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

Ducati CEO Clarifies MotoE Projects – No Production Models Anytime Soon

Ducati was recently announced as the official MotoE supplier beginning 2023 to 2026 by Dorna Sports in Misano.

The announcement quickly garnered attention as reports emerged that the big step into MotoE also signals the Italian firm intention to push for electric mobility.

However, in a recent interview, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali clarifies the MotoE project will not kickstart an electric production bike anytime soon.

“With the current technology, this is not possible.

“If we were to build an electric bike today, we would need to sacrifice some of the values of our product, like the sporting character and the lightness.

“Or we could do a light sportbike but with a very reduced range. So the idea is to start experimenting,” he said.

Nonetheless, Domenicali insists that the opportunity to provide a proper electric race bike for MotoE will act as a laboratory to study and develop the technology.

“We are interested in using MotoE as a laboratory to study and develop the technology.

“Technology of batteries, inverters, and the electric powertrain is evolving rapidly, and we want to be on the front row to experiment, develop, and be ready when the true race kicks off,” he added.

Interestingly, Ducati’s main objective is to create a lighter MotoE machine as the current race bike is 100 kilograms heavier than the Moto3 bike.

(Source: CycleWorld)

New Ownership Set To Take Flight With Updated Norton V4SV

Norton Motorcycles has finally unveiled the updated V4SV, acclaimed to be the most luxury British superbike ever built.

It is the first bike ever produced by Norton after its takeover by India’s motorcycle giant, TVS Motor.

According to Norton, despite no changes from the previous V4SS package, each component has been revised.

The V4SV makes 185hp and 125Nm and is built around a handcrafted aluminium frame.

To ensure the product quality is top-notch, the TVS owned company ran a 12-month test of the V4SS.

The level of luxuries doesn’t stop there, the V4SV also comes equipped with fully adjustable Öhlins USD front forks and Öhlins TXGP adjustable rear shocks, keyless ignition and a 6″ TFT instrument cluster.

You can also choose between aluminium wheels or carbon wheels respectively.

FIRST LOOK: Husqvarna Norden 901

After two years after its concept debut at EICMA, the Husqvarna Norden 901 officially made its bow.

Build based on the KTM 890 Adventure platform, the Norden 901 carries a different styling set than its Austrian cousin.

It has a more extensive body panel than the 890 Adventure, thus making it a proper dual-purpose bike for long-distance touring.

Nonetheless, underneath the fairing sits the same 890cc parallel-twin engine that makes 103hp and 100Nm.

The Norden also features a 21″ front and 18″ rear wheel paired with a tubeless Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR.

Moreover, it also comes equipped with taller suspension travel from the WP APEX suspension setup, 215mm and 220mm, as opposed to KTM’s 200mm.

If you fancy some electronics, the ADV bike comes with three standard riding modes (Rain, Street and Off-Road) but should you fancy ‘exploring the world’, Husqvarna offers the option “Explore” mode. (Which we thinks is another fancy name for Touring mode).

Other exciting features include:

quickshifter
slipper clutch
traction control
cornering ABS (with off-road mode)
auxiliary LED lights
19L tank

According to Husqvarna, the Norden 901 will be available as a 2022 model year beginning November.

BMW GS Owners Club Malaysia Have A Taste At The New Ducati Multistrada V4 S

Ducati Malaysia invited a group of 22 riders from BMW GS Owners Club Malaysia to get up close and personal with the all-new Ducati Multistrada V4 S on Saturday.

The initiative was to allow every owner from other major brands to try out the new adventure bike capabilities, including understanding the electronics and features and radar sensor technology.

Also present was an automotive celebrity, Hezeri Samsuri from Careta, who owns the BMW F 850 GS.

The new Ducati Multistrada V4 S is the all-new adventure bike introduced globally in November last year and quickly garnered attention as the best ADV bike instead of the ever-popular BMW R 1250 GS range.

The Multistrada V4 is available in two variants, V4 and V4 S, priced at RM135,900 and RM146,900, respectively.

FIRST LOOK: 2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak

Episode 3 of the Ducati World Premier 2022 web series witnessed the Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak launch.

The V4 Pikes Peak edition was expected ever since the Borgo Panigale factory debuted the Multistrada V4.

Build on the Multistrada V4 platform; the Pikes Peak edition also carries a range of electronics from the base model, including cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, wheelie control and Ducati DQS (quickshifter).

The world’s first radar sensor technology was also carried from the standard Multistrada V4 alongside a 6.5″ TFT screen, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot detection.

However, to ensure the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak continues the legacy as a sportier adventure-tourer, the bike comes equipped with Ducati’s single-sided swingarm and 17″ wheel replacing the double-sided swingarm and 19″ front wheel available on the standard V4.

Riding ergonomics are also different thanks to higher and farther back 10mm footpegs, narrower handlebars and revised rake and trail.

The changes allow Ducati to shed a total of 4 kilograms from the standard Multistrada V4.

Other upgrades include a new Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 suspension piece and new ‘Race’ mode, which is said to make throttle response time more precise and direct and special Pikes Peak Livery inspired by the Italian firm MotoGP race bike.

BMW Motorrad Rolls Out 2022 K 1600 Model Range – 160HP, 180Nm

Scheduled for March 2022, BMW Motorrad unveiled the new K 1600 GT, K 1600 GTL, K 1600 B and K 1600 Grand America.

The introduction of the brand new K 1600 range coincidentally coincides as borders and interstate travels are beginning to open up worldwide.

The major upgrade includes updating the in-line six engine to comply with Euro 5 emission; however, it still delivers the same 160hp but at a lower rpm. Moreover, the revised engine also saw an increase of torque to 180Nm @ 5,250rpm.

The 2022 range is also equipped with multiple riding modes consisting of Road, Dynamic and Rain, and the Dynamic Traction Control ensures smooth sailing in every road condition.

BMW also introduces next-gen Dynamic ESA electronic suspension with auto-load compensation, which will adjust on the fly based on riding scenarios.

Apart from getting the new BMW adaptive LED light setup, the K 1600 also features a new 10.25″ TFT instrument cluster, which can be fully accessed via BMW Motorrad Connected app and a 26.5L tank.