Bikesrepublic

Latest News

Brembo has expanded its brand family after announcing the acquisition of J.Juan.

The Italian company has signed an agreement to acquire a 100 per cent stake in J.Juan Group.

J.Juan Group specialises in developing a motorcycle braking system and currently runs two factories located in Spain and China.

For those who are not aware of J.Juan, the company is responsible is supplying the brake system for Benelli and Zero Motorcycle.

It is understood that the acquisition of J.Juan for EUR70 million (RM347mil)  allows Brembo to access the Spanish company research and development and manufacturing capabilities in the two countries.

Brembo currently owns ByBre, Marchesini and SBS Friction.

“We are proud to welcome J.Juan in the Brembo Group.

“This transaction is in line with our global strategy and follows the recent acquisition of SBS Friction in Denmark.

“We continue to invest with the aim of strengthening our motorbike core business. The addition of J.Juan is a great opportunity for us, as it reinforces our positioning as a company increasingly oriented to offering comprehensive, integrated and high-quality solutions to our customers,” said Brembo Chairman Alberto Bombassei.

Despite dominating the performance market, Brembo still facing a big challenge from Nissin and Beringer.

India has been making headlines the past few months as the country struggles to cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

As of April 28, the country recorded the highest ever spike of 360,960 new Covid-19 cases and 3,293 deaths within 24 hours.

The considerable spike resulted in hospitals and health institution facing an extremely short supply of oxygen, a necessity in treating Covid-19 patients.

As industrial oxygen is a key component in manufacturing, several of India’s motorcycle and auto manufacturers announced the decision to shut down their factory for a few days to divert the use of liquid oxygen to battle Covid-19.

Last week, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced a ban on the use of industrial oxygen from April 22 to ensure zero restriction on the movement of medical oxygen.

Key players such as Honda India and Bajaj Auto are manufacturers who announced a temporary shutdown of their manufacturing plant.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor lands another eagerly-awaited scooter, the 2021 Yamaha NVX with Y-Connect.

For 2021, Yamaha NVX comes in two new exciting variants, Standard and ABS, with the two is priced at RM8,998 and RM10,998, respectively.

The previous generation NVX found popular standing among many Malaysian motorcyclists, with thousands of these model already reached customers across the nation.

The 2021 NVX features a new LED headlight with a bigger and bolder shape than the previous generation.

 

 

However, the most significant upgrades take us to the Y-Connect capability that allows your smartphone to connect to the NVX. This feature allows you to get the latest information relating to the engine oil change, fuel consumption, service reminders and the last location of the motorcycle.

At the core sits a new 155cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled SOCH with VVA capable of producing 15.4PS @ 8,000rpm and 13.9Nm @ 6,500rpm.

Other exciting features include:

  • new LCD digital display with Y-Connect app
  • full LED headlight and 12 compact LEDs at the rear
  • 12v DC socket
  • **Stop & Start System
  • **Smart Key System
  • **Rear suspension with sub tank
  • **Single channel ABS
**only available with ABS variant.

Yamaha also claimed the new NVX capable of reaching 200km range thanks to a bigger 5.5L tank.

The Standard are available in Red and Cyan, while the ABS variants are available in Platinum SE and GP Blue.

VR46 has secured a place in the premier class after agreeing a full MotoGP entry starting 2022.

Valentino Rossi’s team will compete in the 2022 MotoGP with Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media and Saudi Aramco as the main sponsor for the period 2022-2026.

Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media is the holding company of HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al-Saud.

“In 2022 the VR46 Team will debut in the MotoGP class together with Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media with Saudi Aramco as the new Main Sponsor for the period 2022-2026.

“VR46 will debut as ARAMCO Racing Team VR46 with the support of other important sponsors of the world scene.

“Saudi Aramco, a company already heavily involved in Motorsport and F1, will therefore enter the 2022 MotoGP World Championship with VR46 Team,” said Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media in an official statement.

According to the official statement, the collaboration between VR46 and Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media will also extend beyond the race track.

“Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media and VR46 Team that aim to communicate important projects, developed following the previous sponsorship agreement for the 2021 sports season, with their partners.

“Shared strategies and vision, a summary of a mutual sharing of objectives, led to the extension of this partnership by signing this important five-year agreement: an extended joint-venture between Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media and VR46 Team which also presents the activation and management of communication.”

Despite no confirmation regarding which bike will the team race with next season, the bike used to show the team graphics was a Yamaha M1.

Ducati Malaysia has been on a roll lately after the dramas of 2020. The brand, under Next Bike Sdn Bhd, has seen steady sales, steady supplies of bikes and parts as well as good demand for bikes like the Scrambler.

One sales person pointed out that ever since the lockdown was ordered, more people turned to urbanised motorcycles like the Scrambler Ducati. This is unsurprising as people are limited to intra state travel rather than the usual inter state rides, and as such prefer more urban friendly models.

Despite that, the Panigale V4S, Hypermotard 950 and the Monster remains the brands best sellers.

As custodian of the Ducati brand in Malaysia, Next Bike Sdn Bhd has been on a rebuild mode and the determination to create an enviable brand is evident in the steely eyes of its current head – Dennis Michael.

In a recent interview with Francesco Milicia (above) – Director of Global Sales and Aftermarket for Ducati Motor Holding – he credited Ducati Malaysia (Next Bike) for leaning into the digital space more than ever, and for ramping up marketing campaigns that produced an impressive 2020 performance.

Francesco said, “We will work to make the Ducati brand even more exclusive through prestigious collaborations and we will start up new projects in the world of touring, to support the arrival of products as extraordinary as the new Multistrada V4.”

The following is the interview with Francesco:

How long has Ducati partnered with Next Bike Sdn Bhd in the Malaysia market?

Ducati Motor Holding and Next Bike Sdn Bhd have been in a strong partnership since the early 2000s, which resulted in the second-largest Ducati showroom in Southeast Asia being opened at Petaling Jaya in 2020. The dealership has an area of 21,339m2 that covers Sales, Servicing and Spares operations.

What has Ducati done to achieve these results in 2020?

It is the fruit of the work that begun the moment Ducati decided to enter this market, identifying it as a sector with high potential and the partnership with Next Bike Sdn Bhd was named as Ducati Malaysia in the public domain.

Ducati Malaysia established its presence through an office and a local team, progressively importing the entire product range, developing a suitable distribution network and promoting the brand with tailor-made initiatives for their customers.

With the unprecedented situation faced in 2020, Ducati Malaysia has leaned into the digital space more than ever before by ramping up digital marketing campaigns, which produced an impressive 2020 performance under highly adverse market conditions.

Are the dealerships like the Italian ones? How many? Locations?

The dealers in Ducati Petaling Jaya are exactly like those in the rest of the world and follow the Ducati Corporate Identity, an integral part of the Brand. Ducati currently has three mono-brand stores in main urban areas – Petaling Jaya, Sungai Buloh and Penang as our northern branch. Depending on the market requirements, a further expansion of the network will be considered.

What are the differences between Malaysia and European customers? What do they ask, what do they prefer, how is the bike viewed?

The Malaysian market can be described as extremely dynamic, fast and responsive. The customer here is very sensitive to innovations, exclusivity, the intrinsic value of the vehicle and also the perceived brand value. The customer is also very demanding, quality is a fundamental requirement, both in the product and in the service. Premium motorcycling, like that of a Ducati rider in Malaysia, is a thorough exercise in enjoyment, an avenue for one to escape the mundane routines of daily life.

Primary motorcycling usage are for trips out of town and we are noticing a strong increase of interest in track activities. The Malaysian customer buys a Ducati because it is a status symbol, which allows them to assert an avant-garde image and to enter a network of people with similar interests and social position.

Also the customers in Malaysia are racing fans and love the brands racing pedigree since Ducati takes part in both the MotoGP and the Superbike World Championships.

Ducati has been competing in the premier-class MotoGP category since 2003. The Company won the Constructors’ World Title in 2020 and was World Champion in the 2007 season, winning both Constructors’ and Riders’ Titles in the Superbike World Championship, Ducati has won 17 Manufacturers’ titles and 14 Riders’ titles, collecting more than 300 race victories. Ducati is the motorcycle manufacturer that has won the most titles since the beginning of the production-based Superbike series in 1988.

What courses and activities does Ducati organize in Malaysia?

Ducati Malaysia has a string of activities that engages not only the current crop of Ducati owners but also new prospects via three key areas. First, in line with the 2021 launch of the new Multistrada V4 family, Ducati Riding Experiences (DRE) are to be held throughout the year in educating riders on off-road riding and the vast capabilities of the new Multistrada V4. Following suit, Ducati Track Days are planned out as well to cater to the growing need for track day activities, enabling Ducati owners to unleash their Ducati motorcycles in full force. While thirdly on a more casual note, Ducati Red Weekends will have accompanying ride-along weekends starting from our flagship Petaling Jaya Showroom off to wherever the road leads for the intrepid owners and their bikes.

Which bikes sell the most in Malaysia / which Ducati model do customers like the best?

Confirming the preferences of the Malaysian customers towards top-of-the-range models, one of 2020’s best sellers was the newly launched Panigale V4 S. Malaysian customers were quick to adopt the new Panigale V4 S due to it’s amazing performance and specifications. With that being said, the Monster 821 and Hypermotard 950 rounds out the top three best sellers, also indicating a good mix of successful products for the Malaysian market.

What new initiatives do you envisage in 2021?

In 2021 we will expand the program of activities already carried out successfully last year but Malaysia is a country that constantly requires new formats, it is necessary to offer something out of the ordinary. With this in mind we will strengthen the digital experiences for our customers and enthusiasts, we will work to make the Ducati brand even more exclusive through prestigious collaborations and we will start up new projects in the world of touring, to support the arrival of products as extraordinary as the new Multistrada V4.

Later in October 2021, MotoGP will be making its triumphant return to our Sepang International Circuit after its absence from the 2020 MotoGP racing calendar. Alongside the spectacular racing, in support of the Ducati Lenovo Team, Ducati Malaysia will be gearing up in creating an extravagant Ducati MotoGP experience area like no other. Stay tuned for more!

Early this year, Triumph Motorcycles unveiled their latest’ streetfighter’, the 2021 Speed Triple 1200 RS.

However, a few months later, the motorcycle has reached our shores via Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of Triumph Motorcycles in Malaysia.

If you’re in the market for a very muscular roadster that can deliver high levels of performance both on and off the track together with a stunning design, the new Speed Triple 1200 RS should be highly considered.

Starting with the design, you can instantly tell that this is indeed a true Triumph roadster that combines smooth lines, sharp and aggressive features that’s very well-proportioned. What defines the 2021 Speed Triple 1200 RS are the new LED headlights with DRLs, compact bodywork and tail unit, carbon-fibre mudguard, colour-coded belly pan, and those black 17-inch aluminium V-spoke wheels.

A host of other premium finishes like the graphics and branded handlebar clamp further amps up the RS-ness of the new Speed Triple 1200 where customers can choose to have it in either Sapphire Black (with red and silver graphics) or Matt Silver Ice (with sliver and yellow graphics).

All the exterior features highlight the star within its all-new lightweight mass-centralised chassis, which is the also new 1,160cc inline-three DOHC liquid-cooled engine that punches out 177.5hp at 10,750rpm and 125Nm of torque at 9,000rpm. Tuned with a slightly higher redline, Triumph claims that this beauty sounds like a beast thanks to new intake and exhaust systems.

In other words, it’s the most powerful and best sounding Speed Triple yet.

Developed using the brand’s knowledge and experience in Moto2, the new Speed Triple 1200 RS’s engine is 7kg lighter and produces around 30hp more compared to the previous-gen model. This also translates to a 25% improvement in the power-to-weight ratio thanks to the brand’s know-how in cutting its wet weight down to an impressive 198kg (15.5-litre fuel tank included).

Other noteworthy specs include:

  • New six-speed transmission + new slip & assist clutch
  • 5-inch TFT screen
  • Five riding modes (including Track Mode)
  • New Triumph Shift Assist quickshifter (up & down)
  • Cornering ABS
  • Switchable Optimised Cornering Traction Control
  • Enhanced front wheel lift control
  • Full keyless system
  • Fully-adjustable Öhlins suspension (Öhlins NIX30 upside-down front forks + Öhlins TTX36 twin tube rear monoshock)
  • Brembo Stylema brakes (320mm front discs + radial monobloc callipers, 220mm single rear disc + twin-piston calliper)
  • Metzeler Racetec RR K3 tyres
    Dedicated Speed Triple accessories + many more

The 2021 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS is priced at RM99,900 (excluding road tax and insurance).

Archive

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube