Global News Archives

Harley-Davidson is Searching for New CEO

Harley-Davidson is now searching for a new Chief Executive Office (CEO), as the incumbent Jochen Zeitz has announced his retirement at the end of 2025.

Zeitz had joined the Motor Company’s board of directors in the late-2000’s before advancing to the position of CEO in 2020.

He unveiled a five-year plan called “Hardwire” in the first few months on the job, seeking to stabilise the company and return it to its glory. A large chunk of the plan centred around expanding into new global markets. Additionally, Zeitz wanted H-D’s EV company LiveWire to bridge the gap between the motorcycling generations.

The former plan worked which led to the introduction of small and inexpensive H-D models that were developed with India’s Hero MotoCorp. Unfortunately, despite brisk sales, the LiveWire plan failed to return much.

And now, with Donald Trump as the President of the United States again, the trade wars he initiated looks to hit Harley-Davidson hard in Europe, plus several more countries who are set to retaliate against his tariffs.

According to the Motor Company, “The Board of Directors of Harley-Davidson, Inc. today confirmed that it is engaged in an on-going CEO search process, as part of the Board’s succession planning responsibilities. The search process was initiated in Q4 2024 with the retention of a leading executive search firm after Jochen Zeitz, the current CEO, expressed his interest in retiring from the Company in 2025 after five years in the CEO position, and subject to the appointment of a suitable successor.”

Zeitz had previously worked at Puma and was known as a “turn around” executive who found ways for struggling companies to return to the black.

2026 Ducati Desmo450 MX Previewed

Ducati’s first motocross motorcycle, the 2026 Ducati Desmo450 MX has been previewed as the first instalment of the Ducati World Premiere.

And yes, it is called a 2026 model, although sales will begin in July in North America. However, Ducati has revealed some tantalising tech details.

Engine

It is where the Desmo450 MX gets its name from (sorry for being too obvious).
It is a 449.6 cc single-cylinder engine featuring Ducati’s synonymous Desmodromic valvetrain.
Using the Desmo allows for higher lift values than traditional camshafts, resulting in a wider torque curve and higher engine RPMs.

Bore and stroke figures are 96 mm and 62.1 mm, respectively.
The vales are 40 mm titanium ones for intake valves and 33 mm sodium-filled steel exhaust valves.
The counterbalancer shaft integrates the water pump to save weight.

Likewise, the alternator, cylinder head, and covers are made of magnesium to save weight.
The sum of all these measures allows the Desmo450 MX’s engine to produce 63.5 hp at 9,400 RPM and 53.5 Nm at 7,500 RPM, with 70 percent of the peak torque at 4,200 RPM.
The engine redlines at 11,000 RPM, which Ducati says is a benchmark in the MX segment.

Frame

What is the use of a powerful engine without a skeleton, eh?
As such, the frame is twin-spar aluminium and purposefully designed to allow for straight intake and exhaust ducts.
The frame is made up of only 11 cast, forged, and extruded pieces compared to almost twice that for Ducati’s competitors; again to save weight from welds.

The front section of the frame which connects the steering column and all the way to the rear shock absorber mount is cast as a single piece, weighing just 9 kg. (That is lighter than a 50-litre electric oven.)
Ducati claims that the Ducati Desmo450 MX weighs just 104.8 kg without fuel. (By comparison, the Yamaha Y16ZR has a kerb weight of 119 kg.)

Chassis

The front forks are Show closed cartridge type, with 310 mm of travel, and are adjustable for compression and rebound.
The rear Showa monoshock provides 301 mm of travel, and are adjustable for preload, compression, and rebound.

Ducati emphasised that Alessandro Lupino won the MX1 Italian Championship on this stock suspension and setup.
Brakes are of course from Brembo, with a two-piston floating caliper gripping a 260 mm Galfer disc up front, while a single-piston floating caliper grips a 240 mm Galfer disc at the back.

Wheels are Takasago Excel (of course!).

Electronics

Think the Ducati Desmo450 MX escapes the factory’s love for electronics? Think again!
But fear not, because Ducati was smart when designing the bike’s rider aids.
For example, the Ducati Traction Control (DTC) function does not keep cutting engine torque and power when it senses tyre slip or when the bike is in flight.

There are four levels of DTC to fine tune the level of intervention, for the system to allow how much tyre slippage and engine torque reduction.
There are two riding modes, namely Smooth and Dynamic.
Smooth allows for a gentler and progressive power delivery, while Dynamic features a more linear and direct power delivery.

Additionally, there is also Launch Control with 3 levels. Levels 1 and 2 are more aggressive, while level 3 is smoother. The system deactivates automatically when the rider rolls off the throttle or when the rider reaches 4th gear.

Pricing

The 2026 Ducati Desmo450 MX will begin selling in North America in July, with a price of US$11,495.

BMW R 12 G/S Unveiled

The BMW R 12 G/S has been unveiled; and takes over from the beautiful R nineT Urban G/S.

the BMW R 12 G/S and indeed, its predecessor draws a direct lineage to the R 80 G/S which made its debut in 1980. The R 80 G/S revolutionised the motorcycling world, by combining long-distance touring and off-road capabilities, hence is the grandaddy of all adventure motorcycles, regardless of brand. In fact, “G/S” stands for ‘Gelände / Straße (pronounced stras-se)’, or ‘Off-road / Street’ in English. Now you know the origins of the BMW GS series.

Back to the BMW R 12 G/S, the company seeks to capture the spirit of the legendary bike, but it is not limited to cosmetics: “With the new BMW R 12 G/S, BMW Motorrad is offering a classic enduro for puristic off-road fun. The abbreviation borrowed from the legendary R 80 G/S stands for ‘Gelände / Straße’ (Off-road / Street) and signals that the new member of the BMW R 12 family masters both equally. We know that numerous fans have been eagerly waiting for this motorcycle,” said Markus Lederer, Head of Boxer Series.

Highlights:

Classic, purist enduro design.
Original air/oil-cooled two-cylinder boxer engine with 80 kW (109 hp) at 7,000 rpm and 115 Nm at 6,500 rpm.

Left-hand single-flow exhaust system with high-mounted rear silencer and conical tailpipe.
One-piece tubular spaceframe with raised and forward-positioned steering head section. Bolted-on rear frame.

Fully adjustable upside-down telescopic fork at the front and Paralever swing arm with angled, also fully adjustable rear shock absorber with revised travel-dependent damping.
21-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear wheel as standard. 18-inch rear wheel as part of the “Enduro Package Pro” optional equipment.

Axially mounted 2-piston floating calipers, steel flex brake lines and 310 mm brake discs.
BMW Motorrad ABS Pro for safe braking even when leaning into corners.

“Rain”, “Road” and “Enduro” riding modes as standard. Additional “Enduro Pro” riding mode available as optional equipment.
DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) and engine drag torque control (MSR) as standard.

Classic round instrument panel and 12 V socket. Digital display available as optional equipment ex works.
Powerful LED light units as standard and adaptive “Headlight Pro” as optional equipment ex works.

Keyless Ride for conveniently activating the locking functions via radio as standard.
Three attractive colors for a stylish look.

Tailored range of ex works customization optional equipment available through the premium quality Original BMW Motorrad accessories range.

Colour options and price

The three colour options are Night black matt (basic version), Light white paint (optional version), Sandrover matt (Option 719 Aragonit).

The price of the BMW R 12 G/S has not been announced.

Photo gallery

Triumph TF 250-E and Triumph TF 450-E Unveiled

The much-anticipated Triumph TF 250-E and Triumph TF 450-E enduro motorcycles have been unveiled.

The bigger TF 450-E features a single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that produces 57.8 hp and 49.2 Nm of torque. On the other hand, The smaller TF 250-E model also gets the same single-cylinder liquid-cooled power unit but it produces 41.7 hp and 27.8 Nm of torque. Both powertrains have been developed to provide more inertia than a motocross engine, giving it a more stable and smoother power delivery across different racing conditions. Both bikes are also equipped with a quickshifter.

The all-new TF 250-E and TF 450-E share the same lightweight aluminium chassis, Dellorto 44mm throttle body, Del West titanium valves and forged König aluminium piston set-ups.

The fully-adjustable KYB coil-sprung 48mm forks and three-way adjustable linkage-driven rear suspension are shared by both models too, and they have been specifically tuned for enduro riding. The handlebar is the Pro Taper ACF Carbon Core with adjustable mounts.

As part of the extensive performance-based parts, the TF 250-E and TF 450-E receive a Galfer braking system that includes a 260mm front brake disc and 220mm rear brake disc, as well as Brembo’s twin 24mm piston floating front calliper and a single 26mm piston floating rear calliper.

Both models are fitted with Michelin Enduro 2 tyres that have been designed for diverse terrains, ranging from soft to hard surfaces and muddy to dry conditions.

Both the Triumph TF 250-E and Triumph TF 450-E will go racing as part of the company’s foray into the enduro scene, in collaboration with five-time World Champion Iván Cervantes and four-time World Enduro Champion Paul Edmondson.

Triumph Motorcycles’ Chief Product Officer, Steve Sargent, said: “We are entering the competitive Enduro scene with new models that introduce cutting-edge advancements in Enduro performance and technology. Featuring a brand-new chassis and engine platform, the 2026 Enduro models are designed to elevate performance, handling, comfort, and usability, meeting the diverse needs of both professional and amateur riders.

“Working with Paul Edmondson’s team to test these bikes in real-world environments, our team have refined the agility and performance of these models, ensuring they excel whether a rider is new to Enduro or racing competitively. This level of all-round usability and excellence has not been seen in this sector before.”

The new enduro range from Triumph is fully road-legal. The TF 250-E is priced at £9,795 (RM56,087.13) while the bigger TF 450-E is £10,395 (RM59,522.79).

Ducati Records Revenue Over €1 Billion in 2024

Ducati has announced a revenue of over €1 billion in 2024. It was the third year in a row that the Italian manufacturer posted revenues of more €1 billion.

However, while Ducati recorded a total revenue of €1.003 billion (RM 4.84 billion), the figure was actually lower than the €1.065 billion (RM 5.16 billion) posted in 2023. In terms of profits, Ducati earned an operating profit of €91 million (gain of 9.1 percent) compared to 10.5 percent in 2023.

In terms of units, Ducati sold 54,495 motorcycles globally, compared to the record of 58,224 sold in 2023.

Ducati remains positive despite the decline, with CEO Claudio Domenicalli saying, “2024 ends with a positive balance that, despite a challenging competitive environment, confirms our solidity and a benchmark profitability in the two-wheeler market.”

The manufacturer had already launched 10 models – some new, some refreshed- for 2025 and will surely see sales climb. The new models include the first XDiavel V4, Multistrada V2 and Streetfighter V2. The two V2 models are fitted with the latest V2 engine. Updated models include the Multistrada V4, Panigale V4, and Streetfighter V4.

Fined RM486,000 for Tailgating

Recently, a lawyer was fined RM486,843.91 (US$109,500) for being found guilty of tailgating the vehicle in front of him.

In Malaysia, more and more drivers are increasingly fond of tailgating, or what is commonly known as ‘cucuk angin,’ while driving on highways. This is a dangerous action, even if the driver in front is driving leisurely or “looking for a rental house.” This behavior is often overlooked by enforcement authorities in Malaysia, but the story is different in Switzerland.

The fine was more than double the value of the car he was driving at the time of the incident. Switzerland has strict laws, and fines are calculated based on the offender’s taxable income. In this case, the man, who hails from Aargau in northern Switzerland near the German border, was driving a BMW 540d.

According to the charges in court, the lawyer was accused of driving too close to the vehicle in front of him at 9:35 a.m. in March 2023 on the A1 highway near the district of Kölliken AG. Video footage taken by the police showed that he was tailgating a vehicle in the overtaking lane for 2.6 kilometers at a speed of 110 to 120 km/h, with the distance between the vehicles estimated to be eight to twelve meters.

The High Court sentenced him in August last year to a conditional fine of 50 times the daily rate of 1,970 Swiss Francs (totaling 98,500 Swiss Francs) with a probation period of two years. He was also required to pay an additional fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs.

The man appealed to the Federal Supreme Court, but his appeal was rejected. The Lausanne judge, as reported on Thursday, stated that “the appeal is unfounded.”

According to the portal Bluewin, the judge upheld the reasoning of the High Court, stating that the man’s driving behavior posed a serious risk to the safety of others.

Suzuki Recorded Best Global Sales in 15 Years in 2024

Suzuki’s sales is improving year by year since the downturn in 2020, resulting in their best in the last 15 years in 2024.

The numbers were posted on the MotorCycleData website, which tracks the registration of new motorcycles across 90 countries. The website only takes motorcycle registrations instead of those invoiced by manufacturers.

According to them, some 2.1 million Suzuki motorcycles were registered in 2024, representing a 6.1% increase.

Looking at regions, Western Europe recorded a 23.4% increase, Latin America also had a 23.4% increase, while East Europe contributed a whopping 140.2% up trend.

As for individual countries, sales were up by 157% in Turkey, 59% in Bangladesh, 47.1% in Germany, 36.8% in Argentina, 30.5% in France, 17.3% in India, and 5.4% in Colombia.

However, sales declined by 25.4% in China.

The website did not reveal which models were the best-sellers. Suzuki is currently the sevent largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world:

Honda;
Hero Motor;
Yamaha;
Bajaj Auto;
TVS Motor;
Yadea;
Suzuki;
Haojue;
KTM;
CFMoto.

Pirelli to be Sole Tyre Supplier for MotoGP in 2027

It has been confirmed that Pirelli will take over the reigns from Michelin as sole tyre supplier to the MotoGP championship beginning 2027.

The electric motorcycle racing series, MotoE, will also be using Pirelli tyres from that point henceforth.

The agreement with MotoGP’s governing body will span five years until 2031. Pirelli is already the sole tyre supplier to the Moto3 and Moto2 classes, after taking over from Dunlop since last year. The move saw lap times tumbled dramatically as well as closer racing.

Pirelli has been the tyre supplier to the World Superbike Championship for many years. Apart from motorcycle racing, Formula 1 is also racing on Pirelli rubber, which makes the company the supplier to the highest tiers of motor racing.

On the other hand, Dunlop is the sole tyre supplier for the Superstock category in the FIM Endurance World Championship.

However, we suspect it would not stop some people from crying about bringing back certain brands. Previously, when Bridgestone first came into MotoGP, many said Michelin was better. Then when Michelin came back, they said Bridgestone was better. It will be interesting to see what kind of comments will pop up next.

Triumph Broke Sales Record – Sold 134,635 Motorcycles in 2024

Triumph broke sales record again, with 134,635 motorcycles sold worldwide in 2024, marking a 64% jump from 2023. It was also the first time for the brand to sell more than 100,000 units in their 122-year history.

This is the fifth consecutive year that Triumph has achieved an all-time record, representing an increase of 123% since 2019. The continuous sales growth is reflected in the expansion of the company’s dealer network which now reaches over 950 global dealers, representing an increase of 46%.

Looking specifically at their 2024 milestone, Triumph says the sales record was greatly fuelled by their entrance into the sub 500cc market which has attracted new riders to the brand. (No surprise!) Credit goes to the successful launch of the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X models, built in response to growing global demand for smaller capacity motorcycles.

Triumph reported the greatest growth was achieved in India, where sales of the 400cc machines largely contributed to a total of 29,736 units sold in the country. The manufacturer did not detail the numbers, but reported that other markets like Brazil, Canada and the US stood out with sales up by 44% compared to 2023. And although European markets saw a smaller growth of 18%, Triumph confirms they still remain the largest region for the brand.

“We have a strong new model pipeline which will see our range develop further to appeal to an even greater range of riders,” said Triumph Chief Commercial Officer, Paul Stroud. “That’s why we continue to make ambitious plans, forecasting continued progressive growth, which will see us welcome even more customers to the Triumph Brand over the coming years.”

Pirelli Diablo Powercruiser Tyres Launched

Pirelli tyres have always been associated with high performance motorcycles on the road and track. However, one glaring void is the range of tyres for cruisers. As such, the Pirelli Diablo Powercruiser tyres have been launched at the recent Daytona Bike Week.

Building tyres to suit high-speed, high-performance motorcycles is one thing, but cruisers produce lots more torque at lower speeds and weigh much more. Slapping on a set of Diablo Super Corsa or Rosso Corsa IV will see them destroyed in short order, not to mention being dangerous.

Consequently, Pirelli drew on their supersport expertise in creating these new Pirelli Diablo Powercruiser tyres. They need to handle higher dynamic stress, both when leaning and when braking and accelerating, while providing high levels of grip in any condition.

The rear radial sizes are a dual-compound design, enriched with silica (great for wet grip and mileage), and combined with Cap & Base technology which provides a softer lateral compound. Like some of the other products in the Pirelli range, the tyre deforms and changes in relation to how the bike is being ridden, meaning it is claimed to react appropriately to the speed of the bike providing more grip when needed.

To improve the handling dynamics, the new Powercruiser tyres are more triangulated than some other products, a design feature that Pirelli claims increases the speed of quick changes of direction, while the flatter shoulder should offer increased levels of grip when cornering.

However, as you can see from the table below, the highest speed rating is “V” for a maximum speed of 240 km/h (at maximum pressure and load).

Sizes cover rim sizes from 16 to 21 inches for the front wheel, and from 16 to 18 inches for the rear wheel. The rear tyre width in the new hoops covers 150 to 260 section rims.

Zontes 703V Power Cruiser Revealed

We are starting to sound like a broken record… or a looping Spotify playlist, as we say again that Zontes has world-conquering aspirations. Hot on the heels of the recently launched 368G adventure scooter, 703F dual-purpose, and 703RR sportsbike is the Zontes 703V power cruiser.

The 703V is actually the fourth 703 family member, as the company had revealed a 703R naked bike.

By the way, the “703” number alludes to the engine: “700cc, 3-cylinder.” It displaces 699c, has dual overhead cams, and depending on tuning, produces 76hp in the 703F and 100hp in the 703RR. The 703V seems to utilise the 100hp, 85.4Nm tuning which is good news.

Apart from that, it looks to be fitted with Brembo brake calipers up front. But Zontes offers importers to opt for either Brembo or J.Juan calipers. J.Juan is owned by Brembo, anyway.

The Zontes 703V is still in its prototype stage, but we can expect all the top equipment and specifications when it goes into production.

BMW Wants to Buy KTM?

In another sensational rumour or news – depending on if it goes through – in the KTM saga, BMW is said to be interested in buying KTM.

The news was posted by an Austrian business media oe24, saying that they learned from an insider familiar with KTM’s restructuring. Creditors are set to vote on KTM AG’s future later today (25th February) at 9:00 A.M. Austrian time (4:00 P.M. Malaysian time). The insider also told oe24 that Dr. Peter Vogl, who is the insolvency administrator, “has a preference for a specific buyer, namely BMW Motorrad.”

“At the settlement meeting on Tuesday, BMW Motorrad intends to step in as an investor and continue the KTM brand,” he further added.

The insider had also claimed that Oberbank is the party pushing BMW Motorrad to acquire KTM. “Their CEO, Franz Gasselsberger, has strong ties to the BMW Group, as the Oberbank is also the house bank for the BMW engine plant in Steyr.”

However, taking the BMW route would be disastrous for KTM’s 4,500 employees as they could be laid off by end-2025. It was said that BMW will want to move KTM’s research and development department to Munich, Germany, while production will move completely to India.

Additionally, KTM’s present suppliers in Austria will also lose out if the deal with BMW works out as the latter would definitely resort to their own suppliers. Hence, there is concern that there will be mass bankruptcies in Austria.

If that is not bad enough, BMW’s takeover would mean that the Austrian taxpayers will have to shoulder €225 million as the country’s insolvency burden equalisation fund pays for for the laid off workers.

On the other hand, BMW’s buyout will see BMW Motorrad’s MotoGP plans may be fast-tracked.

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