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Another Yamaha motorcycle to receive a cosmetic makeover is the 2024 Yamaha MT-25, now with two new colours.

The MT-25 is another popular Yamaha model in Malaysia and can be seen almost everywhere. Along with the Y15ZR, one MT-25 will flash by every few minutes or so. So much so that it almost seems as if the MT-25 is the sole 250cc naked motorcycle on our roads!

Owners cite the bike’s futuristic design, which draws inspiration from its bigger MT-09 cousin, such as the multi-faceted headlamp unit that looks not unlike a Transformer’s face. Besides that is the midrange-heavy engine for easy riding and brisk roll-on acceleration.

Apart from the new colourways,  all other aspects of the 2024 Yamaha MT-25 remains completely unchanged. The engine, frame, rear bodywork, right down to the wheels and tyres are shared with the fully-faired YZF-R5. As such, the now-familiar 249cc, parallel-twin, DOHC, liquid-cooled engine still produces 35.4 hp (26 kW) at 12,000 RPM and 22.6 Nm at 10,000 RPM. As we mentioned earlier, this engine has never been about peak power, but emphasises tractability and smooth throttle response.

The two new colours are Midnight Black, in addition to Midnight Cyan. The recommended selling price is RM 23,998, without registration fees and insurance.

As usual, buyers will receive an exclusive Yamaha disc lock worth RM 100.

Ducati kicked off their global event #WeRideAsOne to unite Ducati riders around the world, yesterday (6 May 2024). The Italian manufacturer called it the event which brings together the global community to celebrate the pride of belonging to the big Borgo Panigale family.

This year’s event was the third edition which served as the warm up for the even bigger World Ducati Week event, which is scheduled from 26th to 28th at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli.”

Official Ducati dealers around the world helped to put together #WeRideAsOne in collaboration with 347 official Ducati clubs. Each dealer created unique itineraries for each city to “guarantee an experience full of fun and in true Ducati style.”

This bore fruit as more than 18,000 Ducatisti from 50 countries participated. Some countries took to the track, while some went off-road, others went for a relaxing ride, but all celebrated the passion for Ducati.

horizons, from off-road adventurers to those who prefer more relaxing routes, the goal was only one: to celebrate and share the same passion for the Bologna-based manufacturer!

Once again this year, the long Ducati and Scrambler Ducati parade coloured the most emblematic places on the planet, leaving an indelible mark on every road travelled. Ecuador, New York, Palermo, as well as Glasgow, Warsaw, Rio de Janeiro, Hawaii, Ningbo, Medellín, Mexico City, Auckland, and New Delhi: these are just some of the cities that were the setting for the unique parade and which experienced the magic of #WeRideAsOne, a truly world-class event.

Ecuador

Ducati documented the activities that took place all over the world in real time, sharing photos and videos sent directly from the participants in stories in their official Instagram channel.

Ducati is the only motorcycle brand in the world to offer an international event of this size.In fact, since its very first edition, #WeRideAsOne has established itself as a unique format of its kind, becoming a fixed appointment in the Italian motorcycle manufacturer’s calendar and all enthusiasts for every first Saturday in May.

The event fully embodies Ducati’s mission to offer unforgettable experiences to all enthusiasts, combining fun on two wheels with stunning locations and conveying a sense of belonging to a vast community that embraces Ducatisti, Ducati Official Clubs, Dealers and Company employees. What distinguishes #WeRideAsOne is the ability to overcome geographical borders and, on the same day, make all enthusiasts feel part of the same big family, regardless of the city they are in or the time zone.

Hawaii

More Team Orange news: The much awaited 2024 KTM 990 Duke has arrived in Malaysia.

The “990 Duke” name is hallowed among long-time KTM fans, as it was the previous edition that unleashed KTM’s propensity for making bonkers naked bikes, paving the way for the beastly 1290 Super Duke.

So, although the 990 shares some of the underpinnings of the midrange Dukes, it is much closer to the big boss 1390 Duke.

Highlights of the 2024 KTM 990 Duke
  • The most eye-catching feature is the new styling, of course, which we admit splits opinion.
  • That light cluster is functional, nonetheless: The headlights adjust automatically to ambient lighting, flanked by DRLs.
  • The engine is the now-ubiquitous LC8c parallel-twin much like the ones on the 790 Duke and 890 Duke R.

 

  • However, the 990’s 947cc LC8c features new pistons, connecting rods, and crankshaft, plus more aggressive cam profiles.
  • Coupled to a new exhaust system, the engine does 123 hp at 9,500 RPM and 103 Nm of torque at 6,750 RPM.
  • That power is sent through a six-speed transmission and the usual PASC clutch.

  • The powerplant is housed in a new steel trellis frame, while the subframe is aluminium and bolted-on.
  • Suspension is what else but WP, since the brand is owned by KTM. Up front are WP Apex 43 mm diameter upside-down forks with five levels of compression and rebound adjustments.
  • At the back is a WP Apex Monotube monoshock with a lighter spring, 10 levels of preload, and 5 levels of rebound damping adjustments.

  • The front brake system consists of dual 300mm lightweight discs, serviced by four-piston calipers.
  • The rear brake has a two-piston caliper and 240mm disc.
  • Cornering ABS is standard, of course, utilising the Bosch 9.3 MP system.

  • As usual, a ride-by-wire throttle enables riding aids, such as three traction control and three ride modes, while TRACK and PERFORMANCE modes are optional.
  • TRACK mode, as the name suggests allow for the rider to control levels of rider aid, besides activating launch control.
  • PERFORMANCE adds cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity.
  • There is a new 5-inch TFT-LCD screen.
  • KTM claims the bike weighs a lithe 179 kg wet, with 14.8 litres of fuel.

The 2024 KTM 990 Duke is priced from RM 99,800.

 

The 2024 KTM 250 Duke was also launched in Malaysia, together with the 2024 KTM 390 Duke. And as with its bigger 390 sibling, the 250 Duke also sees many updates to make it virtually a new motorcycle altogether.

Highlights of the 2024 KTM 250 Duke
  • Starting with the engine, there is no capacity bump, since it is already at 249cc.
  • The engine dimensions remain the same, as with its maximum power output of 30.8 hp (23 kW) and torque of 25 Nm, despite being Euro 5.2 compliant.

  • Its clutch is now KTM’s PASC (Power Assist Slipper Clutch), upgraded from the previous slipper clutch without power assist.
  • The engine is nestled in the signature steel trellis frame, although the subframe is bolted on.

  • Front suspension duty is handled by 43mm upside-down WP APEX big piston forks, with no adjustability.
  • The rear monoshock is mounted to the ride side of the frame, and adjustable for preload only.

  • A new curved aluminium swingarm to mount the shock increases the wheelbase.
  • The front brake consists of a single 320mm disc checked by a four-piston caliper.

  • The rear brake has a 240mm disc, and 2-piston floating caliper.
  • Since there is a new subframe, its seats have been redesigned to be more supportive and plusher, especially for the pillion.

  • The riders seat height is also adjustable between 800mm and 820mm.
  • The headlamp has been redesigned to look similar to the 390 Duke’s although it does not have the same DRLs.

  • All lighting are LED.
  • The 2024 KTM 250 Duke has the same design language as the entire Duke range such the radiator panels, side panels, tank.
  • Electronics wise, the new bike has a new 5-inch LCD screen with connectivity functions.

The 2024 KTM 250 Duke is priced from RM 22,500 with Quickshifter+.

The 2024 KTM 390 Duke was launched in Malaysia. It features some of the biggest updates since its initial launch back in 2012. In fact, it might as well be called an all-new bike altogether.

Starting from its design, the 2024 bike has a much closer familial resemblance to its larger cousins, namely the 890 Duke R, 990 Duke, and 1390 Super Duke R. The new headlight cluster has also been redesigned to give the bike a new signature look. The radiator covers are moulded with spoilers, but thankfully, no winglet.

Highlights of the 2024 KTM 390 Duke
  • The Euro 5.2-compliant engine sees a capacity bump to 398.7cc from 373cc, hence a redesigned cylinder head.
  • There is not much in terms of power increase however, just up to 44.25 hp and 39 Nm, from 44 hp and 37 Nm from the previous iteration.

  • However, what KTM sought is not to lose engine power due to the more restrictive Euro 5.2 standard, hence the capacity increase.
  • The frame is now two-piece, with the aluminium subframe bolted onto the steel trellis main frame.

  • A new curved aluminium swingarm accommodates the rear monoshock.
  • The monoshock is mounted off-centre, enabling a larger airbox. A larger airbox should smooth out the engine’s power delivery.

  • The split piston monoshock is adjustable for preload and rebound (finally!).
  • Up front are 43 mm WP APEX Open Cartridge forks with 5-step adjustment for rebound and compression.

  • Braking duty is handled by a single four-piston caliper gripping a 320mm disc in front, and a 240mm disc at the back.
  • Cornering ABS is now standard, and as usual, the rider can switch to Supermoto ABS to deactivate the rear wheel’s ABS.

  • There have been market feedback than the Duke’s seat is a little tall for us Asian riders, so the 2024 KTM 390 Duke has an adjustable seat height feature to set it to 800 mm or 820 mm.
  • There is a new 5-inch TFT-LCD display, too. TRACK mode emphasises the tachometer display, while also bringing up the lap timer and gear indicator.

  • The said mode will activate the launch control feature (yummy!).
  • Unfortunately, all these changes have added 16 kg to the bike, now at 165 kg compared to 149 kg.
  • There are two colour choices: Electronic Orange, and Atlantic Blue.

The 2024 KTM 390 Duke is priced from RM 35,800, with the Quickshifter+ feature.

Automatic gearboxes on motorcycles is not a new thing, especially among small capacity motorcycles. However, manufacturers are starting to arm their motorcycles with such systems of late. The latest is the BMW Automated Shift Assist.

The BMW system, however, has a key difference compared to Honda’s DCT. Whereas the DCT system omits the gearshift lever for buttons on the handlebar, BMW’s system retains the lever. The only similarity is the deletion of the clutch lever.

The system uses two shifting modes, ‘M’ and ‘D’. In M (manual) mode, the rider still moves the gear lever and decides when they want the bike to shift either up or down. Switching to D (drive) mode enables automatic up and downshifts by the gearbox’s ECU.

The manufacturer says that the system is to “Simplify your ride”, by using an automated clutch and shifting mechanism, without “sacrificing the emotionally important dynamics of shifting.”

How it works

  • Two electromechanical actuators automate the clutch and gearshift of the six-speed transmission, meaning there is no need clutch lever.
  • It allows you to accelerate like a scooter by twisting the throttle.
  • The clutch is automatically actuated once you come to a stop again.
  • The rider’s shift request is transmitted to the control unit via a gearshift lever sensor, which is actuated by the gear lever.
  • Additional sensors gauge the revs of the transmission input shaft and the clutch position.
  • This data is fed to the Transmission Control Unit (TCU), which, along with the bike’s ECU, decides on how much clutch pressure to apply to enable the shift to take place.

BMW has not announced which model will receive the ASA feature, despite the graphics showing a Boxer engine, and the picture showing the button on the handlebar of a GS. However, it adds 2kg to the bike over the conventional system thus the S 1000 RR and M 1000 RR should still retain the traditional transmission (thank goodness!).

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