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

License of Tour Bus Operator Involved in Genting Highland Accident Suspended

The license of the tour bus company involved in the fatal accident at Genting Highland on Saturday, 29 June 2024, will be suspended.

It is understood that the bus driver did not have a valid license and had 27 previous traffic offences. Of the 18 Chinese nationals onboard, 2 we killed, while 13 others were injured. 4 tour guides, and the driver survived.

A total of eight accident victims who are receiving treatment at the hospital are reported to be stable.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing revealed that there were complaints from victims who said the bus did not have air conditioning and was noisy. In addition, the tourists changed buses three times during the six days and five nights they were here. The minister said, “This proves that the buses are not well maintained.”

“That’s why I always tell all tourism companies must be ready to accept tourists from abroad,” he said when met by reporters after visiting the victims of the bus accident at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) here today.

Also present was the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yuging.

Following that, the company’s operating license was suspended while a full investigation and report was carried out. “I have already instructed the ministry to conduct an investigation against the travel company because it is understood that they have a subline (third party).

Commenting further, Tiong said, a special meeting involving his ministry and the Ministry of Transport will be held this Tuesday, to discuss the investigation of the case.

He said, among those that will be discussed are standard operating procedures (SOP) involving tour companies and sightseeing buses that are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport through the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

He said that his party takes the issue of the safety of foreign tourists who seek the services of travel companies in this country seriously.

“I have already asked the ministry to speed up a short investigation starting tomorrow. If the investigation finds a fault, we will cancel the license of the company involved,” he said.

He also apologised to all the victims involved in the accident and hoped that the same incident would not happen again.

2024 Ducati Desert X Discovery Ready for Long Tours

Here comes the 2024 Ducati Desert X Discovery: The Desert X with all the official touring accoutrements you can shake a stick at.

It uses the stock bike as the base, which is already potent enough what with the 937cc, 90° V-Twin (Ducati insists it is an ‘L-Twin’) that produces 110 hp.

And as if that’s not enough, you have adjustable KYB suspension, Brembo M50 brake calipers, 320mm brake discs up front, 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel shod with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres, and TFT display with connectivity suites. As standard.

To bring it to the Discovery spec, Ducati added:

Engine protectors.
Sump guard a.k.a. bash plate.
Reinforced hand protectors.
Radiator protector.
Larger touring screen.
Heated grips.
Centre stand.
A pair of 76-litre aluminium adventure side cases.

And suddenly the idea of riding the bike to a remote campsite is not such a worrisome prospect.

The 2024 Ducati Desert X Discovery is priced at £17,295 (RM103,185.71), which is £2,300 (RM13,722.29) more than the standard Desert X.

But… that price is actually dearer than the standard Ducati Multistrada V4 which sells for £16,995 (RM101,394.30) in the UK.

BMW R 1300 GS Trophy Competition Motorcycle Revealed

The BMW R 1300 GS Trophy Competition motorcycle has been revealed ahead of the BMW International GS Trophy 2024, this time in Namibia, Africa.

As such, BMW prepared the recently launched 2024 BMW R 1300 GS for this endeavour.

But of course, it is not several one-off specials. Instead, BMW makes it as close to the bike you can buy at your local BMW Motorrad dealer.

The new Boxer engine looks to be untouched and retains its present 145 hp and 149.2 Nm of torque. Apart from that, it is fitted with black cross-spoke wheels with anodised rims, shod with Metzeler Karoo 4 tyres. The suspension is equipped with Adaptive Height Control for safer and easier handling.

Protection for the motorcycle includes engine protection bar, frame guard, large skid plate, headlight guard, white handguard extensions.

An Akrapovič exhaust system, handlebar risers, adjustable gearshift and brake levers, GS Vario rider footrests, enduro hand levers, and a rally seat, complete the equipment list of the competition GS. An adventure tail bag is fitted for storage.

The GS Trophy returns to the continent where it began in 2008 after travelling around the world to locations such as Thailand, New Zealand, Mongolia, Albania, et al. Namibia, which is located at the southwestern coast of Africa promises amazing scenery along with the Big Five animals. However, BMW Motorrad says that this may be the most challenging edition ever.

A total of 60 riders from 22 national teams (16 men’s, 6 women’s) will compete for the coveted trophy GS Trophy 2024 Namibia from September 15th to the 20th. Based on past GS Trophy events, the most successful team will be the one that was best prepared, had the best teamwork, and rode most skilfully.

2024 Honda Dash 125 Launched in Malaysia

Hot on the heels of the 2024 Honda CB350RS, Boon Siew Honda has also launched the 2024 Honda Dash 125.

There are several updates to the model despite its positioning as a budget friendly moped.

Highlights:

Honda calls the powerplant a “refined 125cc EURO 4 compliant engine.” It should mean better fuel efficiency in order to pass the tough emission standard.
As per Honda’s tradition for better torque in the low to mid RPM range, it is a long stroke engine with bore x stroke dimensions of 52.4 mm x 57.9 mm.

The engine 124.9cc, DOHC, four-valve, air-cooled, PGM-FI fuel injected engine produces 7.35 kW (9.8 hp) at 8,000 RPM and 9.54 Nm at 6,500 RPM. See what we mean by having a long stroke produces better torque?
Other specifications remain the same such as a 4-speed transmission and kick starter.

In terms of aesthetics, there is now a visor and sleeker handle cover.
The headlight is now LED.

More importantly, the 2024 Honda Dash 125 features front and rear disc brakes, although without ABS.
There are three vibrant colours, namely Red, Blue, and Silver.

It will be available at all Honda IMPIAN X and authorised dealers nationwide from today, 28 June, for a recommended selling price from RM6,599 (excluding road tax, insurance,
and registration).

2024 Honda Dash 125 picture gallery

DBKL Fell 175 Risky Trees

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has cut down 175 trees it classified as risky, after inspecting 1,588 old trees around the capital.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr. Zaliha Mustafa said the assessment was carried out by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in addition to ongoing inspections of old trees.

“To reflect DBKL’s commitment, a total of 21 contractors have been appointed from 15 June 2024 for the regular maintenance of rendang trees and each contractor must provide an arborist, an individual who specializes in tree inspection, to assess the level of health and mitigation actions on the trees,” she said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

She was responding to a question from Zahir Hassan (PH-Wangsa Maju) who wanted to know the action to ensure that trees under the supervision of DBKL and private premises comply with guidelines to avoid the threat of danger to the public.

Regarding tree maintenance works, she said, according to DBKL records, maintenance works have been carried out on 22,283 trees from January to June.

Regarding trees on private premises, Dr. Zaliha said that DBKL had issued 65 notification letters regarding trees at risk in private areas as a result of public complaints since 2021 until last May.

Responding to Zahir’s question about the data on incidents of injuries and accidents due to fallen trees in Kuala Lumpur, she said that there were 14 cases of accidents caused by the incident with nine cases resulting in injuries and five cases of death for the period from 2017 to 2024.

According to her, out of that number, three cases are still under investigation and court proceedings, six cases were rejected because accidents occurred outside DBKL’s supervisory area, while the remaining five cases have been paid by the insurance.

2024 Honda CB350RS Launched in Malaysia

The 2024 Honda CB350RS has been launched in Malaysia.

Honda calls it a “road sports model” but calling it a modern retro or more specifically the UJM (universal Japanese motorcycle) would hit closer to the mark. In any case, this was the shape of all motorcycles in the old days. You take one of these, mod it up, and race it regardless on- or off-road, then ride to work the next day.

Anyway, the 2024 Honda CB350RS is a modern thoroughly modern motorcycle with likewise modern features, wrapped up in a more cohesively designed body, compared to the mishmash “neo retro” design of the Honda CB250.

Highlights:

Powered by a 348cc, air-cooled, four-stroke, OHC, single-cylinder engine.
It produces 15.5 kW (20.8 hp) at 5,500 RPM and 30 NM at 3,000 RPM.

The engine is fuel-injected and features Honda’s signature Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system.
The cylinder is placed at an offset from the crankshaft’s vertical centreline. This reduces friction on the thrust face of the piston against the cylinder as it is pushed up from BDC to TDC.

The engine also has an asymmetrical connecting rod (conrod) to reduce energy losses.
Power is transferred to the gearbox via an Assist and Slipper Clutch. It was Honda who invented the slipper clutch, anyway.

Semi-double cradle steel frame which Honda says balances vertical, horizontal, and torsional rigidity.
Electronic features include the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) traction control system.

The bike’s braking system consists of a single disc brake up front and at the back.
Dual-channel ABS is standard.

Wheel and tyre sizes are 100/90-19 front and 150/70-17 rear.
A classic shaped round headlamp, with LED lighting all around.

Digital-analogue metre panel displaying some useful data including gear position, battery voltage, and distance to dry fuel status.

The 2024 Honda CB350RS is offered in two colours, namely Mat Massive Gray Metallic and Athletic Blue Metallic, and retails from RM20,500 (not on the road).