS Pro *optional)

The CE-04 also features a 10.25″ TFT screen with integrated map navigation and connectivity to complete the look of a modern futuristic scooter.

Triumph, the British motorcycle manufacturer, is set to launch its first affordable, single-cylinder models on June 27 in London. 

  • Triumph-Bajaj partnership set to reveal first bike in London. 
  • According to reports, two models have been caught testing in Europe. 

The retro-styled street bikes have been developed in partnership with Indian manufacturer Bajaj and mark a significant turning point for Triumph, which hasn’t produced an entry-level, single-cylinder bike since the early 1990s. 

The bikes will be available worldwide and will join the current Triumph product portfolio, distributed by the Triumph-led dealer network. 

Two models have been spied on test, a retro-style roadster and a 1960s-inspired scrambler, both of which share the same DOHC single-cylinder engine. 

The launch event will be global, organized by Triumph, and the bikes should be available at dealerships in India from the second quarter of this financial year.

Yamaha has appointed racing legend Valentino Rossi as its brand ambassador. 

  • Rossi retired in 2021 with Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (SRT). 
  • The Italian rider continue to ride Yamaha motorcycles at his VR46 Moto Ranch. 

The Italian rider spent the majority of his MotoGP career with Yamaha, winning four world championship titles with the manufacturer. Rossi retired from racing in 2021, but he has continued to maintain close ties with Yamaha, occasionally riding Yamaha machinery at his VR46 Moto Ranch.

Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis expressed excitement about the appointment, stating that Rossi and his YZR-M1 shared a special bond. 

“We always considered Valentino as ‘family,’ and as soon as he expressed his desire to keep using Yamaha bikes and to become a brand ambassador, we went to work to make it happen,” said Jarvis.

Rossi has also collaborated with Yamaha on the Master Camp Moto2 Team and occasionally used Yamaha bikes for his “training and leisure” purposes. The new partnership with Yamaha only strengthens their already strong ties.

Rossi expressed his pleasure at the new role, stating that he had always planned to keep riding motorcycles even after retiring from MotoGP. 

“During my MotoGP career, I rode Yamaha bikes as part of my contract. But even after retiring, I kept using Yamaha bikes because I enjoy it. I’m happy that the agreement is now signed, so Yamaha and I get to work together in this new set-up,” said Rossi.

The appointment of Rossi as Yamaha’s brand ambassador is a significant moment for both the manufacturer and fans of motorcycle racing. Rossi’s passion for the sport and his close ties with Yamaha make him the perfect candidate for the role.

Honda is reportedly working on an electric motorcycle with a power output equivalent to a 500cc to 750cc petrol-powered bike, according to Shinji Aoyama, the head of Honda’s global electrification program.

This would be a step up from the smaller electric scooters and 125cc-equivalent bikes currently on the market. Aoyama stated that Honda is hoping to release this electric motorcycle by 2025.

This news is in line with Honda’s previous announcement that they are working on electric motorcycle development specifically for racing. 

Aoyama also revealed that Honda is researching the development of solid-state batteries for future EVs, a technology also being studied by other automakers such as BMW and Ford.

While some motorcycle manufacturers, like KTM, have been dismissive of the idea of larger, high-powered electric motorcycles, Honda’s willingness to invest in this technology is an interesting development. 

It remains to be seen how the motorcycle market will react to the release of Honda’s electric motorcycle, but it’s clear that the industry is beginning to shift towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly options.

(source: Young-Machine)

Qianjiang, the parent company of Benelli, is reportedly developing a new V-4 engine that will power the company’s future motorcycle models.

  • QJ Motor plans to introduce it’s own V4 engine in the near future.
  • The V4 powertrain is said to be around the 1L mark and offers more than 200hp. 

The engine has been featured in several patent applications published in China recently, revealing that it is a 90-degree V-4 engine with double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, somewhere around the 1,000cc mark.

*the new patent showcased a 90-degree V4 engine.

Although the engine’s intended motorcycle model is unknown, some of the patent drawings feature the QJMotor logo, indicating that it will appear in at least one model in the company’s fast-growing QJMotor range. However, Qianjiang already shares its current engines across both the QJMotor and Benelli lineups, making it likely that the V-4 engine will eventually appear under the Benelli banner.

QJMotor range already includes more than 30 motorcycles, ranging from 50cc to 900cc. Therefore, the addition of a V-4 engine will help the company achieve its goal of having every type of combustion engine in its motorcycle lineup.

Qianjiang’s new V-4 engine project is a significant step towards establishing the company’s presence in the high-performance market.

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) in Malaysia has issued 14,514 notices for various offences under the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) and confiscated 500 motorcycles through the HRA 2023 Integrated Motorcycle Ops from April 18 to 25 in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri (HRA).

Senior JPJ Enforcement Director Datuk Lokman Jamaan said that the notices were issued after carrying out inspections of 51,039 motorcycles while the motorcycles were seized due to the lack of insurance coverage, driving licence, and others involving 291 Point of Duty (POD) locations across the country.

He revealed that the six most common offences were no driving licence, expired vehicle licence (LKM), no insurance, expired driving licence, not wearing a helmet, and violating traffic lights.

According to Lokman, the correct use of a helmet can reduce injuries by 25%. Therefore, strict advocacy and enforcement measures will continue to be implemented by JPJ to reduce the rate of accidents and fatal accidents among motorcyclists.

Lokman officiated the Special Motorcycle Ops for the state of Perak in conjunction with the HRA 2023 Integrated Ops where a total of 7,146 motorcycles were inspected while action was taken against 1,313 motorcyclists under Act 333.

(source: BERNAMA)

Indian Motorcycle’s latest giveaway for riders living in Europe, the United Kingdom, and South Africa has generated quite the buzz.

  • one of the custom built FTR is up for a special giveaway. 
  • the custom built FTR is purely aesthetic. 

The prize includes one of two FTRs designed by custom shop Tank Machine and nine-time World Rally Championship champion Sébastien Loeb, with the matching bike remaining in Loeb’s possession.

At the time of the announcement, only renders of the FTR Loeb design were available. But as of April 27, 2023, Indian Motorcycle has officially released photos of the completed FTR Loeb design, which are now available for viewing.

The changes in this design are purely aesthetic, with the custom saddle featuring contrasting red stitching and a discreet French flag, along with the stylized numeral ‘9’ on the front headlight cowl and the tail cowl at the rear. The two fenders have Tank Machine’s name under the Indian Motorcycle logo against a chunky carbon fiber background, with a bold blue Loeb logo that darts from the middle to the tip of each fender.

If you’re eligible and interested in entering the contest, there’s still time. The drawing is currently open and will remain so until May 15, 2023. Eligible riders from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom can visit the official Indian Motorcycle webpage in their country and fill out the FTR Loeb contest form.

To enter, riders must also head to their nearest Indian Motorcycle dealer and take a test ride on an FTR, with no purchase necessary.

One lucky winner will be chosen at the end of May 2023 to win their own FTR Loeb and receive a VIP trip to Wheels and Waves 2023 in Biarritz, France. There, they will meet both Tank Machine and Sébastien Loeb, who will present the FTR Loeb to them in person.

Don’t miss your chance to enter this exclusive contest and possibly win the ride of a lifetime.

Archive

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube