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Michelin Malaysia and KTM Asia Team Up for Rimba Raid 2024

Michelin Malaysia and KTM Asia announced their official partnership in Southeast Asia to drive motorsports excellence by pushing the boundaries of performance, innovation, and resilience.

This groundbreaking partnership between these two industry leaders will debut at the highly anticipated 2024 edition of Rimba Raid, the world’s largest motorcycle adventure race set in the heart of the breathtaking Lenggong Valley, Malaysia, from September 25th to 29th .

This year, Rimba Raid will showcase the seamless integration of Michelin’s world-class tire technology with KTM’s high-powered performance bikes and their “READY TO RACE” ethos.

The collaboration will be highlighted by a formidable team of five elite racers from Singapore, Malaysia, and the Republic of Korea. The teams will mount KTM 890 ADVENTURE R motorcycles outfitted with Michelin’s renowned MICHELIN Enduro Medium tires, designed for excellent control with intricately designed tread blocks that ensure grip and stability over tough terrains.

True to KTM’s philosophy, the motorcycles will arrive at the starting line in near-stock form, featuring select KTM POWERPARTS enhancements straight from the official catalogue. This impressive setup will be backed by a dedicated technical team from both Michelin and KTM Asia, ensuring optimal performance throughout the event.

Prichapakorn Dangrojana, Managing Director of Michelin Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, said “At Michelin, our tyres embody the high performance and endurance needed in the most challenging terrains. Through our partnership with KTM Asia, we are not just elevating the racing experience—we are driving motorsports excellence forward, in line with our #WeRaceForChange initiative, which focuses on driving sustainability, diversity, and innovation in motorsports. Through this partnership, we are not only pushing the limits of performance but also contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive future for racing.”

Enrico Remigio, General Manager of KTM Asia, added, “KTM is thrilled to collaborate with a tire partner that fully understands the extreme demands of high-stakes racing. This partnership is a testament to our shared dedication to motorsport excellence, and we’re excited to put this collaboration to the ultimate test at Rimba Raid Lenggong 2024.”

Ready to Race at Rimba Raid Lenggong 2024

Renowned as the toughest race of its kind, Rimba Raid pushes both riders and their machines to the absolute limit. With less than half of the participants completing the previous two editions, the race has earned its reputation for grueling challenges that demand peak performance and unwavering endurance.

In 2023, Rimba Raid attracted 279 adrenaline-fueled competitors from 24 countries, including 21 trailblazing female racers, underscoring the event’s global appeal and inclusivity. The race also serves as a dynamic showcase for leading motorcycle brands, with 19 manufacturers seizing the opportunity to display their cutting-edge products and services.

Glossary of Motorcycle Terms – “E”

We have since published the Glossary of Motorcycle Terms for the letters “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D.” So let us push on to the letter “E.”

The point of this is to help you identify and understand motorcycle terms better. It makes it much easier to explain the terms to your riding buddies and impressing them. *LOL*

Motorcycle terms beginning with the letter “E”

ECE: Acronym for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. It was established in order to promote economic cooperation and integration among its member states. As such, the ECE committee created sets of regulations for all products sold in the region, including those for the motorcycle industry, such as biker gear, motorcycle parts, etc. For example, the ECE R22.06 standard for motorcycle helmets, EN 1621 for the protective padding in rider gear, ECE R90 for brake pads, and many more.

ECM: This acronym could have several meanings but mainly as an electronic control unit. Some identify it as the engine control module, or electronic control module.

ECU: Electronic Control Unit. See ECM above.

EFI: Electronic fuel injection. Fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is controlled electronically by the ECU, which acts on the fuel injectors to deliver the correct amount of fuel, at the corresponding timing, and duration.

Electronic Ignition: A computer-controlled method that conveys a high-tension current to the spark plug(s), to ignite fuel-air mixture. The timing is controlled by the engine control unit.

Electrode: The tips between which the electrical ions jump across in a spark plug.

Electrolyte: A fluid inside a battery, usually an acid.

Endo: The old term for a stoppie, as in lifting the rear wheel off the ground while braking hard or stopping. Conversely, lifting the front wheel off the ground is called a “wheelie.”

Enduro: Two meanings here: 1) A motorcycle that combines the off-road attributes of a motorcrosser and street bike, i.e. complete with lights and can be registered for road use. Enduro motorcycles are designed to handle challenging terrains, including dirt trails, rocks, and forest tracks. 2) A motorcycle competition that combines off-road racing and long-distance riding and/or over obstacles.

Engine Cut-Off Switch: The engine cut-off switch, commonly called a “kill switch,” is located on the handlebar control housing as a safety feature that instantly cuts off power to the motorcycle’s engine when activated. It is especially useful should a crashed motorcycle’s engine continues to run.

Engine Displacement: More commonly known as the engine’s size. It is the total swept volume of the pistons in an engine’s cylinders, usually measured in cubic centimeters (cc), litres, or cubic inches (for American motorcycles).

Engine Guards: Engine guards are crash guards designed to absorb impact and redirect force away from the engine and other vital components and serve as a protective barrier between the motorcycle and the ground or other objects. Typically made of durable materials like steel, aluminium, or polymer. There are several types depending on the motorcycle’s part to protect i.e. forks, frame, engine sump, engine covers, the rider’s legs, exhaust, etc.

Exhaust: Or exhaust system, to carry away the gases resulting from combustion of the fuel-air mixture in the engine’s combustion chamber.

Expansion Chamber: The expansion chamber is a motorcycle exhaust system used on two-stroke motorcycles (four-stroke engines do not require expansion chambers). It consists of a series of tuned cones and chambers that help improve the flow of exhaust system gases and increase engine power. You can identify it as the part with the largest cross section along the exhaust pipe.

Parking 4x4s in the River, Need Guidelines for Recreation Sites – Advisor

Recently, the case of several 4×4 vehicles being parked in a river went viral. The actions of those vehicle owners have been widely criticised by netizens. Regardless, there is still no statement from any authority whether the owners will be subject to legal action.

In this regard, Perak Eco Tourism Development Association Advisor, Cik Siti Norlizawati Narawi said there should be a guideline for camping and public recreation sites to curb the irresponsible behaviour of visitors.

She also said that irresponsible acts are usually committed in locations without owner, because the paid sites have certain guidelines and rules that visitors need to follow.

“It is indeed difficult to control people who visit public recreation and camping sites, (but) maybe the government can issue specific rules such as don’t make a ruckus, respect others, and don’t pollute the environment and so on.

“Guidelines like these can be a reference for any individual or local residents to rebuke the actions and misbehaviour of visitors.

“There may be certain actions to teach a lesson, should they violate these guidelines,” she said when contacted by the Harian Metro newspaper.

“Recently, a case of parking 4x4s in the river went viral. We are worried that this may cause the vehicle’s oil to leak and pollute the river, making other people who bathe in the same area uncomfortable.

“There was also meals served on table and chairs set in the water. The safety aspect is one thing, then washing the dishes in the river afterwards causes the quality of the water to be dirty with leftover food such as fish and chicken bones.

“We may not see the impact now, instead, we only take action when something happens. Prevention is better than cure.

“This kind of act should not happen, in fact all parties need to be aware by taking care of their behaviour, speech and not polluting the area because any act that is not good for the environment will definitely have a negative and bad impact,” she said.

However, she did not mention off-sport activities such as enduro motorcycles, ATVs rides, and 4×4 adventures.

ABS – What it Does and How it Works

The Malaysian authorities have finally mandated the fitment of ABS to new motorcycles 150cc and above beginning next year. It is something many quarters including motorcyclists and transportation safety experts have requested for a long time.

However, we need to understand more about what it is and how it works, because there is no point of having the feature without knowing so. In fact, there are many fallacies about ABS that could endanger the rider’s life and limbs instead being useful.

Misconceptions about ABS

Let us start with this before explaining further.

“ABS activates whenever I brake”

Not true. ABS only activates if the rider brakes so hard that the wheel is starting to lock up (stop moving). It is only so when the system triggers, not during every facet of braking.

*From MCN. Please click on photo for the full story.*

“ABS helps me stop quicker and in shorter distance.”

Not necessarily. The system does help the bike to stop quicker if one brakes super hard over a dry, grippy surface as the threshold between maximum braking power and the wheel locking up is much higher.

However, maximum braking over a slippery surface may take a little longer as the tyre is more prone to locking up/sliding i.e. hard braking over wet painted road lines. As such, the system activates earlier/easier to let the wheel continue turning, resulting in a longer stopping distance.

“ABS prevents me from braking harder.”

Not true. ABS activates because the rider has exceeded the tyre’s available traction, thus he cannot brake harder even without ABS.

“ABS adds too much weight.”

This was true with the older systems which weighed 11 kg in 1988. Current systems could weigh as little as 0.7 kg.

“I can release the lever and reapply braking quickly if the tyre loses traction.”

True, but no human can match the ABS’s 24 Hz frequency, besides applying the correct amount of brake pressure.

What does ABS do?

ABS stands for anti-lock braking system.
It avoids the wheel or wheels from locking up (becoming stationary), especially when hard braking is applied whether in panic situations or over slippery surface.
Locked wheel/wheels result in loss of control and skidding.
Therefore, ABS assists the rider to slow down or stop while in control.
Depending on the motorcycle’s speed, the rider can also swerve to avoid the hazard (example: a car pulling out in front of you) because the wheel(s) continue to roll.

Advantages of ABS

Most effective braking is at the threshold of wheel lock-up. In other words, just when the tyre is about to lose traction and cause the wheel to stop moving.
Therefore, with ABS, the rider can brake at maximum pressure without losing control.
Prevents wheels from locking up and skidding under heavy braking.
The rider can still steer the bike during extreme braking.
Better control under hard braking on slippery surfaces.

How does ABS work?

A small metallic ring gear is attached to each wheel (for dual-channel ABS).
The ring gear is also called tone ring or tone wheel.

A magnetic sensor is placed over the tone ring.

The resulting electrical pulses from the sensor are sent to the ABS electronic control unit (ECU).
The ECU is linked to the ABS pump.

*ABS module. The black portion is the ECU*

There are valves in the pump.
The ECU measures the frequency of the pulses from the tone ring.
If the ECU senses a dramatic and sudden drop in the pulses, it knows the wheel is about to lock up.
When the pulse reaches zero (the wheel has stopped rotating), the ECU will close the valve in the pump to reduce the brake fluid’s hydraulic pressure.
The drop in pressure eases the brake pads away from the brake disc.
The wheel will rotate again due to the bike’s forward momentum.
Brake pressure will resume immediately following the release, as long as the brake lever is pressed.
The pressure release/re-application happens up to 24 Hz (24 times per second).
The process will continue as long as the brake lever is held down or until the bike stops.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO RIDERS

ABS only activates when the wheel(s) start to lock up.
The brake lever(s) will pulsate when ABS activates.
Do not release the lever(s) when they pulsate if you still need to continue braking.
ABS provides the chance to steer or swerve away from the hazard (example: That cat crossing the road), so look away from the hazard to avoid target fixation and STEER!

KTM Parent Company Pierer Mobility will Axe 200 more Jobs

We reported in July that Pierer Mobility – the parent company for KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas and WP Suspension, besides 50.1% owner of MV Agusta – is set to cut jobs. However, the company did not specifiy the number of employees who will lose their jobs.

Now, it has been reported that 200 employees will be axed in the third quarter of 2024. These poor souls are the latest addition to the 373 who were already let go since the start of 2024.

Pierer Mobility is also planning to decrease their Austrian manufacturing quota by 25%, besides focusing on higher manufacturing numbers in India and China. Additionally, they are planning to reduce their sporting activities.

These plans follow lacklustre sales which has since seen the company’s net debt rise to €1.469 billion (RM7.21 billion). They had earlier confirmed that performance in the first half of 2024 had dropped compared to previous years. Overall sales for 2024 is also expected to drop by 15%.

Currently, Pierer Mobility has a total of 6,024 employees, after adding the 213 resulting from their consolidation with MV Agusta.

ABS Compulsory for Motorcycles 150cc and Above from 2025

Anti-lock brake system (ABS) is mandatory for motorcycles 150cc and above starting January 1, 2025.

That’s what the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when speaking at the Launching Ceremony of the Asian Road Safety Conference (CARS) 2024 yesterday.

According to him, the government took this initiative considering that the majority of road accidents involve motorcycle riders and pillion riders.

“Let’s start by making motorcyclists safer because 65 percent of the total road deaths last year involved motorcyclists.

“So starting January 1, 2025, all new motorcycles with an engine capacity of 150cc and above must be equipped with ABS,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony were the Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke and the Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim.

Ahmad Zahid said the government decided on the matter because based on a World Health Organization (WHO) report, ABS was able to reduce the rate of fatal accidents by 31 percent.

“Malaysia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia facing this issue. Although the death rate per 100,000 people decreased from 27 percent in 2000 to 22.5 percent in 2019, it remains one of the highest in the world.

“So I am confident that this initiative will reduce the death rate due to road accidents in Malaysia,” he said.

He also hopes that the initiative involved can be an inspiration to other ASEAN countries to implement similar measures to make motorcycles a safe vehicle to use.

In addition, Ahmad Zahid suggested that the Motorcycle Assessment Program in Malaysia (MyMAP) be implemented in all ASEAN or Asian countries.

He said, MyMAP, which gives a rating to motorcycles based on the vehicle’s standards, is able to give users an advantage to make an evaluation before buying the vehicle.

“So far, MyMAP has evaluated 28 types of motorcycle models produced by seven manufacturing companies and these vehicles have been given a ‘star’ rating,” he said.

Thai Motorcycle Market Shrinks in 1st Half of 2024

The Thai motorcycle market, which had boomed for the last three years, begins to see a drop in the first half of 2024.

Industry players reported that they delivered 904,135 motorcycles in the first six month of the year. While that is a huge number compared to us in Malaysia, it was actually a -9.9% drop compared to H1 2023. Thailand is the world’s sixth largest motorcycle market.

The country’s economy is now seen as the weakest in the region due to what the Bangkok Post calls “over-consumption.” The demand for consumption has stripped the supply of cash from income, leading to inadequate domestic liquidity.

The president of Honda Thailand, Yuichi Shimizu said that, “High household debt that stands at 91% of GDP and weak consumer purchasing power caused people to be more cautious about spending. They are worried about the current economic situation.”

It was hoped that 2024 will see the economy rally again, but it is not to be. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has reduced its 2024 growth forecast for Thailand’s economy to 2.2%–2.7%, down from the previous forecast of 2.8%–3.3% predicted in November 2023. The outlook for 2024 is weaker than previously projected due to dimmer export and public investment prospects.

As such, market leader, Honda saw a -7.5% drop, while their arch rival, Yamaha lost -12%. Piaggio, in third saw a large -34% drop, and in fourth, GPX saw a precipitous hit of -62.2%.

However, electric motorcycles are seeing a sustainable growth. Honda and Chinese are well positioned to exploit this sector. Having sold 13,600 units thus far, Honda expects to sell a total of 30,000 units in 2024, up from 21,000 in 2023. In fact, the company is planning to have at least 44 battery swapping stations and increase their share in the motorcycle rental sector.

Somkiat Chantra to MotoGP in 2025

Thai rider, Somkiat Chantra will move to the MotoGP class in 2025.

The news was a source of pride for the people of Thailand as he is the first rider from that country to take part in the premier class. Somkiat, 25, has been recruited as a rider for the LCR Honda satellite team, replacing Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami.

“Going to MotoGP has always been my dream, and I will finally make it happen.

“I am determined to learn, give my best, and enjoy this new adventure. It will be difficult, but I will give my best,” Somkiat said in a statement.

Somkiat has won two races in Moto2 since making his debut in the class in 2019 and finished last season sixth in the riders’ standings.

He is currently 10th in the championship this year with 64 points from 11 races.

New CFMoto 675 NK Prototype Spotted

A CFMoto 675 NK prototype was spotted wearing camouflage in China.

It could well be the naked version of the recently launched CFMoto 675 SR-R sportbike. The 675 SR-R is the manufacturer’s first three-cylinder engine. As such, the new bike is expected to carry the 675 NK name.

The naked prototype looks to share similar if not the same chassis as the sportbike’s, such as the swingarm mount, aluminium swingarm, upside-down forks. All in all, the bodywork looks strikingly similar to the old Kawasaki Z1000 and Ducati Streetfighter. The engine’s power ought to be the same as the sportbike, namely 95hp, too. Other features should include TFT screen, quickshifter, ABS, traction control, LED lighting, and so forth.

The CFMoto 675 NK will put it in the same company with the Triumph Trident, Honda CB650F, Suzuki GSX-8S, Kawasaki Z650, Yamaha MT-07, among others.

We look forward to the bike to be revealed at the EICMA 2024 show, and the fully production ready version in 2025.

Jalan Masjid India not Considered Unsafe Zon

Authorities said that it is not yet time to gazette the location of the sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur as an unsafe zone.

Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, said in order to do so, he would need to submit an application to the National Security Council (MKN) to declare the area a disaster zone.

“Although this incident is not considered a disaster, the actions of the police including the fire department and related agencies as well as Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) seem like a disaster.

“Following the detection of the second location of the sinkhole, I have ordered the 1.4 kilometer long route on Jalan Masjid India to Jalan Raja Laut to be closed.

“The closure involves a route that has five culverts and instructions related to the matter have been issued to the Chief of Police Dearah Dang Wangi and the Chief of State Police,” he said.

Commenting further, the closure only involves the route in question and does not involve other areas.

“Businesses are not closed either. Transactions are still going on as usual. The path to the sewer is only about 50 to 70 meters,” he said.

Earlier the media reported that the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) detected an object that was stuck about 80 meters between the location of the clear ground and the second sewer.

JBPM Deputy Director General (Operations), Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman, said the findings were obtained through detection by two Detection Unit (K9) dogs, Denti and Frankie, who were brought down to the scene yesterday afternoon, in addition to camera detection.

Yamaha PG-1 Revealed during 2024 Yamaha GenBlu Carnival

The Yamaha PG-1 adventure moped was revealed during the 2024 Yamaha GenBlu Carnival. Attendees and the media also had the opportunity to test ride the bike.

The bike, which Yamaha says the name stands for “Playful Gear 1” is built on an underbone chassis, but with long travel suspension. It is not unlike the mopeds modified for off-road racing, colloquially called “cub cross” in Malaysia. Doing so puts the Yamaha PG-1 in the same category as the Honda CT125 Hunter Cub/Trail and Aveta Ranger Max Explorer.

Powering the PG-1 is a 114cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine which produces 6.6kW (8.9hp) at 7,000 RPM and 9.5Nm at 5,500 RPM, and mated to a four-speed transmission. This very engine (and possibly transmission) is shared with the Yamaha EZ115, which was previously known as the Lagenda 115.

The features that turns it into a go-anywhere motorcycle are 190mm ground clearance, 90/100-16 inch knobby tubed tyres on both ends, and a straight up handlebar. The fuel tank has a 5.1-liter capacity, and wet weight is claimed to be 107kg (pretty light).

The fork tubes have accordion-type covers, while a round headlight and taillight complete the off-road look.

A nice feature is the split seat, which allows for easy refuelling underneath the rider’s seat, while there is some storage space underneath the pillion’s seat. The rider’s seat height is 795mm.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor is set to launch the Yamaha PG-1 officially on another date, but they have announced the recommended selling price of RM6,998.00. It comes in two colours, namely Casual Beige and Forest Green.

Yamaha PG-1 Photo Gallery

Cardo Packtalk Pro Arrives in Malaysia – RRP RM2099

Cardo occupies the top rung when it comes to motorcycle communicators and they are continuously moving the goal posts in terms of features and innovations. Well, good news is, the much-awaited Cardo Packtalk Pro has arrived in Malaysia. It sells at a recommended retail price of RM2,099.00.

Its arrival was announced by the official distributor in Malaysia, Sinar Puncak Sdn. Bhd. during the launch event at Backroom Coffee.

Key features:

The Cardo Packtalk Pro features a crash detection chip. The chip continuously measures and records acceleration, angular velocity, and abnormal motion. As such, the unit will call for help should the rider become incapacitated.

New 45mm JBL speakers for what Cardo says offers the best experience in sound quality.
Auto ON/OFF feature which automatically powers the device on and off based on certain conditions to prolong battery life.

Talk time is up to 13 hours, while charging to full takes up to 2 hours. Additionally, a 20-minute fast charge provides up to 2 hours of talk time for those “Oh no! I forgot to charge it moments!”
Cardo’s much-vaunted Dynamic Mesh Communication (DMC) group communication feature supports up to 15 users.

There is a 2-channel connectivity, one for the mobile phone and GPS, while the other supports Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and pairing to the bike’s TFT.
All these features and more (including built-in voice commands) are housed in a slick matte black IP67-rated casing.

Again, the RRP is RM2,099.00 for a single pack, and will be available at authorised dealers from September 2024 onwards.

Please visit these social media accounts for more information:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cardosystemmy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardo_malaysia/

Cardo Malaysia Authorized Dealers: https://bit.ly/cardoMYauthorisedsite

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