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The Triumph Rocket 3 Evel Knievel Limited Edition has been launched as an homage to the stunt legend. The special edition is available for both the Rocket 3 R and Rocket 3 GT variants.

Robert Craig ‘Evel’ Knievel may have been seen attempting his stunts on a Harley-Davidson XR750 in the latter years, but he had begun his career and had certainly performed some of his most famous stunts on a Triumph T120. It included the famous jump over the Caesar’s Palace Hotel’s fountain, although he crashed.

Knievel performed some 175 stunts, and was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

Back to the Triumph Rocket 3 Evel Knievel Limited Edition, each bike includes an individually numbered black and gold cam cover plate, laser-etched with the Evel Knievel signature logo. Owners will also receive an exclusive collector’s edition hardback book telling the story of Evel Knievel and his Triumphs, individually numbered to match their bike.

The two bikes remains otherwise the same. The engine is a 2458cc inline-triple, boasting 180hp at 7,000 RPM and arm-ripping 225Nm of torque at just 4,000 RPM. The frame and likewise single-sided swingarm are aluminium.

The suspension consists of Showa 47mm upside-down forks up front, and a Showa monoshock at the rear. Braking duties are handled by a pair of Brembo M4.32 Stylema monobloc calipers in front, gripping on 320mm discs. Cornering ABS is a standard feature.

Other features include a full-colour TFT which is controlled through a backlit joystick. The screen also features a unique Evel Knievel display upon start up.

Prices for the Triumph Rocket 3 Evel Knievel Limited Edition was not published.

As with many Honda models for next year, the 2025 Honda XL750 Transalp will see many revisions and new features. The Transalp 750 is important for the manufacturer to fill the midrange gap in their dual-purpose model line-up.

2025 Honda XL750 Transalp

Highlights:
  • Redesigned front end which brings it closer to the Africa Twin, ridding of CBX500-like headlight. The 2025 Honda XL750 Transalp also has more powerful LEDs.
  • Revised upper fairing with a central duct to improve airflow around the rider’s helmet.

2025 Honda XL750 Transalp

  • The new Durabio screen has a new profile to aid airflow around the rider’s body.
  • The suspension has likewise been revised, with softer compression and rebound damping in the Showa 43mm upside-down forks. Suspension travel remains at 200mm.

  • On the other hand, the rear Showa monoshock is firmer for better control on uneven ground, and carrying a pillion and luggae. Suspension travel is the same 190mm.
  • Wheel sizes are 21-inch front and 18-inch rear.

  • New optically-bonded 5-inch colour TFT screen, which includes iOS/Android smartphone connectivity.
  • Honda left the 2025 Honda XL750 Transalp’s 755cc, 270º crank, parallel-twin engine unchanged. It produces 90.5hp at 9,500 RPM and 72Nm at 7,250 RPM.

  • The 2025 Honda XL750 Transalp has two new colours called Graphite Black, and Pearl Deep Mud Gray, joining the Ross White option.
  • Honda has not released the price of the bike.

It looks like the 400cc to under 500cc sportbike segment is heating up. There is currently only main player in the category, namely Kawasaki with their Ninja ZX-4RR and it will soon have company in the form of Chinese sportbikes. The latest will be the Kove RR500.

But wait, who is Kove? Kove is the high-end brand of Loncin. Loncin has been making engines for the BMW C- and F-series of motorcycles since 2005.

Kove had been aggressive in pursuing the off-road segment with entries in the Dakar Rally. Their investment has been successful so far, as all the three Kove bikes entered in the rally last year finished the race. Hence Kove became the first Chinese manufacturer to have all their bikes complete the rally on their first attempt. Mind you, the 2023 Dakar Rally was considered the toughest ever. Kove has since built dealerships throughout Europe.

Back to the Kove RR500, Voge revealed their four-cylinder RR660S in September, but apparently, the have another smaller 475cc inline-four engine which has just been approved for production. The bike, codenamed LX500GS-2 according to the type-approval document, will be marketed as the RR500. Engine power was revealed to be 76hp, matching the Kawasaki ZX-4RR’s. Claimed top speed is 220km/h.

Other details include a wet weight of 192kg fully fueled. The frame is steel with an aluminium swingarm. The forks have Voge branding. As for the front brakes, the two pictures show two different brake calipers: The orange bike wears four-piston Nissin calipers, while the yellow/blue bike has those that look like the Sumitomo calipers on the Yamaha R1.

The Kove brand is not in Malaysia at the moment possibly due to their off-road heavy lineup, but who knows what the future brings.

Let us face it: We are so used to seeing Freestyle Motocross (FMX) riders doing the backflip that it has become something ‘meh.’ But it was revolutionary when it was first successfully attempted by Jose Yanez in 1991. Soon, it became the double backflip, then the triple backflip. However, those were all done on lightweight MX bikes. Now, THIS guy, backflips a Yamaha Ténéré 700.

The rider is 44-year-old Jérémy Rouanet, who was a former professional FMX rider. He perfected the backflip on the bike after just several weeks of training.

Yeah yeah, we hear you. Another FMX rider, Sebastian Westberg had backflipped on the bigger and heavier Honda Africa Twin two years ago, but he landed in the safety of a foam pit. Rouanet, on the other hand, landed on solid ground.

Anyway, this particular Ténéré 700 had been lightly modified, mostly using the parts from Yamaha’s official racing arm, GYTR. The bike began as a Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally Edition and was prepped by the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team. Other aftermarket parts include Takasago Excel rims and a TracTive monoshock. The seat was cut down by 1.5cm.

Several components were removed to save weight including the mirrors, signal indicators, license plate holder, hand guards, passenger footpegs, kickstand and its circuit breaker, and ABS control unit. A lithium-ion battery was also fitted in place of the stock item.

So? Will there be double and triple backflips after this? And what bike next? The BMW R 1300 GS, perhaps?

The Yamaha NMax scooter is still popular, if not in Malaysia then overseas, especially in the UK and EU markets. However, its tech seems a little left behind compared to its siblings, so now, the 2025 Yamaha NMax 125 will receive the Tech Max features.

The updated bike also receives new dual-eye LED projector headlamps, 25-litre underseat storage space, keyless ignition, USB-C charging port (replacing the cigarette lighter type), and improved ergonomics.

Its 125cc, single-cylinder engine remains unchanged and produces 12hp, except that it is Euro5+ compliant now, perhaps with a new catalytic converter and exhaust system. Along with the stop-start function, Yamaha claims a maximum 298km range range from the 7.1-litre fuel tank. The fuel tank capacity is the same as the current model’s, so it may mean that the new bike retains the current bike’s frame and chassis.

Speaking of the chassis, it is still the standard scooter fare, with the NMax rolling on 13-inch wheels, offering non-adjustable forks and twin shocks out back. Braking is handled by 230mm discs front and back, with ABS as standard (maybe unavailable here). Traction control is also standard.

As for the Tech Max features, there is new 4.2-inch full-colour TFT dash with phone connectivity and Garmin navigation. The seat has gold stitching.

Sources in the UK say that the 2025 Yamaha NMax 125 will be available from May next year. It is priced at £3,900 (RM21,991.12), which is £178 (RM1,003.82) cheaper.

The question is when will the updated NMax 160 be available in Malaysia.

The 2025 Ducati Multistrada V2 has been launched, using the same 890cc V-Twin with the 2025 Ducati Panigale V2 and 2025 Streetfighter V2.

Ducati claims that the new model is 18kg lighter than the previous Multistrada V2 which used the 937cc Testastretta V-Twin engine. The 2025 “S” variant weighs 202kg wet, with an empty fuel tank, while the standard model weighs 199kg wet, also with an empty tank.

Highlights:
  • The new engine is more powerful, producing 113.4hp at 10,750 RPM and 92Nm of torque at 8,250 RPM.
  • This engine version also includes variable intake valve timing, providing 70% of the peak torque from 3,500 RPM, and does not drop below 75% from this point until 11,000 RPM.
  • However, this engine need a clearance check at every 30,000km.
  • There is a heavier crankshaft for smoother riding, and a more powerful generator to allow for more electrical equipment.

  • The engine gear ratios have been revised with shorter first and second gears. Quickshifter is standard.
  • A new aluminium monocoque frame holds the engine, with a cast aluminium double-sided swingarm.
  • Wheels are 19-inches front and 17-inches rear, as before.
  • The new bike’s styling is closer to the Multistrada V4’s rather than the old 1260 Multistrada’s.

  • Aerodynamics have been redesigned for rider comfort, including a new screen and sides of the bodywork to channel fresh air to the rider’s legs to reduce engine heat.
  • Seat height is adjustable between 830mm and 850mm. Taller 870mm or lower 810mm accessory seats are optional.
  • The 2025 Ducati Multistrada V2 S receives electronic semi-active Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS).
  • On the other hand, the standard Multistrada V2 gets 45mm upside-down fully-adjustable Marzocchi forks, and a fully-adjustable Sachs rear shock.

  • Both variants are fitted with Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tyres and offer a road-focused 170mm of suspension travel.
  • There is a full suite of electronic aids, controlled via a new 5-inch colour TFT dash.
  • There are five riding modes, with configurable settings for power, traction control, anti-wheelie, and engine braking.
  • Cruise control is standard too, plus options for turn-by-turn navigation.
  • The ‘Coming Home’ function that keeps the low beams on momentarily after the ignition has been switched off, to make things easier in the dark.

Prices have not been announced but the 2025 Ducati Multistrada V2 will be available in certain markets from January 2025.

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