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The all-new Royal Enfield Hunter 350 which was introduced globally back in August 2022 has officially make its way to Malaysia. 

  • Royal Enfield Hunter 350 officially launch in Malaysia.
  • The Hunter 350 joins Classic 350 and Meteor 350.
  • Available in two trims, Metro Rebel and Metro Dapper. 

Available in two variants, the Metro Rebel and Metro Dapper – with the only difference between the two models is the colour scheme – is priced at RM22,200 and RM22,000 respectively. 

Powering the Hunter 350 is the same 349cc single-cylinder J-series engine found in the Meteor and Classic. The engine pumps out 20.2hp @ 6,100rpm and 27Nm @ 4,00rpm, with Royal Enfield claiming a max speed of 114km/h.  Meanwhile, power is delivered to the rear wheel via a five-speed manualtransmission and chain final drive.

While the Indian market gets 17-inch wired spoked (non-tubeless) and alloy wheels, only the latter is available for the Malaysian market due to the former is fitted with drum brake which does not meet the local homologation. 

That said, Malaysian gets the 17-inch alloy wheels with 110/70 at the front and 140/70 tubeless tyre at the rear. The Hunter 350 is also fitted with hydraulic disc brakes with dual-channel ABS. 

Other notable features include:

  • analogue and digital dash
  • USB charging port
  • 43mm telescopic front forks
  • twin shock absorbers with 6-level preload
  • 790mm seat height
  • 13L fuel tank

The introduction of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 officially completes the brand’s 350 range in Malaysia alongside the Classic 350 and Meteor 350.

GALLERY: ROYAL ENFIELD HUNTER 350

TVS is said to be developing a new 600-750cc motorcycle to rival the popular Royal Enfield 650 twins. 

  • TVS plans to rival Royal Enfield with its own 650cc motorcycle. 
  • The development is rumoured to be underway and with the help of Norton Motorcycles. 
*Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

Although there is no official confirmation from TVS regarding the development of this new motorcycle, it is rumoured that the company is already working on it. 

The new flagship is expected to have a twin-cylinder motor, with power and torque output potentially exceeding that of the Royal Enfield 650 twins, which produce 47 hp of max power and 52 Nm of peak torque.

*Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

The body style of the new TVS flagship is still up in the air, with the company possibly launching multiple body styles simultaneously, or starting with a single offering such as a roadster. 

Based on market response, TVS may consider other body styles such as scrambler, cafe racer, and ADV similar to what Royal Enfield is doing with its 350 and 650cc range.

*Royal Enfield Hunter 350

TVS will need multiple products in the 600-750cc segment to compete with rivals like Royal Enfield, who are consistently expanding their portfolio in this space. After the recent launch of the Super Meteor 650, Royal Enfield plans to add other 650cc bikes such as Shotgun 650, Himalayan 650, and Classic 650.

It is unknown whether TVS will develop this new motorcycle on its own or seek collaboration with another entity. TVS acquired British brand Norton Motorcycles in April 2020, and it is likely that they will use Norton’s expertise for their upcoming motorcycle.

Chinese motorcycle manufacturer, CFMoto is working on a new inline-triple engine of around 675cc, according to recent patent documents as reported by Cycle World

This move is particularly interesting as it suggests that the company is committed to developing a range of engines with different capacities and layouts, despite its partnership with KTM and the growing consensus in the industry that internal combustion engines are reaching the end of their lifespan. It also hints that there is still a future for internal combustion.

The triple engine is expected to be part of the same family as the 449cc parallel twin that’s currently available in the 450SR sportbike. 

The engine, which features a 270-degree crankshaft, promises to be a huge step forward compared to the company’s previous ICE engines. 

The new three-cylinder engine shares many design features with the 449cc twin, including the cylinder head and cam-cover design. If the 72mm bore and 55.1mm stroke of the 450 are carried over to the triple, the result will be a total of almost exactly 673cc.

The design of the new engine suggests that it is focused more on low-to-midrange torque and less on outright revs and peak power. 

However, CFMoto could easily change the bore and stroke to give the triple more displacement and performance if required. The engine features a balancer shaft mounted at the front, as is typical for triples, and the water pump appears to be driven from the same shaft. 

CFMoto has already shown extensive experience with battery-powered motorcycles and has vast battery-production facilities on its doorstep. 

Despite this, the company is still investing in the development of traditional gasoline engines.

Honda has introduced the new CBR250RR SP in Indonesia, packed with advanced features and upgrades that promise to enhance the sportbike’s performance and style. 

  • The 2023 Honda CBR250RR SP now features higher compression ratio and a power bump. 
  • The quarter-litre sportsbike is fitted with Showa’s BPF front forks and a quickshifter as standard.

The new version of the popular model, boasts an improved compression ratio of 12.5:1, which translates to a power increase to 42 horsepower at 13,000 rpm a slight increase from 40hp previously. 

The CBR250RR SP’s engine is now equipped with a quickshifter, a feature that has never been seen before in small-displacement sportbikes. 

The bike also boasts updated suspension components, featuring a Showa BPF front fork, similar to what’s found on bigger bikes like the CBR500R and CBR650R. Despite the CBR250RR’s smaller size and weight of just 170 kilograms, it features a single rotor up front and at the rear with dual-channel ABS.

The CBR250RR SP is equipped with a fully digital display, LED lights at the front and back, and a throttle-by-wire system that offers multiple riding modes. 

Small-displacement sportbikes may not be the most exciting motorcycles on the market, but the CBR250RR SP’s advanced features and performance upgrades make it a compelling option for those seeking a thrilling ride on the track or a tight twisty road. 

The Asian market is no stranger to sportbikes, and Honda’s latest offering is sure to turn heads with its impressive features and sleek design.

Harley-Davidson is set to debut the X350 and X500 on March 10, 2023. 

  • The X350 and X500 is a result of Harley-Davidson partnership with Chinese manufacturer, QJ Motor. 
  • The X350 and X500 features the same mill from Benelli’s 302S and Leoncino 500 respectively. 

The Harley-Davidson X350, the most affordable two-wheeler bearing the H-D badge, is based on the Benelli 302S, while the X500 is based on a slightly larger Benelli Leoncino 500. 

While the bikes’ technical foundation already exists, the new Harleys feature altered designs, styling, and ergonomics, giving them a much smaller and more compact appearance than their American counterparts.

Poweringthe X350 is a 353cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, parallel-twin engine capable of producing 36 horsepower. 

Meanwhile, the X500 boasts a 500cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, parallel-twin engine with a maximum output of 47 horsepower. Both bikes share inverted front forks, front and rear disc brakes equipped with ABS, and LED lights all around.

The Harley-Davidson X350 and X500 will compete with cruisers and neo-retro roadsters such as the Royal Enfield Meteor and Hunter 350, Honda Rebel 300 and 500, and the Benelli Leoncino and 502C. 

CFMoto, the Chinese motorcycle company, is set to take on BMW’s CE 04 electric scooter with their latest offering. The company has been making waves recently with their developments in both internal combustion engines and electrification.

  • CFMoto’s latest patent application appears to show a real-world, production-style version of their Magnet concept bike.
  • CFMoto is investing in both internal combustion engines and electrification, and they already have multiple electric-bike projects underway.

While CFMoto is still working on a 1,000cc V-4 with over 200 horsepower, they also have a substantial focus on electric-bike projects.

Their first major electric-bike project is the 300GT-E, a sport-tourer developed with the Chinese police in mind. They also have the Papio Nova, a battery-powered minibike that rivals Honda’s Grom, and have created the Zeeho brand for their electric scooters.

Under the Zeeho brand, the company showcased the Magnet concept bike late last year, which promised a large, battery-powered scooter to rival BMW’s CE-04. Recently, CFMoto filed a patent application that appears to show a real-world, production-style version of that scooter.

The patent design features a scooter with a similar stance to the Magnet concept, but with a more viable construction. The battery’s center section, which doubles as the main-frame structure, is made of aluminum instead of plexiglass. The scooter also features tubular subframes bolted onto the front and rear, creating the flexibility to make multiple different variations of scooters from the same central chassis section.

The scooter’s single-sided swingarm, inverted fork, radial-mount brake calipers, electric motor mounted behind the main chassis, and wide rear wheel are all similar to the Magnet concept bike. However, the patent design features a more practical angle for the single shock, which is mounted on the left of the swingarm.

CFMoto’s patent focuses on the battery pack’s cooling and illustrates the modular nature of the design. The company can use the same basic components to create either air-cooled or liquid-cooled battery packs, with either a finned side panel for air-cooling or a smooth one for the liquid-cooled variant. While the liquid-cooled battery would allow for higher performance and faster recharging, it comes at a greater expense than an air-cooled version.

Nevertheless, CFMoto has not yet released any further details on the production version of their electric scooter, but the numbers they provided for the Magnet concept bike suggest that it is a serious contender. With a top speed of 93 mph, zero-to-30 mph acceleration in less than 2.5 seconds, and a range of 124 miles between charges, CFMoto’s new electric scooter is definitely one to watch out for.

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