Amirul Azreen, Author at BikesRepublic.com

BMW Motorrad Malaysia Previews The CE 04 – Official Launch In March, RM60k Est

In line with BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s plans for urban mobility, the CE 04 electric motorcycle officially debuts in Malaysia.

Powering the CE 04 is a liquid-cooled electric motor that produces the equivalent of 42hp and 62Nm.
The CE 04 is capable of hitting 0-50km/h in just 2.6 seconds.

Set for an official launch in March, pricing the fully electric motorcycle is estimated to be around RM60k.

BMW Motorrad opens its new chapter in electric mobility by introducing the all-new CE 04 two years ago in Europe.

The CE 04 is proof that BMW continues its pursuit of electromobility strategy for urban conurbations.

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).

According to BMW, the CE 04 is mounted with a permanent magnet electric motor located in the frame between the battery and the rear wheel.

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.

OFFICIAL: 2023 Honda ADV160 Now In Malaysia – RM12,999

Boon Siew Honda has officially introduced the all-new Honda ADV160 for the Malaysian market priced at RM12,999.

Malaysia is the latest South East Asian country to get the ADV160 after Indonesia, Thailand and the Phillippines.

The most significant upgrade done to the 2023 compact ‘adventure’ scooter is a bigger 156.9cc 4-valve with eSP engine that now makes 15hp and 14.7Nm replacing the outgoing 149.3cc single-cylinder platform.

Other significant changes include the addition of Honda Selectable Torque Control (traction control), which helps to improve rider’s handling while ABS remains standard.

Despite the similar look to the previous generation, there is a slight changes done to the bodywork including the dashboard.

The signal and high beam indicator, which previously appeared on a separate display, are now integrated with the digital instrument cluster.

The 2023 Honda ADV160 is available in two colour selection, Mat Charcoal Gray Metallic and Vivacity Red.

“Lack Of Infrastructure Hinders The Transition from ICE To Electric”

Electric motorcycle is on the rise particularly due to the world’s effort towards sustainability.

Kymco Chairman, Allen Ko also believed that the future of two wheels lies with electric vehicles (EV). The company introduction of the RevoNEX and SuperNEX concept back in 2018 and 2019 showcased the company’s desire to venture into electric mobility.

However, Allan noted that lack of infrastructure could hinder automaker plans to promote EV.

“The kind of technology we are talking about these days is all about infrastructure. So, you want to have the hydrogen-powered engine, but where is the station? You need people to build it.

“If you don’t have a very established and recognised trend, then people don’t want to invest. No one single company can do those things, it requires everybody’s effort to make it work,” Allan told MCN.

He also added that the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) will take sometime.

“I think the transition from internal combustion engines to electric is going to take a while. Not because of the tech, not because of the cost, but mainly because of the infrastructure.

“So, even people who want to buy an electric motorcycle, they don’t find the places to charge, or to swap. So, I think it really depends on that. But the key is that these days – especially in the younger generations – is they prefer EV,” he added.

Nonetheless, Allan is adamant that EV is coming and will stay for good.

“I think there’s a long-term change and there’s no turning back. EV is coming and at a certain point – especially when the government set a deadline for the internal combustion engine vehicles – that will be the end of them. It’s going to come.”

(source: MCN)

Triumph Tiger 900 Aragon Edition Confirmed In Latest Vehicle Certification

Two new special editions Tiger 900 is set to join Triumph’s lineup for 2023, according to the latest vehicle certification filed in Australia.

Latest certification confirmed the arrival of two special edition models.
The special Aragon Edition Tiger is to celebrate Ivan Cervantes 2022 success.

The special edition models will comprise the road-going Tiger 900 GT and the off-road equipped Tiger 900 Rally.

According to reports, it is likely that the pair is to celebrate Ivan Cervantes’ victory at the 2022 Baja Aragon.

That said, the special edition Tiger 900 GT and Rally is also likely to feature the same racing livery on the Tiger 900 Rally Pro ridden by Cervantes back in July.

Interestingly, the document reveals that the Tiger 900 GT Aragon Edition is 1.8kg heavier than the Tiger 900 GT Pro while the Tiger 900 Rally Aragon Edition is 3.1kg heavier than the Tiger 900 Pro.

While the certification did not explain the reason behind the extra weight, both Aragon Edition is likely equipped with extra goodies.

Mechanically, both the Tiger 900 GT Pro and Tiger 900 Rally Pro features the same 888cc inline triple.

Benelli TRK 502 Crowned Most Popular Motorcycle In Italy, 6,645 Units Sold In 2022

Last year proved to be a strong period for the global motorcycle industry.

6,543 units Benelli TRK 502 sold in Italy, outsell the BMW R 1250 GS (4,062).
Tenere 700 is third best-selling bike in Italy with 2,762 units registered.

In Malaysia, more than 700,000 units of motorcycles sales were recorded in 2022, which is the biggest number ever registered despite the country was still in the process of recovering from Covid.

Italy also recorded significant sales throughout 2022, with 291,661 bikes sold.

Meanwhile, the Benelli TRK 502 emerged as the most popular full-size motorcycle for 2022 in Italy, with 6,645 units sold. More importantly, the Chinese-made motorcycle also outsold BMW’s R 1250 GS.

As a result, the 500cc parallel-twin ADV bike becomes the most popular motorcycle in Italy for the third consecutive year.

Interestingly, no motorcycles could exceed the 6,000 figure other than the TRK 502 in the last five years.

Below is the number of units sold for the best-selling motorcycles in Italy in the last five years:

All-New Honda XL750 Transalp To Land In Malaysia Soon?

Honda officially rolled out the all-new XL750 Transalp in November last year at EICMA.

The Transalp features the same parallel-twin engine as the Hornet.
Fitted with Showa’s suspension at the front and rear with Pro-Link swingarm.

The Transalp nameplate returns for 2023 with the middleweight adventure motorcycle set to go up against the Yamaha Tenere 700 and KTM 890 Adventure.

Although the bike is yet to be available in Malaysia, we understood that Malaysian might not need to wait long as the middleweight adventure is said to arrive soon.

While there’s no official word from Honda Motorcycles Malaysia, we expect the XL750 Transalp could arrive sooner than expected.

Mechanically, the Honda XL750 Transalp features an all-new parallel-twin engine that makes 90hp and 75Nm. That said, the Transalp slots in between the 74hp Tenere and 105hp 890 Adventure.

Similar to Honda CB750 Hornet, the XL750 Transalp features a 270-degree crank and a new airbox which Honda claimed to offer a low-end beat and top-end howl.

However, the ride-by-wire system has been explicitly tuned to best suit the bike’s touring and off-road ability.

Electronically, the XL750 Transalp gets four riding modes (Sport, Standard, Rain and Gravel and User), each of which can be selected while on the fly thanks to a lefthand switch cube.

Ali Abdo Sets New World Record For Longest Journey On An Electric Bike

Ali Abdo, an adventure rider from Egypt, has set a new Guinness World Record for the world’s longest journey on an electric motorcycle.

The Energica EVA EsseEsse9 is a high performance electric motorcycle.
The EVA EsseEsse9 makes 80kW and 200Nm.

The 38-year-old travelled 12,749 kilometres across Europe on his trusty and reliable Energica EVA EsseEsse9 for 30 days.

The journey ran from 10 October through 8 November, which he completed by arriving at the COP27 climate change conference held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

During the journey, Abdo’s visited several universities, schools and sports clubs to raise climate change awareness.

Despite the achievement of setting a new Guinness World Record, spreading the word about climate change was the proudest moment for Abdo and his team.

Aside from the new record, Abdo also has two more accolades. Firstly, he recorded the most incredible distance ever on an electric motorcycle in 24 hours, which was 919.87 kilometres. Next, he recorded the longest journey by electric bike in a single country.

Abdo’s next project is to ride from Egypt to the UAE to attend COP28.

Next-Gen KTM 990 Engine Emerged In New Design Registrations

Detailed images of KTM’s next-generation parallel-twin engine have emerged via the latest design registrations.

KTM latest generation LC8c engine appears in design registrations.
The new 990cc parallel-twin engine likely to make more than 130hp.

While the overall design looks similar to the current LC8c twin, there is a new casting for the block, cylinders and head.

It’s essential to take note that the LC8c mill is unique, mainly because it started out as a 799cc (790) and had a bump to 889cc (890) thanks to a bigger bore – increased from 88mm to 90.7mm.

Nevertheless, it’s given an extensive rework to achieve the bigger 990cc while retaining the LC8c (liquid-cooled 8-valve compact) nomenclature.

To allow for easier comparison, refer to the side-by-side images below.

Why the similarities? It would allow the new mill to slot into existing models if needed.

Also, the images prove that despite some similarities, every major part, including the crankcases, cylinder head, and transmission, has received extensive revisions.

The cylinders also appear taller, indicating an increase in the engine’s stroke.

According to reports, the engine is likely to be manufactured in China by the CFMOTO-KTM partnership and could appear in CFMOTO-branded bikes soon after.

The current 890 engine makes a good 119hp – although KTM managed to squeeze 133hp from the RC 8C – therefore, in 990 forms, it could pass the 130hp mark, particularly the RC 990.

That said, we expect the new mill to find its way first into the 990 Duke later this year, followed by the RC 990.

KTM RC 390, RC 200 Gets Minor Revisions For 2023

KTM took a subtle approach for 2023 by applying a small change for the RC 200 and RC 390 sportsbike.

Both RCs now fitted with a smoked windscreen, previously available only on the GP Edition on sale in India.

The new addition increased the sportier feel of both bikes.

Aside from the minor revisions, the 2023 RC 200 and RC 390 retains the same mechanics and equipment introduced in the previous 2022 model year.

That said, the updated RC 200 and RC 390 are expected to roll out into dealerships in India within the first half of 2023.

The RC 390 is an impressive machine; we recently had some fun with the 373cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected motorcycle at Sepang International Circuit and found it to be an enjoyable bike.

Thanks to its electronic package, including multiple riding modes and switchable ABS, the RC 390 is a fun bike to ride around the track and twisty roads.

Next-Gen KTM 390 Duke Could Feature Bigger Displacement

This isn’t the first time that the next-generation KTM 390 Duke has been spotted testing in India.

Next-gen KTM 390 Duke caught testing again in India.
The upcoming single-cylinder naked motorcycle could feature bigger displacement.

In fact, from the previous sighting, we already conclude that the upcoming 390 Duke will feature a revised engine and rerouted exhaust system.

However, there’s also an ongoing rumour that the 390 Duke will get a bump in displacement to 399cc.

In an exciting development, the latest spy shot does suggest that the next-gen 390 Duke sports a larger radiator with a twin-fan setup (the current model only has one) as reported by AutoCarIndia.

This could suggest that the upcoming model offers more power, likely due to the increase in displacement.

While the turn of events sounds exciting, there is also the possibility that the extra fan is simply to help improve cooling for the current engine, similar to the one found in the 390 Adventure.

Also, the spy shot revealed a revised swingarm, assuming it’s lighter than the current model. The test mule also features a sharper fuel tank design, redesigned headlight and a wider saddle.

The new 390 Duke is expected to be launched sometime this year.

Harley-Davidson To Announce 2023 Lineup On 18 January

Harley-Davidson will announce its 2023 motorcycle lineup on 18 January 2023, along with the details of the firm’s Homecoming, a celebration 120 years in the making.

Harley-Davidson to reveal its 2023 lineup this month.
The lineup likely to include the new Nightster variant, anniversary edition models and the Chinese-made 350cc model.

The full reveal and announcement will be made live via Harley-Davidson.com.

Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson, hopes for everyone to celebrate the brand’s rich heritage.

“2023 marks the 120th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson, during which we’ll honour our rich heritage, celebrate with our fans and riding community, and reveal our newest motorcycles and product offerings,

“Please join us as we kick off our 120th Anniversary with exciting new model introductions and a peek at what we have in store for the landmark year ahead,” he said.

While Harley-Davidson is yet to disclose the list of models, recent reports suggest that it will include a special edition Fat Bob 114, Heritage Classic 114, a new Nightster variant, a 2023 CVO lineup and likely a new Icon model.

Interestingly, Harley-Davidson could also introduce the Chinese-made 350cc model based on a new vehicle identification number (VIN) submitted to the US NHTSA, as reported by Motorcycle.com.

Unit Garage Latest Custom Kit Pay Homage To The 1986 Tenere XT 600 Dakar

Like us, you probably have the same fondness towards iconic retro machines.

Unit Garage introduced new classic kit for Yamaha’s Tenere 700.
The custom kit takes inspiration from the iconic 1986 Yamaha Tenere XT 600.

The same reason why some manufacturers are going down memory lane seeking design inspiration for modern machines.

Ducati took the same path recently by introducing the DesertX, which is inspired by the classic Cagiva Elefant motorcycle competing at the 80s and 90s Paris-Dakar Rally.

As a result, the DesertX quickly established its popularity, especially among adventure-seeking riders.

However, if you’re also into off-roading and, by chance, own the Yamaha Tenere 700, you too can own a motorcycle inspired by classic retro machines, particularly the 1986 Yamaha Tenere 600 XT.

Thanks to the Italian company, Unit Garage, Tenere 700 owners can now convert their bikes to look like the Tenere XT 600.

The custom kit includes the iconic Yamaha blue design, beaked front fender, retro round LED lights, headlight screens and an aluminium skid plate.

The conversion kit is also available in black and a no-paint colour scheme.

Interestingly, the kit can be mounted directly onto the factory mounts of the Tenere 700, making it easier to install.

According to the information available on the company’s website, the classic kit is available from GBP1233.80 (RM6,500).

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Amirul Azreen