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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. 

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 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 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. 

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)

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.

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