Bikesrepublic

Latest News

Since its birth in 2011, the Diavel has aroused enthusiasm and achieved great success for its unique design, at once muscular, sporty, exaggerated and elegant, as evidenced by the numerous awards from important design institutions. So, for the new year, the Ducati Diavel V4 Black Roadster Livery was unveiled at Intermot.

Created by the Centro Stile Ducati, the new graphics are based on colours linked to the history of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer and the Diavel. The Racing Yellow, featured on the tank and in the stripes on the tail and side panels, “lights up” a colour scheme featuring black and titanium tones, creating a livery that puts the Diavel V4 even more at the centre of attention. The new seat covering completes an uncompromising design, giving the Diavel even more character.

Inspired by muscle cars, the 2025 Diavel V4 Black Roadster Livery reinterprets the image of an athlete ready to take to the starting blocks, with masses concentrated at the front and an agile, slim tail. The signature of the front and rear light clusters and the direction indicators, naturally full-LED, also contribute to the unmistakable look of the Diavel V4. The rear light cluster, in particular, is made up of a matrix of point-shaped LEDs positioned under the tail: a unique, unprecedented and spectacular solution that makes the bike immediately recognisable.

The Diavel V4 adopts the 1,158 cc V4 Granturismo engine (shared with the Multistrada V$), a central element of its design and at the same time a highly sophisticated technical solution, derived from the Desmosedici that Ducati uses in MotoGP. Powerful (168 hp), rich in torque but also extremely light and compact, it is at the same time fluid, smooth and usable even at the lowest revs. Thanks to the timing control with spring return, it also has benchmark maintenance intervals: the valve clearance is checked every 60,000 km.

The Twin Pulse firing order, together with the exhaust system specific to this model, with a four-exit silencer, characterise the exhaust’s unmistakable timbre. Another distinctive element of the Diavel V4 is the massive 240/45 rear tyre. The five-spoke alloy wheels with a profile embellished with machined surfaces are one of the most refined elements of its appearance.

In just two years of life, the Diavel V4 has won the Good Design® Award, attributed by the “Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design”, the Special Mention in the Excellent Product Design category at the German Design Awards 2024, and was elected “Best of the best” in the prestigious Red Dot Award 2024. Awards that add to those already won by previous Diavel models and that confirm Ducati design as the most appreciated in the world. The Diavel has also proven itself capable of captivating fans of four-wheel luxury, with the numbered and limited series of Ducati Diavel for Bentley, a collector’s model born from the collaboration between Ducati and Bentley presented with the seventh episode of the World Première 2024.

Price in the UK is £24,495 (RM137,681.08), which is £500 (RM2,810.39) more than the £23,995 (RM134,870.69) for the standard red version.

Didi Group, sole distributor and importer of Aprilia motorcycles in Malaysia is thrilled to introduce an exclusive sales campaign for its celebrated Aprilia SR GT 200 series (SR GT 200, SR GT 200 SPORT, and SR GT 200 REPLICA). This campaign start on December 2024 while stock last , offers irresistible cash rebates, exceptional value, and a chance to experience Aprilia’s innovative edge.

Campaign Highlights:

1. Aprilia SR GT 200

    • Selling Price : RM19,900
    • Cash Rebate: RM 6,000

2. Aprilia SR GT 200 SPORT

    • Selling Price: RM20,900
    • Cash Rebate: RM 5,000

3. Aprilia SR GT 200 REPLICA

    • Selling Price: RM20,900
    • Cash Rebate: RM 2,000

The Aprilia SR GT is more than a scooter—it’s a dynamic urban commuter designed to deliver performance, comfort, and versatility.

Key features include:
  • All-Terrain Capability: A semi-off-road design featuring wide, all-terrain tires ensures confident
    handling on various surfaces, from city streets to rough paths.
  • High-Performance Engine: Powered by a 174cc i-get engine, delivering responsive acceleration and
    fuel efficiency, the SR GT is perfect for daily commutes or weekend adventures.
  • Sporty and Ergonomic Design: Inspired by Aprilia’s racing DNA, the SR GT combines sporty
    aesthetics with a rider-centric ergonomic layout for long-lasting comfort.
  • Advanced Technology: Includes full LED lighting, a digital instrument cluster, and an optional
    connectivity system to sync with your smartphone for added convenience.
  • Superior Safety: Equipped with a front-wave disc brake and ABS for optimal stopping power.

The 2025 Moto Guzzi Stelvio Duecento Tributo special edition has been launched to celebrate the model’s homage to the famous mountain pass which is the highest paved road in Italy.

The Stelvio is an important part of MG’s history, which also brought them to launch a new Stelvio adventure-tourer in 2023.

Back to the special edition, the 2025 Moto Guzzi Stelvio Duecento Tributo, only 2,758 units will be produced. That number alludes to the Stelvio Pass’s highest elevation of 2758 metres above sea level.

Each unit gets a production number engraved on the handlebar riser. It also gets an eye-catching livery of white, red, and blue elements. Moto Guzzi says that the livery is meant to encapsulate the curves of the Stelvio Pass, while coordinates on the fairings of the bike give it an adventurous feel.

As for electronic features, there is a 4D radar system from Piaggio Fast Forward that handles safety features like Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Information, and Lane Change Assist. Heated grips and seats come as standard, and there’s even a built-in TPMS. A built-in multimedia system pairs to your smartphone.

Its price has not been revealed.

Zontes was in the midst of developing three cylinder engine and motorcycle when we visited the factory in 2019. They have teased it since then and there had been several prototypes along the way. Now, after just three years (not counting the two years spent in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic), they have launched the Zontes 703F three cylinder adventure bike.

The Zontes 703F has the distinction of the first Chinese produced three-cylinder motorcycle. The boss of the company had stated that he prefers the three-cylinder format as it provides strong torque in the low-end and mid-range RPMs and useable maximum horsepower in the upper RPM range.

And true enough, the bike was launched at EICMA this year when the bike has already been in production back at their factory, unlike other manufacturers who take another year to produce their final products.

But Zontes being Zontes, the bike is not just the engine and little else. As such, it is equipped with a whole litany of features.

Highlights:
  • 699cc, three-cylinder, DOHC, fuel-injected engine which produces 97hp at 10,000 RPM and 76Nm at 7,500 RPM. That is a good spread of RPM between maximum torque and maximum power.
  • Six-speed transmission with quickshifter.

  • Cast aluminium frame (not welded anywhere).
  • One-piece cast aluminium swingarm.

  • One-piece cast aluminium subframe.
  • Full coverage sump guard.

  • Handguards.
  • Marzocchi upside-down forks adjustable for compression and rebound damping.
  • Marzocchi monoshock adjustable for compression and rebound damping..

  • There are two variants. One is a road-biased version, fitted with a 19-inch front wheel. The other is an adventure variant, fitted with a 21-inch front wheel. The rear wheel is 18-inches for both. The wheels are fitted with Michelin Anakee tyres.
  • Dual 310mm brake discs gripped by J.Juan 4-piston calipers up front. J.Juan is a subsidiary of Brembo.

  • Seat height of only 825mm.
  • Electrically adjustable windscreen.

  • 8-inch colour TFT screen.
  • Automatic headlights and cornering lights.

  • Traction control and ABS are standard.
  • Built-in front and rear dashcam.

  • Keyless ignition and fuel filler cap.
First ride experience

To start off, the seat was low and allowed even the shortest of us tester to plant our feet securely on the ground. Although the specs say a seat height of 825mm, it felt much lower than that. That low seat height made lifting the bike off its stand rather easy despite it weighing 240kg, wet. Pushing it around was different, though.

The engine started with the characteristic three-cylinder roar, and the stock exhaust system was actually pretty loud and gave off a throaty rumble. Then that rumble is combined with a howl at higher RPMs just like what a triple is supposed to do. It surely surprised us because new Euro5+ compliant bikes are aurally emasculated these days.

Slip the clutch and the bike goes. The engine was super smooth for a triple, which the factory told us was due to the new frame. In fact, it was the smoothest triple we have ridden thus far, besides sounding smooth too. Be careful here, because we snapped the throttle open and the bike responded immediately and just took off. We rode on the same narrow road on top of the dam and it was shared with the villagers on their trikes around here, so we took it easier. However, the fastest rider in our group plus a racer from Zontes Malaysia managed to take it up to 200km/h from a rolling start in just 500 metres!

The suspension was also much improved compared to the internally built ones of old. The damping rates were much more supple regardless of what kind of surface we rode on.

Our concern was mainly for the 21-inch front end of the adventurer, or more specifically whether it wanted to tuck under when cornering. But that did not happen.

Conclusion

Zontes spent the last several years working non-stop on this bike and it showed. The body panels all fitted well. The same body panels were robot painted and had not one single blemish in them. There were no loose cables and wires anywhere, nuts and bolts were hidden way. Its quality rivals the best Japanese and European bikes that are double its price.

We did not get to ride the Zontes 703F as much as we wanted during that one day but all the indicators point towards a well-developed bike. It just goes to show how much the premium Chinese motorcycle makers can improved in just a short time.

We really hope Zontes Malaysia will extend us a test Zontes 703F when it gets here.

In another saga about KTM’s financial struggles, there have been reports to suggest that KTM dumps MV Agusta just after 9 months of ‘marriage.’

Neither KTM’s owner, Pierer Mobility Group (PMG) nor MV Agusta has confirmed the move at the moment but there multiple sources have reported that MV Agusta had been effectively cut loose by KTM. KTM has acquired a 50.1% stake in the Italian luxury motorcycle brand.

The sources including Motorrad and GP-One, said that KTM officials had met with the Italian trade union CISL. KTM officials were reported to have said that MV Agusta is no longer a “strategically important asset.” On the other hand, it was also reported that an Agostino Casati from CISL had said that “KTM is completely withdrawing from MV Agusta,” and that “MV Agusta must stand on its own two feet again in the future.”

If it becomes true, KTM’s decision is somewhat expected, given that they had made the acquisition just prior of their current state of affairs. The Austrian firm would need to invest heavy sums of funds to invigorate and produce more MV Agustas in the future.

Five years ago, just before the world went in survival mode, we had visited the Guangdong Tayo Motorcycle Technology in China, the maker of Zontes Motorcycles. Since then, we have seen the arrival of the Zontes 310 and 155 line-ups in Malaysia. Fast forward five years and here it is, the Zontes 368G.

What is it?

The Zontes 368G is a scooter built on Zontes’ all-new 368 platform and is the latest contender in the crossover scooter segment. That means semi-knobby tyres on wire spoked wheels, and crash bars. But we shall see what sets this one apart from the competition in a bit.

Zontes says that they took inspiration from the Gundam anime series for the bike’s design.

Launched in China in May 2024, it has taken the Chinese, European, and Thai markets by storm. The factory had to work overtime in order to keep up with the orders. Well, why not because the Thai distributor alone saw 9,000 orders on the very same day of the launching in September this year!

Features

Be warned, the list of features will put even some bigger and more expensive bikes to shame, much less its direct competitors!

  • 368cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, single-cylinder engine that produces a whopping 38.8hp and 40Nm of torque. The only more powerful cylinder engine is the 399cc LC4c from 2024 KTM Duke 390. But then the Duke is a naked sportbike, so the 368G’s engine takes the prize as the most powerful powerplant in the 350cc-400cc scooter category.
  • Upside-down 41mm forks adjustable for compression damping and tension (rebound damping).

  • Dual shocks adjustable for preload and tension, with remote reservoirs.
  • 300mm front disc grabbed by a four-piston J.Juan radially-mounted caliper. J.Juan is now owned by Brembo.

  • ABS is dual-channel but the rear ABS can be turned off for off-road riding.
  • 790mm standard seat height. The owner can opt for the 770mm lowered seat height.

  • Ground clearance is 180mm.
  • Front wheels are 17-inches, the rear are 14-inches.

  • Massive 52-liter underseat storage space that can take two full-face helmets. You can fit an adventure helmet (sideways) at the rear portion!
  • Three. Yes, 3(!) USB charging ports.

  • 8-inch (uh-huh) colour TFT screen. Much sharper and bright under harsh sunlight now.
  • Two power modes – Sport and Economy.

  • Backlit switchgear.
  • Keyless ignition and fuel filler cover.

  • Adjustable windscreen over 7 positions.
  • Adjustable front and rear brake levers.

  • Hand protectors are standard.
  • Extra pair of footpegs for the rider to stand on when riding off-road (or if he wants to ride aggressively).

  • Front and rear facing dashcam as a standard feature.
  • And a partridge in a pear tree.
Our first ride

The media were bused to a remote region for a nice stretch of country road over a water reservoir’s dam. A few minutes later, a truck arrived and dropped off the 368G, 368D, 368E, plus the Zontes 703F triple. The three 368Gs looked like they just rolled out of the factory with all the plastic sheeting intact over the decals.

We rode over a truly bumpy road through a quaint farming village in order to reach and served as the initial test of the bike’s suspension. We did not even bother to ride on the smoother concrete portion as the chassis soaked it all up.

We cut loose as soon as we hit the beautifully paved dam road and the Zontes 368G just pulled smartly and quickly without that familiar shake typical of single-cylinder bikes. And it steered smartly into the corners too, without hesitation.

Oh, I forgot that I had a passenger onboard at the time. On later runs, the fastest (and most daring rider) managed to clock 166km/h with more to spare! Remember, these bikes have not even been broken in yet.

But me, I took it easy it was so peachy to ride. The throttle response was with no perceptible flat spots – open it and it goes, close it and the bike slows down smoothly. Similarly, the brakes had a good bite while providing great feedback. You just know how much finger force is needed to slow the bike.

Although it looks like the X-ADV at first glance, the body is actually much more compact. The footboards are also narrower, allowing the rider to plant his feet confidently on the road.

Speaking of planting his feet, we were surprised to find an extra pair of footpegs in addition to those for the passenger’s. These are meant for the rider to step on when he rides off-road. Not only that, the rubber pads can be removed, for the footrests’ spikes to grip the rider’s soles. This is a much better alternative than attempting to stand on the footboards. Additionally. the handlebar has markings for more accurate positioning. The passenger’s footrests are also placed higher and further behind compared to those on other scooters for the pillion’s comfort.

As for the electronics, the TFT screen in now much, much more improved – larger, sharper, brighter and can be read even under direct sunlight. The switchgear’s backlight is also much brighter and in red (not blue anymore) so to not degrade the rider’s night vision.

The other bits that impressed us was the built quality and attention to detail. which the pictures do no justice. The panels fit superbly and the paint was top notch (Zontes uses robots to paint their bikes). The plastic bits did not feel cheap to the touch or that they may become brittle, either. The finish on the mirror stalks and brake levers are the best we have seen.

It is simply lightyears ahead of the 155 and 310 series, and it shows you what Zontes has achieved in just 5 years from our visit. Now just compare that with most manufacturers who only refreshed their bikes’ graphics every year.

Price and availability

Zontes Malaysia says it will sell under RM29,000 and are targeting an official launch in the first quarter of 2025. The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will take two months for testing in order to award the bike its Vehicle Type Approval prior to its sale, anyway.

Conclusion

We hope to be able to test the bike more extensively when it gets here, Everyone of us came away super impressed with the Zontes 368G. The engine, suspension, attention to detail, quality, features, and finally price may well see it as the most popular scooter in the country.

 

Archive

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube