Motorcycle news, Motorcycle reviews from Malaysia, Asia and the world

Disabled Person Flung in Air and Dies after Hit by Car

A man was flung into the air when a car hit his motorcycle at Batu 21, Jalan Muar-Parit Sulong, here, yesterday.

Mohd Riduan Abdullah, 58, who is also a disabled person (OKU) died at the location due to severe head and body injuries.

Batu Pahat District Acting Chief of Police, Superintendent Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said preliminary investigations found that the accident occurred when a Toyota Vios car from the direction of Muar headed towards Parit Sulong trying to overtake another vehicle.

Unfortunately, the car driven by the 24-year-old man failed to overtake and collided with the motorcycle ridden by the victim, instead. The collision caused the victim to be thrown into the air while the motorcycle and car crashed into a nearby ditch.

“The victim was seriously injured in the chest and died at the scene. The victim was from Merlimau, Melaka. His body was then sent to the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital (HSNI) for an autopsy.

“The driver of the Toyota Vios car with was originally from Muar. He was only slightly injured in the head and legs. Initial urine screening found that he was negative for drugs.”

The tragic accident was recorded by a car’s dashboard camera and was shared on social media. (Warning: Scenes that may cause distress.)

Vehicle Sales Increase 31 percent in January 2024

New vehicle sales increased by 31 percent in January 2024 compared to January 2023.

A total of 65,499 units were sold compared to 50,168 units in the same month last year, following higher sales of passenger vehicles, said the Malaysian Automobile Association (MAA). The total sales consisted of 59,394 units of passenger vehicles, while 6,105 units were commercial vehicles.

The MAA added that the total industry volume (TIV) for January 2024 is however down 16 percent compared to December 2023 which recorded 78,398 units. “The higher sales in December 2023 was due to companies increasing vehicle deliveries to meet their outstanding orders, especially for companies with financial years ending December 2023 as well as purchases at low prices during the end of the year.”

At the same time, 76,077 units of vehicles were produced by automakers in January 2024. This number is a large increase compared to 58,527 units in January 2023. Of these two totals, 71,666 units were passenger vehicles, while another 4,411 units were vehicles trade in January 2024. Compared to January last year, 54,663 were passenger vehicles, and 3,864 units were commercial vehicles.

MAA expects lower vehicle sales in February 2024 as there was a long holiday in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.

Regardless, the report did not separate the amount of sales by type of vehicle such as motorcycles, passenger cars, SUVs, and so on. It also does not separate vehicle sales by region or state.

In a separate news, industry vehicle sales are expected to decline overall for 2024 compared to 2023. A total of 799,731 units were sold last year, which was a record high.

That news published last January, said that Kenaga Research expects the total sales of 710,000 units of vehicles until the end of this year. RHB Research on the other hand projected the sales of only 625,000 units. Both figures are lower than the 740,000 units expected by MAA.

Kenanga Research said they expect a decline in sales as the withdrawal of fuel subsidies will impact demand for mid-size vehicles. However, sales of affordable vehicles may not be affected.

They also noted that a new car is still an affordable luxury for most Malaysian households despite high inflation and a slow global economy.

5 Suspects Accused of Killing Driver Charged for Murder

Five suspects accused of tying and beating a car driver to death last week were charged for murder in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. All those charged were between 22 and 43 years old and work as food delivery riders.

All suspects nodded in understanding after the charge was read out in front of the Magistrate. However, no plea was recorded as the case is under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The magistrate also did not allow bail to be granted and the court fixed April 25 for the submission of forensic status, chemical and autopsy reports.

They were charged in accordance with Section 302 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same code which carries the death penalty or imprisonment between 30 and 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, must be whipped 12 times.

A man believed to be a member of the victim’s family shouted “Bang, kau tunggu (Bro, you wait)” towards all the accused after the proceedings. He was comforted by his family members before being ordered out of court by the police.

They are accused of killing one a self-employed person, Shahril Samad, at Taman Pelangi Semenyih 2, Beranang on 20th February. Witnesses at the scene claimed that the victim was pulled out of the car by several people after his car skidded and hit the fence of a house. His hands were tied and he was beaten to death.

Police have confirmed that the victim had hit two food delivery vehicles shortly before the tragic incident. He was then chased by the suspects until his car crashed.

Driver Beaten to Death was Drug Positive

Bike isn’t Powerful Enough? How About a 230bhp Turbocharged Yamaha MT-10?

We sometimes hear things like “My bike isn’t powerful enough,” followed by, “What should I do?” Dropping in a big bore piston kit, hot cams, bigger injectors, dumping the stock exhaust for a free-flowing unit, plugging in a racing ECU are some of the ways. But that is kind of meh, is it not? But one method that is now pretty much overlooked these days is a turbo kit, like this turbocharged Yamaha MT-10.

The stock MT-10 is already doing a healthy 158 hp. Let us see what the guys at Australia based Purpose Built Motor did to this one.

They began by bolting a turbo kit to a stock MT-10 engine which has a 12:1 compression ratio, with 7 psi of boost pressure. But as the host said, they found signs of overheating and undue stress on the pistons when they pulled the engine apart. Why? One simply does not run a turbo with 12:1 compression ratio! So in the end, they scaled it back to 9.5:1 by using a CP-Carillo pistons and conrods for better reliability.

They also asked a specialist to fabricate an custom intercooler to cool the boosted air down before it enters the engine. This creates two benefits: A cooler charge (fuel/air mixture) is denser and contains more oxygen molecules; and, keeps the engine from overheating. There are two fans, one large and the other smaller, behind that intercooler which the rider can switch on or off when he needs it.

Speaking of oxygen, ducting air from the airbox will not be enough, what more the plumbing to the turbo, so the guys installed an intake with a DNA filter right above the turbo’s compressor. It sits underneath the rider, between the swingarm and the rear seat’s underside.

The exhaust system is of course customized, with the turbo’s wastegate fitted externally. The main exhaust pipes lead from the turbo’s impeller to a silencer, while another shorter pipe is for the wastegate to dump overpressured gas.

Purpose Built Motor also installed a longer swingarm to keep the front end down, rather than having the turbocharged Yamaha MT-10 wheelie over backwards!

What does all this achieve? Dyno tests showed 230 bhp, running on 10 psi turbo boost pressure. Er… that was with the exhaust silencer’s baffles installed. It hit 260 bhp when they removed the baffles. And remember, virtually all manufacturers print their horsepower numbers by dyno’ing their engines at the crankshaft output shaft without the transmission, so this MT-10’s power output should be betwen 260 to 290 hp if printed on a brochure!

So, fast enough for you, sir?

Husqvarna Vitpilen 901 is (Finally) Coming?

The Husqvarna Vitpilen 901 has been teased for so long that most do not even remember that they did so.

But now, Husqvarna has posted a teaser for the full “video edit” on 5 March 2024. The 30-second snippet was posted on Husqvarna’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. The 5 March video could well be the teaser to another teaser, but hey, we may just see if it is definitely a Vitpilen (cafe racer) or Svatpilen (scrambler).

The current video shows a bike ice racing with tyres using screws as spikes. The front headlight was teased which looks akin to the Norden 901. Another shot briefly show the (aftermarket) exhaust silencer rising underneath the rear seat a.k.a. the 890 Duke. There is a shot of the front end, which shows off the WP upside down forks and Husqvarna-branded brake caliper. The rear end looks like a Duke, alright.

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A post shared by Husqvarna Motorcycles (@husqvarna.motorcycles)

Of course, Husky being under the Pierer umbrella means it will share the underpinnings of the 890 Duke. That means the LC8c parallel-twin engine which kicks out 121 hp and 99 Nm. Other features will pretty much include the PASC clutch, Supermoto ABS, Ride Modes, Motor Traction Control, TFT screen. Optional extras may well be Quickshifter+, Track Mode, KTM MyRide communication suite, among others.

The Husky lineup has several nice models to choose from but they are missing a big-bore naked retro sportbike. So, that is where the Husqvarna Vitpilen 901 will fall into. However, there is no Vitpilen without a Svartpilen. As such, we can look forward to two new Huskies hitting the roads soon!

BMW Motorrad Malaysia to Introduce the BMW R 18 Roctane

BMW Motorrad Malaysia will introduce the BMW R 18 Roctane, at the BMW Premium Selection (BPS) showcase, happening from 1 st to 3 rd March at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

The R18 Roctane is the fifth edition to the R 18 family which combines time-honoured design elements with updated riding technology to provide a uniquely stylish touring experience.

Sashi Ambihaipahan, Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability at BMW GroupMalaysia said, “Rolling in as a stylish symbol of SoulFuel in its own right, we are thrilled to preview the New BMW R 18 Roctane for our hot-rod touring enthusiasts in Malaysia. The Roctane edition, paired with our formidable “Big Boxer” engine, demonstrates our continued mission to always Make Life A Ride; offering superior riding experiences, whether on a relaxing solo cruise or a thrilling group ride. This, coupled with exclusive programmes for the BMW Premium Selection (BPS) showcase this weekend, further delivers on our promise to provide customers with the Premium Ownership Experience across our entire portfolio of premium vehicles.”

The BMW R 18 Roctane draws inspiration from iconic BMW models like the BMW R 5, prioritising the fundamental elements of motorcycling: pure, no-frills , which has long been the heart of BMW Motorrad’s riding joy. This combination sets out to create a truly unique and emotionally resonant riding experience, accentuated by meticulously crafted design elements, including a sleek rear section designed for optimal aerodynamics.

Highlights:

Inspired by iconic BMW models such as the BMW R 5, with pure, no-frills technology centred around the Boxer engine.
The chassis of the new BMW R 18 Roctane is built upon a double-loop tubular steel frame.
Akin to the legendary BMW R 5, the rear swingarm envelops the rear axle drive.
The New BMW R 18 Roctane also boasts well-balanced ergonomics with the presence of mid-mounted foot pegs.
Other features include a two-level seat, as well as updated running boards, gearshift paddle, and high
handlebars coated in sleek black.
The New BMW R 18 Roctane is offered in Mineral Grey Metallic as well as Manhattan Metallic Matt.
The heart of the BMW R 18 Roctane is the traditional air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke Boxer engine, the largest boxer engine of the proud Heritage line-up, also called the ‘big boxer’.
With a capacity of 1,802 cc, it also stands as the most powerful 2-cylinder boxer engine ever produced in BMW Motorrad’s Heritage line-up, delivering an output of 67 kW (91HP) at 4,750 rpm and a peak torque of 150 Nm.
Riding assistance features for the BMW R 18 Roctane includes Automatic Stability Control (ASC), along with three standard riding modes – Rock, Roll and Rain.
Optional features for the bagger include the new Adaptive Headlight, that activates separate LED elements in the main headlight, allowing for better road illumination, especially when cornering.
Among other additional features are Hill Start Control, Headlight Pro, Reverse Gear Aid, Daytime Riding Light, Cruise Control, and lockable fuel filler cap.
The estimated pricing for the BMW R 18 Roctane is RM 160,000.

For more information on the BMW R 18 Roctane, please visit your preferred BMW Motorrad Showroom or the official website here.

Customers are welcome to view the BMW R 18 Roctane and experience all these exclusive offers at the BMW Premium Selection (BPS) Showcase by BMW Group Malaysia, happening March 1st to 3rd 2024 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium (Carpark B) from 9:00AM to 7:00PM daily.

Visit the website HERE to RSVP your spot.

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Latest News

Disabled Person Flung in Air and Dies after Hit by Car

Vehicle Sales Increase 31 percent in January 2024

5 Suspects Accused of Killing Driver Charged for Murder

Bike isn’t Powerful Enough? How About a 230bhp Turbocharged Yamaha MT-10?

Husqvarna Vitpilen 901 is (Finally) Coming?

BMW Motorrad Malaysia to Introduce the BMW R 18 Roctane

Highlights:

2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide, 2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Arrive in Malaysia

New Colours for 2024 Yamaha Y15ZR

Driver who Rammed Disabled Person Charged

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