Amirul Azreen, Author at BikesRepublic.com

New Honda Wave Alpha Gets Fuel-Injection, Euro4 Engine – RM5,179

New for the Malaysian motorcycle market is the 2023 Honda Wave Alpha, priced at RM5,179.

The popular ‘kapcai’ has been upgraded for 2023, including a new fuel injection 110cc engine that meets the Euro4 emission standard.

According to Boon Siew Honda, the reworked engine offers smooth power delivery and better fuel efficiency. The new Wave Alpha can now go up to 70.9km/l according to the fuel consumption measurement mode (WMTC), making it the best in its class.

In addition, the new Wave Alpha makes 8.7hp @ 7,500rpm and 8.67Nm @ 5,500rpm.

Other improvements include a new taillight design for a fresher look.

Other notable improvements include a bigger fuel tank, 4.1L from the previous 3.7L and a bigger under-seat storage, rated at 7.3L, which is twice larger than the previous generation.

The new Honda Wave Alpha is available in three exciting colours: Vivacity Red, Pearl Nightfall Blue and Clipper Yellow.

New BMW K 1600 B Now In Malaysia – RM173,500

BMW Motorrad Malaysia announced the arrival of the new BMW K 1600 B for the Malaysian market.

The new BMW K 1600 B was introduced globally in March 2022.
The engine is heavily updated to meet the latest Euro5 emission standard.

Initially revealed back in 2010, the six-cylinder luxury tourer returns to BMW’s lineup for 2022.

The biggest improvement is the engine, with the in-line six has been updated with improved emission figures.

Also new is the addition of new engine control, knock sensor system and a new engine drag torque control.

That said, while the mill continue to churn 160hp but it is now available at a lower 6,750rpm. The torque is also upped to 180Nm @ 5,250rpm.

Accompanying the impressive figure is a set of electronics including multiple riding modes; Road, Dynamic and Rain, Dynamic Traction Control, Hill Start Control, and electronic cruise control.

The K 1600 B is also fitted with Gear Shift Assistant Pro, Reverse Assistant and Tyre Pressure Control as standard.

Elsewhere, the K 1600 B features Dynamic ESA Next Generation electronic suspension with automatic load levelling which allows the bike to adapt on the fly to riding conditions.

There’s also a new 10.25-inch TFT colour dash, providing turn-by-turn navigation and comprehensive information via BMW Motorrad Connected app. Also fitted is a UBS-C port and smartphone compartment.

Other notable improvements include a fully adaptive LED lighting with swivelling ‘adaptive headlight’ that shine through corners. For added safety, the K 1600 B gets Anti-Theft Alarm and Central Locking System.

According to BMW Motorrad Malaysia, the new BMW K 1600 B can be yours for RM173,500.

GALLERY: BMW K 1600 B

Royal Enfield Owners Announced Strategic Partnership With Stark Future SL

Eicher Motors Ltd, the parent company of Royal Enfield, made a massive step towards electrification after announcing a strategic partnership with Spain-based Stark Future SL.

Eicher Motors Ltd has acquired some stake in Stark Future.
Stark Future is a Spanish-based electric motorcycle company.

The collaboration involved an equity investment of EUR50 million, which entails to 10.35 per cent stake in Stark Future. The acquisition also puts Eicher Motors Ltd to have a director seat on the board.

All business matters aside, the partnership will explore the vast opportunity of electric mobility, which Stark Future was vying for when the company debuted its first high-performance motorcycle, the Stark VARG electric motocross.

That said, it will be an exciting development between the two companies as Stark Future already has several patents while Royal Enfield is also working on its electric motorcycle concept called Electrik01.

One thing is for sure, Eicher Motors Ltd Managing Director Siddartha Lal is excited about the new partnership.

“We love the vision, passion and focus of the amazing team at Stark Future. Leisure motorcycles do not easily lend themselves to EV technology at this stage, due to challenges like the battery range, packaging, weight and cost.

“This has resulted in stunted growth of this segment till now. Stark Future has been able to understand and harness the potential of EV technology by dramatically outperforming ICE offerings, without compromising on range, weight, packaging and cost.

“They have created an absolutely astounding motocross motorcycle – the Stark VARG as their entry into the EV world. We believe that Stark Future has the highest potential for real breakout growth in the EV leisure space with this model, and the potential to use this strong base to extend into other contiguous segments and beyond,” he said.

The Stark VARG has quite an interesting spec sheet, particularly the electric motor that’s capable of producing 80hp and 938Nm and can be ridden up to six hours.

Yamaha R9 To Arrive In 2024?

New rumours have emerged in Japan suggesting that a three-cylinder fully-faired sportsbike based on the Yamaha MT-09 is set to arrive in 2024.

Japanese publication, Autoby claimed that Yamaha to release the R9 in 2024.
The R9 will feature the same CP3 engine found in the MT-09.

The rumour has been ongoing since the introduction of the R7 in 2022, but the demise of the road-legal R6 is what initiated the demand for a fully-faired machine.

The arrival of the R9 was also handed to us by Yamaha’s trademark application of the R9 nameplate, suggesting that a CP3-wielding sportsbike is on its way.

However, the latest report from the Japanese publication, Autoby suggests that the motorcycle will arrive in the lineup in 2024.

Accompanying the report is a set of render images explaining how the R9 could turn out.

As expected, the upcoming R9 will likely borrow much of its features from the MT-09, including the aluminium beam frame and swingarm.

The R9 is also likely equipped with the same suspension setup and braking components as the MT-09.

Also likely to be carried over is the full-colour TFT instrument cluster and electronic package.

Similar to the MT-09, the R9 is expected to make 117hp @ 10,000rpm and 93Nm @ 7,000rpm.

According to Autoby, the R9 is set for release in 2024, with the bike making its first appearance at EICMA 2023.

(Source: Autoby)

MBP Latest T1002V Adventure Bike To Arrive In Europe Soon

QJMotor has been making headlines in the global motorcycle industry over the last few years, particularly via its subsidiary, Benelli and Keeway.

MBP’s is the latest premium brand under Keeway that is owned by QJMotor.
Similar to the Benelli, MBP also has an Italian origin.

Benelli is going strong after the acquisition by QJMotor, with the TRK502 emerging as the most popular ADV bike in its home country, Italy.

Also, thanks to the wide range of models including the upcoming TRK800, TNT500, BKX250 and BKX250 S, the brand will continue to grow its influence with years to come.

That said, QJMotor now wants to carve similar success with Keeway after the brand recently gave birth to a premium subsidiary called the Moto Bologna Passione (MBP).

MBP showcased several models at EICMA last year, but the one that caught our attention is the T1002V adventure-tourer.

Mechanically, the T1002V is fitted with an all-new 997cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 80-degree V-Twin engine that pumps out 95hp @ 7,600rpm and 96Nm @ 6,500rpm. Power-wise, it is on par with the KTM 890 Adventure R and BMW F 850 GS.

Adding to its ADV aesthetic is a set of tubeless wire-spoke wheels and adjustable KYB long-travel suspension. Braking is done via dual front disc brakes at the front and a single disc at the rear paired with Brembo-owned J.Juan callipers.

Similar to QJMotor’s current ADV range, including the SRT800 and TRK800, the MBP T1002V also features a full-colour dash, adjustable windscreen and a center stand.

The T1002V is expected to arrive in Europe early this year.

Honda RS-X Gets New Visuals For 2023 – From RM9,698

Boon Siew Honda introduced three new colours for the 2023 Honda RS-X including the iconic Trico colour.

The Honda RS-X now comes in a bolder colourway of Lemon Ice Yellow and Caribbean Blue alongside the Trico.

In addition, the Trico edition now equipped with a gold-painted rims.

Aside from the new visuals, the Honda RS-X continue to feature the same specifications, including the liquid-cooled 150cc DOHC single-cylinder and six-speed manual powertrain setup delivering a peppy 15.8hp and 13.6Nm.

According to BSH, the standard trim (Lemon Ice Yellow/Caribbean Blue) is available for RM9,698 while the Trico edition is priced at RM9,748.

The 2023 model year will be available across all authorised Honda dealership beginning 4th January 2023.

Seat Introduced Third Electric Scooter

Seat adds another electric scooter to its Mo range with a new 50cc-equivalent scooter.

The Seat Mo 50 will join the already available Mo 125 and Mo 125 Performance.
The Mo 50 can hit a max speed of 45km/h and 172km range.

Coming in as an entry-level electric scooter, the Mo 50 makes 4kW of nominal power and 7.3kW of peak power and 100Nm courtesy of its brushless motor.

That said, the Mo 50 can reach a top speed of 45km/h and can hit a claimed range of 172km thanks to its 5.6kWh lithium-ion battery.

Thankfully, the battery is removable allowing for easier charging,

Seat claimed that it takes between six to eight hours to fully charged up using a domestic supply.

The Mo 50 features three riding mode; Eco, City and Sport with the former allowing for the longest range.

Meanwhile, the Mo 50 is equipped with a conventional front fork at the front and single rear shock at the rear. Braking is done via disc brake at front and rear with combined braking system (CBS).

Other notable equipment inlcude:

two USB port
smartphone connectivity
underseat storage for two helmets

Production for the Seat Mo 50 will begin in January 2023 and will be available in two choice of colours; Barcelona Grey and Tarifa Blue.

Pricing is yet to be available.

Fantic All-New Electric Scooter Breaks Cover In Europe

Fantic Motor has launched the company first electric scooter in Europe.

The Electric made its debut at the EICMA show in November.
The Electric is essentially a beefy version of the Issimo pedal bike.

Called the Fantic Electric, the scooter is built based on the existing Issimo pedal electric bike but features beefier bodywork.

Fantic also showcased the electric motorcycle back in November at the 2022 EICMA show.

According to the Italian company, the Electric is equipped with a 4hp motor housed in an aluminium alloy trellis chassis and can hit a max speed of 65km/h.

Also, underneath the saddle sits a 12kg battery capable of producing 2.2kWh.

Meanwhile, stopping power comes from a single 220mm disc at the front and a 180mm disc at the rear.

Unfortunately, Fantic is yet to disclosed the charging time and the max range at the moment.

MOT Proposing Separate Motorcycle Lanes On Every State And Federal Roads

The Ministry of Transportation is proposing separate motorcycle lanes to be built on every new state and the federal road to curb road fatalities involving motorcyclists in Malaysia.

In 2020, the police recorded 418,237 road accidents, including 4,634 deaths.
In 2021, Malaysian motorcyclists accounted for seven out of ten road fatalities.

The proposed plan was said by the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak in a recent interview with NST.

According to the report, the ministry is currently in talks with the Local Government Development Ministry and local councils before submitting the plan to the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN) next year (2023).

The proposal is in line with the country’s Road Safety Plan 2022-2030, introduced in January this year with the aim to reduce the number of road fatalities by 50 per cent.

Also, under the plan, the ministry will make the anti-lock braking system (ABS) mandatory for every 150cc and above motorcycle, beginning 1st January 2025.

(source: NST)

Keeway-Owned MBP To Debut In India With M502N Naked Bike

MBP is set to expand its brand to Asia by debuting in India at the Auto Expo 2023.

MBP is a Keeway-owned motorcycle company based in Italy.
MBP recently made the headlines with the all-new C650V cruiser.

The Italian-origin (Chinese-owned) company will introduce itself in India with the M502N naked bike under the Adishwar Auto Ride India Pvt Ltd (AARI).

A quick study of the MBP M502N’s spec sheet revealed the presence of plenty of quality components all around. Amongst them too is a nifty digital dash display. This seems to bode well not just with the bike’s styling, but also with its rather welcoming 790mm seat height.

Underneath its sharp and snazzy styling, the Keeway MBP M502N underpins a twin-spar chassis frame construction with a double-sided steel swingarm assembly. As for wheels and tyres, the MBP502N adopt 17-inch cast alloys wrapped in Pirelli Angel GT rubber.

Tasked with suspension duties is a pair of upsidedown (USD) KYB fork up front, whereas braking hardware is sourced from J.Juan featuring dual-piston calipers and twin 300mm discs up front plus a 240mm disc at the rear grabbed by single-piston caliper instead.

Crucially, the MBP M502N packs a respectably peppy 486cc parallel-twin that’s reportedly loosely based off of the unit found in the Honda CB500 series. It’s claimed 47HP output sees this naked presenting itself as a viable choice new riders.

The MBP M502N is set to go up against the Benelli Leoncino 500 and Honda CB500F in India.

TCX New S-TR1 WP Boots Keep You Dry On The Street And Track

Riding gear manufacturer TCX has just released a new pair of riding boots explicitly designed for the cold weather.

TCX released a new riding boots called the S-TR1 WP.
The S-TR1 WP keeps you dry all day long while offering the usual protection.

The S-TR1 WP is an all-weather riding boot that provides all the usual protection but ensures it keeps you warm and dry on any occasion.

The S-TR1 WP features an abrasion-resistant synthetic leather upper and a breathable mesh inner similar to other boots.

However, the TCX S-TR1 WP is equipped with T-Dry material that offers impermeability and keeps you dry all day long. As an added comfort, the boot is fitted with an Ortholite footbed.

The S-TR1 WP also offers easy fitting thanks to a side-opening zip and a huge Velcro flap at the top, allowing for easy removal.

In terms of safety, the boot features toe sliders and additional reinforcements on the heel. In addition, the boot is also fitted with polypropylene internal reinforcement parts and TCX’s TCX system that prevents ankle twisting.

There’s also a non-waterproof version of the S-TR1 that offers similar styling and function but without the all-weather protection.

Suzuki Bids Farewell To Grand Prix Racing With Digital Photobook

As 2022 is ending, Suzuki is wrapping up its motor racing operations by closing down the team’s official website and destroying the remaining Suzuki GSX-RR race bikes.

Suzuki bids farewell to fans with a special 229-page digital photobook.
The photobook includes all of Suzuki’s success in MotoGP.

However, as a final farewell gift to the fans, the House of Hamamatsu released a special digital photobook to recap the team’s success and progress at MotoGP.

The 229-page book recaps Suzuki’s effort upon the team’s return to MotoGP in 2015 after a four-year hiatus. The team fielded then-rookie Maverick Vinales and the experienced Aleix Espargaro.

After a few changes in the riders’ lineup, Suzuki found its gem through Joan Mir, who joined the team in 2019 before securing Suzuki’s fifth world championship in 2020.

Despite struggling the following year, Mir kept the team in the hunt for glory all year long.

Although Suzuki will no longer participate in Grand Prix racing, the brand’s legacy in MotoGP will continue to live on.

Fans can access the digital photobook via www.suzuki-motogp.com.

Bikesrepublic

Amirul Azreen